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15 May 2024
United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the National Police Week is observed from Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17. During this week, communities across the United States will honor and remember those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends, and fellow officers left behind.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
This year, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These 282 officers include 118 officers who were killed during 2023, plus 164 officers who died in previous years, but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now. For more information, go to https://nleomf.org.
For more information about National Police Week, please visit https://nleomf.org/policeweek.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Cole Finegan to Step DownRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Cole Finegan announced today that he has submitted his resignation to President Joe Biden effective at 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2024. President Biden appointed Mr. Finegan and he was confirmed by the United States Senate, taking the oath of office on December 1, 2021.
“I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado,” said Mr. Finegan. “I am equally thankful to the career attorneys and professional staff who work every day to help keep our citizens safe, to make sure that the rule of law is applied equally, and to protect the civil rights of every citizen. We are fortunate to have these outstanding public servants in our state. Serving the people of Colorado alongside them will always remain one of the most significant experiences of my life.”
As United States Attorney, Finegan was responsible for overseeing the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. The office represents the United States in virtually every court matter, criminal or civil, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and in cases from that Court before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
During his years in office, U.S. Attorney Finegan focused his efforts, and those of his team, on multiple challenges and opportunities.
Commitment to Partnerships
As a former City Attorney of Denver, Finegan recognized that there could be unique ways to partner with local and state law enforcement to prosecute the most violent criminals in our communities. After meeting with leaders in Denver and Aurora, those cities provided and funded a total of five attorneys who were appointed as federal prosecutors (Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys) to handle violent crimes at the federal level. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also partnered successfully with the District Attorney’s Office in Mesa County and the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area to add a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to prosecute drug crimes in Grand Junction.
Under Mr. Finegan’s direction, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado revived the then dormant Protecting Houses of Worship seminars across Colorado. These seminars teach members of faith communities ways to battle against hate crimes and possible acts of terrorism, and work to foster better communication and relationships within local communities and with law enforcement. During USA Finegan’s tenure, hundreds of faith community leaders attended these seminars across Colorado and engaged with local, state, and federal law enforcement leaders.
Prosecutions of Violent Offenders
U.S. Attorney Finegan and his team partnered to lead multiple prosecutions of those who bring drugs, including the deadly scourge of fentanyl, into our communities along with illegal firearms and ammunition. Among its successes, the office, under Mr. Finegan, secured a life sentence for a notorious drug dealer who distributed fentanyl that killed users in 2023. The office was also successful in prosecutions related to violent crime and guns in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo.
Other high profile criminal cases during Finegan’s tenure included the conviction of a dentist who murdered his wife while in Zambia, a guilty plea from a government employee who attempted to sell classified information to a foreign government, and a guilty plea to federal hate crimes by the person who killed five people and injured 19 others at Club Q in Colorado Springs.
Civil Rights, Fraud, and Public Lands
The Civil Section of the office remains notably innovative and successful in protecting civil rights of Coloradans, recovering monies lost due to fraud, and pursuing other misconduct against the United States.
Under Mr. Finegan, the Civil Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office protected civil rights for Coloradans through settlements with multiple law enforcement agencies and other businesses that required them to provide more and higher-quality services to people with various disabilities and who speak different languages.
In 2024, the office resolved a False Claims Act Case with two farmers in southeast Colorado requiring them to pay over $6.5 million back to the United States to resolve claims that they defrauded federal crop insurance programs by tampering with rain gauges. In a parallel criminal case, those farmers were also sentenced to federal prison terms.
On the Western Slope, the office negotiated a creative, groundbreaking settlement between the United States and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad that recovered $20 million for damages incurred in the catastrophic Colorado wildland fire known as the “416 Fire.” The settlement also allowed the historic railroad to keep operating, but also to modernize its equipment and create a compensation fund to guard against future fires.
Economic Crimes, Fraud, and Asset Recovery
Aggressively building upon a task force established to investigate COVID-19 Fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has seized over $1 billion in Economic Injury Disaster Loans that were stolen and over $25 million in misused Colorado Unemployment Insurance funds.
During Mr. Finegan’s time as U.S. Attorney, the office has also added additional prosecutors to continue recovering COVID-19 relief funds stolen from taxpayers.
Challenges and Opportunities
U.S. Attorney Finegan began his tenure during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked closely with his team to steer the office through the constantly changing environment, while also seeking to rebuild community connections and partnership.
In managing the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Finegan has worked diligently to guide the organization through multiple budget crises, including the substantial reductions by Congress in funding U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide in FY2024. Despite these shifts in funding, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Colorado remains well staffed and well prepared for the future.
Building upon his past experiences at all levels of government, Mr. Finegan served as a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. The Committee is a small, select group of U.S. Attorneys who advise the Attorney General on the many challenges that confront the Department of Justice every day.
Mr. Finegan plans to return to the private sector.
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United States Attorney Carla Freedman Recognizes Police Week and Honors Fallen Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York Carla Freedman recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
“Police Week provides time to reflect on the difficult, dangerous, and absolutely vital work that federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers do 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. They serve to make us safe and free despite the inherent risks they face when they report for duty,” said Carla Freedman, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York. “This year we especially acknowledge their courage and sacrifice as we still grieve the deaths of Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen and Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Michael Hoosock, who died on April 14th exchanging fire with a gunman in Salina, New York. Their loss reminds us that upholding the law, protecting our communities, and seeking justice are not abstract ideals, but real things that the men and women of law enforcement dedicate themselves to every day and night.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes the Service and Sacrifice of Law Enforcement During National Police WeekRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY - In honor of National Police Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. National Police Week is observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
“Every day, our law enforcement partners across the Western District of Kentucky put everything on the line to protect and serve our communities. Please join our office in honoring these courageous men and women as we express our heartfelt gratitude for their service. Especially during this National Police Week, we pause to remember those officers that we have lost and extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and fellow officers left behind. Their commitment and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
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U.S. Attorney Will Thompson Recognizes National Police Week with Memorial Ceremony and Grant Award VisitRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Will Thompson is recognizing the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
In the Southern District of West Virginia, Thompson participated in a wreath-laying and awards ceremony honoring law enforcement at Parkersburg City Hall on Monday, May 13, 2024. Thompson was also the event’s guest speaker.
“Law enforcement represents the community,” Thompson said. “They’re part of the community. They’re the first call when anyone in the community is in trouble. Their jobs are not easy jobs. The fact that the community came out in such strong numbers today is an incredible display of support.”
On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Thompson joined with Bluefield Police Chief D. M. Dillow Jr. and other community partners to celebrate a $450,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant awarded to the City of Bluefield. The grant was awarded through DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and its Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success initiative. Its funding will help strengthen The Wade Center, Camp Mariposa of Southern West Virginia, and other youth-serving programs to expand after-school, summer learning, and enrichment opportunities for Mercer County young people.
The Bluefield Police Department and the nonprofit Community Connections Inc. are active partners of The Wade Center as it provides educational, mentoring and other services to youth at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system.
“This is an excellent example of how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Thompson said. “The benefit to the community is incredible and National Police Week offers a great opportunity to highlight the role of our law enforcement partners in such outreach initiatives.”
This year’s National Police Week is observed from Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024. In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
The names of 282 officers killed in the line of duty were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2024. On Monday, May 13, 2024, those names were read during the 36th Annual Candlelight Vigil held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The names include that of West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Steven Maynard and West Virginia Division of Probation Services Officer Steven Paul Gitlin II.
To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://www.youtube.com/live/_AJEOg_3npQ?si=18ApdMCWLRVQmCLx.
The complete 2024 Roll Call of Heroes is available at https://nleomf.org/memorial/facts-figures/roll-call-of-heroes/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins Recognizes Police Week in the District of UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE, Utah – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week is observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
“This week in the District of Utah, family, friends and the community said their final goodbyes to Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hooser who was killed in the line of duty over one week ago. As we honor National Police Week, we recognize law enforcement who paid the ultimate sacrifice, like Sgt. Hooser, to serve and protect our communities at all costs. We thank all law enforcement for their dedication and commitment to public safety.”
On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney Trina Higgins will recognize federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement with United States Attorney’s Awards for Law Enforcement for their dedicated work in seeking justice in federal cases prosecuted in the District of Utah.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
U.S. Attorney Romero Recognizes Police Week, Speaking at Federal Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Co-Hosting Trauma Training Session for Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA — In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero is recognizing the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement.
This year, National Police Week runs from Saturday, May 11, through Friday, May 17, with today, May 15, designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
On Tuesday, May 14, U.S. Attorney Romero attended and spoke at a wreath-laying ceremony where federal partners honored fallen law enforcement officers. Today, her office is co-hosting a webinar for law enforcement professionals on preventing and navigating secondary traumatic stress, which can result from difficult situations frequently encountered on the job.
“Working as a sworn law enforcement officer means stepping up, and showing up, in situations that often walk a tightrope between difficult and dangerous. It means constantly facing the unknown, and putting your life on the line for the public good,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Our nation’s fallen officers, who chose to pursue public service at almost unbearable cost, deserve our eternal remembrance and wholehearted thanks.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
U.S. Attorney Kavanaugh Recognizes Police Week, Attends Fallen Officer Memorial in CharlottesvilleRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.— In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
“Each year during Police Week we gather together as a law enforcement community to pay tribute to those men and women who have sacrificed their lives keeping our communities safe,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “Police work has never been more complex and we have never been more thankful each and every day to those who take the oath and walk a beat not for glory but rather a sense a duty.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
Throughout the week, United States Attorney Kavanaugh will be attending memorial services throughout the Western District of Virginia honoring fallen officers.
On Monday, United States Attorney Kavanaugh attended a fallen officers memorial on the downtown mall in Charlottesville, Virginia. At that ceremony, officers from the City of Charlottesville Police Department and the Virginia State Police were honored for giving their lives during service to their communities.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org
U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson joins U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country to recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
“During National Police Week, we honor the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women on the frontlines of public safety,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We express gratitude to our state, local, federal, and Tribal law enforcement partners for their courage and dedication to the safety and protection of our communities.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney Frierson paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. He attended the 27th Annual Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Carson City, the 37th Annual James D. Hoff Peace Officer Memorial in Reno, and the 2024 FBI Memorial Ceremony in Las Vegas.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
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U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement. The week is observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
“As U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, I am grateful to our federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners for their daily commitment to protecting our citizens and upholding the rule of law,” said Esparza. “We see in our communities across the United States each and every day, law enforcement officers place their lives on the line to prioritize the safety and security of our neighbors, our friends, and our loved ones.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
In the past year, two law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty while serving in the Western District of Texas. Sergeant Joshua Clouse, a Cameron Police Officer and U.S. Army veteran, was fatally shot by a subject while executing a search warrant in Cameron, south of Waco in May 2023. In November, Austin Police Officer Jorge Pastore was killed, and another officer injured during a SWAT standoff with a violent assailant. Pastore had previously been an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Parkland, Florida, and responded to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. This week, we remember and honor their sacrifice along with the sacrifice of their families and of too many law enforcement officers before them. Every day, we must be grateful for the commitment of our law enforcement officers to protecting our citizenry, and for their selfless service to our communities.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
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U.S. Attorney Charges Man for Stealing Police Firearm and Firing at Lansing Police Officer During ArrestRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Andrial Ched Ortiz, 29, of Lansing, was charged by indictment with being a felon in possession of firearms. In the course of his arrest on April 10, 2024, Ortiz repeatedly tried to steal police weapons from Lansing Police Department officers. During his struggle, Ortiz possessed a Glock 43X, which he fired, injuring an LPD police officer working to arrest him.
“Today’s charge reflects our continued efforts to keep the streets safe from the danger presented by those who cannot lawfully possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “I’m thankful that the officers on scene were able to minimize the damage caused and that everyone is safe.”
The indictment alleges that Ortiz possessed two firearms on April 10, 2024, when he could not lawfully do so following a previous felony conviction. His initial appearance in the Western District of Michigan is set for Monday, May 20, 2024.
Gun violence is an acute problem across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. firearm homicide rate in 2021 was the highest documented since 1993. While the numbers have slightly declined since 2021, they remain high. Resources and information on the safe storage of firearms can be found by reviewing the U.S. Department of Justice Safe Storage of Firearms guide, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fact sheet, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives pamphlet. Anyone who possesses a gun must follow all local, state, and federal laws.
This case was investigated by the Lansing Police Department, Michigan State Police, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney Announces $2.5 Million False Claims Act Settlement with Diagnostic Testing Facility for Paying Kickbacks to Physicians for Patient ReferralsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Naomi Gruchacz, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), announced today that the U.S. has settled a civil fraud lawsuit against Balance Diagnostics USA, LLC (“BALANCE”), a diagnostic testing facility based in Cedarhurst, New York, for paying kickbacks to physicians and their medical practices in the form of sham “rent payments” to secure patient referrals in violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (the “AKS”). Specifically, the settlement resolves claims that from January 2009 through December 2019, BALANCE paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to over 100 physicians and their practices in the New York City area (the “Providers”) to induce them to refer patients for diagnostic testing services performed by BALANCE staff at the Providers’ offices. The U.S. alleges that the so-called rent payments were based entirely upon the number of patient referrals and, in many instances, were well above the fair market rental value of the leased office space.
Under the settlement approved yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, BALANCE will pay the U.S. $1,725,850 and has admitted and accepted responsibility for conduct alleged in the U.S. Complaint, including that BALANCE determined the amount of rent to be paid pursuant to the subleases by taking into account the anticipated volume or value of the patients referred. BALANCE has also agreed to pay the State of New York $774,150 to resolve state law claims, for a total combined recovery of $2.5 million. BALANCE has executed judgments in favor of the U.S. for $4,280,108, and in favor of the State of New York for $1,919,892, for a total combined amount of $6.2 million, which may be enforced if BALANCE fails to make the payments required under the settlements.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The Anti-Kickback Statute is meant to ensure that medical decision-making is driven by what is best for the patient, and never by what is most profitable. Balance entered into sham office rental arrangements with scores of doctors in the New York City area, paying them to refer patients to Balance for diagnostic tests, pressuring them to meet referral expectations, and terminating the arrangements when referral rates were lower than expected. These are precisely the kind of business arrangements that the statute was enacted to prevent. This Office will continue to scrutinize such arrangements and hold accountable those providers whose dealings violate the law.”
HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz said: “Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, as demonstrated by this lawsuit and settlement, can induce diagnostic testing referrals that are compromised by profit-making considerations. Individuals and entities that participate in the federal health care system are required to obey the laws meant to preserve the integrity of program funds and the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients.”
As alleged in the U.S. Complaint:
BALANCE is a diagnostic testing facility based in Cedarhurst, New York, which provides on-site mobile diagnostic testing services, such as video steganography (used to diagnose balance disorders) and ultrasound procedures. During the period from 2009 through 2019, BALANCE orchestrated a kickback scheme designed to direct patients to BALANCE for diagnostic testing services. BALANCE entered into sham office rental arrangements with over 100 Providers, who referred thousands of patients to BALANCE for diagnostic testing services that were reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid.
BALANCE routinely sent employees to visit physicians and medical practices to persuade them to enter these kickback arrangements. BALANCE representatives inquired about the volume of patients the Providers anticipated referring for diagnostic testing services each month. BALANCE and the Providers then used these anticipated referral rates to negotiate the amount BALANCE would pay in rent to the Providers each month. BALANCE characterized the payments to the Providers as rent payments because it knew that it was illegal to make payments in exchange for referrals and wanted to conceal the true purpose of the payments.
BALANCE’s agreements with the Providers typically provided for the use of an exam room by BALANCE personnel, as well as for the use of basic equipment (e.g., a telephone, fax machine, a computer) and administrative staff to assist with patient flow and recordkeeping. In exchange, BALANCE agreed to pay monthly rent, which ranged from one to several thousand dollars per month. In many cases, the monthly payments exceeded the fair market value for BALANCE’s limited use of the rented space, equipment, and services. The sole factor BALANCE took into account when setting the monthly rent was the expected value of the patient referrals the Provider would generate.
Many of the agreements misrepresented key terms, such as the square footage of the rented space and the number of days per month BALANCE would use the space. In some instances, BALANCE did not even enter into written lease agreement with the Providers.
As part of the settlement, BALANCE admitted, acknowledged, and accepted responsibility for the following conduct:
- In a number of instances, BALANCE and the Providers determined the amount of rent to be paid pursuant to the sublease by taking into account the anticipated volume or value of the patients referred to BALANCE. Frequently, BALNCE representatives reached out to the Providers about leasing office space from them, and if the Providers were interested, the BALANCE representatives inquired about the volume of patient referrals for diagnostic testing services that BALANCE could expect to receive in a given month. The BALANCE representatives and the Providers then negotiated the monthly rent amount by taking into account the anticipated volume and/or value of such referrals. The greater the number of patients the Providers indicated they could refer to BALANCE for diagnostic testing service each month, the greater the monthly amount BALANCE agreed to pay the Providers.
- BALANCE typically performed no meaningful analysis to determine the fair market value of the subleased premises or to verify that the agreed-upon monthly rent payments were consistent with fair market value. In a number of instances, the payments made to the Providers substantially exceeded the fair market value of the rented space.
- BALANCE representatives monitored the number of patient referrals received each month from the Provider. BALANCE took a number of steps to address situations where the volume of patient referrals was meaningfully less than that which BALANCE had anticipated when setting the monthly rent amount. For example, BALANCE representatives routinely reached out to Providers to press them to achieve the expected patient referral rates. Sometimes, BALANCE representatives secured commitments from Providers to increase the number of patients they would refer for diagnostic testing services each month. In other instances, when there were fewer referrals or BALANCE did not use the space because of low patient referrals, BALANCE paid the Providers less than the amount specified in the sublease and/or varied its payment (between the amount specified in the sublease and a lesser amount) based on the actual patient referral volume. In other instances, BALANCE representatives renegotiated the rent amount downward or terminated the sublease arrangement entirely.
In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and the settlement, the U.S. Government joined a private whistleblower lawsuit that had been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act.
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Mr. Williams thanked HHS-OIG and the New York Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their assistance with the case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pierre G. Armand is in charge of the case.
U.s. Attorney Prim Escalona Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.
“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”
“During Police Week, we honor the brave men and women in law enforcement for their selfless sacrifice to protect the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “I extend my sincere gratitude for your courage and dedication.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
U.S. Attorney Escalona will attend the 9th Alabama Law Enforcement Memorial Service on May 17, 2024, at 11:00 am in Centennial Memorial Park in Anniston.
On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 were read during a Candlelight Vigil. Those officers’ names have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. A recording of the livestream of this event can be watched at https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.
To learn more about National Police Week and the candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.
Two USPS employees indicted in separate theft casesRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned separate indictments charging two former employees of the U.S. Postal service with stealing the contents of mail.
According to court documents, Alexa Garner-Cavender, 36, of Wichita is charged with four counts of theft of mail by a postal employee. Garner-Cavender is accused of stealing checks from the mail on multiple occasions in 2023 totaling approximately $4,800.
In a separate, unrelated case, Dylan Ellis, 30, of Andale is charged with one count of delay or destruction of mail by postal employee. Between January and February of 2024, Ellis is accused stealing U.S. currency (cash) from the mail.
The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General is investigating the cases.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the cases.
OTHER INDICTMENTS
Carletos Amaro, 26, of Wichita was indicted on one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks is prosecuting the case.
Jesus Castelo-Roman, 30, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.
Matias Pascual, 24, of Salina was indicted on two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Two Men Charged with Trafficking in Stolen Human RemainsRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angelo Pereyra, age 39, of Wichita, Kansas, and Andrew Ensanian, age 38, of Montgomery, Pennsylvania, were charged today by Criminal Information with interstate transport of stolen goods.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the information alleges that between 2018 and 2022, Pereyra and Ensanian caused stolen human remains to be transported between Kansas and Pennsylvania.
These charges resulted from a multi-year investigation into the nationwide trafficking of stolen human remains. Multiple defendants have been charged previously in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and three have thus far entered guilty pleas. An additional defendant has been charged and convicted in Arkansas. None have yet been sentenced.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Two Brothers Arrested for Attacking Ethereum Blockchain and Stealing $25M in CryptocurrencyRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging Anton Peraire-Bueno, 24, of Boston, and James Pepaire-Bueno, 28, of New York, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges in the indictment arise from an alleged novel scheme by the defendants to exploit the very integrity of the Ethereum blockchain to fraudulently obtain approximately $25 million worth of cryptocurrency within approximately 12 seconds. Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Peraire-Bueno were arrested yesterday in Boston and New York, respectively, and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson for the District of Massachusetts and U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo for the Southern District of New York.
“As alleged in today’s indictment, the Peraire-Bueno brothers stole $25 million in Ethereum cryptocurrency through a technologically sophisticated, cutting-edge scheme they plotted for months and executed in seconds,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Unfortunately for the defendants, their alleged crimes were no match for Department of Justice prosecutors and IRS agents, who unraveled this first-of-its kind wire fraud and money laundering scheme. As cryptocurrency markets continue to evolve, the Department will continue to root out fraud, support victims, and restore confidence to these markets.”
“Today, my office indicted two brothers — Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Peraire-Bueno — for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, all stemming from their alleged scheme to exploit the Ethereum blockchain and to obtain about $25 million worth of cryptocurrency from it,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “As we allege, the defendants’ scheme calls the very integrity of the blockchain into question. The brothers, who studied computer science and math at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, allegedly used their specialized skills and education to tamper with and manipulate the protocols relied upon by millions of Ethereum users across the globe. And once they put their plan into action, their heist only took 12 seconds to complete. This alleged scheme was novel and has never before been charged. But as the indictment makes clear, no matter how sophisticated the fraud or how new the techniques used to accomplish it, the career prosecutors of this office will be relentless in pursuing people who attack the integrity of all financial systems.”
“These brothers allegedly committed a first-of-its-kind manipulation of the Ethereum blockchain by fraudulently gaining access to pending transactions, altering the movement of the electronic currency, and ultimately stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency from their victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) New York Field Office. “In this case, IRS-CI New York’s Cyber Unit simply followed the money. Regardless of the complexity of the case, we continue to lead the effort in financial criminal investigations with cutting-edge technology and good-ole-fashioned investigative work, on and off the blockchain.”
As alleged in the indictment, Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Pepaire-Bueno are brothers who studied mathematics and computer science at one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Using the specialized skills developed during their education, as well as their expertise in cryptocurrency trading, Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Pepaire-Bueno exploited the very integrity of the Ethereum blockchain in order to fraudulently obtain approximately $25 million worth of cryptocurrency from victim cryptocurrency traders (the “Exploit”). Through the Exploit, which is believed to be the very first of its kind, Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Pepaire-Bueno manipulated and tampered with the process and protocols by which transactions are validated and added to the Ethereum blockchain. In doing so, they fraudulently gained access to pending private transactions and used that access to alter certain transactions and obtain their victims’ cryptocurrency. Once the defendants stole their victims’ cryptocurrency, they rejected requests to return the stolen cryptocurrency and took numerous steps to hide their ill-gotten gains.
Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Pepaire-Bueno meticulously planned the Exploit over the course of several months. Among other things, they learned the trading behaviors of the victim traders whose cryptocurrency they ultimately stole. As they planned the Exploit, they also took numerous steps to conceal their identities and lay the groundwork to conceal the stolen proceeds, including by setting up shell companies and using multiple private cryptocurrency addresses and foreign cryptocurrency exchanges. After the Exploit, the defendants transferred the stolen cryptocurrency through a series of transactions designed to conceal the source and ownership of the stolen funds.
Throughout the planning, execution, and aftermath of the Exploit, Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Pepaire-Bueno also searched online for information about, among other things, how to carry out the Exploit, ways to conceal their involvement in the Exploit, cryptocurrency exchanges with limited “know your customer” procedures that they could use to launder their criminal proceeds, attorneys with expertise in cryptocurrency cases, extradition procedures, and the very crimes charged in the indictment.
If convicted, Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Pepaire-Bueno each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.
IRS-CI New York’s Cyber Investigations Unit investigated the case, with the assistance of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and New York City Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rushmi Bhaskaran and Danielle Kudla for the Southern District of New York 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.
Two Brothers Arrested for Attacking the Ethereum Blockchain and Stealing $25 Million in CryptocurrencyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Lisa Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General of the United States; and Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged novel scheme by the defendants to exploit the very integrity of the Ethereum blockchain to fraudulently obtain approximately $25 million worth of cryptocurrency within approximately 12 seconds. ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO were arrested yesterday in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York, New York, respectively, and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson for the District of Massachusetts and U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo for the Southern District of New York.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today, my Office indicted two brothers—Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Peraire-Bueno—for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, all stemming from their alleged scheme to exploit the Ethereum blockchain and to obtain about $25 million worth of cryptocurrency from it. As we allege, the defendants’ scheme calls the very integrity of the blockchain into question. The brothers, who studied computer science and math at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, allegedly used their specialized skills and education to tamper with and manipulate the protocols relied upon by millions of Ethereum users across the globe. And once they put their plan into action, their heist only took 12 seconds to complete. This alleged scheme was novel and has never before been charged. But as the Indictment makes clear, no matter how sophisticated the fraud or how new the techniques used to accomplish it, the career prosecutors of this Office will be relentless in pursuing people who attack the integrity of all financial systems.”
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said: “As alleged in today’s indictment, the Peraire-Bueno brothers stole $25 million in Ethereum cryptocurrency through a technologically sophisticated, cutting-edge scheme they plotted for months and executed in seconds. Unfortunately for the defendants, their alleged crimes were no match for Department of Justice prosecutors and IRS agents, who unraveled this first-of-its kind wire fraud and money laundering scheme. As cryptocurrency markets continue to evolve, the Department will continue to root out fraud, support victims, and restore confidence to these markets.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “These brothers allegedly committed a first-of-its-kind manipulation of the Ethereum blockchain by fraudulently gaining access to pending transactions, altering the movement of the electronic currency, and ultimately stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency from their victims. In this case, IRS-CI New York’s Cyber Unit simply followed the money. Regardless of the complexity of the case, we continue to lead the effort in financial criminal investigations with cutting-edge technology and good-ole-fashioned investigative work, on and off the blockchain.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO are brothers who studied mathematics and computer science at one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Using the specialized skills developed during their education, as well as their expertise in cryptocurrency trading, ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO exploited the very integrity of the Ethereum blockchain in order to fraudulently obtain approximately $25 million worth of cryptocurrency from victim cryptocurrency traders (the “Exploit”). Through the Exploit, which is believed to be the very first of its kind, ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO manipulated and tampered with the process and protocols by which transactions are validated and added to the Ethereum blockchain. In doing so, they fraudulently gained access to pending private transactions and used that access to alter certain transactions and obtain their victims’ cryptocurrency. Once the defendants stole their victims’ cryptocurrency, they rejected requests to return the stolen cryptocurrency and took numerous steps to hide their ill-gotten gains.
ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO meticulously planned the Exploit over the course of several months. Among other things, they learned the trading behaviors of the victim traders whose cryptocurrency they ultimately stole. As they planned the Exploit, they also took numerous steps to conceal their identities and lay the groundwork to conceal the stolen proceeds, including by setting up shell companies and using multiple private cryptocurrency addresses and foreign cryptocurrency exchanges. After the Exploit, the defendants transferred the stolen cryptocurrency through a series of transactions designed to conceal the source and ownership of the stolen funds.
Throughout the planning, execution, and aftermath of the Exploit, ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO also searched online for information about, among other things, how to carry out the Exploit, ways to conceal their involvement in the Exploit, cryptocurrency exchanges with limited “know your customer” procedures that they could use to launder their criminal proceeds, attorneys with expertise in cryptocurrency cases, extradition procedures, and the very crimes charged in this Indictment.
* * *
ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO, 24, of Boston, Massachusetts, and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO, 28, of New York, New York, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The statutory maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the IRS-CI New York’s Cyber Investigations Unit. Mr. Williams also acknowledged the assistance of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rushmi Bhaskaran and Danielle Kudla are in charge of the prosecution.
The allegations in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Tolland Strip Club Owner, Manager & Bouncer Charged in 12-Count IndictmentRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a 12-count indictment charging KENNETH DENNING, 67, of Holland, Massachusetts, JOSHUA BAKER, 41, of Willimantic, Connecticut, and WILLIAM MAYO, 41, of Manchester, Connecticut, with offenses stemming from the operation of the Electric Blue strip club in Tolland, Connecticut.
The indictment was returned yesterday and Denning, Baker, and Mayo were arrested today.
As alleged in the indictment, Denning owned and oversaw the operation of the Electric Blue strip club, which included the employment of dancers who performed nude dances and lap dances for customers. Baker was the club’s manager and bookkeeper, and Mayo was employed at the club as a bouncer and was primarily responsible for hiring dancers, many of whom were not legally authorized to live or work in the United States.
The indictment alleges that the Electric Blue had a semi-private “lap dance room” and “VIP rooms” where dancers regularly performed commercial sex acts for customers. As payment for commercial sex acts, customers would typically pay the club an entry fee for use of the lap dance room or one of the VIP rooms and then pay an additional fee directly to the dancer. In addition, the club collected cash through cover charges paid at the door and fees paid by dancers to perform at the club. Baker or another club employee would collect the cash received by the club, place the cash in envelopes noting the source of the cash, and then place the envelopes in a safe in Denning’s office. The defendants referred to this cash as “Kenny’s money,” and used this money to pay business expenses and fund Denning’s personal expenditures, including trips to casinos where Denning spent large sums of money.
The indictment also alleges that Denning and Baker provided false information to the club’s tax-return preparer in 2020, 2021, and 2022 by underreporting the gross receipts from the club and excluding income derived from commercial sex acts. As much as approximately $5.7 million in business receipts were not reported to the IRS, causing a tax underpayment of more than $2 million.
The indictment further alleges that Denning committed fraud by applying for and receiving an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) during the COVID-19 pandemic by certifying that the business did not “present live performances of a prurient sexual nature.” Denning received a loan of approximately $150,000 in July 2020.
The indictment charges Denning, Baker, and Mayo with conspiracy to use an interstate facility to promote or facilitate prostitution, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with unlawful employment of aliens, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of six months.
Denning and Baker are charged with conspiracy to file false tax returns, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with conspiracy to commit promotional and concealment money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Denning is charged with engaging in a monetary transaction with proceeds derived from prostitution, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, related to a cash deposit of approximately $21,700 at the Mohegan Sun Casino. He is also charged with aiding and abetting the filing of a false tax return related to his personal tax return for the 2020 tax year, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years, and with willful failure to file his personal tax return for the 2021 tax year, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year. He is also charged with wire fraud in connection with his receipt of the EIDL loan, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection – Liquor Control Division, and the Massachusetts State Police, with the assistance of the Willimantic Police Department and Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten and Robert S. Dearington.
If any employee/dancer at the Electric Blue has been a victim of the unlawful acts described in the indictment, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Advocate at [email protected] or 203-696-3039.
Three Michigan Men Face Federal Charges for Fire at Isle Royale National ParkRead the Press Release
MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that his office has filed federal charges against Dylan Kenneth Wagner, 29, of Grand Rapids, MI; Jason Arden Allard, 28, of Macomb, MI; and Scott Warren Allard, 30, of Clinton Township, MI. The men are charged with one count of lighting, tending, or using a fire causing damage to real property and one count of violating conditions established by the superintendent at Isle Royale National Park. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 6 months’ imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, up to 5 years’ probation, and mandatory restitution.
“Some of America’s most stunning places are right here in Michigan, including Isle Royale National Park,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “These alleged crimes threatened the safety of park visitors, employees, and the ecosystem that sustains a rich diversity of life. We’re committed to protecting Isle Royale National Park and Michigan’s other national treasures for all to enjoy – today and for generations to come.”
The charging documents allege that while in Isle Royale National Park on August 12 and 13, 2022, Wagner and the Allards camped north of the junction of the Mount Franklin and Tobin Harbor Trails. They camped illegally in an area too close to the trail and had a fire that was not in one of the metal rings or grills provided by the park. That fire caused the burning of park property and created a public safety hazard.
Established in 1940, Isle Royale National Park is a remote island archipelago in Lake Superior, set aside for the benefit and enjoyment of the public and to preserve and protect its wilderness character, cultural and natural resources, scenery, and ecological processes. Additionally, as a unit of the national park system, Isle Royale National Park provides opportunities for recreation, education and interpretation, and scientific study. Information about Isle Royale and park-specific rules are available online through the National Park Service.
This case was investigated by National Park Service law enforcement officers. The charges against Wagner and the Allards are merely accusations; defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Three Kalamazoo Drug Traffickers Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl, Other Illegal SubstancesRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Terrance Moore, 36, was sentenced to 21 years and 8 months in prison for his part in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Moore is the last of three Kalamazoo-based drug traffickers in this case to be sentenced within the last week.
“These Kalamazoo defendants trafficked illegal drugs, including fentanyl, which is driving the ongoing epidemic of drug poisoning deaths across the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “While we will never prosecute our way out of this epidemic, we will hold those who push these poisons accountable. These sentences should make clear to every dealer and would-be dealer that making fast cash off this lethal enterprise does not pay.”
Terrance Moore, Darnell Moore, 30, and Ellis Hull, 31, worked together to sell methamphetamine, fentanyl, and hydrocodone in the Kalamazoo area between January 2023 and March 2023.
When Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Officers conducted a search of Terrance Moore’s apartment, which was the center of operations for the illicit drug business, they discovered approximately 330 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside a Pacman arcade game, 172 hydrocode pills, and two loaded firearms. Terrance Moore, the leader of the drug-trafficking operation, had 20 baggies of ready-to-sell methamphetamine and 14 baggies of ready-to-sell fentanyl in his pants pockets.
Darnell Moore, Terrance Moore’s cousin and drug trafficking business partner, possessed about 27 grams of methamphetamine and over 4 grams of fentanyl, which he intended to sell. For his part of the drug conspiracy, Darnell Moore was sentenced to 19 and a half years in the Bureau of Prisons.
Ellis Hull, whose job was to help deliver drugs to costumers and collect money, was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment.
“The Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET) is extremely pleased with these sentences,” said KVET Captain Michael Ferguson. “We will continue to focus our enforcement efforts on those who are selling deadly drugs and carrying illegal firearms to help keep our community safe.”
“Moore was the head of an organization responsible for distributing dangerous methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout west Michigan,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “At the time of his arrest, Moore had enough fentanyl to cause an untold amount of suffering and death. This sentence should send a clear message, those who choose to profit from the suffering of others will be brought to justice.”
This case was investigated by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Terrebonne Parish Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CHRISTOPHER CARTER, JR., age 30, a resident of Gray, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 9, 2024 to 120 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
CARTER previously pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B).
According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Administration agents utilized a confidential source to conduct two audio-video recorded controlled purchases of methamphetamine from CARTER. The first controlled purchase was for 49 grams of methamphetamine on May 19, 2021. The second controlled purchase was for 126 grams of methamphetamine on June 17, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Terrebonne Parish Sherriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Ten Indicted in Vehicle Pollution SchemeRead the Press Release
Nine men and a company have been charged with conspiring to install so-called “defeat devices” on diesel trucks, thereby allowing the vehicles to emit far more pollutants than allowed by law, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Phillip Dwain Waddell, Philip Matthew Ormand, Kolby Douglas Huneycutt, Kyle Kris Kizer, Jonathan Joseph Lohrmeyer, Justin Loutoyama Pasamonte, Archie George Sims, and Adam Marsh Stanley, along with auto dealership James Hodge Motors, Inc. (doing business as Jay Hodge Dodge) and its Chief Operating Officer, Curtis Kevin Poore, were indicted on conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act. They made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judges Hal R. Ray, Jr., Rebecca Rutherford, and Renée H. Toliver.
“These defendants intentionally flouted laws designed to ensure our children – and our children’s children – have clean air to breathe. By installing devices that bypassed automakers’ built in emissions controls, they spewed pollutants into our neighborhoods. The Justice Department, along with our partners at the Environmental Protection Agency, take violations of the Clean Air Act very seriously," said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton.
"Pollutants emitted from tampered vehicles can have significant harm to public health,” said Kim Bahney, Special Agent in Charge for the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division. "This scheme occurred over several years and spanned across multiple states, diminishing air quality."
According to the indictment, Mr. Waddell allegedly sold aftermarket diesel exhaust components, tuners, and so-called “delete tunes” that allowed vehicles to spew excess pollutants into the air by overriding on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems required by the Clean Air Act.
Operating normally, OBDs monitor vehicle emissions to ensure they fall below the limits set by the Clean Air Act. When an OBD detects excess emissions, it sends input to the vehicle’s on-board computer, which may activate an indicator light and place the vehicle in “limp mode,” capping its speed at as low as five miles per hour.
With delete tunes installed, diesel exhaust systems can be modified so that OBDs cannot detect emission changes; thus, the vehicle cannot activate indicator lights, record diagnostic trouble codes, or place a vehicle into limp mode.
Mr. Waddell allegedly purchased the delete tunes from Mr. Ormand, who allegedly customized each tune for a specific vehicle. From Aug. 2018 to April 2021, Mr. Waddell allegedly paid Mr. Ormand more than $2 million for delete tunes, and allegedly sold the tunes for between $300 and $1,350. Mr. Waddell’s customers included James Hodge Motors and several individuals who operated their own diesel repair and customization businesses.
Mr. Huneycutt, Mr. Kizer, Mr. Lohrmeyer, Mr. Pasamonte, Mr. Sims, and Mr. Stanley allegedly purchased tuners and delete tunes from Mr. Waddell and installed them on their customer’s vehicles in a process called “tuning” or “reflashing.” James Hodge Motors, acting with the knowledge and under the supervision of Mr. Poore, also engaged in such behavior, and on at least one occasion, falsified invoices to conceal the nature of such work it performed on a customer’s truck.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison; the company faces up to $500,000 in fines.
The Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division’s Southwest Area Branch (Region 6) conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Brasher is prosecuting the case.
St. Tammany Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ALVAREZ JOSEPH CYPRIAN, age 23, of Madisonville, Louisiana, pled guilty on May 14, 2024, to violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act before United States District Judge Susie Morgan.
CYPRIAN pled guilty to Counts 1 and 3 of the indictment. Count 1 charged him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. Count 3 charged him with distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
According to court documents, CYPRIAN sold fentanyl pills to an undercover agent on September 8, 2023. CYPRIAN met the undercover agent in Covington and gave the agent 200 fentanyl pills in exchange for $550.
For Counts 1 and 3, CYPRIAN faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. CYPRIAN’s sentencing is set for August 15, 2024.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit oversees the prosecution.
St. John the Baptist Parish Woman Indicted for Federal Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JESSICA MARIE PORTWAY, age 41, of St. John the Baptist Parish, was indicted on May 9, 2024, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C).
According to the indictment, on August 30, 2023, PORTWAY allegedly possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a quantity of fentanyl, and a quantity of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
If convicted, PORTWAY faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and up to a maximum term of imprisonment of forty years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. PORTWAY also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Briana Williams and Andre Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Seven Individuals Charged in Postal Employee Theft RingRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI - Seven individuals, all former or current employees of the U.S. Postal Service, have been charged in federal court with conspiracy and theft of mail for their alleged participation in an alleged mail theft ring spanning from early 2023 through the beginning of 2024, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Six of seven individuals were arrested today; a seventh defendant was charged earlier this month. All seven men were employed at the Processing and Distribution Center at 24 Corliss Street, Providence, RI. One of the men charged was a supervisor at the distribution center.
According to charging documents, in March 2023, customers began reporting that mail was either not delivered or delivered without its contents. An investigation by, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General identified a group of employees, including a supervisor, who are alleged to have worked together to sort, separate, and conceal selected mail that they believed to contain cash, checks, or gift cards. At the end of their shift, the mail would be removed surreptitiously from distribution center, usually in a backpack carried by a member of theft ring. The group gathered after their shifts ended and opened the stolen mail, sorting out gift cards, cash, and checks to distribute amongst themselves. During the course of the investigation, it is alleged that one defendant was caught with a backpack of stolen mail that included over $1.3 million worth of checks.
“The misuse of public employment for private gain is both a serious crime and profound breach of the public trust,” commented U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “The arrests and charges we announce today should send a clear message that those who engage in public corruption for personal gain will be held accountable.”
U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi added, “The Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General are committed to maintaining the integrity of the Postal Service and its more than 600,000 employees. The conduct alleged in the criminal complaint is disgraceful and our office will continue to investigate postal employees who violate the public’s trust. This type of behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated. The USPS OIG would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the District of Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s Office for their collaboration and efforts with this investigation.”
Charged in U.S. District Court in Providence with conspiracy to steal mail and theft of mail by a postal employee are Darren Camacho, 30, of Providence; Fernando Camacho, 28, of Providence; Willie Estrella, 31, of Providence; Ryan Lee, 43, of Cranston; Cyril Murray, 44, of Pawtucket (employed as a supervisor); Angel Rivera, 27, of Providence; and Andre Williams, 31, of North Providence. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie M. White.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Providence Police Department, and Smithfield Police Department.
The public can report mail theft by contacting the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-888-USPS-OIG (1-888-877-7644; online at www.uspsoig.gov/hotline; via email at [email protected]; or by mail at USPS OIG, Attn: OIG Hotline, 1735 North Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209-2020.
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Seven Defendants 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
Seven defendants were sentenced yesterday and today following their convictions for federal conspiracy against rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act offenses following three separate trials in connection with the use of force and physical obstruction to blockade a Washington, D.C., area reproductive health clinic on Oct. 22, 2020.
Yesterday, Lauren Handy was sentenced to 57 months in prison, John Hinshaw was sentenced to 21 months in prison, and William Goodman was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Today, 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.
“Violence has no place in our national discourse on reproductive health. 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. “As we mark the 30th anniversary of the FACE Act, it’s important that we not lose sight of the history of violence against reproductive health care providers including the murder of Dr. David Gunn in Florida — tragic and horrific events that led to passage of the law. The Justice Department will continue to protect both patients seeking reproductive health services and providers of those services. We will hold accountable those who seek to interfere with access to reproductive health services in our country.”
“These defendants conspired to use force to prevent fellow citizens from exercising rights protected by law,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. “People cannot resort to using force and intimidation to prevent others from engaging in lawful activity simply because they disagree with the law. The department was founded to protect the civil rights of our citizens and remains steadfast in this mission.”
“The seven defendants executed an extensive blockade of a reproductive care clinic, including faking a patient appointment to enter the facility,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “FACE Act violations are distressing to anyone attempting to safely access reproductive healthcare, and, in this case, unfortunately resulted in the physical injury of a nurse. The FBI continues our work to ensure everyone has unimpeded access to reproductive health care facilities.”
“As evidenced by today's sentencings, the FBI and our judicial system will not tolerate the obstruction of civil rights,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate FACE Act violations in all jurisdictions, so patients and providers can exercise their right to receive or provide lawful reproductive health care without the threat of violence or intimidation.”
These defendants, and two others, were convicted following three separate trials in 2023. Paulette Harlow and Heather Idoni are 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 following his guilty plea 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 defendants 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.
Pryor Man Sentenced for the Sexual Abuse of a 12-Year-OldRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Corey Allan Pickup, Jr., 33, for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Pickup to serve the maximum sentence of 180 months imprisonment, followed by 25 years supervised release. Upon his release, Pickup will also be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in late 2018, a 12-year-old child victim was staying the night at a sleepover. While everyone was asleep, Pickup provided the child with alcohol and then sexually abused the child.
Pickup is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Providence Man Who Sold Oxycodone to Undercover Officer Sentenced to Six Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Providence man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for selling oxycodone pills on multiple occasions to an undercover officer.
Brandon Jones, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2023, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and two counts of distribution of oxycodone.
In July 2022, Jones was identified as an oxycodone distributor in the Worcester area. Specifically, Jones traveled to Worcester in rental vehicles on a daily basis to sell drugs throughout the area before returning to Providence. On at least four occasions between October 2022 and January 2023, Jones met with undercover law enforcement to distribute oxycodone pills in controlled purchases. In February 2023, the rental cars Jones had been using were tracked to his supply source in New Jersey and New York. At the time of his arrest in March 2023, Jones was found in possession of approximately 1,500 oxycodone pills.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Southbridge Police Chief Shane D. Woodson made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Proprietário, Gerente e Segurança do Tolland Strip Club Acusados em Denúncia de 12 CrimesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, Procuradora dos Estados Unidos para o Distrito de Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Agente Especial de Investigações Encarregado da Divisão de Investigações da Agência de Segurança Nacional (HSI, na sigla em inglês), New England, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Agente Especial Encarregado da Divisão de Investigações Criminais do IRS (Receita Federal dos Estados Unidos) em New England, e o Policial Estadual de Connecticut, Coronel Daniel Loughman anunciaram hoje que o grande júri federal de Hartford pronunciou, KENNETH DENNING, 67, de Holland, Massachusetts, JOSHUA BAKER, 41, de Willimantic, Connecticut, e WILLIAM MAYO, 41, de Manchester, Connecticut, acusando-os de 12 crimes denunciados que derivaram da operação do clube de strip Electric Blue, em Tolland, Connecticut.
A pronúncia foi proferida ontem, e Denning, Baker e Mayo foram presos hoje. Conforme alegado na denúncia, Denning era o proprietário e supervisionava as operações do clube de strip Electric Blue, as quais incluiam a contratação empregatícia de dançarinas que se apresentavam para danças nuas e danças do colo aos clientes. Baker era gerente e contador do clube, e Mayo trabalhava como segurança, sendo sua responsabilidade principal a de contratar dançarinas, muitas das quais não estavam legalmente autorizadas a morar ou trabalhar nos estados Unidos.
A denúncia alega que Electric Blue tinha "sala semiprivada para dança do colo" e "salas VIP" onde as dançarinas regularmente realizavam atos sexuais aos clientes. O pagamento pelos atos sexuais comerciais era feito por meio de uma taxa de entrada que os clientes pagavam para usar a sala de danças do colo ou uma das salas VIP, e depois eles pagavam uma taxa adicional diretamente à dançarina. Além disso, o clube cobrava, na porta e em espécie, taxas de admissão e taxas pagas para a apresentação das dançarinas no clube. Baker ou outro funcionário do clube coletava o dinheiro recebido pelo clube, colocava-o em envelopes, anotava a sua procedência, e depois o guardava em um cofre no escritório de Denning. Os réus referiam-se a esse dinheiro como "o dinheiro do Kenny", e o usavam para pagar as despesas da firma e financiar os gastos pessoais do Denning, inclusive de viagens a casinos, onde Denning gastava grandes quantidades do dinheiro.
A denúncia também alega que Denning e Baker forneceram informações falsas à pessoa que fez a as declarações de imposto de renda em 2020, 2021 e 2022, informando valores de renda bruta inferiores aos da renda bruta do clube e excluindo renda derivada de atos sexuais comerciais. Aproximadamente US$5.7 milhões foram deixados incógnitos ao IRS, gerando um pagamento de impostos a menor no valor de mais de US$2 milhões. Um valor aproximado de US$5.7 milhões de recibos comerciais não foram reportados ao IRS, gerando um pagamento a menor em mais de US$2 milhões.
A denúncia alega ainda que Denning cometeu fraude ao solicitar e receber Empréstimo por Catástrofe Econômica (EIDL, em inglês) durante o período da pandemia do COVID-19, certificando que o estabelecimento não “fez apresentações de natureza sexual lasciva ao vivo”. Denning recebeu um empréstimo de aproximadamente US$150,000 em julho de 2020.
A denúncia acusa Denning, Baker, e Mayo de associação criminosa para usar uma instalação interestadual para promover ou facilitar prostituição, delito que prevê um período máximo de cinco anos de prisão, e a contratação ilegal de estrangeiros, delito que prevê um período máximo de seis meses de prisão.
Denning e Baker são acusados de associação criminosa para fazer declaração de imposto de renda falsa, que prevê um período máximo de cinco anos de prisão, e de associação criminosa para cometer lavagem de dinheiro promocional e ocultacional, que prevê um período máximo 20 anos de prisão.
Denning é acusado de envolvimento em transação monetária com rendimentos de procedência prostitucional, crime que prevê pena máxima de 10 anos de prisão, comprovado por depósito em dinheiro no valor aproximado de US$21,700 no Casino Mohegan. Ele também é acusado de participar da prática de delito penal em sua falsa declaração de imposto de renda pessoal para o ano de 2020, que prevê sentença máxima de três anos de prisão, e de ter, deliberadamente, deixado de declarar impostos para o ano de 2021, delito que prevê sentença máxima de um ano de prisão. É ainda acusado de fraude no que toca ao seu recebimento de empréstimo EIDL (concedido a vítimas de calamidade pública), que prevê sentença máxima de 20 anos de prisão.
A Procuradora dos E.U.A., Avery, salientou que denúncia não é prova de culpa. Acusações são apenas alegações, e cada réu é considerado inocente a menos que, e até que, sua culpa seja provada acima de qualquer dúvida razoável.
Este caso está sendo investigado pela Agência de Investigações de Segurança Nacional dos EUA (HSI), pela Receita Federal dos EUA - Divisão de Investigações Criminais, pela Polícia Estadual de Connecticut, pelo Departamento de Proteção ao Consumidor de Connecticut – Divisão de Controle de Bebidas Alcólicas, e pela Polícia Estadual de Massachusetts, com a assistência do Departamento Policial de Willimantic. O processo está sendo executado pelos Promotores de Justiça Assistentes dos EUA, Ross Weingarten e Robert S. Dearington.
Se qualquer funcionário(a)/dançarina do Electric Blue for vítima dos atos ilegais descritos nesta denúncia, favor contatar a Defensoria de Vítimas na Procuradoria dos EUA pelo endereço eletrônico [email protected] or telefone Nr. 203-696-3039.
Plaquemines Parish Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DWAN RILEY, age 37, a Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana resident, was sentenced on May 9, 2024 to 90 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
RILEY previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents started investigating RILEY and other co-conspirators in October 2019 as a narcotics distributor in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The investigation revealed HERBERT RICHARDSON and RAY MARSHALL were RILEY’s primary sources of supply for counterfeit oxycodone pills, which contained both heroin and fentanyl. On numerous occasions, RICHARDSON and MARSHALL supplied RILEY with 100 to 250 pills containing heroin and fentanyl. Further, MARSHALL regularly supplied RILEY with quantities of cocaine. RILEY would subsequently distribute the narcotics to his own customers.
This prosecution is part of an Organizes Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force's (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money, launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of frderal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on May 14, 2024, to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States Senior District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Dijuan Taylor, 22.
According to information presented to the Court, during a traffic stop in Hazelwood on November 21, 2022, Taylor dropped a loaded firearm with an extended magazine as he attempted to flee law enforcement. As a previously convicted felon, Taylor is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
During the sentencing, Judge Fischer noted that firearm possession and violence, especially among juveniles and young adults, continues to be a problem in the community and that Taylor’s crime was serious and therefore requires serious consequences.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Taylor.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A manager for a drug trafficking organization that purchased over 100 kilograms of cocaine in Puerto Rico and shipped the kilograms to residences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and southern New Jersey was sentenced to 120 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Jose Gonzalez, 51, Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Judge O’Hearn imposed the sentence on May 14, 2024, in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From March 2019 to August 2020, Gonzalez and other conspirators traveled on commercial flights from Philadelphia International Airport to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on numerous occasions. They purchased multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from wholesale drug suppliers based in the San Juan area in exchange for cash payments. Gonzalez and the other conspirators then shipped the kilograms of cocaine by overnight delivery from U.S. Post Offices in San Juan to addresses in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. Gonzalez resold the kilograms to other drug dealers in the Philadelphia area for a profit. Gonzalez admitted that he had a management role in the conspiracy, and that he and the other conspirators purchased and shipped over 100 kilograms of cocaine.
When Gonzalez was arrested in August 2020, agents seized over $120,000 in cash during a search of his residence in Philadelphia and a 9mm handgun from an auto garage that Gonzalez operated in Philadelphia. As part of his plea agreement, Gonzalez agreed to the forfeiture of the U.S. currency and the 9mm handgun, as well as the forfeiture of a Dodge Ram pickup truck that was used in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy.
In addition to the prison term, Judge O’Hearn sentenced Gonzalez to five years of supervised release and ordered forfeiture of $120,900, a 9 mm handgun, and a Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen; agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi; special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs in Philadelphia; troopers assigned to the New Jersey State Police Strategic Investigations Unit South, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and officers and detectives of the Philadelphia Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.
Pharr man sent to prison for importing over $200,000 of cocaineRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 28-year-old man has been sentenced for importing cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Miguel Angel Trejo pleaded guilty Feb. 21.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Trejo to serve 50 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Trejo played an integral part in smuggling illegal narcotics into the United States. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that traffickers could not succeed without the willing participation of transporters like Trejo.
On Nov. 30, 2023, Trejo claimed he had no illegal drugs in his vehicle when arriving at the Rio Grande City port of entry checkpoint.
Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed 17 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately 19 kilograms hidden in compartments under the floorboards of the rear seat. The cocaine had an estimated street value of approximately $230,000.
At the time of his plea, Trejo admitted he knew he was smuggling narcotics and had done so on multiple occasions.
Trejo will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Parran III prosecuted the case.
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Probation and $20,000 Fine for Attempting to Obstruct Investigation into Purdue Pharma’s and Practice Fusion’s Violations of Anti-Kickback StatuteRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 13, 2024, Steven Mack, 49, of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania was sentenced by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III to a one-year term of probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and perform community service. Mack previously pleaded guilty to attempting to obstruct a federal grand jury’s investigation into an illegal kickback that Purdue Pharma L.P. paid to Mack’s former employer, Practice Fusion, an electronic medical records company.
According to court records, while working at Practice Fusion, Mack contributed to his employer’s successful efforts to persuade Purdue Pharma L.P. to pay Practice Fusion almost one million dollars in exchange for Practice Fusion altering its physician-facing user interface to generate more opioid prescriptions. In 2020, Purdue Pharma L.P. entered a plea of guilty relating to this arrangement in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and Practice Fusion accepted responsibility for its role pursuant to a deferred prosecution agreement filed in United States District Court for the District of Vermont in case number 2:20-cr-11-wks. Pursuant to that agreement, Practice Fusion agreed to pay a criminal fine of more than $25 million.
In late 2019, knowing that the United States Department of Justice was investigating this illegal kickback scheme, Mack intentionally deleted from his employer-issued computer documents that were relevant to the government’s investigation. In recognition of the underlying opioid-promoting kickback scheme, Judge Sessions ordered as a condition of probation that Mack perform 40 hours of community service arranged by a probation officer and involving services for persons suffering from drug addiction.
As part of his plea agreement Mack agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and to provide truthful testimony. Because of Mack’s cooperation, the United States recommended that Mack receive a non-incarcerative sentence.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigation of the Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Owen Foster. Mack was represented by Stephen Huggard, Esq., of Boston, Massachusetts, and Lisa Shelkrot, Esq., of Burlington, Vermont.
Ohio Felon Indicted for Possession of and Attempt to Conceal Three Firearms in Checked Luggage at AirportRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on firearms charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The two-count Indictment named Luis Rojas Cay, 26, as the sole defendant. Rojas Cay is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a weapon on an aircraft.
According to the Indictment, on or about April 26, 2024, Rojas Cay was planning to travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from the Pittsburgh International Airport on a commercial airline. The Indictment further alleges that Rojas Cay’s luggage contained a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun, an unloaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun, an unloaded 40 SW caliber semiautomatic handgun, and approximately 204 rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in packages wrapped in multiple layers of foil-backed tape and placed inside a metal briefcase that was also lined with sheet metal. The briefcase was found inside a suitcase that Rojas Cay checked with the airline. As a previously convicted felon, Rojas Cay is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
“Luis Rojas Cay allegedly tried to travel on a commercial airline with multiple firearms—one of which was loaded—hidden in his luggage,” U.S. Attorney Olshan said. “As a convicted felon, Rojas Cay should not be in possession of firearms anywhere, let alone in his bag at 35,000 feet. This office and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to keeping unlawful firearms out of airports and off airplanes where they put ordinary, unsuspecting citizens at risk.”
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allegheny County Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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 an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Nigerian national sent to prison for conducting multimillion-dollar advance-fee schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 57-year-old man has been sentenced for his role in a fraud conspiracy perpetrated against victims in more than 20 countries, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Uche Victor Diuno pleaded guilty Feb. 1.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Diuno to serve 60 months months in federal prison and to pay $5,693,648 in restitution. Not a U.S. citizen, Diuno is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court recounted Diuno’s recent testimony in which Diuno detailed his own significant role in the fraud. Diuno himself told the court he regretted his actions and the great harm he caused to victims of the scheme.
“Diuno helped orchestrate a team of fraudsters impersonating bank executives to pitch fake investments and fake payouts to real victims around the world,” said Hamdani. “This international operation, supported by a cadre of co-conspirators, stole millions from victims as far off as Asia and as close as America, all to funnel money and Land Rovers to his boss in Nigeria. Now, the only traveling Diuno will do will be from a prison yard back to his cell.”
Diuno helped orchestrate a scam in which fraudsters abroad lured victims with false promises of millions in investment funding and inheritances.
His co-conspirators posed as executives and employees of well-known U.S. banks to deceive victims into making payments to secure purported investment and money transfer agreements. Other members of the conspiracy then laundered these payments through U.S. bank accounts and directed them back to the scheme’s leaders in Nigeria.
Diuno admitted he and his co-conspirators used multiple aliases to convince victims the scam was authentic. Diuno also admitted to his role in the laundering of victim funds.
Acting on instructions from the scheme’s leader, Diuno directed a co-conspirator to disburse victim funds after receiving them. This included transferring funds to other bank accounts through currency exchangers and purchasing vehicles that were shipped back to scammers in Nigeria.
From October 2014 to September 2018, Diuno and his co-conspirators caused losses of nearly $5.7 million.
“Uche Victor Diuno conspired with criminal associates who established false web domains and capitalized on sham visits to U.S. embassies around the globe to defraud millions of dollars from victims in over 20 countries,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “This complex, international investment fraud was identified, investigated, and ultimately eradicated due to the diligent work of FBI Houston agents and our key partners at the Department of State’s Office of Inspector General (DOS-OIG). We encourage all Americans to protect themselves from fraudsters like Uche Diuno by visiting www.ic3.gov for the most relevant information about trending scams and protective tips to combat swindles.”
“DOS-OIG is unwavering in our commitment to investigate and bring to justice individuals engaged in international fraud schemes such as Uche Victor Diuno,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Hileman, DOS-OIG. “We greatly appreciate the work of our partners at the FBI Houston Field Office, Southern District of Texas, Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and their diligent and professional investigation and prosecution of Diuno.”
Diuno will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI and DOS-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Latham and Trial Attorney Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Mt. Vernon Woman Indicted for Conspiracy to Purchase Hundreds of Lottery Tickets with Stolen Credit CardsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mt. Vernon, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for leading a conspiracy to purchase nearly 2,000 lottery tickets with stolen credit cards.
Amy Young, 31, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo.
Today’s indictment alleges that Young obtained stolen credit cards and led a conspiracy to use those stolen credit cards to purchase lottery tickets from a Phillips 66 Fuel Station in Joplin, Mo., between July 22 and Aug. 18, 2022. Young allegedly enlisted the help of others to contact the Missouri Lottery Commission to obtain cash prizes for any winning lottery tickets that were fraudulently purchased using stolen credit cards. They kept a portion of the money for themselves and turned over the rest of the money to Young.
According to the indictment, Young used stolen credit cards to purchase at least 1,957 Missouri Lottery tickets with a value of $62,082. Additionally, Young and her co-conspirators received $54,248 in cash prizes for the winning tickets purchased using stolen credit card numbers.
In total, between the fraudulent credit card transactions and the prize money fraudulently received, Young and her co-conspirators fraudulently received at least $116,330.
Today’s indictment charges Young with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud (related to the fraudulent purchase of $480 in lottery tickets with a stolen credit card on Aug. 18, 2022).
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI.
Middletown man sentenced to 5 years in prison for possessing firearm as part of drug traffickingRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Christopher Lawrence Spicer, 23, of Middletown, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 60 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Spicer led local officers on a high-speed chase in spring 2023 before being arrested.
According to court documents, on March 16, 2023, Spicer was approached by law enforcement while driving a stolen Ford F-150 in a Middletown business parking lot. Spicer backed into a police cruiser and fled throughout Middletown at speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour. While fleeing, Spicer ran a red light at the intersection of Roosevelt Boulevard and Jackson Lane. Spicer collided with another vehicle, rendering his own vehicle disabled. He was arrested at that time.
When officers searched Spicer’s truck, they discovered a loaded Romarm/Cugir Micro Draco 7.62x39mm pistol and more than 200 fentanyl pills.
Spicer was charged federally in September 2023 and pleaded guilty in January 2024.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Middletown Police Chief David Birk announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is representing the United States in this case.
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Middlesex County Man Admits Structuring over $250,000 in Deposits to Evade Reporting RequirementsRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man today admitted structuring over $250,000 in bank deposits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Abdel Elgendy, 67, of Piscataway, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an information charging him with structuring.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From March 2021 to November 2021, Elgendy purposefully engaged in a pattern of structuring activity to deposit over $250,000 in cash at financial institutions in ways to avoid reporting requirements for transactions in excess of $10,000. For example, during one of the deposits in September 2021, Elgendy accidentally provided a teller with more than $10,000 to be deposited. When the teller informed him that the cash totaled more than $10,000, Elgendy took some of the money back from the teller to ensure that the total deposited amount was less than $10,000.
The count of structuring to which Elgendy pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 29, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, under the direction of Inspector General John Gay; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; and special agents with the Department of Defense Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Cyber Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kenneth A. DeChellis, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the Springfield, New Jersey, and Teaneck, New Jersey, police departments.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Benjamin Levin of the Criminal Division in Newark.
elgendy.information.pdfMexico Native Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gustavo Nabor Tolentino Cortes, age 46, of Mexico, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Tolentino Cortes was previously removed from the United States on January 24, 2018. The indictment further alleges that Tolentino Cortes unlawfully reentered the United States without legal permission, and was subsequently discovered in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Members of religious-based company charged in elder fraud scheme against WWII veteranRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Five individuals are now in custody following allegations they tricked an elderly man in his 90s out of over $300,000 in retirement funds, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Authorities arrested Lenel Hopkins, 52, Antoinette Monique Hopkins, 42, Alichia Webster, 60, Neil John Halvorson, 65, and Victor Evans Jr., 70. The arrests occurred in Alabama and Florida where they will first appear before their arraignments in Houston.
All five individuals as well as their company - Ternion Group International LLC aka Ternion Training and Education Center Corporation - are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.
The indictment alleges Ternion self-identified as a “Christian” company that claimed to be an international investment group performing construction projects and job training for believers. They promised investors high monetary returns and ownership in local development projects in exchange for large investment deposits into Ternion, according to the charges.
Potential investors would allegedly become “hubs” associated with Ternion which would have a Ternion name and the investor’s address as its physical location. According to the indictment, investors would make monetary payments and were supposed to receive millions of dollars in return. The charges allege they actually never received anything in exchange for their payments.
As part of the indictment, Ternion owners convinced a then 92-year-old World War II veteran to form a hub, telling him he would receive $13 million in return if he invested $300,000. The money was supposedly to be used to build a vocational school and to purchase 100 homes, according to the allegations.
The charges allege Evans actually drew a salary from the money the victim transferred from his retirement account.
In furtherance of the scheme, Halvorson also allegedly caused the victim to enter into a new will which gave Evans successor rights and power of attorney over the victim’s property (including his hub), bank accounts and contracts as well as a medical power of attorney he used to execute a do-not-resuscitate form for the victim.
The victim has not received any monies in return for the $300,000 he invested nor heard from anyone from Ternion since 2020, according to the charges. The indictment also alleges the location they had told the victim would be the site of the project is privately owned and not for sale.
If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each count.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of the Elder Justice Initiative. Its goal is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Racketeering, Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston-area man was sentenced yesterday for his role in a violent Boston street gang as well as gun and drug trafficking charges.
Kenny Romero, a/k/a “KG,” 29, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in November 2023 to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy); three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Romero was also sentenced to 24 months in prison, to be served consecutively, for committing the offenses while on federal supervised release.
According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in Dorchester that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation. Cameron Street members also allegedly distribute narcotics and firearms, commit armed robberies and engage in human trafficking. Additionally, members allegedly post videos or use social media applications to promote Cameron Street, celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang and denigrate rivals – in particular the NOB gang – an abbreviation for the Norton/Olney/Barry Streets in Dorchester.
Romero had a “3113” tattoo, which referred to the third, first and 13th letters of the alphabet (“C,” “A,” “M”):
During a two-year investigation, Romero was recorded selling eight firearms, as well as ammunition, cocaine base and cocaine to a cooperating witness who Romero believed was a member of Cameron Street:
Data from Romero’s cell phone and Snapchat accounts determined that Romero generated income for Cameron Street through gun and drug sales as well as human trafficking.
At the time of Romero’s conduct, he was on supervised release for a 2019 federal conviction for interstate transportation of a firearm, for which he was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Maryland Man Sentenced to Year and a Day in Prison for Multistate Patient Brokering and Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Maryland man was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for participating in a conspiracy to defraud health insurance companies through a multistate patient brokering scheme in which he directed recruiters to bribe drug-addicted individuals to enroll in drug rehabilitation in exchange for referral fees from the rehabilitation centers, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
John Devlin, 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence on May 14, 2024.
Six other individuals have previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme: Peter Costas; Seth Logan Welsh; John C. Devlin; Akikur Mohammad; Lauren Philhower; and Anastasia Passas.
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh, and their conspirators owned and operated a marketing company in California. Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh used the marketing company to help orchestrate a scheme in New Jersey, Maryland, California, and other states that involved bribing individuals addicted to heroin and other drugs to enter into drug rehabilitation centers so Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh, and their conspirators could generate referral fees from those facilities. Two facilities in California that paid such referral fees were owned or operated by Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas.
The marketing company run by Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh maintained contractual relationships with drug treatment facilities around the country, including the ones run by Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas. The marketing company also engaged a nationwide network of recruiters – including Costas in New Jersey – to identify and recruit potential patients, from New Jersey and other states, who were addicted to heroin or other drugs and who had robust private health insurance.
To convince drug-addicted individuals to travel to and enroll in rehabilitation when they otherwise would not have, Costas and other recruiters offered to bribe them – often as much as several thousand dollars – with the approval of Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh. Once the patients agreed to enroll in drug rehabilitation in exchange for the offered bribe, Devlin, Dickau, Welsh, and Costas would arrange and pay for cross-country travel to the drug treatment centers in California and other states, in concert with the owners of the facilities themselves, including Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas. Costas would stay in touch with the New Jersey patients at the facilities and specifically instruct them to stay at the facilities long enough to generate referral payments, and he would pass along information to Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh about the patients’ status at the facilities. Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh would monitor the other patients they brokered by speaking to other recruiters or to the owners and employees of the drug treatment facilities themselves.
The drug treatment facilities run by Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas had contracts with the marketing company. Those facilities typically paid the marketing company a fee of $5,000 to $10,000 per patient referral. Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh, and their conspirators shared that money among themselves. Costas and other recruiters received approximately half that amount for each patient they brokered. Devlin, Dickau, and Welsh, and their conspirators brokered scores of patients to drug treatment facilities around the country, including the ones run by Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas, and the conspiracy caused millions of dollars of losses for health insurers.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Devlin to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading the sentencing. He also thanked the FBI, under the direction of Acting Assistant Director in Charge Amir Ehsaei in Los Angeles and the District Attorney’s Office in Orange County, California.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason S. Gould, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark, Angelica Sinopole of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark, and Aaron Webman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
Martinsburg Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession, Manufacturing, and Trafficking of Ghost Guns Sold as Part of “Hit Kits”Read the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 120 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his convictions of possession, manufacturing, and trafficking of firearms, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Harry Miller, 48. His sentencing follows earlier guilty pleas from Miller and two co-defendants, Craig Zahradnik and Wayne Farabaugh, in the case.
According to information presented to the Court, Miller admitted that, between May 2022 and April 2023, he and his co-defendants were part of a conspiracy to engage in the business of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license. Specifically, Miller and Zahradnik were partners in an illicit business operation engaged in the manufacturing and trafficking of privately made firearms—so-called ghost guns—with Miller purchasing the components and maintaining many of the weapons at a storage unit that Zahradnik, a retired police detective, controlled. Beginning in July of 2022, Zahradnik provided $5,000 payments to Miller that Miller then deposited into his bank account, totaling $30,000. Miller used these funds to purchase the firearm components from outside of Pennsylvania and repaid Zahradnik with the proceeds from the gun sales, including from the sale of what Miller marketed as “hit kits,” consisting of a 9-millimeter Polymer80 handgun with no serial number, a threaded barrel to attach a silencer, a silencer, subsonic ammunition, and latex gloves.
Miller was permitted and assisted by Farabaugh in using machinery at Farabaugh’s place of employment to drill the components for ghost guns. Miller also used this equipment to manufacture untraceable weapons and weapon components that were required to be registered with the government under the National Firearms Act, including silencers, machineguns, and short-barrel rifles. Zahradnik transported the “hit kits” and other firearms to and from Miller for scheduled buys. On other occasions, Miller and Zahradnik transported firearms together.
In March 2023, Zahradnik transferred a firearm and ammunition to Miller, knowing that Miller intended to sell, dispose of, or transfer the firearm and ammunition in furtherance of a felony, and unlawfully transferred firearms that were not registered to him. Zahradnik and Farabaugh both admitted that they knew Miller was a convicted felon and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
During his plea hearing, Miller further pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machinegun, illegal trafficking in firearms, and unlawfully engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing in firearms.“Harry Miller, a convicted felon who could not lawfully possess a firearm, made tens of thousands of dollars manufacturing and selling ‘hit kits’ containing untraceable ghost guns, silencers, ammunition, and latex gloves,” U.S. Attorney Olshan said. “Today’s 10-year sentence reflects the egregiousness of Miller’s illicit business, which saw untraceable firearms distributed throughout our western Pennsylvania community. This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to root out the unlawful trafficking of firearms and hold those who endanger the public accountable under federal law.”
“Firearms trafficking is a primary focus of ATF,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Miller’s criminal activities fueled the violence in our communities, and the firearms he trafficked will remain a threat for years. ATF is committed to identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting those who illegally manufacture, possess, and traffic in firearms with our unique resources and expertise to protect our neighborhoods.”
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation that led to the prosecutions. This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.
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.
Long Island Resident Convicted at Trial of Transporting Illegal Aliens for Financial GainRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Omar Mera-Marquez, age 46, of Medford, New York, was convicted today following a jury trial of transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.
The trial evidence demonstrated that on October 3, 2023, Mera-Marquez and an accomplice, Jose Calva-Cruz, agreed to drive from Long Island to Fort Covington, New York, near the U.S.-Canadian border, to pick up three men from Mexico who had recently crossed into the United States illegally, in exchange for $1,500. At 3 a.m. on October 4, 2023, Mera-Marquez and Calva-Cruz arrived at the pickup location, which was a motel parking lot just a mile from the border. Mera-Marquez, who was driving a dark SUV with Kansas license plates, stopped in the parking lot just long enough for the three men to run up to the vehicle and jump in. All of this was observed by an agent from U.S. Border Patrol, who was watching the parking lot that evening. Border Patrol agents pulled over the vehicle and everyone was arrested. Calva-Cruz previously pled guilty for his role in the offense and was subsequently deported.
The charge for which Mera-Marquez was convicted today carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The defendant will be sentenced on September 17, 2024, by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, who presided over the trial.
United States Border Patrol investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Melissa O. Rothbart are prosecuting the case.
Local man heads to prison for possessing material depicting sexual abuse of childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 68-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Stephen Broussard pleaded guilty Oct. 26, 2022, admitting he possessed over 6000 images.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now sentenced Broussard to 130 and 120 months for the distribution and possession of child pornography convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 130-month term of imprisonment. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that distribution and possession of child pornography are egregious crimes and are not victimless. Broussard was further ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Broussard will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
Broussard came to the attention of law enforcement after he made child pornography files available for download through a peer-to-peer network. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Broussard’s residence and seized his electronic devices.
A forensic examination of his devices revealed Broussard possessed 6215 images and 109 videos of child pornography. The material includes sadistic or masochistic conduct involving children under the age of 12.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Leader of Armed Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – The leader of an armed drug trafficking organization responsible for acquiring at least 250 kilograms of methamphetamine from a prisoner and then distributing the drugs into west central Georgia was sentenced to serve 40 years in federal prison.
Cornelius Leonard aka “Tae,” 29, of Grantville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 480 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on May 14. Leonard previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of distribution of methamphetamine; and one count of conspiracy to tamper with a witness. The defendant is not eligible for parole.
“Cornelius Leonard and those involved in pushing more than 250 kilograms of methamphetamine into Thomaston and Columbus have been held accountable for their part in this armed drug trafficking organization causing harm in these communities,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Federal, state and local law enforcement collaborated throughout this lengthy and complex investigation to successfully stop a significant criminal organization.”
“This sentencing serves to put criminals on notice that if you bring illegal drugs into our communities, we will employ whatever means necessary to find you and bring you to justice no matter where you are,” said FBI Atlanta Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of the Macon Office Robert Gibbs. “This sentencing closes a significant pipeline for dangerous drugs running through the streets of Georgia. We are grateful to the many law enforcement agencies whose coordinated efforts achieved this sentence.”
“This successful investigation and prosecution is the result of many law enforcement agencies dedicated to securing our communities; we are grateful for the collaboration and hopeful it will make a difference,” said Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore.
The following co-defendants have been sentenced:
Pedro Barragan Valencia aka “Casper” aka “Bossman,” aka “Mexican Hitman Pete,” 47, of Calhoun, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 400 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
Ramone Zorn aka “Big Razor,” 54, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 300 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine;
Kedric Fuller aka “Blakk Ru,” 43, of Woodbury, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 180 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
Horatio Venable aka “Ray Ray,” 27, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Markevious Snipes aka “Big Dawg,” 33, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 136 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Mechile Hobbs, 50, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Darius Wellmaker, 41, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 90 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Joshua McAfee, 36, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 50 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
Rashard Moreland, 38, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 40 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to use of a telecommunications facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime;
Antovious Hunter aka “Ant,” 41, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Dustin Robbins, 34, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Sabrina Smith, 34, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine;
Natashai Antley, 36, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility;
Nehemiah Johnson, 30, of Thomaston, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Jennifer Moss, 39, of Molena, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Dixie Bailey, 34, of Thomaston, was sentenced to time served after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Mark Dean, 46, of Manchester, Georgia, was sentenced to time served after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Ashley Ingram, 37, of Cataula, Georgia, was sentenced to time served after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine;
Krystal Juarez Norman, 34, of Thomaston, was sentenced to time served after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin;
S. Carlton Power, 27, of Manchester, Georgia, was sentenced to time served after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and
D. Justin Whitten, 38, of Hogansville, Georgia, was sentenced to time served after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, FBI was investigating Leonard for leading an armed drug distribution organization supplying controlled substances in late 2021 and early 2022. Agents made four controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Leonard during that time period. The investigation led to multiple wiretaps on Leonard’s phones. Through these wiretaps, law enforcement agents learned that Leonard was conspiring with co-defendant Valencia—who was an inmate at Calhoun State Prison and a member of the Sureños criminal gang—to acquire large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and other illegal drugs for distribution in Thomaston, Columbus and other Georgia cities. Valencia supplied Leonard with at least 250 kilograms of methamphetamine.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by FBI and the Upson County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC).
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.
Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Travell Lamar Johnson, 45, of Big Chimney, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 14, 2023, Johnson sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Charleston gas station. Johnson admitted to the transaction and to arranging it beforehand with the confidential informant.
Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Co-defendant Alexis Nicole Davis, 26, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on May 2, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and awaits sentencing.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT).
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-177.
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Justice Department Secures Agreement with National Home Healthcare Company to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement with Maxim Healthcare Services (Maxim), a home healthcare company based in Columbia, Maryland, with operations in 35 states. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that Maxim violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) at its Gardena, California, office by discriminating against a non-U.S. citizen worker when it rejected her valid document showing her permission to work and requiring lawful permanent residents working for the company to prove their continued permission to work even though it was unnecessary.
“Employers cannot treat employees differently based on their citizenship status when verifying their permission to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department is committed to ensuring that employers do not deny workers equal treatment in the workplace, whether in hiring, checking employees’ permission to work or otherwise.”
After opening an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) concluded that Maxim improperly rejected the worker’s valid document based on her citizenship status. Specifically, the department determined that the company rejected the worker’s employment authorization document (EAD) because the last name on it was different from the last name on her driver’s license and Social Security card, even though the company accepted documents from U.S. citizens under similar circumstances and believed that the EAD reasonably appeared to be genuine and to relate to the worker, which is all that the Department of Homeland Security rules require.
The investigation also determined that Maxim routinely required lawful permanent residents to present unnecessary documentation when their Permanent Resident Cards expired, which is not required by law. The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from rejecting valid documents or asking for specific or unnecessary documents because of a worker’s citizenship or immigration status. If a lawful permanent resident provides an unexpired Permanent Resident Card to prove their permission to work, employers are not permitted to request new documentation if the Permanent Resident Card later expires.
Under the terms of the settlement, Maxim will pay a civil penalty to the United States and lost wages to the affected worker, train its employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements, revise its employment policies and processes and be subject to monitoring by the department.
IER is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee, unfair documentary practices and retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information about how employers can avoid discrimination when verifying someone’s permission to work on IER’s website. More information on how employers may handle discrepancies in the names that appear on employees’ Form I-9 documents is available as well. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify) or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email [email protected]; sign up for a live webinar; watch an on-demand presentation or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
Justice Department Announces Civil Rights Investigation into Conditions at Kentucky Youth Detention CentersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a statewide investigation into the conditions at eight youth detention centers and one youth development center run by the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice.
The investigation will examine whether Kentucky protects children confined in these facilities from harm caused by excessive force by staff, prolonged and punitive isolation and inadequate protection from violence and sexual abuse. The investigation will also examine whether Kentucky provides adequate mental health services and required special education and related services to children with disabilities.
“Confinement in the juvenile justice system should help children avoid future contact with law enforcement and mature into law-abiding, productive members of society. Too often, juvenile justice facilities break our children, exposing them to dangerous and traumatic conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are launching this investigation to ensure that children in Kentucky youth detention facilities are safe from harm, receive adequate mental health care and get appropriate special education services. All children held in the custody of the state deserve safe and humane conditions that can bring about true rehabilitation and reform.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky stands ready to protect the rights of all children in Kentucky, including those who end up in juvenile detention,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We look forward to partnering with the Civil Rights Division and our colleagues in the Eastern District to conduct a fair and thorough investigation of these allegations.”
This investigation focuses on detention centers, which primarily hold children awaiting a court hearing. Nationally, detention centers admit nearly 200,000 children every year, holding approximately 16,000 youth on any given night. The average length of stay for a child in detention is 27 days. Research shows that even far shorter stays can have profound and potentially lifelong negative consequences for children.
The department has not reached any conclusions regarding the allegations in this matter. The investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. Both statutes give the department the authority to investigate systemic violations of the rights of young people in juvenile justice facilities.
The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section is conducting this investigation jointly with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Western and Eastern Districts of Kentucky. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department via phone at (888) 392-8241 or by email at [email protected].
The division recently secured a settlement agreement involving the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice’s Broad River Road Complex, the state’s only long-term post-adjudication facility for children, and is currently investigating conditions at five post-adjudication facilities for children in Texas. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work protecting children’s rights in the juvenile justice system is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/rights-juveniles.
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Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Announces Civil Rights Investigation into Conditions at Kentucky Youth Detention Centers