District of Nevada

LAS VEGAS – United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson today announced awards totaling $16,231,466 in Department of Justice grants to support public safety efforts in the District of Nevada. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office on Violence Against Women.

“These grant awards will be used to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking,” said United Sates Attorney Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We are committed to working with local, state, and Tribal governments, and community organizations to address and reduce violence against women in our communities.”

The following organizations received funding:

• Nevada Attorney General’s Office – $3,232,136
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 STOP Formula Grant Program – $1,877,858
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Sexual Assault Services Formula Program – $854,278
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program – $500,000
• Reno-Sparks Indian Colony – $1,322,192
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program
• Shoshone-Paiute Tribes – $1,549,951
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program – $799,951
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program – $750,000
• Walker River Paiute Tribe – $871,600
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program
• Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe – $738,793
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program
• Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California – $601,681
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program
• Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence – $367,379
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program
• County of Elko – $700,000
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program
• Gay & Lesbian Community Center – $599,927
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations Program
• Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education – $397,807
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program
• Nevada Outreach Training Organization No to Abuse – $500,000
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program
• National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges – $5,350,000
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Training and Technical Assistance Initiative – $1,450,000
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Training and Technical Assistance Initiative – $1,800,000
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Training and Technical Assistance Initiative – $1,600,000
  • OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Training and Technical Assistance Initiative – $500,000

The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about these and other OVW awards can be found on the OVW Grant Awards Page.

About the Office on Violence Against Women

OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent reauthorizing legislation. Created in 1995, OVW has awarded more than $11 billion in funding to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW supports policy development and undertakes special initiatives in response to community-identified needs. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who was employed as a second-grade teacher was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge James C. Mahan to nine years in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via, Kik, a social media messaging application.

According to court documents, between April 11, 2021 and August 23, 2021, Alexander Scott Derringer (38) distributed over 130 CSAM files through two accounts on the mobile application Kik messenger. Of these files, approximately 59 of those files were recovered from two cellphones, both owned by Derringer. These files were among the approximately 2,584 images and 269 videos of CSAM found in the aggregate of both devices. The images and videos depicted minors as young as infants.

The Henderson Police Department identified Derringer after receiving two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual using an IP address associated with Derringer’s residence uploaded and shared CSAM with other users and groups.

In June 2024, Derringer pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.

“Mr. Derringer abused his position of public trust to prey on those we expected him to protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Division. “Every time child pornography is viewed on the internet, it re-victimizes a child. The sexual exploitation of children is among the most unscrupulous crimes we investigate, and today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that the FBI and our partners will work tirelessly to protect children from abuse and exploitation.”

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Evans made the announcement.

The FBI-led Child Exploitation Task Force which consists of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, North Las Vegas Police Department, Henderson Police Department, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin prosecuted the case.

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

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or online at https://report.cybertip.org.

###

LAS VEGAS – United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson today announced awards totaling $31,746,860 in Department of Justice grants to support public safety efforts in the District of Nevada. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.

“These grants are a nearly $32 million dollar investment in our state that will be used to assist local governments and Tribal communities; fund law enforcement services, resources, and trainings; and support survivors,” said U.S. Attorney Frierson for the District of Nevada. “I thank the Office of Justice Programs for awarding this critical funding that will help us build trust with and keep communities safer in Nevada.”

The following organizations received funding:

• Bureau of Justice Assistance
  • National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges – $1,500,000
    • BJA FY24 Extreme Risk Protective Order and Firearm Crisis Intervention Training and Technical Assistance Initiative- Invited to Apply
  • City of Henderson – $782,000
    • BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
  • Reno-Sparks Indian Colony – $1,865,000
    • BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program – $265,000
    • FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation – $1,600,000
  • County of Lander– $563,000
    • BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
  • City of Reno – $1,500,000
    • BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
  • Diphrent Inc. – $963,000
    • BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
  • County of Washoe – $996,000
    • BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
  • City of North Las Vegas – $1,620,000
    • BJA FY24 Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
  • Nevada Department of Public Safety – $2,103,677
    • BJA FY24 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program Formula Grant Solicitation – $348,149
    • BJA FY24 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Formula Solicitation – $1,755,528
  • County of Elko – $512,976
    • BJA FY24 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
  • Clark County Parent – $1,000,000
    • BJA FY24 Second Chance Act Pay for Success Program
  • Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone – $150,000
    • FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation
  • Nevada State – $65,292
    • BJA FY24 John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program
• National Institute of Justice
  • National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges – $2,000,000
    • NIJ FY24 National Juvenile Court Data Archive
• Office for Victims of Crime
  • Noah’s Animal House Foundation – $81,710
    • OVC FY24 Technical Assistance for Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance Grants - Invited to Apply
  • Eighth Judicial District Court – $800,000
    • OVC FY24 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program - Invited to Apply
  • Division of Child and Family Services – $9,959,406
    • OVC FY24 VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant – $7,597,406
    • OVC FY24 VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant – $2,362,000
• Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada – $396,816
  • OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program - Invited to Apply
  • Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe – $229,973
    • OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program - Invited to Apply
  • Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe – $229,973
    • OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program - Invited to Apply
  • Reno-Sparks Indian Colony – $229,973
    • OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program - Invited to Apply
• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
  • National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges – $600,000
    • OJJDP FY24 National Youth Justice Training and Technical Assistance - Invited to Apply
• SMART Office
  • Shoshone-Paiute Tribes – $343,966
    • SMART FY 2024 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program
  • Nevada Department of Public Safety –$175,000
    • SMART FY 2024 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program
• Bureau of Justice Statistics
  • Nevada Department of Public Safety – $3,079,098
    • BJS FY24 NICS Act Record Improvement Program NARIP – $2,413,463
    • BJS FY24 National Criminal History Improvement Program – $665,635

The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.

About the Office of Justice Programs

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

###

LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas doctor was sentenced today by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 27 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $75,000 for unlawfully distributing opioid pain medications without a medically legitimate purpose.

“By prescribing medically unnecessary prescription medications in exchange for cash payments, the defendant put vulnerable patients at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to find and investigate practitioners in the medical community who target and victimize vulnerable populations.”

According to court documents, Dr. William Alvear (69) unlawfully distributed Hydrocodone without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. Instead, he prescribed opioids when a patient offered to pay him cash. In addition, Alvear unlawfully distributed and dispensed Alprazolam, common brand name Xanax. 

Alprazolam is a Schedule IV controlled substance that also has the potential for abuse and can lead to psychological or physical dependence. Hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, has a high potential for abuse and can lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

In November 2023, following a six-day jury trial, Alvear was found guilty of three-counts of distributing a controlled substance – Schedule II and five-counts of distributing or dispensing a controlled substance – Schedule IV.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Evans made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. 

The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms. 

“The strength of our local partnerships plays a key role in our focused efforts to address and reduce intimate partner firearm violence in Las Vegas, and to support and seek justice for victims and survivors,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to leveraging our resources to combat firearm violence against intimate partners. We will continue to work hand in hand with the ATF and Clark County District Attorney’s Office to hold violent intimate partner offenders accountable.”

“ATF is committed to our pledge of ensuring the safety of the public, which includes continuing our efforts to ensure protection from intimate partner firearm violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. “We will continue to work with our prosecutorial partners and local law enforcement to ensure that this conduct is not tolerated within the Las Vegas community and that the prosecution of domestic offenders, who are prohibited from having a firearm, are a priority.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada works closely with the Clark County District Attorney’s Office to address intimate partner gun violence in the Las Vegas Valley. Where appropriate, possession of firearms by dangerous, repeat domestic violence offenders are adopted for prosecution under federal law. Prosecution of the most dangerous offenders under the federal statute often results in a substantially longer sentence for that offender.

Communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders. They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The designation is an indicator of partnership and coordination between the Department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.

The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.  

###

A federal jury convicted a Nevada man today for defrauding three banks of more than $11.2 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds intended to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Meelad Dezfooli, 30, of Henderson, engaged in a scheme to submit fraudulent loan applications under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a program that provided loans to help small businesses continue paying employee salaries and certain other basic business expenses during the pandemic. Dezfooli submitted three fraudulent PPP loan applications to federally insured banks, purportedly for the benefit of companies that the defendant controlled, and obtained more than $11.2 million in proceeds from those loans.   

The evidence at trial showed that Dezfooli falsely represented certain material information in his loan applications, including information about payroll, employees, and use of the loan proceeds. After fraudulently obtaining more than $11.2 million in PPP funds, Dezfooli laundered and/or spent the proceeds by, among other things: buying approximately 25 residences and two luxury cars, funding a personal investment account, and gambling extensively. After he was originally charged, Dezfooli continued laundering criminal proceeds by selling five of the residences that he acquired with the fraudulently obtained PPP funds. 

The jury convicted Dezfooli of three counts of bank fraud, three counts of money laundering, and four counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on each of the bank fraud counts, 20 years in prison on each of the money laundering counts, and 10 years in prison on each of the counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jon Ellwanger of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General (FRB-CFPB OIG), Western Region; Special Agent in Charge Weston King of the Small Business Association Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Western Region; and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), San Francisco Region made the announcement.

The IRS-CI, FRB-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and SBA-OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Taylor G. Stout of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. Legal Assistant Alexa Stiles and Paralegal Holly Butler of MLARS provided substantial assistance throughout the investigation and trial.  

MLARS’ Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department 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, visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

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

LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted a Nevada man Wednesday for defrauding three banks of more than $11.2 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds intended to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Meelad Dezfooli, 30, of Henderson, engaged in a scheme to submit fraudulent loan applications under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a program that provided loans to help small businesses continue paying employee salaries and certain other basic business expenses during the pandemic. Dezfooli submitted three fraudulent PPP loan applications to federally insured banks, purportedly for the benefit of companies that the defendant controlled, and obtained more than $11.2 million in proceeds from those loans.   

The evidence at trial showed that Dezfooli falsely represented certain material information in his loan applications, including information about payroll, employees, and use of the loan proceeds. After fraudulently obtaining more than $11.2 million in PPP funds, Dezfooli laundered and/or spent the proceeds by, among other things: buying approximately 25 residences and two luxury cars, funding a personal investment account, and gambling extensively. After he was originally charged, Dezfooli continued laundering criminal proceeds by selling five of the residences that he acquired with the fraudulently obtained PPP funds. 

The jury convicted Dezfooli of three counts of bank fraud, three counts of money laundering, and four counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on each of the bank fraud counts, 20 years in prison on each of the money laundering counts, and 10 years in prison on each of the counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jon Ellwanger of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General (FRB-CFPB OIG), Western Region; Special Agent in Charge Weston King of the Small Business Association Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Western Region; and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), San Francisco Region made the announcement.

The IRS-CI, FRB-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and SBA-OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Taylor G. Stout of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. Legal Assistant Alexa Stiles and Paralegal Holly Butler of MLARS provided substantial assistance throughout the investigation and trial.  

MLARS’ Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department 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, visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

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

###

LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury indicted two Henderson men for allegedly damaging ancient rock formations at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, on April 7, 2024, Wyatt Clifford Fain (37) and Payden David Guy Cosper (31) pushed large chunks of ancient rock formations over the edge of a cliff onto the ground below while on or near the Redstone Dunes Trail at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, resulting in damages in excess of $1,000.

Fain and Cosper were each charged with one count of injury and depredation of government property and one count of aiding and abetting. They were arrested by the United States Marshals Service, and they made their initial court appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe. A jury trial has been scheduled for October 8, 2024, before United States District Judge Jennifer Dorsey.

If convicted, the defendants each face up to ten years imprisonment.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and United States Marshal Gary Schofield for the United States Marshals Service made the announcement.

The National Park Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Skyler Pearson is prosecuting the case.

If you see something suspicious in any National Park location, or if you have information that could aid an investigation, call the NPS-wide Tip Line at 1-888-653-0009 or submit a tip online at https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/submit-a-tip.htm.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

LAS VEGAS – Jose Carlos De La Rosa-Lopez was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Las Vegas.

From August 2021 to May 4, 2022, De La Rosa-Lopez and co-defendants Eduardo Lopez, Jose Luis Marin-Flores, Luis Alfredo Vela-Aguirre, Jose Rivera-Hernandez, Irene Alejo-Hernandez, and Luis Alberto Lopez Benitez conspired to distribute over three kilograms of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

Previously, six co-defendants were sentenced. Eduardo Lopez was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Jose Luis Marin-Flores was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Luis Alfredo Vela-Aguirre was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Jose Rivera-Hernandez was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Irene Alejo-Hernandez was sentenced to time served. Luis Alberto Lopez Benitez was sentenced to 37 months in prison.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas District Office made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the DEA. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case.

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

If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community — which may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances — please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.

###

LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury in Las Vegas returned an indictment Tuesday charging a Las Vegas resident with sending threatening text messages to injure and kill two people and their families in California.

Idriss Qibaa, 28, is charged with two counts of interstate communications. An arraignment and plea hearing is scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler on Friday, August 16, 2024. He was previously charged by a criminal complaint on July 23, 2024; and he remains in custody.

According to allegations contained in court documents, on July 19, 2024, Qibaa sent text messages containing threats to injure and kill a victim and members of the victim’s family. Later, on July 24, Qibaa sent text messages containing threats to injure and kill another victim.

If convicted, Qibaa faces a maximum sentence of five years confinement and a $250,000 fine on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Las Vegas Field Office and the Beverly Hills Police Department are investigating the case.

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

###

LAS VEGAS – A Pennsylvania man who was convicted by a federal jury was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping a woman in Pennsylvania then driving her to Nevada and killing her in the desert.

Following an eight-day jury trial in May 2024, John Matthew Chapman, was found guilty of one count of kidnapping resulting in death. United States District Judge James C. Mahan presided over the trial and sentenced Chapman to the maximum penalty.

“The defendant violated the victim’s trust by luring her away from her family and friends in Pennsylvania and out into the Nevada desert where he viciously killed her,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “This sentence should send a clear message to others that kidnapping and killing another person will result in a substantial prison sentence. Thank you to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their hard work in bringing justice for the victim’s family.”

“Today’s sentencing holds the defendant accountable for the callous and brutal murder of an innocent young woman,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “We hope it will bring a sense of closure to the victim’s family, while affirming the FBI and our law enforcement partners' commitment to pursuing justice for those affected by violence.”

According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, on November 14, 2019, the Bethel Park Police Department in Pennsylvania conducted a welfare check on the victim at the request of a friend. During the welfare check, neighbors stated that they had not seen the victim in approximately two months, but they had observed a person whom they believed to be her boyfriend (Chapman) entering and leaving the victim’s residence. Inside the victim’s residence, officers found identification cards with Chapman’s name and photograph, the victim’s cellular telephone, multiple zip ties, and a roll of duct tape.

On November 15, 2019, Bethel Park Police Department detectives arrested and interviewed Chapman. During the interview, Chapman admitted that in September 2019 he drove the victim from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, to Las Vegas, Nevada. He further admitted that he misled the victim to believe the trip was a vacation and they would potentially purchase a residence in Las Vegas. Chapman, however, had planned to kill the victim before their departure to Nevada. Chapman told investigators that he drove the victim out to the desert in Lincoln County, Nevada. Under the pretext of a bondage photo shoot, Chapman bound the victim’s hands and feet with plastic zip ties and affixed her to a signpost. Then he applied duct tape to her mouth and nose and watched her die from asphyxiation.

The joint investigation revealed that Chapman returned to Pennsylvania. He pretended to be the victim, including using the victim’s Facebook messenger account, and he continuously used the victim’s residence and money following her death.

The FBI, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada, and the Bethel Park Police Department in Pennsylvania investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady, Megan Rachow, and Steven Rose prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Canadian man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Las Vegas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal millions of dollars from thousands of victims in the United States.

According to court documents, Poupak Jannissar, 52, of Quebec, Canada, operated and controlled sham companies that used fake checks and other fraudulent debits to steal from victims’ accounts at banks in the United States. The defendant and his co-conspirators used various names for the sham companies, including Computer Run, EBooks, Joreeb, Memo Storage, Our Online Backup, You Can Fax Too and Your E-Library. These companies pretended to sell various internet-based services for consumers, such as cloud storage, internet faxing and online books. However, the sham companies did not actually provide any real products or services. Instead, the sham companies served to conceal the theft of money from bank accounts by Jannissar and his co-conspirators.

According to court documents, Jannissar and his co-conspirators bought lists containing misappropriated personal information belonging to thousands of potential victims. Jannissar and his co-conspirators then falsely represented to banks and others that individual victims had authorized debits from their bank accounts. If the individual victims did not notice and dispute initial charges made by the sham companies, the sham companies would fraudulently debit bank accounts multiple times. Jannissar and his co-conspirators transferred money they stole to accounts in Canada.

Jannissar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of money laundering in front of U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

Jannissar was arrested on Jan. 22, at the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in Florida based on a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued in the District of Nevada by U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler. He was subsequently indicted on the charges to which he pled guilty today.

“Through various sham entities, the defendant and his accomplices stole consumers’ hard-earned money directly from their bank accounts,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will use all of the tools at its disposal to apprehend and prosecute criminals, whether located inside or outside the United States, who steal from Americans.”

“Yesterday's guilty plea demonstrates our commitment to finding and prosecuting individuals who steal from consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Defrauding consumers and stealing their hard-earned dollars is a crime against the individuals but it also violates the trust we have in free commerce. With our law enforcement partners, we are committed to holding accountable those who violate federal law. We thank our partners for their investigative efforts to help bring justice for victims.”

“Mr. Jannisar and his co-conspirators used sham companies to steal from unknowing victims by accessing their bank accounts using personal identifiable information from illegally obtained lists, and sadly nothing more than a keystroke on a computer,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations (USPIS-CI). “His actions and those of his co-conspirators represent a crime of greed and opportunity but will not go unpunished thanks to the law enforcement community, who have dedicated their mission to uncovering and putting an end to devious schemes like these.”

"The defendant's guilty plea holds him accountable for perpetrating a fraudulent scheme that stole funds from thousands of victims' bank accounts,” said Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG) Chicago Regional Office. “The FDIC OIG continues to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who cause financial harm to consumers and threaten to undermine the integrity of our Nation's banking system."

Jannissar faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per charge. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

USPIS-CI and FDIC OIG are investigating the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provided valuable assistance.

Senior Trial Attorney Daniel Zytnick of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.

For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Consumer complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

###

LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury returned a 22-count indictment charging a Las Vegas man with threatening to assault and murder federal officials, including federal judges, and state employees in Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, and Montana.

According to court documents, between November 30, 2023, and July 7, 2024, Spencer Christjencody Gear, 32, made threatening phone calls and sent a threatening email to assault and murder eight federal officials with intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the officials while engaged in the performance of official duties, and with intent to retaliate against the officials on account of the performance of official duties. Gear also threatened three state employees. 

Gear was arrested and made his initial court appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler. He is charged with 10-counts of threatening a federal official and 12-counts of transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 24, 2024 before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey.

If convicted, Gear faces a maximum penalty of 10 years for each count of threatening a federal official and 5 years for each count of transmitting a threat to injure. 

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, Marshal Gary Schofield for the U.S. Marshals Service, and Chief J. Thomas Manger, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, United States Capitol Police, New York State Courts Department of Public Safety, New York County District Attorney’s Office – Investigations Bureau, and the Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Operskalski is prosecuting the case.

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

###

 A grand jury returned a 22-count indictment charging Spencer Christjencody Gear, 32, of Las Vegas, Nevada, with threatening to assault and murder federal officials, including federal judges, and state employees in Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey and Montana.

“The citizens we rely on to serve the public must be able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department has no tolerance for acts and threats of violence targeting public servants, and we will stop at nothing to find and bring to justice those responsible.”

“The FBI will not tolerate individuals who threaten government officials for doing their jobs and who create a climate of fear,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI National Security Branch. “As this case demonstrates, we will work with our partners to investigate and hold accountable all those who threaten or interfere with government officials as they carry out their duties.”

According to court documents, between Nov. 30, 2023, and July 7, Gear made threatening phone calls and sent a threatening email to assault and murder eight federal officials with intent to impede, intimidate and interfere with the officials while engaged in the performance of official duties, and with intent to retaliate against the officials on account of the performance of official duties. Gear also threatened three state employees. 

Gear was arrested and made his initial court appearance today. He is charged with 10 counts of threatening a federal official and 12 counts of transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. A jury trial has been scheduled for Sept. 24.

If convicted, Gear faces a maximum penalty of 10 years for each count of threatening a federal official and five years for each count of transmitting a threat to injure. 

The FBI, United States Marshals Service and U.S. Capitol Police are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Operskalski for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

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

RENO - A Nevada man was sentenced today to 65 years in prison, to be followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting multiple minors and advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he coerced these minors into producing. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2018 and 2021, James Patrick Burns, 55, of Sparks, “sextorted” multiple minors online, via Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega, by threatening these minors into producing CSAM and then posting the CSAM on dark web forums. During this period, Burns was the most prolific creator of illegal content on these forums. He victimized over 100 children, many of whom have yet to be identified. Burns’s offenses came to the attention of law enforcement when the mother of one of his victims saw threats on the victim’s phone and reported what she saw to the police.

Burns was also ordered to pay $82,655.92 in restitution and $21,000 in assessments under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act.

On March 5, a federal jury convicted Burns of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. At the time of these offenses, Burns was already a registered sex offender, and the jury also convicted Burns of committing certain specified felony offenses while required to register as a sex offender.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Miller of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas made the announcement.

The FBI-led Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of detectives and investigators from the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and HSI, investigated the case. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Chicago Field Office, and local law enforcement around the country provided substantial assistance.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced Tuesday to 46 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for leaving a threatening voicemail and text messages threatening to kill a family member of a then member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

According to court documents, in the late evening of June 1, and the early morning of June 2, 2023, Anthony Lewis Hamelin, also known as “Tony Hamelin,” 52, called the spouse of a then-member of the U.S. House of Representatives and left a voicemail threatening to kill their son. Hamelin stated that he was enroute to his intended victim. Hamelin sent text messages stating anger and frustration with the U.S. Representative for carrying out his official duties. On June 2, 2023, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers and U.S. Capitol Police agents located Hamelin and arrested him.

On March 11, 2024, Hamelin pleaded guilty to one count of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threatening a family member, and one count of transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure. United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro presided over the sentencing hearing.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Chief J. Thomas Manger, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police made the announcement.

The U.S. Capitol Police and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Operskalski prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Colorado man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for using a Tomahawk hatchet to attack and cause serious injury to a person at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 2018.

According to court documents, on September 7, 2018, Christopher Dewey Booker, 48, repeatedly struck and bludgeoned a person using a Tomahawk hatchet. The victim sustained at least 22 injuries including fractures, lacerations, partial detachment of his left hand, and partial facial paralysis. These injuries resulted in protracted loss and impairment of the victim’s jaw and permanent impairment of the victim’s left hand.

In May 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Booker; and in April 2024, Booker pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. In addition to imprisonment, United States District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Booker to three years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the National Park Service. Assistant United States Attorney Mina Chang prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced Tuesday to 97 months in prison for selling large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin in Las Vegas.

According to court documents, from January 2022 to September 14, 2022, Jacobo Aguilar Humberto (43) conspired with co-defendant Eduardo Flores-Martinez to sell methamphetamine and heroin for cash. At times, as part of the conspiracy, Humberto would call Flores-Martinez, his courier, to sell narcotics on his behalf. During the conspiracy, Humberto directly sold or dispatched Flores-Martinez to sell methamphetamine and heroin on multiple dates.

On September 14, 2022, law enforcement agents recovered one pound of heroin and one ounce of methamphetamine, as well as $2,060 in cash and two loaded firearms from Humberto’s vehicle. Agents also conducted a traffic stop on Flores-Martinez’s vehicle where they recovered one pound of methamphetamine, one ounce of heroin, and a loaded firearm. During a search of Humberto’s residence, agents recovered $16,156 and three firearms.

Humberto pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. In addition to 97 months in prison, United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Humberto to five years of supervised release.

Flores-Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. On July 25, 2023, United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Flores-Martinez to 84 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas District Office made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case.

If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community — which may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances — please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas business owner was sentenced Tuesday to 21 months in prison for submitting over $700,000 in false invoices to a hospital, causing the hospital to mail checks to the defendant for products not provided to the hospital.

According to court documents, beginning in 2020 and continuing through June 14, 2022, Roland Sagun Torres devised a scheme to defraud a hospital located in Nevada. As part of the fraudulent scheme, Torres used the names of at least 100 patients and doctors at the hospital to submit false invoices from his business for products that he did not provide to the hospital. In total, Torres’s submission of these false invoices caused the hospital to mail checks to Torres’s company in the amount of $712,000 for products he never provided.

On November 3, 2023, Torres pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. In addition to imprisonment, United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Torres to three years of supervised release and ordered Torres to pay $712,000 in restitution.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Edward Veronda prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – A California man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring with others to distribute hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills throughout the United States.

According to court documents, on March 17, 2021, George Anthony Manzo (37), of Redlands, California, sold 500 fentanyl pills to an individual. As part of the conspiracy, Manzo primarily utilized Snapchat to arrange drug transactions and communicate with customers. On April 2, 2021, Manzo sold approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills to his co-defendant Michel Flores-Paredes. Later, on June 29, 2021, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle driven by Manzo’s girlfriend and Manzo was in the front passenger seat. They were traveling back to Las Vegas from Phoenix where they picked up the pills. During a search of the vehicle, investigators found approximately 30,000 pills. A DEA laboratory analysis found that the pills contained fentanyl. Manzo and his girlfriend were released from custody while investigators waited for the drug test results on the pills found in their car. After their release, Manzo, his girlfriend, and her three minor children fled the United States. In December 2021, Manzo was taken into custody in Tijuana, Mexico and returned to the United States that day.

On January 2, 2024, Manzo pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – Fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance – Fentanyl.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas District Office made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melanee Smith prosecuted the case.

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

If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community — which may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances — please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.

Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced, killing 38,000 Americans in the first six months of 2023 alone. In 2022, more than two thirds of the reported 107,081 drug overdose deaths in the United States involved fentanyl. Just one fentanyl pill can kill. Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially fatal dose and laboratory testing indicates seven out of 10 pills seized by the DEA contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.

###

LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted a Las Vegas resident yesterday of coercion and enticement, child sexual exploitation, and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between June 2, 2020, and June 3, 2020, Kenton Hardy King (29), met a child through the anonymous online chat platform Omegle. He coerced and enticed the victim to engage in sexual activity and to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing sexual images. Furthermore, King possessed child sexual abuse material on two of his cell phones.

Following a five-day trial, the jury convicted King of one count each of coercion and enticement; sexual exploitation of children; and possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey on September 23, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

The FBI and the Henderson Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Rose and Jean Ripley are prosecuting the case.

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

###

RENO – A Reno resident was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Anne R. Traum to 36 months in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release for possessing over 600 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, between December 11, 2022 and February 14, 2023, Carl Baker (78) possessed and accessed computers and hard drives that contained CSAM. He admitted that he possessed more than 600 images of minors younger than 12 years of age.

In January 2024, Baker pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to imprisonment, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), Baker must register as a sex offender and keep the registration current.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

The FBI and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Penelope Brady and former Assistant United States Attorney Richard Casper prosecuted the case.

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

###

LAS VEGAS – El Aero Services, LLC has entered into a civil settlement agreement pursuant to which it has agreed to pay over $2.1 million dollars for fire response and suppression costs arising out of the Sheep Creek Fire in 2018.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) incurred $2,173,872.44 in costs and damages to suppress the Sheep Creek Fire, which started on August 18, 2018, after a helicopter crashed in the Sheep Creek Range, North of Battle Mountain, Nevada. The BLM investigated the fire and determined that El Aero Services, LLC was responsible.

“Thanks to the diligence of Assistant United States Attorneys and professional staff in the Civil Division, we have recovered over $2.1 million spent in response to the Sheep Creek Fire, which was sparked by a helicopter accident,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “This settlement reflects our office’s commitment to ensuring full recovery of wildfire suppression costs.”

Assistant United States Attorney Skyler Pearson handled this matter.

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

###

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Victor Henderson, 24, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced June 21, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of ammunition.  Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Henderson to 18 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Henderson’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.

On July 30, 2023, Omaha Police observed the driver of a Ford Edge commit a traffic violation and initiated a traffic stop on that vehicle. The driver was identified as Christopher Grutel. Henderson was seated in the front passenger seat.  Officers could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, so they detained Grutel and Henderson for a probable cause search of their persons as well as the vehicle.

While searching the vehicle, officers located marijuana shake on the front passenger floorboard, an open container of alcohol on the driver’s seat, and an ammunition box in the back seat inside a plastic bag that contained four live “Aguila” 9mm rounds of ammunition.  In 2021, Henderson was convicted in Douglas County District Court for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. 

Grutel also pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition and will be sentenced on September 6, 2024.

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

LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury indicted the Chief Executive Officer of Silver State Health Services, LLC, for allegedly stealing federal grant funding intended for the health care center to provide services to indigent persons.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, David Ryan Linden, 35, was the Chief Executive Officer of Silver State Health Services, LLC, a not-for-profit limited liability corporation in Las Vegas. On behalf of Silver State Health Services, LLC, Linden applied for federal grant money from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. As part of the grant application, Linden represented that $735,200 of the budgeted costs would be used to meet projected personnel costs for the health center. In February 2019, Silver State Health Services, LLC was awarded $735,200 in grant funding.

As alleged, on June 10, 2019, Silver State Health Services, LLC withdrew in excess of $357,000 from the grant and deposited the funds into a bank account belonging to Silver State Health Services, LLC. Then, on June 16, 2019, Linden became a signatory on a bank account belonging to a company named Freedom Infusions, LLC, which was not affiliated with the grant or Silver State Health Services, LLC. Further alleged, on June 24, 2019, Linden transferred $340,000 of federal grant funds from the Silver State Health Services, LLC bank account to the bank account for Freedom Infusions. The $340,000 was allegedly used for the benefit of others.

A jury trial has been scheduled to begin on August 27, 2024, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. If convicted, Linden faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

The FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Myhre and Justin Washburne are prosecuting the case.

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

###

A federal jury in Las Vegas convicted five men this week for their roles in running one of the largest unauthorized streaming services in the United States, which generated millions of dollars in subscription revenue while causing substantial harm to television program copyright owners.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, beginning as early as 2007, Kristopher Dallmann, Douglas Courson, Felipe Garcia, Jared Jaurequi, and Peter Huber operated an online, subscription-based streaming service known as Jetflicks. The Jetflicks group used sophisticated computer scripts and software to scour pirate websites for illegal copies of television episodes, which they then downloaded and hosted on Jetflicks servers. The group reproduced hundreds of thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorization, amassing a catalog larger than the combined catalogues of Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, and Amazon Prime. Dallmann and his co-conspirators made millions of dollars streaming and distributing this catalogue of stolen content to tens of thousands of paid subscribers.

“The defendants operated Jetflicks, an illicit streaming service they used to distribute hundreds of thousands of stolen television episodes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their scheme generated millions of dollars in criminal profits, while causing copyright owners to lose out. These convictions underscore the Criminal Division’s commitment to protecting intellectual property rights by prosecuting digital piracy schemes and bringing offenders to justice.”

“The defendants conspired to operate an online streaming service that unlawfully reproduced and distributed thousands of copyrighted television programs for their own personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “This case is another example of our steadfast commitment to combat intellectual property theft and to hold accountable those who violate intellectual property rights laws.”

“The defendants ran a platform that automated the theft of TV shows and distributed the stolen content to subscribers,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “When complaints from copyright holders and problems with payment service providers threatened to topple the illicit multimillion-dollar enterprise, the defendants tried to disguise Jetflicks as an aviation entertainment company. Digital piracy is not a victimless crime. As these convictions demonstrate, the FBI will indeed investigate those who illegally profit from the creative works of others.”

The jury convicted Dallman, Courson, Garcia, Jaurequi, and Huber of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. The jury also convicted Dallmann of two counts of money laundering by concealment and three counts of misdemeanor criminal copyright infringement. Courson, Garcia, Jaurequi, and Huber each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and Dallmann faces a maximum penalty of 48 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Las Vegas Field Office.

Trial Attorneys Michael Christin, Christopher Merriam, and Matthew Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Oliva and Edward Veronda for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the CCIPS Paralegal Edie Britman.

LAS VEGAS - A federal jury in Las Vegas convicted five men this week for their roles in running one of the largest unauthorized streaming services in the United States, which generated millions of dollars in subscription revenue while causing substantial harm to television program copyright owners.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, beginning as early as 2007, Kristopher Dallmann, Douglas Courson, Felipe Garcia, Jared Jaurequi, and Peter Huber operated an online, subscription-based streaming service known as Jetflicks. The Jetflicks group used sophisticated computer scripts and software to scour pirate websites for illegal copies of television episodes, which they then downloaded and hosted on Jetflicks servers. The group reproduced hundreds of thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorization, amassing a catalog larger than the combined catalogues of Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, and Amazon Prime. Dallmann and his co-conspirators made millions of dollars streaming and distributing this catalogue of stolen content to tens of thousands of paid subscribers.

“The defendants operated Jetflicks, an illicit streaming service they used to distribute hundreds of thousands of stolen television episodes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their scheme generated millions of dollars in criminal profits, while causing copyright owners to lose out. These convictions underscore the Criminal Division’s commitment to protecting intellectual property rights by prosecuting digital piracy schemes and bringing offenders to justice.”

“The defendants conspired to operate an online streaming service that unlawfully reproduced and distributed thousands of copyrighted television programs for their own personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “This case is another example of our steadfast commitment to combat intellectual property theft and to hold accountable those who violate intellectual property rights laws.”

“The defendants ran a platform that automated the theft of TV shows and distributed the stolen content to subscribers,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “When complaints from copyright holders and problems with payment service providers threatened to topple the illicit multimillion-dollar enterprise, the defendants tried to disguise Jetflicks as an aviation entertainment company. Digital piracy is not a victimless crime. As these convictions demonstrate, the FBI will indeed investigate those who illegally profit from the creative works of others.”

The jury convicted Dallman, Courson, Garcia, Jaurequi, and Huber of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. The jury also convicted Dallmann of two counts of money laundering by concealment and three counts of misdemeanor criminal copyright infringement. Courson, Garcia, Jaurequi, and Huber each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and Dallmann faces a maximum penalty of 48 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI Las Vegas Field Office.

Trial Attorneys Michael Christin, Christopher Merriam, and Matthew Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Oliva and Edward Veronda for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the CCIPS Paralegal Edie Britman.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced Friday by United States District Judge James C. Mahan to 43 months in prison for using stolen debit and credit cards and checks to make fraudulent purchases at retail stores.

According to court documents, from January 2023 to March 8, 2023, Andy Phouphayry, devised and carried out a scheme to fraudulently obtain debit and credit cards and checks for the purposes of withdrawing cash or making fraudulent purchases at retail stores in Las Vegas. As part of the scheme, Phouphayry stole debit or credit cards or checks from the mail. He would fraudulently obtain pin numbers for the debit and credit cards. Furthermore, he would steal victims’ checks and alter them so that they could be deposited into other victims’ bank accounts. Phouphayry deposited a stolen check into a victim’s bank account, then he fraudulently used a debit card in the name of that victim to withdraw cash from the victim’s account.

On March 8, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Phouphayry’s hotel room. Law enforcement found stolen mail including checks totaling more than $150,000. As a result of this scheme, Phouphayry stole mail from more than 10 victims and he caused at least $20,256.02 in loss to the bank.

Phouphayry pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. In addition to imprisonment, Phouphayry was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,473.12.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement.

The United States Postal Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Edward Veronda prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in increasing awareness and understanding the many forms of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

“Every year, millions of seniors experience some form of elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or fraud,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Our Elder Justice Initiative brings together local, state, federal and Tribal law enforcement to share information and increase coordination in addressing elder abuse and fraud in Nevada. We know the partnership between law enforcement and the public are vital to combating these types of crimes and are important in raising awareness. We participate in community events and presentations to raise awareness on how to recognize and prevent abuse and fraud crimes against seniors.”

Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.

The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.

Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.

To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.

In addition to prosecuting elder abuse and fraud cases, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, through its Elder Justice Initiative, partners with law enforcement agencies, government entities, and community organizations to ensure that older adults, caretakers, and those who come in frequent contact with the elderly are educated on how to detect, prevent, and report elder fraud, neglect, and abuse.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

###

RENO – A Reno resident was sentenced Monday to the mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison to be followed by lifetime term of supervised release for coercion and enticement of a child.

According to court documents, Carlos Heringer Concha (45), between December 20, 2022 and March 2, 2023, he communicated with a 14-year-old child on Discord. The chats revealed that Concha initiated sexual conversations, requested photos from the victim, and sent photos and videos of himself to the victim. On March 2, 2023, he traveled from Reno to Truckee, Calif., in order to meet and engage in sexual intercourse with the victim. He was arrested by law enforcement. Concha was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023, and he pleaded guilty in February 2024, to one count of coercion and enticement.

In a separate case in the Second Judicial District Court, on April 22, 2024, Concha was convicted of two counts of Luring/Attempting to Lure a Child with the Use of Computer Technology to Engage in Sexual Conduct for crimes he committed when he was on pretrial release for the federal case, and was sentenced on each count to 48 to 120 months imprisonment to run consecutive to each other. The sentence imposed in federal court was ordered to run partially consecutive to Concha’s state sentence. United States District Chief Judge Miranda M. Du ordered 84 months of his federal sentence to run consecutive to his state case.  

In addition to imprisonment, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), Concha must register as a sex offender and keep the registration current.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

The FBI, the Regional HEAT team, and the Truckee Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Rachow prosecuted the case.

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

###

LAS VEGAS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada will inspect several polling places in Washoe and Clark Counties for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination in voting based on disability, on Nevada Primary Election Day, June 11. The office has also sent written surveys to all Nevada county election officials to determine whether polling places in those counties are ADA compliant. The purpose of this initiative is to protect the rights of voters with disabilities by ensuring that counties select and provide accessible polling places that voters with disabilities can access independently. 

The Department of Justice’s guide on The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities describes the legal protections designed to allow equal access to every aspect of elections, including registration and voting, for people with disabilities.

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

Learn more about the Department’s enforcement of federal civil and criminal laws related to voting at https://www.justice.gov/voting. You can also report other possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ or 1-800-253-3931. You can report suspected criminal activity regarding voting to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or by filing an online complaint at tips.fbi.gov or by contacting local law enforcement.

###

LAS VEGAS – The final defendant was sentenced Tuesday by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey for his role in a conspiracy to burglarize multiple bank automatic teller machines by forcibly ripping them open with pry bars, hammers, hooks, and chains connected to stolen Ford F-250 pickup trucks.

According to court documents, from March 2020 to December 2020, Stanley Booker, Demarcus Dosewell, Dominique Owens, and Jecorian McCutcheon, all of Houston, and George Densley, of Las Vegas, conspired to burglarize ATMs and participate in three ATM burglaries in Las Vegas and one ATM burglary in Henderson. For the three Las Vegas ATM burglaries, defendants ripped apart the ATMs but were unable to open the safes containing cash. For the Henderson ATM burglary, Booker, Dosewell, and Densley stole $114,100. Booker, Dosewell, Owens, and McCutcheon also burglarized an ATM in Phoenix, stole $151,200, and transported that money to Las Vegas.

Owens pleaded guilty to three counts of bank burglary and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property; he was sentenced Tuesday to 51 months in prison. Dosewell pleaded guilty to one count of bank burglary; on February 21, 2023, he was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Booker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary, four counts of bank burglary, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property; on March 11, 2024, he was sentenced to 84 months in prison. McCutcheon pleaded guilty to two counts of bank burglary and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property; on March 5, 2024, he was sentenced to 41 months in prison. After a five-day jury trial, Densley was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and two counts of bank burglary; on May 7, 2024, he was sentenced to 60 months in prison. In addition to imprisonment, the defendants were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $485,554.77.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Brister and Steven Rose prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson joins U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country to recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024.

“As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most.  Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them.  The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.”

“During National Police Week, we honor the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women on the frontlines of public safety,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We express gratitude to our state, local, federal, and Tribal law enforcement partners for their courage and dedication to the safety and protection of our communities.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.  

Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe.

Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney Frierson paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. He attended the 27th Annual Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Carson City, the 37th Annual James D. Hoff Peace Officer Memorial in Reno, and the 2024 FBI Memorial Ceremony in Las Vegas.

On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/.

To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org.

# # #

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who has prior felony convictions was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for armed robbery of multiple United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers in 2023.

According to court documents, from January to March 2023, Robert Earl Thompson (31) brandished a firearm and robbed five USPS mail carriers while they were delivering mail. During one robbery, Thompson pointed a firearm at the mail carrier’s head while making his demand.

On March 9, 2023, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Thompson. At the time of his arrest, he unlawfully possessed a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun. Thompson has prior felony convictions including attempt leaving the scene of an accident, attempt ownership or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of stolen property, and attempt burglary, all in Clark County, Nev. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm due to his prior felony convictions.

“U.S. Postal Inspectors will relentlessly investigate all acts of violence against USPS employees.  Letter carriers are servants of the community and not only deserve respect, but also be able to complete their job safely. This significant sentence sends a message that those who attack public servants will be brought to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Phoenix Division.

Thompson pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery of United States property with use of a dangerous weapon and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva on April 22, 2024.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson of the USPIS, Phoenix Division made the announcement.

The USPIS and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Edward Veronda prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 44 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a privately manufactured firearm (PMF), sometimes referred to as a “ghost gun,” after previous felony convictions.

Justin Edward Brown (37) pleaded guilty in February 2024 to one-count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to court documents and admissions made by Brown in court, on June 14, 2022, he possessed a privately manufactured 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol incorporating a Polymer80 lower receiver and ammunition. Brown had previously been convicted of possession of a firearm by ex-felon in May 2014; assault with a deadly weapon in February 2013; and prohibited person in possession of a firearm in May 2018, all in Clark County, Nev. Brown is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his prior felony convictions.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

If you have information about illegal firearms activity, you are urged to submit a tip to ATF by calling the hotline at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867) or through the ReportIt mobile app.

###

LAS VEGAS – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.

In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities.

“There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.”

“We know that government-to-government partnerships are critical to improving the safety and well-being of Tribal communities. This is why, throughout the year, our office meets with Tribal leadership, Tribal law enforcement, and community groups to hear challenges, share resources and information, and strengthen our relationships,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We remain dedicated in our commitment to address violence against indigenous women, fentanyl overdoses, human trafficking, and other public safety issues in Tribal communities. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to help ensure that all people in Indian Country are safe in their communities.”

“The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

“DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug related violent crime,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.  “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.”

Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases

Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. 

The MMIP Regional Outreach Program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian Country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022.

Nevada is home to 28 federally recognized tribes, bands and communities located on 31 Indian reservations and colonies. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has resources, including a Tribal Liaison, dedicated to promoting safety and security on tribal lands and in tribal communities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Penelope Brady serves as the MMIP Coordinator for the District of Nevada. Information about resources may be found at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/tribal-matters-indian-country-public-lands.

Last year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada obtained a conviction after a jury trial:

• U.S. v. Michael Burciaga – In September 2023, Burciaga was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Miranda M. Du to life in prison, plus 20 years in prison, for murdering his pregnant girlfriend, a registered member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation in December 2020.

Not Invisible Act Commission Response

The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States. 

Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country

As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons.

Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian County, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate.

Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm.

Accessing Department of Justice Resources

Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities.

For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website.

Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.

# # #

LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted a Pennsylvania resident today for kidnapping a woman in Pennsylvania then driving her to Nevada and killing her in the desert.

John Matthew Chapman, 44, was found guilty of one count of kidnapping resulting in death. United States District Judge James C. Mahan scheduled a sentencing hearing for August 2, 2024. Chapman faces the maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the eight-day trial, on November 14, 2019, the Bethel Park Police Department in Pennsylvania conducted a welfare check on the victim at the request of a friend. During the welfare check, neighbors stated that they had not seen the victim in approximately two months, but they had observed a person whom they believed to be her boyfriend (Chapman) entering and leaving the victim’s residence. Inside the victim’s residence, officers found identification cards with Chapman’s name and photograph, the victim’s cellular telephone, multiple zip ties, and a roll of duct tape.

On November 15, 2019, Bethel Park Police Department detectives arrested and interviewed Chapman. During the interview, Chapman admitted that in September 2019 he drove the victim from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, to Las Vegas, Nevada. He further admitted that he misled the victim to believe the trip was a vacation and they would potentially purchase a residence in Las Vegas. Chapman, however, had planned to kill the victim before their departure to Nevada. Chapman told investigators that he drove the victim out to the desert in Lincoln County, Nevada. Under the pretext of a bondage photo shoot, Chapman bound the victim’s hands and feet with plastic zip ties and affixed her to a signpost. Then he applied duct tape to her mouth and nose and watched her die from asphyxiation.

The joint investigation revealed that Chapman returned to Pennsylvania. He pretended to be the victim, including using the victim’s Facebook messenger account, and he continuously used the victim’s residence and money following her death.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division made the announcement.

The FBI Las Vegas Division, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada, and the Bethel Park Police Department in Pennsylvania investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady, Megan Rachow, and Steven Rose are prosecuting the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman, Henrietta Binford, 54, was sentenced Monday to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,250,223.39 in restitution for defrauding the State of Nevada Medicaid healthcare benefit program by falsely billing for services not provided. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over the sentencing hearing. Binford had previously plead guilty in November 2023 to one count of Health Care Fraud.

According to court documents and admissions Binford made in court, from January 2017 to August 2017, she devised and executed a scheme to defraud the State of Nevada Medicaid (“Nevada Medicaid”). In connection with Binford’s application to enroll her company Shepherd’s Heart Services, as a medical provider, she did not disclose her criminal history, including prior misdemeanor and felony convictions. As a result of her false statements on the application, Shepherd’s Heart Services was enrolled in Nevada Medicaid. As part of her scheme, Binford submitted false bills to Nevada Medicaid for services, including counseling services and training, not rendered. In total, Nevada Medicaid paid Shepherd’s Heart Services in excess of $1,000,000 for services not provided to patients.

“Through her misrepresentations and fraudulent deeds, the defendant bilked over $1,000,000 from Nevada Medicaid,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “Due to the diligent investigative and prosecutorial work by our partners and Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the defendant was brought to justice and will be held accountable for her crimes, along with others who seek to exploit health care programs for their own financial gain.” 

“Nevada Medicaid is a critical health insurance program for eligible members of our community, providing access to medical care that would otherwise be unobtainable,” said Carissa Messick, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Phoenix Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation is dedicated to investigating anyone attempting to defraud this program and those who rely on it.”

“My office will always defend against efforts to defraud Nevada Medicaid. Attempts to game the system or con Nevada Medicaid for services are particularly despicable as this program allows members of our community to access health care that would otherwise be inaccessible,” said Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin Washburne and Steven W. Myhre prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – An Arizona resident was found guilty on Thursday for operating a jet ski in a negligent manner that resulted in the death of a passenger at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts presided over the two-day bench trial. Bryce Tyrone Verhonich, 47, was found guilty of operating a vessel in a negligent manner, failing to wear a personal flotation device, and failing to attach an engine cut-off switch lanyard. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for August 5, 2024.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on June 30, 2022, Verhonich and a passenger traveled from his houseboat on a jet ski toward the Hoover Dam. As conditions worsened, Verhonich made a sharp turning maneuver that resulted in Verhonich and his passenger falling off the jet ski. Neither Verhonich nor the passenger were wearing life jackets at the time. The passenger’s body was ultimately recovered from Lake Mead National Recreation Area on July 6, 2022.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the National Park Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Edward D. Penetar and Brian Whang are prosecuting the case.

###

LAS VEGAS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General hosted a roundtable yesterday for community members and organizations on Sexual Harassment in Housing.

“Tenants should feel safe and not live in fear of sexual harassment, sexual assault or sexual exploitation by their landlord or other people who have control over housing,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We are committed to working together to enforce the Fair Housing Act, protect victims, and hold violators accountable.”

“There is no place in our society for sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, and unwelcome advances – and there is certainly no place for such behavior in HUD-assisted housing.  This type of misconduct threatens an individual’s right to a safe living environment,” said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis. “Efforts like the roundtable today with our partners in the Nevada U.S. Attorney’s Office help demonstrate our unified approach to improve the quality of life for these tenants. We are committed to vigorously enforcing fair housing laws and holding to account those that would seek to exploit this vulnerable population.”

Participants included representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Housing Section; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada; Silver State Fair Housing Council and Northern Nevada Legal Aid. These organizations work with the most vulnerable populations, who are at risk of becoming victims of sexual harassment in housing. Some of the attendees included representatives from fair housing organizations, shelters and transitional housing providers.

The Department of Justice, through the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Civil Rights Division, enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by the Act. Sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, and others with power over housing often affects the most vulnerable populations – single parents, individuals who have financial difficulties, and people who have suffered sexual violence in the past. These individuals often do not know where to turn for assistance.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched the Sexual Harassment Initiative to combat sexual harassment in housing. The Justice Department’s initiative seeks to identify barriers to reporting sexual harassment in housing, increase awareness of its enforcement efforts – both among survivors and those they may report to – and collaborate with federal, state, and local partners to increase reporting and help survivors quickly and easily connect with federal resources.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is collaborating with the Civil Rights Division to raise awareness of the options that are available to help individuals experiencing sexual harassment. Community organizations, such as legal services offices, fair housing organizations, domestic violence advocates, shelters, and transitional housing providers, can identify the misconduct and recommend that individuals report sexual harassment to the Justice Department.

The Justice Department brings cases each year involving egregious conduct, including allegations that defendants have exposed themselves sexually to current or prospective tenants, requested sexual favors in exchange for reduced rents or making necessary repairs, made unrelenting and unwanted sexual advances to tenants, and evicted tenants who resisted their sexual overtures.

If you or someone you know has information about or has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation in housing—even if the events occurred years ago—report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit the website at www.hudoig.gov/hotline. You may also file a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint.

Additionally, you can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office by calling 702-388-6336 or emailing USANV.CivilRights@usdoj.gov; or the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division by calling 844-380-6178, as well as emailing fairhousing@usdoj.gov. More information about the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who is a registered sex offender was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 10 years in prison to be followed by 35 years of supervised release for unlawful possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his cell phone.

According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) forwarded a CyberTip to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department that a user uploaded 30 files containing CSAM. On September 30, 2021, William Spahr – a sex offender who was convicted of lewdness with a child under the age of 14 in Clark County – was arrested for failing to register his current address which is required under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act. A forensic examination of Spahr’s cell phone revealed that he had a total of 33 images of CSAM on the device.

In October 2023, Spahr pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. An Assistant United States Attorney prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. 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.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or https://report.cybertip.org.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman was sentenced Wednesday by United States District Judge James C. Mahan to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking over $1 million in COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

According to court documents, from April 2020 to July 2020, Karen Chapon, aka Karen Hannafious, made multiple false statements about her companies’ respective business operations and payroll expenses, and submitted false documents to support six fraudulent PPP loan applications, including false federal tax filings. As part of the fraudulent loan applications, Chapon falsely stated that she had not been convicted of a felony in the past five years, but in fact, she pleaded guilty to felony fraud offenses in 2016. She received four loans totaling approximately $596,931. Chapon used fraudulently obtained funds for her own benefit, including the purchase of a Mercedes Benz SUV.

In August 2023, Chapon pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. In addition to the prison term, Chapon was ordered to pay $589,484.13 in restitution.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI; Acting Inspector General Heather M. Hill for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); and Special Agent in Charge Weston King for the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Western Region made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI, TIGTA, and SBA OIG. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Oliva and Trial Attorneys Lucy Jennings and Jennifer Bilinkas of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit 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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

# # #

RENO – The final defendant involved in a large methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy was sentenced Monday by United States Chief District Judge Miranda M. Du to 145 months in prison for his role in a large methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents, in 2014, Nassrollah Behmard fled to Mexico to avoid being arrested for his involvement in a Washoe County drug trafficking case. In March 2022, the FBI learned that Behmard, who was still in Mexico, was conspiring with co-conspirators located in Reno and Los Angeles to distribute multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine in the Reno area. From March 2022 to June 2022, Behmard and his co-conspirators were responsible for distributing over 140 pounds of methamphetamine.

On June 6, 2022, Behmard arranged with co-conspirator Ramon Guadalupe Sanchez Maldonado to deliver 100 pounds of methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Reno. Law enforcement intercepted the methamphetamine and traced it back to a clandestine lab located in the Los Angeles area. Law enforcement dismantled the lab and seized approximately 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine.

In June 2022, a federal grand jury in Reno charged Behmard, also known as “Benny” and “Michael Holt,” and his co-conspirators Sanchez Maldonado, Melissa Ann Longo, Owen Eugene Dick, and Jesus Sanchez Vargas with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and related offenses including money laundering. Maldonado was sentenced to 120 months in prison, Longo was sentenced to 57 months in prison, and Dick was sentenced to 57 months in prison.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

The FBI Northern Nevada Safe Streets Task Force, comprised of the FBI, Reno Police Department, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Gaming and Control Board, Nevada Department of Corrections, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, the San Bernardino Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Andolyn Johnson prosecuted the case.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

If you have information of potential drug trafficking, call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit an anonymous tip online at TIPS.FBI.GOV.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced Friday by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for importing, processing, and distributing nearly 300 pounds of Tapentadol (a Schedule II opioid) across the United States, and laundering drug sale proceeds using shell companies.

According to court documents, Christopher S. Housley, 51, used fraudulent identifications to rent postal boxes at several UPS stores in Las Vegas. In January 2021, law enforcement seized parcels containing Carisoprodol, Tadalafil, and Sildenafil inbound from India and addressed to addresses associated with Housley. In total, law enforcement seized nearly 300,000 Tapentadol pills weighing more than 300 pounds.

In July 2021, Housley and a co-conspirator obtained a large industrial pill press; and in October 2021, Housley sought to obtain a Hello Kitty die used to press pills with that logo. After importing and processing the drugs, Housley would distribute them throughout the country.

Furthermore, Housley created two shell companies to aid in paying for the drugs and receiving payments for the drug sales. Between September 2020 and October 2021, the shell companies wired a total of about $116,000 to accounts in India, China, and Singapore. Between July 2021 and January 2022, deposits into those accounts were about $350,000.

On May 3, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a storage unit rented by Housley under a fake name. The storage unit contained Tapentadol, Alprazolam, and other controlled substances.

Tapentadol, Alprazolam, and other controlled substances seized by law enforcement from a storage locker rented by Housley

Housley pleaded guilty to one-count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, Tapentadol and 20-counts of money laundering.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas District Office made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the DEA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. An Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.

If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community — which may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances — please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who has prior felony convictions was sentenced Friday by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of two stolen firearms.

According to court documents, on August 2, 2023, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer approached Domineaq Marchell Wilson and three others in a parking area behind an apartment building. The officer saw that the ignition of two motorcycles had been torn out, and at least one of the motorcycles was running without a key. The officer saw the grip of a pistol protruding from the waistband of Wilson’s pants. When the officer directed Wilson not to reach for the firearm, Wilson grabbed the grip and ran from the officer. The firearm, a Browning Black Label .380 semiautomatic pistol, fell to the ground. Wilson threw down a backpack containing a loaded Glock G42 semiautomatic pistol as he ran. The officer caught Wilson as he tried to climb over a wall. 

Wilson admitted that the Browning Black Label .380 semiautomatic pistol had been stolen from a Federal Firearms Licensee in Overton, Nev. and the Glock G42 semiautomatic pistol had been stolen from a private citizen in Henderson, Nev. At the time, Wilson was on state supervision in two separate felony convictions in Nevada.

Wilson, 24, also known as “Tension,” pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the ATF and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.          

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

Anyone with information about the unlawful purchase of firearms can call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously at www.reportit.com/.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to two and a half years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for devising a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $550,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

According to court documents, at the time of the fraud scheme, Arian Anthony Bailey, 34, was serving a term of federal supervised release for felony drug and gun convictions. While on release, Bailey devised a scheme to defraud the SBA. As part of the scheme, Bailey submitted on behalf of businesses – including a home health services business – that did not exist loan applications that contained false information, including: (a) false revenue amounts for non-existent companies, and (b) false certifications that Bailey would spend the loan money on business expenses, such as payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. He also provided fraudulent documentation in support of his loan applications. The loss caused by Bailey’s scheme was $46,731.39.

In addition to the prison term, Bailey was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $46,731.39.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI, Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Jon W. Ellwanger for the Western Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-CFPB OIG) made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the SBA OIG, and the FRB-CFPB OIG. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case.

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

###

RENO - A federal jury convicted a Nevada man yesterday for sexually exploiting multiple minors, and advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he coerced these minors into producing.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2018 and 2021, James Patrick Burns, 55, of Sparks, sexually exploited multiple minors online via Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ. Burns, a registered sex offender, threatened these minors into producing CSAM and then posted the CSAM on dark web forums. At the time, Burns was the most prolific creator of illegal content on these forums. He victimized over 100 children, many of whom have yet to be identified. Burns’ offenses came to the attention of law enforcement when a mother of one of his victims saw threats on the victim’s phone and reported what she saw to the police.

The jury convicted Burns of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. In a separate trial, the jury also convicted Burns of committing specified felony offenses (from the first trial) while required to register as a sex offender.

Burns is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10. He faces a mandatory minimum of at least 25 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI-led Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of detectives and investigators from the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and HSI, investigated the case. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Chicago Field Office, and local law enforcement around the country provided substantial assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn R. Johnson for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.

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

The FBI Las Vegas Field Office is seeking the help of anyone who may have been victimized by or have knowledge of sexual abuse of children involving James Patrick Burns. If you or a minor dependent has had contact with James Patrick Burns while using Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ between 2018 and 2021, you’re asked to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or at TIPS.FBI.GOV.

###

A federal jury convicted a Nevada man yesterday for sexually exploiting multiple minors, and advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he coerced these minors into producing.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2018 and 2021, James Patrick Burns, 55, of Sparks, sexually exploited multiple minors online via Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ. Burns, a registered sex offender, threatened these minors into producing CSAM and then posted the CSAM on dark web forums. At the time, Burns was the most prolific creator of illegal content on these forums. He victimized over 100 children, many of whom have yet to be identified. Burns’ offenses came to the attention of law enforcement when a mother of one of his victims saw threats on the victim’s phone and reported what she saw to the police.

The jury convicted Burns of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. In a separate trial, the jury also convicted Burns of committing specified felony offenses (from the first trial) while required to register as a sex offender.

Burns is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10. He faces a mandatory minimum of at least 25 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Miller of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas made the announcement.

The FBI-led Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of detectives and investigators from the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and HSI, investigated the case. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Chicago Field Office, and local law enforcement around the country provided substantial assistance.

Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn R. Johnson for the District of Nevada are prosecuting the case.

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

LAS VEGAS – A Tonopah, Nev., man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware III to 10 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release for unlawful possession of child sexual abuse material while on federal supervision for a prior crime.

According to court documents, in January 2023, a United States probation officer conducted a visit at the residence of Jeff Richard Stewart (66) who was on federal supervised release for a 2012 conviction of receipt of child sexual abuse material. During the visit, the probation officer discovered several unauthorized electronic devices in Stewart’s possession and seized the devices. Stewart admitted that he possessed about 4,535 images and three videos of child sexual abuse material depicting children as young as infants on these devices.

In November 2023, Stewart pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In addition to imprisonment, he is required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act to register as a sex offender and keep the registration current.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Nye County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Supriya Prasad prosecuted the case.

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

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or https://report.cybertip.org.

###

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to two years and six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for devising a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $42,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

According to court documents, in June 2020, Shavonte Hill (36) — while serving a term of federal supervised release for a 2017 felony conviction — devised a scheme to defraud the SBA. As part of the scheme, Hill submitted on behalf of businesses that did not exist loan applications that contained false information, including false revenue amounts for non-existent companies and false certifications that Hill would spend the loan money on business expenses, such as payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. He also provided fraudulent documentation in support of his loan applications. The loss caused by Hill’s scheme was about $42,082.

In November 2023, Hill pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. In addition to imprisonment, Hill was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $42,082.

United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI; Special Agent in Charge Jon W. Ellwanger for the Western Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-CFPB OIG); Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG); and IRS CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick for the IRS Criminal Investigation made the announcement.

The FBI, FRB-CFPB OIG, SBA OIG, IRS CI, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly Frayn and Jessica Oliva prosecuted the case.

In May 2021 the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit 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 via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

###