title: Justice Department Strengthens Efforts, Builds Partnerships to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities. “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.” “The tireless work by prosecutors and law enforcement in the last 12 months of prosecuting three individuals involved in homicides in Tribal communities in the District of Utah is proof that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing those who commit violence against Native Americans,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins. “The work is never done, but through prosecution, we will continue to seek justice for the victims and their families and be the voice of victims who can no longer speak.” “The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug related violent crime,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.” Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program , which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. Last August, in the District of Utah, U.S. Attorney Higgins hosted the 30th Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference in Salt Lake City. The three day event brought over 200 professionals from the four corner states who are involved in victim services and public safety in tribal communities. The district’s MMIP Coordinator, Tad May, was one of several trainers to discuss strategies and best practices to make tribal communities safer. The MMIP Regional Outreach Program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. Not Invisible Act Commission Response The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States. Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons. Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate. Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. For instance: In the past 12 months, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Utah tried and convicted defendants in three homicides in Tribal communities. Most recently, in February 2024, an Aneth, Utah man was found guilty of murdering a Navajo woman in front of her two young daughters on the Navajo Nation. In November 2023, a Fort Duchesne, Utah, man was sentenced to 45 years’ imprisonment for shooting and killing a Native American man. In August 2023, a Bluff, Utah man was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him of murder in the second degree of a Ute Tribe member. Accessing Department of Justice Resources Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


title: Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Firearms

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who illegally possessed firearms pled guilty May 3, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City. Matthew Knowles, 37, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, admitted at the plea hearing to possessing a .380 ACP pistol, and a .410 gauge shotgun on November 10, 2022, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He further admitted to being a user of methamphetamine, marijuana, and knowing he was a felon when he possessed the firearms. As a felon and drug user, Knowles was prohibited from possessing 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. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Knowles remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Knowles faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Iowa DCI Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3039. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: MOBILE MAN SENTENCED TO 33 MONTHS FOR TRANSMITTING INTERSTATE THREATS TO INJURE

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Cloepha Franks, a Mobile, Alabama man, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for transmitting interstate threats to injure. Franks was convicted of this offense at trial in November 2023. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, following his termination from a local construction company, Franks sent a series of threatening text messages to his former boss threatening to kill him. The jury heard evidence that Franks sent the messages from Alabama to the victim who was in Mississippi. Records of the text messages and cell phone records confirmed Franks’ phone transmitted the messages to the victim. The victim testified about receiving the threats. He and other witnesses from the construction company testified about precautions taken after Franks transmitted the threats and the fear his actions caused. The FBI testified concerning the ongoing threat to life investigation and evidence obtained from Franks’ cell phone and cell phone records. At the sentencing hearing held earlier today, Judge DuBose imposed a 33-month sentence of incarceration and a 3-year term of supervised release upon Franks’ discharge from prison. Franks will also be required to undergo mental health evaluation and alcohol monitoring. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Mobile Division led this investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Stepan and Chris Bodnar prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Cocaine and Firearm Crimes

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Edwin Baez, 30, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 3, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. Chief United State District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Baez to 24 months’ imprisonment for the cocaine offense and to 60 months’ imprisonment, consecutive, for the firearm offense. There is no parole in the federal system. After Baez is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Baez will also forfeit $104,653 in U.S. currency to the United States as drug proceeds. In March 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Baez after identifying him as being a cocaine distributor in the Omaha area. On both March 22 and April 27, 2022, a confidential informant purchased approximately one ounce of cocaine directly from Baez. On May 26, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Baez’s residence in Omaha. In the garage, officers located approximately 4.6 pounds of cocaine and a Glock 19 pistol. Inside the residence officers located approximately $104,653. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Coffee County Man and His Brother Ordered to Pay Over $1 Million in Restitution Following Murder-for-Hire Conviction

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On April 29, 2024, a federal judge in Montgomery, Alabama, ordered Jason and Darin Starr to pay $1,069,242.03 in restitution after the two planned and carried out a plot to kill Jason Starr’s ex-wife, announced United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. Last year , a jury found that Jason Starr, from Coffee Springs, Alabama, was upset about the amount of money his ex-wife had been awarded after their divorce and that Jason Starr hired his brother, Darin Starr, a resident of Lakehills, Texas, to kill her. On the Monday following Thanksgiving in 2017, Darin Starr shot and killed his brother’s ex-wife in her driveway as she was leaving for work. On September 20, 2023, a federal jury convicted Jason Starr and Darin Starr for committing their murder-for-hire scheme. Both Jason and Darin Starr received a life sentence following their convictions. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered Jason Starr to pay a fine of $25,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case, with Assistant United States Attorneys B. Chelsea Phillips and Joshua J. Wendell prosecuting. Assistant United States Attorney Audrey L. Willis handled the restitution portion of the case.


title: District Man Indicted on Enhanced Second-Degree Theft for Theft from CVS Retail Store in Southeast

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Kenneth Collins, 37, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on January 17, 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. Collins is to be arraigned on May 22 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge. According to the government’s evidence, on January 17, 2024, Collins took merchandise without paying from the CVS store in Southeast, Washington, D.C. He was located and arrested after investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department. Collins has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted. Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 42 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Cotter. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Committing Armed Robbery and Discharging a Firearm During the Crime

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – Today, United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge sentenced 21-year-old Jamarcus Dewayne Hatcher, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 360 months in prison for his role in a 2023-armed robbery. According to his plea agreement and video evidence collected from the scene, on April 6, 2023, Hatcher entered a gas station in Hope Hull, Alabama and walked to the counter. Hatcher pulled a pistol out of his pocket and pointed it at the cashier, then told the cashier to “give me all the money.” After the cashier handed Hatcher the cash from the register, which was approximately $90, Hatcher demanded to know where the cameras were located. Hatcher then walked into the side office area and shot into a device that he believed to be the security DVR. Hatcher quickly exited the station and fled on foot. On January 22, 2024, Hatcher pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. When pronouncing Hatcher’s sentence during the May 1, 2024, sentencing hearing, the judge also considered five separate armed robberies or attempted armed robberies of gas station convenience stores and walk-up restaurants. These incidents occurred in March or April of 2023 and involved Hatcher. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney John J. Geer prosecuted the case.


title: Son of Leader of Rodriguez Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years for His Role in Large Fentanyl Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Ivan Rodriguez, Jr., age 29, of Utica, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 120 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and to distribute fentanyl announced United States Attorney Carla Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division and Thomas Fattorusso, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Office. Rodriguez was also ordered to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, pay a $200 special assessment and a $75,000 money judgment representing profits he earned as part of the drug conspiracy. Ivan Rodriguez, Jr. is the son of Ivan Rodriguez, Sr., the head of the Rodriguez drug trafficking organization, an organization that distributed heroin, fentanyl and cocaine throughout the Utica, New York area. As part of his guilty plea Rodriguez, Jr. admitted that from at least June 2021 through October 2021, he conspired with Ivan Rodriguez, Eric Ares, Jose Aponte, Jose Morales, Bernabe Lopez, Angel Calderon Ortiz, Harry Rodriguez, Jr. and others to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and a mixture of fentanyl/heroin in and around Oneida County and elsewhere. Rodriguez, Jr. admitted that he, together with his father and Eric Ares arranged for the purchase, pickup and delivery of 3 kilograms of fentanyl and a mixture of fentanyl/heroin from a source of supply, which he and others acting on his behalf, re-distributed in the Utica, New York area. Rodriguez, Jr. also admitted to distributing a quantity of fentanyl to a co-conspirator. This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, the City of Utica Police Department, the City of Syracuse Police Department, the City of Rome Police Department, United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE), the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the New York Army National Guard Counter Drug Program, the Village of Yorkville Police Department, and the Village of Whitesboro Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson.


title: United States Obtains Judgment for Fraudulent Veterans Assistance Claims Against Moss Point Barber School and Owner in the Amount of $916,392

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. - Todd Gee, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced today that the United States obtained a civil judgment in the amount of $916,392 in connection with fraudulent veterans assistance claims made by barber school and salon owner April Tucker Beard; Beard’s salon and barber school, April’s Mane Attraction, Inc. (AMA); and April’s Mane Attraction, Inc., Academy (AMA/Academy). On October 5, 2023, the United States filed a civil complaint against these defendants pursuant to the False Claims Act (FCA) seeking treble damages and penalties and alleging that Beard and her school knowingly defrauded the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ Post-9/11 GI Bill education assistance program. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides educational assistance benefits for eligible veterans and members of the armed services who enroll in qualified education or training programs. The VA pays benefits for tuition and fees directly to qualifying schools and provides qualifying veteran students a monthly housing allowance and stipend for books and supplies. These benefits are part of the United States’ promise to support veterans after honorably serving our country. In its complaint, the United States alleged that Beard and AMA/Academy falsely certified that they provided 1500 hours of formal class instruction to its students when they did not do so; and further, that they charged comparable tuition for VA and non-VA students. Instead, Beard and her school charged grossly inflated and disproportionate tuition and fees for VA students in the amount of $22,400 as compared to $2,400 ($50/week) for non-VA students. According to the United States, Beard did not regularly conduct classes or otherwise provide instruction and most of the veteran students for whom AMA/Academy received Post-9/11 GI benefits did not receive certificates of completion and did not test with the Mississippi State Board of Barber Examiners to fulfill licensing requirements in Mississippi. The United States alleged that Beard did not maintain accurate attendance records and payment ledgers as a means to conceal her failure to adhere to program requirements. As a result of Beard’s false certifications, the United States claimed Beard fraudulently received $235,734 in tuition payments for barber instructor and/or training services she did not provide to veterans. Under the FCA, the United States is entitled to an award of three times the government’s loss plus penalties for each claim filed. On April 19, 2024, United States District Judge Halil Suleyman Ozerden entered judgment against Beard, AMA, and AMA/Academy for $916,392. “The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an important part of our promise to aid our military veterans and their families for honorably serving our country,” said Todd Gee, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. “This type of fraud drains funds from vital veterans’ programs and this office remains committed to holding offenders who abuse and exploit these programs accountable.” “Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds reserved for deserving veterans remains a priority, and this judgment is a testament to our commitment to holding accountable those who would defraud VA’s benefit programs,” said Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.” This investigation was the result of a dedicated and coordinated effort from the VA OIG, the Veterans Benefits Administration, Education Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDMS. Assistant United States Attorney Deidre Colson investigated and litigated this matter.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Federal Prison After Travelling To Florida To Attempt To Meet A Minor For Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced William Daniel Leonard (55, Maryland) to 20 years in federal prison for using the internet and his cellphone to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. The court also ordered Leonard to forfeit a cellphone which was used to commit the offense. Leonard was found guilty after a two-day trial on October 12, 2023. According to evidence and testimony introduced during the trial and sentencing hearing, Leonard reached out to an undercover agent who was posing online as the father of a 13-year-old daughter. Leonard expressed interest in meeting the “child” for sex and spent the next three weeks planning his trip from Maryland to Florida. During the same time that he was making plans to come to Florida, Leonard was talking to two other minors online, a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl. Leonard traveled to North Carolina on November 19, 2021, to see the 14-year-old girl after deciphering her address from a digital photograph that she had sent to Leonard. On December 7, 2021, Leonard arrived in Florida with two boxes of condoms to meet the notional 13-year-old girl, where he was met by law enforcement officers and arrested. “This predator sought to betray the innocence of a child, and his sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the consequences for those who seek to exploit our most vulnerable,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Today's sentencing underscores HSI’s commitment to the relentless pursuit of those who threaten the safety and securing of our children.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie McNeff and Amanda Daniels. 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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Springfield Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to possessing fentanyl intended for distribution. Karyela Santiago, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Aug. 8, 2024. In September 2023, Santiago was indicted by a federal grand jury. On March 30, 2022, Santiago possessed fentanyl intended for distribution. Specifically, Santiago possessed a total of 8,090 bags of fentanyl intended for distribution – containing a total of 129 grams of fentanyl. The charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, four year of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.


title: Biloxi City Councilman Pleads  Guilty to Drug Conspiracy Involving Vape Shops

body_text: Gulfport, Mississippi – A Biloxi City Councilman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance. Robert Leon Deming, III, 47, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court documents and information presented to the court, in 2019, Deming founded the Candy Shop, LLC to operate Candy Shop stores in Mississippi and North Carolina. The Candy Shop stores sold CBD and vape products. In 2020, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating the Candy Shop. The investigation revealed that some of the vape products sold by the Candy Shops in Mississippi contained Schedule I controlled substances and controlled substance analogues. In 2022, the DEA also received complaints that some of the products at the Candy Shops were making customers ill. Agents obtained search warrants for the Candy Shops located in Mississippi and North Carolina. They also obtained a warrant for Deming’s residence. The warrants were contemporaneously executed on January 26, 2023. During the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement officers seized over $1.8 million in cash from Deming’s residence and additional cash and controlled substances from his stores. As the investigation continued, agents learned that Deming was aware that his vape additives did not contain CBD; rather, they contained synthetic cannabinoids. This was evidenced by group chats in which Deming’s employees complained about how the additives were too strong and could hurt their customers. Despite this fact, Deming misbranded the additives as containing CBD. In addition, through the course of the investigation, agents were able to determine that in May of 2022, Deming sent an uncharged coconspirator $2,200.00 to purchase 1 kilogram of 5F-AB-PINACA, a Schedule I controlled substance, for use in the Candy Shop’s vape additives and that, at the time Deming sent the money, he knew that 5F-AB-PINACA was a controlled substance. The Government’s investigation also revealed that Deming’s gross sales of vape additive products containing either Schedule I controlled substances or their analogues totaled over $2 million. Deming was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 19, 2023. “A public official’s side job should not be running a business that distributes millions of dollars in illegal controlled substances and endangers the health and safety of its customers,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “We appreciate the hard work of investigators with the DEA, FDA, and MBN to put a stop to the distribution of these dangerous vape additives.” "The DEA is committed to holding all individuals accountable for drug trafficking, regardless of position,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “Mr. Deming's guilty plea is a reminder that no one is above the law. We will continue to work with our state and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who violate the Controlled Substances Act." “U.S. consumers are put at risk when labeling is false and misleading,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office. “Labeling is designed to provide information that can help consumers make informed choices about what they purchase and consume. The FDA is committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who unlawfully mask controlled substances as known consumer products to be sold to the American public.” As part of the plea agreement in this case, Deming agreed to forfeit a yellow Monster Truck with oversized tires and a lift kit and over $1.9 million dollars. His sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2024. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Lee Smith.


title: CEO of Dozens of Companies Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Massive Scheme to Traffic in Fraudulent and Counterfeit Cisco Networking Equipment

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Florida resident and dual citizen of the United States and Turkey was sentenced to 78 months in prison for running an extensive operation over many years to traffic in fraudulent and counterfeit Cisco networking equipment, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna, District of New Jersey, and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri announced today. Onur Aksoy, aka “Ron Aksoy” and “Dave Durden,” 40, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan on June 5, 2023, to two counts of an indictment charging him with conspiring with others to traffic in counterfeit goods, to commit mail fraud, and to commit wire fraud (Count 1); and mail fraud (Count 4). Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence on May 1, 2024, in Trenton federal court. “Through an elaborate, years-long scheme, Aksoy created and ran one of the largest counterfeit-trafficking operations ever,” Attorney for the United States Khanna said. “His operation introduced tens of thousands of counterfeit and low-quality devices trafficked from China into the U.S. supply chain, jeopardizing both private-sector and public-sector users, including highly sensitive U.S. military applications like the support platforms of U.S. fighter jets and other military aircraft. Yesterday’s sentence, made possible by the investigation and prosecution of this Office and our Department and agency partners, now brings Aksoy to justice and holds him accountable for the breathtaking scale of his operation.” “Aksoy sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit computer networking equipment that ended up in U.S. hospitals, schools, and highly sensitive military and other governmental systems, including platforms supporting sophisticated U.S. fighter jets and military aircraft,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Criminals who flood the supply chain with low-quality networking equipment from China and Hong Kong harm U.S. businesses, pose serious health and safety risks, and compromise national security. This case—one of the largest counterfeit trademark cases ever prosecuted in the United States—demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment and capacity to prosecute the most complex counterfeiting schemes and bring the perpetrators to justice.” “Protecting the integrity of the supply chain for everyday consumers, government agencies, and our warfighters remains a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang said. “My office and our partners will continue to work diligently to remove counterfeit products that adversely affect public health and safety from the stream of commerce and hold the offenders accountable.” “Mr. Aksoy’s sentencing brings closure to his yearslong greed-driven scheme that wasted U.S. taxpayer dollars and degraded our nation’s military readiness when he and his companies knowingly defrauded the Department of Defense by introducing counterfeit products into its supply chain that routinely failed or did not work at all,” Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent in Charge of the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office, said. “In doing so, he sold counterfeit Cisco products to the DoD that were found on numerous military bases and in various systems, including but not limited to U.S. Air Force F-15 and U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft flight simulators.” “This case should serve as a warning to those who attempt to sell counterfeit goods to the U.S. government,” Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Economic Crimes Field Office said. “NCIS is committed to safeguarding the Department of Navy acquisition programs that enhance fleet readiness.” “Companies should be honest in their dealings with the government,” GSA Deputy Inspector General Robert C. Erickson said. “GSA OIG special agents are committed to working with investigative partners to hold accountable fraudsters who sell counterfeit equipment to the United States.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Onur Aksoy, 40, of Miami, ran at least 19 companies formed in New Jersey and Florida, as well as approximately 15 Amazon storefronts and at least 10 eBay storefronts (collectively, the “Pro Network Entities”), that imported from suppliers in China and Hong Kong tens of thousands of low-quality, modified computer networking devices with counterfeit Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, and packaging, all bearing counterfeit trademarks registered and owned by Cisco, that made the goods falsely appear to be new, genuine, and high-quality devices manufactured and authorized by Cisco. The devices had an estimated total retail value of hundreds of millions of dollars. The Pro Network Entities generated over $100 million in revenue, and Aksoy received millions of dollars for his personal gain. The devices the Pro Network Entities imported from China and Hong Kong were typically older, lower-model products – some of which had been sold or discarded – which Chinese counterfeiters then modified to appear to be genuine versions of new, enhanced, and more expensive Cisco devices. The Chinese counterfeiters often added pirated Cisco software and unauthorized, low-quality, or unreliable components – including components to circumvent technological measures added by Cisco to the software to check for software license compliance and to authenticate the hardware. To make the devices appear new, genuine, high-quality, and factory-sealed by Cisco, the Chinese counterfeiters added counterfeited Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, packaging, and other materials. Fraudulent and counterfeit products sold by the Pro Network Entities suffered from numerous performance, functionality, and safety problems. Often, they would simply fail or otherwise malfunction, causing significant damage to their users’ networks and operations – in some cases, costing users tens of thousands of dollars. Customers of Aksoy’s fraudulent and counterfeit devices included hospitals, schools, and government agencies. Furthermore, a review by the government and its private-sector partners discovered numerous counterfeit devices originating from the Pro Network Entities being used in highly sensitive military and governmental applications – including classified information systems – some involving combat and non-combat operations of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army, including platforms supporting the F-15, F-18, and F-22 fighter jets, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft. Between 2014 and 2022, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized approximately 180 shipments of counterfeit Cisco devices being shipped to the Pro Network Entities from China and Hong Kong. In response to some of these seizures, Aksoy falsely submitted official paperwork to CBP under the alias “Dave Durden,” an identity that he used to communicate with Chinese conspirators. To avoid CBP scrutiny, Chinese conspirators broke the shipments up into smaller parcels and shipped them on different days, and Aksoy used fake delivery addresses in Ohio. After CBP seized a shipment of counterfeit Cisco products to Aksoy and the Pro Network Entities and sent a seizure notice, Aksoy often continued to order counterfeit Cisco products from the same supplier. Between 2014 and 2019, Cisco sent seven letters to Aksoy asking him to cease and desist his trafficking of counterfeit goods. Aksoy responded to at least two of these letters by causing his attorney to provide Cisco with forged documents. In July 2021, agents executed a search warrant at Aksoy’s warehouse and seized 1,156 counterfeit Cisco devices with a retail value of over $7 million. In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Aksoy to three years of supervised release and fined him $40,000. Under terms of the plea agreement, the defendant has agreed to pay restitution of $100 million to Cisco and amounts to other victims that will be determined by the court at a later date.. Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna and Acting Assistant Attorney General Argentieri credited special agents of HSI – Los Angeles, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wang; special agents of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Western Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Denny; the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG), under the direction of Deputy Inspector General Erickson; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Economic Crimes Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gross; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of the HSI Miami Field Office; and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The CBP Electronics Center of Excellence; the CBP Los Angeles National Targeting and Analysis Center; and the CBP Office of Trade, Regulatory Audit and Agency Advisory Services, Miami Field Office provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward for the District of New Jersey and Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark, Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in Washington, D.C., and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit in Newark.


title: Leader of Massive Scheme to Traffic in Fraudulent and Counterfeit Cisco Networking Equipment Sentenced to Prison

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Florida resident and dual citizen of the United States and Turkey was sentenced yesterday to six years and six months in prison for running an enormous operation over many years to traffic in fraudulent and counterfeit Cisco networking equipment. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Onur Aksoy, 40, of Miami, agreed to pay restitution of $100 million to Cisco and amounts to other victims that will be determined by the court at a later date, and to permit destruction of millions of dollars of counterfeit goods seized from his businesses. “Aksoy sold hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit computer networking equipment that ended up in U.S. hospitals, schools, and highly sensitive military and other governmental systems, including platforms supporting sophisticated U.S. fighter jets and military aircraft,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Criminals who flood the supply chain with low-quality networking equipment from China and Hong Kong harm U.S. businesses, pose serious health and safety risks, and compromise national security. This case—one of the largest counterfeit trademark cases ever prosecuted in the United States—demonstrates the Criminal Division’s commitment and capacity to prosecute the most complex counterfeiting schemes and bring the perpetrators to justice.” “Through an elaborate, years-long scheme, Aksoy created and ran one of the largest counterfeit-trafficking operations ever,” said Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey. “His operation introduced tens of thousands of counterfeit and low-quality devices trafficked from China into the U.S. supply chain, jeopardizing both private-sector and public-sector users, including highly sensitive U.S. military applications like the support platforms of U.S. fighter jets and other military aircraft. Yesterday’s sentence, made possible by the investigation and prosecution of this office and our department and agency partners, now brings Aksoy to justice and holds him accountable for the breathtaking scale of his operation.” According to court documents and statements made in court, Aksoy ran at least 19 companies formed in New Jersey and Florida, as well as approximately 15 Amazon storefronts and at least 10 eBay storefronts (collectively, the Pro Network Entities). The Pro Network Entities imported from suppliers in China and Hong Kong tens of thousands of low-quality, modified computer networking devices with counterfeit Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, and packaging, all bearing counterfeit trademarks registered and owned by Cisco that made the goods falsely appear to be new, genuine, and high-quality devices manufactured and authorized by Cisco. The devices had an estimated total retail value of hundreds of millions of dollars. The Pro Network Entities generated over $100 million in revenue from the scheme, and Aksoy personally received millions of dollars. “Protecting the integrity of the supply chain for everyday consumers, government agencies, and our warfighters remains a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “My office and our partners will continue to work diligently to remove counterfeit products that adversely affect public health and safety from the stream of commerce and hold the offenders accountable.” “Mr. Aksoy’s sentencing brings closure to his years-long, greed-driven scheme that wasted U.S. taxpayer dollars and degraded our nation’s military readiness when he and his companies knowingly defrauded the Department of Defense by introducing counterfeit products into its supply chain that routinely failed or did not work at all,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Denny of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Western Field Office. “In doing so, he sold counterfeit Cisco products to the DoD that were found on numerous military bases and in various systems, including but not limited to U.S. Air Force F-15 and U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft flight simulators.” The devices the Pro Network Entities imported from China and Hong Kong were typically older, lower-model products—some of which had been sold or discarded—which Chinese counterfeiters then modified to appear to be genuine versions of new, enhanced, and more expensive Cisco devices. The Chinese counterfeiters often added pirated Cisco software and unauthorized, low-quality, or unreliable components—including components to circumvent technological measures added by Cisco to the software to check for software license compliance and to authenticate the hardware. Finally, to make the devices appear new, genuine, high-quality, and factory-sealed by Cisco, the Chinese counterfeiters added counterfeited Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, packaging, and other materials. Fraudulent and counterfeit products sold by the Pro Network Entities suffered from numerous performance, functionality, and safety problems. The products often failed to operate or otherwise malfunctioned, causing significant damage to their users’ networks and operations. Customers of Aksoy’s devices included hospitals, schools, and government agencies. In addition, numerous counterfeit devices originating from the Pro Network Entities were discovered in highly sensitive governmental applications, such as classified information systems. The devices were also identified in combat and non-combat operations of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army, such as platforms supporting the F-15, F-18, and F-22 fighter jets, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft. “This case should serve as a warning to those who attempt to sell counterfeit goods to the U.S. government,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS is committed to safeguarding the Department of Navy acquisition programs that enhance fleet readiness.” “Companies should be honest in their dealings with the government,” said Deputy Inspector General Robert C. Erickson of the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG). “GSA-OIG special agents are committed to working with investigative partners to hold accountable fraudsters who sell counterfeit equipment to the United States.” Between 2014 and 2022, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized approximately 180 shipments of counterfeit Cisco devices that were sent to the Pro Network Entities from China and Hong Kong. Aksoy responded to some of these seizures by falsely submitting official paperwork to CBP under the alias “Dave Durden,” an identity that he used to communicate with Chinese co-conspirators. To try to avoid CBP scrutiny, Chinese co-conspirators broke the shipments up into smaller parcels sent on different days, and Aksoy used fake delivery addresses in Ohio. Between 2014 and 2019, Cisco sent seven letters to Aksoy asking him to cease and desist his trafficking of counterfeit goods. Aksoy responded to at least two of these letters by causing his attorney to provide Cisco with forged documents. In July 2021, agents executed a search warrant at Aksoy’s warehouse that led to the seizure of approximately 1,156 counterfeit Cisco devices with a retail value of over $7 million. Aksoy pleaded guilty in June 2023 to conspiring with others to traffic in counterfeit goods and to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud. HSI, DCIS, NCIS, GSA-OIG, and CBP investigated the case. The CBP’s Electronics Center of Excellence, Los Angeles National Targeting and Analysis Center, and Office of Trade, Regulatory Audit and Agency Advisory Services, Miami Field Office provided valuable assistance. Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Trombly and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced for Racially Motivated Hate Crimes Against Black and Hispanic Men

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A North Carolina man was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing hate crimes against a Black man and a Hispanic man. Evidence at trial proved that Marian Hudak, 52, willfully intimidated the victims and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities using force or a threat of force because of their race and color. “Racially-motivated acts of violence are abhorrent and unlawful, and have no place in our society today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant, who harbored the KKK flag and Nazi paraphernalia, carried out hate-fueled attacks on a Black man who was merely driving on a public street and a Hispanic man who simply was trying to live in his own home. The severe sentence imposed for these vicious hate crimes should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. The Justice Department is steadfast in its commitment to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes wherever they occur in our country.” “All people — regardless of the color of their skin or their nationality — are entitled to travel on public roads and enjoy their homes without fear of being threatened, harassed or intimidated,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “The sentence imposed yesterday sends a strong message that this type of violent, hateful conduct will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “For years Marian Hudak terrorized people of color living in one North Carolina city,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “They were afraid to drive down certain streets, fill their cars with gas, or even to take their children to the bus stop because of his intolerance for people who didn't look like him. There is no place for racial hatred-fueled violence in this country.” Evidence at trial also proved that on Oct. 13, 2022, Hudak encountered J.S., a Black man he had never met before, while they were driving on a public road in Concord, North Carolina. Hudak shouted racial slurs at J.S., told him to “come here, boy,” then got out of his car, punched J.S.’ window multiple times, then chased J.S. home where he continued to shout racial slurs and threatened J.S. Additional trial witnesses testified about other times Hudak shouted slurs at, gave the middle finger to and drove aggressively near other minority motorists. They also testified about a KKK flag, a racist publication and Nazi memorabilia Hudak kept in his residence. Evidence at trial also proved that on Nov. 27, 2021, Hudak shouted racially charged insults at his next-door neighbor, J.D., a Hispanic man who was enjoying his right to occupy a dwelling. Hudak then attacked J.D. by punching and tackling him, causing J.D. to suffer bodily injury. Other trial witnesses testified about Hudak’s history of social media posts disparaging Hispanic people generally and J.D.’s family specifically and other instances where Hudak intimidated Hispanic people, including by parking his truck outside of a Hispanic church during worship services and by using derogatory language. The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Waid and JoAnna McFadden for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: San Antonio Man Threatened Turning Point USA Conference, Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 60 months in prison for making a credible public threat targeting a mass populated event in Florida. According to court documents, Alejandro Richard Velasquez Gomez, 20, posted a message on his public social media profile threatening a “day of retribution” at the Turning Point USA-hosted conference Student Action Summit. Velasquez had a ticket to the event, as well as a flight booked from Austin to Tampa, Florida, where the SAS conference was being held from July 22 to July 24, 2022. The U.S. Secret Service and Tampa Police Department were notified of the threat, which led to Tampa PD obtaining a warrant for Velasquez Gomez’s arrest. He pleaded guilty May 16, 2023, to the federal charge of interstate threatening communication. In addition to targeting the SAS conference, Velasquez stalked and harassed a young woman for many months prior, continuing to do so even in pre-trial detention. Velasquez also attempted to obstruct the FBI’s investigation, using a group of minor girls to help him by deleting information from his online accounts and contacting witnesses to hide evidence and influence testimony. “This man used social media to broadcast the message that he intended to travel across the country and carry out a violent act at an event catering to young political activists,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Fortunately, his post was reported to officials who intervened, and this case can serve as a reminder to everyone that, at all levels of law enforcement, we take threats of violence very seriously. Those who violate these laws risk prosecution and imprisonment.” “American citizens deserve to be able to gather without worrying about threats of violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “We’re grateful for the people who reported his threats to authorities and encourage others to contact the authorities if they see similar threats.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Stephenson prosecuted the case. ###


title: Justice Department Files Statement of Interest Supporting Individuals’ Right to Sue Under Voting Rights Act of 1965

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The Justice Department announced that it has filed a statement of interest in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania supporting the right of private plaintiffs to bring a lawsuit to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. This filing is one of many recent briefs by the Justice Department supporting the longstanding principle that private plaintiffs are authorized to bring lawsuits to vindicate important rights protected by the Voting Rights Act. “The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and it is the right on which all other rights depend,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Since the enactment of the landmark Voting Rights Act in 1965 to protect this precious right, private parties have enforced the law in courts across this county, enabling countless Americans to vote free from unlawful discrimination. The Justice Department will continue vigorously enforcing the Voting Rights Act and defending the right of private citizens and organizations to do the same.” “The Voting Rights Act gives private citizens a voice to stand up to unlawful voting discrimination by their government,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “My office will continue to enforce the civil rights statutes like the Voting Rights Act, and proudly partners with the Civil Rights Division in protecting a private citizens’ right to enforce that Act.” The department filed its statement of interest in Aquino and Lopez v. Hazleton Area School District, a case in which plaintiffs allege the at-large method of electing the nine-member school board of directors unlawfully dilutes the ability of Hispanic voters to elect candidates of their choice. The school district seeks to dismiss the case, arguing that private parties like the plaintiffs are not able to file lawsuits under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The department’s statement of interest argues that private parties may enforce the Voting Rights Act directly, as well as through another civil rights law ton which plaintiffs often rely. The Justice Department has filed 18 statements of interest and amicus briefs in federal district courts and courts of appeals since January 2021 supporting the right of private parties to file suits under the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act to protect the right to vote. In all, since January 2021, the Justice Department has filed 32 statements of interest in courts across the country to protect the right to vote. More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting . Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section . Individuals may report possible violations of the federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division’s website at ciilrights.justice.gov or by telephone toll-free at 800-253-3931. ###


title: California Man Sentenced to 18  Years for Trafficking Fentanyl into Virginia

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Buena Park, California man, who supplied as many as 30,000 pressed fentanyl pills a week to individuals who then shipped the pills into Southwest Virginia, was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison. Robert Contreras, 24, a.k.a. “Quill,” previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition to his prison term, Contreras was ordered today to forfeit five firearms and $31,294 in cash. “Fentanyl, especially in the form of pressed pills, is taking its toll on America, and Virginia is no exception. This case, involving the collaboration of law enforcement agencies across the country, is a prime example of the proactive measures undertaken by this Department of Justice to combat the burgeoning pressed pill epidemic currently plaguing our nation,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “We will investigate, prosecute and hold accountable those who profit by poisoning our communities, and – as exhibited here – we will work up the chain of drug traffickers as far and wide as possible to bring them to account.” According to court documents, between 2020 and 2023, Contreras sold between 10,000 and 30,000 pressed fentanyl pills at a time to co-conspirator Marco Orozco at least once a week. At the height of the conspiracy in late 2021 and early 2022, Contreras sold Orozco 10,000 pressed fentanyl pills multiple times per week. The pills were then shipped from California to Southwest Virginia and other locations across the country for further distribution. Specifically, Orozco’s sub-distributors used various social media platforms to facilitate their drug trade. On March 6, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Contreras’ residence in California. At that time, officers recovered 1,639 pressed fentanyl pills, $31,294 in cash, and five firearms without serial numbers, in addition to approximately 7,000 alprazolam pills, 3,000 Adderall pills, 242 grams of cocaine, and other hallucinogenic narcotics. The Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Norton Police Department, the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force (consisting of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Norton Police Department, the Big Stone Gap Police Department, and the Virginia State Police), the Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Ana (CA) Police Department, the Anaheim (CA) Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.


title: Hays man convicted of sexually abusing minor girl on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation sentenced to more than three years in prison

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Hays man convicted by a federal jury of sexually abusing a minor girl on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced on May 1 to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Following a three-day trial, the jury on Oct. 5, 2023 found Daniel Jacob Werk, 38, guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, as charged in an indictment. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that from July 2021 to October 2021, Werk repeatedly sexually abused a 15-year-old girl on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Werk, who was the program coordinator for the Fort Belknap Grassland Restoration Project, a program designed to provide opportunities for at-risk Native youth, recruited the girl, identified as Jane Doe, into the program and then repeatedly engaged in sexual acts with her. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Repeat bank robber sentenced to federal prison for Waycross heist

body_text: WAYCROSS, GA: A former Brooklyn, N.Y., man with prior bank robbery convictions has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for robbing a Waycross bank. Matthew McCloskey , 34, of Waycross, was sentenced to 168 months in prison after pleading guilty to Bank Robbery, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker ordered that McCloskey’s sentence run concurrently with his state sentence on a kidnapping conviction related to the bank robbery, ordered him to pay $877 in restitution, and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Robbing a bank doesn’t just take money from a faceless institution; it terrorizes employees forced to comply with a robber’s frightening demands,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Matthew McCloskey is being held accountable for his criminal behavior.” As described in court documents and testimony, McCloskey entered the Ameris Bank in Waycross on Sept. 9, 2022, and handed a note to the teller demanding money. After receiving cash, he ran to a waiting vehicle and fled the scene. Waycross Police Department investigators located the getaway vehicle, and its owner admitted giving McCloskey a ride to the bank. Investigators learned that McCloskey and his girlfriend took a taxi to a local motel and used cash from the robbery to pay for the taxi. Officers took McCloskey into custody at the motel after a struggle that resulted in the kidnapping conviction on state charges when McCloskey refused to allow his girlfriend to leave their room. McCloskey has two prior felony convictions for bank robbery in New York in 2013 and 2016. “I sincerely appreciate the commendable efforts of Waycross Police Department officers, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office,” said Waycross Police Chief Tommy A. Cox Jr. “Our teamwork was paramount in bringing peace and closure to the victims of the crime.” “By now, Matthew McCloskey should realize robbing a bank is not a winning proposition,” said Savannah Senior Supervisory Resident Agent Will Clarke of FBI Atlanta. “Those who choose to become involved in such a lifestyle should know that law enforcement at every level will work together tirelessly to bring them to justice.” The case was investigated by the Waycross Police Department and FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Alexander Hamner.


title: Two Seminole County Felons Indicted For Firearms Offenses

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Rovonte Lamar Daniels (29, Sanford) and Frederick Lee Brown (31, Sanford) each with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Daniels and Brown each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Brown and Daniels that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms and ammunition involved in the offense. According to the indictment, Daniels has previously been convicted of four felony offenses and Brown has previously been convicted of five felony offenses. Despite knowing they were felons, Brown and Daniels each possessed a Canik firearm on December 13, 2023. As convicted felons, Brown and Daniels are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan. 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: North Charleston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Weapon Violation

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Da’Shawn Marquis Richards, 25, of North Charleston, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Evidence presented to the court showed that Richards was wanted for murder and attempted murder Charleston County in November 2021. During his arrest on those charges, law enforcement officials found a loaded handgun with an extended magazine in his vehicle. Later, on March 22, 2023, during another encounter with law enforcement while out on bond for the murder and attempted murder charges, officers searched his car again and located another loaded handgun. United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Richards to 46 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. This was the maximum sentence based on the applicable sentencing guideline range. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case. ###


title: South Texas man arrested after attempting to purchase firearm with stolen bank heist funds

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas - A 42-year-old resident of Laredo is in custody for allegedly committing bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Arturo Limon III has made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga. Originally arrested on related state charges, authorities have now transferred him to federal custody. The criminal complaint, filed April 29, alleges Limon entered Falcon International Bank located at 10511 McPherson Road April 27. He allegedly approached the bank tellers, handed them an empty camouflage backpack and demanded they put money in it. The charges allege that during the robbery he said, “yes this is happening.” Limon allegedly stole a large amount of cash from the teller’s drawer, exited through the main lobby entrance and drove away in blue Ford Mustang. Authorities responded, reviewed bank surveillance footage and issued a “be on the lookout” for an individual matching Limon’s description, according to the complaint. He allegedly entered the Arena Gun Club shortly after the robbery with a green camouflage backpack and attempted to purchase a firearm by handing the employee a large amount of cash. The charges allege he left the club while employees conducted the mandatory background checks. They alerted law enforcement due to his suspicious behavior, according to the complaint. Authorities allegedly arrested Limon at his residence as he arrived driving a blue Mustang. At that time, they found marked currency in his vehicle and a green camouflage backpack, according to the charges. If convicted, Limon faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Makens is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: WASHINGTON – A North Carolina man was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing hate crimes against a Black man and a Hispanic man. Evidence at trial proved that Marian Hudak, 52, willfully intimidated the victims and interfered with their enjoyment of federally protected activities using force or a threat of force because of their race and color. “Racially-motivated acts of violence are abhorrent and unlawful, and have no place in our society today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant, who harbored the KKK flag and Nazi paraphernalia, carried out hate-fueled attacks on a Black man who was merely driving on a public street and a Hispanic man who simply was trying to live in his own home. The severe sentence imposed for these vicious hate crimes should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. The Justice Department is steadfast in its commitment to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes wherever they occur in our country.” “All people — regardless of the color of their skin or their nationality — are entitled to travel on public roads and enjoy their homes without fear of being threatened, harassed or intimidated,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “The sentence imposed yesterday sends a strong message that this type of violent, hateful conduct will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “For years Marian Hudak terrorized people of color living in one North Carolina city,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “They were afraid to drive down certain streets, fill their cars with gas, or even to take their children to the bus stop because of his intolerance for people who didn't look like him. There is no place for racial hatred-fueled violence in this country.” Evidence at trial also proved that on Oct. 13, 2022, Hudak encountered J.S., a Black man he had never met before, while they were driving on a public road in Concord, North Carolina. Hudak shouted racial slurs at J.S., told him to “come here, boy,” then got out of his car, punched J.S.’ window multiple times, then chased J.S. home where he continued to shout racial slurs and threatened J.S. Additional trial witnesses testified about other times Hudak shouted slurs at, gave the middle finger to and drove aggressively near other minority motorists. They also testified about a KKK flag, a racist publication and Nazi memorabilia Hudak kept in his residence. Evidence at trial also proved that on Nov. 27, 2021, Hudak shouted racially charged insults at his next-door neighbor, J.D., a Hispanic man who was enjoying his right to occupy a dwelling. Hudak then attacked J.D. by punching and tackling him, causing J.D. to suffer bodily injury. Other trial witnesses testified about Hudak’s history of social media posts disparaging Hispanic people generally and J.D.’s family specifically and other instances where Hudak intimidated Hispanic people, including by parking his truck outside of a Hispanic church during worship services and by using derogatory language. The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Waid and JoAnna McFadden for the Middle District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case. ###


title: Online Predator Who Enticed Minors to Create Child Pornography Sentenced to Over a Quarter of a Century in Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who convinced two minor females from other states to record and send him child pornography was sentenced April 30, 2024, to 28 years in federal prison. Alex McClanahan, age 21, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 7, 2023 guilty plea to one count of sexual exploitation of children. In a plea agreement, McClanahan admitted that in 2022 he had sexually explicit conversations over Instagram with a 13‑year‑old and a 15‑year‑old. He also admitted that he requested or persuaded the 13‑year‑old to record herself performing sexually explicit conduct, and she complied. In November 2022, law enforcement officers seized McClanahan’s cell phone and found dozens of sexually explicit videos and photos depicting the 15‑year‑old involved in sexually explicit conduct. In all, investigators also found approximately 700 videos containing child pornography on McClanahan’s phone. McClanahan was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. McClanahan was sentenced to 336 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $33,000 in restitution to child victims depicted in videos and photos he possessed. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. McClanahan is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Norwood and Dan Chatham. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23‑CR‑1010‑CJW‑MAR. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Fentanyl trafficking sends Washington man to prison for 11 years after Columbus traffic stop

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

body_text: BILLINGS — A Washington man who admitted to trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing a firearm after a traffic stop in Columbus was sentenced on May 1 to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Anthony Omarel Kenner, 31, of Tacoma, Washington, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in March 2022, law enforcement pulled over Kenner and a passenger in a traffic stop. Officers became suspicious of drugs in the vehicle based on Kenner’s and his passenger’s conflicting stories and the presence of drug paraphernalia. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle, and law enforcement found in the trunk a backpack containing cocaine, fentanyl and a loaded, stolen .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol. Kenner was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a previous felony conviction in Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey M. Hendricks and Thomas K. Godfrey prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Columbus Police Department conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. XXX


title: Fairfield County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threats

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Casey William Degolyer, 48, of Blair, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to threatening interstate communications. Evidence presented in court showed that the FBI received numerous complaints regarding Degolyer’s posts on social media. Degolyer posted almost daily calling for the execution of public officials, including the need to hang certain public office holders from a rope, killing law enforcement and their families, dragging judges and their family “out of their households” to be “brutalized in the streets,” opposing the government by violence and force, and killing members of certain racial and ethnic groups. Degolyer targeted both specific public office holders and groups of people based on their jobs or ethnicity. He wrote that he was “about to go dark and take action.” Degolyer’s threats continued even after being contacted by law enforcement. Degolyer has prior convictions for criminal domestic violence, violating an order of protection, violating a restraining order, and unlawful use of a telephone. When he was arrested, he was found with four firearms and ammunition, which he was not allowed to possess under federal law. Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Degolyer to 18 months imprisonment, a sentence that was above the advisory sentencing guidelines, to be followed by three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office with support from the U.S. Secret Service, the York County Sheriff’s Office, the Rock Hill Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case. ###


title: Florida Man Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Federal Prison for Providing Illegal Access to Digital Streaming Services

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Franklin Valverde Jr., 40, of Melbourne, Florida was sentenced to one year and one day after pleading guilty to providing illegal access to digital streaming services. The conviction is believed to be the first in the nation under the “Protecting Lawful Streaming Act” (PLSA) that went into effect in 2021. Evidence presented to the court showed that Valverde made hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally selling access codes to individuals that allowed them to view the entire video libraries of Dish Network and Sling TV . Valverde is now retired from the Air Force but was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter when he began his involvement in the scheme to illegally sell the access codes. According to evidence presented before the court, Valverde sold access codes to individuals, typically for $10 per month. The codes allowed the customers to illegally access all the copyrighted content of Dish Network and Sling TV, including pay-per-view sporting events, movies, and television programs. Valverde also provided websites and apps to his customers so that they could view the copyrighted materials. The PLSA was introduced in Congress in 2020 as a provision of the Covid-19 Stimulus Bill. The purpose of PLSA is to punish commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services that make money from illegally streaming copyrighted material. The PLSA specifically does not criminalize users of the illegal apps. United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Valverde to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Valverde was also ordered to pay $22,639.27 in restitution, plus a fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Fifteen Individuals Facing Federal Indictment for Gun Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Fifteen individuals have been charged in a federal indictment alleging a conspiracy to straw purchase dozens of firearms from at least six federally licensed firearms dealers in the Central Indiana area. Each of the following defendants have been charged with conspiring to make false statements during the purchase of a firearm, and one or more counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm: Daylen Bell, 24, Indianapolis Jaylyn Lamont Crenshaw, 25, Indianapolis Michaela Evan Day, 27, Indianapolis Michael Glen Day, 23, Indianapolis Davone Trae Eans, 24, Indianapolis Kendall Rayshaun Ezell, 21, Indianapolis Anthony Keith Jones, 24, Indianapolis Isiah Thomas Keller, 21, Greenfield Anthony James Morst, 24, Indianapolis Caleb Morris Redman, 23, Indianapolis Jordan Devon Ross, 24, Gary Derrion Wisdom Scruggs, 23, Unknown Michael Coreal Stubbs, 22, Indianapolis Demetrius Andre Young, 24, Indianapolis Jalen Charles Zimmerman, 23, Indianapolis According to court documents, from at least November 2020, continuing up to April 8, 2022, Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones conspired to pay straw purchasers to buy illegally guns from at least six Central Indiana federally licensed firearms dealers on their behalf. This form of gun trafficking is frequently referred to as “straw purchasing.” Straw purchasing occurs when a person who is allowed to legally purchase a gun from a federally licensed dealer falsely states that they are purchasing a firearm for themselves, when they know that the gun is actually intended for someone else. Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones paid Redman, Scruggs, Bell, Morst, Ross, Zimmerman, Michaela Day, Eans, Crenshaw, and Young to make straw purchases from federally licensed gun dealers. Keller, Stubbs, Ezell, Michael Day, and Jones then transported the illegally purchased guns to resell them elsewhere. If convicted, each defendant charged faces up to ten years in federal prison. The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and the recent warrant execution possible: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Greenfield Police Department Hancock County Sheriff’s Office Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Lawrence Police Department United States Marshals Service Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, thanked Assistant United States Attorney Pamela Domash, who is prosecuting this case. This case was brought as part of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force (ICGTF). ICGTF is a partnership of law enforcement officers and analysts from several central Indiana law enforcement agencies in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson, and Shelby counties. In cooperation with state, local, and federal partners, ICGTF collaborates to address violent crime through a comprehensive strategy including innovative approaches to locating suspects and evidence related to violent crimes and illegal possession of 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. An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Minor Girl He Helped Smuggle into the United States

body_text: SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Bernardino de Jesus Ramirez-Ramirez, a/k/a Carlos Mendoza, 35, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and illegal transportation of an alien following two days of trial in federal court. Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that in October 2022, Ramirez paid for a 16-year-old girl to be smuggled into the United States from Guatemala. Ramirez directed the minor’s journey into the United States. He instructed her to turn herself in to immigration officials after she crossed the border and provide them his name and contact information as the person who was supposed to receive her. The minor was taken into the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and placed in a shelter for unaccompanied alien children. Officials at the shelter learned that the minor was not related to Ramirez and had never met him before, that he had paid her smuggling debt, and that he had work lined up for her in the United States. They determined Ramirez posed a risk of labor trafficking and was not a suitable sponsor for the minor. In March 2023, they released the minor to an uncle in South Carolina. A forensic examination of Ramirez’s phone revealed that he was fixated on gaining control over the minor. For months, he exchanged messages with members of the minor’s family regarding her smuggling debt and indicating he would do whatever it took to get her into his custody. He told the minor that because of the “favor” he extended her in helping her get to the United States, she had to live with him. He also told her that if she stayed with her uncle in South Carolina, her smuggling debt, and the interest on it, would increase. On April 5, 2023, Ramirez drove from Missouri to the victim’s home in South Carolina and told her that if she did not come with him, she would be deported back to Guatemala. The victim, believing her debt would be increased and she would be deported if she did not go along, agreed to leave with Ramirez. He drove her to his home in Kansas City, Missouri, where she was recovered by law enforcement officials the following day. “Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment, free from the threat of harm,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Crimes that exploit and endanger our young people will be met with swift accountability.” “Finding and stopping predators like Ramirez, who seek to exploit minors, is one of the highest priorities of our office,” said Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Charlotte that covers North and South Carolina. “Rescuing this victim saved her from unspeakable horrors and I am thankful for the great work done on this case and the amazing support of our law enforcement partners.” Ramirez faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $500,000 and at least three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial, accepted the guilty plea, and will sentence Ramirez after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Newberry Police Department, with assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Fisher Sherard and Kathleen Stoughton are prosecuting the case.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Weapons and Drug Violation

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Warren Lamar Forrest, 32, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence presented to the court showed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a search warrant at Forrest’s residence. While searching his specific room, law enforcement located a black bag that contained a stolen loaded 9mm pistol, three 9mm caliber magazines, an assault rifle, two assault rifle magazines, two digital scales, plastic baggies and a pound and a half of marijuana. Forrest is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because of multiple prior felony convictions. United States District Judge Bruce Hendricks sentenced Forrest to 12 years imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This prosecution is part of Operation Yellow Jacket which is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the ATF, FBI Columbia Field Office, North Charleston Police Department, and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Pee Dee Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Crime

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — Tyquan Raheem Bellamy, 30, of Sellers, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 15, 2022, officers with Latta Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Bellamy. As they approached the vehicle, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and noticed a trash bag between Bellamy’s feet. A search of the vehicle revealed that the trash bag contained approximately 25 grams of marijuana divided amongst several baggies. Officers also found in the car a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine and two additional magazines, and pills which contained methamphetamine and fentanyl. Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Bellamy to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 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 Latta Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Drug dealer sentenced to 300 months in prison for possession of a controlled substance, among other charges

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On April 30, a drug dealer who was convicted by a Fort Lauderdale federal jury in January was sentenced to 300 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Chad Michael Marlow, 46, of Pompano Beach, Florida, was recorded on two occasions selling a quarter pound and a pound, respectively, of methamphetamine to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent in the parking lot of a Broward County shopping plaza. In the recordings, Marlow could be heard discussing at length the great quality of the product and the fact that he used it for his back and hip pain. Marlow and his partner agreed to sell the undercover agent one pound of methamphetamine at a third planned deal, but when Marlow and his partner arrived at the shopping plaza, law enforcement conducted an arrest. Law enforcement searched the vehicle Marlow was driving and found an unzipped backpack immediately behind the driver’s seat of the vehicle –sitting at the top of the backpack was a loaded handgun and an extra loaded magazine and in the bottom of that backpack they found a pound, or nearly 1,000 pills, of fentanyl segregated into dealing sized baggies, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as a bank card bearing Marlow’s name. Law enforcement also found a pound of methamphetamine in a lunch cooler sitting on the front passenger seat of the vehicle. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of DEA Miami Field Division announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas. DEA Miami Field Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily R. Stone and Brooke E. Latta prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 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-60202. ###


title: North Carolina Man Charged with Mailing Antisemitic Threat Targeting Middle Georgia Rabbi

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A North Carolina man is in custody and federally charged with allegedly mailing an antisemitic threat to a Middle Georgia Rabbi. Ariel E. Collazo Ramos, 31, of High Point, North Carolina, is charged with one count of mailing threatening communications. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on April 9 and was unsealed on May 2. Collazo Ramos was taken into custody at his High Point residence today; his initial appearance will occur in the Middle District of North Carolina at a time determined by the Court. According to the indictment, Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel in Macon received a threatening postcard at her home via the U.S. Postal Service on Feb. 1, 2024, allegedly from Collazo Ramos. On one side of the postcard, there was a handwritten message: "Is there a child rape, torture, and murder tunnel under your house? We have the Zyklon B. Use Code "GASTHEJEWS" for 10% off!" The reverse side of the postcard displayed a hand-drawn image depicting a purported Jewish male wearing a rat costume and the words “JEWS ARE RATS.” If convicted, Collazo Ramos faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case is being investigated by FBI. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government with assistance from Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.