title: Coordinator of Alien Smuggling Organization Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Juan Manuel Soto-Guzman, 41, of El Mirage, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 37 months in prison. Soto-Guzman pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit on January 23, 2024. Soto-Guzman was a United States-based human smuggling coordinator. For approximately 13 months, he worked with his brother Adulfo Soto-Guzman to coordinate the illegal entry and transportation of hundreds of undocumented non-citizens into the United States. During that time, Juan Soto-Guzman’s actions resulted in a large amount of illicit revenue for the smuggling organization. Adulfo Soto-Guzman was sentenced on January 31, 2024, to 27 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. In addition to their sentences, the brothers agreed to forfeit a Rolex watch, a Movado watch, currency, and gold medallions. This prosecution resulted from the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is part of JTFA, which was established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Task Force focuses on disrupting and dismantling smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse, exploit, or endanger migrants, pose national security threats, and are involved in organized crime. Homeland Security Investigations – Douglas Office conducted the investigation in this case, with significant assistance from the Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol Sonoita Sector, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement ERO Phoenix. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00386-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-048_Soto-Guzman # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Red Lake Man Sentenced to Prison for Domestic Assault as Habitual Offender

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison as a habitual offender, followed by three years’ supervised release, for violently assaulting another individual, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, in the late evening of April 9, 2023, Shawn Rene Lussier, 55, physically assaulted another individual in a hotel room at the Seven Clans Casino on the Red Lake Indian Reservation by repeatedly punching and kicking the individual. The assault caused serious bodily injury to the victim, including a one-inch laceration to the scalp that required stitches and left a scar, a bloody lip, and other body bruises, leaving blood stains throughout the hotel room and causing over $450.00 in property damage to the hotel room. According to court documents, Lussier has multiple Tribal Court convictions for Criminal Domestic Violence involving domestic assaults of several victims committed on separate occasions between May 2017 and December 2021, as well as various alcohol-related offenses. Lussier was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Michael J. Davis on one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.


title: Readout of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Trip to Eastern Shore, Maryland

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division traveled to the Eastern Shore of Maryland on April 8 to continue the division’s tour to engage with stakeholders in underserved communities and reaffirm the department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans. In the morning, Assistant Attorney General Clarke met with students and faculty at South Dorchester High School. She spoke about the history of the Justice Department’s founding in 1870 and provided an overview of the division’s recent efforts to enforce federal civil rights laws to ensure law enforcement accountability, combat hate crimes, protect the right to vote, and end modern-day redlining. After her remarks, she fielded questions from the students and faculty about local economic justice issues like homelessness and poverty, and highlighted opportunities to pursue careers in federal government and public service. Later that morning, Assistant Attorney General Clarke toured the Harriet Tubman Museum. Underground Railroad “conductor” Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross) was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1822. At this museum in downtown Cambridge – just a few miles from where Tubman grew up – dedicated local volunteers work to share Harriet Tubman’s story and preserve her legacy of strength, courage, and determination. After her visit to the museum, Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland visited North Dorchester High School. There, they met with students to discuss various forms of discrimination and the department’s efforts to protect their civil rights. Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Barron concluded the trip at the Harriet Tubman Freedom Center for a community meeting with civil rights stakeholders and local leaders, including Cambridge Mayor Stephen Rideout, Cambridge Police Chief Justin Todd, Paul Monteiro Jr., Maryland Secretary of Service & Civic Innovation and NAACP Maryland State President Rev. Kobi Little. During the meeting, Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Barron underscored their commitment to promoting justice and equity across the nine counties of the Eastern Shore, and highlighted the department’s recent efforts to address sexual harassment at a Maryland university , promote policing reform and other efforts including environmental justice, voting rights and more. In addition, they noted recent FBI data concerning hate crimes in Maryland, and underscored the department’s commitment to addressing hate crimes and hate incidents. As part of this tour, Assistant Attorney General Clarke has traveled to underserved communities in Georgia , Louisiana , Tennessee , Mississippi , Alabama , Florida , Arkansas and South Carolina to discuss the department’s efforts to protect civil rights. Assistant Attorney General Clarke speaks to students at South Dorchester High School. Assistant Attorney General Clarke visits the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center. Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron met with local leaders in Cambridge, Maryland.


title: Yakima Man Who Sold Pound Quantities of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl in the Yakima Valley Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Jesse Lee Johnson, 36, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Methamphetamine. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 120 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Johnson’s codefendant, Ronald Lee Ralston, was sentenced on February 27, 2024, to 138 months in prison and 5 years supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at trial and the sentencing hearing, the FBI developed information that Johnson and Ralston, were distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Ralston’s home in Selah, Washington. FBI Task Force members arranged for a confidential informant to set up a controlled buy at Ralston’s house. On May 4, 2023, the informant arrived at the home and tried to purchase methamphetamine from Ralston. However, Ralston said the methamphetamine he had on hand was spoken for and not for sale. While no sale took place that day, Ralston and Johnson were captured on video discussing future drug sales. On May 16, the informant returned to Ralston’s home and purchased one pound of methamphetamine and 100 pills of fentanyl from Ralston and Johnson for $2,000. Ralston also told the informant he could get any amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl with 24-hour notice. A search warrant was executed on June 7, 2023, at Ralston’s residence. In Ralston’s trailer, located on the property, law enforcement seized 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, other controlled substances, and two firearms. In the main residence, law enforcement officers seized another firearm and an additional half-pound of methamphetamine. “Mr. Johnson and Ralston were distributing large amounts of illicit drugs into our communities. Discovering and dismantling illegal drug supply chains is a main priority for my office,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I’m grateful for our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, who work closely with federal prosecutors to stop drug distributors and make Eastern Washington safer and stronger.” “The FBI and our partners are committed to removing deadly drugs from Washington state, which are so often accompanied by violent crime and addiction,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “This sentence should serve as a reminder that we will hold drug traffickers accountable and that these crimes have consequences.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, Customs and Border Protection and the Selah Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Swensen.


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A man who was arrested in St. Joseph, Mo., with more than 11 kilograms of methamphetamine in his vehicle pleaded guilty in federal court today to drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms. Mark Edmundson, 49, who has no known address, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Jan. 2, 2023, St. Joseph police officers located Edmundson at a gas station after receiving information from the Brown County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Department that he had been involved in a shooting there. The officer initiated his emergency lights and stopped his patrol vehicle directly behind Edmundson’s SUV. The SUV then backed into the officer’s vehicle. At that point, the officer pushed the SUV up to the building with his patrol car to prevent its escape. Edmundson stepped out of his vehicle and was arrested. When officers searched the vehicle, they found 25 vacuum-sealed bags that contained a total of nearly nine kilograms of methamphetamine in the back seat. Under the hood, officers found two more bags that contained approximately 901 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found an SCCY 9mm handgun between the center console and the front passenger seat. They found a Ruger 9mm handgun and two zip-lock bags that contained approximately 681 grams of methamphetamine in the back trunk section of the SUV. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Edmundson has prior felony convictions for delivering a controlled substance, tampering with a motor vehicle, and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Under federal statutes, Edmundson is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Gibson. It was investigated by the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Justice Department Sues Arkansas School District for Denying Temporary Remote Work as Reasonable Accommodation

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas against West Memphis School District (WMSD) for denying an employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation of temporary telework, in violation of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, which may include telework, when it does not pose an undue hardship to the employer. The lawsuit alleges that WMSD denied the request of a school science curriculum specialist with a disability temporary telework as a reasonable accommodation to avoid damage to her health. WMSD denied the request without discussing it, or possible alternative accommodations, with the employee. As a result of WMSD’s denial, the employee was forced to resign. “Telework is an important tool that has increased the ability of many people with disabilities to become or remain employed,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Employers must have a process in place to reasonably accommodate workers with disabilities, and they must work with those employees to consider options, including telework.” People with disabilities have historically faced many barriers to employment. Over the past several years, the feasibility of telework has increased, expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This matter is based on a referral from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Little Rock Area Office, which conducted the initial investigation. This matter is being handled by the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt . For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov . If you believe you’ve been discriminated against based on disability, please submit a report online at www.civilrights.justice.gov .


title: Lee’s Summit Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography, Sextortion Scheme

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a sextortion scheme in which he threatened victims, including minors, to extort them into sending him pornographic images and videos of themselves. Marek Redding, 20, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to two counts of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of extortion. Redding has been detained since his arrest and remains in federal custody pending his sentencing hearing. Redding, using fake female personas on a social media application, received nude photographs from multiple females, including minors, which he sold or offered to sell to others. According to court documents, some victims reported that Redding threatened to distribute or publicly post their images if they did not continue sending nude images, some of which constituted child pornography. By pleading guilty today, Redding admitted that he induced two minor victims to produce child pornography in January 2022 and March 2022, and that he distributed the child pornography. Redding also admitted that he transmitted threats to injure the reputation of an adult victim in April 2022 in order to obtain more photographs from the victim. According to court documents, the adult victim told investigators she had sent nude images to Redding. When she attempted to stop, Redding threatened to disclose her images to her family, school, and employer. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Redding and the government jointly request the court to impose a total sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department, the Grain Valley, Mo., Police Department, the Olathe, Kan., Police Department, and the FBI. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: FCC Petersburg corrections officer pleads guilty to taking bribes

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – The final defendant in a bribery conspiracy within the Federal Correctional Complex at Petersburg, Virginia (FCC Petersburg), pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to solicit and accept a bribe by a public official. According to court documents, Daniel Thomas, 37, of Colonial Heights, Virginia, has been a correctional officer at FCC Petersburg since February 2015, leading a prisoner work detail as a Pipe Fitter Supervisor. William R. Hall, 49, of Lexington, Kentucky, was a prisoner assigned to Thomas’ work detail from June 29, 2022, until he was transferred to FCC Fort Dix, New Jersey, on Nov. 17, 2022. During the time Hall was assigned to Thomas’ work detail, Hall paid bribes to Thomas through Kayla Cronin, 29, who was Hall’s associate from Lexington. In exchange, Thomas provided contraband, including tobacco products and anabolic steroids, to Hall in prison. Hall then sold contraband to other prisoners. Hall transferred proceeds from those sales to Cronin through an intermediary. Cronin would then send bribes to Thomas by mail through the U.S. Postal Service, keeping some of the money for herself. Hall directed Cronin by coded conversations. On Oct. 25, 2023, Cronin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9. On April 5, Hall pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18. Each defendant faces up to five years 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, and Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region, made the announcement after Magistrate Judge Summer L. Speight accepted the plea. The cases are assigned to Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Panth and Robert Day are prosecuting these cases. 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 Nos. 3:24-cr-36, 3:24-cr-18, and 3:23-cr-132.


title: Woodbridge fentanyl dealer sentenced to a decade in prison after buyer’s fatal overdose

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, on May 16, 2019, Eric Anthony Stokes II, 27, sold fentanyl that later caused the death of the buyer. Stokes and the buyer negotiated the sale via text message before the buyer travelled to Stokes’ residence and purchased two pills for $70. The buyer then returned to his family’s home. When the buyer didn’t emerge from his bedroom the following morning, his father found him lying on his bed, cold and bleeding from his mouth, nose, eyes, and navel. He had foam around his mouth and nose. The family called 911, and a family member attempted CPR while waiting for first responders to arrive. He was pronounced dead at the scene at only 21 years old. In the victim’s clothing, investigators found a white envelope with a blue powder that lab tests confirmed contained fentanyl. An autopsy showed that the amount of fentanyl found in his system was approximately twice the amount typically considered fatal. Stokes continued selling fentanyl despite knowing that the buyer had died after taking the pills. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Alito prosecuted 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-6.


title: Two District Men Arrested in Takedown Operation, Indicted in the February Kidnapping and Robbery of a Virginia Man

body_text: WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia charging Jaevonn Archer, 20, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, and Timothy Williams, 30, of Maryland, with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping in the February 25, 2024, abduction of a Virginia-based man. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Agents with the FBI arrested Archer and Williams early this morning at two separate residences in Maryland. In addition, Malik Williams, 30, of Washington, D.C., a previously convicted felon, was arrested at a third location and faces a related firearms charge in U.S. District Court. As part of the takedown operation, law enforcement searched five residences in and around the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. Numerous firearms, vehicles, narcotics, and proceeds from the February 25, 2024, kidnapping were recovered. The arrests follow a coordinated takedown operation led by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force with assistance from the FBI Baltimore Field Office, Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George’s County Police Department, and Arlington County Police Department. Assistance was also provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Maryland. This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin F. Song and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes 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: Registered Sex Offender From Lexington Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Attempting to Purchase Sex With a Minor and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lexington, Mass. man was sentenced today for attempting to pay for sex with a 14-year-old girl. Defendant told undercover agent that the child should expect a man who looks like Santa Claus. David Cannon, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2023, Cannon pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. “Individuals like Cannon drive the demand for sex trafficking of children. Those who seek to pay for sex with kids must be seriously punished so that the message resonates that there are grave consequences for engaging in such deplorable conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This office is committed to prosecuting human trafficking from all angles — the individuals who traffic innocent girls and the men who drive demand for such services.” “Cannon had previously been convicted for crimes against a child and was just off probation when he was arrested by HSI for attempting to pay to sexually abuse a minor. When he arrived at the hotel to commit this crime, he was met by an undercover HSI special agent instead of a child sex trafficker,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Today’s sentence keeps this serial predator off the streets and away from children. We are grateful to our partners who worked to make this operation possible as we all work together to end human trafficking.” In November 2022, Cannon responded to an online advertisement offering commercial sex with two young girls. Through an ensuing text conversation with an undercover agent posing as the seller of the two girls, Cannon offered to pay $200 to have sex with either the 12-year-old or 14-year-old girl and indicated that he would purchase whoever was ready first. Ultimately, Cannon agreed to pay $200 to have sex with the fictitious 14-year-old girl. Shortly thereafter, Cannon went to a greater Boston hotel where he met with the undercover agent posing as the purported seller. There, Cannon confirmed he had the money to pay for the commercial sex act and accepted a hotel key. Cannon also said to tell the child to expect a man who looks like Santa Claus. Lubricant and condoms were subsequently found in Cannon’s vehicle. Additionally, a search of Cannon’s cell phone revealed dozens of photographs and videos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as text messages discussing his affinity for CSAM. At sentencing, Cannon was also ordered to pay $17,500 in restitution to the victims whose child sexual abuse material he possessed. At the time of the offense, Cannon was a registered sex offender, having been convicted in 2019 of indecent assault of an 11-year-old child on three separate occasions. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and SAC Krol made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Rensselaer County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Zachary Frye, age 28, of Rensselaer County, New York, pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo made the announcement. During Frye’s change of plea hearing, he admitted that, in October 2019 while required to register as a sex offender due to a 2017 conviction for promoting the sexual performance of a child, he took several sexually explicit photographs of an approximately 5-year-old child. The images that Frye created included depictions of the child’s genitals and of the child’s hand on Frye’s penis. Frye also admitted that, on the same day he created those images, he sent them to another person on social media with whom he had been discussing the sexual abuse of children. At sentencing scheduled for August 7, 2024, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Frye faces a term of imprisonment of least 25 years and up to 50 years, a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least five years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution to the victim of his offense. Frye also will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. HSI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Cincinnati woman sentenced to 7 years in prison for crimes related to COVID-19 relief fraud

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati woman convicted at trial last summer of fraud crimes was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 84 months in prison. Kelli Prather, 52, fraudulently requested more than $1.2 million in pandemic relief loans. She was convicted on all 14 counts following a trial in July 2023 before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. According to testimony and evidence presented during the trial, Prather applied for six Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans as part of the CARES Act COVID-19 pandemic relief. She claimed to own six businesses – Enhanced Healthcare Solutions, Life Skills Enhancement, Prather Property Management, Reliable Ambulette Services, Rich Glo Management Services and Tots R Us. Separately, Prather also applied for eight Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). In three of the EIDL applications she filed in November 2020, she represented that the businesses were majority owned by her disabled nephew. Prather sought more than $1.2 million in fraud relief and fraudulently received approximately $19,700. As part of her sentence, she will pay $19,682 in restitution. The jury convicted her of bank fraud, making false statements in connection to credit or loan applications, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and other members of the Financial Crimes Working Group Pandemic Fraud Committee announced the sentence imposed today by Judge McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Springer and Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Defendant who admitted to filing thousands of COVID-relief applications sentenced to 6 years in prison

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man who estimated he filed more than 3,000 fraudulent COVID-relief applications was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 72 months in prison. The fraud scheme perpetuated by Ousmane Diane, 24, caused a loss of more than $908,000. He submitted applications for more than $2 million in funding. Diane pleaded guilty in October 2023 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Diane used the identities of willing participants and stole identities to submit fraudulent federal fund applications. He submitted the fraudulent applications for both Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Diane organized the scheme for more than a year and recruited his six co-defendants in this case and others into the scheme. The defendant referred to the pandemic as the “bandemic” in reference to the stacks of federal cash he received. Diane even advertised his fraudulent filing service through social media by posting: “Hey My Name is Ous And I Sell Methods To Help You Get Approved For Funds!!!” Diane and six others were indicted in February 2023. All have pleaded guilty. “Mr. Diane stole critical taxpayer money intended to help families during an unprecedented national pandemic,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with Federal prosecutors and law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs.” Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Shawn Rice, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG); and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Oklahoma City Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Charge

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lebron Earl Samuels, age 41, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On September 7, 2023, Samuels pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 12, 2022, Samuels was discovered in possession of a 9mm pistol and a loaded extended magazine after a high-speed pursuit in which Samuels tried to evade arrest on an outstanding warrant. At the time of the possession, Samuels had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Samuels was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Traffic Stop Leads to Discovery of Large Quantity of Meth and Federal Prison Sentence

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who possessed over 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine was sentenced today to more than seven years in federal prison. Rebecca Ann Rose, age 36, from La Porte City, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 6, 2023 guilty plea to possessing at least 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Evidence at the sentencing hearing demonstrated that on December 27, 2022, Rose was driving a vehicle in Tipton, Iowa, when law enforcement officers stopped her. Officers searched her car and found thousands of dollars, over 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine, and marijuana. Seven months later, on July 15, 2023, Rose was driving a vehicle in Jones County, Iowa, when law enforcement officers again stopped her. This time, officers found over 20 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine in the car. Rose was transported to a local jail, where jail staff found over 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine and a methamphetamine pipe hidden on Rose’s person. Rose was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Rose was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Rose is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Tipton Police Department, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Muscatine County Drug Task Force. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-45. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Mexican Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison for  Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported

body_text: A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced on April 9, 2024, to more than four years in federal prison. Sergio Sanchez-Juarez, age 37, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Hiawatha, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 1, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after a prior felony conviction. Sanchez-Juarez also received a prison term for violating the conditions of supervised release imposed on his 2019 conviction in the Northern District of Iowa for illegal reentry. At the guilty plea, Sanchez-Juarez admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the country without the permission of the United States government. Sanchez-Juarez was previously deported in February 2007, July 2014, September 2017, November 2017, October 2020, and May 2021. On September 19, 2023, immigration officials learned Sanchez-Juarez had illegally returned to the United States and found Sanchez-Juarez at the Linn County Jail following his arrest on state charges. Sanchez-Juarez was previously convicted in 2019 in the Northern District of Iowa of illegally reentering the United States, served 24 months in prison, and was deported. Sanchez-Juarez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Sanchez-Juarez was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment on the illegal reentry conviction and 12 months’ imprisonment for violating the term of supervised release imposed on the 2019 conviction in the Northern District of Iowa. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Sanchez-Juarez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-68. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Columbus Men Sentenced for Helping Supply Stolen Guns to Rival Gangs

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – Two Columbus residents who admitted to helping supply stolen guns to warring criminal street gangs in the community were sentenced to federal prison today. Daquan Braxton, 20, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Jan. 23. Tarcus Sanders, aka “TJ,” 22, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Jan. 24. U.S. District Judge Clay Land handed down the sentences on April 9. There is no parole in the federal system. “Our office prioritizes the prosecutions of gun traffickers supplying stolen firearms to criminal organizations, which pose a serious threat to a community’s safety,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Firearms traffickers and straw purchasers—individuals who purchase guns for those who are prohibited from possessing them—will be held accountable at the federal level for illegally providing guns to dangerous people.” “The unlawful acquisition and selling of firearms are serious crimes that feed and intensify the violence that plagues so many communities," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. "This investigation illustrates the collective resolve of ATF and our law enforcement partners working together to make a safer community.” The following co-defendants entered guilty pleas: Joshua Holland aka “Lou” aka “Luke,” 24, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Jan. 24, and faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count; Robert Holman, 34, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Feb. 13, and faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine; James David Lowery, 28, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Feb. 27, and faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and Jerry Starks aka “John Hill,” 31, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee on Feb. 24, and faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing dates will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, the co-conspirators admitted to stealing firearms from area businesses in 2022 to sell to warring criminal street gangs in Columbus, including the Zohannon and the Marlo organizations. Sanders admitted to taking part in the burglary of the Northside Money Mizer Pawn Shop on Manchester Expressway in Columbus on Aug. 9, 2022. At approximately 1:35 a.m., co-defendant Holland crashed a stolen car through the front door of the pawn shop. Holland entered the business and stole five firearms, while Sanders and other co-conspirators assisted by carrying the stolen guns or acting as lookouts. Five firearms were stolen: two pistols and three rifles. On Sept. 7, 2022, around 1:46 a.m., Holland and his co-conspirators—including Braxton—forced entry into A Better Pawn on 2 nd Ave in Columbus and stole 19 firearms. Prior to the burglary, Sanders admitted that he and some of his co-conspirators scoped out the store and checked its locks to prepare for and carry out the burglary. The co-conspirators stole 11 rifles, seven shotguns and one pistol from the store. On Sept. 16, 2022, the Money Mizer Pawn shop in Phenix City, Alabama, was burglarized. Six burglars, including Braxton, forced entry into the store and stole eight firearms. The Phenix City Police Department (PCPD) responded to an alarm call at the store and encountered a white Ford- F-150 truck backed up to the front door. The truck sped off and the chase ended when the truck got stuck in a ditch. Braxton and Holland were arrested, and the firearms were recovered. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department, the Phenix City Police Department and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Court Enjoins Philips Respironics from Manufacturing and Distributing Adulterated and Misbranded Sleep and Respiratory Devices at or from Three Pennsylvania Facilities

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: A federal court today ordered Philips RS North America LLC (Philips Respironics) to stop manufacturing most sleep and respiratory devices at three Pennsylvania facilities, and to stop distributing such devices from those facilities, until the company takes specific measures designed to increase the safety of its devices and ensure compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). In a complaint filed April 4, in federal court in the Western District of Pennsylvania, the United States alleged that Philips Respironics, a subsidiary of Philips Holding USA Inc., violated the FDCA by manufacturing and distributing adulterated and misbranded medical devices. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Philips Respironics manufactured continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines, and mechanical ventilators at facilities in Murrysville and New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and remediated certain ventilators at a facility in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, under conditions and using practices that failed to comply with the FDCA and with Good Manufacturing Practice regulations designed to assure the safety and effectiveness of the devices. The complaint also alleged that Philips Respironics failed to submit to FDA written reports of manufacturer-initiated corrections or removals for its devices, and further failed to validate and approve the process the company used to perform remediation work on certain recalled ventilators according to established procedures. The complaint further alleged that these violations were similar to violations observed during previous inspections that resulted in two FDA Warning Letters to Philips Respironics (for its Murrysville facility), a Warning Letter to its subsidiary Respironics California LLC (for another facility in Carlsbad, California) and a civil lawsuit and consent decree with another subsidiary of Philips Holding USA Inc., Philips North America LLC. According to the complaint, millions of CPAP machines, BiPAP machines, and mechanical ventilators manufactured at the Murrysville and New Kensington facilities were recalled in June 2021 due to potential health risks . The recalled devices contained polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) foam, which was used for sound abatement. According to the recall notices issued at that time, the PE-PUR sound abatement foam “may degrade into particles which may enter the device’s air pathway and be ingested or inhaled by the user,” and “the PE-PUR foam may off-gas certain chemicals.” The FDA classified the recalls as Class I, the most serious type of recall. Philips Respironics’ efforts to remediate the PE-PUR foam in those recalled devices are ongoing, and some of the remediated devices have themselves been the subject of additional recalls. Defendants Philips Respironics, its parent company Philips Holding USA Inc., and subsidiary Respironics California (collectively Philips), along with Philips executives Thomas Fallon, Daniel Leonard, and Jeff DiLullo, as well as executives Roy Jakobs and Steven B. C de Baca from Philips’s Dutch parent company, all agreed to resolve the complaint through a consent decree of permanent injunction. Under the consent decree, entered today by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville, the defendants are barred (subject to certain limited exceptions, such as for “medically necessary” devices) from manufacturing and distributing devices at or from the three Pennsylvania facilities — or resuming such activities at the other facility in Carlsbad, California — unless and until Philips meets certain conditions. Those conditions include retaining an outside expert to inspect the defendants’ facilities, methods and controls to determine whether they conform to Good Manufacturing Practice regulations; completing activities described in an FDA-approved recall remediation plan and receiving written notification from FDA that the defendants appear to be in compliance with the FDCA and the decree. “Medical device manufacturers have a responsibility to comply with requirements designed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of their products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s action reflects our commitment to vigorously enforce federal law and prevent manufacturers from marketing adulterated and misbranded devices to vulnerable patients who need them.” “Today’s consent decree requires Philips Respironics to meet a series of stringent thresholds before restarting production and establishes safeguards against future violations of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “This office, the FDA and our partner agencies are committed to holding manufacturers accountable when they violate the law and put the public at risk.” “The finalization of this decree is a significant milestone,” said Director Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Throughout this recall, we have provided patients with important health information by issuing numerous safety communications and have taken actions rarely used by the agency to help protect those impacted by this recall. Today’s action is a culmination of those efforts and includes novel provisions aimed at helping ensure that patients receive the relief they have long deserved. This also marks the first time a device company is providing a remediation payment option for a recalled device under a consent decree.” The consent decree also requires the defendants to retain outside experts to inspect their other Sleep and Respiratory Care facilities to evaluate whether those facilities are operating in compliance with the FDCA, to correct any identified deficiencies, and to evaluate the testing that the defendants have performed and are performing on foam being used to replace the sound abatement foam in the recalled devices. The consent decree also allows FDA to subject other facilities owned by the corporate defendants to certain provisions of the injunction if a future inspection shows that those facilities are not operated in conformity with the FDCA and applicable regulations. Trial Attorneys Natalie N. Sanders and Ryan E. Norman of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam B. Fischer for the Western District of Pennsylvania handled this matter, with the assistance of Senior Counsel Paige H. Taylor of the FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel. Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, visit www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa . The claims resolved by the consent decree announced today are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Consent Decree


title: OMB Gang Member Sentenced on Firearms Trafficking and Fentanyl Distribution Charges to 276 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced today to 276 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to firearms straw purchasing and trafficking, illegally possessing firearms, and the distribution of fentanyl. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Armani Eugene Gates, 20, an OMB gang member, organized for the illegal acquisition of firearms via multiple straw purchasers. Gates then trafficked the guns to other OMB members and associates, in whose possession they were recovered by law enforcement. One of the guns recovered had been converted to a machinegun, and two of the guns had high-capacity magazines. Two of these firearms were determined to have been used in gang-related shootings. Additionally, Gates led efforts to acquire and distribute over 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl. Gates employed others to assist him in his drug operation, including at least one minor. He also possessed a firearm in connection with his drug trafficking, as well as utilized residences to store his fentanyl. In July 2023, federal search warrants were executed related to this investigation, during which approximately 13,000 fentanyl pills, seven firearms, one machinegun conversion device, and $23,000 in cash were seized. Gates was arrested at that time on the federal charges. The press release regarding those warrants is available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/defendants-charged-joint-federal-state-and-local-investigation-firearms-trafficking . After completing his term of imprisonment, Gates will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. “Since the inception of ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’, there have been numerous investigations and prosecutions that have had a significant impact on violent crime in Central Iowa,” stated Des Moines Police Chief Dana D. Wingert. “This is simply another example of what success looks like, which should send a clear message to those in our communities who are involved in violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies at all levels are committed to identifying, investigating and prosecuting violent criminals and removing them from our communities. This collective mindset is what underpins our success, yet we will remain diligent in our efforts to keep our citizens safe through the continued work of “Project Safe Neighborhoods.’ ” “The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has given ATF additional tools needed to go after straw purchasers and firearms traffickers who flood our streets with weapons that pose a threat to every single person in Des Moines,” said ATF Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “This sentence sends a clear message to those who think they can illegally traffic guns into our communities or straw purchase firearms. ATF’s NIBIN technology has proven to be an invaluable resource for law enforcement in our continued pursuit to reduce violent crime and we will never waiver on our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers. This is a huge win for public safety that will reduce the proliferation of illegal guns that represent a grave danger to the public, but law enforcement is united and strong. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all our law enforcement partners for their diligent work and tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.” United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin M. Herrera and Mallory E. Weiser prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the Des Moines Police Department – Intelligence Division; and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms. This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s 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 .


title: Crip Gang Member Sentenced on Firearms Charge to 180 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on April 3, 2024 to 180 months in federal prison, the maximum sentence allowed by law, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Dominic Gregory Lacava, 27, a convicted felon and Crip gang member, possessed at least four firearms over a six-month time period. Lacava possessed the firearms in connection with other felonies, including the physical abuse of three minor children, the physical abuse of his significant other, the sexual abuse of a child, and drug-related felonies. At the time of this federal offense, Lacava was on state of Iowa supervision for multiple crimes, including drug felonies and assault. Lacava’s conduct was discovered during a larger federal investigation into firearms straw purchasing and trafficking, as well as gang activity. Two federal search warrants were executed at Lacava’s Des Moines, Iowa, residence, leading to the recovery of three firearms. Two of those firearms were acquired through Lacava’s use of a straw purchaser. After completing his term of imprisonment, Lacava will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. “This sentencing today reflects ATF’s ongoing commitment to vigorously combat individuals that commit violent, gun-related crimes in our communities,” said ATF Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “Today’s maximum sentence is justly served to a convicted felon in possession of a firearm who used them to commit acts of violence against women and children. ATF will work swiftly to remove dangerous individuals off our streets and with every arrest, and every successful prosecution, like this case, means that risks to public safety are being removed from our communities.” United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin M. Herrera prosecuted the case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and the Des Moines Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Drug Trafficker Who Participated in the Delivery of Thousands of Fentanyl Pills Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A Lawrence, MA, resident arrested in May 2021 by members of the DEA Rhode Island Drug Task Force after he participated in deliveries of significant quantities of fentanyl-laced pills in Pawtucket, RI, and Dorchester, MA, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Roberto Anibal Nieves Zayas, 38, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence on January 20, 2022, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess fentanyl with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced on April 4, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 84 months of incarceration to be followed by 3 years of federal supervised release. According to charging documents and information presented to the court, in April and May 2021, the DEA Rhode Island Drug Task Force arranged for deliveries of large quantities of fentanyl-laced pills. On April 29, Nieves Zayas delivered 1,000 fentanyl pills in exchange for $5,000 in cash. The delivery occurred in a parking lot of a Pawtucket restaurant by one of two men who arrived in a car bearing Massachusetts license plates. Task Force members watched as the delivery was made and quickly seized the drugs, while other agents followed the vehicle to an apartment complex in Lawrence, MA. On May 24, 2021, the DEA arranged to purchase 25,000 fentanyl pills for $125,000. Two days later, as the delivery of the pills was taking place inside a passenger van in a parking lot of a Dorchester, MA, restaurant, DEA Rhode Island Task Force agents moved in and seized a large plastic garbage bag containing 3.4 kilograms of fentanyl pills. Nieves Zayas and a co-defendant were arrested. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson. The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; Cranston Police Department; Middletown Police Department; Newport Police Department; Pawtucket Police Department; Providence Police Department; Warwick Police Department; Woonsocket Police Department; and Amtrak Police. ###


title: Atlanta’s Former Chief Financial Officer Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds and Tax Obstruction

body_text: ATLANTA - The City of Atlanta’s former Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Jimmie “Jim” A. Beard, pleaded guilty today to theft of government funds, which included the purchase and possession of two machine guns, and obstructing federal tax laws. “Jim Beard abused his power as the CFO for the City of Atlanta to steal tens of thousands of dollars from taxpayers to fund personal trips, luxuries, and even custom-built machine guns, then lied to the IRS and submitted altered records when called to account for suspicious write-offs,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The people of the City of Atlanta deserved better stewards of taxpayer money, and Beard’s guilty plea today is a demonstration that public officials who abuse their power will be held accountable.” “Beard’s continuous abuse of his position as one of the most powerful executives in the City of Atlanta is not only a violation of his oath, but a violation to all other public official’s credibility, which erodes public trust in government,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Public corruption is one of the FBI’s top priorities. It is our hope that by holding Beard accountable for his greed it will help regain some of the public’s trust.” “As a public official, Beard was delegated to conduct city business on behalf of Atlanta residents,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Instead, he chose to steal from public coffers for his own benefit and willfully broke federal tax laws. Let Beard’s plea today serve as notice to others entrusted with carrying out government business on behalf of the people that IRS special agents and our law enforcement partners will investigate, and our justice system will hold accountable those who break the public’s trust.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: From approximately November 2011 to May 2018, Beard served as the CFO of the City of Atlanta. As CFO, Beard directed and managed the Department of Finance, with primary responsibility for oversight and management of the City’s financial condition. During his tenure, Beard devised and executed a scheme to obtain money and property from the City of Atlanta for private use, including using City of Atlanta funds to: (1) pay for personal travel expenses for himself, his family, and his travel companions; (2) buy items for personal use, including two machine guns; (3) pay for travel to conferences or meetings for which the conference or meeting host reimbursed Beard, but Beard kept the money and did not give the reimbursement funds to the City of Atlanta; and (4) pay for travel that Beard falsely claimed to the IRS was related to his personal consulting business. In total, Beard stole at least tens of thousands of dollars from the City of Atlanta. By way of example only: In August 2015, Beard used his City credit card to pay $1,278.72 for a hotel room at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Chicago, Illinois for a three-night weekend stay. Beard told the City that the hotel room was for a “Swap Advisory Engagement.” In reality Beard was not in Chicago that weekend, but booked the hotel for his stepdaughter to attend the Lollapalooza music festival. In December 2015, Beard ordered two custom-built machine guns using a $2,641.90 check from the City, telling the manufacturer that the machine guns were for the Atlanta Police Department (“APD”) – even though he personally possessed the guns until about March 2017, when he abandoned the firearms at APD’s Executive Protection Office at City Hall. In April 2016, Beard used his City credit card to pay $648.20 for airfare from Atlanta, Georgia to New Orleans, Louisiana for a weekend trip to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. However, Beard had no City business in New Orleans during that weekend and traveled with a personal companion. Additionally, he later represented to the IRS that this trip was for his personal consulting business and was not reimbursed by the City, claiming the charge as a business deduction to reduce the amount of personal taxes he owed. In June 2016, Beard used his City credit card to pay $951.20 for airfare to Washington, D.C. and $24.32 for a taxi for a meeting with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”). Even though Beard charged the travel to the City, Beard asked the MSRB to reimburse him personally for these costs and submitted copies of his receipts to the MSRB. As a result, the MSRB issued a check to Beard in the amount of $1,276.52, which Beard kept and deposited into his personal bank account. During his tenure as CFO, Beard also submitted to the IRS a tax return for 2013, in which he claimed that he owned a consulting business which incurred more than $33,500 in alleged business losses in 2013, including $12,000 for travel expenses and $7,115 for deductible meals and entertainment expenses. In July 2015, the IRS advised Beard that it was auditing that tax return and requested that Beard provide documentation to support the purported expenses for his consulting business. In response, Beard falsely provided: (1) receipts for airfare and hotels that Beard paid for using his City of Atlanta credit card (which Beard had previously told the City of Atlanta were for City business and his job as CFO); (2) expense reports for personal meals with his wife and personal companions; and (3) altered receipts that hid from the IRS the fact that the charges were incurred in connection with Beard’s work for the City of Atlanta. In reality, none of those expenses were for a consulting business. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. Sentencing for Jimmie “Jim” A. Beard, 60, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida is scheduled for July 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett Bradford and Tiffany Johnson, Department of Justice Trial Attorney Trevor Wilmot, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Davis prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: City of Atlanta’s Former Chief Financial Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Program Theft and Tax Obstruction

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The City of Atlanta’s former chief financial officer (CFO) pleaded guilty today to federal program theft and to obstructing an IRS audit. According to court documents, from 2011 to 2018, Jimmie Anthony “Jim” Beard, 60, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, oversaw the City of Atlanta’s Department of Finance, in which his primary responsibility was to manage the city’s financial condition. At least as early as 2015, Beard devised and executed a scheme to use his authority as CFO to obtain money and property from Atlanta for his own use, including to pay for thousands of dollars in personal travel expenses for himself, his family, and his travel companions, and to buy and possess restricted machine guns. Further, while CFO, Beard submitted a 2013 personal income tax return to the IRS in which he claimed that he operated a personal business that incurred more than $33,500 in alleged losses in 2013. In 2015, while being audited in relation to these purported losses, Beard provided to the IRS receipts for airfare and hotels that Beard falsely claimed were personal business expenses. The expenses were actually paid to Beard while working for the City and using his City of Atlanta credit card. Beard is scheduled to be sentenced on July 12 and faces a maximum penalty of 13 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office made the announcement. The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Trevor Wilmot of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett Bradford and Tiffany Johnson for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Davis for the Northern District of Georgia provided valuable assistance.


title: Chinese National Indicted For Access Device Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Donghui Liao (32, China) with possession of 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices. If convicted, Liao faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, on October 17, 2023, Liao knowingly and with intent to defraud possessed 15 or more counterfeit and unauthorized access devices, including retail and credit card gift cards. 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 Ocala Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.


title: Lake County Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Theft Of A Firearm From A Licensed Gun Dealer

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Frank Thomas Diviak (23, Altoona) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and stealing a firearm from a federal firearms licensee (FFL). Diviak faces up to 35 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, Diviak has been convicted of three state felonies, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. On December 4, 2023, Diviak entered a Lake County pawn shop, took a revolver off a display, and put it in his pocket. He then fled from the store on his bicycle, but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. As Diviak raised his hands to surrender to the officers, the stolen revolver fell out of his clothing. As a convicted felon, Diviak is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Eustis Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Jacksonville Postal Service Employee Indicted For Stealing From The Mail

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Rekisha Duckworth (43, Jacksonville) with embezzlement of an article contained in the U.S. Mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee. If convicted, Duckworth faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to the indictment, on March 1, 2023, Duckworth, who was an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, stole from a mail item a retail store gift card and a bracelet. The mail item had come into her possession because it had been sent via U.S. Mail. 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 United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cofer Taylor.


title: Former Venezuelan General Sentenced To 260 Months In Prison For Providing Material Support To The FARC

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CLÍVER ANTONIO ALCALÁ CORDONES was sentenced to 260 months in prison for providing material support, including firearms, to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the “FARC”). ALCALÁ CORDONES pled guilty on June 29, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a high-ranking member of the Venezuelan military and the Cártel de Los Soles , Clíver Antonio Alcalá Cordones and his co-conspirators sought to weaponize cocaine as they helped the FARC arm its members and ship tons of drugs to the United States. Alcalá Cordones corrupted the vital institutions of his own country as he helped the FARC flood this country with cocaine — but no longer. Instead, he will now spend more than two decades in a United States prison.” According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings: [1] ALCALÁ CORDONES, a Venezuelan citizen and a former general in Venezuela’s military, along with other high-ranking Venezuelan officials, acted as leaders and managers of the Cártel de Los Soles , or “Cartel of the Suns.” ALCALÁ CORDONES and other Cartel members abused the Venezuelan people and corrupted the legitimate institutions of Venezuela — including parts of the military, intelligence apparatus, legislature, and judiciary — to facilitate the importation of tons of cocaine into the United States in partnership with the FARC, a violent organization based in Colombia that was dedicated to the overthrow of the Colombian government and responsible for the production and distribution of the majority of the cocaine that eventually reached the United States. The Cártel de Los Soles sought not only to enrich its members and enhance their power but also to weaponize cocaine by inflicting the drug’s harmful and addictive effects on users in the United States. Beginning in or about 2006, ALCALÁ CORDONES took advantage of his position in the Venezuelan military, including his command of thousands of heavily armed military officers, to provide support to the FARC as the FARC distributed tons of U.S.-bound cocaine. Among other things, ALCALÁ CORDONES (i) prevented FARC members and associates from being arrested by Venezuelan law enforcement or being engaged by the Venezuelan military; (ii) provided protection, including freedom of movement and freedom from interference, for FARC members and associates that the defendant knew trafficked cocaine; and (iii) provided high-powered weapons to the FARC, including directly to high-ranking FARC leaders such as Luciano Marín Arango, a/k/a “Iván Márquez,” and Rodrigo Londoño Echeverri, a/k/a “Timochenko.” ALCALÁ CORDONES also directly participated in the FARC’s cocaine distribution. Among other things, ALCALÁ CORDONES participated in meetings with some of the largest drug traffickers in South America, during which they discussed how ALCALÁ CORDONES and other members of the Cártel de Los Soles could assist in their cocaine distribution. ALCALÁ CORDONES also personally intervened to ensure that large shipments — over thousands of kilograms of cocaine — were not interdicted by law enforcement in Venezuela. In exchange, ALCALÁ CORDONES received millions of dollars in cocaine-fueled bribes. * * * ALCALÁ CORDONES, 62, of Caracas, Venezuela, pled guilty to providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the FARC, and for knowingly receiving and transferring firearms, knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that such firearms would be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism, namely, the provision of material support and resources to the FARC. In addition to the prison term, ALCALÁ CORDONES was sentenced to three years of supervised release. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, Miami Field Division, the OCDETF New York Strike Force, and the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché’s Office. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley, Kaylan E. Lasky, Kevin T. Sullivan, and Kyle A. Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution. [1] Communications, conversations, and statements discussed and quoted herein are described in substance and in part.


title: McDowell County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Lansen Sharif Waugh, 44, of Kyle, pleaded guilty today to distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 15, 2021, Waugh sold controlled substances that contained cocaine and methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a residence in Kyle where Waugh was staying. Waugh admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling cocaine and a controlled substance containing heroin and fentanyl to the confidential informant on two other occasions. On July 2, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Waugh’s residence in Kyle, and found two firearms and additional quantities of cocaine. Waugh admitted that he intended to distribute the cocaine found during the search. Waugh is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The task force consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Princeton Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-121. ###


title: Queens Man Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud And Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that CHINWENDU ALISIGWE was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a wide-ranging bank fraud and money laundering conspiracy, which resulted in the misappropriation of approximately $4.5 million in victim funds. ALISIGWE was previously convicted by a jury following a trial before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Over the course of years, Chinwendu Alisigwe used fake IDs to open dozens of bank accounts, which he then used to launder proceeds obtained from victims of business email compromise and other fraud schemes. Alisigwe’s co-conspirators scammed dozens of victims — including individuals, businesses, a county government, and a charity that provides wheelchairs for children — into sending money to Alisigwe’s network of bank accounts. Alisigwe then laundered the money, spending his cut on shopping sprees and sending the rest to his co-conspirators overseas. As today’s sentence demonstrates, money launderers who assist scammers abroad, like Alisigwe, will be held accountable by this Office.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, the evidence offered at trial, and statements made in public filings: From approximately 2017 to 2020, ALISIGWE used fake identifications to open 36 separate bank accounts at six different financial institutions. He opened those accounts with over a dozen fraudulent passports and other fraudulent identity documents bearing his photograph but the names of other individuals. In the course of this criminal conduct, ALISIGWE used the names and social security numbers of real people who were completely unaware that ALISIGWE was using them in his fraud. After ALISIGWE opened the fraudulent bank accounts, the accounts received millions of dollars from a variety of fraud schemes, including business email compromise schemes. The funds came from numerous victims, including a children’s charity, individual bank accounts, a public company, a life insurance company, and a county government. In total, ALISIGWE received approximately $4.5 million of fraud proceeds into his network of bank accounts. After the fraud proceeds were deposited into the accounts opened by ALISIGWE, he laundered the proceeds through a series of transactions designed to disguise their nature and source. For example, ALISIGWE consistently transferred large sums of the victims’ money from account to account that he had opened in other people’s names. After disguising the nature and source of the fraud proceeds through these transactions, ALISIGWE wired these funds to bank accounts in foreign countries, including China and the United Kingdom. ALISIGWE also spent large portions of the stolen money on clothing and other personal items. For example, ALISIGWE used fraud proceeds to make approximately $100,000 in purchases from retail stores like Zara, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Best Buy, and Rockaway Liquor. He also withdrew approximately $650,000 of the fraud proceeds in cash. Ultimately, the transactions into and out of the 36 accounts opened by ALISIGWE amounted to nearly $6 million. * * * In addition to his prison term, ALISIGWE, 38, of Jamaica, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $499,949.88 in restitution and $4,463,475.80 in forfeiture. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the course of this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William C. Kinder, Meredith Foster, and Adam Hobson are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Phineas Santello and Olivia Sebade.


title: Local business owner indicted for fraudulently submitting PPP loan

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against a former Houston resident for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conducting a monetary transaction in criminally derived property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. According to the indictment, unsealed upon her appearance in court, Kristen Fenrick, 52, now of Dallas, was the owner of Klearly Kristen Inc., a business engaged in the sale of jewelry and accessories. The charges allege she submitted a fraudulent loan application via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fenrick grossly inflated the number of employees her business purportedly had as well as its average monthly payroll expenses, according to the charges. In support of her application, Fenrick allegedly submitted fraudulent IRS documents to the lender. She also allegedly paid a co-conspirator to assist her in the preparation and submission of the false application. Based on her misrepresentations, the indictment alleges a third-party lender with delegated authority from the Small Business Administration (SBA) approved a loan to Klearly Kristen in June 2020 for $405,340. According to the allegations, the SBA fully guaranteed and subsequently forgave the loan based on continued misrepresentations about the business’s employee headcount and payroll expenses. The charges allege Fenrick used the PPP funds for her own personal benefit, such as the lease of a luxury vehicle, and not for the purpose for which the loan was intended. Both before and after the PPP loan, Fenrick also allegedly made several unsuccessful attempts to secure an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for Klearly Kristen and several other purported businesses. If convicted, Fenrick faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a maximum of 20 years on each of the substantive wire fraud counts and up to 10 years imprisonment for conducting a monetary transaction in criminally derived property. She could also be ordered to pay up to $250,000 in fines. The SBA-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Former Office Manager Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling Over $8.5 Million

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Sonya Hesenius, a former office manager and executive assistant for a company in Alpharetta, Georgia, has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling more than $8.5 million between 2015 and 2020. “Hesenius will now be held accountable for her flagrant theft of millions of dollars from her employer to support a lavish lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Hesenius was entrusted with handling the financial responsibilities for the company where she worked. But she chose to steal from the company, blatantly using company funds to pay for expensive, overseas vacations for herself and family members, plastic surgery, shopping binges at exclusive retail stores, and other exorbitant purchases.” “Hesenius worked in a position of trust for a company that expected her to honor that trust,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Instead, she chose to abuse it and her personal greed not only hurt the company, but everyone who worked for them. This sentence should send the message that the FBI takes wire fraud extremely seriously and will work to hold offenders accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Between 2015 and 2020, Sonya Hesenius was employed as an office manager and executive assistant at a company in Alpharetta, Georgia that provides third-party yard management services. During her employment, Hesenius made fraudulent charges on corporate credit cards and caused the company to reimburse her personal credit card for personal expenses. To conceal her scheme, she coded and approved all the charges herself, withheld supporting documentation from the company, and disguised the unauthorized expenditures in the company’s accounting system as legitimate expenses such as newspaper advertisements. Hesenius further spread the expenditures among different job sites to further conceal the fraud. Hesenius used the fraudulently obtained funds to live a lavish lifestyle, resulting in staggering losses to her employer. Her fraudulent activities included company expenditures for: (1) more than $172,000 on her daughter’s wedding; (2) more than $600,000 at Saks Fifth Avenue on items such as designer handbags; (3) over $460,000 for herself, family members, and friends to travel all over the world; (4) flying herself and her family on private jets to vacations in France, Greece, Hawaii, and Turks and Caicos, totaling more than $145,000; (5) tickets to attend University of Tennessee sporting events, the Kentucky Derby, the Masters, the Stanley Cup Finals, and various concerts, totaling more than $238,000; (6) a recreational vehicle costing more than $100,000, using $40,000 of company money as a down payment; (7) hundreds of thousands of dollars on high-end furniture; (8) plastic surgery and dental expenses; and (9) conversions of company funds into cash through over $1 million in PayPal, Venmo, and Square transfers to herself and family members. In total, Hesenius embezzled $8,614,729.37 over the course of the fraud scheme. Sonya Hesenius, 60, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was sentenced by U.S District Judge Victoria M. Calvert to six years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Hesenius was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,614,729.37. Hesenius was convicted on these charges on November 29, 2023, after she pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O’Neal prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .