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19 July 2024
Former Detroit Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges and is Sentenced to Nine Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – On July 18, 2024, a former resident of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking charges and was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Court Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Andrew Brent Steel, 33.
According to evidence presented during a prior hearing, federal, state, and local law enforcement operating under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program in Beaver County conducted a joint investigation into a drug trafficking organization from Detroit, Michigan, that was distributing controlled substances in and around Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Several controlled purchase operations revealed that drug customers would call a cellular telephone to purchase drugs. After negotiating the sale, the dealer would direct customers to one of several drug runners from apartments in Ambridge or New Brighton, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement identified the members of the conspiracy through the interception of members transporting controlled substances from Detroit into Beaver County, in addition to controlled purchase operations. In total, law enforcement seized 130 grams of acetyl fentanyl, 330 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture, and 200 grams of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack. At the time of Steel’s arrest, he was found in possession of the cellular phone used in all controlled purchase operations.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Steel and his conspirators.
Federal jury convicts Rochester woman of drug related chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal jury has convicted Danielle Hampton, 50, of Rochester, NY, of maintaining a drug-involved premises, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katelyn M. Hartford and Nicholas M. Testani, who handled the case, stated that in September 2021, members of the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET) began investigating the drug trafficking activities at 304 Adams Street in Rochester. During the investigation, investigators made controlled purchases of cocaine from the residence. On November 18, 2021, a search warrant was executed at the residence, during which investigators encountered Hampton inside. During the search, a loaded firearm, approximately 9 grams of crack cocaine, $571.00 in cash, and drug paraphernalia was recovered from the residence. Two children were present during the search. Hampton was taken into custody at that time.
The verdict is the result of an investigation by the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET), which includes Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 9, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., who presided over the trial of the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Mississippi Man of Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A federal jury convicted a Harrison County man for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, George Wesley Washington, Jr., 32, was found to be in possession of over 2 kilograms of methamphetamine on March 16, 2023. Further investigation revealed that Washington had been engaged in drug trafficking activity for at least 16 months prior to the March 16th incident. Evidence related to both counts was presented to the jury, who found Washington guilty on both counts of his indictment.
Washington will be sentenced on October 24, 2024 and faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Meynardie and Erica Rose prosecuted the case.
Eight Members and Associates of the Zhoove Street Gang Indicted for Conspiring to Traffic Fentanyl and Cocaine, with Two of the Defendants Additionally Charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A total of twelve individuals from the Pittsburgh area have been charged with narcotics and firearms charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh returned a three-count Indictment naming Cody Duncan, 33, of Verona; Ronell Cathie, 30, of Pittsburgh; Melvin Gaines, 29, of Oakmont; Curtis Williams, 27, of Pittsburgh; Malik Martinez, 27, of Pittsburgh; Cayce Williams, 22, of Pittsburgh; Devaughn Faulk, 27, of Pittsburgh; and Antonio Arrington, 22, of Pittsburgh, as defendants. The Indictment was unsealed today following their arrests.
According to the Indictment, the defendants were members and associates of the Zhoove street gang that operated in and around the Allentown, Beltzhoover, Knoxville, and Mount Washington neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. From March 2024 until July 2024, the defendants allegedly participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, both Schedule II controlled substances. The Indictment also alleges that Arrington and Curtis Williams each possessed a 9mm handgun and ammunition after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of federal law.
Indictments against three related defendants—Morisee Williams, 41; Syere Franklin, 24; and Charles Stephens, 60; all of Pittsburgh—were also unsealed today, charging each defendant with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Finally, Oneal Olive, 31, of Pittsburgh, was arrested this morning during execution of search warrants in this investigation and charged by criminal complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. These defendants allegedly possessed a variety of firearms, including, as to Williams, an AR-style semiautomatic rifle, and, as to Stephens, a Polymer-80 privately made firearm or “ghost gun.”
“Street gangs like the so-called Zhoove gang terrorize our law-abiding neighbors who simply want to live in communities free of deadly drugs and guns,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Today’s arrests demonstrate our ceaseless commitment to protecting the people of western Pennsylvania, and we are grateful for the hard work and dedication of our partners at the FBI who stand shoulder to shoulder with us every day.”
“Armed traffickers who funnel this poison into our neighborhoods act with utter disregard for human life, and today’s arrests should send a clear message there are serious consequences for this illegal activity,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will remain relentless in our efforts to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who are a danger to our communities.”
The drug-trafficking conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. The felon-in-possession charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of each defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Kelly M. Locher are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment or complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Dixie County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing 12 Pounds of Methamphetamine with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Stephen Godbolt (50, Cross City) has pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute it. Godbolt faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 13, 2024.
According to court documents, on January 31, 2024, Godbolt sold three pounds of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. After the transaction, Godbolt was stopped by law enforcement in Dixie County. A search of his vehicle revealed approximately nine additional pounds of methamphetamine, all of which was intended for distribution.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST), and the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
Court Sentences Two California Men Caught with Approximately Five Kilograms of Fentanyl to 70 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On June 17, 2024, United States District Court Judge, Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Zeshan Malik Fayyaz and Lener Daneski Jairon-Solis, each to 70 months imprisonment each for Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.
Documents filed with the Court established that on October 8, 2022 a cooperating source, along with a Mobile County Sheriff's Deputy, acting in an undercover capacity, agreed to meet the two defendants in Mobile County to purchase 2 kilograms of fentanyl for $38,000 per kilogram. When the men arrived at the meet location, Jairon-Solis got out of the vehicle and went into the back seat of the vehicle and opened a suitcase and removed two kilograms of fentanyl in exchange for the cash. Law enforcement had arranged the cash to appear to contain $76,000 by putting $100 bills on the outside and mostly $1 bills on the inside, but in fact it was less than $10,000.
During the operation law enforcement observed what appeared to be more drugs in the suitcase. The vehicle was followed from the location and later stopped by law enforcement and officers recovered an additional three kilograms of fentanyl from the vehicle as well as the undercover buy money. The defendants were planning to deliver the additional three kilograms to Pensacola, Florida.
United States Attorney Sean P. Costello commended the investigators for their hard work and dedication in removing 5 kilograms of the deadly drug fentanyl from the community. Costello added that 2 milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose and thus this seizure surely saved many lives given the fentanyl overdose epidemic facing the nation. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Court Sentences Moss Point Woman Caught with Approximately Ten Pounds of Methamphetamine to 87 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On June 17, 2024, United States District Court Judge, Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Christian Ikenya Amir Lewis to 87 months imprisonment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 4 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Documents filed with the Court established that on January 22, 2020, officers with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force stopped a vehicle being by Lewis on Interstate 65 in Baldwin County. Pursuant to further investigation a canine gave a positive alert on the vehicle Lewis was driving. Inside the trunk of the vehicle officers found almost ten pounds of pure methamphetamine in a hidden compartment in a large speaker box.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys George F. May and John P. Hutchins III.
Court Sentences Colombian Drug Smuggler Caught with 1,550 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Colombian national was sentenced on July 17, 2024 to 65 months in prison for smuggling 1,550 kilograms of cocaine in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Edgar Parades Sanchez, pled guilty to the drug smuggling offense.
Documents filed with the court in connection with his guilty plea established that on November 7, 2023 while on routine patrol in the eastern Pacific Ocean, a marine patrol aircraft located a target of interest Go Fast Vessel (GFV) approximately 105 nautical miles south of Panama. United States Coast Guard Cutter Waesche was patrolling nearby and diverted to intercept the vessel.
The cutter Waesche launched its small boats and a helicopter to investigate. When the helicopter arrived on scene, the vessel went dead in the water. The small boats launched from cutter arrived on the scene and a team began boarding the GFV. The boarding team encountered four people on board the vessel, including Edgar Parades Sanchez. The GFV had no physical flag flown, no homeport on the hull, no registration numbers on the hull and no name on the hull. The master of the vessel made a claim of Costa Rican nationality for the vessel. The country of Costa Rica was contacted and Costa Rica could neither confirm nor deny the nationality of the vessel. The vessel was thus considered a Vessel Without Nationality under United States law.
The four people on board the vessel and the cocaine found on the GFV were removed to the USCG Cutter Waesche. The vessel was sunk by the Coast Guard due to it being a hazard to navigation due to its distance from land, the fact that there were no suitable tow points, no navigational lights, and there was excessive fuel onboard. The final at sea weight of the cocaine was 1,550 kilograms. The wholesale value of the cocaine seized in this case is conservatively valued at approximately 46 million dollars.
The three people on board the GFV with Sanchez were Abelardo Castellon, Jorge Escobar Mejia and Kainor Antoinio Nicolas Castellon. The three other drug smugglers were previously sentenced by the court.
The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Coconut Creek Man Charged with Robbing Boca Raton and Delray Beach BanksRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On July 18, 2024, the United States charged Courtney Mallory, 44 years of age, from Coconut Creek, Florida with the commission of two bank robberies: one occurring on June 5, 2024, at a Boca Raton Truist bank; and another occurring on July 12, 2024, at a Delray Beach Bank of America.
According to allegations in the filed criminal complaint, on June 5, 2024, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Mallory is alleged to have entered the Truist Bank on State Road 441, Boca Raton, Florida, brandishing what appeared to be a firearm and wearing a mask. Mallory demanded money from the bank employees, forcing bank tellers to take him to the vault. Mallory fled with thousands of dollars of U.S. currency, in a dark blue Nissan.
On July 12, 2024, Mallory is alleged to have committed a second bank robbery. On this date, Mallory entered the Bank of America on Jog Road in Delray Beach, Florida. Once again, Mallory was wearing a mask and brandishing what appeared to be a firearm. Mallory once again escaped with thousands of dollars in US currency again in a dark blue Nissan.
On July 17, 2024, FBI agents arrested Mallory at his Coconut Creek residence. At that location, and during a separate search of his dark blue Nissan, agents recovered the clothing and backpack Mallory wore during the robbery, a black pellet gun, and thousands of dollars in US currency, some of which were wrapped in Truist Bank and Bank of America bank bands.
Mallory appeared in West Palm Beach Federal Court on Thursday, July 18, 2024, for his initial hearing. He is scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing on July 25, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. before a United States Magistrate Judge in West Palm Beach, Florida.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Veltri and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-mj-8347.
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Cedar Park Man Sentenced for Dealing Firearms Without a License, Making False Statement to ATFRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – A Cedar Park man was sentenced in federal court in Austin to imprisonment for one year and one day, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for dealing in firearms without a license and making a false statement to ATF agents. The court also ordered forfeiture of 32 firearms.
According to court documents, Andrew Darley Pennington, 40, frequently used a gun broker website to advertise firearms shortly after he had purchased them. On Dec. 2, 2021, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant, seizing 32 firearms and approximately 18,430 rounds of ammunition from Pennington’s home. In the seven months prior to the search, Pennington had purchased more than 200 firearms.
At the time of the search, Pennington agreed to be interviewed by investigators. When asked by an ATF agent if he had shipped any firearms, Pennington falsely stated that he had not done so since 2016. In fact, he had shipped firearms to California and Nevada on a number of occasions during 2021.
“Federal law forbids anyone who is not properly licensed from engaging in the business of dealing in firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Dealing in firearms without a license is a serious, dangerous crime that our partners at ATF regularly investigate, and this office will prosecute.”
“Firearms dealing without licensing is a form of firearms trafficking which is a top investigative priority for ATF,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel for the ATF Houston Division. “We will continue to leverage both human resources and crime gun intelligence to tackle the issue. We know that these types of firearms contribute to the violence in our communities, and we will continue leveraging the partnerships that law enforcement has to address the dangerous and illicit activity of firearms trafficking.”
ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Castillo and Alan Buie prosecuted the case.
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Casper man arraigned for transportation of a minor, pleads not guiltyRead the Press Release
James Warren Martin, 38, of Casper, Wyoming, was arraigned on July 19, for transportation of a minor, in violation of federal law. Martin pleaded not guilty. A trial has been set for Sept. 23, 2024, before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl.
The State of Wyoming has also charged Martin with 17 felonies, including numerous allegations of sexual assault of a minor and sexual exploitation of children. These counts stem from assaults allegedly perpetrated upon the same victim as in this case. As indicated by a notice filed by the Natrona County District Attorney’s office in the state case, the state and federal prosecutions are proceeding in tandem.
If convicted, Martin faces 10 years to life imprisonment with five years to life of supervised release and up to a $5,000 assessment for Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This crime is being investigated by the FBI, Casper Police Department and the La Paz County Arizona Sheriff’s Office. The case is being federally prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case No. 23-CR-00005
Boston Man Arrested for Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was arrested today for unlawful possession of a machinegun.
James Thelwell-Mullen, 31, has been charged with one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun. Thelwell-Mullen made his initial appearance in federal court today and was ordered detained pending a hearing on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
According to the indictment, on or around April 28, 2023, Thelwell-Mullen unlawfully possessed a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch” – a device designed to enable a Glock semi-automatic pistol to fire automatically.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Boston Children's Hospital Anesthesiologist Arrested for Possession and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital has been arrested and charged in federal court in Boston with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Christopher Sheerer, 35, of Boston, has been charged with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Sheerer made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today and was detained pending a hearing on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
According to the charging documents, Sheerer is currently a fellow in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology at Boston Children’s Hospital and was previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. A federal investigation began in Baltimore into a member of a group on an encrypted messaging app that required users to upload nude imagery of children known to them. According to court documents, Sheerer was later identified as that user. Sheerer allegedly uploaded imagery of a child known to him to gain admission to that group.
Following a search last night at Sheerer’s residence in Boston, multiple chats were discovered on Sheerer’s phone, several of which allegedly contained pictures and videos appearing to be child pornography involving children as young as infants. A number of devices, including his phone, a tablet, and computers, were seized and are pending forensic analysis.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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 and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Districts of Maryland and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore and Harrisburg; and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Jessica Soto of the Major Crimes Unit are 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 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.
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.
Berkeley County Man Admits to Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Beau Thomas Shores, 42, of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, has admitted to the receipt of child pornography.
According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported suspicious activity on a cell phone to law enforcement. The investigation led to Shores and a search of his home, phones, and computers. Officers found thousands of images and videos depicting child pornography, some with children as young as 3 years old.
Shores faces at least 5 and up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by personnel from the FBI and the Ranson Police Department assigned to the West Virginia Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
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 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
3 Gang Members Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Their Roles in the Robbery and Fatal Shooting of Off-Duty LAPD OfficerRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Three members of a South Los Angeles street gang each were sentenced today to decades in prison for their roles in the robbery and fatal shooting in 2022 of Los Angeles Police Officer Fernando Arroyos.
In separate hearings today, United States District Judge Percy Anderson sentenced Luis Alfredo de la Rosa Rios, 30, a.k.a. “Lil J” and “Lil Malo,” to 50 years in federal prison and ordered him to pay $31,204.07 in restitution. Judge Anderson also sentenced Ernesto Cisneros, 25, a.k.a. “Gonzo” and “Spooky,” to 50 years in federal prison and ordered him to pay $28,604.07 in restitution. Finally, Jesse Contreras, 36, a.k.a. “Skinny Jack” and “Flaco,” was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison and ordered him to pay $31,204.07 in restitution.
At today’s hearing, Judge Anderson said, “The senseless loss of life is all too frequent in our community. It is literally ripping apart the fabric of our society. The sentence imposed today must send a message, not only to this defendant but to everyone, that if you choose to endanger our community by murdering, robbing, and trafficking in narcotics, there will be significant consequences.”
Rios, Contreras, and Cisneros – all members of the South Los Angeles-based Florencia 13 (F13) street gang – pleaded guilty in July 2023 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
“Gangs bring death and destruction, most often upon the very communities they claim to represent,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “These defendants coldly and callously murdered an innocent man who grew up in our community and returned home to give back to the city he loved. I hope the major sentences we announce today bring some degree of solace to Officer Arroyos’ family, friends, and colleagues. My office will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute gang violence.”
“Fernando Arroyos should be with us today, helping to protect a city he was ready and willing to give his life for. Yet he died in a way none of us could have imagined” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “With Officer Arroyos’ senseless killing, we lost a protector, and most importantly, his family lost someone who meant the whole world to them. The sentences handed down today are just and reinforce our commitment to ensuring public safety and holding those who terrorize our communities accountable.”
“Gang violence tears at the very fabric of our communities, causing immeasurable harm and suffering,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “Today's sentencing sends a clear message that acts of violence, especially against our dedicated law enforcement officers, will be met with the full force of justice. Officer Arroyos had a promising life ahead of him and chose to serve the community where he was raised, and we will forever remember his commitment and sacrifice. We are grateful for our local and federal partners' collaborative efforts in bringing these brazen criminals to justice and preventing them from preying on others in our communities.”
On the night of January 10, 2022, the defendants were driving in Rios’ truck around F13’s “territory” in the Florence-Firestone area of South Los Angeles, looking for people to rob. The defendants decided to rob Officer Arroyos because he was wearing gold chains around his neck. Arroyos was accompanied by his girlfriend – another victim who is identified in court documents as “A.M.” Contreras handed Rios a loaded gun. Cisneros, who accompanied Rios and Contreras in Rios’s truck, already possessed a loaded gun. Rios and Cisneros, both armed, then exited Rios’ truck.
Cisneros approached the off-duty officer, patted him down, and then took his chains and wallet, which contained Arroyos’ LAPD identification card. Rios approached A.M., patted her down and stole her property.
After robbing Arroyos, Rios and Cisneros opened fire. Arroyos was struck by a single bullet, which killed him.
Earlier the same day, Rios and Contreras committed armed robberies against two victims outside a bar within F13’s “territory” in the Florence-Firestone area.
Haylee Marie Grisham, 21, an F13 associate who was Rios’ girlfriend, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering for participating in the fatal robbery of Arroyos. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 9, at which time she will face a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter. The Los Angeles Police Department provided substantial assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Kathy Yu, Chief of Ethics and Post-Conviction Review, and Christopher C. Kendall of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
20-Year Prison Sentence Handed Down for Fourth of July MurderRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Brandon Smith, 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for the July 4, 2023, death of 43-year old Charles Stanton, of Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo ordered five years of supervised release and ordered him to register as a gun offender.
Smith pleaded guilty to second degree murder while armed on February 4, 2024. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 4:28 p.m. on July 4, 2023, police received a 911 call for a shooting in the unit bloc of Patterson Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C. Officers arrived to find Mr. Stanton lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was unconscious and not breathing. Despite all lifesaving efforts, Mr. Stanton succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 4:40pm. It was later determined he had sustained at least 13 gunshot wounds.
During the course of the investigation, detectives viewed video surveillance footage from locations near and around the crime scene that captured the defendant’s car in the unit block of Patterson Street, NE, prior to the shooting. At the time, the victim was sitting on a bicycle on the north side of the street interacting with someone in another vehicle. The video captured Mr. Stanton riding away from that vehicle and toward the defendant's car. A short time later, the defendant exited his car where he engaged the decedent in a conversation. After a few minutes of conversation, the defendant retrieved a handgun from his pants, moved a few steps toward Mr. Stanton and, as Mr. Stanton attempted to leave on the bicycle, extended his right arm toward Mr. Stanton. The surveillance video captured Mr. Stanton falling from the bicycle, to the ground, and never getting back up. The defendant walked toward Mr. Stanton and continued to shoot the victim who remained helpless and defenseless on the ground. No weapons were found on the decedent’s person or near his body. The defendant then reentered his vehicle and left the scene.
In reviewing the surveillance video, detectives were able to retrieve the license plate number on the defendant’s car which ultimately led to his identification and arrest.
This case was investigated by the MPD’s Homicide Branch. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke.
18 July 2024
Woman Who Threw over 13 Pounds of Methamphetamine from Car Sentenced to over 22 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who trafficked methamphetamine was sentenced today to 270 months in federal prison for possessing large quantities of methamphetamine.
Victoria Kay Oestereich, age 32, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 23, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after a prior conviction for a serious drug felony.
In 2023, Oestereich was traffic stopped by police in Waterloo, Iowa, while returning from her drug supplier in Des Moines, Iowa. When police tried to stop the car, the driver, Daniel Chisum, sped off, and Oestereich, a passenger in the car, threw over 13 pounds of methamphetamine from the car window. At the time of the traffic stop, Oestereich had over $11,000 of drug proceeds on her person and was on probation for a prior drug trafficking conviction. Oestereich sourced other large drug suppliers in the Iowa Falls and Waterloo area with methamphetamine.
Oestereich was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Oestereich was sentenced to 270 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Oestereich is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tri‑County Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-CR-2071.
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Woman Admits Multimillion-Dollar COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A North Carolina woman admitted conspiring to submit fraudulent applications leading to the issuance of 29 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling more than $3.5 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Lisa Smith, 61, of Cornelius, North Carolina, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court on July 17, 2024, to an information charging her with one count of bank fraud conspiracy.
According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in court:
In early 2021, Smith submitted PPP loan applications for two companies that she controlled. The applications included fake bank statements and fake IRS tax forms, and significantly overstated the companies’ number of employees and payroll expenses. Smith obtained $125,000 in PPP loans based on these fraudulent applications. Smith and her conspirators recruited individuals who owned companies with little or no operations to apply for PPP loans. Smith helped the recruited individuals submit PPP loan applications that contained fake bank statements and fake IRS tax forms, and that contained materially false representations about the companies’ number of employees and payroll expenses. Based on these fraudulent PPP loan applications, more than 25 PPP loans totaling more than $3.5 million were approved and funded. Smith received a percentage of the loan proceeds as compensation for her role.
The count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud is punishable by a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 21, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca; special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs in Philadelphia; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman and Jason M. Richardson, Attorney in Charge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Camden Office.
smith.information.pdfWilson man pleads guilty to drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Kevin S. Wise, Jr., 34, of Wilson, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, being a user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms, and being a felon in possession of firearms, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that on September 6, 2020, Wise was arrested following a traffic stop on a domestic complaint for two counts of Aggravated Harassment. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at his two residences on Youngstown Road in Wilson, including vehicles located on the properties. During the searches, investigators recovered 23 firearms, 18,446 rounds of ammunition, ammunition, firearms parts, approximately 374 grams of marijuana, a quantity of MDA, psilocybin mushrooms, two digital scales, and $2,717.00 in U.S. currency. Law enforcement also located 11 marijuana plants and observed multiple trail cameras positioned throughout the back yard, woods, and location of the marijuana plants. Wise admits that, at the time of his possession of the firearms, he was an unlawful user of marijuana and methamphetamine.
On August 1, 2022, investigators executed another search warrant at one of Wise’s Youngstown Road residences in Wilson. Wise was on federal pre-trial release at the time of the search. During the search, law enforcement recovered seven additional firearms, approximately 3,692 rounds of ammunition, numerous firearms parts and accessories, drug paraphernalia and suspected marijuana and THC products. Wise was convicted of a felony in Niagara County in October 2014 and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division; and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.
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Whitefish doctor admits defrauding Medicare and other federal health programsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Whitefish physician accused in connection with alleged schemes to defraud government health programs admitted on Wednesday to falsely billing Medicare and other health programs in a telemedicine scheme that resulted in more than $39 million in false billing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said today.
The defendant, Ronald David Dean, 64, had an initial appearance and pleaded guilty to an information filed on June 24 charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges are part of the Justice Department’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. Dean faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Dec. 4. Dean’s release was continued pending further proceedings.
A plea agreement filed in the case calls for Dean to pay at least $780,509 restitution.
The government alleged in court documents that Dean, a licensed physician, was paid by a telemedicine company to sign orders for durable medical equipment that patients did not need. Dean then fraudulently charged Medicare, CHAMPVA and the Railroad Retirement Board programs for telemedicine office visits that did not occur. The telemedicine company also used Dean’s information to prescribe unneeded and unnecessary covid tests to patients. The conspiracy ran from about January 2022 until July 2023. In total, Dean’s orders resulted in false billing to government health care programs of more than $39 million.
The case was part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the enforcement action, seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana worked with the Department’s Criminal Division and the following law enforcement organizations to investigate and prosecute the case filed during the enforcement period: the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General and FBI.
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Virginia Man Sentenced for Selling Ghost Guns in West VirginiaRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Brandon Michael Reckert, 30, of Purcellville, Virginia, was sentenced to 70 months for possessing and selling privately manufactured and unregistered firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Reckert was advertising and selling privately manufactured firearms, also known as ghost guns, on social media. Reckert’s home and vehicle were searched, where officers found multiple firearms, firearms parts, ammunition., and tools believed to be used in the manufacturing of the ghost guns.
Reckert was ordered to forfeit dozens of firearms, firearms parts, rounds of ammunition, and tools.
Reckert will serve three years of supervised release once released from prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office; and the Loudon County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Office investigated.
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.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Vallejo Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal Agents with a Firearm and VehicleRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sean Thomas Delapp, 37, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today to assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Delapp assaulted two FBI special agents by pursuing them with his car, pulling up alongside them, and aiming a firearm at them through the window, making a recoil motion with the firearm. A subsequent search warrant at his residence resulted in the discovery of a Glock 29 firearm, ammunition, and various firearm parts. Delapp is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony evasion offense.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
Delapp is scheduled to be sentenced on October 31, 2024. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
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 U.S. Department of Justice 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.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into Fatal Police Shooting of Clifford BrooksRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer for his role in a January 24, 2024, fatal shooting of 41-year-old Clifford Brooks, of Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident. This included a review of physical evidence, surveillance video footage, body-worn camera footage, audio and visual recordings from an ambulance, witness accounts, autopsy records, and MPD reports.
The evidence shows that early on the morning of January 24, 2024, an on-duty MPD officer encountered Mr. Brooks outside of a 7-Eleven on Benning Road, Northeast. The officer requested that an MPD Crisis Intervention Officer (CIO) be sent to the scene. MPD Officer Claude Jackson, a trained CIO, arrived at around 6:45 a.m., and observed indicators that Mr. Brooks was experiencing a mental health crisis. Officer Jackson stayed on the scene with Mr. Brooks for roughly an hour before Mr. Brooks ran out of the back of the 7-Eleven. Officers found Mr. Brooks hiding in a shed behind a nearby home. Officer Jackson requested assistance and assembled officers to extricate Mr. Brooks. A group of MPD officers removed Mr. Brooks from the shed with minimal force at roughly 8:30 a.m. Mr. Brooks, who remained conscious but largely non-responsive and in an altered mental state, was placed next to a police car. Firefighters with the District’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department arrived in an ambulance to transport Mr. Brooks for medical attention.
The ambulance drove towards the District’s Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Northwest. MPD officers, including Officer Jackson, followed behind the ambulance. While the ambulance was driving on North Capitol Street, NW, Mr. Brooks, who was not handcuffed, began attacking the firefighter seated in the back of the ambulance with him. When the ambulance stopped, Mr. Brooks pushed the firefighter out of the ambulance. The trailing MPD officers got out of their cruisers and approached Mr. Brooks. Mr. Brooks tried to grab the first responding officer’s upper body. Officer Jackson then approached Mr. Brooks and deployed his Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray. The spray struck Mr. Brooks but did not debilitate him. Mr. Brooks then fled into oncoming traffic on North Capitol Street.
As he fled, Mr. Brooks pulled at the doors of some of the cars that were slowly driving by. Officer Jackson and two other officers pursued him on foot. Mr. Brooks hid under a box truck that was idling in the traffic. The officers surrounded the truck and ordered the driver not to move and to turn the vehicle off. After a few moments, Mr. Brooks picked up a metal object that was on the ground next to the truck. The officers told Mr. Brooks to “drop it.” Mr. Brooks charged at Officer Jackson with the metal object in his right hand. Officer Jackson said that Mr. Brooks had a knife and ordered him to “drop it” two more times. Officer Jackson backtracked with his firearm out. As Mr. Brooks continued to lunge towards Officer Jackson with the metal object in his hand, Officer Jackson fired his service weapon at Mr. Brooks. Officer Jackson shot at Mr. Brooks six times. Mr. Brooks was declared dead on the scene. An autopsy found that Mr. Brooks had been struck by four bullets, including a fatal shot to the chest.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Jackson is criminally liable for Mr. Brooks’ death.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. MPD’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces “Operation Flip the Switch” Aimed at Machinegun Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today, U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson announced “Operation Flip the Switch,” an initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices, colloquially known as “switches.”
“The violence that we are seeing in our communities is flagrant and unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. “Machinegun conversion devices have no place in our community. Though small in size, a switch is deadly, and a lot of innocent people can be injured with one pull of the trigger. People should feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods, and public spaces. That is why we will use every tool in our toolbox to aggressively prosecute those who possess such deadly devices.”
“The proliferation of machinegun conversion devices adds another, even more deadly, layer to the firearms violence in our community” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. “These devices, in the wrong hands, can have catastrophic consequences. They easily convert handguns into fully automatic weapons that can fire a remarkable number of shots in a split second. They are an acute danger to our communities, illegal under federal law and a critical priority in our efforts to combat violent crime. Keeping these illegal firearms off the streets of Alabama and the citizens free from the fear of their usage is one of our highest priorities. ATF will continue to aggressively work with our partners to take these devices off the streets.”
About an inch long, auto sears, most commonly known as a Glock switch, may be made of metal or plastic and can be printed on commercially available 3D printers. The device fits onto the back of a Glock and allows the user to switch between semi-automatic and fully automatic. When engaged, the switch overrides the trigger mechanism to function as a machine gun.
The National Firearms Act classifies the switch itself as a machinegun.
At Thursday’s press conference, the U.S. Attorney announced that as part of Operation Flip the Switch, they are partnering with Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama to combat the proliferation of these illegal devices.
Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama will offer cash rewards for information resulting in a warrant being issued or an arrest being made of someone who possesses Glock Switches or 3D printers being used to manufacture them. To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama. Tipsters can call 205-254-7777. Alternatively, Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama encourages you to go to their website to submit a tip or click to download their P3 app. Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, and all tipsters are anonymous.
Operation Flip the Switch falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
U.S. Attorney Secures 26 Year Prison Sentence for Gambling-Fueled Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison for orchestrating a violent home invasion against his father-in-law and robbing a bank in order to fuel a severe gambling addiction.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on September 14, 2021, Marc Candelaria, 36, staged a home invasion targeting his own father-in-law, John Doe, and was assisted by an unknown co-conspirator who acted as the actual intruder. The intruder entered the home undetected late at night and attempted to force John Doe to open a safe at gunpoint. When John Doe was unable to open the safe, the intruder made Doe write a $23,000 check.
After writing the check, John Doe was brutally beaten, sustaining serious head injuries that caused him to lose consciousness. John Doe was found the next day by his daughter and transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Just hours after the home invasion, Candelaria attempted to deposit the stolen check into his personal bank account, however the bank placed a hold on the check due to what appeared to be two separate handwritings and alerted the victim’s wife to a possibly fraudulent check.
On October 30, 2021, Candelaria robbed a Bank of America branch using a typewritten demand note that threatened cartel violence. The bank teller, fearing for his life, gave Candelaria the cash from his register.
The investigation revealed Candelaria committed both crimes to fund a severe gambling addiction. Between September 2020 and May 2022, he visited a local casino approximately 169 times, losing large sums of money.
On March 27, 2024, Candelaria was convicted by a federal jury of bank fraud. On April 10, 2024, Candelaria entered into a plea agreement on the bank robbery charge.
Upon his release from prison, Candelaria will be subject to five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel A. Hurtado and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis Host Safe Housing SummitRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis hosted a summit today focused on promoting the health, safety, and civil rights of tenants living in HUD-assisted housing. The program focused on combatting sexual misconduct and eliminating environmental hazards in HUD-assisted housing.
The summit, which took place at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, was part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s and Inspector General’s complementary initiatives to promote safe housing strategies related to environmental justice, and how to recognize and report sexual harassment and misconduct in housing.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, free from exposure to environmental hazards, and without being subjected to sexual harassment and assault by those with control over their housing. We convened this summit today to raise awareness that all New Jerseyans have protections under federal law and that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our partners at HUD OIG, will continue to work every day to eradicate sexual harassment and environmental injustices in housing throughout the state.”
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger
“Through summits like the one we cohosted today with U.S. Attorney Sellinger, HUD OIG remains focused on raising awareness that HUD tenants and applicants seeking housing have a right to housing that is environmentally safe and and free from sexual misconduct,” Inspector General Oliver Davis said. “We remain committed to working closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively investigate violations of federal law in these areas and pursue bad actors who victimize vulnerable people receiving HUD assistance.”
Attendees included representatives from organizations who routinely work with vulnerable populations most likely to be impacted by environmental injustices, such as lead-based paint in their homes, or subjected to sexual harassment in housing by their landlords, property managers, or others with control over housing. The organizations represented included legal services offices, fair housing organizations, civil rights groups, shelters, and social service organizations.
If you or someone you know has information about environmental hazards and unsafe conditions in HUD-assisted housing or has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation – even if the events occurred years ago – report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit the website at www.hudoig.gov/hotline. You may also file a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint.
Individuals who believe they have been victims of environmental injustices, sexual harassment in housing, or discrimination may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 1-855-281-3339 or visit the website at www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement.
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Two Paterson Residents Admit Conspiring with Physician to Distribute OpioidsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Paterson, New Jersey, residents today admitted conspiring with a doctor to distribute opioids without a legitimate medical reason, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jasmine McGregor, 32, and Jhenelle Lewis, 35, both of Paterson, each pleaded guilty this week before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to one count of knowingly and intentionally conspiring and agreeing with others, including Dr. Lisa Ferraro, of Hillsdale, New Jersey, to distribute oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
McGregor and Lewis each participated in a conspiracy with Ferraro to prescribe oxycodone, an opioid pain medication, to individuals who were not actually Ferraro’s patients and whom Ferraro never physically examined or questioned about symptoms to determine whether there was a legitimate medical need for oxycodone. McGregor conspired with Ferraro from July 2022 to Oct. 3, 2023, and Lewis conspired with Ferraro from January 2019 to September 2023.
Over the course of the conspiracy with McGregor, Ferraro wrote prescriptions for approximately 630 20mg oxycodone pills and approximately 11,410 30mg oxycodone pills. Over the course of the conspiracy with Lewis, Ferraro wrote prescriptions for approximately 9,450 30mg oxycodone pills.
Ferraro has also been charged with the same offense. The charges and allegations with regard to Ferraro are merely accusations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances to which McGregor and Lewis pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for McGregor on Nov. 20, 2024, and Lewis on Dec. 9, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ray A. Mateo and Aaron L. Webman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
mcgregor.information.pdf lewis.information.pdfTwo Lansing Men Sentenced on Gun Charges After Threatening Episode with an Assault Rifle at A Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that two Lansing-area men, Quentin Earl Booth, 39, and Derrick Smith Jr., 30, were sentenced to prison for possessing an assault rifle and pistol in a convenience store. Booth was sentenced today to 71 months and three years’ supervised release. Smith pleaded guilty in March and was sentenced to 57 months on July 2.
“Booth and Smith inflicted sheer terror on people just carrying out their daily lives,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “There is no acceptable level of violence. Those driving violence will face swift justice. My team and I will not rest until every person, in every neighborhood, in every community enjoys the safety they deserve.”
Booth and Smith were arrested in September 2023 when law enforcement responded to a 911 call that Smith walked into a Lansing convenience store carrying an assault rifle. He made threats before entering the store. A witness reported hearing one of the defendants say, "Everybody is going to die."
Upon arrival, officers saw Booth place the rifle in a nearby SUV. Booth also had a pistol holstered in his pocket.
Law enforcement later obtained surveillance footage that showed Smith walk into the store with the loaded rifle. The video showed Smith pointing and aiming the rifle several times, including pointing the rifle at the store clerk while inside of the store and aiming at a passing vehicle in a residential neighborhood once outside of the store.
Booth is a three-time convicted felon who previously served significant time in prison in 2018 for attempted armed robbery. In 2022, he was convicted of another felony in a domestic violence incident.
Smith previously served significant prison time for conspiracy to commit robbery in Florida. He was also convicted in 2021 for carrying a concealed weapon.
“Quentin Booth and Derrick Smith Jr. are career offenders with repeat felony convictions prohibiting them from possessing a firearm,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “During this incident, both men exercised extremely poor judgment, especially Smith aiming and pointing an assault rifle inside and outside of a convenience store in Lansing. In the end, poor choices have consequences. If you use an illegal firearm to threaten and intimidate people in our community – pack a bag. You’re going to go to prison. Our community deserves better from its members, and it will be safer with both men off the streets.”
These cases were investigated by the Michigan State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob S. Metoxen, Austin J. Hakes, and Constance R. Turnbull handled the prosecutions.
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Two Foreign Nationals Plead Guilty to Participation in LockBit Ransomware GroupRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. –Two foreign nationals pleaded guilty today in Newark federal court to participating in the LockBit ransomware group – at various times the most prolific ransomware variant in the world – and to deploying LockBit attacks against victims in the United States and worldwide.
According to court documents:
Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov (АСТАМИРОВ, Руслан Магомедовичь), 21, a Russian national of Chechen Republic, Russia, and Mikhail Vasiliev, 34, a dual Canadian and Russian national of Bradford, Ontario, were members of LockBit. The LockBit ransomware variant first appeared in January 2020. Between that time and February 2024, LockBit grew into what was at times the most active and destructive ransomware group in the world. The LockBit group attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries around the world, including 1,800 in the United States. Those victims ranged from individuals and small businesses to multinational corporations, and they included hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, critical infrastructure, and government and law-enforcement agencies. LockBit’s members extracted at least approximately $500 million in ransom payments from their victims and caused billions of dollars in broader losses, including costs like lost revenue and incident response and recovery.
LockBit’s “affiliate” members, including Vasiliev and Astamirov, would first identity and unlawfully access vulnerable computer systems. They would then deploy LockBit ransomware on victim computer systems and both steal and encrypt stored data. After a successful LockBit attack, LockBit’s affiliate members would then demand a ransom from their victims in exchange for decrypting the victims’ data and deleting stolen data. When victims did not pay the demanded ransoms, LockBit’s affiliates would then leave the victim’s data permanently encrypted and publish the stolen data, including highly sensitive information, on a publicly accessible Internet site under LockBit’s control.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger“Astamirov and Vasiliev thought that they could deploy LockBit from the shadows, wreaking havoc and pocketing massive ransom payments from their victims, without consequence. They were wrong. We, in New Jersey, along with our domestic and international law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to hold LockBit’s members and other cybercriminals accountable, disrupt and dismantle their operations, and put a spotlight on them as wanted criminals – no matter where they hide.
“Today’s convictions reflect the latest returns on the Department’s investment in disrupting ransomware threats, prioritizing victims, and holding cybercriminals accountable,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “In executing our all-tools cyber enforcement strategy, we’ve dealt significant blows to destructive ransomware groups like LockBit, as we did earlier this year, seizing control of LockBit infrastructure and distributing decryption keys to their victims. Today’s actions serve as a warning to ransomware actors who would attack Americans: we will find you and hold you accountable.”
“The defendants committed ransomware attacks against victims in the United States and around the world through LockBit, which was one of the most destructive ransomware groups in the world,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “But thanks to the work of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, along with its domestic and international partners, LockBit no longer claims that title. Today’s convictions represent another important milestone in the Criminal Division’s ongoing effort to disrupt and dismantle ransomware groups, protect victims, and bring cybercriminals to justice.”
“It's a common misconception that cyber hackers won't get caught by law enforcement because they're smarter and savvier than we are,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Two members of the LockBit affiliate pleading guilty to their crimes in U.S. federal court illustrate we can stop them and bring them to justice. These malicious actors believe they can operate with impunity – and don’t fear getting caught because they sit in a country where they feel safe and protected. FBI Newark and our law enforcement partners around the globe have the technology and intelligence to go after these criminals – regardless of where they hide.”
Between 2020 and 2023, Astamirov deployed LockBit against at least 12 victims, including businesses in Virginia, Japan, France, Scotland, and Kenya. Operating under the online aliases “BETTERPAY,” “offtitan,” and “Eastfarmer,” he derived at least $1.9 million in ransom payments from those victims. As part of his plea agreement, Astamirov agreed to forfeit, among other assets, $350,000 in seized cryptocurrency that he extorted from one of his LockBit victims. Astamirov was first charged and arrested in this matter in June 2023.
Between 2021 and 2023, Vasiliev, operating under the online aliases “Ghostrider,” “Free,” “Digitalocean90,” “Digitalocean99,” “Digitalwaters99,” and “Newwave110,” deployed LockBit against at least 12 victims, including businesses in New Jersey, Michigan, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. He also deployed LockBit against an educational facility in England and a school in Switzerland. Through these attacks, Vasiliev caused at least $500,000 in damage and losses to his victims. Vasiliev was first charged in this matter and arrested in Canada by Canadian authorities in November 2022, and extradited to the United States in June.
Astamirov pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Vasiliev pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, intentional damage to a protected computer, transmission of a threat in relation to damaging a protected computer, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The LockBit Investigation
Today’s guilty pleas follow a recent a disruption of LockBit ransomware in February by the U.K. National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Cyber Division, which worked in cooperation with the Justice Department, FBI, and other international law enforcement partners. As previously announced by the Department, authorities disrupted LockBit by seizing numerous public-facing websites used by LockBit to connect to the organization’s infrastructure and by seizing control of servers used by LockBit administrators, thereby disrupting the ability of LockBit actors to attack and encrypt networks and extort victims by threatening to publish stolen data. This disruption succeeded in greatly diminishing LockBit’s reputation and its ability to attack further victims, as alleged by documents filed in this case.
Today’s guilty pleas also follow charges brought in the District of New Jersey against other LockBit members, including its alleged creator, developer, and administrator, Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev. An indictment against Khoroshev unsealed in May alleges that Khoroshev began developing LockBit as early as September 2019, continued acting as the group’s administrator through 2024, a role in which Khoroshev recruited new affiliate members, spoke for the group publicly under the alias “LockBitSupp,” and developed and maintained the infrastructure used by affiliates to deploy LockBit attacks. Khoroshev also took 20 percent of each ransom paid by LockBit victims, allowing him to personally derive at least $100 million over that period. Khoroshev is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at www.tips.fbi.gov.
Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8, 2025.
A total of six LockBit members, including Khoroshev, the alleged developer, and Astamirov and Vasiliev, both affiliates, have now been charged in the District of New Jersey. Other LockBit charges include:
- In February, in parallel with the disruption operation, an indictment was unsealed in the District of New Jersey charging Russian nationals Artur Sungatov and Ivan Kondratyev, also known as Bassterlord, with deploying LockBit against numerous victims throughout the United States, including businesses nationwide in the manufacturing and other industries, as well as victims around the world in the semiconductor and other industries.
- In May 2023, two indictments were unsealed in Washington, D.C., and the District of New Jersey charging Mikhail Matveev, also known as Wazawaka, m1x, Boriselcin, and Uhodiransomwar, with using different ransomware variants, including LockBit, to attack numerous victims throughout the United States, including the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. Matveev is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s TOC Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at www.tips.fbi.gov/.
The U.S. Department of State’s TOC Rewards Program is offering rewards of:
- Up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction in any country of Khoroshev;
- Up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Matveev;
- Up to $10 million for information leading to the identification and location of any individuals who hold a key leadership position in LockBit; and
- Up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction in any country of any individual participating or attempting to participate in LockBit.
Information is accepted through the FBI tip website at www.tips.fbi.gov/.
Khoroshev, Matveev, Sungatov, and Kondratyev have also been designated for sanctions by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for their roles in launching cyberattacks.
Victim Assistance
LockBit victims are encouraged to contact the FBI and submit information at https://lockbitvictims.ic3.gov/. As announced by the Department in February, law enforcement, through its disruption efforts, has developed decryption capabilities that may enable hundreds of victims around the world to restore systems encrypted using the LockBit ransomware variant. Submitting information at the ICE site will enable law enforcement to determine whether affected systems can be successfully decrypted.
LockBit victims are also encouraged to visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/lockbit for case updates and information regarding their rights under U.S. law, including the right to submit victim impact statements and request restitution, in the litigation against Astamirov and Vasiliev.
The FBI Newark Field Office, under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, is investigating the LockBit ransomware variant. The FBI Atlanta Field Office, under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia; Ontario Provincial Police in Ontario, Canada; and Crown Attorney’s Office in Toronto, Canada, provided significant assistance in the Vasiliev matter. The United Kingdom’s NCA; France’s Gendarmerie Nationale Cyberspace Command; Germany’s Landeskriminalamt Schleswig-Holstein and the Bundeskriminalamt; Switzerland’s Federal Office of Police, Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Zurich, and Zurich Cantonal Police; Japan’s National Policy Agency; Australian Federal Police; Sweden’s Polismyndighetens; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Politie Dienst Regionale Recherche Oost-Brabant of the Netherlands; Finland’s Poliisi; Europol; and Eurojust have provided significant assistance and coordination in both matters and in the LockBit investigation generally.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly, David E. Malagold, and Vinay Limbachia for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys Jessica C. Peck, Debra Ireland, and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and are prosecuting the charges against Astamirov and Vasiliev.
The Justice Department’s Cybercrime Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust, Office of International Affairs, and National Security Division also provided significant assistance.
Additional details on protecting networks against LockBit ransomware are available at StopRansomware.gov. These include Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Advisories AA23-325A, AA23-165A, and AA23-075A.
vasiliev.information.pdf
astamirov.information.pdfTwo Foreign Nationals Plead Guilty to Participating in LockBit Ransomware GroupRead the Press Release
Two foreign nationals pleaded guilty today to participating in the LockBit ransomware group—at various times the most prolific ransomware variant in the world—and to deploying LockBit attacks against victims in the United States and worldwide.
“Today’s convictions reflect the latest returns on the Department’s investment in disrupting ransomware threats, prioritizing victims, and holding cybercriminals accountable,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “In executing our all-tools cyber enforcement strategy, we’ve dealt significant blows to destructive ransomware groups like LockBit, as we did earlier this year, seizing control of LockBit infrastructure and distributing decryption keys to their victims. Today’s actions serve as a warning to ransomware actors who would attack Americans: we will find you and hold you accountable.”
“The defendants committed ransomware attacks against victims in the United States and around the world through LockBit, which was one of the most destructive ransomware groups in the world,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “But thanks to the work of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, along with its domestic and international partners, LockBit no longer claims that title. Today’s convictions represent another important milestone in the Criminal Division’s ongoing effort to disrupt and dismantle ransomware groups, protect victims, and bring cybercriminals to justice.”
According to court documents, Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov (АСТАМИРОВ, Руслан Магомедовичь), 21, a Russian national of the Chechen Republic, Russia, and Mikhail Vasiliev, 34, a dual Canadian and Russian national of Bradford, Ontario, were members of LockBit. In the period between January 2020 and February 2024, LockBit grew into what was, at times, the most active and destructive ransomware group in the world. LockBit attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries, including 1,800 victims in the United States. Those victims included individuals, small businesses, multinational corporations, hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, critical infrastructure, and government and law-enforcement agencies. LockBit’s members extorted at least approximately $500 million in ransom payments from their victims and caused billions of dollars in additional losses to victims, including costs like lost revenue and for incident response and recovery.
LockBit’s “affiliate” members, including Vasiliev and Astamirov, first identified and unlawfully accessed vulnerable computer systems, and then deployed LockBit ransomware on those systems to both steal and encrypt stored data. When LockBit attacks were successful, LockBit’s affiliate members then demanded ransoms from their victims in exchange for decrypting the victims’ data and then claiming to delete the affiliates’ copies of the data. When victims did not pay the demanded ransoms, LockBit’s affiliates often left the victim’s data permanently encrypted and publish the stolen data, including highly sensitive information, on a publicly accessible internet site under LockBit’s control.
“Astamirov and Vasiliev thought that they could deploy LockBit from the shadows, wreaking havoc and pocketing massive ransom payments from their victims, without consequence,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “They were wrong. We, in New Jersey, along with our domestic and international law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to hold LockBit’s members and other cybercriminals accountable, disrupt and dismantle their operations, and put a spotlight on them as wanted criminals—no matter where they hide.”
“Astamirov and Vasiliev were members of the LockBit ransomware group, which has caused severe harm around the globe by attacking computer systems in over a hundred countries damaging organizations ranging from government and law-enforcement agencies to hospitals and schools,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “Today’s plea shows our relentless and unwavering commitment to ensuring that cyber criminals are brought to justice for their actions. The FBI is proud of the international collaboration that led to these individuals being held accountable under the law for the damage their actions have caused.”
Between 2020 and 2023, Astamirov deployed LockBit against at least 12 victims, including businesses in Virginia, Japan, France, Scotland, and Kenya. Operating under the online aliases “BETTERPAY,” “offtitan,” and “Eastfarmer,” he extorted $1.9 million from those victims. As part of his plea agreement, Astamirov agreed to forfeit, among other assets, $350,000 in seized cryptocurrency that he extorted from one of his LockBit victims. Astamirov was first charged and arrested in this matter in June 2023.
Between 2021 and 2023, Vasiliev, operating under the online aliases “Ghostrider,” “Free,” “Digitalocean90,” “Digitalocean99,” “Digitalwaters99,” and “Newwave110,” deployed LockBit against at least 12 victims, including businesses in New Jersey, Michigan, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. He also deployed LockBit against an educational facility in England and a school in Switzerland. Through these attacks, Vasiliev caused at least $500,000 in damage and losses to his victims. Vasiliev was first charged in this matter and arrested in Canada by Canadian authorities in November 2022, and extradited to the United States in June.
Astamirov pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Vasiliev pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, intentional damage to a protected computer, transmission of a threat in relation to damaging a protected computer, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The LockBit Investigation
Today’s guilty pleas follow a recent disruption of LockBit ransomware in February by the U.K. National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Cyber Division, which worked in cooperation with the Justice Department, FBI, and other international law enforcement partners. As previously announced by the Department, authorities disrupted LockBit by seizing numerous public-facing websites used by LockBit to connect to the organization’s infrastructure and by seizing control of servers used by LockBit administrators, thereby disrupting the ability of LockBit actors to attack and encrypt networks and extort victims by threatening to publish stolen data. This disruption succeeded in greatly diminishing LockBit’s reputation and its ability to attack further victims, as alleged by documents filed in this case.
Today’s guilty pleas also follow prior announcements of charges brought in the District of New Jersey against four other LockBit members, including its alleged creator, developer, and administrator, Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev. According to an indictment unsealed in May, Khoroshev allegedly acted as the group’s administrator from as early as September 2019 through 2024. In that role, Khoroshev recruited new affiliate members, spoke for the group publicly under the alias “LockBitSupp,” and developed and maintained the infrastructure used by affiliates to deploy LockBit attacks. Khoroshev also took 20% of each ransom paid by LockBit victims, allowing him to personally derive at least $100 million over that period. Khoroshev is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
Other charges against LockBit members include the following:
- In February 2024, in parallel with the disruption operation, an indictment was unsealed in the District of New Jersey charging Russian nationals Artur Sungatov and Ivan Kondratyev, also known as Bassterlord, with deploying LockBit against numerous victims throughout the United States, including businesses in the manufacturing and other industries, as well as victims around the world in the semiconductor and other industries.
- In May 2023, two indictments were unsealed in Washington, D.C., and the District of New Jersey charging Mikhail Matveev, also known as Wazawaka, m1x, Boriselcin, and Uhodiransomwar, with using different ransomware variants, including LockBit, to attack numerous victims throughout the United States, including the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. Matveev is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s TOC Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at tips.fbi.gov/.
The U.S. Department of State’s TOC Rewards Program is also offering rewards of:
- Up to $10 million for information leading to the identification and location of any individuals who hold a key leadership position in LockBit; and
- Up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction in any country of any individual participating or attempting to participate in LockBit.
Information is accepted through the FBI tip website at www.tips.fbi.gov/.
Khoroshev, Matveev, Sungatov, and Kondratyev have also been designated for sanctions by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for their roles in launching cyberattacks.
Victim Assistance
LockBit victims are encouraged to contact the FBI and submit information at https://lockbitvictims.ic3.gov/. As announced by the Department in February, law enforcement, through its disruption efforts, has developed decryption capabilities that may enable hundreds of victims around the world to restore systems encrypted using the LockBit ransomware variant. Submitting information at the IC3 site will enable law enforcement to determine whether affected systems can be successfully decrypted.
LockBit victims are also encouraged to visit www.justice.gov/usao-nj/lockbit for case updates and information regarding their rights under U.S. law, including the right to submit victim impact statements and request restitution, in the litigation against Astamirov and Vasiliev.
The FBI Newark Field Office, under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, is investigating the LockBit ransomware variant. The FBI Atlanta Field Office, under the supervision of Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia; Ontario Provincial Police in Ontario, Canada; and Crown Attorney’s Office in Toronto, Canada, provided significant assistance in the Vasiliev matter. The United Kingdom’s NCA; France’s Gendarmerie Nationale Cyberspace Command and Cyber Division of the Paris Prosecution Office; Germany’s Landeskriminalamt Schleswig-Holstein and the Bundeskriminalamt; Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice and Police, Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Canton of Zurich, and Zurich Cantonal Police; Japan’s National Policy Agency; Australian Federal Police; Sweden’s Polismyndighetens; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Politie Dienst Regionale Recherche Oost-Brabant of the Netherlands; Finland’s Poliisi; Europol; and Eurojust have provided significant assistance and coordination in both matters and in the LockBit investigation generally.
Trial Attorneys Jessica C. Peck, Debra Ireland, and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly, David E. Malagold, and Vinay Limbachia for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the charges against Astamirov and Vasiliev.
The Justice Department’s Cybercrime Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust, Office of International Affairs, and National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section also provided significant assistance.
Additional details on protecting networks against LockBit ransomware are available at StopRansomware.gov. These include Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Advisories AA23-325A, AA23-165A, and AA23-075A.
Two Charged with Distribution of Protonitazene, A Novel Synthetic Opioid More Potent Than FentanylRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging MIGUEL DE JESUS REYES MEDINA a/k/a “Azua,” and ERIK ALBERTO LOPEZ VALDEZ with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of protonitazene, a novel synthetic opioid that is up to three times more potent than fentanyl. REYES MEDINA and LOPEZ VALDEZ were arrested today. LOPEZ VALDEZ will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger, and REYES MEDINA will be presented before Judge Lehrburger tomorrow, July 19, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Miguel de Jesus Reyes Medina and Erik Alberto Lopez Valdez engaged in a scheme to sell dangerous narcotics to New Yorkers, including a novel, and potentially lethal, synthetic opioid. As part of that scheme, the defendants sold protonitazene, which, as alleged, is as much as three times more deadly than fentanyl. This prosecution underscores my Office’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the deadly opioid crisis, including from emergent synthetic opioids that pose even greater threats than fentanyl. We will not allow drug dealers to hide behind novel changes to the chemical structure of drugs to avoid prosecution.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “Today’s arrests show the commitment the DEA and our law enforcement partners have in targeting those poisoning our communities. As alleged, these individuals are not only responsible for the distribution of the lethal drug fentanyl, but the distribution of protonitazene, a novel synthetic opioid that is up to three times more potent than fentanyl. It is safe to say that the removal of these individuals, and the distribution of these illicit drugs from our streets, saved another family from having to bury their loved one. The DEA and members of our NYDETF remain committed to doing everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
In or about April 2024, REYES MEDINA agreed to sell fentanyl to a confidential source (the “Source”) working with law enforcement. REYES MEDINA negotiated the price and quantity of fentanyl to be provided, requesting $2,000 for 74 grams of fentanyl. On or about April 10, 2024, REYES MEDINA met with the Source and provided a 74-gram package of narcotics. During the meeting, REYES MEDINA emphasized that the narcotics were high quality and strong. Then, on or about April 16, 2024, REYES MEDINA arranged to have LOPEZ VALDEZ deliver a further 420-gram package of narcotics to the Source for the price of $12,250, which LOPEZ VALDEZ did. Following the arrest of REYES MEDINA and LOPEZ VALDEZ, laboratory testing determined that the packages of narcotics provided to the Source by REYES MEDINA and LOPEZ VALDEZ consisted of nearly 500 grams of protonitazene, a synthetic opioid that is up to three times more potent than fentanyl.
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REYES MEDINA, 49, of Yonkers, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and two counts of distribution of protonitazene, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
LOPEZ VALDEZ, 38, of Camden, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of distribution of protonitazene, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Kinder is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text 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.
Spencerport man pleads guilty to his role in fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Grimm 44, of Spencerport, NY, pleaded guilty to wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that Grimm, and at least one other person, engaged in an extensive pattern of conduct involving document fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, retail theft, and identity theft. Part of the scheme involved Grimm and others obtaining merchandise by theft or fraud from local retailers, which was then returned in exchange for gift cards and store credit or sold to third parties. In furtherance of the scheme, Grimm presented forged and/or stolen passports and other stolen identification information to merchants. Grimm also admitted his role in the theft of personal identifying information and credit information belonging to multiple individuals, which he and others used to make fraudulent purchases, including car and hotel rentals. The stolen identity information was also used in attempts to open credit cards and obtain loans. To date, at least 10 identity theft victims have been identified resulting in thousands of dollars in losses.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Wood, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 11, 2024, at 9:30 am before Judge Siragusa.
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Southern Arizona Man Indicted for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Santiago Luis Valencia, Jr., 34, of Tucson, on one count of Second Degree Murder. Valencia is an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
It is alleged that on June 15, 2024, the victim and Valencia engaged in a verbal altercation that later turned physical. According to witnesses, Valencia was the initial aggressor and assaulted the victim by striking the back of the victim’s head against a windowsill on the exterior of the residence where the incident occurred. The victim died the following day as a result of the injuries sustained during the fight.
Second Degree Murder carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and five years of supervised release.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Caroline Allen, District of Arizona, Tucson, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-04265-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-096_Valencia# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation MaterialsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Shawn Chandler, age 51, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for one count of Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and one count of Possession of Certain Material involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, the Muldrow Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Chandler was indicted August 9, 2023, and pleaded guilty to the charges on December 21, 2023. According to investigators, in Spring of 2023, Chandler was arrested on a warrant issued by the Cherokee Nation Tribal Court. At the time of the arrest, Chandler was in possession of multiple cell phones. A subsequent search of the phones revealed that Chandler knowingly received and stored over 40 videos and images of child sexual abuse from the internet.
The Honorable William P. Johnson, Chief U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Chandler will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Jessie Pippin represented the United States.
“This case is an excellent example of the interagency cooperation taking place in the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Thanks to the collaborative work of local, Tribal, and federal law enforcement agents and prosecutors, Chandler was identified and successfully prosecuted for his role in perpetuating the victimization of children subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources”.
We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com, call 1-800-843-5678, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or call 877-4-HSI TIP.
Roswell Man Indicted for Threatening FBI Director Christopher WrayRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – John Woodbury has been indicted on federal charges of transmitting interstate threats to injure FBI Director Christopher Wray and others.
“Sending threats to physically harm a public official in an attempt to thwart the administration of justice is a criminal offense,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Director Wray and other law enforcement officials work tirelessly to safeguard our freedoms and to protect our citizens from harm. Threats against such public servants, who have dedicated themselves to enforcing our criminal laws, is especially heinous. Our office will remain steadfast in helping to ensure that public officials are able to carry out their duties free from fear or intimidation.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: On June 7, 2023, Woodbury allegedly posted a message on 4chan.org that threatened violence against FBI Director Wray and others. In his message, Woodbury made statements that included the following: “Let’s show them what a [expletive] ‘Nazi’ […] looks like […]. It’s time to burn these [expletive] down and hang them from trees. Hit them where it [expletive] hurts. Hit Chris at his home. Make his family fear stepping one foot outside their [expletive] door.”
John Woodbury, 34, of Roswell, Georgia was arrested and arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas. Woodbury was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 9, 2024. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Carrico and Jennifer Keen are prosecuting the case.
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.
Rochester man going to prison on gun chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Edward A. Pearce, 30, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas E. Gregory, who handled the case, stated that on August 12, 2023, Pearce was arrested by the United States Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force following a traffic stop in the area of 1071 Dewey Avenue in Rochester. Law enforcement located a loaded 40 caliber pistol in his waistband. In June 2018, Pearce was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in Ulster County Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Marshal’s Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division.
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Rochester man already serving 30 year sentence, sentenced to an additional 20 years in prisonRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Deadrick D. Fulwiley a/k/a Deucy, 31, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and possession of a machine gun, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The sentence will be served concurrent to a 30-year sentence Fulwiley received in New York State Court for committing two homicides in July 2022 with Kelvin Vickers and Raheem Robinson. Vickers was also convicted of murdering Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz and wounding Officer Sino Seng.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas E. Gregory, who is handling the case, stated that between April and July 21, 2022, Fulwiley conspired with others to sell marijuana, utilizing drug houses on Sixth and St. Paul Streets in Rochester. In addition, marijuana was stored at Fulwiley’s Laser Street residence. On July 16 and July 21, 2022, search warrants were executed at the Sixth Street residence, during which more than 24 pounds of marijuana, drug ledgers, approximately $13,390 in cash, and several firearms and ammunition were seized, including a machine gun.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division.
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Riverview Man Arrested for COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of David Antonetti (28, Riverview) on an indictment charging him with two counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Antonetti faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count.
According to court records, between March 2021 and October 2021, Antonetti devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting two false and fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. PPP loans were one of the sources of economic relief provided for by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Antonetti made false representations in both of his PPP applications to secure the loans. The loan proceeds were later electronically transferred into his bank account.
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.
In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Making Fake Bomb Threat on AirplaneRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Evan Sims (41, Rhode Island) to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for false information and threats regarding an explosive on an airplane. Sims has been in custody since his arrest on December 6, 2023. The court also ordered Sims to pay $25,478 in restitution to Breeze Airways. Sims pled guilty on March 5, 2024.
According to court documents, Sims was traveling on a flight from Orlando, Florida to Providence, Rhode Island on December 5, 2023. While seated on the plane, prior to takeoff, Sims began arguing with his travel companion. Sims told his travel companion that he had never heard of the airline for the flight and that he hoped the airplane did not “go down.” Sims stated that they would be “gone with the wind.”
During boarding and the airline safety briefing, Sims made comments to his travel companion about needing to use the emergency doors and that the windows looked like they had not been used. Sims also told his travel companion that he hoped they did not have to use the windows. Further, Sims questioned the flight crew regarding the emergency life raft that was in the overhead storage compartment. Sims’s travel companion and the surrounding passengers were uncomfortable with Sims’s statements and Sims’s travel companion asked Sims to stop making his comments.
As the flight began the initial ascent into the air, Sims partially stood up in his seat and exclaimed that he wanted to get off the plane. While the flight was airborne, Sims stated approximately two times that his travel companion had a bomb on the plane. Thereafter, due to Sims’s repeated disturbances and escalating behavior, the flight was diverted to the Jacksonville International Airport. Bomb detection dogs were deployed and searched the plane but did not locate a bomb.
This case was investigated by the Transportation Security Administration, Jacksonville Aviation Authority Airport Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
Readout of Justice Department Officials Participation in UN High Level Political Forum to Highlight UN Sustainable Development Goal 16Read the Press Release
This past week, Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer and Director Rachel Rossi of the Office for Access to Justice participated in the United Nations (UN) High Level Political Forum in New York as part of the official U.S. delegation to the Forum. The UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is a platform for the review of progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Goals of the Agenda at a global level. This year, the Forum focused on UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), among other goals. The Office for Access to Justice is mandated to assist the United States with the implementation of SDG 16, which focuses on establishing peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
On July 11, Acting Associate Attorney General Mizer delivered the United States National Statement on UN SDG 16, where he highlighted the efforts of the United States to advance equal access to justice. During his time at the Forum, Acting Associate Attorney General Mizer met with a range of stakeholders to discuss cooperation on access to justice, including foreign officials and civil society organizations working to advance equality for all.
On July 16, Director Rossi engaged in an informal listening session, convened by the Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights at New York University School of Law. The listening session provided a unique opportunity for Director Rossi to connect with community leaders in New York and hear their reflections on how the goals of SDG 16 relate to their vision of peace and justice. Organizations participating in the listening session were the Bernstein Institute for Human Rights at NYU Law, Jailhouse Lawyer Initiative, Common Justice organization, Hour Children, Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice, Cardozo Law School, Women Who NEVER Give Up, Center for Institutional and Social Change, Columbia Law School, Defying Legal Gravity, Paralegal Pathways Initiative, Columbia Law School, Bronx Defenders, and the Columbia Center for Justice CUNY Law, Formerly Incarcerated Law Student Association.
Following the listening session, Director Rossi gave welcoming remarks for the official United States side event “Turning the Tide: Scaling SDG for the Future, Reinforcing Access to Justice, and Advancing Democracy.” This side event elevated the sustainable, resilient, innovative, and people-centered approaches that governments and stakeholders are employing to advance implementation of SDG 16.
The Office for Access to Justice also hosted a convening to initiate discussions on how the office can best serve as a connector of cross-sector stakeholders to better advance access to justice through the implementation of SDG 16. Convening attendees, including cities, counties, systems impacted individuals, civil society organizations, and federal government partners, discussed how regular engagement going forward can assist to generate knowledge, ensure visibility across efforts, inspire action, and connect data to policy to advance equal access to justice for all. Director Rossi provided remarks for the session which shaped the role of the Office for Access to Justice and the intention of the office in support of SDG 16.3, to promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure access to justice for all.
Director Rossi also met with the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to discuss SDG 16 and legal empowerment in advancing human rights at the international level.
Acting Associate Attorney General Mizer delivered the United States National Statement on UN SDG 16. Director Rossi giving welcoming remarks for the official United States side event Turning the Tide: Scaling SDG for the Future, Reinforcing Access to Justice, and Advancing Democracy.
Director Rossi and participants of the informal listening session convened by the Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights at New York University School of Law. Director Rossi engaging participants in discussion at the Access to Justice and SDG 16: Building Together Towards the 2030 Agenda in the United States.Purported Psychic Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Outrageous $4 Million Extortion SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gina Rita Russell, 35, formerly of New York, N.Y., and Los Angeles, California, was sentenced today to 125 months in prison for masterminding an elaborate fraud, extortion, and money laundering scheme, which resulted in a Maryland man embezzling more than $4 million from his Washington, D.C., employer. Russell is the sixth defendant to be sentenced in the case.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.
In April 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Russell, her ex-common-law husband Robert Evans, his brothers Tony John Evans and Corry Blue Evans, and the brothers’ parents, Archie Kaslov and Candy Evans, all of New York, on various charges related to the scheme. At one point, one of Russell’s coconspirators threatened to harm the Maryland man’s young children.
According to the government’s evidence, Russell met a New York woman in October 2009 in Manhattan and performed a psychic reading on her. Though Russell had no psychic powers, she convinced the New York woman that she did and told the woman that bad things would happen unless the woman raised large sums of money for Russell and her family. The woman started giving Russell money from her lawful jobs, but then Russell convinced her to lie to her father by claiming she needed money for therapy, extensive sleep studies, and university classes. After giving his daughter enormous sums of money, the New York woman’s father eventually stopped providing her with financial assistance.
Russell then convinced the woman to earn more money through sex work. The woman advertised sensual massage services online, including Backpage.com. Through one of her ads, she met a Maryland man, who eventually fell in love with and proposed to her, even though he was married and had children. Preying on his affection, Russell and the New York woman conspired with Robert Evans, Tony John Evans, Corry Blue Evans, and Archie Kaslov to extort money and gold bars from the victim. The New York woman told the Maryland man that she owed money to bad people from prior debts and that her life was in danger. As a result, the Maryland man embezzled more than $4 million from his employer between January and March of 2017. As part of the scheme, Russell had Tony John Evans impersonate a mobster during calls with the Maryland man. During one of those calls, Tony John Evans asked if he needed to remind the Maryland man where his children went to school. Russell also dictated threatening texts and provided the New York woman with instructions on what to tell the Maryland man.
The Maryland man converted embezzled funds to cash and gold bars which he delivered to New York drop-off locations, including a hotel room, believing the funds were going to mobsters. In reality, all of the funds the man embezzled and delivered to New York went to members of the Russell-Evans-Kaslov family.
In July 2019, Russell pleaded guilty to interference with interstate commerce by extortion. She was originally scheduled to be sentenced in May 2024, after her five co-defendants were sentenced. However, prior to her sentencing, the government learned that Russell engaged in similar criminal conduct in Los Angeles, convincing a woman there that she had psychic powers, working with the woman to defraud the woman’s father out of money, and persuading the woman to raise funds through sex work. The government brought Russell’s conduct to the attention of U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who promptly issued a warrant for her arrest. Russell was arrested on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, and has been in custody ever since.
In addition to the prison sentence of 10 years and five months, Judge Chutkan ordered Russell to pay $4,217,542.86 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.
Tony John Evans, 35, and Robert Evans, 37, both pleaded guilty to interference with interstate commerce by extortion and were each sentenced to five years in prison. Corry Blue Evans, 31, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and was sentenced to 41-months in prison. Archie Kaslov, 57, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 30-months in prison. Candy Evans, 55, pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness by corrupt persuasion or misleading conduct and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman and former Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Kent, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Lucas, Rick Blaylock, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Arvind Lal and Paralegal Specialist Angela De Falco, who assisted with forfeiture issues, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oliver McDaniel and Melissa Goforth Koenig, who assisted with restraining funds.
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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Major Drug Distribution CaseRead the Press Release
Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on July 17, 2024, Ronald Harris, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey Crawford to a term of 100 months of imprisonment to be followed by a four-year term of supervised release. Harris previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, fentanyl and heroin.
According to court records, Harris played a trusted role within the drug trafficking conspiracy, traveling regularly between Philadelphia and Chittenden County, Vermont between October 2021 and January 2023 to transport drugs and money. At the time of his arrest in January 2023, law enforcement seized approximately $98,000.00 from Harris, over one kilogram of crack cocaine and over half a kilogram of heroin from an apartment in Essex Junction from which the conspiracy was operating.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaboration and investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the Burlington Police Department during the course of the lengthy investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles. Harris was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Office Manager for Suburban Chicago Medical Equipment Boutique Indicted on Federal Health Care Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The office manager for a suburban Chicago medical equipment boutique has been indicted on federal health care fraud charges for allegedly billing private insurers for products that were never provided, including breast prostheses, compression garments, and wigs for cancer survivors.
JUDY STRZELECKI served as the office manager for A Woman’s Place LLC, a durable medical equipment provider and retail shop in Downers Grove, Ill. A Woman’s Place provided breast prostheses, compression garments, wigs, mastectomy bras, and other items to cancer survivors and women with chronic health conditions. From 2015 to 2020, Strzelecki and others submitted fraudulent claims to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and other health care benefit programs for equipment that was either not provided or was not medically necessary, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Strzelecki and others also fraudulently billed the programs for more expensive products than were provided in order to seek higher reimbursement rates, the indictment states.
As a result of the scheme, Strzelecki and others fraudulently obtained at least $1.8 million in payments from health care programs for equipment that was not provided as billed, the indictment states.
Strzelecki, 73, of Downers Grove, Ill., is charged with seven counts of health care fraud. Each count is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison, and restitution is mandatory. Arraignment is set for July 23, 2024, at 10:45 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Lucas Rothaar, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Rubén R. Chapa, Regional Director of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Misty N. Wright.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Strzelecki indictmentNorthern California Man Charged in a Complaint for Allegedly Trying to Have Sex with Multiple Minors at a Fictitious Hotel PartyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Placer County resident made his initial appearance today after he allegedly arranged to have sex with minors at a fictitious hotel party.
Michael Batchelor, 30, of Placer County is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of attempted production of child pornography, one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illegal criminal sexual activity, and one count of distribution and possession of child pornography.
Batchelor made his initial appearance today in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles and his detention hearing has been scheduled for July 22.
According to the complaint, prior to the encounter, Batchelor allegedly planned for what kind of children he would have sex with and what he would do to them. Batchelor was allegedly looking for minors who were in the age range of “6 to 14” and had “blonde” hair. Batchelor allegedly expressed interest in producing child pornography of the encounter. Batchelor also allegedly provided pictures and videos of child pornography, including children appearing to be younger than 10 years old being molested by adult men.
On July 17, Batchelor allegedly traveled to Los Angeles intending to have sex and produce child pornography with three minor girls, two of whom were under the age of 10, while he was visiting family. Batchelor had allegedly brought $200 to pay for the hotel room where the sexual activity was supposed to occur, along with a recent STD test. Shortly after arriving at a prearranged location near the site of the fictitious hotel party, Batchelor was arrested and is currently being detained by law enforcement.
“It is essential that we protect our children from predators who perpetrate the sorts of despicable crimes alleged in this complaint,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We will continue to leverage our resources to ferret out efforts to sexually exploit children and hold those bad actors accountable.”
“Yesterday’s arrest once again sends a clear message to child predators that they are now the prey and that this abhorrent criminal activity will not be tolerated,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “HSI Los Angeles and our partners will do everything in our power to protect the children of our communities.”
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of all charges, Batchelor faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Homeland Security Investigations and New Jersey State Police investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Catharine A. Richmond and Chris M. Brunwin of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this matter.
New Orleans Man with Felony Convictions Sentenced for Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TEDDY NATHAN (“NATHAN”), age 25, and a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on July 16, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court records, NATHAN, armed with an AR-15 rifle loaded with over 25 rounds, entered a Central City daycare, where several small children lay sleeping. The staff managed to get him out of the building and called the police. NATHAN fled as the police approached but was quickly apprehended. The police found the AR-15 on the front seat of a vehicle by which NATHAN had been standing before he ran. Records checks revealed that NATHAN had an extensive criminal history, with felony convictions for aggravated assault with a firearm, purse snatching, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm.
Judge Morgan sentenced NATHAN to 71 months imprisonment, and three years of supervised release after his term of imprisonment. Judge Morgan also ordered NATHAN to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.
New Orleans Man Sentenced to 80 Months for Drug and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on July 17, 2024, GREGORY WILLIAMS (“WILLIAMS”), age 31, a resident of Orleans Parish, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to 80 months of imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $400 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to four counts of a seven-count superseding indictment.
In Count 4 of the superseding indictment, WILLIAMS was charged with possession, with the intent to distribute, a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D). In Count 5, WILLIAMS was charged with possessing a firearm, during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). In Count 6, WILLIAMS was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). Finally, in Count 7, WILLIAMS was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to court records, on February 10, 2022, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (“JPSO”) conducted a narcotics investigation at an apartment complex in Metairie, LA. Based on their observations, officers stopped a vehicle in the parking lot. During that stop, several individuals present in the lot, one of whom was WILLIAMS, fled from law enforcement. After identifying WILLIAMS as the front-seat passenger of a Dodge Charger that was also present in the lot, JPSO officers obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. During the search, officers located a firearm and narcotics in the front passenger seat, as well as documentation linked to WILLIAMS. Later, on October 1, 2022, officers saw WILLIAMS with two firearms outside of a residence on Clio Street in New Orleans.
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.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – WADE BATISTE (“BATISTE”), age 43, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on July 16, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion for violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Specifically, BATISTE was sentenced for possessing, with the intent to distribute, a quantity of marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(D) and being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court records, BATISTE was arrested at a second line parade in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans for possessing several bags of marijuana packaged for distribution, a handgun equipped with a 50 round drum magazine, another smaller backup handgun, a large knife, and another smaller knife. At the time of his arrest, BATISTE had an extensive criminal history with numerous felony convictions, that prohibited him from possessing guns.
Judge Papillion sentenced BATISTE to 120 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release after imprisonment, and payment of a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.
Neshoba County Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting a Tribal Member on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Neshoba County man pled guilty to assault with intent to do bodily harm and use of a firearm during a crime of violence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, in September 2022, Jessie James Clay, Jr., 42, shot a tribal member at a residence in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Clay was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2023.
Clay is scheduled to be sentenced on October 18, 2024, and faces not less than ten years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Moses Lake Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Arson over a Drug DebtRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that David Alexander Maybee, age 25, of Moses Lake, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to Malicious Destruction of Property by Fire. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 60 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on January 21, 2022, Maybee and 3 others drove to the Motel 6 in Moses Lake. The driver of the vehicle parked nearby. Maybee and another man got out of the vehicle and walked to an Audi parked in the motel parking lot. Using a water bottle filled with gasoline they had obtained from a gas station earlier that night, the man poured gasoline over the Audi while Maybee acted as a lookout. The man lit the gasoline on fire and the pair ran back to their vehicle and left the scene. Moses Lake Fire Department and Moses Lake Police Department (MLPD) responded quickly and were able to extinguish the fire. While the vehicle was a total loss, no one was injured. The incident was captured on the Motel 6 surveillance cameras.
Follow-up investigation showed that the three individuals, to include Maybee, acted on the behalf of a local drug dealer, and the vehicle was torched over an outstanding drug debt. The three were expecting a cash reward from the drug dealer for their actions.
As discussed at the sentencing hearing, just a month after the arson, Maybee and an accomplice robbed a local Carl’s Jr. to get money to pay a drug debt that they owed to their drug dealer. Maybee was sentenced in Grant County Superior Court to 171 months of custody (22-1-0045-13). That same month, February 2022, Maybee and an accomplice kicked in the back door of a home in Moses Lake and stole multiple firearms and ammunition.
In imposing sentencing, Judge Rice noted Maybee’s criminal history was “atrocious” and warned that after serving his sentences, if he returns to the community and commits additional crimes, he will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
“This case starkly demonstrates the dangerous nexus between illicit drugs and violence. Mr. Maybee participated in an arson to settle a drug debt that placed our first responders and entire community at risk,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful for our strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement who protect our neighborhoods and work so effectively with our office to hold accountable individuals who are the largest drivers of violent crime.”
“While Mr. Maybee didn’t actually light the fire his part in this crime was still extremely troubling,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Taken as a whole, the dangers posed by his and his accomplice’s actions clearly warrant this sentence.”
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Moses Lake Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.
Milton Man Charged with Stolen Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that John Turner, 53, of Milton, Vermont, was indicted on federal charges alleging that Turner conspired with others in July 2019 to possess stolen firearms. He was arrested on those charges and arraigned on the indictment on July 17, 2024. He was released on conditions. If convicted, Turner faces a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000.
According to court records, Tuner conspired with others to steal several firearms from a residence in Colchester, Vermont. Those firearms included four handguns. The indictment alleges that one of the handguns was used to murder a man on July 11, 2019. Kory George and Angela Auclair have been charged in Vermont state court with conspiring to murder David Auclair on July 11, 2019. George has pleaded guilty to those charges and been sentenced. Auclair is still facing a state murder conspiracy charge.
The indictment is an accusation only and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, any sentence will be determined by the U.S. District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
The investigation resulting in these charges was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vermont State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Van de Graaf is handling the prosecution for the government. Turner is represented by Karen Shingler, Esq.
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.