title: Carnegie Man Sentenced to 6½ Years for $3.8 Million Paycheck Protection Program Fraud

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh resident has been sentenced in federal court to 78 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, plus restitution of $3,885,082 on his conviction for bank fraud and money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Randy Frasinelli, 66, of Carnegie, PA 15106. According to information presented to the court, Frasinelli filed six fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, falsely asserting that he had businesses with dozens of employees and hundreds of thousands of dollars in monthly payroll. After receiving more than $3.8 million as a result of those loans, Frasinelli spent the money on luxury items including vehicles, a villa in Mexico, an African safari, firearms, works of art, precious metals, watches, and personal investments. Then, prior to sentencing, Frasinelli submitted at least 13 forged character letters, purportedly from prominent individuals in politics, finance, business, technology, and charitable organizations, in an attempt to receive a more lenient sentence. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that Frasinelli had committed a very serious crime involving funds that were intended to help small businesses maintain payroll during the pandemic. Judge Hardy also emphasized that Frasinelli’s submission of the forged character letters had eroded the Court’s trust in him at sentencing. Frasinelli was taken into the custody of the United States Marshals at the conclusion of the hearing. “The scope and magnitude of this defendant’s ongoing fraud and deception is enormous. He lied in an effort to obtain pandemic relief funds while already facing charges of illegally taking federal money meant for businesses on the verge of collapse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti. “Mr. Frasinelli viewed the Payroll Protection Program as an opportunity to enrich himself at the expense of taxpayers. His continuing deceit—right up to the time of sentencing when he targeted the Court by submitting fraudulent character letters in support of his request for leniency—demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the law. A sentence of six and a half years appropriately holds him accountable and is just punishment for his $3.8 million scheme.” “Mr. Frasinelli spent millions of dollars he stole from the Paycheck Protection Program to take lavish trips and buy expensive gifts he felt he was entitled to,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “He then tried to undermine the justice system by submitting false character letters attesting to his generosity. The sentence handed down today demonstrates that those who defraud government programs will be held accountable for their actions.” “Randy Frasinelli’s greed caused him to repeatedly abuse the Payroll Protection Program, and today he is paying the price for doing so,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “While Mr. Frasinelli’s actions were a crime against the government, they also negatively impacted people and businesses who legitimately needed the money but couldn’t get it because the program had been drained. IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to bringing fraudsters like Mr. Frasinelli to justice.” Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Frasinelli.


title: Hartford Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody today announced that JOHNNY MILNER, also known as “Blaze” and “O.G.,” 45, of Hartford, was arrested yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Following his arrest, Milner appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford and was ordered detained. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement received information from various sources that Milner was distributing fentanyl to street-level narcotics dealers in the SANA apartment complex located on Main Street in Hartford, which is commonly referred to as the “Sands,” and that he was using locations on Prospect Avenue and Bellevue Street in Hartford to store and distribute narcotics. On February 21 and March 15, 2023, investigators made controlled purchases of 100 grams of fentanyl from Milner. In association with Milner’s arrest, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of locations in Hartford and New Britain connected to him. A search of an apartment on Chestnut Street in New Britain that Milner uses revealed approximately 70 grams of fentanyl and $221,296 in cash. The charge of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force. The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff.


title: Craven County Gang Member Receives 15 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Eric Best, also known as “Slime,” 24, of New Bern was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl. The investigation revealed that from March 2019, until December 2022, Best was involved in the distribution of more than two kilograms of methamphetamine and more than 500 grams of fentanyl. Best pled guilty to the charges on October 4, 2022. According to court documents, evidence presented in court, and other evidence, on April 26, 2019, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a car in Craven County. Law enforcement found four guns including an assault rifle and $8,000. Best was one of three people in the car. It was later determined that they were going to New Jersey to sell the guns. On December 22, 2020, the New Bern Police conducted a traffic stop on a car being driven by Best. An officer noticed the odor of marijuana. During a search, officers located 74 grams of fentanyl and 27 grams of methamphetamine inside of the car and on a passenger. The investigation uncovered that Best had instructed the passenger to hide the drugs. According to law enforcement, Best is a validated gang member and held a position of leadership in the Pretty Tony Blood gang. This is part of operation “Jersey South” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, 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. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Craven and Granville County Sheriffs’ Offices, and the New Bern Police Department investigated the case. Additionally, the Craven County District Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney Scott Thomas assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-CR-0053-D-4. ###


title: Federal Agent Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements in Connection with a Sexual Relationship with a Victim Witness

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Melissa Saurwein, 44, of Martinez, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of making a false statement in connection with a sexual relationship she had with a victim witness in a separate federal criminal case, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Saurwein was formerly a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations in Northern California. While working in that capacity on the human trafficking case United States v. Job Torres Hernandez , 4:17-cr-462-JSW, Saurwein developed a romantic sexual relationship with a victim witness in the case. In preparation for Saurwein’s testimony at trial, prosecutors asked Saurwein if she had a personal relationship with any witness or victim in the case. Saurwein lied in response to the questioning in order to conceal her sexual relationship with the victim witness. The human trafficking case then went to trial and both Saurwein and the victim witness testified. The relationship between Saurwein and the victim witness did not come to light until after the trial and sentencing of the defendant in the human trafficking case were complete. Due to Saurwein’s conduct, the judgement in the human trafficking case was later vacated on the motion of the government, with the defendant having only served three years of his 103-month sentence. This case is the product of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District was recused from this case, which is proceeding in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Special Attorney to the Attorney General Audrey B. Hemesath is prosecuting the case. Sentencing is scheduled for June 28, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria. Saurwein faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Judgment Entered Against Fourteen Defendants In Case Dismantling Nationwide Racketeering Conspiracy

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – On Thursday, March 23, 2023, and Friday, March 24, 2023, the federal court entered judgment against fourteen defendants, including cousins and ringleaders Mihran Stepanyan and Artur Stepanyan, who were sentenced for their respective roles in a variety of crimes stemming from a wide-ranging racketeering conspiracy involving diversion of prescription drugs, money laundering, mail and wire fraud, and additional crimes, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian. The sentences were handed down by the Hon. Charles R. Breyer, Senior United States District Judge, and leaves nine defendants remaining to be sentenced for crimes committed in connection with the case. The fourteen defendants had been charged with various crimes as part of a Second Superseding Indictment filed on February 11, 2016. The Second Superseding indictment alleged that 38 defendants were involved with the activities of a nationwide conspiracy, referred to in court documents as the Karapedyan-Stepanyan Enterprise (Enterprise), that engaged in, among other crimes, a multi-million-dollar prescription drug diversion scheme, a tax fraud and Treasury check scheme, and several other criminal schemes. Information about charges brought earlier in the case can be found here and information about several defendants’ guilty pleas can be found here . The Prescription Drug Diversion Scheme Last week, seven defendants were sentenced for their respective roles in the prescription drug diversion scheme. Among them were four of the principal actors in the Enterprise: Mihran Stepanyan, 37, of Glendale, Calif., Artur Stepanyan, 45, both of Glendale, Calif., Yan German (a.k.a., Henrik Harutyunyan), 43, of Encino, and Arman Zargayan, 40, of Granada Hills, Calif. All four defendants pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d). The prescription drug diversion scheme had nationwide reach; indeed, a separate investigation resulted in another indictment filed on May 6, 2015, in the Southern District of Ohio. That indictment charged the Stepanyans and others with various crimes arising from their sale of illicitly procured drugs and was transferred to the Northern District of California and consolidated with the instant case. Court documents describe how the Enterprise took advantage of a “robust black market involving the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs.” According to the government’s filings, prescription drugs were procured illicitly at below market value and then were resold and re-introduced into the market as legitimate drugs at near-market prices. Illicit procurement can involve stealing drugs from manufacturers; buying drugs from patients with prescriptions at below-market prices (the patients’ costs are offset or reduced by insurance, including Medicare); buying drugs using false prescriptions and straw patients, usually with the aid of a corrupt doctor (again, with the costs offset or reduced by insurance); and purchasing drugs from a manufacturer at a discounted price through fraud, e.g., falsely claiming a charitable or similar discount. These “diverted” prescription drugs often are cleaned or repackaged to make them appear legitimate. Each of the defendants sentenced pleaded guilty to crimes in accordance with their participation in the crimes of the Enterprise. Each defendant’s plea agreement describes the role that the defendant played in the drug diversion scheme. According to their plea agreements, Artur and Mirhan Stepanyan obtained illicit prescription drugs from a network of unlicensed drug suppliers and supplied the drugs to co-conspirators at deep discounts. The Stepanyans were responsible for nearly $200 million in sales to their co-defendants who sold the drugs to customers throughout the United States. The defendants used fraudulent documents to establish the pedigree of the drugs they sold. In addition, the Stepanyans sold prescription drugs to their co-defendants in California, although they were not licensed to do so. Starting as early as 2009, the Stepanyans sold tens of millions of dollars in diverted prescription drugs per year to their codefendants. The Stepanyans incorporated multiple entities in Nevada, including Panda Capital Group, Trans Atlantic Capital Group, and Red Rock Capital Group and in 2012, the Stepanyans began doing business as GC National Wholesale. The Stepanyans were paid more than $160 million for diverted drugs—typically at prices ranging from 15% to 25% off the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (“WAC”) established by manufacturers of prescription drugs. For their respective parts in the conspiracy, Mihran Stepanyan was sentenced to 60 months in prison and Artur Stepanyan, was sentenced to 54 months in prison. German was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in the scheme. German admitted he was one of the suppliers of pharmaceutical drugs for the Stepanyans. According to his plea agreement, German admitted he engaged in a wire fraud and money laundering as part of the Enterprise and that he was involve in a separate prescription drug diversion and check cashing scheme with co-defendant Ara Karapedyan. German also acknowledged the loss amount for which he is responsible is between $9.5 and $25 million. Zargayan was sentenced to 35 months in prison for his role in the scheme. Zargayan operated a California-licensed drug wholesale company, Nuvo Pharmaceuticals, with an unindicted co-conspirator. Zargayan admitted that he used Nuvo Pharmaceuticals as a front for the drugs that a company called ME Wholesale sold to LLC Wholesale from May to August 2013. Nuvo Pharmaceuticals was licensed in California, but it did not actually supply the drugs that ME Wholesale sold. In addition, the pedigrees for ME Wholesale’s drugs falsely claimed that Nuvo Pharmaceuticals had received the drugs from McKesson. Fraudulent Check Scheme Also sentenced last week were seven defendants, all California residents, in connection with attempts to negotiate over 500 fraudulent checks issued to a variety of payees and totaling more than $5 million. A substantial number of the fraudulent checks were tax refund checks sent by mail by the United States Treasury and many of these tax refund checks had been issued based on fraudulent tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service. The defendants acquired and possessed identifying information for dozens of individuals, which was used to file fraudulent tax returns online. Associates of the Enterprise negotiated numerous fraudulent checks through a business owned by one of the co-conspirators—a service that was offered in exchange for a percentage of the proceeds. In sum, of the 38 defendants charged in the February 2016 Superseding Indictment, 33 have been convicted and nine remain to be sentenced. The charges against five defendants have been dismissed. Judge Breyer scheduled two additional hearings for May 31, 2023, at which time co-defendants Asatour Magzanyan and Loui Artin are scheduled to be sentenced. Assistant United States Attorneys Claudia Quiroz, Andrew Dawson, and Chris Kaltsas are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the IRS, the FDA, and USPIS.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Lawsuit Against Local 1456 to Compel Fair Election of Union Officers

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey to compel Port Police and Security Guards Union, Local 1456, to hold a fair election under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. The lawsuit alleges that Local 1456 established bylaws for the election of union officers that rendered 98 percent of the union’s membership ineligible to be elected to leadership positions. The suit alleges that any union member who missed the union’s September 2021 meeting – more than a year before the election – was rendered ineligible by that fact alone. The suit alleges that Local 1456’s officers disqualified at least four individuals who were or sought to be nominated at its nomination meeting on Nov. 1, 2022. A slate of five officers – four of whom had voted to disqualify candidates who might have opposed them – was then elected unopposed. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul W. Kaufman of the Camden office. The complaint is an allegation of unlawful conduct. The allegation must still be proven in federal court. ppgu1456.complaint.pdf


title: Milpitas Car Exporter Pleads Guilty To Crime In Scheme To Avoid Income Taxes On Multi-Million Dollar Income

body_text: OAKLAND –Jie Suo, owner of a South Bay luxury car exporting business, pleaded guilty today to interfering with the administration of internal revenue laws stemming from statements she made to IRS investigators to corruptly impede their investigation into her multi-million dollar business she failed to disclose in her tax filings to avoiding paying several years’ income taxes for the business, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian. The guilty plea was accepted by the Hon. Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., United States District Judge. Suo, 56, of Milpitas, Calif., is a sole proprietor who owned and operated Golden Source Trading and Agneau Mobility—two companies that exported luxury vehicles to China. According to the plea agreement, Suo admitted that the business earned over $18 million in gross receipts from 2011-2017; however, rather than pay applicable taxes on the business income, Suo embarked on a scheme to avoid paying applicable income taxes and then made statements to federal agents to impede and hinder their investigation into her earnings. Suo admitted that she did not disclose the existence of the businesses on four tax returns that she signed and filed with the IRS; indeed, Suo acknowledged that she paid nothing in federal income tax for the calendar years 2013 through 2016. The plea agreement describes how Suo spoke with federal investigators by telephone on May 16, 2019, and in person on May 23, 2019, and made statements to hinder the IRS investigation with the intent of avoiding criminal prosecution from the pending IRS investigation. Specifically, after agreeing to speak with the IRS investigators voluntarily and after repeatedly being reminded of her obligation to be truthful, Suo denied that her business was profitable and made numerous corrupt statements to minimize her conduct and portray herself as a victim of loan sharks, poor investments, and poor advice. For example, Suo stated that she did not employ her son for his export car business; that she operated the businesses at a loss; that she reported her business sales to her tax preparer; and that the money used to purchase a home in Pittsburg was provided by a loan. Suo acknowledged in her plea agreement the truth of the facts she denied and her corrupt intent in hindering the investigation. Suo further acknowledged that, in contrast to the statements she made to the IRS investigators, her business was sufficiently profitable that she owed nearly $1 million, $997,673, in taxes to the federal government. On March 27, 2023, Suo was charged by Superseding Information with four counts of making and subscribing a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1), and one count of corrupt endeavor to obstruct or impede the administration of Internal Revenue laws, in violation of 26, U.S.C. § 7212(a). Pursuant to today’s plea agreement, Suo pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge. If Suo complies with the plea agreement, the remaining counts will be dismissed at sentencing. Suo faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to three years in prison. In addition, as part of sentencing, the court also may order Suo to pay a fine of up to $250,000, to pay restitution of at least $997,673, and to serve an additional period of supervised release of up to a year to begin after her prison term. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Judge Gilliam scheduled Suo sentencing hearing for July 12, 2023. Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas Green and Maya Karwande are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jasmine Sanders and Kay Konopaske. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the IRS-CI.


title: Media Advisory – Press Conference

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael Easley, along with representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Rocky Mount Police Department, and the Nash and Edgecombe Sheriffs’ Offices will hold a press conference TOMORROW, Friday, March 31 at 2:00 p.m. to announce the sentence of Tyrone Foreman, a Rocky Mount leader of the G-Shine Blood gang, who was convicted of drug trafficking fentanyl and COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud. Officials will also provide an update on the violent crime initiative launched last year in the Rocky Mount area. WHERE: Terry Sanford Federal Building, Room 158, 310 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27601 WHEN: Friday, March 31 at 2:00 p.m. Media: Please arrive at the courthouse by 1:30 for set up . Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend. For additional information, please e-mail Don Connelly at usance.PublicInfoOfficer@usdoj.gov . Please RSVP your intentions to attend the event.


title: Bremerton, Washington man indicted for three-month ‘swatting’ campaign that threatened victims across the USA and in Canada

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 20-year-old Bremerton, Washington, man was arrested early today on an indictment charging him with ten federal felonies related to his illegal harassing activity – also known as “swatting.” Ashton Connor Garcia will make his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. “Every time Mr. Garcia is alleged to have made one of his false reports to law enforcement, he triggered a potentially deadly event – sending heavily armed police officers to an address where they mistakenly believed they would confront someone who was armed and dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the unpredictable and terrifying dynamic these calls created for Mr. Garcia’s alleged victims cannot be overstated. There is nothing funny about abusing emergency resources and intentionally placing people in harm’s way.” “Fortunately, no one was hurt as law enforcement responded to Mr. Garcia’s swatting calls,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “However, it is impossible to quantify the significant harm caused by his actions, which affected communities across the nation. Mr. Garcia will be held accountable for his actions, and we hope this also serves as an example of how serious the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office, state, and local law enforcement take these threats.” According to the indictment, between June 2022 and early September 2022, Garcia made more than 20 swatting calls to law enforcement, targeting victims in California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. According to the indictment, Garcia gathered personal information about his victims, and then threatened his victims with harm, including placing swatting calls to send an armed police presence to their home. In some instances, he made swatting calls at the request of friends. Garcia demanded money, virtual currency, credit card information, or sexually explicit photos from some of the people he threatened. Garcia used voice over internet technology to hide his identity. Using false identities, he made fake reports to non-emergency police numbers claiming things such as that he and others had planted explosive devices in particular locations. He falsely accused other individuals of committing crimes, such as murder, rape, and kidnapping, and he falsely claimed that these individuals possessed dangerous weapons, such as knives, firearms, and explosive devices. Frequently he used the same scripts claiming that his father was holding him hostage, false claims that he shot his parents, false claims that his father stabbed his mother, and false claims that his father had raped female members of the family. The false reports tied up law enforcement resources that could have been used for actual emergencies. In some instances, law enforcement entered the victim residence with weapons drawn and detained people at the residence. Garcia allegedly treated the swatting calls like entertainment. He broadcast his swatting calls via the internet platform Discord. Garcia allegedly told other Discord users that he considered himself a “cyber terrorist.” Specifically, the indictment charges Garcia with these crimes: Extortion – Ohio: On July 17, 2022, allegedly demanded credit card information or would injure the reputation of the victim, their family, would leak nude photos, and “swat them.” Threats and Hoaxes -Ohio: On July 22, 2022, allegedly made a swatting call to the Shaker Heights Police Department falsely alleging his father was holding the family hostage with firearms and a hand grenade. Threats and Hoaxes – Ohio: On July 28, 2022, allegedly called the Cleveland Police Department falsely claiming he had planted a bomb at the Fox News station in Cleveland. Hoaxes regarding firearms – California: On July 29, 2022, allegedly called the Los Angeles Police Department falsely claiming his father was raping his sister, that his father had lots of guns and was both mentally ill and a drug addict. Interstate threats – Kentucky: on July 30, 2022, allegedly called the Kentucky State Police threatening to kill named hostages. Hoaxes regarding aircraft – California: on August 23, 2022, allegedly called the Los Angeles Police and claimed his daughter told him there was a bomb on her flight from Honolulu to LAX. Extortion – New jersey: on August 24, 2022, allegedly attempted to obtain photographs and videos of a minor female’s body by threatening to accuse a family member of a crime and “swat” them. Threats and hoaxes regarding explosives – Michigan: allegedly reported to the Milan Michigan Police Department that his father was holding him hostage with a gun and bomb. Threats and hoaxes – Tennessee: on September 2, 2022, allegedly called the Milan, Tennessee Police Department alleging he was being held hostage by his father who had a gun and bomb. Threats and hoaxes regarding explosives – California: allegedly called Los Angeles Police Department alleging he had stashed four pounds of C4 explosives at an airport in Los Angeles and would detonate it unless he was paid $200,000 in bitcoin. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Threats and hoaxes involving explosives are punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Other charged threats and hoaxes are punishable by up to five years in prison. Extortion is punishable by up to two years in prison. The case is being investigated by the FBI, with substantial assistance from numerous local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and in Canada. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca. garcia_indictment_court_stamped.pdf


title: Florissant Man Indicted, Accused of Cool Valley Murder

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Florissant, Missouri was indicted Wednesday and accused of fatally shooting 18-year-old Devon Williams at a Cool Valley gas station in January. Bryant Pirtle, 20, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on three felonies: possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A motion seeking to keep Pirtle in jail until trial says two people shot Williams early on the morning of January 29, 2023 after he tried to buy marijuana from them at the BP gas station at 1790 South Florissant Road. They then ran Williams over while driving away. Police arrested Pirtle on March 22, 2023, after he and others fled in a stolen car from the same gas station where Williams was murdered. The car contained $4,500 in cash, about one pound of marijuana, two digital scales, baggies and two AR-15-style rifles, one of which was stolen. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Normandy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nino Przulj and Jen Szczucinski are prosecuting the case.


title: Fraudster Sentenced to 13+ Years in $1.9 Million Scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: The mastermind behind a $1.9 million bank fraud was sentenced today to more than 13 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Nohmaan Malik, 30, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman. The Court ordered restitution in the amount of $1.9 million, the amount of loss the victims suffered. According to plea papers, Mr. Malik admitted he and coconspirators defrauded Chase Bank customers. They selected customers with sizeable balances at Chase and created counterfeit passport cards using the customers’ names and identifying information but with conspirators’ photographs. Using those counterfeit passport cards, conspirators imitating the bank customers opened fraudulent joint bank accounts with other conspirators acting as money mules. The impersonator or the mule then transferred money from the customers’ actual account to the joint bank account, and then transferred the money from the joint account into a third bank account controlled solely by the conspirators. His coconspirators include: Juan Cruz – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft / sentenced to 10 years and nine months in federal prison Ronald Godbold – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft / sentenced to five years and five months in federal prison Jeremy Pena – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft / sentenced to five years and five months in federal prison Louie Walencik – charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, use of a false passport, and aggravated identity theft / fugitive Gregory Jesus Acevedo – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and passport fraud and aggravated identity theft / sentenced to three years and four months in federal prison Christian Martinez – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud / slated to be sentenced on May 9 before Judge Reed O’Connor The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Dallas Resident Office, conducted the investigation with the assistance from the DFW Airport Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Benbrook Police Department, and Flower Mound Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht prosecuted the case.


title: Florida man sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in international health care fraud scheme

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Nagaindra Srivastav has been sentenced on conspiracy and kickback charges for his role in selling fraudulent doctors’ orders to his co-conspirators who used the orders to obtain more than $48 million in fraudulent payments from Medicare. “Srivastav knowingly sold fake doctors’ orders to conspirators around the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “These orders were used to cause massive losses to the Medicare program and to taxpayers. Health care and telemedicine fraud is a high priority for the Department and this office, and we will vigorously pursue those who exploit our health care system for personal gain.” “This defendant left a number of victims in his wake, including American taxpayers,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Health care costs are driven up when doctors and staff bill for unnecessary services and the FBI and our partners will continue to use every resource in our power to stop it.” "This individual exploited the Medicare program for personal financial gain. Not only does this behavior undermine the integrity of federal health care programs; it also wastes valuable taxpayer dollars," said Tamala Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "As this case demonstrates, HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate attempts to steal from federal health care programs and defraud the American taxpayer." According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Srivastav was the owner of B2B Apps Solutions (“B2B”), a Florida-based company. Through B2B, Srivastav and his co-conspirators created and operated an internet-based platform that individuals and businesses in the health care industry used for the purchase and sale of physician orders for Durable Medical Equipment (“DME”), such as ankle, back, knee, and leg braces. Through B2B, Srivastav paid and received remuneration for the referral of federal health care business. To accomplish this scheme, Srivastav created a website, RepsHub, in which DME companies and others uploaded potential DME-patient information, called “leads,” which were generally obtained through telemarketing campaigns targeting beneficiaries for whom DME products could be billed. In addition, and in conjunction with his selling of physician orders, Srivastav also offered and sold leads, which he obtained through call centers controlled by himself and his co-conspirators. Srivastav purchased the physicians’ orders that he sold to his customers from purported telemedicine companies based in the Philippines and Pakistan. These orders lacked medical necessity, and Srivastav was notified on numerous occasions that the purported authorizing physician had not actually spoken with the patient, signed the order, or prescribed the braces. The physicians’ orders that Srivastav sold were used to obtain more than $48 million in fraudulently obtained payments from Medicare. Nagaindra Srivastav, 58, of Tampa, Florida, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $48,150,692.49. On October 19, 2022, Srivastav was convicted of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 371, and solicitation and receipt of kickbacks, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 1320a-7b, after he pleaded guilty. Judge Jones also sentenced Brian Tisdale, 46, of Amory, Mississippi. Tisdale was one of Srivastav’s customers who operated two DME companies in Mississippi and Georgia. Tisdale received a sentence of three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Tisdale was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,675,093.80. On December 16, 2022, Tisdale was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and to pay kickbacks, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, after he pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O'Neal prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: South Sacramento Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor for Sexual Purposes

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dilesh Sharma, 50, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to 24 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempted online enticement of a minor for sexual purposes, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. “Today’s sentence is a warning to other online predators,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “We are determined to use every legal avenue we have to identify and apprehend these criminals and protect children from harm.” “The FBI is deeply committed to ensuring cases like these are conducted with extensive rigor to ensure the allegations are a clear statement of fact and accurately represent the behavior of the accused,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “Mr. Sharma will now have decades in federal prison to consider the consequences of his actions and the threat he posed to minors.” According to court documents, in November 2016, Sharma used the Craigslist email system and the Kik application to electronically message back and forth with a person who identified himself as an adult, but who Sharma did not know was an undercover law enforcement agent. Sharma expressed his interest in gaining access to a minor for sexual purposes, and the undercover agent told Sharma that his girlfriend had an 11-year-old daughter. Eventually, Sharma’s conversations with the undercover agent reached a point where Sharma suggested that the two meet. On March 30, 2017, they met to set up an in-person meeting where Sharma was supposed to meet the minor for a sexual purpose. The next day, Sharma arrived at the designated meeting place and was arrested. During a review of Sharma’s iPhone, seized from him at the time of arrest, law enforcement agents discovered that Sharma received and distributed child pornography on Kik with someone other than the undercover agent. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger Yang and Rosanne Rust prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Possession of Meth with Intent to Distribute After Ordering Fabric Soaked in Meth

component: Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – A Southwest Georgia man guilty of drug distribution was sentenced to 240 months in prison today after federal agents discovered fabric soaked in methamphetamine and crystal meth in packages at the Atlanta airport addressed to him from Mexico. Chad Williamson, 44, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner today after he pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Sept. 8. There is no parole in the federal system. “International drug cartels are using any means necessary to move deadly substances into this country, feeding addiction and increasing overdose deaths,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Law enforcement at every level is committed to stopping and holding accountable those working with these groups to bring highly dangerous and illegal drugs into our communities.” “DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to dismantle, disrupt and destroy drug distribution networks,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “This case was successful because of the collaborative efforts between DEA and its committed law enforcement partners.” According to court documents, two packages containing methamphetamine and addressed to Williamson were intercepted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Parcel Center in March 2021. The packages were shipped from Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico, and marked as religious image and/or Bible gift; one of the boxes contained a methamphetamine-soaked fabric, which can be chemically extracted for use. There was also approximately 450 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the packages. DEA agents went to Williamson’s residence on March 11, 2021. Williamson had removed the SIM card from his phone in an attempt to hide its contents. Williamson’s probation officer administered a drug test, which Williamson failed. Williamson was placed under arrest and subsequently admitted to agents that an associate used Williamson’s address for drug deliveries. The SIM card was located, and a download of Williamson’s phone showed a number of messages he had exchanged with the source of supply, saved in his phone as “Costa Chris.” The messages revealed an on-going relationship between the two regarding illicit controlled substance deliveries requiring tracking and other drug deals. The case was investigated DEA with assistance from HSI. Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case.


title: Hazelwood Man Admits Series of Schemes Seeking $404,000

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Hazelwood, Missouri on Tuesday admitted involvement in a series of schemes that cost or intended to cost victims a total of $404,415. Naquan Powers, 27, pleaded guilty to four felony counts of bank fraud and three felony counts of aggravated ID theft in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp. Powers admitted buying three vehicles from a Florissant dealership between June 24, 2019 and August 23, 2019 and using fraudulent Social Security cards and driver’s licenses to apply for loans. After buying an Chevrolet Impala with a $18,098 loan, a $42,086 Chevrolet Tahoe and a BMW 428 XI for $29,079, powers was arrested trying to buy a Dodge Challenger with a $38,191 loan. The total intended loss for the four vehicles is $127,454 In 2018 and 2019, Powers accessed multiple Discover Bank accounts belonging to other people and changed information in these accounts so he could receive debit cards and bank checks for the accounts. Powers’ intended loss for this scheme was $11,754. After his arrest, Powers aided at least four others in making or attempting fraudulent purchases of vehicles at multiple vehicle dealerships throughout the St. Louis and southern Illinois areas, causing a total loss of $244,374. Then, in 2020 and 2021, Powers applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan and four Economic Injury and Disaster Loans pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), claiming he was a sole proprietor in the general freight trucking industry. Powers submitted a fraudulent tax form and a bank statement and received $20,832 in PPP funds. Five others involved with Powers’ schemes have also been charged. Powers is scheduled to be sentenced June 30. The bank fraud charges carry a potential sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both prison and a fine. The aggravated ID theft charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of two years consecutive to all other sentences. The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke is prosecuting the case.


title: Schenectady Man Sentenced to 84 Months on Drug and Gun Convictions

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brandon Prawl, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for distributing heroin, possessing heroin with the intent to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli. A jury voted to convict Prawl on November 9, 2022, following a 3-day jury trial. The trial evidence established that on four dates in September 2019, Prawl distributed heroin out of a residence in Schenectady. On October 4, 2019, Prawl was found in possession of a .45 caliber pistol and loaded magazine, more than 21 grams of heroin, and drug distribution paraphernalia at the same residence. The jury concluded that Prawl possessed the heroin for distribution, and the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a 3-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release. ATF and New York State Police investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted the case. This case is part of 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: Federal Search Warrants Executed

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: DES MOINES, IA – On Thursday, March 30, 2023, federal search warrants were executed at the following locations in Des Moines: • 2500 block of Maury Street, • 2500 block of East 23rd Street, • 3600 block of Amherst Street, • 1500 block of King Avenue, • 3400 block of Southwest 8th Street, • 4100 block of 11th Place, and • 1600 block of Washington Avenue. The searches at these locations were an official law enforcement action involving officers, agents, and investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE), United States Marshals Service, Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol (ISP), the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Suburban Emergency Response Team (SERT), and Metro Special Tactics and Response (STAR).


title: Wilson Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Fraud Scheme in North Carolina

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Nekita Donyae Hooks, 44, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loan. He faces up to 20 years in prison. “This defendant, along with his network of co-conspirators, took taxpayer money meant to help struggling small businesses during a global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are investigating and prosecuting those who steal from public programs intended to keep legitimate businesses afloat.” According to the charged criminal information, the defendant conspired with Edward Whitaker, Schunda Coleman, and others to obtain a fraudulent PPP loan on behalf of Hooks’ business. Whitaker and Coleman pled guilty on January 19, 2023 for their role in operating a nation-wide scheme to help people across the country commit millions of dollars of PPP fraud. According to charging documents and information summarized in court, Whitaker and Coleman created fraudulent supporting documents and applications for the PPP loan which they provided to Hooks in exchange for 25% of the total loan proceeds. The fraudulent application falsified the number of employees and gross wages being paid prior to the COVID pandemic, in order to help qualify for the PPP loan. Following the disbursement of the PPP loans, Whitaker instructed Hooks as to how to make it appear that the PPP loans were being paid out to employees, when in reality the money was transferred back to Hooks. The fraudulent payroll records were then submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain 100% loan forgiveness. Late last year , Quentin Jackson pled guilty in the same conspiracy which included the recruitment of numerous individuals in the Eastern District of North Carolina to use Whitaker and Coleman to obtain fraudulent PPP funds. “The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge in the Charlotte Field Office. “Through our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who try to exploit federal relief programs for their personal gain.” The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were economically suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the SBA. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II accepted the plea. Sentencing will occur before United States District Judge James C. Dever III later this year. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka is prosecuting the cases. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00025-D.


title: Syracuse Man Sentenced to Serve 192 Months for Possessing and Intending to Distribute Cocaine

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jondell Middlebrooks, age 42, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 192 months in federal prison following his conviction for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, Chief Joseph Cecile, City of Syracuse Police Department, and New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli. As part of his prior guilty plea, Middlebrooks admitted that on June 23, 2022, he possessed a quantity of cocaine that he stored in Syracuse, NY and intended to distribute. At the time he possessed it, Middlebrooks was on supervised release following a 2019 federal drug conviction. United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby further sentenced Middlebrooks to a consecutive 18-month term of imprisonment for violating his supervised release and a new six-year term of supervised release to begin after he serves his terms of imprisonment. The case was investigated by the DEA-Syracuse Resident Office, the Syracuse Police Department, the New York State Police, and the United States Probation Department-Northern District of New York. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Cameron Robinson, age 25, of Grover, North Carolina, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Rotterdam Police Chief Michael S. Brown made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Robinson admitted that on May 4, 2022, he possessed a Taurus Model G2C 9mm semi-automatic pistol. That morning, in Rotterdam, Robinson had been shot by another person using the Taurus pistol. Robinson was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to a previous North Carolina felony conviction for Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury. Robinson was on parole for that crime when he committed this offense. ATF and the Rotterdam Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Williams and Allen J. Vickey prosecuted this case as 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: Binghamton Man Sentenced for Drug Crime

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Adam Baldwin, age 42, of Binghamton, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months’ imprisonment for attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. As part of his prior guilty plea, Baldwin admitted that in September 2021, he agreed to receive shipments of methamphetamine, which he provided to another individual in exchange for payment. Baldwin had the shipments delivered to a UPS Store in Alexandria Bay, New York, where he picked them up. In October 2021, law enforcement intercepted two of the packages addressed to Baldwin, which contained a total of approximately 1,070 grams of pure methamphetamine. United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered Baldwin to serve a three-year term of supervision following his release from prison. This case was investigated by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force (comprised of detectives from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Watertown Police Department, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office), and the Santa Ana Police Department in California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case.


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced To More Than Two Years Additional Prison Term For Escape From Halfway House

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis today sentenced Keenan Hunter (32, Jacksonville) to two years and three months in federal prison for his escape from custody from a halfway house in Jacksonville. Hunter had pleaded guilty on December 29, 2022. According to court documents, on October 29, 2018, Hunter was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In August 2020, the Federal Bureau of Prisons placed Hunter in a halfway house, in Jacksonville, to complete his sentence. He had an estimated release date of February 5, 2021. On December 9, 2020, at 9:45 a.m., Hunter walked out of the halfway house without authorization. He was therefore listed as an escapee. Paperwork from the halfway house confirms that Hunter was informed of the rules of the halfway house, including that a failure to remain there could result in prosecution for escape. He also electronically signed a written acknowledgment. Hunter never returned to the halfway house. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.


title: ST. CROIX MAN SENTENCED TO 12 MONTHS ON A FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM CONVICTION

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

body_text: St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Moises Figueroa, Jr., age 48, of St. Croix, was sentenced by District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis to 12 months imprisonment on his conviction of a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Judge Lewis also sentenced Figueroa to 2 years of supervised release, a fine of $2,000.00, and a special assessment of $100. According to court documents, on May 26, 2021, federal law enforcement agents conducted a controlled delivery at the Frederiksted Post Office in St. Croix of two packages containing firearms. Figueroa was arrested after he collected both packages at which time federal agents seized a loaded Taurus semi-automatic pistol from Figueroa’s waistband. Figueroa was charged with illegally possessing the Taurus semi-automatic pistol knowing that he was convicted of a felony in 2007, namely Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, in People of the Virgin Islands v. Moises Figueroa , SX-06-CR-504. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston prosecuted the case. This case was part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. For more information on the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, please see: https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Jacksonville Convicted Felon Sentenced To Seven Years In Federal Prison For Firearm Possession

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Frederick Lamont Sams (41, Jacksonville) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. Sams had pleaded guilty in December 2022. According to court documents, on February 16, 2022, Sams was seen by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer driving a stolen vehicle. Officers followed Sams which led to a pursuit where Sams fled from the vehicle. As Sams was fleeing, he threw a Glock .45 caliber pistol loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition, which was recovered once Sams was arrested. Sams is a multi-convicted felon and was recently released from prison after having been convicted of burglary and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was out of prison less than six months before committing this offense. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran. 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: Georgia man convicted of fraud in seeking millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funding

body_text: BRUNSWICK, GA: A federal jury deliberated less than an hour before finding a Georgia man guilty on multiple charges for leading a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain more than $1 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funding. Bernard Okojie , 41, of McDonough, Ga., was found guilty after a three-day trial of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering Conspiracy, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The guilty verdict subjects Okojie to statutory penalties of up to 30 years in prison, along with up to $1 million in financial penalties and up to five years of supervised release after completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Before the ink was dry on legislation creating the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Bernard Okojie was scheming to steal these vital small business safety net funds,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “The guilty verdict slams the door on this fraud, and signals to others stealing from pandemic relief funds that they, too, will be held accountable.” As described in trial and in court documents, Okojie used information for non-existent companies to file at least 24 fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program loans for himself and others from April 2020 through May of 2021, seeking millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds for himself and others. Okojie received the funding directly, or was paid by other recipients of the fraudulently obtained funding for his work in submitting the EIDL applications. Okojie then conspired to launder the fraudulent proceeds to hide the source of the funds. Funds from the more than $1.4 million Okojie and others received through the schemes were used to purchase a home, vehicles, shopping trips to Versace, for personal investments, and a toy poodle. Okojie also was intercepted as he attempted to carry nearly $40,000 in undeclared cash on a plane from Atlanta to Nigeria. Sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood will be scheduled upon completion of a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. “This verdict should serve notice that the FBI and our federal partners will investigate anyone who misdirects federal emergency assistance earmarked for businesses who need it to stay afloat,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We won’t tolerate anyone driven by personal greed to pocket American tax payer money that should be going to those in need.” “Manufacturing false information to wrongfully obtain funds from SBA programs intended for the nation’s small businesses is a theft from taxpayers,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “OIG and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue fraudsters and bring them to justice. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.” The case was investigated by the FBI and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew A. Josephson and Jennifer A. Stanley. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Van Zandt County Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Trafficking Violations

body_text: TYLER, Texas - A Canton man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today. Ashton Norris, 30, pleaded guilty on August 22, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker. According to information presented in court, on Oct. 4, 2021, Norris was stopped on IH-20 in Van Zandt County for a defective license plate lamp. During the stop, it was discovered that Norris had an active warrant for his arrest out of Wood County and Norris was placed under arrest. An inventory of the vehicle after Norris was arrested revealed a backpack with approximately 103 grams of methamphetamine. Norris was indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 5, 2021 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations. This case was investigated by the Canton Police Department, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble. # # #


title: New Haven Woman Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Federal Grand Jury about Knowledge of Kidnapping and Murders

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LAQUASIA SAMMS, also known as “Quasia,” 28, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 90 days of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for making false statements before a federal grand jury in connection with an investigation into the kidnapping and murder of two individuals, and the related murder of a third individual, in November 2015. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 16, 2015, Edward Michael Parks was in Samms’ apartment on Shelton Avenue in New Haven to conduct an illegal sale of firearms. Samms, Damian Connor, and Tamar Lawrence were also present in the apartment. When another individual left the apartment with firearms that he had not paid for, Parks, who was armed, held Connor and Lawrence against their will. Parks collected money and valuables from Connor and Lawrence, and then forced them to travel in Connor’s car to Hamden where Connor said he could get more money. They were followed in another vehicle by Devante Williams and another individual. After the vehicles arrived at 676 Mix Avenue in Hamden, Parks shot and killed Connor and Lawrence. Parks then left the scene with Williams and others in the second vehicle and returned to New Haven. When Parks appeared to believe that Williams was anxious about the murders of Connor and Lawrence, Parks shot and killed Williams in the area of Sherman Court in New Haven. During the kidnapping, and after the three victims were murdered, Samms sent several text messages to another individual about what was happening and her reaction to the events. On March 19, 2019, Samms appeared before a grand jury in New Haven. During her testimony, Samms repeatedly claimed that she did not remember sending any text messages related to the gun transaction, the kidnapping, or the murder of the three individuals. On October 1, 2020, Samms pleaded guilty, admitting that she sent the text messages, and that she withheld other information that was sought by the federal grand jury. Samms, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on May 11. On January 19, 2023, a jury found Parks, also known as “Lee” and “Trouble,” of Raleigh, North Carolina, guilty of two counts of kidnapping resulting in death, and one count of witness tampering by killing. At sentencing, he faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of life. This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hamden Police Department and New Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and A. Reed Durham, and Assistant State’s Attorney Seth Garbarsky, who has been cross-designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in this matter.


title: Wesley Chapel Man Pleads Guilty To Exploiting And Producing Sexual Abuse Material Depicting Half A Dozen Children

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Clayton Everett Colborn (31, Wesley Chapel) has pleaded guilty to two counts of enticement and coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity, five counts of using minors to produce child sexual abuse images and videos, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. Colborn faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison and mandatory court-ordered restitution. Colborn has agreed to forfeit electronic devices and his black Chevrolet Corvette, which were used in the commission of the offense. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. According to court documents, between 2018 and continuing through 2020, Colborn used a social networking application to find minors for the purpose of engaging in sex acts. Colborn, who was between the ages of 27 and 28 at the time of his offenses, created a fictitious profile named “Jason Rich” and indicated that he was 16 years old. The social networking application is designed to help people make friendships and has two distinct age groups based on a user’s profile: 1) ages 13 to 17 years old, and 2) ages 18 years and older. Using the fictitious profile, Colborn met the victims in group one—ages 13 to 17 years old. He told the victims he was 16 years old and enticed them into engaging in sexual intercourse with him at various locations throughout the Middle District of Florida, including his car, apartment, and victims’ residences. In one instance, the Ocoee Police Department caught Colborn in a public park in the middle of the night with a child victim. Colborn’s pants were unzipped at the time officers chased and apprehended him in the park. Law enforcement officers obtained DNA evidence which showed that Colborn had engaged in sexual activity with the child victim. To date, the FBI has identified and interviewed seven child victims who all resided within the Middle District of Florida. Colborn victimized each child victim in a similar manner. During the investigation, the FBI obtained a federal search warrant for Colborn’s iCloud account and found approximately 30 videos and 81 images that Colborn had produced of himself engaging in sexual acts with various young girls between the ages of 13 and 17 years old. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ocoee Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell. Anyone with information regarding Clayton Everett Colborn, also known as “Jason Rich,” “Jason,” “Clay,” or “Clayay” should call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit online at tips.fbi.gov . This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Newport News Man Sentenced for Unlawful Purchase of a Firearm Used in Three Local Shootings

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. –A Newport News man was sentenced today to 5 years in prison for the unlawful purchase and possession of a firearm that was used in three community shootings. According to court documents, Khalil Rashad Armstrong, 22, asked his older cousin to purchase a handgun for Armstrong. Only 20 years old at the time, Armstrong was not old enough to purchase a handgun himself. Armstrong gave his cousin the money to purchase the firearm and selected the make and model. Around February 21, 2021, Armstrong’s cousin made false oral and written statements to a local licensed firearm dealer in order to straw-purchase the firearm for Armstrong. The firearm was recovered by police on July 27, 2021, at the crime scene of a local rival gang shootout approximately 125 days after it was purchased. Forensic ballistics confirmed the firearm had been used in two other shootings, once on May 2, 2021, resulting in property damage, and once on February 21, 2021, the same day it was purchased. On May 12, Armstrong’s cousin and co-defendant, Destiny Na’iymah Davis, 23, of Newport News, pleaded guilty to a felony for her role in the unlawful straw-purchase of the firearm. According to court documents, the United States recommended a non-custodial sentence for Davis due to mitigating circumstances and her swift acceptance of responsibility for her role in the offense. Davis was sentenced to 18 months’ probation on December 5, 2022. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Mike Weddel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wilson Hanes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Osyf prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:22-cr-12.


title: Morristown Man Faces Federal Drug Charge for Violation of the Controlled Substances Act

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on March 23, 2023, Michael Ulrich, 32, of Morristown, Vermont, was charged in an indictment with knowingly allowing his residence to be a drug-involved premises at which controlled substances were stored and distributed. The defendant was arraigned on the indictment on March 30, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, and is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings. According to court records, on February 28, 2023, law enforcement executed a state search warrant at Ulrich’s residence in Morristown, Vermont. Inside of the house, investigators found glassine bags intended for the packaging of controlled substances, a digital scale used to weigh quantities of controlled substances, more than 50 grams of cocaine, and a firearm. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Morristown Police Department, the Stowe Police Department, the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department, and the Vermont State Police. If convicted, Ulrich faces up to twenty years of imprisonment. The actual sentence, however, would be determined with reference to the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary B. Stendig. Michael Ulrich is represented by Mary Nerino, Esq. of the Office of the Federal Public Defender.


title: Kentuckiana Physician and Nurse Practitioner Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, Health Care Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A local physician and an advanced practice registered nurse were sentenced yesterday on conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering charges. The physician’s medical practice was also sentenced for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. On March 29, 2023, physician Jeffrey Campbell , age 64, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky to 105 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Advanced practice registered nurse Mark Dyer , age 54, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. There is no parole in the federal system. Additionally, Campbell’s medical practice, Physicians Primary Care, PLLC ( PPC ) was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000,000 for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to court documents and evidence presented during the jury trial in May and June of 2021, Campbell , Dyer , and PPC conspired to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances between January 1, 2009, and December 1, 2016. Campbell , Dyer , and PPC also conspired to commit health care fraud for falsely and fraudulently billing Kentucky Medicaid (Passport), Indiana Medicaid, Tricare, Medicare, and other health care benefit programs by submitting claims for physical therapy, counseling and exercise services using evaluation and management codes to obtain higher reimbursement. Campbell and Dyer also conspired to commit money laundering for paying and/or receiving bonuses to incentivize the ordering of physical therapy, counseling, and exercise. Finally, Campbell and Dyer fraudulently billed for physical therapy services using evaluation and management codes as if a physician performed a service on the patients, but, a non-physician and non-physical therapist performed the service on the patients. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky; Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron; Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita; Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the United States Department for Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Chicago Regional Office; Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS) Southeast Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office; Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Bryant Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement. The case was investigated by the HHS, DCIS, IRS-CI, FBI, DEA, the Kentucky Attorney General Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Ansari and Christopher Tieke prosecuted the case with assistance from health care fraud investigator Bob Masterson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: Former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier sentenced for scheme to deliver drugs through the mail

body_text: ATLANTA – Former mail carrier Robert Elliot Sheppard was sentenced to three years of prison for recruiting fellow mail carriers, and teaching them how to deliver packages of cocaine and marijuana while he was on disability leave. “Sheppard accepted bribes from a drug trafficker to hand-deliver packages of narcotics on his mail route and even found carriers to replace him in his absence to ensure that he continued to profit from these crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His greed resulted in dangerous drugs going into our community and ensnared two of his coworkers in a scheme of drug trafficking and bribery.” “Sheppard put not only his future at risk, but the safety of residents on his routes in danger by agreeing to work with drug dealers,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The vast majority of Postal workers are honest. The FBI wants to make it clear if anyone decides to violate the public trust, we will dedicate significant resources toward finding and prosecuting them for their crimes.” “The vast majority of U.S. Postal Service employees would never violate the public trust in this manner. But for those who do, the USPS Office of Inspector General, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively investigate these federal crimes to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich. “This sentence is a testament to the dedication of the investigative and legal teams and should send a strong message to any employee who thinks of conspiring with drug traffickers.” “Sheppard recklessly recruited two mail carriers to deliver packages of drugs and was paid for doing so. Through his actions, Sheppard endangered the communities he served and betrayed the trust bestowed upon him by the USPS,” said DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. “The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, with its law enforcement partners, will continue to seek out and prosecute those who use their official positions for personal gain.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2015, Sheppard worked as a U.S Postal Service (USPS) mail carrier. In exchange for receiving bribes, Sheppard used his position to deliver five-pound packages of drugs through the U.S. mail to Dexter Frazier, a local drug trafficker who sold cocaine and marijuana. In 2016, Frazier approached Sheppard about delivering additional drug packages. Sheppard was on disability leave from the USPS at that time and unable to intercept and deliver packages. But he offered to recruit other mail carriers to deliver drugs for Frazier in exchange for referral fees in the form of a mix of cash and marijuana. Frazier agreed to the arrangement. Sheppard then contacted two coworkers, Tonie Harris and Clifton Lee. Sheppard explained to Harris and Lee that they could earn bribes for delivering packages of drugs along their mail routes, and taught them how to arrange the deliveries to avoid detection. Harris and Lee agreed to participate in the scheme, and Sheppard gave their phone numbers to Frazier. Frazier then coordinated the illegal deliveries with Harris and Lee. Harris and Lee each delivered three packages for Frazier believing they contained two kilograms of cocaine or 10 pounds of marijuana, per parcel. U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones sentenced Robert Elliott Sheppard, 61, of East Point, Ga., to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $30,000. Sheppard pleaded guilty to the offenses of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, and unlawfully using the mail to commit that crime, on August 3, 2022. Other participants in the scheme previously pleaded guilty and received the following sentences imposed by Judge Jones: Dexter Bernard Frazier, a/k/a “Dec,” 60, of Fairburn, Georgia, was sentenced on June 13, 2018, to nine years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,700. Frazier pleaded guilty to the offense of attempt to distribute cocaine and marijuana on March 6, 2018. Clifton Curtis Lee, a/k/a “Cliff,” 46, of Lithonia, Georgia, a letter carrier assigned to the Sandy Springs Post Office, was sentenced on June 18, 2018, to three years, 10 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,800. Lee pleaded guilty to the offenses of attempt to distribute cocaine and bribery of public officials on February 28, 2018. Tonie Harris, 59, of Decatur, Georgia, a letter carrier assigned to the Sandy Springs Post Office, was sentenced on August 14, 2018, to three years, one month in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,450. Harris pleaded guilty to the offenses of attempt to distribute cocaine and marijuana and bribery of public officials on March 20, 2018. This was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . 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: Mark Ridley-Thomas Found Guilty of Bribery and Fraud Involving Benefits for Son in Exchange for Lucrative County Contracts

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Long-time politician Mark Ridley-Thomas was found guilty by a jury today of bribery in a scheme in which his son received substantial benefits from the University of Southern California in exchange for Ridley-Thomas’ political support for lucrative county contracts and contract amendments with the university while he served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Ridley-Thomas, 68, of Los Angeles, was found guilty of seven felonies: one count of conspiracy, one count of bribery, one count of honest services mail fraud, and four counts of honest services wire fraud. Ridley-Thomas’ political career spans several decades, including in the California State Legislature and, most recently, in the Los Angeles City Council. He was suspended in October 2021 from the Los Angeles City Council after being indicted in this case. “When elected leaders engage in acts of corruption, our community suffers immense damage. Ridley-Thomas engaged in a corrupt conspiracy with a university dean to steer taxpayer-funded contracts to the school in exchange for benefits for his son,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Today’s verdict sends a clear message to public officials that my office will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who abuse their power and thereby breach the public trust.” “Public officials are elected to be a voice and a vote for the people they're paid to represent, not for their own personal gain,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “Allegations of public malfeasance must and will be addressed by the FBI before further corrupt actions erode confidence in our public institutions.” According to evidence presented at a 16-day trial, from May 2017 to August 2018, Ridley-Thomas engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Marilyn Louise Flynn, 84, of Los Feliz, formerly a tenured professor and the dean of USC’s School of Social Work. In December 2017, citing health issues, Ridley-Thomas’ son abruptly resigned from the California State Assembly. At the time of his resignation, Ridley-Thomas’ son was the subject of a sexual harassment investigation in the Assembly, a fact not known by either USC or the public. Emails and testimony at trial, prosecutors argued, showed that the reason given for the resignation was pretextual. Behind the scenes, Ridley-Thomas was orchestrating a public relations campaign to convince the public his son was ill, and a legal team was put in place to stall the Assembly’s investigation indefinitely. Prosecutors argued that the evidence at trial demonstrated that part of Ridley-Thomas’ public relations plan included finding his son prestigious degrees, titles, and paying jobs. During the conspiracy’s course, Flynn ultimately provided Ridley-Thomas and his son benefits, including graduate school admission to pursue a dual master’s degree, a full-tuition scholarship, a paid professorship, and a mechanism for Ridley-Thomas to funnel $100,000 of his campaign funds through the university to a non-profit to be operated by the son – Policy, Research & Practice Initiative (PRPI). In exchange, Ridley-Thomas supported contracts involving the Social Work School, including contracts to provide services to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Probation Department, as well as an amendment to a contract with the Department of Mental Health (DMH) that could help bring the school potentially millions of dollars in new revenue. By funneling the payment through USC, Ridley-Thomas and Flynn attempted to disguise the true source of a $100,000 payment to make it appear as though USC, not Ridley-Thomas, was the generous benefactor supporting Ridley-Thomas’ son and PRPI. Had it known this fact, USC would not have approved the $100,000 payment. For his part, Ridley-Thomas delivered on his end of the corrupt bargain. He voted on three county proposals that Flynn had sought to shore up her school’s shoddy financial situation – it faced a multimillion-dollar budget deficit – including a vote approving an amended Telehealth agreement with more lucrative terms for the Social Work School. He also sought to influence key county decisionmakers associated with these approvals and made sure Flynn knew of his efforts. United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer scheduled an August 14 sentencing hearing, at which time Ridley-Thomas will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, up to 10 years in federal prison for the bribery count, and up to 20 years in federal prison for each honest services fraud count. Ridley-Thomas was found not guilty of one count of honest services mail fraud and 11 counts of honest services wire fraud. Flynn pleaded guilty in September 2022 to one count of bribery. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 26. Flynn faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend she satisfy her custodial term by way of home confinement and have agreed to seek a fine against her of no more than $150,000. The FBI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Greer Dotson, Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas F. Rybarczyk and Michael J. Morse, also of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, are prosecuting this case.


title: South Texas tax fraud: preparer convicted of filing fraudulent returns

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A local tax preparer has admitted to preparing false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of Texas taxpayers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Berlinda Luikens was the owner and operator of a tax preparation business known as the Tax Company in Corpus Christi. Luikens admitted that between 2016 and 2020, she filed false and fraudulent tax returns for taxpayers. In those fraudulent returns, Luikens knowingly reported false business and farming losses and false charitable deductions in amounts she knew the taxpayers were not entitled to claim. The fraudulent tax returns resulted in a loss of at least $446,301 to the United States. “Tax season ends on April 15, but there is no end to our efforts to bring tax criminals to justice,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office. “Our special agents are the best in the business when it comes to solving financial crimes, which is why more than 90 percent of our cases result in convictions.” U.S. District Judge Ramos will impose sentencing June 28. At that time, Luikens faces up to three years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. IRS – CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced To Life For Sexually Abusing Child In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Stanley Harjo, age 40, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in federal prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. Harjo was found guilty of the offense by a federal jury in November 2021. At trial, the United States presented evidence that in June 2016, Harjo sexually abused a six-year-old child. Days later, the child disclosed the abuse and provided further details during a forensic interview. Five additional witnesses testified at trial that Harjo sexually assaulted each of them when they were between the ages of four and twelve. The case was investigated by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “The defendant is clearly a sexual predator, and the life sentence imposed by the Court ensures he will never be able to victimize another child,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I am thankful for the cooperative efforts of our law enforcement partners in this case. Their investigative work enabled my Assistant United States Attorneys to pursue the prosecution of the defendant and deliver justice to those he victimized.” “Our children are our most vulnerable citizens, and we will do everything in our power to protect them by getting predators like Harjo off the street,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “His life sentence stands as a testament to the dedication and collaboration of the FBI, the Muskogee Police Department, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure justice is served for victims of the most serious crimes in Indian Country.” The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the sentencing hearing. Harjo was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal to await transportation to a United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Marek and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.