title: Bridgeton Police Officer Admits Civil Rights Violation

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Bridgeton police officer today admitted to violating an individual’s civil rights by using excessive force during an arrest, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. John Grier III, 51, of Cedarville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Camden in federal court to a superseding information charging him with one count of violating an individual’s civil rights. “This defendant admitted he broke his oath as a police officer by violating an arrestee’s civil rights. Those who wear the badge have an obligation to protect the civil rights of everyone in our communities, including those who are accused of a crime. Using pepper spray on a handcuffed suspect who posed no threat was an unreasonable use of force that violated the law. This office will continue to prioritize the protection of the civil rights for all of New Jersey’s people.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “The public trusts that when we take our oath as law enforcement to serve and protect, we will respect the gravity of our responsibilities,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “When we arrest and take someone into custody, we must ensure their safety, as well as our own. We can do a million things right, but one bad action erodes the faith people place in us." According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Grier was sworn in as a Bridgeton police officer in August 2004. As a police officer, Grier knew that every citizen had the right to be free from unreasonable seizure which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer. On June 18, 2017, Grier was working as Bridgeton Police Officer in full uniform. That day Grier was dispatched to the Riggins Gas Station on West Broad Street in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and came into contact with the victim. The victim was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. He was placed in handcuffed by other officers who were on scene, and was not resisting arrest or posing a threat to Grier or any other officers. As another officer walked the victim toward a police vehicle, Grier sprayed the victim, who was still in handcuffs, directly in the face with a crowd control-sized can of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray. Grier then sprayed the victim a second time while the victim was still in handcuffs. At today’s plea hearing, Grier agreed that his repeated use of OC spray was unnecessary, unreasonable, and an excessive use of force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. The violation of civil rights count carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. Sellinger also recognized the contributions of the Internal Affairs Unit of the Bridgeton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael A. Gaimari Sr.; investigators and detectives of the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, under the direction of Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin; and the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McCray. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason M. Richardson and Lindsey Harteis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden. grier.superseding.pdf


title: Boca Raton sex offender sentenced to 15 years in prison for receiving child pornography

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Oct. 4, a registered sex offender was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography material. Jerry K. Seal, 60, of Boca Raton, Florida, agreed with a person in the Philippines, through an online networking platform, to send the person money in exchange for a video of a prepubescent child being exposed in a sexual manner. Seal aka Dirty Rook, who is a registered sex offender with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), received a probationary period in Broward County, Florida, after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography in 2015. In February 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) conducted a sex offender operation targeting sex offenders in Palm Beach County, Florida. During the operation, an arrest warrant was executed for Seal at his Boca Raton residence for violating his sex offender registration requirements. Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) officers then located a hidden tablet device in Seal’s residence containing a copy of the child's video. In addition, Seal’s online payment provider reported suspicious payment activity to the Philippines connected to Seal's email address. As part of his sentence, Seal is now also required to register as a federal sex offender. “The protection of children around the globe is among our nation’s highest obligations. Within our district, the prosecution of those who repeatedly sexually offend children is of the utmost priority,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “The sentence announced today reflects the gravity of child pornography offenses. We implore the public to report all suspected child abuse and exploitation to law enforcement, so that we may protect our children from threats from near and afar.” “The U.S. Marshals Service remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community through enforcement actions in conjunction with our state and local partners,” said U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the USMS. “The U.S. Marshals Service would also like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and our State and local partners for the successful prosecution of this case.” U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the USMS announced the sentence. USMS, West Palm Beach investigated the case with assistance from PBSO, Sexual Predator Offender Trafficking (SPOT) Unit, and the PBSO, Internet Crimes Against Child (ICAC), and Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), Internet Crimes Against Child (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-80095. ###


title: Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office Celebrates Annual U.S. Attorney’s Awards

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: The United States Attorney’s Office Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony was celebrated this afternoon in New Haven. The ceremony at the City of New Haven’s aldermanic chambers recognized approximately 140 individuals for their investigative efforts and other contributions to significant federal criminal prosecutions and civil cases in Connecticut. “This past year has been marked by a succession of critically important prosecutions and impactful settlements that would not have been possible without the law enforcement partners recognized today, and their dedication to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery. “Day after day, we are honored to work together with them to uphold the rule of law, safeguard civil rights, and enhance the public safety of people in all communities across Connecticut.” In addition to criminal and civil case awards that recognized investigators of violent crime, drug trafficking, child exploitation, public corruption financial fraud, tax fraud, health care fraud, pandemic relief fraud, identity theft, and other matters, U.S. Attorney Avery presented three special awards during the ceremony. The U.S. Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Investigator was presented to Connecticut State Police Detective Jonathan Carreiro. Detective Carreiro, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force Officer and member of the Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force, has displayed an unwavering dedication to the protection of children from dangerous predators who lurk in cyberspace and our community. He has spearheaded investigations of several individuals who were convicted of federal child exploitation offenses and are currently serving lengthy prison terms. The U.S. Attorney’s Outstanding Community Award was presented to the founding members of FED-UP: Working Together for a Safer Community . Created in 2021, FED-UP is run by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in conjunction with Project Longevity, local hospitals, and community-based organizations, to stop the gun violence that is destroying the lives of students and their families in Connecticut’s cities. FED-UP sends seasoned violent crime prosecutors, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and returning citizens into middle schools, where the program teaches students to understand that what they experience with gun violence is not normal, and that there is nothing wrong about being angry or scared by it. FED-UP has reached thousands of students in Bridgeport, Waterbury, and New Haven, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is planning to expand the program to other cities. A Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Service, Friendship, and Humanity was presented posthumously to Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Supervisory Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Scorza, who died in June at the age of 52. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford.


title: Lynn Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to possessing fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine intended for distribution. Juan Ramos, a/k/a/ “Bebo,” 22, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute before U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 25, 2024. Ramos was charged in May 2023. In April 2023, law enforcement identified an apartment in Lynn that was fraudulently rented under a fictitious name. A subsequent investigation determined that the listed tenant did not exist and that the premises was being utilized as a hub for drug distribution and packaging. During a search of the apartment on May 2, 2023, Ramos fled from law enforcement by way of the balcony before being apprehended a short distance away. At the time, Ramos was on pretrial release for an unrelated domestic violence offense and wearing a court-ordered GPS bracelet. A review of the GPS bracelet’s records showed that Ramos frequently travelled to the apartment. Inside the apartment, approximately 500 grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, 30 pounds of cutting agent, blenders, scales and other paraphernalia used in the distribution and packaging of drugs as well as a .38 Taurus revolver was found. A search of Ramos’ vehicle outside the apartment revealed an additional 200 grams of fentanyl and a .40 caliber Glock pistol concealed inside a hidden compartment underneath the driver’s seat. The charge of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Taylor Womack, 29, of Charleston, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 7, 2020, a law enforcement officer responding to a trespassing call at a St. Albans area business encountered Womack walking nearby. Believing Womack matched a description of the suspect, the officer instructed Womack to stop. Womack continued to walk away from the officer and began shoving his hands down his pants. The officer stopped and searched Womack, finding a loaded FEG Model PA-63 9mm firearm inside one of Womack’s pants legs. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Womack knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit delivery of a controlled substance in Wayne County Circuit Court on September 15, 2017, and for daytime burglary by breaking and entering in Kanawha County Circuit Court on October 16, 2014 United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Monica D. Coleman prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-12. ###


title: Commercial Truck Driver Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Mexican man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Gerardo Madrigal Quintero, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 29 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On July 11, 2023, Quintero pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. In August 2022, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization based in Mexico that was seeking to set up a cocaine distribution network in the Boston area. The investigation subsequently identified Quintero’s co-defendant, Joel Enrique Armenta Castro, as a member of the organization who came to Boston to facilitate the distribution of multiple kilograms of cocaine. In August 2022, Quintero transported 15 kilograms of cocaine from California to Massachusetts in the back of his tractor trailer. On Aug. 29, 2022, Quintero provided Castro with the cocaine at service plaza on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Ludlow. On Sept. 28, 2023 , Castro was sentenced to four years in prison and two years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea E. Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: West Point Man Sentenced in Drug Trafficking Case

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

body_text: Greenville, MS – A West Point man was sentenced on Wednesday to 100 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Bobby Earl Brownlee, 44, of West Point, Mississippi, pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Brownlee was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown to 100 months in prison. He was further sentenced to three years of supervised release following his release from prison. Court records show that Brownlee was involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine and distributing them throughout the Northern District of Mississippi. The investigation of this drug trafficking organization and its participants spanned over a year. Brownlee was indicted along with fourteen other individuals. “The U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who choose to illegally sell dangerous and unlawful drugs in our towns and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We hope that this sentence will make other individuals think twice before they choose to seek quick profits from distributing illicit drugs.” “Bobby Brownlee’s sentence is a victory for law enforcement and the people of Mississippi. Brownlee was a major player in a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our state,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “His conviction and sentence should send a clear message to other drug traffickers that they will be held accountable for their crimes. We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program in partnership with state and local law enforcement. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Multiple agencies assisted with the investigation including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, U.S. Postal Inspector’s Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Mississippi Highway Patrol, Starkville Police Department, Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Department and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Hampton and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case.


title: Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kelvin Bradley, 49, of Michigan, was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 19, 2020, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on Washington Street in Charleston. Bradley was a passenger in that vehicle, and admitted that he possessed a Colt, .38 Special revolver that was found in the vehicle. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bradley knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for aggravated stalking in the Third Judicial Circuit, Wayne County, Michigan, on September 3, 2002. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Redmon, Nowles Heinrich and Negar Kordestani prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-98. ###


title: Mingo County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Military Death Benefits

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jessica Horton, 53, of Matewan, was sentenced today to four months in prison, four months of home detention, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $181,713.58 in restitution for theft of government money. Horton admitted to stealing United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) survivor’s benefits. According to court documents and statements made in court, Horton’s great aunt was awarded VA Survivor’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits after the death of her husband in World War II. The great aunt began receiving the monthly benefits on May 1, 1945. Beginning in or around 1964, the benefits were mailed to the great aunt’s post office box in Matewan. On February 21, 1999, Horton’s great aunt died, and the entitlement to benefits was therefore extinguished. Horton’s mother had access to the post office box. Horton admitted that her great aunt’s name was fraudulently signed on the benefits after the death to allow Horton’s mother to receive the benefits and convert them to her own use. Horton’s mother fraudulently received the monthly benefits until her death on February 14, 2011. Following her mother’s death, Horton took over the post office box and began signing her great-aunt’s name in order to receive the monthly benefits. Horton admitted that she knew she was not entitled or authorized to sign her great aunt’s name on the benefits. Horton deposited the benefits in various bank accounts at a Williamson bank where she was an account owner and signatory, and converted the money to her own use. Horton admitted that from around March 2011 until on or around December 31, 2022, she knowingly and willfully took approximately $181,713,58 in VA survivor’s benefits that she was not entitled or authorized to receive. The monthly benefits were terminated by the VA on or around January 12, 2023. “Month after month for more than a decade, this defendant knowingly and intentionally took money that was intended to aid veterans and their families,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson, the grandson of a World War II veteran. “Fraud of this nature worsens the strain on a vital support system at the expense of those families as well as the American taxpayers and their confidence in our government.” This case originated from a referral from the Benefits Delivery Protection and Remediation (BDP&R) division of the VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration. Thompson also commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-49. ###


title: Three Human Smugglers Indicted for Conspiracy

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Saul Parra, Patrick Orozco, and Rafael Gamez-Ramirez, all from Tucson, were indicted on August 23, 2023, for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit. The indictment alleges that, beginning around November 2021, Gamez-Ramirez coordinated with Orozco to purchase a parcel of land located in Bisbee, Arizona, to be used to facilitate the transport of undocumented noncitizens into the United States. Orozco bought and placed a recreational vehicle onto the property where undocumented noncitizens waited to be transported. Law enforcement officers pursued and stopped several vehicles leaving the parcel between November 2021 and January 2022. One of the smuggling events resulted in the death of an undocumented noncitizen after a driver lost control of the vehicle on I-10 near Exit 297. Parra participated in the human smuggling conspiracy by loaning his vehicles to drivers in exchange for payment. A conviction for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Homeland Security Investigations-Douglas conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 23-01261-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-149_Parra (WITHDRAWING AND CORRECTING RELEASE # 2023-148_Parra) # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Bay Area Couple Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Victims of Over Half a Million

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kendra Dennaoui, 67, of San Mateo, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Dennaoui and her spouse Dennis Moore (who has already pleaded guilty to the same charge) defrauded their victims by promising to invest their money into real estate deals, but they actually used the victims’ money to continue their fraud schemes and pay for personal expenses. Dennaoui and Moore misappropriated approximately $516,529 in funds from their victims. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica M.A. Alegría is prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley is scheduled to sentence Moore and Dennaoui on Feb. 29, 2024. Dennaoui and Moore each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Statement By United States Attorney Breon Peace on the Sentencing of Subway Mass Shooter Frank James

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Good afternoon, today, justice has been served. During the morning rush hour on April 12th, 2022, Frank James unleashed a premeditated attack on unsuspecting New Yorkers he trapped in a subway car, firing 32 shots and seriously wounding 10 people. For those acts, Frank James was sentenced to: 10 concurrent sentences of life in prison, plus an additional 10-year consecutive sentence. The daily lifeblood of New York City is in its transit system – it’s found in the subway cars that are responsible for safely transporting New Yorkers every single day. Frank James attempted to take that sense of safety away and inject fear and chaos into the heart of this City. While he found temporary success in his plot, due to the resilience of New Yorkers and our relentless pursuit of justice, he ultimately failed. On that horrific morning, when New Yorkers left their homes and boarded the N train, they had no idea that they were entering a death trap that Frank James orchestrated. A trap that he had been planning to set for years during which he purchased smoke bombs, disguises, and guns. In the weeks leading up to the attack, he scouted the location for his attack and completed multiple practice runs. On the day of the attack, when the train was between stations, he put his evil plan into action. He set off a smoke bomb, causing his victims to flee to the opposite end of the subway car. They had nowhere else to run. Then the defendant fired at them 32 times. 32 times in a closed subway car. We can only imagine the terror the passengers in that car experienced. Each time he pulled the trigger on his handgun, he made the choice to try to take a life. And although fortunately no one died, sixteen (16) of those 32 bullets struck the bodies of the cornered, innocent victims. The victims – not just those who were wounded physically, but also those who witnessed this horrific act, and others who put themselves at risk to help, will live with these traumatic events for the rest of their lives. From the victim who saved another passenger’s life by applying a makeshift tourniquet, to the victim who nearly lost her unborn child, to the victim who was shot three times and miraculously lived—dozens of people’s lives will forever be negatively affected because of the defendant’s heartless acts of terror. The impact and fear were felt beyond the direct victims in that subway car and station that morning, the defendant terrorized the city at large. Schools were on lockdown. Parents rushed to pick up their kids and make sure that they were safe. People feared taking the subway. No one knew whether there would be additional attacks. There was a city-wide manhunt for more than 24 hours, and the terror caused by the attack lingered until the defendant was caught. And today Frank James was held accountable. I want to thank our law enforcement partners who helped us secure justice in this case: the FBI, the NYPD, and the entire New York Joint Terrorism Task Force. I also want to thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority which provided critical assistance along the way. The excellent and determined work and cooperation of these agencies led to the identification and apprehension of Frank James. Without the efforts of these agencies, we would not be standing here today. I want to thank the outstanding prosecution team from my Office: Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Winik, Ellen Sise and Ian Richardson, paralegal specialist Magdalena Saint Surin, and the entire National Security & Cybercrime Section of my Office. And I want to express appreciation to Attorney General Garland, Deputy Attorney General Monaco and our colleagues in the National Security Division of the Department of Justice for their support during the investigation of the attack and through the duration of this case. Finally, to the people on that N train and in that station that morning, I want to thank you. You helped each other get to safety and to medical care. Your efforts assisted law enforcement in quickly identifying the defendant. On a day when evil imperiled so many, you showed that this city is made of good people. That we look out for one another. You are the fabric of this city; you are resilient. And on a dark day of danger and fear, you showed strength and courage, you showed that you are the light. Today’s sentence sends a clear message to any would-be terrorist: if you plan or commit an act of violence, this Office will aggressively pursue federal charges and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. Now we will hear from FBI Special Agent in Charge Rob Kissane.


title: 13 Members and Associates of the “Route Boys” Convicted of Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Eric Nunez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. Nunez is the last of 13 defendants to plead guilty before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown in connection with a 22-count superseding indictment with charges involving drug distribution, use of firearms, pharmacy burglaries, and ATM thefts. The defendants are members and associates of a burglary and drug trafficking organization known as the “Route Boys.” The Route Boys committed burglaries of pharmacies and convenience stores in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester and Rockland Counties, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut from 2020 through June 2022, when they were arrested. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty pleas. “With today’s guilty plea, and a dozen others previously, the criminal organization known as the “Route Boys” has been routed for their crime spree targeting local businesses throughout the Tri-State area, distributing drugs stolen from pharmacies and using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office is working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect local businesses and hold accountable those who endanger our communities with dangerous drugs and guns.” Mr. Peace thanked the New York City Police Department, Nassau County Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Queens County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance with the investigation. As alleged in the superseding indictment and other court filings, the Route Boys began committing burglaries in late 2020, breaking into convenience stores, check-cashing businesses, laundromats and restaurants, stealing primarily cash and tobacco products. In addition, the organization often stole free-standing ATMs, forcing them open and stealing the cash from inside the machine, netting them tens of thousands of dollars. They then began targeting small “mom-and-pop” pharmacies throughout the Tri-State area by smashing through windows and stealing controlled substances such as oxycodone and promethazine-codeine cough syrup. They sold these stolen pharmaceuticals, often by advertising on social media immediately after a night of burglaries. When sentenced, Carlos Acevedo, Ramon Collado, Naresh Deonarrain, the crew’s founder Jason Liriano, Charlie Maisonet, Cavier Nedrick, Eric Nunez, Jose Rosado, Alberto Santiago, and Jeffrey Vargas each face up to life imprisonment. Jonathan Santiago faces a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, Luis Cerda faces a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, and Devin Lopez-Dominguez faces a sentence of up to 5 years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Alessi and Andrew Wenzel are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : CARLOS ACEVEDO Age: 26 Brooklyn, New York LUIS CERDA Age: 33 Queens, New York RAMON COLLADO Age: 26 Brooklyn, New York NARESH DEONARRAIN Age: 27 Brooklyn, New York JASON LIRIANO Age: 25 Brooklyn, New York DEVIN LOPEZ-DOMINGUEZ Age: 22 Brooklyn, New York CHARLIE MAISONET Age: 21 Brooklyn, New York CAVIER NEDRICK Age: 26 Hauppauge, New York ERIC NUNEZ Age: 26 Brooklyn, New York JOSE ROSADO Age: 30 Queens, New York ALBERTO SANTIAGO Age: 27 Queens, New York JONATHAN SANTIAGO Age: 24 Franklin Square, New York JEFFREY VARGAS Age: 23 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-451 (S-3) (GRB)


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts  Honduran Citizen for Violations  of the Federal Gun Control Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – JUNIOR ALEXANDER MONCADA-VARGAS , age 34, of Honduras, was charged on in a four-count indictment on September 29, 2023. Count One charges him with possession and transfer of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2). Counts Two through Four charge him with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8). Count One of the indictment charged that, on or about July 21, 2023, MONCADA-VARGAS, did knowingly possess and transfer a machinegun, to wit, a Glock Model 22 Gen 5, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, with a Glock auto-sear. Counts Two, Three, and Four of the indictment charged that, on or about July 21, 2023, August 2, 2023 and September 18, 2023, respectively, MONCADA-VARGAS , knowing that he was an illegal alien and unlawfully in the United States, knowingly possessed a firearm, to wit, a Glock Model 22 Gen 5, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, with a Glock auto-sear, and approximately twenty-two (22) rounds of ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been in and affecting interstate commerce; a Kalashnikov USA Model KR103, 7.62 x 39 caliber semi-automatic rifle, and approximately thirty (30) rounds of ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been in and affecting interstate commerce; and a Norinco Model SKS, 7.62 x 39 caliber semi-automatic rifle, and approximately thirty (30) rounds of ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been in and affecting interstate commerce. If MONCADA-VARGUS is convicted, he faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count One; and up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000.00 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for each of the charges described in Counts Two through Four. MONCADA-VARGUS also faces a mandatory $100 special assessment fee per count. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (A.T.F.) and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the General Crimes Unit.


title: High Desert Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fentanyl Pills to Victim Who Died Hours Later After Ingesting One of the Pills

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A San Bernardino County man pleaded guilty today to knowingly selling two fentanyl pills to a 28-year-old man who – hours later – ingested one of the pills and suffered a fatal overdose. Luis Enrique Diaz, 23, of Victorville, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin scheduled a March 7, 2024 sentencing hearing, at which time Diaz will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Diaz has been in federal custody since April. According to his plea agreement, late in the evening on April 9, 2021, Diaz met with the victim – identified in court papers as “R.L.” – in a supermarket parking lot in Victorville. Diaz knowingly sold the victim two blue fentanyl pills. The victim later ingested one of the pills and died on April 10, 2021. That same day, law enforcement arrested Diaz and, in his pocket, found a pill bottle that contained approximately 50 blue pills that contained fentanyl. Diaz admitted in his plea agreement to intending to distribute some of those pills. On April 21, 2021, law enforcement arrested Diaz and searched him. In a bag he possessed, investigators found 454 blue pills that contained fentanyl. In a related case, Christopher Martin Sanchez, 25, a.k.a. “Chi Chi,” of Hesperia, who allegedly provided Diaz the fentanyl pill that led to R.L.’s death, is charged along with Stephanie Michelle Cruz, 24, of Hesperia, in a six-count indictment alleging, in part, that they distributed the fentanyl that resulted in R.L.’s death. Sanchez and Cruz are charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Sanchez faces additional charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sanchez pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and a November 7, 2023 trial date is scheduled in his criminal case. Cruz is in state custody on unrelated charges and has not yet appeared in the federal case. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation OD Justice Task Force and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Overdose Response Team investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Peter H. Dahlquist of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: King County man who shot at another driver following road rage collision convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 41-year-old King County man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Robby Lee Robinson was convicted following a four-day jury trial. Jurors deliberated for just over an hour before returning the verdict. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin scheduled sentencing for January 10, 2023. “This case exemplifies why we restrict gun ownership when it comes to felons,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “Mr. Robinson had a history of poor choices that resulted in prison sentences. On November 8, 2022, he chose poorly yet again, grabbing a gun and firing at another driver while traveling down a busy highway. He is fortunate no one was injured or killed. Such conduct cannot be tolerated.” According to records filed in the case, just after 10:00 PM on November 8, 2022, a victim called 9-1-1 reporting that he had been involved in an accident and now the other driver was shooting at him. The incident occurred on the southbound lanes of Highway 18. The driver was able to get away from the car Robinson was driving and reported to police that it appeared the car had exited the highway. King County Sheriff’s deputies were able to locate the car with the shooter and followed it to Maple Valley where the driver finally stopped the vehicle and surrendered. In the car police found two firearms, ammunition, and shell casings. At trial Robinson and his wife claimed the guns belonged to her and that Robinson did not know the guns were in the car. Robinson was alone in the car at the time of the accident. He testified that he felt threatened following the collision, and then described how he chased after the driver and repeatedly fired the gun he found on the floor of the car at the taillights of the other driver. The bullets broke a window on the victim car, and law enforcement recovered bullet fragments in the vehicle. Robinson faces up to 15 in prison. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF), the Washington State Patrol, and King County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Rachel Yemini.


title: New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty for Making False  Oath in Bankruptcy Matter

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JEANNINE DUKES (“DUKES”) , age 41, of New Orleans, pled guilty on October 4, 2023 for making a false oath in a bankruptcy matter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. DUKES faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. In addition, DUKES faces a term of supervised release of no less than three (3) years after her release from prison as well as payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. According to the bill of information, on November 19, 2021, DUKES did knowingly and fraudulently make a false oath or account in or in relation to any case under Title 11 in a bankruptcy case. Specifically, DUKES failed to disclose she had applied for a COVID-19 PPP Loan on May 18, 2021, and received approximately $20,527.00 in PPP funds on June 8, 2021. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for January 10, 2024 before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General and the Office of the U.S. Trustee, Region 5, in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Tara K. McGrath Sworn in as United States Attorney, Becomes Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in One of Nation’s Busiest Districts

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 5, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Tara K. McGrath, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former federal prosecutor in San Diego, was sworn in today as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California. Ms. McGrath, 49, was sworn in by Chief United States District Judge Dana M. Sabraw in a ceremony at the federal courthouse this afternoon. Ms. McGrath now oversees one of the busiest United States Attorney’s Offices in the nation. The office, which has a staff of about 300, serves approximately 3.5 million residents in San Diego and Imperial counties. Ms. McGrath was nominated by President Biden in March and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Friday, September 29, 2023. “I am ready to get to work,” Ms. McGrath said. “We face substantial challenges in this region every day and we are incredibly fortunate to have countless public servants committed to our safety and well-being. I am honored to be rejoining them.” Ms. McGrath returns to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego after departing in 2019 to serve as a civilian Litigation Attorney Advisor for the U.S. Marine Corps. In that role, Ms. McGrath provided senior-level oversight, ethics advice, and trial strategy guidance in criminal investigations and courts-martial across seven military bases in four countries. She also provided litigation expertise to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. A seasoned federal prosecutor, Ms. McGrath spent more than 10 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District working on behalf of both San Diego and Imperial counties. Initially assigned to the General Crimes and Narcotics Enforcement sections, Ms. McGrath prosecuted more than 500 cases in federal court and led scores of investigations with federal agents involving grand juries, wire taps, and undercover agents. She has argued three cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During her tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ms. McGrath served as a Deputy Chief and Trial Team Leader in the General Crimes Section. In these roles, she supervised more than 70 federal prosecutors and support staff, overseeing the intake and prosecution of more than 4,000 cases annually, including border crimes, human trafficking, violent crime, public corruption, fraud, racketeering, narcotics, and civil rights cases. For her work as a prosecutor, Ms. McGrath received the U.S. Department of Justice’s prestigious Director’s Award for Superior Performance, among other recognition. She also received the Department of the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service award for her significant contributions to policy development and prosecution of special victim cases. During her time with the Department of Justice, Ms. McGrath also served as a trial attorney in the Office of Enforcement Operations in Washington, D.C. In that role, she provided technical legal advice to experienced Assistant United States Attorneys and federal agents throughout the United States on gathering electronic evidence in compliance with federal law and DOJ policy, and she coordinated DOJ case management with attorneys from centralized enforcement divisions, including the racketeering, fraud, and narcotics prosecution sections. Ms. McGrath graduated from University of Michigan Law School in 2001 and earned a B.A., cum laude , from Boston College in 1995.


title: Jury Convicts Syracuse Man of Attempting to Entice a Minor and Attempting to Transfer Obscene Material to a Minor

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Bruce Wakker, age 68, of Syracuse, was convicted yesterday of attempting to entice a minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activities and attempting to transfer obscene materials to a minor, following a 3-day trial. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. The trial evidence established that from November 2019 to June 2020, Wakker exchanged thousands of sexually explicit text messages with people he believed to be a 9-year-old girl and her mother, respectively. In these text messages, Wakker, among other things, discussed performing different sexual acts with the 9-year-old and sent the 9-year-old pictures of his genitalia. Wakker arranged to meet with the presumed mother and 9-year-old in person. On June 11, 2020, he traveled from Syracuse to New York Mills, New York, for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with the 9-year-old. Wakker was arrested shortly after his arrival. Sentencing is scheduled for February 28, 2024, before United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby in Syracuse, at which time the defendant faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. He will also have to register as a sex offender. The defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The FBI Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force investigated this case. This task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the Colonie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carling Dunham and Douglas Collyer prosecuted this case. This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/ .


title: Indictment Charges Registered Sex Offender with Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Aaron Christopher Davis, 32, of Suitland, Maryland, a registered sex offender, was indicted in U.S. District Court, on October 3, 2023, on charges of distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On August 25, 2023, an FBI Washington Field Office (WFO) Task Force Officer (TFO) was acting in an undercover (UC) capacity as part of the Metropolitan Police Department – Federal Bureau of Investigation (MPD-FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force. The UC was monitoring a dating application that law enforcement has come to learn is used by some individuals who have a sexual interest in children. The UC encountered the defendant who sent a message believing he was communicating with a pedophile. The defendant expressed a desire to sexually assault the UC’s purported child. He then sent the UC a video showing an adult male anally raping a little boy whose mouth is taped closed and his hands are restrained with handcuffs. As the conversation continued, the defendant expressed a desire to meet up with the UC to watch videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, while they assaulted the UC’s purported son. On September 19, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home. During a post-Miranda interview with law enforcement, Davis admitted that he exchanged messages with the UC, and that he distributed child pornography. The defendant told law enforcement that he used other encrypted messaging applications to communicate with individuals who have a sexual interest in children, and to exchange child sexual abuse material. These communications, and a collection of child pornography, have been discovered on mobile devices belonging to Davis. Davis was convicted of possession of child pornography, on October 16, 2017, in Prince George’s County. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment, but was only required to serve 18 months of that sentence. As a result of this conviction, Davis is required to register as a sex offender. Davis was arrested on September 19, 2023, and he will be detained pending trial. Because of Davis’s prior conviction, the distribution of child pornography carries a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years, in prison, with a statutory maximum of 40 years. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Larson, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: 15 Defendants Indicted in Connection With Lawrence-Based Drug Trafficking Operation

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – 15 defendants have been indicted in connection with a Lawrence-based drug trafficking enterprise, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Over the past day and a half, law enforcement arrested nine of these defendants on conspiracy to distribute controlled substances charges, namely fentanyl and cocaine, while two others were in state custody, serving prison sentences in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court at various times this week. The following defendants have been indicted in connection with these charges: Melvin Villar-Lugo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Felix Manuel Mejia-Gonzalez, 32, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Yonathan Elias Baez-Santos, 22, of Methuen, Massachusetts. Baez-Santos is in custody. Elaine Soto-Villar, 25, of Methuen, Massachusetts. Soto-Villar is in custody, serving a Massachusetts state prison sentence for a felony drug conviction. Candido Armando Diaz-Fernandez, 30, Dedham, Massachusetts. Diaz-Fernandez is in custody. Julio Rafael Mejia-Baez, 23, of Boston, Massachusetts. Mejia-Baez is in custody. Alexander Lechappelle, 26, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Aaron Loew, 44, of Littleton, New Hampshire. Loew is in custody. Benjamin Conkright, 28, of Whitefield, New Hampshire. Conkright is in custody. Johnnie Boynton, 51, of Littleton, New Hampshire. Boynton is in custody. Anthony Monbleau, 32, of Brookline, New Hampshire. Monbleau is in custody. Erika Barlow, 32, of Nashua, New Hampshire. Barlow is in custody. Cody Stanford, 29, of Pembroke, New Hampshire. Stanford is in custody, serving a New Hampshire state prison sentence for a felony drug conviction. Dylan Painter, 26, of Nashua, New Hampshire. Painter is in custody. Benjamin Bryant, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Bryant died on September 16, 2023, three days after the indictment was issued by the Grand Jury. According to the court documents, the alleged leader of the drug trafficking enterprise used a social media messaging application and other means to coordinate narcotic transactions with customers in New Hampshire via “runners” in Massachusetts, from October 2021 through August 2023. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than one kilogram of fentanyl. The investigation also involved a review of pertinent text messages over the social media account managed by the drug trafficking enterprise, which showed a total of more than 14 kilograms of fentanyl negotiated with various large-scale drug dealers in New Hampshire and a gun-for-drug trade. The charge of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Manchester District Office Group 2, led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department, the Salem Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Whitefield Police Department, the Littleton Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cesar Vega and Jarad Hodes are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


body_text: CONCORD – 15 defendants have been indicted in connection with a Lawrence-based drug trafficking enterprise, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Over the past day and a half, law enforcement arrested nine of these defendants on conspiracy to distribute controlled substances charges, namely fentanyl and cocaine, while two others were in state custody, serving prison sentences in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court at various times this week. The following defendants have been indicted in connection with these charges: Melvin Villar-Lugo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Felix Manuel Mejia-Gonzalez, 32, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Yonathan Elias Baez-Santos, 22, of Methuen, Massachusetts. Baez-Santos is in custody. Elaine Soto-Villar, 25, of Methuen, Massachusetts. Soto-Villar is in custody, serving a Massachusetts state prison sentence for a felony drug conviction. Candido Armando Diaz-Fernandez, 30, Dedham, Massachusetts. Diaz-Fernandez is in custody. Julio Rafael Mejia-Baez, 23, of Boston, Massachusetts. Mejia-Baez is in custody. Alexander Lechappelle, 26, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. Aaron Loew, 44, of Litteton, New Hampshire. Loew is in custody. Benjamin Conkright, 28, of Whitefield, New Hampshire. Conkright is in custody. Johnnie Boynton, 51, of Littleton, New Hampshire. Boynton is in custody. Anthony Monbleau, 32, of Brookline, New Hampshire. Monbleau is in custody. Erika Barlow, 32, of Nashua, New Hampshire. Barlow is in custody. Cody Stanford, 29, of Pembroke, New Hampshire. Stanford is in custody, serving a New Hampshire state prison sentence for a felony drug conviction. Dylan Painter, 26, of Nashua, New Hampshire. Painter is in custody. Benjamin Bryant, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Bryant died on September 16, 2023, three days after the indictment was issued by the Grand Jury. According to the court documents, the alleged leader of the drug trafficking enterprise used a social media messaging application and other means to coordinate narcotic transactions with customers in New Hampshire via “runners” in Massachusetts, from October 2021 through August 2023. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than one kilogram of fentanyl. The investigation also involved a review of pertinent text messages over the social media account managed by the drug trafficking enterprise, which showed a total of more than 14 kilograms of fentanyl negotiated with various large-scale drug dealers in New Hampshire and a gun-for-drug trade. The charge of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Manchester District Office Group 2, led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department, the Salem Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Whitefield Police Department, the Littleton Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cesar Vega and Jarad Hodes are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Over One Million Rounds of Ammunition Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen Transferred to Ukrainian Armed Forces

body_text: WASHINGTON – On Oct. 2, the United States transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds of ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces. This ammunition had been seized by U.S. Central Command naval forces from a flagless vessel in the Arabian Sea enroute from Iran and destined for Yemen, where sanctioned groups including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directly support the Houthi movement. The Department of Justice then filed a civil forfeiture action against the seized munitions, resulting in a July 20, 2023, order by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia transferring title to the United States. “With this weapons transfer, the Justice Department's forfeiture actions against one authoritarian regime are now directly supporting the Ukrainian people's fight against another authoritarian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to use every legal authority at our disposal to support Ukraine in their fight for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.” “Our office will continue to use all the tools in our arsenal to disrupt the IRGC’s efforts to sow discord,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The transfer of these assets to the Ukrainian armed forces will now aid an important partner in its fight against unwarranted aggression.” “The forfeiture and transfer of a major ammunition cache, once destined to serve the Iranian regime’s destabilizing efforts abroad, represents the Justice Department’s commitment to countering authoritarian aggression around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Together, with partner agencies and departments, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure the nation’s security by vigorously enforcing U.S. sanctions and imposing costs on hostile regimes in accordance with the rule of law.” According to court documents in the civil forfeiture action, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command seized the ammunition and other munitions on or about Dec. 1, 2022. The documents alleged a sophisticated scheme by the IRGC to clandestinely ship weapons and munitions to entities contrary to U.S. interests. The government’s forfeiture action was part of a larger investigation of an Iranian weapons-smuggling network. The network was involved in the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons systems and components by sanctioned Iranian entities that directly support military action by the Houthi movement in Yemen and the Iranian regime’s campaign of terrorist activities throughout the region. The HSI Washington Field Office and the DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office are leading the larger investigation of the Iranian weapons-smuggling network, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in conducting the seizure. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart D. Allen, Brian P. Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Anna D. Walker for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section litigated the case, with support from Paralegal Specialists Brian Rickers and Angela De Falco.


title: Former Couple Pleads Guilty to Federal Conspiracy Charge for Trafficking Over 80 Firearms

body_text: WASHINGTON – Gregory Bournes Jr., 31, of Lancaster, Va., and Dream Jackson, 30, of Riverdale, Ga., pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge for trafficking over 80 firearms into the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Bournes and Jackson pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered the defendants detained pending their sentencing hearing, which he scheduled for Dec. 8, 2023. According to court papers, from February 2021 through February 2022, Bournes and Jackson—who were in a romantic relationship at the time—conspired to purchase firearms from licensed dealers in the States of Georgia and Texas and to transport and transfer the firearms to the District of Columbia and elsewhere, for the purpose of unlawfully reselling the firearms for profit. In total, Bournes and Jackson purchased over 80 firearms, which they then sold to others. As part of their guilty pleas, Bournes and Jackson each admitted that they knew or had to reason to believe that their conduct would result in prohibited persons receiving firearms. In March 2023, following their indictment by a federal grand jury, Bournes and Jackson were arrested in Georgia—where they both resided at the time—pursuant to warrants issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The defendants were released on their personal recognizance pending trial. Following their guilty plea today, the government moved for their detention pending sentencing. Judge Lamberth granted the government’s motion, and both defendants are now in custody. Bournes and Jackson face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by the Court after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Most of the firearms trafficked by Bournes and Jackson remain unaccounted for, and law enforcement in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area continue to recover the trafficked firearms in connection with criminal activity. One firearm, which Bournes purchased in Georgia in November 2021 and then resold for profit, was recently used in the commission of an attempted murder in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In announcing the guilty pleas, U.S. Attorney Graves and Special Assistant in Charge Kailimai commended the work of those who investigated the case from the ATF’s Washington Field Division. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas G. Strong. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine A. Pattison, who indicted and are prosecuting the matter.


title: Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Robbery, Assault with Intent to Rob, and Two Counts of Felony Threats

body_text: WASHINGTON –Kevin Diaz, 18, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of robbery, assault with intent to rob, and other charges in an early morning hold-up that took place in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood on Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The verdict was returned following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for Dec. 15, 2023. According to the government’s evidence, on Apr. 25, 2023, at approximately 8 a.m., a construction worker and a roofer arrived near the 1600 block of Lamont Street, NW to begin remodeling and repair work on a local business. As the construction worker waited in the alley near Lamont Street, Diaz, wearing chin-length hair, a distinctive outfit, bright red shoes, and brandishing an ice pick, approached him. Diaz demanded money, claimed membership in the 18 th Street gang, and threatened to kill the worker if he did not comply with his demands. That worker did not give Diaz any money, so Diaz turned his attention to the roofer, who had arrived in his truck minutes after the construction worker. Diaz again brandished the ice pick, demanded money, claimed membership in a gang, and threatened to kill the roofer. The roofer, who was scared for his life, went to his truck, pulled out $20, and gave it to Diaz. Diaz took the money and left. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene and collected surveillance footage that showed Diaz wearing the distinctive haircut and outfit as described by the two victims and an eyewitness. They then began to canvas the area. About an hour later, officers found Diaz about 10 blocks away, wearing his chin-length hair and the same outfit. After Diaz was identified by the construction worker and roofer as the assailant, he was taken into custody. He has remained held since the incident. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the MPD. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel White and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline Yarbro and William Lawrence who prosecuted the case.


title: District Man Charged in the Murder of a 24-Year Old in a  Northeast Apartment Building

body_text: WASHINGTON – Christopher Tyler, 46, of Washington, D.C., was presented in Superior Court today on charges of first-degree felony murder while armed stemming from the homicide of 24-year-old Nolan Edwards, on July 7, 2023, in the Benning neighborhood, in Northeast, Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Tyler was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Judith Pipe in Courtroom C-10, in D.C. Superior Court, where he entered a plea of not guilty. The court heard arguments and found probable cause to believe that the defendant committed first degree felony murder while armed. The court held the defendant without bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 30, 2023, before Judge Michael O’Keefe. An arrest on a complaint is merely a formally charged allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. In announcing the charge, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.


title: Dubuque Man Involved in Conspiracy to Distribute Hundreds of Pounds of Methamphetamine Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Jason Laufenberg, age 38, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine. At a prior hearing, evidence showed that Laufenberg bought and sold hundreds of pounds of ice methamphetamine from multiple drug sources in Dubuque between 2019 and 2022. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Laufenberg remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Laufenberg faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole, a $10,000,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-1008. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: North Carolina Man Who Caused Dubuque Man’s Death by Selling Him Heroin and Fentanyl Found Guilty After Jury Trial

body_text: A jury found a North Carolina man who sold fentanyl and heroin to a Dubuque man, causing his death, guilty on October 5, 2023, following a four-day jury trial. James Adam Earwood, age 38, of Lake Lure, North Carolina, was found guilty after a jury trial. The jury found Earwood guilty of distribution of a controlled substance, heroin and fentanyl, causing the death of another. Evidence at trial showed that on November 18, 2021, Earwood mailed a package of heroin and fentanyl to another person. Earwood was living in North Carolina at the time and the victim was living in Dubuque, Iowa. The victim used the heroin and fentanyl and overdosed in the parking lot of a local business in Dubuque. The victim survived the overdose. One month later, on December 17, 2021, the victim received another package of heroin and fentanyl in the mail from Earwood. The victim used the heroin and fentanyl and died shortly thereafter. He was found deceased by hotel staff in a hotel in Dubuque, Iowa. Evidence showed that Earwood was using social media platforms on the dark web to arrange transactions of heroin and fentanyl with other people. Investigators tracked down at least one other package that Earwood had sent through the US Mail which contained heroin and fentanyl. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Corkery and Patrick Reinert, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake, and was investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Dubuque Drug Task Force which includes the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department, and the Rutherford County North Carolina Drug Task Force. Earwood is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be sentenced. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-1024. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearm Sent to Federal Prison

body_text: Jeffrey Krowiorz, II, 35, from Milford, Iowa, was sentenced on October 4, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City. At the plea hearing on June 14, 2023, Krowiorz, II admitted he unlawfully possessed a firearm, after having at least one prior felony conviction, and being an unlawful user of methamphetamine. Krowiorz, II, was previously convicted of the following felony crimes: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, in 2013; possession of lithium with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Emmet County, in 2007; and possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, in the Iowa District Court for Clay County, in 2007. Further evidence showed that the firearm Krowiorz, II possessed had an altered or obliterated serial number. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Krowiorz, II was sentenced to a total of 85 months’ imprisonment which includes a consecutive 24-month sentence for revocation of his federal supervised release. Krowiorz, II must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Krowiorz, II remains in custody of the United States Marshal 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 Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Spencer Iowa Police Department, and Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-4006. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Convicted bank robber pleads guilty to escaping reentry center

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Brandon Loyd, 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to escape from the Lighthouse Buffalo Residential Reentry Center. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2017, Loyd was convicted of bank robbery by use of a dangerous weapon and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and sentenced to serve 85 months in prison. In September 2021, Loyd was transferred to the Lighthouse Buffalo Residential Reentry Center. On December 18, 2021, Loyd walked out of the center with all his belongings without authorization. Later that day, during a telephone call, a staff member instructed Loyd to return. He replied, “I’m going out of state, and they are going to have to extradite me.” Following the conversation, Loyd was placed in “escape status” until his arrest on December 24, 2021, by the United States Marshals Service. The plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina. Sentencing is scheduled for December 21, 2023, before Judge Arcara. # # # #


title: Elmira man with prior child sex conviction pleads guilty to child pornography charge

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Eugene R. Criss, Jr., 55, of Elmira, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that in July 2013, Criss was convicted of Criminal Sex Act – 1st Degree – Victim Less Than 11 Years Old. On April 5, 2023, Criss possessed a cellphone, a thumb drive, a tablet, and a laptop, which contained over 1,000 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct and violence or the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. Sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2024, before Judge Siragusa. # # # #


title: Federal grand jury indicts Buffalo man for fraudulently receiving COVID 19 funds

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Brian A. Smith, 49, of Buffalo, NY, with four counts of wire fraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that Smith, owner of B Smith and Companies, LLC, received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and one Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), which were administered by the Small Business Administration to assist small businesses during the COVID-19 epidemic. According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, Smith submitted false documentation to the SBA and/or the financial institutions administering the PPP program, completing loan applications with fictious gross receipts, cost of goods sold, and payroll for businesses under his control. Smith is also accused of filing false tax returns misrepresenting his income to receive COVID relief loans for which he would not otherwise qualify. Smith personally received approximately $119,633.00 in EIDL and PPP loans, which he deposited into bank accounts that he controlled. The funds were ultimately used for personal expenditures at adult entertainment clubs, hotels, restaurants, cash withdrawals, and on retail goods. In October of 2010, Smith was convicted of wire fraud in the Eastern District of Missouri and served 10 months in prison. In September 2012, Smith was convicted of wire and bank fraud in the Western District of New York and was sentenced to 63 months in prison. In September 2019, Smith was sentenced to serve an additional nine months in prison after violating the terms of his supervised release. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-In-Charge Thomas Fattorusso and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Wayne county man pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Frederick Trivitt, 63, of Newark, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that on January 4, 2023, Trivett possessed a laptop, which contained 368 images and 26 videos of child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors and included violence or the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler. Trivitt also admits that he engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse of a minor for approximately seven years. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian Ratajczak. Additional assistance was provided by the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office. Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Siragusa. # # # #


title: Jamestown sex offender charged with production of child pornography

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Timothy Douglas, 63, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on August 12, 2023, a customer at a grocery store in Jamestown found a blue Moxee phone sitting on a table in the entryway to the store and turned it over to a store employee, who took it to the security office. The employee unlocked the phone, noticed that the photo gallery was open, and observed a naked photo of a juvenile female, approximately 5-6 years old. The employee decided to wait until the next day to contact the store’s General Manager. The next day another employee saw the phone in the security office, unlocked it, observed another photo of a naked minor female, and called the Jamestown Police. Subsequently, investigators executed a search warrant on the phone and recovered images and videos of child pornography, and traced the phone to Douglas, a New York State Registered Sex Offender. Douglas was convicted in 2003 of multiple child sexual abuse charges. A total of three minor victims have been identified. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: North Chili man convicted of 37 counts of COVID relief fraud going to prison

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Rech, 52, of North Chili, NY, who was convicted at trial of 37 counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan K. McGuire and Sean C. Eldridge, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that Rech was the Director, President, and CEO of Guardian of Humanity, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, as well as the sole member of Eclipse, a limited liability company. Rech applied for eight different Payroll Protection Program loans, fraudulently claiming that Guardian and Eclipse had employees and that he had been paying wages to these employees, which qualified him for the PPP loans. In total, he attempted to obtain over $880,000 in PPP funds. Subsequent investigation revealed that Rech’s companies did not have any employees and did not pay wages to anyone. Rech himself was unemployed and collecting unemployment benefits from the State of New York at the time. Rech received three PPP loans totaling approximately $277,500. Once he received the loans, Rech took the money out of the bank in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid federal reporting requirements. The Internal Revenue Service recovered all of the funds from two safes in Rech’s home and a bank account that Rech had sole control over. As a result of the trial, all $277,500 was forfeited back to the government. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Small Business Administration. # # # #


title: Iowa Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Francisco J. Zapata, Jr., 22, of Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on October 4, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for sexual abuse of a minor. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Zapata to 30 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from federal prison, Zapata will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Zapata will be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), a federal law. An FBI investigation identified a minor victim who disclosed meeting Zapata through social media in the Spring of 2021. The minor reported having sexual contact with Zapata on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. At the time of the sexual contact, the minor was 14 years old, and Zapata was 20 years old. Because the offense happened on an Indian Reservation and the minor was less than 16 years old, there was federal jurisdiction for the offense. When the FBI interviewed Zapata, he admitted having sexual contact with the minor. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Papillion Woman Sentenced for Mail Fraud

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Paula R. Creps, 52, of Papillion, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Omaha by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 6 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Creps pled guilty in July 2023 to Mail Fraud and had already paid restitution of $44,884.95. From about November 2015 to July 2022, Creps was the Director of the Sarpy County Court Appointed Special Advocates ("Sarpy CASA"). Sarpy CASA staff and volunteers serve as Advocates in Juvenile Court proceedings. The juveniles are typically wards of the state who have been removed from their homes due to reported abuse or neglect. The Advocates support the juveniles during the court process and submit reports to the Juvenile Court concerning the juveniles’ best interests. In addition to their normal duties as Advocates, CASA volunteers and staff can help juveniles and their families obtain needed items or pay for special events using charitable contributions that are held by Lift Up Sarpy County (LUSC). Sarpy CASA can also expend government grant funds that LUSC holds. As Director, Creps managed the operation of Sarpy CASA, oversaw its staff and volunteers, and approved expenditures of charitable contributions and grant funds. From about March 2019 to July 2022, while she was Director of Sarpy CASA, Creps fraudulently obtained approximately $44,884.95 in goods and services that were paid for or reimbursed by LUSC from charitable contributions and grant funds that it held. Creps did so by submitting false payment reports and reimbursement requests for expenditures that purportedly were for charitable or government purposes, but in fact were for the benefit of herself or her family. Creps supported the fraudulent requests with forged receipts. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Broken Arrow Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Blaine Allen Villines, age 47, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm (Destructive Device). The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On September 1, 2022, Villines pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of Unregistered Firearm (Destructive Device). At the plea hearing, Villines admitted to possessing two homemade explosive devices on May 8, 2022. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing. Villines will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.


title: MONTGOMERY COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO  METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING IN SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tylee Brown, age 38, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on October 3, 2023, before US. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Brown admitted to possessing between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of high-quality crystal methamphetamine for further distribution in the Susquehanna County area in April 2020. The charges against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Under federal law, the offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, up to a maximum sentence of life in prison, 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.