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15 August 2024
Man Arrested for Explosives Threats and Attack on Energy FacilityRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, 43, a Jordanian citizen residing in Orlando, Florida, with four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destruction of an energy facility. At his detention hearing yesterday, Hnaihen was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, Hnaihen faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each threat offense and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the destruction of an energy facility offense. The indictment also notifies Hnaihen that the United States intends to forfeit assets connected to the offense.
According to court documents, beginning around June 2024, Hnaihen targeted and attacked businesses in the Orlando area for their perceived support for the State of Israel. Wearing a mask, under the cover of night, Hnaihen smashed the glass front doors of businesses and left behind “Warning Letters.”
(Damage at two of the targeted businesses)
In his letters, which were addressed to the United States government, Hnaihen laid out a series of political demands, culminating in a threat to “destroy or explode everything here in whole America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state of Israel.”
Hnaihen’s attacks escalated. At the end of June, as law enforcement worked to identify the masked attacker, Hnaihen broke into a solar power generation facility in Wedgefield, Florida, and spent hours systematically destroying solar panel arrays. He smashed panels, cut wires, and targeted critical electronic equipment. Hnaihen left behind two more copies of his threatening demand letter. Hnaihen is believed to have caused more than $700,000 in damage.
(Aerial photo of the solar panel field Hnaihen attacked, with targeted panel areas outlined in red)
(Solar panels with cracked glass)
Following a multi-agency effort, law enforcement identified Hnaihen and arrested him on July 11, 2024, shortly after another “Warning Letter” threatening to “destroy or explode everything” was discovered at an industrial propane gas distribution depot in Orlando.
“We allege that the defendant threatened to carry out hate-fueled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Such acts and threats of violence, whether they are targeting the places that Americans frequent every day or our country’s critical infrastructure, are extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by the Justice Department.”
“Targeting and attacking businesses for perceived beliefs is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and federally prosecute those who make violent or hate-based threats and who seek to act on these threats.”
“Under the guise of expressing his beliefs, the defendant allegedly attacked a power facility and threatened local businesses, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Violence and destruction of property to threaten and intimidate others will never be tolerated. The FBI and our partners will work together to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, with valuable assistance from the Maitland Police Department, the Winter Park Police Department, and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan.
Man Arrested for Explosives Threats and Attack on Energy FacilityRead the Press Release
Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, 43, a Jordanian citizen residing in Orlando, Florida, is charged with four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destruction of an energy facility. At his detention hearing yesterday, Hnaihen was ordered detained pending trial.
“We allege that the defendant threatened to carry out hate-fueled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Such acts and threats of violence, whether they are targeting the places that Americans frequent every day or our country’s critical infrastructure, are extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by the Justice Department.”
“Under the guise of expressing his beliefs, the defendant allegedly attacked a power facility, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, and threatened local businesses,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Violence and destruction of property to threaten and intimidate others will never be tolerated. The FBI and our partners will work together to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
“Targeting and attacking businesses for perceived beliefs is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and federally prosecute those who make violent or hate-based threats and who seek to act on these threats.”
According to court documents, beginning around June 2024, Hnaihen targeted and attacked businesses in the Orlando area for their perceived support for Israel. Wearing a mask, under the cover of night, Hnaihen smashed the glass front doors of businesses and left behind “Warning Letters.”
Source:Case number 6:24-cr-201 in the Middle District of Florida, Document 17. Supplement to motion for detention. Damage at two of the targeted businessesIn his letters, which were addressed to the United States government, Hnaihen laid out a series of political demands, culminating in a threat to “destroy or explode everything here in whole America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state of Israel.”
Aerial photo of the solar panel field Hnaihen attacked with targeted panel areas outlined in red Source:Case number 6:24-cr-201 in the Middle District of Florida, Document 17. Supplement to motion for detention. Solar panels with cracked glass that Hnaihen attackedHnaihen’s attacks escalated. At the end of June, as law enforcement worked to identify the masked attacker, Hnaihen broke into a solar power generation facility in Wedgefield, Florida, and spent hours systematically destroying solar panel arrays. He smashed panels, cut wires, and targeted critical electronic equipment. Hnaihen left behind two more copies of his threatening demand letter. Hnaihen is believed to have caused more than $700,000 in damage.
Following a multiagency effort, law enforcement identified Hnaihen and arrested him on July 11, shortly after another “Warning Letter” threatening to “destroy or explode everything” was discovered at an industrial propane gas distribution depot in Orlando.
Hnaihen is charged with four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destruction of an energy facility. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each threat offense and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the destruction of an energy facility offense.
The FBI and Orange County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case, with valuable assistance by Maitland Police Department, Winter Park Police Department, and Orlando Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan for the Middle District of Florida is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Ryan White and George Kraehe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Luzerne County Woman Convicted for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Asiana Christine Williams, age 30, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was convicted on August 13, 2024 for the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death following a 7-day trial before United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Williams was a drug dealer residing in Wilkes-Barre in 2020. On February 15, 2020, Williams sold a quantity of fentanyl to a woman who ingested the fentanyl and died within two hours of the sale. Williams was also found guilty of another sale of fentanyl that occurred on March 5, 2020, and for maintaining drug-involved premises at 76 Lockhart Street in Wilkes-Barre from December 2018 through May 2020.
During the seven-day trial, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office presented the testimony from approximately 24 witnesses, including expert witness testimony from a forensic pathologist, a forensic toxicologist, a medical toxicologist, a forensic cell phone examiner, and an expert in the field of cell site analysis.
The charges stem from a joint investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Scranton, the Lehman Township Police Department, and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Olshefski and Kyle Moreno.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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.
In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute for drug distribution resulting in death is life imprisonment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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Little Rock Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Joseph Riggins, Jr., will spend 25 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in a person’s death. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Wednesday by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr.
On November 29, 2023, Riggins, 33, of Little Rock, Arkansas, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Judge Moody also sentenced Riggins to three years supervised released. Riggins was indicted on April 5, 2023, on one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing a mixture and substance containing fentanyl that resulted in death. The maximum penalty Riggins faced was not less than 20 years to life in prison and a fine of $1,000,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
An investigation revealed that on July 31, 2022, Riggins engaged in a series of text messages with D.M. about Riggins trading heroin to D.M. in exchange for sex. On August 1, 2022, Riggins met with D.M. at a local motel in North Little Rock, Arkansas, where Riggins provided D.M. with a controlled substance containing fentanyl. D.M. later used that controlled substance in the motel room. The following day, August 2, 2022, motel staff members found D.M. deceased inside her motel room. D.M.’s body was subsequently transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for forensic analysis. An autopsy later determined that D.M.’s death was caused by a mixed drug toxicity of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The fentanyl in D.M.’s body at the time of examination was at a level significantly higher than where lethal levels of fentanyl typically begin, according to the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy.
The investigation was conducted by the North Little Rock Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Gordon.
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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
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Large-Scale Counterfeit Pill Manufacturer Indicted on Drug Offenses and Pandemic Loan FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cambridge man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in connection with an ongoing investigation into counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. It is alleged that the defendant is responsible for the manufacturing over 200 kilograms of counterfeit pills.
Schuyler Oppenheimer, a/k/a “SK,” a/k/a “Michael Sylvain,” 33, has been charged with possession of 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud. An arraignment date has not yet been set. The defendant was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on July 18, 2024.
According to court documents, Oppenheimer is alleged to be technically skilled in the chemical processes used in the synthesis of fentanyl, the compounding of controlled substances for distribution and the manufacturing of counterfeit pills. As alleged, recipes, pill press molds used in the manufacturing process, documents and invoices demonstrating that Oppenheimer purchased numerous pill presses and parts for pill presses from online vendors were seized. It also alleged that multiple packages shipped from China to Oppenheimer, and various associates of Oppenheimer, that contained pill press parts were also seized.
It is alleged that since 2019, Oppenheimer obtained over 200 kilograms of these filler powders. According to the recipes recovered during the investigation, when manufactured into counterfeit pills, 200 kilograms of filler powder equates to millions of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Oppenheimer is alleged to have communicated directly with an illegal chemical supplier based in China. Oppenheimer allegedly inquired about the availability of controlled substances and fentanyl precursor chemicals and sought to purchase kilogram quantities of these substances. Fentanyl precursor chemicals are substances that can be used to synthesize raw fentanyl in a laboratory setting. It is alleged that Oppenheimer sought to synthesize his own fentanyl through the importation of these fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States.
Lastly, Oppenheimer is alleged to have obtained over $40,000 through two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications that were submitted in April 2021 over the internet. Oppenheimer is also alleged to have submitted false statements concerning his income through self-employment for the 2019 tax years and provided false tax return documents substantiating that income.
During the execution of a search warrant on Parker Street in Cambridge on July 18, 2024, over five kilograms of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and a loaded firearm were recovered. Based on prior felony convictions, Oppenheimer is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of wire fraud provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Matthew McCarthy, Acting Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Interim Colonel Mawn, Jr of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cambridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang 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.
Lansing Man Convicted of Possessing A MachinegunRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a federal jury convicted Valentino Wallace, 22, of Lansing, with possession of a machinegun. Wallace is scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months.
“The gun violence epidemic is devastating families in Michigan and across our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “The increased prevalence of switches, or machinegun conversion devices, that can spray up to a thousand rounds per minute with a single pull of the trigger presents an added level of danger to our communities. Offenders who possess these devices face the very real possibility of federal prosecution.”
In February 2023, Lansing Police Department officers were conducting surveillance at Wallace’s house as part of a shooting investigation. Wallace left the house and officers attempted a traffic stop, but Wallace ran from the car. Officers caught and arrested him and found a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine and a switch attached in the snow nearby.
In the weeks preceding the incident, Wallace posted photos on social media showing himself holding the same gun and made other posts referring to Glock switches. Testing showed that the extended magazine, which held 31 rounds, could be emptied in about a second and a half with a single pull of the trigger due to the installation of the switch on the gun.
“I would like to thank U.S. Attorney Mark Totten and his team for standing firm on gun crime by charging Valentino Wallace,” said Lansing Police Chief Rob Backus. “This case is one of many that demonstrates our dedication to ensuring criminals are held accountable. By collaborating with our federal partners, we are actively working to make Lansing safer for all.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Lansing Police Department investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Doaa Al-Howaishy and Nils Kessler are prosecuting it.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psn.
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Justice Department Secures Agreement with Nebraska School District to End Discriminatory Treatment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing StudentsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it filed a complaint and proposed consent decree to resolve allegations that Lincoln Public Schools (LPS), in Lincoln, Nebraska, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying some deaf and hard of hearing students an equal opportunity to attend their neighborhood schools or participate in the high school choice program.
Under LPS’ cluster school policy, deaf and hard of hearing students believed to need American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation had to attend cluster schools serving deaf and hard of hearing students. In applying this policy, LPS did not consider the individualized needs of deaf and hard of hearing students, denied them an equal opportunity to participate in neighborhood school and high school choice programs and failed to provide effective communication to some deaf and hard of hearing students.
“Denying students with disabilities access to their neighborhood schools based on a blanket policy denies such students the opportunity to experience school with their siblings, friends, and neighbors and is discriminatory,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is pleased that LPS has changed its practices and will work to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing students have equal educational opportunities.”
LPS’ reliance on the cluster school policy harmed students who are deaf or hard of hearing and their parents. One student placed in a cluster school experienced long daily commutes each day. LPS’ cluster school requirement also harmed the impacted students’ parents who incurred transportation and other costs taking their children to the distant cluster schools.
Under the proposed consent decree, which must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska, LPS has agreed to pay $12,000 to compensate individuals the policy harmed; end its blanket policy of requiring deaf and hard of hearing students believed to need ASL to attend a cluster school; adopt non-discrimination policies and complaint procedures; designate an ADA coordinator; train staff; and provide reports to the department during a monitoring period.
The department previously provided its findings and minimum remedial measures necessary in a letter to the school district. View the letter of findings here. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or (TTY 833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints can be filed online at www.ada.gov/complaint.
Remote video URLJustice Department Secures Agreement in Fair Housing Lawsuit Against Ohio Landlord for Sexually Harassing TenantsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Kevin Martin, an owner and manager of residential rental properties in and around Athens, Ohio, has agreed to pay $170,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he sexually harassed female tenants and housing applicants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, alleges that, from at least 2010 to at least 2020, Martin requested sex acts from female tenants and applicants; subjected female tenants and applicants to unwelcome sexual touching; made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants and applicants; demanded that female tenants engage in sex acts with him in order not to lose housing and offered to reduce rent or excuse late or unpaid rent in exchange for sex acts. The lawsuit also alleges that Martin initiated evictions or threatened to evict female tenants who objected to or refused his sexual advances. The lawsuit is the result of a joint investigative effort with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG).
“Every person in our country has the right to seek and obtain safe and affordable housing without being subjected to sexual harassment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “For over a decade, this landlord sexually harassed and degraded women who were simply seeking the stability and safety that comes with having a roof over your head. The Justice Department will continue to hold landlords accountable when they target and exploit vulnerable tenants and applicants.”
“Fair housing is fundamental and this office will continue to work to enforce the protections guaranteed by the Fair Housing Act,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “No one should have to experience sexual harassment by their landlord.”
“We will not tolerate landlords threating or committing sexual harassment or abuse against tenants. Every person deserves to feel safe in their home,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis of HUD. “The allegations against the defendant include initiating evictions or threatening female tenants with the loss of their housing if they didn’t comply with his advances. Victims should not hesitate to report such harassment and abuse to law enforcement authorities. HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold housing providers accountable for this type of horrible conduct.”
Under the consent decree, which still must be approved by the district court, Martin has agreed to pay $165,000 to former female tenants and applicants harmed by his harassment and a $5,000 civil penalty to the United States. The consent decree permanently bars Martin from managing residential rental properties, requires him to retain a property manager for properties he continues to own, and mandates training and the adoption of policies and procedures to prevent future discrimination.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. It also prohibits sexual harassment, a form of sex discrimination. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of sexual harassment in housing may contact the Justice Department by calling the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Tipline at 513 684-2055, emailing [email protected] or completing a Civil Rights referral form at www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/file/1513341/download.
Reports may also be made to HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 45 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $17 million for victims of such harassment.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with the New Jersey Judiciary to Resolve Language Access and Retaliation InvestigationRead the Press Release
Note: View the release in Polish here.
The Justice Department announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with the New Jersey Judiciary to improve access to court services for people with limited English proficiency (LEP).
This agreement resolves an investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey into allegations that Monmouth Vicinage Courts (MVC), part of the New Jersey Judiciary, discriminated against court users with LEP based on their national origin and retaliated against a court employee who complained to the department about this alleged discrimination, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).
“People with limited English proficiency can lose their children, homes and fundamental rights when they face language barriers in our court systems,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue fighting to ensure that courts remove language barriers for the public.”
“Dispensing justice fairly and equitably is a cornerstone of our democratic system,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “We remain committed to ensuring that all litigants in New Jersey have equal access to New Jersey’s court system regardless of language barriers. This agreement will ensure that limited English court users will have equal access to the New Jersey state courts in Monmouth County.”
Title VI prohibits race, color or national origin discrimination by recipients of federal financial assistance, such as the New Jersey Judiciary. The department’s investigation uncovered language barriers that impeded access to the court system for people with LEP. These barriers included refusing to provide an interpreter for assistance with forms, failing to translate or explain vital documents to court users with LEP and failing to adequately inform staff of language access policies and procedures.
Under the agreement, the New Jersey Judiciary will translate vital court forms and materials and make them available for distribution at courthouses. The New Jersey Judiciary will also review its language access plan over the next year, develop mandatory language access training for its courts, provide Title VI retaliation training and issue public notices that explain the Title VI nonretaliation policy and Title VI complaint process in non-English languages. The department will monitor these and other requirements for two years. The New Jersey Judiciary also agreed to pay damages in the amount of $89,718 to the individual who alleged retaliation.
The enforcement of Title VI is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division and of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, and both are committed to ensuring that individuals can complain or cooperate with investigations free from retaliation. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at www.lep.gov. The division provides information about courts language access at www.lep.gov/state-courts. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Additional information about civil rights enforcement at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, including the Office’s Civil Rights Division, is available at www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
final_nj_courts_pr_8.13.24_4pm-poli.pdfJustice Department Issues Letter to State and Local Police Departments and Governments Explaining that Certain Housing Programs May Violate Federal LawRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it issued a letter to state and local police departments and governments about programs that may violate federal housing protections. The letter describes common features of these widespread programs, sometimes known as “crime-free” or “nuisance” programs, and cautions that they may be unlawful when they unfairly penalize communities of color, individuals with disabilities or survivors of domestic violence.
Three and a half years ago, the Justice Department announced a renewed commitment to reducing violent crime and building strong communities where all Americans are safe. Central to this commitment is a violent crime strategy that prioritizes building trust and earning legitimacy within our communities. The department is providing this letter in furtherance of its mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe and to protect civil rights, including by promoting fair access to housing and ensuring that race, national origin, disability, sex or other protected characteristics do not limit housing opportunities or access to emergency services.
“Even when well-intentioned, these programs can disrupt lives, force families into homelessness and result in loss of jobs, schooling and opportunities for people who are disproportionately low-income people of color – all in violation of federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These programs can also discourage people with disabilities and their loved ones from seeking help during a mental health crisis and prevent victims of domestic violence from seeking the protection they desperately need. The Justice Department will continue to fight discriminatory and unlawful housing programs across the country while supporting state and local law enforcement and governments to prevent violent crime without violating the right to fair and equal access to housing.”
The letter highlights examples of programs, based on recent enforcement actions, that affect housing rights and may raise questions under federal law. These include programs that:
- restrict housing based on criminal histories and sometimes just an arrest record;
- fail to provide for a case-by-case determination of purported safety concerns, including for individuals with convictions;
- impose negative housing consequences on an entire household;
- provide substantial enforcement discretion that may be used to target certain people who are protected under federal law;
- were adopted with discriminatory intent, which may be evidenced by the historical backdrop, including growing diversity or racial tension;
- threaten or impose penalties for calls for disability-related issues, including designating a medical or disability-related call as a nuisance;
- publicize confidential information about individuals’ disabilities; and/or
- fail to make reasonable modifications to avoid disability-related discrimination.
Today’s letter describes how these programs may specifically violate the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Violence Against Women Act. It also summarizes recent challenges to “crime-free” and “nuisance” programs by the Justice Department and others — including in Hesperia, California, and Anoka, Minnesota — that resulted in repeals or substantial changes to the programs as well as significant monetary awards for affected individuals.
The letter also explains that while the objective of these programs may be to reduce crime, there is no evidence to support that they accomplish that goal. Instead, as shown in recent enforcement actions, these programs often disproportionately harm survivors of domestic violence, deny individuals with disabilities equal opportunity to receive emergency services and disproportionately impact communities of color. For example, a Black woman living in Hesperia called the police to her home because she did not feel safe with her boyfriend. The sheriff’s department notified her landlord about the numerous domestic disturbance calls and threatened him with a misdemeanor charge. The landlord then pushed the woman and her children out of their home, ultimately forcing her to uproot her family from the city.
For more information about the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov. Individuals may report housing discrimination by submitting a report online at civilrights.justice.gov, calling the department at 1-833-591-0291 or emailing [email protected]. Individuals may also report discrimination by contacting the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint at www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint.
The department’s grant components provide a wide range of resources to law enforcement, courts, corrections, treatment, reentry, justice information sharing and community-based partners to address chronic and emerging criminal justice challenges nationwide. For example, in December 2023, the department announced its Violent Crime Reduction Roadmap, a one-stop shop to assist local jurisdictions in developing, implementing and evaluating strategies to prevent, intervene in and respond to violent crime. The department also offers training and technical assistance resources in a wide variety of areas relevant to violent crime reduction. For information about grant funding, training and other resources, please visit the websites of the department’s Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Justice Programs and COPS Office.
Jamaican National Sentenced to 32 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking, Identity Fraud, and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ONIEL WILKS, 45, a citizen of Jamaica, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 384 months of imprisonment for narcotics trafficking, passport fraud, identity fraud, and money laundering offenses.
According to the evidence presented during his trial, in November 2018, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force arrested several individuals, including Louie McDowell, who were distributing large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in and around Bridgeport. The investigation subsequently revealed that McDowell was being supplied with heroin, fentanyl and cocaine by Wilks, who was using a false identity and living in California. Wilks, who had been removed from the U.S. to Jamaica in February 2014 and then illegally reentered the U.S., used stolen identifying information of an individual to apply for and receive a Florida driver’s license in 2015, and a U.S. passport in 2016. Investigators determined that Wilks had used his fraudulent passport to travel overseas, including to Japan and Thailand.
In April 2019, Wilks, using his stolen identity, was stopped by law enforcement officers in southern California with five kilograms of suspected cocaine in the car he was driving. As the investigation into Wilks’ drug trafficking activities continued, in July 2019, investigators seized a package containing six kilograms of cocaine that was being mailed from California to Connecticut. On August 5, 2019, Wilks was arrested and court-authorized searches of two residences and a vehicle connected to him revealed approximately four kilograms of fentanyl/xylazine, items used to process and package narcotics, false identifications and more than $160,000 in cash.
On December 22, 2021, a jury found Wilks guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl; one count of making a false statement in a passport application; one count of aggravated identity theft; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Wilks has been detained since his arrest.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Stratford, Norwalk, Seymour and Trumbull Police Departments. The investigation was assisted by law enforcement in California, including the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”) Task Force Group 44, the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Narcotics Suppression Program, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Culver City Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and A. Reed Durham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 41 months in prison for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Marcus Delars Branson, 27, was found in possession of a firearm by officers with the U.S. Probation Office during a visit to his home. Branson had a prior federal felony conviction for bank robbery and was on supervised release at the time. Branson was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal possession of a firearm. He pled guilty on April 29, 2024.
Branson faces a separate sentence of two years in prison for violating the terms of his federal supervised release by possessing the weapon that was the subject of the indictment. The two-year sentence for violating the terms of his supervised release will run consecutive to his 41-month sentence. Branson will not be eligible for parole because there is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Houston Men Convicted of Robbing Lake Charles Jewelry Store Receive Lengthy Federal Prison SentencesRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four men from Houston, Texas, who robbed a jewelry store in Lake Charles on June 8, 2020, have been sentenced. All four defendants pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and were sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr.
Phaezon Stewart, 24, was sentenced to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Joshua Evans, 35, was sentenced to 137 months (11 years, 5 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Cary S. Nimmons, Jr., 32, was sentenced to 105 months (8 years, 9 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Johnson Moore, 25, was sentenced to 135 months (11 years, 2 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
On June 8, 2020, Stewart and other individuals traveled from Houston to Lake Charles with the intention to commit a robbery of Nederland Jewelers. On that date, Stewart entered the store armed with a black Springfield XD handgun and ordered the employees to get on the ground. Evans and Terry entered the store wearing masks and armed with hammers and one carrying a backpack. While Stewart pointed the firearm at the employee victims, the others used hammers to break the glass display cases and remove over 34 Rolex watches with an estimated value of over $350,000. Stewart and the others then exited the store and fled the scene in a white Porsche.
The white Porsche then traveled to the L’Auberge Casino and stopped and met with a Chevrolet Impala being driven by Nimmons, with Moore as a passenger. Evans and Terry exited the Porsche with the backpack containing the stolen Rolex watches and got into the Impala with Nimmons and Moore and began traveling towards a residence in Lake Charles. Law enforcement agents were able to track the suspects to a specific area on Pryce Street in Lake Charles and began to search the area. Officers located Terry and Evans hiding in a shed with the backpack in their possession which contained 32 of the 34 stolen Rolex watches. Nimmons was found in a nearby carport and Moore was found behind a residence less than 200 feet from where the other defendants were located, and all were subsequently arrested.
Trevione James Terry, 26, a co-conspirator in this case, is scheduled to be sentenced October 10, 2024, at 1:30, for his involvement in this robbery, as well as the robbery of Korman Fine Jewelry in Austin, Texas on May 7, 2020. Terry pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information on July 8, 2024, charging him with interference with commerce by robbery, using carrying and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lake Charles Police Department and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen.
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Holly Elkins Sentenced to Two Life Terms for Orchestrating Killing of Alyssa BurkettRead the Press Release
A Rowlett woman who helped her fiancé orchestrate the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend was sentenced today to two consecutive life sentences, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Holly Ann Elkins was indicted in June 2023. A jury convicted her in April 2024 of conspiracy to stalk, stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death, and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. She was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle.
Ms. Elkins’ former fiancé, Andrew Beard, previously pleaded guilty to stalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 43 years in federal prison.
“Month after month, Holly Elkins and Andrew Beard relentlessly harassed Alyssa Ann Burkett. They called her despicable names. They filed false police reports. They placed illegal contraband in her vehicle. And when all that failed, they plotted a particularly painful and bloody death,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “We can never bring back what Ms. Burkett’s family has lost. We can never heal the pain her young daughter has had to endure. But we can give them this measure of justice. Holly Elkins and Andrew Beard will never terrorize their family again.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Ms. Elkins helped plot the Oct. 2, 2020 murder of 24-year-old Alyssa Ann Burkett, Mr. Beard’s ex-girlfriend, with whom he shared a young daughter.
The government argued that Ms. Elkins – who apparently dreamt of a life with Mr. Beard and a mother/ child relationship with his daughter – repeatedly attempted to call into question Ms. Burkett’s fitness as a parent. When that failed, Ms. Elkins goaded Mr. Beard into taking Ms. Burkett’s life, labeling the victim a “c**t” and a “dumb b**ch” and a “garbage s**t mom.”
The perpetrators’ relationship began in early April 2020. Later that month, Ms. Elkins spent her first weekend with Mr. Beard and his daughter. By May, the couple were shopping for engagement rings. In June, however, Ms. Elkins grew frustrated at Mr. Beard’s continuing association with Ms. Burkett, writing, “your BM [baby mamma] owns you,” “you continue to put BM first,” “you choose to be idk for lack of a better term submissive to her,” and “I don’t have want or need any bullshit from anyone.”
Ms. Elkins began a campaign to harass Ms. Burkett in summer 2020, shortly after Ms. Elkins moved into Mr. Beard’s home.
In June, Ms. Elkins and Mr. Beard conspired to place a GPS tracker on Ms. Burkett’s vehicle. A month later, Ms. Elkins placed a call to 911 under the name fake “Amber,” falsely claiming that Ms. Burkett’s car was driving erratically on the interstate. In August 2020, Ms. Elkins falsely reported to police that Ms. Burkett’s mother had attacked her, creating scratches on her own chest to support the lie. Five days later, Ms. Elkins and Mr. Beard paid a private investigator to dig up dirt on Ms. Burkett and her new boyfriend. (The investigator, who testified at trial, found nothing incriminating.) In September, Ms. Elkins helped Mr. Beard plant drugs and a gun in Ms. Burkett’s vehicle; Mr. Beard then placed a call to police under a fake name claiming Ms. Burkett was selling drugs to black men out of her car.
Then, on Sept. 10, just three weeks before the murder, Ms. Elkins accompanied Mr. Beard to a sporting goods store, where he purchased a black rainsuit in cash. On Sept. 14, two and a half weeks before the murder, Ms. Elkins purchased dark makeup from a drug store. On Sept. 19, she accompanied Mr. Beard to a big box store, where they purchased .410 shotgun shells and a Camillus knife.
One week prior to the murder, Ms. Elkins texted Mr. Beard and said “I hope you handle it.” She requested that he be “ride or die” for her and said if he was not, she is not sure the relationship can continue. Shortly after that text exchange, Google records reflect that Andrew Beard began conducting searches for how to remove gunpowder from his hands.
On Oct. 2, 2020, Mr. Beard, dressed in a black rainsuit and disguised as a Black man, shot Ms. Burkett in the head with a shotgun while she sat behind the wheel of her car in her work parking lot. As she staggered out of the car, Mr. Beard grabbed her and stabbed and slashed her 44 times. Her coworkers testified at trial that they found Ms. Burkett covered in blood and gasping for air in front of her office front door. She died as her coworkers tried to render aid to her.
During the murder, Ms. Elkins stayed at Beard’s home in Rockwall with Ms. Burkett’s daughter. In an attempt to create an alibi, she later claimed Mr. Beard had been home with her during the crime.
At the trial, Ms. Burkett’s new boyfriend testified that he believed Ms. Elkins was the “puppet master” behind the murder.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Carrollton Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gary Tromblay, Rick Calvert, and Ryan Niedermair are prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle presided over trial.Hartford Man Admits Possessing Sexual Abuse Videos and ImagesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JONATHAN WILLIAMS, 33, of Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to a child exploitation offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has been investigating a network of individuals who have been using private groups on an internet chat application to share images and videos of child sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that an account associated with Williams was an active member of one of these groups, and that Williams was convicted in 2015 in North Carolina of sexual exploitation of a minor in the third degree.
On June 1, 2023, investigators conducted a court authorized search of Williams’ residence. Williams was arrested at that time after a preliminary review of his laptop revealed videos of child sex abuse. Subsequent analysis of his laptop and iPhone revealed more than 1,500 videos and 7,000 images depicting child pornography, including videos and images of sadistic and masochistic conduct and other depictions of violence and sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.
Williams pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Williams’ prior conviction in North Carolina.
Williams has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by HSI with the assistance of the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations, the Connecticut State Police, and the Hartford and Westport Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. -- A Gulfport man pled guilty to possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Roy Alexander Johnson, 31, was identified by federal agents as the user of accounts which contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Johnson was identified after CyberTip reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to email accounts which the FBI was able to trace to Johnson. Examinations of the email accounts resulted in the findings of at least 84 videos of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct to include minors who had not attained 12 years of age.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 22, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 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 and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of investigators and forensic examiners of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the 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.
Groton Man Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that RYAN CAMERON, 21, of Groton, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with receipt and distribution of child pornography, soliciting child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
Cameron appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven. He has been detained in state custody since his arrest on unrelated state charges on May 20, 2024.
As alleged in court documents, Cameron was convicted in 2023 in state court of illegal dissemination of intimate images of a 15-year-old female. In April 2024, while Cameron was on state probation, his state probation officer conducted a home visit and discovered Cameron was in possession of a cell phone in violation of the conditions of his probation. A subsequent forensic examination of the phone revealed that the phone contained videos and images constituting child pornography. Also located on the phone were messages between Cameron and individuals on messaging applications showing Cameron soliciting and distributing child pornography.
The charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography and soliciting child pornography carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of 20 years imprisonment. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Greenbrier County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Rance Allen Mitchem, 42, of Lewisburg, was sentenced today to nine years and two months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 27, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Lewisburg apartment where Mitchem was staying. Officers seized approximately 38 grams of methamphetamine, scales, packaging materials, and a Taurus model G2S .40-caliber handgun. Mitchem admitted to possessing the seized methamphetamine and an additional 93.1 grams of methamphetamine that officers found when Mitchem told them it was in his parked vehicle.
Mitchem further admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine and use some of it himself. Mitchem also told officers that he had distributed quantities of methamphetamine at least once a week for approximately five months.
At the time of his offense, Mitchem was on parole for first-degree robbery following his 2003 conviction in Greenbrier County Circuit Court. Mitchem robbed a Greenbrier County pharmacy of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills while armed with a sawed-off shotgun.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-161.
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Georgia Trucker Sentenced for PPP FraudRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Roderick Billingslea has been sentenced to federal prison for obtaining a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and operating illegal trucking businesses.
“Billingslea falsified documents in order to receive PPP funds to operate illegal and unsafe businesses that he was ordered to stop operating,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He has now been held accountable for his crimes. But our office’s work continues in collaborating with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who defraud the United States Government, including by stealing funds from PPP and other important programs.”
“Today’s sentence should send a clear message that, along with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will tirelessly pursue individuals who compromise trucking safety by intentionally ignoring or circumventing federal orders and regulations,” said Joseph Harris, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG), Southern Region. “We encourage the public to contact OIG’s Hotline at www.oig.dot.gov/hotline to report suspected PPP loan fraud or other illegal activities that affect the integrity of DOT programs or operations.”
“This case underscores the critical role of oversight in safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring that pandemic relief programs are not exploited by those who seek to commit fraud,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite. “Our office will remain steadfast in pursuing those who use such vital resources for personal gain. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners for their collaboration and dedication to justice in this case.”
“Billingslea chose to commit fraud and steal limited pandemic relief funds designated to help businesses struggling to survive,” said Frederick D. Houston, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “This case signifies our commitment to protect citizens and businesses from fraud and identity theft. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute those who abuse these programs.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In January 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered Billingslea’s trucking business, Billingslea’s Inc., to cease all operations due to multiple safety violations. Billingslea was also prohibited from creating any successor trucking entities.
Despite this order, Billingslea filed multiple registrations with DOT for new trucking entities that listed false owners and fake addresses. Billingslea controlled and operated these illegal businesses by stealing the corporate identities of legitimate trucking businesses. He then employed unsuspecting truck drivers who were unaware that they were hired by an illegitimate business. Billingslea used the drivers until they incurred DOT violations, after which he hired new drivers and moved on to another illegal entity.
Billingslea funded this illegal trucking enterprise with money he obtained from a PPP loan that he received through false pretenses. In June 2020, Billingslea applied for and received a PPP loan for $564,363 on behalf of Billingslea, Inc. He lied on his application, claiming that he was not barred from operating a trucking business. Billingslea also inflated the number of employees and monthly wages for the business. In April 2022, he obtained forgiveness of the loan by submitting false tax documents with the forgiveness application.
Roderick Bashon Billingslea, Jr., 30, of Dacula, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leigh Martin May on August 13, 2024, to two years, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $591,668.89 and the cost of his incarceration, or $49,770 annually. Billingslea was convicted on these charges on April 11, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records.
This case was investigated by the Department of Transportation – Office of the Inspector General, Small Business Administration – Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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.
Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Gun Offense Stemming from Hartford Club Shooting in 2020Read the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARL JONES, also known as “M.O.B.,” 43, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a firearm offense stemming from a shooting incident in 2020.
According to the evidence disclosed during his trial and in court documents, in the early morning hours of February 16, 2020, Jones was involved in a gang-related shooting incident inside the Majestic Lounge on Franklin Avenue in Hartford. During the incident, Jones, a member of Los Solidos, chased down, shot, and wounded fleeing gang member Joshua Saez and an unintended second victim. Saez had just shot another gang member Marquis Treadwell, Treadwell’s girlfriend, and an unintended third victim. Treadwell later succumbed to his injuries. Jones used a .40 caliber Glock semiautomatic handgun, which he had retrieved from Treadwell after the initial shooting by Saez. Jones fled the scene with the firearm, but Hartford Police later recovered it from a vehicle on Lawrence Street during an unrelated drug trafficking investigation in September 2021.
Jones’ criminal history includes convictions for felony narcotics, assault, 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.
Jones has been detained in federal custody since June 9, 2022. On August 23, 2023, a jury found him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
Saez is serving a state sentence for the murder of Treadwell and the assault of Treadwell’s girlfriend.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members of the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and Geoffrey M. Stone.
Gang Member Admits Racketeering ChargeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang admitted to his role in a racketeering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Kareem Green, aka “Try Me,”, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to a superseding indictment that charged him with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy and a separate indictment charging him with distribution of cocaine.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From 2015 through Sept. 22, 2022, Green was a member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips, a criminal enterprise responsible for acts of violence and the distribution of controlled substances in the District of New Jersey and elsewhere. On April 5, 2021, Green worked with other members of the gang to shoot a victim. On April 11, 2021, Green worked with other members of the gang to shoot another victim. On March 5, 2021, Green worked with another member of the gang to distribute cocaine.
The racketeering conspiracy count is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 and the controlled substance offense is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti, as well as investigators of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Juan Mattos; the Irvington Police Department, under the direction of Police Division Director Tracy Bowers; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé; the Bloomfield Police Department, under the direction of Director of Public Safety Samuel A. DeMaio; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura; the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Chief Phyllis L. Bindi; the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Earl J. Graves; the Edison Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Tom Bryan; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Colonel Patrick J. Callahan; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Philip Corbisiero; and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Fugitive and Missing Person Task Force, which includes members of the FBI, for the investigations leading to the charges in the Rollin 60’s Neighborhood Crips investigation.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. 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 government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori of the Special Prosecutions Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake A. Nasar of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit of the Criminal Division.
green.indictment.pdfFox Valley Man Sentenced to 12 1/2 years’ Imprisonment for Trafficking Fentanyl and for Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking and as a Previously Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Wisconsin, announced that on August 13, 2024, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Christopher D. Turner (age: 32) to a total sentence of 12 1/2 years’ imprisonment and eight years supervised release after Turner pled guilty to Possessing Fentanyl With Intent to Distribute, Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, and Possessing Firearms as a Previously Convicted Felon, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), and Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(c).
According to court records, in October and November 2023, agents with the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group (“LWAM”) used informants to make controlled buys of fentanyl from Turner. LWAM ultimately arrested Turner on December 14, 2023, when he arrived at Turner Furniture, which was a storefront that he maintained in Grand Chute. Agents executed search warrants at Turner Furniture and two residences linked to Turner in Menasha and Kaukauna, finding over 18 grams of cocaine, 264 grams of illicitly made fentanyl, and two 9-mm pistols. One of the pistols had an extended magazine capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition, and the other pistol had a magazine loaded with 15 rounds. Turner is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition because he was previously convicted of two robberies by force in Outagamie and Winnebago Counties.
In sentencing Turner, Judge Griesbach stressed that dealing fentanyl is akin to dealing poison, that it causes numerous deaths in northeast Wisconsin and across the country, and that Turner’s crimes had the effect of enriching Mexican drug cartels who illicitly manufacture fentanyl to be distributed and used in the United States. Judge Griesbach cited other aggravating factors, including Turner’s criminal history and his unlawful possession of two pistols in furtherance of drug trafficking and as a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group Drug Unit, the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Funnel.
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Former West Shore Bank Trust Officer Sentenced in Embezzlement ScamRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Kathleen Ann Matteson, 71, of Muskegon was sentenced to 61 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release following her conviction on bank fraud, embezzlement, and identity theft charges. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering stated that Matteson’s “conduct is a betrayal of the trust of the individuals who put their money in her hands.”
“Through her brazen scheme, Ms. Matteson stole over $780,000 from customer accounts,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is committed to protecting businesses and holding accountable those who abuse positions of trust and profit at the expense of unsuspecting victims.”
On August 30, 2023, Matteson was indicted for bank fraud, embezzlement, and aggravated identity theft. The charges specified that Matteson, a trust officer, had engaged in a fraudulent scheme beginning in 2006. She would take funds by submitting bills to her employer from a shell company she owned that did nothing, write duplicate payroll checks to herself, and take funds out of customer trust accounts for her own use. The scheme continued after West Shore Bank acquired her trust company in 2017 and did not end until she retired at the end of 2019. Total losses exceeded $780,000.
Matteson pleaded not guilty and proceeded to trial in April 2024. The evidence at trial showed that Matteson embezzled funds and concealed her actions by falsifying records. According to court records, Matteson spent most of the embezzled money on casino gambling activities. The jury convicted Matteson on all charges.
“Ms. Matteson's deceitful actions, spanning over a decade and involving multiple fraudulent schemes, continued until her retirement, at which point she believed she had succeeded,” stated Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “She deliberately profited from these frauds at the expense of clients and her employer. The FBI remains committed to working with our partners from the U.S. Attorney's Office to combat these serious white-collar crimes.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, and Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy VerHey and Doaa Al-Howaishy prosecuted it.
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Former Centre Police Officer Charged in Connection with Drug-Planting SchemeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A former Centre police officer has been charged in connection with a scheme to plant drugs on innocent motorists in order to manufacture drug arrests, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
A one-count information filed in U.S. District Court charges Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine. A plea agreement was filed with the information, indicating that Kilgore has agreed to plead guilty to the charge.
According to the information and plea agreement, Kilgore’s scheme began in early January 2023, when he stopped a car and found various drugs. Kilgore offered the driver the chance to avoid drug charges by working for Kilgore. The driver accepted and became a co-conspirator in Kilgore’s drug-planting scheme.
Kilgore and his co-conspirator then arranged for a package containing methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana to be attached to the undercarriage of a certain vehicle. On January 31, 2023, Kilgore performed a sham traffic stop of that vehicle and “discovered” the drug package where he knew it had been planted. The vehicle’s driver and passenger were detained for drug possession.
Kilgore and his co-conspirator planned to repeat the scheme on another vehicle. But after buying the drugs to be planted, Kilgore’s co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to law enforcement.
The Court will set a date for Kilgore to enter his guilty plea.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Janich is prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Osborne assisted.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Folsom Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Matthew Goyder, 41, of Folsom, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to 40 years in prison and a life term of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Goyder used Snapchat to contact and sextort minor victims for sexually explicit images and videos. Goyder claimed to be a teenage boy when first contacting the victims. When agents searched Goyder’s iPhone, they found approximately 120 albums, with many albums labeled with a name and the victims’ age.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Folsom Police Department and the Sacramento Valley Hi-tech Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Medicare of $39.5 MillionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Florida man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord for his role in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare of $39.5 million, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Christopher Spellman, 22, of Port Richey, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for November 21, 2024. Spellman was charged on July 17, 2024.
According to court documents, Spellman and his co-conspirators owned and operated Dimon Business Solution, LLC, a purported durable medical equipment (DME) management company. Dimon operated a network of DME supplier businesses throughout the country, including two in New Hampshire. However, Spellman and his co-conspirators concealed their ownership interests in the DME suppliers by using nominee owners. Spellman and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes for signed doctors’ orders prescribing orthotic braces. Ultimately, Medicare beneficiaries received orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary, procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes, and not often wanted or needed.
During the conspiracy, Spellman and his co-conspirators submitted, or caused the submission of, false and fraudulent claims to Medicare in excess of $39.5 million for orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary, ineligible for Medicare reimbursement, or not provided as represented. Medicare paid at least $23 million to DME suppliers secretly owned and operated by Spellman and his co-conspirators for these claims.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service led the investigation. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack and Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward are prosecuting the case.
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Five Defendants, Including Two Doctors, Charged in Connection with Actor Matthew Perry’s Fatal Drug Overdose Last YearRead the Press Release
Sangha & Plasencia - INDICTMENT Iwamasa - INFORMATION Fleming - INFORMATION Chavez - INFORMATIONLOS ANGELES – A licensed physician and an alleged San Fernando Valley drug dealer were arrested today in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, who suffered a fatal ketamine overdose in October 2023.
In total, five defendants, including two doctors, have been charged in this matter, according to court documents unsealed today.
The defendants arrested today are charged in an 18-count superseding indictment returned on Wednesday with distributing ketamine to Perry during the final weeks of the actor’s life:
- Jasveen Sangha, 41, a.k.a. “The Ketamine Queen,” of North Hollywood; and
- Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, a.k.a. “Dr. P,” of Santa Monica.
Sangha and Plasencia are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Sangha also is charged with one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
The superseding indictment alleges that Sangha’s distribution of ketamine on October 24, 2023, caused Perry’s death. Plasencia is charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation.
Sangha and Plasencia are expected to be arraigned later today at United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”
“Bringing these individuals to justice for their role in the untimely death of Mr. Perry required coordination and hard work by a number of people, and I want to thank LAPD detectives and our federal partners for their patience and dedication,” said LAPD Chief Dominic Choi. “As the boots on the ground in our communities, on a daily basis LAPD officers witness first-hand the harm that these narcotics can cause, so I’m pleased that our collective efforts have led to the arrest of these individuals.”
“Today we announce charges brought against the five individuals who, together, are responsible for the death of Matthew Perry,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “We allege each of the defendants played a key role in his death by falsely prescribing, selling, or injecting the ketamine that caused Matthew Perry’s tragic death. Matthew Perry’s journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, to street dealers who gave him ketamine in unmarked vials. Every day, the DEA works tirelessly with our federal, state, and local partners to protect the public and to hold accountable those that distribute deadly and dangerous drugs – whether they are local drug traffickers or doctors who violate their sworn oath to care for patients.”
The three other defendants – charged separately – are:
- Erik Fleming, 54, of Hawthorne, who pleaded guilty on August 8 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming admitted in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry. He further admitted to obtaining the ketamine from his source, Sangha, and to distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Perry’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa – half of them four days before Perry’s death.
- Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, of Toluca Lake, who conspired with Sangha, Fleming, and Plasencia to illegally obtain ketamine and distribute it to Perry. Iwamasa, who pleaded guilty on August 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training, including performing multiple injections on Perry on October 28, 2023 – the day Perry died.
- Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego, a physician who has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Chavez admitted in his plea agreement to selling ketamine to Plasencia, including ketamine that he had diverted from his former ketamine clinic. Chavez also obtained additional ketamine to transfer to Plasencia by making false representations to a wholesale ketamine distributor and by submitting a fraudulent prescription in the name of a former patient without that patient’s knowledge or consent.
According to the superseding indictment unsealed today, in late September 2023, Plasencia learned that Perry, a successful actor whose history of drug addiction was well documented, was interested in obtaining ketamine. Ketamine is a general anesthetic whose medical risks require a health care professional to monitor a patient who had just been given the drug.
After learning about Perry’s interest in ketamine, Plasencia contacted Chavez – who previously operated a ketamine clinic – to obtain ketamine to sell to Perry. In text messages to Chavez, Plasencia discussed how much to charge Perry for the ketamine, stating, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Lets [sic] find out.”
During September and October of 2023, Plasencia distributed ketamine to Perry and Iwamasa outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose on at least seven occasions. He did so by teaching Iwamasa how to inject Perry with ketamine, selling ketamine to Iwamasa to inject into Perry, leaving vials of ketamine with Iwamasa for self-administration, personally injecting ketamine into Perry without the proper safety equipment – including once inside a car parked in a Long Beach parking lot – and failing to properly monitor Perry after Plasencia injected Perry with the drug. Plasencia knew that Iwamasa had never received medical training and knew little, if anything, about administering or treating patients with controlled substances.
The superseding indictment also alleges that Plasencia conspired with Chavez about inventory, price, and availability of ketamine to sell to Perry and Iwamasa. Chavez, in turn, sold Plasencia orally administered ketamine lozenges that he obtained after writing a fraudulent prescription in a patient’s name without her knowledge or consent, and lied to wholesale ketamine distributors to buy additional vials of liquid ketamine that Chavez intended to sell to Plasencia for distribution to Perry.
Beginning in mid-October 2023, Iwamasa also began obtaining ketamine for Perry from Fleming and Sangha. After discussing prices with Iwamasa, Fleming coordinated the drug sales with Sangha, and brought cash from Iwamasa to Sangha’s stash house in North Hollywood to buy vials of ketamine. On October 24, 2023, while waiting for Sangha’s ketamine to arrive, Fleming advised Iwamasa that the ketamine was “on its way to our girl,” referring to Sangha. Sangha has distributed ketamine and other illegal drugs from her stash house in North Hollywood since at least 2019.
Sangha was aware of the danger of ketamine: In August 2019, Sangha sold ketamine to victim Cody McLaury in the hours before his overdose death. After a family member of McLaury’s sent Sangha a text message saying that her ketamine had killed McLaury, Sangha conducted a Google search for “can ketamine be listed as a cause of death[?]” The superseding indictment alleges that Sangha nonetheless continued to sell ketamine from her stash house.
Using the Plasencia-provided instructions and syringes, Iwamasa injected Perry with the ketamine that was sold to him by Fleming and Sangha, including on October 28, 2023, when Perry died at his Pacific Palisades home after receiving multiple ketamine injections. Plasencia sold the ketamine to Iwamasa despite being informed at least one week earlier that Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiraling out of control. After Perry’s death was reported in the news, Sangha texted Fleming, “Delete all our messages.”
After Perry’s death, federal agents and detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department executed search warrants at Sangha’s residence, where they found evidence of drug trafficking, including approximately 79 vials of ketamine, approximately 1.4 kilograms (3.1 pounds) of orange pills containing methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and prescription drugs that appeared to be fraudulently obtained.
In February and March of 2024, in response to a legal request for production of documents in connection with the federal investigation, Plasencia provided altered and falsified medical records, purporting to show that he had a legitimate “treatment plan” in place for Perry, with the intent to influence the investigation into Perry’s death.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s partnership with state and federal law enforcement agencies and the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office demonstrates our continued dedication to protecting communities from the harm caused by the illicit distribution and misuse of dangerous drugs,” said Matthew Shields, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division. “We will continue to work diligently to bring justice to families affected by these types of crimes.”
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of all charges, Sangha would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Plasencia would face up to 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine-related count and up to 20 years in federal prison for each records falsification count.
Iwamasa and Fleming will face up to 15 years and 25 years, respectively, when they are sentenced in their federal cases.
Chavez has been charged in an information pursuant to a plea agreement and will be arraigned on August 30. At sentencing, Chavez will face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello of the General Crimes Section and Haoxiaohan H. Cai of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.
Felon in Possession of A Gun Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Robertsdale, Alabama, man was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for his possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony. David Alexander Brown, 28, pled guilty to the charge in federal court in Mobile during April of 2024.
At the guilty plea, the case prosecutor informed United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer that during July of 2023, Brown was stopped by a Baldwin County Sheriff’s deputy for a traffic violation, including no tag displayed on the vehicle as required by law. Brown, the driver, and his two passengers displayed extreme nervousness while the deputy spoke to Brown about the violation and Brown admitted that he had a pistol on his hip. The deputy seized to gun, and Brown consented to a search of the vehicle. The deputy also found 4 grams of marijuana, 8.2 grams of methamphetamine and a glass pipe used to ingest drugs. Subsequent investigation established that Brown was under federal supervision for a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm from 2017. Court documents establish that Brown’s supervised release term was revoked in October of 2023. Brown was ordered to serve 18 months imprisonment for the violation of his conditions of supervision, to be followed by 18 months of additional supervision.
Judge Moorer imposed the 42-month sentence on this new conviction and ordered that Brown serve another five-year term of supervision following his release from imprisonment. As conditions of supervision, Brown will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse and mental health treatment. He will also be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Brown pay $100 in special assessments. The firearm used in the commission of the offense was ordered forfeited to the United States.
The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Federal Jury in Louisville Finds Repeat Sex Offender Guilty of Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Yesterday a federal jury convicted a Louisville man of one count of possession of child pornography after a two-day jury trial.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service made the announcement.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, during a home visit on September 1, 2022, by a United States Probation Officer, Jason Florence, age 49, possessed an unauthorized and unmonitored cellular telephone that contained images and videos of child pornography. At the time of the home visit, Florence was on supervised release for a prior conviction of attempt to transport child pornography and possession of child pornography in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in 2015.
Florence is scheduled for sentencing on November 19, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered Florence remain detained pending sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The United States Secret Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. Spencer McKiness and Danielle Yannelli are prosecuting the case, with assistance from paralegal Julie Mason.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments for Two Men on Sex Abuse Charges Arising on the Yakama NationRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced a Federal Grand Jury has returned indictments on two separate individuals.
Jerry Slockish, age 57, of White Swan, Washington has been charged with Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 Years of Age in Indian Country. The charge carries a sentence of up to life in prison and up to life supervised release. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Bree Black Horse is prosecuting the case. 1:24-CR-2049-MKD.
Geordell Devon Arthur, age 24, has been charged with Abusive Sexual Contact. The alleged conduct also took place on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation. The victim was between the age of 12 and 16. The charge carries a sentence of up to two years in prison and up to life supervised release. The FBI and the Yakama Nation Police Department is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy is prosecuting the case. 1:24-CR-2050-MKD.
“Children deserve to live in a world where they feel safe -- free from abuse and the fear of abuse. Protecting all children, including within Tribal communities in Eastern Washington, will always be a priority for my office,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Our strong partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement are key to building trust in native communities and securing justice for victims.”
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
El Paso Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Holding Migrants Hostage, Dealing FentanylRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in federal court to 292 months in prison for harboring migrants and taking them hostage, as well as conspiracy with intent to distribute fentanyl after a prior felony drug conviction.
According to court documents, Simon Roberto Alvarado, 39, conspired with Juan Carlos Calzada, 30, and Mexican national Janeth Nicole Magallanes, 26, to detain six citizens of Guatemala and Honduras. The co-conspirators held the migrants hostage in an apartment and threatened them with injury or death if their families did not pay ransoms.
FBI agents detained Magallanes while conducting surveillance at the residence Jan. 5, 2021, and further discovered the six hostages along with several weapons. The investigation revealed Alvarado was the owner of the residence, and a search of Alvarado’s phone indicated he and others had also trafficked more than 400 grams of fentanyl through the Western District of Texas.
The Court sentenced Calzada on Feb. 14 to 78 months in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking. Magallanes was sentenced on Feb. 20 to 120 months for one count of hostage taking.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge John S. Morales for FBI El Paso made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Valenzuela, Kyle Myers, and Adam Hines prosecuted the case.
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El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con la Judicatura de Nueva Jersey para resolver una investigación de acceso lingüístico y represaliasRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con la Judicatura de Nueva Jersey para mejorar el acceso a los servicios jurídicos para personas con dominio limitado del inglés (LEP, por sus siglas en inglés).
Este acuerdo resuelve una investigación de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia y la Oficina del Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Nueva Jersey sobre las alegaciones de que los tribunales del Distrito Judicial de Monmouth (MVC, por sus siglas en inglés), pertenecientes a la Judicatura de Nueva Jersey, discriminaron a los usuarios de los tribunales con LEP debido a su origen nacional y tomaron represalias contra un empleado de los tribunales que se quejó ante el departamento sobre esta alegada discriminación, en contra del Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 (Título VI).
«Las personas con un dominio limitado del inglés pueden perder a sus hijos, sus hogares y sus derechos fundamentales cuando enfrentan barreras lingüísticas en nuestros sistemas judiciales», comentó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles seguirá luchando para garantizar que los tribunales eliminen las barreras lingüísticas para el público».
«Impartir justicia de manera justa y equitativa es una piedra angular de nuestro sistema democrático», afirmó Philip R. Sellinger, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Nueva Jersey. «Seguimos comprometidos a garantizar que todos los litigantes en Nueva Jersey tengan igualdad de acceso al sistema judicial de Nueva Jersey, independientemente de las barreras lingüísticas. Este acuerdo garantizará que los usuarios de los tribunales con inglés limitado tengan igualdad de acceso a los tribunales estatales de Nueva Jersey en el condado de Monmouth».
El Título VI prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de raza, color de piel u origen nacional por parte de los beneficiarios de ayuda financiera federal, como la Judicatura de Nueva Jersey. La investigación del departamento reveló la existencia de barreras lingüísticas que les impedían el acceso al sistema judicial a las personas con LEP. Estas barreras incluían negarse a proporcionar un intérprete para ayudar con los formularios, no traducir ni explicarles documentos importantes a los usuarios de los tribunales con LEP y no informar adecuadamente al personal de las políticas y los procedimientos de acceso lingüístico.
En virtud del acuerdo, la Judicatura de Nueva Jersey traducirá formularios y materiales judiciales importantes y los pondrá a disposición para su distribución en los juzgados. La Judicatura de Nueva Jersey también revisará su plan de acceso lingüístico durante el próximo año, desarrollará una capacitación de acceso lingüístico obligatoria para sus tribunales, proporcionará capacitación sobre el Título VI en materia de represalias y publicará avisos públicos que expliquen la política de no tomar represalias en contra del Título VI y el proceso de denuncia del Título VI en idiomas distintos del inglés. El departamento supervisará estos y otros requisitos durante dos años. La Judicatura de Nueva Jersey también acordó pagarle una indemnización por daños y perjuicios por un monto de $89,718 a la persona que alegó represalias.
Una de las principales prioridades de la División de Derechos Civiles y la Oficina del Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Nueva Jersey es hacer cumplir el Título VI, y ambas se comprometen a garantizar que las personas puedan presentar quejas o cooperar con las investigaciones sin sufrir represalias. Hay información adicional disponible sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt, y hay información disponible sobre el dominio limitado del inglés y el Título VI en www.lep.gov. La división ofrece información sobre el acceso lingüístico de los tribunales en www.lep.gov/state-courts. Los miembros del público pueden denunciar posibles violaciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Hay información adicional disponible sobre los esfuerzos por hacer cumplir los derechos civiles en la Oficina del Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Nueva Jersey, incluida la División de Derechos Civiles de la Oficina, en www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
El Departamento de Justicia emite una carta a departamentos de policía y gobiernos estatales y locales para explicar que determinados programas de vivienda podrían violar las leyes federalesRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que emitió una carta a departamentos de policía y gobiernos estatales y locales sobre programas que podrían violar las protecciones federales de vivienda. La carta describe las características comunes de estos programas generalizados, a veces conocidos como programas “libre de delitos” o de “molestias”, y advierte de que podrían ser ilegales cuando penalizan injustamente a las comunidades de color, las personas con discapacidad o los sobrevivientes de la violencia doméstica.
Hace tres años y medio, el Departamento de Justicia anunció un compromiso renovado para reducir la delincuencia violenta y construir comunidades fuertes en las que todos los estadounidenses estén seguros. El núcleo de este compromiso es una estrategia contra la delincuencia violenta que da prioridad a la creación de confianza y a la generación de legitimidad dentro de nuestras comunidades. El Departamento presenta esta carta en apoyo de su misión de defender el estado de derecho, mantener la seguridad de nuestro país y proteger los derechos civiles, incluido el fomento del acceso equitativo a la vivienda y la garantía de que la raza, el origen nacional, la discapacidad, el sexo u otras características protegidas no limiten las oportunidades de vivienda o el acceso a los servicios de emergencia.
“Incluso cuando son bienintencionados, estos programas pueden perturbar vidas, obligar a las familias a quedarse sin hogar y provocar la pérdida de trabajos, escolarización y oportunidades para personas de color con ingresos desproporcionadamente bajos –todo ello en violación de las leyes federales”, afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “Estos programas también pueden disuadir a las personas con discapacidad y a sus seres queridos de buscar ayuda durante una crisis de salud mental e impedir que las víctimas de la violencia doméstica busquen la protección que necesitan desesperadamente. El Departamento de Justicia seguirá luchando contra los programas de vivienda discriminatorios e ilegales en todo el país, al tiempo que apoya a las fuerzas del orden público y gobiernos estatales y locales para prevenir los delitos violentos sin violar el derecho a un acceso justo e igualitario a la vivienda”.
La carta destaca ejemplos de programas, basados en recientes medidas de ejecución, que afectan al derecho a la vivienda y pueden plantear cuestiones en virtud de las leyes federales. Se trata de programas que:
- restringen el acceso a la vivienda en función de los antecedentes penales, y a veces sólo de los antecedentes de arresto;
- no prevén la determinación caso por caso de supuestas inquietudes de seguridad, incluso para personas con condenas;
- imponen consecuencias negativas de vivienda a toda una familia;
- proporcionan una discrecionalidad sustancial en la aplicación de la ley que puede utilizarse para perseguir a determinadas personas protegidas en virtud de las leyes federales;
- se adoptaron con intención discriminatoria, lo que puede evidenciarse por el trasfondo histórico, incluida la creciente diversidad o tensión racial;
- amenazar o imponer sanciones ante llamadas realizadas por asuntos relativos a la discapacidad, incluida la designación de una llamada médica o una relacionada con la discapacidad como una molestia;
- hacer pública información confidencial sobre las discapacidades de las personas; y/o
- no realizar modificaciones razonables para evitar la discriminación por discapacidad.
La carta de hoy describe cómo estos programas podrían violar específicamente la Ley de Vivienda Justa, el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Ley de Violencia contra las Mujeres. También resume las recientes impugnaciones de los programas “libre de delitos” y de “molestias” por parte del Departamento de Justicia y otras instancias –incluso en Hesperia, California y Anoka, Minnesota– que han dado lugar a la revocación o modificación sustancial de los programas, así como a importantes indemnizaciones económicas para las personas afectadas.
La carta también explica que, aunque el objetivo de estos programas podría ser reducir la delincuencia, no hay pruebas que corroboren que logran esa meta. Por el contrario, como demuestran las recientes medidas de aplicación, estos programas suelen perjudicar de forma desproporcionada a los sobrevivientes de la violencia doméstica, niegan a las personas con discapacidad la igualdad de oportunidades para recibir servicios de emergencia y afectan de forma desproporcionada a las comunidades de color. Por ejemplo, una mujer afroestadounidense que vivía en Hesperia llamó a la policía a su casa porque no se sentía segura con su novio. El departamento del alguacil notificó a su casero las numerosas llamadas por disturbios domésticos y lo amenazó con acusarlo de un delito menor. El casero forzó entonces a la mujer y a sus hijos a abandonar su casa, obligándola en última instancia a desarraigar a su familia de la ciudad.
Para obtener más información sobre la División de Derechos Civiles, visite a Civil Rights Division | División de Derechos Civiles (justice.gov). Para obtener más información sobre la ADA, llame a la línea gratuita de información sobre la ADA del departamento al 800-514-0301 (TTY 833-610-1264) o visite a www.ada.gov. Las personas pueden denunciar la discriminación en materia de vivienda presentando una queja en línea en civilrights.justice.gov, llamando al departamento al 1-833-591-0291 o enviando un correo electrónico a [email protected]. También se puede reportar discriminación poniéndose en contacto con el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD, por sus siglas en inglés) llamando al 1-800-669-9777, o presentando una denuncia en línea en www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint.
Los componentes de subvención del departamento proporcionan una amplia gama de recursos para las fuerzas del orden público, tribunales, correccionales, tratamiento, reinserción, intercambio de información sobre justicia y socios comunitarios para abordar a los retos crónicos y emergentes de la justicia penal en todo el país. Por ejemplo, en diciembre de 2023, el departamento anunció su Hoja de Ruta para la Reducción de la Delincuencia Violenta, una ventanilla única para ayudar a las jurisdicciones locales a desarrollar, aplicar y evaluar estrategias para prevenir, intervenir y responder a la delincuencia violenta. El departamento también ofrece recursos de capacitación y asistencia técnica en una amplia variedad de ámbitos relacionados con la reducción de la delincuencia violenta. Para obtener información sobre subvenciones, capacitación y otros recursos, visite los sitios web de la Oficina sobre la Violencia contra la Mujer, la Oficina de Programas de Justicia y la Oficina COPS [Servicios Policiales Orientados a la Comunidad].
Effingham County Man Accused of Financial Exploitation of an ElderRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – An Effingham County man is facing multiple federal charges for accusations of defrauding and stealing more than $330,000 from an elderly individual.
A federal grand jury charged Edward L. Stief, Jr., 41, with five counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of monetary transaction in criminally derived property.
“Financial exploitation of vulnerable populations is deplorable, and the Department of Justice is committed to supporting victims and combatting elder abuse in its many forms against offenders intent on enriching themselves at another’s expense,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.
According to the charging document, Stief convinced the victim to appoint him as his Financial and Healthcare Power of Attorney in May 2023. In October 2023, Stief persuaded the victim to leave a nursing home facility and move into his full-time care. Stief was a signatory on the victim’s bank accounts, talked the victim into cashing out life insurance policies and deposited most of the victim’s money into Stief’s personal bank accounts.
“Seniors are a particularly vulnerable victim group and are often specifically targeted for financial fraud,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “Criminals who exploit this vulnerability can wreak havoc on elderly victims’ financial, psychological, and physical well-being. The FBI encourages anyone who believes they are a victim of fraud or knows a senior who may be, to immediately report the incident to law enforcement.”
Stief is in federal custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the federal courthouse in Benton.
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.
Convictions for wire and mail fraud are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and monetary transaction in criminally derived property is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The FBI Springfield Field Office is leading the investigation with support from the Effingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard is prosecuting the case.
The National Elder Fraud Hotline is a service from the U.S. Department of Justice that helps victims over 60 years report crimes and access resources. The hotline is available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. ET, at (833) 372-8311 or (833) FRAUD-11. Callers can remain anonymous, and translation services are available.
Dunn County, ND, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Minor ChildrenRead the Press Release
BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on August 14, 2024, United States District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor sentenced Jason Lathe Hutchinson, Age 54 of Dunn County, ND, to serve 450 months’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release for the charges of three counts of producing and eight counts of attempting to produce images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors.
In 2023, a report was made to law enforcement that Hutchinson was placing hidden cameras in bathrooms on his properties to capture images of minors in various states of nudity while going to the bathroom or entering/exiting the shower. A search warrant was obtained, and it was determined that Hutchinson had been engaging in this practice since 1992 and had captured images of at least eleven different minors, ranging from 5 to 17 years of age, in various states of nudity during that time. Hutchinson admitted to this conduct to both law enforcement and during an earlier change of plea hearing before the court.
“This long sentence is a fair one considering the shocking and predatory crimes at issue in this case, “The United States Attorney’s Office and our partners in law enforcement are committed to protecting North Dakota kids. We will continue to vigorously pursue child predators online and, in the community, and bring them to justice in federal court.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul special agents play a very important role in protecting the public from exploitation in all its forms, especially the sexual exploitation of children,” said Jamie Holt, HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “The sentence handed down to Hutchinson sends a clear message to predators that they will be held accountable, and they are subject to significant punishments for preying on the most vulnerable in our communities.”
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gary Delorme.
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Drug Trafficker Involved in High-Speed Chase with Spokane Police Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Juan Pablo Carrillo-Nava, 46, was sentenced on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 70 months in federal prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed information that Carrillo-Nava was a drug runner for a drug trafficking organization based in Mexico and operating in Eastern Washington.
On August 13, 2020, investigators arranged a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from the organization. When agents went to the location where the drug transaction was supposed to take place, Carrillo-Nava had not yet arrived. After an extended period, Agents went to a second location where the drug organization had conducted drug transactions in the past. Agents observed a green Honda Accord Carrillo-Nava had used previously.
Agents requested a Spokane Police Department (SPD) marked patrol unit respond to the second location. An SPD unit responded and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Instead of stopping, Carrillo-Nava sped off into a residential neighborhood, disregarding stop signs, and at times reaching speeds of 75 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour zone.
Carrillo-Nava eventually crashed his vehicle into an oncoming vehicle, which propelled his vehicle into a chain link fence in the front yard of a Spokane home. Carillo-Nava then took off running, pursued by several bystanders. He was taken into custody a short time later by SPD and DEA. Agents executed a search warrant on Carrillo-Nava’s vehicle and located $28,200 in cash, almost two pounds of heroin, and more than a ½ pound of methamphetamine.
“Drug trafficking presents a serious danger to families, neighborhoods, and residents in our community. Mr. Carrillo-Nava attempted to avoid arrest by recklessly speeding through neighborhoods, ignoring traffic signs, and disregarding posted speed limits. Even after crashing his vehicle, Mr. Carillo-Nava attempted to escape responsibility by running from police,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Working with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, we will continue to target large-scale drug trafficking organizations, hold their members accountable, and keep our communities safe and strong.”
“Our communities are safer when those who disregard the safety of others, through drug trafficking and reckless and violent behavior, are held accountable,” said Ron Deist, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, DEA Spokane District Office.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force in both Spokane and North Idaho. The Spokane Police Department also participated in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.
Depatman Jistis Jwenn yon Akò ak Jidisyè New Jersey pou rezoud Aksè Lang ak Envestigasyon ReprezayRead the Press Release
Depatman Lajistis te anonse jodi a ke li te rive jwenn yon akò ak sistèm Jidisyè New Jersey a pou amelyore aksè a sèvis tribinal pou moun ki gen yon konpetans limite nan Angle (LEP).
Akò sa a rezoud yon envestigasyon Divizyon Dwa Sivil Depatman Jistis la ak Biwo Avoka Ameriken pou Distri New Jersey a anba akizasyon ke Monmouth Vicinity Courts (MVC), yon pati nan sistèm jidisyè New Jersey a, te fè diskriminasyon kont itilizatè tribinal LEP yo akòz. orijin nasyonal yo ak reprezay kont yon anplwaye tribinal la ki te pote plent bay depatman an konsènan swadizan diskriminasyon sa a, an vyolasyon Tit VI Lwa sou Dwa Sivil 1964 (Tit VI).
“Moun ki gen konpetans limite nan anglè ka pèdi pitit yo, kay yo ak dwa fondamantal yo lè yo fè fas ak baryè lang nan sistèm tribinal nou yo,” Asistan Pwokirè Jeneral Kristen Clarke nan Divizyon Dwa Sivil Depatman Jistis la te di. “Divizyon Dwa Sivil la pral kontinye goumen pou asire ke tribinal yo retire baryè lang pou piblik la.”
Avoka Ameriken Philip R. Sellinger pou Distri New Jersey te di: “Distribisyon jistis san patipri ak ekitab se yon baz sistèm demokratik nou an. “Nou rete angaje pou asire ke tout pleyan nan New Jersey yo gen aksè egal a sistèm tribinal New Jersey kèlkeswa baryè lang yo. Akò sa a pral asire ke itilizatè nan tribinal la ki limite nan anglè pral gen aksè egal nan tribinal eta New Jersey nan Konte Monmouth.”
Tit VI entèdi diskriminasyon ras, koulè oswa orijin nasyonal pa moun k ap resevwa asistans finansye federal, tankou sistèm Jidisyè New Jersey a. Ankèt depatman an te dekouvwi baryè langaj ki te anpeche moun LEP ki gen aksè a sistèm tribinal la. Obstak sa yo enkli refize bay yon entèprèt pou asistans nan ranpli fòm yo, pa tradwi oswa eksplike dokiman enpòtan yo bay itilizatè tribinal yo ki LEP epi pa enfòme anplwaye yo nan yon fason adekwat sou règleman ak pwosedi aksè a lang.
Dapre akò a, sistèm Jidisyè New Jersey a pral tradwi fòm ak materyèl tribinal ki enpòtan anpil yo epi rann yo disponib pou distribisyon nan tribinal yo. Sistèm Jidisyè New Jersey a pral revize tou plan aksè a lang li pandan ane kap vini an, devlope fòmasyon obligatwa pou aksè a lang pou tribinal li yo, bay fòmasyon sou reprezay Tit VI, epi pibliye avi piblik ki esplike règleman Tit VI sou non reprezay ak pwosesis plent Tit VI pou lang ki pa anglè yo. Depatman an pral kontwole kondisyon sa yo ak lòt pou dezan. Lajistis New Jersey te dakò tou pou peye $89,718 nan domaj bay moun ki te swadizan soufri reprezay.
Ranfòsman Tit VI se pi gwo priyorite Divizyon Dwa Sivil la ak Biwo Avoka Ameriken an pou Distri New Jersey, epi tou de angaje yo pou asire moun yo ka pote plent oswa kolabore ak envestigasyon san reprezay. Gen plis enfòmasyon sou Divizyon Dwa Sivil la disponib sou sitwèb li a nan www.justice.gov/crt, epi enfòmasyon sou konpetans limite nan anglè ak Tit VI disponib nan www.lep.gov. Divizyon an bay enfòmasyon sou aksè a lang nan tribinal yo nan www.lep.gov/state-courts.
Manm piblik la ka rapòte vyolasyon dwa sivil posib yo nan civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Gen plis enfòmasyon sou aplikasyon dwa sivil yo nan Biwo Avoka Ameriken pou Distri New Jersey a, ki gen ladan Biwo Divizyon Dwa Sivil la, disponib nan www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
Cranston Man Sentenced to Twenty-Four Years in Federal Prison for Producing and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Cranston man was sentenced today to 24 years in federal prison for producing and possessing sexually explicit images and videos, including images and videos that he produced while victimizing a seven year old girl who had been left in his care, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Gregory Phillips, 42, pleaded guilty on January 31, 2024, to charges of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 288 months of incarceration to be followed by 10 years of federal supervised release.
Phillips previously admitted to the court that, on multiple occasions beginning in late 2021, he produced child pornography and molested a young girl left in his care. Court documents detail that, over a nine-month period of time, Phillips produced 61 images and four videos of child pornography while abusing his victim.
“It is hard to overstate the repugnance of this defendant’s conduct - not only did he betray the trust placed in him by sexually assaulting a young victim in his care, but he chose to memorialize that abuse for his own revolting gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Today, thanks to exceptional investigative work by Homeland Security, the Rhode Island State Police, and the Cranston Police Department, he faces a sentence that he has richly earned.”
Philips first came to the attention of law enforcement when members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force reviewed a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicating that an individual in Rhode Island had possessed and transferred child pornography. Further investigation by the ICAC Task Force and a Cranston Police Detective determined that the images and videos were being transferred from an account linked to Philips’s phone number.
A forensic review of images and videos located on cellphones seized from Philips by law enforcement resulted in the discovery of the images created by Phillips in the course of his abuse, as well as additional child pornography.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
The matter was investigated by the ICAC Task Force, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. United States Attorney Cunha extends his thanks to the Cranston Police Department for its support and assistance in this matter.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
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Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl Following His Release from PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A previously convicted felon pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his involvement in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy.
Ruben Depina, 24, of Rockland, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl; one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl; and three counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12, 2024. Depina was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in September 2023 and has remained in custody since.
In May 2023, a law enforcement officer – who previously worked in an undercover capacity – received a call from Depina who introduced himself as “Jake.” Depina told the officer that he recently got out of jail and was contacting his best customers because he was selling drugs again. Depina subsequently participated in four controlled sales in May and June 2023 during which he sold differing quantities of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for cash. Specifically, on or about May 8, 2023, Depina sold approximately 21 grams of fentanyl to the confidential informant; on or about May 16, 2023, Depina sold at least 40 grams of fentanyl to the informant; on or about May 25, 2023, Depina sold at least 40 grams of fentanyl to the informant; and on or about June 5, 2023, Depina sold at least 40 grams of fentanyl to the informant.
On June 11, 2023, local law enforcement observed a vehicle that Depina had used to participate in some of the controlled sales with the informant speeding in East Bridgewater. The vehicle sped off after being stopped by law enforcement. While being pursued, Depina’s vehicle collided with a van at an intersection. When law enforcement approached the vehicle, Depina was observed reaching towards the passenger side floor before complying with instructions to show his hands. Depina was immediately removed through the passenger side window and arrested. During a search of Depina’s vehicle, a loaded firearm, multiple cellphones, a digital scale and a satchel containing at least 20 grams of cocaine base were recovered.
On June 12, 2023, during a search of a residence and loft connected to Depina, over 400 grams of fentanyl, multiple cellphones, four firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia (including digital scales and cutting agent) and paperwork in Depina’s name were recovered.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; the Massachusetts State Police; the Suffolk, Plymouth and Bristol County Sheriff's Departments; and the Boston, Brockton, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Rockland and Westport Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Conspiracy and Fraud Charges Added Against Operator of Central California Bio-Lab and His Partner in Connection with Sale of Millions of Dollars in COVID-19 Test KitsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — The operator of a Reedley lab, who was indicted in November 2023, faces additional charges of conspiracy and wire fraud after a federal grand jury returned a 12-count superseding indictment today, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Jia Bei Zhu, 62, a citizen of China, was previously indicted for distributing adulterated and misbranded COVID-19 test kits in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and making false statements to authorities about his identity and involvement with the biolabs. The superseding indictment also charges Zhu’s romantic and business partner, Zhaoyan Wang, 38, a citizen of China, who operated the biolabs Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI) and Prestige Biotech Inc. (PBI) in Fresno and Reedley along with Zhu. UMI and PBI distributed COVID-19, pregnancy, and other types of test kits.
According to court documents, from August 2020 through March 2023, Zhu and Wang conspired to defraud buyers of UMI and PBI’s COVID-19 test kits. They imported hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits from Ai De Ltd., which was a company in China that they controlled, and falsely represented to the buyers that the test kits were made in the United States. They illegally imported the COVID-19 test kits, which they were not approved to import, by falsely declaring them as pregnancy test kits, which they were approved to import.
Zhu and Wang also falsely represented to the buyers that UMI and PBI could make up to 100,000 COVID-19 test kits per week in the United States and that the test kits were made in connection with other labs that were certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Finally, they falsely represented to the buyers that the test kits were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Zhu and Wang made over $1.7 million through their fraud.
When buyers requested to inspect UMI and PBI’s facilities in Fresno and Reedley, Zhu and Wang denied them access and fabricated reasons for the denial. The fabricated reasons included that the facilities were undergoing construction and renovation, and that proprietary and confidential information and technology was inside. In reality, however, they did not want the buyers to know that UMI and PBI were obtaining the COVID-19 test kits from China.
Zhu is currently detained in custody pending his federal trial. His next status conference is scheduled for Sept. 11, 2024. Wang is not in custody.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arelis Clemente, Joseph Barton, and Henry Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Zhu and Wang each face maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy and wire fraud charges, and an additional three years in prison for the distribution of adulterated and misbranded medical device charges. Zhu also faces another five years in prison for the false statements charge. Any sentences, 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. Zhu and Wang are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
23cr219.sup_.ind_.0815.pdfCompany Sentenced to Pay $6.5M Criminal Fine for Bid Rigging in Michigan Asphalt IndustryRead the Press Release
A Michigan company was sentenced today to pay a criminal fine of $6.5 million for its role in conspiracies to rig bids for asphalt paving services contracts in the State of Michigan.
Pontiac-based Asphalt Specialists LLC pleaded guilty for its conduct on Jan. 30. According to court documents and proceedings, the company participated in a conspiracy with Al’s Asphalt Paving Company Inc. (Al’s Asphalt) and its employees from March 2013 through November 2018. The company also participated in a separate conspiracy with F. Allied Construction Company Inc. (Allied) and its employees from July 2017 through May 2021.
Each conspiracy operated in much the same way: the co-conspirators coordinated each other’s bid prices so that the agreed-upon losing company would submit intentionally non-competitive bids. These bids gave customers the false impression of competition when, in fact, the co-conspirators had already decided among themselves who would win the contracts.
“When companies choose to cheat rather than compete, they can expect to pay substantial, punitive criminal fines,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will not hesitate in our shared mission to ensure those who violate the antitrust laws do not benefit from their crimes, particularly when those crimes affect critical infrastructure for our country.”
“The sentence imposed today should serve as a significant deterrent for anyone who chooses corporate greed over open and fair competition for transportation projects,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Licari Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Midwestern Region. “Our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners and the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division is unwavering as we continue to pursue and uncover corrupt conduct and hold companies that intentionally engage in wrongdoing accountable.”
“Asphalt Specialist LLC’s sentence reflects the seriousness of conduct that undermines the competitive process,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Office of the Inspector General. “This sentencing represents a win for the USPS and for all law enforcement agencies who work together to protect the competitive process and to ensure that justice is served.”
Asphalt Specialists LLC is one of three companies that have been charged as part of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the asphalt paving services industry. Al’s Asphalt pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a fine of $795,661.81 on July 31. Allied also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Six individuals also have been charged as part of the investigation.
DOT-OIG and USPS OIG investigated the case.
The Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office is prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations.
Coeur d’Alene Man Convicted of Multimillion Dollar Accounts Receivable Factoring SchemeRead the Press Release
COEUR D’ALENE – A federal jury convicted Douglas Worman, 63, of Coeur d’Alene, of 17 counts of wire fraud after a six-day trial, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit today. The jury acquitted Worman of five separate counts of bank fraud.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Worman owned and operated Worman Forest Management, a Coeur d’Alene-area forestry management company. In 2010, Worman, through his company, entered into a factoring agreement with J.S. Richards Forestry Management to sell millions of dollars of Worman Forest Management’s accounts receivable that were based on invoices for work the business had provided to its customers. Factoring is a form of short-term financing in which a business sells its accounts receivable to a third-party at a discount. In a factoring transaction, the seller of an invoice obtains immediate funding from a buyer, and the buyer of an invoice earns a fee for providing the up-front financing.
According to court records, beginning in at least 2015 and continuing through September 2018, Worman submitted inflated and entirely false and fraudulent invoices to J.S. Richards Forestry Management for factoring, purportedly for work Worman’s business had performed for its customers. Between June 2018 and September 2018, Worman submitted more than $2 million in false and fraudulent invoices for factoring to J.S. Richards Forestry Management. Those invoices claimed to be for actual work performed by Worman Forest Management for its customers, but, in reality, the invoices were for amounts that were inflated and entirely fictitious. As a result of Worman’s fraud scheme, Worman fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million from J.S. Richards Forestry Management.
“I extend my gratitude to the jurors who diligently performed their civic duty and gave careful consideration to the evidence in this complex case,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “This case demonstrates the commitment and skill of our prosecutors, staff, and law enforcement partners. We will continue to root out fraud by following the facts wherever they lead.”
“Fraud schemes may not be violent, but victims can suffer staggering losses from such crimes, which is why the FBI will seek accountability and justice,” said Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Even if there’s an association or a relationship built on trust between two parties, always thoroughly research an investment opportunity, and report any potential fraud to the FBI.”
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye accepted the jury’s verdict on August 13, 2024, and scheduled Worman to be sentenced on December 10, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene. Worman faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Sean Mazorol are prosecuting this case.
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Citizen of Mexico Sentenced to 235 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Guadalupe Reyes, Jr., 50 years old, a citizen of Mexico living in Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.
Reyes was sentenced to 235 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on three occasions between August and October 2022, Reyes oversaw the shipment of more than 3,000 fentanyl pills through the U.S. mail from the Northern District of Indiana to a buyer in Texas. Reyes participated in phone calls with the buyer to negotiate the amount and price of the pills, and then recruited and compensated co-defendant, Jerry Edwards, to mail the pills from various locations within the Northern District of Indiana. Reyes was arrested in November 2022, after arranging a person-to-person sale of 10,000 fentanyl pills. In total, Reyes distributed over 1,400 grams of fentanyl.
“This case demonstrates that drug traffickers will use every available means - including the U.S. mail – to distribute their illegal product throughout the country. My Office, in partnership with the DEA and other agencies, will investigative and prosecute all persons who engage in the illegal narcotics trade,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “These coordinated efforts are particularly important when fentanyl, a substance that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin, is being trafficked.”
“Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing our country. Often found in fake pills, illicit fentanyl was responsible for almost 70% of the nearly 111,000 fatal drug overdoses and poisonings in our country last year. One fake pill containing 2 milligrams of illicit fentanyl is enough to kill,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alfred A. Cooke III. “Together with its partners from the St. Joseph County Police Department, Mishawaka Police Department, South Bend Police Department, Indiana State Police, Elkhart County ICE Unit, and other federal agencies, the DEA continues its pursuit of the cruel and wicked who are fueling northern Indiana with this poison we call fentanyl. Today’s federal sentencing in South Bend should be a sign that drug trafficking – and fentanyl - are not welcomed here. The collaborative spirit among law enforcement in northern Indiana is strong and we remain committed to the destruction of drug trafficking organizations in our region.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service, the St. Joseph County Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, the South Bend Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the Elkhart County ICE Unit and the DEA North and South-Central Laboratories. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Joel Gabrielse.
Chester County Man Charged Federally for Sexual Abuse of Seven Young Children and for Recording Their AbuseRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Jason James Cain, 49, of Oxford, Pa., has been charged by indictment with seven counts of manufacture and attempted manufacture of child pornography, and two counts of possession of child pornography.
The charges arise out of the defendant’s alleged sexual abuse and exploitation of seven minor children in his care over more than a 3½ year period, including exposing himself to the children, touching both himself and the children in a sexual manner, having the children touch him, and using various cameras to record the children as they used the toilet. The victims ranged in age from two to nine years old.
At the time that he allegedly committed these child sex crimes, the defendant was employed by the United States Army Research Laboratory. Cain has been incarcerated at the Chester County Prison since his arrest in December 2023 on related state charges.
If convicted of the federal charges, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of five years of supervised release up to a lifetime of supervised release, and monetary penalties of up to $434,000. He would also be required to register under the Sex Offender and Notification Act (SORNA) as a child sex offender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office’s Chester County Detectives, and the Pennsylvania State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
California Law Firm and Senior Managers Settle False Claims Act Allegations Regarding Misuse of Paycheck Protection Program Loan FundsRead the Press Release
The Bloom Firm, a California law firm, and Lisa Bloom and Braden Pollock, members of the firm’s senior management, have agreed to pay a total of $274,000 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly providing false information in support of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application submitted by The Bloom Firm.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to the millions of Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. In December 2020, Congress approved funding for a “second draw” of PPP loan funds, which became available to borrowers beginning in January 2021. An entity’s first PPP loan is often referred to as a “first draw” PPP loan. When applying for forgiveness of any PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their applications, including that they spent the PPP loan funds on eligible expenses, such as payroll.
The United States alleged that, at the direction and with the assistance of Bloom and Pollock, The Bloom Firm sought and obtained forgiveness of the firm’s first draw PPP loan by falsely certifying that the firm used the PPP loan funds for eligible payroll expenses. The United States contended that The Bloom Firm used a portion of its PPP loan to pay several employees who were ineligible to receive PPP funds or did not work for the firm during the covered period of the loan. As a part of the settlement announced today, The Bloom Firm will pay $204,200.34, and Bloom and Pollock will each pay $35,384.49.
“PPP loans were intended to provide critical relief to small businesses,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to pursuing those who misused this taxpayer funded program.”
“Attorneys have a duty to follow the law to the letter – especially when it comes to government programs aiding individuals and businesses impacted by COVID-19,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “This settlement reaffirms my office’s commitment to affirm and uphold the integrity of pandemic-assistance programs.”
The settlement resolved claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Liberty Law Office Inc. and is captioned U.S. ex rel. Liberty Law Office Inc. v. The Bloom Firm et al., Dkt. No. 21-cv-06279 (C.D. Cal.). Liberty Law Firm Inc. will receive a total of approximately $44,000 in connection with the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Office of General Counsel and the SBA Office of the Inspector General.
Trial Attorney F. Elias Boujaoude of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Kollitz for the Central District of California handled the matter.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international actors committing civil and criminal fraud and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
SettlementCalabasas Law Firm and Senior Managers Settle False Claims Act Allegations Regarding Misuse of COVID-19 Business Loan FundsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The Bloom Firm, a Calabasas-based law firm, and Lisa Bloom and Braden Pollock, members of the firm’s senior management, have agreed to pay a total of $274,000 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly providing false information in support of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application submitted by The Bloom Firm.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to the millions of Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. In December 2020, Congress approved funding for a “second draw” of PPP loan funds, which became available to borrowers beginning in January 2021. An entity’s first PPP loan is often referred to as a “first draw” PPP loan. When applying for forgiveness of any PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their applications, including that they spent the PPP loan funds on eligible expenses, such as payroll.
The United States alleged that, at the direction and with the assistance of Lisa Bloom and Braden Pollock, The Bloom Firm sought and obtained forgiveness of the firm’s first draw PPP loan by falsely certifying that the firm used the PPP loan funds for eligible payroll expenses. The United States contended that The Bloom Firm used a portion of its PPP loan to pay several employees who were ineligible to receive PPP funds or did not work for the firm during the covered period of the loan. As a part of the settlement announced today, The Bloom Firm will pay $204,200.34, and Lisa Bloom and Braden Pollock will each pay $35,384.49.
“Attorneys have a duty to follow the law to the letter – especially when it comes to government programs aiding individuals and businesses impacted by COVID-19,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “This settlement reaffirms my office’s commitment to affirm and uphold the integrity of pandemic-assistance programs.”
“PPP loans were intended to provide critical relief to small businesses,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to pursuing those who misused this taxpayer funded program.”
The settlement resolved claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Liberty Law Office, Inc. and is captioned U.S. ex rel. Liberty Law Office Inc. v. The Bloom Firm et al., Dkt. No. 21-cv-06279 (C.D. Cal.). Liberty Law Firm Inc. will receive a total of approximately $44,000 in connection with the settlement.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and the SBA Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Kollitz of the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section and Trial Attorney F. Elias Boujaoude of the Justice Department’s Civil Division handled the matter.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international actors committing civil and criminal fraud and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Bronx Resident Arrested for Possessing Automatic Weapons and Machinegun Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the arrest of FAREED DABIDAH for possessing numerous fully automatic firearms, semi-automatic firearms, silencers, and dozens of machinegun conversion devices in the Bronx. DABIDAH was arrested this morning and will be presented later today in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Fareed Dabidah built dozens of ghost guns – some by using 3D printing – at his apartment in the Bronx. He allegedly converted many of the ghost guns into fully automatic weapons and had everything he needed to convert many more. Machinegun conversion devices, like the 39 the defendant possessed, are particularly dangerous gun accessories that turn ordinary firearms into fully automatic weapons. Removing these extraordinarily dangerous devices from our streets is an important law enforcement goal, and this Office will keep working diligently with our law enforcement partners to keep these devices and other illegal guns out of New York City.”
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “NYPD investigators’ meticulous work in this case underscores our efforts to eradicate gun violence by stopping homemade, untraceable ghost guns and other illegal firearms from ever reaching New York City streets. I thank our federal colleagues for their partnership and their continued dedication to our shared public safety mission.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint:1
Beginning as early as October 2022, DABIDAH ordered from various online retailers the components needed to 3D print and assemble numerous privately made firearms, which are commonly referred to as “ghost guns.” On August 15, 2024, law enforcement agents conducted a search of DABIDAH’s apartment, pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant. During the execution of the warrant, law enforcement officers found, among other things, approximately 39 machinegun conversion devices; 14 completed ghost guns, including six with machinegun conversion devices installed; five partially assembled, 3D printed assault rifles, including two with machinegun conversion devices installed; two firearms silencers; two 3D printers; and various magazines and ammunition for use in the recovered firearms.
A “machinegun conversion device” is an item that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon by circumventing the weapon’s intended cycle. Colloquially, machinegun conversion devices for handguns are frequently referred to as “Glock switches” and ones for assault rifles are referred to as “auto sears.” Federal law prohibits the unlicensed possession of machineguns, a term that includes machinegun conversion devices.
The photographs below show many of the firearms recovered during the search of DABIDAH’s residence this morning, including 3D printed handguns and assault rifles, and a handgun and assault rifle with machinegun conversion devices installed.
3D Printed Handguns and Assault Rifles
9mm Ghost Gun with Glock Switch
Assault Rifle with Auto Sear
* * *
DABIDAH, 22, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of possession of a machinegun, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work the NYPD and further thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance in the investigation.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Jones is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
1 As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Billings felon sentenced to prison for illegal possession of firearmRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after he admitted to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Francisco Jose Nava, 31, pleaded guilty in March to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on Aug. 21, 2023, Nava had a warrant out for his arrest, and law enforcement observed him in a pickup truck in Billings. Officers attempted to pull over Nava, but he fled. Law enforcement stopped Nava’s truck through a maneuver and saw him reaching around the truck’s interior. Inside the truck, law enforcement found a .40-caliber handgun on the front passenger seat. Nava had .40-caliber ammunition on his person. Nava was prohibited from possessing firearms because of previous felony convictions and was on supervision for a felony offense at the time.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Montana Highway Patrol and Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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2024 DC Violent Crime Rate Decrease: A Fact SheetRead the Press Release
• Media outlets have recently reported that violent crime is down dramatically in the District of Columbia. Overall, violent crime is down 35% and on trend to be at its lowest level since MPD began reporting the number roughly 20 years ago. Carjackings involving firearms are down 55%.
• Policing and Prosecution can influence violent crime numbers, but it cannot control them. Here is what the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has been doing to influence these numbers:
- In early 2022, our law enforcement partners formed investigative teams cross-staffed with federal law enforcement agents and MPD officers. Our Office dedicated specific prosecutors to support these teams in building federal cases against drivers of gun violence.
- In April 2022, we launched a daily review by our Office, federal law enforcement partners, and MPD of every firearms arrest in the District of Columbia to determine whether a basis exists for federal prosecution, and, if a basis exists, whether the data suggests the person arrested is a driver of gun violence who should be prosecuted federally. This coordinated review of those arrested with illegal firearms still occurs every day.
- We dedicated resources to using 21st century investigative techniques to develop digital and forensic evidence tying our most prolific drivers of violence to dozens of violent crimes.
- We used sophisticated data analysis to determine where large-scale investigations should occur and which individuals should be subject to them.
• In mid-2023, our Office began announcing a series of prominent federal cases aimed at violent crews engaged in carjackings, shootings, illegal firearms possession, and drug trafficking resulting from these investigations.
• Simultaneously, our Office continued to prosecute roughly 90% of the most serious violent felony arrests at the time of arrest and continued to investigate the limited number that could not be charged at the time of arrest.
• Because one homicide is one too many and one carjacking is one too many, the Office continues to innovate and refine its approach in homicide and carjacking investigations, leveraging new technology with a goal of each new investigation being better and more efficient than the last.
• The steep drop in violent crime we have seen in the first half of 2024 is good news, but our Office remains firmly focused on doing everything we can to continue this trend. We have a number of important ongoing investigations designed to keep the community safe, and every week we remove from our community known drivers of gun violence.
• To keep up the momentum, we need a whole of community response, including addressing the root causes of crime and maintaining a community-based intervention system that deescalates conflict before it results in violence.
- In early 2022, our law enforcement partners formed investigative teams cross-staffed with federal law enforcement agents and MPD officers. Our Office dedicated specific prosecutors to support these teams in building federal cases against drivers of gun violence.
18 Motorcycle Club Members Indicted for Armed Assaults Against RivalsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eighteen members and associates of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club have been indicted by a federal grand jury for a series of armed assaults against members of rival motorcycle clubs.
A law enforcement operation conducted today resulted in 15 arrests along with the execution of seven search warrants; two of the defendants were already in custody. More than a dozen law enforcement agencies were involved in the operation that also resulted in the seizure of more than 40 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, body armor and a marijuana grow operation. According to the indictment, Pagan’s is a violent criminal organization that engaged in racketeering, an enterprise that involved illegal drug trafficking. Pagan’s maintains chapters in numerous states, including multiple active chapters in Missouri and Kansas.
Christopher W. McGowen, also known as “Mac,” 40, of Platte City, Mo.; Arthur L. Reynolds III, also known as “Straight Edge,” 48, and Jarrid A. Hammer, also known as “Hammer,” 45, both of Independence, Mo.; Jeremiah Z. Hahn, also known as “Pass Out,” 41, and John J. Hahn, also known as “Krazy Legs,” 46, both of Cameron, Mo.; Charles E. Smith, Jr., also known as “Crash,” 38, and James W. Prettyman, also known as “Rugby,” 42, both of Blue Springs, Mo.; Mark A. Cottman, also known as “One Shot,” 49, of Kansas City, Mo.; Bryan S. Fletcher, also known as “Fletch,” 48, and Mark A. Crump, also known as “Navajo,” 54, both of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Jeffrey S. Hannah, also known as “Got-It,” 42, of Grain Valley, Mo.; Eric M. Forsyth, Jr., also known as “EZ,” 34, of Oak Grove, Mo.; Robert W. Miller, also known as “Flipper,” 46, and Brandon S. Hodge, also known as “Youngblood,” 25, both of Joplin, Mo.; Monty L. Mitchell, also known as “Smoke,” 58, of Windsor, Mo.; Alan M. Thornton, also known as “Bones,” 40, of Holden, Mo.; John Travis Fisher, also known as “T-Bone,” 51, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; and Graham S. Gattis, also known as “Dro,” 40, of Panama City, Florida, were charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 7, 2024.
The federal indictment was unsealed and made public today following the arrests of the defendants.
The indictment alleges that Pagan’s is territorial and protects its territory from rival motorcycle clubs through violence and intimidation. The primary rivals to Pagan’s in Missouri include the Hells Angels, Outlaws, El Forastero, Galloping Goose, Sons of Silence, and the Bandidos. When members of rival motorcycle clubs were in areas Pagan’s believed to be under its control, says the indictment, Pagan’s threatened and intimidated them with violence. Pagan’s tried to eliminate other motorcycle gangs completely from their territory by assaulting, robbing, extorting and sometimes attempting to murder them, according to the indictment.
The indictment alleges a series of assaults were committed as part of Pagan’s racketeering enterprise.
McGowen and Jeremiah Hahn are charged together in one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. The indictment alleges they assaulted a rival motorcycle gang member with a dangerous weapon on May 30, 2022.
McGowen, Reynolds, Smith, Miller, Prettyman, Mitchell, Cottman, John Hahn, Gattis, Forsyth, Fletcher, Hannah, and Hodge are charged together in one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. The indictment alleges they assaulted a rival motorcycle gang member with a dangerous weapon on Sept. 17, 2022.
McGowen, Jeremiah Hahn, Smith, Fisher, Miller, Prettyman, Mitchell, and Thornton are charged together in one count of attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. The indictment alleges they attempted to assault a rival motorcycle gang member with a dangerous weapon on Sept. 3, 2022.
McGowen, Reynolds, Smith, Miller, Prettyman, Mitchell, Cottman, John Hahn, Gattis, Forsyth, Fletcher, Hannah and Hodge are charged together in one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The indictment alleges they discharged a firearm during an assault on Sept. 17, 2022.
Cottman, Hammer, and Crump are charged together in one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering. The indictment alleges they seriously injured a rival motorcycle gang member during an assault on July 20, 2023.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Today’s law enforcement operation included the FBI, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, the Blue Springs, Mo., Police Department, the Oak Grove, Mo., Police Department, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and FBI national assets and field offices in St. Louis, Mo., Las Vegas, Nev., and Knoxville, Tenn.