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7 September 2023
Armed Career Criminal SentencedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Jerome Miller, Jr. (39, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as an Armed Career Criminal. The court also ordered Miller to forfeit the ammunition and a firearm. Miller had pleaded guilty on May 23, 2023. Miller qualified as an Armed Career Criminal based on his extensive prior criminal history which included three prior delivery of cocaine convictions in Tampa.
According to court documents, on February 6, 2022, Miller went to the victim’s residence in Tampa, threatened the victim with a firearm, and demanded his vehicle. The victim was forced to sign over his vehicle to Miller. Miller then took the vehicle registration and car keys and left the residence. Law enforcement officers were called to the residence to complete a report of the robbery and interview the victim. The victim’s vehicle was reported stolen and entered into law enforcement databases. Two days later, Miller was located while driving the victim’s vehicle and was arrested and searched. A loaded magazine and narcotics were found in Miller’s coat pocket during the search. The magazine contained six rounds of Aguila .380 caliber ammunition. The officers also located a semi-automatic firearm in the vehicle’s center console. That firearm was loaded with eight rounds of Aguila .380 ammunition. The firearm was impounded and sent for further forensic DNA testing. The testing concluded that Miller’s DNA was on the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.
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.
Albany Man Sentenced to 12 Months for Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Taliek Lanier, age 23, of Albany, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $110,000 in unemployment insurance benefits under the names of three other people, including benefits funded by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG).
As part of his previously entered guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, Lanier admitted that he provided Jamie Johnson with the personal identifying information of three other people, which Johnson used to file false claims online with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). Lanier further admitted that as a result of the fraudulent applications submitted by Johnson, the NYSDOL paid out $113,936 in unemployment insurance benefits.
Johnson previously pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $701,441 in unemployment insurance benefits as part of the scheme.
Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, to begin after Lanier is released from prison, and ordered him to pay $113,936 in restitution to the State of New York.
This case was investigated by the New York State Inspector General’s Office, HSI, USPIS, and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, and the Albany County Department of Social Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
21 Charged in Federal Indictment Following Takedown of Armed International Drug Trafficking and Dog Fighting Rings in Central IndianaRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Twenty-one individuals were charged in a federal indictment alleging trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; money laundering; illegally possessing firearms; and dog fighting. The charges follow an extensive law enforcement operation in which 18 of the 21 individuals were arrested and federal agents seized over 40 firearms; quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; over $55,000 in cash; and approximately 90 dogs. The following lists the individuals indicted and the charges they face:
Defendant
Charge(s)
TYRONE BELL, 52
Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
DAVID BENNETT, 40
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
EDWARD BRONAUGH, 57
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
JAMES CROONS, 34
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
RAMIRO RICO DE LEON, 31, Mexico
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine; and Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering
ERICK FOSTER, 33
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
GREGORY EASTER, 35
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
LAUREN EGGERT, 32
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
MAURICE ERVIN, 44
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
DONTORIA GILBERT, 36
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
GREGORY HENDERSON, JR., 43
Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine; Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering; and Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
MARVIN JOHNSON, JR., 46
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
LANDON JONES, 39
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
CHRISTOPHER NORFOLK, 48
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
CHARLES RICHARDSON, III, 43
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
MICHAEL SANDERS, 45
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture.
J.C. SMITH, 38
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
QUOSHAWN STEWART, 34
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
GEORGE TAYLOR, 44
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
DONOVAN TIPLER, 30
Conspiracy to Engage in an Animal Fighting Venture
OCTAVIO VICENCIO, 32
Conspiracy to Traffic
Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine
This was a multiagency operation, involving over 300 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, who executed arrest and search warrants at 25 locations in Central Indiana on the morning of August 31, 2023. Eighteen individuals were arrested and are in federal custody. Two remain fugitives: Gregory Henderson, and Jr. Maurice Ervin
In particular, law enforcement has asked the public for assistance in locating fugitive Gregory Henderson Jr. The FBI is providing a $5,000 reward for information leading to Henderson’s arrest. Those with information are asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or they can submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
According to court documents, Gregory Henderson Jr. and Ramiro Rico De Leon worked together to smuggle fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States from Mexico. Henderson served as the main source of supply to lower-level dealers, Vicencio, Foster, Taylor, Smith, Gilbert, Bennet, Easter, Eggert, and Stewart, who dealt the drugs to buyers in Indianapolis and surrounding communities. Vicencio and Taylor were responsible for driving controlled substances from Kentucky to Indiana. Henderson and De Leon used wire transfers to pay for the costs of drug distribution and Henderson paid his dealers using CashApp.
During the course of this investigation, law enforcement agents uncovered a significant dog fighting and illegal gambling ring based in Indianapolis. Gregory Henderson Jr., Christopher Norfolk, Maurice Ervin, Michael Sanders, James Croons, Charles Richardson III, Landon Jones, Edward Bronaugh, Donovan Tipler, and Marvin Johnson Jr. were identified as dog owners who maintained dogs for the purpose of fighting. Maurice Ervin also participated as a referee, weighing the dogs and holding the money until fights were complete. Ervin, Tipler, and Croons served as handlers, responsible for motivating the dogs to fight. Jones and Norfolk served as sponsors, providing a space for the fights to be held.
Members of this group have a long history of dog fighting. In 2001, IMPD officers found seven pit bulls in need of medical attention due to lack of food and water and fresh wounds consistent with dog fighting located at Michael Sanders’ Indianapolis home. In 2005, Christopher Norfolk was convicted for torturing an animal after officers seized four dogs from his home. On more than four occasions, officers found Richardson III and Ervin engaging in dog fighting activities. Both Richardson III and Ervin have sustained multiple convictions for animal torture and promoting dog fighting.
This investigation began in 2022, and in 2023 multiple search warrants were executed and the following evidence was seized:
- 537 grams of methamphetamine
- 459 grams of heroin
- 667.3 grams of cocaine
- 532.8 grams of fentanyl
- Over 230 grams of marijuana
- 16 scales
- 43 firearms
- Over $55,650.00 in cash
- Approximately 90 dogs (including puppies)
- Dog fighting training paraphernalia including treadmills, bite sticks and weights.
If convicted, each defendant charged with conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture faces up to 5 years in federal prison. Each defendant charged with conspiracy to traffic controlled substances faces up to life. The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and the recent warrant execution possible:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation- Indianapolis
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation
- Indiana Gaming Commission
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle P. Brady and Adam J. Eakman, who are prosecuting this case.
An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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2 Plead Guilty in Bristow Drug OperationRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Two defendants from Bristow have pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Julio Barcenas Velazquez, 39, a Mexican National, and Stephanie Lynn Mudgett, 37, a Muskogee Nation citizen, both of Bristow have pleaded guilty to distribution of meth.
“These defendants ran their operation from the small town of Bristow, distributing poison to that community and ours, and thinking they could hide from the law,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I want to thank our local law enforcement partners for tracking these operations and bringing them for prosecution.”
The defendants, working together, sought to traffic large quantities of meth and fentanyl pills in Creek County, Oklahoma. In their plea agreements both defendants admitted to knowingly and intentionally distributing meth. In addition, Velazquez will forfeit his interest in a parcel of property as well as money relating to drug transactions.
Velazquez and Mudgett have yet to be scheduled for sentencing. At sentencing they both face a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Both defendants have been and will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing.
The Muscogee Lighthorse Police, Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case.
The 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.
19 Arrested on Federal Charges Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine in CharlottesvilleRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville, Virginia has indicted 17 individuals as part of a large-scale drug conspiracy that distributed more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in and around the Charlottesville region.
The 37-count indictment, returned under seal August 29, 2023, partially unsealed this week following the defendants’ arrests, charges multiple defendants with various federal crimes.
“This indictment represents the first step in a federal, local, and state partnership under the department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative that will bring increased safety and security to the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and University of Virginia region,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “The individuals charged in this indictment trafficked in high quantities of deadly drugs and I am grateful to the men and woman who investigated this case thoroughly and brought these federal charges.”
“We are experiencing the most severe drug poisoning crisis in our country’s history, primarily driven by the spread of illicit drugs containing Fentanyl. Drug trafficking criminals, like the ones indicted today, are flooding our streets with this poison at an alarming rate, and no communities or institutions are immune from its devastation, including here in Virginia,” Special Agent in Charge Jared Forget of the DEA’s Washington Division said today. “Our citizens, particularly the younger generation, are being exposed to an illegal drug supply that is more hazardous than ever before, which underscores the need for parents, caregivers, students, and educators to comprehend the risks of substance use and take appropriate steps to stay protected. It is essential that everyone understand that just one pill can be fatal. One Pill can Kill.”
- DuShaun Lamont Gregory, 36, Henrico County, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Tyquane Pertell Gregory, 27, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Fields Devon Landon, 29, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of fentanyl.
- Bobby Eugene Christmas, 36, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Michael Edward Cornett, 29, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Antone Laron Harris, 41, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Brooks Lorenzo Woodfolk, 41, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of heroin, and one count of distribution of fentanyl.
- Ashlee Renee Morris, 37, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Shaheim Taishaun Michie, 18, of Arlington, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- John Ellis Turner III, 42, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Gary Wayne Woodson, 66, of Crozet, Virginia, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Caleb Andrew Herndon, 26, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Dashard Brown, 29, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Cedric Trent, 25, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.
- Dustin Lee Welch is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
The indictment alleges that beginning in February 2023 and continuing through the date of the indictment, the defendants conspired with each other and others to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in and around the Charlottesville region.
The Virginia State Police 3A Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Albemarle County Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security- HSI, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office, the Henrico County Police Department, and the United States Marshal’s Service are investigating the case. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Offices from the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, along with the Charlottesville Emergency Services and the Virginia National Guard assisted in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Huber is prosecuting the case of the United States.
The investigation, extradition, and conviction of these defendants is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
6 September 2023
Zuni Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Nicholas Pinto was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Pinto, 24, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in Indian Country on July 10, 2023.
According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2022, Pinto and another individual arrived at John Doe’s house. Shortly after, Pinto began arguing with the individual he arrived with, which prompted John Doe to request that Pinto leave the residence. On his way out, Pinto told John Doe that he “would be back.” Pinto kept his promise, and armed with a shotgun, returned an hour later and shot John Doe in the lower body with a slug. While John Doe lied immobilized on the ground, Pinto racked another shell to finish him off, but the gun jammed. Pinto then fled the scene.
Upon his release from prison, Pinto will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McGinley is prosecuting the case.
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23-213
Windsor Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALEXANDER LEE, 22, of Windsor, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and the seizure of drugs that had been shipped through the U.S. Mail, revealed that Lee and others received thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and other controlled substances, from a source of supply on the west coast of the U.S., and then distributed the drugs to various street-level distributors and numerous drug customers in Connecticut.
In February 2022, Lee traveled to California and shipped a package back to his Windsor residence. The package, which was intercepted and searched pursuant to a federal search warrant, contained approximately 18,000 fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. In May 2022, Lee again traveled to California and shipped a package to an associate in Bloomfield. A search of the package revealed 1,800 tablets of Alprazolam (Xanax) that appeared to be manufactured in Mexico.
During the investigation, investigators also seized approximately 25 pounds of marijuana, seven firearms, and thousands of dollars in cash.
Lee was arrested on June 29, 2022. On May 22, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Lee, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on October 10.
This matter has been investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Connecticut State Police; East Central Narcotics Task Force; and the Windsor and Enfield Police Departments. The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA and the officers from the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, West Haven, Newington, Manchester, Glastonbury, and Watertown Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Stephanie T. Levick through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
West Virginia woman sentenced for federal drug chargeRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Angela Nicole Chapman, age 35, of Shinnston, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Chapman and her boyfriend, Larry Gregory, distributed methamphetamine from their residence in Shinnston, West Virginia, for several months in the summer and fall of 2020. Law enforcement executed search warrants at their residence on two occasions. During the first search, agents recovered almost two pounds of methamphetamine, two firearms, and $17,205. In the second incident, the U.S Postal Inspector found a suspicious package mailed from Los Angeles, California, to Chapman’s home. Agents then conducted a controlled delivery of the package. Chapman retrieved the package from her front porch and took it into the home. Agents searched the residence and recovered the package, which contained an additional pound of methamphetamine and $1,300.
Co-defendant Gregory was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Shinnston Police Department investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
West Virginia man charged with failing to registerRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott David Bixler, age 42, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has been charged with failure to update his sex offender registration.
According to court documents, Bixler, a registered sex offender, and his wife traveled from their home in Morgantown to Mexico, crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. Bixler didn’t inform the West Virginia State Police, as required, of his international travel plans. The Bixlers were arrested in Mexico for possession of methamphetamine after authorities there learned that Bixler was attempting to purchase a 7-year-old girl for $5,000. At the time of the arrest, Bixler and his wife had two tranquilizer air guns and a cellphone signal jammer in their possession.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
West Virginia doctor indicted on assault chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Tracey H. Reilly, age 53, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, has been charged with abusive sexual contact and simple assault.
According to court documents, Reilly, a physician employed with Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, allegedly touched another employee’s breasts and buttocks with the intent of harassing and/or humiliating the victim.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Veterans Affairs Police and the VA Office of Inspector General investigated.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Utah Businesswoman Sentenced to 18 Months Imprisonment Following $5M Securities Fraud ConvictionRead the Press Release
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah woman was sentenced yesterday to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release for securities fraud after she defrauded investors in the District of Utah and elsewhere.
According to court documents, from February 2015 through February 2020, Crystal A. Huang, 41, of Lehi, Utah, offered investments in her company, ProSky Inc., by providing false promises and information to potential investors. In June, Ms. Huang admitted that she devised a scheme intended to defraud investors and obtain money and property, under false pretenses to benefit her company, ProSky Inc. According to court documents, Huang would lull investor victims into a false sense of security about their investments by claiming her company, ProSky Inc., had millions in recurring revenue, when in fact it did not. She further supported her false claims by providing investors with falsified balance sheets, profit and loss statements, bank account statements and customer lists. During her scheme to defraud, Huang obtained over $5 million from approximately 13 investors and communicated via email, telephone and through an online database. On the day of her sentencing, Huang provided a check to the clerk of court for $300,000 and was ordered by the court to pay $1,200 per month in restitution.
“Ms. Huang had every reason and opportunity not to engage in this type of criminal conduct, but chose to do so,” said Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Woolf of the District of Utah. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who commit fraud within our communities.”
“The information Ms. Huang provided to investors was just completely false,” said United States District Court Judge David Barlow. “These false statements didn’t just happen once or twice, but over a period of years.”
“Fraudsters are masters of deception, and can scam even the most sophisticated investor,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Before handing over your hard-earned money, always independently and thoroughly research any opportunity, and report anything suspicious to the FBI.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Provo Resident Agency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark E. Woolf of the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Two men sentenced on federal drug chargesRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men were sentenced today on federal drug distribution charges.
William Trice, age 32, of Eastpointe, Michigan, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Trice was the leader of a Detroit-area drug trafficking organization that was selling heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Morgantown.
Another defendant, Dayshawn Burton, age 28, of Hamilton, Ohio, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Burton was one of the distributors for Trice and sold methamphetamine to an informant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated the Drug Enforcement Administration Clarksburg RO; the FBI Clarksburg RA; the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office; the Morgantown Police Department; WVU Police Department; the DEA Cincinnati District Office; the DEA Detroit Field Division; and the FBI Detroit.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Two Sentenced to 9 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Erika Lopez-Garcia, 28, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Gabriel Rubio-Quevedo, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. During separate sentencing hearings, United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lopez-Garcia and Rubio-Quevedo to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After their release from prison, each defendant will begin a two-year term of supervised release.
On August 31, 2022, officers with a Drug Enforcement Administration task force identified a suspicious package at the UPS facility in Omaha. A canine indicated to the odor of narcotics coming from the package. Officers obtained a search warrant for the package and found approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside of a guitar amplifier.
The package was set for delivery to an Omaha address that was being rented as an Airbnb. Most of the methamphetamine was removed and the package was delivered by an undercover officer. Lopez-Garcia came outside of the residence and retrieved the package. Pursuant to a search warrant, officers searched the residence after Lopez-Garcia took the package inside. They found the delivered package along with another almost-identical package that contained another 14 pounds of methamphetamine.
Rubio-Quevedo later arrived at the residence to pick up the packages and was arrested. Rubio-Quevedo told officers someone from Mexico had called him, asked him to pick up the packages and deliver them to a person in Norfolk, Nebraska. Rubio-Quevedo admitted he was going to be paid to deliver the packages.
The total amount of methamphetamine seized amounted to 12,775 grams. A portion of the methamphetamine from each package was tested for purity, which returned results of 85.9 percent and 92.3 percent.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Forensic laboratory testing was conducted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
Thurston County man sentenced to 78 months in prison for possessing distribution amounts of fentanyl while armed with a stolen handgunRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A 37-year-old Thurston County man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 78 months in prison for drug and gun crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Samuel Wesley Mulkey was arrested in Longview, Washington, on January 21, 2022, while driving back from California with a load of powdered fentanyl and two handguns – one of them reported stolen. At today’s sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo told Mulkey, “It’s clear that fentanyl is something that is wreaking havoc on our community. The amounts you were bringing in from California says something about you – you are not a common street dealer. These are serious amounts...When you couple that with a firearm, that is a bad mixture, and someone is going to get hurt. Sometimes innocent people.”
According to records filed in the case, Mulkey came to the attention of law enforcement in Thurston County as a known drug supplier. Homeland Security Investigations were monitoring Mulkey’s travel, aware that he was driving to California to pick up additional fentanyl.
Following Mulkey’s arrest in Longview, he was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail. That same day another inmate nearly died of a fentanyl overdose. Security video linked the overdose to fentanyl Mulkey had smuggled into the jail and provided to the inmate.
While on bond pending trial, Mulkey used opioids on multiple occasions and was remanded to custody in August for violating conditions of his release.
In asking the court for an eight-year prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart wrote to the court, “The Defendant personally knows the addictive and harmful nature of fentanyl, but chose to supply it to his community. He chose to drive to California and import it to Washington. He chose to supply it in prison, where it caused an inmate to stop breathing and nearly die. Even after
his arrest, the Defendant chose to continue to use fentanyl and associate with people who used fentanyl.”
Mulkey pleaded guilty in May 2023.
Carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime adds a five-year mandatory minimum sentence to run consecutive to the underlying sentence for the drug conviction. The total sentence in this case is six and a half years in prison and five years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Stuart.
Three Peoria Men Sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program FraudRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Three Peoria, Illinois, men were sentenced on September 5, 2023, by U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid for making false statements related to the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Two of the three were also held responsible for fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance benefits from multiple states.
The PPP provided federal funds to small businesses that were directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities and mortgage interest. The program was implemented by the Small Business Administration and administered by third-party lenders. The PPP was enacted via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, an economic bill that passed in March 2020 in response to the economic fallout caused by the pandemic.
The three men were indicted in October 2022. Kendall A. Mack, 26, pleaded guilty in May 2023 to one count of making a false statement in April 2021 to obtain a PPP loan. From April to September 2021, Mack fraudulently obtained PPP funds to which he was not entitled by submitting a fraudulent PPP application, as well as a fraudulent PPP loan forgiveness application. He was held responsible for losses to the Small Business Administration and Capital Plus Financial, LLC, in the amount of $39,239.08. Mack was sentenced to three years’ probation and imprisonment for a period of time served. Judge Shadid also ordered Mack to pay restitution in the amount of $39,239.08.
Rasheem McCree, 38, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to one count of making a false statement in March 2021 by submitting a false application for PPP funds. He also admitted to fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits from five states, including the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation; the Arizona Department of Economic Security; the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry; the New York State Department of Labor; and the Illinois Department of Employment Security. McCree was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Shadid also ordered McCree to pay $89,981.34 in restitution to the SBA and the states.
Adrian Lamont Morris, 27, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to one count of making a false statement in March 2021 by submitting a false application for PPP funds. In addition to the PPP loan, Morris filed for unemployment benefits from Illinois, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania, for a loss to the SBA and those states of $60,642. Morris was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Shadid also ordered Morris to pay $60,642 restitution.
On their applications, each of the defendants claimed to be the sole proprietor of a barber shop. However, none of them had a registered barber shop, employees, a payroll, or business-related expenses. None were licensed barbers.
In sentencing McCree and Morris, Judge Shadid noted their significant criminal histories. McCree and Morris were ordered to report to the Bureau of Prisons on November 14, 2023.
The statutory penalties for false statements under 18 U.S.C. §1001(a)(3) are up to five years’ imprisonment, a possible $250,000 fine, and up to a three-year term of supervised release.
The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss represented the government in the prosecution.
Three Former Toledo City Council Members Sentenced for Accepting Bribery PaymentsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO – U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko announced that three former Toledo City Council members were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick for their roles in accepting bribery payments during their time in office in return for support and votes on legislative matters.
Tyrone Riley, age 67, of Toledo, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment yesterday after pleading guilty to one count of Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right.
Yvonne Harper, age 73, of Toledo, was sentenced to 12 months and a day imprisonment yesterday after pleading guilty to one count of Hobbs Act conspiracy under color of official right.
Larry Sykes, age 74, of Toledo, was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment today after pleading guilty to one count of Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right.
“When public officials choose to betray those they were elected to serve by blatantly violating their oaths and the public trust, the entire community suffers immeasurably,” said United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko. “These sentencings reflect the commitment of the U.S. Attorney's Office to aggressively prosecute individuals engaged in public corruption.”
“Finding and investigating public corruption is one of the FBIs highest priorities,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “Elected officials are entrusted to make virtuous decisions to the betterment of all. Sadly, these three individuals chose a path of criminal conduct and greed over the wellbeing of those they serve. We will continue to work on behalf of the American Public to ensure the conduct by elected officials is right and just.”
According to court documents, on multiple occasions from May 2018 through February 2020, Riley, Harper, and Sykes accepted bribery payments in return for their official support and votes on legislative matters as members of the Toledo City Council.
Court documents also state that Riley, Harper, and Sykes each accepted cash payments in return for their support and votes on zoning changes and “special use permits” (SUPs) for local businesses. Riley accepted more than $10,000 in payments and meals in return for his support on five separate city council matters. Harper accepted more than $5,000 in return for her support on two matters, and Sykes accepted $1,500 for his support on three matters.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI, Toledo Resident Agency. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gene Crawford and Michael J. Freeman.
Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machine Gun While on Bourbon Street During Mardi GrasRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEATON MANGHANE, age 24, a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to possessing a machinegun in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2).
According to court documents, MANGHANE was carrying a loaded handgun equipped with a Glock auto-sear in his pocket while walking on Bourbon Street just after 2:00 a.m. on February 21, 2023, Mardi Gras Day. The auto-sear device turned the semi-automatic firearm into a fully-automatic machine gun. After MANGHANE’s arrest, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives function tested the firearm and confirmed that it functioned as a machine gun.
MANGHANE faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit.
Straw Purchasers Charged with Buying 100+ Guns Trafficked to MexicoRead the Press Release
A group of straw purchasers who allegedly bought more than 100 firearms later trafficked to Mexico has been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Seven individuals were charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to make false statements to licensed firearm dealers in connection with the acquisition of firearms. Defendants Mario Lara, 28, Oralia Carrizales, 41, Geovanny Garcia, 31, and Darryl Fox, 29, were arrested last week; defendants Gavino Trujillo, 28, and Guadalupe Corona, 29, were arrested Tuesday morning. One defendant remains at large.
“In June, I met with Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and five border state U.S. Attorneys to discuss Operation Southbound, the Justice Department’s signature initiative to disrupt the flow of guns across the U.S. / Mexico border. This case represents our district’s commitment to hold accountable anyone involved in smuggling guns into Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “All too often, guns trafficked across our southern border fall into the hands of cartel bosses and other bad actors who threaten law enforcement and the people they serve. We will not rest until we dismantle those trafficking networks.”
“There is no doubt that the arrest of these seven individuals will lead to a safer Mexico. Their behavior was adding to the bloodshed and carnage that have plagued our neighbors for so long. We have all seen the movies and evening newscasts on the violence. This is how it starts.” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “The people involved in the trafficking of weapons live amongst you and me. If you suspect someone of illegally running guns, please contact ATF.”
According to court documents, the defendants allegedly purchased guns from federally licensed firearms dealers on behalf of Jose Carlos Rivas-Chiarez, 29, who disassembled the firearms, concealed them inside plastic and towels, and smuggled them to Mexico, either concealed inside tires or through the mail.
Mr. Rivas and his girlfriend, Ana Francisco-Sotelo, 28, were previously charged and pleaded guilty in October 2022 to making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. Mr. Rivas also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Mr. Rivas and Ms. Domingo were sentenced this spring to a combined 32 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, a search of Mr. Rivas’ residence turned up more than 150 empty firearm boxes. Records showed that many of the missing firearms – including FN SCAR rifles, AR-15 style rifles, Glock pistols, and a stolen silencer – had been purchased by the defendants.
In an interview following the search of his home, Mr. Rivas admitted to law enforcement that, as a Mexican citizen unlawfully present in the U.S., “I’m not legal, to be honest, to be buying a gun.” He further admitted that he directed multiple people to purchase firearms on his behalf.
Confronted with text messages between him and at least one of the defendants discussing the pricing and delivery of “toys,” Mr. Rivas admitted that “toys” was a code word for firearms.
Surveillance video recovered from one of the stores revealed that on at least one occasion, Mr. Rivas accompanied a straw purchaser to the gun store to inspect the firearm before the purchase.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mario Lara, Gavino Trujillo, Oralia Carrizales, Geovanny Garcia, Darryl Fox, and Guadalupe Corona are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, they face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Arlington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas is prosecuting the case.
Stoughton Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Scheme Related to COVID-19 Pandemic AssistanceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Stoughton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19-related small business loans from several financial institutions.
Yves Montima, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to three years of supervised release, with the first 10 months to be served in home confinement. Montima was also ordered to pay $239,595 in restitution. In November 2021, Montima pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Montima participated in a scheme that obtained over $220,000 in proceeds through fraudulent PPP loan applications submitted between April 2020 and April 2021. Montima and his co-conspirator submitted 12 fraudulent PPP loan applications, both in their own names and in the names of others, at several financial institutions. Montima and his co-conspirator also received kickback payments from individuals on whose behalf they submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) created a temporary loan program directed at small businesses called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Independent contractors were eligible to apply for PPP loans, which were processed by private financial institutions and fully guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If an independent contractor used the loan funds for approved purposes, such as payroll, the loan could be forgiven by the financial institution and paid for by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Postal Service, Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and Philip C. Cheng of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Shiprock Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Keanu Marcel Upshaw was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Upshaw, 22, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on April 6, 2023.
According to court documents, on Sept. 16, 2021, following a night of drinking, Upshaw lost control of the vehicle he was driving as he was attempting to take another drink of alcohol, causing it to crash and ejecting both Upshaw and his passenger from the vehicle. Upshaw’s passenger died from their injuries as a result of the crash. A blood draw taken about two hours after the accident showed that Upshaw’s blood alcohol concentration was .18, which is more than twice the legal limit in New Mexico. Accident reconstruction showed that Upshaw was going somewhere between 69 mph to 80 mph in a 55 mph zone when he lost control of the vehicle.
Upon his release from prison, Upshaw will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
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Second defendant pleads guilty to conspiracy to attack power substations in Pierce CountyRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A second defendant who joined in the attacks on power substations as part of a burglary scheme, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jeremy Crahan, 40, admits he joined with 32-year-old Matthew Greenwood in a conspiracy to knock out power so they could rob ATM machines. Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo scheduled sentencing for December 8, 2023.
According to the facts in the plea agreement, Greenwood and Crahan hatched the scheme to disrupt power so they could break into ATMs and businesses and steal money. On December 25, 2022, they damaged four substations:
- Hemlock Substation in Puyallup, Washington, owned by Puget Sound Energy. Here, the two cut through a fence and Greenwood manipulated a switch damaging equipment and cutting power for 8,000 customers.
- Elk Plain substation in Spanaway, Washington, owned by Tacoma Power. The men cut padlocks on the gate and Greenwood manipulated breakers to damage equipment and cause an outage.
- Graham substation in Graham, Washington, operated by Tacoma Power. The men cut through a perimeter fence and Greenwood manipulated a switch to damage equipment. This outage, combined with the Elk Plain substation outage, caused more than 7,500 customers to lose power.
- Kapowsin Substation in Graham, Washington, operated by Puget Sound Energy. The men cut through a fence and Greenwood tampered with a switch causing sparks, flame, and a power outage.
Crahan admits that he shared in the plannings and primarily served as a lookout during the attacks on the substations.
Following the December 25, 2022, substation vandalism, the men spent time looking for additional ways to cause power outages by felling trees. The goal was to cut power so that they could burglarize businesses and steal from ATMs. Law enforcement arrested them before they could put the tree plan into action.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Tacoma Police Department, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Federal Protective Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Prolific Human Smuggler Extradited from Mexico to the United StatesRead the Press Release
Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement authorities culminated in the extradition of a human smuggler, who allegedly operated in Mexicali on the U.S.-Mexico border for several years as part of an international human smuggling conspiracy.
In March, Ofelia Hernandez-Salas, 61, was arrested in Mexico pursuant to a U.S. request for her extradition and surrendered by Mexico to U.S. authorities on Sept. 5 to face charges previously filed in the District of Arizona and unsealed in March. She is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court later today in Phoenix, Arizona.
“This extradition is the result of continued coordination between the Justice Department and our Mexican law enforcement partners to bring to justice human smugglers who exploit migrants’ desperation and undermine the rule of law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is another example of the impactful work Joint Task Force Alpha is doing to disrupt dangerous criminal operations and dismantle transnational criminal organizations by pursuing their leadership — wherever they operate.”
According to court documents, Hernandez-Salas allegedly conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of large numbers of migrants into the United States from and through Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan, Eritrea, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Hernandez-Salas and co-conspirator Raul Saucedo-Huipio, 48, allegedly charged the migrants as much as tens of thousands of dollars to make the journey and directed the migrants where to unlawfully cross the border into the United States, including by providing them with a ladder to climb over the border fence. Hernandez-Salas and co-conspirators also allegedly robbed the migrants of money and personal belongings while armed with guns and knives.
In June, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed corresponding sanctions on the Hernandez Salas transnational criminal organization.
Saucedo-Huipio remains in custody in Mexico.
The indictments against Hernandez-Salas and Raul Saucedo-Huipio, and their subsequent arrests, were coordinated through Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA was created in June 2021 by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, in partnership with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, to strengthen the Justice Department’s efforts to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities. JTFA’s goal is to disrupt and dismantle human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, with a focus on networks that endanger, abuse, or exploit migrants, present national security risks, or engage in other types of transnational organized crime.
“When international criminal organizations endanger economic migrants seeking a better life in America, an international response is required,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “JTFA’s partnership with Mexico holds managers and organizers accountable for the criminal activities of cross-border smugglers.”
“This extradition is another testament to our global commitment to investigating, combating and dismantling human smuggling networks,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI is dedicated to its law enforcement partnerships and mission, notably those accomplished through JTFA efforts, that seek to eradicate these crimes and bring those who propagate them to justice.”
HSI Yuma is investigating the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, FBI, and U.S. Marshals Service, working in concert with HSI Tijuana, INTERPOL, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI also received substantial assistance from CBP’s National Targeting Center/Counter Network Division and OFAC.
JTFA Co-Director James Hepburn and Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Jennis for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Mexico. The Justice Department thanks its Mexican law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Hernandez-Salas, and the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Mexican Foreign Ministry for making the extradition possible.
Since its creation, JTFA has successfully increased coordination and collaboration between the Justice Department, DHS, and other U.S. law enforcement agencies, and with foreign law enforcement partners, including in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico; targeted those organizations who have the most impact on the United States; and coordinated significant human smuggling indictments and extradition efforts in U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. JTFA is comprised of detailees from southwest border U.S. Attorneys’ offices, including the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, the District of New Mexico, the District of Arizona, and the Southern District of California. Dedicated support for the program is also provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division that are part of JTFA, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training; the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; the Office of Enforcement Operations; the Office of International Affairs; and the Organized Crime and Gang Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners.
This investigation is also supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or raise grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.
The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Previously Convicted Charles County Felon Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Federal Prison on Firearms and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Sean Donnelle Hawkins, age 48, of Marbury, Maryland, yesterday to 138 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, on charges related to his distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and firearms in Charles County, Maryland. During the investigation, Hawkins sold eight firearms to a law enforcement source, including four privately made semi-automatic firearms, known as “ghost guns.” Hawkins must also forfeit and abandon the firearms, ammunition and magazines seized during the investigation.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) Baltimore Field Division; and Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry.
As detailed in his guilty plea, Hawkins admitted that on 10 separate occasions from October 2021 to May 2022, he sold cocaine, crack cocaine and/or firearms to law enforcement sources. Between February 18, 2022 and May 24, 2022, Hawkins sold a law enforcement source a total of eight firearms, including four privately made firearms, often referred to as “ghost guns,” and 468 rounds of ammunition. One of the privately made firearms was a semi-automatic pistol and came with a high-capacity magazine capable of receiving 33 rounds of 9mm ammunition and was loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition.
Hawkins knew that he had a previous felony conviction and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Hawkins also had reason to believe that the law enforcement source to whom he sold the guns could not lawfully possess firearms and intended to use or dispose of the firearms unlawfully.
A search warrant was executed at Hawkins’ residence on August 3, 2022, and law enforcement recovered a loaded .38 special caliber revolver; a 9mm semi-automatic pistol; two empty firearm magazines; marijuana; a mixture of powder and crack cocaine; 20 green tablets of a mixture of cocaine and oxycodone; white tablets that were found to be of a mixture of cocaine and oxycodone; and one green tablet of oxycodone from a cooler in the house and two shotguns and more than 1,000 rounds of assorted caliber ammunition, as well as $1,264 in cash from other areas in the residence, which Hawkins intended to use to commit or facilitate the distribution of controlled substances. Hawkins possessed the firearms, ammunition, and magazines recovered in the cooler in furtherance of his drug trafficking.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi and Timothy F. Hagan, who prosecuted the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Picayune Man Sentenced to over 18 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man was sentenced to 222 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Joshua Smith, 39, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization located largely in Picayune, MS (Pearl River County). In 2018, Joshua Smith and another co-defendant were identified as being part of the conspiracy. Federal agents used a confidential source to begin making purchases of methamphetamine. On November 2, 2018, a DEA confidential source purchased 27.4g of actual methamphetamine at 99% purity from Joshua Smith in Picayune, Mississippi.
Smith was indicted on September 7, 2022, and pled guilty on April 5, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.
Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Virginia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Todd Tyler Snead, 57, of Waynesboro, Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, admitting to a role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in October 2022, Snead transported 1 pound per month from West Virginia to Virginia as part of the conspiracy. On March 14, 2023, Snead traveled from Virginia to St. Albans to obtain 4 pounds of methamphetamine from a co-defendant. Law enforcement officers followed Snead back to a hotel in Cross Lanes, where they searched the trunk of his vehicle, found the methamphetamine and arrested him.
Snead has a criminal history that includes a prior felony conviction for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia on December 13, 2006.
Snead is among 30 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 200 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 28 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of fentanyl, 18 firearms and $747,000 in cash.
Nineteen of the defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent 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 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. 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..
Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted 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. 2:23-cr-31.
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Omaha Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Michael Blaine Lee, 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lee to 121 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Lee will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
In February 2022, the Omaha Police Department’s Narcotics Unit began investigating Lee and Jose Rumualdo-Gallardo for distributing methamphetamine. Rumualdo-Gallardo was Lee’s source of supply for methamphetamine, and it was determined that Lee was getting at least one to two ounces of methamphetamine every other day over a four-month period that he was then redistributing. A search warrant on Lee’s residence was executed on February 22, 2022, resulting in 44 grams of pure methamphetamine being recovered. Rumualdo-Gallardo was arrested on March 8, 2022, and was in possession of 242 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm.
Rumualdo-Gallardo was sentenced on June 29, 2023, to 180 months’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Traynell Toney, 30, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha after having previously pled guilty to two bank robberies. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Toney to 7 ½ years’ imprisonment on each bank robbery, to run at the same time, and ordered him to pay $13,485 in restitution. Toney will be on supervised release for three years after he is released from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
On December 20, 2021, Toney went into the First National Bank located in the Hy-Vee supermarket at 5150 Center Street in Omaha. He slid a note to the teller demanding he get all the money and that the teller should not use a dye pack or tracking device. The note also indicated that if the teller did not comply, Toney would kill the teller. He was given $3,312.00 and left the bank.
On December 31, 2021, Toney went into the U.S. Bank located in the Baker’s grocery store at 17370 Lakeside Hills Plaza, in Omaha. He handed a similar note to the U.S. Bank teller demanding money or the teller would die. The teller handed Toney $10,173.00 after which he left the bank.
Law enforcement was called to both scenes after the robberies occurred. Toney’s fingerprints were on the demand note he passed and left at the First National Bank. A check of his cell phone data showed he was in the area of the two banks at the time the robberies were committed.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Violent Crime Task Force.
Oldsmar Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Sean Peter Brewer (32, Oldsmar) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Brewer faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the drug offense. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which must be imposed consecutive to any other sentence. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on November 11, 2022, officers from the Clearwater Police Department (CPD) responded to a gas station after receiving a report that a man was unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked at a gas pump. CPD and the Clearwater Fire Department personnel discovered Brewer unconscious behind the wheel of his vehicle. After Brewer was assessed by the emergency services responders, CPD officers administered a field sobriety test, which Brewer failed. Officers arrested Brewer for driving under the influence and conducted a search incident to the arrest. That search revealed a backpack containing a scale with clear plastic baggies that are consistent with narcotics distribution, marijuana, multiple types of pills, 61 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Shield pistol (SN RJX7660), and a “Cash App” debit card.
Brewer possessed the methamphetamine found in the backpack with the intent to distribute it. At the time, Brewer had a prior felony conviction and therefore he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clearwater Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and David P. Sullivan.
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.
Ohio Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Heroin, and to Possessing Fentanyl and Heroin with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Jackie Bell pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin, and to possessing fentanyl and heroin with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Bell, age 31, of Columbus, Ohio, pled guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing to occur on January 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
The law provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000,000 for each count of conviction. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is to be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the conviction 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.
Oakhurst Man Sentenced for Excavating Native American Cultural PropertyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Vance Franklin Myers, 35, of Oakhurst, was sentenced Tuesday by United States District Judge Ana de Alba to 3 years probation and a $10,000 fine for unauthorized excavation and removal of archeological resources from public lands, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Additionally, Myers was ordered to pay $10,023.48 in restitution, perform 100 hours of community service, make a public statement concerning his offense, and he is banned from entering public lands for recreational purposes during the period of his probation.
According to court documents, Myers entered upon public lands in Madera County that were administered by the United States Forest Service and unlawfully excavated Native American cultural artifacts and Native American human remains. Artifacts removed from the site included beads, manos, rosegates, and desert side notched points. This occurred between June 1, 2015 and September 3, 2015. Excavating, damaging, and removing archaeological resources from federal and Native American lands without proper authorization is a violation of Federal law.
This case was the product of an investigation by the United States Forest Service. Assistant United States Attorney Laurel J. Montoya prosecuted the case.
New Assistant United States Attorney Appointed to Address Violent Crime, Complex White Collar Enforcement, and Other Critical CasesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha today announced the appointment and swearing-in of Julie M. White as Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island. Ms. White will serve in the Office’s Criminal Division, focusing on violent crime as well as white collar matters.
Prior to joining the District of Rhode Island, Ms. White served for three years as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of West Virginia, where she handled a broad array of criminal matters, frequently involving vulnerable victims, as well as taking a leading role in developing and conducting training for prosecutors and law enforcement on various aspects of federal criminal practice. Before joining the Justice Department, Ms. White had a distinguished career as a state prosecutor in Maryland, with responsibility for a docket of complex violent crime and other cases. She is a graduate of Hood College and the University of Maryland School of Law, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable C. Clarke Raley of the Circuit Court for Saint Mary’s County, Maryland, before beginning her career as a prosecutor.
“Julie White is an exceptionally skilled attorney, and I am delighted that she has joined our team here in the District of Rhode Island,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Hiring talented, thoughtful, and principled prosecutors is at the heart of our efforts to uphold public safety and pursue justice for every Rhode Islander, and I have no doubt that Ms. White will serve in the best traditions of this Office.”
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More Than $319,000 Recovered in Disability Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has successfully recovered more than $319,000 in disability payments that a Columbia, Illinois man illegally obtained via disability fraud, U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming announced Wednesday.
Gregory Vieth pleaded guilty in 2019 to one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. He admitted paying a chiropractor to help him fraudulently qualify for monthly Social Security disability payments and a $100,000 long-term disability payment. At the direction of the chiropractor, Vieth underwent medically unnecessary tests to bolster his application for disability benefits. Vieth also falsely claimed on the application that he was unable to complete yardwork, lift, walk, reach, sit, bend and bathe without assistance, his plea agreement says.
On February 21, 2023, U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White sentenced the 67-year-old to three years of probation and ordered him to pay $319,687 in restitution with required monthly installment payments of at least $500. By mid-April, Vieth had only made the minimum restitution payments to his victims, so the Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office began enforcing the judgment by garnishing Vieth’s retirement account held at Fidelity Investments, which contained approximately $450,000. Vieth then attempted to block the collection action by arguing the minimum monthly payments precluded the government’s garnishment. Vieth also argued the garnishment should be limited to only 25% of the funds in his retirement account, and the garnishment would cause him to incur a large income tax liability, thereby essentially wiping out his life savings.
Judge White disagreed with all of Vieth’s arguments, saying the court-ordered obligation to make minimum monthly installment payments did not bar the U.S. Attorney’s Office from initiating the garnishment, as the restitution was ordered due in full immediately at the time of sentencing. Judge White also ruled the garnishment was not capped at 25% and potential tax liability was not a valid defense. Judge White said Vieth had the assets to pay restitution, and “the public and private victims have a right to receive those funds now.” The U.S. Attorney’s office recently collected the full amount of the outstanding restitution owed to the victims in this case.
“This case demonstrates that our Financial Litigation Unit will aggressively pursue and seize the assets of criminals to make their victims whole,” U.S. Attorney Fleming said. “In this case, Gregory Vieth falsely claimed he was unable to perform the basic functions of life in order to obtain disability payments that eventually totaled $319,687. In reality, he was able to do all of those things, including travel internationally. After pleading guilty, he fought to hold on to hundreds of thousands of dollars in a retirement account instead of immediately paying the restitution he owed to his victims.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Debre prosecuted the financial recovery and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracy Berry and Dorothy McMurtry prosecuted the criminal charges against Vieth, as well as the chiropractor and others linked to him. The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the criminal case.
Money Launderer Sentenced to Prison for Role in Online ScamsRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – Edward Kwaku Boakye, 27, of White Plains, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker on August 22, 2023, to 14 months in prison and ordered to pay $532,738 in restitution to 11 victims. Boakye pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
Between February 10, 2017, and October 28, 2020, Boakye laundered money for other scammers who lured victims into various online frauds. Some victims believed they were sending money to support an online romantic partner who falsely stated they needed to pay taxes and fees to release an inheritance. Other victims believed they were sending money to ship gold bars in which they had an interest to the United States. The scammers directed the victims’ monies into accounts controlled by Boakye and his co-conspirator. The FBI traced $710,068.91 sent by 40 victims through Boakye’s and his co-conspirator’s accounts. One Arizona victim lost nearly $5 million to the scams, sending Boakye and his co-conspirator almost $500,000 and the remaining money to multiple other individuals.
When Boakye and his co-conspirator received the fraudulently-obtained monies, they kept a fee for themselves, and then transferred the funds via trade-based money laundering or other means to Ghana. Trade-based money laundering occurs when criminally-derived funds are used to purchase a commodity (in this case, motor vehicles) in the profit center for the criminal activity (here, in the United States) for shipment to the headquarters of the criminal organization (as to Mr. Boakye, in Ghana).
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sierra Vista Resident Agency, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00031-001-TUC-JCH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-132_Boakye# # #
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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Missouri Man Found Guilty of Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuesday found a man from Audrain County, Missouri guilty of one count of producing child pornography and two counts of receiving child pornography.
William Dahl, 39, faces at least 15 years in prison when he is sentenced in December.
Judge Ross’ findings of fact and conclusions of law says evidence and testimony at a bench trial in May showed that Dahl photographed himself having sex with a 14-year-old girl and then emailing images to others. Dahl also received a video of a 16-year-old and a pornographic image of a 7-year-old.
Dahl met the first victim when she was 13 and he was nearly 23. Dahl took pictures of the girl in a Moberly cemetery in 2007 and sent images of his genitals to her, Judge Ross’ order says. He also sent images of her to others.
A second victim met Dahl when he was 36 and she was 16. He bought her a cell phone, alcohol and vaping pods and they exchanged nude pictures, the order says.
The third victim is a 7-year-old girl. Dahl’s co-defendant, Jennifer Huddleston, now 35, pleaded guilty in May to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. She admitted taking photographs of herself sexually abusing the sleeping girl and sending them to Dahl. She also admitted possessing child sexual abuse material downloaded from the internet. Huddleston and Dahl were in an on-and-off relationship since 2008.
The investigation began in January of 2021, when the 16-year-old victim and her family reported the inappropriate relationship between the teen and Dahl. The girl said she met Dahl through the local Civil Air Patrol. A subsequent investigation by the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team uncovered more victims.
Dahl also has pending charges in Audrain County Circuit Court.
Huddleston is scheduled to be sentenced October 3.
The cases were investigated by the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team and Donya Jackson, an investigator with the U.S. Attorney’s office at the time. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Lang and Amy Sestric are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for East Texas Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas - A Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking drugs through the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.
Leobardo Hernandez-Hernandez, 34, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle.
According to information presented in court, in March 2022, Hernandez supplied more than 150 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana to drug dealers at a stash house located in Gregg County, Texas. Hernandez sourced the illegal drugs from wholesalers in California. Additionally, Hernandez possessed a shotgun in connection with his drug trafficking activities. Hernandez's co-conspirator, Joshua Lynn Craver, 35, of Longview, Texas was sentenced to 180 months in prison on November 3, 2022.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Gregg County Sheriff's Office, and Longview Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Man in Walker County sentenced for cyberstalking via social mediaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 25-year-old Huntsville resident has been ordered to federal prison for receiving child pornography as well as multiple counts of cyberstalking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Kody Nicholas Bohac pleaded guilty Dec. 12, 2022.
Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen sentenced Bohac to a total 121-month term of imprisonment. Bohac was further ordered to pay $5,170 in restitution to a known victim and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Bohac will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
At the hearing, the court also considered additional information including multiple victim impact statements detailing how Bohac’s conduct affected them. Portions of the statements included how Bohac even went so far as to threaten to rape and murder them if they didn’t comply with his demands. As a result of Bohac’s conduct, many victims suffer from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, humiliation, ruined relationships, fear and have sought counseling.
The court also heard how sextortion cases are an increasingly deadly type of crime that target young people. The perpetrators use several online mediums of communication, including social networking apps, messaging apps, video voice calls, email, dating and gaming apps. Victims often feel helpless, ashamed, guilty and embarrassed and are reluctant to report such conduct to law enforcement.
“Bohac used social media accounts, smart phones and laptops as weapons to terrorize and humiliate young women, all for his sick amusement. Sextortion is ruining young people’s lives at an alarming rate, pushing some to suicide; deaths that are wholly preventable and completely tragic,” said Hamdani. “As the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, I, and the prosecutors in this office, are committed to bringing people like Bohac out of the shadows of internet platforms into justice’s bright light. And as a father, I’m thankful one more monster is off our streets.”
“This is your typical sextortion case,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge David Martinez of the FBI Houston field office. “The individual behind this cyberstalking case took advantage of his young victims by tricking them into sending him compromising content of themselves. He then took pleasure in terrorizing them and shaming them personally. Unfortunately, we’re seeing more and more of these types of cases and too many victims of sextortion who succumb to the shame and take their own lives.”
Bohac stalked an out-of-state woman over social media and threatened to post nude photographs of her on the internet if she did not contact him. She did not respond. Subsequently, Bohac posted the images on the internet.
At the plea hearing, Bohac admitted to the stalking through social media and sending her nude images of herself and threatening to make them public if she did not contact him. He also said he offered to pay multiple females online for nude photos. When they complied, he refused to pay, demanded additional nude photos and threatened to post them online if they did not contact him.
He ultimately admitted to stalking approximately 20 females on social media, demanding they send additional nude photos, wanting to meet them in person and to call him “daddy.” When they refused, he posted the already obtained nude photos online, threatened to ruin their lives, sent photos to their school, families and friends and created fake online accounts using their names with sexually explicit references.
The investigation revealed multiple social media messages on his phone in which Bohac stalked numerous victims. They also found images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone which depicted minor females engaged in sexual acts on adult males.
Bohac will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI-Bryan Resident Agency and the FBI-Philadelphia Field Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Sam Houston State University Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Bennett prosecuted this case, which 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.”
Man Charged with March 2023 Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A local man has been charged in federal court in Boston in connection with the March 20, 2023 armed robbery of the JP Wireless store in Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Royal Benjamin, 63, was charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Benjamin currently is in state custody on related charges and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to charging documents, on the evening of March 20, 2023, a Black male approximately six feet in height, wearing a black ski mask, grey hooded sweatshirt, light blue jeans and black-and-white sneakers entered the JP Wireless Store in Jamaica Plain brandishing a black revolver. The suspect allegedly removed the cash register drawer with his bare hands, but dropped the drawer on the floor before fleeing the scene. It is alleged that Benjamin was identified as a positive match for fingerprints retrieved from the cash register drawer.
The charge of Hobbs Act robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Police Department; the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; and the Boston and Cambridge Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Charged with Downtown St. Louis CarjackingRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man has been indicted for a downtown St. Louis carjacking in July.
Bradley C. McKinney, 34, appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to four felonies: carjacking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal and possession of a machine gun.
The indictment alleges that McKinney carjacked a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze on July 29 while armed and possessed a machine gun the next day.
A motion seeking to have McKinney held in jail until trial says he and another man brandished handguns with large-capacity magazines and stole the Cruze, two wallets from the driver and passenger and a cell phone. A white GMC Terrain then drove up and both it and the Cruze drove into Illinois. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers stopped the GMC the next day. McKinney was driving and officers found a Glock handgun with a large-capacity magazine, the motion says. The Glock had been illegally modified to become fully automatic with a “switch,” or auto sear, the motion says.
The carjacking charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a penalty of seven years in prison, consecutive to any other charge. The felon in possession as an armed career criminal charge carries a potential prison sentence of at least 15 years, and the machine gun charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
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.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case.
Man Caught with Stolen IDs in Missouri Sentenced to 4 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced an Indiana man caught with dozens of fake and stolen IDs in Warren County, Missouri to four years in prison and ordered him to pay $9,825 in restitution to victims.
The prison sentence will run consecutive to any sentence Kevin Sparks, 41, of Indiana, receives for pending state charges in Texas and Indiana.
Sparks was in a 2012 GMC Acadia on Nov. 25, 2021 when the driver, Debra Blake, was pulled over by sheriff’s deputies in Warren County, Missouri. Sparks gave deputies a counterfeit driver’s license and a stolen Social Security card. Deputies then found 11 other counterfeit driver’s license with Sparks’ picture and other people’s names. They also found more than 43 genuine driver’s licenses, passports, Social Security cards and credit or debit cards that had been stolen from fitness centers and other locations in Colorado and Arizona, as well as notebooks listing personal identifying information belonging to other people.
Sparks and Blake used the stolen IDs and personal information to open new credit and debit accounts or take over existing accounts to get cash or buy merchandise.
Sparks used one of the stolen IDs to buy the GMC in Arizona. Police also found surveying equipment that had been stolen from a storage unit in Arizona and electronic equipment that had been used to produce the counterfeit driver’s licenses.
In a letter to Judge Autrey, one victim said his life was upended when Sparks took over his cell phone, bank accounts, email, and investment accounts and tried to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. Another, a disabled U.S. Army veteran, someone spent years opening credit accounts after a home burglary.
“This sentence is a great example of what can be accomplished when federal and local law enforcement agencies collaborate,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho for HSI Kansas City. “Coming together in these types of joint operations to arrest and disrupt illegal activities are for the betterment and safety of us all. I couldn’t be prouder of the strong relationships we have built with our law enforcement partners and applaud all of those involved for their efforts.”
Sparks pleaded guilty on May 31 to three felonies: interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, interstate transportation of stolen property and possession of five or more identification documents.
Blake, 36, pleaded guilty July 19 to possession of five or more identification documents and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. She is scheduled to be sentenced October 18.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry prosecuted the case.
Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty today to submitting false federal loan applications and using a stolen identity to rent an apartment, for which he made no rent payments.
Steeve Jean, 36, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and unauthorized use of a Social Security number. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Nov. 29, 2023. Jean was arrested and charged in April 2023.
From September 2021 through June 2022, Jean rented an apartment in Lynn under an assumed name. Jean paid no rent for the apartment and left when the apartment complex began steps to evict him. In April 2021, Jean submitted two fraudulent federal Paycheck Protection Program loan applications claiming business losses for a business that did not exist. Jean was serving a state prison sentence during the period he claimed to be running a business.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unauthorized use of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Tolkoff of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Dogfighting ConspiracyRead the Press Release
David Guidry III, of Independence, Louisiana, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison followed by three years supervised release, with the special condition that Guidry complete 30 hours of community service, for possession of animals in an animal fighting venture. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo for the Eastern District of Louisiana imposed the sentence.
According to court documents, federal law enforcement – through an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation – initially discovered Guidry’s involvement in the dogfighting ring through court-authorized wiretaps investigating narcotics trafficking in the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana by other individuals. In the summer of 2017, law enforcement discovered Guidry hosted at least two dogfights at his residence in Independence, at which narcotics traffickers and fellow dogfighters fought dogs and gambled on the fights.
In October 2017, federal law enforcement executed a search warrant on Guidry’s residence and found a dogfighting pit surrounded by discarded beverage containers, seven pitbulls restrained using heave chains, a device to pry open the jaws of a dog involved in a dogfight and veterinary equipment. Federal law enforcement seized the dogs and transported them to a facility in North Carolina for medical care and rehabilitation.
To date, six other defendants have been convicted for their participation in the interstate dogfighting ring. Five of the defendants have already been sentenced for their dogfighting convictions:
- Eric “EZ” Williams, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 60 months in prison;
- Corey Brown, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 50 months in prison;
- Clay Turner, of Loranger, Louisiana: 36 months in prison;
- Dangelo Dontae Cornish, of Greensburg, Louisiana: 16 months in prison; and
- Aquintas Kantrell Singleton, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 12 months and one day months in prison.
Antonio Damon Atkins, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to dogfighting charges in July and is awaiting sentencing.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The FBI and U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Matthew D. Evans of ENRD's Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Reed for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
Lisbon, ND, Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor and Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Craig Gregor, age 29 of Lisbon, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release for the charges of Sexual Exploitation of minors, distribution of materials containing child pornography, and possession of materials containing child pornography.
Investigation revealed that Gregor repeatedly filmed himself sexually abusing a 6-year-old child and later shared the videos with others using the internet. During a search of the Gregor’s electronic devices, law enforcement found thousands of images and videos of child pornography.
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul special agents work tirelessly to combat child predators like Gregor,” said Jamie Holt, HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge. “We will continue to fight against the exploitation of children and support victims by providing critical resources and services. Well done to the special agents and law enforcement community partners for bringing Gregor to justice for his reprehensible crimes.”
“This four-decade sentence is more than justified considering the defendant’s breathtakingly abhorrent crimes,” Schneider said. “Keeping children safe is a priority of the highest order for the United Sates Attorney’s Office. I congratulate our federal and state law enforcement partners for their successful efforts to ensure this individual faced justice.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee, District of North Dakota.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 27 Months’ Imprisonment for Wire Fraud Related to Telemedicine SchemeRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sergey Duman, age 46, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo to 27 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud. The Court also ordered a 3-year term of supervised release to follow the term of imprisonment and over $4.8 million in restitution.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Duman previously admitted that he participated in a scheme to defraud private health insurance companies, the United States, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Duman purchased Cedar Care Pharmacy in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in January 2020. For the next six months, the pharmacy effectively acted as a shell pharmacy for a telemedicine-fraud scheme. During that time, an entity purporting to be a telemedicine company regularly submitted prescriptions to the pharmacy that had been written without the knowledge of the listed patient. The pharmacy then fraudulently submitted private insurance and Medicaid claims for the prescriptions even though the pharmacy never provided the prescribed medications to patients.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli prosecuted the case.
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Laguna Man Pleads Guilty to AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Andres Nathaniel Harjo pled guilty to assault. Harjo, 25, of Laguna and an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
According to court documents, on February 15, 2020, Harjo assaulted the victim, Jane Doe, at their shared residence and only stopped when his actions were interrupted by a third individual.
At sentencing, Harjo faces up to 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Laguna Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case.
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La Oficina de Envigado Member Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Tied to Medellín CartelRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Colombian man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy connected to organized crime in the Republic of Colombia.
Mario Zapata Velez, 41, of Medellín, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2023, Zapata pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of extortion conspiracy, two counts of interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering, one count of use of extortionate means to collect and attempt to collect an extension of credit and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Zapata Velez was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2020 along with co-conspirators Fabio de Jesus Yepes Sanchez, Miguel Colindres and Juan Pablo Ariasgil.
Zapata Velez and Yepes Sanchez were members of La Oficina de Envigado (La Oficina), a criminal organization based in Medellín, Colombia. La Oficina originated in the 1980s when its members provided enforcement and collection services for the Medellín Cartel, including deceased Medellín Cartel leader Pablo Escobar. Today, La Oficina is involved in international narcotics trafficking, drug debt collection, money laundering, extortion and murder for hire.
Zapata Velez and Yepes Sanchez conspired to use threats to extort approximately $750,000 in drug debt from two cocaine traffickers based in Massachusetts. Zapata Velez and Yepes Sanchez also conspired with Colindres and Pablo Ariasgil to obtain five kilograms of cocaine from the Massachusetts traffickers, sell those kilograms, and then repatriate the drug proceeds to Colombia, in partial satisfaction of the outstanding drug debt.
In May 2022, Ariasgil was sentenced to four years in prison and four years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the cocaine conspiracy. On April 24, 2023, Colindres was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the cocaine conspiracy. On June 27, 2023, Yepes Sanchez pleaded guilty to his role in the cocaine conspiracy, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 5, 2023.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department; the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and the Government of Colombia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Jared C. Dolan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
L.A. Man Pleads Guilty to Robbery Charge and Admits to Crime Spree in Which He Robbed 8 Businesses and Carjacked One VictimRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles man pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge and admitted in court to committing a carjacking and eight armed robberies of gas stations and convenience stores in Los Angeles County in April.
Namir Malik Ali Greene, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery.
According to his plea agreement, on the morning of April 4, Greene robbed a gas station in Marina del Rey. Greene made a purchase and remained inside of the store until all other customers left the business. After all the customers inside of the business left, Greene placed a brown paper bag on the counter and told the clerk, “Put everything in there.”
Greene pointed what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun, but what in fact was a BB gun, at the clerk while demanding the money. In fear, the clerk emptied the cash register and placed $700 into the brown paper bag. Greene then fled the store.
In his plea agreement, Greene admitted to committing seven additional armed robberies from April 4 to April 8 of gas stations and convenience stores in Long Beach, Whittier, South Los Angeles, Pomona, and Culver City.
Greene further admitted to the April 15 carjacking the owner of a 2010 Honda Accord while armed with a BB gun. He has been in federal custody since April 18.
United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett scheduled a November 29 sentencing hearing, at which time Greene will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Orange County Violent Crime Task Force (OCVCTF) investigated this matter, with assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide Division and the Ontario Police Department. The OCVCTF is comprised of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including, but not limited to, the ATF, the Brea Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the Fullerton Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey M. Chemerinsky and Jena A. MacCabe of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.
Justice Department and Department of the Navy Announce Voluntary Elective Option for More Efficient Resolution of Camp Lejeune Justice Act ClaimsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department and the Department of the Navy (DON) today announced the finalization and publication of a voluntary process, called the “Elective Option,” to help veterans and others more quickly resolve qualifying claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022. This option supplements other processes currently available under the CLJA, which remain in place.
The CLJA is a provision of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, which was signed into law on Aug. 10, 2022. The CLJA allows those who file claims and lawsuits to potentially recover for injuries caused by exposure to contaminated water at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune from mid-1953 through 1987.
Established jointly by the Justice Department and DON, the new Elective Option provides a framework for the DON to resolve certain CLJA claims quickly, equitably and transparently. In order to be eligible for the Elective Option, a claimant must first submit an administrative claim to the DON. To date, more than 93,000 CLJA claims have been filed with the DON.
The Elective Option allows the DON to focus its review on a few key aspects of a CLJA claim, such as the type of injury alleged and the amount of time a claimant worked or resided at Camp Lejeune. Narrowing the scope of the review enables faster validation and, ultimately, extension of settlement offers. The Elective Option provides similar settlement offers to claimants with similar exposures and injuries with similar evidence of causation.
“The Elective Option is a critical step in bringing relief to qualifying claimants impacted by the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, who will now have an avenue for receiving quick and early resolution of claims under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “We are grateful for the continued partnership of the Department of the Navy and federal agencies in developing and administering this framework.”
“The Elective Option presented today should be of great interest to eligible Americans who seek a streamlined process to resolve their claims,” said Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven. “We recognize this takes a whole-of-government response, and along with DOD and DOJ, we are linked with Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies to support a fair and streamlined process. We are committed to ensuring that every valid Camp Lejeune claim is resolved fairly and as expeditiously as possible.”
Within the framework, the DON can make settlement offers to qualifying claimants with diseases that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has determined are linked to the chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune. Award amounts are tiered, largely based on the ATSDR’s classification of the strength of the evidence linking the contamination with a particular disease and the amount of time the individual spent at Camp Lejeune.
Tier 1 Diagnoses: Claimants with diseases for which the ATSDR has substantiated evidence of causation – kidney cancer, liver cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia and bladder cancer – would receive settlement offers of $450,000, $300,000 or $150,000, depending on whether the claimant was exposed to Camp Lejeune water for over five years, between one and five years or between 30 and 364 days, respectively.
Tier 2 Diagnoses: Claimants with diseases to which the ATSDR has linked possible evidence of causation – multiple myeloma, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease (end stage renal disease), systemic sclerosis/systemic scleroderma – would receive settlement offers of $400,000, $250,000, or $100,000, depending on whether the claimant was exposed to Camp Lejeune water for over five years, between one and five years or between 30 and 364 days, respectively.
Claims involving death would receive an additional $100,000.
The Elective Option supplements other mechanisms for resolving claims currently available through the normal administrative claims or litigation processes. Claimants not eligible for the Elective Option may await finalization of their administrative claim or pursue litigation and engage in any broader settlement discussions occurring through court proceedings in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The Justice Department will screen already-filed lawsuits and will extend settlement offers in qualifying cases that are similar to awards under the Elective Option.
Those interested in learning more about the Elective Option should visit www.navy.mil/clja.
Individuals who think they qualify for relief under the CLJA can follow the instructions available on that site to submit a claim and provide requisite supporting documentation. There is no requirement to retain a lawyer to file a claim or subsequently pursue an expedited resolution. Claims that have already been filed with DON do not need to be refiled.
Payments under the Elective Option are not offset by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits or VA medical care, and they do not impact ongoing treatment and support provided by the VA.
More information is available at www.navy.mil/clja.
View the Public Elective Option Guidance here.
Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Ohio LandlordRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Joseph Pedaline, an owner and manager of residential rental properties, in Youngstown, Ohio, for engaging in sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that Joseph Pedaline sexually harassed female tenants at properties that he owned or managed in Youngstown since at least 2009. According to the complaint, Pedaline subjected tenants to repeated and unwelcome sexual comments, touched them without their consent, entered their homes without permission and offered to overlook late rent payments, waive rent or perform repairs in exchange for sexual contact. The lawsuit also alleges that Pedaline initiated evictions or threatened to evict tenants who refused his sexual advances.
“No tenant should have to endure sexual propositions, sexual comments or unwelcome physical contact from their landlord,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Sexual harassment in housing is wrong, immoral and illegal. The Justice Department will continue to hold landlords accountable when they violate federal civil rights laws.”
“Too often tenants with limited housing options are preyed upon by landlords, maintenance staff and others who have control over where they live,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “This lawsuit sends a message that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate the exploitation of our vulnerable community members.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Joseph Pedaline or YLP LLC, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, may contact the Housing Discrimination Hotline at 1-833-591-0291, press 1 for English, press 2 for sexual harassment and then press 01 for United States v. Joseph Pedaline to leave a message. Individuals may also send an email to Youngstown.Community@usdoj.gov or submit a report online. Reports also may be made by contacting the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
The Justice Department launched its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017. The department’s initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 36 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $10.8 million for victims of such harassment.
Pedaline ComplaintJustice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Ohio LandlordRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Joseph Pedaline, an owner and manager of residential rental properties, in Youngstown, Ohio, for engaging in sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that Joseph Pedaline sexually harassed female tenants at properties that he owned or managed in Youngstown since at least 2009. According to the complaint, Pedaline subjected tenants to repeated and unwelcome sexual comments, touched them without their consent, entered their homes without permission and offered to overlook late rent payments, waive rent or perform repairs in exchange for sexual contact. The lawsuit also alleges that Pedaline initiated evictions or threatened to evict tenants who refused his sexual advances.
“No tenant should have to endure sexual propositions, sexual comments or unwelcome physical contact from their landlord,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Sexual harassment in housing is wrong, immoral and illegal. The Justice Department will continue to hold landlords accountable when they violate federal civil rights laws.”
“Too often tenants with limited housing options are preyed upon by landlords, maintenance staff and others who have control over where they live,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “This lawsuit sends a message that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate the exploitation of our vulnerable community members.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Joseph Pedaline or YLP LLC, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, may contact the Housing Discrimination Hotline at 1-833-591-0291, press 1 for English, press 2 for sexual harassment and then press 01 for United States v. Joseph Pedaline to leave a message. Individuals may also send an email to Youngstown.Community@usdoj.gov or submit a report online. Reports also may be made by contacting the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online.
The Justice Department launched its Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative in October 2017. The department’s initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 36 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $10.8 million for victims of such harassment.
Pedaline Complaint
Jacksonville Sexual Predator Sentenced to 30 Years for Attempting to Entice A 14-Year-Old Child to Produce Sexual Abuse VideosRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Paul Edward Lee, Jr. (44, Jacksonville) to 30 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a 14-year-old child to produce and send him videos and images depicting the victim’s sexual abuse. Lee was also ordered to serve a lifetime term of supervised release. In 2011, Lee was convicted of lascivious molestation and lascivious exhibition involving a 10-year-old child in Jacksonville and was at that time designated as a sexual predator. Lee has been in federal custody since his arrest in this case on May 2, 2018. A federal jury had found Lee guilty in this case on March 23, 2023.
According to evidence and testimony introduced at trial, in April 2018, an FBI agent in Illinois discovered that a 14-year-old child was having online contact with an adult male in Florida through a smart phone gaming application (app) designed for use by children. The messages sent to the child by the adult male were increasingly graphic and sexually explicit. The FBI intervened and identified this individual as Lee, a registered sexual predator living in a Jacksonville residence, along with eight other registered sex offenders. On April 25, 2018, an undercover FBI agent in Jacksonville, posing as the 14-year-old child, began text messaging with Lee. During these communications, Lee told the “child” in graphic terms how he wanted to have sex with the “child,” and sent several images and videos of his own genitalia to the “child.” On April 27, 2018, Lee repeatedly texted and solicited the “child” to produce and send him graphic images and videos of “her” genitalia. When FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at his residence on May 2, 2018, Lee tried to damage his cellphone to destroy evidence of his criminal activity and was arrested.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This case was brought 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 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.justice.gov/psc.