Northern District of Georgia

ATLANTA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into a settlement agreement with OptumServe Health Services, Inc. (“OptumServe”), a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, to resolve allegations that OptumServe discriminated against a disabled veteran in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).

“Service animals are not pets and are often prescribed to assist veterans diagnosed with particular service-related disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office is committed to ensuring veterans have access to medical care that is free of discrimination or other barriers that impede them from equal access to healthcare services.”

OptumServe provides medical services to veterans with disabilities across the country.  The agency refused to see the veteran in this matter at the time of a scheduled appointment because he was accompanied by a service animal. The veteran’s service animal is required for a service-related disability. As a result, the veteran left the office without receiving any medical care.

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges of any place of public accommodation. OptumServe is a private entity that operates healthcare facilities that are places of “public accommodation” within the meaning of Title III of the ADA.  

Under the terms of the agreement, OptumServe will make changes to its policies and procedures and provide additional training to its staff to ensure compliance with the requirements of the ADA and that proper care is provided to its patients. Additionally, OptumServe will pay the veteran $85,000 in compensatory damages.

This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Fallica and Senior Civil Investigator Tamara Jones.

Complaints regarding discrimination or civil rights violations can be submitted directly to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia at USAGAN.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-4626.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Settlement Agreement:

ROME, Ga. - Darrlin Vernard Warner, also known as “Juice,” has been arraigned on federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

“Warner was allegedly trafficking a substantial amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine, posing an immense threat to the safety of residents of Paulding and Douglas Counties,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to ravage communities throughout northern Georgia.  Our Office is especially proud of the impact that our federal, state, and local law enforcement made in this investigation.”

“Fentanyl poisonings and other dangerous drugs are taking a terrible toll on Georgia,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “Disrupting the manufacturers and distributers of this poison remains a high priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners.”

“This indictment highlights the significant threat that fentanyl and methamphetamine pose to our communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The seizure of enough fentanyl to potentially kill 500,000 people underscores the deadly scale of this crisis. The collaborative efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement continue to be crucial in protecting our citizens and dismantling drug trafficking networks.”

“We are proud to stand united with our state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies in operations like this,” remarked Paulding County Sheriff Ashley Henson. “This interagency collaboration has enabled us to effectively eliminate a substantial amount of deadly fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine from the streets of Paulding County. As the new Sheriff, I will relentlessly work to ensure that these dangerous substances are kept away from our children and residents.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, information provided in court, and other publicly available information: In October and November 2024, law enforcement found during the course of their investigation evidence that Darrlin Warner allegedly conspired to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in the region of Paulding and Douglas Counties. On November 13, 2024, federal, state, and local agencies executed a federal search warrant on Warner’s home and vehicle, recovering approximately one kilogram (2.2. pounds) of fentanyl, approximately one pound of methamphetamine, five firearms, and approximately $177,000 in cash, as well as other suspected controlled substances.

Two milligrams of illicit fentanyl can be a lethal dose, and the approximate one kilogram of fentanyl recovered from Warner is enough to potentially kill as many as 500,000 people.

Darrlin Vernard Warner, aka “Juice,” 39, of Hiram, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Walter E. Johnson on January 14, 2025. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2024.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Cartersville Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, with valuable assistance provided by Paulding County Fire/Rescue and Metro Ambulance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Thomas M. Forsyth, III are prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strategic Initiative focused on combatting the fentanyl crisis in northwest Georgia. 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.

Anyone with information about drug sales/trafficking in their area can report it to the GBI at1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or DEA’s Atlanta Division Office at (404) 893-7000. Online tips can be submitted at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.

The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia encourages parents and children to learn about the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com, www.operationprevention.com/, www.CampusDrugPrevention.gov, and www.dea.gov/onepill.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment on Jan. 7 charging three Russian nationals for their involvement in operating the cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io. Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko and Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik were arrested on Dec. 1, 2024, roughly a year after Sinbad.io’s online infrastructure was seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement action among the Netherlands’ Financial Intelligence and Investigative Service, Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI. The third defendant, Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, remains at large.

“According to the indictment, the defendants operated cryptocurrency ‘mixers’ that served as safe havens for laundering criminally derived funds, including the proceeds of ransomware and wire fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “By allegedly operating these mixers, the defendants made it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals to profit from offenses that jeopardized both public safety and national security. The indictment and arrests announced today, which follow the earlier takedown of the defendants’ criminal infrastructure, yet again demonstrate the value of our international partnerships in countering the global threat from cybercrime.”

“Blender.io and Sinbad.io were allegedly used by criminals across the world to launder funds stolen from victims of ransomware, virtual currency thefts, and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “This indictment demonstrates our continued commitment to dismantling infrastructure used by cybercriminals to steal from Americans and hide their ill-gotten gains.”

“Last year, with the assistance of our international partners, we successfully dismantled Sinbad.io,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “However, we did not rest with this initial success. We maintained our focus on identifying the individuals responsible for its development and ensuring their accountability. These indictments serve as a testament to the power of international cooperation.”

According to court documents and publicly available information, Blender.io and Sinbad.io were cryptocurrency mixers that allowed their users, for a fee, to send cryptocurrency to designated recipients in a manner designed to hide the source of the cryptocurrency. Blender.io and Sinbad.io were available for use by the public via the internet and used by criminals looking to distance themselves from the fact that their funds came from cryptocurrency thefts, ransomware attacks, and other crimes.

Blender.io operated from approximately 2018 to 2022. The service was advertised on a popular internet forum as having a “No Logs Policy” and deleting any traces of user transactions. Additionally, in the advertisement, Blender was described as not requiring users to sign up, register, or “provide any kind of detail except the receiving address!” The advertisement asserted that, “[a]s there are no personal details asked for, there’s no way your identity is compromised, or can be linked back to, because as far as blender.io goes they don’t know who you are.” After Blender.io shut down, Sinbad.io began operating a few months later. Like Blender.io, Sinbad.io provided users with Bitcoin concealment services. And, on November 27, 2023, Sinbad.io was taken down through law enforcement action.

Both Blender.io and Sinbad.io have been sanctioned by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). On May 6, 2022, OFAC sanctioned Blender.io, citing its use by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launder stolen virtual currency. OFAC’s public sanctions announcement also explained that Blender.io laundered funds for multiple ransomware groups. On Nov. 29, 2023, OFAC sanctioned Sinbad.io, publicly citing its use by a DPRK state-sponsored hacking group and cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to other criminal offenses.

Ostapenko, 55, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Oleynik, 44, and Tarasov, 32, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy count and five years in prison for each unlicensed money transmitting business count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service and Fiscal Information and Investigative Service made significant contributions to the case, including to the disruption of the Sinbad mixer, and provided other valuable assistance. Significant support was also provided by the Australian Federal Police and Attorney-General’s Department, and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, who is a member of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll for the Central District of California provided significant assistance.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ATLANTA –Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their involvement in operating the cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io.

“Blender.io and Sinbad.io were allegedly used by criminals across the world to launder funds stolen from victims of ransomware, virtual currency thefts, and other crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This indictment demonstrates our continued commitment to dismantling infrastructure used by cybercriminals to steal from Americans and hide their ill-gotten gains.”

“According to the indictment, the defendants operated cryptocurrency ‘mixers’ that served as safe havens for laundering criminally derived funds, including the proceeds of ransomware and wire fraud,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “By allegedly operating these mixers, the defendants made it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals to profit from offenses that jeopardized both public safety and national security. The indictment and arrests announced today, which follow the earlier takedown of the defendants’ criminal infrastructure, yet again demonstrate the value of our international partnerships in countering the global threat from cybercrime.”

“Last year, with the assistance of our international partners, we successfully dismantled Sinbad.io. However, we did not rest with this initial success. We maintained our focus on identifying the individuals responsible for its development and ensuring their accountability,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These indictments serve as a testament to the power of international cooperation.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and publicly available information: Blender.io and Sinbad.io were cryptocurrency mixers that allowed their users, for a fee, to send cryptocurrency to designated recipients in a manner designed to hide the source of the cryptocurrency. Blender.io and Sinbad.io were available for use by the public via the internet and used by criminals looking to distance themselves from the fact that their funds came from cryptocurrency thefts, ransomware attacks, and other crimes.

Blender.io operated from approximately 2018 to 2022. The service was advertised on a popular internet forum as having a “No Logs Policy” and deleting any traces of user transactions. Additionally, in the advertisement, Blender was described as not requiring users to sign up, register, or “provide any kind of detail except the receiving address!” The advertisement asserted that, “[a]s there are no personal details asked for, there’s no way your identity is compromised, or can be linked back to, because as far as blender.io goes they don’t know who you are.” After Blender.io shut down, Sinbad.io began operating a few months later. Like Blender.io, Sinbad.io provided users with Bitcoin concealment services. And, on November 27, 2023, Sinbad.io was taken down through law enforcement action.

Both Blender.io and Sinbad.io have been sanctioned by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). On May 6, 2022, OFAC sanctioned Blender.io, citing its use by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launder stolen virtual currency. OFAC’s public sanctions announcement also explained that Blender.io laundered funds for multiple ransomware groups. On November 29, 2023, OFAC sanctioned Sinbad.io, publicly citing its use by a DPRK state-sponsored hacking group and cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to other criminal offenses.

Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, 55, of Russia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, 44, of Russia, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, 32, of Russia, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Ostapenko and Oleynik were arrested on December 1, 2024, roughly a year after Sinbad.io’s online infrastructure was seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement action, while Tarasov remains at large.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service and Fiscal Information and Investigative Service made significant contributions to the case, including to the disruption of the Sinbad.io mixer, and provided other valuable assistance. Significant support was also provided by the Australian Federal Police and Attorney-General’s Department, and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal, Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and member of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team are prosecuting the case. Significant assistance was also provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll of the Central District of California.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Kimberly Johnson has pleaded guilty for her role in a mortgage fraud scheme spanning more than three years and resulting in the approval of approximately 450 mortgage loans based on fabricated documents and false information. Many of the loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), resulting in claims being paid for mortgages that have defaulted.

“The defendant and her co-conspirators brazenly manipulated the real estate lending process out of sheer greed,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan. “Criminals like Johnson, who engage in mortgage fraud, threaten the soundness of the real estate market in our communities. Our office is committed to prosecuting these bad actors who abuse the system for their personal gain and to safeguard the mortgage lending system for those who rely on this financial support.”

“Kimberly Johnson engaged in a massive mortgage fraud scheme, fabricating material documents on over 450 loans to falsely qualify individuals for loans they would not have otherwise qualified for,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG).  “When individuals commit fraud against federally funded programs, it creates significant risks to the programs and limits the financial resources available to assist hard working individuals realize the American dream of homeownership. HUD OIG will continue to work with its prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who seek to profit by abusing HUD-funded programs.”

“Ms. Johnson’s guilty plea is the result of our commitment to hold anyone who exploits the mortgage lending system for personal gain fully accountable,” said Edwin S. Bonano, Special Agent in Charge of FHFA-OIG’s Southeast Region. “This case highlights the importance of collaboration between our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the housing market and prevent fraud that undermines public trust.”

“The defendant in this case pleaded guilty for her role in altering and fabricating supporting documents in fraudulent mortgage loan applications, as part of a scheme that resulted in the approval of approximately 450 mortgage loans,” said Kyle A. Myles, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Atlanta Region. “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement colleagues to investigate those who commit fraudulent acts and threaten to undermine the safety and soundness of our nation’s financial system.”

“The FBI will vigorously investigate criminal offenses that impact the integrity of the residential mortgage market. In this case, Johnson had the duty to conduct business honestly but instead chose to engage in mortgage fraud, securing mortgages for individuals who otherwise would not have qualified for one,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the effort to prosecute anyone who engages in this type of misconduct.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Kimberly Johnson participated in a conspiracy in which homebuyers and mortgage brokers submitted fraudulent loan applications to induce mortgage lenders to fund mortgages. Johnson’s role in the scheme was to alter or fabricate the supporting documents for the loans, including bank statements, pay stubs and Forms W-2. Over the course of more than three years, Johnson helped approximately 450 homebuyers to commit mortgage fraud by obtaining loans for which they were unqualified. The fraudulent loan applications were submitted to numerous mortgage lenders, and some of the mortgage brokers who worked on obtaining the loans were part of the conspiracy. These fraudulent loans totaled approximately $161 million. Many of those loans have already defaulted.

Kimberly Johnson, 55, of Hampton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in a mortgage fraud scheme and, as part of her plea, has agreed to pay restitution to the victims of the conspiracy, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which insures many of the residential mortgages in the United States. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Prout is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Marcus Thomas, a previously convicted felon, has been sentenced to federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition.

“Thomas was released from state prison only a few days before he illegally obtained a firearm and indiscriminately shot through a motel window, endangering the lives of others within the community,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, violent repeat offenders like Thomas who risk the lives of others, will be brought to justice to face the consequences of their actions.”

“Thomas is a dangerous felon who resumed his criminal activity shortly after being released from prison,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to do everything possible to ensure criminals are brought to justice.”

“The reckless and dangerous actions of Marcus Thomas put innocent lives at risk, and this case exemplifies the Atlanta Police Department’s unwavering commitment to working with our federal partners to remove violent offenders from our streets,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: On July 1, 2022, Atlanta Police Department (APD) officers responded to a report of shots fired at a Travel Inn located on Forest Hills Drive in Atlanta, Georgia. Two witnesses at the location informed APD officers that they saw an individual—later identified as Marcus Thomas—with a firearm outside his motel room. The witnesses said that they saw Thomas enter his room and then heard gunshots coming from his vicinity.

As APD officers approached the room, they observed damage to the window consistent with gunshots. Thomas was ordered out of the room and was detained.  APD officers then searched the room and found a firearm magazine and multiple rounds of ammunition on the floor of the bathroom, as well as shell casings from spent ammunition on the floor near one of the beds in the room.  A few days later, APD officers recovered the firearm used in the shooting, which was hidden inside a fitted sheet tucked into the mattress of one of the beds in the room.

FBI special agents investigated the shooting and discovered that Thomas recently served a sentence for aggravated assault and was released from prison four days prior to the shooting. Thomas was also previously convicted of multiple other felonies, including terroristic threats, possession of cocaine, and theft by receiving stolen property.

Marcus Thomas, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty to three years, one month in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Thomas was convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on August 28, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Atlanta Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced that the United States has entered into a court-enforceable agreement to resolve the findings that conditions of confinement at the Fulton County Jail violate the 8th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The United States filed a complaint and a proposed consent decree with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff in federal court.

“Our report from an investigation of Fulton County and the Fulton County Jail concluded that the Constitutional rights of incarcerated persons are being violated,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The proposed consent decree serves as a cooperative measure to address the grievous pattern of inhumane – and frequently violent – treatment of people in custody, along with the filthy and unsanitary living conditions they endure while awaiting formal charges or trials at the Fulton County Jail. This office is deeply invested in the well-being of all our residents, and we are hopeful that the systemic deficiencies revealed by our report will be remedied through the implementation of the requirements outlined in the decree, along with regular oversight of the progress of Fulton County and the Fulton County Jail, as overseen by an independent monitor.”

“This proposed consent decree is a critical step toward correcting the dangerous and dehumanizing conditions that have persisted in the Fulton County Jail for far too long,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “When the Department announced findings from our investigation of the Fulton County Jail in November, we called on the County and Sheriff’s Office to remedy the troubling pattern of unsanitary living conditions, brutal physical attacks, and other dangerous issues at the Jail. We are encouraged that local officials have agreed to a plan that will begin to address the inhumane, unconstitutional conditions that were reflected in Lashawn Thompson’s horrific death.”

“Our findings regarding the Fulton County Jail identified serious and life-threatening violations of the Constitution and other laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Detention in the Fulton County Jail amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or who died as a result of inhumane conditions inside the facility. The proposed consent decree includes strong remedial provisions, an independent monitor and other remedies that make it a model for addressing these kinds of violations in jails and prisons across the nation. If fully implemented, this consent decree and its comprehensive remedies should reduce violence and unnecessary force; increase the quality of medical and mental health care; reduce the use of unnecessary isolation, particularly for people with mental illness and 17-year-old children; and afford children with disabilities the education to which they are entitled. We thank the County and Sheriff for working with the Justice Department on these long overdue reforms.”

The proposed consent decree, which must still be approved by the court, would resolve the United States’ claims that the Jail engages in a pattern or practice of violating the rights of people incarcerated at the facility. Under the proposed consent decree, the Jail will, among other things:

• Develop plans and policies to keep incarcerated people safe from violence;
• Improve supervision and staffing;
• Maintain doors and locks in working order;
• Require staff to abide by constitutional standards when using force;
• Take steps to protect incarcerated people at risk of suicide and to afford incarcerated people adequate medical and mental health care;
• Develop and implement a comprehensive housekeeping plan and pest management system to keep the Jail clean, sanitary, and free of pests;
• Stop use of isolation or restrictive housing of vulnerable people who are at substantial risk of self-harm or other negative mental health outcomes, absent specific and significant protections; and
• Facilitate the provision of adequate special education services to children with disabilities in the Jail.

The proposed consent decree provides for an independent monitor to assess the Jail’s implementation of the decree’s requirements.  The monitor will issue public reports on the Jail’s progress every six months and members of the public can share information with the monitor regarding implementation of the decree and Jail conditions.

The United States initiated its investigation of the Fulton County Jail in July 2023. The United States’ investigation proceeded under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), Americans with Disabilities Act, and Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. These statutes authorize the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court to seek court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. The United States provided Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff with written notice of its findings, along with the supporting facts for its findings, and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the violations found. The proposed consent decree seeks to address and resolve those violations.

The case is being handled by Aileen Bell Hughes, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity & Civil Rights Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebeca Ojeda and Rahul Garabadu of the Northern District of Georgia, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Johnson.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Note: View Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke's remarks here. 

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced today that the Department has entered into a court-enforceable agreement to resolve the Department’s findings that conditions of confinement at the Fulton County Jail (the Jail) in Georgia violate the 8th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Today, the Department filed a complaint and a proposed consent decree with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff in federal court.

The proposed consent decree, which must still be approved by the court, would resolve the Department’s claims that that the Jail engages in a pattern or practice of violating the rights of people incarcerated there. Under the proposed consent decree, the Jail will, among other things:

• Develop plans and policies to keep incarcerated people safe from violence;
• Improve supervision and staffing;
• Keep doors and locks in working order;
• Require any use of force by staff comply with constitutional standards;
• Take steps to protect incarcerated people at risk of suicide and to afford incarcerated people adequate medical and mental health care;
• Develop and implement a comprehensive housekeeping plan and pest management system to keep the Jail clean, sanitary, and free of pests;
• Stop housing vulnerable people in isolation when they are at substantial risk of self-harm or other negative mental health outcomes absent specific and significant protections; and
• Facilitate the provision of adequate special education services to children with disabilities in the Jail.

The proposed consent decree provides for an independent monitor to assess the Jail’s implementation of the decree’s requirements.  The monitor will issue public reports on the Jail’s progress every six months and members of the public can share information with the monitor regarding implementation of the decree and Jail conditions.

“This proposed consent decree is a critical step toward correcting the dangerous and dehumanizing conditions that have persisted in the Fulton County Jail for far too long,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “When the Department announced findings from our investigation of the Fulton County Jail in November, we called on the County and Sheriff’s Office to remedy the troubling pattern of unsanitary living conditions, brutal physical attacks, and other dangerous issues at the Jail. We are encouraged that local officials have agreed to a plan that will begin to address the inhumane, unconstitutional conditions that were reflected in Lashawn Thompson’s horrific death.”

“Our findings regarding the Fulton County Jail identified serious and life-threatening violations of the Constitution and other laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Detention in the Fulton County Jail amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or who died as a result of inhumane conditions inside the facility. The proposed consent decree includes strong remedial provisions, an independent monitor and other remedies that make it a model for addressing these kinds of violations in jails and prisons across the nation. If fully implemented, this consent decree and its comprehensive remedies should reduce violence and unnecessary force; increase the quality of medical and mental health care; reduce the use of unnecessary isolation, particularly for people with mental illness and 17-year-old children; and afford children with disabilities the education to which they are entitled. We thank the County and Sheriff for working with the Justice Department on these long overdue reforms.”

“Our report from an investigation of Fulton County and the Fulton County Jail concluded that the Constitutional rights of incarcerated persons are being violated,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “The proposed consent decree serves as a cooperative measure to address the grievous pattern of inhumane — and frequently violent — treatment of people in custody, along with the filthy and unsanitary living conditions they endure while awaiting formal charges or trials at the Fulton County Jail. This office is deeply invested in the well-being of all our residents, and we are hopeful that the systemic deficiencies revealed by our report will be remedied through the implementation of the requirements outlined in the decree, along with regular oversight of the progress of Fulton County and the Fulton County Jail, as overseen by an independent monitor.”

The Justice Department initiated its investigation of the Fulton County Jail in July 2023. The Department’s investigation proceeded under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), Americans with Disabilities Act, and Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. These statutes authorize the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court to seek court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. The Department provided Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff with written notice of its findings, along with the supporting facts for its findings, and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the violations found. The proposed consent decree seeks to address and resolve those violations.

The Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize unconstitutional conditions and violations of federal law in correctional and juvenile justice facilities.  It opened new investigations into prisons and jails in Tennessee, California, South Carolina, and juvenile justice facilities across Kentucky. The division also issued findings in its investigations of Mississippi prisons, Texas juvenile justice system’s facilities, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and San Luis Obispo County, California, Jail. The division entered into agreements, including consent decrees, regarding the Cumberland County, New Jersey, Jail, the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in New Jersey, the Broad River Road Complex in South Carolina, the Manson Youth Institution in Connecticut, and the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The division is also litigating matters related to the constitutionality of conditions in Alabama’s prisons for men and the incarceration of people beyond their release dates in Louisiana prisons.   

For more information about the Civil Rights Division and its Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov/. To provide information related to the Department’s investigation of the Fulton County Jail, please call 1-888-473-4092 or email the investigation team at FultonCountyJail@usdoj.gov.

ATLANTA – U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan has announced his resignation, effective January 19, 2025, as the chief law enforcement officer for the Northern District of Georgia. After he was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, U.S. Attorney Buchanan was sworn in as the District’s 26th Presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed United States Attorney on May 2, 2022.

During his tenure, U.S. Attorney Buchanan led an office of approximately 250 prosecutors, civil litigators, and administrative and support personnel in its mission to enforce federal civil and criminal laws, advocate for crime victims, and represent the United States’ interests in federal court. In his role, he oversaw prosecutions involving violent crimes, firearm offenses, drug trafficking organizations, child exploitation, cybercrimes, health care fraud, public corruption, organized crime rings and gang activities, hate crimes, and civil rights violations, while also achieving significant judgments and penalties in multiple civil matters.

Beyond the Northern District, U.S. Attorney Buchanan contributed to the Department of Justice’s national legal policy as a member of Attorney General Merrick Garland’s Advisory Committee (the “AGAC”), a select group of United States Attorneys who advise the Attorney General on policy matters. He served as Vice-Chair of the AGAC’s Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee, leader of the Malign Foreign Influence Working Group, and a member of the Office of Management and Budget Subcommittee. In addition to Department of Justice leadership, U.S. Attorney Buchanan was a member of the interagency Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee.

In a message to the members of his office, U.S. Attorney Buchanan said:

“Earlier today, I tendered my resignation as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia to President Biden and Attorney General Garland. It is nearly impossible for me to reduce to writing my admiration and gratitude for you. You embody the high ideals of the Department of Justice, and you live out our mission daily. The Northern District, the State of Georgia, and the United States are safer because of your efforts. During my tenure as United States Attorney, the work of this office has reached six continents. At the same time, the office has remained a steadfast and engaged leader in communities from southwest Atlanta to the Appalachian foothills. That global legal work and local community impact are hallmarks of this office. Daily, we have worked collaboratively and forged lasting partnerships with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders, leading to innovative, thoughtful, and effective approaches to advancing safety, upholding the rule of law, and protecting civil rights for nearly eight million people in the Northern District. The talent, excellence, and integrity of this office are unparalleled. It has been the privilege of my life to serve with you as colleagues, and I am forever grateful and honored to call you my friends.”

Under Mr. Buchanan’s leadership, the Northern District of Georgia achieved noteworthy successes outlined below in criminal and civil cases. U.S. Attorney Buchanan created a new dedicated section, the Public Integrity & Civil Rights Section, to formalize and expand the office’s civil and criminal civil rights work. And as described further below, Mr. Buchanan initiated and spearheaded many innovative collaborations with law enforcement and community stakeholders.

Notable Violent Crime and National Security Achievements

• A five-member minor sex trafficking group was prosecuted and sentenced, following a report that a minor victim had gone missing in Miami, Florida. The victim’s parents realized she failed to board a flight to Honduras. The minor was transported by two defendants to Georgia and forced to commit commercial sex acts and participate in “sex parties” hosted by other members of the group. The court imposed sentences ranging from seven to 30 years in prison.
• A jury convicted Jalal Hajavi for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, smuggling goods from the U.S., unlawfully exporting and reexporting goods from the U.S. to Iran without a license, and unlawfully engaging in transactions and dealings based on his participation in a scheme to unlawfully export heavy equipment from the U.S. to Iran by routing the shipments through the United Arab Emirates. He was convicted by a jury, and subsequently sentenced to two years in prison.
• Kenny Wells made headlines when he recklessly discharged a firearm at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport on the busy weekend before Thanksgiving in 2021.  His unlawful actions created enormous panic throughout the airport and forced a lockdown of the facility and surrounding area for hours after he discharged a firearm detected inside a bag he had carried into an airport security screening area. Wells was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses.
• A jury convicted Mezemr Abebe Belayneh for fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship by concealing his involvement in the “Red Terror,” a campaign of oppression and mass killings committed in Ethiopia that began in 1976.  The Red Terror was a campaign of brutal violence in which Ethiopia’s ruling military council and its supporters detained, interrogated, tortured, and executed thousands of perceived opponents, many of whom were teenagers, based on their political opinions.  Belayneh was convicted of fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship by lying about his role in the Red Terror persecutions and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Fraud Convictions

• Operation Five Fingers, a Priority Transnational Organized Crime case, resulted in the convictions of 40 defendants. Thirty-one of the defendants were convicted of conspiring to launder the proceeds of romance fraud schemes, bank account takeover schemes, and business email compromise schemes, which caused more than $30 million in losses to hundreds of individuals, banks, and other companies. Nine of the defendants committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft offenses when they posed as bank customers and fraudulently withdrew funds directly from victims’ bank accounts. Two of the defendants were bank employees who facilitated laundering of fraud proceeds.

Accomplishments in Civil Cases

• A federal jury found that Charles Adams M.D. and his medical practice violated the False Claims Act (FCA). The jury concluded that the defendants violated the FCA by submitting false claims to Medicare for reimbursements of chelation therapy, which involves the use of drugs to remove heavy metals from the body. The jury found that Medicare reimbursed the defendants more than $1.1 million for these unnecessary treatments. In a post-trial ruling, the federal district judge added penalties to the jury’s verdict, bringing defendants’ total liability to more than $27 million.
• UBS AG and several of its U.S.-based affiliates (together, “UBS”) agreed to pay $1.435 billion in penalties to settle a civil action alleging misconduct related to UBS’ underwriting and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities in 2006 and 2007. 

Narcotics Convictions

• Gilberto Lopez-Giraldo, Raul Lopez-Giraldo, Guillermo Escobar, and Alexander Duque-Casanova were convicted for engaging in a more than $1.4 million drug money laundering conspiracy involving major cities from across the United States, including Atlanta, Chicago, and New York to Cali, Colombia. The defendants received sentences of incarceration ranging from three to six years.

Money Laundering & Asset Recovery

• The District’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section secured more than $90 million in collections for victims of crimes and to satisfy debts owed to the United States; shared in the collection of an additional $1 billion related to financial wrongdoing; and forfeited over $55 million in property seized from criminal defendants and in civil forfeiture matters.

Public Integrity and Civil Rights Work

• Former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill was convicted of intentionally violating the civil rights of six pre-trial detainees by ordering them strapped into restraint chairs at the Clayton County Jail for hours without legal justification. Hill was sentenced to one year, six months in prison, which he later appealed. The Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions with an opinion that opened with U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt’s declaration: “No man is above the law and no man is below it.”​
• A multi-year investigation of corruption throughout the upper echelon of the City of Atlanta’s government led to the prosecutions of 11 high-ranking city officials and contractors resulting in two convictions at trial and nine by guilty pleas. The charged conduct included bribery, theft, tax fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering offenses, but also machine gun possession, obstruction of justice, and the delivery of envelopes of cash to one of the defendants in a men’s room at a local restaurant. This investigation ultimately included convictions of the City’s Chief Financial Officer, Chief Procurement Officer, Watershed Commissioner, Director of Human Services, and Director of Contract Compliance, as well as the former Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff and multiple primary contractors.
• A settlement agreement was reached with Smarter Kids Child Care (“Smarter Kids”) in Smyrna, Georgia, to resolve allegations that Smarter Kids violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by denying a child an opportunity to participate in its daycare program on the basis of his autism.  Under the agreement, Smarter Kids agreed to adopt a non-discrimination policy to ensure ADA compliance and to provide mandatory training for all employees who consider requests for reasonable accommodations or make enrollment decisions. Additionally, Smarter Kids will pay $7,000 in compensation to the complainant and $1,000 to the United States as a civil penalty.
• A Civil Rights investigation into Fulton County, Georgia and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office uncovered multiple violations of the constitutional and statutory rights of persons incarcerated at the Fulton County Jail on a routine basis and failures to adequately protect incarcerated persons from substantial risk of serious harm.
• A multi-year investigation of the Georgia Department of Corrections concluded that the incarcerated persons’ constitutional rights are being violated by failing to protect them from widespread physical violence and harm, including exposing incarcerated persons to unreasonable risk of harm from sexual abuse.

Law Enforcement and Community Outreach

U.S. Attorney Buchanan’s tenure reflects a steadfast and robust commitment to building relationships and partnerships with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders within the District.

Mr. Buchanan partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District to host a community gathering designed to increase awareness of and connect residents to local resources available to help prevent opioid use, overdoses, and deaths. This collaboration resulted from a data-driven District initiative to address concerns related to Bartow County’s opioid deaths and the county’s age-adjusted opioid death rate. Local public health officials who participated in the initiative also noted the alarming nationwide increases in illicit fentanyl exposures in children younger than six years old as cause for critical concern.

Mr. Buchanan served as a member of the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion and Education (“GRACE”) Commission which was created to combat human trafficking in the State of Georgia.

He partnered with the Department of Justice to host the inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities Regional Forum at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.

He led the training effort with the Georgia Alliance for School Resource Officers and Educators, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, and the Georgia Gang Investigators Association to provide an intensive law enforcement training, “G.R.E.A.T.” (Gang Resistance Education and Training), for more than 40 police officers from school systems in the District.  These officers, specifically chosen by their respective agencies, serve at over 70 local schools that enroll more than 26,000 students.

Mr. Buchanan continued to partner with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office as part of an annual Project Safe Neighborhoods Credible Messenger Youth Summer Violence Program, which provides intensive and positive youth and young adult mentorship, with a goal to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and improve family and community engagement.

He hosted a safety briefing for houses of worship, gathering faith leaders and those involved with security at houses of worship, to provide training, education, and discussion in the areas of safety, security, security planning, hate crimes, and the growth and management of threats.

Mr. Buchanan led the creation of the Northern Georgia Fentanyl Prosecution Working Group, an innovative data-driven effort aimed at the counties in the Northern District that have been hit hardest by the opioid epidemic. The effort included a coordinated multi-agency, parcel interdiction operation that resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms being shipped through the district.

He oversaw a safety briefing for school administrators and safety officials to provide education and resources for planning, assessment, and mitigation of safety threats.

And he also organized a housing summit that focused on health and safety in HUD-assisted housing with Housing and Urban Development leadership.

“I thank President Biden for nominating me, Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff for their recommendation and support, and Attorney General Garland for his leadership during my tenure,” said U.S. Attorney Buchanan.  “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the American people and the Northern District of Georgia.”

Pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. will succeed Mr. Buchanan as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia until a successor is nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Keith Pharms, a previously convicted felon, also known as “B-Boy,” has been sentenced to federal prison for assaulting a federal task force officer with a firearm during a car theft.

“Pharms is a repeat violent offender who callously threatened the safety of citizens and a law enforcement officer,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office is grateful for the exemplary collaborative efforts and sacrificial service of our federal and local law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to especially protect our communities from dangerous criminals.”

“Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer is dangerous and an extreme threat to public safety. Stopping violent criminals, like Pharms, is one of the most important things we can do to protect our communities,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thankfully, no one—including our Task Force officer—was injured during Pharms’ act of terror. Atlanta is a safer community with him off the streets.”

“This case underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among local, state, and federal agencies to hold violent offenders accountable and protect our neighborhoods from gun violence,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “Working with our partners is vital to ensure justice is served and Atlanta remains a safe place for everyone.”

“Gun violence remains a threat to the safety and security of our communities,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones. “ATF will remain steadfast in working alongside our partners to disrupt and dismantle violent criminal activity, ensuring that offenders like Pharms are held accountable under the law.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: On February 24, 2022, Pharms, eight days after his release from a state prison in Georgia, used his mother’s car, a Chevrolet SS, to steal a Dodge Charger from a garage in a midtown Atlanta complex. An 18-year-old co-defendant drove the Chevy, while another co-defendant, Jokava Harris, accompanied Pharms to the garage. Harris then used a key programmer to steal the Dodge Charger. The 18-year-old trailed the stolen Dodge Charger in the Chevy with Pharms in the passenger seat acting as an armed escort.

Based on recent activity of stolen cars, an FBI task force officer was surveilling the area when he observed the two vehicles traveling in tandem. The officer then began to follow the vehicles when Pharms fired multiple times out of the window of the Chevy. Despite being fired upon, the officer continued to trail the vehicles.  As the officer entered a curve in the road, he realized that Pharms and his co-defendants were waiting to ambush him. More gunshots were fired, striking the officer’s vehicle with a bullet that narrowly missed his headrest.

The stolen Charger and Chevy were later located by Atlanta Police Department officers, however, all three defendants had abandoned the vehicles and fled on foot, eluding arrest. The three defendants were later arrested and Pharms’ co-defendants both pleaded guilty and were sentenced by the Court.

While detained by the U.S. Marshals Service awaiting trial, Pharms possessed contraband cellphones and on one occasion used a cellphone to re-post on social media the name of a witness and a partial copy of a report of the information the witness provided to law enforcement, along with the image of a rat. During his detention, a handcuff key was also found in Pharms’ cell, causing authorities to be concerned that he might try to escape.

Keith Pharms, aka “B-Boy,” 26, of Atlanta, Georgia was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to 15 years, two months, and 10 days in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  A federal jury convicted Pharms on September 26, 2024, of assault on a federal officer, carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a contraband cellphone, and possession of an escape tool.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Atlanta Police Department, with valuable assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Plummer and Jessica C. Morris prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Calah Williams has been sentenced for stealing Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”), Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), and unemployment insurance (“UI”) benefits made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Williams stole from programs designed to help the public during a global crisis and now she will face the consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This prosecution demonstrates our office’s continuing commitment to holding individuals accountable for defrauding the CARES Act program.”

“The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and its partners, combined with the prosecutorial efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, demonstrate their commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people,” stated Special Agent in Charge Scott Moffit.

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Williams defrauded multiple government agencies – including the Small Business Administration and 10 state agencies responsible for UI benefits – by filing fraudulent EIDL, PPP, and UI benefits applications, sometimes using stolen personally identifying information. The various applications were littered with false information, including income numbers, the number of employees, employee names, and the applicant information. In total, Williams filed 42 EIDL applications, 16 PPP applications, and 177 fraudulent UI benefits applications, seeking at least approximately $4,879,641. Much of her fraud was immediately detected and stopped, but she was successful in obtaining approximately $1,026,241.

Calah Williams, 29, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,026,241. Williams was convicted on these charges on July 31, 2024, after she pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal prosecuted the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Paul Kim, a pediatric dentist, has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing thousands of images and videos of minors, including some 12 years old and younger, engaging in sexually-explicit activity. 

“Parents entrusted their children to Kim for pediatric care, while unbeknownst to them, he was amassing thousands of images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our Office is committed to prioritizing the prosecution of sexual predators who exploit and abuse children and to achieving a measure of justice for families impacted by these horrific sex crimes.”

“This case is particularly disturbing because it is an example that child predators come from all walks of life,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing demonstrates that no person is above the law. Regardless of employment, wealth, or social status, the FBI will continue to seek out all individuals who seek to abuse children and victimize them through the downloading and possession of child pornography.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: An FBI investigation of Paul Kim resulted from a broader investigation into a commercial sexual exploitation ring which advertised and sold child pornography on several online platforms. FBI Special agents identified Kim as one of the suspected purchasers of the material.

In December 2023, the agents executed a search warrant for Kim and his residence in Sandy Springs, Georgia, seizing approximately 30 electronic devices.  The agents located about 1,948 images and 798 videos of child sexual assault material on these devices.  Several videos in Kim’s possession depicted prepubescent girls forced to engage in sexual acts with adult males or objects.

Paul Bogeun Kim, 31, of Sandy Springs, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to three years, two months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was convicted of possession of child pornography, after he pleaded guilty to the charge on August 23, 2024. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. prosecuted the case.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Michael Mayfield has been sentenced to prison for defrauding his employer of over $1.2 million.

“Mayfield devised a false invoicing scheme to betray and defraud his employer of more than $1 million,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This sentencing sends a clear message to others that our office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold criminals accountable for stealing from employers who trust them.”

“Mayfield betrayed the trust his company had in him then used the fraudulently gained money for personal use and to try and build his reputation in the community,” said FBI Atlanta’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “Our agents work every day to hold criminals like Mayfield accountable for their actions.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Michael Mayfield was an environmental manager at the Mars Wrigley factory in Flowery Branch, Georgia. In that role, he oversaw the Health, Safety, and Environmental and Recycling Programs.

The recycling waste produced at the factory was valuable and companies often made direct payments or sent Mars Wrigley rebate checks after disposal of the material. But unbeknownst to Mars Wrigley, Mayfield diverted the checks to his own company, WWJ Recycling. The fraudulently obtained checks totaled over $500,000. Mayfield used the funds to pay for hunting trips worth more than $100,000, a donation to his church for more than $80,000, and more than $200,000 in personal checks.

Mayfield also directed his co-conspirator to create false invoices from ASA Safety Supply, a supplier to Mars Wrigley. The co-conspirator sent the invoiced items to Mayfield for his personal use and then submitted false invoices from ASA Safety Supply to Mars Wrigley for payment. The purchased items included football supplies for the Flowery Branch High School football team, such as cleats and clothing, improvements to the stadium, tickets to a University of Georgia football game, and gift cards. These false invoices totaled over $199,000.

Mayfield also sent invoices from WWJ Recycling to ASA Safety Supply. His co-conspirator directed ASA Safety Supply to pay those invoices and then submit the false invoices to Mars Wrigley for payment for work that was not done. The WWJ Recycle invoices totaled over $750,000.

Mayfield engaged in this scheme from as early as December 2016 until sometime in 2022. Ultimately, Mars paid over $1.2 million because of Mayfield’s fraudulent scheme.

Michael Mayfield, 55, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,269,457.56. Mayfield was convicted of these charges on August 19, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – American Health Imaging, Inc. (“AHI”) and its former founder and CEO, Scott Arant, will pay the United States and the State of Georgia $5,250,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by: (1) providing physicians with meals, tickets to sporting events, and other gifts to induce those physicians to refer diagnostic scans to AHI’s independent diagnostic testing facilities; and (2) entering into above fair market value personal services agreements with referring physicians to induce those physicians to refer scans to AHI.

“The use of inducements to obtain referrals from medical professionals jeopardizes the integrity of our healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This settlement demonstrates our Office’s commitment to hold accountable providers who ignore Medicare and Medicaid’s strict prohibition against using kickbacks for personal greed.”

“Paying or accepting kickbacks for referrals undermines the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to safeguarding federal health care programs.”

“We won’t allow for any provider to take advantage of a system meant to care for our most vulnerable Georgians,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “We will continue to protect the interests of Georgia patients and taxpayers by putting a stop to Medicaid fraud and abuse in our state.”

The government alleges that, between 2011 and 2019, AHI relied on a variety of inducements – sporting events, fishing trips, happy hours, sponsorships of “open houses” at physician offices, and gifts of alcohol, gas cards, and free scans – to generate referrals for diagnostic scans.  Many of AHI’s marketing events involved no discernible educational purpose. Examples include tickets to the SEC football championship game, tickets to concerts, monthly dinners with referral sources, and outings to nail salons.  The government also alleges that AHI entered into personal services agreements with referring physicians that were above fair market value.  Under these agreements, physicians were compensated to interpret the scans that they referred to AHI.

The settlement resolves allegations filed by Tanya Benjamin, a former AHI employee, under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which authorizes private parties to sue for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in the recovery.  The lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of Georgia and is captioned United States and State of Georgia ex rel. Benjamin v. Arant et al., No 1:15-cv-3242-RWS (N.D. Ga.).  Ms. Benjamin will receive a share of the settlement.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Georgia State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division investigated this case.

The civil settlement was reached by Assistant U.S. Attorney Austin Hall and Georgia State Assistant Attorneys General Sara Vann and Mary Bryan.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

AHI Settlement Agreement:

NEWNAN, Ga. – Oscar Waters has pleaded guilty to trafficking multi-kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and other illegal narcotics through Georgia. His co-defendant, Keisha Jackson-Murchison pleaded guilty to the concealment of a felony.

“Fentanyl and heroin pose extraordinary dangers to public safety and have destroyed countless lives,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Individuals who seek to profit from distributing these deadly drugs in and through our communities will be brought to justice through the collaborative work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.”

“Stopping traffickers who attempt to bring their poison into our communities is one of the most impactful missions we undertake,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI will continue to work with our partners to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals involved with these deadly, illicit drugs.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: On September 18, 2023, a police officer in Grantville, Georgia stopped a vehicle for speeding on Interstate 85. Keisha Jackson-Murchison, a convicted felon, was identified as the driver. Oscar Dominick Waters, a convicted drug dealer, was a passenger in the vehicle.

During an initial search of the vehicle, the officer found several bags of marijuana. As officers attempted to detain Waters for the marijuana, Jackson-Murchison retrieved a backpack and large duffel bag from the car and ran barefoot across three lanes of traffic before disappearing into a wooded area. Numerous vehicles swerved to avoid hitting Jackson-Murchison.

Coweta County, Georgia Sheriff’s officers and a K-9 unit located Jackson-Murchison in the woods and found the bags she removed from her car. In addition to the marijuana, officers discovered nearly three kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue, more than 2.5 kilograms of powder cocaine, more than a quarter-kilogram of crack cocaine, and approximately five ounces of heroin. Further investigation revealed that Waters hired Jackson-Murchison to drive him to Alabama, where Waters intended to distribute the drugs.

Sentencing for Oscar Dominick Waters, 39, of Roanoke, Virginia, is scheduled for February 25, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. before Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr.

Sentencing for Keisha Jackson-Murchison, 36, of Springfield, Massachusetts, is also scheduled for February 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Batten.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Grantville Police Department, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore S. Hertzberg and Noah R. Schechtman are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia recommends that parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov; www.operationprevention.com; and www.dea.gov/onepill.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ROME, Ga. - Rosa Elena Rangel Pantoja, Dustin Burgess, and Berzain Leal Batrez have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in operating a large methamphetamine conversion and distribution organization. 

 “Methamphetamine production and distribution continues to pose a grave threat to public safety, especially when trafficked using the large-scale and international operation utilized by the defendants in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the vigilance and investigative work of our law enforcement partners, this operation has been dismantled and these drug traffickers have been prosecuted for their crimes.”

“Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat to our communities, and to the lives of several children who lived in close proximity to this highly volatile clandestine lab,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs will be held accountable.”

“While communities across our state continue to struggle with the ongoing drug crisis, there are criminal enterprises, like Rangel’s drug trafficking organization, whose sole purpose is to profit from addiction and suffering,” said, Mitchell Jackson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Dalton office. “The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to shut down these dangerous organizations that pump poison into our neighborhoods.”

“These sentences reflect the consequences these defendants received for their destructive impact they caused on communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is committed to holding those accountable who distribute their poison into our communities.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: From at least October 2021 until August 2022, Rosa Elena Rangel Pantoja (“Rangel”) led a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that manufactured crystal methamphetamine in Georgia.  Members of the DTO transported liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to the Northern District of Georgia in the gas tanks of semi-trucks. The DTO members then pumped the liquid methamphetamine out of the semi-trucks and cooked it into crystal methamphetamine, using at least two clandestine laboratories to convert the methamphetamine.

In March 2022, law enforcement first began investigating the DTO when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agents were notified that a Hispanic female, later identified as Rangel, was purchasing large amounts of acetone, which is a critical component in converting liquid methamphetamine into crystal methamphetamine. Based on the substantial amount of acetone that was being purchased, agents suspected Rangel was supplying the acetone to a methamphetamine laboratory.

In August 2022, agents found one of the methamphetamine conversion laboratories in Canon, Georgia, after observing a semi-truck delivering liquid methamphetamine to the lab. A search warrant was executed and agents seized over 250 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and nearly 10 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Rangel rented the property where members of the DTO cooked the methamphetamine on the lower level of a barndominium, while she and her four children lived in the upper level of the same building. Agents also seized two firearms from Rangel’s bedroom.

In November 2022, agents found a second methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Austell, Georgia, after tracking Batrez’s movements to the Mexico border and back to Georgia. Agents later observed members of the DTO delivering liquid methamphetamine to the laboratory, and upon executing a search warrant, over 160 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and 75 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was seized at that location.

After the seizures, further investigation revealed that Rangel had been working with a “boss” based in Mexico to run the operation, with whom she had regular communication. Rangel then relayed communications to other DTO members, including threats from the boss. Rangel was also responsible for paying other DTO members, as well as giving instructions on supplying the methamphetamine labs with the acetone needed for the conversion process.

U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced the defendants in the case as follows:

Rosa Rangel, 40, of Canon, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Rangel was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on November 6, 2023, after she pleaded guilty.

Dustin Burgess, 36, of Ellijay, Georgia, was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Burgess was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.

Berzain Leal Batrez, 44, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to seven years, 11 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Batrez was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty.

Judge Ray is also scheduled to sentence two other defendants in the case, Martha Karina Rangel-Pantoja, 42, of Ellijay, Georgia on January 13, 2025, and Uriel Plancarte Mendoza, 31 of Canon, Georgia on March 21, 2025.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Bartow County Sherriff’s Office, Calhoun Police Department, Cherokee County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Murray County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Police Department, Chatsworth Police Department, Gilmer County Homeland Security Agency, and Tennessee 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cal Leipold and Bethany L. Rupert are prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ROME, Ga. – Adrian Robinson, Julio Martinez-Guzman, Jesse Brooks, James Carden, Reginal Dowdy, and Casanova Pritchett have been sentenced for their roles as members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed illegal narcotics in the Rome, Georgia, area, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and oxycodone. 

“Drug trafficking is a societal scourge that poses serious risks to the public health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The dedication of our federal, state, and local enforcement partners resulted in the disruption of this drug trafficking organization and led to the successful prosecution of these defendants.”

“The success of this investigation and the subsequent arrests of these drug dealers demonstrates DEA’s commitment to fighting drug trafficking organizations responsible for driving addiction and destroying communities,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2021, Drug Enforcement Administration special agents, and Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force officers, discovered that Julio Martinez-Guzman was operating a drug distribution ring from two residential locations in Rome, Georgia. Martinez-Guzman had previously been convicted of drug trafficking in the Northern District of Georgia. During their 2021 investigation, agents identified Martinez-Guzman’s customers as well as his narcotics suppliers, who obtained and distributed quantities of illegal drugs in the North Georgia area, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and oxycodone.

Each of the following defendants subsequently pleaded guilty to drug trafficking offences and received the following sentences:

• Adrian Robinson, 42, of Cedartown, Georgia, was sentenced to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Robinson was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 29, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.   
• Julio Martinez-Guzman, 54, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.  Martinez-Guzman was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin on February 26, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
• Jesse Willard Brooks, 41, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to eight years, four months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.  Brooks was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 15, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
• James Carden, 42, of Villa Rica, Georgia was sentenced to five years, three months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Carden was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine on February 14, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
• Reginal Eric Dowdy, 46, of Cedar Bluff, Alabama, was sentenced to three years, ten months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Dowdy was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 15, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.
• Casanova DePaul Pritchett, 53, of Calhoun, Georgia was sentenced to two years, six months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.  Pritchett was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone on February 26, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

Abel Santoyo-Santana, age 26, of Mexico remains a fugitive.  If you have information pertaining to his whereabouts, please contact your local law enforcement agency.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, North Georgia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with valuable assistance provided by the Rome-Floyd Metro Task Force, Floyd County Police Department, Polk County Police Department, Rome Police Department, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, and Cedartown Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy M. Palumbo prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Heleonel Gonzalez has pleaded guilty to bank fraud for orchestrating a $6 million scheme to defraud Peach State Federal Credit Union.

“Gonzalez devised a lucrative scheme cloaked in fraud and deception to steal loan proceeds from Peach State Federal Credit Union for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This office will continue to work closely with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who engage in financial crimes that jeopardize the integrity of the U.S. financial system.”

“The FBI works hard to make sure greed like this doesn’t pay off and those who commit fraud are held accountable,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The fraudulent scheme in this case harmed a Georgia business, costing it millions of dollars.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court:  From approximately January 2023 through January 2024, Heleonel Gonzalez conducted a scheme to defraud Peach State Federal Credit Union. P1 Finance –  a division of Peach State Federal Credit Union – loaned money to commercial borrowers, such as condominium associations, so that borrowers could use the loan proceeds to pay the premiums on their property and casualty insurance policies. Gonzalez owned and operated Sharp Insurance Agency, Inc. in Miami Lakes, Florida.

On at least 20 occasions, for the purpose of influencing the actions of Peach State Federal Credit Union, Gonzalez falsely and fraudulently represented to P1 Finance that a customer of Sharp Insurance Agency authorized him to apply for a premium-financing loan on the customer’s behalf. Gonzalez fraudulently signed and submitted to P1 Finance a Premium Finance Agreement and Disclosure Statement. This document falsely represented that Sharp Insurance Agency, as the agent of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in Jacksonville, Florida, had issued a property and casualty insurance policy to the customer, and that the policy was then in force and effect. Gonzalez fraudulently represented that the loan proceeds advanced by P1 Finance would be used to pay the premiums on the policy, and for no other purpose. But Gonzalez knew these representations were false.

As a result of Gonzalez’s false and fraudulent representations, Peach State Federal Credit Union made the requested loans and transferred approximately $6 million to Gonzalez. He then used the loan proceeds to pay personal debts and expenses. Peach State Federal Credit Union would not have made the loans but for Gonzalez’s false and fraudulent representations.

Sentencing for Heleonel Gonzalez, 48, of Miami Lakes, Florida, is scheduled for February 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Russell Phillips is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into a settlement agreement with Smarter Kids Child Care (“Smarter Kids”) located in Smyrna, Georgia, to resolve allegations that Smarter Kids violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by denying a child an opportunity to participate in its daycare program on the basis of his autism.

“Access to childcare is essential for all parents, including those parents raising children with disabilities” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Children with disabilities deserve equal opportunities to participate in daycare programs, and my office looks forward to working with Smarter Kids to ensure it meets this critical obligation.”

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges of any place of public accommodation. Smarter Kids is a private entity that operates childcare facilities that are places of “public accommodation” within the meaning of Title III of the ADA.   

Based on the agreement, Smarter Kids will adopt a non-discrimination policy to ensure ADA compliance. Smarter Kids will also provide mandatory training for all employees who consider requests for reasonable accommodations or make enrollment decisions. Additionally, Smarter Kids will pay $7,000 in compensation to the complainant and $1,000 to the United States as a civil penalty.

The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Garabadu and Senior Civil Investigator Tamara Jones.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Settlement Agreement:

ATLANTA – Former residential halfway house employee, Tristan Cox, 33, of Atlanta, Georgia, made his initial appearance on November 13, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand on federal charges of non-consensual sexual contact with a federal inmate in his custody.  Cox was released on a $10,000 bond.

“The Department of Justice takes seriously its commitment to keep inmates and detainees safe from harm within its correctional and detention facilities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “This commitment to humane treatment extends to contract facilities like halfway houses and to contract employees like Cox.  He is charged with grievous conduct that undermined the Department’s efforts and injured someone in our custody.” 

“Residential Reentry Centers, or halfway houses, are intended to provide a safe, structured, supervised environment for inmates who are nearing the end of their sentences to help them transition back into society,” said Eric R. Fehlman, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region. “Inmates should never experience assault of any kind at the hands of employees working in custodial settings.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) contracts with various non-governmental organizations to operate Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs), also known as halfway houses, to aid inmates nearing their release date from federal incarceration.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General received a complaint alleging that Cox, a BOP contract employee working at the Atlanta RRC as a Residence Monitor, sexually assaulted an inmate resident who was under Cox’s care and custody in April 2024. The inmate resident alleged that Cox sexually assaulted him in a supply room during Cox’s overnight shift.  DNA evidence tested by the FBI corroborated the inmate resident’s account.

Any sexual contact between a BOP employee and a BOP inmate is a criminal offense prohibited under the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003.

Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint and arrest warrant contain only charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced its findings concluding that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office routinely violate the constitutional and statutory rights of persons incarcerated at the Fulton County Jail and fail to adequately protect incarcerated persons from substantial risk of serious harm.

“In Fulton County, people in custody awaiting formal charges or trials frequently must protect themselves from brutal physical attacks, endure frequent excessive force, manage their wellbeing with inadequate food and unsanitary living conditions, and hope they can find access to a strained medical and mental health care program. This is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “Our Constitution requires humane conditions while incarcerated that, at a minimum, ensure people in custody are safe. The findings regarding the Fulton County Jail reveal grave and diffuse failures to safeguard the men and women housed in its facilities, including a disturbing frequency of deaths among incarcerated people.  We expect Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to share our sense of urgency about the seriousness of the violations described in this report and to work cooperatively with our Office and the Department of Justice to remedy these systemic deficiencies in the Jail.”

“Lashawn Thompson’s horrific death was symptomatic of a pattern of dangerous and dehumanizing conditions in the Fulton County Jail,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department’s report concluded that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office allowed unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the Jail.  As a result, people incarcerated in the Fulton County Jail suffered harms from pest infestation and malnourishment and were put at substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people — including homicides, stabbings and sexual abuse. The unconstitutional and unlawful conditions at the Fulton County Jail have persisted for far too long, and we are committed to working with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s office to remedy them.”

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the inhumane, violent, and hazardous conditions that people are subjected to inside the Fulton County Jail," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Detention in the Fulton County Jail has amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or who died as a result of the atrocious conditions inside the facility. It’s not just adults but also children who are subjected to conditions and treatment that violate the constitution and defy federal law. Many people held in jails in our country have not been convicted — they are awaiting hearings, trial dates or are serving short sentences for misdemeanors. At the end of the day, people do not abandon their civil and constitutional rights at the jailhouse door. Jails and prisons across the country must protect people from the kind of gross violations and unconstitutional conditions that we have uncovered here. We hope our findings report sounds an alarm that will prompt Fulton County officials to work with the Justice Department to implement the reforms necessary to ensure constitutional conditions going forward.”

The 97-page report details its findings from a comprehensive investigation of the Jail, which is funded and operated by Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.  The investigation included the Main Jail, also known as “Rice Street,” in Atlanta and three annex facilities: the Marietta Annex in Atlanta, the North Annex in Alpharetta, and the South Annex in Union City.  The Jail currently houses around 2,000 people and in recent years the population has surpassed 3,000 people.

The report concludes that the conditions of confinement at the Jail do not meet basic constitutional standards. The noted deficiencies include the following: 

• Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office fail to protect people from the substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people, including homicides, stabbings, and sexual abuse.
• Officers use excessive force against incarcerated people. 
• The Jail houses incarcerated people in constitutionally inadequate living conditions that are unsanitary and dangerous. 
• The Jail fails to provide adequate medical and mental health services.
• The Jail’s restrictive housing practices expose people, including 17-year-old children, to substantial harm, discriminate against people with mental health disabilities, and fail to provide incarcerated people due process of law.
• The Jail fails to provide special education services to 17-year-old boys and girls who are entitled to those services while they are incarcerated at the facility.

The unlawful and dangerous practices identified in the report are long-standing and have contributed to multiple deaths and other serious harm:

• From 2022 to the present, six incarcerated people have died in violence at the Jail. 
• In 2023, more than 300 stabbings occurred in the Jail which involved contraband and makeshift weapons.
• Four deaths from suicide happened at the Jail in the past four years, including as recently as April of this year.

The United States conducted its investigation under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), the Americans with Disabilities Act, and 34 U.S.C. § 12601, which prohibit law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. These statutes authorize the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court seeking court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office have been provided written notice of the supporting facts for the conclusions in the report and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia joined together with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section to conduct the investigation.

The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Johnson, Aileen Bell Hughes, and Rebeca Ojeda of the Northern District of Georgia.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  To provide information related to the investigation of the Fulton County Jail, please call 1-888-473-4092 or email the Department of Justice at FultonCountyJail@usdoj.gov.

Attachment - Fulton County Jail Findings Report:

BOISE – Robert Purbeck, 45, of Meridian, who hacked into the computer servers of the City of Newnan, a Griffin, Georgia, medical clinic, and 17 other victims across the United States, and stole personal information belonging to more than 132,000 people, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison.  Purbeck also attempted to extort a Florida orthodontist for payment in Bitcoin, threatening to disclose stolen patient records and other personal information.

“Purbeck’s crimes reflect the efforts of a callous and brazen cybercriminal who not only hacked into numerous computer servers and stole sensitive personal information from both private and public actors, but also threatened to extort many of his victims and disclose their data,” said Northern District of Georgia’s U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement, Purbeck’s time of hiding behind a computer to steal, threaten, and intimidate is over.”

“Cyber extortion is unfortunately a rapidly growing threat and highlights the ever-growing need for corporations to remain vigilant in cybersecurity efforts,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing is just one example of the FBI working together to hold criminals that hide behind their computers accountable, regardless of their location.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In June 2017, Purbeck purchased access to the computer server of a Griffin medical clinic on a darknet marketplace. He then used the stolen credentials to illegally access the computers of the medical clinic and removed records that contained the sensitive personal information of more than 43,000 individuals, including names, addresses, birth dates, and social security numbers.

In February 2018, Purbeck purchased access to a City of Newnan Police Department server on a darknet marketplace. Purbeck used the stolen credentials to hack into the City of Newnan’s computer systems and stole police reports and other documents, including personal information of more than 14,000 individuals.

Purbeck also attempted to extort a Florida orthodontist in July 2018, demanding a ransom payment in Bitcoin in return for his stolen patient files, threatening to sell the patient and personal information unless the orthodontist paid the ransom. Additionally, Purbeck threatened to sell the personal information of the orthodontist’s minor child. Purbeck harassed the orthodontist and his patients for 10 days with numerous threatening emails and text messages.

On August 21, 2019, FBI special agents executed a federal search warrant at Purbeck’s home in Meridian, Idaho. During the search, agents seized multiple computers and electronic devices, which contained personal information of over 132,000 individuals, obtained through Purbeck’s numerous data breaches, including the City of Newnan, the Griffin medical clinic, and at least 17 other victims throughout the United States. Many of these victims incurred substantial expenses, including remediation costs and disruption to business operations because of Purbeck’s conduct.

Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. also sentenced Purbeck to serve three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $1,048,702.98.  Purbeck was convicted of two counts of computer fraud and abuse on March 19, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Field Office, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Boise (Idaho) Resident Agency.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz, Nathan Kitchens, Alex R. Sistla, from the Northern District of Georgia, and Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the U.S. Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) prosecuted the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho also assisted with this case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

###

The Justice Department announced today its findings that conditions of confinement at the Fulton County Jail (the Jail) in Georgia violate the 8th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The department’s report details its findings from a comprehensive investigation of the Jail, funded and operated by Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation included the Main Jail in Atlanta and three annex facilities: the Marietta Annex in Atlanta, the North Annex in Alpharetta, and the South Annex in Union City. The Jail currently houses around 2,000 people and in recent years has surpassed 3,000 people.

“Lashawn Thompson’s horrific death was symptomatic of a pattern of dangerous and dehumanizing conditions in the Fulton County Jail,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department’s report concluded that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office allowed unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the Jail.  As a result, people incarcerated in the Fulton County Jail suffered harms from pest infestation and malnourishment and were put at substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people — including homicides, stabbings and sexual abuse. The unconstitutional and unlawful conditions at the Fulton County Jail have persisted for far too long, and we are committed to working with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sherrif’s office to remedy them.”

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the inhumane, violent, and hazardous conditions that people are subjected to inside the Fulton County Jail," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Detention in the Fulton County Jail has amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or who died as a result of the atrocious conditions inside the facility. It’s not just adults but also children who are subjected to conditions and treatment that violate the constitution and defy federal law. Many people held in jails in our country have not been convicted — they are awaiting hearings, trial dates or are serving short sentences for misdemeanors. At the end of the day, people do not abandon their civil and constitutional rights at the jailhouse door. Jails and prisons across the country must protect people from the kind of gross violations and unconstitutional conditions that we have uncovered here. We hope our findings report sounds an alarm that will prompt Fulton County officials to work with the Justice Department to implement the reforms necessary to ensure constitutional conditions going forward.”

“In Fulton County, people in custody awaiting formal charges or trials frequently must protect themselves from brutal physical attacks, endure frequent excessive force, manage their wellbeing with inadequate food and unsanitary living conditions, and hope they can find access to a strained medical and mental health care program. This is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “Our Constitution requires humane conditions while incarcerated that, at a minimum, ensure people in custody are safe. The findings regarding the Fulton County Jail reveal grave and diffuse failures to safeguard the men and women housed in its facilities, including a disturbing frequency of deaths among incarcerated people. We expect Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to share our sense of urgency about the seriousness of the violations described in this report and to work cooperatively with our office and the Justice Department to remedy these systemic deficiencies in the Jail.”

Following an extensive investigation, the department concludes that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office routinely violate the rights of people incarcerated at the Jail. Specifically, the department found that the Jail:

• Fails to protect people from the substantial risk of serious harm from violence by other incarcerated people, including homicides, stabbings, and sexual abuse.
• Houses incarcerated people in unconstitutional living conditions that are unsanitary and dangerous.
• Fails to provide adequate medical and mental health services to incarcerated people.
• Uses solitary confinement in discriminatory and unconstitutional ways that exposes incarcerated people, including 17-year-old children and those with mental health disabilities, to substantial harm.
• Fails to provide special education services to 17-year-old boys and girls who are entitled to those services while they are incarcerated at the Jail.

The unlawful and dangerous practices identified in the report are long-standing and have contributed to multiple deaths and other serious harm. From 2022 to the present, six incarcerated people have died in violence at the Jail. In 2023, there were more than 300 stabbings in the Jail which involved uncontrolled contraband and makeshift weapons. There have been four deaths from suicide in the past four years, including as recently as April.

The Justice Department conducted its investigation of the Fulton County Jail under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 34 U.S.C. § 12601, which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. These statutes authorize the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court seeking court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. The department provided Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office with written notice of the supporting facts for its conclusions and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations. The County will work with the Justice Department toward a cooperative resolution.

The findings announced today are the result of the Justice Department’s civil investigation and are separate from any criminal cases brought by the Justice Department.

The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia investigated the case.

The Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize unconstitutional conditions and violations of federal law in correctional and juvenile justice facilities. It opened new investigations into prisons and jails in Tennessee, California, South Carolina, and juvenile justice facilities across Kentucky. The division also issued findings in its investigations of Mississippi prisons, Texas juvenile justice system’s facilities, and the Georgia Department of Corrections. The division is also litigating the constitutionality of conditions in Alabama’s prisons for men.

For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations to the section by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov/. To provide information related to the department’s investigation of the Fulton County Jail, please call 1-888-473-4092 or email the department at FultonCountyJail@usdoj.gov.

An Idaho man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for hacking into the computer servers of 19 victims across the United States, stealing personally identifiable information (PII) belonging to more than 132,000 people, and attempting to extort a Florida orthodontist for payment in Bitcoin by threatening to disclose stolen patient records and other PII.

According to court documents, in June 2017, Robert Purbeck, 45, of Meridian, purchased access to the computer server of a Griffin, Georgia, medical clinic on a darknet marketplace. He then used the stolen credentials to illegally access the computers of the medical clinic and removed records that contained sensitive PII for over 43,000 individuals, including names, addresses, birth dates, and social security numbers. In February 2018, Purbeck purchased access to a City of Newnan, Georgia, Police Department server on a darknet marketplace. Purbeck used the stolen credentials to hack into the City of Newnan computer systems and stole police reports and other documents, including PII for over 14,000 people.

Purbeck also attempted to extort a Florida orthodontist in July 2018, demanding a ransom payment in Bitcoin in return for his stolen patient files, threatening to sell the patient and personal information unless the orthodontist paid the ransom. Additionally, Purbeck threatened to sell the PII of the orthodontist’s minor child. Purbeck harassed the orthodontist and his patients for 10 days with numerous threatening emails and text messages.

On Aug. 21, 2019, the FBI executed a federal search warrant at Purbeck’s home in Meridian. During the search, the FBI seized multiple computers and electronic devices, which contained personal information of over 132,000 individuals, obtained through Purbeck’s numerous data breaches.

On March 19, Purbeck pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally accessing and obtaining information from a protected computer without authorization.

In addition to his term of imprisonment, Purbeck was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $1,048,702.98.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Boise Resident Agency.

Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz, Nathan Kitchens, and Alex R. Sistla for the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho also provided valuable assistance in this case.

NEWNAN, Ga. - Robert Purbeck, who hacked into the computer servers of the City of Newnan, a Griffin, Georgia, medical clinic, and 17 other victims across the United States, and stole personal information belonging to more than 132,000 people, has been sentenced to federal prison. Purbeck also attempted to extort a Florida orthodontist for payment in Bitcoin, threatening to disclose stolen patient records and other personal information.

“Purbeck’s crimes reflect the efforts of a callous and brazen cybercriminal who not only hacked into numerous computer servers and stole sensitive personal information from both private and public actors, but also threatened to extort many of his victims and disclose their data,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement, Purbeck’s time of hiding behind a computer to steal, threaten, and intimidate is over.”

“Cyber extortion is unfortunately a rapidly growing threat and highlights the ever-growing need for corporations to remain vigilant in cybersecurity efforts,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing is just one example of the FBI working together to hold criminals that hide behind their computers accountable, regardless of their location.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In June 2017, Purbeck purchased access to the computer server of a Griffin medical clinic on a darknet marketplace. He then used the stolen credentials to illegally access the computers of the medical clinic and removed records that contained the sensitive personal information of more than 43,000 individuals, including names, addresses, birth dates, and social security numbers.

In February 2018, Purbeck purchased access to a City of Newnan Police Department server on a darknet marketplace. Purbeck used the stolen credentials to hack into the City of Newnan’s computer systems and stole police reports and other documents, including personal information of more than 14,000 individuals.

Purbeck also attempted to extort a Florida orthodontist in July 2018, demanding a ransom payment in Bitcoin in return for his stolen patient files, threatening to sell the patient and personal information unless the orthodontist paid the ransom. Additionally, Purbeck threatened to sell the personal information of the orthodontist’s minor child. Purbeck harassed the orthodontist and his patients for 10 days with numerous threatening emails and text messages.

On August 21, 2019, FBI special agents executed a federal search warrant at Purbeck’s home in Meridian, Idaho. During the search, agents seized multiple computers and electronic devices, which contained personal information of over 132,000 individuals, obtained through Purbeck’s numerous data breaches, including the City of Newnan, the Griffin medical clinic, and at least 17 other victims throughout the United States. Many of these victims incurred substantial expenses, including remediation costs and disruption to business operations because of Purbeck’s conduct.

Robert Purbeck, 45, of Meridian, Idaho, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. to 10 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $1,048,702.98.  Purbeck was convicted of two counts of computer fraud and abuse on March 19, 2024,after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Field Office, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Boise (Idaho) Resident Agency.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz, Nathan Kitchens, Alex R. Sistla, and Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the U.S. Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) prosecuted the case.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho also provided valuable assistance in this case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Mitchell C.  Simpson, who stole $3 million from companies that provided floor-plan financing to his used-car dealership, has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud.

“Simpson abused his position of trust and hurt the companies that enabled him to operate his business,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting individuals who take advantage of others under false pretenses.”

“Simpson lied to the very people who were the lifeline to his small business,” said FBI Atlanta Senior Supervisory Resident Agent Mitchell Jackson. “We value our partnerships with local and state law enforcement to ensure these offenders are held accountable and the victims get justice.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court:  From early 2012 through early 2019, Simpson operated Mitch Simpson Motors, a used car dealership in Cleveland, Georgia. Three floor-plan lenders, Dealer Financial Holdings LLC, Americash Advance, Inc., and Floorplan Xpress, LLC-OK, each provided Simpson with a revolving line of credit.  Commonly known as floor-plan financing, this credit line allowed Simpson to purchase an inventory of vehicles to re-sell to customers. Each line of credit was governed by a written contract, also known as a floor-plan financing agreement. Simpson was required to abide by the terms and conditions of the agreements, and he was required to provide the floor-plan lenders with complete and truthful information concerning all matters related to the agreements.

When Simpson wanted to borrow money to purchase a vehicle to add to his dealership’s inventory, he would contact one of the floor-plan lenders and provide that lender with a description of the vehicle, including the vehicle identification number, and the amount of the loan requested. If the vehicle was subject to any other liens or security interests, Simpson was required to disclose that fact to the floor-plan lender. If Simpson led the lender to believe that the vehicle was not subject to any other liens or security interests, the lender would transfer the requested funds to Simpson’s custody and control. In return for the loan, the dealership would grant the floor-plan lender a purchase-money security interest in the vehicle. Simpson was also required to keep the vehicle free from all other liens and security interests until sold.

Simpson defrauded the floor-plan lenders by using a single vehicle as collateral for more than one floor-plan loan, which is a deceptive and illegal practice referred to in the used-car industry as double floor-planning and triple floor-planning – a practice expressly prohibited by the floor-plan financing agreements.

To hide the double and triple floor-planning, Simpson made false and misleading statements and omitted material facts in his communications with the floor-plan lenders. In addition, whenever Simpson sold a vehicle in which one of the floor-plan lenders held a security interest, Simpson was required to hold the proceeds from the sale of that vehicle in trust for the secured lender and promptly pay the secured lender all amounts due under the applicable floor-plan financing agreement.

But Simpson did not always pay the floor-plan lenders, as required. Instead, he engaged in a shell game with vehicle titles and did not always provide truthful information to lenders concerning the location of vehicles and concerning whether vehicles had been sold. This is an illegal practice referred to in the used-car industry as operating “out of trust,” which was expressly prohibited by the floor-plan financing agreements. Simpson’s fraudulent scheme resulted in a loss of more than $3 million to the floor-plan lenders.

Mitchell C. Simpson, 56, of Cornelia, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones to three years, five months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $105,803.70.  Simpson was convicted of wire fraud on July 2, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Russell Phillips and former Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O’Neal prosecuted the case.

For further information, please contact USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Four multi-convicted felons, each of whom was on probation or parole when they joined an interstate robbery crew led by a south Georgia prison inmate, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in the attempted smash-and-grab armed robbery of a Dunwoody, Georgia, jewelry store. 

“These defendants posed a significant threat to public safety when they terrorized innocent victims during their crime spree,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The successful prosecutions of these armed career criminals resulted from the tenacious and collaborative work of our federal and state law enforcement partners who disrupted the defendants’ violent activities and helped to prevent them from targeting other members of our communities.”

“These defendants clearly showed no regard for the law as they continued their crimes even while on parole. All four were willing to put innocent civilians at risk during the commission of these armed robberies and it is fortunate no one was hurt because of their selfish desire for wealth,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully this federal sentence will send the message that the FBI will not tolerate the behavior of repeat violent offenders.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In July 2023, FBI special agents began investigating jewelry store robberies throughout the southeastern United States. During the investigation, agents discovered that the robberies were being orchestrated by Deuntria Lyons, who was at the time serving six life sentences at Valdosta State Prison for planning other robberies from behind bars.

In November 2023, the FBI intercepted dozens of telephone conversations and text messages between Lyons and his associates, including Melvin Asbury, Mark Oliver, and Santino Parks. In those communications, Lyons and Oliver discussed the date, location, and other details of Lyons’s plan to rob a jewelry store in Dunwoody, Georgia, including plans for two of the robbers to enter the store armed with handguns while a third accomplice waited in a getaway car.

On December 1, 2023, agents observed three of the robbers park a car near the jewelry store that Lyons discussed in his previous communications. Agents arrested Oliver, Parks, and Jamaury Marshall at the scene, and recovered masks, gloves, trash bags, two sledgehammers, two loaded Glock pistols, and a loaded high-capacity magazine from the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, Georgia State Patrol troopers arrested Asbury in another vehicle.

On December 12, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina obtained an indictment charging Lyons and a second person with conspiracy to commit robbery and other offenses.

At the time of their arrests, Asbury, Marshall, Parks, and Oliver were all on probation or parole with the state of Georgia following convictions for violent crimes. Asbury was granted parole in 2022 after serving nearly 17 years of a 20-year sentence for armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault, burglary, and weapons-possession offenses. Marshall was on probation after having been imprisoned for burglary, aggravated assault, and weapons-possession offenses. Similarly, Parks was on probation for robbery by force, aggravated battery, and burglary. Oliver was on probation for robbery and acts of violence while in prison.

U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen sentenced the defendants as follows:

• Melvin Asbury, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to five years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty on June 20, 2024, to attempted Hobbs Act robbery.
• Jamaury Marshall, 29, of Johns Creek, Georgia, was sentenced to eight years, four months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty on June 7, 2024, to possession of a firearm, which he was prohibited from possessing due to his status as a convicted felon.
• Mark Anthony Oliver, 23, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to five years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty on June 26, 2024, to attempted Hobbs Act robbery.
• Santino Demarco Parks, 29, was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty on June 20, 2024, to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore S. Hertzberg and Leanne M. Marek prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Roscoe McMillan, also known as “Roscoe McMillian” and “Ross McMillan,” has been indicted after he failed to appear for trial on wire and mail fraud charges related to a fraudulent life insurance scheme.

“Every defendant has a right to a fair trial by a jury of his or her peers, but no one is entitled to refuse to appear for trial,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “McMillan promised to appear for his court dates after the district court released him on bond.  His alleged failure to appear indicates a disregard for the rule of law and cannot be tolerated.”

“McMillan has taken a criminal allegation and created an even more serious situation,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “Our special agents will not rest until McMillan is in custody and appearing in court like he promised to do last month.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In September 2023, Roscoe McMillan was charged with wire fraud and mail fraud related to a scheme to defraud seven life insurance companies. Under the guise of a sham company called Chosen Outreach Ministries, McMillan allegedly provided false and fraudulent information to obtain group life insurance policies. These group life insurance policies were predicated on Chosen Outreach Ministries being the employer of the insured individuals, but the indictment alleges that none of these individuals were actual employees.

The indictment further alleges that Chosen Outreach Ministries never conducted any legitimate business or paid wages to these individuals. In fact, many of the insured individuals were suffering from serious health problems and died within a year of being added to Chosen Outreach Ministries’ group policies. McMillan allegedly submitted more than 30 fraudulent claims for life insurance benefits after the insured individuals passed away. The defrauded insurance companies disbursed approximately $2.7 million in benefits based on the fraudulent claims.

On October 29, 2024, McMillan failed to appear for his trial on these fraud charges. He was granted pretrial release from custody on October 11, 2023, and is now a fugitive. 

Roscoe McMillan, 43, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, and failure to appear in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on November 4, 2024.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Russell Phillips and Kelly K. Connors are prosecuting the case.

If you know Roscoe McMillan’s whereabouts or have information that may lead to his arrest, please contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (770) 216-3000 or submit information at https://tips.fbi.gov/home.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Following an eight-day trial, Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a primary care physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, was found guilty by a jury of violating a patient’s constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law and for engaging in unwanted sexual contact. 

“Dr. Patel violated the cardinal rule of a physician to do no harm to patients under his care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “Veterans who consulted him for treatment, like the victim in this case, trusted Dr. Patel and he violated that trust. His conviction hopefully provides a measure of healing for those impacted by his crimes.”

“The verdict is an important step in seeking justice for a sexual assault committed against a veteran seeking care at a VA medical center,” said Michael J. Missal, Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs. “VA employees are entrusted with keeping our nation’s veterans safe while receiving care. Acts of violence against veterans in VA facilities are reprehensible and shatters that trust.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold anyone who would commit these crimes accountable.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was charged with sexually assaulting four of his female patients during routine exams, where he groped their breasts and improperly touched their vaginal area between 2019 and 2020. The jury acquitted him of charges related to three victims and found him guilty of violating the fourth victim.

Rajesh Motibhai Patel, 69, of Lilburn, Georgia is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II. Dr. Patel was found guilty by a federal jury on November 5, 2024.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin N. Spritzer and Jennifer Keen are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Wayne Alford, Latasha Baker, Matthew Freeman, also known as “Coach Poker,” “Pokerface Matt,” and “Gotti Freeman,” Jaheim Arnold, also known as “Slime” and “Toppslime,” Carlos Pearson, also known as “Rico Reflection” and “Rice Rico,” and Jayden Barnes, also known as “Swipe” and “El Swiper,” have been indicted for conspiracy to murder two Fulton County Jail detention officers in exchange for payment, and for other drug and firearms offenses. 

“These defendants demonstrated a callous disregard for human life when allegedly plotting to murder detention officers who threatened their illegal drug and contraband activity at the Fulton County Jail,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office is especially proud of the critical federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships that made this successful investigation and indictment possible. Prosecuting threats of violence against law enforcement officials during the performance of their duties is a top priority for the Department of Justice and those who engage in such offenses will be held accountable.”

“No law enforcement officer should have to be fearful for their life simply because they are carrying out their sworn duties,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are extremely grateful that this plot was foiled before harm could come to either of the targeted individuals. The FBI and our partners will relentlessly pursue the harshest punishment for the individuals involved in this crime.”

“It is unthinkable and deplorable that one of our detention officers would conspire to have one or more of her co-workers killed,” said Fulton County Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat. “This indictment underscores the serious nature of the allegations and the importance of accountability. We must ensure that those who are entrusted with public safety adhere to the highest standards of conduct, and any breach of that trust will be met with swift justice.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Wayne Alford, a pretrial detainee at the Fulton County Jail - South Annex, allegedly conspired with others, both in and out of prison, to kill at least two detention officers who had interfered with his contraband and narcotics trafficking operations.

Latasha Baker, a detention officer at the Fulton County Jail and Matthew Freeman, who was serving a sentence for armed robbery at Valdosta State Prison, allegedly agreed with Alford to hire and pay individuals to kill the detention officers. The conspirators communicated using contraband cell phones from inside the jail and prison.

Carlos Pearson and Jayden Barnes allegedly agreed to commit the murders for $1,000 each. The plot was thwarted when the targeted detention officers detected tracking devices attached to the bottom of their vehicles. Several of the conspirators are known to be members of the GoodFellas gang.

A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment on October 22, 2024, that was unsealed on November 4, 2024. The defendants were charge in the indictment as follows:

• Wayne Alford, 27, of Milledgeville, Georgia, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, one count of drug trafficking conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
• Matthew Freeman, 26, of Glennville, Georgia, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, one count of drug trafficking conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
• Latasha Baker, 38, of Hampton, Georgia, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, one count of drug trafficking conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
• Jaheim Arnold, 21, of Atlanta, Georgia, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, one count of drug trafficking conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
• Carlos Pearson, 33, of College Park, Georgia, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.
• Jayden Barnes, 19, of Atlanta, Georgia was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Corrections.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew R. LaGrone and Teresa M. Stolze are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and the Department of Justice announced plans for voting rights monitoring in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties for the November 5, 2024, general election.

“Free and fair elections are critical to the democracy of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Every eligible voter is entitled to cast a ballot without fear of intimidation, interference, or discrimination. Our office will dedicate the necessary resources to ensure that this fundamental right is protected for all voters.”

The Department of Justice enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The Department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.

The Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include Department personnel, who will contact state and local election officials as needed throughout Election Day.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.

On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the Department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will also be available to receive complaints on Election Day at (404) 581-6001.

Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the Department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the Department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.

Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the Department after local authorities have been contacted.

More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Yasin Saleem has been arraigned on federal charges of conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with defrauding Home Depot of more than $800,000. 

“Saleem and a crew of conspirators allegedly used fictitious driver’s licenses and fraudulent debits cards to exploit vulnerabilities within Home Depot’s equipment and tool rental service by stealing more than $800,000,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office is committed to partnering closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement investigators to disrupt these kinds of criminal schemes and to prosecute the individuals who perpetrate them at the expense of corporations.”

“Saleem’s retail theft scheme not only resulted in substantial financial loss for Home Depot but highlights the complex and widespread nature of organized retail crime,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This indictment demonstrates the need for strong and collaborative efforts between the FBI and private-sector partners, to combat such threats effectively.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Yasin Saleem and his co-conspirators allegedly presented fictitious driver’s licenses to Home Depot to conceal their true identities in connection with fraudulent equipment and tool rentals. They also used debit cards with account holder names matching the fictitious licenses in these rentals. These debit cards were frequently issued prior to their use in the fraud scheme and carried the minimal amount of funds sufficient to commit the fraud.

The co-conspirators then failed to return the rented equipment and tools. Nor did the fraudulent debit cards carry sufficient funds to replace the stolen materials. Saleem and his co-conspirators allegedly disabled the GPS devices attached to the rental equipment in an effort to avoid detection.  They also allegedly used stolen license plates to conceal their involvement in the scheme. In total, Saleem and his co-conspirators allegedly stole over $800,000 worth of equipment from Home Depot.

Yasin Saleem, 45 of Macon, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Christopher C. Bly on October 25, 2024.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 25, 2024.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Arthur Ray Hanson, II has been sentenced to federal prison for transmitting interstate threats to injure Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis because of their connections to the Fulton County, Georgia investigation and prosecution of former President Donald Trump. 

“Public servants have a responsibility to enforce our criminal laws, and anyone who threatens to harm or intimidate them will face the consequences of their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners who diligently worked to ensure public officials are free to perform their essential work without the threat of physical attack.”

“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, but also a threat against our democratic process,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. We take this responsibility very seriously and seek to punish those who engage in this type of criminal behavior, and to send the message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: On August 6, 2023, Hanson called the Fulton County Government customer service line twice and left two voicemails—the first for Sheriff Labat and the second for District Attorney Willis. During both calls, Hanson threatened violence against these officials.

In his message for Sheriff Labat, Hanson made statements that included the following:

• “If you think you gonna take a mugshot of my President Trump and it’s gonna be okay, you gonna find out that after you take that mugshot, some bad [expletive]’s gonna happen to you;”
• “If you take a mugshot of the President and you’re the reason it happened, some bad [expletive]’s gonna happen to you;”
• “I’m warning you right now before you [expletive] up your life and get hurt real bad;” and
• “Whether you got a [expletive] badge or not ain’t gonna help you none;” and “you gonna get [expletive]ed up you keep [expletive]ing with my President.” 

In Hanson’s message for District Attorney Willis, he made statements that included the following:

• “Watch it when you’re going to the car at night, when you’re going into your house, watch everywhere that you’re going;”
• “I would be very afraid if I were you because you can’t be around people all the time that are going to protect you;”
• “There’s gonna be moments when you’re gonna be vulnerable;”
• “When you charge Trump on that fourth indictment, anytime you’re alone, be looking over your shoulder;” and
• “What you put out there, [expletive], comes back at you ten times harder, and don’t ever forget it.”

Arthur Ray Hanson, II, 59, of Huntsville, Alabama, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. P. Boulee to one year, nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $7,500 fine. Hanson was convicted on these charges on July 3, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

NEWNAN, Ga. – Jeffrey Farneski, a repeat sex offender who was released from state prison earlier this year, has been sentenced to federal prison for enticing a child to produce child pornography. 

“Farneski is a serial predator who used the internet and social media apps as tools to lure and sexually exploit a vulnerable child,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, this habitual sex offender has been prosecuted and returned to prison, helping to achieve a measure of justice for his victims and prevent him from exploiting others.”

“Jeffrey Farneski’s predatory actions against a vulnerable teenager are a stark reminder of the dangers posed online by offenders who exploit technology to prey on children,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI remains committed to pursuing these criminals relentlessly, working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure they face justice and no longer pose a threat to our communities.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In January 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents searched Jeffrey Farneski’ s home after learning that he used a social media application to distribute and receive child pornography.  At the time of the search, Farneski was a registered sex offender serving a 10-year term of probation.  Farneski admitted that he distributed child pornography via the internet while on probation, and agents recovered child pornography from his cell phone. Farneski’s probation was revoked and he was returned to state prison after pleading guilty to additional child exploitation crimes.

While Farneski was incarcerated, HSI reviewed text messages stored on his cell phone and those messages revealed that he had cultivated a sexual relationship with a Coweta County high school student while he was on probation. The student was under 18 years old when Farneski began communicating with her in a social media chat group.  Farneski persuaded the student to send him sexually explicit images and to also meet him at various places in the metro Atlanta area to engage in sexual acts.

After Farneski returned to state prison, he used contraband cell phones to maintain his relationship with the student.  In January 2024, two months after his release from state custody, Farneski was arrested and taken into federal custody by HSI agents.

Jeffrey Farneski, 50, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. to 15 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Farneski was convicted of enticement of a minor after he pleaded guilty on July 9, 2024.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Truist Bank (Truist), based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has agreed to pay the United States $9,125,000 to resolve claims under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA).  These claims relate to the administration of certain trust accounts by SunTrust Bank (SunTrust) from December 2011 through December 2015. SunTrust was acquired by Branch Banking and Trust Company in December 2019, and the combined entity was renamed Truist.

“Our financial institutions occupy a special place of trust in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This settlement demonstrates our office’s commitment to hold accountable any bank that violates its fiduciary duties to beneficiaries, especially in situations involving vulnerable clients.”

“Our federally insured financial institutions must act in accordance with the law, including meeting their obligations to beneficiaries when they serve as trustees,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement makes clear that the Department will hold banks accountable when they knowingly run afoul of applicable legal requirements.”

The settlement announced today resolves claims arising from SunTrust’s management of certain trust accounts it administered as part of its relationship with a New Jersey company doing business as The Halpern Group (Halpern).  Halpern served as a “structured settlement facilitator” in matters involving individuals who received settlement awards in personal injury litigation and referred those individuals to SunTrust. These individuals then established trusts at SunTrust that were intended to help them preserve their recoveries by protecting against unwise disbursements. Both SunTrust and Halpern collected fees in exchange for their agreement to provide these services.

In or around December 2011, SunTrust began administering a group of trust accounts, known as the “Doe Run Accounts,” that were referred to the bank by Halpern and resulted from the settlement of lead poisoning cases near Herculaneum, Missouri. Those accounts involved beneficiaries who claimed various health and cognitive issues from lead poisoning.  The United States contends that, rather than helping these beneficiaries avoid unwise disbursements, Halpern requested and SunTrust frequently approved imprudent disbursements that were not in the beneficiaries’ best interests, including disbursements for the benefit of third-parties (e.g., relatives). The United States also contends that SunTrust’s approval of these disbursements violated its fiduciary obligations as the trustee of these accounts.

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel David W. Tyler from the Commercial Litigation Branch, Assistant U.S. Attorney Austin M. Hall from the Northern District of Georgia, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Armen Adzhemyan from the Northern District of Georgia.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmail@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

 

ATLANTA –  U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan announced today that an Assistant U.S. Attorney will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) and lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Department of Justice’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.   The DEO is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with the Department of Justice’s Headquarters in Washington.

“Every eligible citizen must be free to vote without interference or discrimination and have that vote counted as part of a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “Critical to the preservation of this sacred right is our duty to ensure that election officials and staff, many of whom are elder members of our communities, be permitted to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice performs an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

U.S. Attorney Buchanan added, “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We must all endeavor to guarantee that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise this right if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt or interfere with this right are brought to justice.”

To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the District’s AUSA/DEO will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  The DEO can be reached by the public at (404) 581-6001.

In addition, the FBI will assign special agents to be available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 770-216-3000.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can also be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC via a complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate,” said U.S. Attorney Buchanan. “It is important that anyone aware of specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud makes that information available to the Department of Justice.”

But please note that in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, you should call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Allen Onyema, the Chairman, CEO, and founder of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, has been charged in a superseding indictment with obstruction of justice for submitting false documents to the government in an effort to end an investigation of him that resulted in earlier charges of bank fraud and money laundering. Ejiroghene Eghagha, the airline’s Chief of Administration and Finance, was also charged for participating in the obstruction scheme, as well as in the earlier bank fraud counts.

“After allegedly using his airline company as a cover to commit fraud on the United States’ banking system, Onyema, along with his co-defendant, allegedly committed additional crimes of fraud in a failed attempt to derail the government’s investigation of his conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The diligence of our federal investigative partners revealed the defendants’ alleged obstruction scheme, making it possible for the defendants to be held accountable for their aggravated conduct of attempting to impede a federal investigation.”

“These cases represent the continued commitment of the Drug Enforcement Administration to identify and hold accountable those who engaged in fraud and money laundering,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.

“Allegedly, Onyema and his accomplices fraudulently used the U.S. banking system in an effort to hide the source of their ill-gotten money,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. “Today’s superseding indictment is indicative of the dedication IRS-CI special agents and our law enforcement partners have, as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, to neutralize threats to the United States from criminal organizations.”

“The charges announced today demonstrate the criticality of diligence and truth in criminal justice proceedings,” said Steven N. Schrank, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and our partners are committed to pursuing those who seek to exploit our nation’s financial system and any efforts to cover up illegal activity.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the superseding indictment, and other information presented in court: Onyema, a Nigerian citizen and businessman, is the CEO and Chairman of Air Peace, a Nigerian airline founded in 2013. Between 2010 and 2018, Onyema travelled frequently to Atlanta, where he opened several personal and business bank accounts. More than $44.9 million was allegedly transferred into his Atlanta-based accounts from foreign sources.

Beginning in approximately May 2016, Onyema, together with Eghagha, allegedly used a series of export letters of credit to cause banks to transfer more than $20 million into Atlanta-based bank accounts controlled by Onyema. The letters of credit were purportedly to fund the purchase of five separate Boeing 737 passenger planes by Air Peace and were supported by documents such as purchase agreements, bills of sale, and appraisals. The documents purported to show that Air Peace was purchasing the aircraft from Springfield Aviation Company LLC, a business registered in Georgia.

However, the supporting documents were allegedly fake – Springfield Aviation Company LLC was owned by Onyema and managed on his behalf by a person with no connection to the aviation business, and Springfield Aviation never owned the aircraft. The company that allegedly drafted the appraisals did not exist. Eghagha allegedly participated in this scheme as well, directing the Springfield Aviation manager to sign and send false documents to banks and even using the manager’s identity to further the fraud. After Onyema received the money in the United States, he allegedly laundered over $16 million of the proceeds of the fraud by transferring it to other accounts.

In May 2019, upon discovering that he was under investigation in the Northern District of Georgia for bank fraud, Onyema and Eghagha allegedly directed the Springfield Aviation manager to sign a key business contract, but also specifically told her to not date the document. In October 2019, Onyema allegedly caused his attorneys to present that same contract, now falsely dated as being signed on May 5, 2016 (prior to the bank fraud that began in 2016), to the government in an effort to stop the investigation and unfreeze his bank accounts.

Allen Ifechukwu Athan Onyema, 61, of Lagos, Nigeria, and Ejiroghene Eghagha, 42, of Lagos, Nigeria, were indicted on November 19, 2019, on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit credit application fraud, and three counts of credit application fraud. Additionally, Onyema was charged with 27 counts of money laundering, and Eghagha was charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. On October 8, 2024, they were both charged in a superseding indictment alleging an additional count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The case is criminal action number 1:19-CR-464.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictments only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Commerce, and Department of Treasury are investigating this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett L. Bradford and Christopher J. Huber are prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Genaro Davalos-Pulido has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute multiple kilograms of methamphetamine and for illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense.

“Methamphetamine manufacturers and traffickers like Davalos-Pulido pose a tremendous threat to the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the relentless investigative efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, he’s facing the consequences of his crimes.”

“Guns, drugs, and violence are unfortunately all too common tools of the drug traffickers operating in our communities,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Today’s announcement demonstrates DEA’s emphatic commitment to attacking the violent drug dealers responsible for the devastation.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Between March 2019 and October 2021, Davalos-Pulido and a co-conspirator operated two clandestine methamphetamine conversion laboratories in the Atlanta area.  One methamphetamine lab was located in Morrow, Georgia. DEA special agents discovered the site after receiving information that Davalos-Pulido, who had been previously convicted in the Southern District of Texas in 2013 of importing methamphetamine from Mexico, and his co-conspirator were bringing supplies, known to be used in meth conversion labs, to a home in a Morrow.

On April 23, 2019, DEA agents saw Davalos-Pulido and his co-conspirator driving two vehicles, including a Saturn hatchback, back and forth from this Morrow residence. Davalos-Pulido was seen loading the hatchback with several buckets, colanders, and a plastic pitcher at the house.  They then returned the hatchback to a restaurant parking lot and left in another vehicle. A few minutes later, a third individual drove away in the hatchback. Clayton County, Georgia police stopped the vehicle and located the buckets, colanders, and pitcher in the trunk. Several of the paint buckets contained liquid methamphetamine mixed with paint, totaling over 156 kilograms. Davalos-Pulido and his co-conspirator fled the area after the seizure.

In October 2021, DEA agents located Davalos-Pulido and his co-conspirator at a second meth lab at a home in Norcross, Georgia.  On October 21, 2021, agents arrested the co-conspirator. Agents and law enforcement then executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered a loaded firearm on the center armrest of a couch that also concealed thousands of dollars in cash. Agents also found a large .50 caliber rifle, three buckets of liquid methamphetamine mixed with paint, containers, strainers, acetone, propane tanks, and other materials used for cooking methamphetamine.  Investigators also found smaller amounts of crystal methamphetamine, heroin, a digital scale, and a money counter inside the home. Davalos-Pulido was arrested following the search.

Genaro Davalos-Pulido, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to 20 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Davalos-Pulido was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime on June 26, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Lawrenceville Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, and Long Beach (California) Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L.  Rupert and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan advises the public to be cautious about hurricane relief fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

“Natural disasters unfailingly prompt members of our communities to respond with an outpouring of compassion and support for impacted family members, neighbors, friends and strangers,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Unfortunately, these occurrences also attract scammers who capitalize on such calamities to exploit affected fellow citizens when they are most vulnerable.  By this public notice, we do not aim to deter you from offering assistance but caution you to do so with the awareness of how to detect and avoid common charity scams.”

On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation in that area and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters target victims of such storms along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by these natural disasters. Unfortunately, criminals exploit these incidents for personal gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or via social media and by creating deceptive websites designed to solicit contributions.

The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, email, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before donating to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should follow these and other guidelines:

• Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
• Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics.
• Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers.
• Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity.
• Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities.
• Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
• Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in “.org” rather than “.com.”
• Be cautious of emails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.

The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm. Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – The Department of Justice announced it has awarded nearly $700,000 to the City of Atlanta in support of the Atlanta Police Department’s (APD) initiative to establish an Atlanta Crime Gun Intelligence Center to address violent crime.

“Reducing violent crime is a top priority for the Department of Justice, our office, and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Gun violence in particular remains a pervasive threat to our communities. This grant to the City of Atlanta will strengthen our ongoing collaborative efforts with the Atlanta Police Department and reflects the long-standing and successful partnerships our offices have forged to reduce and prevent violent crime.”

“The creation of the Atlanta Crime Gun Intelligence Center will significantly enhance our ability to combat gun violence in the metro-Atlanta area,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones, ATF. “This collaboration will bring advanced forensic tools and innovative strategies to the forefront of our efforts, allowing us to swiftly identify and apprehend violent offenders.”

“We are profoundly grateful for the grant that will establish the Atlanta Crime Gun Intelligence Center. This initiative will equip the Atlanta Police Department with advanced technology and critical resources to combat gun violence, disrupt drug trafficking, and dismantle gang activity,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum more effectively. “Through innovation and strategic partnerships, we are committed to enhancing the safety and security of our communities.”

This grant awards $699,539 in funding to support APD’s initiative to establish an Atlanta Crime Gun Intelligence Center (ACGIC) to better respond to gun violence in the metro-Atlanta area.  Specifically, this initiative enables the creation of a standalone ACGIC forensic ballistic lab for prioritized and swift processing of ballistic evidence in gang and repeat offender involved cases and expands the use of National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) technology by other law enforcement jurisdictions in conjunction with APD’s program. APD will also partner with Georgia State University to develop, implement, and monitor agreed upon performance measures and conduct process and outcome evaluations of ACGIC efforts.

This award is the first in the state of Georgia and is made through the Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration (CGIC) Initiative, which is administered by Bureau of Justice Assistance in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The grant provides funding to state and local government organizations to equip them with the resources needed to reduce violent crime and the illegal use of firearms within their jurisdictions by enabling them to integrate with their local ATF Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs).

This award is also made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.

The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and SMART Office – can be found at www.ojp.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Sourivahn Phonthepsone, a Canadian citizen, has been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to traffic 50 firearms to Ontario, Canada. 

“Firearm traffickers present a danger to communities everywhere, both nationally and internationally,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We remain resolute in our unwavering commitment to work with our federal law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle gun trafficking operations and to prosecute those who jeopardize the safety of our communities by funneling firearms to criminals.”

“The arrest and conviction of this individual represent a significant victory in the fight against international firearms trafficking,” said ATF Assistant Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones. “Our agents executed a meticulously planned operation, ensuring that dangerous weapons never made it into criminal hands. ATF will continue to be relentless in its pursuit of those who endanger public safety.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Over a three-month period in 2023, Phonthepsone conspired with multiple individuals to purchase 50 firearms for $40,000 from a source in Atlanta, Georgia, with the intent of transporting the firearms to Canada for resale. In August 2023, Phonthepsone resided in Ontario, Canada and began communicating with a source in the United States about acquiring firearms.  Phonthepsone asked the source to provide a quote for the price of each firearm. He also offered to travel to the United States to meet the source in person.

In September 2023, Phonthepsone flew from Toronto, Canada to Dallas, Texas and met with the source and an undercover federal agent.  During the meeting, Phonthepsone and the two individuals discussed the types and prices of firearms for purchase. Phonthepsone indicated that his associates would transport 20 firearms into Canada at a time.  He agreed to pay $800 per firearm and estimated they would resell for approximately $2,000 each in Canada.  At the end of the meeting, Phonthepsone gave the undercover agent a $1,000 down payment. Phonthepsone returned to Canada the next day.

On October 6, 2023, Phonthepsone flew from Toronto to Atlanta and arranged to meet with the undercover agent on October 11, 2023, to make a deal to purchase the firearms. Phonthepsone met the undercover agent at a storage unit in Fairburn, Georgia, where he gave the agent $40,000 in cash for the firearms. After Phonthepsone initiated the transfer for some of the 50 firearms, ATF special agents arrested him without incident.

Sourivahn Ed Phonthepsone, 24, of Ontario, Canada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to seven years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Phonthepsone was convicted of the firearms trafficking conspiracy charge on April 29, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise K. Peters prosecuted the case.

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.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Gregory Buckner has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin and attempting to sell thousands of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone tablets.

“Fentanyl and heroin pose an especially insidious danger to the public because they are so often disguised as counterfeit pills,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “This investigation and prosecution are the product of our collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners to remove these deadly drugs from our communities and hold accountable individuals, such as Buckner, who attempt to distribute and profit from them.”

“Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The investigation and subsequent conviction of this drug dealer demonstrates the DEA’s commitment to fight drug traffickers who have no regard for the citizens of our community.”  

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In April 2023, Buckner attempted to sell 10,000 pills that purported to be oxycodone, but actually contained fentanyl.  When investigators confronted Buckner in a vehicle just prior to this drug transaction, he jumped out of his car and fled on foot.  DEA special agents then searched a storage unit rented by Buckner and found a kilogram of fentanyl and more than a kilogram of heroin.  Buckner was arrested three months later as part of a fugitive operation. 

Gregory Buckner, 48, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May to six years, 11 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release.  Buckner was convicted of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, after he pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric J. White and John T. DeGenova prosecuted the case.

The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia recommends that parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov; www.operationprevention.com/; and www.dea.gov/onepill.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Feliks Medvedev has been sentenced to three years, 10 months in prison for conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business which transferred over $150 million in Russian money.

“Medvedev threatened our national and economic security by illegally transferring and laundering illicit Russian money,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Medvedev’s sentencing is a warning to others that our office is committed to pursuing and prosecuting individuals, both foreign and domestic, who promote the illegal transfer of foreign proceeds.”

“Medvedev used the American banking system to illegally transmit over $150 million,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentencing should serve as a notice to others who seek to undermine the security of American financial institutions, the FBI will continuously work to uncover the truth and push those committing criminal acts to be held accountable.”

“Today’s sentencing is a testament to the coordinated efforts between our federal partners effectively targeting illegal financial transactions and money laundering schemes,” said John Johnson, Special Agent in Charge of OEE’s Miami Field Office. “Unlawful use of our financial system undermines the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Feliks Medvedev is a Russian citizen who resides in North Georgia. He registered eight companies in Georgia that were used to transmit more than $150 million in over 1,300 transactions. The companies were purportedly headquartered in Buford, Georgia, and Dacula, Georgia, but they did not have typical business expenses or employees. The money was used, in part, to purchase over $65 million in overseas gold bullion. Medvedev transferred millions of dollars overseas from multiple bank accounts in the United States.

As part of the conspiracy, Medvedev worked with a Russian company and was directed by multiple Russian nationals at that company to make illegal transfers of funds. Subsequent to Medvedev’s indictment, on September 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, acting pursuant to Executive Order 14024, sanctioned two of Medvedev’s alleged co-conspirators:  Russian national Alexey Chubarov and his company KSK Group.  Earlier this year, on February 13, 2024, Chubarov, KSK Group, and Russian national Lev Solyannikov were separately indicted in the Northern District of Georgia for conspiring with Medvedev.

Feliks Medvedev, 43, of Buford, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to three years, 10 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Medvedev was convicted of the charges on February 7, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security with valuable assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Huber and Norman L. Barnett prosecuted the case.

This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA - Jeremiah Carbon has been sentenced to federal prison for depositing nearly $1.5 million in fraudulent money orders into accounts at several metro Atlanta banks and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

“Carbon took advantage of a monetary instrument intended to serve as a secure means for transferring funds and used it for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Maintaining the security of our banking systems is paramount as millions of Americans rely on these institutions to protect and grow their finances. Thanks to the investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners at the U.S. Secret Service, Carbon will be held accountable and will face the consequences for his crimes.”

“Carbon believed he could evade law enforcement when he resumed his criminal ways,” said Frederick D. Houston, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “What he learned is that the Secret Service consistently adapts our methods to uncover illicit financial schemes.  We are mandated to safeguard our nation’s critical financial infrastructure and will continue to deploy every asset to do just that.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Between December 2019 and September 2022, Carbon purchased nearly 1,500 money orders from retail stores in Georgia and at least two other states using fake names and fake driver’s licenses, many of which were legitimate driver’s license numbers of individuals. Carbon made copies of the blank money orders, completed those money orders with fictitious purchasers’ names, and then deposited the copied money orders into one of multiple bank accounts in at least five different federally insured banks. Some of the bank accounts were in Carbon’s name, and others were in the names of his conspirators. After Carbon deposited the copied money orders into the bank accounts, he returned all of the originally purchased blank money orders to the various retail stores and received refunds.  Carbon purchased, copied, deposited, and then returned almost 1,500 money orders totaling nearly $1.5 million.

Carbon was also recorded on surveillance cameras at the various retail store locations buying and returning the money orders. In some instances, after using a fake driver’s license to purchase money orders, Carbon made additional purchases from the retail store using his actual debit card.

On February 22, 2022, deputies with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop while Carbon was driving due to an unrelated traffic violation. During the stop, deputies discovered multiple blank money orders, a receipt for the recently purchased money orders, a printer/copier, and a paper cutter. Additionally, Carbon was found to be in possession of a semi-automatic firearm, which he was prohibited from possessing due to his status as a convicted felon.

Jeremiah Carbon, 36, of Lithonia, Georgia was sentenced by U.S District Judge Victoria M. Calvert to three years, five months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Carbon was convicted on charges of bank fraud conspiracy, bank fraud, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, after he pleaded guilty on June 6, 2024.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Alison Prout prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – Today the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced its findings from a multi-year investigation concluding that the Georgia Department of Corrections is violating incarcerated persons’ constitutional rights by failing to protect them from widespread physical violence and harm. The 94-page report details how the violence in Georgia prisons has become increasingly worse over the past several years.

“Individuals incarcerated by the Georgia Department of Corrections should not be subjected to life threatening violence and other forms of severe deprivation while serving their prison terms,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “Our constitution requires humane conditions in prisons, that, at a minimum, ensure that people in custody are safe.  The findings of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act investigation of the Georgia Department of Corrections reveal grave and diffuse failures to safeguard the men and women housed in its facilities, including disturbing and increasing frequencies of deaths among incarcerated people.  We expect the State of Georgia to share our sense of urgency about the seriousness of the violations described in this report and to work cooperatively with the Department of Justice, our office, and our U.S. Attorney partners in the Middle and Southern Districts to remedy these systemic deficiencies in Georgia prisons.”

“Our findings report lays bare the horrific and inhumane conditions that people are confined to inside Georgia’s state prison system,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our statewide investigation exposes long-standing, systemic violations stemming from complete indifference and disregard to the safety and security of people Georgia holds in its prisons. People are assaulted stabbed, raped and killed or left to languish inside facilities that are woefully understaffed. Inmates are maimed and tortured, relegated to an existence of fear, filth and not so benign neglect. These dangerous conditions not only harm the people Georgia incarcerates — it places prison employees and the broader community at risk. The Justice Department is committed to using its authority to bring about humane conditions of confinement that are consistent with contemporary standards of decency and respect for basic human dignity.”

As described in the report issued today, Georgia has the fourth-highest state prison population in the country, with almost 50,000 people incarcerated in 34 state-operated prisons and four private prisons. Beginning in 2016, the United States conducted a thorough investigation of Georgia’s prisons, with a focus on medium- and close-security facilities. The report found that critical understaffing and systemic deficiencies in physical plant, housing and classification, contraband control, and incident reporting and investigations, all contribute to the widespread violence.  The United States also determined that gangs exert improper influence on prison life with impunity, including controlling entire housing units and operating unlawful and dangerous schemes in and from the prisons, harming both incarcerated people and the public. The report concludes that the GDC’s procedures constitute a pattern or practice of violating incarcerated persons’ constitutional rights under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by failing to protect those housed at the medium- and close-security levels from widespread physical violence and harm.

The United States also concluded that Georgia unconstitutionally subjects incarcerated persons to unreasonable risk of harm from sexual abuse across its facilities.  Specifically, Georgia fails to protect incarcerated persons, including persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (“LGBTI”), from harm caused by sexual violence or abuse.  Individuals who are LGBTI are subjected to unreasonable risk of harm from sexual abuse in Georgia prisons due to inadequate sexual safety screening and classification practices, problematic and ineffective housing assignments, and other systemic deficiencies.

The United States launched its investigation under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act in 2016.  At that time, the investigation focused on whether Georgia adequately protected incarcerated persons who are LGBTI from sexual abuse.  In 2021, the United States expanded the investigation to also investigate protection from violence and harm for all incarcerated persons in facilities housing those at the medium- and close-security levels. The Northern District of Georgia’s United States Attorney’s Office joined together with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia, and the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section, to conduct the investigation.

The case is being handled by Aileen Bell Hughes, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity & Civil Rights Section.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

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ROME, Ga. - Onesepherous L. Grissette has been sentenced to federal prison for shipping thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl from South Carolina to North Georgia using the U.S. Mail. 

“The danger posed by counterfeit pills and fentanyl is a real and continuing threat to our citizens and has claimed many lives,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office and agency partners are continually developing new and innovate investigative strategies for identifying traffickers who peddle these dangerous drugs and to hold them accountable for causing irreparable harm to our communities.”

“The US Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “We remain steadfast to seek justice to the end and to keep communities safe through continued collaborative investigative efforts with our law enforcement partners.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court:  In July 2022, investigators with the United States Postal Inspection Service seized a shipment of pills mailed from South Carolina that were addressed to an individual who resided in Chickamauga, Georgia.  The pills resembled the prescription drug oxycodone, but testing confirmed that the tablets contained fentanyl.  The investigation revealed that Grissette shipped more than 4,500 pills to this individual for nearly two years and that the individual paid Grissette approximately $85,000.

Onesepherous L. Grissette, 43, of Conway, South Carolina, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II to five years, 10 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.  Grissette was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance on June 24, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with valuable assistance provided by the Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force and the Horry County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin A. Leipold, III prosecuted the case.

The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia recommends that parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov; www.operationprevention.com/; and www.dea.gov/onepill.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ROME, Ga. – Ian Alicea Prewett has been sentenced to federal prison for enticing children to perform sexual acts for the purpose of producing child pornography.

“Prewett is a sexual predator who enticed and victimized innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His prosecution and sentence are examples of our office’s steadfast commitment to engage with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable individuals like Prewett who seek to exploit the anonymity of the internet to sexually abuse vulnerable children.”

“This sentence represents a victory in the ongoing battle to protect our most vulnerable citizens — our children. This predator, who has perpetrated unspeakable horrors on minors, will now face justice for the seriousness of his crimes,” said Steven N. Schrank, Acting Special Agent in Charge who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to find, arrest and prosecute those who seek to exploit children.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: On various dates between 2020 and 2022, Ian Alicea Prewett uploaded sexually explicit digital images of minors to Instagram. Although Prewett tried to conceal his online identity, federal agents identified him as the individual who uploaded the images and, in May 2023, obtained a warrant to search his home. During the search, agents discovered a cell phone associated with the Instagram accounts that Prewett used to distribute child pornography.

At the time agents executed the search warrant, Prewett was already awaiting trial in Cobb County, Georgia, for statutory rape, child molestation, and child enticement. Those charges resulted from Prewett chatting with a 14-year-old girl on Instagram, asking her to send him sexually explicit photographs of herself, and then engaging in sex acts with her.

Prior to his arrest in May 2023, Prewett used social media to entice numerous minors to create sexually explicit material and engage in sexual acts. One of his victims was a minor under eight years old living in the United Kingdom. Prewett directed her to send him pictures and videos of herself performing sexual acts. Prewett also instructed a minor from Mobile, Alabama to do the same and he later traveled to Alabama to meet, photograph, and engage in sex acts with the minor.

Ian Alicea Prewett, 31, of Cartersville, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II to 20 years in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Prewett was convicted of sexual exploitation of children after he pleaded guilty on April 24, 2024.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Cobb County Police Department, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Wiltshire Police (United Kingdom).

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore S. Hertzberg and Calvin A. Leipold, III prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

NEWNAN, Ga. - Richard Eric Greeson has been sentenced to federal prison for manufacturing and selling unserialized and untraceable rifles, commonly referred to as “ghost guns,” and possessing methamphetamine.

“Greeson threatened the safety of our community by illegally possessing, manufacturing, and selling illegal firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “This joint investigative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers helped achieve Greeson’s prosecution and conviction, which makes our community safer.”

“Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for the illegal possession, manufacturing, and selling of firearms,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones.  “ATF and our law enforcement partners will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure criminals are brought to justice.”

“The Carroll County Sheriff's Office is thankful for our strong partnership with the ATF and is proud that our Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Unit played a key role in assisting with the investigation and safely apprehending Mr. Greeson. This collaboration has led to the removal of dangerous drugs and illegal firearms from the streets of Carroll County, helping to make our community safer.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2008, Richard Eric Greeson received a state court sentence of imprisonment followed by 10 years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated child molestation, and six counts of child molestation, involving a six-year-old girl.  In September 2022, Greeson’s probation officer learned Greeson was allegedly manufacturing firearms at his home in Carroll County, Georgia.

During a subsequent search of Gresson’s truck, his probation officer discovered firearm trigger components, cleaning parts, and ammunition.  The probation officer also found evidence that Greeson had ordered gun parts from vendors on the internet.  Law enforcement then searched Greeson’s home and discovered a firearms workshop in one of his bedrooms.  The investigators recovered an industrial drill, a jig, and a partially milled firearm receiver in the home.  In addition, buried in a wooded area behind Greeson’s home, the officers uncovered a gun case containing a fully assembled, unserialized semiautomatic rifle, a milled out lower AR receiver, more than 400 rounds of ammunition, and eight high-capacity magazines.

On December 12, 2023, a grand jury indicted Greeson for violating federal firearms laws. Two days later, during a traffic stop, special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested Greeson with the assistance of local law enforcement officers.  During the arrest, officers seized a bag of methamphetamine, a small quantity of marijuana, and two glass pipes from inside Greeson’s truck.

Richard Eric Greeson, 47, of Carrollton, Georgia, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Greeson was convicted of engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing firearms without a license and possession of methamphetamine, after he pleaded guilty to the charges on June 11, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and Carrollton Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

ATLANTA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has entered into a settlement agreement with the Cobb County Board of Elections to resolve a multi-year compliance review that identified physical barriers at many polling sites.  Cobb County has agreed to make certain corrections in time for the November 2024 general election, and to conduct a systemic review and ensure accessibility for all future polling locations.

“During this election year, it is appropriate to remember that voting is a fundamental right and hallmark of our democracy; therefore, a person with a disability should have an equal opportunity to cast a ballot in person on Election Day,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.  “We applaud the commitment of the Cobb County Board of Elections to work closely with our office to ensure that citizens with disabilities in Cobb County can vote alongside their family, friends, and neighbors at their local precinct, and do so with the same ease and convenience as nondisabled voters.”

From 2016 to 2024, the United States conducted a compliance review of Cobb County’s polling sites and surveyed more than 50 polling locations through three election cycles.  Based on these surveys, the United States found numerous polling sites with physical barriers.  The Cobb County Board of Elections expressed its commitment to ensure all polling locations are accessible to people with disabilities and worked cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney’s Office throughout the entire compliance review. 

Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, Cobb County Board of Elections will employ temporary measures to make polling places accessible for the November 2024 general election.  They will also train their poll workers on the County’s obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and how to use the temporary measures on Election Day.  Cobb County Board of Elections will also survey all remaining polling locations for accessibility throughout the term of the Agreement.  When selecting future polling sites, the Cobb County Board of Elections will ensure that new locations are ADA accessible.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will monitor the Agreement and provide technical assistance.        

The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Fallica, Rahul Garabadu, and Aileen Bell Hughes.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

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ATLANTA - Micky Lee Wagner, also known as “Clifton Leigh Wagner Martin,” “Mickey Lee Wagner,” “Leigh Wagner,” “Michy Wagner,” “Lee Wagner,” and “Dr. Leigh,” has been sentenced to federal prison for operating a scheme to defraud factoring companies of more than $5 million while using stolen identities.

“Wagner has an extensive history of devising schemes to take advantage of unsuspecting businesses and individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the diligence of our federal law enforcement partners at FBI, a measure of justice has been achieved that will also prevent Wagner from victimizing others.”

“Wagner took great measures to create the fraudulent billing scheme to use these companies like his personal ATM,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley. “His actions not only harmed businesses, but also the victims of his identity theft. Wagner will now have several years behind bars to consider the impact of his actions.”        

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Wagner was the owner and CEO of Right Step Staffing, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia. Right Step Staffing was purportedly a personnel staffing company that provided temporary employees to other businesses. Wagner used stolen identities to create a false impression that he had workers; then he falsely claimed that his staffing company provided temporary workers to major businesses, including Kroger Distribution, Material in Motion, Duracell, and Clorox. But Right Step Staffing had no relationship with those businesses.

Based on Wagner’s misrepresentations, a factoring company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida entered into a contract with Right Step Staffing to purchase its accounts receivable to collect money on outstanding invoices that businesses supposedly owed to Right Step Staffing for temporary workers. Factoring companies advance funds through these kinds of arrangements so that staffing companies can meet their payroll obligations in a timely fashion.

To further the fraud, Wagner deceived the factoring company by providing them with fraudulent customer contracts, when in fact, Right Step Staffing had no agreements with the businesses. Wagner also provided the factoring company with email addresses that supposedly belonged to representatives of the businesses, as a means to confirm that Right Step Staffing supplied employees to their businesses. The email addresses appeared similar to the real businesses’ email addresses but were deceptively created by Wagner to defraud the factoring company. 

After entering into the agreement, Right Step Staffing sent fraudulent invoices to the factoring company claiming that it had provided temporary workers to the businesses. These invoices totaled over $6 million during a several-month period, resulting in actual payments of more than $5 million to Wagner.

Wagner spent the fraudulent proceeds from the scheme to purchase real estate, a café, multiple luxury vehicles, plastic surgery, and a Royal Caribbean cruise, and he also diverted a substantial amount of cash for his personal use.

After his indictment in July 2022, Wagner fled to Kansas City, Missouri, where he evaded arrest for nearly a year. In July 2023, FBI agents arrested Wagner as he was leaving a residence in Kansas City. Also after his indictment in July 2022, Wagner defrauded another factoring company based in Minnesota. He stole more than $750,000 from that business. Wagner unsuccessfully attempted to defraud other factoring companies around the same time. Wagner has multiple prior felony convictions, including a prior federal fraud conviction from 2001. He fled Kansas City while on supervised release for that conviction.

Micky Lee Wagner, 57, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. P. Boulee to seven years, 10 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,092,512.88. Wagner was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on April 24, 2024, after he pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen H. McClain and Sekret T. Sneed prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.