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19 December 2024
U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton to Leave Justice DepartmentRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Leigha Simonton will resign from the Department of Justice effective Jan. 19, the office announced today.
“I began my career in this office as a summer intern after my first year of law school,” said Ms. Simonton. “It was love at first sight. Every day after that internship, I was figuring out how to become an Assistant U.S. Attorney here. I got that chance when I was nine months pregnant with my first child—a baby who is now 20 years old. I am so proud to have served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for almost eighteen years and then to have been chosen to lead this district—comprised of 100 counties and over 8 million people—as the United States Attorney. I cannot put into words what this experience has meant to me, and I leave with two decades of incredible memories. There is nothing more important than the work of our outstanding women and men in this office and in North Texas law enforcement, and I will be forever grateful to have been a part of it.”
Nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on Nov. 14, 2022 and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 6, 2022, Ms. Simonton was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas on Dec. 10, 2022. (Download a high-res version of her headshot here.)
Under her leadership, the district has fought relentlessly for justice, trying its highest number of cases in over a decade. Ms. Simonton actively supervised several high-profile jury trials, from Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz, the anesthesiologist convicted of injecting heart-stopping drugs into patient IV bags, to Christopher Kirchner, the Slync founder found guilty of defrauding investors out of more than $25 million, to Holly Elkins, the woman convicted of helping her fiancé cyberstalk and ultimately murder his former girlfriend and mother of his child. She also oversaw the charging of a Russian national for using the BitPaymer ransomware variant to attack numerous victims throughout the United States and the sentencing of a Ukrainian national for demanding over $700 million in ransom payments using the REvil ransomware variant. Other notable cases included charges against 14 individuals in the largest case investigated by the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee Fraud Task Force to date for allegedly bilking the Paycheck Protection Program and numerous financial institutions out of more than $53 million, charges against a Texas Christian University divinity professor for possessing child pornography, the sentencing of a retired Cook Children’s Hospital Chaplain for producing child pornography, the sentencing of a would-be bomber who idolized the Columbine High school shooters, and the sentencing of another man who set off a bomb in his backyard and plotted to blow up a high school.
During her tenure, Ms. Simonton also oversaw the prosecution of 11 drug traffickers charged in the wake of the juvenile fentanyl overdose scandal, which claimed the lives of four Carrollton-area middle and high schoolers and injured 10 more. In the wake of these tragedies, Ms. Simonton launched the “Protect Our Children Project,” aimed at bringing federal resources to bear on issues affecting schools, including fentanyl use. She hosted a series of webinars for hundreds of North Texas school administrators that covered the dangers of fentanyl, how to respond to an overdose, and how to discourage teens from using the drug. She also visited several area colleges to share the dangers of fentanyl with young adults. And, last summer, along with the other Texas U.S. Attorneys, she met in Austin with the heads of all Texas regional education service centers to provide important information and resources on fentanyl that they could use in Texas public schools.
Ms. Simonton also focused on curbing violent crime in North Texas, and the violent crime rate fell in major North Texas cities during that time. She prioritized prosecution of violent recidivists and launched Operation Take Aim in the summer of 2023 to further target such offenders. And she partnered with the other Texas U.S. Attorneys and the ATF in the summer of 2024 to launch “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative to combat the illegal use of machine gun conversion devices, also known as "switches.” The operation, which included a partnership with CrimeStoppers, raised public awareness of the dangers of switches, generated multiple tips, and resulted in numerous ongoing prosecutions.
The Civil and Appellate Divisions also thrived under Ms. Simonton’s stewardship. Ms. Simonton oversaw the creation and implementation of the district’s new Voluntary Self-Disclosure policy, incentivizing companies to quickly detect, disclose, and remediate suspected misconduct, and negotiated settlements in several self-disclosure cases. For instance, the Civil Division negotiated a $14.2 million settlement with Horizon Medical Center of Denton for potential violations of Medicare regulations and the physician self-referral law and an $18.4 million settlement with Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC (CNS) after CNS self-disclosed that it submitted false claims for payment to the National Nuclear Security Administration related to the Pantex Plant—the nation’s primary facility for the assembly, disassembly, and retrofitting of nuclear weapons. Further, the Civil Division negotiated a $4.5 million settlement with a 3D printing company that allegedly transmitted technical data to China in violation of export control laws and obtained $1.2 million in judgments against two doctors who prescribed hydrocodone to drug-seekers without legitimate medical purpose.
Meanwhile, under her leadership, the Appellate Division persuaded the Fifth Circuit to affirm the life sentence of a Michigan man who stalked, transported, and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl, convinced the Fifth Circuit that a retrial in the Ruel Hamilton real estate bribery case would not violate double jeopardy, and successfully defended against 19 issues on appeal arising from the Forest Park Medical Center kickback case. The Appellate Division also successfully defended the conviction of four UDF executives who misled investors and the SEC about their investment fund’s performance; the Fifth Circuit upheld the conviction, citing the government’s “avalanche of evidence” proving its case, and the Supreme Court later denied cert, allowing the Fifth Circuit decision to stand.
Ms. Simonton also oversaw the progress of the U.S. v. Rahimi case—charged in the Northern District of Texas—through the Fifth Circuit to the U.S. Supreme Court. She supported the Solicitor General’s efforts seeking certiorari of the Fifth Circuit’s decision invalidating Rahimi’s conviction for using a firearm while under a domestic violence protection order. After the Supreme Court granted cert, she attended the oral argument as a guest of the Solicitor General, and the Supreme Court later decided 8-1 that Rahimi’s statute of conviction was constitutional under the Second Amendment. The Rahimi case originated from the Northern District of Texas’s Domestic Violence Initiative, which targets domestic abusers for federal prosecution and resulted, during Ms. Simonton’s tenure, in cases such as the sentencing of a San Diego man to life in prison for traveling to Texas and killing his boyfriend, and the sentencing of a felon domestic abuser to 10 years in prison for violating his supervised release by attacking his partner. As U.S. Attorney, Ms. Simonton has been an outspoken advocate for domestic violence awareness, partnering with regional and national domestic violence organizations, holding press conferences with the other Texas U.S. Attorneys to honor Texas domestic violence victims, and sharing resources with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices so they can create their own domestic abuser prosecution programs.
Throughout her time in office, Ms. Simonton and her staff actively supported other especially vulnerable communities, including religious communities. She held hate-crime seminars for Jewish and Muslim community leaders and oversaw hate-crimes prosecutions that resulted in the sentencing of a Dallas man to 37 years after he shot five individuals, killing one, at a tire shop because it was a Muslim-owned business, and the sentencing of an Amarillo man for threatening to execute three Jewish rabbis.
Ms. Simonton further attempted to stem the tide of defendants who make their way into the federal system, revitalizing and expanding the district’s Project Safe Neighborhood Re-Entry Night program, which educates individuals on state parole and probation about avoiding behaviors, like drug trafficking and gun possession, that could end up in federal prosecution, and connects them with community resources—like therapy, addiction, and job placement programs—to live productive lives. During her tenure, thousands of such individuals across the district attended these programs, and the vast majority have not reoffended. Further, Ms. Simonton and her staff created events to foster positive relationships between residents of high-crime communities and the law enforcement officers who serve them, such as adopting neighborhood schools, holding book fairs staffed by U.S. Attorney’s Office personnel and law enforcement officers, and having officers read books to preschoolers via the office’s “Pre-K Reading Program.”
After a brief hiatus, Ms. Simonton anticipates likely reentering private practice, and she plans to continue to advocate for domestic-violence victims and to protect children and young adults from the harms of fentanyl and other threats to their health and safety. An Acting U.S. Attorney will be announced at a later date.
Two New Castle Residents Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Puerto Rico-to-Western Pennsylvania Cocaine Trafficking OperationRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Two residents of New Castle, Pennsylvania, were sentenced in federal court on December 18, 2024, for their convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and related charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The defendants were among 17 individuals from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; and Youngstown, Ohio, indicted in March 2024 for violating federal narcotics, firearms, and racketeering laws by conspiring to distribute cocaine throughout Western Pennsylvania and Youngstown (read the Indictment news release here).
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentences on Luciano Bratini Rivera, 37, and Markus Hobel, 35, sentencing Rivera to 97 months of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possessing with intent to distribute and distributing a quantity of cocaine on two separate dates, and Hobel to 72 months of prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to information presented to the Court, Rivera knowingly conspired with the leader of the drug trafficking organization, Daniel Feliciano, to receive kilograms of cocaine from a source of supply in Puerto Rico and distribute smaller quantities of that cocaine to multiple co-conspirators in order to maximize profits. Those co-conspirators, who included Hobel, then distributed the cocaine in New Castle, Ellwood City, and elsewhere in Lawrence County. At least five kilograms of cocaine was attributable to Rivera, who also stored drug proceeds on Feliciano’s behalf— including more than $11,000 seized from Rivera’s residence upon his arrest in March 2024—and drove to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with drug proceeds to exchange for additional kilograms of cocaine on multiple occasions in late 2023 and early 2024, during which Rivera retrieved a total of at least six kilograms of cocaine.
At least 100 grams of cocaine was attributable to Hobel, whom Feliciano also described and utilized as his bodyguard to protect his drug product, profits, and person. This included Hobel’s knowing and unlawful carrying and possession of a pistol and rifle during and in relation to and in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy, such as patrolling the premises of and otherwise standing guard with one or more firearms at Feliciano’s residence.
Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Drug Task Force, and United States Postal Inspection Service, as well as the New Castle Police Department, Ellwood City Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and United States Department of Agriculture, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rivera and Hobel.
Lawrence County is one of six Western Pennsylvania counties officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. The county received its HIDTA designation in July 2022, allowing it to receive dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state, and local governments in fighting drug trafficking and abuse.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Two Houston Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Burglarizing Pharmacies in Southern Illinois, MissouriRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A district court judge sentenced two Houston, Texas, men to federal prison for burglarizing pharmacies of controlled substances in Casey, Illinois, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
McKindley V. Allen, 32, and DaLeon J. Fontennet, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and attempted burglary involving controlled substances.
Both defendants were sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment.
“Damaging and burglarizing locally-owned pharmacies that provide vital healthcare services impair rural communities, and leave residents and employees without reliable support,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The defendants were only concerned with lining their own pockets with controlled substances and drug proceeds and had no regard for the destruction left for the communities to clean up.”
According to court documents, Allen and Fontennet unlawfully entered a pharmacy in Casey with intent to steal controlled substances in December 2023 by using a Sawzall to cut through the exterior wall. In January, the pair burglarized a pharmacy in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and took more than 16,000 pills. Fontennet admitted to also burglarizing a pharmacy in Murphysboro, Illinois.
“DEA has seen a surge in burglaries of controlled substances at independent, non-chain pharmacies, which rips at the core of communities across this country” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Dixon, head of Drug Enforcement Administration investigations in southern Illinois. “With the sentencing of these two criminals, DEA demonstrates its steadfast commitment to the American public and sends a clear message to those who engage in these types of egregious acts.”
After burglarizing the pharmacies, Allen admitted to conspiring with others to distribute the stolen oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine.
DEA St. Louis led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson prosecuted the case.
Troy Man Charged with Pandemic Unemployment Insurance FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daion Morris, age 32, of Troy, New York, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Lucy Lang, New York State Inspector General (NYSIG), made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that Morris used a stolen identity to create an unemployment insurance claim in September 2020, and continually recertified the claim through March 2021. Morris received over $29,000 in unemployment insurance benefits in the victim’s name. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Upon conviction on all counts, Morris would face at least 2 years and up to 22 years in prison; a fine of up to $250,000; and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Morris was arraigned today in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and ordered released pending a trial before Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn.
HSI, NYSIG, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the New York State Department of Labor – Office of Special Investigations investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting.
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.
Three imprisoned for jewelry store and bank armed robberiesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Three Houston residents were sentenced to prison following their convictions of robbing commercial businesses with guns, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Thaddeaues Malik Williams, 26, Tydreic Deon Sublet, 24, and Andre Palmer-Gilliams, 33, pleaded guilty Oct. 19, 2023, Sept. 9 and Aug. 12, respectively.
U.S. District Judge George Hanks has now ordered Williams, Sublet and Gilliams to serve 199, 233 and 210 months in federal prison, respectively. All three must also serve three years of supervised release.
On July 1, 2019, Williams, Sublet and Gilliams entered Rice Village Diamonds, where customers and employees were present, dressed in construction attire. They used firearms to steal jewelry from four glass cabinets. Authorities later identified the suspects after recovering a Gatorade bottle they left inside the store.
On Aug. 14, 2019, the trio entered Woodforest National Bank inside Gallery Furniture. Subtle pointed a firearm at customers and disarmed a security officer, while Williams jumped over the counter, ordered tellers to open their drawers and stole cash.
Authorities responded and pursued the suspects as they fled in a vehicle. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed into a ditch near a residential area, at which time they fled on foot. Authorities eventually apprehended them and recovered the security guard’s gun, other firearms and the stolen money.
They will remain in custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Houston Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Jenkins Stotts prosecuted the case.
Three Plead Guilty in Conspiracy Scheme Involving Bribery of Government Contracting OfficerRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Three men pleaded guilty today to their respective roles in a conspiracy to bribe a public official announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Keith Kelly, Special Agent in Charge for the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office.
Francisco Guerra, 55, of Lexington, Alabama, Coogan Preston, 55, of Columbia, South Carolina, and Jason Ingram, 47, of Rogersville, Alabama, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Liles Burke to conspiracy to bribe a public official. Preston also pleaded guilty to receiving a gratuity as a public official. Sentencing hearings for each of the conspirators have been scheduled for March 18, 2025.
According to the plea agreements, the scheme began in 2016 and continued until 2021. As part of the scheme, Guerra agreed to provide money and other items of value to Preston, a government contracting official working at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. In exchange for these bribes, Preston identified subcontracting opportunities for companies owned and operated by Guerra and convinced the prime contractor to use one of Guerra’s companies as a subcontractor.
“This office is committed to prosecuting individuals who illegally prioritize their personal gain over the fiduciary responsibilities of a federal government official,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Persons who seek to enrich themselves through bribes and illegal payments undermine the public’s trust and the basic concept of fairness.”
“We are very pleased with today’s announcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly. “This is a true testament to our continued commitment to work closely and seamlessly with our outstanding fellow law enforcement agencies to help bring those to justice who attempt to defraud the U.S. Government and U.S. Army.”
The Department of the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and the United States Department of Defense Office of Inspector General-- Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Peeples is prosecuting the case.
Three Indicted in Medicaid Fraud Conspiracy SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A 13-count indictment charges three defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering of proceeds derived from fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.According to court documents, between March 2018 and July 2024, Shawn Ashley Grygo, 37, of Forest Lake, Minnesota, Shantel Rene Magadanz, 34, of Stacy, Minnesota, and Heather Lynn Heim, 46, of St. Paul, Minnesota, devised and carried out a health care fraud scheme to systematically overbill for drug and alcohol treatment services. The defendants used an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center called Evergreen Recovery, Inc. to defraud Medicaid and other health care programs by billing for treatment that was not provided, services that were not eligible for reimbursement, and billing for treatment services clients were required to attend as a mandatory condition of remaining in free housing provided as a kickback.
According to court documents, in order to maximize the amount of fraudulent Medicaid claims, the defendants used free housing in Evergreen-controlled “sober” homes as a kickback to induce clients to enroll and remain in Evergreen Recovery treatment so that the defendants could use those clients’ names and identifying information to overbill Medicaid. In order to induce Medicaid-eligible patients to enroll in the program, the defendants recruited people from homeless shelters and encampments, residential drug treatment programs, and county probation offices looking for places to put people being released from jail. As part of their conspiracy scheme, the defendants told clients at intake – and repeatedly throughout their stay – that their entitlement to free housing was contingent on their attendance at least five group counseling sessions per week and a weekly individual session with their primary counselor. If a client’s attendance fell short of the requirement, the defendants and others threatened clients with being locked out of free housing and having their belongings put on the curb, all in order to compel utilization of services.
According to court documents, the conspiracy scheme also involved fraudulent practices designed to facilitate overbilling for group counseling, one-on-one counseling, and treatment coordination services.
As part of their scheme, the defendants created and caused to be created electronic health record chart entries weeks or months after the purported date of services. On at least one occasion, the defendants and others stayed at the office all night before a visit by licensing regulators in order to create hundreds of untimely chart entries. The defendants also hired Peer Coaches and directed them to log their time and activities in a manner that misrepresented the circumstances under which they were interacting with clients in order to facilitate systematic overbilling.
Grygo, Magadanz, and Heim are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud. Grygo is also being charged with three counts of money laundering. Grygo is expected to make her initial appearance on Monday, December 23, 2024. Magadanz and Heim made their initial appearances on December 19, 2024, and were released on conditions, including a condition prohibiting contact with former clients and employees of Evergreen Recovery and its related entities.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) at the Attorney General’s office for their assistance in this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp 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.
Texas Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Rosharon, Texas, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months of imprisonment on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Daniel Saucedo, 34.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about July 28, 2023, Saucedo attempted to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Conti stated that Saucedo’s conduct was particularly serious because Saucedo traveled to Pittsburgh specifically to receive a kilogram of cocaine through the U.S. mail and then distribute it to a local drug dealer. Judge Conti emphasized the pervasive harms that drug trafficking and drug abuse have within communities.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin C. Dobkin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Saucedo.
Tennessee Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking in Bowling Green, KentuckyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Following a two-day trial, a federal jury in the Western District of Kentucky convicted Portier Q. Govan, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, of all counts in a five-count indictment, including sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, obstruction or interference with a sex trafficking prosecution or investigation, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Govan’s co-defendant, Brittany R. Howard, 25, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, pleaded guilty on Oct. 30 to interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution and obstruction or interference with a sex trafficking prosecution or investigation.
“This defendant used extreme threats of violence to compel an 18-year-old victim to engage in commercial sex, even holding a gun to her head to terrify, control and coerce her for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant sought to cover up his crime by repeatedly intimidating a witness to lie for him. A unanimous jury has found the defendant guilty of his heinous conduct, and our prosecution should make clear that we will not tolerate sex trafficking in our country. The Justice Department will use all the tools at our disposal to hold human traffickers accountable, to seek justice for survivors, and to protect survivors from harm.”
“I commend the prosecution team, FBI’s Bowling Green Resident Agency and the Bowling Green Police Department for their outstanding work on this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We are committed to the aggressive investigation and prosecution of human trafficking wherever it occurs in the Western District. I strongly encourage the public to report any suspected human trafficking to law enforcement.”
“This defendant preyed on a vulnerable young woman, threatening her with physical violence and even death if she didn’t comply with his demands,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough. “The woman was forced to engage in commercial sex while the defendant profited from her suffering. Tragically, this is a reality that unfolds far too often in our communities. The FBI is fully committed to using every resource at our disposal to identify perpetrators, hold them accountable and put an end to the devastating crime of sex trafficking.”
Evidence presented during the trial established that Govan and Howard met the victim at a gas station in Bowling Green and convinced her to come back to their hotel room where they recruited and enticed her to engage in commercial sex by making false promises of making good money. Govan continued his enticement attempts by taking the victim on a shopping trip to two shopping malls in Tennessee, and when they returned to Bowling Green later that night, Govan and Howard convinced the victim to participate with Howard in seeing a commercial sex customer. From that moment on, Govan’s attitude toward the victim changed, as he became demanding, intimidating and threatening. Govan ordered the victim to make eye contact with him while speaking, and even threatened to kill the victim, pressing a pistol against her head while she was in the front passenger seat of a car, then lowering the gun and firing a bullet across her lap, missing her body by inches. Govan further scared the victim by showing her a video of himself beating a defenseless man tied to a chair. Govan sexually assaulted the victim, and for four days compelled her to engage in commercial sex for his profit by threatening to hurt her. Upon being discovered by the police, Govan attempted to interfere with the investigation by having Howard lie for him and prevent the police from speaking to the victim, and after his arrest, he sought to obstruct the prosecution by passing letters to Howard in the jail instructing her to lie.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2025. Govan faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison as well as mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Howard will face a sentencing hearing on March 9, 2025.
The FBI Louisville Field Office, Bowling Green Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Bowling Green Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Sewell for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
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Tennessee Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking in Bowling Green, KentuckyRead the Press Release
Following a two-day trial, a federal jury in the Western District of Kentucky convicted Portier Q. Govan, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, of all counts in a five-count indictment, including sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, obstruction or interference with a sex trafficking prosecution or investigation, interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Govan’s co-defendant, Brittany R. Howard, 25, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, pleaded guilty on Oct. 30 to interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution and obstruction or interference with a sex trafficking prosecution or investigation.
“This defendant used extreme threats of violence to compel an 18-year-old victim to engage in commercial sex, even holding a gun to her head to terrify, control and coerce her for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant sought to cover up his crime by repeatedly intimidating a witness to lie for him. A unanimous jury has found the defendant guilty of his heinous conduct, and our prosecution should make clear that we will not tolerate sex trafficking in our country. The Justice Department will use all the tools at our disposal to hold human traffickers accountable, to seek justice for survivors, and to protect survivors from harm.”
“I commend the prosecution team, FBI’s Bowling Green Resident Agency and the Bowling Green Police Department for their outstanding work on this case,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We are committed to the aggressive investigation and prosecution of human trafficking wherever it occurs in the Western District. I strongly encourage the public to report any suspected human trafficking to law enforcement.”
“This defendant preyed on a vulnerable young woman, threatening her with physical violence and even death if she didn’t comply with his demands,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The woman was forced to engage in commercial sex while the defendant profited from her suffering. Tragically, this is a reality that unfolds far too often in our communities. The FBI is fully committed to using every resource at our disposal to identify perpetrators, hold them accountable and put an end to the devastating crime of sex trafficking.”
Evidence presented during the trial established that Govan and Howard met the victim at a gas station in Bowling Green and convinced her to come back to their hotel room where they recruited and enticed her to engage in commercial sex by making false promises of making good money. Govan continued his enticement attempts by taking the victim on a shopping trip to two shopping malls in Tennessee, and when they returned to Bowling Green later that night, Govan and Howard convinced the victim to participate with Howard in seeing a commercial sex customer. From that moment on, Govan’s attitude toward the victim changed, as he became demanding, intimidating and threatening. Govan ordered the victim to make eye contact with him while speaking, and even threatened to kill the victim, pressing a pistol against her head while she was in the front passenger seat of a car, then lowering the gun and firing a bullet across her lap, missing her body by inches. Govan further scared the victim by showing her a video of himself beating a defenseless man tied to a chair. Govan sexually assaulted the victim, and for four days compelled her to engage in commercial sex for his profit by threatening to hurt her. Upon being discovered by the police, Govan attempted to interfere with the investigation by having Howard lie for him and prevent the police from speaking to the victim, and after his arrest, he sought to obstruct the prosecution by passing letters to Howard in the jail instructing her to lie.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2025, and Howard will face a sentencing hearing on March 9, 2025. Govan faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison as well as mandatory restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Louisville Field Office, Bowling Green Resident Agency investigated the case, with assistance from the Bowling Green Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Madison Sewell for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clint Rogers Chuculate, a/k/a Clint Robert Chuculate, age 40, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
The Indictment alleged that on September 19, 2024, Chuculate knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, which he intended to distribute.
The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Chuculate will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael E. Robinson and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Steven’s County Man Charged with First-Degree Murder for the Death of a Mother and Daughter 27 Years AgoRead the Press Release
Stevens County, Washington – The Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney, Erika George, and U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref, announced today charges against Charles Lloyd Tatom with first degree murder in the death of 29-year-old Marlene Emerson and her 12-year-old daughter, Cassie Emerson. The murders occurred in summer 1997 and involved a decades-long investigation by both state and federal law enforcement. Recent developments in the investigation include new DNA tests that were completed over the summer of 2024. Tatom, who is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, is charged by way of information in Stevens County Superior Court. Tatom is scheduled to make his first appearance Friday at 11:00am.
According to court documents, early in the morning of June 27, 1997, firefighters responded to a mobile home fire in Colville, Washington. By the time crews arrived just after 4:00 am, the roof of the tailer had collapsed, and flames were shooting up to 15 feet above the roofline. After firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, firefighters found the remains of Marlene Emerson inside the home. The doctor that conducted an autopsy on Emerson’s remains concluded the manner of death was homicide. Later examination of Emerson’s remains revealed evidence of knife cuts on her neck. Fire investigators from Stevens County at the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the fire found evidence that gasoline had been poured on the floor before it was ignited.
Emerson’s daughter, Cassie, was missing and was presumed to have been abducted. A month later, twelve-year old Cassie’s body was recovered in a wooded area above Orin Rice Road. Forensic examination of Cassie’s remains found evidence of knife marks on her neck.
During the decades-long investigation, law enforcement interviewed numerous people who were living in the trailer park at the time of the murder or who were associated in some manner with Emerson. Residents of the trailer park reported hearing a boom just before 4:00 am, followed by the sound of a loud vehicle leaving the area. Shortly after the fire, investigators focused on a Chevy Blazer that allegedly was being driven by Charles Tatom at the time of the fire. The Blazer had a modified exhaust system that amplified the sound of its engine.
During a forensic examination of the Chevy Blazer, investigators found a red stain on the interior of the rear passenger window. The stain tested positive for the presence of blood. DNA was recovered from the sample that was consistent with originating from Cassie. Investigators recovered other DNA samples that pointed to both Cassie and Tatom being in the vehicle. A mixed sample of DNA was also recovered from a cigarette butt found in the Blazer that was consistent with both Tatom and Cassie.
People who were familiar with Marlene Emerson reported to investigators that Emmerson had been associating with people involved in the outlaw motorcycle club community in the Colville area. One witness reported that Tatom hid a blood-stained knife near the home of a former leader in the outlaw motorcycle club community. According to the witness, Tatom later recovered the knife and claimed that the blood was from gutting an animal. A witness also reported that on the evening before the fire Tatom took some cans of gasoline from a shop on the property where he was living. This same witness reported that when Tatom returned the next morning, his hair appeared singed, and he had a burn on his ankle. Another witness reported that he disposed of the seat covers from the Blazer the morning after the fire.
The First-Degree Aggravated murder charges against Tatom carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
“I am grateful for the law enforcement agents and officers, who have dedicated more than two decades of their careers to identifying those responsible for Marlene and Cassie’s murders,” stated Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney, Erika George. “The Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office remains committed to holding violent offenders accountable and seeking justice on behalf of victims and their families.”
United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref stated, “One of my top priorities as U.S. Attorney has been to strengthen our relationship with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. When we partner together, we are able to do so much more to keep Eastern Washington communities safe and strong.”
The decades-long investigation was conducted by the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, ATF, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney, Erika George. For many years, a parallel federal investigation was carried forward by Assistant United States Attorneys Earl Hicks and Timothy Ohms. In recent months, Timothy Ohms also assisted as a Special Stevens County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
A probable cause statement can be found at the link below:
emerson_-_filed_information_pc_stmt.pdfAn information is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
St. Charles County Man Sentenced for Multiple Vehicle-Related FraudsRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Thursday sentenced a man to 33 months in prison for selling the same vehicle multiple times online and defrauding other vehicle owners and a welding company.
Ronald Johnson, 57, of St. Peters, pleaded guilty in May to one felony count of wire fraud and admitted owning a car restoration business known as Full Out Customs LLC. He used social media, including Facebook, to advertise vehicles for sale and vehicle repair services.
In 2022, Johnson tricked a victim from Pennsylvania into paying $41,750 for a 2002 Ford Excursion that he’d already sold to a victim in South Dakota for $45,000. He gave the title to the South Dakota buyer and the SUV to the Pennsylvania buyer, meaning the Pennsylvania victim could not lawfully register the vehicle.
Between Nov. 18, 2021, and Jan. 31, 2022, Johnson took $149,843 from another victim by falsely claiming he would use the money for vehicle repairs and parts.
Between September and December of 2021, Johnson ordered $47,088 in welding equipment with no intention of paying for it. He wrote a check from a closed bank account to pay for the equipment. The victim company was able to recover some of the equipment.
Johnson admitted falsifying car titles, emails and other documents to misrepresent the true status of repair work and the ownership of vehicles.
Judge Fleissig determined that Johnson intended to cause financial losses of $315,142. He was ordered Thursday to repay victims.
The case was investigated by the St. Charles Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case.
Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man pleaded guilty today in federal court to drug and gun offenses.
JoPaul McKreith, 46, pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; aiding and abetting and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; and unlawful possession of a machinegun. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for April 1, 2025. McKreith was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 16, 2024.
McKreith possessed with the intent to distribute drugs between March 15 and May 2, 2024. McKreith also possessed a machine gun and ammunition on May 2, 2024, after previously being convicted of a felony.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of possession of an interstate firearm and ammunition by a felon provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of a machine gun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking felony provides for a sentence of at least five years up to life which must be consecutive to any sentence imposed on any other count, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Spencer Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Possessing Kilograms of Counterfeit Adderall Pills Intended for DistributionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Spencer man was sentenced today for possessing over 5.2 kilograms of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine.
Jabriel Nabulsi, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to eight years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In June 2024, Nabulsi pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
After being identified as a distributor of significant quantities of counterfeit Adderall pills, law enforcement approached Nabulsi’s vehicle as he drove toward his residence in Spencer on Dec. 27, 2023. Upon noticing law enforcement, Nabulsi exited his vehicle in a neighbor’s driveway and, with a blue bag in his hand, attempted to flee on foot. Nabulsi tossed the blue bag in the driveway and was immediately apprehended.
Approximately 19 individual vacuum-sealed clear plastic bags containing orange pills marked “AD/30” – with a total combined weight of approximately 5.25 kilograms – were found inside the blue bag. The substances contained in each of the plastic bags field-tested positive for methamphetamine. In addition, a single vacuum-sealed clear plastic bag containing approximately 300 grams of a white substance that field-tested positive for the presence of cocaine was also found in the blue bag. Smaller quantities of substances that field-tested positive for the presence of cocaine were recovered from Nabulsi’s vehicle.United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Worcester Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Southern California Political Operative Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging He Acted as Illegal Agent of People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – FBI agents this morning arrested a Chino Hills man on federal charges that allege he acted as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including while serving as the campaign manager for a political candidate who was elected in 2022 to the city council of a Southern California city.
Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, was arrested without incident and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
A criminal complaint filed Tuesday and unsealed this morning charges Sun with acting as an illegal agent of a foreign power. Sun is also charged with conspiring with another man, Chen Jun, who was sentenced to federal prison last month for acting as an illegal agent of the PRC government and plotting to target U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice banned in China.
According to the complaint, Sun served as the campaign manager and close personal confidante for a Southern California politician (described in the affidavit as “Individual 1”) who was running for local elected office in 2022. During the campaign, Sun allegedly communicated with Chen regarding his efforts to get Individual 1 elected. Chen discussed with Chinese government officials how the PRC could “influence” local politicians in the United States, particularly on the issue of Taiwan, according to the complaint. In November 2022, shortly after Individual 1 was elected to office, Chen instructed Sun to prepare a report on the election that was sent to Chinese government officials, who responded positively and expressed thanks, according to the complaint affidavit. Chen also sent a message to Individual 1 stating that Individual 1 was “doing a good job, I hope you can continue the good work, make Chinese people proud,” the affidavit states.
“The conduct alleged in this complaint is deeply concerning – the defendant is charged with acting on behalf of the People’s Republic of China to influence our political system,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We cannot permit hostile foreign powers to meddle in the governance of our country. My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize the security of our nation and the preservation of the liberties that make this country the envy of the world.”
“This case highlights the breadth of the PRC’s relentless intelligence and malign influence activities targeting the United States,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI will continue to use all the tools at its disposal to identify PRC intelligence operations, disrupt PRC information laundering networks, and bring to justice those who seek to engage in criminal conspiracies to undermine the integrity of our elected officials.”
About a month after Individual 1’s election, Chen arranged a lunch at a Rowland Heights restaurant with Sun and others, a gathering that Chen described to a PRC official as a “core member lunch,” the affidavit alleges. Chen subsequently described the lunch as “successful” as participants agreed to establish a “US-China Friendship Promotional Association.” While Individual 1 did not attend the meeting, Chen described Individual 1 as being part of the association and Sun serving as vice president. “This is the basic team dedicated for us,” Chen wrote to the Chinese government official.
Chen instructed Sun in early 2023 to write up another report for Chinese officials describing “you and me cultivating and assisting [Individual 1’s] success,” according to the affidavit. In a February 2023 draft of Sun’s report, Sun described his personal background, his history of working against “Chinese secessionist forces,” and boasted that, “most proudly of all, during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, I orchestrated and organized my team to win the election for city council member candidate [Individual 1].” In subsequent communications outlined in the affidavit, Chen instructed Sun to include a section on Individual 1, who was to be described as a “New Political Star” with connections to other prominent politicians. The affidavit also states that Chen and Sun discussed their “past struggle fighting Taiwanese independence forces . . . over the years and fighting ‘FLG’ [Falun Gong] influences” in a California city.
In February 2023, Sun and Chen drafted a second report to PRC officials that requested an $80,000 budget to fund additional pro-PRC activities and to combat “anti-China forces” in the United States.
After Chen and Sun discussed a planned trip to the PRC to meet with “leadership,” and after Chen directed Sun to schedule a meeting with the Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, Sun and Individual 1 traveled to China in late August 2023.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The charge of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The charge of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years.
This FBI is conducting the ongoing investigation in this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney David Ryan, Chief of the National Security Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Elbogen of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section are prosecuting this case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
South Lake Tahoe Man Indicted on 12 Counts of Wire Fraud in Cryptocurrency Trading ScamRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against Daniel Chartraw, 51, formerly of South Lake Tahoe, charging him with wire fraud, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Chartraw was responsible for defrauding multiple victims in a cryptocurrency investment scheme. Chartraw claimed that his companies, Crypto-Pal LLC and TDA Global, were developing and possessed a proprietary algorithm that was capable of generating exceptional returns on cryptocurrency investments. However, instead of investing money from his victims as he promised, Chartraw used the money to fund his personal lifestyle and travel.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Delaney is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Chartraw faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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.
Slidell Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on December 18, 2024, CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL SOMMERS (“SOMMERS”), age 42, of Slidell, La., was sentenced for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced SOMMERS to ten (10) years imprisonment, followed by a fifteen (15) year term of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The defendant’s sentence was subject to a sentencing enhancement of a ten-year mandatory minimum because of a conviction on December 13, 2011, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, for Receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2).
According to court documents, the case against SOMMERS developed from an undercover online investigation by the Apache Junction Police Department in Arizona into those individuals who were sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”). As a result, on April 3, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) special agents, along with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, executed a federal search warrant at SOMMERS’s residence in Slidell. During the execution of the search warrant, SOMMERS was found in possession of a Samsung 256 gigabyte USB thumb drive containing 950 images and videos depicting the sexual victimization of minors.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the St Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office; The Apache Junction Police Department; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Seven-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Seven YearsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan has sentenced Anthony Tyrone Mackey (41, Jacksonville) to seven years in federal prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. A federal jury found Mackey guilty on August 27, 2024.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on March 29, 2023, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stopped Mackey for a traffic infraction when he was driving on the wrong side of the road. At the time, Mackey was the sole occupant of the vehicle. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located cocaine and methamphetamine in the front passenger seat, a 12-gauge shotgun on the back passenger-side floorboard, and a .25 caliber pistol in a backpack sitting on the back passenger seat.
DNA analysis later showed that Mackey’s DNA was found on the shotgun and the shotgun’s magazine. Mackey was previously convicted of seven felonies, including possession of a short-barreled shotgun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault, and aggravated fleeing or attempted to elude a law enforcement officer. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Cannizzaro and Brenna Falzetta.
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.
San Diego Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Bribing an IRS Officer to Wipe Away Tax DebtRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Business owner Wahead Raz pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he paid an Internal Revenue Service officer $35,000 to wipe away his half million-dollar tax debt.
On July 23, 2024, Raz offered the bribe to an IRS revenue officer during a meeting at the San Diego IRS office to discuss his outstanding tax debt of approximately $500,000. After the meeting, the IRS officer immediately reported the bribe to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and agreed to be part of an undercover operation to record Raz’s crime.
“Attempting to bribe an IRS officer is not just a terrible idea—it’s a federal crime,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Not surprisingly, the integrity of the IRS held firm, ensuring this defendant will be accountable for both his unpaid taxes and attempting to undermine the system.”
“Today’s actions send a clear message: Individuals who attempt to bribe IRS officials will be prosecuted for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Rod Ammari. “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is committed to protecting the integrity and mission of the IRS. We are grateful for the strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office that ensured this individual was held accountable for trying to undermine federal tax administration.”
On July 24, 2024, TIGTA conducted a video recorded meeting between the IRS officer and Raz at the IRS office in San Diego. During the meeting, Raz told the IRS officer that he could pay in cash so the bribe would not be traceable.
On July 25, 2024, the IRS officer conducted a recorded telephone call to Raz. During the call, Raz told the IRS officer: “If you save me money, then I’ll take care of you,” and asked the IRS officer to name a price. When the officer asked for $30,000 in exchange for wiping out Raz’s personal tax debt, Raz countered with $20,000. After the IRS officer insisted on $30,000, Raz agreed, offering to pay $10,000 up front and the remaining $20,000 when Raz’s tax debt was cleared.
On July 30, 2024, TIGTA conducted a video and audio recorded meeting between the IRS officer and Raz at a coffee shop in San Diego. During the meeting, Raz provided the previously agreed upon $10,000 cash payment to the IRS officer. Raz also asked the IRS officer to eliminate the approximately $50,000 tax debt owed by Raz’s business and offered to pay the officer an additional $5,000 to have the debt cancelled.
On August 22, 2024, TIGTA conducted a video and audio recorded meeting between the IRS officer and Raz at the same coffee shop in San Diego. During the meeting, Raz gave the officer $15,000 in cash and told the officer he did not have the entire $25,000 as originally agreed upon. Raz promised to provide the remaining $10,000 by the following Wednesday. During the meeting, the officer told Raz that he was taking a big risk by accepting the bribe. Raz stated that he understood the risk taken by the IRS officer and that the officer could go to jail for it.
On August 29, 2024, TIGTA conducted a video and audio recorded meeting between the IRS officer and Raz in San Diego. During that meeting, Raz paid $10,000 in cash to complete the $35,000 bribe payment. Raz asked for assurance that the IRS officer would clear all the taxes owed by Raz and his business.
During two of the recorded meetings, Raz voluntarily offered to introduce to the IRS officer other “clients” who also owed taxes to the IRS. Raz later indicated that one of those potential “clients” thought it was dangerous for Raz to do this and did not believe it would work out. Raz told the IRS officer that he would introduce the agent to the potential “client” once Raz’s tax debt was cleared.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2025, at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge John A. Houston.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Conover.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-CR-2647- JAH
Wahead Raz Age: 40 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bribery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 201(b)(1)(A) and (C)
Maximum Penalties: Fifteen years in prison
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Romanian National Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison in Connection with NetWalker Ransomware Attacks Resulting in the Payment of Millions of Dollars in RansomsRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - A Romanian man was sentenced today for his role in the NetWalker ransomware attacks to 20 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $21,500,000 and his interests in an Indonesian limited liability company and associated luxury resort property under construction in Bali, Indonesia — a business venture he financed with proceeds from the attacks. He was also ordered to pay $14,991,580.01 in restitution.
Daniel Christian Hulea, 30, of Jucu de Mijloc, Cluj, Romania, pleaded guilty in the Middle District of Florida to computer fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy on June 20. According to court documents, Hulea admitted to participating in a conspiracy to use a sophisticated form of ransomware known as NetWalker. NetWalker ransomware has been used to target hundreds of victims all over the world, including companies, municipalities, hospitals, law enforcement, emergency services, school districts, colleges, and universities. NetWalker attacks specifically targeted the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking advantage of the global crisis to extort victims. As part of his plea agreement, Hulea admitted to using NetWalker to obtain approximately 1,595 bitcoin in ransom payments for himself and a co-conspirator, valued at approximately $21,500,000 at the time of the payments.
Romanian law enforcement officers arrested Hulea in Cluj, on July 11, 2023, pursuant to a request submitted by U.S. authorities. Hulea was subsequently extradited to the United States pursuant to the extradition treaty between the United States and Romania.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing Hulea’s arrest and extradition. The U.S. Marshals Service transported Hulea from Romania to the United States.
Trial Attorney Sonia V. Jimenez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlton C. Gammons and Suzanne Nebesky for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Romanian National Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison in Connection with NetWalker Ransomware Attacks Resulting in the Payment of Millions of Dollars in RansomsRead the Press Release
A Romanian man was sentenced today for his role in the NetWalker ransomware attacks to 20 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $21,500,000 and his interests in an Indonesian limited liability company and associated luxury resort property under construction in Bali, Indonesia — a business venture he financed with proceeds from the attacks. He was also ordered to pay $14,991,580.01 in restitution.
Daniel Christian Hulea, 30, of Jucu de Mijloc, Cluj, Romania, pleaded guilty in the Middle District of Florida to computer fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy on June 20. According to court documents, Hulea admitted to participating in a conspiracy to use a sophisticated form of ransomware known as NetWalker. NetWalker ransomware has been used to target hundreds of victims all over the world, including companies, municipalities, hospitals, law enforcement, emergency services, school districts, colleges, and universities. NetWalker attacks specifically targeted the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking advantage of the global crisis to extort victims. As part of his plea agreement, Hulea admitted to using NetWalker to obtain approximately 1,595 bitcoin in ransom payments for himself and a co-conspirator, valued at approximately $21,500,000 at the time of the payments.
Romanian law enforcement officers arrested Hulea in Cluj, on July 11, 2023, pursuant to a request submitted by U.S. authorities. Hulea was subsequently extradited to the United States pursuant to the extradition treaty between the United States and Romania.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew W. Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing Hulea’s arrest and extradition. The U.S. Marshals Service transported Hulea from Romania to the United States.
Trial Attorney Sonia V. Jimenez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlton C. Gammons and Suzanne Nebesky for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Rhode Island Man Sentenced for the Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Used in a Fatal IncidentRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Rhode Island man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for the unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Garrito “Tony” Fort, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 60 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On October 16, 2023, Fort pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“As a convicted felon, the defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Despite that, he brought a loaded firearm to a fistfight, that he initiated,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “He had multiple opportunities to walk away. Instead, the defendant chose to escalate the encounter, resulting in the defendant shooting and killing a man, and severely wounding another. While no outcome could ever truly bring closure to the victims’ families, I hope that today’s sentence begins the healing process.”
“The defendant escalated a trivial argument over minor damage to a car by bringing a gun to the confrontation,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge ATF Boston Field Division “As a result of his reckless decisions, a father lost his life, and another man was seriously injured. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can result when firearms are introduced into avoidable conflicts.”
On the evening of October 31, 2021, Fort thought he saw Christopher Colleti scratch his vehicle, a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The following morning, Fort grabbed a firearm to confront Coletti, who Fort had never spoken to or interacted with before. Coletti denied hitting Fort’s car, but Fort continued to accuse Coletti and an argument ensued. During the confrontation two bystanders separated Fort and Coletti, and Coletti walked away. However, Fort went after Coletti again and continued to accuse Coletti of hitting his car. Eventually, another man, Richard Janvrin Jr., saw Fort holding the gun and punched Fort to disarm him. Fort fired two shots, seriously wounding Janvrin Jr. and killing Coletti.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Seabrook Police Department, and New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Charles L. Rombeau prosecuted the case.
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Raleigh Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison in Connection with March 2023 ShootingRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh man was sentenced to 108 months in prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon that he used to shoot a person on March 21, 2023. On September 4, 2024, Robert Terrance Green, III pled guilty to the charges.
“Robert Terrance Green III is a dangerous felon who has demonstrated a reckless disregard for the lives and property of others. I am grateful that justice has been served to prevent him from further harming our community. The residents of Raleigh can sleep peacefully knowing that the Raleigh Police Department and our federal partners are committed to ridding our community of violent actors, such as Mr. Green. The sentencing of Green, III highlights our strong collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Raleigh Police Department takes pride in working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who threaten our community,” said Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.
According to the indictment and information presented to the court, Robert Terrance Green, III, 43, possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon when he shot another man at an apartment complex in Raleigh on March 21, 2023. The Raleigh Police Department (RPD) quickly responded to the scene of shooting, where officers spoke with multiple witnesses. RPD learned that Green drove his vehicle through the entrance of the apartment complex and confronted the victim in a verbal altercation. Green shot numerous rounds of ammunition at the victim and struck the victim two times in the left leg. After shooting the victim, Green fled the scene. The victim was transported to WakeMed Hospital. On March 27, 2023, RPD officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle drive Green. A search of the vehicle produced the firearm used in the shooting at the apartment complex at the time of his arrest. Following his arrest, Green admitted to shooting the victim.
Green has previously been convicted of felony offenses, including assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon or instrument, unlawful possession of a handgun, and threats of violence.
This conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is a collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing.
Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing concluded. U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle presided over the sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren E. Kelly prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-78-BO.
Postal Service Supervisor Arrested on Complaint Alleging Theft of $281,000 in Checks from Mail then Deposited into Her Bank AccountsRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A United States Postal Service supervisor was arrested this morning on a federal criminal complaint alleging she stole more than 20 checks from the U.S. mail and deposited them into her accounts at multiple different banks.
Joivian Tjuana Hayes, 36, of Compton, who is a supervisor at the Costa Mesa Post Office, is expected to make her initial court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana. A criminal complaint filed Wednesday charges Hayes with one count of bank fraud.
According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, since July 2024, Hayes deposited more than 20 checks that had been stolen from the mail at the Costa Mesa Post Office into her bank accounts at various banks. Hayes allegedly deposited those checks, which had forged signatures of the payees, including one check for more than $114,000. ATM surveillance video shows Hayes making deposits of multiple stolen checks with forged signatures at ATMs in Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, and Compton.
Hayes’s scheme allegedly involved more than $281,000 in stolen checks that she deposited into her bank accounts. According to the affidavit, Hayes is also suspected of stealing tens of thousands of dollars in currency and gold coins from mail that had been processed through the Costa Mesa Post Office.
Federal agents executed search warrants this morning at Hayes’s residence in Compton and of her 2023 BMW vehicle.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted of the bank fraud offense alleged in the complaint, Hayes would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Charles E. Pell of the Orange County Office is prosecuting the case.
Pennsylvania Man Convicted of Wheeling Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal jury has convicted a Pennsylvania man of an Ohio County bank robbery, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Following a two-day trial, Frank L. Morrison, 58, of Braddock Hills, Pennsylvania, was found guilty of bank robbery on Wednesday.
On September 4, 2018, Morrison walked into United Bank in Elm Grove wearing a mask and demanded money from two tellers, obtaining more than $4,200 before fleeing. The jury viewed surveillance video which captured footage of the defendant disposing of his mask and other items into a nearby dumpster. Investigators recovered the material and obtained DNA evidence from the mask that matched with Morrison.
Morrison has a lengthy criminal history, including prior convictions for armed bank robbery, robbery, and access device fraud. He is presently serving an 87-month sentence due to federal firearms convictions in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
“Frank Morrison has made a living committing crimes throughout the region, but his criminal career is now over,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “We will seek a sentence that will keep Mr. Morrison behind bars for the rest of his life so that he can no longer terrorize the public.”
Morrison faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the Wheeling bank robbery conviction, and the United States will seek to have that sentence run consecutively to the term he is currently serving, according to Ihlenfeld.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton Reid and Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police, and the Wheeling Police Department.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Parker Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Child AbuseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Frank John Kinale, III, 38, of Parker, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Kinale pleaded guilty to Child Abuse on September 3, 2024.
On September 21, 2021, Kinale drove while he was intoxicated with two minor victims in his vehicle and caused a single-vehicle rollover crash. The minor victims were injured as a result of the crash. The crash occurred on the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Indian Reservation and Kinale and the victims are enrolled members of the CRIT Tribe.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado River Indian Tribes Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-00522-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-178_Kinale# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Owner of chain of Bikini Barista coffee stands sentenced for failing to report up to $6 million in incomeRead the Press Release
Seattle –The owner of a string of bikini barista coffee stands was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 months in prison and a $75,000 fine for making and subscribing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Between 2016 and 2020 Assad Baragzai, 47, of Yarrow Point, Washington, failed to report as much as $6 million in income on his tax returns. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said, the tax system “is an honor system… and you weren’t honorable. (There was) absolutely no reason for you to be cheating on your taxes except for pure greed.”
“Our government relies on the 85 percent of Americans who each year pay the taxes they owe to keep communities safe, and provide all the other important services we need,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “Mr. Baragzai had great business success, but failed to fund the community that made that success possible. Such conduct is not erased by paying what is owed some five years later – it is appropriate that he serve prison time for his willful tax fraud.”
According to records in the case, Baragzai significantly under-reported his income when he provided information to his tax accountant. The government believes that the tax loss over the five years that Baragzai underreported his income is more than $1.7 million. The tax loss in 2017 alone is more than $687,000. Baragzai disputes the government figures and argued that he had some legitimate deductions making the tax loss is $1.3 million. Judge Lin determined the tax loss was $1,348, 154.
In asking for a two-year prison term Assistant United States Attorney Mike Dion wrote to the court, “Assad Baragzai reaped the benefits of American society but somehow convinced himself that he did not need to pay his share of the costs that support that society. All Americans pay a price for this kind of selfishness. For example, school lunches are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. But for this prosecution, Baragzai’s tax fraud would have cost the government the equivalent of 462,000 school lunches.”
“Instead of paying his fair share toward public resources as every law-abiding American does, Mr. Baragzai misrepresented his income to furnish an already-lavish lifestyle,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office.
Baragzai is the second defendant to be sentenced in this investigation. In October 2024, Baragzai’s brother-in-law, 45-year-old Rajesh Mathew, of Auburn, Washington, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service for making and subscribing a false tax return.
Baragzai has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS. He may also face additional civil penalties, fines, and interest for the tax loss.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Dion.
Omaha Woman Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Daniella M. Fedail, age 30, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced December 19, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for distributing methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Fedail to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Fedail’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
On November 15, 2023, DEA confidential source (CS) made a controlled purchase of 1 pound of meth. The CS first met with Hanna Faust aka “Williams” at a buy location in mid-town Omaha. Faust then made a call to her supplier who advised that a silver Impala would be arriving. Fedail drove to the parking lot and accepted the buy money and handed over the drug package containing 464 grams of meth.
On December 21, 2023, DEA obtained a federal search warrant for Fedail’s Omaha home. She was arrested and read her Miranda rights. She acknowledged engaging in narcotics trafficking.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 151 Months for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Edward Charles Lynch, age 76, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 19, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lynch to 151 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lynch’s release from prison, he will begin an 8-year term of supervised release. Judge Buescher ordered Lynch to pay $114,000 in restitution and $7,600 in special assessments.
On June 16, 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from Microsoft Bing Image - Online Operations about images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct being uploaded by a user of the online service. Law enforcement identified the IP address associated with the file upload and determined the subscriber assigned the IP address was Lynch. The IP address was associated with Lynch’s residence in Omaha.
On October 19, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lynch’s residence and seized a computer belonging to Lynch. A forensic review of Lynch’s computer identified 443,731 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Lynch was previously convicted on or about November 1, 1996, of Sexual Assault of Child in Sarpy County, Nebraska.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Omaha Man Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Program FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Henry T. Lewis, age 57, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 19, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for wire fraud. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Lewis to five years’ probation and ordered him to pay $210,846.26 in restitution, with credit for $20,000.00 Lewis paid before sentencing.
During 2020 and 2021, Lewis, assisted by another person, submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program loans. Those loan programs were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The applications misrepresented how much Lewis’s business had paid employees in past compensation and how much revenue Lewis’s business had received, resulting in applications for significantly inflated loan amounts under the PPP and EIDL programs. The PPP applications were supported by false tax documents Lewis had signed. The fraudulent applications on behalf of Lewis sought loans totaling approximately $348,494.50, and he obtained $195,497.00.
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.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.
Ohio Resident Sentenced to More Than 7.5 Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Fluorofentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A Youngstown, Ohio, resident was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and fluorofentanyl, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Teqwan Scott, 29, also ordering Scott to serve four years of supervised release following his prison term. Scott previously pleaded guilty in this case to conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl.
Prior to sentencing, the Court was informed that Scott was responsible for trafficking between 40 and 70 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and fluorofentanyl from May 2021 to October 2022, during which time Scott was on bond with a pending state fentanyl trafficking charge in Venango County, Pennsylvania. Scott had already been convicted in Ohio of committing several crimes since 2014, including domestic violence, aggravated possession of drugs, illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a detention facility, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Scott.
Oahu Man Indicted for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy and Possessing and Discharging FirearmRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Clare E. Connors announced that, on December 19, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against Blane Apostadiro, 47, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, charging him with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl; possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl; using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; and illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon and unlawful drug user.
According to the indictment and details from a previously unsealed criminal complaint, on October 27, 2024, Honolulu Police Department (“HPD”) officers observed Apostadiro driving a stolen vehicle. Apostadiro abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. While fleeing, Apostadiro discharged a privately manufactured firearm, also known as a “ghost gun,” prompting HPD officers to discharge their weapons in defense. Apostadiro was incapacitated during the exchange and taken into custody. HPD officers discovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, digital scales, plastic baggies, ammunition, a lower receiver, and a loaded “ghost gun” in Apostadiro’s possession. Additional controlled substances and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the stolen vehicle.
“Both fentanyl and ghost guns pose a grave threat to public safety, putting both law enforcement and innocent community members at risk,” said United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold armed drug dealers accountable in the criminal justice system for the significant harm they inflict.”
If convicted of all counts, Apostadiro faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, including a combined mandatory minimum of 20 years for the drug and firearm charges, and fines of up to $10 million.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Honolulu Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan D. Slack and Wayne A. Myers.
New Hope Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking, Extortion, and Production of Child Pornography and Agrees to 40-Year Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A New Hope man pleaded guilty today to stalking and extorting a woman and producing child pornography involving two minor victims, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
Donald Wayne Carmody, 30, of New Hope, Alabama, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke to cyberstalking, two counts of extortion, and two counts of production of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, Carmody used anonymous text messages to threaten to release pictures of the victim on the internet if she did not send him intimate photographs. Carmody also obtained the victim’s login credentials for her social media accounts and accessed their contents. After Carmody was arrested on cyberstalking and extortion charges for this conduct, investigators discovered a USB thumb drive belonging to him that contained images of child pornography that involved two victims under the age of twelve. The FBI’s Video Forensic Analysis Unit compared the images from the thumb drive, which showed a person’s hand, to pictures of Carmody’s hands taken during the investigation. The Unit identified similar class and distinguishing characteristics between the images, demonstrating that the hand in the images on the thumb drive belonged to Carmody.
As part of the plea agreement, Carmody stipulated to a 480-month sentence of imprisonment for the offenses. If the Court rejects the stipulated sentence, Carmody or the United States could withdraw from the plea agreement.
The maximum penalty for cyberstalking is five years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for extortion is two years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for production of child pornography is 30 years imprisonment. Each offense also carries the possibility of a $250,000 fine.
The FBI investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid is prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) and the National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC) have partnered and released a digital series to educate parents and caretakers about sextortion and how they can help prevent kids and teens from being victims. This series offers three-to-five-minute videos about current online safety topics and provides essential information about the true dangers of online activities. These videos titled “Sextortion Prevention” can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/@nationalcac/videos.
If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. For more resources on cybercrime, visit www.ic3.gov.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHAYQUAN GRAY, also known as “Scooby,” 24, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 72 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm possession and drug distribution offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 14, 2024, New Haven Police officer observed Gray, who had an active state arrest warrant, participating in a drug transaction in the area of Ferry Street and English Street in New Haven. Gray was apprehended, and officers found him in possession of 80 individual bags of cocaine, a loaded Polymer 80 “ghost gun,” and more than $1,200 in cash.
Gray’s criminal history includes multiple felony convictions, including possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and robbery in the third degree.
Gray has been detained since his arrest. On August 19, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This matter was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psn.
Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Resident Sentenced to Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
Brian Nathaniel Marshall, a resident of Mt. Vernon, who received child pornography was sentenced December 18, 2024 to 72 months in federal prison.
Marshall possessed and received child pornography and had these images on both his phone and computer. As described in Marshall’s plea agreement, the images possessed by Marshall included images of prepubescent minors.
Marshall was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Marshall was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $27,000 in restitution to nine identified victims who were used to produce child pornography and requested restitution for damages they suffered. There is no parole in the federal system.
Marshall 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 Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team, and the Mt. Vernon Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR- 00025.
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Monroe County Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Child Exploitation CrimeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kenneth Lesser, age 50, a resident of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Julia K. Munley, for attempted online enticement of a minor.
According to the United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, between July 17, 2023 and August 3, 2023, Lesser, used the internet and an electronic device to attempt to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce, a person who he believed to be a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual conduct and to produce images of child pornography. During that period, on multiple occasions, Lesser transmitted obscene photographs of himself to the purported child.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations – Philadelphia Division. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.
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Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights and Arson Charges for Setting Fire to Mormon ChurchRead the Press Release
A Missouri man pleaded guilty to federal civil rights offenses for setting fire to a house of worship.
According to court documents, Christopher Scott Pritchard, 48, pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with arson for setting fire to the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on April 28, 2021. Pritchard admitted that he intentionally set fire to the church and that the fire he set caused a complete structural loss and obstructed the church’s congregants in the free exercise of their religious beliefs, as the city had to relocate and rent space from the city to hold its religious services.
“This defendant is being held accountable for viciously setting fire to and burning down the Church of Latter-Day Saints, a house of worship that served as a meeting place for LDS community members in Cape Girardeau,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Before this tragic fire, the church opened its doors to all, helped to feed the hungry, and support the needy. Attacks on houses of worship in our country undermine the fundamental right to practice one’s religion free from fear or violence. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws that protect all houses of worship from violent, hate-fueled attacks.”
“An attack on a church is devastating, for the community and even more so for the members of that church,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming for the Eastern District of Missouri. “Christopher Pritchard’s guilty plea today is the first step toward bringing justice for this crime.”
“No one should live in fear because of their religious beliefs,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough. “Today’s guilty plea serves as a reminder that justice will prevail when acts of hate threaten our communities. The FBI will vigorously pursue anyone who attempts to infringe upon the ability of congregants to exercise their constitutional right to religious freedom.”
“We are grateful no one was physically hurt when the church was destroyed by arson,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Heeb of the FBI St. Louis Field Office. “The FBI will relentlessly pursue those who try to deny congregants of any house of worship from exercising their rights to religious freedom.”
“ATF will always provide expertise and resources to investigate arsons, and no case is that expertise more critical than a fire such as this,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard G. Hansen of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kansas City Field Division. “When a house of worship is intentionally destroyed by fire, it is not only that congregation that suffers, but the entire community. Religious centers, churches and mosques are often at the center of our neighborhoods, offering sanctuaries of peace and caring to those in need. Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of local, state, and federal law enforcement working together to ensure justice in this unthinkable act.”
Pritchard will be sentenced on Feb. 18, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison for arson of a building affecting foreign or interstate commerce. Pritchard also faces a fine of up to $250,000 with respect to each charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI St. Louis Field Office, ATF, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn for the Eastern District of Missouri prosecuted the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
Missouri Man Convicted of Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – Jurors in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday found a man from Carter County, Missouri guilty of a felony count of production of child pornography.
Evidence and testimony at trial showed that Clinton Rongey, 52, used the victim, who was three and four years old at the time, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child sexual abuse material. Rongey took more than 100 images of the victim between February and November of 2023.
Rongey is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2025. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years.
The case was investigated by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Hunter and Nathan Chapman are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Minnesota Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in Death of Tuscaloosa ManRead the Press Release
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A St. Francis, Minnesota, man was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment Tuesday for his role in an international drug trafficking ring that resulted in the death of a man, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector-in-Charge Mona Hernandez, Houston Division.
Christopher Louis Bass, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler for distributing fentanyl, after previously pleading guilty and admitting that Dr. Louis Burgio’s death resulted from Bass’s criminal activity. Dr. Burgio was a psychology professor at the University of Alabama and the University of Michigan. In 2004, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees recognized Dr. Burgio as the University’s Distinguished Research Professor for his work in the Applied Gerontology Program, the highest honor bestowed upon a faculty member at the University.
“This case reminds us all too clearly that drug distribution is not a victimless crime,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “My office will continue to prosecute those who place these poisons into families and communities throughout north Alabama.”
“Combatting illicit drugs in the mail is a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Mona Hernandez, Acting Inspector-in-Charge of the Houston Division. “The overdose death in this case is a stark reminder of the dangers of fentanyl and why the Postal Inspection Service remains committed to eradicating these illicit substances from the U.S. Mail and consequently safeguarding our community. Christopher Louis Bass’ 240-month sentence should serve as a warning to those who intend to engage in this type of criminal activity. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will never tolerate the misuse of the U.S. Mail to distribute fentanyl to our communities.”
The case was investigated by the Tuscaloosa Police Department, the Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit, United States Postal Inspection Service – Birmingham, United States Postal Inspection Service – Twin Cities, the East Central Drug Task Force, and the Anoka-Hennepin Narcotics and Violent Crimes Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Alan S. Kirk prosecuted the case.
Mifflintown Man Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Janssen Rodriguez Velez, age 27, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Rodriguez Velez conspired to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, cocaine, between February 10 and 29, 2024, in Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The indictment also alleges that Rodriguez Velez possessed a Taurus G3 9mm Luger pistol during and in relation to his drug trafficking activities.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is lifetime imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Mannie Lamar Terry, also known as “Primo” and “J,” 37, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, was sentenced today to two years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 27, 2023, Terry sold approximately 4.5 grams of fentanyl for $300 to a confidential informant in Beckley. Terry admitted to that transaction and to selling approximately 4.5 grams of fentanyl for $300 to the confidential informant in Beckley on March 13, 2023.
Terry has a long criminal history that includes prior convictions for assault with intent to do great bodily harm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and multiple controlled substance possession offenses.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Isabell and Brian D. Parsons prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-59.
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Meth trafficker imprisoned for importing 50 kilograms of meth into the United StatesRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 42-year-old Illinois resident has been sentenced for importing meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Cruz Vargas, Jr. pleaded guilty on March 4, 2023.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Vargas to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
On July 24, 2022, Vargas tried to enter the United States from Mexico through the Rio Grande Port of Entry with large containers loaded in his vehicle. Law enforcement referred him for a secondary inspection after he claimed the containers held vitamins. A narcotics detection K-9 alerted to the vehicle, leading authorities to test the containers, which confirmed the presence of meth.
At the time of his plea, Vargas admitted to transporting drugs.
The meth weighed over 50 kilograms.
Vargas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.
Meriden Man Who Led Drug Trafficking Ring is SentencedRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOEL CORDERO, 45, of Meriden, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 155 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin and fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began an investigating an organization led by Cordero that was trafficking large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and other narcotics in Connecticut and western Massachusetts. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical surveillance, revealed that Cordero and his associates were receiving bulk quantities of heroin and fentanyl from out-of-state suppliers. They stored, processed, and packaged the heroin/fentanyl in multiple locations, including apartments located at 280 Collins Street in Hartford where some members of the organization resided, and distributed the drug in the Hartford area, and also the Springfield and Holyoke, Massachusetts area. A significant amount of drug trafficking activity occurred at the Neighborhood Supermarket, located at 316 Farmington Avenue in Hartford.
The investigation also revealed that members of the drug trafficking organization possessed and used firearms in connection with their drug trafficking activity.
During the investigation, law enforcement executed 12 search warrants in Connecticut and Massachusetts and seized approximately 10 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, much of which was packaged for resale in hundreds of thousands of bags. Investigators also seized numerous vials of Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer used by narcotics traffickers as a heroin/fentanyl additive. Seven firearms, gun magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, and a bullet proof vest were also seized from Cordero and his associates.
Fourteen individuals were charged with various narcotics, firearms, and immigration offenses as a result of this investigation.
Cordero has been detained since his arrest on June 29, 2017. On October 24, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one kilogram or more of heroin.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. Agencies assisting the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service and Connecticut State Police.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Massachusetts Resident Sentenced to 151 Months for Traveling to Capital Region Intending to Sexually Abuse a 10-Year-OldRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Martin Connearney, age 35, of Lenox, Massachusetts, was sentenced today to 151 months of incarceration, following his guilty plea earlier this year to traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual acts with a minor. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of Connearney’s guilty plea last February, he admitted that between April 6, 2022 and May 5, 2022, he communicated with an individual to discuss and plan Connearney’s sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl with speech and hearing difficulties who lived in the Capital Region. The individual Connearney communicated with was actually an undercover agent (“UC”). Connearney ultimately borrowed a car and on May 5, 2022, drove from Lenox to the Capital Region intending to meet with the UC and sexually abuse the child. Connearney was encountered by law enforcement officials at a prearranged meeting location and arrested.
In imposing sentence today, United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci found that Connearney was subject to an enhanced prison range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines because he had intended to take advantage of a vulnerable victim. According to court documents, while planning the sexual abuse of the child, Connearney repeatedly told the UC that there was less of a risk he would be caught because of the child’s hearing and speech difficulties. As part of the sentence imposed today, Connearney must also serve a 20-year term of supervised release, which will begin after he is released from prison. Connearney will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The FBI Albany Division’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. The task force includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Methuen, Massachusetts man was sentenced to federal prison for distributing methamphetamine in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Leuris Xavier Guerrero Valdez, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya McCafferty to 72 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for distribution of methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine, a dangerous and highly addictive drug, wreaks havoc on public health and safety,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Individuals like the defendant who profit from poisoning our communities will be held accountable. Law enforcement will continue to focus on identifying and disrupting individuals distributing deadly drugs throughout New Hampshire.”
“DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine off the streets of New Hampshire,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Guerrero Valdez accountable for his crimes, but it should serve as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in America. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to charging documents and statements made in court, between June 2023 and March 2024, the defendant sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer on eleven occasions in New Hampshire. After the final sale, investigators arrested the defendant and searched a residence where he stored his drugs. There, investigators found large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Portsmouth Police Department and the Somersworth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather A. Cherniske and John J. Kennedy prosecuted the case.
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Massachusetts Man Charged with Multiple Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a four-count indictment charging NICHOLAS KINGSLEY, 40, of Agawam, Massachusetts, with firearm possession offenses.
The indictment was returned on December 4, 2024. Kingsley appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on April 16, 2024.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on April 16, 2024, Enfield Police arrested Kingsley after a traffic stop and he was found in possession of three privately made firearms (“ghost guns”) and 45 rounds of ammunition. On April 18, 2024, while Kingsley was detained in state custody, HSI special agents conducted a search of his vehicle in Agawam and seized 14 fully assembled firearms, several Glock machine gun conversion devices, and more than 2,000 rounds of various caliber ammunition.
It is alleged that Kingsley’s criminal history includes felony convictions for drug, firearm, assault, and larceny offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Kingsley with unlawful possession of firearms by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years; unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years; unlawful possession of a machine gun, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; and unlawful possession of a weapon in violation of the National Firearms Act, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Enfield Police Department, and the Agawam Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Lembo.
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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psn.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Filing COVID-19 Cares Act Loans and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Melvin Thompson Jr., 34, of Chestertown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return in connection with submitting fraudulent loan applications.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with SAC Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. Sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2025, at 10 a.m.The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act gives financial assistance including forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. Established by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) — along with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), helped businesses meet their financial obligations.
According to his plea agreement, beginning around March 2020, and continuing until approximately February 22, 2021, Thompson knowingly executed a scheme to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration by obtaining fraudulent EIDLs and loans under the PPP. In addition, as part of his scheme, Thompson filed false corporate tax returns, under penalties of perjury, with the IRS on behalf of four businesses seeking EIDL money. These businesses reported false or fictitious revenue and expense amounts.
In support of these applications, Thompson submitted fraudulent, unfiled tax returns. Additionally, on a few occasions, Thompson filed fraudulent tax returns with the IRS in support of his CARES Act loan applications.
Thompson primarily used the small business relief loan proceeds to engage in high frequency trading of options contracts and other securities, mainly at TD Ameritrade, where during 2020 alone he purchased and sold more than $12 million in securities. Through this high frequency trading, Mr. Thompson lost the $791,004 that he gained through this scheme, with the exception of money he spent to purchase a 2020 Lincoln Navigator.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
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.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the IRS-CI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean R. Delaney who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md.
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Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal Mail and Possession of Stolen Mail from New Orleans and Metairie Post Office BoxesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the sentencing of FREDERIC THOMPSON (“THOMPSON”), age 24, of New Orleans, who previously pled guilty to Conspiring to Steal Mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and Possession of Stolen Mail that had been deposited into authorized mail receptacles, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708.
According to the indictment, on January 30, 2022, THOMPSON conspired with others to steal mail from two locations, the Lakeview Post Office in Orleans Parish and United States Postal Service (USPS) mailboxes located on Metairie Road in Jefferson Parish. One conspirator acted as the driver and another conspirator used a stolen USPS key to steal mail from the two locations, while THOMPSON was seated in the back of the vehicle. After a police chase, the trio were found in possession of approximately 30 pieces of stolen mail.
U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced THOMPSON to three (3) years probation and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department, in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Man Pleads Guilty to Destroying Public Land in Los Padres National Forest Stemming from Unlawful Marijuana CultivationRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Jacinto Correa Cruz, 56, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in federal court this week to one count of depredation against federal lands and one count of manufacture of, and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute, marijuana plants, stemming from his participation in a large-scale illegal cannabis cultivation operation in the Los Padres National Forest.
As part of his plea agreement entered on Dec. 17, 2024, Correa Cruz admitted to damaging federal property by willfully participating in an illegal marijuana grow operation on public lands and knowingly manufacturing marijuana plants. According to court documents, Correa Cruz was arrested in July 2022 during a multi-agency search of a large-scale marijuana cultivation complex in an area of the Los Padres National Forest known as the “Ventana Complex.” The complex is located in the Ventana Wilderness region of the national forest, a federally protected area that is known as a top “biodiversity hotspot” and is home to more threatened and endangered species than any other national forest in California.
The search and investigation of the cultivation site where Correa Cruz was arrested revealed two plots that had been cleared of most native vegetation to make way for approximately 10,000 marijuana plants. Law enforcement also discovered a camp area with a tent and 15 sleeping bags, and a kitchen area with thousands of pounds of trash and dead animal parts.
Significant quantities of hazardous materials and chemicals were also found on site. The illegal marijuana grow also had an irrigation system with two large water structures fed by a hose that was diverting water from a natural source. An environmental damage assessment found that the illegal operation diverted and used approximately 33,780 gallons of water a day in an area that was experiencing severe drought conditions. Furthermore, highly toxic and illegal chemicals, such as carbofuran, methamidophos, and diphacinone, were found on site and detected in the soil and water. These pesticides are known to have killed sensitive and endangered wildlife species throughout California. Fixing the environmental damage to this area cost over $92,540 per site and required a multi-step process spanning over a year.
“The illegal cultivation of marijuana on public land poses significant environmental risks to public lands and wildlife that must be combatted. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who abuse natural resources and harm the environment while illegally growing marijuana on federal land,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey.
“Disrupting and dismantling the illegal cultivation of marijuana on federal lands remains a top priority for the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations team. We are committed to protecting our nation’s valuable resources for future generations and ensuring our national forests are safe for recreational use. This allows the public to enjoy these spaces without concerns for their health and safety. Our efforts would not have been possible without the strong cooperation of our partners at the Integral Ecology Research Center, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Brandon Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement and Investigations, Pacific Southwest Region.
“Jacinto Correa Cruz helped poison the pristine lands of the Los Padres National Forest,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “He now stands accountable for the damage that will take years to heal. We will continue to stand firm with our federal, state, and local partners to keep our lands safe and prevent further depredation.”
Correa Cruz has been in federal custody since Aug. 22, 2022. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 4, 2025, before the Honorable Eumi K. Lee, United States District Judge. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty for each offense of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000, plus restitution. Any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant United States Attorney Anne C. Hsieh is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by USFS and the FBI, with assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.