title: Mexican national sentenced to two years in prison for trafficking meth, fentanyl on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

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

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Mexican national was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Evirso Real Ampude, aka Poncho, 48, pleaded guilty in May, to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in the fall of 2021, law enforcement learned that a Mexican national, known as Poncho and later identified as Ampude, was distributing meth and fentanyl on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. Several witnesses reported receiving meth, fentanyl or both from Ampude, and multiple witnesses reported working with Ampude to distribute drugs. In August 2022, Ampude was arrested during a traffic stop and was found in possession of a fentanyl pill and a half a gram of meth. In the vehicle was approximately $8,000 in cash and three cell phones. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan R. Plaut and Wendy A. Johnson prosecuted the case. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Border Patrol, Tri-Agency Task Force and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. XXX


title: Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Carthage, Missouri man pleaded guilty today to assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. According to the plea agreement, Koby Caiden Stark, 22, admitted to discharging a firearm at vehicle that contained 3 other people. Stark admits that he was not acting in self-defense. The incident occurred within the boundaries of the Ottawa reservation. All 3 victims are tribal members. One victim is a member of the Cherokee Nation, the second is a member of the Choctaw Nation, and the third is a member of the Chickasaw Nation. Stark has been in custody and will remain until he is sentenced at a later date. He faces a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence or fine after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Miami Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Ihler is prosecuting the case.


title: Jury Finds Metro Attacker Guilty of Assault with Significant Bodily Injury

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – A jury, today, found Neal Pitt, 36, of Washington, D.C., guilty of assault with significant bodily injury in an attack that took place on the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station platform on March 9, 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Michael Anzallo, of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD). The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Erik Christian scheduled sentencing for February 14, 2024. Holman faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison for the crimes. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 7:45 a.m. on March 9, 2021, Daniel Olsen was traveling to work when, without provocation, the defendant followed Olsen on the Branch Avenue-bound platform, grabbed Olsen by the throat, and slammed Olsen to the ground. Mr. Olsen landed on his right shoulder, resulting in a broken humerus that required surgery and months of physical therapy to repair. Pitt fled the scene but was identified based on CCTV footage, SmarTrip records, and his own statements that placed him at the scene of the crime. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Anzallo commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metro Transit Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Coates Huether, Travis Wolf, Bonnie Lindemann, Sandra Braschi, and Benjamin Bleiberg, who initially investigated the case. Finally, they commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kraig Ahalt and Shaniqua Butler, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Colonie Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking Minors

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Thomas, age 40, of Colonie, New York, was sentenced today to 480 months (40 years) in prison for sex trafficking minors and related offenses. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintended Dominick L. Chiumento made the announcement. Thomas was convicted on March 24, 2023, after a 5-day jury trial. The trial evidence established that between 2018 and 2020, Thomas trafficked and exploited victims, including minors as young as 16, whom he recruited to work in commercial sex for his financial benefit. His crimes spanned New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Thomas was convicted on 16 counts total, including sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography, and tampering with a witness. United States Attorney Carla Freedman said: “Christopher Thomas targeted vulnerable children and young women, and profited from their desperation by manipulating, coercing and forcing them to engage in commercial sex acts. Today’s sentence means he will never do that again. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute sex trafficking organizations and help victims reclaim their lives.” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfred Watson said: “Christopher Thomas preyed on young girls and women and forced them into a dangerous life of drugs, abuse, and prostitution. Today, our thoughts are with the incredibly brave victims in this case who courageously came forward to regain control of their lives and help put this heinous criminal in prison for many years. FBI Albany’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force will continue to work with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners at every level to seek justice for the victims of sex trafficking.” Acting State Police Superintendent Dominick Chiumento stated, “The State Police and our law enforcement partners have zero tolerance for those who prey on innocent children and exploit them for their gain. This sentence reflects the severity of the crimes and our commitment to finding justice for our most vulnerable victims. While these types of investigations are often difficult for those who work on them, the evidence they gathered and the outstanding work done by our State Police personnel and our law enforcement partners led to this conviction and ensures that this individual will be held accountable for his reprehensible actions.” United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Thomas to a life term of post-imprisonment supervised release. Thomas will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. In imposing sentence, Judge D’Agostino told Thomas, “It takes a very special kind of evil to sex traffic children and not just children but the most vulnerable people in society and that’s what you did.” She continued, “You consider these people useless, throwaways. In your mind they are of no value. But they were someone’s child, sister, granddaughter and they had as much a right to live a life free of this type of abuse as anyone else.” In addition to the FBI and NYSP, the Colonie Police Department, Albany County Sheriff’s Office and Albany Police Department assisted in investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Kopita and former Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Williams prosecuted the case.


title: Poplar woman sentenced to more than five years in prison for trafficking meth on Fort Peck Indian Reservation; customer died after taking the drug

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Poplar woman was sentenced today to five years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after she admitted to a methamphetamine trafficking crime in which a customer died shortly after taking the drug, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Danyell Rose Black Dog, 23, pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute meth. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on Aug. 27, 2021, Fort Peck Tribes law enforcement officers responded to a 911 medical call regarding a woman identified as Jane Doe. Doe was unresponsive and officers began CPR. Family members told officers at the scene that Doe had used meth prior to the 911 call. Emergency medical responders arrived and transported Doe to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The government further alleged the investigation determined that Doe would buy $5 or $10 worth of meth from Black Dog on a regular basis, and that Black Dog had sold to Doe two to three times a week. Black Dog sent text information to another individual in which she said she was on her way to sell Doe meth approximately 30 minutes before the incident and how she sold and delivered it to Doe. An autopsy of Doe conducted by the Montana state medical examiner listed the cause of death as methamphetamine toxicity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Charles Norman Pannell, 44, of Charleston, was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Pannell admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area. According to court documents and statements made in court, from about December 2022 to around March 2023, Pannell conspired with other individuals to distribute approximately 35 pounds of cocaine in the Charleston area. Pannell regularly obtained cocaine from a co-conspirator, sometimes multiple times per day, and would typically obtain one-half to one ounce of cocaine at a time. Pannell often had a third-party customer waiting to purchase the cocaine before he obtained it. On March 20, 2023, law enforcement officers watched Pannell meet with his co-conspirator to obtain cocaine. Shortly after the meeting, officers conducted a traffic stop of Pannell’s vehicle and found approximately 1 ounce of cocaine in his possession. Pannell is among 32 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash. Pannell and 20 other defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Craig Alexander Halstead, 36, of Huntington, was sentenced today to seven years and six months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography. Halstead must also pay $15,000 in restitution and register as a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, Halstead admitted to receiving 87,993 digital media files of child pornography via peer-to-peer file sharing programs from about August 2, 2019, until about August 18, 2022. Many of the digital media files depict prepubescent minors, including infants and toddlers, subjected to sexually explicit conduct including sadistic conduct. Halstead admitted that one of the digital media files is a video of an adult male sexually assaulting a prepubescent female. On May 20, 2021, Halstead possessed 3,970 images and 443 videos on his laptop and external hard drive depicting minor children subjected to sexually explicit conduct. Halstead admitted that many of the images and videos depict prepubescent minors and that several of the images and videos depict known child victims. On or about August 30, 2022, Halstead possessed 3,188 images and videos of child pornography in Huntington. Over 400 of those images and videos depict known child victims. Halstead admitted that the images included infants subjected to sadistic or masochistic conduct. Halstead further admitted to accessing and receiving digital media files of child pornography using peer-to-peer programs on November 29, 2022. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie M. White and Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-231. ###


title: Fort Worth Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Firearms into Mexico

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Fort Worth man pleaded guilty in a federal court in Del Rio to smuggling firearms from the U.S. into Mexico. According to court documents, Humberto Limon Olivares, 57, attempted to leave the U.S. through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on July 29. During inspection, Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered two pistols and a box of 40mm ammunition hidden under a blanket in the vehicle’s third row. Additionally, CBPOs found five pistols, one rifle, 14 magazines, and 343 rounds of assorted ammunition in the trunk of the vehicle. Olivares pleaded guilty to smuggling goods from the U.S. and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Acting Special Agent in Charge Noel Rangel for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. CBP and the ATF are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bird is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Real Estate Company Executive Arrested on Charges Alleging He Bribed San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Then Concealed Crimes

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: INDICTMENT LOS ANGELES – An executive at a San Luis Obispo-based real estate development company was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment alleging he paid a local politician more than $95,000 in bribes and gifts in exchange for official acts benefiting the company’s development projects and then covered up the bribery scheme by forging documents. Ryan Wright, 37, a.k.a. “Ryan Petetit,” of Grover Beach, was arrested this morning on a three-count indictment charging him with conspiracy, falsification of records, and obstruction of justice. The indictment was returned on October 4 and was unsealed today. Wright is expected to make his initial appearance and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. According to the indictment, from at least June 2014 to May 2017, Wright conspired with his business partner, identified in court documents as “Co-Conspirator 1,” to bribe an elected official identified as “County Supervisor 1” with financial benefits, including money and gifts totaling more than $95,000. In exchange, County Supervisor 1 advocated for Wright’s real estate development company’s projects and prospective projects with City of San Luis Obispo officials and voted for Wright’s company’s projects on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. Wright, Co-Conspirator 1, and County Supervisor 1 then covered up the bribes by using County Supervisor 1’s consulting company to funnel and conceal bribe payments to County Supervisor 1. County Supervisor 1 then provided false information on his 2015 and 2016 annual state conflict of interest disclosure forms requiring him to report income he had received. Through the consulting company, Wright allegedly paid bribes to County Supervisor 1 and flew him on a jet to watch a Major League Baseball playoff game hosted by the San Francisco Giants, the supervisor’s favorite team. To conceal the scheme, in response to a federal grand jury subpoena served on his development company, Wright allegedly caused the company to produce falsified records to the FBI. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted of all charges, Wright would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for the obstruction of justice count, and up to 20 years in federal prison for the falsification of records count. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas F. Rybarczyk and Daniel J. O’Brien of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.


title: New Jersey Couple Resentenced for Child Abuse

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A former U.S. Army major and his wife were sentenced today for a fourth time for their respective roles in abusing their adopted children – who all were less than 4 years old and developmentally delayed – through neglectful and cruel acts, including breaking their bones, denying them medical attention, withholding water and force-feeding them hot sauce, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Carolyn Jackson, 46, was sentenced to 140 months in prison and her husband, John E. Jackson, 48, formerly a major in the Army at the Picatinny Arsenal Installation in Morris County, New Jersey, was sentenced to 108 months in prison. “Carolyn Jackson and John Jackson inflicted cruel and devastating abuse on three child victims over five years. The defendants’ systematic abuse was horrifying, and included physical assaults, withholding of food, water, and medical care, and forcing them to ingest hot sauce, among other inhumane treatment. Their victims were innocent and vulnerable children placed in their care, but who were treated with unimaginable cruelty. For over a decade, this Office has pursued justice for these victims whose childhoods and lives were irretrievably damaged by the defendants’ abuse. The prison sentences imposed today hold Carolyn Jackson and John Jackson accountable for their horrific crimes, and bring a measure of justice for their victims.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “We work tirelessly to seek justice for victims of the cases we investigate,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Many times, the punishments do not fit the crime. This couple abused developmentally challenged toddlers in ways that seem unimaginable and unbelievably inhumane. They are now facing the justice they deserve – and their victims deserve.” The Jacksons were each found guilty in July 2015 following a four-month trial in Newark federal court of one count of conspiracy to endanger the welfare of a child; Carolyn Jackson was found guilty of 11 substantive counts of endangering the welfare of a child and John Jackson was found guilty of nine substantive counts of endangering the welfare of a child. At the first sentencing in December 2015, Carolyn Jackson received 24 months in prison and John Jackson received probation and 400 hours of community service. The government appealed their sentences to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which in July 2017 found several errors in the sentencing process. The defendants were resentenced on April 11, 2018, at which time Carolyn Jackson received a sentence of 40 months in prison, with credit for time served, and John Jackson received the same probationary sentence. The government appealed for a second time and the U.S. Court of Appeals vacated and remanded for another resentencing after finding errors again. At the third sentencing hearing, Carolyn Jackson received a time-served sentence with an additional year of supervised release. John Jackson received an 18-month term of home confinement. The government appealed for a third time and the U.S. Court of Appeals vacated and remanded for a third resentencing after finding additional errors. The Court of Appeals also ordered that the case be reassigned. In April 2023, it was reassigned to U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton, who imposed the sentences today. The case falls under federal jurisdiction because the crimes were committed on a military base. John Jackson was discharged from the Army in May 2015. According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial: From August 2005 until April 23, 2010, Carolyn and John Jackson conspired to engage in a constant course of neglect and cruelty towards three children they fostered and then adopted. The Jacksons told their biological children not to report the physical assaults to others, saying that the punishments and disciplinary techniques were justified, as they were “training” the adopted children how to behave. After John Jackson was informed by a family friend that the oldest biological child had revealed the abuse in the Jackson household, John Jackson reported the breach to Carolyn Jackson, who retaliated against that biological child by beating the child 30 times with a belt. As part of the conspiracy, the Jacksons physically assaulted their adopted children with various objects, causing two children to sustain fractured bones (including a fractured spine, fractured skull and fractured upper arms); failed to seek prompt medical attention for their injuries, leading to the partial amputation of one child’s finger and the near-death of another; withheld sufficient nourishment and food from their adopted children; withheld adequate water from two of their children and, at times, prohibited them from drinking water altogether; forced two of the children to consume foods intended to cause them pain and suffering, such as red pepper flakes and hot sauce, and caused one child to ingest excessive sodium or sodium-laden substances while being deprived of water, leading to a life-threatening condition on two separate occasions in two states. The Jacksons even punished one adopted child, who had to resort to sneaking food and drinking from the toilet, by hitting the child, making the child ingest hot sauce, and forcing the child to eat a raw onion like an apple. In addition to the prison terms, Judge Wigenton sentenced each of the defendants to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings. He also thanked the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Joel Kirch; and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Desiree L. Grace and John F. Romano of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.


title: Tucson Man Arrested for Making Multiple Violent Threats Including a Threat to Place Pipe Bombs on School Buses in Indiana

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Amir Safavi Farokhi, 28, of Tucson, was arrested last week on a federal complaint and arrest warrant by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force for using his telephone in Tucson to make a threat to place pipe bombs on school buses in the Castleton area of Indianapolis, Indiana. Farokhi was also charged with making an interstate threat to rape and murder a female employee of the Bloomington, Indiana Police Department. The complaint alleges that Farokhi used his telephone in Arizona to call the Indianapolis Police Department, and told police officers they should send officers to a specific location in the Castleton area of Indianapolis because Farokhi planned to place pipe bombs on school buses and shoot any responding police officers. Farokhi also used his telephone in Arizona to transmit a threat to rape and murder an employee of the Bloomington, Indiana Police Department, telling the victim he would wait outside for her at the end of her shift. The complaint further alleges that Farokhi’s course of threatening behavior extended to two Tucson-area hospitals as well. On October 21, Farokhi is alleged to have called Tucson ER Hospital and threatened to shoot hospital staff and patients. On October 22 and 23, he is alleged to have made similar threats to Northwest Hospital in Tucson. A complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The United States will have up to 30 days from arrest to seek an indictment of Farokhi. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, as part of the FBI’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force, conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 23-07725MJ RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-166_Farohki # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Bank Insider Charged with Accepting Bribes to Facilitate Millions of Dollars of Money Laundering

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: NEWARK, NJ. – A New Jersey-based employee of an international financial institution was arrested today for accepting bribes to facilitate millions of dollars of money laundering, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Oscar Marcelo Nunez-Flores, 32, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of accepting bribes as an employee of a financial institution. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court and was released on $150,000 unsecured bond. “As alleged, Nunez corruptly exploited his position inside a bank to help launder millions of dollars in drug money in exchange for bribes. Today’s arrest shows that my office will expose and prosecute those who abuse positions of trust and seek to corrupt our financial institutions.” U.S. Attorney Philp R. Sellinger “The DEA will continue to work diligently to pursue and dismantle all elements from Drug Trafficking Organizations,” Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Caribbean Division Denise Foster said. “Money launderers help drug trafficking organizations flourish and poison our communities. We will continue to allocate all our law enforcement resources to make a greater impact in vulnerable areas where criminal organizations dedicated to drug trafficking are causing greater damage.” “IRS - Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to hold accountable and disrupt bad actors like the defendant, who allegedly accepted bribes to facilitate millions of dollars of money laundering,” Tammy Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS - Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, said. “We are committed to protecting the integrity of our financial institutions by investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in financial crimes.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Nunez works for an international financial institution, at a branch located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Starting in early 2022, Nunez exploited his position as a bank employee to facilitate money laundering activities in exchange for bribes. Nunez used his position and inside access to open bank accounts in the names of shell companies with nominee owners. Those accounts were then used to launder narcotics proceeds, including to Colombia. Nunez assisted the money laundering efforts by giving those who bribed him online access to the accounts, along with dozens of debit cards for the accounts that were later used to withdraw cash from ATMs in Colombia. Nunez received thousands of dollars in bribes for each account he opened. The investigation has revealed that millions of dollars were laundered to Colombia through accounts opened by Nunez since early 2022. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of bank bribery carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, or three times the value of the thing given, whichever is greater. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agents in Charge Denise Foster in San Juan, Puerto Rico, David F. Reames in Seattle, Washington, and Cheryl Ortiz in Newark; special agents and task force officers of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, New York Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington for their assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Pesce of the Economic Crimes Unit and Angelica Sinopole of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams, Chad Davis, and Chelsea Rooney of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Olinghouse (District of Puerto Rico) and Vince Lombardi (Western District of Washington) also assisted with the investigation. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. nunez.complaint.pdf


title: Two District Men Plead Guilty to 2021 Murder of Kerry Odoms in Southeast Washington

body_text: WASHINGTON –Andre Smith, 27, and Malachi McFarland, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to second degree murder while armed in the April 2021 shooting death of Kerry Odoms, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2024, before the Honorable Robert Okun. According to the government’s evidence, just prior to the homicide, Kerry Odoms, 29, of Washington, D.C., was socializing on Apr. 15, 2021 with a group of people that included McFarland, in the parking lot of 3319 10th Place SE, in the Congress Heights neighborhood. Smith approached the group and moments later, at 9:54 p.m., lunged toward Odoms while firing multiple gunshots. As Smith began shooting at Odoms, McFarland ran a short distance away, returned, and fired a second round of gunshots directly at Odoms. The gunfire from both defendants killed Odoms, who suffered eight gunshot wounds. In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Antonelli, Jin Park, and former AUSA Steven Rickard, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Orange County Man Pleads Guilty to Running Investment Scams That Raised More Than $17 Million Via False Promises of House Flipping Profits

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Costa Mesa man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for running fraudulent investment schemes that raised more than $17 million by promising investors – several of them elderly – returns of up to 10% that would be generated through real estate deals that turned out to be bogus, and for disobeying a court order to go to jail for violating the terms of his pretrial release. Brett Barber, 44, a former co-owner of the Newport Beach-based BNZ Capital One LLC and National American Capital, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of criminal contempt. According to his plea agreement, from May 2019 to October 2021, Barber participated in two schemes to defraud victim investors out of their money and property. In the first scheme, BNZ Capital, its principals and several marketers raised money by falsely representing that the firm bought and sold real estate projects and “flipped” real estate. Barber, co-conspirator Louis Zimmerle, 64, of Sacramento, and the marketers falsely promised investors a “guaranteed” return of between 8% and 10%, as well as potential bonuses based on successful deals. According to court documents, Barber told investors that their funds were “safe” and “FDIC insured.” In fact, while BNZ Capital did purchase some real estate, it did not take any substantial steps to develop parcels, nor did BNZ flip real estate for a profit. Rather, BNZ primarily used investor funds to pay Barber, Zimmerle and others associated with the scheme, including purchasing residences where Barber and Zimmerle lived. Some of the investors’ money was used to repay earlier investors. During this scheme, Barber, Zimmerle, and the marketers solicited or caused to be transferred to BNZ Capital approximately $13.8 million from victim investors. Investigators estimate that actual losses resulting from this scheme are at least $7 million. Barber admitted in his plea agreement that he received and kept approximately $2,933,970 of investor money for his personal gain. At least five BNZ Capital investors were elderly, vulnerable victims who suffered substantial hardship because of the fraud committed against them. After Barber learned that federal officials were investigating BNZ Capital, he began a second fraudulent scheme, this time involving a company he formed in January 2021 called National American Capital (NAC). The NAC scheme operated, in substance, the same way as the BNZ Capital fraud. That is, Barber and marketers working at his direction lied to investors by saying their money would be used to fund real estate development projects. In fact, there were no such projects, and the only way NAC could repay earlier investors was by soliciting money from new investors. Specifically, in October 2021, Barber met with a person he believed was a prospective investor, but who in fact was an undercover law enforcement official. During this meeting, Barber told several lies: that NAC had been in business for 20 years, that it owned 10 parcels of land in Laguna Beach, and that it had purchased property in Newport Beach and turned in into a four-plex. None of these statements was true. Barber admitted in his plea agreement that this scheme caused a loss of at least $3.5 million. He further admitted to receiving and keeping at least $388,669 of investor money for his personal gain. During the BNZ Capital and NAC schemes, Barber failed to disclose to investors that he previously was barred from acting as or associating with a broker-dealer by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Finally, after a federal grand jury indicted Barber in October 2021, he was released on bond. In January 2023, a court found that Barber violated the terms of his pretrial release and ordered him to surrender to the United States Marshals Service by January 13. Barber willfully disobeyed the court’s order and failed to surrender. In March 2023, Barber was arrested in Santa Cruz County, California. He eventually was transferred to federal custody in Los Angeles, where he remains. United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II scheduled a March 4, 2024 sentencing hearing, at which time Barber will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count, and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment for the criminal contempt count. Zimmerle pleaded guilty in January 2022 to one count of wire fraud. In his plea agreement, Zimmerle admitted to participating in the BNZ Capital scam and that he received and kept approximately $582,815 of victim investor money. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 22, 2024. In October 2021, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil lawsuit against Barber, Zimmerle and BNZ Capital for fraudulently raising more than $13 million from over 100 retail investors. The FBI is investigating this matter. The SEC provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Bradley E. Marrett of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: Malcolm Torres Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for the Death of His Stepdaughter

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that, per the terms of his plea agreement, Malcom Torres was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Torres, 30, of Española, New Mexico, pled guilty to second degree murder on April 10, 2023. According to court records, on Sept. 7, 2019, Torres was home with his five-year-old stepdaughter, Renezmae Calzada, and eighteen-month-old son. Torres had been drinking excessive amounts of alcohol that day and during the preceding week and was not fit to supervise the children. On the afternoon of Sept. 8, 2019, Renezmae’s grandparents returned home and were informed by Torres that Renezmae had been missing since that morning. Renezmae’s grandmother immediately alerted Renezmaes mother, who contacted law enforcement. Over the next three days, Torres refused to assist in and impeded first-responding officers’ efforts to locate his stepdaughter by providing false and misleading information to police and campaigning against the truthful efforts others made to assist police. Torres’ deceitful efforts lengthen the wide-spread and vigorous efforts of law enforcement and the Santa Clara Pueblo community to locate Renezmae On Sept. 11, 2019, law enforcement located Renezmae’s body in the Rio Grande River on the Santa Clara Pueblo. It was determined that Renezmae died from blunt-force trauma to her head, torso, and extremities on Sept. 7 and that Torres had driven to the area 5.5 miles from his home and left Renezmae’s body there on Sept. 8. After he was arrested, Torres insisted that Renezmae had sustained the injuries when she fell out of her bed or that a house guest killed Renezmae and that person was still at large. Torres refused to take responsibility for what happened to Renezmae for almost four years. “Renezmae’s legacy is bringing together community, fighting for life, and protecting our children,” said United States Attorney Alexander Uballez. “Today we received a first apology, a final justice, and an opportunity to more forward together. All children are all of our children. When someone brings harm to one, we will respond together to deliver certain justice.” “Four years ago, a precious young life was taken in an act of senseless violence by the person who was supposed to protect five-year-old Renezmae, leaving a community in anguish,” said Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. “Although the defendant tried to cover his tracks and lead investigators astray, the unified efforts of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials resulted in justice being served. Today’s sentencing reaffirms the commitment of the FBI and partner agencies to seek justice for victims of violent crime on Native American tribal lands.” Torres’ sentencing guidelines were calculated at 360-365 months, however Torres agreed to the sentence of 420 months in exchange for the United States agreeing to forgo a charge of first-degree felony murder, which carried a potential penalty of life imprisonment or death. Upon his release from prison, Torres will be subject to five years of supervised release. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Santa Clara, Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, Espanola Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Pueblo of Pojoaque Police Department, Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Game & Fish, and the Bureau of Land Management. Assistant United States Attorneys Jack Burkhead, Brittany DuChaussee and Zachary Jones are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-254


title: Kern County Man Trafficking Fentanyl Sentenced to Over 17 Years

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Jose Santana, 47, of Shafter, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Nov. 16, 2021, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Santana’s motel room in Bakersfield, and also searched Santana’s vehicle with his consent. As a result, law enforcement seized about 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.5 kilograms of heroin, two firearms, and approximately $5,000 in cash. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.


title: Yosemite National Park Squatter Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Firearms Charges

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Devin Michael Cuellar, 29, of Oakhurst, was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition while squatting on private property in Yosemite National Park, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, during the summer of 2021, Cuellar broke into a private residence on Koon Hollar Road in Wawona within Yosemite National Park and resided there for several months without permission of the owner. During that time, the residence was trashed and stolen items were found. Cuellar possessed a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition that were found in the residence. Cuellar was previously convicted of carjacking and possessing controlled substances for sale and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. This case was the product of an investigation by the National Park Service with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Las Vegas Resident Sentenced To Prison For Possession And Distribution Of Thousands Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who committed an additional felony offense while on release was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 111 months in prison followed by a 20 year term of supervised release for collecting and sharing thousands of child sexual abuse materials depicting children as young as infants to other people — including people who did not want to view the images. Colby Matthew Olen (36) pleaded guilty in July 2023 to distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. In addition to imprisonment, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Olen must register as a sex offender and keep the registration current. According to court documents, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about Olen’s involvement with child sexual abuse materials. In September 2020, a search warrant was executed at Olen’s residence. A forensic examination of electronic devices belonging to Olen found images and videos of child sexual abuse materials. On November 25, 2020, a criminal complaint charged Olen with distribution of child pornography. Although the government moved for detention, Olen was released on a personal recognizance bond with conditions and was advised of potential enhanced penalties for committing another felony offense while on release. In June 2021, a second search warrant was executed at Olen’s residence after a report to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. A forensic examination of Olen’s electronic devices revealed child sexual abuse materials to include videos of children as young as infants. Olen was arrested and a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Olen with an additional felony offense committed while on release. Olen admitted he distributed child sexual abuse materials depicting children as young as infants being sexually abused to others through an online cloud storage and file hosting service. In total, he distributed 2,716 videos and 5,203 images of child sexual abuse materials. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement. The case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Supriya Prasad prosecuted the case. The 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or https://report.cybertip.org . ###


title: St. Louis County Man Admits Financially Exploiting Two Elderly Victims

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County, Missouri man on Monday admitted stealing a home from one elderly woman and fraudulently accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from another. Gino Rives, 36, of Edmundson, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of access device fraud and one count of fraudulently effecting transactions. Rives admitted exploiting two elderly victims, M.P. and A.B., from Jan. 1, 2017 through Oct. 17, 2023. Rives admitted during his guilty plea that he approached M.P., an 87-year-old widow, sometime in 2017, and offered to clean her gutters. He then began to perform various repairs for her and shop for her. M.P. gave Rives her husband’s car in gratitude for his help but denied otherwise compensating him. In July of 2017, a quit claim deed was executed, transferring M.P.’s home to Rives for $1. He moved her into his mother’s home. Rives put M.P. in a nursing home in January of 2023, then began renting her home to his mother. He falsely claimed to nursing home staff that he had power of attorney for M.P. to manage her financial affairs, Rives’ plea says. Rives’ other victim, 80-year-old A.B., hired Rives sometime before Jan. 17, 2021 to repair her roof for $7,500. After Rives falsely claimed to be a licensed contractor, A.B. hired him to renovate the interior of her house. The one-bedroom, one-bath, 1,100 square-foot home was worth no more than $135,000 in 2021. From March 2018 through 2022, however, Rives received checks totaling $387,600 that were purportedly for home repair. He received another $112,300 through 2023 via checks that were designated for purposes other than home repair or did not list a purpose. Another roughly $151,500 went to four people who were also purportedly doing home repairs. One of those people told investigators that he’d performed some kitchen repairs and then cashed eight of A.B.’s checks, giving the proceeds to Rives who then gave a portion back to the worker. A St. Louis building inspector estimated the value of repairs at no more than $50,000. There was no indication that promised structural work had been done. Rives also obtained four vehicles that had been purchased by his elderly victim: a 2020 Dodge Challenger, a 2016 Ford Mustang, a 2017 GMC Sierra and a 2016 Mercedes 350, the plea says. Rives obtained and used the victim’s debit card to make purchases for himself and relatives, including $2,147.85 in airline tickets for a trip to Phoenix between April 2, 2023 and April 4, 2023. A.B. died in April. In the plea agreement, Rives has agreed to the forfeiture of the four vehicles that once belonged to A.B., as well as M.P.’s house, a 1978 Ford Fairmont and a 2006 Corvette. Each charge is punishable up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Rives will also be ordered to repay the money. The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case. Anyone with concerns about suspected abuse or neglect of the elderly or disabled should contact Missouri’s Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 800-392-0210.


title: Orange County Businessman Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Scamming Investors Out of Nearly $6.2 Million

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The owner of an Orange County real estate finance business was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining nearly $6.2 million, most of which he took by making false promises to an investor that shares of his private company were about to be publicly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Jacques Poujade, 63, of Irvine, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay $6,170,600 in restitution. Poujade pleaded guilty on July 24 to one count of securities fraud. Poujade is the owner and chief financial officer of Tri-Emerald Financial Group, a Lake Forest-based realty services company that operated as a residential mortgage lender. Tri-Emerald funded loans as a mortgage banker, with the intent to hold the funded loans for immediate resale to financial institutions that purchased the loans for investments. Neither Tri-Emerald nor its securities were ever registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. From February 2015 to May 2020, Poujade sold unregistered securities to a victim investor by telling the victim a series of lies, including about the timing and likelihood of Tri-Emerald’s initial public offering (IPO) and the resulting share price. The victim purchased shares in Tri-Emerald at $10 per share, after Poujade represented they were “securities” under federal law and would exceed the price of $100 per share once the company went public. Poujade falsely promised the victim that Tri-Emerald was a pre-IPO opportunity that would provide high returns when the company soon went public on Nasdaq. In fact, Tri-Emerald had not completed the necessary steps to undertake an IPO, including filling out the required SEC paperwork or formally engaging the investment banks Poujade falsely told the victim he had engaged as underwriters. He further lied to the victim by saying one investment bank “was super excited about moving forward” and estimated that Tri-Emerald would “be a billion dollar company in under 16 months,” according to his plea agreement. He also said Tri-Emerald was using the victim’s investment to cover IPO costs when, in fact, Poujade used a substantial portion of the funds for general Tri-Emerald operating expenses and to make lulling payments and litigation settlement payments to previous Tri-Emerald investors. Poujade also used a portion of the funds for personal expenditures in lieu of taking a salary. “Particularly troubling is that in executing his scheme to defraud, [Poujade] ruthlessly preyed upon [the victim] to drain her of her entire life savings,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[Poujade] not only conned [the victim] out of her money but he did so by betraying her trust after forging an intimate and faith-based relationship with her.” In total, Poujade fraudulently obtained approximately $5,255,600 from the victim. Poujade also defrauded another victim and that victim’s investment group in July 2016 by convincing them to purchase 30-day promissory notes issued by LendPlus Holdings, another one of Poujade’s companies. These notes purportedly were to be used to increase Tri-Emerald’s warehouse line of credit, which would allow Tri-Emerald to fund a larger volume of mortgages. At the end of the term of the 30-day promissory notes, instead of repaying victim investors, Poujade continuously rolled victim investors’ funds over into the next month. On numerous occasions, Poujade lulled the victims by falsely claiming their money was safe in a reserve account and LendPlus was using their funds to improve Tri-Emerald’s loan production and line of credit. In fact, Poujade used a substantial portion of these funds to make lulling payments to previous Tri-Emerald investors, to pay Tri-Emerald’s operating expenses, and for his own personal use, including paying rent on his residence. Poujade defrauded these investors out of approximately $915,000. The FBI and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General investigated this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Ryan G. Adams of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force prosecuted this case.


title: District Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Aggravated Assault and Other Charges for Disfiguring Woman With Boiling Liquid

body_text: WASHINGTON – Tesfay Teshale, 51, of Springfield, Virginia, was sentenced on October 27, 2023 to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release for aggravated assault while armed, malicious disfigurement while armed, and assault with a dangerous weapon for an assault that included pouring boiling liquid on the female victim, resulting in second-degree burns on her body, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and Pamela Smith, Acting Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Teshale was found guilty on August 16, 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Jason Park. The defendant and the victim had dated. According to the government’s evidence, when the victim decided to break off the relationship, the defendant stalked, harassed, and assaulted her because he could not handle the rejection. On June 14, 2019, the defendant cornered the victim, punched her multiple times in the face, knocked her down, and, while she was down, poured an urn of boiling liquid onto her. The defendant then left her there, bleeding, badly burned, and in extreme pain. The victim managed to call for help and District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported her to the hospital where she was treated for contusions, abrasions, and bruises to her face, as well as second-degree burns. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Yang, Zachary Horton, Cara Gardner, Emma McArthur, Chimnomnso Kalu, Nick Coleman, and Dan Lenerz, Paralegal Specialists ReShawn Johnson, Arielle Okpara, and Veronica Yale, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Cynthia Muhammad, Victim/Witness Advocate Rodgers Dickerson, Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Victim/Witness Services Coordinators Katina Adams-Washington, Tonya Jones, and Basizette Stribling, and interns Adam Russell, Izzy Metee, and Louis Villacci. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shakinah Douglas and Richard Kelley, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Berkeley County woman sentenced for role in a multi-state drug enterprise

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kathryn Annette Batis, age 38, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Batis, also known as “Miss Kitty,” operated a drug house in Martinsburg for a multi-state organized drug trafficking business dubbed the “19 th Street Enterprise.” The investigation uncovered nearly $65,000 in cash deposits over an 11-month period believed to be drug proceeds. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh heard testimony today that the enterprise sold drugs, committed acts of violence, laundered money, and committed fraud in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The business was based in Philadelphia, but the operation had drug houses in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and elsewhere. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2023 to his role in a trafficking fentanyl conspiracy. Francis Manuel Santos Arias, 24, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 31, 2024. Arias was indicted by a federal grand jury along with Eddy Reyes Tejada in December 2022. In January 2022, law enforcement received information that Arias and Tejada were looking for customers to whom they could distribute cocaine and fentanyl in the greater Boston and Lawrence areas. Over the course of the investigation, Arias sold fentanyl to cooperating witnesses on three separate occasions: 55 grams of fentanyl on Jan. 28, 2022; nearly 100 grams of fentanyl on March 7, 2022; and 460 grams of fentanyl on March 28, 2022. On July 20, 2023, Tejada pleaded guilty to his role in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21, 2023. The charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and of distribution of fentanyl each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn, Jr. Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Massachusetts State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Project Manager Admits to Submitting Fake Permit for Fill of Wetlands

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 30, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Fiona Skye McKenna, a project manager for a firm developing properties in the Otay Mesa area, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she falsified permits that led to the illegal discharge of pollutants in connection with a project known as the International Industrial Park. In pleading guilty, McKenna admitted that she forged permits purportedly issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to place fill dirt, rock and sand into Johnson Canyon Creek at the International Industrial Park site. McKenna falsified the permits by cutting and pasting from permits the firm had obtained for work at another site. On October 26, 2022, McKenna submitted the forged permits to the San Diego County Land Development Office to obtain a grading permit. After receiving the grading permit, the firm discharged fill dirt, rock and sand into portions of Johnson Canyon Creek, utilizing dump trucks and heavy duty powered shovels. The wetlands area of Johnson Creek flows into the Otay River, which flows into San Diego Bay. According to the EPA, wetlands are important because, in addition to providing food and habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals, they act as buffers to flooding and erosion and serve as key links in the global water cycle. Because of their sponge-like ability to absorb water, wetlands can slow the momentum of flood waters or a coastal storm surge. Wetlands’ highly developed root systems also hold soil in place and filter pollutants, naturally improving water quality. Sentencing is set for January 19, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Ruth B. Montenegro. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson. DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr2249-RBM Fiona Skye McKenna Age: 37 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Illegal Discharge of Pollutants – Title 33, U.S.C., Sections 1311(a) and 1319(c)(2)(A) Maximum penalty: Three years in prison and fine of not less than $5,000 or more than $50,000 per day of violation AGENCY U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigations Division; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; California State Water Board Office of Enforcement


title: Former Housing Authority Payroll Clerk Admits to Stealing $575K

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle


title: Holdrege Woman Sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jade Wondercheck, 44, of Holdrege, Nebraska, was sentenced October 27, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Wondercheck to 140 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Wondercheck’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. In December of, 2022, an officer with the Omaha Police Department was on patrol and observing a house, which he knew to be involved in drug trafficking. Officers had previously conducted three traffic stops of vehicles leaving this residence, each resulting in a pound of methamphetamine or cocaine being seized. On this occasion the officer observed a black Chrysler 300 leave the residence. The vehicle failed to signal a turn a few blocks down and a traffic stop was conducted. Wondercheck was a backseat passenger in the vehicle, with two other occupants. While speaking with another passenger of the vehicle, the officer could see open beer bottles and smell marijuana. Based on these observations, the officer decided to conduct a probable cause search. Wondercheck was searched and two baggies of methamphetamine were located concealed in her pants. A lab confirmed the drugs were 91 grams of pure methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.


title: Lincoln Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Sarah N. Baldwin, 31, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 27, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual (pure). Senior United States District Court Judge M. John Gerrard sentenced Baldwin to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Baldwin’s release from prison, she will begin a five-year term of supervised release. On February 10, 2022, Baldwin was a passenger in an SUV which was stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 80 in Lancaster County due to a mechanical issue. A Lancaster County Sheriff’s deputy stopped to assist and during the contact learned the SUV had been reported stolen by Baldwin and that Baldwin had an active warrant for her arrest. Baldwin was arrested on the warrant and taken to the Lancaster County Jail. After Baldwin was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail, investigators listened to phone calls she made from the jail in which she asked her mother to get the SUV and to get her son’s bookbag and another bag out of the SUV. Investigators obtained consent to search the SUV from the registered owner and found a Nike fanny pack containing methamphetamine. Baldwin made additional calls from the jail in which she asked a friend to get the fanny pack out of the SUV. Testing of the contents of the fanny pack at the Nebraska State Patrol Crime lab showed it contained at least 100 grams, (approximately 3 ½ ounces), of actual (pure) methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to more than 12 Years’ Imprisonment for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Baldemar Rodriguez Baldwin, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced in Omaha on October 27, 2023, in federal court for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute more than 50 grams of Methamphetamine (actual). Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Baldwin to 147 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Baldwin’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On August 25, 2021, law enforcement utilized a cooperating witness who purchased 104 grams of actual methamphetamine from Baldwin inside of his Omaha apartment. On September 2, 2021, law enforcement along with Baldemar’s Probation Officer contacted Baldemar at his Omaha apartment to conduct a probation search. Baldemar was advised of his rights and the reason for the search. Baldemar admitted to purchasing a ½ pound of methamphetamine approximately one month prior and selling it to make some quick money. When told that no meth was found during the search, Baldemar said he must have gotten rid of it. The search did reveal a drug scale with residue that Baldemar said would be dirty as he had used it. At the time he sold the meth to the cooperating witness, Baldemar was on supervised release for a 2012 drug conviction in which he was sentenced to more than 10 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Dearborn Heights Man Pleads Guilty in Pandemic Loan Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - A Dearborn Heights resident pleaded guilty today to fraudulently obtaining approximately $1,082,600 in loans intended to help small businesses stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic. He further admitted to wiring a portion of the fraud proceeds to Turkey for the purchase of a condominium in Beirut, Lebanon, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Joining in the announcement was Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Wahid Makki, 61, entered pleas of guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of international money laundering before United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds. The guilty pleas arose out of Makki’s’ participation in a scheme to obtain loans authorized by the CARES Act designed to assist small businesses experiencing financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the plea documents, the loan applications described above contained numerous material misrepresentations and false statements. Makki’s business entities were shells that existed on paper only; they had no revenue, employees, or ongoing operations of any sort. However, Makki’s applications represented that each of these entities had between three and 15 employees. The average monthly payroll amounts included in the applications were fictitious, as were representations about how the money would be spent. In addition, Makki authorized the submission of electronic applications for pandemic relief loans in the names of various business entities Makki purported to own and control. Between April 2020 and April 2021, Makki caused the submission of 17 loan applications seeking funds pursuant to the Small Business Administration’s “Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program” (EIDL), which was a program that provided low-interest financing to businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. Makki received approximately 1,082,600 in proceeds from the 10 loans that were actually funded as part of his scheme. Makki further admitted that he wired a portion of the loan proceeds to purchase a “sea view condo” in Beirut, Lebanon. “This defendant stole money intended to keep our economy functioning and our workers employed during a national crisis, and then spent his ill-gotten gains on a luxury property overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. Today’s guilty plea is an important step in holding Mr. Makki accountable for his crimes.” “While many people across the nation were struggling from the financial challenges caused by COVID-19, Mr. Makki used it as an opportunity to exploit pandemic relief programs for his own gain,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is committed to disrupting schemes that defraud government-sponsored assistance programs by working with our committed law enforcement partners. We would like to express our gratitude to them for their assistance in this case." Sentencing is set for February 6, 2024 before Judge Edmunds. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip A. Ross. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.


title: Perry County Woman Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. — A Hazard, Ky., woman, Sherry L. Spencer, 46, was sentenced to 190 months in federal prison on Monday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to Spencer’s plea agreement, on July 26, 2022, law enforcement conducted a search of her residence and located over 1,344 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun in proximity to the methamphetamine. Additionally, law enforcement found another loaded handgun and an AR-15 style rifle. Spencer admitted that she possessed these firearms for protection in furtherance of her drug trafficking. Under federal law, Spencer must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Trimble prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. – END –


title: U.S. Attorney announces more than $5.1 million in funding to Southern District of Ohio during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – As part of its monthlong observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio is proud to announce that the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded more than $5.1 million in the district to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. “This is a time to center the experiences of survivors, honor those who lost their lives to domestic violence; express gratitude to the countless individuals in the movement to end violence; and raise awareness on the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. Data from the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals. The announced grants will reach historically marginalized communities, underserved communities, college and university campuses, rural towns, culturally specific communities, and more. The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, improving survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes. Specifically, the Southern District of Ohio received the following approximate funds for the 2023 fiscal year: State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program Ohio Domestic Violence Network: $108,000 Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence: $232,500 This program enhances the coordination between courts, child protective services agencies, advocates, law enforcement, and community programs to encourage trauma-informed, survivor-centered responses to domestic violence and sexual assault. Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program City of Columbus: $800,000 Ohio Supreme Court: $1 million Funding from this grant is used to promote coordinated community responses among law enforcement agencies, courts, victim service providers, and other system partners. Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program (Culturally Specific Program) Ohio Hispanic Coalition: $400,000 These dollars are designated to help community-based organizations develop culturally relevant programs specific to American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black, Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Tribal communities to support survivors. Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Assistance Program (Rural Program) Ohio Hispanic Coalition: $500,000 Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program: $750, 000 This funding supports programs by local government, community-based organizations, and medical providers in rural areas to improve the safety of survivors. Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program (Campus Program ) Otterbein $400,000 Central State University $494,600 This funds colleges and universities to develop and strengthen effective security and investigation strategies for such crimes and to develop prevention education and awareness programs. In addition, OVW awarded to Central State University under the new Strengthening Culturally Specific Campus’ Approaches to Address Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative to support new programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). Research and Evaluation Initiative University of Cincinnati: $499,900 This money supports researcher-practitioner partnerships and a broad range of research and evaluation methods to generate more knowledge about effective strategies to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and hold offenders accountable. “Every day, a vast network of dedicated individuals helps domestic violence survivors access multiple pathways to safety, justice, and healing,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “OVW understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addressing domestic violence. These funds will enable communities to increase capacity and strengthen a coordinated community approach to prevent and address violence in more comprehensive ways tailored to their communities. Together, with our grantees, we are building a future where individuals and families can live and thrive without the threat of intimate partner violence.” OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw . # # #


title: Tennessee Men Sentenced for Illegal Harvest of Crappie in Mississippi

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: Oxford, MS – Two Tennessee men were sentenced today to a total of $10,550 in fines and restitution for the illegal harvest of crappie from the Enid Lake Spillway. According to court documents, Jian Wu Huang, 50, and Qiu M Huang, 44, both of Lakeland, Tennessee, pled guilty to one count of taking more than the daily bag limit of crappie from the Enid Lake Spillway on January 1, 2023. While fishing together, the two men caught a total of 171 crappie, which is 141 more fish than the allowed creel limit of 15 crappie each. The men were also using over-sized hooks and in excess of the maximum number of hooks allowed per line. U.S. Magistrate Judge David A. Sanders ordered each defendant to pay a fine of $1,000 as well as restitution to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in the amount of $4,275. In addition to the fine and restitution, each defendant was placed on probation for a period of one year, during which time each defendant will be prohibited from fishing anywhere in the world and banned from all Corps of Engineers property in the Northern District of Mississippi as a condition of their probation. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Stephen Clark stated, “We are committed to working collaboratively with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. The illegal take and interstate transport of a state trust species is a violation of federal law and will be investigated and prosecuted. We will continue to work closely with our state partners to conduct these criminal investigations.” MDWFP Colonel Jerry Carter remarked, “We appreciate the collaborative investigative efforts of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and prosecution of this case by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We will continue to work with our federal partners to conserve and protect Mississippi’s natural resources by utilizing all investigative tools available to ensure that those who choose to violate the laws of this state are investigated and prosecuted accordingly.” This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Robert Mims. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encourages members of the public to report allegations of wildlife crimes to the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement via the Wildlife Crime Tips page at https://www.fws.gov/wildlife-crime-tips or via phone at 1-844-FWS-TIPS (1-844-397-8477).


title: Federal grand jury indicts 10 defendants in large drug trafficking ring

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury returned a 16-count indictment charging 10 defendants with running a large-scale drug trafficking ring in Alaska. According to the indictment, Christina Reyna Quintana, 38, Angela Marie Jasper, 39, Amber Young, 28, Rochelle Monique Wood, 37, James Anthony Schwarz, 41, Elroy Daniel Bouchard, 58, Khamthene Thongdy, 45, Colleen McDaniel, 68, Tamberlyn Solomon, 25, and Lois Jean Frank, 63, engaged in a conspiracy to traffic at least 12 kilograms of fentanyl into Alaska. The indictment also charges Jasper, Wood, Schwarz, Bouchard, Thongdy, McDaniel and Solomon with laundering money to promote drug trafficking and concealing the source of the funds. Court documents identify 37 separate money laundering transactions, including some made internationally to Mexico, between August 2022 and July 2023. During the entirety of the conspiracy, Quintana has been an inmate at Hiland Mountain Correctional Facility in Eagle River, Alaska. She is serving a 22-and-a-half-year prison sentence following a federal conviction for traveling from California to Sitka, Alaska, in 2018 and shooting a woman in both kneecaps over drug debt. The indictment charges Quintana with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, which carries a mandatory life sentence, alleging that Quintana was a principal administrator, organizer, supervisor and leader of a criminal enterprise. The other defendants also face a maximum possible penalty of life imprisonment. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge David F. Reames of the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Division made the announcement. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the FBI Anchorage Field Office, Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Division, IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office, U.S Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department and Palmer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Schroeder, Alana Weber and Stephan Collins are prosecuting the case. This investigation and prosecution were part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), which 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. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### Update - This release has been updated to add an investigating agency.


title: DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. On Saturday, October 28th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Location information is available from the DEA, along with items that cannot be accepted. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. This October’s event is DEA’s 24 th nationwide event since its inception 11 years ago. Last spring, Americans turned in nearly 663,725 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 4,955 sites operated by the DEA and 4,497 from its state and local law enforcement partners. The DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium-ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium-ion batteries. Concerns have been raised across the United States over illnesses and deaths caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. To support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially among America’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances. The DEA’s “Take Back” day and “Get Smart About Drugs” initiatives address the vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses because of these drugs. Synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, are the primary driver of the increase in overdose deaths. For information on DEA’s “Take Back” in Spanish , click here , or for more information on the “Get Smart About Drugs” publication, click for English or Spanish . In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 11,000 authorized collectors that are available all year long. For more information, visit DEA’s year-round collection site locator . Participating in the next DEA Take Back Day on Saturday, October 8th, simply means cleaning out your medicine cabinet or anywhere you keep unused, unwanted, or expired medications and dropping them off at your nearest collection site. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28th Take Back day event, go to DEA Drug Take Back event or by calling 800-882-9539. The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: English or Spanish . ###


title: Florida Man Sentenced To Fifteen Years’ Imprisonment For Fentanyl Trafficking, International Money Laundering, And Possession Of A Firearm In Furtherance Of Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Luis Mojica Rojas (46, Zephyrhills) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, conspiracy to commit international money laundering, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The court also ordered Mojica Rojas to forfeit $90,000, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Mojica Rojas was arrested on May 9, 2022, detained, and pleaded guilty on July 19, 2023. According to court records, on May 9, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Mojica Rojas’s residence. Inside the master bedroom, agents located an AR-15 assault pistol and a loaded drum magazine for an AR-15. DNA testing of the firearm confirmed that Mojica Rojas possessed it. Cocaine was also found in the master bathroom. Agents seized over 780 grams of suspected fentanyl in powdered form and another 102 grams of counterfeit prescription drugs containing suspected fentanyl from a shed and camper in the backyard. In total, law enforcement seized over two kilograms of fentanyl associated with the conspiracy. In August 2021, Mojica Rojas met with an undercover law enforcement officer to launder $90,000 in drug proceeds on behalf of a coconspirator. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and the Plant City Police Department. 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. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.


title: Latin King gang member convicted of sex trafficking, obstruction and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Oct. 25, a federal jury convicted a Latin King gang member of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; obstruction of sex trafficking enforcement, and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering. The convictions followed a seven-day jury trial in front of Chief District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga in Miami. Jason Wagner, aka “King Ace,” 41, of Miami, Florida, forced several women to engage in commercial sex since as early as 2003. To make his adult and underaged victims engage in commercial sex, Wagner locked them in his apartments, took their personal identification documents, subjected them to violence and threats of violence, and provided them with drugs. Wagner initially came to the attention of law enforcement after a woman alerted a good Samaritan that she was being held hostage in Wagner’s home. After Wagner’s arrest in this case, he repeatedly asked the woman to drop the charges and refuse to testify in court. Sentencing is set on Jan. 12, 2024, at 8:30 a.m., in Miami. Wagner faces up to life in prison. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, and Interim Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), announced the guilty verdict. HSI Miami, in partnership with MDPD’s Human Trafficking Squad and the South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lacee Elizabeth Monk and Jessica Kahn Obenauf prosecuted it. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate better, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org . The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration, or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential, and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously. To learn more about the National Resource Hotline, visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking, visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . 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 22-cr-20124. ###