title: Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has convicted Ryder White Hawk Sierra, age 33, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender following a court trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on August 9, 2023. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sierra was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. The charge related to Sierra failing to register and update his sex offender registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act between January and March of 2023. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for October 25, 2023. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Savage Life Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison on Racketeering Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Davenport men were sentenced on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, in relation to a racketeering prosecution. Najawaun Marcus Quinn, 26, was sentenced to 408 months in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Dimetri Alexander Smith, 30, was sentenced to 400 months in federal prison for two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and two counts of use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In February 2023 , both were found guilty of the charges following a 7-day jury trial. According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016 and 2017, as members of Savage Life Boys (SLB), a Davenport-based street gang, Quinn and Smith were involved in multiple shootings. In October 2016, Quinn and other SLB members encountered a man with whom he had been feuding sitting in a parked car at his residence on North Division Street in Davenport. They parked a short distance away and Quinn approached the man on foot. Quinn then fired numerous rounds at the man while he sat in his car. The man sustained a gunshot wound. In January 2017, Smith, and co-defendants Austin Ruiz and Olajuwan Culbreath were at the NorthPark Mall when they saw a rival gang member. Smith, Ruiz, and Culbreath went to their car, where they had firearms. Culbreath drove to the mall entrance where they expected the rival gang member to exit. When they saw the rival gang member, Smith and Ruiz chased him through the mall parking lot, shooting at him. In February 2017, Quinn, Smith, and co-defendants Culbreath, and Darion Gardner, and other SLB members started an altercation at a concert at the Hotel Davenport due to perceived disrespect for their gang. During the altercation, Gardner shot and killed one male and injured another. In April 2017, Smith and Ruiz were at Centennial Park in Davenport when they saw a male who recently robbed another SLB member’s dice game. Ruiz, armed with a firearm, got out of their vehicle to confront the male. The men struggled over the firearm, which discharged, striking the male in the foot. Smith then joined the altercation, choking the male to unconsciousness to assist them in their flight. Quinn and Smith committed these acts with the intent to maintain or increase position in the gang. Following their prison terms, both Quinn and Smith must each serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. In April 2023 , Ruiz was sentenced to 202 months in prison and Culbreath was sentenced to 152 months in prison. In December 2022 , Gardner was sentenced to 450 months in prison. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal stated “We will continue to pursue and aggressively prosecute those individuals and groups of individuals that choose to commit violent crimes. This investigation, trial and hard work of our partners at the Davenport Police Department exemplifies our joint commitment to using every tool available to combat gun violence and protect the communities we serve.” “We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our investigators and continued partnership with federal prosecutors to bring violent offenders to justice. Partnerships such as these are vital to keeping our community safe,” said Davenport Police Chief Jeffery E. Bladel. The Davenport Police Department led this investigation, with assistance from the Peoria, Illinois Police Department.


title: Waterloo Man Sent to Federal Prison for Shooting at an Occupied Home

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who discharged a gun at an occupied house was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison. Montrell Anderson, age 20, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 3, 2023 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user and possession of a stolen firearm. Information at the sentencing hearing showed that on April 24, 2022, Anderson twice shot a stolen gun into a neighboring occupied house, nearly hitting one of the residents. At the time, he was under the influence of marijuana. Five months later, in September 2022, officers found three more guns belonging to Anderson. Two of the firearms were stolen. Anderson’s urine tested positive for marijuana metabolites, opiates, and benzodiazepines. Anderson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Anderson was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Anderson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake, and it was investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-2012. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: New Yorker Guilty of Possessing Automatic Rifle in Basilica School Zone

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

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Brooklyn, NY man has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Ahmed Abdalla Allam, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in a school zone before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone today. According to information presented in court, on Jan. 29, 2023, Allam was found in possession of a multi-caliber rifle within 1,000 feet of St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School in Beaumont. Allam also possessed a 30-round magazine and 150 rounds of ammunition. It is a federal violation to possess firearms within 1,000 feet of a school zone. “We are grateful to our Beaumont citizens who were vigilant and looked out for their community by reporting this defendant’s suspicious activity,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “We are also grateful to the Beaumont Police Department and its officers who ensured that this defendant was unable to act on whatever it was he had planned.” Allam was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 1, 2023. He faces up to five years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case is being investigated by the Beaumont Police Department, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Port Arthur Fire Department, and Montgomery County Fire Marshall. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross. ###


title: Twenty-One-Year-Old Memphis Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for String of Robberies Against Postal Employees

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Jonathan D. Holmes , 21, of Memphis, to 11 years in federal prison for a string of assaults and robberies of United States postal employees. U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. also ordered Holmes to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. According to United States Attorney Ritz and the information presented in court, on October 4, 2021, a carrier for the U.S. Postal Service was delivering mail near Kings Grant Cove in South Memphis when Jonathan Holmes parked his car in front of the postal vehicle and pointed a gun at the postal worker. The mail carrier fled in his postal vehicle. Approximately 15 minutes later, Holmes approached a second letter carrier near Silver Chalice Drive and again pointed a handgun at the worker. Holmes demanded packages off the truck and fled the scene after stealing multiple packages. About 15 minutes after that robbery, Holmes robbed a third letter carrier near Hallshire Cove and again fled the scene with several packages. On April 6, 2023, Holmes pled guilty to one count of aggravated assault of a federal employee, two counts of robbery of a postal employee, and one count of brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. On August 8, 2023, U.S. District Judge Fowlkes sentenced Holmes to 132 months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. "This office takes very seriously its duty to protect the safety of United States Postal Service employees and the security of the U.S. Mail,” said U.S. Attorney Ritz. “This sentence should stand as a message to anyone who would threaten or attempt to threaten government institutions, innocent citizens, and community safety. We will do all we can to see that acts of violence and greed are met with the full measure of consequences." “The sentence imposed today exemplifies the unending dedication of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to protect the employees of the United States Postal Service. When our employees are victims of robberies and assaults, we do not stop until we identify those responsible,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “We are proud of the work done by the Postal Inspectors, and we are very pleased with the sentence, which we feel speaks to the gravity of the offense. We appreciate the work of the United States Attorney’s Office to bring Mr. Holmes to justice.” This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ###


title: Winchester Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Selling Fatal Dose of Fentanyl

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Winchester, Virginia man, who facilitated the sale of a fatal dose of fentanyl in October 2020, was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in federal prison. Kenneth James Hughes, Jr., 27, pled guilty in April to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, following a fentanyl overdose resulting in the death of a user on October 23 2020, an investigation by law enforcement revealed Hughes to be the deceased user’s source of supply. In October 2020, one of Hughes’ drug customers contacted him in regard to buying fentanyl in the form of “pressed pills,” namely, fentanyl pills made to appear like Oxycodone 30mg pills. Hughes sold two pressed pills to the customer who subsequently consumed the drugs and was found unresponsive the following morning at his home in Winchester. It was determined his death was the result of acute fentanyl intoxication. The following month in Berryville, Virginia, Hughes sold twenty-two capsules containing fentanyl for $300 to a confidential informant working on behalf of law enforcement. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Jared Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division, announced the sentence today. The Virginia State Police, the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force (composed of the Virginia State Police, the Winchester Police Department, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office) and the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee prosecuted the case.


title: Indictment charges former soldier with stealing vehicle, crashing into Army facility

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: A retired U.S. Army soldier has been indicted for the July crash into Fort Stewart’s Third Infantry Division Headquarters building. Treamon Dominic Lacy , 39, of Dublin, Ga., is charged with Damage to Government Property and Theft of Government Money, Property, or Records, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges subject Lacy to a potential statutory sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution. The indictment alleges that on July 10, Lacy stole a Humvee from a motor pool at Fort Stewart and drove into the front doors of the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division Headquarters, damaging the building. Lacy had access to Fort Stewart as a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Z. Spitulnik.


title: Unforgiven Gang Member Sentenced To More Than 21 Years In Federal Prison For Violent Attack

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL –United States District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Joshua Hall (44, North Carolina) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for kidnapping in aid of racketeering activity and assault in aid of racketeering. Hall had pleaded guilty on October 21, 2022. According to court documents, Hall was a member of the Unforgiven, a violent white supremacy organization that operates as an enterprise engaging in racketeering activity, and whose members and associates have committed acts and threats involving murder, kidnapping, robbery, distribution of controlled substances, and tampering with witnesses. Members often carry out acts of extreme violence to gain entry into the gang and are required to get tattoos, such as swastikas, iron crosses, and lightning bolts. The Unforgiven commit violence against perceived racial enemies as well as members of its own group who fail to abide by their constitution and bylaws. The gang often revokes membership of those who violate their code by using extreme violence to remove membership tattoos, or “patches,” which are usually in “kill zones” on members’ bodies. Hall and co-defendants were directed by members of the Unforgiven council to violently assault a particular victim. Hall violently assaulted the victim in a vehicle, then took the victim’s jewelry, cellphone, and tattoo equipment. The victim tried to leave the vehicle, but the doors were locked. Hall and others then drove to a home in Pasco County where they ordered the victim into a back bedroom and beat the victim and forcibly tattooed over the victim’s neck, face, and chest, including the victim’s “patch” located on the back of his neck. The victim was bloodied and dazed from the assault. “This is a huge win for public safety,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “Today’s decision underscores our commitment to work with partners – in this case the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office – and combat violent crime wherever it exists.” ATF has been investigating the Unforgiven’s criminal acts since October 2015. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Beckman and David Sullivan.


title: German National Pleads Guilty to $4 M Embezzlement Scheme

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A German man pleaded guilty yesterday to a mail fraud scheme by which he embezzled more than $4 million from his employer. According to court documents, between 2010 and 2017, Gerhard Bauer, 73, the CEO and President of a U.S. subsidiary company, embezzled more than $4 million by writing corporate checks to pay various personal expenses. He also created fake invoices to justify the expenses. Of note, he paid over $1,490,000 for the construction of his Virginia farm, winery, and horse ranch. He also paid over $146,000 for private school tuition for his relatives. Bauer is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 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 taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Matthew Stohler, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea. The Loudoun County Sherriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Hanly and Ron Fiorillo prosecuted 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. 1:20-cr-165.


title: Florida Woman Charged With Defrauding SNAP Recipients

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment today charging GUYATREE SINGH with engaging in a years-long scheme to defraud at least approximately 120 low-income residents of New York City out of tens of thousands of dollars of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits. SINGH was arrested yesterday and will be presented today in the Southern District of Florida. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Jed S. Rakoff. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Over the course of years, Guyatree Singh is alleged to have cheated at least approximately 120 low-income, primarily elderly residents of New York City. Singh allegedly preyed on some of the most vulnerable people in our community, leaving the victims with no money to buy food. Today’s arrest demonstrates this Office’s commitment to ensuring that our justice system protects everyone from fraud.” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said: “The SNAP program provides food support to low-income New Yorkers. This defendant posed as a New York State employee to deceive more than a hundred SNAP recipients and gain access to their accounts, defrauding the recipients of about $50,000 in benefits, as charged in the Indictment. I thank HRA for referring the matter to DOI, and the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York for their partnership in thwarting such predatory schemes.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment: [1] From at least in or about April 2019 through at least May 2023, SINGH engaged in a scheme to defraud at least approximately 120 SNAP recipients living in the Southern District of New York — a majority of whom appear to be elderly — of their SNAP benefits. In total, SINGH defrauded the victims out of at least approximately $49,754.52 in benefits. SNAP provides low-income individuals with electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food. People eligible for SNAP benefits are given an electronic benefits transfer (“EBT”) card, which looks like a debit card and gives a person access to his or her SNAP benefits, allowing the SNAP recipient to buy groceries and other items at participating stores. SINGH called SNAP recipients and pretended to be a New York State employee working for SNAP. SINGH then asked the victims for their personally identifiable information, including their dates of birth and social security numbers. Unbeknownst to the victims, SINGH then used this information to reset the personal identification numbers (“PIN”) on their EBT cards. Once the PINs were reset, SINGH used the victims’ EBT account numbers and new PINs to make purchases for herself at grocery stores in Florida using the victims’ SNAP funds. * * * SINGH, 51, of West Palm Beach, Florida, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DOI and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Sowlati is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. U.S. v. Singh Indictment


title: Georgia Man And Woman Sentenced To Federal Prison For  Aggravated Identity Theft And Fraud Charges

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Anthony Jermaine Robinson (31, Covington, Georgia) to 42 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Judge Howard also sentenced co-defendant, Kiana Fina Alphonse (29, Covington, Georgia), to 36 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, false representation of a Social Security number, and aggravated identity theft. The court also ordered Robinson and Alphonse to pay $9,463.32 in restitution to the victims they defrauded. Robinson had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2023, and Alphonse pleaded guilty on April 26, 2023. According to court documents and public records, in 2019, deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) stopped a car driven by Robinson for a cracked windshield. Based on a probable cause search of the car, the CCSO located counterfeit Social Security cards and driver licenses in the identity of genuine individuals, genuine credit cards in the name of individuals and multiple phones. CCSO conducted a forensic examination of Robinson’s cellphone which determined that it contained text messages between Robinson and Alphonse depicting outlined instructions on how to fraudulently set up business accounts at banks using fraudulent documents for non-existent businesses, identification documents, and Social Security numbers. Further investigation revealed that in 2019, Robinson and Alphonse obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of multiple victims. The pair then obtained counterfeit driver licenses, purportedly from the states of Washington and Delaware, in the identity of the victims. The counterfeit driver licenses contained the PII of the victims, but a photo of Alphonse. Using the PII, including the Social Security numbers of the victims, the counterfeit driver licenses, and documents created for fictitious businesses, Alphonse visited multiple banks and set up fraudulent business bank accounts in the name of various victims. These bank accounts were then utilized as part of a scheme to defraud multiple victims involving the online purchase of nonexistent cars. Once the bank accounts received funds from victims, Robinson, Alphonse, and co-conspirators withdrew the funds for their own personal use. Robinson appeared in federal court on November 3, 2022, pursuant to a writ bringing him to Jacksonville from Georgia State Prison where he is serving a prison sentence for violating parole on a fraud related crime. Robinson is also wanted on violation of probation warrants from South Carolina and Columbia County, Florida on two unrelated financial crime cases. This case was investigated by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.


title: Two Charged In Drug-Related Shooting On Bronx Street That Hit An 11-Month-Old Baby In The Face

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Christie M. Curtis, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging AHMED ALTOREI, a/k/a “AK,” and SAMUEL BAUTISTA, a/k/a “Sammy,” with distributing narcotics and carrying firearms in connection with a drug trafficking operation based on the Grand Concourse and East 198th Street in the Bronx, New York. In connection with those crimes, ALTOREI and BAUTISTA were involved in a street shooting on January 19, 2022, that targeted a rival drug dealer but resulted in an 11-month-old baby being shot in the face. ALTOREI was arrested yesterday evening and BAUTISTA was arrested earlier today in an operation conducted by the FBI and NYPD, and both are expected to be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein later this afternoon. The case is assigned to Chief U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “On January 19, 2022, on a day like any other, gunshots rang out in the Bronx. It was a targeted shooting. But one of the bullets hit an innocent victim – a baby girl, who was just 11 months old – who was shot in the face as she sat in a car with her mother. The baby survived, and that’s a miracle. But the emotional and physical trauma will never go away. Safety is a civil right. And like all rights, in order to keep it, we have to enforce it. That is why I am proud to announce that we have arrested and indicted the two men who we allege shot that baby girl. As United States Attorney, I promise you this: we will never abandon our communities. Not a single inch. And our commitment to public safety will never waver. Not for a single second. The people of this great city deserve nothing less.” FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis said: “As alleged, the defendants possessed firearms as part of a narcotics trafficking operation that directly led to the shooting of an 11-month-old infant. This is yet another unfortunate example of an innocent bystander being harmed as a result of drugs and guns. The FBI is committed to making our communities safer by removing violent drug traffickers from the streets.” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “Today’s indictment again proves that violence on our streets will not stand. The men and women of the NYPD will remain relentless in holding accountable anyone who allegedly dares to carry and indiscriminately shoot an illegal gun in New York City. I thank and commend all of our investigators and everyone at the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District whose dedication to justice and public safety is reflected in these charges.” As alleged in the Indictment: [1] ALTOREI and BAUTISTA are charged for their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute both cocaine and crack cocaine from at least in or about May 2018 through at least in or about August 2023 and for carrying firearms in connection with the same, some of which were brandished and discharged, including the firearm that shot the infant on January 19, 2022. * * * ALTOREI, 36, and BAUTISTA, 30, both of the Bronx, New York, are each charged with one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of using or carrying firearms during and in relation to, or possessing firearms in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime, some of which were brandished and discharged, which carries a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and possessing ammunition after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD and thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in this case. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Thomas John Wright are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. U.S. v. Altorei and Bautista Indictment


title: Texas Man Sentenced for Stealing Checks and Identity Theft in Troy, Alabama

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – On August 8, 2023, a federal judge sentenced John Eugene Dibello, 41, from Pasadena, Texas, to 43 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and bank fraud and the separate offense of aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. In addition, the judge also ordered that Dibello serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. According to his plea agreement and other court records, in late 2021, Dibello and a companion – 30-year-old Taelor Amie Owens from Houston, Texas – traveled to Alabama so that Owens could visit family. While in Troy, Dibello and Owens broke into several mailboxes and stole mail that included checks and identity information. Dibello and Owens then used the identity information they acquired to cash the stolen checks and pocket the proceeds. Investigators discovered that Dibello and Owens were staying in a hotel in Pike County and found more stolen mail from Texas inside their room. Among their belongings were also a post office arrow key (a universal key used by postal workers to access collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, cluster box units, and apartment panels) and at least two fake identities, one for each of them. On May 25, 2023, Owens pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy and aggravated identity theft offenses as those to which DiBello pleaded guilty. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Owens on September 28, 2023. At that proceeding, she will face a term of imprisonment of not less than two years and a maximum of 30 years. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Troy Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the case.


title: Essex County Woman Admits Role in Scheme to Harbor Non-U.S. Citizens Through Marriage Fraud

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, woman admitted conspiring to commit marriage fraud, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Regina Johnson, 59, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court on Aug. 8, 2023, to one count of a superseding indictment charging her and others with conspiracy to harbor non-U.S. citizens by orchestrating fraudulent marriages between the non-citizens and U.S. citizens. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From September 2016 through July 2019, Regina Johnson and her sister, Andrea Torres, arranged and facilitated sham marriages for non-U.S. citizens who wished to remain in the United States despite the lack of legal status or proper documentation. Torres and Johnson recruited U.S. citizen potential spouses and paid them a fee in exchange for those U.S. citizens entering into sham marriages with Torres’ and Johnson’s non-citizen clients. Torres’ son, Philip Torres, also charged in the superseding indictment, participated in the scheme by officiating some of the sham marriages. Andrea Torres and Johnson arranged for the “couples” to obtain fraudulent marriage licenses and even arranged and charged their clients for wedding ceremonies and after parties that were staged to make the sham marriages appear legitimate. Andrea Torres and Johnson further advised their clients to open joint bank accounts and to meet frequently with their U.S. spouses. Clients were also advised to take photographs in a variety of locations and in different clothing to memorialize the relationship and to give the appearance of cohabitation, even though none of the clients ever resided or intended to reside with their U.S. spouses. Andrea Torres and Johnson then helped their clients complete immigration forms to obtain permanent residency on the basis of the materially false misrepresentations. The charge of conspiracy to which Johnson pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 14, 2023. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for its assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the National Security Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake A. Coppotelli of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment against Andrea Torres and Philip Torres are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. johnson.sindictment.pdf


title: Louisiana Men Plead Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – JUAN CAZES, age 48, of Lutcher and CRANDALL WASHINGTON, age 44, of Paulina, pleaded guilty on August 7, 2023 before United States District Judge Carl Barbier to a two-count indictment, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. Count 1 charges each with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. Count 2 charges each with possession with intent to distribute five hundred (500) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. According to filed court documents, in October of 2021, during the course of an investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents arranged for a controlled purchase of two (2) pounds of methamphetamine from CAZES. The purchase was scheduled to take place on October 28, 2021, in St. James Parish. Law enforcement had information that WASHINGTON supplied CAZES’s methamphetamine. On October 28, 2021, CAZES and WASHINGTON were stopped in a vehicle with approximately two (2) pounds or 909 grams of methamphetamine. At sentencing, CAZES and WASHINGTON face a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, at least 5 years supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to each count. Sentencing before Judge Barbier has been scheduled for November 9, 2023. The case was investigated by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.


title: New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty To Passing Over $2,600 In Counterfeit Currency At Stores In Lackawanna, Lycoming And Columbia Counties

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Brandon Williams, age 35, of Mercer County, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on August 8, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to the charge of passing counterfeit federal reserve notes. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Williams admitted to passing $1,400 in counterfeit bills at the Michaels store in Dickson City, on April 20, 2022, and to passing $750 in counterfeit bills later that same day at the CVS Pharmacy located on Green Ridge Street in Scranton. On April 23, 2022, Williams passed $280 in counterfeit bills at the Walmart in Montoursville, $160 in counterfeit bills at the Weis Market in Montoursville and attempted to pass additional counterfeit bills at the Dollar Tree in Bloomsburg but was unsuccessful. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the United States Secret Service, the Dickson City Police Department, the Scranton Police Department, the Montoursville Police Department, and the Hemlock Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for each charge is 20 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. # # #


title: St. Louis County Man Sentenced for Fentanyl, Methamphetamine Conspiracy

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday sentenced a man involved in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine to five years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Nicholas L. Nixon, 23, pleaded guilty in April to one felony count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. He admitted distributing drugs and accompanying a co-defendant, Marvell Sherrell, who twice sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He also admitted throwing a Micro Draco AK-47-style pistol and 1,181 pills containing fentanyl out of a vehicle that was being pursued by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department on May 5, 2022. Sherrell, 23, pleaded guilty July 10 to three felony counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possessing one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a machine gun. Sherrell admitted entering into an agreement to sell drugs with Nixon, Jacquez T. Love, 25, Turhan Robinson Jr., 23, Arion D. Strickland, 29, and others. He admitted selling methamphetamine or both methamphetamine and fentanyl to the DEA source three times and sending that source to another person for the drug. Sherrell also admitted driving during the May 5, 2022 police chase, during which he drove at a high speed, violated traffic lights and crashed into another vehicle. Strickland discarded a Kel Tec rifle during the chase and a fully automatic AR-15-style weapon was found where Robinson had been sitting after the Chevrolet Impala became disabled and the chase finally ended. Sherrell admitted that when deputy U.S. Marshals arrested Love at the apartment Sherrell, Nixon and Love shared in unincorporated St. Louis County between Maryland Heights and Creve Coeur on May 12, 2022, they found drugs and guns. They found methamphetamine and a fully automatic .40-caliber Glock handgun in Sherrell’s bedroom, along with two “switches” that convert a Glock into a machine gun. Sherrell is scheduled to be sentenced October 10 and faces at least 10 years in prison. The three other defendants in the case also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.


title: Federally-Qualified Health Center Pays $470K to Settle False Claims and Improper Billing Allegations

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the Connecticut Attorney General today announced that OPTIMUS HEALTH CARE, INC., a federally-qualified health center (“FQHC”) based in Bridgeport, has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and has paid a total of $470,093.93 to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to the Connecticut Medicaid program, and received overpayments from Medicaid for ineligible services. Optimus Health Care, Inc. (“Optimus”) has 23 locations in southwestern Connecticut. As an FQHC, Optimus receives patient revenues and grants from the federal and state governments. The allegations against Optimus arise out of claims submitted to Connecticut Medicaid for dual-eligible beneficiaries. Dual-eligible beneficiaries are Medicare beneficiaries who are also eligible for Medicaid coverage. Some dual-eligible beneficiaries are eligible for, and receive, full Medicaid coverage in addition to their Medicare coverage. Other dual-eligible beneficiaries are known as Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (“QMBs”). QMBs qualify for Medicaid to pay their Medicare co-pays, premiums, co-insurance, and deductibles. The government alleges that Optimus submitted false claims to Connecticut Medicaid for dual-eligible beneficiaries with the incorrect Medicare denial codes. This caused Medicaid to pay claims it would have otherwise denied. The government also alleges that Optimus improperly billed Connecticut Medicaid for group therapy services for QMBs who were not eligible for reimbursement for those services. To resolve its liability, Optimus paid $470,093.93 to the federal and state governments for conduct occurring between January 2014 and December 2020. The False Claims Act allegations resolved by the settlement were originally brought in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut by a relator, or whistleblower, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. These provisions allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The relator, a former employee of Optimus, will receive $62,787.78 as her share of the recovery. The case resolved by this settlement was captioned U.S. ex rel Migdalia Burgos, and the State of CT v. Optimus Health Care, Inc. (Docket No. 3:19-cv-652). This matter was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Kaczmarek and by Deputy Associate Attorney General Gregory O’Connell of the Attorney General’s Office. People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Task Force at (203) 777-6311.


title: Polson meth, fentanyl trafficker sentenced to more than five years in prison

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA — A Polson man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to five years and six months years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Thomas Joseph Duran, 42, pleaded guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in June 2022 in Lake County, Montana Highway Patrol troopers made a traffic stop and later searched a vehicle in which Duran was a passenger. Law enforcement recovered meth, fentanyl, $8,135 in U.S. currency and firearms. Duran admitted that he distributed the drugs in exchange for money. Co-defendant Andrew Joseph Shields, of Kalispell, who was the driver of the vehicle, was sentenced recently to 11 years and three months in prison for his conviction in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The Northwest Drug Task Force and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Final Defendant in Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Paducah, KY – The final member of a three-man methamphetamine distribution conspiracy was sentenced yesterday for his role in the conspiracy. All three men were also convicted of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Ryan Norman of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. According to court documents, David Earl McElya , 44, a man with ties to both Paducah and Louisville, Kentucky, conspired with Patrick Alexander Lusco , 42, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Kevin Ray Roberts , 47, of Benton, Kentucky, to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Western District of Kentucky. All three men were also convicted of possessing with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Yesterday, McElya was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Lusco was previously sentenced on November 8, 2022, to 12 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Roberts was also sentenced on November 8, 2022, to 10 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. “This case demonstrates the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies at all levels – federal, state, and local,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. I commend our law enforcement partners for their outstanding investigative work in this matter and AUSA Hancock for his leadership during the successful prosecution of this case.” This case was investigated by the DEA Paducah post of duty and the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Metropolis, Illinois Police Department, the Massac County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois Gaming Bureau, the Kentucky State Police, and the Greater Hardin County, Kentucky Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: Corpus Christi resident sentenced for trafficking meth

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 23-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute 210 grams of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jacob Soliz pleaded guilty April 28. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Soliz to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how the circumstances of Soliz’s arrest suggested he was selling large quantities of meth. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the severity of the crime. On Sept. 4, 2022, Soliz was a passenger in a sedan driving in Corpus Christi around 11:30 p.m. Authorities conducted a traffic stop after observing the vehicle was traveling without any headlights activated. Law enforcement then observed the smell of burnt marijuana and ultimately conducted an inspection of the vehicle. At that time, they discovered multiple baggies of meth totaling 210 grams, baggies of marijuana totaling approximately 150 grams and a loaded AR-15 rifle. They also discovered approximately $2,500 located in Soliz’s pocket. At the time of his plea, Soliz admitted the meth and rifle belonged to him. Soliz will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Corpus Christi Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Tyler Foster prosecuted the case. AUSA Barbara DePena handled the sentencing.


title: South Carolina Woman and Florida Woman Sentenced in COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Nariman Mahmoud Masoud, 35, of Florence, South Carolina, and Susan Masoud, 34, of Tampa, Florida, were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to unemployment insurance benefits. Nariman Masoud was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Nariman Masoud was ordered to pay $604,074.00 in restitution. Susan Masoud was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to pay $454,074.00 in restitution. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III imposed the sentences. Evidence presented to the court showed that both defendants engaged in a scheme with others to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the scheme, members of the conspiracy submitted applications in four states – Arizona, New York, Florida, and South Carolina – using the personal identifying information of other individuals, sometimes without the person’s permission. In some instances, members of the conspiracy would apply for benefits in multiple states using the same individual’s information. Members of the conspiracy then received the funds associated with the fraudulent claims, primarily through either direct deposit or debit cards. The investigation revealed a total of 69 fraudulent claims associated with the scheme, resulting in a total loss of $454,074.00 in unemployment insurance funds. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the New York State Department of Labor, the Arizona Department of Economic Security, and the Small Business Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former Chief Executive Officer of Strong City Baltimore Facing Federal Indictment for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $1.4 Million in COVID-19 Cares Act Loans

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Reginald Davis, age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, for wire fraud and money laundering relating to the submission of fraudulent COVID-19 CARES Act loan applications. Davis is the former Chief Executive Officer of Strong City Baltimore (“SCB”), established in Maryland in 2015 as a non-profit organization serving individuals, community associations, institutions, and businesses in Baltimore. The indictment was returned on August 3, 2023, and unsealed today upon the arrest of the defendant. Reginald Davis is expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office. “Davis allegedly stole well over one million taxpayer dollars intended to assist those suffering from the effects of the pandemic,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. “It remains a top priority of my office to hold accountable those who took unfair advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic relief.” “Organizations seeking to better the city of Baltimore entrusted Strong City Baltimore and Reginald Davis to help manage their money,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI's Baltimore field office. “Davis is accused of exploiting that trust by orchestrating this unscrupulous scheme and misusing federal CARES Act funds to cover up his criminal behavior. This indictment serves as a message that the FBI and our partners are working hard every day to protect taxpayers.” “Mr. Davis’s indictment demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners commitment to holding accountable those who exploited pandemic related programs,” Kareem A. Carter, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C. Field Office. “We are committed to rooting out pandemic-related fraud and holding accountable anyone seeking to profit from the public health emergency.” The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the Paycheck Protection Program. PPP loan applications were processed and funded by participating lenders with a 100% guarantee by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). According to the three-count indictment, in January 2018, Non-Profit 1 entered into a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with SCB under which SCB provided administrative support for Non-Profit 1, including fiduciary services, governance, and funds management. In return, SCB received a regular payment from Non-Profit 1 for services rendered. The parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement that required SCB to deposit funds received on behalf of Non-Profit 1 into a restricted set of funding sources in SCB’s fiscal management system. Non-Profit 3 and Non-Profit 5 entered into similar fiscal sponsorship arrangements with SCB, including an agreement with each non-profit to deposit its funds into a set of restricted funding sources. SCB also had a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with Non-Profit 4 which contained an agreement by SCB to provide services with integrity and responsibility and noted that “funds must be disbursed according to strict IRS [Internal Revenue Service] standards.” SCB’s Alleged Mismanagement of Non-Profit Client Funds The indictment further alleges that SCB did not set up restricted funding sources for funds related to Non-Profit 1, Non-Profit 3 or Non-Profit 5, instead depositing those funds into SCB’s general checking account (“the 4885 account”). From August 2016 through December 2019, SCB received funds and improperly used client assets with donor restrictions to fund SCB’s own operating expenses, contrary to its agreement with the clients to safeguard those funds on the clients’ behalf. For example, on January 24, 2018, Non-Profit 1 transferred approximately $451,866.19 to SCB for fiscal management. SCB entered the full amount of Non-Profit 1’s funds into the 4485 account and did not segregate the funds or make any attempt to ensure that the money was used only for Non-Profit 1. As detailed in the indictment, SCB used these funds to pay general expenses unrelated to Non-Profit 1. In April 2020, Non-Profit 1 merged with Non-Profit 2, a larger Maryland non-profit organization with a similar purpose. SCB provided regular statements of revenue and expenditures to Non-Profit 1 and, after its merger, to Non-Profit 2. These statements listed “ENDING FUND BALANCE” for Non-Profit 1 which were often far greater than SCB’s total assets. For example, on July 31, 2019, SCB reported to Non-Profit 1 that Non-Profit 1 had approximately $653,000 in an “ENDING FUND BALANCE.” But at that time, SCB’s total assets on hand were approximately $286,000. On January 31, 2020, SCB reported that Non-Profit 1 had approximately $827,000 in an “ENDING FUND BALANCE.” At that time, SCB’s total assets on hand was approximately $339,000, a shortfall of over $480,000. On August 28, 2020, a member of the leadership team of Non-Profit 2 spoke by phone with Davis about ending Non-Profit 2’s fiscal relationship with SCB and creating a payment schedule for SCB to transfer back to Non-Profit 2 its total outstanding funds, which equaled approximately $600,000. Davis agreed that SCB would provide the total outstanding balance to Non-Profit 2 with an initial 25% payment, to be followed by four equal payments that were to be made by January 2021. Davis assured Non-Profit 2’s representative that SCB was able to meet this obligation but needed to manage the disbursements over a longer period of time because of financial demands across SCB’s “portfolio of organizations.” Despite numerous promises by Davis and other SCB employees, by March 2021, SCB had made only one payment to Non-Profit 2 of approximately $319,000 and still owed approximately $610,207. March 13, 2021 PPP Loan From January 2021 to March 2021, Davis allegedly submitted six PPP loan applications on behalf of SCB to Bank 1, a participating PPP lender, in order to cover shortfalls in SCB’s accounts that were owed to the fiscally-sponsored organizations. According to the indictment, these shortfalls had arisen because SCB improperly used assets with donor restrictions to pay SCB operating expenses, including salaries to its own employees. Each PPP loan application contained false statements, including varying amounts of average monthly payroll for SCB and the intended use of the loan funds. Davis electronically signed all the applications, certifying that any funds received would be used for allowed purposes. In furtherance of the scheme, Davis also caused SCB to open a new bank account (“the 3365 account”), although no funds were placed in the account. On May 13, 2021, Davis was notified that SCB’s application had been approved. In anticipation of receiving the PPP loan funds, Davis sent an email to an SCB employee with a list of priorities. Davis allegedly stated, “…Among my list please it should include outstanding AP [accounts payable], outstanding rent and Non-Profit 1, and board member loans.” Payments for board member loans and debt settlement with Non-Profit 1 were not allowable uses of PPP funds. On March 16, 2021, Bank 1 deposited approximately $1,426,922 in PPP funds into the 4485 account and on March 23, 2021, Davis caused $800,000 to be transferred from the 4485 account to the 3365 account. Prior to the transfer, the 3365 account had a negative balance of approximately $20.00, after being charged a bank fee for not having funds in the account. On March 29, 2021, the full balance of $799,980.00 was transferred from the 3365 account back to 4485 account. That amount represented the $800,000 of PPP loan proceeds minus the $20.00 debit in the 3365 account. As detailed in the indictment, between March 26, 2021 and April 2, 2021, Davis and SCB used a total of approximately $625,405.64 in PPP loan funds to close out SCB’s fiscal sponsorship arrangement with Non-Profit 2, Non-Profit 3, and Non-Profit 4, all of which had terminated their fiscal sponsorship arrangements with SCB between June and September 2020. On April 9, 2021, $6252.39 was transferred from the 4485 account to Non-Profit 5. Neither Davis nor any other SCB employee informed their former non-profit clients that the funds they received were the proceeds of a PPP loan, or that there were any restrictions on the use of funds. If convicted, Davis faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for each of two counts of money laundering. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of three strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and IRS-CI for its work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore City Office of Inspector General for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron S. J. Zelinsky and Joseph L. Wenner, who are prosecuting the case. He also recognized the assistance of the Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber and Paralegal Specialist Jenna Lee. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md . # # #


title: La Crosse Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine & Fentanyl

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Raphiel Kuntu, 31, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 12 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. This prison term will be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Kuntu pleaded guilty to this charge on April 25, 2023. The La Crosse Police Department began their investigation of Kuntu and his co-defendant, Paige Roberts, in January 2022. During the course of this investigation, police utilized a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl from Kuntu on two occasions. In April 2022, officers executed a search warrant at a residence Kuntu shared with Roberts. In their shared bedroom, officers recovered approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.5 pounds of fentanyl, along with other controlled substances and a loaded firearm. Kuntu is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of several prior felony convictions, including Wisconsin convictions for armed robbery and distribution of heroin. A search of Kuntu’s and Roberts’s cellphones revealed Roberts was aware of and assisted Kuntu with his drug dealing. She pleaded guilty on May 11, 2023 to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before Judge Peterson on September 19, 2023. At sentencing Judge Peterson stated that a significant sentence was warranted due to the quantity of the drugs Kuntu possessed for distribution and noted that Kuntu’s drug distribution was degrading to the community at large. The charges against Kuntu and Roberts are the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus handled the prosecution.


title: Orlando Man Sentenced To More Than 10 Years For Armored Truck Robbery At Seminole County Bank

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Michael Jerome Virgil, Jr. (23, Orlando) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The court also ordered Virgil to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offenses. In addition to his prison term, Virgil was ordered to pay $686 in restitution to the armored truck employee who had to replace his firearm after authorities seized it as evidence in the pending investigation. Virgil had pleaded guilty on May 18, 2023. According to court documents, on September 1, 2022, Virgil robbed an armored truck employee who was collecting money at a Bank of America branch in Seminole County. While one of the guards was loading the money into the back of the armored truck, Virgil brandished a loaded firearm and entered the truck. Virgil then stole two bags of currency totaling $312,167 and ran back to his vehicle. When the second guard attempted to stop Virgil at gunpoint, Virgil drove towards him causing the guard to discharge his weapon, which struck Virgil’s vehicle. Multiple law enforcement agencies joined a high-speed pursuit of Virgil, including the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), the Lake Mary Police Department, the Winter Park Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. A SCSO helicopter was also deployed to track Virgil’s car. The chase ended in a parking garage in Orlando when officers cornered Virgil’s vehicle. Virgil was taken into custody and officers recovered the firearm and the stolen currency from the bank. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. 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: Meth supplier sent to prison

body_text: HOUSTON – A 30-year-old Houston resident has been handed a significant sentence for his role in a meth distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Aslay Jordan Salas pleaded guilty June 28, 2022. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now sentenced Salas to 293 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court found Salas was a large-scale meth distribution supplier and was “pumping poison into the community for years.” At the time of his plea, Salas admitted to supplying meth in a drug transaction that occurred Nov. 20, 2017, at a location on Little York Drive in Houston. He specifically transported the meth to the location and departed shortly after the deal took place. Officers stopped Salas after the drug transaction and subsequently located a Beretta 9mm pistol in his vehicle. Salas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI led the investigation in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of Inspector General, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day is prosecuting the case.


title: MS-13 Gang Leader Convicted of Racketeering Charges Including the Murder of 16-Year-Victim in Alley Pond Park in Queens

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: A federal jury in Brooklyn today returned a guilty verdict against Melvi Amador-Rios, a leader of the Centrales Locos Salvatruchas (“CLS”) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, on 17 of the 18 counts of a third superseding indictment. Amador-Rios was convicted of racketeering, murder in-aid-of racketeering in connection with the May 16, 2017 fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Julio Vasquez in Queens, attempted murder in-aid-of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in-aid-of racketeering, assault-in aid-of racketeering, firearms offenses and four counts of Hobbs Act robbery. The verdict followed a three-week trial before United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner. When sentenced, Amador-Rios faces a mandatory term of life in prison. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict. “With today’s verdict, an extremely dangerous MS-13 gang leader aptly nicknamed “Letal,” or “Lethal,” has been brought to justice for his murderous racketeering crimes and now faces a mandatory life sentence,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The outstanding work of our prosecutors, along with members of the FBI and the NYPD, underscores this Office’s continuing efforts to make our communities safer by dismantling violent gangs.” “With the guilty verdict today, Amador-Rios has rightly been found responsible for these senseless and heinous violent crimes carried out by MS-13 in Queens. MS-13 relies on violence and fear for control, but the verdict serves as reminder that their actions will not be tolerated. The FBI New York Safe Streets Task Force remains steadfast in our efforts to remove the threat of this violent and dangerous gang from our communities,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge Curtis. “Today’s guilty verdict is the next step toward delivering justice for the victims of this violent criminal,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “The NYPD, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the FBI and the Eastern District of New York, will continue to conduct aggressive, precisely-directed investigations like this that stanch the violence – an essential step toward healing gang-plagued communities and fulfilling our duty to protect all New Yorkers in every neighborhood.” Murder of Julio Vasquez Beginning in fall 2016, the CLS clique, led by Amador-Rios decided to kill a CLS chequeo , or low-level MS-13 members, (referred to in the superseding indictment John Doe 3) who had been violating the clique’s rules, including by associating with members of the rival 18th Street gang. Amador-Rios ordered Julio Vasquez, also an MS-13 chequeo , to carry out the killing of John Doe 3. Vasquez was tasked with killing John Doe 3 because he too had been violating the clique’s rules and was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement. After Vasquez failed to kill John Doe 3, Amador-Rios ordered Vasquez be killed. On May 16, 2017, Vasquez was lured to a wooded area of Alley Pond Park where co-conspirators Josue Leiva and Luis Rivas stabbed him more than 30 times, killing him. Vasquez’s body was discovered by a bird watcher in the park on May 21, 2017. Leiva and Rivas pleaded guilty on July 14, 2023 to racketeering charges, including Vasquez’s murder. They are awaiting sentencing. 2016 Attempted Murder In October 2016, Amador-Rios ordered a CLS chequeo to kill a member of the rival 18th Street gang. The chequeo targeted a boy that he believed to be a member of the rival 18th Street gang (referred to in the superseding indictment as John Doe 1). In the early morning hours of October 23, 2016, in the vicinity of 179th Street and 90th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, the CLS chequeo , accompanied by two others, confronted John Doe 1, who was 16 years old at the time. At Amador-Rios’s direction, the chequeos beat John Doe 1, shot him in the head, and attempted to shoot him a second time as he lay on the ground. The gun malfunctioned, but, as a result of the gunshot wound, John Doe 1 was permanently paralyzed. Following the arrests of the chequeos for the shooting, Amador-Rios informed them in a prison call that “you guys already have the pass, you know, to be homeboys, you know,” indicating that they would be promoted in the gang for committing the attempted murder. The three c hequeos have each pleaded guilty to their participation in the assault and attempted murder of John Doe 1, including variously assault in-aid-of racketeering, attempted murder in-aid-of racketeering and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Amador-Rios participated in the armed robbery of a money transfer business in which an employee was pistol whipped, three armed robberies of convenience stores all in Jamaica, Queens, as well as related firearms offenses. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF Today’s conviction is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13. The MS-13’s leadership was based in El Salvador and Honduras, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders, and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 45 murders in the district and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by our law enforcement partners including the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI and NYPD. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Nadia E. Moore, Anna L. Karamigios, and Raffaela S. Belizaire are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Emily Moosher. The Defendant : MELVI AMADOR-RIOS (also known as “Letal” and “Pinky”) Age: 32 Briarwood, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-398 (S-3) (RPK)


title: Head Of Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Jayson Omar Perez-Quinones (48, Orlando) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering. The court also ordered Perez-Quinones to forfeit currency and real property which were traceable to proceeds of the offense. Perez-Quinones had pleaded guilty on April 20, 2023. Judge Dalton also sentenced Jovan Rivera Rodriguez (36, Kissimmee) today to 5 years’ imprisonment for his role in conspiring to distribute fentanyl with Perez-Quiones. On June 13, 2023, Judge Dalton sentenced Karen AltaGracia Perez (44, Orlando), Perez-Quinones’s coconspirator in money laundering and drug distribution, to 5 years and 6 months in federal prison. A fourth alleged conspirator, Orlando Rosa-Rodriguez (60, Orlando), is currently in proceedings to determine his competency to stand trial. According to court documents, in May 2021, Perez-Quinones provided $70,000 in drug proceeds to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover agent for the purposes of money laundering and, in September 2021, Perez-Quinones provided $130,000 of drug proceeds to launder. From February 2022 through the present, the investigation has resulted in numerous seizures of counterfeit pills made with fentanyl (“fenta-pills”) and powdered fentanyl. Many of these pills were blue and are believed to have been pressed overseas before being shipped to the United States to resemble legitimately manufactured oxycodone (30 mg) pills with markings “M” and “30.” In April 2022, for example, Perez-Quinones and Rivera-Rodriguez arranged to receive a shipment of thousands of such pills. At their home in Orlando, Perez-Quinones and Perez packaged those pills into individual 200-pill bags (pictured below) for street delivery. Perez-Quinones and Perez then distributed those bags to mid-level distributors such as Rosa-Rodriguez for resale. In April 2022, after the conspirators successfully imported the shipment of thousands of pills, the DEA and other law enforcement partners seized similar packages containing powdered fentanyl and tens of thousands of “fenta-pills.” The package containing those, such as the package addressed to Wellington Woods, where Rivera-Rodriguez resided on September 15, 2022, contained “fenta-pills” similar in color and design as those seized in multiple traffic stops from individuals leaving Perez-Quinones’ and Perez’s shared residence. On January 20, 2023, law enforcement executed numerous search and arrest warrants in the Orlando area, seizing from Perez-Quinones and Perez an additional estimated 13,000 “M/30” fentanyl pills, approximately $30,000 in currency, and a handgun. Based on a consent search of the home where River-Rodriguez was residing, the DEA recovered blue pills expected to contain fentanyl packaged for distribution, a black SCCY CPX-2 9mm handgun, 24 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, two loaded 9mm magazines, and $2,333 in cash (pictured below). This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Grand Jury Returns Indictments

body_text: MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Two Dane County Residents Charged with Straw Purchase of Firearms Irene M. Johll, 23, Oregon, Wisconsin, is charged with three counts of making a false statement during a purchase of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on November 30, 2022, February 7, 2023, and February 24, 2023, while purchasing a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer, Johll falsely indicated she was the actual buyer of the firearm when she knew she was purchasing the firearm for Lorenzo Lacey III, 26, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. This is known as a straw purchase. The indictment charges Lacey with three counts of causing Johll to make those false statements. If convicted, Johll and Lacey face a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the Fitchburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution. Madison Man Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes Ramogi O. Carr, Jr., is charged with possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and with possessing a loaded firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that he possessed the fentanyl and firearm on May 2, 2023. If convicted, Carr faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on the fentanyl charge. The charge of possessing a loaded firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime has a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of life. Federal law requires that any penalty imposed on the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime be served consecutive to any other prison term imposed. The charges against Carr are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Madison Police Department, and the Fitchburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma is handling the prosecution. These two indictments have been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.


title: Battle Creek Man Indicted for Possessing Over Four Kilograms of Methamphetamine and Machine guns

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that a federal grand jury in Grand Rapids returned a superseding indictment charging Travon Deshaun-Roderick Mansker, 26, of Battle Creek, with possessing over four kilograms of methamphetamine intended for resale and 10 firearms as a felon. Two of the weapons had been modified to meet the federal definition of “machineguns.” “Drugs and guns are a dangerous combination, and we are committed to getting illegal guns and drugs off of our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Totten . “The prevalence of machinegun conversion devices in the Western District is a particularly troubling trend that my office takes seriously.” The charges arise from an April 27, 2023, search of a Battle Creek residence where investigators seized the drugs, firearms, approximately a thousand rounds of ammunition, various high-capacity magazines, pill presses, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia. A photograph of the evidence seized from the search is provided below: In the superseding indictment, the grand jury alleges that on April 27, 2023, Mansker possessed methamphetamine that he intended to distribute to others. The superseding indictment also charges Mansker with possession of a machinegun for two firearms with different conversion devices installed and possession of a firearm by a felon for ten firearms, including a firearm silencer (a “firearm” under federal law). The superseding indictment is attached. “This indictment should serve as a reminder that the DEA, and our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue these individuals,” said Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of Detroit Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration . “Our combined efforts are to not only stop the illegal distribution of dangerous illicit drugs, but also to prevent the associated violence that plagues our communities.” The defendant will be arraigned on the superseding indictment before U.S. Magistrate Phillip J. Green of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. If convicted of the drug charge, Mansker faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison with a maximum penalty up to life. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD), with additional support by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Mansker Travon Superseding Indictment ###


title: Former Mail Carrier and Co-Conspirator Sentenced to Federal Prison for Quarter-Million Dollar Identity Theft and Fraud Scheme Using Stolen Mail

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Robenson Fenelon, 31, and Squille Traxler, 30, of Indianapolis, have been sentenced to 54 months (4.5 years) and 15 months, respectively, in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and theft of stolen mail. Fenelon additionally plead guilty to aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, from at least January 2019 through December 2020, Fenelon and Traxler conspired with mail carriers in a scheme to steal the identities of at least fifty victims in Fishers and Indianapolis and used that information to defraud financial institutions of a total of $244,222.93. At the time of the offenses, Traxler was employed as a Mail Carrier with the U.S. Postal Service. Fenelon recruited Traxler to assist in identifying potential identity theft targets. Fenelon and Traxler used Traxler’s access to the mail to obtain the targets’ identity information, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and bank account numbers. Fenelon then used that information to access and take over the victims’ bank accounts or to open new bank accounts in the victims’ names. Fenelon contacted the victims’ banks, purporting to the victims or their relatives, and requested a new debit or credit card for the victim’s account. For the newly established accounts, Fenelon applied online or over the phone for new accounts and credit cards. Fenlon and Traxler then stole the credit cards from the victims’ mail. Fenelon and Traxler used the cards to withdraw cash and make personal purchases. They stole checks from the mail and deposited them into the bank accounts they controlled. “Fraud schemes using stolen mail cause significant hardship to innocent victims and undermine trust in a vital government service,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Fraudsters must be held accountable, especially those criminals who abuse the public’s trust in service of their own greed. We will continue to work diligently with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General to ensure that those who steal from the public pay a significant price.” “Protecting the U.S. Mail and our customers is the core mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Postal Inspectors worked aggressively on this case to track down and identify the subjects involved with stealing mail and committing fraud. I commend the collective efforts of all agencies involved in bringing these individuals to justice,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division. “These sentences represent our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity and trust in the U.S. Mail,” said Scott Pierce, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The majority of postal employees are hard-working public servants dedicated to moving mail to its proper destination. The USPS OIG, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.” The United States Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Fenelon and Traxler be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 and 2 years, respectively, following their release from federal prison and pay $244,222.93 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Southall Organization Conspirator Sentenced

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman was sentenced on August 4, 2023, to 3 years in prison for her participation in the drug distribution organization operated by Darrin J. Southall. Christian Leontine Glover, 34, was a money courier for Southall and served as one of his “accountants,” to help him keep up with his drug debts. On August 23, 2021, Glover pled guilty to conspiracy possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Court documents reflect that Glover used her cell phone to keep up with Southall’s drug debts, and she picked up and delivered drug money to locations necessary for Southall to continue to buy and sell hundreds of kilograms of cocaine. Glover was implicated by some of Southall’s distributors as one of the conspirators who picked up and handled Southall’s drug money. She was also intercepted in numerous discussions with Southall in a court-authorized wiretap on some of Southall’s phones. The recorded calls showed the depth of Glover’s involvement in the scheme. For example, in one phone call between Southall and Glover on January 3, 2021, Southall’s distributors (who were identified in the call by their street names) owed a total of $931,500 for cocaine Southall had distributed to them. In a call later that day, Southall and Coleman discussed additional information on three of the distributors for a total of $147,500. On January 5, 2021, in a similar call, Southall and Glover reviewed the drug debts which totaled $653,000. Debts discussed with Glover in a call on January 8, 2021, totaled $421,000. In a call on January 14, 2021, Southall’s drug debts amounted to $1,209,000. On January 18, 2021, Glover’s total for Southall’s drug list was $843,500. On January 21, 2021, Southall and Glover reviewed a short list of only two distributors for a total of $336,000. Southall was arrested on February 26, 2021. Glover was arrested on March 3, 2021. Because the collection and movement of drug money was an integral part of the cocaine distribution conspiracy, Glover’s participation was important to the success of Southall’s organization. United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose imposed a sentence of 36 months to be followed by 5 years of supervised release after her release from imprisonment. Glover’s supervision includes a set of standard conditions as well as a special condition that the probation office may search her person or property upon a showing of reasonable suspicion that she is in violation of any of the other conditions of her supervision. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered the forfeiture of numerous items of property seized during the investigation. Glover was ordered to pay $100 in special mandatory assessments. The Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Mobile and Pensacola, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organization that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Waterbury Man Sentenced 57 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution Offense

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JULIAN GOODMAN, 25, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl and heroin. According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an ongoing investigation into gangs, drug trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms in Waterbury. The investigation revealed that Goodman and his associate, Alex Reyes, were distributing fentanyl and heroin. On August 26, 2021, Waterbury Police attempted to execute search warrants for Reyes’s residence and person. Reyes, who was sitting in his car as officers approached, fled the scene, and struck two police vehicles. He was located later that day using Goodman’s vehicle. After Reyes was apprehended, a search of his person revealed a 9mm handgun and $1,433 in cash, and a search of Goodman’s vehicle revealed more than 80 grams of fentanyl, drug packaging materials, multiple cell phones, and $3,492 in cash. Goodman was apprehended a short distance away. Goodman has been detained since his arrest. On November 28, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin and fentanyl. On December 13, 2022, Reyes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm by a felon. On June 2, 2023, he was sentenced to an effective term of imprisonment of 60 months. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Connecticut State Police; the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police; the Waterbury Police Department; the Wolcott Police Department; and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr., and Natasha M. Freismuth. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter. The prosecution 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. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.