District of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment today charging a foreign national with multiple drug and distribution charges after seizing 41,000 suspected fentanyl pills from a home in Herriman.  

According to the complaint and law enforcement affidavit, on March 7, 2023, Luis Alexander Coronado, 24, of Herriman, Utah, was arrested after FBI agents with the Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF) executed a search warrant at his residence based on probable cause he was engaging in drug trafficking. During the search, agents located and seized approximately 2,363 grams of methamphetamine, 2,208 grams of cocaine, 3,506 grams of heroin, and 41,000 pills containing fentanyl. The methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin were weighed in their packaging and field tested-positive. 

Coronado is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; possession of heroin with intent to distribute; and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.  The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance March 23, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Vernon G. Stejskal, of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. 

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

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

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment charging two Colorado men for possession of illicit drugs with the intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in relation to the crime.

According to court documents, Dylan Kelly, 19, of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Navin Daryan Wright, 20, also a Colorado resident, are each charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in January. On March 15, 2023, Wright was arrested in Grand Junction and had his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Kelly had his initial court appearance March 20, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Utah in St. George. 

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated by the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS); Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) and State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). 

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Brady Wilson, of the District of Utah, Southern Region is prosecuting the case. 

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

Salt Lake City, Utah – Two foreign nationals, were sentenced today after pleading guilty to their participation in a wire fraud scheme, where victims were deceived into purchasing prepaid gift cards and providing that information to the defendants for their own personal gain.

Chaohui Chen, 46, was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment followed by 36 months supervised release and ordered to pay $217,200.00 in restitution. Wenyi Zheng, 46, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment followed by 36 months supervised release and ordered to pay $217,200.00 in restitution.

According to court documents, in June 2019, Chen and Zheng were involved in a Walmart gift card conspiracy and wire fraud scheme within the District of Utah and elsewhere. The purpose of the scheme was to defraud individuals and obtain money and property for the personal gain of the defendants and others. According to the plea statement, a typical execution of the scheme involved unnamed third parties who would make false and fraudulent telephone calls, sometimes claiming to the victims they were part of the Social Security Administration. Using false pretenses, the callers would convince victims to purchase prepaid gift cards and provide to them the 16-digit gift card numbers and unique pins for the gift cards, in return for a cashier’s check in the amount of the gift card purchased. Once in control of the gift cards, Chen and Zheng would redeem the gift cards at various stores by purchasing household items and additional prepaid gift cards, which they would convert and use for their own personal gain, and neglect to return any of the money to the victims. Throughout the scheme, the defendants used or caused another to use interstate wire communications facilities for the purpose of carrying out the crime.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate people who prey on vulnerable members of our community,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “It is our job to pursue justice for victims, some of whom are elderly and trusted those who committed this crime.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ruth Hackford-Peer, of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah man was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one and a half years followed by a 36-month term of supervised release for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon for a prior burglary conviction.

According to court documents, on January 7, 2021, Taydon Tailor Law, 22, of Ogden, Utah, a convicted felon restricted from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition, possessed a Ruger LC9, 9mm firearm and ammunition that he took without permission from a home where he was working. The firearm and ammunition were not manufactured in the state of Utah and travelled in interstate commerce.

 “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah will continue to prosecute cases where individuals illegally possess and transfer firearms putting our citizens at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “Our goal is to prevent gun violence and we appreciate the commitment from our law enforcement partners who work to bring justice to victims and the community for these crimes.”

The case was investigated by the Ogden Police Department.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Branden B. Miles, for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

This case was 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.

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment today charging a foreign national with possession of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl with intent to distribute.

According to the complaint, on March 1, 2023, detectives with the Salt Lake Area Metro Gang Unit (MGU) witnessed Marcos Adrian Garcia Lugo, 21, speeding in the area of 3100 South Bangerter Highway in Salt Lake County, Utah. Detectives attempted to stop the vehicle with lights and sirens, but the driver fled, and detectives terminated their pursuit. Moments later, an MGU detective who is also an ATF task force officer observed Lugo make a sharp turn at 3600 West and 3150 South, where he slammed into another car that struck a pedestrian. The detective watched Lugo exit the driver’s seat and take off on foot away from the crash. Along Lugo’s flight path, detectives found a softball-sized amount of field-tested-positive methamphetamine and a stolen Smith and Wesson Shield 9mm firearm. Lugo was later arrested at a residence north of the crash. In Lugo’s vehicle, detectives also found 3.5 pounds of field-tested-positive methamphetamine, a half-pound of heroin, approximately 3,000 fentanyl pills, and $2,557.00 in cash. 

Lugo is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and alien in possession of a firearm. The defendant is scheduled for his arraignment hearing March 9, 2023, at 9:15 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Salt Lake Area Metro Gang Unit.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stephen L. Nelson, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

Learn more about the danger of illicit fentanyl at https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness or www.dea.gov/onepill.

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah returned an indictment March 1, 2023, charging a Utah man with allegedly planning and executing a scheme to steal money from two Utah charter schools for his own personal gain and the benefit of his family, including paying for cosmetic surgeries for his wife.

According to court documents, Cole Arnold, 39, of Kaysville, Utah, was an accountant for Academica West Services, which provides services for charter school business operations. Arnold provided financial services to several charter schools in Utah, including North Davis Preparatory Academy and Ascent Academies. Beginning in August 2017 and continuing through June 2022, Arnold used his position at Academica West Services to allegedly steal $2,563,348.23 from North Davis Preparatory and Ascent Academies. According to the indictment, Arnold’s fraudulent activity included: creating false invoices, bills and credit card statements claiming fees for school supplies, teacher salaries, and other fictitious line-item expenses, for the purpose of generating payments to credit cards controlled by himself; creating false computer journal entries claiming a variety of school related expenses; passing fraudulently obtained money through Venmo and a bank account in the name of Upper Limit Innovation, a registered Utah business that Arnold was a co-owner and registered agent of, to transfer the fraudulently obtained money. The stolen charter school funds were used by Cole for travel, concerts, cosmetic surgeries, home improvements, jewelry, furniture, electronics, and other personal expenses.

Arnold is charged with 10 counts of wire fraud, and five counts of money laundering. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance March 30, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes IRS-CI, Layton Police Department and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Jennifer K. Muyskens, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

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

Salt Lake City, Utah – A Salt Lake County, Utah health care company has agreed to pay $1,045,944.42 to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid for non-covered hospice services.

The settlement resolves allegations that Summit Hospice knowingly submitted false claims for payment to Medicare and Medicaid between October 1, 2018, and September 7, 2021, in violation of the False Claims Act. The United States alleged that during this period of time, Summit Hospice was billing for services that were not medically necessary, because the patients’ records lacked documentation of a terminal illness to qualify for services. Summit Hospice denies the allegations.

Hospice care is special, end-of-life care intended to comfort terminally ill patients. To be eligible for the Medicare paid hospice benefit, patients must be “terminally ill,” meaning that the patients have a medical prognosis that their life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case was investigated jointly by the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG) and the Utah Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

"Hospice care is an important service that should provide patients with comfort. Providers who focus on personal financial gain rather than providing medically necessary, high-quality care to their patients undermine the integrity of these services," said Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "HHS-OIG will continue to work with our federal and state partners to ensure that hospice providers are giving their patients the care and comfort they need."

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

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment March 1, 2023, charging an Oregon woman for possession with the intent to distribute illicit drugs, specifically fentanyl and heroin, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

According to court documents, on February 9, 2023, Ruth Mery Argueta, 31, was stopped in a Nissan Frontier Pickup truck by a Utah Highway Patrol trooper for an equipment violation.  Upon contact with the vehicle, the trooper detected the smell of burnt marijuana, for which Argueta, the sole occupant in the vehicle, did not have a medical marijuana card for. After being questioned by the trooper, Argueta showed the trooper additional marijuana, and a marijuana grinder. A search of the vehicle was conducted leading to the recovery of approximately 19 pounds of fake blue M30 pills purported to contain fentanyl; over one kilogram of heroin; a loaded firearm; approximately one ounce of raw marijuana; rolling papers; over $4,000; and a burnt marijuana joint. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration took custody of the evidence and preliminary test results of the drugs were positive for fentanyl and heroin.

Argueta is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The defendant is scheduled for her initial court appearance March 6, 2023, at 11:45 a.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge via Zoom conference.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated jointly by the DEA and the Department of Public Safety.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Vernon G. Stejskal, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

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

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah returned an indictment charging an Ogden man and woman with carjacking an SUV that belonged to an elderly citizen.

According to court documents, on January 30, 2023, Elvis Tahirovic, 33, and Brittany Ann Peters, 33, fled from Salt Lake City Police in a reported stolen Mercedes out of South Salt Lake. Salt Lake City Police initiated a high-speed pursuit, that was terminated due to public safety. Utilizing the Department of Public Safety helicopter, Tahirovic and Peters were tracked crossing into Davis, Weber and Box Elder Counties before troopers utilized a “cold spike” to flatten the Mercedes tires in Weber County. According to the complaint, at the intersection of Higley Road, the Mercedes came to an abrupt stop and Peters ran to a Chevrolet Tahoe at a stop sign and opened the driver’s door. Tahirovic also exited the Mercedes and ran to the driver’s door of the Tahoe, and forcibly removed the elderly victim out of his SUV before getting behind the wheel. Peters entered the passenger’s seat of the Tahoe. Tahirovic and Peters were unable to take off in the vehicle because the victim took the keys out of the ignition. Unable to flee, Tahirovic charged for the victim, but authorities arrived and took Tahirovic and Peters into custody.

Tahirovic and Peters are charged with one count of carjacking. The defendants made their initial court appearance on their indictment February 16, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Utah Department of Public Safety.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carlos Esqueda, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

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

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy released earlier today.

The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate.

 The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy.

Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy and fully meets the other requirements of the policy, by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a guilty plea; may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range; and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.

The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% and up to a 75% reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program.

 In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy.

Salt Lake City, Utah – Three foreign national men, living in Utah, were sentenced after pleading guilty to their participation in a four-person money laundering ring that aided and abetted the defrauding of more than a hundred victims, primarily widows.

On Thursday, February 9, 2023, David Oguoguo Okeke, 30, of Vineyard, Utah, was sentenced to 54 months imprisonment and 36 months supervised release, after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy.  He was ordered to pay $2,219,802.97 in restitution.  Upon release from imprisonment, Okeke will be remanded to the Federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings.

Additionally, according to court documents, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, Okeke’s codefendants Justin Akubueze, 30, and Abiemwense Valentine Obanor, 32, both formerly of Vineyard, Utah, were sentenced to 54 months and 74 months imprisonment, respectively.  Each defendant was sentenced to 36 months supervised release and ordered to pay $219,802.97 in restitution jointly with Okeke.

The purpose of the scheme was to obtain money by creating online profiles pretending to be a United States soldier, international businessmen, or some other seemingly attractive profile, and using those profiles to develop relationships with victims.  After their associates were charged with similar crimes in a different case, (see press release here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/eight-individuals-charged-fraud-scheme-targeting-widows-created-false-identities-feigned), Akubueze and Obanor left the United States. After a federal grand jury returned an indictment against them, they were extradited to the United States to face the charges against them.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute fraudsters who take advantage of victims, many of whom are elderly, on a fixed income and lose money intended to carry them throughout the rest of their life,” said U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, for the District of Utah.  “Taking advantage of our most vulnerable population is unacceptable and with our law enforcement partners we are committed to investigating these crimes.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carl D. Lesueur, for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal judge ordered detention of the leader of a large Utah narcotics organization.  In the Memorandum Decision and Order filed Friday, the judge wrote that the decision to detain Jaafar Altalibi was based in part on “the significant role defendant played in distributing highly toxic substances throughout the community for approximately a decade…”

In October, a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah, returned a 15-count indictment charging multiple defendants, including foreign nationals, with drug-related offenses, including synthetic drugs commonly referred to as “bath salts,” and providing defendants notice that if convicted of the charges, they would forfeit millions of dollars in cash, bank accounts, property and other assets.

According to court documents, Jaafar Altalibi, 40, Salt Lake County; Mountazar Altalibi, 34, Salt Lake County; Haydar Altalibi, 43; Salt Lake County; David Lovato, 42, Salt Lake County; Allen Jervis, 54, Salt Lake County; Hannah Taylor, 26, Salt Lake County; Samantha Barber, 39, Salt Lake County; Roble Abdinoor, 42, Seattle, Washington;  Faris Musa, 30, Salt Lake County;  Hussein Alsalemi, 39, Salt Lake County; Khadim Musa, 31, Salt Lake County; Martinus De Koning, a foreign national; Smokers Haven J, LLC; and Lake City Auto Sales, LLC, are all charged with a number of drug related offenses, which include but do not apply to all defendants, conspiracy to distribute schedule I controlled substances; conspiracy to commit money laundering; attempted possession of α-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP) with intent to distribute; possession of α-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP) with intent to distribute; distribution of α-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP); distribution of α-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP) for the purpose of unlawful importation; and engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise.  Defendants were also provided notice that if convicted of the charges, defendants would forfeit property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result of such offense and any property used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, the offense(s).  This property includes seven real estate properties; six bank accounts; all vehicles parked at an involved business; four additional vehicles to include a 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE, 2022 Cadillac Escalade, 2017 Landrover Range Rover Sport, and a 2017 Lexus GS350; other luxury items, multiple residences, and two businesses.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The DEA Metro Narcotics Task Force, made up of officers from the DEA, Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake/Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, West Valley City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are investigating this case.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Utah Department of Public Safety, Tooele Police Department, Sandy Police Department, South Jordan Police Department, Murray Police Department, Salt Lake City Police Department, Park City Police Department, and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office participated in the investigation.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Seth Nielsen, from the Utah Attorney General’s Office, Assistant United States Attorneys Vernon G. Stejskal, and Cy H. Castle, for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.

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

Salt Lake City, Utah – A Washington County, Utah man was sentenced Wednesday to five years imprisonment, and 15-years supervised release, after pleading guilty to the use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor. 

According to court documents, James Steed Allred, 41, of Apple Valley, targeted a 14-year-old victim by using a fake social media account.  Allred admitted to using a fake online persona in April 2020 to contact the teen who was living in North Dakota.  Using a Snapchat account, he represented to the victim he was a teenage boy living in Washington County, Utah, and provided fake photos.  Allred engaged in extensive romantic communication and sent gifts to the victim in an attempt to engage in illegal sexual activity with the minor.  In April 2021, shortly after the teenage victim moved to Colorado City, Arizona with her family, Allred traveled from Utah to Arizona and engaged in illegal sexual conduct with the victim multiple times while continuing to deceive the teen that he was a teenage boy.

“The United States. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting minor victims from violent criminals who prey on their innocence via the internet,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. “Thanks to our law enforcement partners we were able to investigate this case and seek justice for the victim as she continues to heal from the trauma inflicted by this crime."

The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stephen Dent, for the District of Utah 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment charging a Tucson, Arizona man with kidnapping a Utah teen and taking the victim across state lines with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity.

According to court documents, Tadashi Kura Kojima, 26, also known as Aaron Michael Zeman, willfully and unlawfully kidnapped a 13-year-old, who he was not related to, or had legal custody of, and took the minor across state lines with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity. The criminal conduct resulted in an Amber Alert and the arrest of Kojima in Nebraska. Kojima has been provided notice of the intent to seek forfeiture of property, including a cell phone, gaming devices, and a 1998 White Toyota Avalon, which were used or intended to be used to commit or to facilitate the commission of the violation.

The indictment charges Kojima with kidnapping and transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The defendant appeared in a U.S. federal court in Nebraska and is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, who will transfer Kojima to Utah. Upon his arrival in Utah, Kojima will appear on his indictment at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carol A. Dain, is prosecuting the case. The investigation is being worked jointly by the FBI, Layton Police Department and Grand Island Police Department.

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

UPDATE

The defendants in this case, Zachary Bassett, Mason Warr and COS Accounting & Tax LLC, were acquitted of the charges alleged in the indictment described in the press release below.

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah returned an indictment Wednesday charging two Utah County men and COS Accounting & Tax LLC, dba 1099 Tax Pros with a COVID-related tax fraud scheme to defraud the United States of America of millions of dollars.

According to court documents, Zachary Bassett, 39, of Provo, Mason Warr, 37, of Vineyard and COS Accounting & Tax LLC, dba 1099 Tax Pros located in Provo, participated in a fraudulent tax scheme to seek COVID-related relief funds by preparing and submitting more than one thousand tax forms to the IRS, claiming in excess of $11 million in false and fraudulent Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and sick and family leave wage credits for clients of COS Accounting.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), enacted in March 2020, provides an employee retention tax credit (ERC) and is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave of up to 80 hours and expanded family and medical leave of up to 10 weeks for specified reasons related to COVID-19.  FFCRA provides refundable tax credits that reimburse employers for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave wages to employees for leave related to COVID-19.

“During the pandemic, the defendants allegedly took advantage of a program intended to provide critical relief for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Albert Childress.  "IRS CI is committed to bringing justice to those who have exploited the pandemic for personal gain and have stolen from America’s taxpayers.”

The indictment charges Bassett, Warr and COS Accounting & Tax LLC, dba 1099 Tax Pros with conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud and aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns.  According to the indictment, the scheme to defraud took place from at least April 2020 through at least August 2021 in the District of Utah.  Defendants were also provided notice that if convicted of the charges, defendants would forfeit to the United States of America any property constituting or derived from proceeds traceable to the scheme to defraud.  An initial appearance for the defendants is scheduled for February 22, 2023, at 1p.m. at the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Jennifer K. Muyskens, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

The IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

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

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

Salt Lake City, Utah – A 25-year-old Taylorsville man has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl to an undercover federal agent.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah filed the complaint Tuesday, January 31, 2022, charging the defendant, Flavio Cesar Mazariegos Covarrubias with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, the FBI’s Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF) initiated a criminal investigation into Covarrubias and a drug trafficking organization that agents believe to be distributing large quantities of narcotics in Utah.  Recently, an undercover agent purchased fentanyl from the defendant which led to his arrest.  Agents located and seized approximately 5,000 blue-colored pills and approximately 40 brightly-colored pills which field-tested positive for fentanyl, a schedule II controlled substance.  Brightly-colored fentanyl pills, like the pills seized from Covarrubias, are also referred to as the common street name “rainbow fentanyl,” or “skittles,” and look like candy to entice young people.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stephen L. Nelson, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

The FBI is investigating the case.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Salt Lake City, Utah – A Taylorsville man was arrested in Salt Lake County and indicted on criminal charges related to his alleged possession with the intent to distribute illicit drugs, specifically fentanyl.

According to court documents, Jesse Wood, 51, allegedly intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute forty (40) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a schedule II controlled substance. Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. The fentanyl seized during the investigation was contained in brightly colored pills, known as “rainbow fentanyl,” and may be made by drug traffickers to look like candy to entice young people. The investigation is likely the first seizure of “rainbow fentanyl” in Utah and represents a significant safety risk to the public. (Picture of the rainbow fentanyl seized during the investigation are attached).

Wood is charged by indictment with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. He will have a detention hearing at a later date.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stephen L. Nelson, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.

Learn more about the danger of illicit fentanyl at https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness or www.dea.gov/onepill.

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

UPDATE

Upon motion of the United States, the indictment described in the press release below against Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah, Inc., Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr., Kari Dee Burgoyne, Kristin Jackson Andersen, and and Sandra Flores in this case was dismissed in July 2025. 

Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah returned an indictment on January 11, 2023 charging a Utah plastic surgeon, his medical corporation, and three co-defendants, including his neighbor, with conspiracy to defraud the United States by issuing fake CDC COVID-19 vaccination record cards to fraudulent vaccine card seekers.

According to court documents, Dr. Michael Kirk Moore Jr., 58, of Salt Lake County, Utah and his co-defendants, listed below including his neighbor, ran a scheme out of Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah Inc. to defraud the United States and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The defendants allegedly destroyed at least $28,028.50 worth of government-provided COVID-19 vaccines, and distributed at least 1,937 doses’ worth of fraudulently completed vaccination record cards to others in exchange for either direct cash payments or required “donations” to a specified charitable organization, without administering a COVID-19 vaccine to the card recipient. As charged in court documents, defendants also administered saline shots to minors – at the request of their parents – so children would think they were receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

"By allegedly falsifying vaccine cards and administering saline shots to children instead of COVID-19 vaccines, not only did this provider endanger the health and well-being of a vulnerable population, but also undermined public trust and the integrity of federal health care programs,” said Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. "HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable bad actors who attempt to illegally profit from the pandemic.”

“This defendant allegedly used his medical profession to administer bogus vaccines to unsuspecting people, to include children falsifying a sense of security,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Miller, HSI Las Vegas. “HSI remains committed to working with our partners to bring those who seek to take advantage of the pandemic to deliberately harm and deceive others for their own profit to justice.”

Plastic Surgery Institute of Utah, Inc., Michael Kirk Moore Jr., Kari Dee Burgoyne, 52, Kristin Jackson Andersen, 59, and Sandra Flores, 31, are charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to convert, sell, convey, and dispose of government property; and conversion, sale, conveyance, and disposal of government property and aiding and abetting. The defendants are scheduled for their initial appearance January 26, 2023, at 2 P.M. in courtroom 8.4.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

The Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Todd C. Bouton, Jacob Strain, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sachiko Jepson, for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.

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

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Woods Cross, Utah man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted sexual exploitation via production of child pornography.

Landon Germaine, 34, was also placed on supervised release for life, in addition to his term of imprisonment.

According to court documents, Germain pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor.  He admitted to knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing the minor victims to engage in sexual activity for which any person could be charged with a criminal offense.  Germaine also pleaded guilty to attempted sexual exploitation via production of child pornography.  He admitted to knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce a visual depiction, and the images were produced using materials that had been mailed or shipped or transported in interstate commerce.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys' Carol Dain for the District of Utah and Carly Marshall for the Western District of Arkansas prosecuted this case along with Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon with the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

The FBI investigated the cases in Utah and Arkansas.

WASHINGTON – A Utah professional tax preparer was sentenced yesterday to 37 months in prison for tax evasion, conspiring to defraud the United States and obstructing the IRS’s efforts to collect his tax debt, which exceeded $1.1 million.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sergio Sosa, of Orem, owned and operated Sergio Central Latino, a tax preparation business. From approximately 2004 to 2020, Sosa conspired to defraud the United States by concealing his assets and income from the IRS. From 2003 through 2017, Sosa also did not timely file his own tax returns or pay the taxes he owed for these years. After the IRS audited Sosa and began efforts to collect his tax debt – which at the time amounted to more than $750,000 – he obstructed those efforts by using nominees to open business bank accounts, renaming his business and placing it in his children’s names, and making false statements to the IRS. Sosa also directed one of his children to make mortgage payments on his personal residence using funds he provided.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge David Sam ordered Sosa to serve 36 months of supervised release and to pay $1,104,737 in restitution to the United States.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Hackford-Peer for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins announced today that the District of Utah collected $10,690,252.06 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2022. Of this amount, $5,550,041.48 was collected in criminal actions and $5,140,210.58 was collected in civil actions.

Additionally, the District of Utah worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $1,863,335.61 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $11,775.00 was collected in criminal actions and $1,851,560.61 was collected in civil actions.

For example, in February 2022, the District of Utah recovered $265,455.45 as part of the settlement in the U.S.A v. Ryan Richard West case where West and his co-defendant Gary Alan Gygi were sentenced separately for defrauding numerous individuals in business venture investment schemes.  For more information on this case, see original press release https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/logan-man-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison-defrauding-investors-his-fraudulent

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to the prosecution of crimes involving financial fraud and seeking recovery for victims in these cases,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. 

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

UPDATE

Upon Motion of the United States, the indictment described in the press release below against Barbara Jo Jackson, in this case was dismissed on May 28, 2025. 

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Multiple people were indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Utah for their participation in a fraudulent online scheme through which they obtained more than $100 million of credit and debit card processing from financial institutions and payment processors.

As charged in the indictment, the defendants allegedly committed 18 counts of criminal activity, including Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft and Money Laundering Aiding and Abetting.

According to the indictment, from at least January 2016 through April 2022, April Gren Bawden, 36, of Salt Lake County; Chad Austin Bawden, 43, of Salt Lake County; Makaio Lyman Crisler, 39, of Utah County; Phillip Gannuscia, 52, of Salt Lake County and Puerto Rico; Dustin Garr, 44, of Washington County; Barbara Jo Jackson, 69, of Utah County; Brent Goldburn Knudson, 42, of Utah County; Robert McKinley, 45, of Spokane, Washington; and Richard Scott Nemrow, 42, of Utah County, knowingly devised and executed a scheme and artifice to defraud, obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, and omissions of material facts.  The scheme involved the sale of dietary supplements that were sold to consumers using misleading and fraudulent practices.  In order to effectuate their scheme, the defendants recruited and paid “straw owners” for use of their personal information to create sham LLCs to obtain merchant processing accounts for defendants to process the sales of the products.  The proceeds of the scheme were transferred to the defendants, who then purchased items such as a Lamborghini Urus, a 2020 Porsche 911 convertible, and a 2021 Nautique Paragon boat.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah and IRS Criminal Investigation made the announcement. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Jamie Thomas, Jennifer Muyskens, and Cy Castle from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case.  Special Agents from IRS Criminal Investigations and FDA Office of Criminal Investigations are conducting the investigation.

Indictments are not findings of guilt. Defendants charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A foreign national was sentenced to three years in a U.S. federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in a gas skimming scheme that took place in Utah and Idaho.

Yofre Napoleon Almonte, 49, a Salt Lake City resident was ordered to pay $199,122.18 in restitution, jointly and severally with his co-defendants by a United States District Court Judge.

According to court documents, Almonte, participated in a scheme to defraud gas station customers and their banks using skimming equipment to surreptitiously steal the customers’ credit card information.  Unlike traditional “skimming” operations that use an “overlay” type of molding placed on top of the ATM or gas pump targeted for “skimming,” Almonte and his alleged co-defendants used a Bluetooth wireless device that is installed onto the computer motherboard of the internal computer that controls the ATM/gas pump.  The defendants could then initiate a wireless Bluetooth connection and download all the digital credit card/ATM card information sored by the device.  Almonte and others then created cloned cards with stolen information and used those cards to fraudulently purchase over $200,000 worth of gasoline and other items.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Aaron Clark and Ruth Hackford-Peer, for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Division.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Leallen Blackhair, 45, of Fort Duchesne, Utah, pleaded guilty Monday Dec. 5, 2022 to nine counts of Extortion Under Color of Official Right as set forth in the indictment. 

Blackhair waived his right to a trial and admitted to the facts of his criminal behavior, which interfered with or affected interstate commerce.

According to the Statement in Advance of Plea of Guilty, Mr. Blackhair was the Compliance Coordinator of the Energy and Minerals Department of the Ute Indian Tribe.  Blackhair’s position included issuing fines to oil and gas businesses working on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation who were found in violation of their access permits and business licenses by his employer.  Blackhair used his position to induce and attempt to induce multiple companies to pay him personally by offering to reduce a fine that would otherwise be assessed against them.  Blackhair extorted sixty-six payments totaling $110,000, paid directly to and for the benefit of the defendant between August 2010 and May 2013.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cy H. Castle for the District of Utah and investigated by the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office.  Sentencing is scheduled for March 29, 2023.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A 41-year-old Syracuse, Utah man has been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint for carrying and using a straight edge razor blade during a flight Monday, November 21, 2022.

The United States Attorney’s Office filed the complaint Tuesday, November 22, 2022, charging the defendant, Merrill Darrell Fackrell with Carrying a Weapon on an Aircraft and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States.

According to the allegations contained in the complaint and law enforcement affidavit, on November 21, 2022, Fackrell departed on JetBlue Flight #871 from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York en route to Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah.  Fackrell was seated in a window seat next to married passengers. During the flight, Fackrell placed his hand in front of the woman’s screen and told her to pause her movie. According to the complaint, the woman took off her headphones and realized Fackrell had his hand clutched with what appeared to her as a knife, inches from her skin at her throat/neck area. The woman’s husband went to the front of the aircraft to get assistance from the flight attendant. The woman lunged for the aisle to escape and Fackrell reached and tried to stop her by grabbing her shoulder. The object was secured and later identified as a Facon wood-handled straight edge razor with a one-to-two-inch blade.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael Kennedy from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. The case is being investigated by Salt Lake City Police Department and an FBI Task Force Officer.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

###

Follow us on Twitter: @DUTnews

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Today, an investiture ceremony was held for the Honorable Trina A. Higgins, the United States Attorney for the District of Utah.

Held at the United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City, Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby administered the formal ceremonial oath of office.

“I am deeply honored to serve in this position and to have the opportunity to continue the important work of the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins during the ceremony. “I will work to build confidence in our justice institutions, to protect civil rights, to uphold the Rule of Law, and to protect the citizens of Utah.”

During the ceremony, U.S. Attorney Higgins reinstated her commitment to continue building partnerships with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies and community partners to protect our citizens and build public trust.

A career prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Higgins has 27 years legal experience and since 2002, has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Utah, holding several leadership positions, including Senior Litigation Counsel and Violent Crime Section Chief. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, she served as a Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney. 

Attended by family, friends, judges, members of the law enforcement, and legal community, U.S. Attorney Higgins is the first woman to be presidentially appointed to the position and sworn into office and is the 38th United States Attorney to serve in the District of Utah. She was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on January 31, 2022 and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 27, 2022. Judge Shelby previously administered the official oath of office on May 4, 2022.

Follow us on Twitter: @DUTnews

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – At the request of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, members of the media are invited to attend the ceremonial oath of office for the Honorable Trina A. Higgins, the first woman in Utah to be presidentially appointed to serve as United States Attorney.

WHEN:         THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, at 2:00 p.m. MST

WHERE:       United States Courthouse, 351 South West Temple, SLC, UT 84111

                       Courtroom 3.100

WHO:            Trina A. Higgins, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah

NOTE:  One member of the media per news organization. RSVP appreciated. Media access will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. Camera, audio and video are not permitted. All media will be subject to security screening. The ceremony will begin promptly, so please allow sufficient timing to take your seat, and consider parking. Pictures and a press release will be issued following the investiture.

SALT LAKE CITY – Teresa Red Bird, 52, and her daughter, Ocianna Red Bird, 23, both of Montezuma Creek, and enrolled members of the Navajo Nation living within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation, were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to felony child abuse within Indian Country. Teresa Red Bird was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Ocianna Red Bird was sentenced to six months in federal prison followed by 24 months of supervised release.

According to the information contained in the plea agreements, Teresa Red Bird admitted that on numerous occasions, she knowingly and intentionally hit a 14-year-old victim who was living with her and who was under her care; that she failed to ensure that the victim ate properly; and that she caused serious physical injury to the victim. Ocianna Red Bird admitted to knowingly and intentionally hitting, confining, and withholding food, from the same 14-year-old victim who was living in her mother’s home. Ocianna Red Bird also admitted that she was aware that her conduct caused serious physical injury to the victim. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tad May from the District of Utah and was investigated by the Navajo Nation Police and the FBI. 

SALT LAKE CITY – Nathan Suaste, 19, of West Valley City, Exodus Matua, 18, and Lorenzo Saavedra, 18, both of Saratoga Springs, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Utah for the robbery of a United States Postal Service (“USPS”) letter carrier. All three defendants have been charged with robbery of property of the United States; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and theft of a USPS arrow key.

Suaste, Matua, and Saavedra were arrested on October 19, 2022, by U.S. Postal Inspectors and a federal criminal complaint was later filed on October 19, 2022, which charged them with the robbery of a USPS letter carrier in Salt Lake City.

According to the allegations contained in the complaint and law enforcement affidavit, on or about August 19, 2022, Matua and Saavedra, both armed with handguns, approached a USPS letter carrier in the parking lot of a church in Salt Lake City. The two, while brandishing the handguns, demanded that the letter carrier hand over his arrow key, a universal key used by USPS employees who deliver and pick up mail from locked mail collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, cluster box units, and apartment panels. While detaching the key, the letter carrier was punched in the face by at least one of the defendants. After taking the key, Matua and Saavedra ran to a Dodge Charger driven by Suaste and the three defendants left the area. 

Assistant United States Attorney Mark Hirata from the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the ATF, the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the Salt Lake City Police Department, and the Utah County Major Crimes. 
 
Allegations contained in charging documents are formal accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
 

SAINT GEORGE – On October 19, 2022, a federal jury in the District of Utah found Stanley Beckstrom, 56, of Ivins, guilty of distribution of methamphetamine. 

At trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Beckstrom traveled to California to obtain methamphetamine. On July 21, 2021, Beckstrom delivered methamphetamine to a local restaurant in downtown St. George. The methamphetamine was tested in a drug lab. It was 100% pure and weighed one pound. The court scheduled Beckstrom’s sentencing for January 6, 2023.
 
The Washington County Drug Task Force investigated Beckstrom and others involved in the drug trafficking-organization. A federal grand jury charged Beckstrom and three others with crimes related to methamphetamine trafficking. On January 24, 2022, Dail Brady, 55, of St. George, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2022.  On April 5, 2022, Christopher Brugada, 51, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 16, 2022.  Jonathon Antonio Chairez is currently scheduled for a jury trial to begin on November 21, 2022. 
  
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Jay T. Winward of the St. George Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah represented the United States at Beckstrom’s trial. Narcotics detectives from the Washington County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation into the drug-trafficking organization.  
 

SALT LAKE CITY- United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Aaron Clark will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election.  AUSA Clark has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Utah, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

United States Attorney Higgins said, “In Utah, every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election.  Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

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

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

United States Attorney Higgins said, “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Clark will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 801-325-1405.”

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at: 801-579-1400.

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

United States Attorney Higgins said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

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

SALT LAKE CITY – James Wolfgramm, aka Semisi Niu, aka James Vaka Niu, 43, of Spanish Fork, and two of his businesses, Bitex LLC (Bitex), and Ohana Capital Financial, Inc. (OCF), have been charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Utah with seven felony counts in connection with multiple financial fraud schemes. In the indictment, Wolfgramm is charged with five counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Bitex is named in two wire fraud counts. OCF is named in two wire fraud counts, as well as the two money laundering counts. 

According to the allegations contained in the indictment, since at least 2018, Wolfgramm represented himself on social media and in private communications as a multimillionaire who made his fortune in cryptocurrency. To gain trust with victims and attract them to his businesses, Wolfgramm used images of cryptocurrency wallets holding millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency, a suitcase full of cash, and social media posts of expensive sports cars Wolfgramm claimed to own. However, some of these images were believed to have been taken from websites and social media feeds of others 

The indictment further alleges that Wolfgramm and Bitex collected nearly $1.7 million from two victims by purporting to sell a high-powered cryptocurrency mining machine – the “Bitex Blockbuster” – that did not actually exist. According to the indictment, Wolfgramm and Bitex displayed one of these purported machines in Bitex’s office space, connected to a monitor that appeared to display the machine’s real-time mining operations. In reality, the machine was fake, and the monitor displayed a pre-recorded loop that simply gave the appearance of mining activity. 

The indictment also alleges that Wolfgramm and OCF marketed the business with the motto “Banking the Unbankable” and purported to offer financial services to entities ineligible for traditional bank accounts. According to the indictment, OCF’s websites falsely claimed to have a Board of Advisors and falsely promised that OCF customer funds were bonded. Under these pretenses, OCF received millions of dollars from customers who believed their money would be kept on deposit until the customers directed the release of their funds. Instead, Wolfgramm and OCF spent these funds on unrelated business expenses, including in one instance, providing a refund to a prior, unrelated depositor. 

In the final scheme alleged in the indictment, Wolfgramm fraudulently agreed to purchase the Sports City complex and land in Draper for $15 million in 2021.  Wolfgramm took possession of the property and took over billing for all Sports City customers – collecting close to $160,000 – without ever paying any utilities or expenses on the property and without making any of the promised payments to the seller on the sales contract. As part of the fraud, Wolfgramm gave the victims a $1 million check that bounced. Wolfgramm later claimed to have paid more than $255,000 in taxes for the property. According to the indictment, however, that payment failed, and Wolfgramm knew the account from which it was purportedly drawn had insufficient funds. 

Wolfgramm, Bitex, and OCF are set to be arraigned in federal court on these charges. 

If you believe you have been a victim of this crime, please call the FBI at (801) 579-1400.

Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron Clark and Stewart Young are prosecuting the case, and special agents from the FBI are conducting the investigation. 

Allegations are not findings of guilt, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial.
 

SALT LAKE CITY – Innocente Ramirez, 38, of West Valley City, was charged by federal criminal complaint with the possession of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, with the intent to distribute, and with the possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

According to the allegations contained in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit, in August of 2022, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations and task force officers from the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force began the investigation into Ramirez’s drug trafficking operation. During this time, law enforcement officers obtained delivery of one pound of methamphetamine from Ramirez and located Ramirez’s residence and the storage unit where Ramirez stored his narcotics. Law enforcement then obtained search warrants for Ramirez’s Salt Lake City storage unit and West Valley City home. During the execution of the search warrant on Ramirez’s storage unit, law enforcement officers seized 50 pounds of methamphetamine, 33 pounds of heroin, 13 pounds of cocaine, 5,000 fentanyl pills, and 17 firearms, two of which were stolen. During the search of Ramirez’s home, law enforcement seized two firearms, drug packaging material, and drug paraphernalia.  

Assistant United States Attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations and task force officers from the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force are conducting the investigation.  

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.     

SALT LAKE CITY- On August 30, 2022, after a three-day trial, a federal jury in the District of Utah found Thomas Fairbanks, 69, of Logan, guilty of securities fraud as a result of his fraudulent activities as the CEO and founder of SupplyLine Partners, located in Logan. 

At trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that Fairbanks fraudulently represented to investors that Supplyline Partners’ purpose was to work as a cooperative in funding the financial needs of local businesses, and then leveraging those businesses’ assets to generate cash flow, which would benefit the local community. SupplyLine was not registered as a business with the State of Utah and neither SupplyLine nor Fairbanks were ever licensed to sell securities. In order to induce victims into investing in his scheme, Fairbanks promised investors that they would receive a six percent annual return on their investments; that investors would receive an accounting on their investments; that investors could liquidate their investment at any time; that invested funds would go towards funding SupplyLine’s lending capital; and that SupplyLine’s investments were collateralized by assets of other businesses. However, none of these representations were true.   

Fairbanks offered and sold investment opportunities in SupplyLine to at least two Utah residents and collected money from them, some of which he used to fund his own business enterprises and to make loans to a realty company where he worked as a real estate agent. In total, victims lost more than $600,000.  

Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Hackford-Peer and Kevin Sundwall tried the case against the defendant. Investigators from the Utah Division of Securities conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI. 

SALT LAKE CITY – Melody Jean Styszko, 54, now of Eldridge, Missouri, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Utah to 60 months of probation for continuing to accept and spend $104,314 dollars in Social Security Retirement Insurance payments from the United States Social Security Administration that were meant for her late father. Styszko was also ordered to pay $104,314 in restitution back to the Social Security Administration as a condition of her sentence.

According to sentencing documents filed by federal prosecutors, Styszko maintained a joint checking account with her late father before his death. After her father died, Styszko continued to accept her father’s Social Security Retirement Insurance benefits as they were deposited into the same joint account for more than ten years. Over the course of those years, Styszko ultimately spent over $104,314 of those benefits on herself. Styszko spent the benefits even though she admitted that “based on the facts known to [her], [she] was conscious and aware of the high probability that [she] was not entitled to this money.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys from the District of Utah and was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.

SALT LAKE CITY- Yesterday, August 24, 2022, in the U.S. District Court, District of Utah, Landon Germaine, 24, of Woods Cross, pled guilty in two federal child exploitation cases arising out of the District of Utah and the Western District of Arkansas. In the District of Utah case, Germaine pled guilty to felony interstate coercion and enticement of a minor. In the Western District of Arkansas case, Germaine pled guilty to attempted sexual exploitation via production of child pornography.

According to the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit filed by federal prosecutors, Germaine utilized social media and cellular applications such as Kik, Telegram, periscope, snapchat, and text messaging, to solicit graphic sexual photos and videos from minor children. A review of Germaine’s electronic devices contained evidence of chats on various applications with numerous female children under eighteen years of age, and some chats with children as young as eleven years old. In these chats, Germaine provided specific instructions on what the minors should depict in the photos and videos and Germaine repeatedly offered to pay the minors money for sending him sexually explicit videos.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys from the District of Utah, the Western District of Arkansas, and Attorneys from the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The cases were investigated by Special Agents from the FBI and officers and detectives from the Woods Cross Police Department, the Bentonville Police Department, the Rogers Police Department, and law enforcement officials from 14 additional U.S. judicial districts.

Sentencing in these matters is set for January 5, 2023.   

SALT LAKE CITY- on August 3, 2022, after a two-week trial, a federal jury in the District of Utah found Christopher Flynn, 38, of Syracuse, guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

At trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that Flynn worked with others to sell $720,000 dollars’ worth of methamphetamine and heroin along the Wasatch Front. Evidence was also presented that Flynn traded 16 firearms, 6 of which were stolen, to his supplier as payment for narcotics.

The jury found Flynn guilty of conspiring with his co-defendants to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. Flynn was also convicted of the possession of a handgun which he used in furtherance of the distribution of methamphetamine and heroin. Because Flynn had previously been convicted of a felony, it was also illegal for Flynn to possess a firearm at any time. Flynn’s co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Flater and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Gadd tried the case against the defendant. Special Agents from the ATF, DEA, and the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force conducted the investigation.

Sentencing in this matter is currently set for November 10, 2022.

SALT LAKE CITY- On July 31, 2022, after a four-day trial, a federal jury in the District of Utah found James D. Brunson, 25, of Orem, guilty of possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon and possession of stolen firearms.

At trial, federal prosecutors presented evidence that Brunson stole a duffle bag containing nine firearms from a residence in Orem. The duffle bag contained two shotguns; three handguns; one revolver; two .22 caliber rifles; an AR-15 rifle; and three boxes containing ammunition for the weapons. After obtaining search warrants, law enforcement officers tracked Brunson to an apartment complex in West Jordan. Prior to his arrest, officers witnessed Brunson remove a stolen 9mm handgun from his waistband and discard it in a nearby grassy area. Officers then arrested Brunson and recovered the discarded stolen handgun and six of the other stolen firearms from a nearby vehicle. Two of the firearms stolen by Brunson have not been located, and officers established that Brunson attempted to sell the firearms for cash to others prior to his arrest.

Brunson was convicted of possessing the 9mm handgun located inside of his waistband and the remaining firearms recovered from the vehicle as a convicted felon. Because the firearms were stolen, Brunson was also convicted of possessing stolen firearms.

Assistant United States Attorneys Angie Clifford and Samuel Pead tried the case against the defendant. Special Agents from the FBI and the Utah County Major Crimes Task force, including law enforcement officers from Orem Police Department and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the investigation.

Sentencing in this matter is currently set for January 31, 2023.

SALT LAKE CITY – Randy Lansing, 38, of Aneth, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation Indian Tribe, was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Utah with second degree murder within Indian Country for unlawfully killing a member of the Navajo Nation on April 23, 2022, while on Tribal lands.

Lansing has pleaded not guilty to the charges contained in the indictment and his trial is currently scheduled for September 6, 2022.

Assistant United States Attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case. Special Agents from the FBI, along with Patrol Officers and Investigators from the Navajo Nation, are conducting the investigation.  

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

SALT LAKE CITY- Giuseppe Mirenda, 27, of Salt Lake City, was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Utah with fraudulently obtaining more than $1.8 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) authorized by Congress under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act").

As part of the CARES Act, Congress authorized the U.S. Small Business Association ("SBA") to provide EIDL loans of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the terms of the EIDL program, proceeds of the loans could only be used as working capital for the businesses to alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to allegations contained in the federal indictment, Giuseppe Mirenda is the partial owner of five Utah restaurants known generally as “Sicilia Mia,” in addition to being a partial owner of a business known as Sicilia Restaurant Management. According to the indictment, Mirenda submitted six fraudulent EIDL loan applications to the SBA between March 30, 2020, and June 24, 2020, and obtained $1,889,400 dollars in EIDL loan proceeds. The first four loan applications required that Mirenda list all owners of the applicant businesses and whether they were U.S. citizens. The second two loan applications required Mirenda to list all persons who owned 20% or more of the applicant business and whether they were U.S. citizens. In these 2020 EIDL loan applications, Mirenda falsely represented that he was the 100% owner of each of the applicant businesses knowing that two of his family members, who lived in the U.S. without legal immigration status, each owned at least 33% of each of the applicant businesses. By omitting these business partners from the applications, Mirenda avoided having to disclose that these family members were living in the U.S. illegally. Under the terms of the EIDL loan program, the fact that his business partners were living in the U.S. illegally would have disqualified each of the businesses from receiving EIDL  proceeds.

The indictment further alleges, that in addition to fraudulently obtaining the EIDL loans, Mirenda used the proceeds from these loans for approximately $1.2 million in unlawful purposes, including the purchase of a $610,204.85 home in West Jordan; a $518,346.46 house in Las Vegas; a Jaguar F-Pace SUV purchased for $16,058; a BMW-M3 luxury car purchased for $26,723; and $39,000 in cryptocurrency purchased from Robinhood and Coinbase.

An initial appearance is scheduled for this matter on August 23, 2022, in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bouton from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. This case was investigated by the SBA-Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) and the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office.

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

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

An Indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.    

WASHINGTON – A Turkish businessman was extradited from Austria to face money laundering, wire fraud and obstruction charges.

Sezgin Baran Korkmaz arrived today in Utah in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Korkmaz was indicted in Salt Lake City, Utah, with laundering more than $133 million in illegal proceeds through bank accounts he controlled in Turkey and Luxembourg. According to an April 2021 superseding indictment, the proceeds relate to a scheme orchestrated in Plymouth, Utah, by Jacob Kingston, Isaiah Kingston and Levon Termendzhyan to defraud the U.S. Treasury by filing false claims for more than $1 billion in tax credits allegedly for the production and sale of biodiesel by their company, Washakie Renewable Energy LLC.

Korkmaz and his co-conspirators allegedly used the biofuel fraud proceeds to acquire luxury homes and assets, as well as businesses such as Biofarma, the Turkish airline Borajet, a yacht named the Queen Anne, a hotel in Turkey and a villa and apartment on the Bosporus river in Istanbul. In coordination with authorities in Lebanon, the U.S. Marshals Service took the Queen Anne yacht into custody in July 2021 and sold it earlier this year for $10.11 million pursuant to an October 2021 order of U.S. District Judge Jill Parrish of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, who is presiding over the Korkmaz case. Other assets of Korkmaz-related companies in Turkey and Europe are the subject of forfeiture claims by the United States and Turkey.  

According to the superseding indictment, Korkmaz also devised a scheme to defraud Jacob Kingston and Isaiah Kingston in early 2018 by falsely representing he could provide them with protection, through unnamed government officials, from a federal grand jury investigation and civil lawsuits. In exchange, the Kingstons sent him $6 million over several months.

Additionally, Korkmaz allegedly made false statements to federal agents in an attempt to obstruct the pending criminal trial against Kingston and Termendzhyan. Among other misstatements, Korkmaz allegedly lied about $38 million in wire transfers sent to a bank account controlled by Termendzhyan.

“The successful apprehension and extradition of Baran Korkmaz demonstrates the department’s commitment to working with our international partners to pursue, capture and return those who seek to defraud the American people,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “Thanks to our law enforcement partners and their counterparts in Austria and Lebanon, we are now able to bring Korkmaz to trial on the pending charges, and have recovered significant forfeiture proceeds.”

“We commend our partners from the Tax Division and the Department of Justice for pursuing Sezgin Baran Korkmaz on behalf of the American taxpayers and ensuring his return to Utah to face justice in U.S. District Court,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. “We are also thankful for the efforts of our foreign partners in Lebanon and Austria, and in particular, the Austrian Bundeskriminalamt Fugitive Active Search Team, for locating Korkmaz overseas.”

In July 2019 Jacob and Isaiah Kingston both pleaded guilty to federal charges, and in 2020 both men testified at the trial of Levon Termendzhyan in Utah. The federal jury convicted Termendzhyan of all charges. The Kingstons and Termendzhyan all await sentencing. 

If convicted, Korkmaz faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud, and obstruction of an official proceeding. A district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division and the Department of Defense DCIS are investigating the case.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and FBI Legal Attaché in Vienna, Austria played key roles in securing the arrest and successful extradition of Korkmaz. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cy Castle for the District of Utah, Senior Policy Advisor Darrin L. McCullough of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and the U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in the seizure of the Queen Anne yacht and its subsequent sale.

Trial Attorney Richard Rolwing and Senior Litigation Counsel John Sullivan of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

SALT LAKE CITY – Brett Clinton Combs, 41, of Las Vegas, was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Utah with theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and being a restricted person in possession of firearms.    

According to the allegations in the criminal complaint and law enforcement affidavit filed by federal prosecutors, Combs used a rock to break into the Dixie Fish and Gun store in St. George during the early morning hours of March 4, 2022. After a “glass break” alarm alerted law enforcement to the incident, St. George police officers responded to find the front glass door of the business shattered and several cases containing firearms damaged. Video surveillance from the business showed a single suspect breaking the front glass door with a rock to enter the business. Continued surveillance footage showed the same suspect breaking several display cases, removing several firearms from the display cases, and then placing the firearms in a duffle bag, before exiting the business. A subsequent inventory of the firearms at the business revealed that 17 firearms, all 9mm semi-automatic pistols, were missing. During the investigation, responding officers discovered a substance resembling blood on broken glass from one of the display cases and submitted the substance to the Utah State Bureau of Forensic Services (UBFS) for analysis. Using the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) for comparison, investigators determined that the blood discovered on the broken glass was a DNA profile match with Brett Clinton Combs of Las Vegas. Additionally, one of the stolen firearms was recovered in conjunction with a separate crime in Las Vegas.  

Assistant United States Attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. Special Agents from the ATF, along with officers from the St. George Police Department, are conducting the investigation.  

An Indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
 

SALT LAKE CITY – Dino A. Rende, 19, of Los Angeles, California, and Francis J. Rende II, 29, of La Mesa, California, were both sentenced to 36 months of probation and ordered to pay $500 dollars in restitution after pleading guilty to misdemeanor conspiracy to steal or convert government property charges stemming from the theft of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards.

In the plea agreement, both defendants admitted that between March 2021 and August 2021, they conspired to defraud the Centers for Disease Control by agreeing to sell stolen CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards to others for $50 each. Both defendants also admitted that defendant Francis Rende II stole at least 20 CDC Vaccination Record Cards in March of 2021, that he sent his brother, Defendant Dino Rende, some of the stolen vaccination record cards, and that they agreed to use them and sell them to others for $50. Both brothers admitted that they had agreed to sell the CDC Vaccination Record Cards to several buyers for $50 each.

Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bouton from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. Special Agents from the Utah Department of Public Safety State Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.

SALT LAKE CITY – Joel Lehi Organista, 29, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two felony counts related to the production and transportation of child pornography. The court ordered the federal prison sentence to run concurrently with a sentence ordered by the State of Utah arising from the same investigation. Organista was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.  

In the plea agreement, Organista admitted to owning a Dropbox account which was used for downloading between 10 and 150 child exploitation images depicting prepubescent minors. In addition, Organista admitted to using Snapchat to contact minor children and soliciting them to perform sexual acts for him via video chat, including an incident which occurred between Organista and a 13 year-old victim, where the victim performed sexual acts for Organista via video chat.

The case originated in January of 2021, after law enforcement received multiple tips that devices and accounts attributed to Organista were receiving and downloading images containing child pornography. A search warrant was executed at Organista’s residence in June of 2021, and Organista has been in custody since that time.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Utah Attorney General’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Special Agents from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.

SALT LAKE CITY – Michael Earl Yellow, 56, of Goulding, Utah was sentenced to serve 46 months in federal prison by a U.S. District Court Judge for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense. Yellow was also ordered to forfeit a .22 caliber rifle and rifle scope, ammunition, four golden eagle carcasses, and other golden and bald eagle remains and feathers, which were found on the property where he lived. The court noted that Yellow killed approximately 80 eagles and hawks, and did so for pecuniary gain.

According to court documents, Yellow pleaded guilty to the unauthorized taking of bald or golden eagles and to one count of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. Yellow admitted that between August of 2014 and August of 2015, he killed approximately 10 bald or golden eagles knowing that taking or possessing bald or golden eagles or their parts without a permit was unlawful, and that he did not have a valid permit to take or posses bald or golden eagles as required by law.

Under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, at 16 U.S.C. § 668(a), it is illegal to take or possess bald or golden eagles, or their parts, dead or alive, without a permit. In addition, under 18 U.S.C.§ 922(g)(1), it is illegal to possess a firearm after being convicted of a felony.

Assistant United States Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case and officers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation.

SALT LAKE CITY – Samuel J. Webster, 18, of Woods Cross, was charged by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City with 23 felony counts related to the alleged torture of four guinea pigs obtained from pet supply stores across the Wasatch Front. Webster was charged with 18 felony counts of distributing animal crush videos on YouTube, one felony count of creating an animal crush video, and four felony counts of animal crushing.

The term “animal crush video” as defined under federal law, makes it illegal to depict, via photograph, motion-picture film, video, digital recording or electronic image, actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, and is obscene.

According to allegations in the Indictment, Webster obtained the four guinea pigs from pet supply stores in Farmington, Salt Lake City, and West Jordan, in October of 2021. Shortly thereafter, it is alleged that Webster posted 23 videos of himself torturing the guinea pigs and posted the videos to multiple YouTube accounts. It is alleged that Webster posted the videos with graphic titles including “Guinea Pig Torture” and “Torture is Fun.” After posting the videos on YouTube, Webster allegedly posted comments to his own videos reinforcing his desires about killing and torturing guinea pigs.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. FBI Special Agents are conducting the investigation.

An Indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

SALT LAKE CITY – On June 1, 2022, a federal jury found both Odyssey International, Inc. and its president and owner, Whitney McBride, 41, of Queen Creek, Arizona, guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and major fraud after a trial in Salt Lake City on June 1, 2022.  In addition, the jury found McBride guilty of making a false statement to federal law enforcement and making a false declaration to the Court.  The charges arise out of fraudulently claiming special status under a Small Business Administration (“SBA”) program in order to obtain the proceeds of a $99 million contract.

McBride and Odyssey were both charged in August of 2020 by a federal grand jury in Utah with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and major contract fraud in relation to submitting fraudulent applications for a $99 million-dollar federal government contract in Fort Drum, New York. McBride was charged with additional felony counts related to perjury and making false statements during the criminal investigation and prosecution of her and Odyssey’s fraudulent business ventures.   

McBride and Odyssey were charged with federal felony violations after investigators discovered, that in 2011, Odyssey fraudulently bid on a $99 million contract for work at the Fort Drum military base in New York. The contract had been set aside for qualified businesses operating in historically underutilized business zones (“HUBzones”) under an SBA program. Areas are qualified as HUBzones based upon historical unemployment and poverty levels, and also include areas such as Indian reservations and military base closure areas.  To qualify for a HUBzone contract through the SBA, two requirements are that at least 35% of the business’s employees must reside in a HUBzone and the business must be a small business. Odyssey bid upon the contract knowing that it did not qualify for HUBzone contracts through the SBA because 35% of its employees did not reside in a HUBzone and because Odyssey was not a small business. 

In pursuing the $99 million dollar Fort Drum contract, Odyssey’s officers and employees falsified information about who was working for Odyssey and where they worked.  These efforts included recruiting employees to falsify their addresses on their driver’s licenses and voter’s registrations, temporarily placing HUBzone residents who did not actually work for the company on payroll in order to falsely claim them as employees and using a shell company to pay employees who did not reside in HUBzones off of Odyssey’s books in order to conceal them from the SBA.

It was further alleged at trial that Odyssey had also fraudulently gained admission to the SBA’s 8(a) program.  That program is designed to provide contract opportunities to businesses owned by individuals who have personally experienced discrimination.  The Defendants conceded at trial that Odyssey’s application to this program was fraudulent but claimed Odyssey’s CFO was solely responsible for the application.  Over a period of about nine years, Odyssey obtained more than $200 million in contracts through this program.

Sentencing is currently set for September 1, 2022.  The maximum penalties for the counts of conviction are twenty years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to twice the amount gained from the fraud.

The investigation also resulted in Odyssey’s former chief operating officer Michael Tingey and chief financial officer Paul Lee both previously entering guilty pleas to wire fraud, and the seizure of more than $7 million in assets. 

This case was investigated by Special Agents from the FBI, the United States Army Criminal Investigations Division, United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Small Business Administration.  Additional assistance was provided by other government agencies including the General Services Administration and the Department of the Interior. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carl LeSueur and Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Clark.    

SALT LAKE CITY – Nan Ma, 39, of Washington, Utah, was sentenced by a U.S. District Court Judge in St. George, Utah, to serve 33 months in federal prison for failing to file financial reports with the United States Treasury after bringing currency in excess of $10,000 back into the United States from China. Ma was also ordered to pay $2,563,337 million dollars in restitution to Sound Vision Technology (“SVT”), which is a high-end audio business in Hurricane, Utah, and ordered to pay $777,879 dollars in restitution to the IRS for outstanding federal tax obligations.

Ma was accused by federal prosecutors of using his position and authority as the officer in charge of production at SVT to solicit and obtain kickbacks for his personal benefit from Chinese companies. In exchange for the kickbacks, Ma was alleged to have awarded lucrative contracts to these companies to manufacture and sell products to his employer. Over the course of his scheme, Ma caused SVT to overpay for its products by approximately $2,563,337.09.

Ma, who is a Chinese citizen with legal permanent resident status in the U.S., took this money for himself and purchased a series of larger and larger homes, expensive vehicles, and townhomes in the St. George area. He also had significant amounts of cash tucked away in various bank accounts. These assets have been forfeited and it is anticipated that the proceeds from the forfeiture will be applied to pay restitution to SVT. 

Ma concealed the source of the funds he was getting through the alleged kickbacks by making false representations to his employer about the origin of his new-found wealth.

In the plea agreement, Ma agreed to forfeit any ill-gotten gains, and admitted that in September of 2019, he travelled to China and obtained Chinese Yuen currency worth $47,934 in U.S. Dollars and that he brought this money from China into the United States without filing a report with the United States Treasury. In so doing, Ma violated a federal law requiring that anyone who brings more than $10,000 of foreign currency into the U.S. to file a report with the U.S. Treasury.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Murray from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. Special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

SALT LAKE CITY— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”

“During National Police Week, we pay tribute to the bravery and selflessness displayed by law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives serving our country and our communities,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “We honor the memory of these brave officers, and the service of all law enforcement officers, by continuing to uphold the laws of the United States in a fair and impartial manner. On behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, I am honored to extend my gratitude to all law enforcement officers for their service to our country.”  

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. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021.  Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19.

Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents.  Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year.  In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting.  Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program. 

The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.

###

Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.

[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender.  Source:  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.

SALT LAKE CITY- Jeffersonking Anyanwu, 34, of Orem, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with facilitating a romance scheme involving more than 350 victims. Anyanwu was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $8.4 million in restitution to the victims of his crimes. 

Anyanwu was one of eight defendants who were charged in an indictment for their role in facilitating romance scams and laundering the money received from those scams.  He and his codefendants allegedly took more than $8.4 million from more than 350 victims, many of them elderly. Anyanwu worked with coconspirators in the United States and in Nigeria, and used social media to create online personas to use in “romance scams.”  Romance scams involve creating fake online personas to ensnare victims susceptible to online friendships. 

The fake personas were usually males in the 55–65-year-old range, and appeared to target widows, divorcees, or women in troubled marriages. Victims were apparently targeted through social media sites, dating sites, and online games such as word searches or word puzzle games.  Anyanwu allegedly used more than 20 accounts to facilitate the scheme.

Several kinds of imposter personas were employed. Often, they employed the identities of real U.S. generals.  The imposters convinced the women that they were stationed overseas, intended to marry the women, and had significant assets overseas.  They also convinced the women that they could not access their assets or leave the foreign station unless the women advanced them funds to be used to release their assets and obtain secure travel.

The romance scams in the scheme also included imposters posing as businessmen located abroad on oil rig platforms or constructing pipelines.  The imposters would convince the women that the imposters were romantically interested in the women, but they could not leave until they finished the pending project.  They would then convince the women to help advance funds to help complete the project, assuring the women that it was a safe and secure investment that would be returned to them.

The romance scams also involved efforts to impersonate celebrities. The imposters would encourage women to advance funds for a celebrity-meet-and-greet, a celebrity’s charity, or to help the celebrity while funds were tied up in a divorce.

To collect money from the victims, the imposters (largely overseas) turned to coconspirators whose location would not trigger suspicion. These coconspirators would provide U.S. bank accounts and addresses to be relayed to the victims to help convince them to send money. 

In addition to Anyanwu, five other defendants have pleaded guilty and received sentences.  Defendant Onoriode Kenneth Adigbolo was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment.  Defendant Daniel Negedu and Defendant Richard Bassey Ukorebi were each sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment. Defendant David Maduagu was sentenced to 26 months’ imprisonment. These Defendants have been ordered jointly and severally liable for $8.4 million in restitution.  Defendant Adriana Sotelo was sentenced to 12 months’ home confinement. The case remains pending against two other defendants.

Assistant United States Attorneys Carl LeSueur and Aaron Clark from the District of Utah prosecuted the case. Special Agents from the FBI conducted the investigation. 

The indictment in this case was one of several resulting from an investigation by the FBI’s Provo, Utah office into romance scam and money laundering activities.

For more information about romance scams please visit the FBI’s informational website here.