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Wednesday 22 May 2024
Ninth Defendant Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances OffensesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Heather Idoni, 59, of Linden, Michigan, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 24 months incarceration for her role in a conspiracy that created a blockade at a Washington, D.C. reproductive health care clinic to prevent the clinic from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.
“Using force and intimidation to deprive others of their civil rights is a crime, and rightly so,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “This office will continue to defend and protect the right of every citizen to access health care.”
“Federal law is clear: using force, threatening to use force or physically obstructing access to reproductive health care is unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “People have a First Amendment right to communicate their views but they do not have the right to use chains, locks and obstruction to prevent access to reproductive health care facilities. The Justice Department will continue to protect both patients seeking reproductive health services and providers of those services.”
Idoni is the ninth member of the conspiracy to be sentenced on charges of civil rights conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act violations. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced seven other members of the conspiracy.
Another of the defendants, the only one to plead guilty, Jay Smith, 34, of Freeport, New York, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release in March 2023.
As the evidence at trial showed, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to create a blockade at the reproductive health care clinic to prevent the clinic from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services. As part of the conspiracy, Handy, Hinshaw, and Goodman, traveled to Washington, D.C. from various northeast and midwestern states, to meet with Handy and participate in a clinic blockade that was directed by Handy and was broadcast on Facebook.
According to the evidence, Handy, Hinshaw, and Goodman – along with their co-conspirators – forcefully entered the clinic and set about blockading two clinic doors using their bodies, furniture, chains, and ropes. Once the blockade was established, their activities were live-streamed. The evidence also showed that the defendants violated the FACE Act by using a physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient, because they were providing or obtaining reproductive health services.
DEFENDANTS
NAME
AGE
GUILTY OF
SENTENCE
Lauren Handy
Alexandria, VA
30
Found Guilty on August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act
Sentenced
May 14, 2024, to 57 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised ReleaseJohn Hinshaw
Levittown, NY
69
Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced
May 14, 2024, to 21 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised ReleaseWilliam Goodman Bronx, NY
54
Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced
May 14, 2024, to 27 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised ReleaseJay Smith
Freeport, NY
34
Pleaded Guilty March 1, 2023, to Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced
Aug. 17, 2023, to 10 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised ReleaseJonathan Darnel Arlington, Va.
42
Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced
May 15, 2024, to 34 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release
Jean Marshall Kingston, Mass.
74
Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced
May 15, 2024, to 24 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release
Joan Bell
Montague, NJ
76
Found Guilty September 15, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced
May 15, 2024, to 27 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release
Herb Geraghty Pittsburgh, Pa
27
Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced
May 15, 2024, to 27 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised Release
Heather Idoni Linden, Mich.
59
Found Guilty August 29, 2023, of Felony Conspiracy Against Civil Rights and Violating the FACE Act
Sentenced
May 22, 2024 to 24 Months Incarceration and Three Years of Supervised ReleaseThis case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office. It was prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Fraud, Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of New York; and FBI Field Offices in Newark, New York City, Boston, and Detroit provided valuable assistance.
Niagara Falls man pleads guilty to cocaine charge after leading police on a brief car chaseRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jonathan Bersani, 32, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that on April 14, 2023, law enforcement attempted a traffic stop on Bersani’s vehicle. However, instead of yielding to law enforcement, Bersani drove into the civilian vehicle in front of him, pushing the vehicle approximately 10 feet forward, and then into the law enforcement vehicle behind him, causing significant damage to all three vehicles. Bersani then fled in his vehicle, and, ultimately, on foot after his vehicle was rendered inoperable. Bersani was ultimately apprehended and, within close range of his path of flight, law enforcement recovered a black bag containing approximately 183 grams of cocaine. Bersani was also in possession of $3,266 in cash. Later that day, a search warrant was executed at Bersani’s residence, during which another 27 grams of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia were seized.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti and Homeland Security Investigations BEST Team, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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New York Man Sentenced for Dismembering Body in Broken ArrowRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Alex Ray Scott, 28, to 540 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.
“Alex Scott was sentenced for the murder and dismemberment of Robin Skocdopole” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This successful prosecution was the result of the exhaustive investigation and outstanding cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement. We will continue to work with law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable.”
According to court documents, in January 2020, Scott walked into a police precinct in New York City and admitted to
killing someone in an unrelated case. Members of the New York Police Department found identification and credit cards belonging to Robin Skocdopole in Scott’s possession. During an interview with law enforcement, Scott provided a prior
residence in Broken Arrow and mentioned living with the victim. Several unsuccessful attempts were made by law enforcement to contact Skocdopole.In February 2020, the Broken Arrow Police Department searched the residence of Skocdopole and found the house empty of all possessions. Forensic searches and cadaver dogs found multiple locations of blood spatter and a large pool of blood. DNA tests revealed the blood belonged to Skocdopole.
In May 2020, human remains positively identified as belonging to Skocdopole were discovered on the edge of a creek in Broken Arrow. The Medical Examiner’s report indicated two different saws were used during the dismemberment including a saw comparable to a chainsaw.
During the investigation, it was determined Scott was fitted with an ankle monitor in July 2019 awaiting trial on an unrelated case in Tulsa County District Court. The last time Skocdopole was seen alive was in August 2019. During this time, Scott was renting a room from the victim and told associates that Skocdopole abruptly left and moved to Dallas for work. Friends of the victim told law enforcement that when they attempted to reach out to him, they received vague and oddly worded responses. Scott later admitted to sending the email responses. Further analysis of Scott’s ankle monitor data showed where Scott traveled to dispose of the body parts. Scott’s ankle monitor data and bank history confirmed that he purchased and returned a chainsaw from
a local retailer.In May 2023, Scott agreed to be interviewed by the FBI. He explained the circumstances surrounding the murder of Skocdopole, as well as the dismemberment and disposal of the body afterward. Scott agreed to take the FBI to the last known location of Skocdopole’s head. Unfortunately, when Scott took FBI to the location, no additional remains were found.
Scott has entered a plea of not guilty in the pending case in New York.
Scott is a member of the Cherokee Nation. He will remain in custody while the New York case is pending. After the New York case is completed, Scott will be transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prison facility.
The FBI and Broken Arrow Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Nasar and Valeria Luster prosecuted the case.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Fentanyl DistributionRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ANYTHONY DOYLE (“DOYLE”), age 40, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on May 21, 2024 by Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown on three (3) counts of distribution of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C).
According to court documents, on three (3) separate occasions in August of 2023, DOYLE sold Fentanyl to undercover special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. DOYLE arranged these transactions through recorded phone calls and text messages. These transactions were video recorded. For one of the three drug deals, DOYLE sent his co-defendant, CARLOS GUILLEN, on his behalf.Specifically, Chief Judge Brown sentenced DOYLE to serve 92 months in prison, to be followed by four (4) years of supervised release and a mandatory special assessment fee of $300. Previously, DOYLE’s co-defendant GUILLEN pled guilty to distribution of Fentanyl and received a sentence of thirty months in prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives on this investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.
New Mexico Man Indicted for Allegedly Trying to Burn Down Church Preschool and Strip Mall in San Bernardino CountyRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – A federal grand jury today returned a two-count indictment against a New Mexico man who allegedly tried to burn down a San Bernardino County church preschool while children and school employees were inside and, that same day, tried to burn down a strip mall.
Jonathan A. Barajas Nava, 36, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is charged with two counts of attempted destruction of property by means of fire.
Nava was arrested on April 24 and was charged in state court prior to a federal criminal case being brought against him. Nava made his initial appearance in the federal case on May 8 and was ordered detained pending trial.
He is scheduled for arraignment on May 28 in United States District Court in Riverside.
According to an affidavit previously filed with a criminal complaint in this case, on April 24, Nava tried to burn down the Retreat Church and Yucaipa Christian Preschool by pouring an ignitable liquid on the church preschool’s entrance and lighting it on fire. There were 48 preschoolers and 14 staff members inside the church preschool at the time, but no one was injured.
That same day, Nava allegedly tried to burn down a Yucaipa strip mall by pouring an ignitable liquid on the building’s gas meters and then lighting the gas meters on fire.
A criminal complaint and an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted of both charges, Nava would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Peter Dahlquist and Austin D. Young of the Riverside Branch Office are prosecuting this case.
New Haven Man on Supervised Release Charged with Distributing Methamphetamine Pills, CrackRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging DONALD OGMAN, also known as “Mainey-O” and ”Manny O,” 42, of New Haven, with methamphetamine and cocaine distribution offenses.
As alleged in court documents, Ogman has been a leader of the Grape Street Crips (GSC), a violent New Haven gang. In 2012, the FBI arrested Ogman for offenses related to his role in GSC, including drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to narcotics offenses and, on March 10, 2015, was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release. In August 2022, a federal judge granted Ogman’s motion for compassionate release, reduced Ogman’s sentence to time served, and he was released from prison.
It is alleged that Ogman resumed his drug trafficking activity while on federal supervised release and was distributing multi-colored pills containing methamphetamine in and around New Haven. The investigation included surveillance, trash pulls, and controlled purchases of methamphetamine pills from Ogman in March and April 2024. Ogman was arrested on May 9, 2024. On that date, searches of his person and residence revealed additional quantities of methamphetamine, as well as crack cocaine.
The indictment charges Ogman with one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, methamphetamine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years on each count; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
The indictment also alleges that Ogman is subject to enhanced penalties due to his prior conviction for a serious drug felony. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ogman has been detained since his arrest.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the New Haven Police Department and the Hamden Police Department. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Ross Weingarten through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Mississippi Man Admits $51 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme Involving Durable Medical Equipment, Genetic Cancer Screening Tests, and Compounded MedicationsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Mississippi man who owned, operated, had financial interests in, or was affiliated with pharmacies, durable medical equipment (DME) companies, and a laboratory today admitted his role in a health care fraud scheme that caused losses to Medicare in excess of $51 million, Attorney for the United States Caroline Sadlowski announced.
Keaton Langston, 39, of Booneville, Mississippi, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Langston and others owned, operated, had financial interests in, or were affiliated with pharmacies, DME companies, and a laboratory that Langston and others used to defraud health care benefit programs by offering and paying kickbacks and bribes in exchange for doctors’ orders for DME, genetic cancer screening tests, and compounded medications. The pharmacies, DME companies, and laboratory submitted or caused the submission to Medicare of claims for reimbursement without regard to medical necessity, and sent a portion of the proceeds to others as payment for the doctors’ orders generated through the conspiracy. Langston and others concealed the payment of bribes, in part, by entering into sham contracts designed to make it appear that suppliers were engaged in and being paid for legitimate marketing and referral services based on the hours and expenses incurred or on a flat-rate basis.
The pharmacies, DME companies, and laboratory billed Medicare and other health care benefit programs at approximately $51 million for tests and orders that were the product of the illicit scheme. Langston received approximately $10 million from these reimbursements.
The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 1, 2024.
Attorney for the United States Sadlowski credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz; the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.
langston.information.pdfMexican National Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Mexican national, residing in the United States illegally, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, Joel Terrazas Olvera, 51, was found in possession of a firearm by a Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy on September 19, 2023, during a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Olvera was riding as a passenger. A federal grand jury indicted Olvera for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He pled guilty on February 23, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Man Charged in Scams Targeting SeniorsRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 22, 2024
SAN DIEGO – Jiaci Liu appeared in federal court today following his arrest for engaging in a multinational fraud conspiracy targeting seniors, including a 63-year-old man from Poway.
According to a federal complaint, the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force (ETJF) learned of the fraud scheme after the victim reported to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department that he been duped as part of a layered tech support, bank impersonation and government impersonation scam.
Specifically, while on his personal computer, a pop-up window appeared indicating there was a possible virus on his computer and instructing him to contact a phone number. When he contacted the number, he was transferred through a series of co-conspirators pretending to work in tech support. The victim was informed that his computer had viruses. The victim was then transferred to another conspirator who claimed to be from the victim’s bank. During that interaction, the victim was told there were unauthorized transfers from his bank. The victim was instructed to go immediately to his bank and to withdraw all his money for safekeeping.
At the direction of the conspirators, the victim went to his bank and withdrew $28,000. The victim was then instructed by the conspirators that someone from the U.S. Marshals Service would come to his house to pick up the money. After the interaction, the victim became suspicious and contacted the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, which informed the victim to contact them if anyone showed up to pick up the money.
According to the complaint, on June 9, 2023, defendant Jiaci Liu arrived at the victim’s residence. The victim called the police, who arrived and found Liu outside the victim’s home. Liu’s cellphone was seized and later searched. Investigators located evidence indicating that in just one week in June 2023, Liu had picked up over $348,000 dollars from multiple victims located in Southern California and Phoenix, Arizona.
“Everyone with a computer is vulnerable to sophisticated scams like the one alleged in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “If you think you’ve been targeted, report it quickly. The faster the report comes in, the more likely we are to catch the scammers and recover any swindled money.”
“Individuals committing tech scams are getting more and more innovative with the methods they use to con innocent people,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi. “The FBI and its law enforcement partners continually adapt our strategies so that we can stay ahead of those who scheme and collude to defraud the American public. We are committed to ensuring each of these individuals is brought to justice.”
A detention hearing is scheduled for May 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge David D. Leshner.
This case was investigated by the San Diego Elder Justice Task Force and its member agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24MJ1929-MSB
Jiaci Liu Age: 34 Monterey Park, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Criminal Forfeiture – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(2)(A), and Title 28, U.S.C., Section 2461(c)
Maximum Penalties: Thirty years in prison; $1 million fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
San Diego County Sheriff’s DepartmentSan Diego Police Department
San Diego Elder Justice Task Force
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Lexington Woman Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky, woman, Stacey R. Smith, 42, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, to 175 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine and 400 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl.
According to her plea agreement, beginning in January 2021 to March 2022, Smith conspired with others to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine and 400 grams of fentanyl. Specifically, from a source of supply in the Lexington area, Smith obtained pound quantities of methamphetamine and ounce quantities of what she believed to be heroin, which laboratory testing confirmed was fentanyl. Smith then sold the drugs to several others, including her co-defendant, Shane Brock, 62, of London. These other drug dealers would then distribute the drugs to more drug dealers and end users.
For his role in the conspiracy, Brock was previously sentenced to 97 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Under federal law, Smith must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff John Root, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Lake County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of A Firearm by A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Scott Fogg (37, Altoona) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Fogg faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the court records, Fogg has been convicted of eight felonies since 2008, including burglary, grand theft, and illegal drug possession. On August 28, 2023, Fogg approached his girlfriend who was seated in a truck with her minor children. Fogg entered the truck, took his girlfriend’s pistol out of the center console, pulled back the slide, and told her that was going to shoot all of them. Responding deputies subsequently took Fogg into custody and recovered the loaded firearm. As a convicted felon, Fogg is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Kansas Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Pittsburg, Kansas, man who led Kansas authorities on a motorcycle chase before being apprehended in Missouri has been sentenced in federal court for possessing methamphetamine to distribute.
Justin T. Lapping, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark on Tuesday, May 21, to 24 years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered the federal prison sentence to be served consecutively to any sentence imposed in a pending state case in Taney County, Mo. Lapping was sentenced as a career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.
On May 11, 2023, Lapping pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
A Crawford County, Kan., sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop Lapping on Aug. 9, 2022, but he fled on his motorcycle. Soon after entering Barton County, Mo., on Highway 160, Lapping abandoned his motorcycle and fled on foot from law enforcement officers. Officers deployed tasers and Lapping was taken into custody. He was carrying a Ziploc baggie that contained 187.9 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Lapping has nine prior felony convictions, five of which are for drug trafficking, and two of which involve his flight from law enforcement in a vehicle.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the FBI, the Barton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Crawford County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
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 https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Recording Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced a Pevely, Missouri man to 40 years in prison for recording his sexual abuse of a minor.
Matthew Gamel, 36, sexually abused the victim and recorded it on at least four occasions, he admitted in a guilty plea. The victim was under 14 years of age at the time. In addition to the recordings he made, Gamel possessed more than 1,700 media files containing child sexual abuse material that he obtained online.
“We are pleased with today’s sentencing and appreciate the hard work and partnership with the Pevely Police Department to bring justice to the victim,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “We hope this will help with the process of healing the trauma the defendant unconscionably inflicted on a young vulnerable child.”
Gamel pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in February to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of receipt of child pornography.
The Pevely Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on October 5, 2023, Mikel D. Williamson, 27, was found to be in possession of a firearm by the Jackson Police Department while in his automobile on County Line Road and at the perimeter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Jackson. Williamson has a previous felony conviction for armed carjacking, and federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing a firearm.
On October 6, 2023, the FBI secured a federal complaint against Williamson for his arrest and Williamson was brought into federal custody from state custody. On October 11, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted him for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty on February 15, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Indianapolis Man Sentenced to over Eight Years in Federal Prison for Series of Armed Robberies of Four Massage Parlors in One MonthRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Roy King, 42, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to three counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of attempted robbery.
According to court documents, on three separate occasions in September of 2023, the defendant robbed multiple spa and massage parlors in Indianapolis. During each of these robberies, the defendant held employees at gunpoint and demanded cash.
On October 8, 2023, the defendant attempted to rob a fourth spa. Unlike the prior robberies, he did not use a gun, but instead brandished a TV remote, pretending it was a gun. This robbery was unsuccessful and was arrested. The robberies committed and attempted by the defendant are summarized as follows:
DATE
LOCATION
September 5, 2023
Angel Spa, Michigan Rd.
September 10, 2023
Sunshine Spa, North Post Rd.
September 26, 2023
Rosemary Massage Parlor, South Gray Rd.
October 8, 2023
N Spa, East Washington St.
The defendant has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2003, including convictions related to assault with a deadly weapon, gang activity, and distribution of controlled substances.“Four different times, three of them at gunpoint, the defendant chose to terrorize innocent people who had the misfortune to work at a business this violent criminal decided to target. Each time, he made them fear for their lives just so he could steal a few hundred dollars,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Armed, repeat criminals are a menace to our communities and must be held accountable. The federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that this violent lawlessness will carry serious consequences.”
The FBI investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Independence Woman Sentenced for Stealing $500,000 from EmployerRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for stealing more than $500,000 from her employer.
Tammy Myers, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 21 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Myers to pay $521,996 in restitution and to forfeit to the government $429,025, which represents her gain from the criminal conduct.
On Jan. 10, 2024, Myers pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Myers admitted that she embezzled over $500,000 from the company over a decade by paying her personal credit cards from company accounts and writing checks to herself that were pre-signed by the company’s owner. Her fraud scheme was discovered in 2022 when the company hired a consulting firm to review its finances.
Myers was employed by Builders Overhead Door Service, Inc., in Blue Springs, Mo., from 1998 through 2022. Myers, who became the head of accounting in 2012, admitted that she engaged in a scheme to defraud Builders Overhead Door Service from January 2013 to December 2022.
Myers admitted she used the company’s bank account information to pay off the balances on her personal credit cards, totaling $429,025. All of the purchases on the credit cards were for personal expenses and were for things such as travel, entertainment, utilities, groceries, and retail shopping. Myers used company funds to pay for a helicopter trip in South Dakota, travel expenses for a family trip to Tennessee, and costs associated with her diamond art hobby, among other personal expenses.
In addition to paying her personal credit cards, Myers admitted she wrote checks to herself from the company’s bank account without the authorization of the owner. Myers deposited the unauthorized checks, which had been pre-signed by the owner, into her personal bank account and spent that money on personal expenses. The total amount of unauthorized checks she wrote to herself was $86,477.
Myers also admitted that while she was using company funds to pay her personal credit cards and writing checks to herself, she let the company fall behind on payroll, real estate, and sales and use taxes.
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper. It was investigated by the FBI.
Hudson County Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Prison for Child Pornography and Naturalization FraudRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for possessing images of child sexual abuse and committing naturalization fraud, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Ramy Mercado, 29, of Jersey City, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of naturalization fraud. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From June 2022 to October 2022, Mercado used his cell phone to transmit more than 20 video files depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including infants or toddlers. Mercado also used his cell phone to communicate his desire for sexual encounters with young children.
During this time, Mercado applied for and obtained U.S. citizenship and stated under penalty of perjury that since his citizenship interview, he had not committed any crime or offense for which he had not been arrested. In fact, Mercado had illegally possessed child pornography. Mercado became a naturalized U.S. citizen on June 22, 2023.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Mercado to 15 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
Hudson County Man Charged with Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, man was charged with producing and possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Julio Albery Nunez, 27, West New York, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. He was arrested on May 20, 2024, made his initial appearance on May 21, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Beginning in December 2022 law enforcement began investigating Nunez for involvement with child pornography on various online and dark-web platforms.More recently, Nunez contacted a minor victim online and represented to that victim that he was a teenage girl. Nunez requested and received videos constituting child sexual abuse that depicted the minor. Law enforcement searched Nunez’s home on the morning of May 20, 2024.
The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of child exploitation material carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the West New York Police Department and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Taj Moore and Rebecca Sussman of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
nunez.complaint.pdfHopkinsville Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A Hopkinsville, Kentucky man was sentenced this week to five years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Ronald Yeatts of the United States Army’s Central Investigations Division at Fort Campbell, and Christian County Sheriff Tyler DeArmond made the announcement.
According to court documents, Stephen Antwain Taylor, 31, was sentenced to five years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the United States Army’s Central Investigations Division at Fort Campbell and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the DEA Paducah Post of Duty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.
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Honduran national who pled guilty to sexually abusing a child found guilty of illegally reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Honduran national today of illegally reentering the United States.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Sergio Alberto-Rodriguez, 38, was removed from the United States on Nov. 5, 2008. On June 24, 2020, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) learned that Alberto-Rodriguez was incarcerated at the Arlington County Adult Detention Center after his arrest for aggravated sexual battery of a 10-year-old family member. Alberto-Rodriguez pled guilty to that charge on Feb. 7 in the Circuit Court of Arlington County and was taken into federal custody on Feb. 20. The jury found that Alberto-Rodriguez had reentered the United States illegally.
Alberto-Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison, $250,000 fine, and 1 year of supervised release when sentenced on Sept. 11. He also may be deported or removed thereafter. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Liana Castano, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. accepted the verdict.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariana Lazzaroni and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alessandra Serano are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-56.
Harrisburg Man Accused of Unlawful Gun Possession and ManufacturingRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Harrisburg man is facing federal charges for allegedly possessing, manufacturing and importing unregistered firearms.
A federal grand jury charged Yaroslav Vishnevski, 31, with three counts of receipt or possession of unregistered firearm, one count of manufacturing NFA weapon without paying special occupancy tax, one count of illegal importation of a firearm and one count of possession of firearm with obliterated serial number.
“Individuals who produce privately-made firearms (PMF) must adhere to state and federal laws to register the devices to help ensure responsible ownership,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our state and federal partners to combat unlawful gun trafficking.”
The charges stem from an alleged incident on April 22 in which federal officials intercepted a parcel in route and addressed to Vishnevski from China containing two firearm silencers.
“Importing and the manufacturing of unregistered NFA devices is illegal. Possession of unregistered NFA devices is illegal. Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number is illegal,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard G. Hansen. “A case like this demonstrates the immense value of collaborative law enforcement efforts in curbing gun violence in our communities. I am thankful for our partnership with Homeland Security and their relentless efforts to intercept the illegal importation of firearms and our strong partnership with the Illinois State Police which is a key in our fight against those who illegally put firearms on our streets.”
On May 2, the Illinois State Police with assistance from ATF and Homeland Security Investigations conducted a controlled delivery of the silencers to Vishnevski’s address and executed a search warrant of his residence.
“Special agents of the Illinois State Police are continuously getting stronger and better at pursuing gun trafficking of any type, whether on a large or small scale, and we will sustain this effort with our federal partners to identify, investigate, and stop those who flood our communities with illegal guns,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.
As alleged in the complaint, law enforcement recovered the two silencers, a rifle with another unregistered silencer attached, three 3D printers, suspected 3D-printed silencers, 3D-printed firearm frames and receivers in different stages of manufacturing and two privately-made, unregistered short-barreled rifles.
“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our communities, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure that the people who possess weapons have acquired them in compliance with all laws and regulations,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “The indictment of Vishnevski shows just how far HSI and our law enforcement partners will go when investigating the unlawful manufacturing and importing of firearms.”
During the search, law enforcement also observed a CNC machine, commonly known as a Ghost Gunner. Ghost Gunner machines are typically used to manufacture firearm receivers to complete production.
As outlined in the indictment, the Government is also seeking forfeiture of Vishnevski’s 9-millimeter Glock, a PMF AR-9 style rifle, a PMF AR-15 style rifle and a 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
ISP, ATF and HSI are contributing to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Bloodworth is prosecuting the case.
Gynecologist, Two Pharmacists, and Others Sentenced for Operating Massive “Pill Mill” NetworkRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Thirteen individuals, including an Atlanta-area gynecologist and two pharmacists, have now been sentenced for their roles in operating an Atlanta-area “pill mill” network that supplied addicts and drug dealers with large amounts of dangerous prescription drugs through illegal prescribing and dispensing.
“These individuals showed no regard for the safety and well-being of our community when illegally distributing prescription drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We are resolute in our efforts to fight the opioid epidemic on all fronts, and licensed professionals who exploit and endanger the public with illicit drug operations for personal greed are no exception and will be held accountable.”
“Pharmaceutical products that are distributed for non-medical reasons can be just as deadly as illicit drugs,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Dr. Mills distributed vast quantities of pharmaceutical products and had total disregard for human life. The moment he decided to illegally distribute drugs, he became nothing more than a drug trafficker.”
“As one of several members of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to work side-by-side with other law enforcement partners to combat organized crime,” said Demetrius Hardeman, CI Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Field Office. “The sentence today signifies the end to an Atlanta area criminal operation. Criminal enterprises are on notice that their illegal activities will be investigated and forwarded to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Anthony Mills was a medical doctor, licensed to practice medicine in the State of Georgia since 1997, whose specialty was listed with the medical board as "Gynecology.” Since at least October of 2018, Dr. Mills operated a pill mill out of his personal home where he issued hundreds of prescriptions for controlled substances (such as large quantities of oxycodone) to addicts and drug dealing sponsors in exchange for cash. Dr. Mills did not obtain prior medical records of his patients, conduct physical exams, or do anything to establish a valid patient-physician relationship. Instead, he often issued prescriptions in the names of individuals he never met or evaluated. Some of the prescriptions that Dr. Mills issued were in the names of individuals whose identities had been stolen or who were incarcerated or deceased at the time Dr. Mills wrote the prescriptions.
A large percentage of the illegitimate prescriptions were filled by licensed pharmacist Raphael Ogunsusi through his pharmacies, Evansmill Pharmacy and Retox Pharmacy located in Stonecrest and Conyers, respectively. Ogunsusi knew that Dr. Mills’ prescriptions were illegal, but he nonetheless filled those prescriptions.
Ogunsusi accepted large cash payments in exchange for filling these illegal prescriptions, including as much as $900 to fill just one prescription for oxycodone and $500 to fill one prescription for Percocet. Ogunsusi knew these prices were well over the market value for legitimate controlled substance prescriptions. To disguise the significantly inflated prices that he was charging, Ogunsusi falsified the pricing information on his pharmacy computers to give the appearance that he had charged market prices for the prescriptions. Ogunsusi also required sponsors to purchase a battery of additional non-controlled substances, which he referred to as the “Shebang,” as a condition for filling illegal controlled substance prescriptions. The purpose of these non-controlled substances was to maximize his profits and to conceal that most of his customers only wanted to fill controlled substances at his pharmacies. Ogunsusi also directed his pharmacy employees, including another licensed pharmacist, to fill the illegal prescriptions.
In addition to Dr. Mills and Ogunsusi, numerous pill sponsors who obtained illegal prescriptions from Dr. Mills were charged and sentenced, with the most recent sentencing occurring on May 22, 2024. These sponsors obtained prescriptions from Dr. Mills and/or Ogunsusi and sold them to drug users.
U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced the defendants in this case as follows:
- Anthony Mills, M.D., 57, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to 11 years in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Raphael Ogunsusi, RPh, 71, of Conyers, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and money laundering and was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison and one year of supervised release.
- Moses Kirigwi, RPh, 32, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to using a telephone in connection with the unlawful dispensing and distribution of prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to 90 days in prison and one year of supervised release with the first three months served in home detention.
- Thomika Riley, 50, of McDonough, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to six years and six months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Brittany Tinker, 30, of Stonecrest, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to six years and six months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Natalie Jackson, 40, of East Point, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to four years and three months in prison and two years of supervised release.
- Rogerick Smith, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Keandre Bates, 31, of Decatur, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Jeana Alston, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to three years and one month in prison and two years of supervised release.
- Chafulumisa Lisbon, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Javon Hamilton, 34, of Bluffton, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Marcena Jordan, 30, of Albany, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release.
- Travious Polain, 33, of Decatur, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to dispense and distribute prescription controlled substances and was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The Rockdale County Sherriff’s Office, Rockdale County District Attorney’s Office, DeKalb County Police Department, DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Department, Saluda County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Office, Sandy Springs Police Department, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, and Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency also provided valuable assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. O’Neal and Laurel Boatright Milam prosecuted the case.
This prosecution 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 by 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Grand jury indicts 6 in straw purchasing conspiracy involving firearms bought online with stolen credit card informationRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Six Cincinnati residents were indicted in connection with a conspiracy involving stolen credit card information used online to place orders for straw purchase firearms.
Those charged include:
Name
Age
Zachary Harris
24
Rickvuion Scott, also known as “Cubb”
25
Teague Jackson
22
Edward Washington
27
Montreal Williams*
37
Markendra Carter*
35
*Williams and Carter remain at large, and law enforcement authorities ask anyone with information related to their whereabouts to call 513-684-3354.
According to the indictment, Harris and Scott used stolen credit card information to buy firearms online. Their coconspirators then picked up the firearms in straw purchases, allegedly falsifying the federal firearms forms required for purchase.
Members of the conspiracy would allegedly place an online order with Range USA on Harrison Ave. in Cincinnati for multiple firearms, at times using stolen credit card information without the victims’ authorization. Other members of the conspiracy would then pick up the firearms in the store, falsely claiming that they were the true buyers of the firearms and were not obtaining the firearms for anyone else.
The 10-count indictment alleges the coconspirators succeeded in obtaining six pistols and one rifle via the illegal straw purchases.
Harris, Scott, Jackson, and Washington appeared in federal court in Cincinnati this week, and the indictment was unsealed today.
Conspiring to make false statements during the purchase of a firearm is punishable by up to five years in prison. Making false statements during the purchase of a firearm and access device fraud are federal crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Making A False Statement in an Attempt to Buy A FirearmRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Donald Plemmons (45, Clyo, Georgia) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement and representation to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Plemmons faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the court records, in March 2023, Plemmons completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. On the form, Plemmons indicated that he was not subject to a protective order retraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening a child or an intimate partner or child of such partner. That statement was false in that, in January 2023, Plemmons was subject to a court order from the Superior Court for the County of Effingham, Georgia, which restrained him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or their family.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.
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.
Gallup Man Charged in Gallup Shooting over Barking DogsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man was charged by criminal complaint in connection with a shooting incident that occurred during a confrontation over barking dogs.
Harley Davidson Joe, 38, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge today and was released pending trial.
According to the criminal complaint, on May 11, 2024, three individuals were walking their dogs in Gallup when Joe drove past them in a truck. The dogs began barking at the truck but did not go towards the vehicle. Joe stopped and exited the vehicle and confronted the group about their dogs barking.
An argument ensued, during which Joe brandished a handgun. John Doe 1 saw Joe firing shots towards him and returned fire in self-defense, firing approximately ten rounds until his firearm was empty. Joe then entered his truck and drove away. John Doe 1, and the two other individuals ran back to their residence.
Joe later called for an ambulance, claiming he had been shot by an unknown person. Medical personnel found Joe at a residence in Gallup and determined that he had suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to the Gallup Indian Medical Center where he was treated.
At Joe's residence, investigators found his green Dodge pickup with blood inside and a Glock 17 handgun, which Joe initially denied possessing. However, he later told agents that he retrieved the firearm from under the driver's seat after he had been shot and fired approximately five rounds towards two males who ran towards him.
If convicted of the current charges, Joe faces not less than ten years up to life in prison.
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 Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Four Peorians Sentenced After Multiple Attempts to Steal Guns from Federal Firearms LicenseesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – After serving over six months in county jail, the last of four defendants, Erika Garner, 22, of the 6500 block of North Lexington Drive in Peoria, Illinois, was sentenced on May 21, 2024, to time served, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring in August 2023 to burglarize gun stores in Spring Valley, Taylorville, LeRoy, Lincoln, Decatur and Bloomington.
Three other defendants also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and possess firearms from federal firearms licensees.
Dezmond Hardy, 23, of the 4000 block of North Brandywine Drive, Peoria, Illinois was sentenced on May 16, 2024, to 21 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
Shaleik Ward, 20, of the 2700 block of West Trewyn Avenue, Peoria, Illinois was sentenced on May 9, 2024, to 15 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Terrence Daniels, 23, of the 4000 block of North Brandywine Drive, Peoria, Illinois was sentenced on May 9, 2024, to 45 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years supervised release. Daniels’ sentence was a combination of a 33-month prison sentence imposed for the conspiracy charge and a 12-month consecutive prison sentence imposed for committing the offense while on supervised release for committing the same conduct in 2019 and 2020 when he and others stole 50 firearms during a five-county burglary spree of gun stores.
A complaint was filed in August 2023, followed by an indictment in September 2023 against Daniels, Ward, Hardy and Garner. All four entered guilty pleas in January 2024.
Daniels, Ward, and Hardy have remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since their arrest. Garner was originally released on bond, but her bond was revoked in November 2023 after she was found to have violated her conditions of release.
All the defendants must jointly pay $2,500 in restitution for damages to one of the businesses.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government presented evidence that on multiple occasions between August 14 and August 18, 2023, the defendants, in varying combinations of participants, drove from Peoria to six different towns located throughout Central Illinois, and attempted to burglarize guns stores. The defendants attempted to steal guns from Mean Metal in Spring Valley; Powder Keg Outfitters in Taylorville; Guns and Glory in Le Roy; Tactical Bunker in Lincoln; Archers Alley in Decatur; and Smiley’s Sports Shop in Bloomington. Although multiple businesses suffered property damage, the defendants failed to enter any of the stores and no firearms were taken during the attempted burglaries. All four defendants were arrested on August 18, 2023, when members of the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force and Peoria Police conducted a vehicle containment maneuver on War Memorial Drive as the defendants returned from their most recent failed attempt.
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to steal and possess firearms from a federal firearms licensee is up to five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
“Stolen guns are used to commit acts of violence in our communities,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna. “Our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners worked together to quickly resolve this case before any guns got into the wrong hands.”
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. The Spring Valley, Taylorville, and Decatur Police Departments also participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.
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.
Former Wallingford Doctor Who Sold Opioid Prescriptions for Cash Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANATOLY BRAYLOVSKY, 52, of Wallingford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 90 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for controlled substances and health care fraud offenses related to the illegal distribution of prescription medication through his medical practice.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Braylovsky was an internal medicine physician who operated the Family Practice of Greater New Haven, LLC, located on North Main Street in Wallingford. Braylovsky’s practice accepted patients who were insured by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans. Beginning in approximately 2014, the DEA and the Wallingford Police Department received complaints about Braylovsky’s prescribing practices. In early 2016, investigators from both the DEA Diversion Control Division and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection’s Drug Control Division notified Braylovsky that they were concerned about his prescribing practices and informed him that some of his patients had a criminal history. Through subsequent Connecticut Prescription Monitoring Program inquiries, investigators found that Braylovsky continued to prescribe a high quantity of opioid-based pills, as well as Alprazolam and Adderall, to a number of patients. Investigators also received information that some of Braylovsky’s patients, including Jennifer Bousquet, received medically unnecessary prescriptions for these drugs and were then selling the pills for profit; that Braylovsky was selling prescriptions for large amounts of cash; and that some patients who had their prescriptions filled provided pills to Braylovsky.
In approximately October 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) joined the investigation when it was discovered that patients of Braylovsky were using their Medicaid or Medicare insurance to pay for medically unnecessary prescriptions. For at least three years, Bousquet received from Braylovsky monthly prescriptions for 170 oxycodone 30mg pills, 75 Adderall 20mg pills, and 30 alprazolam 2mg pills.
During the investigation, law enforcement utilized a confidential source, who was both a patient of Braylovsky and an associate of Bousquet, to pay Braylovsky cash in exchange for receiving a prescription for oxycodone. On four occasions between October 2019 and January 2020, the source visited Braylovsky’s office, gave him $1,600 in cash, and received a prescription for 150 oxycodone 30mg pills. Even though Braylovsky performed no physical examination and did not discuss the source’s health, Braylovsky billed Medicaid for each office visit. In addition, the source provided Braylovsky with $1,600 in cash for a prescription during an office visit on March 18, 2020, and delivered $1,600 to Braylovsky’s car after a telehealth appointment on April 30, 2020. The appointment was conducted via FaceTime due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After each prescription was filled, DEA agents took the oxycodone pills into evidence. Medicaid paid for each filled prescription.
Between approximately January 2016 and May 2020, Medicare and Medicaid paid more than $1.6 million for schedule II medications, including oxycodone, prescribed by Braylovsky. During that time, Medicare and Medicaid also paid Braylovsky’s practice more than $590,000 for routine office visits. The investigation revealed that Braylovsky billed Medicare and Medicaid a total of $199,388.84 for illegitimate office visits and for unnecessary prescriptions.
Braylovsky and Bousquet were arrested on June 4, 2020.
In August 2021, while released on bond and awaiting trial in this case, Braylovsky expressed a desire to hire a hitman to kill or intimidate the confidential source who purchased oxycodone prescriptions from him during the investigation. Braylovsky then met with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a hitman. He was again arrested on August 27, 2021, and has been detained since his arrest.
On December 21, 2023, Braylovsky pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone, and one count of health care fraud.
Judge Dooley ordered Braylovsky to pay $199,388,84 in restitution.
On July 6, 2021, Bousquet pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone. She awaits sentencing.
In a related civil case, Braylovsky and Family Practice of Greater New Haven, LLC, previously entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and paid $398,777.68 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing for medical services not rendered and issuing medically unnecessary controlled substances prescriptions, including for oxycodone, to certain Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The settlement covers the time period from January 2016 through June 2020. Braylovsky was the sole medical practitioner of Family Practice of Greater New Haven, and the practice is no longer operating.
This investigation was conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, HHS-OIG’s Office of Investigations, FBI, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection – Drug Control Division, Connecticut Department of Public Health, Wallingford Police Department and Easton Police Department. The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr., and the civil case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Nelson and Sarah Gruber, and by Deputy Associate Attorney General Gregory O’Connell of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General.
Former Veterinary Clinic Manager Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Obtain Hydrocodone by FraudRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Crystal Windham (41, Summerfield) has pleaded guilty to an information charging her with attempting to obtain a controlled substance (hydrocodone) by fraud. Windham faces a maximum penalty of four years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to court documents, between July 2020 and May 2023, Windham purchased more than 21,000 hydrocodone tablets from a pharmacy in Summerfield, Florida. Windham, a former practice manager for a veterinary clinic in Ocala, used forged prescriptions from two veterinarians to acquire the drugs. Many of the prescriptions were for deceased pets or for animals that had never been prescribed hydrocodone by the veterinary practice. On May 9, 2023, Windham went to the pharmacy and again attempted to fill a fraudulent prescription for hydrocodone. She was stopped before doing so. When subsequently interviewed by law enforcement, Windham admitted the scheme by which she had fraudulently obtained the hydrocodone tablets.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
Former New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services Caseworker Admits Possession and Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former caseworker for the New Jersey Department of Children and Family Services, Division of Child Protection and Permanency, admitted possessing and transporting child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Trent Collier, 57, of Kearny, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court on May 21, 2024, to an indictment charging him with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Sept. 28, 2021, Collier arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport aboard a flight from the Dominican Republic. Law enforcement officers searched Collier’s cellular phone and identified at least two images of child sexual abuse. In a statement to law enforcement, Collier admitted that he had previously sent child pornography to at least one other individual using his cellular phone and that that individual also sent child pornography to Collier’s cellular phone. A further search of Collier’s cellular phone uncovered multiple additional images of child sexual abuse, including images depicting the sexual exploitation of toddlers.
The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge of transportation of child pornography carries a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, under the direction of Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, with the investigation. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren D. Kober of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
collier.indictment.pdfFormer Lafayette and Vermilion Parish Educator Convicted on Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a jury in Lafayette has returned a guilty verdict against Jacob Conrad De La Paz, 34, of one count of attempted receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge David C. Joseph presided over the three-day trial. The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict as to the additional count in the indictment of attempted production of child pornography.
De La Paz was formerly a teacher and coach at St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette and a math teacher at North Vermilion High School in Maurice. He left North Vermilion High School and began teaching at St. Thomas More in the fall of 2022. Testimony at trial revealed that in January 2023, De La Paz began communicating through social media with a former minor female student from North Vermilion High School who had reached out to him seeking his help as a math tutor. On January 12, 2023, De La Paz sent a video through the Facebook social media platform to the minor female student, who was 17 years old at the time, asking her to send him a video of her pleasuring herself. He then sent a second video to the minor victim of himself masturbating to ejaculation. Further testimony in court revealed that De La Paz instructed the minor victim to delete the video and all of their conversations from Facebook.
De La Paz faces a sentence of 5 to 40 years in prison, supervised release of 5 years to life, and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Sentencing has been set for August 22, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren L. Gardner and J. Luke Walker.
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Former Denver Hotel Owner Indicted for COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Amin Suliaman, 47, of Miami, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Colorado on four counts of wire fraud.
According to the indictment, from August 2020 until around May 2022, Suliaman requested COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and obtained $450,000 as a result of false representations. As part of the scheme, Suliaman sought loan funding for companies that were inoperable at the time of application and for a company that Suliaman had told a bankruptcy court was closed. Suliaman owned or co-owned several Colorado-based businesses including Nativ Denver and the Nativ Hotel Group.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendant made his initial appearance on May 14, 2024, in Miami in front of Judge Marty Fulgeira Elfenbein. A future court date will be set in Colorado.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig Fansler.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
On July 11, 2023, the Attorney General selected the District of Colorado’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of five national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-results-nationwide-covid-19-fraud-enforcement-action.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Foreign National Accused of Possession and Distribution of Illicit Drugs, Including 17,000 Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A foreign national living in Utah was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City today for multiple federal drug crimes after agents allegedly seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.
According to court documents, Mauricio Hermosillo Becerra, 26, of Taylorsville, Utah, was stopped in a vehicle by members of the West Valley City Police Department and the Metro Narcotics Task Force on May 7, 2024, after leaving a residence under surveillance. As part of a larger investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the residence was under surveillance for alleged narcotics distribution in connection with a Las Vegas based drug trafficking organization.
As alleged in the complaint, during Hermosillo Becerra’s traffic stop, agents seized approximately three pounds of methamphetamine, several ounces of heroin and approximately 2,000 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills from the vehicle. During the investigation, agents also seized 23 pounds of methamphetamine, 15,000 fentanyl pills, 2.7 pounds of heroin, and 239 grams of cocaine from Hermosillo Becerra’s residence in Taylorsville. All the narcotics field tested positive.
Hermosillo Becerra is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. His initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for May 23, 2024, at 10:45 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), West Valley City Police Department, and the Metro Narcotics Task Force (MNTF).
Special Assistant United States Attorney Kelsy B. Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Accused of Drug and Gun Crimes Indicted by a Grand JuryRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A felon and foreign national living in Utah was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City today for federal drug and gun crimes.
According to court documents, Rafael Maldonado-Solario, 46, of Salt Lake City, was under investigation by agents for allegedly distributing fentanyl in the Salt Lake Valley. On May 9, 2024, agents seized 2,290 grams of blue pills stamped M30 at Maldonado-Solario’s apartment in Salt Lake City. The pills were field tested and confirmed to contain fentanyl. Law enforcement also seized a Taurus CCP .380 handgun inside Maldonado’s apartment. As a previously convicted felon, Maldonado-Solario is restricted from possessing a firearm.
Maldonado-Solario is charged with possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and illegal reentry of a previously removed alien. His initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for May 23, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Utah State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO).
Assistant United States Attorney Cameron P. Warner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal, State, and Local Agencies Honored with Midwest HIDTA AwardsRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS – Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, has announced multiple local recipients of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) awards. The presentation took place in Sioux Falls on April 24, 2024. The awards were presented for the extraordinary work done on the Three Sisters and Grand Ram Operations, which involved the dismantling of drug trafficking activity from Mexico to South Dakota and other states.
The Midwest HIDTA Outstanding Prosecution Award was given to those involved with Operation Three Sisters, an investigation that began when Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD) Narcotics Detectives received information about a couple in Sioux Falls who was selling large amounts of methamphetamine. Members of the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force conducted an investigation into those two individuals, which resulted in the seizure of approximately two pounds of methamphetamine from their home. Investigators also located information at the home that led to the source of the illicit drugs. That information was utilized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agents to conduct an investigation into an individual who was arranging to have methamphetamine brought to Sioux Falls from Mexico through California. Agents were then able to work up to two individuals in Mexico who were working to source narcotics to Sioux Falls and other areas. As a result of the investigation, large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl were removed from the distribution stream. In all, the investigation revealed that more than 250 pounds of methamphetamine had been distributed in the community.
The investigation and subsequent prosecutions demonstrate the impact that significant information sharing can have in dismantling large drug distribution conspiracies. The key to reaching the source in Mexico was intelligence sharing and a willingness to work together by local, state, and federal agencies investigating different members of the conspiracy. In total, twenty defendants were federally prosecuted and convicted as a result of this operation, including Salvador Madrigal, Jr., who was sentenced to 33 years and four months in federal prison on August 7, 2023.
Recipients of the Outstanding Prosecution Award include agents from the SFPD, DCI, DEA, ATF, IRS, and SDHP, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Hodges and Elizabeth Ebert, Legal Administrative Specialist Lindsay Nicola (USAO), and Litigation Support Manager Jeff Peters (USAO).
The Midwest HIDTA Outstanding Investigative Collaboration Award was given to those involved with Operation Grand Ram. During this operation, investigators infiltrated the distribution network of the drug trafficking organization (DTO). Investigators discovered that defendants were bringing methamphetamine from California and Minneapolis to South Dakota for further distribution. They also learned that at least one defendant was obtaining methamphetamine from Sioux Falls and bringing it to Wisconsin to sell. Ultimately, investigators learned that proceeds from the drugs sold in South Dakota were being sent back to individuals in Mexico. Throughout the operation, investigators seized multiple pounds of methamphetamine, thousands of fentanyl pills, and thousands of dollars. Operation Grand Ram resulted in the federal prosecution of 16 individuals for distribution of controlled substances, money laundering, and firearm violations in the District of South Dakota.
Recipients of the Outstanding Investigative Collaboration Award include agents from HSI, MCSO, DEA, IRS, and SFPD, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges.
The HIDTA program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The DEA plays a very active role and has more than 1,500 authorized special agent positions dedicated to the program. At the local level, the HIDTAs are directed and guided by Executive Boards composed of an equal number of regional Federal and non-Federal (state, local, and tribal) law enforcement leaders.
South Dakota counties involved in the Midwest HIDTA include Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Clay, Codington, Custer, Lawrence, Lincoln, Meade, Minnehaha, Pennington, Union, and Yankton.
Federal jury convicts Richmond felon for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Richmond man yesterday for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 20, 2024, Richmond Police officers were patrolling the Fairfield Court community when they observed a car leaving Fairfield Court at a high rate of speed and running stop signs. When the officers attempted to catch the vehicle, the driver, Rashad Laroy Ebron, 32, suddenly stopped his car, exited the vehicle, and tossed something onto the floorboard. Ebron then closed the door and locked the car.
Officers observed a 9mm handgun in plain view on the floorboard of the vehicle. Ebron claimed that he could not unlock the vehicle because the keys were locked inside the car and that he had no wallet or identification. The officers were able to identify Ebron, however, and confirmed that he was a convicted felon. The officers arrested Ebron, located the car keys, unlocked the vehicle, and recovered the firearm.
Ebron was convicted of grand larceny in 2011, evading police in 2013, and robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in 2016. As a previously convicted felon, Ebron cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.
Ebron faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 29. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Groover, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-47.
Dulce Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Sexual Abuse of ChildrenRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man was charged by indictment with multiple counts of sexual abuse against two minors under the age of 12.
Herbert Ben, Jr., 54, an enrolled member of Jicarilla Apache, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
According to the indictment, between July 2018 and October 2020, Ben engaged in sexual acts with two children who had not attained the age of 12 years.
If convicted of the current charges, Ben faces not less than 30 years and up to life in prison.
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 Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department and Bloomfield Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin L. Dillon and Timothy Trembley are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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District Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Firing 14 Rounds at MPD OfficerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Saeve Edward Evans, 38, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for firing 14 rounds at a Metropolitan Police Department officer. The officer was not injured. The shooting, in the early morning of August 1, 2023, occurred at 1711 Benning Road, a three-story apartment building in Northeast Washington D.C.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). In addition to the 10-year prison term, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Evans to serve five years of supervised release.
Evans pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on January 29, 2024, to assault on a police officer while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term of over one year.
According to court documents, on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, Evans was walking a dog at about 5:25 a.m. around the interior courtyard of the apartment building at 1711 Benning Road, Northeast. An unknown individual walked in front of the building and, unprovoked, Evans pulled out a gun, pointed the gun towards the sky, and fired three times in the air. The unknown individual ran away.
Three minutes later, at 5:28 a.m., an MPD officer arrived at the scene to investigate the gunfire. The officer, who was wearing a full police uniform and driving a marked MPD cruiser, stood on Gales Place, Northeast, and spotted Evans within the courtyard. Evans yelled at the officer to “come and get it” and then aimed at the officer, fired the gun three times, then moved towards the apartment entrance. Moving up a ramp, Evans pointed his gun at the officer again and fired nine more rounds. The officer returned fire before taking cover behind his police cruiser. Inside the building, Evans climbed the stairs to the third-floor landing and fired two more shots at the officer through large windows. In total, Evans fired 14 rounds at the officer.
Additional MPD officers from the Fifth District responded to assist and entered the building on Benning Road. Officers located Evans on the third-floor landing of the apartment building. Before officers placed Evans under arrest, Evans said, “Ain’t no gun, I took it off me.” Officers recovered the firearm on the third-floor landing. DNA evidence further linked the firearm -- a black Springfield XD 9x19 pistol with an empty 16 round magazine -- to Evans. DNA evidence linked Evans to the gun, which was stolen on March 9, 2023, from the state of Texas.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Song and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Cloherty.
Distribution of child pornography sends Missoula man to prison for more than 17 yearsRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Missoula man who admitted to trading videos and images of child pornography with others on social media sites and who possessed thousands of images of child sexual abuse material was sentenced on Tuesday to 17 years and six months in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.
Nicholas Geoffrey Combs, 29, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to distribution of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court also ordered $36,000 restitution.
“There is no more important duty of our office than to protect kids by holding accountable those who seek to victimize them. Our office has prosecuted many people who pose grave dangers to children, but Combs’ conduct is among the worst I’ve seen during my time as Montana’s U.S. Attorney. His possession of thousands of images of graphic sexual and physical violence perpetrated against children, including infants, was grotesque and all parents should be relieved he will spend the next 30 years of his life either in federal prison or under federal supervision,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
In court documents, the government alleged that in June 2022, Snapchat reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a Snapchat user had uploaded two videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit content to its service. A law enforcement investigation determined that the Snapchat account belonged to Combs and that he had sent two videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit content to another Snapchat user. Combs admitted to trading videos and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit content with other users on social media sites, including Reddit and Snapchat. Combs also admitted he was sexually attracted to minors, had solicited and received sexually explicit pictures from children with whom he interacted online and sometimes pretended to be a child to solicit the images. Law enforcement seized Combs’ electronic devices and determined that they contained thousands of images and videos of graphic sexual and physical violence against children, including babies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lowney prosecuted the case. The Missoula Police Department and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Defendants Charged with Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in Overdose Death of Carlsbad WomanRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 22, 2024
SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Bryan Kim Bullard and Cameron William Fulston with distributing the fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 25-year-old Carlsbad woman.
According to court records, on September 10, 2023, at approximately 12:23 a.m., San Diego Police Department officers were dispatched for a suspected drug overdose to an apartment complex in Mission Valley. One minute prior, a 911 call had been placed from the victim’s phone, in which a male individual reported “overdose, overdose” before ending the call while the dispatcher was trying to explain life saving measures.
Upon arrival, officers located the victim, identified in court records as D.G., lying unconscious on the bathroom floor. A San Diego Police officer pulled D.G. from the bathroom, determined she was not breathing, and began CPR until medical personnel arrived. D.G. was transported to a local hospital where she died five days later, on September 15th.
Within the bathroom where the overdose took place, officers observed a piece of foil with a brown liquid and a chunk of a white substance. Officers also located blue pills on the kitchen counter with “M30” stamped on them. The foil and pills both tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. Federal agents followed the evidence related to the sale of the fatal dose of fentanyl to the defendants.
“Behind every fatal overdose is a dealer who put someone’s life at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “We are holding them accountable to stop the cycle of devastation they perpetuate.”
“DEA in San Diego has made investigating overdose deaths a priority,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis. “We are committed to bringing drug dealers who poison our communities to justice.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill S. Streja and Adam Gordon.
Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 24-cr-00201-BAS
Bryan Kim Bullard Age: 43 San Diego, CA
Cameron William Fulston Age: 29 Carlsbad, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in Death
U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
Mandatory minimum: Twenty years in prison
Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C)
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
Mandatory minimum: Twenty years in prison
Distribution of Fentanyl
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison
Possession With Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Forty years in prison
Mandatory minimum: Five years in prison
Possession With Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Maximum penalty: Forty years in prison
Mandatory minimum: Five years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego Police Department
La Mesa Police Department
California Department of Health Care Services
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Felon Indicted Following Large Salt Lake City Drug BustRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah convicted felon was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City today for multiple federal crimes after Salt Lake City Police detectives allegedly seized approximately 45 pounds of methamphetamine, 15,000 fentanyl pills, and two firearms from his home and from a storage unit associated with him.
According to court documents, on May 9, 2024, Anthony Owen Pawley, 65, of Murray, Utah, was stopped for a traffic violation by detectives assigned to the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. During the traffic stop, a canine officer alerted to narcotics. While searching the vehicle, detectives found five pounds of suspected methamphetamine and several hundred blue pressed pills suspected to contain fentanyl. During the investigation, detectives also found approximately 40 pounds of field tested and confirmed methamphetamine and approximately 15,000 fentanyl pills, along with two firearms at his residence and at a storage unit in Murray associated with Pawley.
SLCPDPawley is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and felon in possession of a firearm. His initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for May 24, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah and the Salt Lake City Police Department made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Cameron P. Warner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) is a specialized unit within the department tasked with combating violent crime by identifying and apprehending violent criminals and fugitives. Operating under the SLCPD’s Special Operations Division, VCAT collaborates closely with the Investigations Division, patrol divisions, and Data and Research divisions to pinpoint and enforce targeted measures in hot spot areas and regions experiencing a surge in violent crime. Established to address emerging violent crime trends and the activities of repeat violent offenders in Salt Lake City, VCAT coordinates efforts with detectives, the Salt Lake Information Center (SLIC), and the SLCPD’s Crime Intelligence and Analysis Unit (CIAU) to identify and apprehend violent offenders.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Chicago-Area Rap Promoter Pleads Guilty to Role in Nationwide Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicago-area man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to his role in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy that victimized businesses and individuals across the United States.
Antonio M. Strong, 31, of Lansing, Ill., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Sept. 19, 2024.
Strong was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020 along with five co-defendants, including rap artist Herbert Wright, Joseph Williams and Demario Sorrells.
According to court documents, between at least March 2016 and September 2020, Strong conspired with Wright, Sorrells, Williams and others to defraud numerous businesses and individuals by obtaining, possessing, using and transferring unauthorized and stolen payment card account information to obtain valuable goods and services, including: private jet and yacht charters; luxury car rentals; luxury hotel and vacation rental accommodations; private chef and security guard services; designer puppies; limousine and chauffer services; and commercial airline flights, among other things. During this time, Strong presented himself as a music promoter based in the Chicago area.
The stolen payment card account information included the actual cardholders’ names, addresses, payment card account numbers, security codes and account expiration dates. Because Strong and his alleged co-conspirators provided authentic payment card information, the defrauded businesses and individuals successfully processed their transactions and provided the goods and services. The actual cardholders discovered these transactions on their accounts and disputed the charges, which were reversed by the payment card companies. As a result, the transactions were charged back to the businesses and individuals from whom Strong and his co-conspirators defrauded with the unauthorized transactions.
To conceal his identity and perpetrate the fraud, Strong used various fictitious names and aliases; provided fake driver’s licenses in the names of both fictitious and real people; used email accounts in the names of fictitious and real businesses; and falsely stated that he was from “Universal Music,” “Sony Music,” “Epic Music,” and other real and fictitious companies. Strong caused a total loss of $2,299,842, which he has agreed to repay.
In January 2024, Wright was sentenced to three years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $139,968, as well as a $5,500 fine after previously pleading guilty. Williams and Sorrells have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on June 28, 2024 and Aug. 29, 2024, respectively. The remaining two defendants are pending trial.
The charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $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; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorneys Andrew Tyler and Kyle Crawford of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Chicago man pleads guilty to cyberstalking, sextortionRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Omoruyi O. Uwadiae, 28, of Chicago, offered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court today to cyberstalking, sextortion and identity theft crimes. His scheme involved dozens of victims in multiple states, including Ohio, Colorado and Washington.
According to his plea documents, Uwadiae admitted to obtaining sexually explicit photographs and videos from potential victims and then using the content to threaten them. Uwadiae threatened to distribute the explicit material widely on the internet and specifically to victims’ friends, family members, employers and others.
The defendant demanded money from some victims. From others, he demanded they meet him, have sex with him, or make damaging admissions such as admissions that they were racist. On multiple occasions, Uwadiae carried through with his threats. He sent sexually explicit photographs and videos to the victims’ friends, family members (including at least one victim’s mother, at least one victim’s brother, and at least one victim’s sister), employers and acquaintances, and also posted sexually explicit photographs and videos widely on the internet.
Multiple victims had not publicly disclosed their sexual orientation, which Uwadiae’s actions disclosed, contrary to their wishes. The defendant also used victims’ identifications to create false accounts on social media and post personal information about the victims online.
Uwadiae targeted young gay men on Grindr and other online sites. He would obtain their sexually explicit photographs and videos consensually and then use them to extort. In some cases, he posted their nude images on Male General without their consent and then demanded money or other things of value to take down the images. Male General is a blog marketed to gay men containing, among other things, boards where users can post images and text.
For example, one victim was a student at The Ohio State University who communicated with Uwadiae on Grindr. Uwadiae ultimately demanded that the victim either pay him $200 or have sex with him. When the victim did not comply, Uwadiae created false social media accounts using true photos of the victim, stating, “this guy is gay, see pics for evidence.” The victim had not disclosed his sexual orientation to his family and had told Uwadiae he was concerned that his family would react negatively if they learned he was bisexual.
Uwadiae was charged in the Southern District of Ohio in April by a bill of information.
As part of his plea, Uwadiae pleaded guilty to 22 total counts. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of cyberstalking (punishable by up to five years in prison), seven counts of making interstate communications with the intent to extort (up to two years in prison) and seven counts of unlawfully using a means of identification (up to five years in prison).
Congress sets the maximum statutory sentences and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill are representing the United States in this case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Columbus Division of Police.
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Carrollton Juvenile Overdose Defendant Who Ignored Deaths Sentenced to 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
The first defendant charged in the Carrollton juvenile fentanyl overdose scandal – which claimed the lives of at least four North Texas teenagers – was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Luis Eduardo Navarrete, 22, was charged via criminal complaint in February 2023 and indicted the following month. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 21 years of age and was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade.
“Even as children overdosed and died around him, this defendant continued to distribute poisonous pills to juvenile dealers to sell in grade schools,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Brushing off the pain of his young victims’ family and friends, he delivered fentanyl into the hands of children, extinguishing lives before they’d even really begun. The callousness he displayed is truly chilling. Although we can never bring these kids back, we hope today’s verdict is a balm to their families’ unbearable suffering.”
“Today’s a very important day for DEA Dallas and all of those who were involved in this investigation. Defendant Navarrete was one of the first individuals identified in what later became a complex ring of various fentanyl traffickers selling poison in our neighborhoods,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A.. Chavez. “While we cannot bring back the lives lost and undo so much tragedy amongst the affected families, we are proud that justice has been served and remained committed to fighting illicit fentanyl trafficking in North Texas.”
“Today’s sentencing of twenty years, I feel, is appropriate for the seriousness of Navarrete’s crimes. Navarrete and others were responsible for causing enormous heartache and sorrow to many families. It is appropriate to show that the Carrollton Police Department and the DOJ remain serious about protecting our citizens, and especially our youth, from drug dealers who think they can prey on our children by pushing poison on them. I am grateful for our partnership with the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas and DEA-Dallas; without their help, this would not have been possible.”
According to court documents, Mr. Navarrete and several co-conspirators trafficked fentanyl pills to a network of juvenile drug dealers, who then sold the pills – stamped M-30 to resemble oxycodone – to students at R.L. Turner High School, Dewitt Perry Middle School, and Dan Long Middle School.
At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, a DEA task force officer testified that Mr. Navarrete began trafficking fentanyl in August 2022. When he was placed on a GPS ankle monitor following a domestic altercation, he relied on two drug runners, co-defendants Rafael Soliz Jr. and Robert Gaitan, to pick up counterfeit M-30 pills from his sources and deliver them to his residence in Carrollton.
According to evidence presented at the hearing, Mr. Navarrete continued to supply fentanyl pills to children even after he was told they were causing overdoses.
On Jan. 26, 2023, a juvenile dealer informed Mr. Navarrete that one of his counterfeit M30 pills had caused a 14-year-old middle school student, identified in court documents by the initials J.P., to “pass away.” The dealer even included a photograph of first responders at the victim’s residence attempting, unsuccessfully, to resuscitate him. Despite being told that a minor had died from pills that he was distributing, Navarrete continued to distribute the pills to adult and minor customers.
Less than a week later, on Feb. 1, 2023, a different juvenile dealer informed Mr. Navarrete that a 17-year-old high school student who had taken one of his counterfeit M-30 pills “couldn’t wake up.”
“Od bro… wtf happening,” the dealer wrote. “Don’t tell me it was u that sold em like 18 30s … that’s another youngin dead bro.”
After being told of the second overdose death, Mr. Navarrete continued to traffic fentanyl, unabated, until his arrest two days later.
At Thursday’s sentencing hearing, the DEA task force officer testified that the fentanyl Mr. Navarrete sold originated from the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Over the course of the investigation, he said, officers and agents made roughly 40 adult and juvenile arrests and seized more than 1.2 million fentanyl pills off the street. The conspiracy resulted in at least 14 juvenile overdoses, four of them fatal.
Mr. Navarrete is one of 11 defendants charged federally in connection with the case. Mr. Navarrete’s main supplier, Jason Xavier Villanueva, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, and his drug runners, Mr. Soliz and Mr. Gaitan, were sentenced to 15 to and five years respectively.
At Mr. Navarrete’s sentencing hearing, the mother of one of the late juvenile victims testified:
“He was the soul of our home,” she said of her son in Spanish. “I would like for everyone who’s present to know that these people who sell fentanyl, they destroy families…. On behalf of all those children who have passed away due to fentanyl, this has to stop.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of School Resource Officers from the Carrollton – Farmer’s Branch Independent School. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.California Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – WALTER ALVAREZ TIRADO (“TIRADO”), age 34, a resident of Chula Vista, California, was sentenced on May 21, 2024, to 144 months imprisonment, 5 years supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. TIRADO previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A).
According to court documents, on October 6, 2021, TIRADO traveled from Kentucky and bound for New Orleans to deliver fifty pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of TIRADO’s vehicle in Pearl River, La. Following the stop, officers searched TIRADO’s luggage and discovered fifty pounds of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Armed Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Sean James Edwards, age 34, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute 40 Grams of Fentanyl. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 84 months imprisonment to be followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, early on the morning of November 3, 2022, Spokane Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of 515 S. Farr Road for a report of a shooting. The reporting party said he heard a gunshot and saw a bullet hole in his window.
When deputies arrived, they observed a black Kia Rio crashed into a parked vehicle. Deputies could see a rifle and a loaded magazine on the passenger seat, as well as a spent silver casing on the floorboard of the Kia Rio. A neighbor told deputies that following the crash, he looked at his security camera and saw two people, a man, later identified as Edwards, and a woman, running away from the crash. Deputies had the Kia Rio towed to the police impound lot.
On November 4, investigators executed a search warrant on the Kia Rio. In addition to the rifle, investigators located a loaded pistol, several loaded magazines, dozens of rounds of ammunition, Edwards’s Montana State ID, two iPhones, methamphetamine, more than 1,400 fentanyl pills divided into several small bags, and a backpack with drug paraphernalia.
“This case demonstrates the dangerous nexus of drug trafficking and violent crime. A resident called law enforcement because someone had fired a shot into his home. Mr. Edwards ran from the scene, leaving behind fentanyl he planned to distribute and weapons he was not legally allowed to possess,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I’m grateful for the excellent work of investigators and prosecutors to identify Mr. Edwards and hold him accountable. By removing sources of illicit fentanyl from the streets, we can make our communities safer and stronger.”
“Every one of the fentanyl pills discovered in the vehicle had a potential to destroy lives, and it is a relief law enforcement was able to find them first and remove them from the community,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Our Safe Streets Task Force members and prosecutors are committed to fighting back against the illegal drugs and unlawfully possessed firearms that bring violence and fear into our neighborhoods.”
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.
This case was investigated by the FBI Spokane Regional Safe Streets Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Cashman.
Arizona Man Sentenced for Role in Scheme to Steal Money from U.S. Bank AccountsRead the Press Release
An Arizona man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in San Diego to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
According to court documents, Luis Ramirez, 43, of Mesa, Arizona, helped to obtain “leads” for fraudsters who sought to steal money from the bank accounts of unknowing U.S. victims. The “leads” consisted of financial information for the prospective victims that included bank account numbers. Ramirez and his coconspirators trafficked “leads” that originated from payday loan applications of consumers across the United States. Ramirez was also sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison on a separate case brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. In sentencing Ramirez, Judge Cynthia Bashant of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California determined that 24 months of his sentence should run consecutively, so that Ramirez’s total sentence is 144 months in prison.
“Those who knowingly supply fraudsters with personal and financial information about potential victims cause enormous harm to the American public,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who sell such information for illicit purposes.”
“The Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to protecting American consumers,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “In this case, small transactions were used to conceal the scheme, but that wasn’t enough to fool postal inspectors or keep us from adding it all together to put a halt to this fraud.”
Related cases against other scheme participants have previously been filed in Los Angeles and in Las Vegas. In May 2023, a grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment charging 14 defendants with RICO conspiracy and other charges in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The indictment alleges that the defendants and associates debited consumers’ bank accounts without authorization and used shell entities and “micro debits” to conceal the activity from banks. “Micro debits” serve to conceal fraud by grouping unauthorized charges with a large number of low-value, straw transactions to lower the fraudster’s chargeback rate. Another scheme participant, Harold Sobel, pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy in federal court in Las Vegas. In December 2022, Sobel was sentenced to 42 months in prison.
USPIS investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Wei Xiang, Meredith Healy and Amy Kaplan of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Central and Southern Districts of California.
For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.
Arizona Man Sentenced for Brutal Assault on Former GirlfriendRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge handed down a 20-month prison sentence to an Arizona man who pleaded guilty to an alcohol-fueled assault on his then-girlfriend that left her in need of extensive medical treatment.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to publicly available court records, on November 3, 2022, Norbert Michael Tsosie, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Lukachukai, Arizona, assaulted his then girlfriend, Jane Doe, in Dulce, New Mexico. The couple had gotten into an argument earlier in the afternoon while shopping in Farmington. Although it seemed that they had resolved the argument, Tsosie suddenly and without warning became violent in the vehicle Jane Doe was driving. He punched the windshield and dashboard, kicked the window, then turned his attack on Jane Doe. He punched her face, kicked her with his boots, and choked her until she was nearly unconscious. Though she was injured, Jane Doe and Tsosie returned to Doe’s parents’ house.
The next day, Tsosie claimed not to remember what happened. Jane Doe told Tsosie that she wanted to end their relationship, then drove Tsosie around to try to find him a place to stay before she went to the emergency room at San Juan Regional Medical Center. Jane Doe suffered a concussion, cervical strain, ankle sprain, and facial contusion and required additional medical care in the weeks following due to the ongoing pain and injuries from the attack.
Upon his release from prison, Tsosie will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bell is prosecuting the case.
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Additional Defendant Sentenced for Federal Conspiracy Against Rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act Convictions Related to 2020 D.C. Clinic Invasion and BlockadeRead the Press Release
Heather Idoni was sentenced today to 24 months in prison following her convictions for federal conspiracy against rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act offenses following three separate trials in connection with the blockade of a Washington, D.C., area reproductive health clinic on Oct. 22, 2020.
Previously, Lauren Handy was sentenced to 57 months in prison, John Hinshaw was sentenced to 21 months in prison, William Goodman was sentenced to 27 months in prison, Jonathan Darnel was sentenced to 34 months in prison, Herb Geraghty was sentenced to 27 months in prison, Jean Marshall was sentenced to 24 months in prison and Joan Bell was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
“Federal law is clear: using force, threatening to use force or physically obstructing access to reproductive health care is unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “People have a First Amendment right to communicate their views but they do not have the right to use chains, locks and obstruction to prevent access to reproductive health care facilities. The Justice Department will continue to protect both patients seeking reproductive health services and providers of those services.”
“Using force and intimidation to deprive others of their civil rights is a crime, and rightly so,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “This office will continue to defend and protect the right of every citizen to access health care.”
These defendants, and one, were convicted following three separate trials in 2023. Paulette Harlow is scheduled to be sentenced later this month. Idoni is scheduled to be sentenced in a separate matter on July 30, following conspiracy and FACE Act convictions in an unrelated clinic blockade from Tennessee. A tenth defendant, Jay Smith, was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a felony FACE Act offense on March 1, 2023.
Evidence presented at trial established that the defendants used force and physical obstruction to execute a clinic blockade that was organized by the group’s leaders, Handy and Darnel. The defendants planned and organized the clinic invasion using social media, text messages and telephone calls, and several co-conspirators, including Hinshaw, Goodman, Geraghty, Marshall, Bell, Harlow, Idoni and Smith traveled from northeast and midwestern states to participate in the blockade. Prior to the clinic incursion, the defendants met with other co-conspirators to plan their crime, which included making a fake patient appointment to ensure the group’s entry into the clinic, using chains and locks to barricade the facility and passively resisting their anticipated arrests to prolong the blockade.
The clinic invasion was advertised on social media as a “historic” event that was live-streamed on Facebook. The defendants’ forced entry into the clinic at the outset of the invasion resulted in injury to a clinic nurse. During the blockade, one patient had to climb through a receptionist window to access the clinic, while another laid in the hallway outside of the clinic in physical distress, unable to gain access to the clinic.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Prosecutors from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.
Tuesday 21 May 2024
Wisconsin Man Indicted for Kidnapping Greenville ChildRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a three-count indictment against Tyler Michael Berlick, 35, of Muskego, Wisconsin, for traveling across state lines with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, and production of child sexual abuse materials.*
The indictment alleges that in February of this year, Berlick traveled from Wisconsin to South Carolina with the intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor and then traveled with the minor to Florida with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Berlick met the child in an online game and believed she was 13 years old. Berlick is also charged with one count of production of child sexual abuse materials.
Berlick faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 23 at 10 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Miami Field Office, the Lantana Police Department (Florida), the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department (Wisconsin). Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Marosek is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
Wewoka Resident Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter, Assault, and Federal Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Matthew Kyle Pinson, age 37, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, and 51 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, to be served concurrently. Pinson was also sentenced to 57 months in prison for one count of Assault resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, to be served consecutive to the other terms of imprisonment.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department.
On July 25, 2023, Pinson pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on January 16, 2022, Pinson physically assaulted an individual, causing significant facial injuries that required surgery. Three days later, on January 19, 2022, Pinson, a convicted felon, discharged a firearm, killing a second individual. The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Pinson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.