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16 April 2024
MEDIA ADVISORY: U.S Attorney Will Thompson to Honor Crime Victims and Advocates at Thursday, April 18, 2024 CeremonyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will preside over the Opening Ceremony for the 23rd Annual Operation Reach Out and present this year’s Excellence in Victim Advocacy and Justice Awards on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston.
Honorees include the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals for its Remote Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Outreach Project. This initiative allows victims in a growing number of counties to file petitions and participate in court hearings remotely, without having to be in the same building as the people from whom they are seeking protection. Law enforcement officers, local and state government officials, and nonprofit service organizations are also among the honorees.
This annual event is held to raise awareness of victims’ rights, educate the public about the various organizations that provide services to crime victims, and promote crime prevention and safety.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia and the Operation Reach Out Committee sponsor this ceremony in coordination with National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW), which is being commemorated this year on April 21-27. The 2024 NCVRW theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.”
The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime.
More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/national-crime-victims-rights-week/overview.
WHAT: 23rd Annual Operation Reach Out Opening Ceremony
WHEN: Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Fifth Floor, Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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Long Island Businessman Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Covid-19 Loan FraudRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Donald Finley, a Locust Valley businessman and owner of the now-defunct Jekyll & Hyde theme restaurant in Manhattan and the Bayville Adventure Park on Long Island, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 24 months in prison. Finley pleaded guilty in May 2023 to disaster relief fraud and wire fraud in connection with his receipt of $3.2 million dollars in small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP). As part of his sentence, Finley has paid in full $3.2 million in restitution. As part of his sentence, Finley was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and complete 500 hours of community service.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), and Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the sentence.
“Finley viewed the deadly pandemic that was gripping the nation as a way to steal millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds that he used to purchase a vacation home in Nantucket,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today the defendant learned the price to pay for such a shameful crime is a loss of his freedom and full restitution for the victims of his scam. Let this be a lesson to other lawbreakers who have engaged in similar conduct that this Office will not forgive and forget COVID-19 fraud.”
“Donald Finley is an admitted criminal, pleading guilty to pocketing millions in COVID-19 relief funds. While he was enjoying his spoils from his ill-gotten gains, many business owners with legitimate needs were just able to keep the doors open. Today’s sentencing means that no one was amused by this Bayville Adventure Park owner’s criminal acts, and he will now face time in prison,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Fattorusso.
USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Brubaker said, “Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners are committed to fighting fraud in whatever form it takes, and we will pursue criminals from the busy streets of Manhattan to the shores of a quiet seaside village. We want crooks to know that when you use the mail to defraud the public, justice will be served. Today’s sentencing is proof of that truth.”
Congress created the PPP and EIDLP as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. Enacted on March 29, 2020, the CARES Act provided emergency financial assistance in connection with economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP program was overseen by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and various financial institutions received and processed the PPP loan applications, which, if approved, would then be funded directly by the lenders and backed by the federal government.
One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the allocation of funds for the issuance of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses to receive unsecured loans on favorable terms, which they were required to use for specified expenses, including payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities.
Another source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the EIDLP, which provided low-interest financing to small businesses, renters, and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. Under the program, EIDLP recipients were eligible to receive advances of up to $10,000 for small businesses within three days of applying for an EIDL Advance which did not have to be repaid.
As set forth in court filings, between March 2020 and March 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Finley fraudulently applied for, and received, at least 29 PPP and EIDLP loans totaling approximately $3.2 million on behalf of corporate entities he controlled. The applications contained false information, bogus financial data and fabricated supporting documentation, all of which was designed to fraudulently induce the SBA and the lenders administering the PPP and EIDL programs to approve the loans. Once the loans were approved, Finley sent the funds through more than 30 bank accounts to prevent tracing of the proceeds, with substantial portions of the stolen funds being used to purchase real property in Nantucket, Massachusetts in February 2021.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Misorek is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DONALD FINLEY
Age: 61
Locust Valley, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-181 (JMA)
Level III Sex Offender Convicted on Child Pornography Charges for a Fifth TimeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – A level III sex offender is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in July, having been convicted for a fifth time on child pornography charges, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Patrick M. O’Donnell, 63, arrested in July 2023, less than one month after being released from state prison after completing a four-year term of incarceration following his fourth state conviction on child pornography offenses, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to a charge of possession of child pornography.
In this most recent matter, during a sex-offender compliance check conducted on July 6, 2023, O’Donnell was found to be in possession of two cellphones, in violation of the conditions of the terms of his state probation. A forensic review of the cellphones revealed of images of child pornography.
O’Donnell is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on July 29, 2024. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court records, O’Donnell was convicted previously in Rhode Island state court on child pornography offenses in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2020.
The case in federal court is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Cranston Police, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole.
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Justice Department Secures Agreement to Resolve Claims of Immigration-Related Discrimination at Washington University School of Medicine in St. LouisRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement with The Washington University, a private university headquartered in St. Louis. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that its medical school, known as Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WashU School of Medicine), violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against a worker based on his citizenship status and then retaliating against him for complaining about the discrimination.
“Workers who believe that an employer has discriminated against them based on citizenship status have the right to stand up for themselves, including by making internal complaints to the employer, without retaliation,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to holding employers accountable for unlawful discrimination and retaliation.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) determined that WashU School of Medicine discriminated against an individual who had been granted asylum by the federal government when it repeatedly confronted him about his immigration status, his documentation and his right to work, even though he had provided sufficient proof of his permission to work. The department also determined that WashU School of Medicine retaliated against the worker when it terminated his employment for complaining about the discrimination.
Under the terms of the settlement, the school will pay civil penalties to the United States and pay backpay to the affected worker who filed a complaint with IER. The agreement also requires the school to train its personnel on the INA’s antidiscrimination requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.
IER is responsible for enforcing the antidiscrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices or retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination when hiring workers with asylum or refugee status on IER’s website. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation; email IER@usdoj.gov or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Sign up for email updates from IER.
Justice Department Announces That It Will Provide Technical Assistance to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Under COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform InitiativeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced it will engage with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) through the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative’s Critical Response program.
In conjunction with the National Policing Institute, and at the request of IMPD Chief Christopher Bailey, the COPS Office will conduct an independent review and analysis of data, records, policies, and practices related to officer involved shootings. The review will also examine the department’s policies, procedures, training, and practices to assist the Department as they work to make them more reflective of accepted state and national best and emerging practices.
“It takes a real commitment to transparency to engage in these types of reviews,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “This is a significant step for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in their efforts to ensure effective community policing, and we know both the Department and the community will benefit.”
“Taking an in-depth look at these areas is always a positive step and can result in real changes,” said Director Hugh T. Clements, Jr. of the COPS Office. “We credit Chief Bailey and the leadership of the department for asking for this assistance.”
The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies: the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs (complete details of these programs can be found at www.cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform). Managed out of the COPS Office, this continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; build agencies’ capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement; and promote community policing practices nationwide.
The Critical Response program is designed to provide targeted technical assistance (TA) to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies experiencing high profile events, major incidents, or sensitive issues of varying need. Critical Response is highly customizable by providing flexible assistance to law enforcement agencies that have recently experienced a critical incident or identified an issue of significant community concern in their department’s operations. The TA generally falls into three categories: (1) immediate delivery of TA to address a pressing and acute need, (2) data analysis, and (3) after-action reviews to understand and learn from law enforcement and public safety responses to critical incidents or issues.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.
Jamaican National Pleads Guilty to Debt Relief ScamRead the Press Release
Sereika Savariau, 37, of Jamaica, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to creating a series of fraudulent debt relief companies that tricked U.S. victims into paying fraudulent processing fees and disclosing sensitive personal identifying information.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Sally Luttrell of the Treasury Department, Office of Inspector General.
Savariau, also known as Sereika Savariau-Goodison, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, which carries a potential penalty of 30 years in prison. The Honorable Amit P. Mehta presided over Savariau’s guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for September 19, 2024.
As part of her guilty plea, Savariau admitted that from at least June 2016 through September 2018, she and other conspirators created and operated a series of fraudulent debt relief companies that tricked U.S. citizens into paying bogus processing fees and disclosing personal identifying information and identity documents. One of the fraudulent websites said consumers could receive up to $60,000 in government-funded aid to pay their bills. Another claimed consumers could receive up to $25,000 in annual debt relief.
Savariau admitted that through their false representations she and her co-conspirators tried to defraud U.S. victims out of more than $550,000. More than 50 individuals sent money to conspirators because of the scheme, most commonly through Western Union, believing the funds were service processing fees.
Conspirators also fraudulently used some of the victims’ personal identifying information for other illegal purposes. For example, one victim’s information was used to create a PayPal account for use in the scheme. Her information also was used to apply for and obtain an American Express pre-paid credit card. A different victim’s name and address were used to register one of their fraudulent debt relief sites.
Savariau’s conduct directly violated a prior judicial order issued in September 2015 by the Honorable Reggie B. Walton in Case No. 14-CV-1414 that, among other things, permanently restrained her and those working with her from misrepresenting to others that they would reduce substantially consumers’ debts.
Savariau was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2021 and extradited from Jamaica to the United States in September 2023.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, the Justice Department's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Savariau.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Louisa Becker and Ashley Pungello of the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman for the District of Columbia.
International Arms Dealers Charged with Conspiring to Unlawfully Export Weapons and Ammunition from the United States to Sudan and IraqRead the Press Release
MIAMI – An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging Syria national Mohamad Deiry and Lebanese national Samer Rayya, both principals of an Iraq-based arms company, Black Shield Ltd., with conspiring to export munitions from the United States to Sudan and Iraq without the necessary licenses and approvals, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Additionally, Deiry and Rayya were charged with conspiring to commit money laundering in furtherance of their illicit procurement activities.
Both Rayya and Deiry remain at large and wanted by the FBI. The defendants have ties to or may visit Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Sudan and Libya.
Concurrent with this announcement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Black Shield, also known as Black Shield for Trading LLC, Deiry, and Rayya, as well as other individuals and entities involved in the procurement network used by Deiry and Rayya in support of Black Shield’s illegal supply of munitions used in conflicts around the world.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to the prosecution of those individuals and corporations that illicitly procure munitions to be shared overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Our goal is to identify and thwart arms traffickers and money launderers whose criminal acts fuel the destabilization of nations and perpetuation of international conflicts.”
“These defendants allegedly ran an international arm trafficking ring and conspired to unlawfully export anti-aircraft ammunition and other military arms and munitions from the United States to Sudan and Iraq, promoting violence and putting Americans and our allies at risk,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “These charges exemplify the Justice Department’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those who defy our U.S. export controls.”
“This indictment demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to investigate those who seek to illegally acquire and sell U.S. arms, ultimately fueling conflict around the world,” said Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch Larissa L. Knapp. “Deiry and Rayya’s alleged actions will not be taken lightly, and the FBI will do all within its power to ensure that they are brought to justice. Illegal arms exportation and international money laundering will not be tolerated.”
According to the indictment, between April and November 2016, Deiry, Rayya and others conspired to export munitions, including 23-millimeter antiaircraft ammunition, Bushmaster 40mm Grenade Launchers, FN SCAR-L CQC (5.56x45mm) assault rifles, FN SCAR-H CQC (7.62x51mm) assault rifles, FNH 5.7x28mm green tip ammunition, and HK MR762A1 LRP ii (7.62x51mm) assault rifles, from the United States to Sudan and Iraq without first obtaining the required licenses or approvals from DDTC. Specifically, the co-conspirators attempted to illegally acquire the munitions from the United States in a deal worth $1,200,000, which was part of a larger scheme to illegally acquire $4 million worth of 23-millimeter ammunition. The conspiracy involved the transshipment of the munitions from the United States to Guatemala and from Guatemala to false end-users in Cyprus before ultimately arriving in Sudan and Iraq. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Black Shield wired a downpayment of $100,000 from a front company located in Benin, West Africa. The conspiracy involved both Black Shield emissaries from India and Belarus, who traveled to the United States to inspect the munitions, as well as Israeli American and Israeli Romanian-Uzbeki brokers, who acted as middlemen between the supplier and end-users.
Deiry and Rayya are charged with conspiracy to unlawfully export defense articles from the United States, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison; and conspiracy to engage in international money laundering, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hummel for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Brendan Geary and Tracy Varghese of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-cr-6029.
Indictment
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International Arms Dealers Charged with Conspiring to Unlawfully Export Weapons and Ammunition from the United States to Sudan and IraqRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging Syria national Mohamad Deiry and Lebanese national Samer Rayya, both principals of an Iraq-based arms company, Black Shield Ltd., with conspiring to export munitions from the United States to Sudan and Iraq without the necessary licenses and approvals, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Additionally, Deiry and Rayya were charged with conspiring to commit money laundering in furtherance of their illicit procurement activities.
Both Rayya and Deiry remain at large and wanted by the FBI. The defendants have ties to or may visit Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Sudan and Libya.
Concurrent with this announcement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Black Shield, also known as Black Shield for Trading LLC, Deiry, and Rayya, as well as other individuals and entities involved in the procurement network used by Deiry and Rayya in support of Black Shield’s illegal supply of munitions used in conflicts around the world.
“These defendants allegedly ran an international arm trafficking ring and conspired to unlawfully export anti-aircraft ammunition and other military arms and munitions from the United States to Sudan and Iraq, promoting violence and putting Americans and our allies at risk,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “These charges exemplify the Justice Department’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those who defy our U.S. export controls.”
“This indictment demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to investigate those who seek to illegally acquire and sell U.S. arms, ultimately fueling conflict around the world,” said Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch Larissa L. Knapp. “Deiry and Rayya’s alleged actions will not be taken lightly, and the FBI will do all within its power to ensure that they are brought to justice. Illegal arms exportation and international money laundering will not be tolerated.”
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to the prosecution of those individuals and corporations that illicitly procure munitions to be shared overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Our goal is to identify and thwart arms traffickers and money launderers whose criminal acts fuel the destabilization of nations and perpetuation of international conflicts.”
According to the indictment, between April and November 2016, Deiry, Rayya and others conspired to export munitions, including 23-millimeter antiaircraft ammunition, Bushmaster 40mm Grenade Launchers, FN SCAR-L CQC (5.56x45mm) assault rifles, FN SCAR-H CQC (7.62x51mm) assault rifles, FNH 5.7x28mm green tip ammunition, and HK MR762A1 LRP ii (7.62x51mm) assault rifles, from the United States to Sudan and Iraq without first obtaining the required licenses or approvals from DDTC. Specifically, the co-conspirators attempted to illegally acquire the munitions from the United States in a deal worth $1,200,000, which was part of a larger scheme to illegally acquire $4 million worth of 23-millimeter ammunition. The conspiracy involved the transshipment of the munitions from the United States to Guatemala and from Guatemala to false end-users in Cyprus before ultimately arriving in Sudan and Iraq. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Black Shield wired a downpayment of $100,000 from a front company located in Benin, West Africa. The conspiracy involved both Black Shield emissaries from India and Belarus, who traveled to the United States to inspect the munitions, as well as Israeli American and Israeli Romanian-Uzbeki brokers, who acted as middlemen between the supplier and end-users.
Deiry and Rayya are charged with conspiracy to unlawfully export defense articles from the United States, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison; and conspiracy to engage in international money laundering, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Hummel for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Brendan Geary and Tracy Varghese of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
IndictmentHuntington Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Danielle D. Jones, 35, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 16, 2023, Jones sold quantities of crack and what she thought was heroin for $800 to a confidential informant at her Huntington residence. Jones admitted to the transaction, and to arranging it with the informant beforehand. Jones further admitted to selling a quantity of what she thought was heroin to the confidential informant on three other occasions between August 22, 2023, and December 27, 2023, at her residence. Jones also sold the confidential informant a quantity of crack during the December 27, 2023, transaction.
A forensic analysis later confirmed that the suspected heroin sold in all four transactions was fentanyl totaling approximately 27 grams.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-2.
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Human Smugglers Sentenced for Their Roles in Highway Death of JuvenileRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Gerson Montano, 38, and Robert Dale Hart, 64, both of Tucson, were sentenced last month by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa for their roles leading to the death of a 17-year-old undocumented noncitizen. Montano was sentenced to 70 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised released. Montano was convicted of Transportation of Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death. Hart was sentenced to 51 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Hart was convicted of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death.
On August 3, 2022, at approximately 11 p.m., Arizona Department of Public Safety Officers attempted to stop an SUV traveling westbound on I-10. The SUV failed to yield then abruptly pulled over in the center median of the interstate. Multiple people then fled from the vehicle and ran across the eastbound lanes of traffic. Two individuals who fled were then struck by a semi-truck, both were undocumented noncitizens. One undocumented noncitizen, age 17, died at the scene, while the other was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the SUV, who also fled on foot, was Montano. During the subsequent investigation, agents learned Hart had hired Montano to transport the undocumented noncitizens.
Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, and Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Courchaine and Lisa E. Jennis, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-2022-1083-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-051_Montano# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – HECTOR STEFANO FLORES-DUARTE, a/k/a “Stefano Flores”, age 30, pled guilty on April 9, 2024 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to court documents, law enforcement authorities in Lafourche Parish, learned that HECTOR STEFANO FLORES-DUARTE, (“FLORES-DUARTE”) had been involved in domestic abuse and, subsequently, arrested him. Federal authorities were contacted and determined that FLORES-DUARTE was a citizen of Honduras. FLORES-DUARTE had been previously removed from the United States on June 10, 2022 and, thereafter, illegally re-entered the United States.
FLORES-DUARTE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Gulfport Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute over 80 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Gulfport man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 81.1 grams of fentanyl.
Ashton Craig Cuevas, 19, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on April 21, 2023, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant on the residence of Ashton Craig Cuevas, 19, in Gulfport. The search took place the day after Harrison County conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from Cuevas. The search of Cuevas’s home yielded 81.1 grams of fentanyl, as well as the pre-recorded buy money from the controlled purchase on April 20th.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
Cuevas pled guilty on August 22, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.
Four Individuals Indicted on Charges Related to Attempted International Arms TraffickingRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Durante King-Mclean, age 25, Prasath Paramalingam, age 34, Archit Grover, age 36, all of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, and Jalisa Edwards, age 25, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, were charged in a multi-count federal indictment with charges stemming from a conspiracy to engage in international firearms trafficking.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that King-Mclean was stopped by Pennsylvania State Police on September 2, 2023, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, after several motor vehicle violations were observed. It is further alleged that King-Mclean, who was illegally in the United States from Canada, fled on foot when troopers discovered firearms in the rental vehicle. A court authorized search warrant for the vehicle led to the recovery of 65 firearms that were allegedly destined to be illegally smuggled into Canada. Two of those firearms were fully automatic and considered machine guns under federal law. Eleven of the firearms were determined to be stolen, and one firearm had an obliterated serial number.
The indictment further alleges that Paramalingam was involved in the conspiracy since April 2023 with persons known and unknown to the grand jury, including King-Mclean, to arrange for King-Mclean’s illegal entry into the United States. While King-Mclean was in the United States, Paramalingam allegedly arranged funding for King-Mclean to purchase the various firearms which he obtained in Florida, Georgia and elsewhere as King-Mclean traveled back towards Canada and through Franklin County. Grover and Edwards were charged by the grand jury as accessories after the fact for their alleged assistance to King-Mclean after his arrest to conceal evidence concerning his attempted gun smuggling and provide co-conspirators with information regarding the scope of the investigation, among other things.
“ATF’s highest priority is reducing violent gun crime, and firearms trafficking feeds that crime by putting guns in the hands of violent criminals and other prohibited people,” said Eric J. DeGree, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Philadelphia Field Division. “Far from being a victimless crime, trafficking presents a grave threat to public safety across our nation and to our neighbors. Thanks to our cooperative efforts, this action has kept 65 firearms off the street — preventing them from being used in any number of killings and other crimes – and ended this international firearms trafficking scheme. ”
“International arms trafficking greatly endangers citizens of both countries,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Sara C. Bay. “HSI is proud to be on the front lines against the crime and devastation that illegal weapons bring to the cities in which they are used. We will continue to use our global reach and cooperate with our law enforcement partners to combat transnational weapons trafficking.”“This indictment is the result of outstanding pro-active enforcement by our Patrol Troopers, which led to a larger successful inter-agency investigation,” said Major Serell Ulrich, Director, Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation. “Illegal firearm trafficking has no boundaries, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners both federally and internationally to mitigate this worldwide problem. Anytime illegal firearm trafficking affects our Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania State Police will strive to identify, investigate, and arrest those responsible.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Harrisburg Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This prosecution is also part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Former Regions Bank Manager Indicted for Embezzlement and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury recently returned a four-count indictment charging Eric Jason Schouest, age 53, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, with embezzlement and bank fraud. Schouest appeared for his arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
According to court documents, Schouest was employed at Regions Bank from 2010 to 2021 as a branch manager overseeing business transactions and practices at the Regions Bank Plank Road branch. In his capacity as branch manager, Schouest had the authority to access customer accounts, instruct others to open and close accounts, issue cashier’s checks, and transfer funds in and out of bank customers’ accounts.
Beginning in or about 2020, and continuing through in or about April 2021, Schouest exploited his position of trust at Regions Bank to embezzle funds from customer accounts and deposit the money into his personal bank accounts. Schouest would also send false and fraudulent emails and forged documents to other Regions Bank employees to conceal his scheme. Schouest used some of the traceable fraudulent funds to make loan payments on personal items such as a house and a car. Through his scheme, Schouest caused a loss to Regions Bank of more than $250,000.
The embezzlement and bank fraud indictment counts are each punishable by a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum $1 million fine.
This matter is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Edward H. Warner and Litigation Counsel Jennifer M. Kleinpeter.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Former Private Prisoner Transport Officer Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Offenses for Sexually Assaulting Multiple Female Pretrial DetaineesRead the Press Release
A former private prisoner transport officer, Marquet Johnson, 45, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release and required to register as a sex offender under the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act for violating the civil rights of multiple female pretrial detainees by sexually assaulting them during prisoner transports.
“This sentence shines a light on the private prisoner transport industry that countless law enforcement agencies across this country rely on to transport people who are arrested on warrants outside their jurisdiction,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These private companies often operate in the shadows of our criminal justice system where some officers have seized the opportunity to physically and sexually abuse vulnerable victims in their custody. This sentence highlights the abuses of this industry, the bravery of the victims who came forward to report that abuse and our commitment to seeing justice done for these victims.”
“Criminal defendants have a right to be treated with dignity,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico. “As law enforcement officers, we are charged not only with protecting the public from harm but also with protecting the rights of suspects. If you abuse your position of authority to sexually assault those entrusted to your care, your badge will not shield you from justice.”
“Law enforcement officers and other officials receive certain powers from the government so they can defend the rights of the people and prevent wrongdoing,” said Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “When individuals working in an official capacity violate the trust of their communities by abusing that power, they undermine the hard work of all officials. The despicable actions perpetuated by Johnson, against those he was entrusted to protect, have no place in society. When you break the trust you’re given as a member of law enforcement and ultimately break the law, there are consequences. Today’s sentence is a resounding reminder that the FBI is committed to restoring trust in law enforcement by holding those who abuse their privileges and abandon their responsibilities accountable. We encourage survivors to find the courage to come forward and report these crimes to the FBI. I commend the hard work of our agents, our law enforcement partners with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and the U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico with helping to bring justice to the victims in this case and holding Johnson to account for his crimes.”
According to court documents, at the time of the offense, Johnson worked as a prisoner transport officer for Inmate Services Corporation (ISC). As a prisoner transport officer, Johnson performed the government function of picking up individuals who were arrested on out-of-state warrants and transporting those individuals back to the jurisdictions that issued the warrants. On Nov. 4, 2019, Johnson and his transport partner picked up the victim, a female pretrial detainee, from a jail in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to transport her to Delta County, Colorado.
That same day, while still in New Mexico, Johnson’s transport partner stopped the transport van at a rest stop. As soon as Johnson’s transport partner walked away from the van, Johnson ordered the victim to move to the bench row in the back of the transport van, climbed into the back of the van, removed the victim’s ankle restraints and loosened her handcuffs. The victim told Johnson that she was unsure what was going on but said that she did not want “to do this.” In response, Johnson pulled out a firearm, and, resting the weapon on his lap, told the victim that he wanted her to cooperate with him, “otherwise, it was going to get ugly.”
Johnson then ordered the victim to partially remove her clothing and lay down on her back. The victim did so but again told Johnson she did not want to do this. In response, Johnson held the firearm against the victim’s cheek while raping her. Johnson admitted that the victim did not consent to any of the sexual conduct and that his conduct included the use of a dangerous weapon and aggravated sexual abuse.
Johnson also admitted that this was not the first or last female pretrial detainee who he sexually assaulted during an ISC prisoner transport. Johnson admitted that in July 2019, he transported another female pretrial detainee from Spencer, Indiana, to San Marcos, Texas. While en route to Texas, during a stop at ISC headquarters in West Memphis, Arkansas, Johnson forced the detainee to perform oral sex on him. Johnson admitted that this victim also did not consent to any of the sexual conduct and that his misconduct included aggravated sexual abuse.
Further, Johnson admitted that, in August 2019, he transported yet another female pretrial detainee from Baker County, Oregon, to Warrensburg, Missouri. While in Missouri, Johnson stopped the transport van at a hotel, where he proceeded to rape the victim. A short time later Johnson brought the female detainee back outside to the transport van and, after resuming the transport, forced the female detainee to perform oral sex on him. Johnson admitted that this victim also did not consent to any of the sexual conduct and that his misconduct included aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Sherriff’s Office.
Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Brawley for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern District of Arkansas and Western District of Missouri.
Former Postal Carrier Pleads Guilty to Theft of Mail in South Berwick and EliotRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A South Berwick man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to theft of mail by a postal carrier.
According to court records, between January and May 2023, Russell Joaquin, 48, opened and stole the contents of greeting cards from his postal route. Joaquin was interviewed by investigators from the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and admitted to stealing greeting cards from his mail routes in South Berwick and Eliot to take the cash and gift cards they contained.
Joaquin faces up to five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case with assistance from the Berwick Police Department.
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Former North Korean Official Indicted on Sanctions Evasion, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today charging a former North Korean official serving in Thailand, Myong Ho Ri, with conspiracy to violate U.S. economic sanctions, bank fraud, and international money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen, and Special Agent in Charge Derek Gordon, with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Washington D.C. Field Office.
According to the indictment, Ri arranged for shipments of goods to North Korea using U.S. dollar wire transfers without receiving a license from the U.S. Treasury Department. Ri is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and 18 counts of international money laundering relating to a scheme to smuggle goods into North Korea from Thailand via Dalian, China.
“This defendant allegedly skirted the sanctions put in place to protect our national security,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “He is also alleged to have thwarted U.S. banking laws, so that he could conduct business for North Korea, a foreign government that is determined to unlawfully expand its nuclear program. Working with our partners, we will make every effort to bring to justice the people who put this country at risk, no matter where in the world they operate.”
“As alleged, this defendant deliberately circumvented U.S. sanctions by using front companies to deceive American banks as he smuggled goods into North Korea,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will be relentless in pursuing those who violate sanctions and advance North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.”
“Today’s announcement exposes a former North Korean official’s efforts to circumvent U.S. sanctions and exploit the U.S. financial system,” said Special Agent in Charge Gordon. “By his actions, Myong Ho Ri, a North Korean official at the time of the suspected activity, not only allegedly committed numerous counts of money laundering but also purportedly conspired with others to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by illegally directing payments through U.S. banks. HSI Washington, D.C. will aggressively pursue criminal charges against those acting on behalf of hostile regimes that threaten the security of the American people. This includes historically hostile nations who attempt to subvert U.S. economic sanctions.”
On March 15, 2016, the President issued Executive Order 13,722 to address the Government of North Korea’s continuing pursuit of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. That and subsequent regulations prohibit the export of financial services from the United States or by any U.S. person to North Korea, including the processing of U.S. dollar wires for transactions conducted overseas.
According to the indictment, beginning around February 2015, Ri used his position as Third Economic and Commercial Secretary in the Embassy of North Korea in Thailand to negotiate contracts on behalf of a North Korean company to ship goods into North Korea from Thailand, utilizing multiple front companies and co-conspirators in Thailand and Malaysia. Ri and his co-conspirators deliberately concealed the intended destination of the goods from banking institutions located in the United States and directed shipments through Dalian, China in order to obscure the true nature of their business. As a result, U.S. financial institutions unknowingly processed multiple U.S. dollar transactions for the benefit of North Korea.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigation’s Washington D.C. Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tortorice and Maeghan Mikorski from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Stephen Marzen and Tracy Varghese of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Valuable assistance was also provided by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Grady.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Former NYPD Officer Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl and HeroinRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GRACE ROSA BAEZ pled guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl. BAEZ pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Fentanyl and heroin are driving this nation’s deadly opioid crisis and are responsible for thousands of tragic deaths in this city and around the nation. Rather than protect and serve the people of New York City, former NYPD officer Grace Rosa Baez peddled deadly poison for personal gain. Today, Baez is held accountable for her selfish and reckless betrayal.”
According to the filings and statements made in Manhattan federal court:
In 2012, BAEZ became an active member of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”). In 2020, due to alleged misconduct, BAEZ was placed on modified duty and was under departmental investigation. On three occasions in October 2023, while on modified desk duty at a particular NYPD facility, BAEZ sold a confidential source working with law enforcement (the “CS”) packages containing over one kilogram of heroin, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and over 100 grams of fentanyl analogue. BAEZ negotiated the price and quantity of the narcotics and arranged to deliver the narcotics to the CS while she was on duty with the NYPD. BAEZ sold the narcotics to the CS outside of her homes in the Bronx and Yonkers, New York. Upon her arrest, BAEZ resigned from the NYPD.
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BAEZ, 38, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. BAEZ is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cote on July 18, 2024.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the exceptional investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda C. Weingarten is in charge of the prosecution.
Former NBA Player William Bynum Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Making False Statements to the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit PlanRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that WILLIAM BYNUM was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to make false statements to the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan (the “Plan”). On November 15, 2023, BYNUM was found guilty of conspiring to make false statements relating to health care matters following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant took part in this broad criminal scheme targeting a health care benefit plan. He also took the stand at trial and lied to the jury while under oath. His sentence stands as a stark warning that prison time awaits any who seek to defraud and obstruct justice.”
According to the Indictment, trial testimony and exhibits, public court filings, and statements made in court:
The Plan is a health care plan providing benefits to eligible active and former players of the NBA. BYNUM is a former NBA basketball player who was eligible to obtain reimbursement for certain eligible health care expenses from the Plan.
From at least in or about 2018, up to and including at least in or about 2019, BYNUM participated in a scheme with several other former NBA players, including Terrence Williams and Keyon Dooling, to defraud the Plan. In late 2018, Terence Williams sent BYNUM fake invoices that purported to relate to $200,000 in medical services BYNUM received at a Los Angeles-area chiropractor. In reality, BYNUM had not received these services and the invoices were false. BYNUM submitting these false claims to the Plan, seeking reimbursement. The Plan reimbursed BYNUM for the majority of his false claims.
BYNUM and his co-defendant Ronald Glen Davis proceeded to trial in November 2023. During the course of the trial, BYNUM took the stand in his own defense. During the course of his trial testimony, BYNUM committed perjury and obstructed justice.
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In addition to his prison term, BYNUM, 41, of Bensenville, Illinois, was ordered to forfeit $182,224.09 and pay restitution of $182,224.09.
Williams and Dooling previously pled guilty and were sentenced to 10 years and 30 months in prison, respectively. Davis was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, wire fraud, health care fraud, and conspiring to make false statements relating to health care matters and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution.
Former Greensburg Police Chief Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The former chief of police for Greensburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to engaging in a drug conspiracy, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Shawn Denning, 43, of Delmont, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to one count of conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine.
As part of his guilty plea, Denning admitted that, while serving as a captain of the Greensburg Police Department and continuing through his tenure as chief of the department, he conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine (in the form of fake “Adderall” pills) and cocaine to individuals in the Western District of Pennsylvania and across the country, including in Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. Denning boasted to a DEA confidential source that he could connect the source with “heavy hitters” across the country who would deliver drugs through the mail, later sending the source drug menus and prices, vouching for the source to the narcotics suppliers, communicating with the suppliers, and otherwise facilitating narcotics transactions. Toward the end of the investigation, Denning was recorded in an undercover operation discussing the drug conspiracy with the confidential source and admitting to his conduct.
Denning also admitted that he conspired with former Greenburg Police Officer Regina McAtee, whom Denning used to purchase drugs from the suppliers and then as a source for drugs for himself when McAtee received the orders. McAtee was charged by a separate criminal Information and is scheduled to plead guilty on May 1, 2024.
“Instead of catching drug dealers, Shawn Denning chose to be one by participating in a cross-country methamphetamine and cocaine conspiracy,” U.S. Attorney Olshan said. “Holding corrupt public officials accountable when they betray their oath to protect and serve the community remains a priority of this office and our partners in the law enforcement community.”
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for August 13, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Former Federal Contract Employee Sentenced to 18 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Lenexa, Kansas, man was sentenced in federal court today after child pornography was found on the cell phone he carried into a secure area at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Security Campus in Kansas City, Mo.
Shaun Walker, 41, currently a resident of Springfield, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 18 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Walker to 15 years of supervised release following incarceration. Walker will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
On Oct. 11, 2023, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to distribute child pornography over the internet.
Walker was employed by Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technology, which is contracted by the Nuclear National Security Administration, at the time of the offense. Walker entered an inner secure area of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Kansas City National Security Campus with his personal cell phone on Nov. 29, 2021. Walker contacted Kansas City National Security Campus security to self-report the violation.
Walker gave his cell phone to security personnel, who reviewed the cell phone to determine if any classified material was present on the phone. During the review, a security officer observed numerous images and videos depicting child pornography. Walker’s phone was seized in order to conduct a forensic examination.
Investigators found an encrypted folder on Walker’s cell phone that contained 21 images and a video of a 5-year-old girl. Investigators found dozens of additional images and videos of child pornography on Walker’s cell phone. Investigators also found thousands of WhatsApp chats between Walker and females he contacted through a livestreaming pornography website. Walker requested photos and videos of nude underage females conducting sexual acts. As a result of his WhatsApp chats, Walker received and distributed images and videos of child pornography.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Former EKU Professor Sentenced for Attempting to Produce Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Richmond, Ky., man, Kyle Knezevich, 36, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to 220 months in prison, for attempted production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, on September 7, 2023, an Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) student located a hidden camera in a men’s bathroom on campus. An investigation revealed that the camera had been placed in the bathroom by Knezevich, who at the time was a professor at the University. After the discovery, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Knezevich's home and electronic devices.
A search of those devices revealed that Knezevich knowingly produced surreptitious recordings of both adult and minor males, from approximately 2009 through 2023. The videos were recorded in bathroom settings, including locker rooms, urinals, and the bathroom of his personal residence. In these videos, minor males can be seen in various states of nudity, including using the restroom, undressing, and showering. As part of his plea, Knezevich admitted that his intent in creating the videos was to capture the minor males engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Under federal law, Knezevich must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life.
Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Brandon Collins, EKU Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, KSP, and EKU Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Five Members and Associates of the Genovese Crime Family Plead Guilty to Various Felony Charges, Including Illegal GamblingRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Salvatore Rubino, also known as “Sal the Shoemaker,” an associate of the Genovese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra, pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business associated with the crime family. Previously, on April 5, 2024, four co-defendant members and associates of the Genovese crime family pleaded guilty to various felony charges stemming from their long-running operation of several lucrative gambling operations in the Eastern District of New York. Carmelo “Carmine” Polito, a former acting captain and a soldier within the Genovese crime family, pleaded guilty to racketeering involving the operation of an illegal gambling business and an attempted extortion. Joseph Macario, also known as “Joe Fish,” a soldier within the Genovese crime family, also pleaded guilty to racketeering. Joseph Rutigliano, also known as “Joe Box,” and Mark Feuer, associates of the Genovese crime family, pleaded guilty to felony charges relating to the operation of various illegal gambling businesses also associated with the crime family. The proceedings were held before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Anne T. Donnelly, District Attorney, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, announced the guilty pleas.
“With their guilty pleas, these five members and associates of the Genovese crime family have admitted they committed crimes to benefit a criminal enterprise notorious for inflicting harm on our communities for generations,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As long as the Mafia doesn’t get it that illegal gambling is a losing proposition, they can bet on this Office and our partners vigorously enforcing the law and flushing them out of the shadows, as in this case, where they operated secretly in a coffee bar and a shoe repair shop.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department and the Nassau County Police Department for their invaluable assistance in the investigation.
“These Mafia figures operated surreptitiously in back rooms of restaurants and retail locations in suburban Long Island, running underground gambling parlors and kicking up the profits to the Genovese crime family,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “For decades, organized crime families have steered violence and other illicit activities in our communities. With our partners at the EDNY, FBI, and the Nassau County Police Department, we are doubling down on driving out these illegal gambling operations.”
As detailed in earlier court filings and in facts presented at the guilty plea hearings, members of the Genovese and Bonanno organized crime families operated several illegal gambling operations in the Eastern District of New York. Beginning in at least May 2012, the Genovese and Bonanno families jointly operated a lucrative illegal gambling operation in Lynbrook, New York called the Gran Caffe. The profits earned through the Gran Caffe and other illegal gambling locations generated substantial revenue, which was then “kicked up” to the crime families’ leaders. Rutigliano and Rubino collected the proceeds for the Genovese crime family and distributed them up to higher-ranking members, including Polito and Macario. In addition to the Gran Caffe, the Genovese crime family—through Polito, Macario, Rutigliano, Rubino and others—operated illegal gambling parlors at establishments called Sal’s Shoe Repair and the Centro Calcio Italiano Club.
Carmelo Polito, a former acting captain in the Genovese crime family, also operated an illegal online gambling scheme in which bets were placed on sporting events through a website called “PGWLines.” In connection with his operation of PGWLines, Polito attempted to extort an individual who lost several thousand dollars in bets he placed through the website. For example, in an October 2019 call concerning a delinquent debtor whose “face” Polito had previously threatened to “break,” Polito instructed another individual to relay a new message to the debtor: “Tell him I’m going to put him under the f------g bridge.”
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Drew Rolle, Anna Karamigios and Sean Sherman are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
JOSEPH MACARIO (also known as “Joe Fish”)
Age: 69
West Islip, New YorkCARMELO POLITO (also known as “Carmine Polito”)
Age: 64
Whitestone, New YorkSALVATORE RUBINO (also known as “Sal the Shoemaker”)
Age: 60
Bethpage, New YorkJOSEPH RUTIGLIANO (also known as “Joe Box”)
Age: 65
Commack, New YorkMARK FEUER
Age: 61
Oceanside, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-356 (ENV)
Final defendant in large, wide ranging drug ring sentenced to nine years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – The final defendant in a large drug trafficking ring was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 108 months in prison for trafficking drugs while armed with a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Juan de Dios Alcaraz-Mardueno was a drug redistributor and interstate transporter of heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour remarked on the “dangerous nature of the drugs” the defendant trafficked and that he wasn’t deterred. “He continued this conduct even after contact with law enforcement,” Judge Coughenour said.
According to records filed in the case, the conspirators distributed large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, smuggling the drugs into the U.S. from Mexico and then transporting them up the west coast for distribution in Pierce, King, and Snohomish Counties. The investigation and drug ring take-down on December 16, 2020, resulted in the seizure of 143 pounds of methamphetamine, 15 pounds of heroin, 35,000 fentanyl pills, 24 firearms, and $778,000. Drug ring leader Cesar Valdez-Sanudo, 36, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in January 2023. Valdez-Sanudo had buried large quantities of drugs and cash on his Arlington, Washington property.
Juan de Dios Alcaraz-Mardueno was identified and indicted as a member of the drug ring, but evaded capture until July 2022. By that time, he had been heard on another wiretap investigation, trafficking drugs for a different drug organization.
On February 5, 2020, agents stopped Alcaraz-Mardueno’s vehicle in Centralia, Washington. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.8 kilograms of heroin, and 162.4 grams of blue fentanyl pills. Investigators also found a loaded Walther PPQ 9mm handgun in the vehicle. The defendant admitted to possessing this gun to facilitate his drug trafficking in his Plea Agreement.
On September 15, 2023, Alcaraz-Mardueno pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and carrying a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime. The gun crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.
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.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Tacoma Residence Office in partnership with Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (TNET), Kent Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, SeaTac Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF), the Skagit County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Jaquette and C. Andrew Colasurdo.
El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo para resolver reclamos de discriminación relacionada con la inmigración en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Washington en St. LouisRead the Press Release
El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con la Universidad de Washington, una universidad privada con sede en St. Louis. El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del departamento que su facultad de medicina, conocida como la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Washington en St. Louis (Facultad de Medicina de WashU), infringió la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA) al discriminar a un trabajador con base en su estatus de ciudadanía y luego tomar represalias en su contra por quejarse de la discriminación.
«Los trabajadores que creen que un empleador les ha discriminado por su estatus de ciudadanía tienen derecho a defenderse, lo que incluye la presentación de quejas internas ante el empleador, sin represalias», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «El Departamento de Justicia se compromete a responsabilizar a los empleadores de la discriminación y las represalias ilegales».
La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés), de la División de Derechos Civiles, determinó que la Facultad de Medicina de WashU discriminó a un individuo al que el gobierno federal le había concedido asilo cuando lo enfrentó repetidamente en relación con su estatus migratorio, su documentación y su derecho a trabajar, aunque había proporcionado suficientes pruebas de su permiso para trabajar. Por otra parte, el Departamento también determinó que la Facultad de Medicina de WashU tomó represalias contra el trabajador al despedirlo por quejarse de la discriminación.
En virtud de los términos del acuerdo, la escuela pagará sanciones civiles a los Estados Unidos y pagos retroactivos al trabajador que presentó una reclamación ante la IER. El acuerdo también requiere que la escuela capacite a su personal en cuanto a los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA, que revise sus políticas de empleo y que se someta a los requisitos de supervisión y declaración departamentales.
La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas o represalias e intimidación.
Puede obtener más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación a la hora de contratar a trabajadores con el estatus de refugiado o asilo en el sitio web de la IER. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1‑800‑237‑2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); inscribirse a un seminario en línea en vivo o visualizar una presentación a la carta; enviar un correo electrónico a IER@usdoj.gov ; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español. Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico desde la IER.
Drug trafficking couple imprisoned for attempting to store and transport over 30 kilos of cocaineRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Two Hidalgo residents have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Jose Alfonso Trevino Jr., 46, and Rita Eva Moreno-Tinoco, 40, pleaded guilty March 23, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 120-month-term of imprisonment for Trevino followed by five years of supervised release while Moreno-Tinoco received 37 months and a three-year-term of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence explaining how agents located four firearms including an AR-15 style rifle inside the narcotics stash house. Judge Crane also heard how Trevino threatened arresting authorities when they transported him.
On Jan. 19, 2021, Trevino was driving a pickup truck and failed to signal a turn, at which time law enforcement conducted a traffic stop. They searched the truck and found 10 kilograms of cocaine inside reusable grocery bags on the back seat and took him into custody.
At the time of his arrest, Trevino requested to call his wife, Moreno-Tinoco. Law enforcement overheard him ask his wife to tell his son to “clean out the garage.” They then observed Moreno-Tinoco arrive at the couple’s residence and load two plastic storage bins from the garage into her vehicle.
After departing the home, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Moreno-Tinoco’s vehicle and found 31 kilograms of cocaine within the bins previously removed from the garage.
Both Trevino and Moreno-Tinoco will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and the Hidalgo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Fry prosecuted the case.
Drug Trafficking Results in over A Dozen People Arrested on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
JONESBORO—Fifteen people were arrested Tuesday morning as part of a sweeping law enforcement operation that targeted associates of a drug organization responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine in the Northeast Arkansas area. Law enforcement officers previously arrested one person on Monday and served arrest warrants on an additional three people already in custody.
The investigation began in August 2022 to combat a significant drug distribution organization operating in the Northeast Arkansas area. Numerous indictments, which were returned by a Grand Jury on April 2, 2024, and unsealed today, named several defendants who are charged with various drug, money laundering, and firearm offenses. Law enforcement officers arrested 15 individuals and served an arrest warrant Tuesday on two defendants already in federal custody and one in state custody.
Prior to today’s arrests, the investigation had resulted in the seizure of 45 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 pounds of marijuana, one pound of cocaine, six firearms, various ammunition, and $125,000 in drug proceeds. During arrest operations on Tuesday, agents recovered additional methamphetamine, three firearms (one of which was defaced), ammunition, and approximately an additional $28,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
“So many lives and communities have been destroyed by drugs and with today’s arrests, fifteen drug dealers have been taken off the streets,” said Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Where drugs are present, so are firearms and violence. Working with our federal, state, and local partners to keep our citizens safe from the violence that too often accompanies drug trafficking, will help to create safer communities for citizens in the Eastern District of Arkansas.”
"Today’s arrests demonstrate how the FBI has zero tolerance for criminals who pollute our communities with dangerous narcotics,” Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Little Rock Field Office. “This was a collaborative effort between the FBI, Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas State Police, and several others. We will continue to work together to keep Arkansans safe and bring dangerous criminals to justice.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force, Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
The charges in today’s unsealed indictments include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to money launder, money laundering, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The minimum penalty for the drug charges is not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine. The minimum penalty for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime is not less than five years in prison and up to life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
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 defendants arrested today will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Benecia B. Moore on April 18, 2024, for plea and arraignment. Defendants who were already in custody will have arraignments scheduled later. Trial dates will be announced at plea and arraignment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary. The defendants charged and in custody include:
Cesar Cortez-Rocha, 51, Misson, Texas
Amado Barranco, Jr. aka “Myo”, 55, McAllen, Texas
Bobby Franklin Barber, 60, Jonesboro
Misty Dawn Barber, 38, Jonesboro
Jamie Lynn Patterson, 40, Jonesboro
*Amie Dawn Eggers, 39, Jonesboro (already in federal custody on other charges)
Carey Wayne Peden, 46, Little Rock
Vance Allen Brown, 56, Hot Springs
*Sir Edward Lee Qualls aka “Buddy”, 35, Earle (already in federal custody on related charges)
Reginald Bogan aka “Smooth”, 37, Jonesboro
**Melissa Bradley, 33, Jonesboro (already in custody on state charges)
Jerry Crump, 55, Jonesboro
Sandi Stanfill, 59, Paragould
Delisha Pugh, 25, Earle
Jennifer Jones, 37, Brookland
William Jones, 28, Harrisburg
Marcus McIntyre, 42, Memphis, Tennessee
Harthoner Goforth, 38, Paragould
Shauna Rutledge, 37, Hughes
* already in federal custody
** in state custody
An indictment contains only allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Doctor Sentenced for Unlawful Distribution of OxycodoneRead the Press Release
A New Jersey doctor was sentenced today to two years in prison and barred from practicing medicine for unlawfully distributing addictive opioids without performing necessary patient assessments.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Felicia E. Gonzalez, 65, of Toms River, prescribed oxycodone to three patients without conducting any physical examinations, developing treatment plans, or assessing the patients for drug dependence. Gonzalez previously received national bans from two large pharmacy chains related to her prescribing practices but continued to prescribe addictive opioids without performing the minimum assessments required by state safety regulations. To conceal her unlawful prescribing, Gonzalez falsified her medical records by falsely claiming to have performed examinations when she had not.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Field Division, Camden Resident Office Diversion Group; and Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI, DEA, and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Nicholas K. Peone of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Detroit Woman Sentenced to 7 Years for Shooting at Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit woman who shot at federal agents while they were executing a search warrant at her apartment was sentenced to seven years in prison, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan.
Gloria Bush, 42, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to court documents, in April 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration Special Response Team executed a search warrant at Bush’s residence. Federal agents on the Team approached the door of Bush’s residence and announced their presence. As they attempted to enter the house, Bush fired two shots in their direction from inside the house. One bullet struck a shield that one of the agents was holding.
“This case demonstrates how our federal law enforcement partners put their lives at risk every day doing the work necessary to keep our community safe,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This defendant’s actions not only endangered the lives of federal agents, but also the lives of all those living around her who could have been struck by gunfire.”
“Every day brave men and women in law enforcement put themselves in harm’s way to keep the citizens of Michigan safe,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “In this case, agents from DEA’s Special Response Team were assaulted while executing a court authorized search warrant. I’d especially like to recognize the DEA SRT operators as heroes based on their discipline and high level of training they exhibited when they were able to safely effect the arrest of Gloria Bush despite coming under fire.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ranya Elzein and Nicholas McIntyre.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jashawn William Lawson, also known as “Nitty,” 23, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting possession with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. Lawson admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Lawson and searched his Highlawn Avenue residence in Huntington. Lawson admitted that he and other individuals used the residence to store and distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Officers seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, a Landor Arms Canyon Arms 12-gauge shotgun, a Walther P22 .22-caliber pistol equipped with a silencer, a Kel-Tec PMR-30 .22-caliber pistol and various rounds of ammunition. Lawson admitted that he and other individuals possessed the firearms and intended to sell the controlled substances seized during the search.
Lawson further admitted that he participated in the DTO with others from at least April 2023 through November 2023. Lawson’s participation included selling a total of approximately 808.6 grams of methamphetamine on three occasions between April 13, 2023 and July 13, 2023. Lawson also sold approximately 2.9 grams of fentanyl during the July 13, 2023 transaction.
On August 28, 2023, Lawson was a passenger in a vehicle driven by co-defendant Christopher Anthony O'Dell when a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in St. Albans. During the traffic stop, the officer located and seized approximately 51 grams of fentanyl in the vehicle and $4,910 on Lawson’s person. Lawson admitted that he received the seized money from selling methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Lawson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine.
O'Dell, 39, of Hurricane, pleaded guilty on March 18, 2024 to distribution of quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and awaits sentencing.
Lawson and O'Dell are among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Lawson and O'Dell are also among 20 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor are prosecuting the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.
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Des Moines Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting 12-year-old Minnesota ChildRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage criminal sexual activity.
According to public court documents and information presented at sentencing, Prya Reh, 24, met a 12-year-old Minnesota child online in the fall of 2022. Reh knew the child was 12. In November 2022, Reh drove from Des Moines to Minnesota where he picked the child up from middle school, drove to a local motel, and sexually abused the child. About a week later, Reh drove back to Minnesota, brought the child to Des Moines, where he secreted and sexually assaulted the child in a basement bedroom. In addition to the in-person sexual abuse of the child, Reh also created an image of child sexual abuse material depicting the child and repeatedly asked the child to text him sexually explicit pictures. Reh also possessed a firearm as a felon. When police searched Reh’s residence, police located a loaded pistol in Reh’s bedroom.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Reh will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Reh was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $5,000.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, Austin (Minnesota) Police Department, FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, and Iowa DCI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
Convicted Felon from Greenville Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Greenville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 15, 2024, to possessing a firearm and ammunition after a prior felony conviction, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Devon Smith, 26, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Smith possessed a firearm and ammunition in December of 2021 following a previous felony conviction. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the conviction of Smith.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Cass County Felon Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A convicted felon has pleaded guilty for his role in an illegal firearm straw purchasing conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on May 26, 2023, Donald Duane Armstrong, Jr., 36, and a co-conspirator entered a Federal Firearms Licensee in Walker, Minnesota, where the co-conspirator purchased a Glock model 23 G5, 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, intending to transfer the firearm to Armstrong, who is a convicted felon. In purchasing the firearm, Armstrong’s co-conspirator lied when filling out the ATF Form 4473, which certifies that he was the actual buyer/transferee of the firearm, when in fact the firearm was intended for Armstrong. On June 14, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Armstrong’s residence. At the residence law enforcement seized 14 firearms, including the firearm purchased on May 26, 2023. Because Armstrong has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Armstrong pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel to one count of conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.
California man admits trafficking more than 12 pounds of meth to Silver Bow CountyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A California man indicted as part of large drug conspiracy that had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and brought methamphetamine and other drugs to Butte for redistribution admitted to a trafficking crime on Monday after law enforcement seized more than 12 pounds of meth from his vehicle, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Raymond Perez Ramos, 31, of Long Beach, California, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Ramos faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for Aug. 14 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. Ramos was released pending further proceedings. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The government alleged in court documents that from about October 2019 to November 2020 in Butte, Ramos and co-defendant, Travis Bridger Soderberg, possessed meth with intent to distribute the drug. Soderberg was previously sentenced to eight years in prison for his conviction in the case. In August 2020, Ramos asked if others had “work” for him and that others told Ramos “work” was indeed available but that he needed to keep quiet about “whatever we got going on.” Agents interpreted “work” to mean transporting meth. In November 2020, Ramos transported 12.5 pounds of meth, which is approximately 5,600 doses, to Montana for re-distribution. When Ramos arrived in Montana, law enforcement seized his vehicle and recovered meth that was hidden inside the door.
The multi-agency undercover investigation into a large-scale, Butte-based drug trafficking organization that had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel has resulted in the federal convictions of 22 other persons.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation led the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Highway Patrol, the Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Butte Silver Bow Law Enforcement and Butte Silver Bow County Attorney’s Office.
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.
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Bronx Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Antonio Vargas, age 58, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for defrauding five Capital Region banks by using fake identifications to withdraw funds from accounts.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
Vargas previously pled guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. He admitted that in June and July 2022, he presented to bank tellers counterfeit U.S. passport cards and driver’s licenses with his photograph, but with the names and other personal information of real customers of Trustco Bank, Pioneer Bank, Broadview Federal Credit Union, Adirondack Trust Bank and Saratoga National Bank and Trust Company. He fraudulently withdrew a total of $58,000 from the customers’ accounts in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady Counties. Vargas perpetrated the same fraudulent scheme in Louisiana and Connecticut before coming to New York.
Vargas was arrested by the Saratoga Springs Police Department on July 13, 2022, after he unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw funds from a Saratoga National Bank branch, and has remained in federal custody since then.
United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered that Vargas pay restitution to the banks in the amount of $58,000 and serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.
HSI investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, Diplomatic Security Service, New York State Police, Bethlehem Police Department, North Greenbush Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Saratoga Springs Police Department and Scotia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted this case.
Bronx Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of A Child and Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging WINSTON COLON CORREA with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. COLON CORREA was arrested this morning and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker later today.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Winston Colon Correa repeatedly sought out minor girls — some as young as 12 years old — to engage in sexually explicit conversations and convince them to send pornographic videos of themselves. Colon Correa allegedly knew that his victims were minors, and to earn their trust, he lied to them about his own age. This Office will relentlessly pursue predators who sexually exploit children, whether online or in person.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
Since at least on or about May 28, 2022, COLON CORREA, a 31-year-old male, engaged in sexually explicit text message conversations with numerous minor girls. In the course of these conversations, COLON CORREA induced the production of child pornography, received child pornography, and possessed child pornography, including videos of minor girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement’s review of a cellphone seized from COLON CORREA has revealed the existence of sexually explicit text messages between COLON CORREA and over approximately 15 individuals believed to be minor girls and over approximately 20 files believed to contain child pornography. COLON CORREA engaged in this conduct despite having reason to know and knowing that he was communicating with minors. On multiple occasions, COLON CORREA falsely represented to minor girls that he was only 17 years old.
Any individuals with information concerning WINSTON COLON CORREA, or whose child may have had any communications with COLON CORREA, are asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.
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COLON CORREA, 31, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Kinder is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KIMANI WILLIAMS, 31, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statement made in court, on April 7, 2022, after Bridgeport Police had secured search warrants for Williams’ residence, vehicle, and person, officers stopped a vehicle in which Williams was a passenger. As officers removed Williams from the vehicle, a loaded Smith and Wesson .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol fell to the ground. Two loaded handguns were also discovered in the vehicle’s glovebox.
Williams’ criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut and New York for criminal possession of a weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon, and assault of public safety or emergency personnel. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Williams has been detained since his arrest on April 7, 2022. On November 13, 2023, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth L. Gresham and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Baton Rouge Man Pleads Guilty to Interference with Commerce by RobberyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Tyler Dunn, age 23, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to interference with commerce by robbery.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on or about November 17, 2019, four masked and armed men, one of which was Dunn, entered the Dollar General store on 4755 Prescott Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The four robbers all brandished handguns. In the store, one robber walked up to a Dollar General cashier and pointed his handgun at them. That robber then jumped over the register and, unlawfully and against the cashier’s will, took money from the safe while directly in the presence of a Dollar General employee. During the robbery, Dunn forced an employee to move from the back of the store to the front while pointing a handgun at her. The robbers obtained approximately $7,000 from Dollar General.
On or about November 21, 2019, four robbers, which included Dunn, approached two employees of the Dollar General store located at 6365 Scenic Hwy as they stood outside the front door getting ready to lock the security gate. All robbers were wearing masks and armed with guns. The robbers, brandishing their guns, forced the two employees to open the door and enter the store. One robber ordered an employee to the back of the store while pointing a handgun at him and had the employee turn off an alarm. While in the presence of the robbers, an employee, against her will, removed approximately $1,200 from a safe and provided it to the robbers.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Baton Rouge Police Department with assistance from the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Johnson.
Ambridge Resident Charged with Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for violating federal firearms law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Nasean Hunt, 18, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 9, 2023, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Hunt illegally possessed a machinegun—a 9mm Glock handgun affixed with a gold “automatic conversion switch.” Federal law prohibits the possession of a machinegun as well as any part, such as a switch, that is designed for use in converting a weapon into a machine.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr W. Moulton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Beaver County Detective Bureau and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
"John Doe" Pleads Guilty and Discloses IdentityRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A defendant charged under the pseudonym “John Doe” pleaded guilty last week to fraud charges. In addition to pleading guilty, the defendant admitted that his true name is Jose Then.
Jose Then, age unknown, pleaded guilty to mail fraud; false statement in an application for a passport; misuse of a social security number; and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for July 10, 2024. Then was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023.
Then acquired the name and identity of an individual and has been using the victim’s name, date of birth and Social Security for decades. Then used the victim’s stolen personal identifying information to acquire a U.S. passport, a Massachusetts driver’s license and receive thousands of dollars in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits. The victim has suffered garnishment of his wages for child support costs that Then has failed to pay under the stolen identity.
The charge of misuse of a social security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false statement in a passport application provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to be added to the felony committed while using the means of identification of another without lawful authority. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police Fraud Identification Unit; and the Weymouth and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by 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 and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
15 April 2024
Yolo County Insurance Broker Sentenced for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Robert Kirby Wells, 64, of Woodland, was sentenced today to two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Wells served as an insurance broker for a company located in Denver, Colorado, that owned multifamily and commercial properties throughout the United States. Wells was responsible for obtaining several types of insurance coverage for the company’s properties, including umbrella liability coverage. Wells fraudulently represented to the company that he obtained umbrella coverage for properties when, in fact, he did not. Wells then invoiced and was paid for purported premiums associated with the umbrella liability policies that he had never obtained.
At times, after Wells received full payment for premiums associated with coverage he obtained for the company, as well as umbrella coverage he did not obtain, Wells secured loans purportedly to pay for the same premiums. He did so by falsely representing that he was financing the premiums on the company’s behalf and using the identities of a managing principal and employee of the company without their authorization.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen prosecuted the case.
Valluco gang member imprisoned for possession of various firearms and ammunitionRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 42-year-old San Juan resident has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of multiple firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Daniel Garza pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Garza to serve 70 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence of additional firearms Garza possessed.
Garza is a known member of the Vallucos criminal street gang. With several convictions for violent, weapons-related offenses, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. Law enforcement believed he was in such possession of prohibited items and launched an investigation.
That led them to his residence June 27, 2023, where they executed a search warrant and discovered two firearms, body armor, a mask and a bag of firearm magazines. Authorities subsequently reviewed Garza’s social media and obtained recent photographs of him in possession of several other firearms including a belt-fed rifle and a firearm he claimed was fully automatic.
Garza will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Texas Department of Public Safety and police departments in Edinburg and San Juan conducted the joint investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
Utah Married Couple Running a Gun and Ammo Shop, Arrested and Indicted After Deceitfully Obtaining over $600,000 from CustomersRead the Press Release
St. George, Utah – An indictment was unsealed today by the federal court in St. George following the arrest of a husband and wife in Utah County after a federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 9, 2024. The indictment charges the duo with financial crimes after they allegedly ran a gun and ammunition business and defrauded customers and financial firms of over $600,000.
According to court documents, John Earl Donaldson, 31, and his wife, Carlie Elizabeth Winters, 29, of Saratoga Springs, Utah, conspired together from December 2021 through January 2023 to illegally obtain money from customers of Urban Armz, LLC. Donaldson and Winters owned and operated Urban Armz, LLC. Through false pretenses, Donaldson and Winters allegedly lied about Urban Armz’s inventory and ability to procure goods for which customers paid. Additionally, Donaldson and Winters fraudulently obtained money from financial firms through false pretenses.
In furtherance of the crime, the Urban Armz website claimed that the business maintained an office in St. George, when it did not. The website also falsely claimed that the “company clients” included the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.
As alleged in the indictment, Donaldson falsely represented that he could sell large quantities of ammunition to potential customers for competitively low prices. In December 2021, a customer wired $90,000 to Urban Armz for 300,000 rounds of ammunition. Urban Armz never delivered the ammunition. Instead, Donaldson and Winters spent the customer’s funds on transfers to unrelated parties, shopping, credit card payments, and other withdrawals.
In April 2022, a company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, paid Urban Armz $300,000 through wire transfers for body armor it intended to donate to Ukraine first responders in war zones. Urban Armz never delivered the body armor. In June 2022, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Ukrainian immigrants and refugees living in the United States paid Urban Armz $217,098.98 for night vision goggles, thermal optics, and other equipment for Ukrainian first responders serving in war zones. Again, Urban Armz did not deliver the equipment and instead Donaldson and Winters spent the money on unrelated parties, shopping and other things.
Donaldson and Winters are charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Their initial court appearance on the indictment was April 14, 2024, at the United States District Courthouse in St. George, Utah.
U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen P. Dent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U. S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson Announces a $450,000 Justice Department Grant Award to Elkhart County for Continuums of Care in Support of Youth SuccessRead the Press Release
HAMMOND ― United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced a Department of Justice Grant Award of $450,000 to Elkhart County. This funding will help build continuums of care to support youth success in the Northern District of Indiana. The grant was awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) “Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success” initiative and is part of more than $17 million going to communities nationwide.
United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson said, “I am delighted to announce this award since bolstering both prevention and intervention resources is a cornerstone strategy for my District. This grant award is aimed at reducing youth involvement in violence and decreasing recidivism rates which aligns with my commitment to increase public safety of District residents.”
The Continuum of Care framework supports a network of services and opportunities to foster positive youth development and prioritizes community safety and effective program outcomes. This new OJJDP investment leverages decades of evidence-based learning to prevent youth from entering or deepening their involvement in the juvenile justice system and steer them on a path to success. At its core, the continuum of care approach is community-driven, leverages local insights, and addresses youth needs through mentoring, after-school programs, and other prosocial activities.
More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
About the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to youth delinquency and victimization. The Office helps states, localities, and Tribes develop effective and equitable juvenile justice systems that create safer communities and empower youth to lead productive lives.
Two More Defendants Plead Guilty to Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today, Charles Clinton Cordle, 65, of Ashland, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and Josie Irene Copley, 58, of Flatwoods, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl. Both admitted to their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 23, 2023, Cordle received approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine and 9 grams of fentanyl in the area of the 2700 block of Highlawn Avenue in Huntington after arranging to receive the controlled substances during a phone call with another person. A law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Cordle following the transaction, and the officer located and seized the methamphetamine and fentanyl during the traffic stop. Cordle admitted that he intended to distribute the controlled substances.
On October 25, 2023, Copley purchased approximately 13.98 grams of fentanyl in Huntington from co-defendant Kyla Smith after calling Smith and arranging the transaction. After Copley purchased the fentanyl, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Copley was a passenger. Copley told the officer she had drugs in her possession and surrendered the fentanyl she had obtained from Smith. Copley admitted that the officer also seized approximately 2.11 grams of methamphetamine during the traffic stop that she possessed and intended to sell.
On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Copley’s residence in Flatwoods, Kentucky. Officers seized quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and a New England Firearms .410-gauge shotgun.
Cordle and Copley are scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2024. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Smith, also known as “Flaca,” 29, of Huntington, pleaded guilty on April 3, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and awaits sentencing.
Cordle, Copley and Smith are among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Cordle, Copley and Smith are also among 19 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor are prosecuting the case..
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180.
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Twin Cities Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Twin Cities man has pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to his plea agreement and court documents, on October 7, 2022, a Minnesota State Patrol officer stopped Salvador Anthony Pacheco, 45, for multiple traffic violations. During the interaction, the officer smelled marijuana in the car and requested a drug-sniffing dog, which alerted officers to additional drugs in Pacheco’s vehicle. A search of the car and its contents revealed a Kahr .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol inside the defendant’s backpack. Because Pacheco has prior felony convictions, including murder, assault, and weapons violations, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Pacheco pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon in U.S. District Court. He will be sentenced at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case.
Tulsa Resident Sentenced to 80 Months for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Austin Isaac Furr, age 23, of Glenpool, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 80 months in prison for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Oklahoma Office of the Inspector General.
On October 11, 2023, Austin Furr pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on September 26, 2021, Furr was involved in an altercation with his cellmate in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. During the struggle, Austin Furr killed his cellmate by stabbing and strangling him.
The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Furr will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Traveler caught bringing in child pornography via POERead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 40-year-old Mexican citizen has been sentenced for transporting child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Luis Alberto Hernandez-Venegas pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Hernandez-Venegas to serve 97 months in federal prison. He will also serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. Hernandez-Venegas will also be ordered to register as a sex offender and as a non-U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Hernandez-Venegas knowingly joined a Telegram group well-known for distributing child pornography. From this Telegram chat, he possessed 25 videos of child pornography which equated to approximately 1,875 images. In handing down the sentence, Chief Judge Crane noted that Hernandez helped to provide for a family in Mexico with the intention of engaging in a relationship with their teenage child.
On Sept. 26, 2023, Hernandez-Venegas attempted to make entry into the United States from Mexico at the Donna Port of Entry. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where a preliminary consensual search of his phone revealed images containing child pornography.
Law enforcement reviewed the contents of the phone and found multiple images, videos and chat messages depicting child pornography including prepubescent and pubescent male minors performing sexually explicit acts.
Hernandez-Venegas acknowledged communicating with male minors between the ages of 15 and 17. He also admitted to being in a relationship with a 15-year-old male who resides in Mexico and identified images of him on his cellphone.
He said he knowingly and intentionally possessed, received and viewed child pornography.
Hernandez-Venegas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Three Waterbury Residents Face Federal Carjacking ChargesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging EMILY RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Emy,” 28; RICARDO VERDEJO, also known as “Risk” and “Ricky,” 26; and LUIS CRUZ, also known as “Goldo,” 26, all of Waterbury, with offenses stemming from a violent carjacking last year.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of June 18, 2023, two all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) were stolen from Rodriguez’s Waterbury residence. After the theft, Rodriguez, Verdejo, Cruz, and others identified an individual (“Victim 1”) who they believed was involved in the theft. Later that night, Victim 1’s friend, (“Victim 2”), picked up Victim 1 from work and drove him home. As they arrived at Victim 1’s residence, three vehicles followed them and surrounded the victims. Verdejo, Cruz, and others exited the vehicles. Verdejo carried an assault-style rifle. Verdejo, Cruz, and others demanded the return of the stolen ATVs, threatened both victims, and physically assaulted them. They then stole Victim’s 2 vehicle, which was owned by Victim 2’s relative, and other items and cash belonging to the victims.
It is further alleged that Rodriguez and others continued to threaten and harass the victims, and their friends and relatives, after the carjacking. There is no indication that Victim 1 was, in fact, involved in the theft of the ATVs.
The indictment, which was returned on April 10, 2024, charges Rodriguez, Verdejo, and Cruz, with carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years, and with conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. The indictment also charges Verdejo with carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years.
Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on March 21, 2024. She appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, pleaded not guilty, and is released on a $100,000 bond.
Verdejo and Cruz are currently detained in federal custody on unrelated charges.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Nathan J. Guevremont.
Individuals with information that may be helpful to the investigation and prosecution of this matter are encouraged to contact the FBI’s New Haven Division at 203-777-6311.
Three Former St. Louis Area Residents Accused of Obtaining 11 Fraudulent Pandemic LoansRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Three former residents of the St. Louis area accused of fraudulently obtaining $229,000 in pandemic loans in 2021 turned themselves in to authorities Monday in Fresno, California, where they now live.
Brianna L. Bell-Maple, 23, Jemyla A. Bell, 38, and Leiah A. Vaughn, 22, were each indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis March 27 on two felony counts of wire fraud. The indictment accuses them of submitting 11 fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, which were intended to aid small businesses in paying and retaining employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three falsely claimed in applications that the PPP loans were for women’s clothing businesses located at addresses in St. Louis and on Scott Air Force Base in Illinois when no such businesses existed, the indictment says. They also submitted false tax documents to support the loan applications, which yielded a total of $229,163 in PPP loans, the indictment says.
The indictment says they spent the money on their rent, shopping, dining, bills, travel, loan payments, pet store purchases and vehicles.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Each wire fraud charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.