Western District of Washington

Seattle – A 29- year-old Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering crimes related to his operation of a fraudulent online shopping refund scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Leonardo Vidal is the second defendant sentenced in an online refunding scheme that stole millions of dollars from retailers. U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik ordered Vidal to be on three years of supervised release following prison.

“Those running these refunding schemes induced others to essentially steal and cheat while claiming there would be no consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “These prison sentences are appropriate for the damage done to retailers and to our community in promoting these illegal schemes.”

According to records in the case, Vidal operated his own fraudulent refunding fraud scheme from June 2021 until April 2023 called Ressu Refunds. The scheme amassed 2,800 subscribers and obtained $6 million in fraudulent refunds for followers. Beginning in June 2022, Vidal conspired with 25-year-old Dearborn, Michigan, man Sajed Al-Maarej who operated a different refund site called “Simple Refunds.” As with the Ressu refund site, Simple Refunds operated through the messaging service Telegram.

Sajed Al-Maarej was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2024.

The Telegram channels represented to prospective purchasers that they could buy high value goods and keep them, while falsely claiming to the merchant company that a refund was due. Purchasers provided Al-Maarej and Vidal with information about their purchase (order number, name, address, value). For a cut of the refund, Al-Maarej, Vidal and their coconspirators would seek a refund by making false representations to the retailers about the status of the order. For example, Simple Refunds or Ressu Refunds would claim the item had not been delivered; was irretrievably damaged; or would have the purchaser mail a box of garbage or junk back to the company – once the package was scanned at the shipping point the refund was issued before the box arrived back and the fraud was discovered.

The men recruited “insiders” at UPS and the US Postal Service who would input false scans into the order tracking history to make it appear items had been lost in shipping, stolen from the mail, or returned to the company. The end goal was for the purchaser to keep the product and get their money back. The purchaser then paid Al-Maarej or Vidal 10-15% of the purchase price as a fee, enabling Al-Maarej and Vidal to enrich themselves.

In December 2022, Vidal acquired Simple Refunds from Al-Maarej. Vidal sold Ressu Refunds and Simple Refunds to a different Telegram user in April 2023.  After selling the refunding scheme, Vidal began another illegal enterprise: purchasing the illegally refunded items and selling them. When confronted by law enforcement Vidal took investigators to the locations where he was storing the stolen goods in four shipping containers before selling them online. In one storage container, they found approximately 245 Dewalt Drills, approximately 92 Coway Airmega Air Purifiers, and approximately 78 M18 Fuel High Torque Wrenches, all commonly refunded items.

During an 8-month period that Vidal operated Ressu Refunds it facilitated more than 3,000 fraudulent refunds worth at least $5.3 million.

The total value of the fraudulent refunds through Simple Refunds and Ressu Refunds while Vidal was running them is $6,067,168. Vidal agreed to pay restitution of that amount.

Speaking at sentencing Vidal said, “I want to thank the FBI, because I was going down a very dark path…. I was not a bad person, but I knew it was wrong.”

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar.

Seattle – A 27-year-old Deering, Alaska man was arraigned today following his indictment for abusive sexual contact, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Trayton C. Ballot was arrested on January 15, 2025, when the Alaska Airlines flight he was on arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International airport. Ballot pleaded not guilty this morning and trial was scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on April 7, 2025.

According to records filed in the case, the 17-year-old victim was flying with her mother and a friend from Anchorage to Seattle. Ballot was seated in the middle seat in a row near the back of the plane. The victim was in the window seat. Ballot appeared to be asleep, but then allegedly moved his hand onto the victim’s inner thigh and began rubbing her thigh. The victim removed Ballot’s hand. Two more times Ballot moved his hand onto the 17-year-old’s inner thigh, and she removed his hand. After the third time, the victim lowered her tray table and wedged a pillow under it to protect her lap. Despite those barriers, Ballot moved his hand under the armrest and attempted to place it over the victim’s thigh. The victim pressed down on the pillow to stop the assault and Ballot took his hand away.

The victim typed into her phone that the man seated next to her had touched her and showed the message to her mother who was seated in the row behind her. At her mother’s instruction, the victim notified the flight attendants who moved her to a different seat.

Ballot was arrested when the plane arrived in Seattle. He was held at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac until the next day when he was released on many conditions including that he notify any airline of these charges before he travels.

Ballot waived his presence at arraignment and his attorney entered a plea of “Not Guilty.”

Abusive sexual contact is punishable by up to two years in prison.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the FBI.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein.

Seattle – A 31-year-old South Haven, Michigan, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 20-years in prison for traveling with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Keith Daniel Freerksen was arrested in South Haven Township on January 31, 2024, following an investigation that stretched from western Washington to Michigan.

At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin noted the trauma inflicted on the victim and the victim’s family. For 30 days they searched for the victim, even calling every morgue in Washington State with fear their child was dead. Judge Lin said the victim, “Will continue to suffer trauma and pain.”

“What happened in this case is every parent’s nightmare – a predator comes into the home via social media and computer screens and manipulates your child to run away,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “This defendant secreted a child away, leaving a distraught family searching desperately for their loved one. When the victim should have been involved in normal teenage activities, the teen was instead manipulated and ensnared by the defendant.”

According to records filed in the case, the 14-year-old went missing on January 5, 2024. A local police detective requested help from the FBI. An agent who specializes in Violent Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking investigations occurring in Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and San Juan counties quickly assisted.

By analyzing information on Uber rides that had been purchased for the victim by an unknown person, law enforcement was able to identify Freerksen, a registered sex offender in Michigan, as a potential suspect. Using information on Freerksen’s registered vehicle, they were able to trace his movement across the northern tier of states using license plate readers. The readers also captured Freerksen’s return trip through Idaho and Illinois in the days after the teen went missing.

When the police in South Haven Township served a search warrant at the request of the FBI, they recovered the victim and arrested Freerksen. He was ultimately transported to Western Washington and has been detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.

In asking for the 20-year sentence Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “It is very alarming that neither of Freerksen’s family members intervened when he returned home with the then fourteen-year-old victim in tow. Freerksen was undeterred by his previous sex offense conviction, corresponding imprisonment, and registration obligation. The rapid recidivism between Freerksen’s release from prison following child pornography offenses and the dedicated months he spent manipulating and enticing (the victim) is evidence he is either unwilling or unable to refrain from sexually abusing minors.”

The victim’s parents thanked law enforcement for finding and rescuing their child. The victim’s mother said, “I never imagined a predator would travel across the country to steal (my child).”

The twenty-year sentence will run concurrent with a fifteen-to-seventy-year indeterminate state sentence in Michigan. Freerksen will serve his time in the federal prison system. Judge Lin ordered twenty years of supervised release to follow prison. Freerksen will once again have to register as a sex offender.

The case was investigated by the Mount Vernon Police Department, FBI Seattle, and the Van Buren County, Michigan Sheriff’s Office and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

Seattle – Three citizens of Mexico were arrested late last week in Bellevue, Washington, in connection with a drug deal involving more than 25 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. All three men are being held at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington, on a criminal complaint.

According to records filed in the case, on January 29, 2025, law enforcement began communicating with a transnational drug organization about purchasing crystal methamphetamine. The deal was set for the next day: 30 pounds of crystal methamphetamine for $62,000 to be exchanged at a restaurant parking lot in Bellevue.

After seeing the drugs, law enforcement swooped in to arrest the drug traffickers. The traffickers attempted to flee but were taken into custody. The men are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with attempt to distribute.

The three men are identified as:

Eber Omar Barrones-Madrid, age 24

Juan Jose Prado-Estrada, age 25

Jose Manuel Ochoa-Sanchez, age 27

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.

Tacoma – A former U.S. Army soldier was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 87 months in prison for abusive sexual contact with a child, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Cameron James Taylor, 49, of Seattle, pleaded guilty in May 2024 and has been in custody since his guilty plea.  At today’s sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo noted the conduct in this case may cause the victim lifetime torment. The victim “is a strong individual” and “shows courage to move on” Chief Judge Estudillo said.

“This horrific conduct cannot go unpunished. Our work to protect children on our military bases is a priority in the Western District of Washington,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Mr. Taylor sexually assaulted a child who was just 5 years old. He then pressured the child to hide the conduct when questioned by other adults. I commend the strength of the victim in this case.”

According to records filed in the case, Taylor left the Army in 2016 with an “Other than Honorable” discharge after he was investigated for sexual assault of an unconscious female in Germany, and for assaulting soldiers who went to arrest him. Taylor resigned in lieu of Court Martial.

Once back in the U.S., Taylor was convicted of the 2019 sexual assault of a 5-year-old neighbor child. Taylor forced the child to massage him and reach into his pants. In 2022, Taylor was sentenced in King County Superior Court to 18 months in prison.

During the investigation related to the neighbor child, other children who had been in Taylor’s care were interviewed. Taylor had coached a child, who was now a teen about hiding his sexual assaults. Ultimately, the child disclosed to a relative that in 2012, while stationed on JBLM, Taylor locked the then 5- or 6-year-old in a closet and sexually assaulted the child.

On the eve of trial, Taylor pleaded guilty.

In asking for the 8-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Taylor’s crimes reveal a man who lacks empathy and who prioritized his own pleasure over others’ pain. Taylor is also no stranger to the justice system; this is his third criminal sex offense. The government hopes that a 96-month sentence, coupled with lifetime supervised release, will prevent Taylor from reoffending again.”

Taylor is required to register as a sex offender following his prison term. Chief Judge Estudillo ordered that he be on supervised release for ten years following prison.

The case was investigated by U.S. Army Criminal Investigations (CID), the King County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hillary K. Stuart and Erika J. Evans.

Tacoma – A member of the Puyallup Tribe was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 13 years in prison for the fatal shooting of someone he considered a friend, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Dennis Jacobsen, 32, was arrested shortly after the shooting on October 21, 2021. Jacobsen was originally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm because of convictions for robbery and unlawful firearms possession in Pierce County Superior Court. In June 2024, Jacobsen pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said, “This is a tragic story of illicit drug use and a firearm. The lives of the loved ones of the victim will carry this loss for years.”

According to records filed in the case, both Jacobsen and the victim had been drinking and using drugs the morning of the shooting. The two were seen together outside the victim’s home within the confines of the Puyallup reservation. The two men walked behind the home and witnesses heard three gunshots. The victim was shot once in the arm and twice in the head, at least once at close range. Witnesses then saw Jacobsen run from behind the house, get in a vehicle and drive away.

When police went to Jacobsen’s residence, they found the handgun with one bullet still in the chamber. The ammunition matched the type of ammunition used in the shooting.

In asking for the 15-year sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg wrote to the court, “The impact of (the victim’s) killing has been felt deeply in the community. His girlfriend was pregnant with his son at the time of the killing. She can now only show her son the photographs of his father. (The victim’s) parents are now without a son and the greater Puyallup community has lost another tribal member to a violent tragedy.”

Jacobsen will be on five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

The case was investigated by the Puyallup Tribal Police and the FBI.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.

Tacoma – Two members of drug trafficking organizations linked to Aryan prison gangs were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to twelve- and seven-year prison terms, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Eric Smith,54, of Tacoma, was sentenced to twelve years in prison and Sara Thompson, 39, of Bonney Lake, Washington, was sentenced to seven years in prison.  Both defendants were arrested in connection with the investigation of drug trafficking organizations connected to the Aryan Family and Omerta prison gangs. At the sentencing hearing for Smith, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “These drugs, particularly fentanyl, are creating a mess in our community. It creates people who can no longer function and leads to overdose and death.”

“Both of these defendants served as trusted coconspirators for the leaders of distribution cells identified in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “As such they are responsible for distributing hundreds of thousands of doses of potentially deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine. The damage done to our communities is severe.”

“Every Fentanyl pill introduced into our communities has the potential to destroy lives.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “The defendants conspired with others, including with individuals already incarcerated, to traffic these deadly pills into Washington state. The FBI and our partners will continue our efforts to keep these poisons off the streets and out of our neighborhoods.”

According to records filed in the case, Eric Smith served as a trusted drug customer and redistributor for the leader of the criminal conspiracy, Jesse Bailey. Smith helped Bailey wash over 50 kilograms of methamphetamine to prepare it for distribution. Smith carried and was caught with various firearms while engaged in the drug trade. On November 1, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Sara Thompson pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Thompson is in a romantic relationship with the leader of the drug distribution cell, 39-year-old Yehoshua Kilp. Thompson served as Kilp’s proxy for major narcotics deals. Law enforcement raided the Airbnb she stayed at with Kilp immediately after one of these deals and seized nearly 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, and over 5 kilograms of fentanyl in powder and pill form. Thompson continued to sell drugs on behalf of the drug trafficking organization even after Kilp was arrested on state charges.

At her sentencing Chief Judge Estudillo said, “The crime that’s associated with controlled substances, the violence that’s sometimes associated with it . . . It’s just a path of destruction for everybody around it. . . .  These things have impact and there’s a reason why there’s significant consequences for this type of conduct.”

“Mr. Smith and Ms. Thompson helped a hate group distribute over a million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl into our neighborhoods,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “We, at the Drug Enforcement Administration, and our partners will do everything in our power to stop those who try to poison and destroy our communities with drugs, violence, and hate.”

Law enforcement made two dozen arrests on federal charges on March 22, 2023. The coordinated takedown involved ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. Earlier in the investigation law enforcement seized 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, 5 pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms.

The top-level leader of the drug trafficking ring, Jesse Bailey, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2025, and his wife and co-conspirator Candace Bailey, is scheduled for sentencing on June 13, 2025.

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

This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.

Tacoma – The second of two Nigerian men residing in Canada who defrauded pandemic aid programs of millions was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 54 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Fatiu Ismaila Lawal, 46, was extradited from Canada last July, and pleaded guilty in September 2024. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright said, the crime required substantial planning. “This took advantage of programs designed to help people who were really struggling in an international emergency,” Judge Cartwright said.

“This defendant made it his full-time job to defraud the U.S. for years before the pandemic, but he kicked it into high gear once critical aid to Americans workers was flowing,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “His fraud included using stolen identities of Washington residents to file dozens of unemployment claims in the first few weeks of the pandemic, contributing to the flood of fraudulent claims that caused the state to pause all unemployment payments. In this way his fraud harmed all Washingtonians who desperately needed assistance at the onset of the pandemic.”

According to records filed in the case, Lawal, and codefendant Sakiru Olanrewaju Ambali, 46, used the stolen identities of thousands of workers to submit over 1,700 claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to over 25 different states, including Washington State. In total, the claims sought approximately $25 million, but the conspirators obtained approximately $2.7 million, primarily from pandemic unemployment benefits. Lawal admits that he personally submitted claims for $1,345,472.

Lawal personally submitted at least 790 unemployment claims using the stolen identities of 790 workers. He submitted claims for pandemic unemployment benefits to New York, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, California, Washington and some 19 other states. Lawal also established four internet domain names that were subsequently used for fraud – creating some 800 different email addresses that were used in this scheme.

Additionally, between 2018 and November 2022, Lawal used stolen personal information to submit 3,000 income tax returns for $7.5 million in refunds. The IRS detected the fraud and paid just $30,000.

“While Mr. Lawal may not have secured the $7.5 million he sought from fraudulent tax refunds, each of the 3,000 returns he filed represents a life he disrupted,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office.

Lawal and co-defendant Ambali also attempted to use the stolen American identities for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA). The pair submitted some 38 applications, but SBA caught most of the fraud and paid only $2,500.

Lawal and Ambali had the proceeds of their fraud sent to cash cards or to “money mules” who transferred the funds according to instructions given by the co-conspirators. They also allegedly used stolen identities to open bank accounts and have the money deposited directly into those accounts for their use.

Evidence gathered in the case shows that Lawal personally received a substantial portion of the criminal proceeds. Lawal was ordered to pay restitution of $1,345,472.

Co-defendant Ambali was sentenced to 42 months in prison in March 2024.

In asking for a 65-month prison sentence, the government argued, “During major disasters and nationwide emergencies, it is particularly important for the government to be able to disburse aid quickly to real victims to mitigate the impact of the crisis. The actual monetary loss to the government comes secondary to the fact that a real person or business behind each stolen identity had difficulty accessing assistance because a fraudulent claim was already paid in their identity. These difficulties were further compounded by the onslaught of fraudulent claims that clogged the infrastructure in place to distribute the aid. The estimated loss from these fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims is over $100 billion.”

The National Unemployment Fraud Task Force provided a lead on this case to the investigative team in Western Washington. The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). Also contributing to the investigation were Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington State Employment Security Division (ESD), and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cindy Chang of the Western District of Washington. DOJ’s Office of International Affairs assisted with extradition on this matter.

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

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

Tacoma – The leader of a South Puget Sound drug trafficking organization that sent dangerous drugs as far away as Georgia and Ohio was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to ten years in prison for his multi-state drug trafficking scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Joel Adrian Valencia Rosas, 28, of Lakewood, Washington was indicted in December 2023 following a lengthy investigation that uncovered the trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana to East Coast locales, and the importation and distribution of fentanyl and cocaine in Western Washington. The drug ring used social media such as Snapchat and Instagram to communicate and recruit new members. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright noted that Mr. Valencia Rosas was glamorizing drug dealing with his social media posts. “He used the lower-level members of the drug ring to take on higher risks… Mr. Valencia Rosas was willing to recruit and sacrifice others to make more money,” Judge Cartwright said.

“The defendants in this case are all young – 18-28 years old.  Mr. Valencia Rosas, the ringleader of this trafficking group, actively enticed young people to join his criminal enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “On social media he not only posted the drugs available for sale and their prices, he also attempted to portray the drug trafficking lifestyle as glamorous and lucrative, posting pictures of himself with firearms, flashy vehicles, and cash. In reality, drug trafficking leaves destruction in its wake.”

During this investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and partner law enforcement agencies seized nearly 52 kilos of cocaine, more than 23 kilos of fentanyl pills, and 131 kilos of marijuana. One drug shipment seized by law enforcement contained 37 kilos of cocaine and more than a kilo of fentanyl pills. In June 2023, a traffic stop on Interstate 5 resulted in the

 seizure of 200,000 fentanyl pills that had been hidden in the vehicle.

According to records filed in the case, Valencia Rosas has been trafficking drugs since at least 2018. His posts on social media talked about how much money he would pay for people to work as drug couriers. Even after Snapchat closed his account in December 2022, Valencia Rosas simply moved his recruiting efforts to another social media site: Instagram. He continued posting on his trafficking activities through 2023.

Valencia Rosas has been in custody since his arrest in December 2023.

In asking for an 11-year prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Marci Ellsworth wrote to the court, “Valencia Rosas was so successful that he could not traffic the drugs without bringing others into his criminal orbit. He could not move the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash drug proceeds from Ohio and Georgia without more people, driving cash back to him or flying with it stuffed into their bags… none of those codefendants made money from their involvement in the DTO. Only Valencia Rosas made money, off the backs of his codefendants.”

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) IRS- Criminal Investigations, TNET (Tacoma Narcotics Enforcement Team), TNT (Thurston Narcotics Task Force), Lakewood PD, Puyallup PD, Bonney Lake PD, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Tacoma PD, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, and Metro Cities SWAT.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Marci L. Ellsworth and Crystal Correa. 

Tacoma – A 46-year-old Spanaway, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 12 years in prison for his leadership role in a drug distribution ring selling fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Puget Sound region, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Sean Michael Moinette has been in custody since March 2023, in connection with the arrest of over two dozen conspirators, including some with ties to an Aryan prison gangs. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “the impact [of drug trafficking] on our community is almost immeasurable.”

“This defendant was deeply involved in distributing drugs, arranging couriers, and seeking various sources of supply. But when confronted with the information that his fentanyl was too strong and causing overdoses, he did not skip a beat and continued to scheme about moving his poison in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman.

According to records filed in the case, Moinette was identified as a mid-level manager of a drug distribution cell tied to the Aryan Family and Omerta prison gangs. A wiretap investigation in summer of 2022 revealed that Moinette was buying large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, and fentanyl-laced pills multiple times per week. Moinette continued to distribute large quantities of fentanyl powder even after discussions with his supplier that their customers were “dropping like flies.”

In other wiretap calls, he discussed using women as “live shipping containers” to transport fentanyl out of state. In sentencing Moinette, Judge Estudillo said, “Talking about using mules and transportation of drugs through airplanes up to Alaska . . . It’s hard to believe that’s just talk.”

When a drug redistributor was stopped and her car impounded, Moinette was heard on the wire scheming to break into the police impound yard to try to get the drugs out of the vehicle. The break-in did not occur.

Law enforcement arrested members of the drug distribution conspiracy on March 22, 2023, in a coordinated takedown involving ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. On that day alone officers seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona.  Those seizures are in addition to the estimated 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 830,000 fentanyl pills, multiple-pound quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, $338,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 48 firearms law enforcement seized from members of the conspiracy during the two-year investigation.

Asking for a 13-year prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court that Moinette “continued to distribute fentanyl despite knowing that his fentanyl was having deadly consequences, and he forced his mules to transport this deadly substance using suppositories through the omni-present threat of violence that led one of his couriers to immediately respond “I know” when he threatened to stab her.”

Moinette is the eighth member of the drug conspiracy to be sentenced. Some defendants have received prison sentences of as much at 13 years in prison. Less culpable defendants have been sentenced to 14-50 months in prison. Drug ringleader Jesse James Bailey pleaded guilty last November and is scheduled for sentencing on February 28, 2025.

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

This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Max Shiner, Zach Dillon, and Jehiel Baer.

Seattle – A member of Lummi Nation was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of Assault by Strangulation, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Joseph Michael Quincy Jefferson, 35, was found guilty following a seven- day jury trial. Jurors deliberated about ninety minutes before reaching the guilty verdict. U.S. District Judge Lauren King scheduled sentencing for April 10, 2025.

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, on the night of April 8, 2023, Jefferson punched, pushed, and strangled his live-in partner. Sitting on her back he used the crook of his elbow to apply pressure to her neck, strangling her and causing her to black out twice. When the victim regained consciousness, she ran from the home barefoot and in her underwear, calling a friend and a neighbor requesting help. The victim went to the Lummi Nation Police Department and to the hospital. The victim made consistent statements to police and to those giving medical care, that she had been strangled. Medical providers documented her injuries that were consistent with being punched, pushed into a metal bookcase, and strangled. Her nose was broken.

At trial, Jefferson claimed he acted in self-defense. During her testimony, the victim minimized Jefferson’s conduct.

In closing arguments prosecutors detailed how the medical records and recorded statements proved the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. “He was the aggressor... There is no evidence that he faced immediate use of unlawful force,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Lee said in her closing argument. “This is a case of gratuitous, intentional violence from someone who was jealous, angry, and drunk.”

Jefferson has been in custody since his bond was revoked in late October 2024 due to his ongoing contact with the victim in violation of his conditions of pretrial release. He remains in custody pending sentencing.

Assault by Strangulation is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Celia Lee and Erika Evans. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ensuring public safety on tribal lands is a critical responsibility of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.

Seattle – A 72-year-old Mercer Island, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 years of supervised release during which two years must be served as home incarceration for Attempted Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction and Abusive Sexual Contact in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Munir Walji was convicted following a four-day jury trial in September 2024. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said Walji’s conduct “called for a term of incarceration.” However, Judge Lin noted Walji’s extremely poor health. “But for your medical conditions I would impose a prison sentence. But I am deeply concerned that a prison sentence would be a death sentence.”

“This defendant unbuckled the seat belt of the teen sleeping next to him in the confines of an aircraft, and reached inside her pants, attempting to reach her genitals,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “This is shocking conduct that traumatized the victim and impacted her family.  We will continue to prosecute these cases demonstrating our commitment to holding these perpetrators accountable.”

According to records in the case and testimony at trial, on November 10, 2021, Walji was seated in the aisle seat next to the 15-year-old victim on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Seattle. The victim’s mother was in the window seat.

As the flight neared arrival in Seattle the victim felt a hand on her leg, waking her. She moved away from Walji and tried to go back to sleep. But the touching became more aggressive with Walji rubbing her thigh, and then unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching inside the waistband of her pants and underwear. The victim said something causing Walji to stop.

The flight attendants responded to the row when the mother pushed the call button. They moved the mother and victim to a different row. Law enforcement was notified, and Walji was arrested upon arrival in Seattle.

In asking for the 30-month sentence recommended by federal pretrial officers, prosecutors wrote to the court, “Despite Walji’s history of family support, opportunity, and career success, he chose to engage in behavior worthy of society’s condemnation. He chose to take advantage of a sleeping 15-year-old girl on a plane who did not know how to respond to this adult male’s nonconsensual sexual advances.”

Walji’s attorneys cited his “severe persistent health problems” including blood cancer and reduced lung function that requires him to take 20 medications per day. Being in a congregate setting would be life threatening, according to Walji’s attorneys.

Prosecutor Laura Harmon countered that at this juncture it was unknown whether BOP could meet Walji’s medical needs. BOP has facilities with high level medical care for cancer patients.

Judge Lin concluded that even though prison was warranted, she was not willing to take the risk that the Bureau of Prisons could not meet his medical needs. Judge Lin also imposed a $5,000 fine and ordered Walji to register as a sex offender.

The case was investigated by the FBI.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior King County Deputy Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation and sex crimes in federal court.

Seattle – A 57-year-old Renton, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years in prison for drug trafficking and money laundering crimes related to his role in a drug distribution ring, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Frank Lozano Graves was arrested in July 2023 following an investigation of a drug trafficking organization involving Graves, his son and daughter, and other coconspirators. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, “You knew the havoc that drugs wreak and yet you endangered your family…. You modeled for your children that drug dealing was okay, and you got them involved in it.”

“IRS-Criminal Investigations is a key partner in our efforts to take the profit out of drug distribution,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The IRS-CI agents truly ‘follow the money,’ providing the evidence we need to seize bank accounts and assets such as homes or vehicles that have been purchased with drug money. In this way they do their part to remove the financial incentive of drug trafficking.”

“Mr. Graves enabled addiction in his own community for money,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “We follow the money to stop criminal organizations from profiting at the expense of human lives.”

According to records filed in the case, as early as July 2022, communications between Graves and his son, who was incarcerated, made it clear that Graves was dealing opioids. The investigation revealed that the drugs were coming from a source in Las Vegas. After Graves’ son was released from prison, the two men were heard on wiretapped phone calls discussing their drug conspiracy. Graves was even posting on social media about his drug trafficking. Graves was arrested in July 2023.

Following the arrest, agents with IRS-CI began analyzing Graves’ bank accounts and financial records. They could trace drug proceeds going into his accounts totaling about $800,000 over three years. Graves and his son set up a phony construction company to launder the funds. In his plea agreement Graves admits that the funds flowing into the accounts were from his drug trafficking activity.

As part of his sentence Graves is forfeiting to the government a vehicle, jewelry and more than $15,000 in cash seized from his home.

Graves’ son, Frank Marquis Graves, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and assault (for an attack on another inmate at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac).  Frank Marquis Graves is scheduled for sentencing on April 16, 2025.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Seattle Police Department, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Michelle Jensen.

Seattle – Five Seattle-area men are in custody following a grand jury indictment for their drug trafficking activity in Seattle’s homeless encampments and International District, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The men are charged federally and have made their initial appearances over the last few days.

“We are all focused on increasing community safety, especially in Seattle’s International District,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The Seattle Police Department, the FBI, DEA, and other law enforcement partners have worked tirelessly to identify members of this drug ring who are peddling drugs in the International District and homeless encampments. They prey on the most vulnerable and with guns and threats increase the danger on our streets.”

“This organization took advantage of many people’s addictions, homelessness, and other vulnerabilities, often using violence or threats of violence,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Together with our partners, the FBI will continue to pursue drug trafficking organizations and remove dangerous individuals from our communities to keep Seattle and Washington state safer.”

The five men named in the indictment are:

Tommy Pham, 37, of Newcastle, Washington

Donfeuy Saephan, 54, of Seattle

Khampheth Keodara, 42, of Seattle

Sang Tran, 54, of Kent, Washington

Theodore Nation, 35, of Seattle

According to records filed in the case, the investigation began in November 2023, with the Seattle Police, FBI, and DEA focusing on a drug trafficking organization dealing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the homeless encampments of Seattle and in drug trafficking areas of the International District at locations such as 12th and Jackson. Some of the defendants were arrested with firearms. Using a court authorized wiretap, investigators gathered evidence of the drug trafficking and made arrests and seizures over the course of the investigation. Law enforcement heard intimations of violence on the calls and worked to intervene without tipping off the targets of the investigation.

During the arrest operation over the last few days, law enforcement seized 17 firearms and 23 kilos of suspected fentanyl powder.

Five defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, Theodore Nation is charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. Pham and Tran are charged with distribution of controlled substances. Pham is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm because he has criminal history that bars him from possessing firearms.

The current charges carry a mandatory minimum ten years in prison for the conspiracy and some drug counts. Possession with intent to distribute is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison. Illegal possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

“We’re proud to work with our federal partners on this enforcement action. The Seattle Police Department will continue to take the necessary steps to continue ensuring our city is safe and welcoming for all,” said Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr.

“The fentanyl powder alone seized from this group could have unleashed 1.7 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl into our community,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.  “This group posed a major threat to our neighborhoods, and I am proud of the work of DEA and our partners in neutralizing this danger.” 

“This operation speaks to the stand against drug trafficking from all levels of law enforcement,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “We will continue doing our part to expose the profits of drug trafficking because we believe there should be no profit in crime.”

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The investigation was led by the FBI, Seattle Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with significant assistance from the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Investigators also worked with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Tukwila Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne.

Seattle – A 43-year-old Snohomish County man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to production of images of child sexual abuse and attempted enticement of minors, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Bennett S. Park was arrested in August 2023, when he was attempting to pick up a 13-year-old in a residential area of Everett, Washington. Park had told an undercover law enforcement officer that he planned to pick up and molest the 13-year-old. When Park is sentenced by U. S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez, prosecutors will recommend no more than 25 years in prison and the defense will recommend no less than 20 years. Judge Martinez is not bound by the recommendations. Sentencing is scheduled for April 25, 2025.

According to the plea agreement, in July 2023, Park responded to an online add placed by an undercover Homeland Security Investigation agent, falsely claiming that the agent had two young children that could be molested. In his response, Park indicated that he was actively molesting children between the ages of 11 and 17. Park indicated he wanted to molest the agent’s fictional children but was already meeting a 13-year-old. Law enforcement quickly put Park under surveillance to identify and protect the 13-year-old. Just after 1:45 am on August 8, 2023, law enforcement arrested Park just after the 13-year-old got in his vehicle.

After Park’s arrest a review of his electronic devices revealed he had communicated with dozens of minors. Twenty-three of the minor victims were identified. Park had convinced them to provide images of sexual abuse via Instagram, Discord, Snapchat, Facebook, Gmail and Zoom platforms. In the plea agreement Park details his crimes with eight different minor victims.

Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. Attempted enticement of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison.

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

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

Seattle – A Bothell, Washington, pharmaceutical company will pay $4,068,698 to resolve allegations it used falsified academic research to obtain grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH), announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The research studies in question were into age-related cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s. However, when the company applied for a federal grant, it failed to notify NIH of allegations that its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) committed research misconduct when she falsified images from her doctoral dissertation.  The allegations were called to the government’s attention through a qui tam lawsuit.  The relator will receive a portion of the payment for uncovering the fraud.

“The research into neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease is critical to growing numbers of patients in our community. That research must not be tainted by the misconduct highlighted in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “To its credit, Athira immediately notified NIH of the research misconduct after the full board of directors learned of it.  The company’s transparency significantly helped Athira mitigate its damages and demonstrated its resolve towards coming into compliance with the relevant law and regulations.” 

“The partnership between the scientific community and the federal government is built on trust and shared values of ethical scientific conduct,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that undermine the integrity of federal funding decisions.” 

The settlement resolves allegations that between January 1, 2016, and June 20, 2021, Athira failed to report allegations that its former CEO, Leen Kawas, falsified and manipulated scientific images in her doctoral dissertation and in published research papers that were referenced in several grant applications submitted to NIH, including in a grant that NIH funded in 2019.  Specifically, Athira violated its regulatory obligations to disclose the allegations to NIH in grant applications and Research Progress Performance Reports, and to disclose them to the HHS Office of Research Integrity in Small Business Organization Statements, Institutional Assurances, or Annual Reports on Possible Research Misconduct.

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Andrew P. Mallon, Ph.D.  Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Mallon will receive $203,434 under today’s settlement.  The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Andrew Mallon v. Athira Pharma, Inc., No. 2:21-853-RSL (W.D. Wash.). 

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. 

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Bohl for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Erin Colleran. 

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

Seattle –A 53-year-old Des Moines, Washington, man, who is a registered sex offender, was sentenced today to ten years in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Edward James Creed was on Washington State Department of Corrections supervision when he was found to have unapproved electronic devices in his residence and images of child sexual abuse on his phone. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson said, “creating a market for this material perpetuates the horrific abuse of children.”

According to records filed in the case, Creed previously served more than ten years in state custody for a 2008 Kitsap County conviction for rape of a child. He was released in 2017 but was returned to custody for a time in 2019. In March of 2024, community corrections review of his phone revealed that he had collected seventy images of child sexual abuse. After his arrest, a search of his room at the sex offender residence revealed that he had a number of unapproved electronic devices.

In asking for the ten year sentence Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “In light of the defendant’s demonstrated sexualized interest in minors, it bears repeating that it is exceedingly troubling Creed successfully completed a sexual deviancy treatment program in prison and after two relatively short periods of time in the community was caught seeking out (2020) or successfully obtaining (2024) child sexual abuse material and unlawfully accessing the internet to do so…. He has proven history of deceiving those tasked with monitoring him in the community and has demonstrated a significant commitment to do so.”

Judge Evanson ordered Creed to be on 15 years of supervised release to follow prison.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Washington State Department of Corrections.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

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

Seattle –The owner of a string of bikini barista coffee stands was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 months in prison and a $75,000 fine for making and subscribing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Between 2016 and 2020 Assad Baragzai, 47, of Yarrow Point, Washington, failed to report as much as $6 million in income on his tax returns. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, the tax system “is an honor system… and you weren’t honorable. (There was) absolutely no reason for you to be cheating on your taxes except for pure greed.”

“Our government relies on the 85 percent of Americans who each year pay the taxes they owe to keep communities safe, and provide all the other important services we need,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “Mr. Baragzai had great business success, but failed to fund the community that made that success possible. Such conduct is not erased by paying what is owed some five years later – it is appropriate that he serve prison time for his willful tax fraud.”

According to records in the case, Baragzai significantly under-reported his income when he provided information to his tax accountant. The government believes that the tax loss over the five years that Baragzai underreported his income is more than $1.7 million. The tax loss in 2017 alone is more than $687,000. Baragzai disputes the government figures and argued that he had some legitimate deductions making the tax loss is $1.3 million. Judge Lin determined the tax loss was $1,348, 154.

In asking for a two-year prison term Assistant United States Attorney Mike Dion wrote to the court, “Assad Baragzai reaped the benefits of American society but somehow convinced himself that he did not need to pay his share of the costs that support that society.  All Americans pay a price for this kind of selfishness.  For example, school lunches are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.  But for this prosecution, Baragzai’s tax fraud would have cost the government the equivalent of 462,000 school lunches.”

“Instead of paying his fair share toward public resources as every law-abiding American does, Mr. Baragzai misrepresented his income to furnish an already-lavish lifestyle,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office.

Baragzai is the second defendant to be sentenced in this investigation. In October 2024, Baragzai’s brother-in-law, 45-year-old Rajesh Mathew, of Auburn, Washington, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service for making and subscribing a false tax return.

Baragzai has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS. He may also face additional civil penalties, fines, and interest for the tax loss.

The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Dion.

Seattle – A 27-year-old Dearborn, Michigan, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison and three years of supervised release for a fraud scheme damaging retailers across the country, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Teal L. Miller. Sajed Al-Maarej operated “Simple Refunds” through the messaging service Telegram, where coconspirators were encouraged to purchase items from retailers Al-Maarej claimed he could defraud. Al-Maarej and his staff of “professional refunders” impersonated the purchaser and lied to the retailer about the status of the item to secure a refund for the purchaser, while permitting the purchaser to keep the ordered item. The scheme caused more than $4 million in losses for retailers and induced young adults nationwide to join a criminal scheme. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik noted that the fraud “was a difficult and expensive proposition” for the victim companies. “We need to send a message that this behavior is criminal,” Judge Lasnik said.

“This defendant enticed many young and naïve online contacts to his illegal refunding scheme – some perhaps believed Al-Maarej’s spiel that this conduct was not illegal. They were badly misled,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Teal L. Miller. “This fraudulent refund scheme hurts retailers and ultimately raises prices for all of us. Al-Maarej got his expensive toys by convincing others to become complicit in his crimes.”

According to records in the case, between September 2020 and December 2022, Al-Maarej represented to prospective purchasers that they could buy high value goods and keep them, while falsely claiming to the merchant company that a refund was due. Purchasers provided Al-Maarej information about their purchase (order number, name, address, value) and for a cut of the refund, Al-Maarej and his coconspirators would seek a refund by making false representations. For example, Simple Refunds would claim the item had not been delivered; was irretrievably damaged; or would have the purchaser mail a box of garbage or junk back to the company – once the package was scanned at the shipping point the refund was often issued before the box arrived back and the fraud was discovered. Al-Maarej recruited “insiders” at UPS and the US Postal Service who would input false scans into the order tracking history to make it appear items had been lost in shipping, stolen from the mail, or returned to the company.

The end goal was for the purchaser to keep the product and get their money back. The purchaser then paid Al-Maarej 15-25% of the purchase price as his fee.

Al-Maarej engaged in fraudulent refunding activity as well, on his own purchases. That conduct lasted until at least August 2023. In one instance, Al-Maarej obtained a refund for bulky tools, but he returned to the retailer an envelope filled with plastic toy frogs. One retailer identified more than $500,000 in items shipped to Al-Maarej’s home for which Al-Maarej obtained fraudulent refunds. In total, Al-Maarej made (and retailers lost) more than $1.4 million to his personal refunding activities. 

The Simple Refunds channel on Telegram amassed a following of more than 1,000 subscribers. Al-Maarej used a second channel to post information on successful refunds. Al Maarej represented to some of those he recruited that the scheme was not illegal. He targeted young men in their teens and twenties and embroiled them in criminal conduct.

The indictment details how two Snohomish County residents ordered thousands of dollars of merchandise and conspired with Al-Maarej to get the payments refunded. Al-Maarej or others at his direction, impersonated the buyers, claimed the items had been “delivered not received” and got the purchase price refunded. The customers kept the items.

In May 2022, Al-Maarej deepened his fraud by offering a “mentorship” program where he would teach others to create their own refunding scams – he charged $6,000 for admission to the program. He boasted that students would “learn from the best in the game, from everything fraud related, to legit businesses and cleaning your money.”

Last summer, Al-Maarej pleaded guilty to wire fraud and mail fraud. As part of his sentence Al-Maarej was ordered to pay $4,353,819.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Amazon, Costco, and Microsoft assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar.

Seattle – Quick work by the U.S. Secret Service and the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office means victims of a business email compromise scheme may be made whole after losing millions of dollars through fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. In December 2023, a company involved in real estate transactions reported that their system had been compromised and fraudsters obtained more than $1 million by submitting false wire transfer instructions.

Investigation revealed that at least ten other businesses or individuals had also been victimized, in amounts ranging from $75,000 to $425,000. The fraud proceeds were laundered through multiple bank accounts, some of which were held by money mules, before being consolidated into a single cryptocurrency wallet, controlled by fraudsters in Nigeria.

Acting quickly, law enforcement seized approximately 32.68 Bitcoin, then worth about $900,000, from the fraudsters’ cryptocurrency wallet. The U.S. Attorney’s Office then filed a civil forfeiture case against the seized Bitcoin, the value of which has more than tripled since the time of seizure. Due to the rising price of Bitcoin, it is possible that each of the ten victims who have filed claims will be made whole.

“I commend the quick work by law enforcement and the Asset Forfeiture Unit who moved to seize this Bitcoin and are working diligently to make these victims whole,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Civil forfeiture is an important tool that we can use to help victims, even before the bad actors themselves have been arrested.”

Tacoma – A 61-year-old Auburn, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to twelve years in prison for his leadership role in a multi-state drug distribution ring announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Thomas Carver has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple prior convictions related to drug trafficking. He served as the second-in-command to drug ringleader Jesse Bailey, a high-ranking member of the Aryan Family prison gang. The two were documented in multiple wiretapped phone calls discussing their distribution of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills.  At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo told Carver, “You are not a local dealer. You are someone who helped sell and distribute across the region… What is alarming are the references to these different flavored or colored pills now that are out there potentially in our streets. I do think their intent is to bring in new users…. as in younger individuals who can be easily swayed by these things.”

“The leaders of this drug ring spread so much misery throughout our area,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Mr. Carver knows first-hand the nightmare of methamphetamine addiction, and yet he routinely brought 50 pounds of the drug to our community to distribute. He also delt in large amounts of fentanyl laced pills, a drug that has brought unprecedented numbers of overdose deaths to our community.”

According to records filed in the case, over a two-year investigation of the drug trafficking ring, agents seized an estimated 223 pounds of methamphetamine, an estimated 830,000 fentanyl pills, multiple-pound quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, $338,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 48 firearms from members of the conspiracy. In addition, during the coordinated arrests of the DTO members in March 2023, law enforcement seized approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 pounds of fentanyl in pill and powder form, six pounds of heroin, more than $330,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 177 additional firearms. Four of those firearms were seized from the Auburn residence where Carver was arrested. Law enforcement found more than $43,000 in cash in the room where Carver slept.

On July 9,2024, Carver pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He has been in custody at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his arrest in March 2023.

Carver is the seventh member of the drug ring to be sentenced. Some defendants have received prison sentences of as much at 13 years in prison. Less culpable defendants have been sentenced to 20-50 months in prison. Drug ringleader Jesse James Bailey pleaded guilty last month and is scheduled for sentencing on February 28, 2025.

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

This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Max Shiner and Zach Dillon.

Seattle – Two brothers from Ireland were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their theft of more than $400,000 from a Shoreline, Washington, homeowner, and other victims across the country, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.  Patrick McDonagh, 35, and Matthew McDonagh, 34, were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in mid-June and were charged federally in mid-July. They pleaded guilty in September 2024. At the sentencing hearings U.S. District Judge John H. Chun called their actions, “terrible and serious criminal conduct.”

“The defendants in this case preyed on our elderly neighbors – coming into their homes and peddling lies about repairs that seemed urgent so that the homeowner would write whatever checks were needed to preserve their homes,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “In Washington State last year our elderly were defrauded of some $88 million. Our elder fraud prosecutors are doing all they can to hold fraudsters accountable.”

According to records filed in the case, the brothers were part of a group that traveled the country scamming homeowners – especially the elderly – by falsely representing a home needed urgent repairs.  One older homeowner in the Shoreline neighborhood north of Seattle, lost about $435,000 to the scheme.

The men first approached the victim in January 2024, claimed they were working in the neighborhood and had noticed that the victim had a hole in his roof. The men offered to fix the hole and remove the moss from the roof.  Over the course of a few days, they pressured the victim to write them checks for their “services” of $15,000, $20,000, and $26,000.  They also claimed that the victim’s foundation was cracked, and they said they would repair that with a “titanium tie rod system.”

The roof had no hole, and the foundation was not failing. However, the men dug trenches and poured some concrete to make it appear work was done, and each day they pressured the victim to write more checks. They even demanded an extra $20,000 for “taxes.” Ultimately, they demanded the victim wire $200,000 to a third party for building supplies – again far in excess of any work they claimed to have done.  In all the brothers stole $435,000 from the victim. Quick work by a Shoreline Detective and the King County Prosecutor’s Office resulted in the recovery of the wired funds.

The FBI investigation connected the brothers to contractor fraud complaints in Oregon and Illinois.  In Oregon, Patrick McDonagh represented to three different victims that he was affiliated with a local legitimate construction firm, when in fact he was not. Those homeowners paid as much as $29,000 for foundation work that was never completed as promised. In Illinois, Matthew McDonagh claimed he would repave a victim’s driveway and rebuild a retaining wall for $99,000. After the victim paid $75,000, the work was poorly done and damaged the victim’s house. The value of any work done was significantly less than what was paid.

The defendants have agreed to make restitution to the victims in the case. This includes $235,000 to the Shoreline victim, nearly $50,000 to the three victims in Oregon, $75,000 to a victim in Illinois, and more than $673,000 to a victim in Bellevue, Washington.

Speaking in court today, the Shoreline, Washington victim said, “They were aggressive, relentless in their pursuit of more and more money. They preyed on my trust and my faith…. I feel ashamed, frustrated, and betrayed and now I don’t trust others.”

The FBI is investigating this case and was assisted by the Shoreline Police Department, and the U.S. Border Patrol’s Blaine and Spokane Sector’s Anti-Smuggling Units (ASU).

The FBI reminds the public of red flags for contractor fraud:

• The contractor knocks on your door looking for business because they are “in the area” and uses aggressive sales tactics.
• The contractor pressures you for an immediate hiring decision.
• The contractor accepts only cash as payment and demands full payment before starting any work.
• In the sales pitch, the contractor claims to have materials left over from a previous job.

Tips to avoid contractor fraud:

• Always get multiple estimates for any work you want done.
• Ensure contractors are licensed and insured. Look them up at Washington State’s Department of Labor & Industries website at https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/
• Check with consumer protection agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and Federal Trade Commission to search for complaints against a contractor.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar.  Ms. Staniar serves as the Criminal Elder Fraud Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.

To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.

Seattle – A Mexican national, who has twice been convicted of drug trafficking, was sentenced for his third conviction to 70 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Francisco Capado-Gonzales, 39, has been in custody since his arrest in SeaTac, Washington, on October 19, 2023. Judge Kymberly K. Evanson imposed the 70-month sentence emphasizing the large amount of drugs in the case.

According to records filed in the case, in the fall of 2023, Capado-Gonzalez approached someone he believed would be a drug customer, who was actually a person working with law enforcement. Capado-Gonzalez and his co-conspirators claimed they could provide pound quantities of methamphetamine. On October 19, 2023, the person working with law enforcement was scheduled to pick up the drugs at a SeaTac motel. Instead, law enforcement arrived at the room. Capado-Gonzalez attempted to flee into a wooded area near the hotel but was arrested.

Capado-Gonzales was indicted by the grand jury on November 1, 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 6, 2024. This is Capado-Gonzalez third conviction for drug offenses. He was arrested and convicted in Las Vegas in 2007 with heroin and cocaine. In 2013 he was arrested and convicted a second time while possessing heroin and methamphetamine. He served a 41-month sentence.

In asking for an 84-month sentence, prosecutors emphasized that methamphetamine is present in many drug overdoses, writing to the court, “In 2023, 58% of all overdose deaths in King County involved methamphetamine.And here, Capado-Gonzalez had a leadership role in a conspiracy to distribute at least 44 pounds of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, as well as 542 grams of a mixture or substance containing heroin and 591 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine. Such quantities pose an increased danger to the community and warrant a heavier sentence...”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda McDowell and Michael Harder.

Seattle – A 31-year-old Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft for three different fraud schemes between 2019 and 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Westcott Francis-Curley has been in custody since March 2024, following his indictment in August 2023. U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez scheduled sentencing for March 21, 2025.

The schemes began in 2019, when Francis-Curley embezzled money from his then-employer by misusing cloud computing resources and accounts available to him as an employee. Francis-Curley used employer bank accounts and his employee work authorizations to purchase cloud computing resources, then sell them back to the company—paying himself with company money—at many times their market value. Through this scheme he obtained more than $550,000, and he was caught while attempting to obtain another half-million dollars. He spent significant portions of the proceeds on extravagances, such as private jets.

In 2020, Francis-Curley defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program, a COVID assistance program designed to help small businesses and their employees weather the pandemic. Francis-Curley filed paperwork claiming that two companies he controlled had large payrolls that qualified for assistance, when in fact they had no operations, had no payroll, and did not qualify for relief. He obtained nearly $100,000 and spent much of it on personal goods and services.

Finally, in October 2022, Francis-Curley applied for and obtained a credit card in the name of his former significant other. Francis-Curley used the card for more than $1,000 in personal expenditures.

For the totality of that conduct, prosecutors and Francis-Curley’s attorneys will recommend a three-year prison term. Judge Martinez is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence allowed by law. Francis-Curley has agreed to pay restitution to his former employer, to the Small Business Administration, and to the person whose identity he used to obtain the credit card.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Wire fraud in connection with a national disaster is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory two years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.

The case was investigated by the FBI.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David T. Martin.

Seattle – A 50-year-old repeat offender was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 16 years in prison for possessing firearms while distributing drugs and violating his conditions of supervision from prior convictions, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.  Ruchell Gilbert was on supervised release for a 2012 conviction for illegal firearms possession and drug trafficking, when he became involved in a shoot-out in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. One woman died after being hit by gunfire. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “A young woman died that night from a gun battle on Capitol Hill. That is exactly the kind of danger that occurs when you have people dealing drugs while armed with firearms.”

“This case is a stark reminder of why it is illegal for felons to possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “In this case Mr. Gilbert got into an argument about a blocking parked car and reached for his gun with tragic consequences. The death of 20-year-old Essence Greene Madden has devastated her family and loved ones, and robbed the community of someone who was focused on doing good in the world.”

According to records filed in the case, Gilbert had been released from prison and began his term of supervised release on May 30, 2022. Barely a year later, in July 2023, an unruly crowd gathered on Capitol Hill for a street racing event and Gilbert is seen driving a car which was ultimately blocked by another vehicle. Gilbert is seen getting out and getting into some kind of argument with those in the blocking car. On surveillance video from a nearby business it appears that Gilbert pulls up his shirt to flash a gun in his waistband. After returning to the car one of the people Gilbert confronted starts firing at his vehicle. Gilbert pulls his gun and fires back in a volley of at least four shots. One of the shots appears to hit a bystander in the head. Essence Greene Madden died at Harborview Medical Center.

Gilbert drove from the scene and later is taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of a gunshot wound. When federal probation officers learned Gilbert had been involved in the shootout, they got a warrant for his arrest and to search his vehicle. In Gilbert’s truck they found distribution quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, cocaine, and marijuana as well as a loaded firearm. However, the firearm he used in the shoot-out has never been found.

On March 14, 2024, Gilbert pleaded guilty to Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.

Today in court Essence Greene Madden’s father, Eldon Madden, said, “The decision that Mr. Gilbert made, changed the lives of our family, friends, and community…. (my daughter) was stripped of her life due to acts of anger – anger is what drove this incident…. My child did not deserve to die in the manner that she died in, she was on her way to being a productive, loving, caring, person who helped preserve life not take it away. That’s why she chose to work in the medical field.”

In asking for a 192-month sentence, prosecutors noted Gilbert’s lengthy history of violent crimes and his unwillingness to change even with court supervision. “Mr. Gilbert appeared to be doing well on supervision, but in reality, it was an act.  In retrospect, it is clear that Mr. Gilbert continued to deal drugs and continued to carry firearms – firearms he was more than willing to use if he felt himself provoked,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

Judge Martinez imposed five years of supervised release to follow the prison term.

The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and U.S. Probation Office.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.

Seattle – A 38-year-old Temple, Texas, woman was indicted this week by a federal grand jury for three felonies related to the arson at Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church in Snohomish County, Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Natasha Marie Odell has been in custody since her arrest in Texas in August 2024. She is currently detained at the Snohomish County Jail. Odell will be transferred to federal custody and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on December 16, 2024.

According to records filed in state court and the federal indictment, Odell was linked via cell phone records, credit card records and surveillance video to the fire that destroyed the Maltby, Washington, church on August 25, 2023.  Travel records indicate that over the time period of the fire, Odell was visiting relatives in Woodinville, Washington.

Even though the church was destroyed, part of the security system video surveillance survived the fire and depicted a woman who appears to match Odell, moving around the church with a container usually used to transport gasoline. In the video the person empties the container on the exterior walls of the church and items around the church. The person moves out of camera range and fire is seen growing on the areas where the person poured gasoline.  Ultimately the video system stops functioning due to the fire.

The investigation tied Odell to credit card purchases at an area service station when she purchased just over a gallon of gasoline in a container and some lighters.

The fire did more than $2.5 million in damage to the church.

Odell is charged with Damage to Religious Property, Obstruction of Persons in the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs, and Use of Fire to commit another Felony Offense.

Damage to Religious Property, and Obstruction of Persons in the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs is punishable by up to 40 years in prison. Use of Fire to commit another Felony Offense is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Snohomish County Fire Marshall’s Office and the Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.

Tacoma – A 66-year-old Tacoma man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 75 months in prison for his leadership role in a drug distribution ring tied to the white supremacist Aryan Family prison gang, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Ronnie Griffin is the stepfather of drug ring leader Jesse Bailey. The two were documented in multiple wiretapped phone calls discussing their distribution of dozens of pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills.  Griffin acted as a redistributor and confidant for Bailey and is documented as a member of the Peckerwoods prison gang. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo told Griffin, “You have a terrible history, there’s no doubt about it.”

According to records filed in the case, over a two-year investigation of the drug trafficking ring, agents seized an estimated 223 pounds of methamphetamine, an estimated 830,000 fentanyl pills, multiple-pound quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, $338,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 48 firearms from members of the conspiracy. In addition, during the coordinated arrests of the DTO members in March 2023, law enforcement seized approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 pounds of fentanyl in pill and powder form, six pounds of heroin, more than $330,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 177 additional firearms. Two of those firearms were seized from Griffin. They were found hidden in a toilet at his residence.

Asking for a ten-year sentence, prosecutors noted that Griffin has been in and out of prison most of his adult life, but shorter sentences do not seem to have deterred his criminal conduct. “This history includes convictions for theft, obstructing a public servant, possession of stolen property, forgery, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, attempting to elude police vehicles, unlawful possession of a weapon, identity theft, harassment, and fourth degree assault,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. In imposing the sentence, Judge Estudillo told Griffin, “You’ve been in front of a judge on many occasions…. I’m sure they’ve offered you assistance of some sort…. It is kind of scary someone in their 50’s doing something someone in their 30’s would do, like running from law enforcement.”

On August 1, 2024, Griffin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He has been in custody at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his arrest in March 2023.

Griffin is the sixth member of the drug ring to be sentenced. Some defendants have received prison sentences of as much at 13 years in prison. Less culpable defendants have been sentenced to 20-50 months in prison. Drug ringleader Jesse James Bailey pleaded guilty last month and is scheduled for sentencing on February 28, 2025.

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

This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Max Shiner and Zach Dillon.

Seattle – Some 13 different law enforcement entities are receiving more than $2.6 million in federal Byrne grants to pay for a wide variety of law enforcement programs, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The projects are proposed by each jurisdiction and DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance evaluates them and determines funding.

“The proposals being funded this cycle range from high tech items for officer safety such as drones, robots and ballistic vests, to officer recruitment programs and school resource officers,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “There is even a grant for something called “The Grappler” which assists officers with safely stopping a fleeing vehicle in a high-speed chase.”

The Seattle Police Department received two large grants – the biggest, $750,012 is for Seattle and surrounding jurisdictions using the city as the fiscal agent. The grant is for Seattle and its suburbs to use for a variety of programs that reduce crime. The programs can be for law enforcement training and overtime, for victim services and community-based programs.

The second large grant to Seattle supports innovation in the 9-1-1 dispatch system. SPD is partnering with the National Policing Institute to implement and evaluate the Intelligent Risk Management system (IRM) for emergency calls. The system is used to evaluate calls to see if alternative dispatch, such as mental health specialists is appropriate. The program will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation. Seattle hopes the program can improve police capacity and enhance public trust. The system will also be evaluated for replication in other jurisdictions across the country.

These are the other police departments receiving grants:

• Tacoma & Pierce County - $339,235 – for support of youth violence reduction strategies and a sex offender records management system.
• Snohomish County - $448,000 to support use of Rapid DNA system for use in solving crimes and identifying victims of crime or natural disasters.
• Clark County and Vancouver - $121,258 – the two law enforcement agencies will share the funds and enhance public safety with equipment purchases.
• Bellingham - $40,170 – the funds support adding more bicycle officers, and de-escalation equipment as well as ensuring each officer has a ballistic vest.
• Kitsap County - $39,423 to purchase ballistic vests capable of deflecting high caliber rifle shots.
• Lakewood - $39,064 – for the purchase of a tactical robot to allow officers to evaluate a situation without putting officers in harm’s way.
• Everett - $34,720 – to enhance recruitment efforts for qualified law enforcement officers using various digital strategies. Reducing the officer vacancies from 28 down to less than 5.
• Thurston County -$19,809 – for purchase of two “Grappler Police Bumper Pursuit” technology systems – a net and tether system used to safely stop a vehicle in a car chase.
• Bremerton - $14,524 – for crime prevention strategies in its downtown core.
• Marysville - $11,426 – for an Unmanned Aerial System (drone) for flyovers during warrant service or other law enforcement purposes involving threats, missing persons, barricaded subjects or hostage situations.
• Lynnwood - $10,209 – equipment purchases for officer safety.
• Longview -$10,098 – to continue the school resource officer program in Longview and Cowlitz County.

The Byrne Grants are named in honor of New York City Police Officer Edward R. Byrne, who was killed in the line of duty on February 26, 1988. Officer Byrne was just 22 years old.

Seattle – The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has awarded the Seattle Police Department $1.5 million to support continued investigation and testing of evidence in sexual assault cases, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

“This critical support is designed to move cases forward and support crime survivors as they heal,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “These funds will support the use of strategies such as genetic genealogy to try to solve cold cases and hold offenders accountable.”

The grant supports the formation of multidisciplinary teams at SPD including prosecutors, victim advocates and service providers. SPD will institute a case management system for tracking and managing investigations and victim services. Advanced DNA testing methodologies and forensic genetic genealogy will be used to move cases forward, especially cold cases. The grant will also support victim-centered notifications and trauma-informed support services, ensuring survivors receive timely and sensitive updates. 

Seattle – A 33-year-old citizen of China, who was residing in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.  Ji Wang was arrested on May 13, 2024, in the Los Angeles area. Wang was identified as one of the kidnappers linked to the May 27, 2023, abduction and assault of a worker at a hot pot restaurant in Bellevue, Washington. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart scheduled sentencing for March 4, 2025.

According to records filed in the case, Ji Wang was involved with a ring smuggling people across the southern border into the U.S. for a fee. The victim referred people from China who wanted to cross into the U.S., for the smuggling services. The victim was supposed to collect and transfer smuggling fees from those who used the smuggling services. The victim did not collect as high a fee as the smuggling group anticipated. Wang and a co-schemer traveled to Bellevue in May and physically removed the victim from his work and forced him into a sedan.

The men beat the victim and smashed his face into the cement and dragged him down a set of stairs. Witnesses quickly alerted Bellevue Police. Officers worked with the victim’s girlfriend who placed a video call to the victim’s cellphone. Wang answered the call and showed his face. Police recorded the call and were able to identify Wang.

Wang and his associate dropped the victim at a service station in Bellevue. The victim was critically injured and needed emergency surgery for swelling of the brain. He spent weeks in Overlake hospital.  He has lasting physical and cognitive damage from the assault.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will cap their recommended sentence at eight years in prison. The actual sentence is up to Judge Robart and can be any sentence allowed by law. Kidnapping is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. Wang was not legally present in the United States and may be deported following his prison term.

The case was investigated by the Bellevue Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Marshal’s Service Task Force.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Cecelia Gregson.

Seattle – A South King County man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison for his purchase of more than 130 firearms in a “straw purchaser” scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Dion Jamar Cooper, 33, of Kent, Washington was arrested in April 2023, following an investigation by Seattle Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez asked Cooper, “Do you understand the damage that has been done in the community?... If people engage in straw purchasing and distribute the firearms in our community, or any community, there will be a serious consequence that follows.”

“Even as Mr. Cooper has awaited sentencing, we are finding additional crime guns linked to his straw purchasing activity,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Fifty-four of the guns Mr. Cooper purchased have been recovered and connected to crimes such as armed robberies; two bank robberies; several carjackings and assaults; numerous drive-by shootings; numerous other shots-fired incidents; and at least one homicide.”

According to records in the case, the investigation began in late January 2023, with the assault and attempted robbery of a woman in Rainier Valley. The victim was able to flee in her car. Police found a firearm in her vehicle that had been dropped by one of the assailants. A check of the firearm revealed it had been purchased by Dion Jamar Cooper on December 10, 2022. That recovery led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) to check Cooper’s purchase history. Cooper had purchased 107 firearms since June 2021. Further investigation put the number of guns purchased at 133. Meaning more than 70 guns are still out in the community likely possessed by those who are legally prohibited from having firearms.

During March and April 2023, agents surveilled Cooper as he made arrangements to purchase additional firearms. Agents identified De’ondre Lamontia Phillips, 33 of Federal Way, Washington, as the person who drove Cooper to the gun shops where he purchased the firearms. Phillips is prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms due to convictions for distribution of heroin (2014) and convictions for illegal firearms possession and two counts of assault (2009). Surveillance of the two revealed Cooper turning the firearms over to Phillips who stored them in his residence. Last month Phillips was sentenced to seven years in prison.

In February 2024, Cooper pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of firearms, one count of straw purchasing firearms and one count of trafficking in firearms.

In asking for a sentence at the top of the guidelines range, Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg noted that Cooper was the “largest known straw purchaser of firearms in the history of the Western District of Washington…. According to the ATF analysis, all of the… crime guns were recovered from persons who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms, either because they were convicted felons and/or were underage juveniles. This is not surprising, given the nature of straw purchasing offenses…. Notably, several of the recovered crime guns had very short “time-to-crime” periods (the amount of time between the firearm purchase and its recovery at a crime scene). These recovery periods included some as short as two days and others of six days, seven days, and eight days. This reflects that Cooper was purchasing firearms and turning them over to people who nearly immediately used them to commit violent crimes.”

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.

Seattle – The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has awarded almost $975,000 to Pacific County organizations to execute a comprehensive youth suicide prevention project.

“Tragically, Pacific County has the tenth highest suicide rate in the state,” said U.S. Attorney, Tessa M. Gorman. “Those working with youth in Pacific County have crafted this project to try to combat youth suicide and build community resilience. The Department of Justice supports these efforts with the hope that other communities can learn from these programs.”

Pacific County Public Health & Human Services (PCHHS), in collaboration with WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center (JPRC), aim to specifically address the high rates of suicidal ideation and attempt among 8th – 12th graders in Pacific County. This project will deliver suicide awareness and prevention training in academic settings, establish a trauma response protocol, conduct comprehensive evaluation of current suicide prevention policies and procedures, and ultimately implement sustainable resilience-building activities in the community.

The recipients of the award will utilize a series of evidence-based programs to equip individuals with the necessary skills to identify and effectively respond to signs of mental health struggle and suicidal ideation. By providing a comprehensive education of suicide prevention strategies for young people, this project intends to create a safer and more supportive environment long-term for the youth of Pacific County. 

Seattle – Nearly $12 million is headed to Washington State from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to support drug treatment programs statewide, in specific counties, and tribal communities, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

“These DOJ grants recognize the need for treatment in our state, and also highlight the good work being done here to break the cycle of addiction,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “It is a competitive process to get this funding and I congratulate the counties, tribes and organizations who successfully applied for these grants.”

The largest award, $7 million, is to the Washington State Health Care Authority to bolster and support substance use treatment programs in the community as well as in state jails and correctional institutions. The grant also pays for opioid overdose training for law enforcement and a peer mentoring program for those leaving prison with substance use disorder.

Pierce County was awarded $1.6 million to improve substance abuse treatment options in rural areas. The program will focus on justice involved adults. The results will be studied for best practices.

Grays Harbor County was awarded $1 million to enhance the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment available in the Grays Harbor County Jail. With these additional grant funds, the county will provide mental health as well as substance use disorder treatment and will work with the Coastal Community Action Program to make services available to those transitioning from jail and prison to the community.

The private non-profit Progress House Association was awarded $833,000 to enhance treatment and recovery services for 170 people across King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston Counties who are currently incarcerated. The funding will enhance treatment for substance use disorder as well as co-occurring mental health disorders.

Finally, two tribal nations were awarded grants for their substance use and mental health treatment programs.

The Tulalip Tribes of Washington was awarded $718,151 to expand the Tulalip Tribes Family Wellness Court. The money will provide for a dedicated Social Worker and Recovery Support specialist to provide services directly to families impacted by substance abuse disorder. The goal is to reunify families and reduce the number of children in long-term out of home care.

The Lummi Nation received $550,000 to implement a Mental Health Court for tribal citizens impacted by both mental health challenges and substance use disorder. The program is designed to enhance treatment support with integrated treatment plans.

Seattle – a 42-year-old King County resident appeared in federal court yesterday, charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a destructive device, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Sokphana Soeung was arrested October 12, 2024, following a slow speed chase and confrontation with law enforcement. Soeung remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac pending additional hearings.

According to the criminal complaint, Bellevue Police responded to Enatai Beach Park around noon on October 12, 2024, because of reports of two men sleeping in a car with the motor running. When contacted by police, Soeung drove away, running over spike strips that punctured all four tires on the car.  Law enforcement followed and Washington State Patrol (WSP) joined the slow speed chase when the car pulled onto Interstate 90 in the westbound direction.

While on Mercer Island, a WSP trooper executed a maneuver to stop the car. At that point, Soeung jumped from the car holding a black ball device in one hand and a lighter in the other. Ultimately, police tackled Soeung, and he dropped the ball shaped item and the lighter. An investigation revealed that the ball shaped item was a tennis ball filled with explosive powder with a fuse.  In the car law enforcement found a second explosive device made with sparklers taped together.

The investigation shut down I-90 for a lengthy period while the bomb squad determined there was no danger to the public or the I-90 bridge.

The second person in the car had jumped out ahead of Soeung and was detained and questioned and claimed to have no knowledge of the explosives.

Soeung has been in state custody since his arrest.

Unlawful possession of a destructive device is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

The case is being investigated by the Bellevue Police Department, Washington State Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Y. Gregson. 

Seattle – A 24-year-old Federal Way, Washington man will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle today following his indictment for kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Daniel Lopez was indicted by the grand jury on November 6, 2024. Lopez was arrested in Texas and has been in state custody on charges originally filed in King County Superior Court. Lopez is indicted for the October 13, 2024, kidnapping of an Auburn, Washington woman. The woman was abducted at gunpoint from her home and ultimately was found safe in Guatemala.

According to records filed in the case, the woman’s husband reported her missing on October 14, 2024, after arriving home and finding her belongings at their apartment. Two witnesses reported seeing the woman leaving with two men, one of whom was carrying a firearm. This man was subsequently identified as Lopez. Lopez was initially identified based on surveillance video from across the street showing vehicles in the apartment complex parking lot.  Officers then reviewed traffic camera pictures to obtain license plate information and ultimately determined Lopez was a registered owner of one of the vehicles.

Lopez was ultimately traced to Houston, Texas and was arrested on October 19, 2024, at a hotel.

The victim was identified by immigration authorities in southern Mexico and was transported to Guatemala where she has family members.

Law enforcement is working to determine any other coconspirators in the kidnapping scheme.

Kidnapping is punishable by up to life in prison.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Auburn Police Department and the FBI.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.

Seattle – MultiCare Health Systems of Washington will change procedures and set aside more than $2 million to compensate patients whose civil rights were violated by a failure to provide appropriate interpreter services, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. An investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed that two patients, who are deaf-blind, failed to receive appropriate interpreter services both before and after surgery. The two patients will each receive $100,000. The family members of each patient who were forced to become interpreters in these stressful situations are each being compensated with $40,000.

“This settlement with MultiCare not only compensates those whose rights were violated, it also ensures better care in the future for patients who are deaf and deaf-blind,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “MultiCare is designating a point person who will be responsible for providing appropriate assistive devices and ensuring the health system has resources, including three interpreter firms, who can be called on to ensure effective communication with all patients.”

Under the terms of the settlement, MultiCare will provide training to employees about assessing and meeting the communication needs of patients who are deaf or deaf-blind. The settlement calls for MultiCare to put information on its website and in its handbook about interpreter services for those who are deaf or deaf-blind. The detailed agreement will be in place for three years and requires reporting every four months to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and HHS about requests for assistive devices or interpreters and how those needs were met.

This investigation began in 2020 when the U.S. Attorney’s office received a complaint that a patient who is deaf-blind, failed to receive appropriate communication assistance at multiple appointments both before and after surgery. MultiCare had the patient’s spouse who is deaf and visually impaired act as an interpreter – something she was not qualified or prepared to do. While that investigation was underway, a second deaf-blind patient reported that his rights were also violated when MultiCare failed to provide appropriate communication aids both before and after his surgery. That patient’s son had to act as an interpreter, something he too was not trained to do.

While not admitting fault, MultiCare acknowledges that there may be additional patients whose rights under the ADA were violated. MultiCare will establish a fund of $2 million and will seek to identify any patients who failed to receive appropriate interpreter services. Under the terms of the settlement, MultiCare will establish a third-party claims administrator to allocate the settlement funds based on the harm suffered by each complainant.  The administrator will work with MultiCare records to locate claimants.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will review the allocations after the claims have been submitted and reviewed.

In addition to the settlements to claimants, MultiCare will pay $95,000 to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

This is the 8th settlement in the last eight years regarding failure to provide appropriate interpreter services in the health care setting. The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated and resolved complaints against  PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington, University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest (UWMC-NW) in Seattle, and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington (KFHPW)  among others.

The matter was investigated, and the settlement was negotiated, by Assistant United States Attorneys Susan Kas and Matt Waldrop. AUSA Kas serves as the Civil Rights Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.

You can learn more about our Civil Rights work here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/civil-rights

Tacoma – A 44-year-old Columbia, New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act for his scheme to interfere with pollution control software on diesel trucks, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jonathan Achtemeier admitted that between 2019 and 2022, he removed the pollution control software on hundreds of vehicles nationwide.  U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright scheduled sentencing for February 14, 2025.

According to records filed in the case, Achtemeier conspired with mechanics in garages and operators of truck fleets to disable the anti-pollution software installed on diesel trucks. Coconspirators who wanted to disable their trucks’ pollution control hardware system—a process commonly known as “deleting”—sought Achtemeier’s help to trick the truck’s software into believing the emissions control systems were still functional, a process known as “tuning.” Monitoring software on a deleted truck will detect that the pollution control hardware is not functioning and will prevent the truck from running. Achtemeier disabled the monitoring software on his client’s trucks by connecting to laptops he had provided to various coconspirators. Some of the coconspirators would pass the laptop on to others seeking to have the anti-pollution software disabled on their trucks. Once the laptop was hooked up to the truck’s onboard computer, Achtemeier could access it from his computer and tune the software designed to slow the truck if the pollution control device was missing or malfunctioning.  Achtemeier could “tune” trucks remotely, which enabled him to maximize his environmental impact and personal profit.

Removing the pollution control equipment and disabling the software results in trucks polluting at 30 to 1,200 times the level of a truck with pollution control systems.  Tampering with pollution control software is a violation of the Clean Air Act.

Achtemeier charged as much at $4,500 per truck for work that often took him two hours or less. Achtemeier advertised his services on social media nationwide, doing business as Voided Warranty Tuning (VWT) or Optimized Ag. Between 2019 and 2022 his company took in more than $4.3 million in gross profits.

The coconspirators in this case have service garages or truck fleets in various areas of Washington State. The trucks that were altered range from pick-ups such as a Dodge R3500 to Kenworth and Freightliner semi-trucks.

Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Watts Staniar, Dane Westermeyer, and Seth Wilkinson, with Special Assistant United States Attorney Karla Perrin.  Ms. Perrin is an attorney with the EPA.

Seattle – Two leaders of a drug trafficking organization connected to the Aryan Family prison gang pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms related charges today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jesse James Bailey, 40, and his wife, Candace Bailey, 42, are scheduled for sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo on February 28, 2025.

Jesse Bailey pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute in a quantity that triggers a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which adds a mandatory five-year term to his prison sentence. Bailey also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money. Prosecutors and the defense have agreed to recommend a sentence of 210 months in prison.

Candace Bailey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, illegally transferring a firearm to a prohibited person, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than ten years in prison for Candace Bailey. Chief Judge Estudillo is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence allowed by law.

On Wednesday March 22, 2023, the FBI led a coordinated takedown of this criminal drug trafficking organization. They arrested two dozen people, including the Baileys. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilograms of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona.

The Baileys are forfeiting $699,268 seized from them as proceeds of criminal activity as well as 42 firearms, silencers, body armor, ammunition, scopes, and tripods seized from various storage lockers and their residence. They are also forfeiting dozens of pieces of jewelry as proceeds of their criminal conduct.

In their plea agreements, the Baileys admitted to their drug trafficking conduct. The plea agreements describe how the couple discussed various suppliers of illegal narcotics and the pricing. They discussed drug buyers as well. Due to his criminal history, Jesse Bailey was prohibited from possessing firearms, and Candace Bailey admitted she transferred firearms to Jesse Bailey knowing he was a previously convicted felon. Finally, the Baileys admitted in their plea agreements how the couple sought to launder their drug proceeds through various casinos and bank accounts.

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

This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Max Shiner.

Seattle – A 53-year-old resident of Rochester, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 7 years in prison for two federal felonies related to his armed drug trafficking activity, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Waylan Graves was arrested twice in a four-month period in 2023, each time with distribution amounts of dangerous drugs and loaded firearms. 

On June 1, 2023, Graves was arrested by officers with the Thurston County Narcotics Enforcement Team. Law enforcement served a judicially authorized search warrant on Graves’ home and car.  In the home they found fentanyl pills, two firearms (one of them loaded) and nearly $5,000 in cash. In Graves’ car they found a third loaded firearm as well as fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.  In the car was more than $10,000 in cash.

Graves was charged with drug and gun crimes in Thurston County Superior Court. He was released on bail. Less than four months later he was arrested a second time for drug trafficking.

On September 20, 2023, Graves was arrested with fentanyl pills, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine in his car. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was in the void under the center console. Investigations also seized a scale and more than $3,000 cash – proceeds from Graves’ drug dealing.

Graves was indicted federally in October 2023 for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Graves pleaded guilty to these crimes in July 2024.

Prosecutors asked for a seven-year sentence, noting the harm fentanyl in particular has been causing in our community writing, “The drugs that Mr. Graves was distributing have been causing irreparable harm to the community. As the Court is well aware, the influx of fentanyl has left a wake of destruction in the community. In King County alone, there have been 839 overdose deaths as of November 6, 2024, with 624 of those deaths involving fentanyl.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Puyallup Police Department, Thurston County Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey S. Conzatti and Stephen Hobbs.

WASHINGTON – Alan W. Filion, 18, of Lancaster, California, pleaded guilty today to four counts of making interstate threats to injure the person of another. Filion faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

“This prosecution and today’s guilty plea reaffirm the Justice Department’s commitment to using all tools to hold accountable every individual who endangers our communities through swatting and hoax threats,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “For well over a year, Alan Filion targeted religious institutions, schools, government officials, and other innocent victims with hundreds of false threats of imminent mass shootings, bombings and other violent crimes. He caused profound fear and chaos and will now face the consequences of his actions.”

“Alan Filion not only intended to cause as much harm as possible, but he also attempted to profit from these criminal activities by offering swatting-for-a-fee services,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “Swatting poses severe danger to first responders and victims, wastes significant time and resources, and creates fear in communities. The FBI will continue to work with partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone who engages in these activities."

According to the plea agreement, from approximately August 2022 to January 2024, Filion made more than 375 swatting and threat calls, including calls in which he claimed to have planted bombs in the targeted locations or threatened to detonate bombs and/or conduct mass shootings at those locations. He targeted religious institutions, high schools, colleges and universities, government officials, and numerous individuals across the United States. Filion was 16 at the time he placed the majority of the calls.

Filion intended for his calls to cause large-scale deployment of police and emergency-services units to the targeted locations. During these calls, he provided information to law enforcement and emergency services agencies that he knew to be false, such as false names, false claims that he and others had placed explosives in particular locations, false claims that he and others possessed dangerous weapons, including firearms and explosives, and false claims that he and/or other individuals had committed, or intended to imminently commit, violent crimes.

During the time that dispatchers spent on the phone with Filion, they were unavailable to respond to other emergencies. Additionally, in response to many of his calls, armed law enforcement officers were dispatched to the targeted addresses, and likewise were made unavailable to respond to other emergencies. In some instances, armed law enforcement officers approached and entered targeted residences with their weapons drawn and detained individuals who occupied the residences. In a post on Jan. 20, 2023, Filion claimed that when he swats someone, he “usually get[s] the cops to drag the victim and their families out of the house, cuff them and search the house for dead bodies.”

According to court documents, Filion became a serial swatter for both profit and recreation. He claimed in a Jan. 19, 2023, online post that his “first” swatting was like “2 to 3 years ago” and that “6-9 months ago [he] decided to turn it into a business. . .” On several occasions, Filion placed posts on social-media channels advertising his services and swatting-for-a-fee structure.

On Jan. 18, Filion, then 17-years-old, was arrested in California on Florida state charges arising from a May 2023 threat he made to a religious institution in Sanford, Florida. In that threat, he claimed to have an illegally modified AR-15, a Glock 17 pistol, pipe bombs, and Molotov cocktails. He said that he was going to imminently “commit a mass shooting” and “kill everyone” he saw. Filion pleaded guilty today in federal court to making that threat.

Filion’s federal charges were brought under the Federal Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act (JDA). As noted in the criminal information filed on Oct. 21, Filion was 17 when the instant charges were filed against him. Filion has remained in custody since his arrest on state charges in January.

Filion also pleaded guilty to making three other threatening calls – an October 2022 call to a public high school in the Western District of Washington, in which he threatened to commit a mass shooting and claimed to have planted bombs throughout the school; a May 2023 call to a Historically Black College & University in the Northern District of Florida, in which he claimed to have placed bombs in the walls and ceilings of campus housing that would detonate in about an hour; and a July 2023 call to a local police-department dispatch number in the Western District of Texas, in which he falsely identified himself as a senior federal law enforcement officer, provided the officer’s residential address to the dispatcher, claimed to have killed his (federal officer’s) mother, and threatened to kill any responding police officers.  

The FBI and U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cherie L. Krigsman and Kara Wick for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorneys Offices for the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Florida, the Western District of Texas, and the District of Columbia provided valuable assistance.

Seattle – A 59-year-old Kirkland, Washington, home remodeling contractor was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four years in prison for wire fraud for his scheme to steal approximately $4 million from customers using fake invoices, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Joseph D. Bergevin pleaded guilty in July 2024, admitting that he forged invoices to steal money from at least 24 customers who had hired him for their remodeling projects. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead spoke of the victims saying, “You stole their futures, you stole their hope, you stole their momentum for success… you created the kind of stress that you can’t run from, the stress that wakes you up at night. It was not just one lapse in judgement, it was hundreds of lapses over the years.”

“This defendant stole from friends, members of his church, the elderly, and people in his children’s school community,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The betrayal of those who trusted him deserves a significant sentence. Sadly, the dozens of victims of his deceit can never replace the time lost, and the anguish suffered from his illegal actions.”

According to the plea agreement, between 2016 and 2019, Bergevin served as the general contractor on a number of home remodeling projects. As the general contractor, Bergevin was responsible for arranging for subcontractors to work on the project and making sure they got paid. However, during the wire fraud scheme, Bergevin presented his customers with hundreds of forged subcontractor invoices. Bergevin used the names, logos, and other identifying information about the subcontractors to create the false invoices. He then sent them to the customers for payment. Bergevin falsely told the customer that the invoice was for work that had been done or would be done. In some instances, he claimed that by paying “up front,” the customer could lock in lower rates for building materials when the work was done.

Many of the victims submitted heartrending impact statements. One wrote: “The amount of money Bergevin stole from us is nearly unthinkable. He stole more than an entire year’s salary from me. [Bergevin] not only stole our entire life savings but induced us to borrow money and take on credit card debt in order to keep our build going. He literally took from us more than all of the money we had.”

And another, “[Bergevin] stole five years of our lives and showed no remorse While he raised his daughters happily, built his dream house, purchased luxury cars and boats, and actively participated in his church and community, these are the very experiences he robbed from us.”

Other victims spoke in court today about how Bergevin’s crime robbed them of time, money, and trust in others. Another spoke of how his theft decimated her children’s college funds, damaging their future. A third recounted how Bergevin exploited their desperation to get their house finished, all the while taking their  money to finish his own luxury home and buy himself a boat.

At the time of the plea, the false invoices totaled $3,554,054 and went to twenty-four different customers. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Bergevin is responsible for at least $3,554,054 in restitution. Today the parties agreed that the total restitution should be approximately $4 million for all the losses caused by the criminal conduct in this scheme. Judge Whitehead ordered the full restitution.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Kirkland Police Department, and King County Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dion and Yunah Chung.

Tacoma – The owners of two Clark County automotive businesses were sentenced yesterday afternoon for conspiracy and felony violations of the federal Clean Air Act for tampering with diesel trucks’ emissions monitoring systems, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Tracy Coiteux, 44, and Sean Coiteux, 50, of La Center, Washington, were both sentenced to four years of probation, four months of home confinement, 60 hours of community service and each must pay a $10,000 fine.  The two are the co-owners of Racing Performance Maintenance Northwest (known as RPM) and a related sales company called RPM Motors and Sales NW. Tracy Coiteux was convicted by a jury in May 2024 following a three-day jury trial. Sean Coiteux pleaded guilty in March 2024. 

The United States Attorney’s Office recommended that the Court sentence both defendants to prison time. At the sentencing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said, “The defendants put their desire for money above their duty to the community and environment… But this once prosperous middle-aged couple is now in financial ruin.” .

“These defendants removed pollution controls from some 375 trucks, causing them to continuously spew massive amounts of pollutants into the environment. Emissions of diesel exhaust are harmful to human health with links to cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The Coiteuxs knew their conduct was illegal and was harming the environment but kept it up to help pay for their 10-acre estate, yacht, and collection of exotic cars. The Department of Justice will continue to seek to hold business owners accountable for putting the health of the community at risk.”

An indictment returned in May 2021 charged the Coiteuxs with conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and eleven specific violations of the Clean Air Act for tampering with the emissions-monitoring system on vehicles when removing pollution control equipment between January 2018 and November 2020.

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, the investigation began when a former RPM employee notified the EPA that the company was performing the unlawful modifications, which are known as “deletes” and “tunes.” A single truck that has been deleted and tuned can cause the same amount of pollution as up to 1,200 trucks with compliant emissions systems. These modifications are marketed to truck owners as improving vehicle power and performance.

The investigation revealed that between January 2018 and January 2021, the defendants charged their customers fees of about $2,000 per truck to remove (delete) emissions control systems required by federal law. They then modified (tuned) legally required software that works to ensure the vehicle’s pollution remains within legal limits. RPM Motors and Sales sometimes offered, as part of the sale of a truck, to remove the emissions control system after the customer purchased a truck. Email and other electronic records document the conspirators’ purchase of equipment and software kits to remove the pollution control and reprogram the monitoring systems.

Over the three years described in the court records, the defendants took in more than $500,000 for illegal modifications. Even as they broke the law, the couple used the income for their 10-acre compound with a saltwater pool and garage housing an extensive collection of expensive exotic cars.

In asking for prison time, prosecutors argued, “By deleting 375 trucks, (the) Coiteuxs in effect placed the pollution equivalent of 127,500 new trucks on the road. To put this in perspective, there are only 274,000 diesel trucks registered statewide in Washington. Based on these figures, RPM’s modifications had the capacity to increase total diesel pollution by 46% above the pollution caused by all compliant registered light duty diesel trucks statewide.”

“For years, the defendants intentionally violated the Clean Air Act by defeating emissions control equipment on well over three hundred diesel trucks,” said Special Agent in Charge Lance Ehrig of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID) in Washington. “Their actions directly resulted in significant excess pollution being emitted into the air, which are linked to heart and lung diseases and even cancer. Today’s sentencing demonstrates that individuals and their companies who violate our nation’s environmental laws and deliberately threaten human health and the environment will be held criminally responsible for their actions.”

The case was investigated by Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson and Cindy Chang and Environmental Protection Agency Special Assistant United States Attorney Karla Gebel Perrin.

Seattle – A 40-year-old Nigerian national was arrested upon his arrival at an airport in Texas on an indictment returned in the Western District of Washington. Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo was indicted in December 2023 for 14 counts of wire fraud connected to his romance fraud scheme. Nwadialo was traveling from Nigeria when he was arrested.  Nwadialo will be transported to the Western District of Washington for arraignment.

“All too often the defendants in these romance scams are overseas and unreachable by U.S. law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “I congratulate investigators who are alert to any opportunity to arrest such defendants and hold them accountable.”

According to the indictment and criminal complaint filed in the case, Nwadialo allegedly defrauded victims of more than $3.3 million. According to the indictment, Nwadialo used various versions of the name ‘Giovanni” when he met his victims online on websites such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. Nwadialo used false images for his profile and typically told the victims that he was in the military and deployed overseas so he could not meet the victims in person. Using these personas, Nwadialo invented many reasons he needed the victims to send him money. In one such case in 2020, he indicated he had been fined by the military for revealing his location to the victim. He asked the victim to help him pay the $150,000 fine. In all, that victim was defrauded of at least $2.4 million.

A second victim was contacted in 2019 to help move funds from U.S. accounts to accounts controlled by the defendant and his co-schemers. In this instance Nwadialo represented that he needed the help moving money in connection with his father’s death. The victim transferred at least $330,000 to the accounts controlled by the defendant.

A third victim was defrauded by Nwadialo when he told her that he was investing money for her. He claimed that a check she received from another victim was proceeds from her investments and he had her “reinvest” the money in a specific cryptocurrency account that he controlled. The victim transferred at least $270,000 at Nwadialo’s direction.

Finally, in August 2020, Nwadialo defrauded another victim who he met on an online dating site and caused this victim to transfer at least $310,000 by claiming he needed financial assistance, including help paying for his father’s funeral or his son’s school tuition.

The fourteen counts of wire fraud relate to the communications with Nwadialo and the wiring of funds from victims to the defendant and his co-schemers.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to twenty years in prison.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the FBI.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sok Jiang.

Seattle – A King County woman, her son, and her sister have been indicted by the federal grand jury on an 18-count indictment charging conspiracy, theft of government property, health care fraud and making false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Kelly M. Lee-Carroll, 57, and her sister, Katoya F. Grant, 40, are summoned to appear for arraignment on the indictment November 7, Lee-Carroll’s son Robert H. Nelson III, 27, is currently in state custody and the government has requested that he be moved to federal custody for arraignment on November 7, 2024, as well. 

According to the indictment, between July 2012 and October 2024, Lee-Carroll claimed to be disabled to such a degree that she needed full time care for daily living. She claimed to be bedridden with paralysis in one leg and arm. She repeatedly represented that she needed a wheelchair to leave home. The indictment alleges that Lee-Carroll repeatedly lied to the VA about her condition and her ability to care for herself. The investigation revealed that Lee-Carroll did not require the use of a wheelchair outside her home and that she had use of both hands.

Lee-Carroll designated her sister and son as her caregivers so that they were paid for the hours they represented they cared for Lee-Carroll. However, the investigation revealed that on some of the occasions they claimed to be caring for Lee-Carroll, she was traveling to Las Vegas, Tennessee, or internationally to Mexico or Jamaica, without her caregivers. On other occasions when they claimed to be caring for Lee-Carroll, they were clocked in at other jobs such as driving a truck or working as an administrative assistant.

The indictment alleges that the scheme resulted in fraudulent payments from VA programs of over $1.1 million.

According to the indictment, Lee-Carroll served in the Army for three months in 1986, and then joined the Army Reserves from 1986-1994. Lee-Carrol claimed a service-related disability in 2012 and received caregiver funding in 2013.

All three defendants are charged with Conspiracy to commit theft of government property. Lee-Carroll is charged with seven counts of theft of government property and Nelson and grant are each charged with two counts of theft of government property. Lee-Carroll is charged with seven counts of health care fraud. Grant and Nelson are each charged with two counts of health care fraud. Finally, Lee-Carroll is charged with three counts of making a false statement.

Conspiracy to commit theft of government property is punishable by up to five years in prison. Theft of government property and health care fraud are punishable by up to ten years in prison. Making a false statement is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case was investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yunah Chung.

Seattle – A coordinated law enforcement operation over the last 48 hours has resulted in eleven arrests of members of a drug trafficking ring that set up shop in the University District of Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. A year-long wire-tap investigation led to the indictment of 11 defendants on drug distribution and weapons charges. A twelfth defendant with ties to the organization was indicted on illegal weapons possession in connection with a deadly shooting at a Hookah bar in South Seattle. The defendants arrested over the last two days have or will be making appearances in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

“These defendants were prolific fentanyl dealers who were frequently armed when guarding their stash or distributing their drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The danger to the community cannot be overstated in this case. The leader of the drug crew was gunned down last summer – right in front of one of the U District locations where members of the crew distributed their poison, and continued do so, following the deadly shooting.”

"This operation exemplifies the power of collaboration among law enforcement agencies at all levels,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “By uniting our resources and expertise, we have successfully dismantled a criminal network that has endangered our communities through violent acts and the distribution of fentanyl. Together, we will continue to fight against violent crime and protect the lives of our citizens."

“There’s no true relief for those who have lost loved ones to drug-related crime or rising overdoses,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke of IRS-CI Seattle. “We stand with our law enforcement partners to stop groups that profit from the fentanyl epidemic by following the money.”

Thirty-one locations were searched yesterday by some 600 law enforcement officers from ten different agencies. A total of eleven people were arrested: nine of those indicted and two additional defendants were arrested on criminal complaints.

Three defendants are indicted for both gun and drug crimes:

Cooper Sherman, aka “Coop,” 27, of Seattle is charged with conspiracy, two counts of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

Alvin Whiteside, aka “Mafia, 51, of Federal Way is charged with conspiracy, one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Whiteside is in state custody and will be transferred to federal custody.

Muhamed Ceesay, aka “Mo,” 27, of Lynnwood is charged with conspiracy, two counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ceesay remains a fugitive.

These eight defendants are charged in the indictment for the drug conspiracy and various drug distribution crimes:

Ali Kuyateh, aka “Pops,” 49, of Seattle

Lamin Saho aka “Buck,” 38, of Everett, Washington

Oche Poston, 31, of Everett, Washington

Jaquan Means, 45, of Bellevue, Washington

Dominque Sanders, 34, of Everett, Washington – remains a fugitive.

Patrick Smith, 27 of Edmonds, Washington – remains a fugitive.

Matthew Robinson, 37, of Everett, Washington

Yohannes Wondimagegnehu, aka “Jon,” 35, of Seattle

Finally, Khaliil Ahmed, aka “Bossup,” 26, of Kent, Washington, was identified as someone who supplied guns to members of the conspiracy. He is charged in a separate indictment with three counts of illegal possession of firearms, and one count of illegal possession of ammunition. Two of the charges relate to guns he possessed on August 20, 2023, at the time of a fatal shooting at a hookah bar in South Seattle. Ahmed was injured in the shooting and three others were killed. The final two charges relate to a firearm and ammunition he possessed on May 30, 2024. Ahmed is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2022 conviction for illegally possessing firearms.

Two defendants – Anteneh Tesfaye, 39, of Edmonds, Washington, and Michael Janisch, 25, of Mercer Island, Washington, were arrested on criminal complaints.

Over the course of the investigation law enforcement has seized more than 19 kg of fentanyl, 12 firearms, and more than $130,000 in cash. In the operations yesterday they seized over 50 firearms to include fully automatic weapons and handguns with Glock switches; thousands of rounds of ammunition, including high capacity drum magazines, and armor-piercing rounds; several hundred thousand dollars of bulk cash and jewelry; 1 kilogram of fentanyl and 4 kilograms of cocaine.

The charges contained in the indictments are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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

This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant participation by Seattle Police Department (SPD), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington State Patrol (WSP), FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bellevue Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Everett Police Department, Renton Police Department, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington State National Guard, Washington State Gambling Commission, Yakima County Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D) Narcotics and Gang Task Force, and Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Jensen and Joseph Silvio.

Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice today resolved allegations that Dr. Joseph Upton, of Bellevue, Washington, caused the submission of false claims to Medicare, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Dr. Upton agreed to pay $65,680 to resolve the matter. Of the settlement amount, $32,840 is restitution and the rest is a penalty under the False Claims Act. 

According to the settlement agreement, the United States alleges that between August 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019, Dr. Upton engaged in conduct that resulted in the submission of false claims to the Medicare program. Specifically, in connection with his work for a purported telemedicine company known as REMN, Dr. Upton signed durable medical equipment and genetic testing orders for Medicare beneficiaries, despite never examining or speaking with the patients or confirming that the orders were medically necessary and reasonable as required by Medicare.

“Our federal health care system relies on the basic principle that providers must bill properly and follow the rules, and the taxpayers who fund the Medicare and Medicaid programs deserve nothing less,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We are committed to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs, including investigating schemes that seek to undermine the legitimate delivery of telehealth services.”

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

The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Burns and investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG).

Seattle – A 42-year-old Monroe, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Humberto Garcia was convicted in April 2024 following a week-long trial. Garcia was arrested in December 2020 with seven other defendants tied to a drug trafficking ring distributing heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl throughout the Puget Sound region. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said, “Despite the fact that you had addiction you were involved in distributing very dangerous drugs.” Judge Jones also noted that Garcia was willing to provide a gun to the drug ring boss who sought to use violence to settle scores. “You were a willing and capable participant with loyalty to the drug ring leader,” Judge Jones said.

“Mr. Garcia played an important role in the conspiracy, acting as a drug redistributor, local guide, interpreter, and link to other drug dealers,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “He continued to distribute fentanyl even after learning of a customer overdose death. His conduct contributed to the huge spike of fentanyl overdoses in our community.”

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Garcia’s car was searched on October 3, 2020, after drug ringleader Jose Luis Ibarra-Valle, 40, asked Garcia to get him a firearm to kill another drug distributor who owed him money. A few weeks later, Ibarra-Valle was stopped returning from a drug run to California. In the car authorities found approximately 10,000 pills that contained fentanyl, more than eight kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than a kilogram of heroin. These drug amounts count towards Garcia’s conviction as part of the conspiracy.

When Garcia was arrested a few weeks later, he was found to have a firearm that matched the one he agreed to provide to Ibarra-Valle during the intercepted phone call mentioned above.

Ibarra-Valle and the other coconspirators entered guilty pleas. Last year, Ibarra-Valle was sentenced to nine years in prison. The remaining coconspirators have been sentenced, with a range of sentences from time served, to over six years in prison. Garcia is the final defendant in this case and the only one who went to trial.

Over the course of the investigation law enforcement seized 16,000 suspected fentanyl pills, 30 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, and six pounds of suspected heroin.

In asking for a lengthy prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court, “The wiretap revealed that Ibarra-Valle had excellent connections to sources of supply in California and/or Mexico for drugs, but little to no local knowledge of the drug market or customers here in Western Washington and no English skills. Garcia, by contrast, knew the area, knew the local drug market, and speaks both English and Spanish. As such, he was ideally placed to help Ibarra-Valle sell his product here in this District… Garcia’s possession of a firearm of course increased the danger he posed to the community.”

Following prison, Garcia will be on five years of supervised release.

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

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Washington State Patrol, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, United States Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake Stevens Police Department and Tulalip Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Michael Harder.

Defendant was found deceased 

Seattle – Stephen Baird, 69, the former CEO of S-Ray, Inc., is now a wanted man for failing to show up for sentencing in U.S. District Court in Seattle announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Baird formerly of Bainbridge Island, Washington, defrauded investors by making false statements about S-Ray’s product development and falsely claiming the company had obtained FDA authorization to market a dental device. Baird was indicted in February 2023 and pleaded guilty in May 2024.  His failure to appear means he may face additional prison time for violating his appearance bond. Judge Richard A. Jones issued a warrant for his arrest.

If anyone is aware of his whereabouts, they are asked to contact the FBI at 206-622-0460 and ask for the duty agent.

Baird’s scheme began in 2012 and defrauded some 200 investors of $10.75 million. Baird told investors their funds would be used to bring a product to market, but Baird instead used more than half of investors’ money—at – some $5.7 million – for his and his family’s personal expenses, including to purchase a luxury car and a waterfront house on Bainbridge Island.

Many of the investors were in court today, ready to speak about the web of lies Baird told to take their money. Some investors lost their entire retirement savings, the college tuitions for their children and grandchildren, and for one 94-year-old investor the loss means choosing between medications and other daily needs.

The United States Attorney’s Office is seeking forfeiture of a ranch property in Terrebonne, Oregon that Baird purchased using proceeds of the fraud. The Court has entered a preliminary order of forfeiture with respect to this property. 

The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Wilkinson and Jehiel Baer, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.

Seattle – A 41-year-old Claremont, California man was convicted yesterday of abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft enroute to Seattle from Burbank, California, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Justin Baker was arrested March 14, 2024, when the Alaska Airlines plane arrived at SEA.  Baker was taken into custody again yesterday immediately after the jury returned its guilty verdict.  The jury deliberated about 90 minutes following a three-day trial. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour scheduled sentencing for January 21, 2025.

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Baker was in the middle seat, with the victim seated to his right next to the wall of the plane. Baker learned the victim was preparing to go to college and was just 18 years old. According to testimony at trial, Baker showed the teen sexually explicit text messages he had on his phone and then draped his jacket over his lap as well as her lower body. The victim attempted to move away from Baker and closer to the wall. He reached under the jacket and groped her leg and genitals over her clothing. Then he reached into her top and groped her breast. Despite the victim saying “No” and moving away when he first tried to touch her, he continued to grope her.

Ultimately, the victim got out of her seat to contact the flight crew. As she tried to pass by Baker, he groped her buttocks.

In closing argument Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Foerster said the defendant “saw the word ‘No’ as a speedbump, not a stop sign.” At the trial prosecutors presented the testimony of different victim, who in 2004, as a girl of 15, was molested by Baker in a similar fashion. At the time Baker was a youth pastor who didn’t stop despite the victim telling him no when he tried to molest her under a blanket.

Abusive sexual contact is punishable by up to two years in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Coughenour after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Port of Seattle Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Grace Zoller.

Seattle – A California man pleaded guilty today to two federal felonies related to his sex trafficking of adult female victims, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Winston Cornell Burt aka “Dice Capone,” 32 of Hemet, California, was arrested November 6, 2022, after he allegedly brutally assaulted a 20-year-old woman and engaged in a rolling gun battle as she fled in a van driven by a man who picked her up from the roadway. Burt pleaded guilty to Sex Trafficking through Force, Fraud, and Coercion and Unlawful Possession of Firearms. Burt is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on February 3, 2025.

According to records filed in the case, Burt self-identifies as a “pimp” who led a sex trafficking enterprise through California, Arizona, and Washington. The young women in the case were required to provide all the money they earned in prostitution to Burt. Three women had his name tattooed on their faces – an apparent sign of “ownership.”

On November 2, 2022, Burt assaulted the 20-year-old victim in this case by kicking her, punching her, and pistol whipping her after she indicated she wanted to stop working for Burt. The assault occurred at an Airbnb in south Seattle. Three days later, on November 5, 2022, Burt assaulted the victim again and forced her to strip to her underwear. The victim tried to escape from the rental home by jumping out a third story window. The defendant and two women working for him forced her into a car and drove towards a motel on north Aurora Avenue. Burt was armed with a gun, but the victim was able to get out of the car and ran into traffic on Aurora wearing only her underwear. Burt and his female assistants tried to force the victim back into their car, but the victim stayed in the middle of the roadway until finally picked up by a driver who saw her in distress.

Even after the victim was driven away in a van, Burt gave chase on Aurora Avenue and fired shots at the van with the victim inside. The driver was eventually able to evade Burt and called the Washington State Patrol for assistance.

Ultimately law enforcement responded to the scene and got the victim to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.

Burt was arrested on November 6, 2022, as he was attempting to leave the Airbnb in south Seattle.

As part of the plea agreement, Burt also agrees to plead guilty to charges in King County Superior Court: three counts of Assault 2; Drive-by Shooting; Unlawful Imprisonment; and Assault-3

The plea agreement calls for the forfeiture of both firearms and more than $72,000 in cash.

Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to life in prison and illegal possession of a firearm is punishable by ten years in prison. Both the prosecution and defense have agreed to recommend 15 years in prison to run concurrent with any sentence imposed in state court.  

The case was investigated by the FBI,  Seattle Police Department with assistance from the Washington State Patrol (WSP). FBI Phoenix also assisted.

Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor Alexandra Voorhees worked closely with the FBI, Seattle Police Department and Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham on this case.