title: Grand jury indicts 14 members of Thug Riders Motorcycle Club

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury here has indicted the Midwest Regional “boss” and 13 other members of the “outlaw motorcycle gang” known as the Thug Riders Motorcycle Club (TRMC). The indictment alleges that the TRMC operated a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in acts of violence like murder, arson and assault. Members also allegedly participated in extortion and identity fraud. The indictment was returned on June 11. Federal and local law enforcement officials arrested all 14 defendants yesterday. According to the indictment, members of the TRMC Dayton chapter engaged in overt acts in support of their enterprise, including: blowing up a former member’s vehicle in Huber Heights in May 2021; killing a man during a September 2021 shootout in Harrison Township; shooting more than 190 live gunfire rounds into a rival motorcycle gang’s clubhouse in Lexington, Kentucky, in April 2023; threatening and extorting former gang members; breaking the leg of a patron at Toby’s Tavern in Dayton in June 2023; attacking a rival gang member at Chris’s Band Box in Dayton in July 2023; engaging in a shootout at a Springfield, Ohio, motorcycle gang’s clubhouse in March 2024; and physically assaulting members of another motorcycle gang in London, Ohio, in May 2024. Individuals charged in the indictment are: Name Also Known As Age City of residence Juan A. Robles Juan the Man 45 Phoenix, Arizona Joey A. Marshall King Joe, Diesel 44 Xenia, Ohio Jared T. Peters Savage 37 Dayton, Ohio Brandon W. Fisher Road Runner 26 Piqua, Ohio John A. Smith Chaos 37 Dayton, Ohio Norman D. Beach Stormin’ Normin’ 49 Dayton, Ohio Michael S. Henry Brutal 40 Xenia, Ohio Daniel B. Hutton Havok 39 Fairborn, Ohio Michael L. Reese Butcher 44 Miamisburg, Ohio Matthew J. Hawkins Hawk 32 Pequea, Pennsylvania Joseph M. Rader Delta 32 Richmond, Kentucky Justin J. Baker Wild Boy 29 Columbus, Ohio Cody D. Hughes Tater 28 Columbus, Ohio Brent A. Egleston Be Easy 36 Xenia, Ohio Court documents detail that the TRMC established a Dayton chapter in late 2019. Robles was allegedly instrumental in the creation of the local chapter and is currently the Midwest Regional “boss.” The Dayton chapter maintained clubhouses on Stanley Avenue in Dayton and on Lodge Avenue in Harrison Township. Robles, Marshall, Peters, Fisher and Smith have each allegedly held leadership roles in the TRMC. Specifically, Marshall served as the Midwest Regional “sergeant at arms”; Peters served as the president of the Dayton chapter; Fisher served as the “sergeant at arms” of the Dayton chapter; and Smith served as “enforcer” of the Dayton chapter. The Dayton chapter and Midwest Region are both part of the domestic and international outlaw TRMC motorcycle gang that was originally founded in 2003, and remains a violent gang today located throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Morocco, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Germany and the United Kingdom. According to the indictment, the Midwest Region is made up of chapters in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Midwest Regional chapter meetings are held regularly and are referred to as “church.” Only full or “patched” TRMC members are allowed to attend “church.” Members pay regular dues and fines to the motorcycle gang. Chapters and Regions fall under the ultimate authority of the national president who sits at the so-called “mother chapter” in Newark, New Jersey. Count one of the indictment charges Robles, Marshall, Peters, Fisher, Smith, Beach and Henry with racketeering (RICO) conspiracy. The indictment’s remaining three counts charge defendants with assaults, attempted assaults and conspiracy to commit assaults. The racketeering conspiracy as charged in this case is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; John K. Nokes, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Louisville Field Division; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; and Huber Heights Police Chief Mark Lightner announced the indictment today. The Springfield, Columbus, Riverside, Fairborn, Xenia, Lexington and Richmond police departments; Greene, Miami and Clark county sheriff’s offices; Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol contributed to the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Dwight Keller and Elizabeth L. McCormick are representing the United States in this case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and gangs that threaten the United States 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. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Releases Public Service Announcement for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: New Haven – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has released a public service announcement to draw attention to the abuse and neglect affecting older people, and to ask the public to assist law enforcement in preventing elder fraud and abuse. The public service announcement is available here : “One in 10 people over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse, and the AARP has reported that an estimated $28.3 billion is lost to elder fraud scams each year,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery. “While my office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, particularly by financial exploitation, we need help from the public. Please report suspected elder abuse to the police or by calling the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Together we can better protect the older adults in our lives, and bring to justice those who do them harm.” Additional information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice . The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: Rebecca C. Lutzko, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, joins national, state, and local leaders in recognizing June 15, 2024, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Since 2006, leaders and organizations around the world have commemorated this day to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse and the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Lutzko emphasized the importance of awareness and education. “Elder abuse often takes the form of fraud. Together with our law enforcement partners, we aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals, organizations, and networks who lie to older adults in our community, attempting to steal money from them through a scam,” said U.S. Attorney Lutzko. “Every day, more and more scammers pretend to call or email from a government entity or well-known business and attempt to obtain personal identity and financial information from older adults and others, which they then use to commit financial crimes. We hope that by bringing awareness to this issue, more of us will look out for our family and friends who might be the target of such a crime, and report it to federal, state, or local authorities.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person who is in or creates a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Justice Department’s Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force includes federal and state agencies that work together to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. This initiative also provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech-support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Some fraudsters take a different tack in abusing older adults, using them as unwitting money mules to move the proceeds of illegal activity that they have already committed. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money from the scammers' crimes, in ways that avoid notice. Scammers might recruit people to act as money mules through online job ads or social media postings, seeking people to send or receive money or packages, or to open accounts and forward money. The Justice Department’s Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses this type of activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people learn how to recognize the signs of suspicious activity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder-abuse crimes that touch our District. Most recently, the Office prosecuted a case in which two men ran a “grandparent scam ” where they pretended to be a relative, or an attorney for a relative, and claimed that the family member needed money for bail to get out of jail. This scheme caused the victims a combined loss of more than $383,932. In another case, a lottery scheme took more than $260,000 from older adults. The fraudsters contacted people by mail or phone and told them that they had won a lottery or sweepstakes. But they required the victims to pay upfront fees or taxes to claim the purported “prize.” In yet another instance, the Office prosecuted a woman for forging the victim’s signature on a power of attorney form so she could take money from the victim’s financial accounts. In each case, these fraudsters caused older adults and their families financial loss and emotional turmoil. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides periodic Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and tell victims that there has been suspicious activity in connection with their social security account, or that their account is suspended, and claim that the victim must provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems. They then ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer and the fraudster will lie and say their computer has a problem, and then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services to fix the “problem.” In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the Department’s elder-justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . In addition, representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio periodically speak about elder-fraud issues at community presentations throughout northern Ohio. If an organization is interested in coordinating such a presentation, they can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (216) 622-3600 or at usaohn.contact@usdoj.gov . Finally, if you observe something that you believe might be fraudulent conduct involving an older adult, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov to report it.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on June 11 was: Ashley Jocelyn Cortez, 24, of Box Elder, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cortez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charges, and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge. Cortez was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Havre Police Department, Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-46. Brooke Olson Newton, 29, of Bainville, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Newton faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Newton was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Valley County Sheriff’s Office, Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Peck Police Department and Williston, N.D., Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-35. Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on June 13 was: Kyle Thomas Ball, 22, of Billings, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction and possession of firearm with obliterated serial number. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ball faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Ball was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-64. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Justice Department Announces Anticipated Distribution of at Least $940M to Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism in 2025

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Today, Special Master Mary Patrice Brown announced that she will authorize fifth-round payments for all eligible claims in the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (the Fund) by Jan. 1, 2025. The Fund, which continues to collect deposits, anticipates that the fifth distribution will be at least $940 million. The amounts available for this distribution come from qualifying federal enforcement actions, including United States v. Binance Holdings Limited . “The Criminal Division is proud to administer the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which has provided more than $6 billion to victims of state sponsored terrorism since its founding. As announced today, that total will grow to nearly $7 billion in 2025,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division, through our Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section’s Bank Integrity Unit, is committed to prosecuting financial institutions and individuals whose anti-money laundering and sanctions violations threaten our financial system and national security. I’m proud of the work the section has done to hold accountable those who do business with state sponsors of terrorism and to support victims through its administration of the Fund.” The Fund was established by Congress and is administered by the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), under the leadership of the Special Master. To date, the Fund has paid more than $6 billion to thousands of victims of state-sponsored terrorism and their families in four rounds of distributions and one round of lump-sum catch-up payments. The anticipated distribution announced today is in addition to these prior distributions. Apart from an initial appropriation of approximately $1 billion from Congress and additional Congressional appropriations for lump sum catch-up payments, funds available for distributions result from certain Justice Department prosecutions and cases and other U.S. government enforcement actions. In November 2023, the department announced that Binance Holdings Limited (Binance) agreed to plead guilty to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, money transmitting business registration requirements, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Bank Integrity Unit (BIU) of the Criminal Division’s MLARS, the National Security Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington led the investigation and prosecution of Binance. Binance admitted to prioritizing growth and profits over compliance with U.S. law, including by failing to register as a money transmitting business, failing to implement an effective anti-money laundering program, and failing to implement controls that would have prevented U.S. customers from transacting with customers in sanctioned jurisdictions, including Iran, which is designated as a state sponsor of terrorism. Binance agreed to forfeit $898 million as a result of its violation of IEEPA. Today, the department announced that MLARS has determined that the full amount of Binance’s IEEPA forfeiture qualifies for deposit into the Fund. The Fund continues to accept applications from potential new victim claimants. As the Special Master announced, the deadline for new claimants to submit applications to be considered for fifth-round payments is July 1. Claimants who were eligible for payments in prior rounds remain eligible for the fifth distribution and should not complete new applications. More information about the Fund’s compensation to victims of state sponsored terrorism is available on the Fund’s website at www.usvsst.com , including application materials, frequently asked questions, and publications.


title: Group of Check Fraudsters Sentenced in Federal Court

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Several defendants from Mobile were sentenced for their roles in an organized scheme to commit bank fraud. Two leaders of the scheme were each sentenced to serve eight years in federal prison. According to court documents, Thomas Charles Bridges, 21, Errol Michael Gilyot, 22, and several codefendants committed widespread bank fraud between November 2021 and April 2023 involving checks stolen from the U.S. mail, which the defendants later altered and deposited at various financial institutions. The fraudulent checks bore the personal identifying information of numerous victim businesses and individuals in the Mobile area and elsewhere. Bridges, Gilyot, and their coconspirators used social media and other means to recruit individuals with accounts at various banks, who provided their account information, debit cards, and other support to further the scheme. Victims of the scheme suffered more than $187,000 in financial losses. For example, in September and October 2022, bank surveillance video captured Bridges making dozens of fraudulent transactions involving counterfeited checks in the Mobile area. On October 12, 2022, police stopped Bridges and Gilyot in a vehicle after they attempted a fraudulent transaction at a bank branch in Mobile. During that stop, police seized more than $4,700 in cash and debit cards belonging to other people. Later, on October 18, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Bridges’s house in Mobile, seizing a laptop, a printer, several counterfeited checks, and more debit cards belonging to other people. Agents executed numerous search warrants and obtained voluminous text messages and social media communications between and among Bridges, Gilyot, their codefendants, and others discussing the scheme and recruiting others to take part in it. Additionally, latent fingerprint analysts found Bridges’s and Gilyot’s fingerprints on checks that federal law enforcement obtained from victim banks during the course of the investigation. At sentencing, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer reviewed evidence that Bridges and Gilyot continued committing check fraud while they were subject to the court’s release conditions. In addition to their 96-month prison terms, Judge Moorer ordered Bridges and Gilyot to serve five year terms of supervised release upon their release from prison, during which time they will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Bridges and Gilyot to pay $187,941.36 in victim restitution jointly and severally with their codefendants, and a total of $200 in special assessments. The court also forfeited $5,741 and several electronic devices to the United States. For their roles in the scheme, the court sentenced Bridges’s and Gilyot’s codefendants as follows: LiJordan Alexander Lucas (60 months); Tranealius Lashun Abrams (57 months); Emerson Trevaun Striveson, Jr. (33 months); Ashir Davonte-Jovonta Hogue (24 months); and Amartinez Carson (one day). The court also ordered each of those defendants to serve supervised release terms and pay restitution and special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, Mobile Police Department, Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and Jackson Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Georgia CPA Pleads Guilty to Promoting Syndicated Conservation Easement Tax Scheme Involving Fraudulent Charitable Deductions

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Georgia man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and filing a false personal tax return related to his participation in the promotion and sale of abusive syndicated conservation easement tax shelters. According to court documents and statements made in court, Herbert Lewis was a CPA and return preparer at an Atlanta-based accounting firm. Beginning at least in 2014 and through at least 2019, Lewis promoted and sold tax deductions to his wealthy clients in the form of units in illegal syndicated conservation easement tax shelters organized and created by co-defendants Jack Fisher, James Sinnott and others. For their involvement in the scheme, Fisher and Sinnott were sentenced in January to 25 and 23 years in prison respectively. According to the superseding indictment, the scheme entailed the creation of partnerships that would purchase land and land-owning companies and then donate conservation easements over that land or the land itself. Appraisers would allegedly generate fraudulent and inflated appraisals of the conservation easements that frequently valued the easements at amounts at least 10 times higher than the price actually paid by the partnership for the land or land-owning company – often just months prior to the appraisals. As the superseding indictment charged, the partnerships claimed a charitable contribution tax deduction based on the inflated value of the conservation easement, resulting in a fraudulent tax deduction flowing to the clients who purchased units in the partnership. According to court documents and statements made in court, Lewis knew that, contrary to law, the transactions related to these illegal tax shelters lacked economic substance; that his wealthy clients participated only to obtain a tax deduction and that his clients received only a tax benefit for their participation in the shelters. For example, a client who purchased units in a partnership had a “vote” ostensibly on what to do with the land the partnership owned. However, Lewis knew that the “vote” held by the partnership each year was just for optics and that the land invariably would be donated largely as a conservation easement. In some cases, to make it appear that his clients had joined the partnerships before the date of the conservation easement donation, which was necessary to claim the tax benefits, Lewis also instructed and caused his clients to falsely backdate documents – such as subscription agreements and checks – related to the partnerships. In 2019 alone, Lewis assisted 15 clients with claiming false deductions on their 2018 returns. In total, Lewis assisted in the preparation of tax returns that claimed nearly $14 million in false deductions based on backdated documents, causing a tax loss to the IRS of nearly $5 million. Lewis earned over $1 million in commissions for his role in promoting and selling the illegal tax shelters to clients. Lewis also concealed the amount of commissions he had earned from selling units in these shelters by not fully reporting the commissions on his personal returns and instead fraudulently reporting commission income he had earned as income on the tax returns of nominee entities in his children’s names. Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and three years in prison for the charge of filing false tax returns. Lewis also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. To date, in addition to the convictions of Fisher and Sinnott noted above, eight additional defendants have pleaded guilty to criminal conduct related to the syndicated conservation easement tax shelter scheme, including appraiser Walter Douglas “Terry” Roberts, CPAs Stein and Corey Agee, CPA Ralph Anderson, CPA James Benkoil, CPA Victor Smith, CPA William Tomasello and CPA and Attorney Randall Lenz. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia and IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Guy Ficco made the announcement. They thanked U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina for her office’s assistance. IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Richard M. Rolwing, Parker Tobin, Jessica Kraft, Grace Albinson and Nicholas J. Schilling Jr., of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Huber, Deputy Chief of the Complex Frauds Section, for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.


title: US Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: Department of Justice

body_text: GREENSBORO – Sandra Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina (USAO-MDNC), joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Hairston emphasized the importance of awareness and education. “One in ten people over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse, with cases still widely underreported,” said U. S. Attorney Hairston. “Billions of dollars are lost to elder fraud scams each year. The USAO-MDNC and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, including by financial exploitation. These crimes are reprehensible, and we will use all of the tools available to us under the law to seek justice for our citizens.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators by falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security numbers for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the Justice Department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . The Middle District of North Carolina continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov. # # #


title: Oklahoma City Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Impede Federal Tax Laws

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – KEVIN LANE BIERIG , of Oklahoma City, has pleaded guilty to corruptly endeavoring to obstruct or impede the due administration of the federal tax laws, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On April 4, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Indictment against Bierig, charging him with one count of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct or impede the due administration of the federal tax laws and three counts of failing to file a tax return. According to the Indictment, Bierig has not filed a tax return since at least 2005, despite being required to do so based on his level of income. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) initiated enforcement action in 2013, which included the collection of levied funds from Bierig’s paychecks. Court documents allege that beginning in 2017, Bierig, knowing of the IRS enforcement actions, forged the signature of an IRS revenue officer onto IRS forms, including an IRS Installment Agreement and an IRS Release of Levy, in an attempt to have levied funds paid to himself rather than be sent to the IRS. On June 13, 2024, Bierig pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment. As part of his plea, Bierig admitted that he has earned substantial income since 2004, yet has not filed a federal tax return since that year. He further admitted that he knew the IRS had been investigating him since at least 2017, and that the IRS was attempting to collect the delinquent taxes. He admitted he forged official IRS forms and sent the fraudulent forms to his billing company in an effort to have the frozen funds sent to himself instead of the IRS. At sentencing, Bierig faces to up three years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Kinston Man Sentenced for Distributing Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Kinston man was sentenced today to 240 months imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release for distributing child pornography following a multi-agency investigation showing that the man had possessed and/or distributed at least 132 images and 43 videos of child pornography often involving children under the age of 12. Martin Sutton, age 54, pled guilty to the charge on February 7, 2024. The defendant was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to one known victim. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Sutton was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies in June and November of 2020 after receiving reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that he had uploaded child pornography to two different Dropbox accounts. Furthermore, in February 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Utah conducted an online, covert investigation on Kik social media locating individuals trading child pornography in chat groups. They identified Sutton as being part of a group sharing child pornography. The FBI undercover agent engaged in a conversation with Sutton who ended up sending child pornography to the agent. In March 2021, a Homeland Security Task Force Officer from the Boone Police Department, engaged in an undercover operation, also located Sutton distributing child pornography in a different Kik chat group. Arrest warrants were issued for Sutton based on the totality of the investigations, and he was arrested in June 2021. When he was arrested, Sutton denied any involvement in child sexual exploitation. He claimed someone had stolen his identity and was engaged in the criminal conduct. His cellular device was seized and searched. A forensic analysis showed images and videos of child pornography present on his phone including images of a child that had been entrusted to Sutton’s care. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II presided over the sentencing. The Pitt County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-55-M.


title: North Dakota US Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: Information and vigilance remain key elements to preventing elder abuse. BISMARCK : – Mac Schneider, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Schneider emphasizes the importance of awareness and education. The District of North Dakota partners with North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services, and with our local, state, federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to proactively identify possible victims of abuse, fraudulent financial scams, or other family and/or non-family financial exploitation of someone who might be a vulnerable adult. “Criminals who target seniors aren’t just taking money, they’re often stealing the fruits of a lifetime of hard work,” Schneider said. “Whether it is a family member engaged in elder abuse or an overseas schemer, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota is committed to prosecuting those who prey on senior citizens. Outside of the courtroom, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to educate North Dakotans on how to avoid being caught in a scam and protect their assets.” “North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services (APS) is dedicated to addressing the safety of vulnerable adults who are at-risk of harm due to the presence or threat of abuse, neglect or exploitation,” HHS Adult and Aging Services Assistant Director Michelle Gayette said. “We are grateful for our partners in law enforcement and multidisciplinary teams who help us address reported concerns. Information on how to file a report can be found at hhs.nd.gov/reporting . If someone is in immediate danger, contact law enforcement first before making a report to Adult Protective Services.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . The District of North Dakota continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners, and North Dakota Health and Human Services Adult Protective Services to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. A recent prosecution of a Woman who was Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $134,000 from Her Elderly Mother-in-law and Father-in-law can be seen here . To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov. # # #


title: Plymouth Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison in Connection with July 2021 Shooting

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A Plymouth man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon that he allegedly used to shoot a rival gang member on the afternoon of Sunday, July 25, 2021. On March 12, 2024, Melvin Donnell Gilliam, age 35, pled guilty to the charges. “We’re meeting gun violence head on, working side by side with local law enforcement to dismantle violent gangs and get shooters off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Many thanks to the FBI and our local partners for helping to keep our streets safe all across North Carolina. We’ll keep up the work until every community can live, work, and play in peace.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, Gilliam, a member of the Nine-Trey Bloods and another individual went to a home in the White City neighborhood of Plymouth, where two members of a rival gang, the Eight-Trey Crips, were located. Gilliam engaged in a verbal altercation with the rivals and then brandished a firearm as the other man he arrived with knocked one of the rivals to the ground. Gilliam is then alleged to have opened fire at one of the rivals, striking him in the back and left thigh. When officers arrived, they discovered a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol with blood on it in a trashcan in the backyard of the residence where the shooting took place. Officers also found three shell casings that matched the gun in the trashcan. The N.C. State Crime Lab tested the blood on the firearm and hypothesized that it was much more likely Gilliam’s DNA than not. Gilliam is charged in state court with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm within city limits, assault with a deadly weapon and being a habitual felon. These charges remain pending. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-CR-16-FL.


title: United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross for the Middle District of Alabama, joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Since 2006, this day has promoted awareness of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Ross emphasized the importance of awareness and education. “Far too often, seniors are targeted by fraudsters and criminals,” stated United States Attorney Ross. “Every day, they are bombarded by fraud schemes, scams, and abuse, both physical and mental. Protecting the elderly and preventing their exploitation is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners. I encourage the public to learn the signs of elder abuse and exploitation and to check on our older friends and loved ones regularly.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. The Middle District of Alabama continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. In a recent example, the U.S. Attorney’s Office recently prosecuted a Montgomery man for a home remodeling scam that targeted multiple elderly victims. Thanks to our law enforcement partners involved in that investigation, the defendant received a sentence of over six years in prison and was ordered to pay nearly $370,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.


title: Five Lowcountry Individuals Sentenced for Role in COVID-19 Loan Fraud

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Five of eight individuals who were charged for their role in a COVID-19 loan fraud scheme were sentenced this week. In March 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to help businesses impacted by COVID-19 to continue paying their employees. Pursuant to the CARES Act, there were two sources of relief. One was through a program called the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and a second was through Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). The CARES Act also authorized the SBA to issue emergency advances, also referred to as grants, of up to $10,000.00 depending on the number of employees a small business employed. Evidence presented to the court showed that the below individuals, and their co-defendants, devised and participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration, and its approved third-party lenders, in their application and receipt of PPP loan funds and EIDL advances. The evidence introduced showed that these individuals submitted fraudulent loan documents, which included the creation of fraudulent companies as well as the submission of falsified tax documentation, to induce the SBA and its third-party lenders to fund the loans. Between the eight individuals charged, three EIDL advances, and 12 PPP Loans were funded by the SBA or their approved third-party lenders for a total of $295,841.00 in loans. The five individuals sentenced this week were: Staci Harley, 41, of Summerville, was sentenced to three years after pleading guilty to wire fraud; Anthony Harley, 40, of North Charleston, who was an inmate incarcerated with the South Carolina Department of Corrections at the time he committed these offenses, was sentenced to two years after pleading guilty to wire fraud; Benjamin Blue, 42, of Summerville, was sentenced to one year and one day after pleading guilty to wire fraud; Sheniqua Mitchell, 37, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 33 months after pleading guilty to wire fraud; Roberta Harley, 61, of North Charleston, received a time-served sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. “These sentencings mark another victory against this large-scale criminal operation that tormented the Charleston area with illegal drugs, guns, and financial crimes,” Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to prosecute those who threaten the safety of our communities with illegal trafficking rings.” “The Secret Service is diligent in our investigation and pursuit of those who engage in fraudulent criminal activity. We appreciate the commitment from our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to see that justice was served in this case,” said Resident Agent in Charge, Ben Stafford, of the Secret Service’s Charleston, SC Resident Office. “These sentencings reflect the seriousness with which the government handles financial crimes and should act as a warning to those who aspire to exploit government relief programs that are put in place to help those in need.” “These individuals deceptively lined their pockets with federally approved loans during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when so many struggling businesses tried to survive,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to the vigorous pursuit of justice against those who pose harm to our financial systems, and this outcome should send a strong message that offenders will be held fully accountable.” “This sentencing highlights a significant achievement in dismantling a criminal network engaged in fraudulent activities,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite. “Our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of SBA’s programs ensure that fraud is met with the full force of the law. I want to thank our U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their collaboration and dedication to pursing justice in this case.” “The City of Charleston Police Department is grateful for the collaboration with its federal partners and will continue to assist in bringing to justice Charleston area residents who commit these financial crimes,” said Charleston Police Deputy Chief Andre Jenkins. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced the five individuals and each of their sentences will be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The judge also ordered a total restitution in the amount of $286, 272.05 be paid. This case was brought through a joint investigation called Operation Trendsetter , announced in May 2023. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Bower and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the cases with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . This prosecution was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: Butler Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years of imprisonment on his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing heroin and 10 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fluorofentanyl and fentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Darnell Wynn, 44. According to information presented to the Court, on February 15, 2021, Wynn was identified by law enforcement as the shooter in an incident that had prompted multiple reports of shots fired. A search warrant executed upon Wynn’s Butler residence resulted in the seizure of Wynn’s wallet and a key to a car that was parked behind the residence. A separate search of that car’s trunk resulted in the seizure of a .40 caliber handgun loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition, additional .40 caliber ammunition, pistol magazines, approximately 170 grams of heroin, approximately 39 grams of a fluorofentanyl and fentanyl mixture, and Wynn’s debit card. A laboratory later confirmed that the shell casings recovered from the scene of the shooting had been discharged by the same firearm. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the City of Butler Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Wynn.


title: Groveton Man Arrested on Child Exploitation Charge

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Groveton man was arrested on a complaint charging a federal child exploitation offense, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Brandon Couture, 38, was charged with one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Couture was arrested on June 13, 2024, and will appear in federal court in Concord later today. According to the charging documents, Couture traveled from New Hampshire to Vermont where he picked up the minor female survivor and drove her back to New Hampshire with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with her. The charging statute provides a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life in prison. In addition, the charging statute provides for a minimum of five years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Northumberland Police Department and the Essex County, Vermont Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

body_text: CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young joined a multitude of national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and to increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. “Throughout the month of June, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has focused on raising awareness of financial exploitation and other fraud schemes targeting senior members of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Our message to the public throughout our engagement on social media and at external events has been clear: (1) if something sounds too good to be true then it is too good to be true; (2) NEVER give out your personal identifying information, including your date of birth, social security number or Medicare number, to someone you do not know; (3) if something feels off to you in a conversation - whether in person, online, or on the phone - do not be afraid to end the interaction and verify the information. Finally, please never feel ashamed or embarrassed if you are the victim of one of these crimes. Fraudsters are skilled and know exactly what to do to steal your hard-earned savings. Reporting any suspected abuse to law enforcement may be helpful in ensuring that no one else is victimized.” “On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day above all else, we want seniors and their families to know that you are not alone, and help is available if you or your loved ones are the victim of fraud or scams,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “HSI is proud to work with the Unites States Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire and our partners across the United States to fight Elder Fraud and other forms of abuse perpetrated against seniors in our communities. This effort needs help from all corners of society to succeed – public service, private sector, advocates, family, and friends. If you suspect Elder Fraud or Abuse is happening, report it.” “Elder financial exploitation – generally involving a known person who is deceiving and manipulating an older adult to steal from them – is a multi-billion dollar, and often unreported, crime. It is important to learn how to identify the signs of financial abuse and to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones,” said Christina Fitzpatrick the AARP New Hampshire State Director. “AARP provides this information as well as guidance for people who have been targeted. Visit aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork or call our helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusting relationship with the victim. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. Millions of older Americans become victims of financial fraud and financial exploitation each year. Scammers find and interact with their victims in public places, by knocking on their doors, and through the phone, internet, or mail. They use urgency to confuse their victims, and often request funds be transferred into cryptocurrency, gold bars, gift cards and other forms of currency that is harder to trace. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its investigative partners work collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign and domestic-based schemes that target older Americans, such as Romance Scams, Government Impersonation Scams, Grandparent Scams, and Construction Scams. For more information on federal cases in the District of New Hampshire related to elder financial exploitation and fraud, please visit: justice.gov/usao-nh/elder-justice . To view an Elder Fraud Public Safety Announcement by U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young and William Crogan, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations, please visit: youtube.com/watch?v=AbsKfWC69uc To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-1, visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov, or call Homeland Security Investigations at 877-4-HSI-TIP. ###


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced To 70 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Possession Of Machineguns And Ammunition

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – On June 12, 2024, U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Bernard Edwards, age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 70 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for the illegal possession of a machinegun and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department; and Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division. According to his plea agreement and court documents, on June 8, 2023, at approximately 12:25 a.m., an officer from the Baltimore Police Department (“BPD”) observed a gray 2019 Chevrolet Malibu with an expired temporary license plate and the BPD officer initiated a traffic stop and then observed what appeared to be a gray-colored assault rifle in plain view through the car’ rear passenger window. Edwards refused to exit the car when ordered and instead fled at high speed, leaving behind his license and registration with the officer. Once law enforcement located and obtained a warrant for Edwards’ residence, BPD searched and recovered five firearms and 1,168 rounds of ammunition from Edwards’ bedroom. Among the firearms recovered was a polymer AR pistol bearing no serial number (“ghost gun”) that was modified with a machine gun conversion device. Another firearm was a Glock handgun modified with a Glock switch. This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin. 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. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Baltimore Police Department and the ATF for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gordin, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago today joined federal, state, and local partners in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which seeks to increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse and the resources available to those at risk. Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a relationship of trust. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting perpetrators who target the elderly and other vulnerable individuals for abuse,” said Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, our office reminds seniors and their caregivers to remain constantly vigilant to detect and report fraudulent schemes.” “We know that the vast majority of elder abuse cases go unreported and that too many victims remain unseen,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “That is why the Department of Justice has aggressively targeted perpetrators of elder fraud and abuse, while providing victims with the support they need.” In the past five years, the Department of Justice has pursued more than 1,500 criminal and civil cases involving conduct that targeted or disproportionately affected older adults. The Department has also returned hundreds of millions of dollars to elder fraud victims. In the Northern District of Illinois, recent cases highlight the Department’s efforts to combat elder abuse: Last month, Chicago businessman MARK STEVEN DIAMOND pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge for bilking elderly homeowners in a home repair and reverse mortgage scheme. Diamond and the co-schemers targeted elderly victims based on the amount of equity in their homes and their relative lack of financial sophistication. Diamond is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024. In March, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seized suspected fraud proceeds of approximately $1.4 million of Tether (USDT) , a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar. The perpetrators, posing as tech support employees, informed victims who clicked on a computer popup that their bank accounts had been compromised. The perpetrators convinced the victims to convert money from traditional bank accounts into cryptocurrency to keep it “safe” from hackers. The scheme, which remains under investigation, impacted elderly victims throughout the U.S. SUZANA VUKANAC was indicted in December on money laundering charges for allegedly receiving and transferring more than $1 million in cash derived from telemarketing and other online fraud schemes. Vukanac’s co-conspirators allegedly sold non-existent goods to victims, including the elderly, and falsely posed as romantic partners in need of money. Vukanac has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. In the fight to combat elder abuse, the Department of Justice maintains a variety of programs and initiatives: The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. This initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, such as tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. The Money Mule Initiative addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. In a money mule scheme, scammers recruit unsuspecting people, many times older victims, to move money in ways that avoid notice. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about tactics used in specific schemes, such as Social Security Administration impostor schemes, tech support scams, and lottery scams. To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . To report elder fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311, or visit the FBI’s Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.


title: Penobscot Man Faces 10-20 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material Following Guilty Verdict

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Penobscot man was found guilty today of possession of child sexual abuse material. The verdict came after a one-and-a-half-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor with Judge Lance E. Walker presiding. According to evidence presented at trial, between May 2013 and April 2023, Kevin Lee Ross , 62, knowingly possessed child sexual abuse material. Ross was on supervised release for a 2014 conviction also for possession of child sexual abuse material when probation officers from Bangor searched his home and vehicle and found a cell phone, laptop computer, and external hard drive that contained child sexual abuse material, including both images and videos. Evidence showed that Ross had possessed the laptop and hard drive prior to serving his federal sentence and had started using the devices again where he was released from prison in 2021. Ross faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison followed by five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: 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 Department’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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Jefferson County man charged with federal violations in connection with postal carjacking

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

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been charged with federal violations related to a carjacking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Jody Lee Bass, 34, was named in a complaint on June 10, 2024, charging him with carjacking and assault on a federal officer. Bass appeared in federal court on June 12, 2024. According to information presented in court, on June 8, 2024, Bass approached a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service on Avenue F in Beaumont. Bass is alleged to have used a knife to rob the mail carrier of the USPS mail delivery truck while the victim was delivering mail on his route. Bass grabbed the mail carrier and attempted to stab him. The mail carrier escaped, and Bass drove off with the mail truck. This case is being prosecuted as part of the Eastern District of Texas’ Carjacking Task Force . If convicted of both charges, Bass faces up to 35 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross. A complaint or indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: United States Attorney Ritz Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, joins national, state, and local leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2024. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Ritz emphasized the importance of awareness and education. United States Attorney Ritz said: “My office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, including by financial exploitation. To protect those at risk, we need citizens’ help. Check in on older adults who may have few friends and family members and report any suspected abuse to law enforcement authorities.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI's IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov. # # # For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: U.S. Attorney Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore joined national, state, and local leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Saturday, June 15. Since 2006, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. “One in ten people over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse,” Moore said. “An estimated $28.3 billion is lost to elder fraud scams each year. My office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, including financial fraud or other forms of exploitation.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. For example, co-defendants Morgan Armstrong and Lance Becker will be sentenced this summer for stealing Social Security checks from residents of an assisted living facility in Platte City, Mo. In another case, defendant Henry Asomani was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a romance fraud conspiracy that stole over $3 million from more than a dozen victims across the United States. Some victims lost their retirement savings or were forced to declare bankruptcy. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, Moore emphasized the importance of awareness and education. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative website at www.justice.gov/elderjustice . To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.


title: Nigerian Man Admits to Role in Money Laundering and Passport Fraud Conspiracies

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Nigerian man, formerly of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to his role in separate schemes to launder criminal proceeds from fraud and obtaining a United States passport through false statements. Chukwunonso Obiora, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. United States District Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2024. Obiora was arrested on a complaint in October 2023 in Atlanta, Ga. and was ordered held pending trial. He was indicted in January 2024. According to the charging documents, between at least as early as March 2021 and May 2023, Obiora and several co-conspirators agreed to receive and withdraw the proceeds of business email compromises (BECs) from bank accounts that they controlled, and to direct those funds to other co-conspirators, in exchange for a cut of the criminal proceeds. BECs are a type of fraud scheme that targets companies that make regular business payments by wire. Cybercriminals use email to impersonate trusted parties to the payments in order to trick the victim companies into sending money to bank accounts controlled by participants in the scheme. The defendant’s money laundering conspiracy—of which he admitted to being a leader and organizer—involved the following steps: obtaining individual victims’ means of identification and using that information to create fake driver’s licenses, incorporate businesses and open bank accounts in the victims’ names; providing the bank accounts to co-conspirators involved in the BEC schemes as accounts to which victims could be tricked into sending wires; withdrawing money quickly from the bank accounts once the wire transfers arrived, before victim companies learned that they had been tricked into sending money; and depositing the proceeds into other accounts, and wiring BEC scheme proceeds to the defendant and others in Nigeria, China and elsewhere. The defendant and his co-conspirators took steps to conceal the existence of the conspiracy, including by forging business invoices and writing false memos on checks to suggest that the BEC scheme proceeds deposited into Destination Accounts were legitimate business revenues; and by making false statements to banks regarding the nature of the BEC scheme proceeds that were deposited into Destination Accounts. The defendant and his U.S.-based co-conspirators shared at least as much as 40 percent of the deposited BEC scheme proceeds as payment for their roles in the conspiracy. Across just two-plus years, the defendant and his co-conspirators engaged in at least $6.5 million in financial transactions involving the proceeds of BEC schemes. After immigration authorities removed the defendant from the United States in December 2021, he agreed with a close relative who is an American citizen to obtain a U.S. passport in the relative’s name, which the defendant could use to re-enter the United States illegally. The relative reported his passport lost or stolen and, in May 2023, applied for a new passport at a U.S. Post Office in Watertown, Mass.. The sworn application had the relative’s name on it, but a picture of the defendant. The relative sent the issued passport to the defendant, who, in October 2023, used the passport to travel from Nigeria to Detroit, Mich., where the defendant presented himself as his relative at the U.S. border. The charge of passport fraud conspiracy provides a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of the financial transactions that were the object of the conspiracy, forfeiture and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Washington man caught at Arlington mall pleads guilty to federal drug and firearms charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Washington man pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on Sept. 6, 2023, while conducting vehicle checks at the Pentagon City Fashion Centre garage, an Arlington County Police officer observed a vehicle speeding through the garage before parking in a handicap spot without a handicap sticker. The vehicle was registered to Willie Gene Thorne, 29, who had at least one outstanding arrest warrant from Pennsylvania. The officer inspected the vehicle and noticed a patch of aluminum foil with burn marks, a large bag of a white, powdery substance, two straws and a plastic bag containing several small baggies. The officer called for additional officers to assist. When Thorne returned to his vehicle, he initially resisted arrest before complying when threatened with a taser. In his waistband, Thorne had a loaded, stolen 9mm handgun. A search of the vehicle revealed, among other items, a bag containing 91 grams of fentanyl, a digital scale, a razor blade, and approximately 84 baggies. Thorne also had a straw with residue and approximately 100 baggies in his pants pocket. Thorne is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6 and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Charles “Andy” Penn, Arlington County Chief of Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Carter is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-123.


title: Anchorage man charged in bomb hoax at a federal building

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with allegedly making a false bomb threat at a federal building. According to court documents, on June 11, 2024, James Pearce, 40, falsely stated that he had placed explosive devices at the James Fitzgerald Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse and at six other locations around Anchorage. Pearce allegedly made these statements under circumstances where it may reasonably have been believed that the activity actually took place. He also allegedly made references to the terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and ISIS and the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. Pearce was arrested on-site, and the building was evacuated. Pearce is charged with one count of a bomb hoax at a federal building, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1038(a)(1). The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Anchorage Field Office and Homeland Security Investigation, Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. The Anchorage Police Department provided significant law enforcement support the day of the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Taylor and Mac Caille Petursson are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana, joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in recognizing Saturday, June 15, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Laslovich emphasized the importance of awareness and education. “Our office is committed to preventing abuse and neglect of older adults, and to prosecuting those who try to take advantage of them, whether physically, psychologically, or financially. I urge everyone to help us stop this abuse by checking in on older adults who may have few friends or family members, watching for unusual financial transactions, and reporting abuse or suspected abuse to local adult protective services, long-term care ombudsmen, or law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about tactics used in specific schemes. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . The District of Montana continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently prosecuted and convicted individuals in two cases involving elderly victims. In one case, a daughter was sentenced to prison for stealing more than $700,000 from her elderly mother while serving as her caregiver. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/daughter-who-stole-more-700000-elderly-mother-lewistown-while-serving-caregiver In another case, two men were sentenced to prison for their role in an India-based computer hacking scam that targeted elderly victims nationwide and stole $150,000 from a Kalispell woman. https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/india-based-computer-hacking-scam-targeted-elderly-across-country-and-stole-150000 To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov. XXX


title: Odessa Woman Indicted For Unlawfully Removing  Her Children From The United States

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Krupaben Himanshu Bhatt (37, Odessa) with international parental kidnapping. If convicted on all counts, Bhatt faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison. According to the indictment, in January of 2024, Bhatt unlawfully removed her two minor children from the United States with the intent to obstruct the parental rights of the father of the children. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.


title: Hampton felon returning to prison for federal firearm conviction

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on July 9, 2023, Jerry Stull, 56, was involved in an argument with a security guard outside the Alley nightclub in Newport News. During the argument, Stull lifted his shirt, pointed at the guard, and then ran away. When the guard shouted that Stull had a gun, a nearby Newport News Police officer pursued and apprehended Stull. Stull was in possession of a 9mm handgun. Stull has numerous previous convictions, including multiple grand larcenies, assault and battery, assault on a law enforcement officer, possession and distribution of controlled substances, child neglect, and five DUIs, and was on supervised probation when he was arrested on July 9, 2023. As a previously convicted felon, Stull cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; and Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson C. Yates, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyssa Levey-Weinstein and Marcus Johnson assisted in the prosecution of this case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-89.