District of Nebraska

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Richard L. Kelly, 61, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for wire fraud.  United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Kelly to 5 years’ probation and ordered him to pay $196,029.15 in restitution, which reflects the balance remaining after a payment of $9,831.00 was applied before sentencing. As a condition of probation, Kelly must pay at least $1,000 per month toward restitution.

During 2020 and 2021, Kelly, assisted by another person, submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program loans. Those loan programs were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The applications misrepresented how much Kelly’s business had paid employees in past compensation and how much revenue Kelly’s business had received, resulting in applications for significantly inflated loan amounts under the PPP and EIDL programs. The PPP applications were supported by false tax documents. The fraudulent applications on behalf of Kelly sought loans totaling approximately $675,094, and he obtained $189,997. 

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.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jesus Camarillo-Soria, 45, of Guanajuato, Mexico, was sentenced March 20, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Camarillo-Soria to 60 months and 1 days’ imprisonment. After Camarillo-Soria’s release from prison, he will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen.

On August 14, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Camarillo-Soria's residence in South Omaha and found 141 grams of cocaine along with a digital scale inside a shoebox. Cash in the amount of $881 was found inside Camarillo-Soria's wallet. Within a few feet of the drugs, officers found a Ruger Redhawk 44 magnum pistol and venue to Camarillo-Soria underneath the pistol. During a post arrest interview, Camarillo-Soria admitted to possessing the cocaine and the pistol, and that he gave some of the cocaine to his friends.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jose Luis Garcia-Perez, 23, a Mexican citizen living in Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Garcia-Perez to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Garcia-Perez’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On August 2, 2023, Garcia-Perez arrived at an Autozone parking lot in Omaha to receive approximately 22.75 kilograms of meth coming from Texas. He was arrested by DEA agents along with three co-defendants. In a post-arrest interview after he was advised of his rights, Garcia-Perez admitted to agents that he was sent a message on Facebook to go to the Autozone parking lot to pick up some “things,” which he knew were drugs. Garcia-Perez further admitted this was not his first time picking up drugs.

Co-defendants Gregorio Mina-Falcon, 35, of Omaha and Eliuth Montero-Barrera, 24, of Dallas have pleaded guilty to the same charge and are scheduled to be sentenced in May. Co-defendant Alexis Rodriguez, 22, of Dallas is scheduled to plead guilty to the same charge on March 28, 2023.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that, Asia Gabriel Blackburn, 29, of La Vista, Nebraska, was sentenced March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Blackburn to 140 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge. After completing her term of imprisonment, Blackburn will be required to serve a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On October 22, 2022, law enforcement located a suspicious parcel at a Omaha UPS facility. After a drug detecting canine indicated the presence of narcotics in the parcel, a search warrant was obtained. A subsequent search revealed approximately 123 grams of blue M-30 fentanyl pills, 523 grams of cocaine, and 13.4 grams of meth.

On October 24, 2022, law enforcement obtained an anticipatory search warrant for a controlled delivery to the South Omaha residence the parcel was addressed to. A law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity delivered the parcel where Asia Blackburn accepted it and took it inside the residence. The search warrant was executed shortly thereafter revealing the unopened package.

During the execution of the search warrant Blackburn’s cell phone was seized. A search warrant executed on Blackburn’s phone revealed text messages referencing delivery of the package to Blackburn’s residence.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Sheri Ann Griego, 42, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced March 27, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Griego to 120 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge, and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment for the gun charge. After completing her term of imprisonment, Griego will be required to serve a 8-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On December 1, 2021, Sheri Ann Griego and Daniel M. Gutirez were stopped while driving in the area of 8th and Brown Street, Omaha after officers observed their vehicle commit several traffic infractions. Griego was identified as the driver and Gutirez as the passenger. After speaking to the two, officers became suspicious that they were involved in criminal activity and Gutirez was asked if he had any weapons on him. Gutirez said he had a gun in his waistband. He was detained and a handgun was found in his waistband. A search of his person revealed a quantity of meth.

A search of the car revealed a rifle wrapped in a coat between the front center console and passenger seat. A loaded high-capacity magazine was found on the passenger floorboard. A search of the trunk revealed a makeup bag containing approximately 100 grams of meth. A drug scale was found in a suitcase containing woman’s clothing.

Gutirez was sentenced to 160 months’ imprisonment for gun and drug charges on June 26, 2023.  

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Maximino Vallecillo, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 21, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession of stolen mail and possession with intent to use or transfer five or more identification documents.  United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Vallecillo to 15 months’ imprisonment for each offense, to run concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Vallecillo’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.  Vallecillo must also pay $32,972.71 in restitution.   

Starting in about November 2022, residents west of Omaha reported a rash of thefts from their mailboxes, followed by fraudulent accounts being set up or attempted to be set up in their names.  During traffic stops and residence searches in January to March 2023, stolen mail, credit and debit cards, identification documents, altered checks and other ID-theft related items were found in the possession of Vallecillo and his co-defendant, whose case remains pending.  Video from area merchants showed the co-defendant, sometimes accompanied by Vallecillo, conducting transactions with debit or credit cards stolen from mailbox theft victims.  Investigators identified approximately $68,428 worth of altered checks and attempted transactions that resulted in actual loss of approximately $32,972.71. 

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office and United States Postal Inspection Service.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Luis Salazar-Cabrera, 40, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced March 20, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Salazar-Cabrera to 108 months’ imprisonment. After Salazar-Cabrera’s release from prison, he will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen.

In April of 2022, codefendant Martin Caballero-Bringas asked a third party to front him cash to pay for a delivery of meth to Omaha. Homeland Security Investigations Omaha provided the third party with $3,000 who gave the money to Salazar-Cabrera who then wired the money to three separate individuals as directed by Caballero-Bringas.

In early May of 2022, Caballero-Bringas coordinated the shipment of meth and fentanyl from southern California through Wichita, Kansas, to Omaha. Caballero-Bringas asked the third party to coordinate with a transportation company to coordinate the pick-up of the meth and fentanyl in Los Angeles, California, and transport it to Wichita, Kansas, where Caballero-Bringas had arranged for Salazar-Cabrera to receive the drugs and bring them to Omaha. However, the vehicle transporting the drug load was seized by Homeland Security Investigations in California and found containing 35 kilograms of meth and 6 kilograms of fentanyl.

In October of 2022, Salazar-Cabrera was traffic stopped in Lancaster County, Nebraska, while transporting 6 kilograms of fentanyl from Omaha to Grand Island. Recorded calls show that Salazar-Cabrera was transporting the fentanyl at the request of codefendant Caballero-Bringas.

Caballero-Bringas has plead guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced May 1, 2024.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Emmanuel Zakaria, 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced March 20, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. United State District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Zakaria to 48 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Zakaria is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On June 14, 2022, investigators conducted a controlled purchase operation, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 300 fentanyl pills.  On June 28, 2022, investigators arrested Zakaria and conducted a post-Miranda interview with Zakaria, who admitted to the involvement of distributing fentanyl pills.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Joshua C. Murphy, 37, of Villa Park, Illinois, was sentenced March 20, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Johnson to 68 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Murphy’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On October 4, 2022, an ATF confidential source made a controlled buy of a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun from Murphy, a convicted felon.  The handgun was reported stolen from West Virginia, and it included an extended high-capacity magazine.  The confidential source paid Murphy $1,200 of ATF buy money in exchange for the handgun.  The buy was audio and video recorded and monitored by law enforcement. 

Murphy has previously been convicted of the following felonies punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year: Motor Vehicle Theft over $20,000 (2013), in the 17th Judicial District of Colorado and Escape (2014), in the 19th Judicial District of Colorado. 

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.

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Christopher Ramos-Rivas, 27, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced March 15, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Ramos-Rivas to 168 months’ imprisonment. He also forfeited $9,159 found in his possession at the time of his arrest. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ramos-Rivas’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

On December 30, 2022, OPD officers received information about the location of Ramos-Rivas who had local drug warrants. Officers located Ramos-Rivas at an Omaha gas station where he was taken into custody on his warrants. A search of the car he was driving revealed approximately 6.5 lbs. of meth and $9,159.00 in United States currency. During a post arrest interview, Ramos admitted to dealing meth to support his habit.

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

 

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Gary Lockett, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced March 15, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy.  Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lockett to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.  After his release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. 

Beginning in October 2020, the FBI began investigating Kashaun Lockett for distributing meth.  Over the course of eight months, the FBI utilized a Confidential Source (CS) to make 13 controlled buys of meth from Kashaun Lockett. In total, 419 grams of meth were purchased from Lockett.  On one occasion, Kashaun Lockett was in the hospital for a gunshot wound, so he utilized his brother, Gary, to deliver 55 grams of meth. 

On June 14, 2021, a controlled buy was arranged with Kashaun Lockett.  Kashaun Lockett’s residence was under surveillance at the time, and Kashaun Lockett was followed when he left to meet with the CS.  The Omaha Police Department attempted a traffic stop on Kashaun Lockett, however, Kashaun Lockett fled from the traffic stop. 

During Kashaun Lockett’s flight, surveillance officers still at his residence saw Gary Lockett and Robert Culberson exit the residence and toss meth and a firearm into the tree line at the back of the residence.

Gary Lockett’s sentence was enhanced due to having a previous federal drug conviction.  Kashaun Lockett was sentenced on March 8, 2024, to 204 months.  Culberson was sentenced on August 15, 2023, to 120 months. 

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced today that Quin Global, an entity incorporated in Nebraska, entered pleas of guilty to mail fraud and selling an unregistered pesticide. Matthew Petersen, age 39, of Omaha, Nebraska, the President of Quin Global, entered a plea of guilty to selling an unregistered pesticide. Both Quin Global and Petersen entered the pleas of guilty at hearings on March 19, 2024, in front of Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Chief Judge Rossiter scheduled Petersen’s sentencing hearing for July 19, 2024, at 10:00 AM and Quin Global’s sentencing hearing for July 19, 2024, at 10:30 AM.

For the mail fraud count, Quin Global faces a maximum possible penalty of 5 years’ probation and a minimum of 1 year probation, a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss (whichever is higher), and a mandatory special assessment of $400 per count.  For the sale of the unregistered pesticide, Quin Global faces a maximum possible penalty of 5 years’ probation, a fine of $200,000 or twice the gross gain or loss (whichever is higher), and a mandatory special assessment of $125. Petersen faces a maximum of 1 year in prison, a $50,000 fine, a year term of supervised release, and a $25 special assessment.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq., regulates the distribution, sale, and use of all pesticides in the United States, including antimicrobial pesticides. Antimicrobial pesticides are substances used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms – such as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 – on inanimate objects and surfaces. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”). Registrants of antimicrobial pesticide products that claim to control microbes that pose a threat to public health must additionally submit efficacy data to support these public health claims.

Quin Global is located in Omaha, Nebraska and is a manufacturer of adhesive and tool systems. Matthew Petersen is the President of Quin Global. In March 2020, Quin Global began efforts to expand its business by manufacturing and selling pesticides. Quin Global initially contacted a company formerly known as Lonza, Inc. seeking to become a supplemental distributor of Lonza Inc.’s product Formulation HWS-64. Lonza, Inc. informed Quin Global that it would take months to enter into a legally permissible agreement.

In response, Quin Global purchased the product from, Buckeye International, a supplemental distributor of Lonza, Inc. The product Quin Global purchased from Buckeye International was being marketed as Buckeye Sanicare Lemon Quat. Quin Global began diluting and repackaging this product into its own proprietary pressurized canister and application systems. Quin Global sold this diluted product as a Quin Global product named Ramsol-RS1 which it marketed as being “EPA-approved” and as being effective against the COVID virus. The product being sold by Quin Global was not “EPA-approved” nor was it registered with the EPA pursuant to FIFRA since Quin Global never sought registration for the product.

In April 2020, Quin Global consulted a regulatory consultant, Delta Analytical, regarding the feasibility of registering Ramsol-RS1 product, which Quin Global was already manufacturing and distributing. Quin Global was informed of the requirements and did not seek to comply with the required EPA FIFRA registration requirements.

From April 2020 through July 2020, Quin Global distributed Ramsol-RS1 to 73 of its distributors in the United States of America and Canada. These distributors then supplied the product to their own retail customers. Quin Global received numerous inquiries from customers about the product’s validity and efficacy. Quin Global repeatedly assured their customers that its product would be effective against viruses and cited to the EPA registration for the Lonza/Buckeye product.

Lonza’s Formulation HWS-64 was listed on the EPA’s List N in March of 2020 as being approved for use against SARS-CoV-2 with the instructions that the product be utilized in accordance with directions for use against Adenovirus Type 7. Similarly, Buckeye Sanicare Lemon Quat was also listed on the EPA’s List N for use against SARS-CoV-2 at a specified concentration. For most of its accepted disinfection uses it is to be diluted at a 1/64 concentration, or 2 ounces per gallon of water. For Adenovirus Type 7 it is to be used at a higher concentration dilution of 8 ounces per gallon of water.

On or about April 24, 2020, Quin Global shipped 72 22-liter containers and 20 7-L containers of Ramsol-RS1 from Omaha, Nebraska to a downstream distributor, Chemical Concepts Inc., in Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, using R&L carriers, a commercial interstate carrier.

In June 2020, investigators with the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division conducted undercover purchases of 7-liter canisters of Ramsol-RS1 from Chemical Concepts and Panther East in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Chemical Concepts and Panther East are downstream distributors for Quin Global.

The two 7-Liter canisters of Ramsol-RS1 that were purchased from Chemical Concepts and Panther East were sent to the EPA National Enforcement Investigation Center (NEIC) for further testing. The NEIC found Quin Global’s product to be significantly diluted, with active ingredients being diluted more than 100 times than the product should be if diluted at 8 ounces per gallon. The Ramsol-RS1 product was also diluted well beyond what it should have been if diluted at 2 oz per gallon of water with active ingredients being diluted more than 25 times what they should have been. Ramsol-RS1 was diluted to a point well beyond efficacy against viruses and, specifically, the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Between April 2020 and July 2020, Quin Global, advertising this product as being EPA approved and as being effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, sold approximately $1.4 million worth of Ramsol-RS1 and $185,000 in related equipment. Specifically, Quin Global sold 1,148 7-liter containers and 3,363 22-liter containers. Quin Global stopped sales after being confronted by the EPA.

This case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Adam E. Jarzynka, 49, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 19, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of distribution of methamphetamine mixture, one count of distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual), and two counts of distribution of fifty grams or more of meth (actual). Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Jarzynka to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Jarzynka’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

In August and September of 2021, drug investigators used a Confidential Informant (CI) to arrange the controlled purchase of meth from Adam Jarzynka. Four meth purchases were conducted during that time period at various locations in Grand Island. The quantities purchased during those buys ranged from a quarter of an ounce to nearly three ounces. In total, Jarzynka sold over 167 grams of lab-confirmed meth to the CI.

This case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Saheed B. Dairo, 40, most recently of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced on March 19, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.  Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Dairo to 151 months’ imprisonment for bank fraud and a consecutive 24 months’ imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. There is no parole in the federal system. After Dairo’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.  Dairo was also ordered to pay $1,491,802.39 in restitution.  Dairo was identified as a Nigerian citizen who may be deported following completion of his sentence. 

During approximately 2018 to 2021, Dairo and others traveled from city to city conducting fraudulent transactions at bank branches using real customers’ information and false identification documents.  Dairo was the leader.  He created phony driver’s licenses and credit cards and supplied them to other fraudsters who posed as customers.  He also provided other individuals working the fraud scheme with account and personal information about customers and instructed them how to conduct the transactions. The group’s pattern was to conduct a series of fraudulent transactions in a particular area during a short period of time, then travel to a different city and conduct fraudulent transactions there.  Overall, individuals acting at Dairo’s direction attempted approximately $5.2 million in fraudulent transactions and obtained about $1.49 million. 

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department, the Council Bluffs, Iowa Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, in coordination with law enforcement agencies in other states.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Alexis Bernal Lopez, 24, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 14, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for his participation in a firearms conspiracy in the furtherance of drug trafficking. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Bernal Lopez to 30 months’ imprisonment on the firearms charge and 60 months’ imprisonment on the use of the firearm in the furtherance of drug trafficking charge for a total of 90 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bernal Lopez’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

Codefendant Rodolfo Falcon owned a house that was the central location for the distribution of marijuana, marijuana derivatives, and cocaine. Falcon rented that house out to several younger drug dealers including Kenneth Blair, Alexis Bernal-Lopez, and Keland Strong.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force performed a search of the residence and recovered cocaine, marijuana, currency, drug paraphernalia, and several firearms. Falcon, who has a distinctive tattoo on his hand, was seen in photos posing with firearms. One of the firearms shown in the picture was recovered from the residence. Agents also located a stolen firearm and AR15 rifle. 

At the time of the search, Blair was in the basement of the residence along with two apparent narcotics customers. Drugs and cash were also recovered from that location. Strong was located in an upstairs room that contained numerous firearms. Falcon lived on the main level of the home where agents recovered cash, cocaine. and personal identification documents. Evidence of significant marijuana distribution such as wrappers for large quantities of marijuana were also recovered. This, along with text messages between the group members revealed that the home was being used as a narcotics distribution hub and that Majok Bethow, Bernal-Lopez, Strong, and Blair all worked together to sell drugs, particularly marijuana to ‘serves’ (their code word for narcotics purchasers) and would drive each other to sales and work together to get the right types of THC cartridges and marijuana to customers.

On September 28, 2023, Bethow pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy in the furtherance of drug trafficking and was sentenced on January 11, 2024, to 24 months’ imprisonment to run concurrently with a federal case charging him with possessing a machinegun.

On September 28, 2023, Blair pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and was sentenced December 21, 2023 to 21 months’ imprisonment.

On October 27, 2023, Falcon pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  He was sentenced on January 19, 2024 to 24 months’ imprisonment.

On November 17, 2023, Strong pleaded guilty to firearms conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  He was sentenced on February 8, 2024 to 72 months’ imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Junian M. Johnson, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 13, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Johnson to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Johnson’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On November 13, 2022, Omaha Police Officers responded to report of shots fired in the area of N. 24th and Bristol Streets in Omaha. Douglas County Dispatch advised the caller had observed a black Chevrolet Tahoe with the driver firing gunshots in the area.  Reporting officers tracked the vehicle’s license plate to its registered address just a few blocks away. 

As officers responded to the home, they observed the defendant seated in the driver’s seat of the vehicle in the driveway of the residence.  There were no other individuals in or around the vehicle.

Officers initially called out to the driver, later identified as Johnson, to speak to him. Johnson opened the rear driver’s door and could be seen reaching into the vehicle before locking the vehicle, throwing the keys into the vehicle, then closing the locked door. While speaking with Johnson, officers observed what appeared to be a magazine to a firearm sticking out from underneath the driver's seat of the vehicle in plain view.

Johnson’s vehicle was searched pursuant to a search warrant. Officers recovered a yellow bag containing a Glock 29- 10mm handgun with one round in the chamber, and a loaded magazine was found under the driver’s seat. The handgun was reported stolen out of Bellevue, Nebraska. In the center console officers found a clear baggie containing 27 blue circular pills, stamped with an “M” and a “30” – later confirmed to contain fentanyl according to a forensic laboratory report.

Johnson has the following prior convictions: Felon in Possession of a Firearm (1998) and Conspiracy RICO - Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana (2009), both in the United States District Court, District of Kansas; and Possession of Cocaine, Marijuana, No Drug Stamp (2002), in the District Court of Sedgwick County, Kansas; and Felon in Possession of Ammunition (2015), in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Stephen Ismael Monarrez, 45, of Carrol, Iowa, was sentenced on March 13, 2024 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for distributing methamphetamine.  United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Monarrez to 120 months’ imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  After Monarrez’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

On June 8, 2022, an ATF confidential source (CS) arranged to purchase meth from Monarrez.  The CS was shown a photo of Monarrez, that they identified as the person who agreed to sell 4oz of meth for $1,200.00 dollars.

The CS went to the prearranged meet location in Omaha equipped with audio/video equipment. The CS parked on the east side of the street and Monarrez, identified by surveillance, entered the passenger side of the CS’s vehicle where the controlled buy occurred.  A forensic lab determined the methamphetamine to be 94% pure. 

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Gerardo Soto-Sigala, 42, of Mexico and Daisy Franco, 35, of California were sentenced March 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for their participation in drug trafficking offenses.  Soto-Sigala possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced him to 75 months’ imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  After Soto-Sigala’s release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release.  Daisy Franco distributed 500 grams or more of meth and Chief United States District Judge Rossiter, Jr. sentenced her to 68 months’ imprisonment.  After Franco’s release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.

On May 9, 2023, Lincoln Police officers conducted a probable cause traffic stop for a vehicle infraction on a grey‐colored 2010 Honda Odyssey that was traveling eastbound, near the area of Mile Marker 396 on Interstate‐80 in Nebraska.  During the course of the traffic stop, officers identified the driver as Gerardo Soto‐Sigala and the front passenger as the Daisy Franco.

Soto-Sigala gave consent for law enforcement officials to search the vehicle. During the search, officers discovered a concealed compartment underneath the center console of the Odyssey that contained approximately 50 individual packages of suspected methamphetamine.  A forensic laboratory analysis later confirmed it was 98% pure methamphetamine weighting 25.7 kilograms in total.   

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Mona Maria Tataru, 32, a Romanian citizen whose most recent address was in Los Angeles, California, was sentenced on March 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession of device making equipment with intent to defraud and aggravated identity theft.  Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Tataru to 10 months in prison for possession of device making equipment with intent to defraud and a consecutive 24 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, to be followed by 2 years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

In April 2023, surveillance video showed Tataru and a confederate placing a skimming device and pinhole camera on an ATM in Omaha.  Omaha police officers located the vehicle shown in the video and contacted Tataru and the confederate at a local motel.  In Tataru’s and the confederate’s possession, officers located more skimming devices and cameras, equipment to generate phony debit and ATM cards, and several cards that had been encoded with stolen bank account information that enabled them to be used as ATM cards.  In total, officers located approximately 220 sets of bank account information corresponding to accounts at more than a dozen different banks.      

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Anthony Aranda, 32, was sentenced on March 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for escape from custody. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Aranda to 8 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Aranda’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

Aranda was convicted on February 12, 2015, in the United States Court for the District of Nebraska of carjacking and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence.  He was sentenced to 130-months imprisonment.  After his custodial sentence, in September 2023 Aranda was designated by the Bureau of Prisons to serve the remainder of his sentence at DISMAS Charities in Omaha, Nebraska, through January 2024.  On October 17, 2023, Aranda left DISMAS Charities and did not return. Aranda was eventually found and arrested on October 26, 2023, at a residence in Sioux City, Iowa.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kashaun Lockett, 38, of Omaha, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy.  Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Lockett to 204 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.  After his release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. 

Beginning in October 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating Lockett for distributing meth.  Over the course of eight months, the FBI utilized a Confidential Source (CS) to make 13 controlled buys of meth from Lockett. In total, 419 grams of meth were purchased from Lockett.  On one occasion, Lockett was unable to make the delivery, so he utilized his brother, Gary, to make the delivery. 

On June 14, 2021, a controlled buy was arranged with Lockett.  Lockett’s residence was under surveillance at the time, and Lockett was followed when he left to meet with the CS.  The Omaha Police Department attempted a traffic stop on Lockett, however, Lockett fled from the traffic stop.  Lockett was observed throwing an item down a storm drain, which later turned out to be 319 grams of meth. 

During Lockett’s flight, surveillance officers still at Lockett’s residence saw Gary Lockett and Robert Culberson exit the residence and toss meth and a firearm into the tree line at the back of Lockett’s residence.

Lockett’s sentence was enhanced due to possessing the firearm and for having a previous federal drug conviction.  Culberson was sentenced on August 15, 2023, to 120 months for his involvement.  Gary Lockett is set for sentencing on March 15, 2024.

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Gregory Lorenzo, 32, of Bronx, New York, was sentenced on March 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lorenzo to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lorenzo’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Additionally, Lorenzo is ordered to pay $528,002.33 in restitution.

This case began in 2017 when Lorenzo, along with others, conspired and agreed together to enact a scheme to defraud Verizon Wireless. Members of the conspiracy did so by acquiring stolen identities of real United States citizens including at least three individuals from Nebraska. The conspiracy members would use the victims’ information to create Verizon accounts. Once accounts were created, they would purchase cellphones and accessories that would be billed to the accounts, causing financial loss to Verizon and potential credit damage to the individual whose identity was used. Once purchased, the phones would be shipped back to New York or New Jersey where they would be sold on the black market.

Different members of the conspiracy played different roles. For his part, Lorenzo would go to FedEx and retrieve packages of fraudulently purchased cellphones and electronic devices. would additionally send money to the “authorized user” members of the conspiracy when they were travelling to make fraudulent purchases. In January of 2019, Lorenzo travelled to the state of Washington where he went to Verizon stores to assist in the purchase of devices on fraudulently created accounts.

The conspiracy continued for years and Verizon Wireless suffered a loss of over $528,002.33. In February of 2019, two of the conspirators were arrested after attempting to purchase cellphones using the stolen identity of a Nebraska resident in Kearney, Nebraska thus beginning the investigation of this matter. Since the investigation began, Lorenzo and seven others have all been charged and convicted for their individual role within the conspiracy. Lorenzo is the last conspiracy member to be sentenced.

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Ricky Ellis Lamb, age 66, originally from Arkansas, was sentenced on March 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for passing a fictitious obligation. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lamb to a sentence of time served; Lamb has been in custody for related charges in multiple states since August 15, 2019. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lamb is released from custody on additional pending charges in multiple states, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Lamb was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $55,653.16 to the victims of his offense.

From on or about January 15, 2019, through on or about July 15, 2019, Lamb traveled throughout the Midwest passing, uttering, presenting and offering fictitious securities to farm or hardware store. Specifically, Lamb passed, 72 fictitious checks at multiple stores throughout Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Colorado. The fictitious checks purported to be issued under the authority of 14 different fictitious organizations belonging to Lamb.

As a result of Lamb’s scheme, he caused a total loss of $64,651.27. Of that total loss, $7,243.37 occurred within the District of Nebraska across a span of 7 fraudulent transactions.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service in conjunction with numerous local law enforcement agencies across several states.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Thomas Janes, 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 29, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possessing child pornography. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Jane to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Janes release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.

Janes was on supervised release following his release from prison for a previous child pornography possession offense when his probation officer developed suspicion Janes was using an unapproved internet connected device. A search was executed at his home and his electronic devices were later forensically searched, revealing Janes was in possession of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David Franklin Slater, 63, of Nebraska, was arrested Saturday, March 2, after having been indicted in the District of Nebraska, for allegedly conspiring to transmit and transmitting classified information relating to the national defense (National Defense Information or NDI) on a foreign online dating platform beginning in or around February 2022 until in or around April 2022. Slater was a civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska.

According to the indictment, Slater worked in a classified space at USSTRATCOM and held a Top Secret security clearance from in or around August 2021 until in or around April 2022, after retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army. It is alleged that Slater willfully, improperly, and unlawfully transmitted NDI classified as “SECRET,” which he had reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, on a foreign online dating platform to a person not authorized to receive such information.

“As alleged, Mr. Slater, an Air Force civilian employee and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, knowingly transmitted classified national defense information to another person in blatant disregard for the security of his country and his oath to safeguard its secrets,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly and willfully put their country at risk by disclosing classified information.”

“Certain responsibilities are incumbent to individuals with access to Top Secret information. The allegations against Mr. Slater challenge whether he betrayed those responsibilities,” said U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr for the District of Nebraska. “We look forward to continuing our work with the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to ensure the safety of our country.”

“The FBI investigates those who choose to illegally use their access to classified information to put our national security at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “When people violate the trust given to them to safeguard our nation's intelligence, they put our country at risk. We will continue working shoulder to shoulder with our partners to protect the American people and uphold the constitution by safeguarding our country's classified information.”

According to the indictment, Slater attended USSTRATCOM briefings regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine that were classified up to TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS//SCI). Slater then transmitted classified NDI that he learned from those briefings via the foreign online dating website’s messaging platform to his co-conspirator, who claimed to be a female living in Ukraine on the foreign dating website. The co-conspirator regularly asked Slater to provide her with sensitive, non-public, closely held and classified NDI and called Slater in their messages her “secret informant love” and her “secret agent.” In response to these requests, Slater indeed provided classified NDI to her, including regarding military targets and Russian military capabilities relating to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Slater will make his initial court appearance tomorrow, March 5, in the District of Nebraska. If convicted, Slater faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to transmit and the transmission of national defense information. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Omaha Field Office and Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Kleine for the District of Nebraska and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

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

A civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), at Offutt Air Force Base, was arrested Saturday, March 2, for allegedly conspiring to transmit and transmitting classified information relating to the national defense (National Defense Information or NDI) on a foreign online dating platform beginning in or around February 2022 until in or around April 2022.

According to the indictment, David Franklin Slater, 63, of Nebraska, worked in a classified space at USSTRATCOM and held a Top Secret security clearance from in or around August 2021 until in or around April 2022, after retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army. It is alleged that Slater willfully, improperly, and unlawfully transmitted NDI classified as “SECRET,” which he had reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, on a foreign online dating platform to a person not authorized to receive such information.

“As alleged, Mr. Slater, an Air Force civilian employee and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, knowingly transmitted classified national defense information to another person in blatant disregard for the security of his country and his oath to safeguard its secrets,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly and willfully put their country at risk by disclosing classified information.”

“Certain responsibilities are incumbent to individuals with access to Top Secret information. The allegations against Mr. Slater challenge whether he betrayed those responsibilities,” said U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr for the District of Nebraska. “We look forward to continuing our work with the FBI and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to ensure the safety of our country.”

“The FBI investigates those who choose to illegally use their access to classified information to put our national security at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “When people violate the trust given to them to safeguard our nation's intelligence, they put our country at risk. We will continue working shoulder to shoulder with our partners to protect the American people and uphold the constitution by safeguarding our country's classified information.”

According to the charging documents, Slater attended USSTRATCOM briefings regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine that were classified up to TOP SECRET//SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS//SCI). Slater then transmitted classified NDI that he learned from those briefings via the foreign online dating website’s messaging platform to his co-conspirator, who claimed to be a female living in Ukraine on the foreign dating website. The co-conspirator regularly asked Slater to provide her with sensitive, non-public, closely held and classified NDI and called Slater in their messages her “secret informant love” and her “secret agent.” In response to these requests, Slater indeed provided classified NDI to her, including regarding military targets and Russian military capabilities relating to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Slater will make his initial court appearance tomorrow, March 5, in the District of Nebraska. If convicted, Slater faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to transmit and the transmission of national defense information. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Omaha Field Office and Air Force Office of Special Investigations are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Kleine for the District of Nebraska and Trial Attorney Emma Dinan Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

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

Slater Indictment

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jean Ferrer Leyva-Pazos, 21, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced March 1, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Leyva-Pazos to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Leyva-Pazos’ release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

Operating from at least June 2021 until October 2022, Leyva-Pazos and others were responsible for trafficking meth into the state. Officers from a variety of local, state, and federal agencies pieced the conspiracy together using electronic evidence, surveillance, and search warrants.

Together, the conspirators distributed over 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing meth. On February 23, 2022, officers obtained a search warrant for a residence in Lexington, Nebraska, where the defendant and additional co-conspirators were staying. Leyva-Pazos was found in the basement of the residence with a duffle bag containing nearly eleven ounces of meth, items consistent with narcotic packaging, and over two thousand dollars. Searches at additional locations in the Lexington area netted additional meth and currency from other co-defendants. 

This case was investigated by the CODE Drug Task Force, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol,   the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Detrick Anthony Michael Smith, 32, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 1, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Smith to 20 years’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Smith’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Smith pleaded guilty the charges on October 19, 2023.

Officers with the Lincoln Police Department executed a search warrant at the Smith’s apartment in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 6, 2022. The police located almost 3,500 grams of marijuana in the kitchen and bedroom area of the apartment. The marijuana was divided into numerous bags consistent with packaging for resale. The police also located digital scales, a heat sealer, a money counter, promethazine-codeine bottles, items containing THC, and a small quantity of cocaine. In the bedroom closet, the police located a duffel bag which contained two handguns. The two handguns were a Glock model 19, 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine, but with an empty chamber, and a Glock model 20, 10mm handgun loaded with an extended magazine, but with an empty chamber. The Glock model 20 had been modified with an aftermarket piece, commonly referred to as a “switch,” which illegally modified the gun to be able to fire fully automatic, rather than just semi-automatic. This illegal modification of the firearm to a machine gun was a significant factor in Smith’s sentence. Smith was home at the time of the search. Police located $11,624 in United States currency on Smith’s person.

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Alphonso Johnson, Jr., 46, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 1, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Johnson Jr. to 132 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Johnson Jr.’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

On August 10, 2022, Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF) served a search warrant, at the home of Stacey Vanarsdale, a co-defendant in this case.  Johnson Jr. was found in a bedroom within the residence.  In the bedroom closet, investigators located a total of 365.9 grams of suspected meth, which was separated in 12-ounce quantity baggies. In the closet was $217.00 in U.S. currency and additional illegal narcotics.  The suspected meth was sent to the lab, and the lab determined that there was about 346.35 grams of meth, of which at least 180 grams was actual meth.  The co-defendant, Stacey Vanarsdale, is currently set to be sentenced on May 30, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Shawn A. Prater, 49, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Trevor A. McNeil, 35, formerly of Omaha and currently of Fairburn, Georgia, were both sentenced on February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha by United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher, following the conviction of each for wire fraud.

Prater pled guilty in November 2023. He was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and ordered to pay $82,532.98 in restitution. As a condition of probation, Prater must pay at least $1,500 per month toward restitution.    

McNeil pled guilty in December 2023. He was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $402,070.60 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. After McNeil’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. 

During 2020 and 2021, Prater and McNeil, assisted by another person, submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program loans. Those loan programs were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The applications misrepresented how much Prater’s and McNeil’s businesses had paid employees in past compensation and how much revenue McNeil’s business had received, resulting in significantly inflated loan amounts under the PPP and EIDL programs. The PPP applications were supported by false tax documents. The fraudulent applications on behalf of Prater sought loans totaling approximately $157,514.50, and he obtained $80,165. The fraudulent applications on behalf of McNeil sought loans totaling approximately $492,494, and he obtained $379,994. 

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.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jose Emmanuel Vaca-Saldana, 24, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Vaca-Saldana to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.  After his release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. 

On April 15, 2023, the Nebraska State Patrol stopped Vaca-Saldana for a traffic violation.  Vaca-Saldana was with his wife, and he told troopers that they had flown out to Los Angeles for their honeymoon.  Troopers became suspicious after hearing that the two flew to Los Angeles on April 13, and had rented the car the same day.  Accounting for the time the two would have been driving from Los Angeles to reach Nebraska, they would not have been in Los Angeles very long.  This behavior was consistent with drug smugglers.  Troopers asked Vaca-Saldana for consent to search the vehicle, which he granted.  During the search, 32 pounds of meth was located.  Vaca-Saldana took responsibility for the meth. 

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Matthew Frederick Strohl, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Strohl to 150 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.  After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

On April 22, 2022, the Omaha Police Department stopped Strohl for a traffic violation.  During the traffic stop, officers found Strohl in possession of a meth pipe and small amounts of narcotics.  Officers believed that Strohl had more narcotics located in his apartment, which was located in Sarpy County.  With the assistance of the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Strohl’s apartment was searched.  Inside, nine different types of narcotics were located, including 69 grams of meth, hydrocodone, Adderall, Xanax, cocaine, and psychedelic mushrooms. 

Strohl’s prior criminal history was taken into consideration when being sentenced.  In 2009, Strohl was sentenced in an Omaha federal court to 120 months for drug and firearm charges. 

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Joel Medina, 26, of Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced on February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for distribution of 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Medina to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Medina’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

In 2022, an undercover special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) established contact with a known Mexico-based fentanyl supplier. On September 26, 2022, Medina contacted the undercover agent by phone and set a meeting for September 27, 2022, for the undercover agent to purchase 300 fentanyl pills.

On September 27, 2022, the undercover officer purchased the 300 fentanyl pills from Medina at a prearranged location in Omaha. On October 21, 2022, the undercover agent made another purchase of more than 500 fentanyl pills from Medina in Omaha. Laboratory testing confirmed that the pills contained the substances ANPP (an analogue of fentanyl) and fentanyl.

On November 22, 2022, investigators responded to the hospital to investigate a drug overdose. Investigators contacted the victim at the hospital, and the victim identified “Joel Talamantes” as a fentanyl supplier. “Talamantes” was later determined be the Medina. The victim told investigators he received approximately 20 fentanyl pills and bags of cocaine from Medina about a week prior. The victim told investigators he agreed to sell fentanyl pills for the Medina while Medina was out of town and was to be paid a portion of the proceeds from those sales. The victim told investigators that he took one of the pills provided by Medina and woke up in the hospital. Investigators obtained text messages between the victim and Medina corroborating the information provided by the victim.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jack Brown Wilson, 44, of Big Springs, Nebraska, was sentenced February 27, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Wilson to time served. He will now begin a 5-year term of supervised release and still register as a sex offender.

Judge Gerrard noted that Wilson’s case was “unique” in that the investigation revealed that Wilson had attempted to register in Cheyenne County as a sex offender. However, Cheyenne County acknowledged that their system did not save his completed sex offender registration. Further investigation revealed the defendant’s attempt at registration fell outside of the time requirements under federal law. Mr. Wilson was given the opportunity to explain what had happened as the investigation commenced, but failed to attend the scheduled meeting and stopped answering his phone. Approximately a week later, he moved to another state. “You could have saved yourself a lot of pain with a little bit of effort” the Judge noted in imposing his sentence.

SORNA, also known as the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act, requires that a convicted sex offender register in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, where the offender is employed, or where the offender is a student, and that the sex offender maintain current registrations.  Wilson’ was required to register as a sex offender because he had been convicted of one count of sexual contact with a minor in 2017 in the District Court for Sedgwick County, Colorado.  This conviction required that Wilson register as a sex offender in the state of Colorado, and by federal law, in any other state to which he moved. Wilson became a resident in Nebraska in 2021 and failed to register.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Steven R. Windoloski, 33, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, was sentenced on February 27, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possessing with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Windoloski to 51 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Windoloski’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

On August 11, 2022, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol conducted a traffic stop of a Mitsubishi Outlander in Hershey, Nebraska.  Windoloski was the driver.  Troopers searched the vehicle and located approximately 100 bricks of cocaine with each brick weighing approximately one kilogram.  Windoloski knew he was transporting the cocaine and he intended to distribute it.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Terry L. Christianson, 66, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 26, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Christianson to 180 months’ imprisonment for the drug offense, a concurrent 120 months’ imprisonment for the firearm offense, and ordered that he forfeit $7,125. There is no parole in the federal system. After Christianson’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.

On March 27, 2022, officers in Lincoln, Nebraska stopped Christianson for a traffic violation. During the stop, an officer saw the handle of a handgun inside Christianson’s vehicle. Officers searched the truck and recovered a revolver, a safe containing $7,125, and a cooler containing approximately 340 grams (about 12 ounces) of actual meth. Christianson had previously been convicted of a felony offense. 

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David Murcia-Retana, 21, of Lexington, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 27, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Murcia-Retana to 60- months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Murcia-Retana release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.

On May 25, 2021, in Lexington, law enforcement agents executed a controlled buy of meth from Murcia-Retana. A confidential informant (“the CI”) met with Murcia-Retana at a location in Lexington and provided Murcia-Retana with $1,200 in exchange for meth.  The CI then provided the meth to the agents.  The meth was laboratory tested and confirmed to be approximately 45 grams of actual meth.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Nathan Scott Jandreau, 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced February 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Jandreau to 192 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Jandreau’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.

On February 10, 2023, law enforcement were conducting surveillance on a South Omaha residence looking for Jandreau who had a warrant for his arrest for violating the terms of his supervised release. Officers observed Jandreau exit the residence and leave in a car that officers stopped at a nearby location. After Jandreau was taken into custody, he advised officers that a backpack in the car was his. A search of the backpack revealed 335 grams of meth, and evidence of drug distribution consisting of digital scales and small plastic baggies.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jason Felder, age 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for bank robbery. Chief Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Jason Felder to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Felder’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release.

On August 10, 2022, Jason Felder took a note that contained a bomb threat into the victim bank and then walked outside the bank. The victim teller reported it to the security guard working inside the bank, who happened to be an off-duty Wahoo police officer. The off-duty officer walked outside the bank to speak with Felder, and Felder got into a struggle with the officer. Felder fled into the residential area around the bank because Felder’s driver abandoned the scene.

Once Felder was in the residential area, he tried to get into several people’s vehicles but was unsuccessful. He also tried to enter several homes. Felder found a home with an unlocked door and went inside and forced a grandson inside the residence owned by his grandmother to accompany him upstairs in the house. Felder then directed the grandson to get Felder a glass of water but warned the grandson to keep quiet. The grandmother was downstairs when the grandson came down and could tell by looking at the child that something was not right. She asked him about it, and the grandson told her about Felder hiding upstairs. The grandmother then yelled at Felder to come downstairs.

Once downstairs, the grandmother insisted Felder leave the house. Felder refused. The grandmother tried to push past Felder. He pushed her and locked the door with all of them inside the residence. The grandmother again resisted and got past Felder with her grandson and made it outside. Once outside, she saw her son and his girlfriend and told her son about what happened inside the home. The adult son went inside the house in pursuit of Felder.

Police officers arrived on scene shortly thereafter as they were tracking Felder’s movements from the scene of the attempted bank robbery. Officers entered the home and ultimately a K-9 located Felder hiding in the basement of the residence. Felder refused to comply with demands, and the dog forcibly obtained custody of Felder so that officers could arrest him. He was wearing the same clothing as the man in the bank robbery video.

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Perrion Bluford, 23, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 23, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska following his conviction for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Bluford to 5 years’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bluford is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Bluford pleaded guilty to both offenses on July 27, 2023.

Police learned that Bluford was distributing illegal drugs and using social media accounts to advertise the sale of drugs. Police obtained a search warrant for Bluford’s apartment and searched his apartment on January 13, 2021. In Bluford’s bedroom, police located 79 suspected MDMA pills, 3.2 pounds of suspected marijuana, and other suspected prescription medications. Police also found a Masterpiece Arms 5.7 by 288 mm pistol, which was loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, police located other items consistent with the distribution of illegal drugs, and $8,015 in United States currency.

A sampling of the seized drugs was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory. The first submitted sample tested negative for the presence of controlled substances. A second sample was then submitted for testing. Some of the suspected marijuana was confirmed to be marijuana. Had the cases proceeded to trial, a drug investigator would have explained that those involved in drug dealing sometimes sell counterfeit or fake drugs to unsuspecting customers.

On a separate occasion, police were conducting surveillance of Bluford on November 2, 2022. They saw him leaving a barber shop with another person when the police attempted to contact Bluford. Bluford ran from police. During the foot pursuit, Bluford discarded a handgun, as well as a loaded magazine for the handgun. Shortly thereafter, Bluford was apprehended. The police searched Bluford and found seven grams of marijuana in his pocket. Those drugs were also sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory and were confirmed to be marijuana.

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Louise Gina Polyansky, 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln for her involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy.  Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Polyansky to 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.  After her release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. 

Starting around November 2020, Polyansky agreed and worked with several others to obtain and distribute meth in the Lincoln area. As part of the conspiracy, from about December 2020 until about May 2021, co-conspirators received packages by mail containing pound to multi-pound quantities of meth to addresses located in Lincoln. Part of this meth was then supplied to Polyansky to distribute. Polyansky had obtained approximately seven pounds total from co-conspirators between November 2020 and April 2021. Polyansky was also identified as someone that was distributing ¼ pound to ½ pound quantities of meth from August 2021 to September 2021. Finally, Polyansky was identified as someone that would wire drug proceeds to individuals in Arizona.

Other conspirators included Scott Berndt, who was sentenced on December 20, 2023, to a term of imprisonment of 168 months.  Rebecca Frankenstein was sentenced on December 7, 2023, to a term of imprisonment of 90 months.  Tommy Meyer was sentenced on December 7, 2022, to a term of imprisonment of 244 months.

This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned an Indictment charging Bryce A. Nolde of Garland, Nebraska, with one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is no more than 30 years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

An indictment is a charging document that contains one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Nolde is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), and Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG).

Customers, subcontractors, suppliers or others who may have done business with Bryce Nolde or BV Builders are encouraged to contact the FDIC-OIG tipline at 1-800-964-3342 or https://www.fdicoig.gov/oig-hotline and reference “BV Builders.”

                                           

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Amikhet En Maati, formerly known as Warren Coker, 52, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was found guilty by a bench trial on February 22, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for two counts of production of child pornography concerning two separate victims, two counts of committing the production of child pornography offenses while on the Sex Offender Registry, and one count of possession of child pornography. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard presided over the bench trial and set sentencing for May 20, 2024.

On September 9, 2022, Lincoln Police Department (“LPD”) received a report regarding the sexual abuse of a minor female where Maati was the subject. A search of the residence was conducted and a cellphone belonging to Maati was seized. Around that same time, LPD determined that Maati was also the subject of a recent tip made to the FBI. A forensic examination was completed on Maati’s cellphone. Law enforcement discovered multiple child exploitation videos of minor Victim 1 and one video of minor Victim 2. Maati uploaded and distributed these videos to a cloud-storage website where his friend, who was another registered sex offender, had access to them. Further review of Maati’s cloud-storage account revealed additional child exploitation videos of each of the victims.

Maati was previously convicted on or about January 2, 1997, for Attempted Sex Assault of a Child in Douglas County District Court, Nebraska, and on or about July 1, 1999, for one count of Second-Degree Sexual Assault and one count of Sexual Assault of a Child in Sarpy County District Court, Nebraska. Due to these prior convictions, Maati now faces a mandatory sentence of at least 45 years imprisonment based on today’s guilty verdict.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Gary Pope II, 42, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced February 21, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Pope to 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Pope’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release.

Law enforcement became aware of Pope as a dealer of cocaine in the Omaha area. This led to a three-month wiretap of Pope’s cell phone in 2022. The wiretap intercepts and resulting investigation confirmed that Pope would receive cocaine deliveries from Texas in kilogram quantities and sell the cocaine in lesser quantities in the Omaha area. As part of a plea agreement, Pope admitted to agreeing to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine in Nebraska between January 19, 2022, and July 15, 2022.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Pope has also pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa to two charges – possession with intent to distribute marijuana and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing in that case is scheduled for March 19, 2024.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Helen Nguyen, 31, of Culver City, California, was sentenced February 21, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Nguyen to 66 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Nguyen’s release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

In October of 2021, members of the Omaha DEA Tactical Diversion Squad began investigating a dark net marketplace (DNM) vender operating under the moniker DIRTYRUGS, a source of supply brokering deals of controlled substances, to include meth and cocaine. The vendor used the Dark Net/Peer to Peer (P2P) messaging smart phone application and shipped the products via the United States Postal Service around the United States of America, to include the District of Nebraska. On four occasions during the investigation agents ordered controlled substances, including meth, from the DIRTYRUGS’S vendor page. The agents’ four orders were received at an undercover Nebraska residence and included more than 50 grams of meth.

During the course of the investigation, agents learned that Helen Nguyen had sent the packages of meth received by the agents. A search warrant served on Nguyen’s iCloud account revealed that she was operating the DIRTYRUGS website and was conspiring with codefendant James Lau to deliver controlled substances on the Dark Net.

On June 2, 2022, a Nebraska complaint and arrest warrants were obtained for Helen Nguyen and James Lau. Search warrants were obtained for both of their California residences and executed on June 8, 2022. Nguyen was stopped as she was leaving her residence. During a search of her vehicle agents located multiple types of controlled substances, to include meth, Adderall pills, Xanax, and Farmapram. A search of Nguyen’s residence revealed multiple items consistent with the shipping of Dark Net market packages.

A search of Lau’s residence revealed approximately 1 kilogram of cocaine, counterfeit Adderall pills, and ecstasy pills. During a post arrest interview, Lau said he was working with Nguyen and knew she was using the Dark Net to distribute controlled substances. Lau said he was responsible for obtaining the drugs for sale, with the exception of the meth, which Nguyen was able to obtain.

James Lau previously pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and was sentenced to 47 months on January 4, 2024.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Orlando Brewer, 54, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy.  Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Brewer to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.  After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

As part of a long-term investigation into a Mexican-based Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), DEA identified Maria Reyes-Monge as a meth distributor for the Omaha metro area.  As part of the investigation, Reyes-Monge was kept under electronic and physical surveillance.  She was observed on numerous occasions meeting with local dealers and supplying them with Mexican-imported meth. 

On October 5, 2022, Reyes-Monge was observed going to the Walgreen’s parking lot at 1606 S. 72nd Street.  Reyes-Monge was observed meeting with Brewer and conducting what appeared to be a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction.  A traffic stop was done on Brewer leaving the meeting, and it was determined that he had active felony arrest warrants.  On the passenger side rear floorboard was a bag with 361 grams pure meth. 

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.

This case was investigated by the DEA, Omaha Police Department, and Bellevue Police Department.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Vyacheslav Igorevich Penchukov pleaded guilty on February 15, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for his role in two separate and wide-ranging malware schemes involving tens of millions of dollars in losses.

Penchukov was a leader of two prolific malware groups that infected thousands of computers with malicious software. These criminal groups stole millions of dollars from their victims and even attacked a major hospital with ransomware, leaving it unable to provide critical care to patients for over two weeks,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Before his arrest and extradition to the United States, the defendant was a fugitive on the FBI’s most wanted list for nearly a decade.  Today’s guilty pleas should serve as a clear warning: the Justice Department will never stop in its pursuit of cybercriminals.”

According to court documents, Vyacheslav Igorevich Penchukov, also known as Vyacheslav Igoravich Andreev and Tank, 37, of Donetsk, helped lead a wide-ranging racketeering enterprise and conspiracy that infected thousands of business computers with malicious software known as “Zeus” beginning in May 2009. After installing “Zeus” without authorization on victims’ computers, the enterprise then used the malicious software to capture bank account information, passwords, personal identification numbers, and similar information necessary to log into online banking accounts. Penchukov and his co-conspirators then falsely represented to banks that they were employees of the victims and authorized to make transfers of funds from the victims’ bank accounts, causing the banks to make unauthorized transfers of funds from the victims’ accounts, resulting in millions of dollars in losses to the victims. The enterprise used residents of the United States and elsewhere as “money mules” to receive wired funds from victims’ bank accounts into their own bank accounts, who then withdrew and wired funds overseas to accounts controlled by Penchukov’s co-conspirators. 

Penchukov was charged with these offenses in the District of Nebraska. Given the severity of the charges in the case and the harm posed to American victims, Penchukov was added to the FBI’s Cyber Most Wanted List.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, in concert with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, successfully coordinated the prosecution and plea of Penchukov,” said U.S. Attorney Susan T. Lehr for the District of Nebraska. “This case demonstrates that cybercrime can affect anyone, no matter where they are.  It also demonstrates that no matter where the cybercriminals are, the department can and will bring them to justice.”

Despite being added to the FBI’s Cyber Most Wanted List, Penchukov returned to criminal activity by helping lead a conspiracy that infected victim computers with IcedID or Bokbot, a new malware, from at least November 2018 through February 2021. IcedID was a sophisticated form of malicious software that collected and transmitted personal information from victims, including credentials for banking accounts. Penchukov and his co-conspirators used this information to steal from IcedID’s victims. IcedID also provided access to infected computers for other forms of malicious software, including ransomware. One such victim of this ransomware attack was the University of Vermont Medical Center, causing the loss of over $30 million from this victim alone, and left the medical center unable to provide many critical patient services for over two weeks, creating a risk of death or serious bodily injury to patients. Penchukov was charged with these offenses in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

“Malware like IcedID bleeds billions from the American economy and puts our critical infrastructure and national security at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The Justice Department and FBI Cyber Squad won’t stand by and watch it happen, and won’t quit coming for the world’s most wanted cybercriminals, no matter where they are in the world. This operation removed a key player from one of the world’s most notorious cybercriminal rings. Extradition is real. Anyone who infects American computers had better be prepared to answer to an American judge.”

“Core to the FBI’s cyber strategy is our willingness to play the long game and take players off the field. Vyacheslav Penchukov was a prolific criminal for over a decade and his criminal activities caused millions in damages,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI would like to thank our partners in both public and private sectors, and domestically and globally, for helping us bring Penchukov to justice.”

Penchukov was arrested in Switzerland in 2022 and extradited to the United States in 2023.

Penchukov pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit a racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) act offense for his leadership role in the “Zeus” enterprise. Penchukov (as Andreev) also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his leadership role in the IcedID malware group. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard on May 9, 2024 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. Judge Gerrard will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Omaha and Charlotte Field Offices are investigating the case.

Assistant Deputy Chief William A. Hall Jr. and Senior Counsels Frank Lin and Ryan K.J. Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Higgins for the District of Nebraska, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe for the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Swiss Federal Office of Justice to secure the arrest and extradition of Penchukov.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Samantha Miller, 31, of Oxford, Nebraska, was sentenced February 16, 2024 in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Miller to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Miller’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.

From July 2021 to July 2022, Miller and others worked together to sell methamphetamine and fentanyl in and around Kearney, Nebraska. Miller was identified after a confidential informant purchased meth from a different drug dealer, who told the confidential informant he had to pick up the meth from a different location. Law enforcement followed that drug dealer to Miller’s residence, where the drug dealer obtained the meth and then provided to the confidential informant. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement learned that Miller was working with others to deal meth and fentanyl and sending money from drug proceeds back to Mexico.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and FBI.

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Conner Chapman, 21, of Ashland, Nebraska, was sentenced February 16, 2024 in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for receiving and distributing child pornography. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Chapman to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Chapman’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender.

In November of 2021, Nebraska’s Internet Crimes Against Children investigation team received a Cypertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reporting 5 video files were uploaded by a KIK user that contained child pornography. The IP address used for uploading of the files was identified as belonging to Chapman’s residence.

In September, 2022, a search warrant was executed on Chapman’s residence and a phone belonging to Chapman was seized. Chapman was interviewed and eventually admitted to viewing child pornography online.  Chapman’s phone was forensically searched and 216 image files and 7 video files of child pornography were found.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.

A Ukrainian national pleaded guilty today to his role in two separate and wide-ranging malware schemes involving tens of millions of dollars in losses.

“Vyacheslav Igorevich Penchukov was a leader of two prolific malware groups that infected thousands of computers with malicious software. These criminal groups stole millions of dollars from their victims and even attacked a major hospital with ransomware, leaving it unable to provide critical care to patients for over two weeks,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Before his arrest and extradition to the United States, the defendant was a fugitive on the FBI’s most wanted list for nearly a decade. Today’s guilty pleas should serve as a clear warning: the Justice Department will never stop in its pursuit of cybercriminals.”

According to court documents, Vyacheslav Igorevich Penchukov, also known as Vyacheslav Igoravich Andreev and Tank, 37, of Donetsk, helped lead a wide-ranging racketeering enterprise and conspiracy that infected thousands of business computers with malicious software known as “Zeus” beginning in May 2009. After installing “Zeus” without authorization on victims’ computers, the enterprise then used the malicious software to capture bank account information, passwords, personal identification numbers, and similar information necessary to log into online banking accounts. Penchukov and his co-conspirators then falsely represented to banks that they were employees of the victims and authorized to make transfers of funds from the victims’ bank accounts, causing the banks to make unauthorized transfers of funds from the victims’ accounts, resulting in millions of dollars in losses to the victims. The enterprise used residents of the United States and elsewhere as “money mules” to receive wired funds from victims’ bank accounts into their own bank accounts, who then withdrew and wired funds overseas to accounts controlled by Penchukov’s co-conspirators. 

Penchukov was charged with these offenses in the District of Nebraska. Given the severity of the charges in the case and the harm posed to American victims, Penchukov was added to the FBI’s Cyber Most Wanted List.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, in concert with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, successfully coordinated the prosecution and plea of Penchukov,” said U.S. Attorney Susan T. Lehr for the District of Nebraska. “This case demonstrates that cybercrime can affect anyone, no matter where they are. It also demonstrates that no matter where the cybercriminals are, the department can and will bring them to justice.”

Despite being added to the FBI’s Cyber Most Wanted List, Penchukov returned to criminal activity by helping lead a conspiracy that infected victim computers with IcedID or Bokbot, a new malware, from at least November 2018 through February 2021. IcedID was a sophisticated form of malicious software that collected and transmitted personal information from victims, including credentials for banking accounts. Penchukov and his co-conspirators used this information to steal from IcedID’s victims. IcedID also provided access to infected computers for other forms of malicious software, including ransomware. One such victim of this ransomware attack was the University of Vermont Medical Center, causing the loss of over $30 million from this victim alone, and left the medical center unable to provide many critical patient services for over two weeks, creating a risk of death or serious bodily injury to patients. Penchukov was charged with these offenses in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

“Malware like IcedID bleeds billions from the American economy and puts our critical infrastructure and national security at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The Justice Department and FBI Cyber Squad won’t stand by and watch it happen, and won’t quit coming for the world’s most wanted cybercriminals, no matter where they are in the world. This operation removed a key player from one of the world’s most notorious cybercriminal rings. Extradition is real. Anyone who infects American computers had better be prepared to answer to an American judge.”

“Core to the FBI’s cyber strategy is our willingness to play the long game and take players off the field. Vyacheslav Penchukov was a prolific criminal for over a decade and his criminal activities caused millions in damages,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “The FBI would like to thank our partners in both public and private sectors, and domestically and globally, for helping us bring Penchukov to justice.”

Penchukov was arrested in Switzerland in 2022 and extradited to the United States in 2023.

Penchukov pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit a racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) act offense for his leadership role in the “Zeus” enterprise. Penchukov (as Andreev) also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his leadership role in the IcedID malware group. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Omaha and Charlotte Field Offices are investigating the case.

Assistant Deputy Chief William A. Hall Jr. and Senior Counsels Frank Lin and Ryan K.J. Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Higgins for the District of Nebraska, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe for the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Swiss Federal Office of Justice to secure the arrest and extradition of Penchukov.