title: El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con una compañía nacional de atención médica domiciliaria que resuelve acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigración

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia ha anunciado hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con Maxim Healthcare Services (Maxim), una empresa de atención médica domiciliaria con sede en Columbia, Maryland, con operaciones en 35 estados. El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que Maxim infringió la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) en su oficina de Gardena, California al discriminar a una trabajadora no ciudadana de los EE. UU. cuando rechazó su documento válido que mostraba su permiso para trabajar y exigir que los residentes legales permanentes que trabajan para la empresa demostraran su permiso continuo para trabajar, aunque fuera innecesario. «Los empleadores no pueden tratar a los empleados de una forma diferente en función de su estatus de ciudadanía a la hora de verificar su permiso para trabajar», declaró Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «El Departamento se compromete a garantizar que los empleadores no nieguen a los trabajadores el trato igualitario en el lugar de trabajo, ya sea en la contratación, la comprobación del permiso de trabajo de los empleados o de otro modo». Después de iniciar una investigación basada en la queja de una trabajadora, la Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés,) de la División de Derechos Civiles, concluyó que Maxim rechazó indebidamente el documento válido de la trabajadora en función de su estatus de ciudadanía. En concreto, el Departamento determinó que la compañía rechazó el Documento de Autorización para Trabajar (EAD, por sus siglas en inglés) de la trabajadora porque el apellido que figuraba en él era diferente del apellido que figura en su licencia de conducir y tarjeta de Seguro Social, a pesar de que la compañía aceptó documentos de ciudadanos de los EE. UU. en circunstancias similares y creían que el EAD parecía razonablemente ser genuino y estar relacionado con el trabajador, que es todo lo que las Normas del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional requieren. La investigación también determinó que Maxim exigía, de forma rutinaria, que los residentes permanentes legales presentaran documentación innecesaria cuando sus tarjetas de residencia permanente vencieran, lo cual no es requerido por ley. La disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA prohíbe que los empleadores rechacen documentos válidos o que pidan documentos innecesarios por motivos del estatus migratorio o ciudadanía de un trabajador. Si un residente permanente legal proporciona una tarjeta de residencia permanente en vigor para demostrar su permiso para trabajar, a los empleadores no se les permite solicitar documentación nueva si posteriormente, la tarjeta de residencia permanente se vence. Conforme los términos del acuerdo, Maxim pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos y el salario perdido al trabajador afectado, capacitará a sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA, revisará sus políticas de empleo y se someterá a la supervisión por parte del Departamento. La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación . Puede obtener más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminar al verificar el permiso para trabajar de alguien en el sitio web de la IER . Más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden manejar las discrepancias en los nombres que aparecen en los documentos del Formulario I-9 de los empleados está disponible también. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto . Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia . El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1‑800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a IER@usdoj.gov ; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; visualizar una presentación a la carta o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español . Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.


title: Terrebonne Parish Man  Sentenced to Ten Years for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CHRISTOPHER CARTER, JR. , age 30, a resident of Gray, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 9, 2024 to 120 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. CARTER previously pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Administration agents utilized a confidential source to conduct two audio-video recorded controlled purchases of methamphetamine from CARTER . The first controlled purchase was for 49 grams of methamphetamine on May 19, 2021. The second controlled purchase was for 126 grams of methamphetamine on June 17, 2021. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Terrebonne Parish Sherriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Felon Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Armed Robberies Of US Postal Mail Carriers

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident who has prior felony convictions was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for armed robbery of multiple United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers in 2023. According to court documents, from January to March 2023, Robert Earl Thompson (31) brandished a firearm and robbed five USPS mail carriers while they were delivering mail. During one robbery, Thompson pointed a firearm at the mail carrier’s head while making his demand. On March 9, 2023, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Thompson. At the time of his arrest, he unlawfully possessed a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun. Thompson has prior felony convictions including attempt leaving the scene of an accident, attempt ownership or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of stolen property, and attempt burglary, all in Clark County, Nev. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm due to his prior felony convictions. “U.S. Postal Inspectors will relentlessly investigate all acts of violence against USPS employees. Letter carriers are servants of the community and not only deserve respect, but also be able to complete their job safely. This significant sentence sends a message that those who attack public servants will be brought to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Phoenix Division. Thompson pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery of United States property with use of a dangerous weapon and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva on April 22, 2024. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Inspector in Charge Glen Henderson of the USPIS, Phoenix Division made the announcement. The USPIS and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Edward Veronda prosecuted the case. ###


title: Pharr man sent to prison for importing over $200,000 of cocaine

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 28-year-old man has been sentenced for importing cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Miguel Angel Trejo pleaded guilty Feb. 21. U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Trejo to serve 50 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Trejo played an integral part in smuggling illegal narcotics into the United States. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that traffickers could not succeed without the willing participation of transporters like Trejo. On Nov. 30, 2023, Trejo claimed he had no illegal drugs in his vehicle when arriving at the Rio Grande City port of entry checkpoint. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed 17 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately 19 kilograms hidden in compartments under the floorboards of the rear seat. The cocaine had an estimated street value of approximately $230,000. At the time of his plea, Trejo admitted he knew he was smuggling narcotics and had done so on multiple occasions. Trejo will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Parran III prosecuted the case.


title: Local man heads to prison for possessing material depicting sexual abuse of children

body_text: HOUSTON – A 68-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Stephen Broussard pleaded guilty Oct. 26, 2022, admitting he possessed over 6000 images. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now sentenced Broussard to 130 and 120 months for the distribution and possession of child pornography convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 130-month term of imprisonment. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that distribution and possession of child pornography are egregious crimes and are not victimless. Broussard was further ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Broussard will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Broussard came to the attention of law enforcement after he made child pornography files available for download through a peer-to-peer network. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Broussard’s residence and seized his electronic devices. A forensic examination of his devices revealed Broussard possessed 6215 images and 109 videos of child pornography. The material includes sadistic or masochistic conduct involving children under the age of 12. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes the Service and Sacrifice of Law Enforcement During National Police Week

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY - In honor of National Police Week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. National Police Week is observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024. Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. “As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.” In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. “Every day, our law enforcement partners across the Western District of Kentucky put everything on the line to protect and serve our communities. Please join our office in honoring these courageous men and women as we express our heartfelt gratitude for their service. Especially during this National Police Week, we pause to remember those officers that we have lost and extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and fellow officers left behind. Their commitment and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” said U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett. On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/ . To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org . ###


title: Justice Department Announces Civil Rights Investigation into Conditions at Kentucky Youth Detention Centers

body_text: WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a statewide investigation into the conditions at eight youth detention centers and one youth development center run by the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. The investigation will examine whether Kentucky protects children confined in these facilities from harm caused by excessive force by staff, prolonged and punitive isolation and inadequate protection from violence and sexual abuse. The investigation will also examine whether Kentucky provides adequate mental health services and required special education and related services to children with disabilities. “Confinement in the juvenile justice system should help children avoid future contact with law enforcement and mature into law-abiding, productive members of society. Too often, juvenile justice facilities break our children, exposing them to dangerous and traumatic conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are launching this investigation to ensure that children in Kentucky youth detention facilities are safe from harm, receive adequate mental health care and get appropriate special education services. All children held in the custody of the state deserve safe and humane conditions that can bring about true rehabilitation and reform.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky stands ready to protect the rights of all children in Kentucky, including those who end up in juvenile detention,” said U.S. Attorney Mike Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky. “We look forward to partnering with the Civil Rights Division and our colleagues in the Eastern District to conduct a fair and thorough investigation of these allegations.” This investigation focuses on detention centers, which primarily hold children awaiting a court hearing. Nationally, detention centers admit nearly 200,000 children every year, holding approximately 16,000 youth on any given night. The average length of stay for a child in detention is 27 days. Research shows that even far shorter stays can have profound and potentially lifelong negative consequences for children. The department has not reached any conclusions regarding the allegations in this matter. The investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. Both statutes give the department the authority to investigate systemic violations of the rights of young people in juvenile justice facilities. The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section is conducting this investigation jointly with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Western and Eastern Districts of Kentucky. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the department via phone at (888) 392-8241 or by email at Kentucky.Kids@usdoj.gov . The division recently secured a settlement agreement involving the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice’s Broad River Road Complex , the state’s only long-term post-adjudication facility for children, and is currently investigating conditions at five post-adjudication facilities for children in Texas . Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work protecting children’s rights in the juvenile justice system is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/rights-juveniles . ### Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Announces Civil Rights Investigation into Conditions at Kentucky Youth Detention Centers


title: U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins Recognizes Police Week in the District of Utah

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE, Utah – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week is observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024. “As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.” “This week in the District of Utah, family, friends and the community said their final goodbyes to Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hooser who was killed in the line of duty over one week ago. As we honor National Police Week, we recognize law enforcement who paid the ultimate sacrifice, like Sgt. Hooser, to serve and protect our communities at all costs. We thank all law enforcement for their dedication and commitment to public safety.” On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney Trina Higgins will recognize federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement with United States Attorney’s Awards for Law Enforcement for their dedicated work in seeking justice in federal cases prosecuted in the District of Utah. In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/. To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org .


title: U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson Recognizes National Police Week

body_text: LAS VEGAS – In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson joins U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country to recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The week will be observed Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024. “As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.” “During National Police Week, we honor the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women on the frontlines of public safety,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We express gratitude to our state, local, federal, and Tribal law enforcement partners for their courage and dedication to the safety and protection of our communities.” In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney Frierson paid tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. He attended the 27th Annual Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Carson City, the 37th Annual James D. Hoff Peace Officer Memorial in Reno, and the 2024 FBI Memorial Ceremony in Las Vegas. On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/. To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney Romero Recognizes Police Week, Speaking at Federal Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Co-Hosting Trauma Training Session for Law Enforcement

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA — In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero is recognizing the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, National Police Week runs from Saturday, May 11, through Friday, May 17, with today, May 15, designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day. On Tuesday, May 14, U.S. Attorney Romero attended and spoke at a wreath-laying ceremony where federal partners honored fallen law enforcement officers. Today, her office is co-hosting a webinar for law enforcement professionals on preventing and navigating secondary traumatic stress, which can result from difficult situations frequently encountered on the job. “Working as a sworn law enforcement officer means stepping up, and showing up, in situations that often walk a tightrope between difficult and dangerous. It means constantly facing the unknown, and putting your life on the line for the public good,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Our nation’s fallen officers, who chose to pursue public service at almost unbearable cost, deserve our eternal remembrance and wholehearted thanks.” In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. “As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.” On Monday, May 13, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty in 2024 who have been added to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial were read during a Candlelight Vigil. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://nleomf.org/memorial/programs/national-police-week-2024/candlelight-vigil/ . To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org .


title: Former Employee of Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia Pleads Guilty to Stealing Masters Golf Tournament Merchandise and Memorabilia

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A former employee of the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia admitted in federal court in Chicago today that he stole millions of dollars’ worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia and sold it to online brokers. RICHARD BRENDAN GLOBENSKY, 39, of Augusta, Ga., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Chicago to a federal charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. The conviction is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman set sentencing for Oct. 29, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. The guilty plea was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI's Art Crime Team. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Franzblau and Brian Hayes. Globensky admitted in a plea agreement that he repeatedly stole the merchandise and memorabilia from 2009 to 2022 while he was employed by the club as a warehouse assistant. The merchandise included Masters shirts, hats, flags, watches, and other goods, while the memorabilia included historically significant items such as the Green Jackets won by Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan, and documents and letters written and signed by Bobby Jones. Globensky sold the merchandise to the online broker in Florida for a total of approximately $5.3 million, the plea agreement states. He sold the historically significant memorabilia to the same broker, as well as to the broker’s associate, for nearly $300,000, the plea agreement states. The brokers later re-sold the stolen merchandise and memorabilia, often at significant markups from the amounts paid to Globensky. At least one of the stolen items was purchased by a collector in Chicago. Globensky plea agreement


title: St. Tammany Parish Man Pleads  Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ALVAREZ JOSEPH CYPRIAN , age 23, of Madisonville, Louisiana, pled guilty on May 14, 2024, to violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act before United States District Judge Susie Morgan. CYPRIAN pled guilty to Counts 1 and 3 of the indictment. Count 1 charged him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. Count 3 charged him with distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). According to court documents, CYPRIAN sold fentanyl pills to an undercover agent on September 8, 2023. CYPRIAN met the undercover agent in Covington and gave the agent 200 fentanyl pills in exchange for $550. For Counts 1 and 3, CYPRIAN faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. CYPRIAN’s sentencing is set for August 15, 2024. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit oversees the prosecution.


title: Atlantic County Man Charged with Possessing Unregistered Machineguns and Other Items

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was charged today with possessing unregistered machineguns and other items, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Michael John James, 30, of Somers Point, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of possessing unregistered machineguns and other firearms, as defined under the National Firearms Act. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio in Camden federal court and was detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In February 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel intercepted two packages that contained suspected controlled substances and were addressed to James’ residence. On Feb. 27, 2024, investigators conducted a controlled delivery of the packages, observed James bring the packages into his residence, and executed a search warrant at the residence, where they recovered dozens of firearms and ballistics items. Among the recovered items were three operable machine guns, an operable weapon modified to be shorter than a standard rifle, an operable weapon modified to be shorter than a standard shotgun, and three silencers. The possession of an unregistered machinegun or other firearm, as defined under the National Firearms Act, charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; personnel from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds; and officers of the Somers Point Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert C. Somers, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Waegener and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. james.complaint.pdf


title: Father, Son, Sentenced for Trafficking Cocaine to St. Louis

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie. L. White on Wednesday sentenced a father and son who brought kilograms of cocaine to St. Louis for years to more than 10 years in prison. Judge White sentenced Gregory Dixson Jr., 53, to 15 years in prison and ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine. He will also be on supervised release for 10 years after he gets out of prison. His son, Gregory Cornell Dixson III, 33, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison. Beginning in at least 2015, the Dixsons conspired with others to bring cocaine to St. Louis. Dixson Jr. admitted that at least 450 kilograms of cocaine could be attributed to his conduct and the conduct of others. For Dixson III, that figure was 50 to 150 kilograms of cocaine. In late 2016 or early 2017, Dixson Jr. and/or Dixson III sent couriers to Texas to buy kilograms of cocaine from Miguel Angel Gonzalez, who bought it from Carlos Gonzalez. Dixson Jr. was at one point buying as much as eight to 16 kilograms per week. During the investigation, law enforcement officers intercepted or seized cocaine and cash. In September of 2015, 31 kilograms of cocaine was found hidden inside a vehicle. The cocaine was supplied by Omar Pena Vargas. In August of 2018, Gonzalez was found in a hotel with two bags containing a total of $634,770 in cash, representing a partial payment for 75 kilograms of cocaine being sold to Dixson Jr. Drug Enforcement Administration On Oct. 28, 2018, eight kilograms of cocaine bound for St. Louis were seized. In March of 2020, 23.6 pounds of a mix of heroin and fentanyl was seized from Ruben Sanchez Blanco. Some of those drugs were intended for St. Louis, Dixon III’s plea says. Drug Enforcement Administration In July of 2021, $161,845 was found hidden inside a vehicle that Quintin Deforest Adkins drove to Texas to buy six kilograms of cocaine. Dixson Jr. pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to launder money. Dixson III pleaded guilty to the same cocaine conspiracy charge as his father. Drug Enforcement Administration Dixson Jr. agreed to forfeit $135,265, the proceeds from the sale of a home in Texas, a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali, a customized 2015 Harley Davidson Road Glide and cash in lieu of a 2018 Dodge Challenger Demon. Vargas is in federal prison. Miguel Gonzalez, 59, pleaded guilty in November to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and 400 grams of fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June. Adkins, 63, pleaded guilty in November to the cocaine and fentanyl conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges and was sentenced in February to 87 months in prison. Blanco, 46, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced in June to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Carlos Gonzalez is deceased. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Mt. Vernon Woman Indicted for Conspiracy to Purchase Hundreds of Lottery Tickets with Stolen Credit Cards

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mt. Vernon, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for leading a conspiracy to purchase nearly 2,000 lottery tickets with stolen credit cards. Amy Young, 31, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Today’s indictment alleges that Young obtained stolen credit cards and led a conspiracy to use those stolen credit cards to purchase lottery tickets from a Phillips 66 Fuel Station in Joplin, Mo., between July 22 and Aug. 18, 2022. Young allegedly enlisted the help of others to contact the Missouri Lottery Commission to obtain cash prizes for any winning lottery tickets that were fraudulently purchased using stolen credit cards. They kept a portion of the money for themselves and turned over the rest of the money to Young. According to the indictment, Young used stolen credit cards to purchase at least 1,957 Missouri Lottery tickets with a value of $62,082. Additionally, Young and her co-conspirators received $54,248 in cash prizes for the winning tickets purchased using stolen credit card numbers. In total, between the fraudulent credit card transactions and the prize money fraudulently received, Young and her co-conspirators fraudulently received at least $116,330. Today’s indictment charges Young with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud (related to the fraudulent purchase of $480 in lottery tickets with a stolen credit card on Aug. 18, 2022). The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the FBI.


title: Former Noel Man Indicted for Kidnapping Resulting in Death

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former Noel, Mo., man who was indicted in 2019 for kidnapping the 4-year-old daughter of a murdered woman whose body was discovered in a suitcase alongside a highway now faces additional charges related to that murder. Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 39, a Somali national who was a permanent resident alien in the United States, was charged in a three-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Today’s superseding indictment replaces the original indictment, which was returned on Aug. 20, 2019, and contains additional charges. The superseding indictment charges Mahamed with one count of kidnapping resulting in death, one count of stalking resulting in death, and one count of kidnapping a minor. The superseding indictment alleges that Mahamed kidnapped the victim, identified as “J.M.,” which resulted in her death in July 2019. The victim has previously been identified in public court filings as Jessica McCormack of Noel, Mo. The superseding indictment also alleges that Mahamed stalked McCormack from April 1 to July 17, 2019, which resulted in her death. The superseding indictment includes the original charge of kidnapping a minor victim (identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1) and transporting her from Missouri to Iowa. Following his indictment in 2019, Mahamed was a fugitive from justice for nearly a year until he was arrested in Guatemala on July 27, 2021. He has been detained in federal custody since his arrest. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original federal criminal complaint, McCormack’s body was discovered on July 29, 2019, near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Mo., and Noel. The last time McCormack was seen alive, the affidavit says, was when law enforcement officers responded to a call at her home on July 16, 2019. Also present in the residence were Mahamed, who was identified as McCormack’s paramour, and McCormack’s three daughters, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1 (four years old), Jane Doe 2 (two years old), and Jane Doe 3 (six months old). McCormack’s children could not be located after her body was discovered and identified. An Amber Alert was issued for McCormack’s three children, who were located at a residence in Des Moines, Iowa, and taken into state custody on Aug. 8, 2019. According to the affidavit, a woman who formerly worked with Mahamed at the Tyson plant in Noel told law enforcement officers that Mahamed arrived at her Des Moines residence with the children on Aug. 5, 2019. She discovered he had left on Aug. 8, 2019, the affidavit says, when she found a note from Mahamed informing her that he could not care for the children. Investigators confirmed with the father of McCormack’s oldest child that Mahamed did not have his consent to take Jane Doe 1 outside the state of Missouri. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Noel, Mo., Marshal’s Office, the Rochester, Minn., Police Department, and the Des Moines, Iowa, Police Department.


title: Former FSU Engineering Student Sentenced To 18 Years In Federal Prison For Sexual Exploitation Of Children and Receipt Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Sean Kurt Paolo Macalacad, 24, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to eighteen years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.” Plea documents reflect that law enforcement officers received Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user of a social media account had transmitted five files constituting child pornography. The subsequent investigation revealed that the account was Macalacad’s, an engineering student at Florida State University. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers obtained search warrants for two of Macalacad’s cell phones. An examination of the first phone’s contents confirmed that Macalacad was in possession of multiple child pornography images and videos with victims as young as 6 months of age. Additionally, the first phone contained evidence that Macalacad was engaged in sexually explicit chats with a 15-year-old boy through another social media application. During those chats, Macalacad misrepresented his age by claiming to be younger and requested the minor to send sexually explicit photographs of himself. The search of the second phone revealed that it contained additional child pornography videos, and that it had been used to contact two 17-year-old boys through a social media application and obtain sexually explicit photographs of them. “The conviction of Macalacad for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material is a solemn reminder of the profound harm inflicted upon innocent lives,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “It underscores our collective duty, alongside partners at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, to safeguard the most vulnerable among us and to ensure that those who exploit and victimize children are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Justice has been served, but our commitment to protecting children remains steadfast.” Macalacad’s prison sentence will be followed by lifetime supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions. The Court ordered forfeiture of electronic devices used in the commission of the offenses, including two the cell phones. This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted 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 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Seven Individuals Charged in Postal Employee Theft Ring

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI - Seven individuals, all former or current employees of the U.S. Postal Service, have been charged in federal court with conspiracy and theft of mail for their alleged participation in an alleged mail theft ring spanning from early 2023 through the beginning of 2024, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Six of seven individuals were arrested today; a seventh defendant was charged earlier this month. All seven men were employed at the Processing and Distribution Center at 24 Corliss Street, Providence, RI. One of the men charged was a supervisor at the distribution center. According to charging documents, in March 2023, customers began reporting that mail was either not delivered or delivered without its contents. An investigation by, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General identified a group of employees, including a supervisor, who are alleged to have worked together to sort, separate, and conceal selected mail that they believed to contain cash, checks, or gift cards. At the end of their shift, the mail would be removed surreptitiously from distribution center, usually in a backpack carried by a member of theft ring. The group gathered after their shifts ended and opened the stolen mail, sorting out gift cards, cash, and checks to distribute amongst themselves. During the course of the investigation, it is alleged that one defendant was caught with a backpack of stolen mail that included over $1.3 million worth of checks. “The misuse of public employment for private gain is both a serious crime and profound breach of the public trust,” commented U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “The arrests and charges we announce today should send a clear message that those who engage in public corruption for personal gain will be held accountable.” U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi added, “The Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General are committed to maintaining the integrity of the Postal Service and its more than 600,000 employees. The conduct alleged in the criminal complaint is disgraceful and our office will continue to investigate postal employees who violate the public’s trust. This type of behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated. The USPS OIG would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the District of Rhode Island U.S. Attorney’s Office for their collaboration and efforts with this investigation.” Charged in U.S. District Court in Providence with conspiracy to steal mail and theft of mail by a postal employee are Darren Camacho, 30, of Providence; Fernando Camacho, 28, of Providence; Willie Estrella, 31, of Providence; Ryan Lee, 43, of Cranston; Cyril Murray, 44, of Pawtucket (employed as a supervisor); Angel Rivera, 27, of Providence; and Andre Williams, 31, of North Providence. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie M. White. The matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Providence Police Department, and Smithfield Police Department. The public can report mail theft by contacting the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-888-USPS-OIG (1-888-877-7644; online at www.uspsoig.gov/hotline ; via email at Hotline@uspsoig.gov ; or by mail at USPS OIG, Attn: OIG Hotline, 1735 North Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209-2020. ###


title: Woodford County Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Anthony Travon Garrett, 31, was sentenced on Wednesday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 240 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to his plea agreement, on March 30, 2022, law enforcement arranged a controlled purchase of approximately two pounds of methamphetamine and one ounce of fentanyl, to be delivered by Garrett. He was approached by law enforcement and was found in possession of the drugs and also found in possession of a loaded firearm, under the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Three additional firearms, pressed fentanyl pills, a fentanyl press, digital scales, and additional drug trafficking paraphernalia were then discovered at a residence where Garrett resided. Under federal law, Garrett must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP); and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Two Men Charged With Trafficking In Stolen Human Remains

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angelo Pereyra, age 39, of Wichita, Kansas, and Andrew Ensanian, age 38, of Montgomery, Pennsylvania, were charged today by Criminal Information with interstate transport of stolen goods. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the information alleges that between 2018 and 2022, Pereyra and Ensanian caused stolen human remains to be transported between Kansas and Pennsylvania. These charges resulted from a multi-year investigation into the nationwide trafficking of stolen human remains. Multiple defendants have been charged previously in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and three have thus far entered guilty pleas. An additional defendant has been charged and convicted in Arkansas. None have yet been sentenced. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of 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. Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Fairfax man pleads guilty to multiple scams totaling over a million dollars

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fairfax man pled guilty today to his role in two scams that defrauded victims and retailers out of over a million dollars. According to court documents, from Nov. 19, 2020, to Aug. 13, 2023, Sunyu Qian, 31, participated in a scheme to con people into purchasing gift cards that he used to acquire high-value items. Members of a criminal organization contacted individuals, mostly elderly victims, across the United States via telephone or email and, through a variety of false pretenses, convinced them to purchase gift cards from large retailers and convey the gift card information to the fraudsters, including Qian. The value of the cards could be aggregated by Qian to purchase electronics, which Qian then shipped to his co-conspirators. During this scheme, Qian used approximately $1.1 million through unauthorized access. From April 19, 2023, to March 23, 2024, Qian engaged in another scheme using counterfeit price tags to purchase large containers of baby formula at the lower price of a much smaller cans of baby formula. For instance, on April 19, 2023, Qian scanned counterfeit price tags for 13oz cans of formula priced at $4.99 each that he had placed on larger containers of the same formula priced at $62.99 each. Qian would then deliver the baby formula to co-conspirators who paid him in cash. During this scheme, Qian defrauded two retailers of a total of at least $124,000. Qian’s total culpability over the two schemes is approximately $1.25 million. Qian pled guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hood is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-60.


title: Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry, Social Security Fraud

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A Honduran national who reentered the United States illegally after he had been removed from the country on three previous occasions, and who used the Social Security number of another individual to gain employment has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Belfran Joel Najera-Chirinos, 42, previously admitted to a federal judge that he was removed from the United States in 2018 and then removed twice more in 2019, but that he nevertheless again reentered the United States illegally prior to being arrested in Providence in January 2023. At the time of his most recent arrest, Najera-Chirinos was employed by a local shipbuilder, working under the name, and using the Social Security number, of another individual. When arrested, Najera-Chirinos provided law enforcement the name of yet another individual, and produced a Puerto Rican driver’s license in the name of that person. Najera-Chirinos pleaded guilty on January 31, 2024, to charges of illegal reentry after deportation and Social Security fraud. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy on May 9, 2024, to 18 months of incarceration to be followed by one year of federal supervised release. Najera-Chirinos faces deportation proceedings upon completion of his current term of incarceration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron. The matter was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General/Office of Investigations. ###


title: Farmington Man Sentenced for Arson

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge handed down an 8-month prison sentence to a Farmington man who pleaded guilty to burning down a residence in Two Grey Hills, New Mexico, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation. There is no parole in the federal system. According to publicly available court records, on Aug. 28, 2023, Ulrick Bruce Canyon , 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, started a fire at the residence by pouring lighter fluid in the bedrooms, lit the fire with a match and threw two propane tanks into the fire. Canyon then left the residence with a wheelbarrow full of his clothing, at which time he was intercepted by Navajo Nation Police officers. When questioned by a Navajo Nation Criminal Investigator, Canyon admitted to using marijuana and meth. On the day of the incident, Canyon said that he had been hearing voices and they had told him to “put the house on fire.” Upon his release from prison, Canyon will be subject to 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McGinley is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Brownsville resident heads to prison after attempt to transport over $200,000 of cocaine

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 35-year-old man has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute more than four kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Elias Garcia pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2023. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Garcia to serve 82 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. On Oct. 4, 2023, Garcia attempted to drive a Jeep Cherokee SUV through the primary inspection lane of the Falfurrias Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. Soon thereafter, an X-ray of the vehicle showed the presence of an anomaly inside the vehicle’s battery compartment located beneath the driver’s seat. Authorities searched the vehicle and discovered four bundles of cocaine concealed within the battery. The weight of the cocaine was over four kilograms and had an estimated street value of more than $200,000. Garcia will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. BP and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck prosecuted the case.


title: Tolland Strip Club Owner, Manager & Bouncer Charged in 12-Count Indictment

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Connecticut State Police Colonel Daniel Loughman today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a 12-count indictment charging KENNETH DENNING , 67, of Holland, Massachusetts, JOSHUA BAKER , 41, of Willimantic, Connecticut, and WILLIAM MAYO , 41, of Manchester, Connecticut, with offenses stemming from the operation of the Electric Blue strip club in Tolland, Connecticut. The indictment was returned yesterday and Denning, Baker, and Mayo were arrested today. As alleged in the indictment, Denning owned and oversaw the operation of the Electric Blue strip club, which included the employment of dancers who performed nude dances and lap dances for customers. Baker was the club’s manager and bookkeeper, and Mayo was employed at the club as a bouncer and was primarily responsible for hiring dancers, many of whom were not legally authorized to live or work in the United States. The indictment alleges that the Electric Blue had a semi-private “lap dance room” and “VIP rooms” where dancers regularly performed commercial sex acts for customers. As payment for commercial sex acts, customers would typically pay the club an entry fee for use of the lap dance room or one of the VIP rooms and then pay an additional fee directly to the dancer. In addition, the club collected cash through cover charges paid at the door and fees paid by dancers to perform at the club. Baker or another club employee would collect the cash received by the club, place the cash in envelopes noting the source of the cash, and then place the envelopes in a safe in Denning’s office. The defendants referred to this cash as “Kenny’s money,” and used this money to pay business expenses and fund Denning’s personal expenditures, including trips to casinos where Denning spent large sums of money. The indictment also alleges that Denning and Baker provided false information to the club’s tax-return preparer in 2020, 2021, and 2022 by underreporting the gross receipts from the club and excluding income derived from commercial sex acts. As much as approximately $5.7 million in business receipts were not reported to the IRS, causing a tax underpayment of more than $2 million. The indictment further alleges that Denning committed fraud by applying for and receiving an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) during the COVID-19 pandemic by certifying that the business did not “present live performances of a prurient sexual nature.” Denning received a loan of approximately $150,000 in July 2020. The indictment charges Denning, Baker, and Mayo with conspiracy to use an interstate facility to promote or facilitate prostitution, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with unlawful employment of aliens, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of six months. Denning and Baker are charged with conspiracy to file false tax returns, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with conspiracy to commit promotional and concealment money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Denning is charged with engaging in a monetary transaction with proceeds derived from prostitution, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, related to a cash deposit of approximately $21,700 at the Mohegan Sun Casino. He is also charged with aiding and abetting the filing of a false tax return related to his personal tax return for the 2020 tax year, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years, and with willful failure to file his personal tax return for the 2021 tax year, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year. He is also charged with wire fraud in connection with his receipt of the EIDL loan, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection – Liquor Control Division, and the Massachusetts State Police, with the assistance of the Willimantic Police Department and Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten and Robert S. Dearington. If any employee/dancer at the Electric Blue has been a victim of the unlawful acts described in the indictment, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Advocate at usact.vns@usdoj.gov or 203-696-3039.


title: Providence Man Who Sold Oxycodone to Undercover Officer Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Providence man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for selling oxycodone pills on multiple occasions to an undercover officer. Brandon Jones, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2023, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and two counts of distribution of oxycodone. In July 2022, Jones was identified as an oxycodone distributor in the Worcester area. Specifically, Jones traveled to Worcester in rental vehicles on a daily basis to sell drugs throughout the area before returning to Providence. On at least four occasions between October 2022 and January 2023, Jones met with undercover law enforcement to distribute oxycodone pills in controlled purchases. In February 2023, the rental cars Jones had been using were tracked to his supply source in New Jersey and New York. At the time of his arrest in March 2023, Jones was found in possession of approximately 1,500 oxycodone pills. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Southbridge Police Chief Shane D. Woodson made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Wilkes-Barre Man Sentenced To 10 Years’ Imprisonment On Drug Trafficking Charges

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Emile Occean, age 38, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment by United Sates District Court Judge Malachy Mannion for distributing methamphetamine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Occean distributed methamphetamine in Luzerne County on March 31, 2022, and April 12, 2022. Occean was deemed to be a career offender for sentencing purposes because he had two prior drug distribution convictions, two robbery convictions and a burglary conviction in his prior record. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Mexico Native Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gustavo Nabor Tolentino Cortes, age 46, of Mexico, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Tolentino Cortes was previously removed from the United States on January 24, 2018. The indictment further alleges that Tolentino Cortes unlawfully reentered the United States without legal permission, and was subsequently discovered in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of 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 are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Former Williamson County State’s Attorney Sentenced

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – Former Williamson County State’s Attorney Brandon Zanotti was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation, a $5,000 fine and 20 hours of community service for a scheme to sell seven commercial rental properties by falsifying loan and other bank documents. The suspension of Zanotti’s law license is pending before the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Zanotti pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court in Benton to one felony count of aiding and abetting the making of a false bank entry. He admitted that in an April 6, 2022, meeting with a bank president and the buyer, they all agreed to fraudulently make it appear as if the loan to buy the properties in Williamson and Franklin counties was actually a refinancing. Documents were backdated to falsely indicate the buyer purchased the properties on Feb. 1, 2022, for the falsely inflated price of $545,152. The documents also falsely indicated that the bank was refinancing 80% of that loan, with the buyers bringing 20% in cash to the sale. The real sales price for the properties was $436,122, and the buyers were not bringing any cash to the transaction. The bank’s loan to the buyers was approved by the bank’s loan committee based upon the false information. Zanotti resigned as State’s Attorney later that year. The FBI Springfield Office and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General investigated the case. The prosecution was handled by Special Attorney Hal Goldsmith from the Eastern District of Missouri. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois was recused from the case.


title: Former Milford Second Grade Teacher Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: BOSTON – A former Milford teacher was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Vincent Kiejzo, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 42 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Kiejzo was also ordered to pay $43,500 in restitution to victims. In December 2024, Kiejzo pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In or around May 2019, an IP address registered to Kiejzo was linked to two websites known to host videos, photos and discussions of content depicting the sexual exploitation of minor victims. During a search of Kiejzo’s Milford home in September 2020, a USB drive plugged into a television in his bedroom was located and found to contain links to websites dedicated to child sexual exploitation. The USB drive also contained well as over 6,000 images of CSAM – including images that involved infants. At the time of his arrest, Kiejzo was a second-grade teacher in Milford. Upon his release from prison, Kiejzo will be required to register as a sex offender and will be prohibited from contact with children. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. The Milford Police Department also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Office prosecuted 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Former Bryant High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years In Federal Prison for Transportation of A Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Heather Hare, 33, of Conway, was sentenced to serve the next 13 years in federal prison for transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of unlawful sexual activity. Hare was sentenced earlier today by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky. The investigation into Hare revealed that Hare taught Family Consumer Science classes at Bryant High School and met the minor victim on their first day of their senior year. Hare began one-on-one counseling sessions with the minor victim, eventually giving them her personal phone number and primarily communicating with them through Instagram and Snapchat. Hare later told the minor victim that she had a dream of them having sex and gave the victim her home address in Conway. The minor victim and Hare engaged in sexual activity between 20 to 30 times throughout the 2021-2022 school term, including multiple times at her Conway residence, in her vehicle, and in her classroom and parking lots at Bryant High School. Between April 21 and April 24, 2022, Hare was the sponsor and chaperone for a field trip to Washington, D.C., as part of an extracurricular activity related to the Family Consumer Science courses Hare taught. During the field trip, Hare and the minor victim engaged in the unlawful sexual activity to which she pleaded guilty. Hare was indicted on August 1, 2023, and charged with one count of interstate/foreign travel for prostitution/sexual activity by coercion and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. In exchange for her guilty plea, the remaining charge was dismissed. Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Hare to serve a lifetime of supervised release. Hare faced a maximum sentence of not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life imprisonment, and not less than five years of supervised release for transportation of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. “Teachers who have sex with their minor students should take note of today’s sentence for Ms. Hare which reflects the consequences of abusing her position of trust and taking advantage of the vulnerability of this minor to repeatedly engage in unlawful sexual activity,” Ross said. “Our office will continue to hold accountable those who are in a position of trust that target children and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, as evidenced by Judge Rudofsky sentencing Ms. Hare to 13 years in federal prison.” “The FBI takes crimes against children very seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Little Rock Field Office. “Today’s sentencing shows that the federal government will continuously work to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals who abuse their position of trust and authority to exploit children in our community.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bryant Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Middlesex County Man Admits Structuring over $250,000 in Deposits to Evade Reporting Requirements

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man today admitted structuring over $250,000 in bank deposits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Abdel Elgendy, 67, of Piscataway, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an information charging him with structuring. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From March 2021 to November 2021, Elgendy purposefully engaged in a pattern of structuring activity to deposit over $250,000 in cash at financial institutions in ways to avoid reporting requirements for transactions in excess of $10,000. For example, during one of the deposits in September 2021, Elgendy accidentally provided a teller with more than $10,000 to be deposited. When the teller informed him that the cash totaled more than $10,000, Elgendy took some of the money back from the teller to ensure that the total deposited amount was less than $10,000. The count of structuring to which Elgendy pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 29, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, under the direction of Inspector General John Gay; special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker; and special agents with the Department of Defense Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Cyber Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kenneth A. DeChellis, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the Springfield, New Jersey, and Teaneck, New Jersey, police departments. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Benjamin Levin of the Criminal Division in Newark. elgendy.information.pdf


title: District Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for 2023  Armed Robbery and Shooting in Northwest D.C.

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Michael Lomax, 58, of Washington D.C., was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for offenses committed against two victims, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Lomax pleaded guilty on January 30, 2024, to one count of armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for the crimes committed against two separate victims. Today, Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow sentenced Lomax to serve five years’ imprisonment for each offense, for a total of 10 years, followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, with which Lomax agreed, on November 9, 2023, at around 5:15 a.m., Lomax went to the first victim’s apartment unit in the Adams Morgan area with a woman who knew the victim. After the victim let his acquaintance and Lomax inside, Lomax pointed a firearm at the victim, robbed him, and fled the area. Approximately nine and a half hours later that same day, at around 2:50 p.m., Lomax was in the 300 block of Delafield Place NW when he got into an argument with the second victim. During that argument, Lomax fired one shot at that second victim, hitting him in the leg, before fleeing that scene. Police subsequently arrested Lomax on December 2, 2023, after eyewitnesses from the robbery recognized him and notified police. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Carlton.


title: Browning woman sentenced to four years in prison for assaulting another woman on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning woman who admitted assaulting another woman during an argument, causing the victim serious injuries, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Thomasine Tachelle Wahl Salway, 31, pleaded guilty in January to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that on Jan. 31, 2023 at a Browning residence, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Salway struck the victim, identified as Jane Doe, while arguing with Doe for Doe to give her a ride to another house in Browning. Doe told Salway she would take her later but not right then. Salway became upset and began punching Doe in the face. Alcohol was a factor in the assault. Doe initially was treated for a deep facial laceration at the Browning Indian Health Service, then was transferred to Benefis in Great Falls for further treatment. The laceration was the result of a sharp edge object, but a witness did not know what Salway used to strike Doe. The U.S. Attorney’s Officer prosecuted the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Pryor Man Sentenced for the Sexual Abuse of a 12-Year-Old

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Corey Allan Pickup, Jr., 33, for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Pickup to serve the maximum sentence of 180 months imprisonment, followed by 25 years supervised release. Upon his release, Pickup will also be required to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, in late 2018, a 12-year-old child victim was staying the night at a sleepover. While everyone was asleep, Pickup provided the child with alcohol and then sexually abused the child. Pickup is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: U.S. Attorney Will Thompson Recognizes National Police Week with Memorial Ceremony and Grant Award Visit

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Will Thompson is recognizing the service and sacrifice of federal, state and local law enforcement. “As our country recognizes National Police Week, the Justice Department joins families and communities in remembering the members of the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Policing is difficult and dangerous, yet time and time again, law enforcement officers answer the call, showing up for their communities when they are needed the most. Their devotion to duty is matched only by that of their loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support them. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything in our power to help provide our law enforcement partners with the resources they need to carry out their noble work on behalf of the public.” In the Southern District of West Virginia, Thompson participated in a wreath-laying and awards ceremony honoring law enforcement at Parkersburg City Hall on Monday, May 13, 2024. Thompson was also the event’s guest speaker. “Law enforcement represents the community,” Thompson said. “They’re part of the community. They’re the first call when anyone in the community is in trouble. Their jobs are not easy jobs. The fact that the community came out in such strong numbers today is an incredible display of support.” On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, Thompson joined with Bluefield Police Chief D. M. Dillow Jr. and other community partners to celebrate a $450,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant awarded to the City of Bluefield. The grant was awarded through DOJ’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and its Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success initiative. Its funding will help strengthen The Wade Center, Camp Mariposa of Southern West Virginia, and other youth-serving programs to expand after-school, summer learning, and enrichment opportunities for Mercer County young people. The Bluefield Police Department and the nonprofit Community Connections Inc. are active partners of The Wade Center as it provides educational, mentoring and other services to youth at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. “This is an excellent example of how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Thompson said. “The benefit to the community is incredible and National Police Week offers a great opportunity to highlight the role of our law enforcement partners in such outreach initiatives.” This year’s National Police Week is observed from Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17, 2024. In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. The names of 282 officers killed in the line of duty were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2024. On Monday, May 13, 2024, those names were read during the 36th Annual Candlelight Vigil held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The names include that of West Virginia State Police Sgt. Cory Steven Maynard and West Virginia Division of Probation Services Officer Steven Paul Gitlin II. To view a recording of the livestream of this event, visit https://www.youtube.com/live/_AJEOg_3npQ?si=18ApdMCWLRVQmCLx. The complete 2024 Roll Call of Heroes is available at https://nleomf.org/memorial/facts-figures/roll-call-of-heroes/ . To learn more about National Police Week and the virtual candlelight vigil, please visit www.policeweek.org . 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. ###


title: Henrico man pleads guilty to two armed robberies

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man pled guilty today to the armed robberies of two local stores. According to court documents, on Jan. 22, 2024, Josue Cano-Morales, 19, entered a Lucky Mart on Staples Mill Road and walked around the counter. Brandishing a handgun, Cano-Morales demanded money. After the clerk handed over money from the register, Cano-Morales demanded more money and forced the clerk at gunpoint to go to the back office. Cano-Morales took money from desk drawers, stole a Snickers candy bar, and fled on a bicycle. Cano-Morales then proceeded to a nearby Smokers World store, which he entered holding a handgun and a backpack. Cano-Morales demanded money from the register, then forced the clerk to the backroom where he took more money. Cano-Morales stole several vapes from a display before attempting to flee through the back door. The door was locked, however, and Cano-Morales fled through the front door. Henrico County Police officers responding to the Lucky Mart robbery spotted Cano-Morales bicycle at a nearby shopping center. While inspecting the bicycle, they saw Cano-Morales leaving Smokers World. Cano-Morales immediately fled on foot but was quickly apprehended in a parking lot. Cano-Morales is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 11. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for robbery and, consecutive to the sentence for robbery, seven years to life in prison for using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-44.


title: Fentanyl, meth trafficking send Great Falls woman to prison for more than three years

component: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls woman who admitted to a drug trafficking crime after law enforcement found fentanyl and methamphetamine in a vehicle she was driving was sentenced today to three years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Courtney Price, 28, pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on Feb. 8, 2023, law enforcement officers made a traffic stop of a vehicle Price was driving. A state search warrant was executed later on the vehicle, and law enforcement located fentanyl, meth and a firearm. Price admitted in an interview she knew there was fentanyl in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop and that she was being paid in fentanyl to drive her passengers from Tacoma, Washington, to Great Falls. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and Russell Country Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . XXX


title: Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Travell Lamar Johnson, 45, of Big Chimney, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 14, 2023, Johnson sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Charleston gas station. Johnson admitted to the transaction and to arranging it beforehand with the confidential informant. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Co-defendant Alexis Nicole Davis, 26, of Charleston, pleaded guilty on May 2, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and awaits sentencing. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-177. ###


title: Illinois Man Sentenced To 17.5 Years For Sexual Exploitation After Traveling To Michigan To Meet Child

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Eduardo G. Torres, 26, of Waukegan, Illinois, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff to 210 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for sexually exploiting a child. “As the sexual exploitation of children online continues to rise, my office is committed to protecting children and bringing sex offenders to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “The devices that nearly every child and teenager now carry leave kids vulnerable to criminals down the street, across state lines, and around the world. I strongly urge parents, guardians, and loved ones to educate their kids about online dangers, stay aware of their social media activities, and create a trusting relationship where kids are willing to share if something goes wrong.” In April 2023, Torres sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl and filmed it after initially meeting her online, communicating with her through Snapchat, and then traveling to meet her in person. To do so, he drove from Illinois to Berrien Springs, Michigan. After assaulting the girl, he also transported her back across state lines to his residence in Illinois. Torres previously pled guilty to sexual exploitation of a child on December 18, 2023, for the child pornography he created when he filmed the sexual assault. Federal law prohibits the production, distribution, receipt, or possession of any image containing child pornography. “Mr. Torres engaged in an egregiously inappropriate relationship with a minor, exploiting and sexually assaulting the young victim. Investigating those who prey on our children is a top priority for the FBI,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “I commend the FBI's Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force for their dedicated efforts in this case and their relentless pursuit of justice for our communities' children.” “The Berrien Springs Oronoko Township Police Department appreciates the work done on this case by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan along with the assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” said Police Chief Paul Toliver . “Working together with these agencies was instrumental in quickly bringing a child predator to justice and returning a child home to her family.” Parents and caregivers are urged to take steps to protect their children and teenagers from online predators. The FBI most often sees crimes against children begin when an adult either forges a relationship with a young victim online and later arranges to meet and abuse the child; or coerces a child into producing sexually explicit images or videos through manipulation, gifts, or threats. The FBI offers the following advice for parents to protect their children from online predators: Have open and ongoing conversations about safe and appropriate online behavior. Educate yourself about the websites, software, games, and apps that your children use. Check their social media and gaming profiles and posts. Have conversations about what is appropriate to say or share. Explain to your kids that once images or comments are posted online, they can be shared with anyone and never truly disappear. Make sure your kids use privacy settings to restrict access to their online profiles. Tell your children to be extremely wary when communicating with anyone online who they do not know in real life. Encourage kids to choose appropriate screen names and to create strong passwords. Make it a rule with your kids that they can't arrange to meet up with someone they met online without your knowledge and supervision. When children become victims, law enforcement stands ready to help. Report any inappropriate contact between an adult and your child to law enforcement immediately. Notify the site they were using, too. In addition to contacting local law enforcement, parents, victims, and others can report these crimes to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Further information about online safety is available at the FBI website , Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers: Protecting Your Kids . 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 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Berrien Springs Oronoko Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted the case. ###