title: Opa-locka man sentenced to 30 years in prison for online solicitation of two 15-year-old girls

body_text: MIAMI – On May 24, an Opa-locka man was sentenced in federal district court to 360 months’ imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for two counts of online solicitation of a minor to commit a sexual act. As part of his guilty plea, Malik Hosea Atkinson, 25, also known online as “@jpmon8,” “@Mall9488673”and “unknown_value#5861,” admitted that in 2022 and 2023 he met two teenage girls online in a social networking application. Atkinson convinced the two young girls to meet him in person. To meet the first victim, he drove from Miami-Dade County to Palm Beach County to have sex with her multiple times in his white van. To meet the second victim, he drove to Broward County to have sex with her. Atkinson’s online account and phone revealed the sexual context of Atkinson’s communications with the two minor victims and confirmed that he had video recorded himself sexually exploiting them. The investigation also uncovered that Atkinson had communicated similarly online with other minor females. Atkinson also possessed other child sexual abuse material. In sentencing Atkinson to 30 years’ incarceration, U.S. District Judge Robyn L. Rosenberg described the defendant’s crimes as “so severe, so egregious.” U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the guilty plea. FBI Miami and West Palm Beach Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Klco is handling forfeiture. 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 or https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/project-safe-childhood . You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . 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-80063. ###


title: Contractor Sentenced for Bankruptcy Fraud, Suborning Perjury, Money Laundering, and Wire Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A self-employed contractor who waged a multi-year campaign of fraud, harassment, and abuse in the United States Bankruptcy Court, and who executed multiple schemes; made false representations; intentionally obstructed proceedings; and suborned perjury, all to conceal substantial assets from the bankruptcy court, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Additionally, Ernest P. Ricci, 62, of North Kingstown, previously admitted to a federal judge that he fraudulently applied for and received COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration (SBA), money that he laundered in an effort to conceal it from the bankruptcy court. Ricci was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 36 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Ricci was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $129,306 to the SBA and $77,568 to the IRS, jointly and severally with his wife. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to charges of bankruptcy fraud, obstruction, suborning perjury, wire fraud, and money laundering, In October 2017, prior to filing a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petition in an attempt to protect a $1.5 million dollar home in Florida that he and his wife used as both rental property and a vacation home, and on which he had failed to make any mortgage payments for approximately five years, Ricci transferred all of the assets of his business: Premier Home Restoration LLC (Premier), to his wife. He then falsely submitted documents to the Bankruptcy Court, under oath, indicating that he had been unemployed for many years, that he had no income, that he garnered no compensation of any kind from his wife’s company, that he controlled no bank accounts, and that he had no assets or properties other than the Florida home. In fact, it was determined, Ricci continued to control Premier after he transferred the company to his wife; that he ran its day-to-day operations; and that he made use of income from the company to maintain his lifestyle, none of which he disclosed to the Bankruptcy Court. Additionally, Ricci failed to truthfully disclose rental income from his Florida property and from another property that he owned in New Hampshire; and that he was untruthful when he claimed that he held a $200,000 mortgage in the name of another person for the New Hampshire property when, in fact, he owned the property himself and was collecting rent, and that he convinced that person to commit perjury before the bankruptcy trustee. In addition to the schemes employed by Ricci to hide assets and mislead the Bankruptcy Court, after the Bankruptcy Trustee was declared to be the equitable owner of Ricci’s former company, Premier, Ricci fraudulently applied for COVID-related PPP EIDL loans from the SBA, purportedly to pay Premier employees and company expenses. When filing loan applications, Ricci failed to disclose that the Trustee was the owner of Premier, and that he and the company were involved in bankruptcy proceedings. After obtaining the EIDL and PPP loans, Ricci laundered the proceeds by conducting a series of financial transactions to conceal the location, ownership, and control of the COVID support payments which he used to purchase rental property in Warwick, RI, in the name of another person. Court documents detail a number of stalling tactics, frivolous pleadings, and fraudulent claims by Ernest Ricci, including claims that he was indigent, during the years’ long bankruptcy proceedings. Documents also detail numerous combative communications sent by Ernest Ricci to the bankruptcy Trustee, some laced with profanities. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams. The matter was investigated by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the United States Bankruptcy Trustee. ###


title: Former Water District General Manager Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Water Theft and Separate Tax Charge

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Dennis Falaschi, 78, of Aptos, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiring to take federally owned water and one count of filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court records, from 1992 through approximately April 2015, Falaschi was the general manager for a public water district in Fresno and Merced Counties (PWD) that sold water to farmers with over 38,000 acres of farmland. PWD obtained water that it sold by purchasing water from the federal government and collecting drainage water from farms. The federal water that PWD purchased came from the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC), which is a federally owned canal operated by the United States Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation. PWD purchased federal water from the DMC pursuant to a contract that it entered into with the Bureau of Reclamation. The federal water that PWD purchased from the DMC was fresh water that could be used for farming immediately. The drainage water that PWD collected from farms was high in salt content and toxins, and it needed to be blended down with fresh water before it could be reused. Falaschi learned that water from the DMC was leaking from an old standpipe into a parallel canal in PWD. The parallel canal was owned by the then-president of PWD’s board of directors. PWD employees subsequently modified the old standpipe so that it would not leak and could be opened and closed. This allowed for water to be taken from the DMC on demand. The amount of federal water that was illegally taken for which Falaschi was responsible was valued at over $1.5 million but under $3.5 million. Nearly all of that water was taken to blend down and reuse drainage water. Moreover, according to court records, from 2011 through 2016, Falaschi entered into private water sales where he received payments. The water sold was legitimately sourced from outside PWD and was not federally owned water. Thereafter, in March 2016, Falaschi signed and filed an individual income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service where he did not report the income that he received from the private water sales. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Inspector General, the IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Henry Carbajal III are prosecuting the case. Falaschi is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Falaschi faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit water theft and three years in prison and $100,000 fine for the tax charge. 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. filed_falaschi_plea_agreement.pdf


title: St. Louis Felon Admits Being Caught with Stolen Gun

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS –A convicted felon from St. Louis, Missouri on Tuesday admitted being caught by police with a stolen gun after fleeing from a carjacked vehicle. Cedric Cross Sr., 42, pleaded guilty to one felony count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that on Jan. 30, 2022, he was caught by Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers while armed after jumping out of a carjacked truck. Cross was the passenger, and the driver had led police on a high-speed chase before crashing. Cross’ gun was stolen. He denied being one of two armed men who carjacked the truck earlier that evening at the intersection of Marcus Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive. In his plea agreement, Cross also disputed shooting a paramour in the Walnut Park West neighborhood of St. Louis the day before the carjacking. The victim said after an argument, Cross pulled out a gun and started shooting, hitting her four times. Ballistics evidence from the shooting matched the handgun found with Cross the next day. Cross is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday, May 28 th , 2024. He also potentially faces additional prison time for violating his supervised release from a prior felon in possession case in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis. In 2017, he was sentenced there to 63 months in prison after being caught with a stolen .38-caliber revolver. The case was investigated by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag 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.


title: Greenwich Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sex Abuse Images and Videos

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that CHRISTOPHER BATES JR., 37, of Greenwich, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing images and videos of child sexual abuse. According to court documents and statements made in court, an international law investigation revealed that an IP address at Bates’ residence was being used to access the dark web to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. On November 30, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents interviewed Bates, who consented to a search of his electronic devices. A forensic review of one of his laptops revealed approximately 1,222 images and two videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants. Bates is an attorney admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut. As part of his sentence, Bates was ordered to pay restitution of $15,000, an assessment of $17,000 to fund the Child Pornography Victims Reserve fund, and additional assessments of $5,100. Bates was arrested on December 13, 2022. On February 7, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography. Bates, who is released on a $300,000 bond under electronic monitoring, is required to report to prison on July 11. This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Greenwich Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Honduras-Based Leader of Migrant Smuggling Organization Sentenced

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The leader of a migrant smuggling organization was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for her role in smuggling over 100 migrants from Honduras to the United States for profit. “Today’s sentencing is the latest example of the great work of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which we launched nearly three years ago to hold accountable the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling groups, and which has obtained more than 240 convictions to date,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant exploited vulnerable migrants for her own profit, risking their lives and our national security in the process. Together with our partners across the federal government, the Justice Department will continue our efforts to dismantle and disrupt human smuggling networks like those the defendant operated.” “Today’s sentencing again highlights the extraordinary work being done by our Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel who, day in and day out, are relentless in their mission to disrupt and dismantle dangerous smuggling operations and to secure our border,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This sentencing is a testament to the partnership and collaboration this Administration has strengthened across the federal enterprise, and with our allies in countries such as Honduras and Mexico, to crack down on criminal organizations. We will continue our work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to attack the ruthless smuggling operations that prey on the vulnerable and cause so much death and trauma.” “Cooperation and collaboration are key tools in protecting America from the reach of international human smuggling organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “We thank Honduras for its willingness to extradite, the various local agencies who interdicted migrants and helped us make the connection to a larger organization, and all of the JTFA partners for dismantling a smuggling network.” According to court documents, Maria Mendoza-Mendoza, also known as La Guera, 52, of Honduras, coordinated the movement of migrants from Honduras to the U.S.-Mexico border and to stash houses operated in Phoenix, Arizona, where the migrants would be detained until their smuggling fees were paid. The smuggling organization utilized funnel accounts to collect millions of dollars in smuggling fees. Mendoza-Mendoza exercised her authority within the organization to assess punitive sanctions—she threatened to “bleed out” a guide as punishment and demanded that a migrant whose family did not pay his smuggling fee be thrown “back in the desert.” “Human smuggling is an insidious crime and one that this defendant participated in over 100 times—all for profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Fransisco B. Burrola of HSI Arizona. “Human smugglers do nothing but prey on vulnerable people who at times pay with their lives while crossing the border. Smugglers endanger and exploit people by using dangerous networks that threaten the safety of our communities and our national security; HSI is committed to combatting this type of cross border crime along with our partner law enforcement agencies. Let this sentencing serve as a warning to other smugglers contemplating their continued participation—prison awaits you.” Mendoza-Mendoza was indicted in January 2018 and extradited from Honduras to the United States in June 2023. Mendoza-Mendoza pleaded guilty on Jan. 24 to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit. This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The task force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. Since its creation in June 2021, JTFA has achieved significant results, including 305 arrests, including against leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators; 242 U.S. convictions; 175 U.S. defendants sentenced, including significant jail sentences imposed; substantial seizures and forfeiture of assets and contraband, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, real property, vehicles, firearms and ammunition, and drugs; multiple indictments and successful extradition requests against foreign leadership targets. HSI Sells Office investigated the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Honduras to secure the arrest and extradition of Mendoza-Mendoza. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted with the extradition efforts. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of Arizona prosecuted the case.


title: Hays man sentenced to more than six years in prison for assaulting, seriously injuring woman on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Hays man who admitted to beating and seriously injuring a woman on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to six years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Avery Jordon Boe, 39, pleaded guilty in January to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on April 29, 2021 near Hays, Boe assaulted the victim, identified as Jane Doe, by strangling her several times and throwing a rock at her, breaking her arm. Boe did not kill her because he had a seizure. Jane Doe initially lied to the officers about her injuries because she was afraid of Boe. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Johnston Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Trafficking Thousands of Fentanyl Pills

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – The leader of a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy that distributed and possessed enough fentanyl to create more than two million potentially lethal doses of the drugs has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Jonathan King, 33, of Johnston, who previously admitted to a federal judge that he arranged for the sale and delivery of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills, some of which were delivered at his direction by family members, including his father, was convicted in U.S. District Court on June 7, 2022, of conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 120 months of incarceration to be followed by five years of federal supervised release. “The defendant’s drug distribution network put countless Rhode Island lives at risk for his own selfish gain,” remarked U.S. Attorney Cunha. “This prosecution, and today’s decade-long sentence should make one thing clear: in a time when overdose rates in our state remain at crisis levels, and every city and town in Rhode Island has seen opioid overdose deaths, we are determined to use every federal law enforcement tool at our disposal to stop combat significant opioid traffickers.” “The state of Rhode Island is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before as deaths continue to soar,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen P. Belleau, New England Field Division. “Those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl disguised in pills to the citizens of Rhode Island need to be held accountable for their actions. Today’s sentence holds Mr. King accountable for his crimes and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to put other callous distributers like him behind bars. Make no mistake, DEA will aggressively pursue Drug Trafficking Organizations who are distributing this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives.” At today’s sentencing hearing, King was ordered to forfeit proceeds derived from his drug trafficking activities to include a Jaguar XF and $6,750 in cash seized at the time of his arrest on July 20, 2021. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H Vilker. The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island Drug Task Force, comprised of personnel from the DEA; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; Cranston Police Department; Middletown Police Department; Newport Police Department; Pawtucket Police Department; Providence Police Department; Warwick Police Department; Woonsocket Police Department; and Amtrak Police. ###


title: Honduras-Based Leader of Alien Smuggling Organization Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Maria Mendoza-Mendoza aka “La Guera”, 52, of Honduras, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Raner C. Collins to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Mendoza-Mendoza pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit. “Today’s sentencing is the latest example of the great work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which we launched nearly three years ago to hold accountable the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling groups, and which has obtained more than 240 convictions to date,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant exploited vulnerable migrants for her own profit, risking their lives and our national security in the process. Together with our partners across the federal government, the Justice Department will continue our efforts to dismantle and disrupt human smuggling networks like those the defendant operated.” “Cooperation and collaboration are key tools in protecting America from the reach of international human smuggling organizations,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We thank Honduras for its willingness to extradite, the various local agencies who interdicted migrants and helped us make the connection to a larger organization, and all of the Joint Task Force Alpha partners for dismantling a smuggling network.” “Human smuggling is an insidious crime and one that this defendant participated in over 100 times – all for profit,” said Fransisco B. Burrola, special agent in charge for HSI Arizona. “Human smugglers do nothing but prey on vulnerable people who at times pay with their lives while crossing the border. Smugglers endanger and exploit people by using dangerous networks that threaten the safety of our communities and our national security; HSI is committed to combatting this type of cross border crime along with our partner law enforcement agencies. Let this sentencing serve as a warning to other smugglers contemplating their continued participation – prison awaits you.” Mendoza-Mendoza was the leader of a smuggling organization that smuggled over 100 migrants from Honduras to the United States. As the leader, she coordinated the movement of migrants from Honduras to the United States/Mexico border and to stash houses operated in Phoenix, Arizona, where the migrants would be detained until their smuggling fees were paid. The organization utilized funnel accounts to collect millions of dollars in smuggling fees. Mendoza-Mendoza exercised her authority within the organization to assess punitive sanctions—she threatened to “bleed out” a guide as punishment and demanded that a migrant whose family did not pay his smuggling fee be thrown “back in the desert.” Mendoza-Mendoza was indicted in January 2018 and extradited from Honduras to the United States in June 2023. In determining Mendoza-Mendoza’s sentence, Judge Collins found that the conspiracy involved several aggravating factors, including smuggling unaccompanied minors, possession of a firearm, intentionally or recklessly creating a substantial risk of death, and detaining migrants through coercion or threat in connection with a demand for payment. This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. Since its creation in June 2021, JTFA has achieved significant results, including 305 arrests, including against leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators; 242 U.S. convictions; 175 U.S. defendants sentenced, including significant jail sentences imposed; substantial seizures and forfeiture of assets and contraband, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, real property, vehicles, firearms and ammunition, and drugs; multiple indictments and successful extradition requests against foreign leadership targets. Homeland Security Investigations – Sells Office conducted the investigation in this case, with significant assistance from Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector, and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the country. The United States Marshals Service assisted with the extradition efforts. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Honduras to secure the arrest and extradition of Mendoza-Mendoza. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-18-0078-TUC-RCC RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-069_Mendoza-Mendoza # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Michigan Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Prison for Robbing  String Of CVS Pharmacies for Prescription Pills

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Michigan resident Kristopher Kukola was sentenced yesterday for robbing several CVS pharmacies in Van Buren Township, Saline, and Milan, Michigan, before being arrested with the help of a decoy pill bottle, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). United States District Court Judge Stephen J. Murphy sentenced Kukola to 63 months in prison. Kukola, 39, robbed several CVS pharmacies in the same manner: demanding prescription pills, brandishing what the victims believed to be a gun, and ordering employees to lay on the floor. On the night of May 24, 2022, Kukola robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Van Buren Township, Michigan. He reached into a pocket of his jacket and stated, “I’m armed,” and showed the handle of what the victim believed to be a black handgun. He then directed one of the victims to lay on the ground. On June 2, 2022, he robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Saline, MI. This time, Kukola presented the victims with a list of medications and demanded that an employee give him everything on the list. He again displayed what appeared to be a black handgun and demanded that the victims lay on the floor. On June 8, 2022, Kukola returned to the Van Buren CVS from the first robbery. He handed a list of prescription drugs to an employee, stating “put everything on the list in the bag, or I will start shooting. I have a gun.” Kukola’s final robbery was on July 7, 2022, when he robbed a CVS in Milan, Michigan. Again, he handed an employee a list of prescription pills. But this time, the employee placed a decoy pill bottle with GPS tracking into Kukola’s bag. The tracking device allowed law enforcement to follow Kukola, and ultimately led to his arrest. “Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to addressing violent crime and protecting our community from the dangerous diversion of prescription drugs.” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “ No one should have to fear for their lives because they work in a pharmacy, and I commend the quick thinking of the pharmacy employee in giving the defendant the decoy pill bottle that ultimately led to his arrest. "This case serves as an example of the FBI's relentless efforts to track down violent offenders who resort to fear and violence to steal dangerous prescriptions for personal gain," said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. "I want to thank Detroit's Violent Crimes Task Force for their diligent work identifying and capturing the defendant. The FBI is committed to pursuing those who engage in illegal activities that ruin the lives of Michigan residents." This case was investigated by the Ann Arbor Police Department, Van Buren Township Police Department, Saline Police Department, Milan Police Department, Michigan State Police, and the FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan Bean and Jasmine Moore.


title: Adams Man Arrested and Charged for Allegedly Producing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – An Adams man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mass. for sexually exploiting a child to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Brian Warner, 38, was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child. Warner was arrested today and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield, was detained pending a detention hearing tomorrow. According to the indictment, between July 2016 and December 2016, Warner employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing CSAM The charges of sexual exploitation a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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 and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Penn Highlands Healthcare to Pay $735,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Penn Highlands Healthcare—a Pennsylvania not-for-profit corporation operating a hospital system in north, central, and western Pennsylvania—and several of its hospitals—including Penn Highlands DuBois, formerly known as DuBois Regional Medical Center—(together “Penn Highlands”) have agreed to pay the United States $735,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging False Claims Act infringement through the submission of claims to Medicare and Medicaid resulting from violations of the Physician Self-Referral Law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law, prohibits a medical provider from billing Medicare or Medicaid for certain services referred by physicians with whom the hospital has a financial relationship, unless that relationship satisfies one of the law’s statutory or regulatory exceptions. The Stark Law is intended to ensure that medical decision-making is not compromised by improper financial incentives and is instead based on the best interests of the patient. In this case, the United States alleged that, from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2012, Penn Highlands DuBois violated the Stark Law by paying improper compensation to referring physician Gary Ott, M.D., and to a physician employed by Women’s Care of Pennsylvania, Dr. Ott’s practice, in the amount of $420,000 under a Consulting, Medical Director and Related Services Agreement for “employment services” allegedly performed before the agreement went into effect, during which time neither physician was employed by Penn Highlands DuBois. The settlement stems from a whistleblower complaint filed in October 2016 by three medical providers formerly employed by Penn Highlands pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons, also called relators, to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit. The Act also permits the government to intervene and take over the lawsuit, as the government did in this case in regard to some of the relators’ allegations. The relators will receive $154,350 as part of the settlement. The United States’ intervention and settlement in this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ . This case was handled on behalf of the government by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Tuesdae Stainbrook, D.O., M.P.H., Mary Simpson, M.B.A., and Jonathan Pope, M.D. at Civil Action No. 1:16-cv-244. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Former Marfa Substitute Teacher Gets 30 Years in Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: ALPINE, Texas – A Marfa woman was sentenced in a federal court in Alpine to 360 months in prison for production of child pornography. According to court documents, investigators found that Sonya Conchita Murillo, 33, a former substitute teacher for the Marfa Independent School District, possessed child sexual abuse materials, including videos depicting Murillo sexually abusing a prepubescent child. Murillo was arrested June 7, 2023 and pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography in January. Murillo’s former boyfriend, Patricio Javier Serrano, was sentenced in March to 97 months in prison for one count of possession of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography, aiding and abetting. Serrano had been charged in a separate indictment and pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2023. “The fact that the judge delivered the maximum allowed 30-year imprisonment to this defendant for producing child pornography, is indicative of the utterly horrendous predatory acts Murillo committed,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I am very grateful to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their work on this case. Rest assured, protecting the children in our communities is undoubtedly a top priority in this district, and child predators will be brought to justice.” “Children trust their teachers and caretakers and Murillo betrayed that trust,” said Special Agent in Charge John Morales for FBI El Paso. “No child should ever have to question the motives of an adult they interact with at school or at home. A child should feel safe and not be subjected to sexual abuse. I want to thank the FBI Special Agents in our Alpine Resident Agency and our partners at Homeland Security Investigations, Marfa Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety who worked together to remove a child predator from our schools and neighborhoods.” “Homeland Security Investigations aggressively pursues child predators, and cases involving people in positions of trust are particularly disturbing. In this case, the punishment is fitting of the crime," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric McLoughlin for HSI El Paso. “Today we are once again reminded of the need for constant vigilance—online and in our schools—to protect the most vulnerable among us." The FBI, HSI, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Marfa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Greenbaum and Kevin Cayton 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 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. ###


title: Two Owensboro Men Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Owensboro, KY – Two local men were sentenced to decades in federal prison after they were convicted at a jury trial last year for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Sheila G. Lyons of the DEA Chicago Field Division, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement. “I commend the outstanding work of the trial team, the DEA, and the Owensboro Police Department for their untiring work and dedication during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “In addition, the assistance provided by our federal, state, and local partners from across the area was crucial to ensuring a successful prosecution of the defendants. The lengthy prison sentences handed down by the Court will make the Western District safer for all who live, work, and visit here.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Cedric Swanagan , 37, and Courtland Reed , 32, were convicted of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine between September 2021 and April 4, 2022, in Daviess County, Kentucky and elsewhere. The jury also convicted both Swanagan and Reed of possession with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine on February 22, 2022, in Daviess County and elsewhere. The evidence presented at trial included recorded phone calls between the defendants that were intercepted during a federal wiretap investigation and evidence involving approximately 876 grams of pure methamphetamine associated with the defendants. The jury further found that Swanagan had committed one serious drug felony and that Reed had committed one serious drug felony and one violent felony prior to committing the offenses in this case. These findings increased the mandatory minimum sentences for both defendants. On May 23, 2024, Swanagan was sentenced by a United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky to 30 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. On February 6, 2024, Reed was sentenced by a United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Kentucky to 25 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The DEA and the Owensboro Police Department investigated this case, with assistance from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Indiana State Police, the Kentucky State Police, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office, the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, and the Owensboro-Daviess County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Josh Porter prosecuted the case, with assistance from paralegal specialist Aaron Cooper. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – George West, 53, of Huntington, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay $14,456.45 in restitution and forfeit $14,456.45 for aggravated identity theft. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 12, 2022, West was employed by a Huntington business when he forged the name of the business’s owner on a $780 check that West wrote on the business’s bank account. West gave the forged check to his then-roommate for rent that West owed. West admitted that he was not authorized to write the check or to sign it with the owner’s name, and that he was not entitled to the money. West further admitted that he falsely told the roommate that the check represented money owed by the business owner to West, and that the owner made the check payable to the roommate to cover West’s debt. West also stole two checks from the roommate, writing each for $780 to pay two month’s worth of rent and signing them with his roommate’s name. West admitted that he was not entitled to that money, and that he knew that his roommate had not authorized him to write the checks or sign them in his name. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Huntington Police Department, and the Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage 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. 3:23-cr-89. ###


title: Laplace Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud for Role in Preparing and Submitting Fraudulent Cares Act Financial Assistance Applications

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MUNIRA SCHOFIELD (“SCHOFIELD”) , age 28, a resident of LaPlace, La., pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024 before United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1343. The charges stem from SCHOFIELD’s role in a conspiracy to prepare and file fraudulent applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SCHOFIELD’s mother, Lynn Schofield (“Lynn”), and brother, Bashir Schofield (“Bashir”), previously pled guilty for their respective roles in the offense. According to court documents, SCHOFIELD, Lynn and Bashir submitted applications to obtain money from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans fraudulently. Each defendant submitted at least one loan. All applications falsely represented that the applicant had a sole proprietorship and generated substantial income from the business by overinflating gross receipts. The entities either did not exist or earned far less money than they reported. They also represented that the loan proceeds would be used for business related purposes, when, in fact, the defendants intended to use the money for personal reasons. SCHOFIELD submitted a fraudulent application for an EIDL loan for a business she claimed to own, “Just Jocin.” In conjunction with her mother, Lynn, SCHOFIELD also gave false material information to the SBA that grossly inflated the monthly gross receipts to support other loans, including for an entity named “Afromerica Touch 360, LLC,” and used some of the resulting funds for her personal benefit. In total, MUNIRA SCHOFIELD admitted that her conduct resulted in a loss of approximately $219,033 to the SBA. MUNIRA SCHOFIELD faces up to five (5) years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing before Judge Fallon has been scheduled for August 22, 2024. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Miami Tax Return Preparers and Their Tax Preparation Businesses

component: Tax Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Tax Division filed a civil injunction suit today to permanently bar Niclas Pierre and Elius Bessard and their tax return preparation businesses, Niclas Tax and Express Inc. and Bessard Immigrations and Tax Services LLC, from preparing federal tax returns for others. The United States also seeks an order requiring the defendants to disgorge to the United States their ill-gotten preparation fees. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that Pierre and Bessard, through their businesses, prepared and filed over 8,000 federal income tax returns for customers since at least 2018. According to the complaint, Pierre and Bessard used a variety of schemes to claim false deductions and credits, including knowingly reporting fake or inflated business expenses and fraudulent losses from the supposed sale of personal investments and business property and fraudulently claiming various credits like the Residential Energy Credit and the American Opportunity Credit, all without customers’ knowledge. The complaint alleges Pierre and Bessard hid their fraudulent activity by not identifying themselves as the return preparer, and instead listed another person as the return preparer or listed no one at all. According to the complaint, the defendants’ fraudulent activities have cost the United States millions of dollars in lost tax revenue, but the exact loss is difficult to estimate because of the complexity of their schemes and their failure to consistently identify themselves as the tax return preparers. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Attorneys from the Tax Division are handling the case. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against dishonest tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS warns taxpayers to avoid ghost preparers and lists other improper acts that tax preparers engage in to take advantage of their unsuspecting customers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. U.S. v. Pierre et al Complaint.pdf


title: Traffic Stop in Louisiana Results in Conviction and Sentencing of Four from Texas for Distribution of Cocaine, Methamphetamine and Marijuana

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four defendants involved in a drug distribution conspiracy have all been sentenced. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced the four defendants as follows: Kendrick D. Riggins , 46, of El Campo, Texas, was sentenced to 108 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Riggins pleaded guilty on December 12, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Myrna B. Grays , 70, of El Campo, Texas, was sentenced April 1, 2024, to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Grays pleaded guilty on September 12, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Ricky L. Lawson , 64, of Ganado, Texas, was sentenced to 105 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Lawson pleaded guilty on September 12, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Shaheed H. Davis , 35, of Rosenburg, Texas, was previously sentenced on March 5, 2024, to 150 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Davis pleaded guilty on November 1, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. According to information introduced in court, on January 12, 2022, troopers with the Louisiana State Police were performing stationary patrol on I-20 when they observed a Ford Expedition and a Nissan Versa, both bearing Texas license plates and traveling eastbound. Troopers stopped both cars after observing traffic infractions. The driver of the Ford was identified as Kendrick Riggins and the passenger and owner of that car was identified as Shaheed Davis . The trooper who stopped Riggins and Davis detected a strong odor of marijuana and cologne emanating from within the Ford. The driver of the Nissan was identified as Ricky Lawson and his passenger was identified as Myrna Grays . The Nissan was a rental car. Troopers were able to determine that the two vehicles were traveling together from Texas. Troopers received consent to search the Nissan and found hidden inside the trunk approximately 945.1 grams of powder cocaine and almost 5,000 pills which contained a mixture and substance of methamphetamine weighing approximately 923.1 grams. Troopers also searched the Ford and found a Taurus 9mm handgun; several magazines and ammunition; marijuana; a box of sandwich baggies; a digital scale with cocaine residue; a razorblade with cocaine residue; a whisk with cocaine residue; and a large amount of cash. Through their further investigation, law enforcement officers learned that Grays agreed to help Riggins find someone to rent a car for him and that Riggins would pay for half of the rental. Riggins, Grays, and Lawson traveled in the rented Nissan from El Campo, Texas to a gas station where they met Davis. Riggins got in the Ford with Davis and Grays and Lawson followed inside the Nissan. Each of the defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. In addition, Davis was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Shannon and Retired Assistant United States Attorney Mary Mudrick. # # #


title: Des Moines Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty May 28, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City. At the plea hearing, Pamela Brownell, 63, from Des Moines, Iowa, admitted that from September 2022 through October 2023, she and others conspired to distribute more than 45 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area. In October 2023, law enforcement purchased ½ pound of methamphetamine from Brownell in a controlled drug transaction. Also in October 2023, a traffic stop of Brownell resulted in the seizure of ½ pound of methamphetamine which she intended to distribute to others. In 2006 Brownell was previously convicted in federal court of an attempt to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Brownell remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Brownell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Polk, Hamilton, and Webster County Sheriffs’ Offices. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-3007. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Three Defendants Sentenced for Federal Drug and Gun Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JONATHAN GONZALEZ (“GONZALEZ”) , ANTHONY ROMAN (“ROMAN”) , and KEVIN TYLER (“ TYLER”) , age 25 and residents of New Orleans, were sentenced on May 14, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey after previously pleading guilty to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts. GONZALEZ was sentenced to 104 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and $500 in mandatory special assessment fees for his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and tapentadol, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D); possession of a car stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 659; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). ROMAN was sentenced to 90 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and $500 in mandatory special assessment fees for his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); possession of a car stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 659; possession with intent to distribute tapentadol in violation, of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). TYLER was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release, and $200 in mandatory special assessment fees for his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § (c)(1)(A)(i) According to court documents, on January 29, 2023, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers observed ROMAN driving an Infinity QX80 that was stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) subsequently executed search warrants at two of ROMAN’s residences and recovered tapentadol, marijuana, and 10 firearms. GONZALEZ was a passenger in the stolen Infinity ROMAN was driving on January 29th. When NOPD officers attempted to perform an investigative stop on the vehicle, GONZALEZ fled on foot but was apprehended after a short chase. He had a Glock Model 19 pistol, an extended magazine containing 29 rounds of ammunition, a large bag of marijuana, a digital scale, and plastic baggies. On May 17, 2023, the FBI executed a search at GONZALEZ’s mother’s residence. GONZALEZ lived at the residence and had a loaded firearm, tapentadol, and marijuana that he intended to sell. TYLER was intercepted on a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) court authorized wire discussing selling kilogram quantities of cocaine and explaining that he mixed fentanyl with other drugs. FBI agents subsequently executed a search warrant at TYLER’s residence and recovered fentanyl, a fentanyl precursor, cocaine, and loaded firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for  Federal Drug and Weapons Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SHANE BOLDEN , age 35, of New Orleans, was charged on May 23, 2024 in a four-count indictment with violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts. BOLDEN is charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846. He is charged in Count 2 with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D). He is charged in Count 3 with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). He is charged in Count 4 with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United Staes Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). The indictment also includes a notice of forfeiture requiring BOLDEN to forfeit over $100,000 in cash and nine firearms. As to each of the drug trafficking charges in Counts 1 and 2, BOLDEN faces up to five years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least two years of supervised release. As to the charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in Count 3, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in prison, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to the felon in possession offense charged in Count 4, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. According to court documents, on or about April 8, 2024, BOLDEN allegedly conspired with others to knowingly possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. Also, BOLDEN allegedly illegally possessed firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, all while being prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction in the state of Louisiana. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Foreign national sentenced to prison for million-dollar business email scheme

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Nigerian national was sentenced today to four years in prison for stealing someone’s identity and fraudulently redirecting over a million dollars in business transaction payments. According to court documents, in October 2020, after his co-conspirators gained access to email exchanges between Company 1 and Company 2, Abdulafeez Oluwatoyin Adebiyi, 34, learned that Company 1 had recently issued invoices to Company 2 for over a million dollars for work Company 1 had already performed for Company 2. Operating outside the United States, Adebiyi created a phony email account for the president of Company 1 by using a domain name that differed from Company 1’s domain by a single letter. While impersonating the president, Adebiyi sent messages to Company 2 falsely claiming that Company 1 had recently changed bank accounts and provided account and routing numbers for a recently created account controlled by Adebiyi and his co-conspirators. After Company 2 issued a wire transfer of over a million dollars to what they believed was an account for Company 1, the co-conspirators distributed the money through various transactions, including purchases of cryptocurrency and cashier’s checks and additional wire transfers. The United Kingdom extradited Adebiyi in October 2023. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; and Jason J. Scalzo, Special Agent in Charge of the Electronic Crimes Unit for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Schlessinger prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with UK authorities to secure the extradition of Adebiyi. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-21. This release was edited on May 29, 2024, to correct the announcing official for FDIC-OIG.


title: Box Elder woman admits assaulting woman during attempted kidnapping on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder woman accused of beating another woman during an attempted kidnapping from Great Falls to the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Taneal Raschae Sutherland, 30, pleaded guilty to assault with the intent to commit a felony, a kidnapping. Sutherland faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Sept. 25. Sutherland was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that between Aug. 13 and 15, 2023, Sutherland and a group of friends, including the victim, identified as Jane Doe, were in Great Falls when they got into a dispute over money. Sutherland grabbed Doe by the hair and pushed her into a vehicle, and the group drove Doe to a home on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. Doe reported that the individuals punched and kneed her throughout the drive to Rocky Boy’s. Doe further told law enforcement that she was kept at the residence against her will for some time before a friend helped her leave. Doe sought medical attention for injuries, including a concussion. Sutherland admitted to law enforcement that she grabbed Doe by the hair and assaulted her throughout the drive to Rocky Boy’s. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalah A. Paisley and Amanda L. Myers are prosecuting the case. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Elmo man admits Social Security fraud, theft charges for collecting deceased mother’s benefits and not reporting proceeds from dog grooming business

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA — An Elmo man accused of illegally receiving federal benefits by collecting his deceased mother’s Social Security payments and by not disclosing his assets, including proceeds from a dog grooming business, admitted to fraud and theft charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Gerry Alen Albus, 64, pleaded guilty to theft of government money and Social Security fraud as indicted. Albus faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Sept. 24. Albus was released pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that in May 2015, Albus was approved to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits from the Social Security Administration and was advised of his legal obligation to accurately report his income, resources and household composition. In October 2016, Albus reported to SSA that he had moved to Elmo, lived alone and paid rent to his landlord, when in fact, he did not pay rent and his landlord was his romantic partner. In 2017, Albus and his partner converted his partner’s 20-acre property in Elmo into a dog grooming business. The government further alleged that Albus did not disclose his ownership interest in property he co-owned in Florida with his mother or proceeds from the sale of the property in June 2017. Albus’ mother died in March 2017, but SSA continued to send her monthly payments of approximately $2,000 until it learned of her death through this investigation. From March 2017 until November 2021, Albus took his mother’s SSA payments and used them for his personal expenses. In addition, the government alleged that Albus failed to report other assets, including three vehicles, several bank accounts and proceeds from the dog grooming business. In a May 2022 interview with SSA special agents at the dog grooming business, Albus admitted he did not pay rent, that he lived with his partner, that he did not disclose vehicles or income and that he took his mother’s SSA benefits after her death because he felt he was “entitled” to them. Albus told agents that he knew if he reported all his income and assets, it would have reduced or eliminated his SSA payments. SSA determined Albus received approximately $60,627 in SSI benefits for which he was ineligible and stole an additional $59,535 in SSA funds intended for his mother. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla E. Painter is prosecuting the case. The SSA Office of Inspector General and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Final defendant sentenced to ten years in prison in fentanyl distribution scheme

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – The final defendant of a two-man drug distribution crew was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to ten years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Dustin Carl Wurges, 37, was arrested November 8, 2021, with a large load of drugs, three firearms, and three sets of body armor in the Chevy Tahoe he was riding in. The driver of the car, Jonathan Mayhall was sentenced to ten years in prison on March 4, 2024. At that sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said, “Fentanyl has become a plague in this community and across the country… we know it has fatal consequences. The quantities that you brought here could well have contained a dose that would have caused someone to die.” According to records filed in the case, law enforcement became aware of Wurges and Mayhall’s drug activity as they investigated an Aryan prison gang involved in trafficking drugs in the Puget Sound region. In November 2021, the men set up a drug deal with contacts in southern California. Initially they were taking $50,000 to purchase controlled substances, but when the prices seemed low, they upped their budget by an additional $200,000. As the two men returned from California, law enforcement monitored their progress. At a rest area in Thurston County Washington law enforcement arrested the men. In the car, law enforcement seized more than four kilograms of fentanyl, nearly two kilograms of cocaine, more than a kilogram of heroin, two and a half kilograms of methamphetamine, two firearms, three ballistic vests, money counters, and more than $87,000 in cash. Law enforcement seized an additional pistol from the purse of a female co-conspirator who was riding in the vehicle. Wurges entered a guilty plea in the case in October 2023. Both the prosecution and defense agreed to recommend a sentence of ten years in prison with five years of supervised release to follow prison. At the sentencing hearing today, Judge Settle said, “This is a very serious crime because of the wake of damage it leaves behind.” The investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Max Shiner.


title: Readout of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee Meeting

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

body_text: The Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee met today to address recent advances in combating violent crime and plans for building on those advances. Over the last few years, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has increased resources and established violent crime initiatives across the country in order to bring down violent crime. In addition, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime , which created a Steering Committee chaired by Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General (PADAG) Marshall Miller and composed of leadership and representatives from across the Justice Department, including law enforcement, prosecutorial, and grantmaking components, to plan and assess initiatives, ensure coordination, and form recommendations for Department leadership in the fight to reduce violent crime. After PADAG Miller called the meeting to order, the Committee was briefed on the latest violent-crime statistics, which show a notable and steady decline in violent crime. From calendar year 2022 to calendar year 2023, data [1] from over 250 cities showed that violent crime declined considerably, including an 11% decrease in murder, an almost 8.5% decrease in rapes, a 2.3% decrease in aggravated assault, and a nearly 2% decrease in robbery. Early data [2] from the first quarter of 2024 indicates continuing declines in each of these categories — a 18.4% decline in murder, a 15.6% drop in rape, a 6.2% decrease in aggravated assault, and a 2.3% decline in robbery. The Committee received updates from the Department’s law enforcement components on progress implementing priority Justice Department violent crime initiatives. The ATF discussed the continued expansion and utilization of Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs) to combat violent crime. CGICs use cutting-edge technology to rapidly develop and pursue investigative leads, by analyzing firearm and ballistics evidence. The FBI highlighted the work of carjacking task forces — a strategic Department enforcement priority that focuses federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the worst carjacking offenders. Carjacking task forces bring together ATF and FBI agents, Justice Department prosecutors, and state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers and are now operating in 11 districts across the country. The Committee was also briefed on recent successes of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which works with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and federal law enforcement in Hartford, Houston; Jackson, St. Louis, and Memphis, and surged resources to Washington, D.C. The briefing highlighted VCI achievements in Houston, where Criminal Division prosecutors and Assistant U.S. Attorneys have surged enforcement and community outreach efforts and use data to focus on the most prolific offenders and recidivists responsible for violence. Since the launch of the Houston effort, the city has seen a 9% reduction in violent crime and a 20% decline in homicides. The U.S. Attorney community presented on fruitful strategies in combating violent crime around the country. U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan discussed the One Detroit initiative — a program that brings together law enforcement and community stakeholders to develop and implement a comprehensive violence reduction strategy, combining enforcement, violence prevention and intervention resources, and reentry programs. Violent crime rates in Detroit have fallen dramatically, with the city closing out 2023 with the fewest homicides on record in over 50 years. U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota updated the Committee on the successes in his district in cracking down on violent crime, especially during the summer months when violent crime historically surges. U.S. Attorney Luger also shared best practices in fighting summer violent crime surges from around the country, including from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. The Steering Committee also heard from additional components regarding plans, resources, and best practices to combat violent crime. Specifically, DEA representatives discussed the Tenderloin Project — a joint effort involving federal, state, and local law enforcement partners addressing fentanyl poisonings and drug-related violence in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. U.S. Marshals Service representatives described the next phase of its Operation North Star, which utilizes data-driven approaches and surges of law enforcement resources to target the most dangerous armed violent fugitives in selected cities. U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota then described the need for further federal assistance in combating violent crime in Indian country. The Committee endorsed the launch of an inter-component effort to align the necessary personnel and resources to increase significantly federal support for public safety in Indian country. At the conclusion of the meeting, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Miller indicated that the Steering Committee would report to Department leadership on developments from the Department’s violent crime reduction initiatives and provide recommendations regarding additional policy and enforcement strategies. [1] Major Cities Chiefs Association Violent Crime Survey Year End Comparison, available at https://majorcitieschiefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MCCA-Violent-Crime-Report-2023-and-2022-Year-End.pdf ; FBI’s Quarterly Uniform Crime Reports, available at: https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/quarterly . [2] This data, from 90 cities, is subject to change as more entities provide data and reporting is finalized.


title: Tea Woman Sentenced for Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Tea, South Dakota, woman convicted of Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception, and Subterfuge. The sentencing took place on May 24, 2024. Brittany Enstad, age 40, was sentenced to two years of probation and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Enstad was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. She pleaded guilty on March 6, 2024. The conviction stemmed from incidents between July 1, 2022, and December 30, 2022, when Enstad, who was working at a registered nurse at the Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center in Canton, South Dakota, obtained blister packs from the narcotics cabinet containing OxyContin, removed the OxyContin, and replaced the drug with other medications, such as melatonin and acetaminophen. Enstad then resealed the blister packs knowing that the other medications could be dispensed to patients at the medical center instead of OxyContin. Enstad used the stolen OxyContin for her own use. “Patients deserve to have confidence that they are receiving the proper treatment from those entrusted with providing their medical care. Those who knowingly tamper with medicines for patients put those patients’ health at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Chicago Field Office. “Our office will continue to pursue and bring to justice healthcare professionals who take advantage of their position and compromise patients’ health and comfort by tampering with needed drugs.” This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigation and the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.


title: Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — John Damian, 30, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Nov. 8, 2023, law enforcement officers attempted to serve a search warrant on an armed robbery suspect who was walking with Damian. Damian was on parole for multiple felonies and was subject to a search clause. Damian initially hesitated to comply with the law enforcement officers commands and attempted to go around the side of the robbery suspect’s vehicle. But as the officers approached him, he admitted to having a gun. A loaded Glock 27 semi-automatic firearm was found in his right sweatshirt pocket. The firearm contained a 13-round magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, but no round in the chamber. In his left sweatshirt pocket, detectives located approximately 20.74 grams of cocaine. Damian has previously been convicted of multiple felonies including assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, being a felon in possession of a firearm, assault on person with a semi-automatic firearm, and willful discharge of a firearm in a negligent manner. Damian is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb on Aug. 26, 2024. Damian faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Burmese citizen going to prison for 10 years on fentanyl and gun charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Lay Wah, 24, a Burmese citizen living in Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who handled the case, stated that on March 13, 2023, the ATF and Buffalo Police executed a search warrant at Wah’s Newfield Street residence. As SWAT officers made entry into the apartment, they also formed a perimeter around the exterior of the residence. Simultaneous with Wah fleeing into the rear of the apartment, an officer outside observed an object being thrown out of a rear bedroom window. Investigators recovered a semi-automatic handgun from the rear yard next door. Attached to the handgun was an extended magazine loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition and a machinegun conversion device. Inside the apartment, investigators recovered approximately 888 blue pills, three cellular telephones, ammunition, narcotics packaging materials and $4,540 in cash. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commission Joseph Gramaglia. # # # #


title: Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Hand Grenade, Ammunition, and Methamphetamine

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Eric Feldmann, 38, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Dec. 24, 2023, Feldmann knowingly possessed an MKII hand grenade with a M204A2 Fuze in his car. The grenade was seized by police and destroyed. Feldmann also possessed methamphetamine and several boxes of .223 caliber ammunition. In 2017, Feldmann was convicted in Kings County of possession of a controlled substance for sale and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case. Feldmann is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Oct. 15, 2024. Feldman faces a mandatory minimum of five years to a maximum of 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. 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. 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Broome County man who was convicted by a federal jury of traveling to Wyoming County to attempt to have sex with a 13-year-old going to prison for 20 years

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that David Lettieri, 36, of Harpursville, NY, who was convicted by a federal jury of enticement of a minor, was sentenced to serve 240 months by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that in October 2020, Lettieri traveled from Broome County to meet a 13-year-old girl (victim) in a park in Wyoming County with the intent of having sexual intercourse, however sexual contact did not occur. Subsequent investigation recovered communications between Lettieri and the victim, including photos of the victim on Lettieri’s phone. Investigators also searched Lettieri’s Facebook account and recovered conversations between Lettieri, the Victim, and the Victim’s sister, which were sexual in nature. The Victim’s age was also revealed during the conversations. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Gregory J. Rudolph, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. # # # #


title: Danish Man Who Traveled from Denmark to Fresno to Exploit a Minor Is Sentenced for Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Claus Svelmo Marcuslund, 59, of Odense, Denmark, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release for his conviction of one count of distribution of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. “To vindicate victims of child exploitation and bring criminals to justice, our law enforcement and our communities must work together in partnership across county, state, and national borders,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “Our office is committed to protect our children and hold offenders accountable.” “We will do everything in our investigative power to bring to justice those who seek to hurt children,” said San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “This sentence holds Marcuslund accountable for his crimes and serves as a warning for those who travel to the United States specifically to abuse a child. HSI and its partners will work diligently to investigate and prosecute these heinous criminals, regardless of location around the world. HSI Fresno appreciates the work of HSI Attaché Frankfurt, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their joint effort in this investigation.” According to court documents, in January 2023, Marcuslund contacted an undercover agent who had created the profile of a mother with a seven-year-old daughter, on a dark-web site dedicated to persons interested in pedophilia. Marcuslund told the agent “I’m Scandinavian, professional music producer/songwriter and lyricist and yeah, I’m also a pedophile.” He also stated that “I’m divorced and now searching [for] a nice woman/mom to get to know better, hopefully with the potential of getting together in real life one day. Obviously, she must be 100% supportive of pedophilia and incest.” During the next several months Marcuslund sent messages to the agent through the website’s messaging feature, as well as the fully encrypted Telegram application. Marcuslund explained in graphic detail the sexual acts in which he hoped to engage with the mother and child. During those communications, he sent between 300 and 600 images of adults sexually abusing young children. He also discussed having another child with the mother and molesting the newborn. Marcuslund flew from Copenhagen to the Los Angeles International Airport and then to Fresno. On July 11, 2023, agents arrested him upon arrival at the Fresno International Airport. On Feb. 20, 2024, Marcuslund pleaded guilty. This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Couple Sentenced in Connection to Child’s Death from Fentanyl

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington - Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Samantha Marie Tainewasher, age 39, to time served on one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, and one count of Use of a Communications Facility in the Commission of a Drug Felony. The Court also sentenced Tainewasher’s codefendant, Calvin James Hunt, age 52, to 24 months in federal prison on one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and one count of Use of a Communications Facility in the Commission of a Drug Felony. Tainewasher and Hunt were convicted on November 16, 2023, following a jury trial. Chief District Judge Bastian imposed 3 years of federal supervision on both defendants upon their release from custody. Tainewasher is from Wapato, Washington. Hunt is from Toppenish, Washington. According to court documents and information disclosed at trial and sentencing, on March 29, 2020, Yakama Nation Police were dispatched to Tainewasher’s home in Wapato, Washington, to a report of an unresponsive fifteen-month-old child. When an officer arrived, Tainewasher ran toward the officer with her son in her arms. Unable to find a pulse and noting the blue tinge on the child’s lips, the officer began CPR. The child was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. A toxicology report later found the child died from ingesting fentanyl. During the investigation, the FBI seized Hunt’s phone. On the phone was a video recorded on March 27. The video pans over the Tainewasher’s bed and shows methamphetamine, a fentanyl-laced pill, and drug paraphernalia. The FBI obtained Facebook records concerning Tainewasher and Hunt. The Facebook records showed that Hunt and Tainewasher engaged in buying and selling heroin, methamphetamine, and pills. Tainewasher also made Facebook posts acknowledging her addiction and use of drugs led to her son’s death. “This case is incredibly tragic and heartbreaking. A 15-month-old child, whose parents are members of the Yakama Nation, ingested a deadly amount of fentanyl while in the care of his mother, who was just a few feet away. No sentence will be able to replace the loss of life of this young victim. The fentanyl epidemic continues to claim lives and inflict havoc on families from all walks of life,” stated Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “I’m very proud of my team of prosecutors, who work tirelessly to vindicate victims’ rights and who devote their careers to seeking justice on behalf of the most vulnerable among us.” This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Ellis and Timothy J. Ohms.