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14 October 2022
Effort Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Matthew Luce, a/k/a “Luck,” age 36, of Effort, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to distributing fentanyl resulting in death.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Luce admitted that on February 6, 2021, he distributed ten bags of fentanyl, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, in Effort, Pennsylvania, to a New Jersey man who later used the drugs and was found dead in his home the next morning. The victim’s cause of death was determined to be a fentanyl overdose caused by the drugs distributed by Luce.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office (NJ), the Clinton Police Department (NJ), the Stroud Area Regional Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case.
This case is also 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 brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
Sentencing is not currently scheduled. Luce faces a mandatory sentence of 20 years imprisonment. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
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Eastern District of California Environmental Justice Initiative and Law Enforcement Reporting Contact InformationRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced an Environmental Justice Initiative in coordination with federal, state, and local partners. Community members should report potential violations of environmental law impacting human health and quality of life to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners. Notifying law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office about environmental justice concerns will assist us in protecting the community and environment.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will vigorously investigate and prosecute persons and businesses who violate environmental laws and endanger the health of Californians,” announced U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The first step to holding offenders accountable is learning the facts. The public can play a valuable role by speaking up about potential violations of law in the community. Please reach out if you have information to report about chemical or pollutant releases, the use of unlawful pesticides, dumping of waste, lead paint or asbestos issues, or other environmental violations that impact the quality of life and safety of the residents of our District.”
The United States Attorney’s Office investigates violations of environmental law in close partnership with our state and federal law enforcement partners, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Community members wishing to report potential violations should contact the U.S. EPA through the following portal: https://www.epa.gov/report-violation. Those with information to report or who are interested in learning more about our environmental justice practice may also reach out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office directly by emailing USACAE.Environment@usdoj.gov.
Drug trafficker sentenced to 23 years in prisonRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Richard Orlinski “Sugar” Sanchez, 44, of Dexter, New Mexico, was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Oct. 12.
On Aug. 26, 2021, Sanchez pleaded guilty to: one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine; four counts of distribution of 50 grams and more of methamphetamine; 25 counts of use of a communication facility to further the commission of a drug trafficking crime; one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; one count of distribution of 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; one count of distribution of 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; one count of distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; one count of causing a financial institution to fail to file a report; one count of money laundering conspiracy; one count of money laundering, aiding and abetting; one count of distribution of 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition; and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of such crime.
In his plea agreement, Sanchez admitted that between February and August of 2020, he conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in Roswell, New Mexico, and launder the proceeds from their drug trafficking activity. Sanchez admitted to receiving shipments of methamphetamine, arranging sales of methamphetamine, delivering methamphetamine, and selling methamphetamine. Sanchez sometimes used telephones to arrange sales or delivery of methamphetamine, in violation of federal law.
Sanchez acknowledged that he had committed money laundering by using drug trafficking proceeds as a down payment to purchase a Yukon Denali, but had the paperwork for the purchase in his mother’s name to avoid scrutiny as he had no legitimate source of income. Sanchez also asked an employee at the dealership to falsify the paperwork for the purchase so that the dealership would not have to file a legally required report showing that Sanchez had provided over $10,000 to the dealership.
On Aug. l0, 2020, Sanchez fled from law enforcement after hiding a dogfood bag filled with 11.818 net kilograms of pure methamphetamine. As he fled, Sanchez threw another 86.9 grams of pure methamphetamine, a gun and a loaded magazine out of his vehicle, while still in possession of another loaded gun and $9,188 in cash. At that time, Sanchez was a previously convicted felon and could not legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Upon his release from prison, Sanchez will be subject to five years of supervised release.
Codefendant Ignacio “Nacho” Chavez was sentenced on Aug. 30 to 14 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Juan “Moe” Florez was sentenced on May 26 to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Antonio Acosta was sentenced on Aug. 31 to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Randy Reid was sentenced on July 19 to five years and 10 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Naomi Najar was sentenced on Aug. 19, 2021, to seven years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. John Michael “Mike” Esquibel was sentenced on Aug. 31 to five years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Richard Ortega was sentenced on Aug. 31 to three years in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Gordon Moss was sentenced on April 27 to three years and 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Ruben Morones was sentenced on May 26 to 10 years and one month in prison followed by five years of supervised release. John Lopez was sentenced on Nov. 21, 2021, to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Melissa Medina was sentenced on June 16 to two years of probation. Krystyna Sanchez was sentenced on Aug. 31 to two years of probation.
Juan Silvas pleaded guilty on Aug. 10, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and remains in custody pending sentencing.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
The investigation included agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force and IRS Criminal Investigation.
The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Roswell Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and the Chaves County Sherriff’s Office. The HIDTA Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department and Artesia Police Department. Both are part of the New Mexico HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force. HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.
The Las Cruces branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting this case.
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District Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Killing of Man Near Mount Vernon Square Metro StationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – William Whitaker 21, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder for his role in the slaying of a man in January 2020 near a Metro station in downtown Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Whitaker pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He is to be sentenced on Jan. 20, 2023, by the Honorable Milton C. Lee, Jr.
According to the government’s evidence, Whitaker used a woman’s Instagram account to message the victim, Malick Cisse, to organize a meeting near the Mount Vernon Square Metro station. Mr. Cisse, 19, arrived at the Metro station, in the 1300 block of Seventh Street NW, at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2020, thinking he was going to meet the woman. Whitaker and other unknown individuals pulled up in a white vehicle and shot and killed Mr. Cisse. Whitaker was a part of the Simple City “Avenue Crew” and the shooting is believed to be related to crew rivalry. He was arrested on May 7, 2020. He has been detained ever since.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Christina Bloodworth, Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gauri Gopal, Julia Cosans, Gregory Kimak, and Sarah Santiago, and Sharon Donovan, Deputy Chief of the Office’s Homicide Section.
Denver Man Found Guilty of Drug and Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces a federal jury convicted Scott Lowe, 38, of Denver, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to facts presented at trial, in February of 2020, Lowe was discovered in possession of 24.7 grams of methamphetamine, along with a loaded semiautomatic pistol, scales, and other items used to traffic narcotics, in a storage unit within his apartment complex. At the time, Lowe was under the supervision of the United States District Court of Colorado Probation Office for a separate violation of law, and was hiding the contraband in storage unit to avoid detection from probation officers.
Judge William J. Martinez presided over the three day trial. The jury returned its verdict on October 13, 2022. Lowe will be sentenced on May 3, 2023.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, along with the Denver Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Tom Minser and Conor Flanigan.
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.
Case Number: 20-cr-326
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For more information about the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, on Twitter USAO_CO for the latest news.
Defendants Convicted and Sentenced in Long-Term Methamphetamine Drug Trafficking Investigation in Franklin and Gulf CountiesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – With the sentencing of the last of 16 defendants, federal prosecutors concluded prosecution of a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization operating primarily within Franklin and Gulf Counties. The convictions and sentences were announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“Cooperative and concerted efforts enable our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those distributing addictive and deadly controlled substances in both our urban and rural communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “We remain vigilant to support their investigative efforts and will aggressively prosecute those engaged in drug trafficking throughout North Florida.”
In November 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office began a joint investigation into methamphetamine-trafficking in the Franklin County area. The investigation uncovered an organization that was obtaining up to 20–25 kilograms of methamphetamine per week from Atlanta, Georgia, and reselling it in North Florida, along with a web of methamphetamine dealers buying and selling methamphetamine in Franklin and Gulf Counties. A total of 16 defendants were charged in a series of separate drug-trafficking indictments.
“We are extremely grateful for the local/Federal partnership that enables repeat meth traffickers to receive sentences which keeps them out of our communities longer, thus making them safer,” said Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith.
“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and destructive synthetic drug, which poses a grave danger to Florida communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “DEA remains committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners, using every resource at our disposal, to ensure the individuals bringing this poison into our communities are held accountable for their actions.”
The Defendants and their sentences were:
- Gerry Carter, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia, 30 years in prison
- Ruben Fuller, 45, of Port Saint Joe, Florida, 30 years in prison
- Brandon Williams, 39, of Port Saint Joe, Florida, 15 years in prison
- Fabian Frazier, 27, of Port Saint Joe, Florida, 15 years in prison
- Roderick Robinson, 55, of Port Saint Joe, Florida, 14 years in prison
- Arthur Desean North, 29, of Port Saint Joe, Florida, 10 years in prison
- Allen O’Neal, 38, of Apalachicola, Florida, 10 years in prison
- Omarsharek “Reek” Harris, 39, of Apalachicola, Florida, 8 years in prison
- John Lynn, 43, of Kinard, Florida, 8 years in prison
- Robert Hill, 31, of Apalachicola, 6.5 years in prison
- Carlos “Famee” Morris, 50, of Apalachicola, Florida, 6 years in prison
- Shelton Hutchins, 36, of Eastpoint, Florida, 5 years in prison
- Larry Warren, 49, of Eastpoint, Florida, 36 months in prison
- Rachael Caudle, 23, of Eastpoint, Florida, 24 months in prison
- Ronald “Bubba” Sanders, 35, of Eastpoint, Florida, 325 days in custody followed by 12 months of home detention
- William Martina, 43, of Apalachicola, Florida, 3 months in custody
“Once again, these cases show the value of cooperation by all the agencies involve,” said Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison. “I appreciate U.S. Attorney Coody and his team for their hard work in putting these drug dealers behind bars for a long time.”
All will be on a term of supervised release when they are released from custody.
This case resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the cases.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Defendant Who Failed to Appear in Court Before 2009 Drug Trial Arrested in Panama and Returned to United StatesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A man who failed to appear in federal court in Chicago before his 2009 drug trial has been arrested in Panama and returned to the United States.
COSME CHACON, 53, was arrested Tuesday after arriving in Panama City on a flight from Colombia. Chacon was removed to Chicago and appeared Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz in the Northern District of Illinois. Chacon is currently detained in federal custody.
The arrest and return were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; R. Sean Fitzgerald, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations; and Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. IRS Criminal Investigation Panama City, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided support in securing the defendant’s return to the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian F. Williamson represents the government.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, and other alleged criminal offenders 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 alleged criminal networks.
Chacon was among four defendants indicted in Chicago in 2007. The indictment accused the defendants of participating in a drug trafficking organization that transported heroin to Chicago from New York, Florida, and Texas. After the drugs were sold in the Chicago area, Chacon allegedly laundered the illicit proceeds through wire transfers to Colombia and other overseas locations. He was charged with drug conspiracy and money laundering.
Chacon was free on bond when he failed to appear for status hearings in the weeks leading up to a scheduled trial date of Sept. 21, 2009. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Chacon is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The drug conspiracy charge against Chacon is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison and a maximum of life, while the money laundering charge is punishable by up to 20 years. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
Chacon’s three co-defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced to federal prison terms of 16 years, 12 years, and one year.
Chinle Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Dion James Anagal, 44, of Chinle, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 22 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Anagal previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder.
On December 6, 2020, Anagal murdered the victim by setting her home on fire while she was inside. The victim died in the fire. The crime occurred on the Navajo Nation, where Anagal is an enrolled member.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Samuels and Jillian Besancon, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-8017-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-178_Anagal
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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.
Catoosa Resident Indicted on 42 Counts of Preparation of False Income Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Pamela Kathryn Conley, age 60, of Catoosa, Oklahoma, was indicted by the federal grand jury on 42 counts of Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False Income Tax Returns.
The Federal Indictment alleges that Conley prepared 42 federal income tax returns for 16 individuals that contained false and fraudulent deductions for medical expenses, charitable contributions, casualty theft losses, real property and property taxes, mortgage-interest payments, and job-related expenses.
The charges resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
The named individual has been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the return of an Indictment by the Grand Jury. A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court in determining appropriate punishment. Federal prison sentences are non-paroleable.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Pahl, who is on detail to the Eastern District of Oklahoma from the Department of Justice’s Tax Division, represents the United States.
Boston Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.
Dorian Rojas, 38, was sentenced on Oct. 5, 2022 by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. On March 1, 2022, Rojas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 100 grams of heroin and more than 500 grams of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of heroin.
Rojas was a former FedEx employee that delivered to addresses in Cambridge and Watertown. In June 2019, law enforcement recovered a FedEx package that had been delivered to a biology lab on the campus of Harvard University. The package was found to contain one kilogram of fentanyl and one kilogram of cocaine. A subsequent investigation revealed that Rojas asked co-conspirator and FedEx delivery driver Lennon Carrasco to retrieve the package and deliver it to Rojas. In August 2019, Rojas asked Carrasco to retrieve and divert another package, which Carrasco was observed delivering to Rojas. Shortly after, investigators arrested Rojas and seized the package, which was found to contain almost one kilogram of heroin.
On April 13, 2022, Carrasco pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, more than 100 grams of heroin and more than 500 grams of cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10, 2022.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Harvard University Police Chief Vic Clay; Christine Elow, Commissioner of the Cambridge Police Department; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore B. Heinrich of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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.
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud Related to COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with using others’ identities to fraudulently obtain over $65,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits.
Wilson Radhames Peguero Brea, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2023. Peguero was arrested and charged in December 2021.
According to the charging documents, Peguero used the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to apply for and obtain PUA benefits. Peguero also applied for and received additional PUA benefits using another victim’s identity as well as his own.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $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.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security’s Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized field investigative group comprised of personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, 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.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Calvin Henry Sampson III, age 23, of Baltimore, Maryland, yesterday to 13 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. Sampson admitted that he also produced images and videos documenting his sexual abuse of two minor female victims.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.
According to his plea agreement, on March 3, 2020, an individual saw images depicting the sexual abuse of the two minor victims on Sampson’s phone. During the subsequent investigation, the victims were interviewed and confirmed that Sampson had taken sexually explicit photos of them engaged in sexual conduct. They also stated that Sampson told them that they would be in trouble if they told anyone. A search warrant was obtained for email accounts associated with Sampson and for his cellular phone. A review of one of the accounts revealed at least four videos and 21 images produced by Sampson that documented his sexual abuse of the victims. Sampson’s cell phone was forensically examined on March 26, 2020. After the phone was charged and turned on, it appeared that the cell phone had been factory reset and did not contain any specific user data. Sampson was arrested on April 11, 2020 by a Baltimore City Police officer in connection with a separate child abuse case and has been held without bond since that time.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’ Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted the federal case.
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Bakersfield Pain Management Doctor Pleads Guilty to Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. —Janardhan Grandhe, 65, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Grandhe was a pain management doctor in Bakersfield, California doing business as Central Valley Pain Management (CVPM). In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Grandhe willfully filed false tax returns for CVPM with overstated expenses and false individual tax returns for himself that omitted gross receipts he received. In total, Grandhe evaded personal tax liability exceeding $300,000.
Between 2017-2019, Grandhe provided checks to employees claiming to be reimbursements for employee expenses that were then included as deductions on the CVPM tax returns. Grandhe claimed the reimbursements were for out-of-pocket costs incurred by employees for continuing medical education, meals, mileage, and travel expenses. In many cases, those expenses were never incurred by the employees. Grandhe instead instructed those employees to cash the checks and provide cash back to Grandhe, which he deposited into accounts controlled by him or his family members. Grandhe then provided false documentation to his tax preparer to support the false deductions.
Between 2017-2019, Grandhe diverted business receipts to his personal bank accounts and did not provide his tax preparer with these personal bank account records so these amounts were not included as business gross receipts on the CVPM tax returns. These unreported business receipts included checks from customers for stem cell injections. Additionally, Grandhe diverted credit card receipts received by his business for medical services rendered into his personal bank account. The unreported income on the CVPM tax returns resulted in decreased net income on the Grandhe’s personal tax returns.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case.
Grande is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Feb. 3, 2023. Grandhe faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Aurora Man Indicted for Making False Statements to Licensed Firearms DealersRead the Press Release
DENVER- The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Jordan James Martinez, 24, of Aurora, was indicted by a federal grand jury for making false statements to purchase firearms for other individuals from licensed dealers.
According to the indictment, from June 2019 through April 2022, the defendant knowingly made false and fictitious oral and written statements to several licensed firearms dealers, representing he was the actual transferee and buyer of the firearms, when in fact, as the defendant then knew, he was not the actual transferee and buyer of the firearms.
Martinez made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews on October 14, 2022.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Aurora Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Churnet.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Case Number: 22-cr-306
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.
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For more information about the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr
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Armed felon sentenced to maximum prison term for illegally carrying a firearmRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Chatham County man with a hefty criminal record has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegally carrying a gun.
Thomas Kevin Robinson, 52, of Savannah, was sentenced to 120 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Lisa Godbey Wood, who levied the statutory maximum penalty against Robinson, also ordered him to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Thomas Kevin Robinson is a textbook example of a recidivist felon whose selfish actions fuel violent crime in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our neighborhoods are safer with Robinson and criminals like him disarmed and behind bars.”
Savannah Police arrested Robinson in April 2021 following a report of a shoplifting at the Family Dollar Store on Wheaton Street. An employee who confronted Robinson said Robinson pointed a pistol at him and drove away. When police later located and tried to stop his vehicle, Robinson led them on a chase that ended when drove at high speed through a construction zone and crashed into another vehicle. Robinson then ran away and later was found in the backyard of a residence with a pistol on the ground nearby.
Robinson has multiple prior arrests and more than 20 criminal convictions, primarily for drug and shoplifting offenses.
“Robinson, with a lengthy criminal history, once again put innocent civilians at risk during the commission of this robbery. He has repeatedly proven that he has no regard for the law,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is proud to work with our local law enforcement partners in helping to convict these repeat offenders at the federal level, where they face stiffer penalties and no opportunity for parole.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
AT&T Illinois to Pay $23 Million to Resolve Federal Investigation into Efforts to Unlawfully Influence Former Illinois Speaker of the HouseRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Illinois Bell Telephone Company, LLC, which does business as AT&T Illinois, today agreed to pay $23 million to resolve a federal criminal investigation into alleged misconduct involving the company’s efforts to unlawfully influence former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan.
The investigation of AT&T Illinois is being resolved with a deferred prosecution agreement under which the company admitted it arranged for payments to be made to an ally of Madigan to influence and reward Madigan’s efforts to assist AT&T Illinois with respect to legislation sought by the company. The U.S. Attorney’s Office today filed a one-count criminal information in U.S. District Court in Chicago charging AT&T Illinois with using an interstate facility to promote legislative misconduct. Under the agreement, the government will defer prosecution on the charge for two years and then seek to dismiss it if AT&T Illinois abides by certain conditions, including continuing to cooperate with any investigation related to the misconduct alleged in the information.
The deferred prosecution agreement requires AT&T Illinois to pay $23 million to the federal Crime Victims Fund. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.
The charge and the deferred prosecution agreement were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ashley T. Johnson, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amarjeet S. Bhachu, Diane MacArthur, Timothy J. Chapman, Sarah E. Streicker, Michelle Kramer, and Julia Schwartz.
AT&T Illinois’s admissions regarding the charged conduct are contained in a Statement of Facts attached to the deferred prosecution agreement. AT&T Illinois admitted that in 2017 it arranged for an ally of Madigan to indirectly receive $22,500 in payments from the company. The company paid the money through an intermediary – a lobbying firm that performed services for AT&T Illinois. Although AT&T Illinois employees formulated a pretextual assignment for Madigan’s ally to disguise why the ally was being paid, the ally performed no actual work for AT&T Illinois and the company made no effort to ensure any work was performed. AT&T Illinois acknowledged in the agreement that AT&T Illinois’s then-president used an interstate facility to facilitate Madigan’s indirect receipt of a thing of value, namely the payments made to his ally, in exchange for Madigan’s vote and influence over a bill.
In addition to the monetary penalty and its continued cooperation with the government, AT&T Illinois’s obligations under the agreement include implementing a new compliance and ethics program and providing annual reports to the government regarding remediation and implementation of the program. If AT&T Illinois fails to completely fulfill each of its obligations under the agreement during the two-year term, the U.S. Attorney’s Office can initiate prosecution of the charged offense.
13 October 2022
Wausau Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Lucas Ellwart, 28, Wausau, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 72 months in federal prison for distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. This prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Ellwart pleaded guilty to this charge on July 20, 2022.
While investigating Victor Pennington, law enforcement discovered Ellwart’s involvement in distributing methamphetamine. Through the course of the investigation, law enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase over 50 grams of methamphetamine from Ellwart on two occasions. He was arrested in September 2021 after a high-speed pursuit with law enforcement, during which the defendant threw over 800 grams of methamphetamine out of the window of a vehicle driven by Pennington. Pennington pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on September 27, 2022. Pennington will be sentenced by Judge Conley on January 4, 2023.
Ellwart is currently serving a term of imprisonment for Wisconsin convictions involving possession and delivery of methamphetamine. The sentence in the federal case will be served concurrently with the remainder of the defendant’s state sentence.
In sentencing Ellwart, Judge Conley credited the defendant for assisting law enforcement in locating the methamphetamine he discarded during the high-speed pursuit that led to his arrest. Judge Conley stated that a sentence above the mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years was warranted, however, because of the defendant’s relationship to Pennington and his own history of repeated drug crimes.
The charge against Ellwart was a result of an investigation conducted by the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Marathon County Sheriff’s Office; Wausau Police Department; Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office; Wisconsin State Patrol; Everest Metro Police Department; and Wisconsin’s National Guard Counterdrug Program. The prosecution of this case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus.
Waterloo Gang Member Found with Loaded, Stolen Gun Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who was found with a loaded stolen firearm during a traffic stop was sentenced October 12, 2022, to more than three years in federal prison.
Sir Frank Nelson III, age 27, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 18, 2022 guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In a plea agreement, Nelson admitted that on June 28, 2020, he was in possession of marijuana and a stolen Smith and Wesson M&P .40 caliber firearm with five rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. At sentencing, the court found that Nelson was a member of the A1/Front Street criminal street gang in Waterloo. The court also stated that Nelson had no business touching a firearm as he was prohibited.
Nelson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Nelson was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment and fined $100. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Nelson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and was investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department’s Violent Crime Apprehension Team (VCAT), Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 21-cr-2024.
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Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to His Role in Government Contract FraudRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – David Joseph Bolduc, Jr., 61, of Herndon, Virginia, pleaded guilty on October 12 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in a government contract fraud scheme. Bolduc and QuantaDyn bribed a government official to obtain confidential government information and secure government contracts. Consequently, the government overpaid for flight simulators and training services at the expense of the American taxpayer.
Court documents reflect that QuantaDyn Corporation, a software engineering company based in Virginia, and Bolduc paid Keith Alan Seguin, 56, a former civilian employee at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, more than $2.3 million in bribes from 2007 to 2018 to obtain government contracts and government pricing information. As part of the fraudulent scheme, Bolduc, one of the owners of QuantaDyn, conspired with QuantaDyn; Karen Paulsen, 56, of Beavercreek, Ohio; John G. Hancock, 60, of Fairborn, Ohio; and Seguin, 56, of San Antonio, to defraud the United States by overcharging to offset the bribe payments and inflate profits for the benefit of Bolduc, QuantaDyn, and the prime contractor that employed Hancock and Paulsen. From 2007 to 2018, the conspirators fixed the contract award and pricing on Air Force and General Services Administration (GSA) contracts, which caused the United States to overpay for flight simulator technology and simulator services.
Bolduc is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2023 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
On September 15, 2020, QuantaDyn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to probation for five years, ordered to pay a $6.3 million fine and pay more than $37 million in restitution. In addition to the fines and restitution, QuantaDyn was ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $22,834,526.31 and forfeit funds in corporate accounts totaling over $7 million.
On June 15, 2021, Seguin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of tax fraud and false statements. Seguin is set for sentencing on January 23, 2023 and faces up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and up to three years in prison for the tax fraud and false statement charge.
On March 1, 2022, Paulsen pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Paulsen is set for sentencing on January 23, 2023 and faces up to five years in prison.
On August 16, 2022 Hancock pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Hancock is set for sentencing on November 14, 2022 and faces up to 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff; Special Agent in Charge Jamie Willemin of the General Services Administration—Office of the Inspector General (GSA-OIG), Southwest and Rocky Mountain Investigations Division; Special Agent in Charge Ramsey Covington of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Houston Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Michael Mentavlos of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southwest Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Scott Moreland of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office (USACID); and Special Agent in Charge Blair Holmstrand of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Procurement Fraud Detachment 3 in San Antonio made the announcement.
The GSA-OIG, IRS-CI, DCIS, USACID, and AFOSI continue to investigate this case. Individuals who may have information about this scheme or these defendants are asked to call the GSA-OIG fraud reporting hot line at (800) 424-5210, or go online to www.gsaig.gov and click on the “report FRAUD” link. U. S. Attorney Hoff extends her appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Virginia, Southern District of Ohio and Northern District of Georgia for their valuable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William F. Lewis, Jr and Kelly G. Stephenson, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Porier are prosecuting this case.
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Vacaville Gun Store Burglary Defendant Charged with Failure to Appear for Court ProceedingsRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Desteny Estrella Leilani Salazar, 24, of South San Francisco, charging her with failure to appear, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Salazar was charged in 2020 with possession of stolen firearms and burglary of a federally-licensed firearms dealer. While that case was pending, Salazar failed to appear for a court-ordered hearing.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of failure to appear, Salazar faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If Salazar is convicted in the original burglary case, she faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for both counts. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
United States Attorney Thompson Announces $75,596 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $75,596 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Southern District of West Virginia. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security (formerly the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety), is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“The grant award for the Southern District of West Virginia will further support enforcement-related efforts to reduce gun violence in Charleston, Huntington and Beckley,” said U.S. Attorney Thompson. “These projects embrace community outreach and prevention and intervention strategies to target violent crime in these communities.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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United States Attorney Kavanaugh Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh joins the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), advocates, survivors, victim service providers, justice professionals, police and first responders, as well as communities and sovereign tribal nations across the U.S. in observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).
Domestic violence is more prevalent than many people realize, and its devastating consequences can span generations and last a lifetime. Approximately one in four women, and one in seven men, will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes; however, rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of Color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit people, and people with disabilities. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourages everyone to participate in a role to end gender-based violence.
“Domestic violence affects us all personally in some way,” United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today. “Federal prosecutors for the Western District of Virginia have a duty to use all the tools at our disposal, including leveraging our partnerships with local law enforcement, to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice.”
While most prosecutions for domestic violence are handled by state prosecutors, United States Attorney Kavanaugh highlighted those instances where the Department of Justice may become involved, including cases where there is a cyber component, cases involving the crossing of state lines, and cases involving a firearm.
“Victims of domestic violence deserve the highest level of care, and my Office is dedicated to providing it. Sometimes this may be helping a victim navigate the criminal justice process. At other times, we work extensively to help survivors rebuild their lives. These survivors should have every opportunity to heal, and the public servants with the U.S. Attorney’s Office are here to help," United States Attorney Kavanaugh said today.
In addition, the Department of Justice makes available funding streams to non-profits for relocation, safety, and other programs aiding work with domestic violence victims and other services.
To learn more about the Office of Violence Against Women, please visit www.justice.gov.OVM.
United States Attorney Breon Peace Announces $484,034 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – U.S. Attorney Breon Peace announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $484,034 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Eastern District of New York. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
The Eastern District will utilize a sustained reduction in violent crime strategy that unites federal and local law enforcement authorities in strategic and robust partnerships forged to address violent crime and reduce gun and gang violence in high crime areas of Suffolk and Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
United States Attorney Peace stated: “My Office, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, is committed to combating violent crime by identifying and prosecuting the most dangerous offenders, removing guns from our neighborhoods, and supporting programs which benefit at-risk youth. The PSN funding supports these efforts by providing strategies and tools that help make our communities safer and stronger.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Justice Department Grant to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $288,791 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in Colorado. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the Colorado Department of Public Safety, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“With gun violence soaring, this funding could not come at a better time. Our goal is to combine federal resources with strategic enforcement from our state and local partners to reduce gun violence in our communities that are most troubled by violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan.
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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U.S. Attorney for District of Arizona Announces $369,000 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $369,000 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the District of Arizona. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, awarded to the Criminal Justice Commission, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“The Project Safe Neighborhoods Program is an important partnership among law enforcement and the communities we serve,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Prosecution is an important deterrent to the proliferation of guns and gun crime in America, but prosecution alone won’t solve all our problems. We as lawyers need to get out of the courtroom and into the communities that surround it.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2022-180_PSN Grant Awardees
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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.
U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg Announces over $541,000 in Funding to Support Project Safe Neighborhoods in the Middle District of FloridaRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $541,026 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program in the Middle District of Florida. Funding will support law enforcement and community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. As part of the strategy, PSN partners focus on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based reentry programs to reduce recidivism. The grant is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Public safety is our number one priority,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement and community partners to find sustainable solutions for reducing crime and creating safer communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney Myers Announces $353,868 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS – Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $353,868 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Southern District of Indiana. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the Judiciary Courts of the State of Indiana, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Prosecution and incarceration of the most serious violent offenders are necessary—but not sufficient—to prevent violent crime and increase public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Myers, “Project Safe Neighborhoods is a critical component of our efforts to address the root causes of the gun violence and other violent crime. Through supporting community-based efforts that provide support to those most at risk of committing or being victims of violence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice will increase public safety and public trust.”
“The Justice Department’s grants provide resources for our state and local law partners to help protect individuals and communities from violent crime,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department is taking a comprehensive approach, recognizing that we cannot simply arrest our way out of this problem—the resources in these grants will help our state and local partners reduce gun violence through increased community trust and investments in community-based initiatives like violence intervention programs.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten Announces $192,976 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $192,976 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Western District of Michigan. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
“Police and prosecutors cannot solve violent crime alone,” said U.S. Mark Totten. “Addressing violence requires a holistic approach that facilitates cooperation between law enforcement and community stakeholders, and a forward-thinking strategy for addressing the underlying causes of violence before it occurs. These funds will support projects specifically designed to keep West Michigan residents safe.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention, and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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U.S. Attorney LaMarca Announces Justice Department Grant to Support Project Safe Neighborhoods in Southern District of MississippiRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $106,936 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Southern District of Mississippi. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov
U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson Announces $135,036 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $135,036 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in Northern District of Indiana. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson said, “Local law enforcement agencies need resources to address the pandemic of violent crime that is currently disturbing the safety and tranquility of our communities. This PSN grant is one example of resources being brought to the Northern District of Indiana.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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U.S. Attorney Chung Announces $157,614 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH – U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $157,614 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Funding will support ongoing community efforts to reduce gun crime and violence in the district. The grant, to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Here in Western Pennsylvania, we are using these critical funds to strengthen our partnerships with all levels of law enforcement and community organizations, to increase public awareness of the violent crime problem, and to develop effective solutions for achieving our goal of creating safer communities throughout our district,” said U.S. Attorney Chung.
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
U.s. Attorney Jesse Laslovich Announces $96,000 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $96,098 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the District of Montana. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the Montana Department of Corrections, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key 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 of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“This grant is vital to our shared goal of making communities safer in our two PSN program sites, Yellowstone County and Missoula County, where drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and armed robberies are the leading causes of violent crime,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. “We will continue working with our local, state, federal, and tribal partners to take violent offenders off our streets.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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Two Washington Men Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Crimes involving Multiple Homicides and a Carjacking on the Yakama Nation on Treaty Day in 2019Read the Press Release
James Dean Cloud sentenced for committing multiple murders and a carjacking. Donovan Quinn Carter Cloud sentenced for his role in the carjacking.
Yakima, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that James Dean Cloud, age 39, and Donovan Quinn Carter Cloud, age 35, were sentenced by Chief District Judge Stanley A. Bastian for crimes involving multiple murders and a carjacking in 2019. James Cloud was sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment to run consecutively. James Cloud was also ordered to pay approximately $25,000 in restitution on behalf of the homicide victims and their families. Donovan Cloud was sentenced to 327 months of incarceration for his role in the carjacking.
Following today’s sentencing, U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “The loss of life in this case is just horrific. It is the obligation of law enforcement and the United States Attorney’s Office to seek justice for victims and their families. Not everyone who suffered a loss in this case will be able to find solace, despite the lengthy prison terms that were handed down today. Our hearts go out to everyone who lost a family member due to the senseless violence that occurred on June 8, 2019. I praise the courage of the members of our community who came forward, cooperated with law enforcement, and testified at trial.”
According to court documents and evidence elicited at the trial of James Cloud, on June 8, 2019, in White Swan, Washington, four victims were shot and left for dead at 5151 Medicine Valley Road. A fifth victim was shot in his truck while parked in the driveway. A passenger in the truck, who was also shot, was able to escape while the suspects opened fire on the truck. The suspects fled the crime scene in a stolen truck, which broke down less than ten miles from the crime scene. In search of another vehicle, the suspects armed themselves and approached a nearby home. One suspect grabbed a child playing outside and held a gun to the child’s head, while the second armed suspect pointed a shotgun at the child’s parents and demanded the keys to the family vehicle. The suspects then kidnapped the child and fled. Because of the quick thinking of the child’s parents, who yelled for the child to jump from the moving vehicle, and the bravery of the child, the minor child escaped and survived. Notably, these offenses occurred when the Yakama Nation was celebrating Treaty Day, which marks the anniversary of the signing of the Yakama Nation Treaty of 1855, the treaty that formed the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
During the investigation into these offenses, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Patrol, the Yakama Nation Police Department, and the FBI conducted a compressive and thorough analysis of both crime scenes and the vehicles used by the suspects. The investigation revealed that each of the murder victims had been shot with a .22 caliber rifle. Ballistic evidence established that .22 shell casings found at the crime scene matched up to a .22 rifle that was discovered in a canal near the second crime scene. A frightened witness identified James Cloud as the individual who possessed the .22 caliber rifle while at the 5151 Medicine Valley crime scene. Donovan Cloud’s latent fingerprint later was discovered on the rear-view mirror of the vehicle that was stolen during the kidnapping and carjacking.
On February 28, 2022, the jury trial of James Cloud began. Over the course of several days, multiple law enforcement, citizens, victims, and expert witnesses testified. Despite being afraid for his personal safety, a courageous witness came forward and testified about what happened at the 5151 Medicine Valley crime scene. Additional members of the community and victims likewise testified about the suspects’ actions on that horrific day.
On March 9, 2022, a jury found James Cloud guilty of four counts of First-Degree Murder, Carjacking, two counts of Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, Kidnapping a Minor, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, and three counts of Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. On the same day, Donovan Cloud pled guilty to Carjacking and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.
Earlier today, both James Cloud and Donovan Cloud were sentenced in Yakima, Washington. Several victims and their family members spoke at the sentencing hearing and relayed how these horrific crimes impacted their lives. Many victims also prepared written statements which were submitted to the Court. Chief Judge Stanley Bastian reviewed the trial transcripts, the victim impact statements, and listened to the victims and their representatives. When Chief Judge Bastian pronounced sentence, he stated that James Cloud had “been a danger to the community for a long time,” adding that Cloud “terrorized a community and terrorized a family.” Chief Judge Bastian also expressed his heartfelt sorrow to the victims of this case.
U.S. Attorney Waldref commended the efforts of the investigators and prosecutors who worked for years to bring justice to the victims of Cloud’s crimes. U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “The sentences that were imposed in this case demonstrate that those who victimize members of our community will be held accountable and punished to the full extent of the law. However, such lengthy sentences simply cannot substitute for the tragic loss of so many lives. The public can feel better knowing that James Cloud and Donovan Cloud are no longer roaming the streets and will no longer be able to inflict harm on the Yakama Nation. The Eastern District of Washington is undoubtably safer and more secure. I am grateful for the dedication and perseverance of the FBI, the ATF, the Yakama Nation Tribal Police, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington State Patrol, who collaborated with Assistant United States Attorneys Tom Hanlon and Rick Burson to see these cases through to just results. We will continue to mourn with the victims and our hearts will forever grieve for their families.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Tom Hanlon and Rick Burson, who prosecuted the case, expressed their gratitude to the law enforcement agents and officers, who handled the case. They also recognized the many victims whose lives will never be the same. “If it were not for the combined efforts of the FBI, ATF, Yakama Nation Police Department, and Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, there would have been no measure of justice for the victims in this case,” stated AUSA Tom Hanlon.
AUSA Rick Burson added, “We cannot understate the tragedy of this case. A number of innocent victims lost their lives, and their families will never be the same. I’m grateful for the bravery and courage of the surviving victims and witnesses who came forward. Because they agreed to speak with law enforcement and testified at trial, the victims and their families are hopefully able to feel some measure of justice in this case.”
“The spree of violence perpetrated by the Cloud brothers was horrifying and senseless,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “The investigation, conducted alongside our partner agencies, demonstrates the FBI’s diligence and commitment to prioritizing the investigation of violent crimes and the impact these crimes inflict on our communities. The efforts of investigators and prosecutors hopefully provides some sense of justice for the survivors. It is my hope that today’s sentence ensures that the Cloud brothers never terrorize their community again.”
“The sheer brutality of the Clouds’ actions clearly warranted such severe sentences,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “ATF will always work to ensure that violent criminals, such as the Clouds, are held accountable for their actions.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Yakama Nation Tribal Police, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington State Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Tom Hanlon and Rick Burson, Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington.
Two Portland Area Men Face Federal Charges for Making and Distributing Hundreds of Thousands of Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
Two Portland area men are facing federal charges today for running a local drug trafficking organization responsible for making and distributing hundreds of thousands of counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.
James Dunn, Jr., 61, of Milwaukie, Oregon and Joshua Clay Wilfong, 50, of Vancouver, Washington have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiring with one another and others to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, in May 2021, law enforcements officials from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF) and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a drug trafficking organization allegedly run by Dunn and Wilfong that was responsible for manufacturing and distributing hundreds of thousands of counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in the greater Portland Metropolitan Area.
The investigation revealed that Dunn purchased fentanyl in Mexico and smuggled it into the U.S. for use as an active ingredient in counterfeit prescription pills. Dunn would give the fentanyl to Wilfong who would produce the pills in a makeshift laboratory he maintained inside a storage unit in Vancouver. On October 12, 2022, Wilfong and Dunn were arrested while they were negotiating the sale of more than 300,000 fentanyl pills.
Investigators executed a search warrant on Wilfong’s storage unit and found a pill press and laboratory equipment covered in suspected fentanyl powder. Investigators later learned Wilfong and Dunn routinely sold hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills in single transactions and sold an average of 10,000 pills a week.
Dunn and Wilfong made their initial appearances in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo. They were ordered detained as a flight risk and danger to the community pending further court proceedings.
This case is being investigated by HSI, FBI, CCITF, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Scott Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
CCITF, led by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, works to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in Clackamas County, and reduce illegal drugs and related crimes throughout the community. The task force is comprised of members of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Canby Police Department, Oregon State Police, HSI, and FBI.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 3-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 8am and 11pm Pacific Time daily.
Fentanyl pill lab showing manufacturing equipment Fentanyl pill lab showing manufacturing equipment 10 clear bags of seized blue fentanyl pillsTwo New Jersey Women Admit Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – Two New Jersey women today admitted trafficking methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Sherri Craig, 42, of Clementon, New Jersey, and Shannon Foster, 27, of Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to an indictment charging each with one count of conspiring to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From March 2021 through September 2021, Craig and Foster regularly purchased methamphetamine from suppliers and conspired with each other, and others, to distribute it throughout southern New Jersey. On Sept. 20, 2021, Craig and Foster went to a residence in Camden to purchase methamphetamine from a supplier and brought $3,000 with them to make the purchase.
The drug-trafficking conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $5 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel; special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Raimundo Marrero; agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. He also thanked troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, for its assistance in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
Two Men Arrested in Rutland for Carrying Firearms in Relation to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that Jose Luis Maldonado, Jr., 31, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and Edgar Correa, 34, of Springfield, Massachusetts, were arrested on Wednesday evening and charged today by criminal complaint. Both men were charged with possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl, and carrying and using firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Both men are scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle tomorrow afternoon.
According to court records, law enforcement conducting surveillance on Robbins Street in Rutland, Vermont noticed a man, later identified as Maldonado, carrying a black shotgun with a pistol grip, walking with another man, later identified as Correa, toward a white Honda Civic. The two men put bags in the trunk of the Honda Civic and drove away. Rutland Police located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, officers learned there were four firearms in the vehicle, including the black shotgun in the trunk, a .380 caliber pistol beneath Correa’s seat, a .38 Special revolver between Correa’s seat and the center console, and a .22 caliber pistol between Maldonado’s seat and the center console. A search of the vehicle revealed two bags, containing approximately 24 grams of cocaine base, approximately 7 grams of cocaine, and over 550 bags of fentanyl. When Correa was searched incident to arrest, he was found in possession of a digital scale and a firearm magazine loaded with .380 caliber ammunition.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that both Maldonado and Correa are presumed innocent until and unless convicted of a crime.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the coordinated investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Rutland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Maldonado is represented by Karen Shingler, Esq. Correa is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn
Two Leaders of Real Estate Investment Firm Indicted for $650 Million Ponzi Scheme ConspiracyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – The president and a top officer of a real estate investment company were charged for their roles in a scheme to defraud more than 2,000 investors in a $650 million Ponzi scheme, and with conspiring to evade $26 million in tax liabilities, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Thomas Nicholas Salzano, aka “Nicholas Salzano,” 64, of Secaucus, New Jersey, and Rey E. Grabato II, 43, of Hoboken, New Jersey, and the Republic of the Philippines, are charged in an 18-count indictment unsealed Oct. 12, 2022, with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Salzano is also charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of tax evasion, and five counts of subscribing to false tax returns.
Salzano was arrested Oct. 12, 2022, and is scheduled to appear by videoconference this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre. Grabato remains at large.
Also today, Arthur S. Scuttaro, 62, of Nutley, New Jersey, the former head of sales at National Realty Investment Advisors LLC (NRIA), pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud in the same scheme. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2023.
“As charged in the indictment, these defendants schemed to create a high-pressure, fraudulent marketing campaign to hoodwink investors into believing that their bogus real estate venture generated substantial profits,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “In reality, their criminal tactics were straight out of the Ponzi scheme playbook so that they could cheat their investors and line their own pockets. Our message from today’s charges is that we remain deeply committed to rooting out all types of financial fraud schemes. These schemes undermine our markets and erode the public’s trust in investing. Together with our enforcement partners, we will continue to prioritize investigating and prosecuting financial crime in all of its forms.”
“This case should serve as a cautionary tale to the consumer,” FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Before you entrust your hard-earned savings to someone, do your research on the trustee and the product they are selling; become familiar with the red flags that can alert you to a fraud; don’t let dollar signs cloud your judgement; and remember the old adage that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Slick pamphlets, flashy commercials, and ads that feature celebrities do not add up to the most important element – credibility. The FBI works diligently to protect the American public, arrest lawbreakers, and recoup whatever stolen funds haven’t evaporated. The sad fact is the consumer is rarely made whole. Skepticism and analysis are still the best protection.”
“This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions,” Tammy Tomlins, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office, said. “These defendants prioritized their own greed, stealing $650 million from investors, while conspiring to evade $26 million in tax liabilities. The indictment sends a clear message that the IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners, remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Grabato was president of NRIA and Salzano was the firm’s shadow chief executive officer. From February 2018 through January 2022, Salzano and Grabato defrauded investors and potential investors of NRIA Partners Portfolio Fund I LLC, a real estate fund operated by NRIA, of $650 million through lies, deception, misleading statements, and material omissions. These included false representations about NRIA’s financial position, how the defendants and their conspirators used fund investor money, and Salzano’s managerial role at NRIA and his history of fraud.
The defendants executed their scheme through an aggressive multi-year, nationwide marketing campaign that involved thousands of emails to investors; advertisements on billboards, television, and radio; and meetings and presentations to investors. Salzano led and directed the marketing campaign, which employed deception, material misrepresentations and omissions, and falsified documents to manipulate investors. The marketing campaign was intended to mislead investors into believing that NRIA was a solvent business that generated significant profits. In reality, NRIA generated little to no profits and operated as a Ponzi scheme, which was kept afloat by new investors. Despite investing almost none of their own capital into the business, the defendants misappropriated millions of dollars of investor money.
Salzano concealed his true managerial role at NRIA while using Grabato as a stand-in CEO in an effort to avoid scrutiny by investors of Salzano’s prior guilty plea to defrauding small businesses in Louisiana through a large telecommunications company.
Salzano and Grabato also orchestrated a separate conspiracy to defraud the IRS in its effort to collect $26 million in outstanding taxes Salzano owed to the U.S. Treasury. Salzano and Grabato are alleged to have lied to the IRS, used a web of nominees, opened bank accounts in the names of phony entities, and used false and fraudulent company documents.
The conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States counts charged in the indictment both carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The securities fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. The wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud counts are both punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The tax evasion counts both carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The subscribing to false tax return counts each carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The aggravated identity theft counts carry a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
In a separate civil action, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint today in the District of New Jersey against Salzano, Grabato, Scuttaro, and others based on the allegations underlying the Ponzi scheme alleged in the indictment and information.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark, with the investigation. He also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office, for its cooperation and assistance during the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Fayer, of the Economic Crimes Unit, and Lauren E. Repole, Chief of the General Crimes Unit.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Bronx Gang Members Charged with MurderRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JUSTIS COLON and ARIEL MARTINEZ with racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, murder with a firearm, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, and other firearms offenses relating to COLON and MARTINEZ’s participation in the murder of Joshua Garcia and the non-fatal shooting of two other victims on April 23, 2022, in the Bronx, New York.
COLON and MARTINEZ were taken into federal custody from state custody and will be presented today before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants participated in a gang shooting that killed Joshua Garcia and left two other victims injured. We continue our daily work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who bring violence to our streets.”
NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “The fusillade of bullets that killed Joshua Garcia in April and wounded two other victims is a level of violence that shocks the conscience and can never be accepted. Now, thanks to our determined investigation, the two alleged gang members charged in this case will face swift and meaningful punishment – a message to anyone else considering such violence on our city streets. I commend our NYPD investigators, together with the prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, for their work in this important case.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal Court:[1]
From at least 2014 to 2022, JUSTIS COLON, a/k/a “Jus Blaze,” a/k/a “JB,” a/k/a “Bin Laden,” and ARIEL MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Rel,” were members or associates of a gang based in the Castle Hill neighborhood of the Bronx known as “670.”
In order to fund the 670 gang, protect and expand its interests, and promote its standing, members and associates of 670 committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence against rival gang members, including murder and assault; conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics, including heroin, “crack” cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana; committed check fraud and unemployment fraud; committed commercial burglaries; and obtained, possessed, and used firearms, including by brandishing and discharging them.
On April 23, 2022, during a shooting at rival gang members, COLON and MARTINEZ shot and killed Joshua Garcia and wounded two other victims in the vicinity of 1713 Clay Avenue in the Bronx, New York.
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COLON, 25, and MARTINEZ, 23, both of the Bronx, New York, are each charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of death or life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison; two counts of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison; and two counts of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, during which the firearm was brandished and discharged, which each carry a statutory maximum of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the NYPD. Mr. Williams also thanked the Office of the Bronx District Attorney for its assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Herman, Emily A. Johnson, and Jun Xiang are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.
Two Arrested for Attorney Impersonation SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Two men were arrested yesterday in San Antonio on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in an attorney impersonation scheme.
According to court documents, beginning in December 2019, Jose Maria Guerrero, 68, of Olmos Park, and Rodolfo Solis Zepeda, 75, of San Antonio, devised a scheme to have Guerrero, who is not a licensed attorney, impersonate Zepeda, who is a licensed attorney, in telephonic immigration court hearings. Guerrero was formerly a Texas licensed attorney who resigned from the Texas bar in lieu of disciplinary actions in 2016.
Zepeda, or one of his employees, gave Zepeda’s law firm’s business phone number to the immigration court for use during the telephonic hearings. The call from immigration court was then forwarded to Guerrero’s personal cell phone. Guerrero would claim to be Zepeda and proceed with the hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents identified at least 100 different occasions where Guerrero appeared as Zepeda before immigration courts.
Guerrero and Zepeda are charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and five counts of false statements. If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison on each of the six counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee made the announcement.
HSI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Three traffickers sentenced for smuggling meth, heroin and cocaine for cartelRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Two Mexican nationals and one Texas man who are associated with the Jalisco Cartel have been sent to federal prison following their convictions of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute eight kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Gustavo Arocha, 47, Uriel Lopez, 45, both of Michoacan, Mexico, pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2021, and Dec. 7, 2020, respectively. Juan Hinojosa, 49, Laredo, pleaded guilty Feb. 5, 2021.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana imposed a 240-month term of imprisonment for Arocha, while Sanchez and Hinojosa received 108 and 120 months, respectively. Not U.S. citizens, Arocha and Lopez are expected to face removal proceedings following their imprisonment.
At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing how the traffickers also conspired to import an additional 27 kilograms of heroin and planned to bring 100 kilograms of cocaine into the country from Mexico. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Saldana noted the importation of illegal drugs brought pain and suffering to the community.
The investigation revealed that from May 4, 2018, to Oct. 28, 2019, Arocha, Lopez and Hinojosa conspired to import illegal drugs into the United States through Laredo. During the hearing, the court heard Arocha was the ringleader of the organization and was connected to a source of supply in Mexico with potential buyers in the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Operation dubbed Dart Monkey with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Laredo Police Department and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. 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, mutlti-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Graciela Lindberg, Jennifer Day and Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Three Defendants Plead Guilty to Their Roles in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Three individuals have pleaded guilty to their roles in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Bekam Addissu Merdassa, 40, of Inver Grove Heights, Hanna Marekegn, 40, of Medina, and Hadith Yusuf Ahmed, 34, of Eden Prairie, admitted that between 2020 and 2022, they knowingly and willfully conspired with others to participate in a fraudulent scheme to obtain and misappropriate millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds that were intended as reimbursements for the cost of serving meals to underprivileged children.
According to his guilty plea, Merdassa used a non-profit entity called Youth Inventors Lab as a shell company to carry out his scheme. Merdassa and his co-conspirators enrolled Youth Inventors Lab in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. After enrolling in the program, Merdassa and his co-conspirators immediately began submitting claims for reimbursement for purportedly serving meals to hundreds or thousands of children a day. In support of these fraudulent claims, Merdassa and his co-conspirators prepared and submitted fake invoices purporting to document the purchase of food from a vendor, S & S Catering. But Youth Inventors Lab never received any meals from S & S Catering to serve at its site. In total, Youth Inventors Lab claimed to have served over 1.3 million meals between December 2020 through June 2021 and fraudulently received $3,029,786 in reimbursements from Feeding Our Future.
According to her guilty plea, Marekegn enrolled her company, Brava Cafe, in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. In her application, Marekegn claimed that she would be serving meals to up to 4,000 children per day at her restaurant in Minneapolis. In reality, Marekegn had neither the ability to prepare and serve that many meals each day nor that number of children to feed. Marekegn submitted fraudulently inflated invoices for reimbursement in which she claimed to be serving meals to thousands of children a day. In support of these fraudulent claims, the defendant prepared and submitted fake paperwork, including falsely inflated meal counts. Marekegn also participated in the Federal Child Nutrition Program as a vendor and paid kickbacks to a Feeding Our Future employee in exchange for the nonprofit’s sponsorship of her company. In total, the company claimed to have served over 2 million meals to children between September 2020 and fall 2021 and obtained approximately $7.1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds.
According to his guilty plea, Ahmed was an employee of Feeding Our Future and was responsible for monitoring and supporting sponsor sites. Ahmed solicited and accepted kickback payments from several sites under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Ahmed created and used a shell company, Mizal Consulting LLC, to receive and conceal the kickback payments, which were often disguised as “consulting fees.” In all, Ahmed solicited and received more than $1 million in bribe and kickback payments from individuals and companies involved in the scheme under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Ahmed also created a site under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future called Southwest Metro Youth. Ahmed and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent invoices for reimbursement in which they claimed to be serving meals to 2,000 children a day at Southwest Metro Youth. In support of these fraudulent claims, Ahmed and his co-conspirators prepared and submitted fake paperwork, including fake meal counts and fake invoices purporting to document the purchase of food from a vendor. In total, Ahmed’s company Southwest Metro Youth obtained more than $1.1 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds
The three defendants pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy E. Brasel to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later time.
These cases are the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Harry M. Jacobs, Chelsea A. Walcker, Matthew S. Ebert, and Joseph S. Teirab. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Student Who Hacked over a Dozen Email and Snapchat Accounts of Female Students from the University of Puerto Rico Sentenced to 13 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On October 12, 2022, United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll sentenced Iván Santell-Velázquez to 13 months in prison and two years of supervised release for cyberstalking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2), announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendant plead guilty on July 13, 2022.
According to the parties’ stipulation of facts, Santell-Velázquez, while a student at the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, sent unauthorized emails to faculty, administration, and students under the moniker “Slay3r_r00t”. Santell-Velázquez targeted over 100 student email accounts and used phishing and spoofing schemes to successfully break into multiple university e-mail accounts. He also hacked into several female students’ Snapchat accounts between 2019 and 2021, some of which contained nude images that he shared with third parties who published the images online.
After Santell-Velázquez broke into a victim’s Snapchat account, she began receiving harassing text messages with her intimate pictures. Nude photos stolen from the victim’s Snapchat account were also posted on Twitter and on a Facebook page. The plea agreement identified 15 women and the University of Puerto Rico as victims of Santell-Velázquez.
“The prosecution of cyber criminals is a top priority in the Justice Department. Cybercrimes not only cause financial losses to corporate victims, but also result in financial and psychological harm to vulnerable victims, oftentimes children or the elderly. This conduct will not be tolerated.” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “This case also demonstrates the importance of safeguarding personal information and passwords, and the care we must take when responding to suspicious e-mails and text messages.”
“Cyberstalking can have a major impact on its victims, which can range from suicidal ideation, fear, anger, depression, to PTSD,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office, Joseph González. “This is why, at the FBI we are committed to investigating these terrible crimes and we urge the public to report incidents to law enforcement immediately. Victims and witnesses can report cybercrimes via iC3.gov (https://www.ic3.gov/Home/ComplaintChoice) or by calling 787-987-6500. We’d like also to thank the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for their support in this important investigation.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanette Collazo prosecuted the case, and the FBI San Juan Cyber Division conducted the investigation.
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Stevensville man admits drug trafficking, firearm, money laundering crimes after investigators seize thousands of fentanyl pills in traffic stop; find pill-making equipment, materials on propertyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A Stevensville man admitted to drug trafficking, firearm and money laundering crimes after law enforcement seized thousands of fentanyl and methamphetamine pills from his vehicle in a Minnesota traffic stop and found pill-making equipment and materials on his Montana property, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Andrew Kyle Whittecar, 37, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, prohibited person in possession of a firearm and money laundering. Whittecar faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least four years of supervised release on the most serious crime.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Feb. 2, 2023. Whittecar was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on April 27, Whittecar was the driver and sole occupant of a red Cadillac when the Minnesota Highway Patrol stopped him near Alexandria, Minnesota. The trooper developed reasonable suspicion that Whittecar was trafficking drugs and searched the vehicle. During the search, the trooper located $3,000 in cash, three grams of cocaine and 75 blue pills labeled “M30,” which lab testing determined to be fentanyl, in the center console. In the trunk was a loaded Glock 17 semi-automatic handgun and an additional loaded magazine. And in the covered spare wheel well was an ammunition box containing vacuum-sealed packages of pills. In total, there were 5,096 blue “M30” pills, which contained fentanyl, and 1,000 orange pills, which contained meth.
In addition, the government alleged Whittecar advised that he had been working with several coconspirators to distribute the pills, which appeared to be Adderall and Percocet, but he knew contained meth and fentanyl, respectively.
The government further alleged that the Drug Enforcement Administration, after receiving a tip, searched a 40-acre parcel of property Whittecar owned near Stevensville. Agents found a backhoe abutting the entrance to a storage container. Inside the container were two pill presses, along with dyes, chemicals and other substances indicating the production of counterfeit pills consistent with those found in the Minnesota traffic stop. There also was a jar containing 240 grams of fentanyl and a plastic baggie containing another 161 grams of fentanyl.
While in custody, Whittecar called family members and directed them to items buried on the property he referred to as “hay.” DEA agents conducted an additional search and, approximately 10 feet underground below a pile of hay, they discovered a large plastic container and two plastic five-gallon buckets. The storage items contained additional chemicals, powders and liquids. Agents searched another storage unit used by Whittecar and found multiple boxes containing various lab equipment consistent with use in the synthesis of chemical materials. DEA forensic chemists determined that the items and equipment seized included precursors required for fentanyl production.
Additionally, a search of Whittecar’s three cell phones found what appeared to be coded language for drug production and distribution. Whittecar’s bank records reflected several large cash deposits and withdrawals. Whittecar was last employed in 2018 and did not have any apparent business accounts reflecting self-employment.
The government also alleged that Whittecar was convicted of three federal felonies in 2009 and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the DEA, Minnesota State Patrol, West Central Minnesota Drug and Violent Crime Task Force and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
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Statement of U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery on the Line of Duty Deaths of Bristol Police Sergeant Dustin Demonte and Officer Alex Hamzy, and the wounding of Officer Alec IuratoRead the Press Release
“This devastating news is another tragic reminder of the potential danger that law enforcement officers face every day in their service to our communities. I am praying for these officers and their families and loved ones, and every member of the Bristol Police Department and the Bristol community will remain in my thoughts. Our office and our federal agency partners will support the Bristol Police and Connecticut State Police in any way we can.”
St. Petersburg Felon Sentenced to Five Years’ Imprisonment for Selling Fentanyl and FirearmsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced William Shumaker, Jr. (39, St. Petersburg) to five years in federal prison for four counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Shumaker had pleaded guilty on July 20, 2022.
According to court documents, Shumaker, a multiple-convicted felon, sold quantities of fentanyl to undercover law enforcement officers on several occasions and in increasingly large amounts between March and April 2021. Shumaker told undercover officers that he could sell them a firearm in addition to the fentanyl. In one such fentanyl sale, Shumaker sold a loaded Ruger .357 Magnum revolver and offered to sell a .22 caliber SCCY pistol along with the fentanyl and Magnum revolver.
This case was investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.
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.
Senior Prosecutors Named to Lead U.S. Attorney’s Criminal DivisionRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha has named two senior prosecutors to lead the United States Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division.
Lee H. Vilker, a federal prosecutor since 1999, has been appointed Criminal Chief. Mr. Vilker, who most recently served as the Office’s Deputy Criminal Chief, joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island in June 2002, after serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Jersey for nearly three years. In his more than two decades as a federal prosecutor, Mr. Vilker has specialized in investigating and prosecuting complex fraud cases, to include Ponzi schemes, investment fraud, and corporate embezzlement. Mr. Vilker has also successfully prosecuted a wide range of complex narcotics offenses and crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.
Mr. Vilker is a 1990 graduate of Brandeis University and received his law degree from New York University School of Law in 1993, where he received the annual American Jurisprudence Award in Constitutional Law.
Assistant United States Attorney Stacey P. Veroni, a prosecutor for nearly thirty years, has been appointed by U.S. Attorney Cunha to serve as Deputy Criminal Chief for Violent Crime and Narcotics. In addition to her criminal trial responsibilities prosecuting violent crime, human trafficking, and complex fraud and narcotics trafficking cases, Ms. Veroni has served as the United States Attorney’s Offices’ Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and Human Trafficking Coordinator.
Prior to joining the United States Attorney’s Office in 2019, Ms. Veroni served as a state prosecutor for twenty-five years in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. In her distinguished career as a state prosecutor, Ms. Veroni was the lead prosecutor in more than 100 criminal jury trials, including prosecutions for murder, gang violence, sexual assault, drug offenses, robberies, domestic violence, organized crime, and child molestation. In her tenure as a Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Veroni served, at various times, as Criminal Chief, Deputy Criminal Chief, Chief of the Narcotics & Organized Crime Division, and Chief of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit.
Ms. Veroni, a 1990 graduate of Boston College, received her law degree from Suffolk University in 1993.
“Lee Vilker and Stacey Veroni are profoundly experienced, thoughtful, and effective prosecutors, with a history of accomplishment across virtually every area of criminal enforcement,” remarked U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Prosecutors of their caliber are essential to this Office’s efforts to expand the scope, impact, and reach of our work to secure justice and public safety, and I am grateful for their service in these important roles.”
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Ronkonkoma Man Indicted for Fentanyl Pill ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Central Islip charging Fernando Cooper, also known as “Pablo,” with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in Suffolk County more than 40 grams of fentanyl, which was contained in counterfeit opioid pills. Cooper, who was already in custody on state fentanyl charges, is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), and Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced the indictment and charges.
“As alleged, Cooper manipulatively sold and marketed counterfeit opioid pills laced with fentanyl, a dangerous narcotic that is responsible for many deaths in Suffolk County,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Opioid addiction and fatal drug overdoses remain a significant threat to our communities and this Office is working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect the public by prosecuting fentanyl traffickers who callously conceal that deadly drug in counterfeit pills that could easily kill unsuspecting users.”
“Drug dealers are pushing products with no care for the dangerous substances in them, placing financial gain over human life,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. “We allege Cooper sold pills he knew were laced with fentanyl, which is responsible for the spike in overdose deaths here and across the nation. These dealers will be held accountable for the carnage they are leaving behind.”“The illicit sale and distribution of fentanyl has taken countless lives across our region and the unsealing of this indictment should strike fear into the heart of anyone who considers buying opioids in any form on the black market,” stated SCPD Commissioner Harrison. “I am proud of the men and women of the Suffolk County Police Department and our partner agencies for their tireless work in this case. We will continue to take aggressive action to hold dangerous drug dealers, like this individual who was peddling counterfeit opioid pills, accountable as we work to curb this ongoing scourge in our communities.”
“This defendant allegedly sold deadly counterfeit opioid pills to unsuspecting users,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney. “Thanks to our partnership with all of our law enforcement agencies, this individual is no longer peddling this poison to our residents. I want to especially thank U.S. Attorney Peace for spearheading the prosecution of these important cases.”
As alleged in the indictment and court filings, between December 2021 and July 2022, Cooper sold and possessed with intent to sell more than 500 counterfeit opioid pills that contained approximately 56 grams of fentanyl, but that were made to resemble Percocet and 30-milligram oxycodone pills, which are in great demand by opioid addicts. In July 2022, Cooper sold approximately 223 counterfeit opioid pills, containing about 28 grams of oxycodone to another person in Bohemia, New York and, days after that sale Cooper was found in possession of 119 counterfeit opioid pills that contained around 14 grams of fentanyl, which were recovered after he fled from the police following a traffic stop and hid in a Central Islip backyard. Execution of a search warrant on cellphones that were seized from Cooper revealed that he was a member of the Hit Squad street gang and that he worked with other individuals to sell and possess with intent to sell fentanyl contained in counterfeit or “pressed” opioid pills in Suffolk County.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Justice, in 2019, nearly 71,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. The increase in overdose deaths has been driven in large part by fentanyl – a drug that has been described as 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. In 2019, over 14,000 people died in the United States from a drug overdose involving heroin. From 2013 to 2019, the synthetic opioid death rate increased by more than 1,000 percent. Of those deaths, over 70% involved a prescription or illicit opioid. Among New York State residents, the number of overdose deaths involving any opioid increased each year between 2010 and 2017, with an overall increase of 200.2 percent from 1,074 in 2010 to 3,224 in 2017, according to the New York State Health Department.
If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or go to Findtreatment.gov.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Cooper faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Bradley T. King is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
FERNANDO COOPER (also known as “Pablo”)
Age: 21
Ronkonkoma, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-466 (JMA)
Rock Island Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Rock Island, Illinois, man, Atoris Jaquez Slater, 28, of the 1700 block of 25th Street, was sentenced today to an aggregate 120 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”) and tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”); possession of a firearm as a felon; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime. The sentence consists of concurrent 60-month terms of imprisonment for the drug trafficking and possession of a firearm as a felon convictions, to be followed by a consecutive 60 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime conviction.
Slater entered a plea of guilty in July 2021. Slater faced the following statutory penalties: 1) for possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of crack and THC: up to 20 years in prison; 2) for possession of a firearm as a felon: not more than 10 years in prison, and; 3) for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime: five years to life in prison.
The Rock Island Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
Rochester Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Drug Trafficking, Conspiracy, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – William Hallinan, 36, of Rochester, was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 2, 2020, a traffic stop of the vehicle Mr. Hallinan was driving and a subsequent search of his vehicle conducted by Somersworth Police yielded a baggie of methamphetamine, a loaded 9 mm handgun, a digital scale, and multiple unused baggies. Mr. Hallinan was also carrying roughly $900 in cash in his pocket. In a post-arrest interview, Mr. Hallinan admitted to selling drugs, and explained he carried the firearm to protect his money. On September 14, 2020, Strafford County Sheriff’s deputies conducted another motor vehicle stop of Mr. Hallinan, and during a pat check found a sheathed knife on his person, a switch blade, $1,131 in cash, 5.4 grams of crack cocaine, and a handgun. A subsequent search of his vehicle resulted in seizure of roughly 100 grams of fentanyl, 27.5 grams of methamphetamine, 24.5 grams of cocaine, a .45 caliber handgun, and $12,371 in cash. A search of Mr. Hallinan’s telephone revealed exchanges showing he conspired with his source of supply to purchase narcotics for distribution. Texts in his phone confirmed he was dealing drugs from February to September of 2020.
“Armed drug traffickers are a threat to the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Bringing these criminals to justice is a priority for the United States Attorney’s Office, so that we curb the violence and societal harm that stems from distribution of narcotics by armed criminals like the defendant.”
“Guns and drugs take far too many lives in our communities, and William Hallinan was contributing to the devastating impact of both here in New Hampshire,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “With today’s sentence, this armed drug trafficker will spend a significant time behind bars, while the FBI continues to work with our law enforcement partners to remove dangerous criminals from the streets.”
This matter was investigated by the Rochester Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande.
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Repeat Illegal Reentry Offender Sentenced to 16 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Paulino Gonzalez-Zarate, 30, a citizen of Mexico found in Dane County, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 16 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States.
Gonzalez-Zarate came to the attention of federal authorities after he was arrested on March 27, 2022 and charged with domestic violence offenses, including strangulation and second-degree sexual assault. He was indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry on May 11, 2022, and he pled guilty to the charge on July 18, 2022.
Chief Judge Peterson noted that this was the second time Gonzalez-Zarate was convicted of illegal reentry and that a 16-month prison term was warranted to deter Gonzalez-Zarate from continuing to reoffend. Judge Peterson ordered that this federal sentence run consecutive to any sentence imposed in the pending state case on the domestic violence offenses, concluding that there should be separate treatment for separate offenses.
The charge against Gonzalez-Zarate was the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Anita Marie Boor prosecuted this case.