title: Elizabeth, New Jersey Man Pleads Not Guilty to Human Smuggling Charges

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Jhon Reina-Perez, 34, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was arraigned today in the District of Vermont before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. He is charged in a three-count superseding indictment that alleges he and codefendants Simon Jacinto-Ramos and Victor Lopez-Padilla conspired to commit human-smuggling offenses and brought migrants without legal status to the United States for the purpose of private financial gain. Reina-Perez was arrested in Elizabeth, New Jersey on September 19, 2023, and was seen for an initial appearance in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey before being transferred to the District of Vermont for further proceedings. He entered a plea of not guilty and was ordered to be detained pending further proceedings. Lopez-Padilla had been arraigned in the District of Vermont on August 29, 2023, after he had likewise been transferred from the District of New Jersey. He is also detained pending further proceedings in the case. Jacinto-Ramos has not yet been arrested in conjunction with the indictment. An arraignment will be scheduled after his arrest. According to court records, Lopez-Padilla, Reina-Perez, and Jacinto-Ramos worked together to bring migrants to, and smuggle them into, the United States for their personal profit, while knowing that the migrants lacked legal status to enter and remain in the United States. The defendants arranged transportation for the smuggled migrants from the Montreal area to remote areas of the border between the United States and Canada, predominantly near Richford, Vermont. The defendants then arranged transportation for the migrants in the United States in furtherance of their illegal entry. The United States Border Patrol intercepted at least five such smuggling events between April 2022 and July 2023 that appeared to agents to have been organized by the defendants based on phone data and witness interviews, and those events involved at least 25 smuggled migrants in total. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Reina-Perez remains presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted of a crime. Reina-Perez faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum sentence of 3 years if convicted as charged. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to Federal Sentencing Guidelines. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigative efforts of the United States Border Patrol and thanked Homeland Security Investigations and the New Jersey State Police for their support of Border Patrol in the apprehension of Reina-Perez. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher is handling the prosecution of Lopez-Padilla, Reina-Perez, and Jacinto-Ramos. Lopez-Padilla is represented by Devin McLaughlin, Esq., and Reina-Perez is represented by Stephanie Greenlees, Esq. Counsel has not yet appeared or been appointed for Jacinto-Ramos.


title: Wheeling man sentenced to 15 years for cocaine distribution

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wheeling, West Virginia man was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for the distribution of cocaine. Antonio Cunningham, age 46, was ordered to serve 188 months in prison. According to court documents and statements made in court, Cunningham sold cocaine to a confidential informant on multiple occasions earlier this year at his residence on South Broadway Street in Wheeling. Officers obtained and executed a search warrant at his home and recovered cocaine along with a loaded Taurus model G2C pistol. Cunningham has two prior felony drug convictions and was determined to be a career offender under the guidelines set forth by the United States Sentencing Commission. “Repeat drug offenders like Mr. Cunningham won’t receive any breaks in the federal criminal justice system,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “I’m pleased that the residents of Wheeling Island won’t have to worry about him for a long, long time.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Taskforce, a HIDTA-funded initiative. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: Carrollton Fentanyl Trafficker Pleads Guilty

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: A fentanyl trafficker tied to the Carrollton and Flower Mound juvenile fentanyl overdose case pleaded guilty today to drug crimes, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Luis Eduardo Navarrete, 21, was charged via criminal complaint in February and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on March 29, 2023. Navarrete and ten other defendants were charged after multiple students attending schools in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District overdosed after ingesting counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl. On Wednesday, Navarrete pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl) and one count of distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance (fentanyl) to a person under 21 years of age before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez. In related plea documents, codefendants admitted that Mr. Navarrete routinely dealt fentanyl-laced pills to juveniles from his Highland Drive residence in Carrollton, Texas. In December 2022, Navarrete was on bond in a criminal case out of Dallas County, was ordered to home confinement and was fitted with an ankle monitor that tracked his location and movements. Navarrete relied upon his coconspirators to pick up quantities of the counterfeit round blue pills from a Dallas-based source of supply and deliver them to Navarrete’s residence in Carrollton. Mr. Navarrete stored the counterfeit pills near the front door of his residence and distributed the pills to customers who came by the house – including a network of juvenile dealers who dealt the pills to other minor students that attended R.L. Turner High School, Dewitt Perry Middle School, and Dan F. Long Middle School in Carrollton. In December 2022, a thirteen year old Dewitt Perry Middle School student overdosed and died after ingesting a counterfeit M30 pill that contained fentanyl. In January 2023, a fourteen year old student at Dan F. Long Middle School overdosed and died after ingesting a counterfeit M30 pill. On February 1, 2023, a seventeen year old R.L. Turner High School student also overdosed and died after ingesting a counterfeit M30 pill. Mr. Navarrete now faces up to 40 years in federal prison for each count and $7 million in fines. He will be sentenced on February 21, 2024. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of School Resource Officers from the Carrollton – Farmer’s Branch Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Phelesa Guy are prosecuting the case.


title: Two Arrested for Cocaine and Firearms Trafficking Conspiracies

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Two men have been arrested in connection with conspiracies to traffic cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston area. Malcolm Desir, 32, of Brockton and Cordell Miller, 27, of Haverhill, were charged with one count each of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to do the same, being a felon in possession of a firearm and firearms trafficking. The defendants were arrested this morning and were detained following an appearance in federal court in Boston today. According to the charging documents, Miller was identified as a firearms and ammunition trafficker in the metro Boston area. Over a three-month investigation beginning in August 2023, Miller allegedly sold several firearms to a cooperating witness during controlled purchases and offered to sell distribution weight cocaine. It is alleged that the drug deals were handled by Desir, who distributed the powder cocaine in a number of controlled purchases. During one controlled purchase, Desir also allegedly sold a firearm he had purchased from Miller two years prior. It is further alleged that Miller recently facilitated the controlled purchase of four firearms – which included two ghost guns, one of which being an assault rifle – directly from one of his sources. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to do the same, each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of firearms trafficking provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldwork of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: New Castle County Man Who Trafficked Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison

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

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that a Newark, Delaware man was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison for his leadership in a fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution conspiracy and for tampering with a witness set to testify in a federal court proceeding. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence. According to court documents, Malik Moss was arrested in December 2021, after a three-month federal wiretap investigation demonstrated that Moss and his co-conspirators purchased bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine for distribution throughout Delaware. Search warrants executed on drug stash houses associated with the conspirators yielded four firearms and various drugs -- methamphetamine, fentanyl, xylazine, a horse tranquilizer that is often sold in combination with fentanyl and heroin. Co-conspirator Gerardo Rodriguez was sentenced to 63 months in prison and co-conspirator Tyrell Pankins was sentenced to 110 months in prison for their respective roles in the drug distribution conspiracy. Co-conspirators Jacob Santiago, Jesus Alfaro, and Christina Chamberlain have yet to be sentenced. U.S. Attorney Weiss commented, “Trafficking in illegal drugs is a serious federal offense, especially when the drug dealers possess firearms. Combining illicit drugs with xylazine increases the harmful effects stemming from drug use. Together with our law enforcement partners, my office is committed to combating drug trafficking and violent crime endangering the safety of our communities.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Ibrahim prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Castle County Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office wishes to thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Delaware State Police, and Delaware Department of Correction Probation and Parole. The United States Attorney’s Office also seeks to connect those who suffer from substance abuse to the resources they need. If you need help, drug treatment information is available any time through the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Treatment Referral Routing Service, found online at dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment/ or by dialing 1.888.545.2600. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-cr-24.


title: Manderson Man Sentenced to Forty Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Use of Force, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, Distribution of a Controlled Substance to an Individual Under 21, Tampering with a Witness, Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner, two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Sexual Abuse. The sentencing took place on October 26, 2023. Gabriel White Plume, 39, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on the charges of Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Use of Force, Distribution of a Controlled Substance to an Individual Under 21, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, 20 years on the charge of Tampering with a Witness, 10 years on the two charges of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, and five years on the charge of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner. The prison sentences were ordered to be served concurrently and will be followed by six years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a total of $800 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. White Plume was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, in July of 2023. The conviction stems from White Plume physically and sexually abusing his dating partner by the use of force at Manderson. The victim sustained substantial bodily injury from the physical assault and serious bodily injury from the sexual assault. Prior to being charged federally, White Plume was able to obtain a cellular device in his cell while incarcerated at Pine Ridge. White Plume used the cellular device to access Facebook in order to corruptly persuade his victim into dropping tribal charges. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Poppen and Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case. White Plume was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Canadian Resident Admits Conspiring with Convicted Ponzi Schemer and Others to Defraud Investors of Tens of Millions of Dollars

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A resident of Canada today admitted conspiring with a twice-convicted fraudster to defraud investors of more than $35 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Alaa Mohamed Hattab, 35, of Ottawa, Ontario, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. Hattab admitted conspiring with others, including Eliyahu “Eli” Weinstein, whose 24-year federal prison sentence was commuted after being twice convicted of defrauding investors of a total of $230 million.“This defendant admitted scheming with others – including Eli Weinstein – to defraud investors of millions of dollars,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “Using phony identities and empty promises of access to deals involving scarce medical supplies, baby formula, and first-aid kits supposedly destined for wartime Ukraine, they ripped off their victims. We will continue to pursue justice for everyone involved in this case. Securities and investment fraud enforcement is a top priority of this office, and this case reflects our firm commitment to protecting investors and our markets.” “This defendant admitted scheming with others – including Eli Weinstein – to defraud investors of millions of dollars. Using phony identities and empty promises of access to deals involving scarce medical supplies, baby formula, and first-aid kits supposedly destined for wartime Ukraine, they ripped off their victims. We will continue to pursue justice for everyone involved in this case. Securities and investment fraud enforcement is a top priority of this office, and this case reflects our firm commitment to protecting investors and our markets.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “Fraudsters will use any and every method they can to steal as much as they can, even using a deadly war raging in Europe,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Hattab aligned himself with another well-known, twice-convicted Ponzi schemer carrying out a plan to rip off investors who thought they were helping war victims in Ukraine. The FBI warns people about these types of criminals each time there is a natural disaster or tragic event in the U.S. or around the world for this very reason. Human suffering does not deter them from seeing dollar signs.” Two of Hattab’s conspirators, Christopher Anderson, 47, and Richard Curry, 36, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and are awaiting sentencing. Charges are still pending against Hattab’s other conspirators, Weinstein, Aryeh “Ari” Bromberg, Joel Wittels, and Shlomo Erez. Weinstein was convicted two times in New Jersey federal court for defrauding investors. His first case involved a real estate Ponzi scheme, and his second case stemmed from additional fraud Weinstein committed while on pretrial release. For these crimes, which resulted in combined losses to investors of approximately $230 million, Weinstein was sentenced to serve 24 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On Jan. 19, 2021, after Weinstein had served less than eight years, the President of the United States at that time commuted Weinstein’s term to time served, leaving intact the rest of his sentence. Soon after being released from prison, Weinstein began orchestrating a new scheme to solicit money from investors through a company called Optimus Investments Inc. (Optimus). Using the fake name “Mike Konig,” Weinstein ran Optimus with Bromberg and Wittels. Hattab served as a broker for Optimus and helped conceal Weinstein’s involvement in various business ventures from investors. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Hattab admitted that from February 2022 to July 2023, Hattab’s business partners raised money from investors to fund purported business ventures with Weinstein, including a company called Saniton Plastic LLC. On Aug. 26, 2022, Hattab met with Curry, Anderson, Weinstein, and Bromberg at a hotel in Branchburg, New Jersey, and discussed continuing to conceal Weinstein’s identity from investors and others. Hattab admitted he became aware that Weinstein had raised money from investors for specific deals on medical supplies and baby formula and used that money for other purposes, including to fund Hattab’s business ventures. Hattab admitted he understood that information concerning Weinstein’s misappropriation from investors and others was important for investors to know, and that he agreed with others to mislead investors by not disclosing Weinstein’s misappropriations. The count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the direction of Antonia Apps, Director of the SEC’s New York Regional Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Fayer, Emma Spiro, and Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations against Weinstein, Bromberg, Wittels, and Erez are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. hattab.information.pdf


title: Cary Man Accused of Making Threats to Children Now Faces Federal Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael Easley announced the filing of a criminal complaint against Kevin Edral Douglas, 46, alleging that he made threats to shoot or injure children. Douglas was originally arrested on Wednesday by the Cary Police Department and was rearrested on Thursday morning. He remains in custody at this time. “The swift action by the Cary Police Department to mitigate this threat helped to keep the community safe,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are proud to partner with Chief Terry Sult and FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of threats of violence before action is taken.” “The safety and well-being of the public are our utmost priority, and we are committed to taking all necessary actions in coordination with all our public safety partners on the local, State, and Federal level to ensure their protection. We also want to extend our gratitude to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for their vigilance and quick reporting of this threat, which undoubtedly played a crucial role in resolving this situation before anyone was hurt,” said Cary Police Chief Terry Sult. "The FBI has a strong partnership with the Cary Police Department. Special agents and task force officers work alongside one another every day. The swift action in this case is proof of exactly how important our joint mission is to the safety of our community," said Robert M. DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a series of threatening communications via a cybertip reporting service on NCMEC’s public website. The communications that were reported included references to killing children. An investigation into the cybertips led law enforcement to believe that the threats were being made by Douglas, who was residing at the Extended Stay America Motel on Weston Parkway in Cary. Douglas has a 2016 federal conviction for communicating interstate threats to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and an extensive history of threatening behavior beginning around 2002 and spanning at least eight states. The complaint charges Douglas with knowingly and willfully transmitting in interstate and foreign commerce from North Carolina to Virginia, communications to NCMEC via the cybertip reporting service, and the communications contained a threat to kidnap and injure children. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Cary and Raleigh Police Departments are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:23-MJ-2298. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Riverhead Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Large Quantities of Narcotics Including Fentanyl

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Marquis Douglas, a narcotics trafficker who operated a drug business that was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, along with other illicit substances throughout the North Fork of Long Island, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert to conspiring to distribute controlled substances and the distribution of controlled substances resulting in death. Douglas was charged in June 2022. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the guilty plea. “Today, Douglas has admitted his role in a large scale narcotics distribution operation as well as his role in the distribution of fentanyl laced cocaine that led to the deaths of four men in a single day,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We hope today’s guilty plea begins to bring a measure of solace to the victims’ families.” Mr. Peace also extended his thanks to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Riverhead Police Department, the Southold Police Department, the Shelter Island Police Department, and the New York State Police for their assistance in the investigation. According to court filings and statements made during today’s proceeding, Douglas orchestrated a years’ long conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, 280 grams of crack cocaine, 40 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of fentanyl analogues. In August of 2021, Douglas’ operation distributed a quantity of cocaine laced with a fentanyl analogue in Greenport, New York. When this cocaine was re-distributed at the street level, it ultimately led to four fatal overdoses on a single day across Greenport and Shelter Island. When apprehended in Suffolk County on May 5, 2022, Douglas was found in possession of large, sellable quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. When sentenced, Douglas faces up to life in prison. The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Maffei, Andrew P. Wenzel, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dana Gremaux. The Defendants : MARQUIS DOUGLAS Age: 38 Riverhead, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-246 (JS)


title: Oregon Man Sentenced for Committing Anti-LGBTQI+ Assaults

component: Civil Division

body_text: BOISE – An Oregon man was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for attempting to run over three people with a car as part of a week-long crime spree targeting the LGBTQI+ community around Boise, Idaho, in October 2022. According to court records, on Oct. 8, 2022, while at the Boise Public Library Main Branch in downtown Boise, Matthew Alan Lehigh, 31, approached a transgender library employee, called her a slur, punched her, and threatened to stab her. A member of the library’s security staff intervened, and Lehigh fled into the parking lot. When the security guard attempted to speak to Lehigh in the parking lot, Lehigh got into a car and suddenly accelerated it toward the guard, intending to collide with him. The guard narrowly escaped being struck by jumping behind a concrete barricade at the last moment, and Lehigh fled the scene. Four days later, while sitting in his car in a public parking lot elsewhere in Boise, Lehigh saw two women walking together towards another vehicle. Assuming that the women were lesbians, Lehigh began shouting threats and slurs at them, then suddenly accelerated his car toward the women, intending to collide with them. The women jumped out of the path of Lehigh’s oncoming car, which struck the other vehicle at significant speed. “The defendant’s crime spree not only endangered and terrified his victims but damaged an entire community’s sense of safety in their city,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We recognize the very real threats and acts of violence faced by the LGBTQI+ community and are determined to use every tool available to preserve the life, safety and dignity of this community. Nobody should live in fear that their identity will make them a target of random, senseless violence while going about their daily lives. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit unlawful acts of hate-fueled anti-LGBTQI+ violence while seeking justice for the victims.” “The defendant’s attacks on LGBTQI+ individuals were terrifying not only for the individual victims, but for our entire community, and that is why hate crimes enforcement is so important,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit. “I am grateful to the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Boise Police Department, and the FBI for their work in helping us to hold this defendant accountable for his hateful and violent acts.” “I extend my appreciation to the Boise Police Department, FBI Salt Lake City Office and United States Attorney’s Office for pursuing justice in this case,” said Ada County Prosecuting Attorney, Jan Bennetts. “My office worked in cooperation with the United States Attorney’s Office to determine which office would handle this case. This case underscores to all Idahoans that hate crimes will be taken seriously whether handled at the federal or local level and that we will work together to ensure public safety and justice for the community.” “The First Amendment clearly protects freedom of speech, but crossing the line into violence is against the law and will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha with the Salt Lake City FBI. “No one should have to live in fear because of who they are, and the men and women of the FBI are committed to protecting the civil rights of all.” On June 15, 2022, Lehigh pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act for the vehicular assault on the library security guard, and a second felony violation for the vehicular assault on the two women. As part of his plea agreement, Lehigh also admitted that he was responsible for three other instances of anti-LGBTQI+ vandalism and violence that occurred in Boise during early October 2022. Specifically, he admitted to setting fire to a rainbow-striped “pride” flag attached to a residential property in North Boise, breaking several windows at a commercial building jointly occupied by an LGBTQI+ community organization and an LGBTQI+-affirming religious congregation and punching a grocery store customer after calling him an anti-LGBTQI+ slur. The Boise Resident Agency of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Boise Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Horwitz for the District of Idaho and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case. If members of the public have information concerning hate crimes or wish to report a similar crime, they should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (208) 344-7843 or the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (208) 334-1211. ###


title: Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Harland Lee Todd, 34, of Mount Hope, pleaded guilty today to possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 2, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Todd’s residence and seized 163 grams of cocaine, a Glock Model 30 .45-caliber pistol, a Mossberg model 702 .22-caliber rifle, a Remington model 870 12-gauge shotgun, 16 ammunition magazines, 634 rounds of ammunition and $2,468. Todd admitted that he possessed the cocaine and intended to distribute it. Todd is scheduled to be sentenced on February 22, 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Central West Virginia Task Force. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon 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. 5:23-cr-124. ###


title: Passaic County Lawyer Admits Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $300,000 in COVID-19 Relief Funds

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, attorney today admitted that he illegally obtained more than $300,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Morton Chirnomas, 61, of Clifton, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to an information charging him with wire fraud. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: From May 2020 to September 2020, Chirnomas fraudulently obtained a $150,000 loan through the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans program. He also falsely obtained $200,000 in unemployment insurance benefits using the names and identities of other people without their authorization. The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000, twice the gross profits to Chirnomas or twice the gross loss suffered by the victims. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Unit in Newark. The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . chirnmoas.information.pdf


title: Lawton Pair Charged with Murder and Accessory to Murder After Native American Woman's Body is Found in Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Last week, a four-count Indictment was unsealed charging TEVIN TERRELL SEMIEN, 29, and MAKAYLA NICOLE LEIGH LOGSDON , 24, both of Lawton, in connection with the death of a Comanche Nation woman found in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. The Indictment charges Semien with one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one alternative count of second-degree murder, and one count of illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction. The Indictment charges Logsdon with one count of accessory after the fact to murder. Semien was arraigned on October 18, 2023. Logsdon was arraigned on October 23, 2023. Both pleaded not guilty and are detained in federal custody pending trial. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint against Semien, On May 17, 2023, a woman was found dead in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Investigators searched the woman’s home within Indian Country, where they observed blood consistent with a violent struggle. The victim’s vehicle was missing as well. On May 21, 2023, Texas law enforcement observed the victim’s vehicle driving south of Dallas, Texas. Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the vehicle fled at a high speed, eventually crashing into a lake. The two occupants of the vehicle, later identified as Semien and Logsdon, attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended. If found guilty, Semien faces up to life imprisonment in federal prison. Logsdon faces up to 15 years in federal prison if found guilty. This case is in federal court because the victim and Logsdon are enrolled members of the Comanche Nation and the murder occurred within Indian Country. This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Oklahoma City, Dallas, and New Orleans field offices; the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Comanche Nation Police Department; the Comanche County Sheriff’s Office; the Lawton Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Rice, Texas, Police Department; and the Navarro County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark R. Stoneman and Allison Christian are prosecuting this case. The case furthers the Department of Justice’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons efforts to address violence against Native American individuals. More information about this initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip . The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that Semien and Logsdon are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to public filings for more information.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont Announces Grant Funding for Investments in Public Safety

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Justice Department announced today several new commitments as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime . Instituted by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in May 2021, the strategy focuses on harnessing federal resources, intelligence, and expertise as a force-multiplier with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) announced today grants totaling more than $334 million including funding to help law enforcement agencies hire over 1,730 new law enforcement officers across the country while also providing critical funding to support school safety and continue to advance community policing nationwide. Through this funding, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont is pleased to announce that the Department’s COPS Office awarded $389,250 to Vermont organizations to combat violent crime and maintain public safety. “Law enforcement officers across the country are showing up every day to protect their communities in the face of unprecedented challenges,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These grants, which support the hiring of more than 1700 new officers and make critical investments in school safety and crisis intervention efforts, will help provide local law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to keep their communities safe, support officers, and build public trust.” U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont Nikolas Kerest stated, “I offer my congratulations to the City of Vergennes and the Town of Pittsford for their $125,000 COPS Hiring Program Awards, the Town of Hartford for its $29,000 awards towards projects associated with law enforcement mental health and wellness, and the Mill River Unified Union School District’s $110,250 award from the COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program. All of these grants should help make Vermont safer.” Complete lists of all program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here .


title: Fayette County Labor Union Official Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jason Todd Weaver, 50, of Mount Hope, pleaded guilty today to embezzlement of funds by an officer of a labor organization. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 29, 2021, Weaver used his position as secretary/treasurer of Local Union 1509 of the American Postal Workers Union to write out a check for $352.62 to himself from Local 1509’s Beckley bank account. Weaver signed his name as an authorized account signatory and forged the name of another union officer who was also an authorized account signatory. Weaver admitted that he knew he was not entitled to the money, and that he deposited the check into his personal bank account. Weaver further admitted to writing 12 other checks totaling $2,679.32 from Local 1509’s bank account to himself and forging the names of other authorized account signatories between April 25, 2016, and May 19, 2021. Weaver is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS). United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage 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. 5:23-cr-130. ###


title: South Florida law enforcement officers receive latest hate crimes training

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI Miami, State Attorney Harold F. Pryor for Broward County, and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle for Miami-Dade County addressed over 200 South Florida law enforcement officers during a day-long interactive training session on hate crimes in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The training was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI, along with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office Hate Crimes Unit and the Broward State Attorney's Office Hate Crimes Taskforce Unit. Presenters addressed federal and state hate crimes statutes, recent federal cases, victim services, and held a panel discussion. Highlights included a keynote address from Judy and Dennis Shepard of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and a presentation by the Anti-Defamation League. This type of law enforcement training is extremely impactful and reinforces the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI to combat hate crimes. Training programs also help to ensure that hate crimes are promptly and properly addressed. All law enforcement agencies within the FBI Miami area of responsibility were invited to attend the training program, along with several other agencies. “It is our united responsibility to stand against hatred and bigotry in all its forms and protect those most vulnerable in our society,” stated U.S. Attorney Lapointe. “By facilitating and taking part in invaluable training programs, we can better serve our communities and collectively work to thwart potential threats to our diverse south Florida residents.” “Educating the public -and law enforcement – about hate crimes is an ongoing, continuous effort that FBI Miami will always prioritize,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “Training events like this one today are an excellent opportunity for law enforcement professionals to learn so that we are in a better position to protect our communities against bias motivated crimes and investigate incidents when they occur.” Lapointe and Veltri recently issued a statement addressing their commitment to combat hate crimes and potential threats to the community. A copy of the statement can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/joint-statements-us-attorney-markenzy-lapointe-southern-district-florida-and-special . The community is encouraged to report all suspected hate crimes to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov. ###


component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: An Oregon man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for attempting to run over three people with a car as part of a week-long crime spree targeting the LGBTQI+ community around Boise, Idaho, in October 2022. “The defendant’s crime spree not only endangered and terrified his victims but damaged an entire community’s sense of safety in their city,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We recognize the very real threats and acts of violence faced by the LGBTQI+ community and are determined to use every tool available to preserve the life, safety and dignity of this community. Nobody should live in fear that their identity will make them a target of random, senseless violence while going about their daily lives. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit unlawful acts of hate-fueled anti-LGBTQI+ violence while seeking justice for the victims.” “The defendant’s attacks on LGBTQI+ individuals were terrifying not only for the individual victims, but for our entire community, and that is why hate crimes enforcement is so important,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho. “I am grateful to the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Boise Police Department and the FBI for their work in helping us to hold this defendant accountable for his hateful and violent acts.” “The defendant went on a week-long crime spree to intimidate and harm members of the LGBTQ+ community in Boise,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s sentence shows that the FBI and our law enforcement partners stand together against hate and will work to protect communities everywhere from bias-motivated attacks.” According to court records, on Oct. 8, 2022, while at the Boise Public Library Main Branch in downtown Boise, Matthew Alan Lehigh, 31, approached a transgender library employee, called her a slur, punched her and threatened to stab her. A member of the library’s security staff intervened, and Lehigh fled into the parking lot. When the security guard attempted to speak to Lehigh in the parking lot, Lehigh got into a car and suddenly accelerated it toward the guard, intending to collide with him. The guard narrowly escaped being struck by jumping behind a concrete barricade at the last moment, and Lehigh fled the scene. Four days later, while sitting in his car in a public parking lot elsewhere in Boise, Lehigh saw two women walking together towards another vehicle. Assuming that the women were lesbians, Lehigh began shouting threats and slurs at them, then suddenly accelerated his car toward the women, intending to collide with them. The women jumped out of the path of Lehigh’s oncoming car, which struck the other vehicle at significant speed. On June 15, 2022, Lehigh pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act for the vehicular assault on the library security guard, and a second felony violation for the vehicular assault on the two women. As part of his plea agreement, Lehigh also admitted that he was responsible for three other instances of anti-LGBTQI+ vandalism and violence that occurred in Boise during early October 2022. Specifically, he admitted to setting fire to a rainbow-striped “pride” flag attached to a residential property in North Boise, breaking several windows at a commercial building jointly occupied by an LGBTQI+ community organization and an LGBTQI+-affirming religious congregation and punching a grocery store customer after calling him an anti-LGBTQI+ slur. The Boise Resident Agency of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Boise Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Horwitz for the District of Idaho and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case. If members of the public have information concerning hate crimes or wish to report a similar crime, they should contact the FBI at (208) 344-7843 or the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (208) 334-1211 .


title: Bogue Chitto Woman Sentenced to Over Five Years  in Prison for Voluntary Manslaughter

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Bogue Chitto woman was sentenced to 67 months in prison for voluntary manslaughter involving the stabbing of a man in the Bogue Chitto Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indian Reservation. According to court documents, Bethany Thomas, 27, of Bogue Chitto, initiated an argument with the victim at a tribal home in the Bogue Chitto Community which resulted in an altercation between Thomas and the victim. Thomas armed herself with a knife and stabbed the unarmed victim causing the victim’s death. A federal grand jury indicted Thomas for Second Degree Murder. Thomas entered a plea of guilty to the lesser included charge of voluntary manslaughter. As stated in court, Thomas admitted to using a knife to stab the victim following a verbal argument and a brief physical altercation. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.


title: Gulfport Woman Pleads Guilty to Possession  with Intent to Distribute 264 Grams of Pure Methamphetamine

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Gulfport woman pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 264 grams of pure methamphetamine. Mary Lou Harmon, 61, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court documents, agents received information that Harmon was receiving and distributing narcotics at an address in D’Iberville, Mississippi. On July 8, 2020, agents intercepted a package sent to Harmon which contained 264 grams of pure methamphetamine. Harmon pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. She is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas Granted Funding for Investments in Public Safety

component: Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – The Justice Department announced today several new commitments as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime . Instituted by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in May 2021, the strategy focuses on harnessing federal resources, intelligence, and expertise as a force-multiplier with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta highlighted the more than $334 million in critical grant funding to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders awarded today by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The COPS grants announced today include funding to help law enforcement agencies hire over 1,730 new law enforcement officers across the country while also providing critical funding to support school safety and continue to advance community policing nationwide. Through this funding, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is pleased to announce that the Department’s COPS Office awarded $11,028,393 to the Western District of Texas to combat violent crime and maintain public safety. “Law enforcement officers across the country are showing up every day to protect their communities in the face of unprecedented challenges,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These grants, which support the hiring of more than 1700 new officers and make critical investments in school safety and crisis intervention efforts, will help provide local law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to keep their communities safe, support officers, and build public trust.” “The grant award announced today by the Justice Department is a critical investment in public safety for our district,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I am grateful for the support from the Attorney General and across the Department, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that the people of the Western District are safe and secure.” The Department has also named the five new cities to join the more than 50 jurisdictions currently part of the Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) National Public Safety Partnership (PSP), which has a proven track record of helping partner sites reduce crime, improve homicide clearance rates, and enhance the quality of life for community members. The 2024 PSP sites are: Knoxville, Tennessee; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and Vallejo, California. Lastly, the Deputy Attorney General and Associate Attorney General announced that this December 11-13, in Indianapolis, the Justice Department’s will bring together 1,500 local and federal partners from across the country, including representatives from the more than 50 PSP jurisdictions and from Project Safe Neighborhoods for a Violent Crime Reduction Summit, to be hosted by OJP BJA. Complete lists of all program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here . # # #


title: Espanola Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Luis Mariscal-Lopez pled guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Mariscal-Lopez, 25, of Espanola, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to court records, on January 14, 2018, Mariscal-Lopez and Jorge Dominguez, 28, of Espanola, conspired with Crystal Ramos, deceased, and another individual to kidnap, assault and murder Jane Doe because she stole and used Ramos’ ATM card. To that end, Ramos and the fourth individual lured Jane Doe from Buffalo Thunder Casino to Ramos’ house within the exterior boundaries of Santa Clara Pueblo where Mariscal-Lopez and Dominguez lay in wait. When Jane Doe entered the house, the group assaulted her, tied her to a chair and confined her to a bedroom where they had laid down plastic on the floor and walls. Mariscal-Lopez and Dominguez, and the others, continued to assault Jane Doe with various objects including a rifle butt and an axe handle, strangled her, and Ramos used a drill in her side until Jane Doe died. The group then wrapped Jane Doe’s body in plastic and loaded it into the trunk of a car. A few days later, Ramos, Mariscal-Lopez, Dominguez and Johnny Black drove to a remote location near Velarde, New Mexico and attempted to dismember Jane Doe’s body with a chainsaw but were unsuccessful. Instead, they dug two shallow pits and set Jane Doe’s remains on fire. When the group noticed a helicopter in the air near their location, they extinguished the fire, moved Jane Doe’s remains to a toolbox and drove back to the house, where they poured concrete over her remains and left it stored in the garage. Jane Doe was reported missing and her case was investigated as missing person case. A detective interviewed Ramos about Jane Doe’s disappearance in March of 2018. Following the interview, the toolbox was removed from Ramos’ house and buried near the Rio Ojo Caliente, north of Espanola. Statements made to law enforcement during an unrelated investigation led to the recovery of Jane Doe’s partial remains. Johnny Black pled guilty on April 8, 2020, to using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and being an accessory after the fact in relation to the disposal of Jane Doe’s remains. Black was sentenced to 171 months in prison. Crystal Ramos died in a shootout with police in Denver, Colorado on June 14, 2018. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Espanola Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Bureaus of Indian Affairs, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Caitlin L. Dillon are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-257


title: SoCal Trio Charged with Armed Robberies During One-Week Spree in Which Their Flight from Police Resulted in Fatal Car Crash

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Three Southern California residents have been charged in a federal criminal complaint with allegedly committing three armed robberies of a liquor store, gas station, and convenience store – a crime spree that ended in the death of an innocent bystander in a fatal car accident while the defendants fled from police, the Justice Department announced today. The following defendants have been charged via a criminal complaint filed last Wednesday with Hobbs Act robbery and using and carrying a firearm during an in relation to a crime of violence: Kaelenn Maea, 26, of Long Beach; Salagi Iakopo, 30, of Carson; and Mathew Salanoa, 23, of Placentia Maea and Salanoa are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Law enforcement continues to search for Iakopo. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, the defendants committed three armed robberies from September 22 to September 29 in Downey, Compton, and South El Monte. In each of the robberies, one of the robbers allegedly used a short-style rifle to control the cashier and customers while another robber took full cash registers or drawers before all the robbers fled in an SUV. Specifically, on September 27, the three defendants allegedly robbed a Compton gas station. One of the robbers, believed to be Salanoa, was caught on surveillance footage approximately 10 minutes before the robbery casing the store in preparation to rob it. The robbers left briefly before returning. Another robber, believed to be Iakopo, grabbed and detached the cash register from the counter. The final robber, believed to be Maea, pointed a rifle at the cashier and customers preventing them from exiting the store. The robbers allegedly stole approximately $1,500 inside the cash register and fled in a stolen Range Rover. Two days later, two defendants, believed to be Maea and Iakopo, robbed a convenience store in South El Monte. One of the robbers pointed a rifle at the cashier while the other robber stole the cash register drawer. In total, the robbers stole approximately $350 to $400. The robbers then fled in the stolen Range Rover. On October 9, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies found the stolen Range Rover, which allegedly sped off and almost immediately hit another car, killing a civilian motorist inside. The suspects then ran away, but deputies found Iakopo hiding in a trash can in the area, the affidavit alleges. Deputies later found clothing believed to belong to Maea beside a small crawl space under a nearby house. Inside the stolen Range Rover, deputies found clothing, identification and a cellphone believed to belong to Maea, according to the affidavit. A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of both charges, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the Hobbs Act robbery count and up to life in federal prison for the firearm count. The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter. The Los Angeles Police Department, the El Monte Police Department, and the Downey Police Department provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Four Oklahomans Plead Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Causing Death of Grady County Resident in Indian Country

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – DUSTIN ELLIS , 32, PAMELA PAYNE , 40, SIERRA MANDRELL , 29, and NICHOLAS SWEETEN , 27, all of Grady County, recently pleaded guilty for their roles in the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of another person within Indian Country in Grady County, announced U. S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. In October, Ellis, Payne, and Mandrell were each charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl. Similarly, Sweeten was charged on October 11, 2023, for his involvement in the drug conspiracy. On April 3, 2023, a resident of Grady County died due to a fentanyl overdose. According to court documents, on or about April 2, 2023, these four defendants conspired to distribute pills containing fentanyl to another person, which resulted in the death of the Grady County resident. Yesterday, Payne, Mandrell, and Sweeten each pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. As part of their pleas, Payne and Mandrell admitted to distributing a substance containing fentanyl and Sweeten admitted to facilitating the deal. On October 5, 2023, Ellis pleaded guilty to his role in the distribution of fentanyl. “It only takes one deadly fentanyl-laced pill to cause a fatal overdose,” said U. S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “My office has and will continue to aggressively pursue those who dispense this deadly poison to hold them accountable to the significant consequences that follow and protect the public from further harm.” “Those who distribute drugs do so for one purpose, to make a profit,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Division, which covers Oklahoma. “The DEA will never stop seeking justice for those who prey on others’ addictions.” This case is in federal court because Ellis is a member of the Choctaw Nation, and Payne is a member of the Chickasaw Nation, and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation. At sentencing, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $1,000,000. This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Grady County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Chickasaw Nation Office of Tribal Justice Administration. Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Kaleigh Blackwell and Assistant U. S. Attorney Elizabeth Joynes are prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

body_text: Drug Trafficking Elexus Coral Lucero, age 24, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison following a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 630 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents, on Aug. 23, 2022, the Cheyenne Police Department discovered a bag containing 214 fentanyl pills following a traffic stop in which Lucero was a passenger. A review of Lucero’s cellphone showed evidence that was consistent with distribution of the pills. This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Nov. 2. Illegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien Jose Alonso Bedolla-Vasquez, age 32 of Wilson, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. The defendant has been in federal custody for approximately six months and will be deported to Mexico. According to court documents, the defendant was born in Tlaxcala, Mexico, and is a citizen of Mexico. On Jan. 28 Bedolla-Vasquez was arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol in Teton County for driving under the influence. He admitted to being a citizen of Mexico and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement verified that he had been previously deported. The case was prosecuted by Michael J. Elmore. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 31. About the United States Attorney’s Office United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Environmental Justice The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Project Safe Neighborhoods Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. Victim Witness Assistance The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for The Eastern District of Louisiana Granted Funding   for Public Safety Investments

body_text: NEW ORLEANS,LA – Today, the Department of Justice announced several new commitments as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime . Instituted by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in May 2021, the strategy harnesses federal resources, intelligence, and expertise as a force-multiplier along with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta highlighted the more than $334 million in critical grant funding awarded today to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).The COPS grants include funding for law enforcement agencies to hire more than 1,730 new law enforcement officers across the country, along with critical funding for school safety and the advancement of community policing nationwide Through this grant funding, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA) is pleased to announce that the Department of Justice’s COPS Office awarded $9,418,156 to EDLA to combat violent crime and maintain public safety. Awards include: 2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Awards Louisiana Department of State Police $3,418,156 2023 COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP) Awards Louisiana Department of State Police $2,000,000 2023 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards City of Gretna: $375,000 Kenner Police Department: $2,500,000 Town of Lutcher: $125,000 Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office: $1,000,000 “Law enforcement officers across the country are showing up every day to protect their communities in the face of unprecedented challenges,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These grants, which support the hiring of more than 1700 new officers and make critical investments in school safety and crisis intervention efforts, will help provide local law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to keep their communities safe, support officers, and build public trust.” “In the Eastern District of Louisiana, communities continue, in some capacity, to be affected by violent crime and its collateral consequences, ” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. “The awards reflect DOJ’s commitment to support effective law enforcement and to also encourage taking preventative measures to reduce illegal drug trafficking and drug addiction.” “The Department of Justice will provide our state and local partners with the necessary tools to enhance public safety and combat violent crime through its public safety initiatives.” The Department has also named the five new cities to join the more than 50 jurisdictions currently part of the Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) National Public Safety Partnership (PSP), which has a proven track record of helping partner sites reduce crime, improve homicide clearance rates, and enhance the quality of life for community members. The 2024 PSP sites are: Knoxville, Tennessee; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and Vallejo, California. Lastly, the Deputy Attorney General and Associate Attorney General announced that this December 11-13, in Indianapolis, the Justice Department’s will bring together 1,500 local and federal partners from across the country, including representatives from the more than 50 PSP jurisdictions and from Project Safe Neighborhoods for a Violent Crime Reduction Summit, to be hosted by OJP BJA. Complete lists of all program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here . # # #


title: Alaska Man Indicted in D.C. on Charges of Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: WASHINGTON – Brogan T. Welsh, 31, of Anchorage, Alaska, was indicted today in the District of Columbia on charges of distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division. According to court documents, Welsh allegedly was a member of a private group on an internet platform that was dedicated to discussing the sexual exploitation of children and to sharing child sexual abuse materials. In December 2020, Welsh – who was then living near Richmond, Va. – contacted someone on the platform that he believed was the father of a minor child. In actuality, the “father” was an undercover agent with the FBI’s Washington D.C. Field Office. Over the course of several weeks, Welsh allegedly posted links in the group containing numerous images and videos depicting adult males sexually abusing prepubescent boys. Welsh repeatedly expressed his sexual interest in children, and a desire to travel from Virginia to the District of Columbia, in order to sexually abuse the purported child. In an investigation previously thought to be unrelated, agents in the FBI’s Anchorage Office discovered chats between two users on the same social media application again discussing the sexual exploitation of children. The investigation revealed that Welsh was one of the individuals using the social media application to discuss his interest in sexually abusing children. On Oct.19, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Welsh’s Anchorage, Alaska, residence. Digital devices were recovered from the residence. Welsh was arrested in the early morning hours of Oct. 22, 2023. He has been ordered temporarily detained. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI’s Washington and Anchorage Field Offices. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Larson, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Walker of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Alaska.


title: Former Employee of Care Facility Sentenced for Criminal Negligence of a Vulnerable Adult

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kelly Barry, 25, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was sentenced today in Superior Court for one count of criminal negligence of a vulnerable adult, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia, made the announcement. Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow accepted Barry’s guilty plea today and ordered 180 days in jail, with a portion of that time suspended, 14 months of supervised probation, 90 hours of community service, and ordered that Barry be prohibited from working with anyone who cannot care for themselves. According to court documents, Barry, was a former Direct Support Professional for Community Options, Inc., a residential facility for persons with disabilities, located in Rockville, Maryland. Barry’s job duties included taking individuals on outings in the local community, such as bowling, etc. for approximately three to four hours a day, five times per week. Between June and October 2022, Barry provided care to a vulnerable adult, who is non-verbal, autistic, and unable to care for himself. Instead of going to various community outings, Barry used the Community Options van to make food deliveries with the vulnerable adult. On October 19, 2022, Barry utilized the Community Options van to pick up the vulnerable adult. That day, Barry drove to Washington, D.C., and made a total of five food deliveries. While making the final delivery, Barry exited the vehicle and left the vulnerable adult unattended. After the delivery was completed, Barry observed a masked individual steal the vehicle while the vulnerable adult was still inside the van. During his initial call to 911, Barry failed to mention that the vulnerable adult was in the stolen vehicle and subsequently failed to notify the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer who arrived on scene of the same. After, Barry informed his employer that he did not notify police that the vulnerable adult was still in the vehicle, and the company advised him to provide that information to the authorities. However, Barry did not provide this information during his subsequent notification. Approximately three and a half hours after the theft of the van, the vulnerable adult was found by the Prince George’s County Police Department, barefoot and wandering in the middle of traffic on the I-495 Capital Beltway. The Prince George’s County Police Department transported the vulnerable adult to a local hospital for treatment. This prosecution is indicative of the continued collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General (D.C. OIG) to protect vulnerable adults. The D.C. OIG operates the District’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), which is statutorily responsible for investigating and prosecuting District Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse or neglect of residents in health care facilities and board and care facilities and of beneficiaries in noninstitutional or other settings. The government urges the public to provide tips and assistance to stop health care fraud and abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. If you have information about individuals committing these types of offenses, please call the D.C. Office of the Inspector General at 202-724-TIPS [202-724-8477]. In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves, and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated the case from the D.C. OIG MFCU. They also acknowledged the efforts of both the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and Prince George’s County Police Department for their initial response. They commended the work of Special Assistant United States Attorney Jason Facci, on detail from the D.C. OIG, who prosecuted the case.


title: Utah Resident Sentenced to 45 Years for Murder

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY – Brandon Redfoot, 28, of Fort Duchesne, Utah, was sentenced Wednesday to 540 months’ imprisonment followed by 60 months of supervised release, after a federal jury convicted him of murder. Redfoot is also ordered by the court to pay $5,955.36 in restitution. According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, Redfoot shot and killed another man, on June 7, 2018. In August 2023, he was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment, including murder in the second degree while within Indian Country, assault with a dangerous weapon while within Indian Country, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and two counts of discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. “Mr. Redfoot’s senseless act of violence put many lives at risk and took the life of one young man,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. "We will continue to work with our Tribal and federal law enforcement partners to pursue justice for victims and their families." Evidence presented at trial showed Redfoot was in a physical altercation with the victim outside a store in Randlett, Utah. After the fight, and after the two men parted ways in separate vehicles, Redfoot told the driver of the vehicle he was in to turn around and drive back in the direction the victim had traveled. After the driver refused, Redfoot pulled out a firearm, later identified as a KelTec Sub-2000 9mm folding rifle and threatened the driver to turn around by firing the gun inside the vehicle. The driver complied, and ultimately arrived outside a residence where Redfoot spotted the victim. Redfoot fired at least twenty-nine shots in the direction of the victim and others, ultimately hitting the victim in the back of the head and killing him. “Redfoot acted with no regard for the victim’s life and recklessly endangered other innocent lives that day,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “We are committed to working with our Tribal partners to investigate the most egregious crimes in our Native American communities and help keep them safe.” The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the FBI Vernal Resident Agency and investigations from the Ute Tribe. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Thorpe and Sam Pead of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


body_text: NEW ORLEANS,LA – Today, the Department of Justice announced several new commitments as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime . Instituted by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in May 2021, the strategy harnesses federal resources, intelligence, and expertise as a force-multiplier along with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta highlighted the more than $334 million in critical grant funding awarded today to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).The COPS grants include funding for law enforcement agencies to hire more than 1,730 new law enforcement officers across the country, along with critical funding for school safety and the advancement of community policing nationwide Through this grant funding, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA) is pleased to announce that the Department of Justice’s COPS Office awarded $9,418,156 to EDLA to combat violent crime and maintain public safety. Awards include: 2023 COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) Program Awards Louisiana Department of State Police $3,418,156 2023 COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program (CAMP) Awards Louisiana Department of State Police $2,000,000 2023 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards City of Gretna $375,000 Kenner Police Department $2,500,000 Town of Lutcher $125,000 Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office $1,000,000 “Law enforcement officers across the country are showing up every day to protect their communities in the face of unprecedented challenges,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These grants, which support the hiring of more than 1700 new officers and make critical investments in school safety and crisis intervention efforts, will help provide local law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to keep their communities safe, support officers, and build public trust.” “In the Eastern District of Louisiana, communities continue, in some capacity, to be affected by violent crime and its collateral consequences, ” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. “The awards reflect DOJ’s commitment to support effective law enforcement and to also encourage taking preventative measures to reduce illegal drug trafficking and drug addiction.” “The Department of Justice will provide our state and local partners with the necessary tools to enhance public safety and combat violent crime through its public safety initiatives.” The Department has also named the five new cities to join the more than 50 jurisdictions currently part of the Office of Justice Program’s (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) National Public Safety Partnership (PSP), which has a proven track record of helping partner sites reduce crime, improve homicide clearance rates, and enhance the quality of life for community members. The 2024 PSP sites are: Knoxville, Tennessee; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and Vallejo, California. Lastly, the Deputy Attorney General and Associate Attorney General announced that this December 11-13, in Indianapolis, the Justice Department’s will bring together 1,500 local and federal partners from across the country, including representatives from the more than 50 PSP jurisdictions and from Project Safe Neighborhoods for a Violent Crime Reduction Summit, to be hosted by OJP BJA. Complete lists of all program award recipients, including funding amounts, can be found here .


title: Convicted alien smuggler sent to prison for recording sexual material and posting it on Snapchat

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old Laredo resident has been ordered to federal prison for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Victor Antonio Puente pleaded guilty July 5. U.S. District Judge Lee H Rosenthal has now sentenced Puente to 180 months in federal prison. The court found he committed the offense while under supervised release for a previous alien smuggling offense which much be served consecutively for a total 192-month-term of imprisonment. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the “horrific” events and that Puente was “not acting as a human being.” Puente will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Puente will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. A hearing date will be set in the near future to determine the amount that Puente will be ordered to pay in restitution to the victim. “Victor Puente gave a 15-year old alcohol, got her drunk and sexually violated her in area motels, but the once-convicted alien smuggler didn’t stop there,” said Hamdani. “Not only did he violate her physically, he posted images and videos of his abhorrent behavior on SnapChat. As the father of a 15-year old daughter myself, I am thankful that this predator won’t come anywhere near my or any other daughter for a very long time to come.” “This sentencing reflects the FBI's dedication to protecting children from those who choose to prey on the most innocent within our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Justin Garris for the FBI San Antonio Division. “We want to thank the Laredo Police Department for their unwavering support with this investigation.” On June 5, 2022, Puente rented a motel room in Laredo. There, he engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old female victim. He used his personal cell phone to record and photograph sexually explicit conduct between him and the minor and then uploaded the content via social media. A forensic analysis of Puente’s cell phone revealed videos of him engaging in intercourse with the victim. Other videos showed him fondling her while both are naked or were of her naked body while she slept. The minor victim’s family was able to discover Puente’s location from a third-party and contacted law enforcement. Puente denied that the minor victim was in the room. However, they located her and took her to a local hospital for observation and treatment. Puente will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) Homero Ramirez and Michael P. Makens and former AUSA April Ayers-Perez prosecuted the case. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: Co-owner of Wasilla auto shop sentenced for violating Clean Air Act

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The co-owner of a vehicle repair shop in Wasilla was sentenced today to three years’ probation and a $50,000 fine for intentionally altering emission control systems in at least 144 diesel trucks, violating the Clean Air Act. According to court documents, Daniel Aaron Chase, 39, of Wasilla, co-owns DC 907 Diesels LLC, which operates a vehicle repair shop specializing in diesel trucks. Starting in 2017, Chase performed and directed other shop employees to perform “deleting and tuning” on customers’ diesel trucks. Chase first removed emissions control systems designed to reduce vehicle pollution from the trucks. Then, he tampered with the trucks’ onboard diagnostic systems to allow the trucks to run normally despite their lack of emission controls. That tampering violated the Clean Air Act, a violation of 42 U.S.C. §7431(c)(2)(C). Chase made over $349,000 performing unlawful work on diesel trucks over five years. “Violations of the Clean Air Act can significantly affect the lives of Alaskans, and those who partake in these unlawful actions will face consequences,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Mr. Chase’s intentional actions to remove emission control systems will not be tolerated and our office will continue to support our partners’ efforts to enforce the Clean Air Act.” “For years, the defendant intentionally and repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act by installing emissions defeat devices on well over a hundred diesel trucks,” said Special Agent in Charge Scot Adair of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Alaska. “His actions will result in an excess of 144 tons of nitrogen oxides and more than a ton of particulate matter being emitted in the Mat-Su Valley, an area that already struggles with air quality issues. EPA will continue to investigate and prosecute the sale and installation of illegal defeat devices that contribute to serious health problems and put our communities at risk.” The EPA Criminal Investigation Alaska Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers and EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Karla Perrin prosecuted the case. ###


title: U.S. Attorney And Federal Law Enforcement Officials Assemble With State Law Enforcement Officers And Local Dignitaries In Show Of Unity Against Fentanyl Trafficking In The Tenderloin District Of San Francisco

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey convened a press conference today bringing together numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities to announce “All Hands on Deck,” a law enforcement initiative to address what has become endemic drug dealing in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. U.S. Attorney Ramsey explained that the new joint initiative, focused on the Tenderloin, is designed to change the basic cost/benefit analysis for fentanyl dealers throughout the Northern District of California. Representing several state and local entities were notables including San Francisco Mayor London Breed, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Chief of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) William Scott, San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Commander Sunshine Garside of the California Highway Patrol, and Deputy Chief of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Chris Vogan. They were joined on stage by federal law enforcement personnel: Brian Clark of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Robert Tripp of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Jennifer Cicolani of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Tatum King of Homeland Security Investigations; and Shawn Bradstreet of the U.S. Secret Service, as well as Acting U.S. Marshal Jay Bieber, Executive Director of the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Mike Sena, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nunez, and Internal Revenue Service– Criminal Investigation Supervisory Special Agent Steve Martins. Although All Hands on Deck focuses on drug dealing in the Tenderloin, several of the elements have reach outside of the San Francisco neighborhood and throughout the Northern District of California. Elements of the initiative include the following: • ramping up arrests of street dealers and suppliers of fentanyl who sell fentanyl near federal buildings (including near the James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse at 7th and Mission Streets, the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building on 7th and Mission Streets, and the Phillip Burton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue); • expanding efforts to track down and hold accountable suppliers of fentanyl; • bringing additional charges against persons operating money services operations who turn a blind eye to drug trafficking and money laundering transactions on their networks; • using targeted wiretaps, arrests, and searches throughout the Bay Area to enable drug seizures and to stem the flow of drugs and dealers coming into San Francisco from nearby counties; • conducting regular joint federal and SFPD “jump out” operations in the Tenderloin to make on-the-spot arrests for open-air drug dealing; • “fast-tracking” certain federal cases so that they take as little as a month from time of arrest to disposition; and • federal “adoption” of state cases to raise the stakes by holding drug dealers accountable in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Ramsey stated that “our drug crisis has been fueled in part because selling fentanyl has become a lucrative vocation for people who have found our neighborhoods, and principally the Tenderloin District, to be a convenient and risk-free marketplace.” The U.S. Attorney disclosed that several of the participants at the press conference have been coordinating closely for months to disrupt fentanyl distribution in San Francisco and to remove fentanyl dealers from San Francisco neighborhoods. The result, U.S Attorney stated, has been an increase in collaboration, cooperation, and coordination between all the participants at the press conference. “All Hands on Deck,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey, “is designed to change the basic cost/benefit analysis for fentanyl dealers. Today’s message is simple: selling fentanyl in the Tenderloin will result in your arrest and prosecution.” “The Tenderloin has become ground zero for drug tourism. On average, we lose three lives a day to drug poisoning from sales connected to this area,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. “The community has said, loud and clear, that they are sick and tired of the death and destruction caused by this lawlessness. As leaders in law enforcement, I can tell you we are working tirelessly to hold accountable the people responsible for this devastation.” “We’ve seen an increased and significant presence from federal law enforcement taking on drug enforcement,” said Mayor Breed, “and we greatly appreciate their partnership in this city. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney and his team and the DEA for dedicating resources to disrupting the flow of drugs on our streets and for their commitment to San Francisco. Their work, along with our state and local law enforcement, is having an impact on our streets.” “Law enforcement approaches traditionally applied to drug dealing in our neighborhoods simply have not caught up the challenges presented by this new drug,” stated U.S. Attorney Ramsey. “Yet, the tools of law enforcement can address some of the root causes of this epidemic. We in law enforcement are determined to double-down, triple-down, and take all necessary steps to prevent this poison from reaching our streets.” “Current conditions on our streets are completely unacceptable and require all levels of government to work together to close open-air drug markets and hold suspected drug dealers accountable for the unprecedented death and addiction that their trade has wrought on our city,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “I would like to thank Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi for her steadfast leadership and tireless advocacy on behalf of San Franciscans, which accelerated the federal government’s approval of San Francisco for Operation Overdrive. Working together with our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state and local law enforcement agencies, we will be more able to identify, arrest and prosecute suspected drug traffickers at all levels. Every legal resource available to us must be used to deter and disrupt the flagrant drug trafficking in our community.” “The SFPD will not tolerate people dealing drugs on our streets, and we will hold these dealers accountable, and sustain the effort over time,” Chief Bill Scott said. “I want to thank our federal partners and our officers for their hard work in helping make our beautiful city safe for everyone to enjoy.” The participants at the press conference stressed that a new reality for San Francisco drug dealers exists and that the consequences for dealing drugs in the Tenderloin are changing. The chances of getting caught have increased and any hope for profits must now be weighed against unacceptable losses in time, money, seized drugs, and other disruptions that criminal convictions present. Over the past four months, nearly 50 kilograms of fentanyl were removed from the streets in the Tenderloin, nearly double the amount taken off the streets in the same area during the same period last year. Similarly, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized in the last four months—a 169% increase from the same period last year. Information shared at the press conference made clear that greater resources from each of the represented law enforcement partners are being deployed. U.S. Attorney Ramsey pledged that every criminal Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of California will be involved in this fight in one way or another. In addition, the DEA described how additional resources are being contributed through Operation Overdrive, and Mayor Breed, Chief Scott, and DA Jenkins all described devoting additional resources to respond to the fentanyl crisis. As stated by U.S. Attorney Ramsey, “‘All Hands on Deck’ means we are using our resources in a way that addresses the magnitude of the problem that fentanyl presents.”