title: Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug Charges

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KENNETH JOYNER, 33, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to firearm and drug offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 25, 2022, Bridgeport Police stopped Joyner’s car for motor vehicle violations. Joyner was arrested after he was found in possession of a loaded Polymer P80 9mm semi-automatic pistol (“ghost gun”) and several bags of marijuana that he intended to sell. A subsequent search of Joyner’s residence revealed a loaded Ruger P95 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, marijuana that Joyner intended to sell, and drug paraphernalia. Joyner pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with obliterated serial number, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford on February 22, 2024, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Joyner has been detained since his federal arrest on April 13, 2023. This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten and Karen L. Peck through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Vancouver Man to Plead Guilty to Securities Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A British Columbia resident has agreed to plead guilty to facilitating pump-and-dump securities fraud schemes by using nominee entities to conceal the common ownership of shares of microcap securities, also known as “penny stocks,” that he then sold on behalf of other conspirators. Steve M. Bajic, 53, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. According to the charging documents, Bajic and his co-conspirators owned and/or controlled foreign corporations that they used to conceal the common ownership of shares of various publicly traded microcap companies. It is alleged that Bajic and his co-conspirators used these nominee entities to hold shares in blocks of just under five percent of the underlying companies’ total outstanding shares, in order to conceal from transfer agents and the investing public that the shares were under common control and subject to sale restrictions under the federal securities laws. Bajic and his co-conspirators then allegedly sold the shares at the control persons’ direction during promotional campaigns intended to create investor demand for the shares (conduct known as a “pump-and-dump”). Bajic and his co-conspirators also allegedly distributed the illicit proceeds for the control persons’ benefit while keeping commissions for themselves. In total, Bajic and his co-conspirators are alleged to have facilitated the sale of the securities of dozens of microcap companies for trading proceeds in the tens of millions of dollars, including over $6 million generated from the sale of shares of the company Blake Insomnia Therapeutics, Inc. (ticker symbol BKIT). The charge of conspiracy to commit securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Blackfeet Tribal operations manager suspected of stealing tribal COVID-19 relief funding arraigned on charges

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — The former operations manager for the Blackfeet Tribe was arraigned today on charges accusing him of stealing federal COVID-19 relief funding the tribe received, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. James Cameron McNeely, 43, of Browning, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with theft from an Indian tribal government receiving federal funding, wire fraud and theft from an Indian tribal organization. If convicted of the most serious crime, McNeely faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. McNeely was released pending further proceedings. The indictment alleges that the Blackfeet Tribe received federal grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to aid public health and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. As alleged, from about October 2021 to October 2022, while working as the tribe’s operations manager in Browning, McNeely stole more than $5,000 from the tribe by fraudulently submitting requests for repayment to the tribe after falsely claiming to purchase COVID-19 supplies on behalf of the tribe from Amazon. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-106. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl XXX


title: Lapwai Man Arrested Following Indictment for Second Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COEUR D’ALENE – William O. Eyle, 20, of Lapwai, was arrested by the United States Marshals Service on November 27, 2023, in Pendleton, OR, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to a previously unsealed indictment, on October 17, 2023, Eyle was charged in U.S. District Court with one count of murder in the second degree and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence after he allegedly killed E.A. by shooting him repeatedly on or about May 12, 2023, on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Eyle’s mother, Jacinta Wheeler, 43, also of Lapwai, was charged in the same indictment with accessory after the fact to murder. Wheeler allegedly cleaned out Eyle’s car, disposed of evidence, and assisted Eyle in leaving the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Wheeler’s trial is scheduled for March 25, 2024. If convicted on the murder count, Eyle faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the excellent coordination between tribal, state, and federal partners, including the Nez Perce Tribal Police, Umatilla Tribal Police, Yakama Nation Police, the Moscow Police Department, Oregon State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Marshals Service, which led to the arrest of Eyle. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Defendant Pleads Guilty Following Jury Selection to Defrauding Investors of $17 Million in Offering Fraud, Stock Manipulation and Money Laundering Schemes

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Richard Dale Sterritt, Jr., also known as “Richard Richman,” pleaded guilty yesterday at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn to a five-count superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud, multiple counts of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. A trial in the case had been scheduled to begin yesterday, and Sterritt’s plea took place immediately following jury selection before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. When sentenced, Sterritt faces up to 75 years in prison. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea. “Investors trusted Sterritt with millions of dollars of their money and he repaid that trust with gimmicks and lies,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The defendant’s guilty plea at the beginning of his trial is a testament to the hard work and commitment of this Office and our law enforcement partners to holding accountable fraudsters who deceive the investing public.” Mr. Peace thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for their invaluable assistance in the investigation. As alleged in the superseding indictment, between March 2019 and January 2021, Sterritt and his co-conspirators defrauded investors of more than $17 million that they claimed would be used for an oil and gas venture called Zona Energy. Sterritt misappropriated the lion’s share of investor funds, which he spent on personal expenses, including luxury cars, travel and high-end clothing. Sterritt also wired investor money to other businesses he controlled, including a purported cannabis business, and to his friends and girlfriends. Sterritt used the alias “Richard Richman” when interacting with investors to conceal his prior criminal conviction for securities fraud. Sterritt also engaged in a stock market manipulation fraud in which he conspired with others to manipulate the price and trading volume of publicly traded shares of OrgHarvest, Inc., which traded under the stock ticker “ORGH.” Sterritt, who secretly controlled the majority of ORGH shares through trusts in the name of his girlfriends, family members, and co-conspirators, sought to sell the fraudulently inflated shares to the investing public via a corrupt stock promoter, who was in reality an undercover law enforcement agent. Sterritt executed a series of matched trades with the undercover agent, after which regulators suspended trading in ORGH. Following the suspension of trading, he attempted to manipulate the price and trading volume of the shares of yet another public company—ERF Wireless, Inc., which traded under the stock ticker “ERFB.” Sterritt is the last defendant to plead guilty in connection with the charges in the superseding indictment. Five of his co-conspirators pleaded guilty in 2022 and 2023, four of whom are currently awaiting sentencing. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys David C. Pitluck, Sarah M. Evans, Nick M. Axelrod, Jessica K. Weigel, and John O. Enright are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist William Daniels. The Defendant : RICHARD DALE STERRITT, JR. (also known as “Richard Richman”) Age: 67 Garland, Texas Co-Conspirators Who Previously Pleaded Guilty : MICHAEL GREER Age: 48 Dallas, Texas ROBERT MAGNESS Age: 54 New York, New York CHRISTOPHER J. PITTMAN Age: 52 Dallas, Texas MARK ROSS Age: 56 Parkland, Florida ROBYN STRAZA Age: 61 Dallas, Texas E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-193 (KAM)


title: Rockland Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Rockland man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Donald J. Caruso, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for March 8, 2024. Caruso was initially arrested and charged in November 2022 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2022. In early November 2022, Caruso used an online communication platform to send an undercover agent multiple links to videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. On Nov. 7, 2022, a laptop hard drive was seized from Caruso’s residence and his cell phone was seized from Caruso’s person. Both devices were found to contain hundreds of images and over three thousand videos depicting CSAM. Additionally, during the search, Caruso admitted to sending and receiving child pornography using his cell phone and laptop. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigation’s in New England; Rockland Chief of Police Nicholas Zeoli; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Shrewsbury Man Indicted for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Shrewsbury man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Worcester for allegedly possessing and transporting child pornography. Brian Lingard, 60, was charged with transportation of and possession of child pornography. Lingard was previously charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 27, 2023. He was released on conditions following his arrest on Oct. 30, 2023. According to the charging documents, on Oct. 19, 2023, Lingard flew from Paris to Boston. During a customs screening, it is alleged that Lingard was found to possess images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his phone. A subsequent search of devices stored at Lingard’s residence revealed an additional collection of alleged CSAM. Data extracted from the SD card of Lingard’s phone allegedly revealed approximately 23 images of CSAM depicting minors who appear to be under 10 years old. At least two of the images depict minors who have previously been identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as child sexual abuse victims. It is further alleged that a computer stored by the defendant at his Shrewsbury home contained approximately 135 videos depicting CSAM, depicting primarily females between the ages of three and 12 years old. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Michael McCarthy, Acting Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023. Gassem Belhage, 26, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Belhage was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June 2023. He pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023. In April of 2023, in Rapid City, Belhage, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found in possession of a loaded Sturm, Ruger & Company Incorporated, model AR-556 caliber, semi-automatic rifle, along with two loaded 26 round magazines for the rifle, which were found after Belhage came into contact with law enforcement during a traffic stop. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Belhage was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023. Eric Jaramillo, 35, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Jaramillo was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July of 2021. He pleaded guilty on August 18, 2023. Between March and June of 2021, in Rapid City, Jaramillo conspired with two other individuals to distribute methamphetamine by assisting in coordinating large quantities to be brought from California to South Dakota for further distribution. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Jaramillo was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023. Michael Douglas McKillip, 33, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the Sexual Exploitation conviction to run consecutively to five years in federal prison for the Child Pornography conviction, followed by seven years of supervised released. McKillip was also ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution, a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. McKillip was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in April of 2022. He pleaded guilty on August 23, 2023. McKillip was federally indicted following a Cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children in relation to a download of suspected child pornography on McKillip’s Microsoft account. The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce executed a search warrant on McKillip’s residence and located multiple electronic storage devices. A forensic examination of those devices found thousands of images of child pornography, as well as multiple minors McKillip had direct communications with and from whom he sought images of child pornography. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case. McKillip was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Wagner Woman Sentenced for Multiple Abuse Counts

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has sentenced a Wagner, South Dakota, woman convicted of six counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and two counts of Felony Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023. Tina Sully, age 53, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $800. Sully was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. She was found guilty of six counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and two counts of Felony Child Abuse, following a four-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on September 15, 2023. Sully was a foster and adoptive mother to several children. The jury convicted her of unlawfully assaulting and cruelly punishing two of them, including beating them with belts and hangers and withholding food from them for days, between the years of 2003 and 2021. This case was investigated by the FBI, Yankton Sioux Law Enforcement, and the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann M. Hoffman and Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case. 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. Sully was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Violent Boston Gang Member Who Posed with Firearms on Snapchat Pleads Guilty

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston-area man pleaded guilty today to illegally possessing a firearm while under house arrest on three state firearm charges. Trevon Bell, 27, of Boston and Lynn, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Feb. 29, 2024. As part of a 2021 investigation into a violent Boston gang, law enforcement intercepted a Snapchat “chat” comprised of individuals who regularly displayed images of themselves in possession of firearms. One of the individuals identified in the chat was Bell – a member of the violent Boston-based Heath Street gang. Bell had been indicted on three separate unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition cases in state court for which he was released on home detention with location monitoring via GPS bracelet. However, the investigation revealed that, while on state pre-trial release, Bell had posted numerous videos of himself in possession of firearms to Snapchat, including a Nov. 24, 2021 video that showed him in possession of a black semi-automatic Glock 9 millimeter firearm. The firearm has since been recovered: The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $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. The operation was conducted is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf . 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 Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston, Quincy and Lynn Police Departments and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Rapid City Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Cocaine Conspiracy

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. Chief District Judge Roberto Lange has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine. The sentencing took place on November 27, 2023. Carlie Wolf, 25, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Wolf was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. She pleaded guilty on September 15, 2023. Based on a previous relationship, Wolf had a source for obtaining cocaine in Colorado. Beginning late in 2022, Wolf began travelling to Colorado to purchase ounces of cocaine, which she then brought back to Rapid City. Wolf then sold the cocaine in Rapid City to others for use and further distribution. Wolf did this on at least four occasions which amounted to at least 700 grams of cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Wolf was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Two Men Indicted on Drug Trafficking Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging two men with drug trafficking crimes. According to court documents, Omar Cebreros, 42 and Mario Ahumada-Adame, 32, both of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, were indicted on two counts of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intention to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kansas Highway Patrol are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: President Of Brisbane Recycling Company And Its Former Counsel Sentenced To Prison For Tax Fraud

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO - Joseph Nubla and Henry Ku were sentenced today to 36 months and 30 months in prison, respectively, following their convictions by a jury at trial in April 2023 on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax evasion, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Silva of the Oakland Field Office. The sentences were handed down by the Hon. Richard Seeborg, Chief U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of California. Nubla, 45, of Danville, California, is—and at all relevant times was—President of Brisbane Recycling Company, Inc. (“Brisbane”), a rock-crushing business located in Brisbane, California. Ku, 56, of Pleasanton, California, was formerly counsel for Brisbane and Nubla. Both defendants were convicted by a jury on April 7, 2023, following a two-week trial on charges that they conspired to defraud the United States from 2008 through 2016, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Nubla was also convicted of one count of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201, for failing to report more than $5.8 million in income on his 2014 federal tax return. The evidence at trial showed that Nubla ran daily operations at Brisbane and that Ku owned and controlled several businesses, including Pegasus Aggregate, Inc., Jupiter Prime Monarch, and JPM Energy, Inc. (collectively, “Ku’s entities”). Between February 20, 2009, and March 30, 2015, Ku and his entities deposited checks written by Nubla from Brisbane and totaling more than $18 million. To avoid paying corporate income taxes for Brisbane, Nubla expensed Brisbane’s payments to Ku’s entities as royalties for the use of heavy equipment purportedly owned by Ku’s entities. In fact, however, Ku had used the funds from Brisbane to purchase that equipment. Ku also returned the funds he received from Brisbane to Nubla in a variety of ways: (i) by regular money transfers from 2009 through 2016; (ii) by purchasing three homes for Nubla; and (iii) by writing cashier’s checks totaling $7 million pursuant to a fake loan. Nubla did not declare the funds given to him by Ku as personal income, even though they originated from Brisbane and thus were taxable, constructive dividends. “These defendants skirted paying their taxes out of pure greed,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey. “Today’s sentences send a clear message to those who try to avoid paying their fair share that our office will always marshal its resources to protect the public treasury.” “The schemes orchestrated by Mr. Nubla and Mr. Ku seeking to defraud the United States and evade our tax system were rooted in blatant greed,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Silva. “Today’s sentencing reaffirms that IRS-CI special agents are superbly motivated and equipped to disrupt, foil, and eliminate future nefarious attempts to defraud and evade our government. Just outcomes like today’s sentencing help protect responsible law-abiding business owners and taxpayers.” In addition to the custodial sentences, Chief Judge Seeborg ordered Nubla and Ku to pay fines of $15,000 and $10,000, respectively, and $9,322,549.20 in restitution—a sum for which the defendants are jointly and severally liable. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Kassabian and Trial Attorney Christopher J. Carlberg of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Helen Yee, Veronica Hernandez, and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.


title: California Man Sentenced To 52 Months In Prison For Firearms-Related Crimes

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Trajordon Svarda was sentenced to 52 months in prison for crimes related to his firearms sales—including the sale of a machinegun—to a confidential informant (CI), announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. William H. Alsup, Senior United States District Judge. Svarda, 36, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and one count of Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), on July 12, 2023. He was charged by Information on January 11, 2023. According to his plea agreement, Svarda sold drugs and firearms to a CI throughout early 2021. The sales began in February 2021, when Svarda sold the CI ecstasy on two occasions. In March, Svarda added firearms to his list of goods for sale, selling the CI ecstasy and a pistol, which ATF later determined was stolen. Later in March, Svarda sold the CI ecstasy, a Smith and Wesson revolver, and a privately made, AR style, .223 caliber pistol. The AR style pistol was a “ghost gun,” meaning it was privately made and did not bear a serial number. As court documents show, the sales continued throughout April and July. On July 22, 2023, Svarda sold the CI methamphetamine and another privately manufactured AR-style pistol. The privately manufactured AR-style pistol was capable of automatically shooting more than one shot without manual reloading, via a single function of the trigger. At the time of the sale, Svarda showed the CI how to turn the AR-style pistol into a fully automatic weapon using this function. In total, Svarda admitted to selling to the CI over 150 grams of ecstasy, 157 grams of methamphetamine, and six firearms. In addition, Svarda admitted that he knew at the time that previously he had been convicted of at least one felony. In addition to the prison term, Judge Alsup ordered Svarda to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sophia Cooper prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Tina Rosenbaum. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ATF.


title: Felon Sentenced to 20 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammunition

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – James D. Brunson, 26, of Orem, Utah, was sentenced today to 240 months’ imprisonment, after a federal jury found him guilty of being a previously convicted felon in possession of stolen firearms and ammunition. According to court documents, and the evidence presented at trial in July 2022, Brunson was found guilty of possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, and possession of stolen firearms. In March 2020, Brunson stole a duffle bag containing nine firearms, and ammunition for the weapons from a residence in Orem. Brunson, a convicted felon at the time of the offense, knew he could not possess firearms or ammunition. The duffle bag contained two shotguns; three handguns; one revolver; two .22 caliber rifles; an AR-15 rifle; and three boxes containing ammunition for the weapons. After obtaining search warrants, law enforcement officers tracked Brunson to an apartment complex in West Jordan, Utah. Prior to his arrest, officers witnessed Brunson remove a stolen 9mm handgun from his waistband and discard it in a nearby grassy area. Officers then arrested Brunson and recovered the discarded stolen handgun and six other stolen firearms from a nearby vehicle. Two of the firearms stolen by Brunson have not been located, and officers established that Brunson attempted to sell the firearms for cash to others prior to his arrest. The six stolen firearms and ammunition affected interstate commerce. “Brunson’s criminal acts reflect a brazen disregard for the law and demonstrate why restricted persons having firearms is illegal,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “This case also highlights the valuable and ongoing relationship between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Utah County Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners as we continue to seek justice for federal offenders.” The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Provo Resident Agency and was initially investigated by the Orem Police Department and the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force. “Instead of learning from his past, Mr. Brunson chose to continue a life of crime and put our community at risk of potential gun violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI and our partners are committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of felons so that our streets are safer for everyone.” Assistant United States Attorneys Sam Pead and Angela J. Clifford of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case, which was originally filed by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Kelsy Young working as a Deputy Utah County Attorney. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: One-Time Orange County Tax Preparer Convicted of Tax Fraud Scheme that Sought over $10 Million from IRS and Dozens of State Governments

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A former Orange County tax preparer was convicted today of federal criminal charges for leading a multi-year tax fraud conspiracy that spanned three continents and claimed more than $10 million from the IRS and dozens of state tax authorities. Stephen Jake McGonigle, 66, of Victorville, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. A federal jury returned the guilty verdicts at the conclusion of an eight-day trial. According to evidence presented during the trial, McGonigle recruited others, including two co-defendants who previously pleaded guilty, to help convince the IRS and dozens of state governments to issue millions of dollars in fraudulent tax refunds. To perpetrate the massive fraud scheme that began in 2013, McGonigle sent one co-defendant to Thailand to obtain fake identification documents that used stolen victim identities, and then he directed co-conspirators to use those fake identifications to obtain prepaid debit cards, as well as numerous commercial mailboxes across Orange County and elsewhere. After having the prepaid debit cards sent to these untraceable mailboxes, McGonigle and his co-conspirators filed fraudulent tax returns using the identity theft victims’ Social Security numbers. Those fraudulent tax returns sought millions of dollars in tax refunds to be deposited into these prepaid debit cards or other bank accounts that they controlled. With more than a decade of tax preparation experience in Southern California, McGonigle used his knowledge to lead the fraud scheme. The IP addresses used to file the fraudulent returns were traced back to various office spaces leased by McGonigle and to Costa Rica, where law enforcement surveillance and travel records showed that McGonigle and his co-conspirators opened an office and hired employees to help file additional fraudulent returns. United States District Judge James V. Selna scheduled a March 4, 2024 hearing, at which time McGonigle will face a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison. Prosecutors have secured guilty pleas from two co-defendants, who are also scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months. IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this matter. The Missouri Department of Revenue and the U.S. Secret Service provided substantial assistance during the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Sue Bai of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Colin Scott of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Laredo salesman sent to prison for fraud conspiracy costing HUD $1M in losses

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 38-year-old man was sentenced for his role in a complex mortgage fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Edmundo De La Torre pleaded guilty April 19 to orchestrating a mortgage fraud scheme in which he altered hundreds of documents to get otherwise unqualified buyers’ approval for government-backed mortgages. U.S. District Judge Marina Marmalejo has now ordered De La Torre to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. De La Torre was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.17 million. In handing down the sentence, Judge Marmolejo noted the sophistication and persistence of De La Torre’s crime and remarked on the profound effects it has on potential first-time and low-income homebuyers seeking homes, and instead ending up entangled in legal and finances issues. From 2018 to 2020, De La Torre admitted he was working as a salesman for a Laredo area homebuilder. De La Torre used his position to attempt to get potential customers approved for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-backed mortgages. He forged various documents, including financial statements, bank statements, paycheck stubs and letters of reference for at least 38 otherwise unqualified homebuyers. De La Torre then submitted these fake and forged documents to a Laredo area bank on behalf of the potential homebuyers. He admitted he was receiving a commission for each sale and personally profiting over $200,000 from the scheme. In addition, more than three dozen known loans in this scheme ultimately defaulted or had to be restructured, costing HUD roughly $971,310.10 at the time of his plea in April. De La Torre was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. HUD - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with assistance from the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter prosecuted the case.


title: Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Ammunition

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Derbie Michel, age 32, formerly of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Michel, who has three prior felony convictions, admitted that he possessed five rounds of ammunition on October 15, 2022. According to court documents filed by the Government, Michel threw these rounds of ammunition from a car while fleeing from members of the Troy Police Department on October 15, 2022. According to court documents, he also threw a privately made firearm, or “ghost gun,” from the car during the same pursuit. Michel faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr., on June 20, 2024. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Troy Police Department, investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Allen J. Vickey are prosecuting the case.


title: Washington County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kevin Smurphat, age 35, of Whitehall, New York, pled guilty yesterday to charges of possessing, receiving, distributing and transporting child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Smurphat, a previously convicted sex offender, admitted that while on state parole in early November 2020, he used a cellphone to upload, to a file-hosting service, depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and that he joined a group chat where he distributed child pornography to other individuals and received child pornography as well. Smurphat faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 40 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Smurphat, whose prior conviction was for attempted sexual contact with a minor younger than 11, will again have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and state and local police investigators, including from the New York State Police. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision initiated this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin C. Segovia is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Schenectady Man Sentenced to 240 Months for Drug and Firearm Crimes

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ramel Gulley, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 240 months (20 years) in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possessing and intending to distribute 400 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and to possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. As part of his previous guilty plea in June 2023, Gulley admitted that on February 28, 2022, he possessed heroin-fentanyl mixtures weighing a total of 2,035 grams that he intended to distribute. Gulley also admitted that he possessed four firearms in order to protect the drugs, $12,625 in drug proceeds, and his drug trafficking business. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin C. Segovia prosecuted the case.


title: Watervliet Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Drug and Firearm Crimes

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ronnie Robinson, age 29, of Watervliet, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 90 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon, possessing and intending to distribute marijuana, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; James Smith, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea in June 2023, Robinson admitted that on November 30, 2021, he possessed approximately 268 grams of marijuana that he intended to distribute and that he possessed a firearm in order to protect the marijuana, drug proceeds, and his marijuana trafficking business. Robinson had been previously convicted of three felonies and was on supervised release for a 2015 conviction for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon when he was apprehended with the marijuana and the firearm in this case. This case was investigated by the New York State Police and the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin C. Segovia and Cyrus P.W. Rieck prosecuted the case.


title: Sin City Deciples Members Convicted of Racketeering and Drug Conspiracy

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

body_text: HAMMOND- Kenneth Christopher McGhee a/k/a “Sonny” and “Angel,” age 74, of Merrillville, Indiana, Richard White a/k/a “Ignorant Bastard,” age 56, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brandon Romand Parks a/k/a “Baywatch,” age 45, of Chicago, Illinois, and Herman Troy Jefferson a/k/a “G-Rilla,” age 51, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, were each found guilty of various felony charges following an eighteen-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. The jury found McGhee and Jefferson guilty of the racketeering conspiracy and the drug conspiracy and additionally found McGhee guilty of possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. The jury further found White and Parks guilty of the racketeering conspiracy. According to the Second Superseding Indictment, the Sin City Deciples, originally formed in 1967 in Gary, Indiana, is a motorcycle organization in which its members and associates engaged in acts of violence, extortion, and narcotics distribution in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere. The agencies involved in the Sin City Deciples prosecution are: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents, the Merrillville Police Department, the Munster Police Department, and the Schererville Police Department. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Indiana, Western District of Kentucky, and Western District of Pennsylvania also provided assistance. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick, Michael J. Toth, and Kimberly L. Schultz. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Colorado Man Sentenced for Creation and Participation in Darknet Marketplace Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky.— A Denver man, Joshua Cook, 27, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell, following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute drugs and conspiracy to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking. According to Cook’s plea agreement, he created a darknet market drug trafficking organization, called PartyCrew, to distribute controlled substances through the U.S. Postal Service. The darknet is an overlay of the internet that is only accessible through certain software, configurations, or authorization. Access to the darknet is designed to anonymize the user, and it is generally used for illicit purposes. Marketplaces on the darknet are often used to buy and sell illicit goods and services. The PartyCrew darknet marketplace post advertised the sale of multiple controlled substances, in exchange for cryptocurrencies such as Monero and Bitcoin. Cook employed his friends and co-defendants, Haleigh and Benjamin Flanigan, who lived in Lexington, to assist him in the distribution of the controlled substances. In their roles in the conspiracy, the Flanigans fulfilled orders for controlled substances, by packaging and mailing them through the U.S. mail to customers across the United States. Haleigh Flanigan received payment for her services in cryptocurrencies, which she then attempted to conceal through the use of cryptocurrency anonymizing tools. Benjamin Flanigan also pled guilty to drug distribution and conspiracy to commit drug distribution; he was sentenced to 18 months. Haleigh Flanigan pled guilty to conspiracy to commit drug distribution and conspiracy to commit money laundering; she was sentenced to 48 months. The investigation and prosecution also resulted in the total dismantling of the PartyCrew drug trafficking organization. Under federal law, Cook must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Cincinnati Field Office, jointly announced the sentences. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Dieruf and Emily Greenfield. — END —


title: Dubuque Man Sentenced for Selling Crack Cocaine Within 1,000 Feet of a Playground

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who sold crack cocaine near a playground was sentenced today to more than 15 years in federal prison. Orlandis Fred Murriel, age 35, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after May 18, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance near a protected location. In a plea agreement, Murriel admitted that between June and November 27, 2022, while living in Dubuque, he sold over 2,400 grams of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine. Many of these sales occurred from his residence which was within 1,000 feet of three Dubuque playgrounds: Orange Park, Madison Park, and Jackson Park. On November 27, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a car as it approached Murriel’s residence. Murriel was seated in the front passenger seat. During a search of the car, the officers found 132 grams of crack cocaine and 111 grams of cocaine which Murriel intended to sell. At the time of the offense, Murriel was on Iowa state probation for three drug trafficking felonies. Murriel was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Murriel was sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Murriel is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-1005. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Ardmore Resident Sentenced For Involuntary Manslaughter

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Ray Higginbotham, Jr., age 23, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. The charges arose from investigations by the City of Ardmore Police Department, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On May 18, 2022, Higginbotham was found guilty by a federal jury at trial of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. At trial, the United States presented evidence that on January 19, 2021, Higginbotham fired a 9mm Hi-Point carbine, hitting an Ardmore resident. EMS responders transported the victim to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries. Higginbotham fled and was apprehended on September 23, 2021. The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Scott L. Palk, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the trial and hearings in Oklahoma City. Higginbotham will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.


title: Calera Resident Sentenced To Life For Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lance Keith Maytubby, Sr., age 55, of Calera, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison after a federal jury found him guilty of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. The charges arose from investigations by the Calera Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that Maytubby sexually assaulted two victims who were each under 12 years of age at the time of the crimes. The crimes occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Scott L. Palk, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City. Maytubby will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony C. Marek and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Seminole Resident Sentenced For Accessory After The Fact To Murder In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anastacia Phillinia Little, age 32, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 90 months in prison for her role as an accessory after the fact to Murder in Indian country. The charges arose from investigations by the Seminole Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Rangers, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On July 15, 2022, Little pleaded guilty to one count of Accessory After the Fact to Murder in Indian Country. According to investigators, on April 2, 2019, Little—aware that Coker Dean Barker had just completed the willful, deliberate, and malicious murder of a Seminole resident—helped Barker burn evidence of the crime, then drove him to the Mexican border in order to help him evade arrest and prosecution. Barker was convicted of Murder in Indian country by a federal jury at trial on April 10, 2023. The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Little will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Wagoner Resident Sentenced To Life For Murder

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that George McEntire Smith, age 23, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to two life sentences for murder and using a firearm to commit the murder. The sentences will be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On August 5, 2022, a federal jury found Smith guilty at trial of one count of First Degree Murder in Indian Country, and one count of Causing the Death of a Person During a Crime of Violence with a Dangerous Weapon. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on April 8, 2021, Smith entered the victim’s Wagoner home, then shot the victim once in the back of the head and once in the back of the neck. EMS responders pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Smith will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.


title: Second Gunman Sentenced for Drug-Fueled Shooting at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. --- The second of two men whose attempt to rob marijuana traffickers led to a gun battle at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison. Twenty-one-year-old Kendrick Naveed Corbin, of Columbia, was sentenced to 231 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. In Sept., Corbin’s co-defendant, Dequadry Kendrick Razor, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the robbery and shooting. Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 25, 2022, two drug traffickers flew into GSP from Los Angeles carrying approximately 50 pounds of marijuana in two suitcases. The traffickers exited the terminal with the marijuana, where they were picked up by two associates in a Dodge Challenger. Unbeknownst to them, Razor and Corbin were sitting in a car outside the terminal, waiting to rob them. After loading their suitcases into the trunk of the Challenger, the traffickers pulled into a parking garage adjacent to the terminal, where they planned to transfer some of the marijuana into another vehicle. As they began to get out of the car, Razor and Corbin rushed in with pistols drawn, and a gunfight broke out. One of the traffickers was shot, and Razor and Corbin fled without the suitcases, as the traffickers returned fire. Multiple vehicles parked in the garage were struck in the crossfire. The wounded trafficker was rushed to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries, but ultimately survived. The driver of the Challenger, Jaondre Collier, chased Corbin and Razor to the exit of the garage. As Corbin attempted to feed a ticket into the kiosk to exit the garage, Collier pulled up behind them and opened fire again. An innocent bystander was trapped in her vehicle behind the fleeing robbers as Collier fired over her car, striking the kiosk. Razor and Corbin were able to exit the garage and fled back to Columbia. Responding officers found the suitcases of marijuana in Collier’s trunk and two pistols in his glovebox. In Sept., Collier was sentenced to 68 months in prison for conspiring to distribute marijuana, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The robbers’ vehicle was traced to a home where Razor was staying, and law enforcement discovered marijuana and firearms in his bedroom. One of the guns was forensically linked to shell casings recovered from the garage at GSP. Razor was arrested and indicted for the robbery. After considerable investigation, the FBI identified Corbin as the second shooter in the GSP robbery, and he was federally indicted. On Jan. 3, 2023, investigators learned that Corbin was once again headed to GSP, and the FBI and local law enforcement responded to the airport to arrest him. They found Corbin and another man, Anthony Brown, sitting outside the terminal, and both were armed. Officers also arrested Maurice Deon Bynum, who had just flown into GSP from California and was attempting to load a suitcase full of marijuana into the vehicle Corbin was driving. Brown and Bynum were also recently sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the conspiracy. Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr. sentenced the defendants in this case. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the GSP Airport District Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Clarkston tax preparer sentenced for multi-year tax fraud and prohibited from preparing future returns

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Mohamed Hersi has been sentenced to federal prison for filing false tax returns. Hersi, who owned a tax preparation business, filed false returns on behalf of unwitting clients, collected more than $1 million in preparer fees, and then failed to disclose his own income to the IRS. “The community trusted Hersi to provide sound tax advice to comply with our tax laws,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “But Hersi betrayed his clients’ trust, pocketed their fees, and then lied on his own returns.” “Tax return preparer fraud is a serious breach of responsibilities for themselves and on behalf of their clients, leading to degrading trust and confidence of our tax system,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS special agents and our law enforcement partners remain vigilant in upholding the integrity of the tax system and holding individuals accountable for their actions.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Hersi owned and operated Map Wireless Inc., d/b/a “1st Tax Center,” “Metro Tax Center,” and “Investment Financial Services” in Clarkston, Georgia. Between 2016 and 2020, Hersi prepared and filed false income tax returns for his clients that claimed false Schedule C items, withholdings, education credits, expenses, and itemized deductions to obtain inflated refunds to which his clients were not entitled. On some occasions, Hersi provided one version of the return he planned to file to his clients, then filed a different version with the IRS which included both falsely claimed items and different direct deposit information. During the scheme, Hersi collected over $1.2 million in fees from his clients, but never disclosed that income to the IRS, resulting in a loss of more than $400,000. Mohamed Hersi, 40, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, and he was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and to pay restitution in the amount of $439,543. Hersi’s sentence also includes a prohibition on his preparing taxes for others in the future. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Dillingham prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Three New York Residents Convicted For Fraud And Money Laundering Using Funds From Elderly Lottery Scam Victims

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Caron Pitter, age 47, Rohan Lyttle, age 49, and Charlene Marshall, age 44, lawful permanent residents of the United States and originally from Jamaica, were found guilty of all charges against them following a two-week jury trial that concluded on November 17, 2023. The indictment charged the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition to the conspiracy charges against all defendants, Caron Pitter was charged with several counts of mail fraud, and Rohan Lyttle was charged with multiple counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, and interstate transportation of goods taken by fraud. A fourth defendant, Rohan Lytle, Jr., age 26, was charged with some of the same offenses, and he remains a fugitive. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the defendants received funds from victims of a Jamaican lottery scam between 2017 and 2020. The evidence at trial showed that an individual based in Jamaica posing as a representative of Publisher’s Clearing House used “lead lists” containing the names and personal information of elderly Americans to contact potential victims. These individuals were contacted by phone and email and falsely told that they had won multimillion-dollar prizes through Publisher’s Clearing House but needed to prepay taxes and other fees in order to claim their supposed prizes. These elderly individuals were then directed to make payments in various ways, including by sending packages containing tens of thousands of U.S. dollars through the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and Federal Express. In addition to cash packages sent by mail, the victims transmitted funds through bank-to-bank wire transfers, Zelle, MoneyGram, and Western Union. Victims were also defrauded in other ways. For instance, fraudsters gained access to victims’ credit cards and Amazon accounts and used those accounts to purchase goods, such as mobile phones and televisions. They also obtained debit cards for victims’ checking accounts and used those cards to make cash withdrawals at ATMs located in Jamaica. Several victims testified at trial. They included a 78-year-old former resident of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, a 70-year-old resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a 90-year-old resident of Walterboro, South Carolina. Collectively, these victims lost over $1.1 million in connection with this fraud scheme. All of these victims testified that they were contacted by a representative of Publisher’s Clearing House and directed to send money to claim their respective prizes. All of them sent money to the defendants charged in this case, as well as other locations. The victim from Mechanicsburg, PA and the victim from Philadelphia, PA collectively sent in excess of $200,000 in cash packages just to these defendants. In some cases, victims were also directed to receive funds from third parties that they didn’t know and send those funds to other individuals that they were led to believe were also Publisher’s Clearing House representatives. Evidence at trial also showed that the defendants operated an auto body shop in Queens, New York known as Rocars Auto and an affiliated used car dealership based in Kingston, Jamaica known as Rolcam Company Limited. The defendants used the proceeds of the lottery scam to purchase and repair salvage vehicles from online vehicle auctions and ship those vehicles to Rolcam Company Limited for sale to customers in Jamaica. The victim from Mechanicsburg, PA was also told that he had won a new Range Rover, in addition to his cash prize. He was directed to pay for and ship over $15,000 in parts from a Land Rover car dealership to Rocars Auto in Queens, New York, under the false pretense that his vehicle was in need of upgrades before it could be sent to him. The evidence at trial showed that the defendants used these parts to repair a 2019 Land Rover that they purchased from a salvage vehicle auction house. After repairing the vehicle, they shipped it from Rocars Auto to Rolcam Company Limited in Kingston, Jamaica, where it was sold to an unidentified buyer believed to be associated with the lottery scam. The defendants used various means to disguise their receipt of victim funds, including distributing the money among each other so that the funds could be deposited in a variety of bank accounts and exchanged for cashier’s checks so that they would not appear in bank accounts at all. The defendants also regularly broke up larger amounts of cash into smaller amounts to make their deposits look smaller in size, which had the effect of evading banks’ reporting requirements for large cash transactions. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma and Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams prosecuted the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering is 20 years for each offense. The maximum penalty for interstate transportation of goods taken by fraud is 10 years. The Court may also impose on each defendant a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a lottery scam, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (372-8311). The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. You may also contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-800-372-8347 or online at www.uspis.gov/report . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney Reminds Skilled Nursing Facilities Not to Refuse Treatment to People with with Substance Use Disorder

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest sent a letter to all skilled nursing facilities in Vermont warning that refusing to provide care for persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will enforce these federal civil rights protections. The ADA, which prohibits discrimination based on disability, protects individuals with OUD. Across the country, the Department of Justice has entered into numerous settlement agreements with skilled nursing facilities for refusing to admit individuals who are prescribed medications for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine (Suboxone), vivitrol and methadone. Skilled nursing facilities are required to conduct an individualized assessment of each applicant’s admissibility and may not simply prohibit all individuals taking medications for OUD. Courts may impose civil penalties for ADA violations, which could be as high as $111,614 for a first violation, and potentially double that amount for subsequent violations. “No person should be forced to choose between receiving the skilled nursing care they require and taking their prescribed medications to support their recovery,” said U.S. Attorney Kerest. “People living with OUD deserve to access healthcare without facing illegal barriers.” The Civil Rights Program of the U.S. Attorney’s Office enforces federal civil rights protections in Vermont. Assistant United States Attorney Julia “Jules” Torti serves as the Civil Rights Coordinator for civil matters, and Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Stendig serves as the Office’s Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator. For more information on the Office’s civil rights efforts, or to file a complaint, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/civil-rights-program .


title: Hiding meth in batteries lands Texan in prison

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 51-year-old Edinburg resident has been ordered to federal prison for attempting to import more than 20 kilograms of meth into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Richard Nares pleaded guilty May 2, 2022, to importation of 500 grams or more of meth. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now sentenced him to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered the volume and purity of the meth. In handing down the sentence, the court noted how the large quantity of narcotics were being stored in vehicle batteries, which contradicted Nares’ claim he thought he was just trafficking marijuana. On Dec. 20, 2021, Nares attempted to enter the United States from Mexico via the Hidalgo Port of Entry in a Dodge Ram 2500. Law enforcement observed two commercial vehicle batteries in the rear row of the truck to which a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics. Once they dismantled the batteries, authorities discovered two rectangular shaped bundles in each battery. Upon the search of the connected batteries under the hood of the vehicle, they found four additional bundles. Laboratory testing confirmed the eight bundles contained meth and had a total weight of 20.34 kilograms. Nares subsequently admitted that he traveled to Mexico earlier in the day and intended to turn the vehicle over to another individual after entering the United States with the narcotics. He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Marshal in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Fry prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Will Thompson to Join with Huntington Leaders to Discuss $1,872,987 in New Federal Grants

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will join with Huntington leaders on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 1:30 p.m . at the Huntington Police Department to discuss $1,872,987 in U.S. Department of Justice grants awarded to the City of Huntington. WHO: U.S. Attorney Will Thompson Huntington Mayor Steve Williams Huntington Police Chief Phil Watkins WHAT: Press Conference WHEN: Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Huntington Police Department, 675 10th Street, Huntington 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. ###


title: Telemedicine Nurse Practitioner Pleads Guilty to $7.8 Million Durable Medical Equipment Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Virginia-based nurse practitioner pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with a $7.8 million telemedicine fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME), including orthotics such as back and knee braces. Daphne Jenkins, 64, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for April 10, 2024. Jenkins was charged on Oct. 6, 2023. Between December 2018 and April 2020, Jenkins worked with a telemedicine company to sign orders for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment. These orders signed by Jenkins were pre-populated based on telemarketing calls made to Medicare beneficiaries, that Jenkins never had any contact with the beneficiaries herself and had no medical relationship with the beneficiaries, and that she generally signed these orders without even reading them. Once Jenkins signed these orders, the telemarketing company sold the orders to DME suppliers and laboratories, which then submitted claims to Medicare. As a result of Jenkins’ participation in this conspiracy, over $7.8 million in claims were submitted to Medicare for DME that was medically unnecessary, based on false documentation, and tainted by kickbacks. The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Carol S. Hamilton, Regional Director, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor; and Patrick Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigation Service, North East Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Graber and Howard Locker of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Alexandra Brazier and Lindsey Ross of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Units are prosecuting the case.


title: Erie Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Laws Related to the Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Darren Steven George Akers, 48, of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to receiving child sexual abuse material before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on or about March 9, 2023, Akers received and attempted to receive images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Akers also possessed and accessed with intent to view child sexual abuse material from in and around May 2022, to in and around March 2023. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court continued Akers on bond. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Akers.


title: Severn Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland - U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman today sentenced Carey Lee Sackmann, age 62, of Severn, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release, for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, related to his online sexual exploitation of multiple minor victims overseas. Judge Boardman also ordered that, as detailed in his plea agreement, Sackmann must pay a total of $50,000 in restitution, to be divided between the victims of his offense. In addition, upon his release from prison, Sackmann must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryeshia Holley of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore. According to his guilty plea, beginning no later than 2015, Sackmann engaged in video chats with facilitators in the Philippines and Madagascar who sexually exploited minor children in exchange for payment. Sackmann paid facilitators to produce sexually explicit videos of minor children and to see livestream videos of minor children performing sexual acts with adults, other children, or alone, and on more than one occasion took screen captures of the livestreams. On September 24, 2020, FBI agents executed a search warrant on Sackmann’s residence and seized several electronic devices. Forensic examinations completed on several of the devices revealed that Sackmann’s internet activity consisted of multiple visits to livestream pornography websites and online money remitters, and his devices contained approximately 15 images and 1 video of suspected child pornography. Sackmann’s phone and other accounts also contained numerous chats about child pornography production. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and HSI for their work in the investigation and thanked the Philippine National Police for its assistance Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce King, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years in Federal Prison After Being Found Guilty of Trafficking Methamphetamine and Fentanyl; Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Steven Lamar Brown, 42, of Indianapolis has been sentenced to 246 months in federal prison. In June of 2023, a federal jury found Brown guilty of seven felony charges: five counts of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, between September 2020, and February of 2021, Brown was observed and recorded on video and audio selling more than fifty grams of methamphetamine on three separate occasions. On the recordings Brown can be clearly seen and heard weighing drugs and counting the money he received in exchange. On February 23, 2021, IMPD officers attempted to stop Brown in his car to arrest him, but Brown refused to comply. Officers eventually stopped Brown, searched his vehicle, and found a loaded .380 caliber pistol in the glove box. Later that day, law enforcement, including Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration and IMPD officers, conducted a court-authorized search of Brown’s residence. Inside, throughout the house, they found a trove of illegal drugs, tools of the drug trade, Brown’s personal documents, and eight firearms, including three assault rifles, four handguns, and a shotgun: Master Bedroom & Closet 52.1 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin. 26.3 grams of fentanyl 100.96 grams of heroin 165.5 grams of methamphetamine 117 Xanax pills 10.7 grams of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”) 3 loaded semi-automatic assault-style rifles A loaded shotgun A loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun Brown’s birth certificate and social security card On and Under the Bed 1.2 kilograms of synthetic marijuana in gallon-size bags 28.0 grams of synthetic marijuana A loaded .38 Special caliber revolver 2 loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistols Bedroom #2 A metal kilo press Loaded magazines A box of ammunition behind a standalone mirror Kitchen A black digital scale with drug residue 407.1 grams of synthetic marijuana Brown has multiple prior convictions for felony offenses, including robbery, for which he was on parole when he committed these federal crimes. As a result of those convictions, Brown is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. “This violent felon sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs in our community—all while illegally armed to the teeth,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Every neighborhood deserves to be safe from criminals dealing deadly drugs and armed with deadly weapons. I commend the DEA, IMPD, and our federal prosecutors for their efforts to hold this defendant accountable and take him off our streets. The two-decade prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that these very serious crimes carry very serious consequences.” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, and Chief of IMPD, Randal Taylor, made the announcement. The DEA and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Sweeney II. Judge Sweeney also ordered that Brown be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison and pay a $500 fine. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Pamela S. Domash and Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this 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. ###


title: Wife of Ocean View Couple Sentenced to Incarceration for  Distribution of Methamphetamine

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Melanie Mitchell, age 35 and an Ocean View resident, was sentenced last week to 42 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. The Honorable Colm F. Connolly, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, pronounced the sentence, permitting the defendant to self-report to the designated prison on January 8, 2024. On September 9, 2023, Chief Judge Connolly sentenced Melanie Mitchell’s husband, Vincent Mitchell, age 35, to 48 months incarceration for the same offense. According to court documents, in July 2022 investigators executed a search warrant at the Mitchells’ Ocean View home and seized one pound of methamphetamine and $6,000 in cash. The investigation demonstrated that, on a monthly basis, the Mitchells drove from Ocean View to Philadelphia where they bought a pound of methamphetamine which were they then sold in the Ocean View area. U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Far too many people and their families suffer from substance abuse. This sentence puts an end to the Mitchells’ drug distribution business. I commend the Ocean View Police Department and DEA for working together to keep our communities safe.” “Methamphetamine is a dangerous and powerful stimulant drug that has destroyed countless lives,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “I would like to thank U.S. Attorney David Weiss and the Ocean View Police Department for their participation in and support of this case.” The case was investigated by the Ocean View Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edmund Falgowski prosecuted the case. 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. 23-cr-02 and Case No. 23-cr-03.