title: Federal Indictment Charges Duo With Mail Theft And Wire Fraud

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned a criminal indictment charging Tressa Nichole Baucom, 30, of Charlotte, and Jennings Peter Keziah, also known as Christian Thomas Carpenter, 35, of Stanley, N.C., with mail theft and wire fraud, for stealing thousands of pieces of mail in North Carolina and South Carolina, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to allegations contained in the indictment, from October to December 2021, Baucom and Keziah executed a mail theft scheme that targeted residential mailboxes in Charlotte and Gastonia, N.C., and York County, S.C. Over the course of the scheme, Baucom and Keziah allegedly stole more than 3,700 pieces of mail, including credit cards, checks, gift cards, driver’s licenses, bank statements and a passport. The indictment alleges that Baucom and Keziah used the stolen credit cards for personal expenditures, including to make purchases at Walmart, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Quick Trip, and Best Buy. The indictment further alleges that Baucom and Keziah also possessed a stolen United States Postal Service key. Baucom and Keziah are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess stolen mail and three counts of possession of stolen mail, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison per count, and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The charges against Baucom and Keziah are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King commended the USPIS for its investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassye Cole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.


title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Prison After Carrying Out Mail Forwarding And Identity Theft Scheme

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for participating in a scheme that victimized nearly 400 people by redirecting their mail, stealing the victims’ identities, and using bank accounts in the victims’ names without their consent. In March 2022, after a two-day trial, Nosa Frank Obayando (31) was found guilty of mail theft, using an unauthorized access device, and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) was alerted to a fraudulent mail forwarding scheme. An investigation found that between February 2017 and February 2018, Obayando and a co-defendant worked together to steal mail through a fraudulent forwarding scheme where hundreds of victims from around the country had their mail forwarded without their knowledge or consent to addresses under Obayando and the co-defendant’s control. As part of the scheme, Obayando and the co-defendant checked the mailboxes for fraudulently-forwarded mail, then used the identities in that mail to steal funds from bank accounts. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant United States Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case. If you suspect potential mail fraud or mail theft, you may contact the USPIS by calling 877-876-2455 or by making a report online at https://www.uspis.gov/report . ###


title: East Providence Businesswoman Charged with Visa Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – An East Providence businesswoman who allegedly arranged for eight Columbian Vallenato musicians to obtain work visas to enter the United States, purportedly to work in the performing arts industry, has been charged in federal court with visa fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. It is alleged in documents filed with the court that Yaneth Yanitza Caicedo Grandos, operator of Tu Voz Es Musica (“TVEM”), a music talent school she operates out of her residence, created and provided false itinerary information on work visa applications submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of each of the musicians. Included with each application were contracts on TVEM letterhead that described agreements TVEM had with venues in seven states, including Rhode Island, where the Vallenato musicians were scheduled to perform. According to information presented to the court, a review by Homeland Security Investigations of the contracts submitted with the visa applications to USCIS revealed discrepancies, including, for example, similar looking signatures on six contracts with five different venues. It is alleged that venue managers/owners whose names and signatures appear on the contracts did not authorize nor endorse the information; and that venue operators confirmed that the Vallenato musicians had not performed nor were scheduled to perform at their respective venues. As further alleged in court documents, this matter came to the attention of federal authorities when an East Providence resident provided information that Caicedo Grandos restricted the movements of the Columbian musicians, forced them to sleep on the floor of an apartment from which they have since been evicted, attempted to confiscate their passports, and threatened them with immigration consequences. Yaneth Yanitza Caicedo Grandos, charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with visa fraud and aggravated identity theft, made an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Lincoln D. Almond on Tuesday and was released on unsecured bond. Work visas issued to eight Vallenato musicians have been revoked by the U.S. Department of State. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker. ###


title: Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the 28th Anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in recognition of the 28th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, which took place on April 19, 1995, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: “Today, we mark 28 years since a domestic terrorist bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. “Today, we remember the 168 people, including 19 children, whose lives were taken and the hundreds who were injured. We send our deepest condolences to the families who are still mourning an unspeakable loss. We commemorate the extraordinary resilience and grace that the Oklahoma City community continues to demonstrate in the wake of that loss. “And today, here at the Justice Department, we recommit ourselves to doing everything we can to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. We remain vigilant in the face of the threat posed by domestic terrorism. And we remain committed to pursuing accountability for those who perpetrate such attacks and to pursuing justice for the victims and survivors. “We will never forget what happened in Oklahoma City on April 19. We will never stop telling and retelling the story of that day, and of how the Oklahoma City community responded to hatred and division with compassion and unity. And we will never stop working to honor the memories of those we lost.”


title: Businessman Pleads Guilty to Bribing City of Atlanta and DeKalb County Officials to Obtain Contracts

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The former executive vice president of PRAD Group Inc. pleaded guilty to paying bribes to two City of Atlanta officials in exchange for steering city business worth millions of dollars to his company, to paying bribes to a former DeKalb County, Georgia, official in an attempt to obtain county contracts, and to evading over $1.5 million in taxes. According to court documents, Lohrasb “Jeff” Jafari, 72, of Alpharetta, Georgia, oversaw PRAD Group’s finances. From 1984 to 2018, PRAD Group was an architectural, design, and construction management firm headquartered in Atlanta that performed services for the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County. From January 2003 to February 2017, Adam Smith was the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for the City of Atlanta and supervised the city’s purchasing activities and its expenditure of billions of dollars of public money. From April 2011 to May 2016, Jo Ann Macrina served as the City of Atlanta’s Commissioner of the Department of Watershed Management, a cabinet-level position from which she managed the city’s drinking water and wastewater systems and was responsible for an annual budget exceeding $500 million. Jafari gave Smith and Macrina cash and other items of value to obtain business with the City of Atlanta. In exchange for those payments, Smith and Macrina conspired with Jafari to ensure that PRAD Group received city business worth millions of dollars, including by agreeing to replace two evaluators on the selection team for the city’s architectural and engineering contract and to re-score an evaluation so that Jafari’s company would be awarded a contract. During Smith’s tenure as the CPO, the City of Atlanta awarded contracts worth millions of dollars to PRAD Group and joint venture projects of which PRAD Group was a partner. For years, Jafari met privately with Smith on multiple occasions, frequently at local restaurants. During these meetings, Jafari and Smith discussed City of Atlanta procurement projects, bids, and solicitations, often while Jafari was actively seeking additional work and/or assistance with ongoing city projects. After most of the meetings, Jafari paid Smith $1,000 in cash in the bathroom of the restaurant. In return for these bribe payments, Jafari expected Smith to use his position and power to assist Jafari with contracting and procurement with the City of Atlanta. From at least 2014 to January 2017, Jafari paid Smith more than $40,000 in cash with the intent to influence Smith in his role as the city’s CPO. In February 2017, Jafari became aware of the federal investigation into his bribe payments to Smith. In response, Jafari confronted Smith at City Hall to convince Smith to lie to the FBI by instructing Smith to deny taking bribe money from him. From at least 2013 through May 2016, Macrina met with Jafari to discuss City of Atlanta procurement projects, bids, and solicitations, often while Jafari was actively seeking contracts, projects, and work with the City of Atlanta. To obtain city work, Jafari promised Macrina a lucrative job with PRAD Group and, directly or through a PRAD Group employee, gave Macrina $10,000 in cash, jewelry, a room at a luxury hotel and luxury shopping trip in Dubai, and landscaping work at her home. Shortly after the City of Atlanta fired her, Macrina began working for Jafari and PRAD Group. Between June and September 2016, Jafari and/or PRAD Group paid Macrina $30,000 in four separate payments. On April 8 and Aug. 21, 2014, the FBI conducted two undercover operations using a confidential source (who at the time was a high-ranking DeKalb County official). During the surreptitiously recorded meetings, the confidential source met with Jafari at local restaurants, where Jafari sought assistance from the confidential source to obtain work in DeKalb County. After the meetings, Jafari directed the confidential source to the bathroom of the restaurants where Jafari paid the confidential source between $1,000 and $1,500 in cash. From 2014 to 2016, Jafari neither filed personal tax returns, nor paid any income taxes to the IRS. During those years, Jafari withdrew large amounts of cash from corporate bank accounts and took money from the PRAD Group’s corporate accounts to pay for various personal expenses, including several luxury vehicles. Jafari evaded the payment of at least $1.5 million in taxes. Jafari pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiratorial bribery, substantive bribery, and tax evasion. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 19 and faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit bribery, 10 years for substantive bribery, and five years for tax evasion. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In January 2018, Smith was sentenced to two years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiratorial bribery. In February 2023, Macrina was sentenced to four years and six months in prison after being convicted at trial of conspiratorial and substantive bribery. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Atlanta Field Office and IRS-CI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Jolee Porter of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, Trial Attorney Todd Ellinwood of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey W. Davis and Nathan P. Kitchens for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.


title: Former High School and Youth Football Coach Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Former high school and youth football coach, Moshe Michael Imel, age 53, of Owings, Maryland, pleaded guilty late yesterday in U.S. District Court to two counts of production of child pornography involving two minor victims. As part of his plea agreement to the federal charges, Imel also agreed to plead guilty to charges related to the sexual abuse of minors in three cases in the Circuit Court for Calvert County, which is scheduled for May 2, 2023. Imel remains detained. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Calvert County Sheriff Ricky Cox; and Calvert County State’s Attorney Robert Harvey. According to his plea agreement, between July 2018 and November 2020, Imel was an assistant football coach at a Calvert County High School. In March 2021, law enforcement interviewed two victims who reported that beginning when Imel coached the individuals in a youth football program and continuing through high school, Imel groomed and then sexually abused the victims. Specifically, Imel admitted that he directed each victim to expose and touch himself in a sexual way and ultimately engaged in sexual contact with the victims on numerous occasions. Imel also created sexually explicit videos of the victims documenting his abuse. A search warrant was executed at Imel’s home and confirmed that the basement—including the action figures lining the walls, the computer setup, the cameras, sex toys and other paraphernalia—was as the victims had described it to law enforcement. A review of fourteen electronic devices seized at Imel’s residence revealed that they all contained child pornography or evidence of Imel’s sexual contact with minors. Imel and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Imel will be sentenced to between 25 and 40 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. As detailed in the plea agreement, Imel will be sentenced for the state case after his federal sentencing. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who is prosecuting the federal case and recognized Rebecca N. Cordero, who is prosecuting Imel’s case in State court. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Two Wichita Residents Charged with Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a woman and a man from Kansas with drug trafficking crimes. According to court documents, Regan Viner, 29, and Abram Velo, 41, both of Wichita, are charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intention to distribute and one count of possession of fentanyl with intention to distribute. Velo is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm by convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Jomarion E. Nelson , 19, and Dornayja D. Acon , 19, both of Wichita were indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Goddard Police Department, and the Mesa, Arizona Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deb Barnett and Ola Odeyemi are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Three Members Of Shooting Boys Gang Charged With Racketeering, Murder, And Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the filing of a five-count indictment today charging three individuals — WANDER RIVERA, a/k/a “Ciru,” EDWARD PEREZ, a/k/a “Perico,” and RAMON RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Pollo” — with certain federal crimes, including racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses. The defendants are charged for their roles in the “Shooting Boys” gang and associated acts of violence, including the June 21, 2021, murder of Milton Grant and attempted murder of another victim in Manhattan during a robbery. In a coordinated operation, PEREZ and RIVERA were arrested last night and this morning. Both defendants will be presented later this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis in Manhattan federal court. RODRIGUEZ remains at large. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these defendants committed crimes with a street gang that has engaged in robbery, murder, drug trafficking, and other acts of violence. The indictment unsealed today alleges that Milton Grant was murdered as a result of this gang’s wave of violence. Gang violence is a threat to the safety and security of our neighborhoods, and we will continue to work to end it. These defendants now face substantial time in federal prison for their crimes.” HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “As alleged, Shooting Boys gang members Wander Rivera, Edward Perez, and Ramon Rodriguez utilized extreme violence and intimidation in furtherance of their criminal activities, acting without remorse or regard for human life. Gang members prey upon the communities they live in, committing the most heinous acts against their victims. The New York City metropolitan area is much safer when criminal gang members are arrested and held to account for their crimes. We appreciate the critically important work of our partners at the New York City Police Department and remain dedicated to working collaboratively to help rid our communities of these unrepentant criminals.” NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “Dismantling gangs to prevent the senseless violence so often associated with their illegal activities is among the highest priorities for the NYPD and our law enforcement partners. We will continue to target the relatively small percentage of people responsible for a disproportionate amount of the crime and disorder committed in New York City. I commend and thank everyone in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and all of the NYPD and HSI investigators involved in this case for their work in leveling these charges today.” As alleged in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court and based on statements made in public court proceedings: [1] The “Shooting Boys” gang is a criminal organization based in the University Heights section of the Bronx. Since at least 2017, gang members sold drugs, used guns, and committed numerous acts of violence against members of rival gangs. Originally associated with the “Trinitarios” gang, the Shooting Boys broke off from the “Sunset” chapter of the Trinitarios in about 2018. The Shooting Boys sold crack, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in select areas of the Bronx. Gang members also specialized in armed robberies, often targeting individuals wearing designer jewelry. During one early morning robbery, on June 21, 2021, Milton Grant was shot and killed as he sat in his car after exiting a Manhattan nightclub. After Grant was shot, RODRIGUEZ stole Grant’s Audemars Piguet watch, pictured below: Another victim ("Victim-1"), who was with Grant at the time, was also shot during the robbery as he attempted to flee from the robbers. Victim-1 survived his injuries. * * * A chart containing the names, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and HSI and thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile, James Ligtenberg, Adam S. Hobson, and Jamie Bagliebter are in charge of the prosecution. The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Charge Defendants Minimum and Maximum Penalties Count One Racketeering Conspiracy WANDER RIVERA EDWARD PEREZ RAMON RODRIGUEZ Maximum: Life in prison Count Two Murder in Aid of Racketeering WANDER RIVERA EDWARD PEREZ Mandatory life in prison or death Count Three Murder through Use of a Firearm WANDER RIVERA EDWARD PEREZ Maximum: Life in prison or death Minimum: Five years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed Count Four Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering WANDER RIVERA Maximum: 20 years in prison Count Five Firearms Offense WANDER RIVERA Maximum: Life in prison Minimum: 10 years in prison, which much be consecutive to any other term imposed [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Fairbanks Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempted Drug Distribution and Firearms Possession

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: FAIRBANKS - On April 14, 2023, Senior District Judge Ralph R. Beistline of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska sentenced Jason Benjamin O’Bryan, 30, of Fairbanks, Alaska, to 121 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for attempting to distribute 897 grams of methamphetamine and possession of nine firearms. On March 9, 2021, agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) received a suspicious package. USPIS obtained a search warrant for the package and seized 897 grams of methamphetamine. On March 11, 2021, USPIS replaced the 897 grams of methamphetamine with a representative sample and “sham” drugs and performed a controlled delivery. Law enforcement observed Jason O’Bryan retrieved the package and take it inside his residence. An hour later, surveillance observed O’Bryan leave the residence in his truck; law enforcement initiated a traffic stop and searched the vehicle where they found 50 grams of methamphetamine, 1 gram of heroin, and multiple fentanyl patches and pills. A subsequent search of O’Bryan’s residence resulted in the seizure of additional methamphetamine, heroin, and nine firearms. O’Bryan later confessed that he sold methamphetamine in Fairbanks and intended to distribute the 897 grams. O’Bryan, having a prior felony conviction, also admitted that he knew it was illegal for him to possess the nine firearms. O’Bryan previously pled guilty to attempted possession and distribution of the 897 grams of methamphetamine and felon in possession of multiple firearms. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), North Slope Borough Police Department, Fairbanks Police Department (FPD), North Pole Police Department (NPD), and Alaska State Troopers (AST) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Tansey and Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case. ### usao/ak/23-027


title: Former Private School Teacher And Private Tutor Sentenced To 25 Years For His Enticement Of A Minor And Possession Of Child Pornography

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOHN MUESER was sentenced to 25 years in prison by United States District Judge Vincent Briccetti for his enticement of a seven-year-old minor to engage in sexual activity and his possession of child pornography. The sentencing today followed MUESER’s guilty plea on January 10, 2023. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “To the world, John Mueser presented himself as a dedicated teacher. But in reality, Mueser exploited the trust placed in him as an educator in order to gain access to the victim’s home and to carry out his sickening abuse. As today’s sentencing underscores, we will continue to use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish those who exploit children.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings: On May 1, 2019, JOHN MUESER, a private school teacher and a private tutor at the time, induced a 7-year-old minor (“Victim-1”), whom he was tutoring, to engage in sexually explicit conduct and used his iPhone to record the activity. MUESER’s iPhone was found to contain hundreds of images, many of which were sexually explicit, of Victim-1. In addition to the numerous images of Victim-1 found on MUESER’s phone, MUESER’s phone was also found to contain numerous sexually explicit images and videos of other prepubescent children. Years before his abuse of Victim-1, MUESER sexually abused two other children. With respect to both of those victims, the abuse continued for years. In imposing the sentence, Judge Briccetti underscored that the defendant’s criminal conduct was “truly reprehensible,” asking “Is there anything more evil than sexually abusing small children for your own sexual gratification?” Judge Briccetti recognized that the defendant’s “abuse of these children spanned decades.” He said that the sentence he imposed “might amount to a life sentence,” and “that does not trouble me at all.” * * * In addition to the prison sentence, MUESER, 72, of Tuckahoe, New York, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Greenwich Police Department in connection with this investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Ardmore Man Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Indian Country

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – KEVIN BRUCE McGUIRE , 60, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder in Indian Country, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. On November 15, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against McGuire alleging that he committed second-degree murder while illegally driving under the influence of alcohol. Today, McGuire pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot to second-degree murder in Indian Country. According to public record, McGuire was driving under the influence of alcohol going the wrong direction on Highway I-35. He collided head-on into another vehicle, killing its driver. Public records further reflect that McGuire has six prior felony DUI convictions. At sentencing, McGuire faces up to life in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to five years supervised release. In determining McGuire’s sentence, the Court will consider the nature and circumstances of the offense, McGuire’s history and characteristics, and the need to protect the public from further crimes of McGuire. Sentencing will take place in approximately 120 days. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney D.H. Dilbeck. Reference is made to court filings for further information.


title: Wellsburg man admits stealing $150,000 from volunteer fire department

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wellsburg, West Virginia, man has admitted to stealing $150,000 from the volunteer fire department where he formerly served as treasurer. Daniel Keener, 46, pled guilty in federal court today to one count of wire fraud. Keener admitted that he used his position as treasurer of the Bethany Pike Volunteer Fire Department to divert funds from the Department’s bank accounts for his personal use over a five-year period. Keener used the stolen funds to purchase concert tickets, make payments on personal credit cards, pay for a family member’s educational expenses, and to purchase jewelry. “Mr. Keener abused the trust placed in him by his colleagues at the fire department and now he must pay the consequences,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. Keener is facing up to 20 years in federal prison, and he must make $150,000 in restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. The West Virginia State Auditor’s Office assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.


title: Construction Company President Pleads Guilty To 25-Year Fraud On The U.S. Government And To Bribery Of A Public Official

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SINA MOAYEDI, the owner of a construction company, Montage, Inc., pled guilty today to a 25-year fraud on the United States Government. MOAYEDI pled guilty to three counts: conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official, and aggravated identity theft. Under the terms of his plea agreement, MOAYEDI also admitted to obstructing justice by, among other things, deleting electronic evidence of his fraud shortly after his release on bail in this case, which resulted in his pretrial detention. MOAYEDI pled guilty before United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, to whom MOAYEDI’s case is assigned. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “From 1995 until 2021, Sina Moayedi defrauded the U.S. Government and various of its agencies by lying in various respects. Moayedi lied that his construction company was woman-owned; he lied about his employees’ qualifications; he lied about his company’s construction experience; and he lied about his company’s financial condition. He also repeatedly paid bribes to a State Department employee to illegally obtain inside information to help Moayedi’s company win government contracts. His frauds netted his company at least 27 lucrative government construction contracts, including contracts to build sensitive U.S. embassies and consulates. And following his arrest in this case, Moayedi obstructed justice by destroying electronic evidence of his frauds less than one month after his release on bail. Moayedi now faces the consequences of his quarter-century fraud on the federal government, which harmed the government, taxpayers, and his competitors.” According to the filings and statements made in Manhattan federal court: In the 1980s, MOAYEDI founded Montage, Inc. (“Montage”), a U.S.-based business that is primarily involved in worldwide Government construction projects, including embassies, military posts, consulates, and similar overseas properties owned and operated by the United States Government. In total, the U.S. Government has paid Montage more than $200 million on government contracts. Since 2014, Montage appears to have focused primarily on competing for and obtaining contracts with the State Department. During that period, the State Department awarded Montage approximately six overseas U.S. Embassy/Consulate construction project contracts totaling $100 million. MOAYEDI defrauded the U.S. Government — including the State Department, Treasury Department, Department of Defense, and General Services Administration — by lying in various respects. In submissions to the Government ( i.e. , bids for contracting work), MOAYEDI mispresented his company’s ownership, his employees’ qualifications, his company’s construction experience, and his company’s financial condition. As to ownership, MOAYEDI falsely represented, repeatedly, that Montage was a female-owned business (or a female- and minority-owned business) in order to secure unmerited advantages in the bidding process. In fact, MOAYEDI founded, owned, ran, and controlled Montage, and he made all material decisions on Montage’s behalf. As MOAYEDI revealed to a bank that inquired about Montage’s ownership status in 2016, “I am the sole owner and president of Montage and have always been.” As to employees’ qualifications, MOAYEDI significantly overstated the qualifications of various Montage employees in order to, among other things, meet State Department and contractual requirements for minimum experience in certain key positions. For instance, MOAYEDI claimed, falsely, that certain Montage employees possessed engineering degrees, and he claimed, falsely, that certain individuals worked for Montage when, in fact, they did not. As to Montage’s construction experience, MOAYEDI submitted bids to the Government in which he repeatedly falsified Montage’s purported construction experience in order to burnish its alleged credentials. To ensure that the U.S. Government did not uncover these lies, MOAYEDI “backstopped” these fabricated prior projects by creating fraudulent email accounts and personas, so that someone else appeared to be “vouching” that Montage had performed this prior work. This required creating online web domains (the “Fabricated Domains”), so that Montage’s purported references appeared legitimate. These Fabricated Domains were extremely similar to, but one character or word different from, the legitimate web domain associated with the actual entity. MOAYEDI purchased the necessary online infrastructure to create these Fabricated Domains. As to financial condition, MOAYEDI paid a Certified Public Accountant to prepare at least four different sets of books and records, each of which was provided to a different recipient ( e.g. , one fraudulent set for the U.S. Government, another fraudulent set for the bank, another fraudulent set for a company that sold construction bonds, etc.). In furtherance of his fraud on the U.S. Government, MOAYEDI also used the identities of at least 10 individuals, including some of his relatives. In addition, between 2014 and 2020, MOAYEDI repeatedly paid cash bribes and kickbacks to an engineer in the State Department’s Overseas Building Operations division, May Salehi, in exchange for confidential inside information relating to several State Department construction projects, including projects in Ecuador, Spain, and Bermuda. For instance, in late 2016 and early 2017, MOAYEDI paid approximately $60,000 in cash to Salehi after Salehi provided confidential inside bidding information to MOAYEDI about the relationship between Montage’s original bid and his competitors’ bids — information that allowed Montage to raise its bid by nearly $1 million yet remain the lowest bidder on a construction project that was ultimately awarded to Montage. MOAYEDI also defrauded his primary bank (“Bank-1”) through various misrepresentations. MOAYEDI and Montage had a multi-million-dollar line of credit at Bank-1, which they maintained through misrepresentations about Montage’s ownership and the value, progress, status, and existence of construction projects that Montage was performing for the United States Government. For instance, in or about both 2014 and 2019, MOAYEDI made material misrepresentations to Bank-1 in support of an annual extension of Montage’s line of credit, including misrepresentations about purportedly lucrative “classified” government construction projects which, in fact, did not exist. MOAYEDI also obstructed justice in multiple respects. These include: (i) in September 2021, shortly after his release on bail in this case, MOAYEDI destroyed electronic evidence of his fraud on the U.S. Government by deleting at least seven Fabricated Domains, which (as noted) he had used to help inflate Montage’s purported construction experience in bids for U.S. Government construction projects; (ii) shortly after the execution of search warrants at Montage’s offices in September 2020, MOAYEDI attempted to witness tamper by, among other things, pressuring a co-conspirator to lie in order to impede the Government’s ongoing criminal investigation; and (iii) during a civil lawsuit between the State Department and Montage, MOAYEDI lied during a sworn deposition in 2019 by claiming to be the Vice President of Montage and by falsely claiming that a Hispanic woman had been the President of Montage “ever since” 2002. * * * MOAYEDI, 67, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, pled guilty to three counts: one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit bribery of a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory prison term of two years, which must run consecutively to any other prison term. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as MOAYEDI’s sentence will be determined by Judge Rakoff. MOAYEDI is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Rakoff on August 10, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Under the terms of his plea agreement, MOAYEDI also agreed to pay restitution of $6,588,679.63 and forfeiture of $17,795,098.50. May Salehi was previously sentenced to one year in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $500,000, and forfeiture of $60,000. Mr. Williams praised the exceptional investigative work of the State Department, Office of Inspector General; Special Agents from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; and the Internal Revenue Service. The Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit is handling this criminal case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Neff and Louis A. Pellegrino are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Second Conspirator in Russia-Ukraine Sanctions Violation Case Arrested

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: Sergey Karpushkin, 46, of Miami and a citizen of Belarus, has been arrested and charged by a federal criminal complaint with engaging in a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions against oligarch Sergey Kurchenko and two related companies by purchasing over $150 million in steelmaking materials. Karpushkin’s alleged co-conspirator, John C. Unsalan, 41, of Orlando, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the same scheme on April 12, and was arrested on April 14 on related charges. According to court documents, Kurchenko was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2015 for his role in misappropriating Ukrainian state assets or economically significant entities. The two sanctioned companies – Kompaniya Gaz-Alyans, OOO (Gaz-Alyans), based in the Russian Federation, and ZAO Vneshtorgservis (Vneshtorgservis), based in the unrecognized territory of South Ossetia – were designated by OFAC in 2018 for acting on behalf of and providing material support to the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic in the separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine. The complaint charges Karpushkin with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The indictment against Unsalan charges him with one count of conspiring to violate and evade U.S. sanctions, in violation of the IEEPA; 10 counts of violating the IEEPA; one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering; and 10 counts of international money laundering. If convicted, Karpushkin and Unsalan each face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count with which they are charged. Unsalan made his initial appearance in federal court on April 17, and has been detained pending further court proceedings. Karpushkin made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was also detained. The FBI Tampa and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, OFAC, and the FBI Miami Field Office. Trial Attorney Sean O’Dowd of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for the Middle District of Florida, are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.


title: South Carolina Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud Conspiracy Targeting Retirees and Military Pension Holders

component: Civil Division

body_text: A South Carolina woman pleaded guilty to conspiracy for her role in a nationwide structured cash flow scheme that exploited military veterans in desperate financial straits and targeted elderly investors seeking a safe retirement investment. Candy Kern, 55, of Anderson, South Carolina, was the managing partner of a small South Carolina-based law firm. From approximately 2012 through 2021, she used her law firm to facilitate a fraudulent scheme involving illegal assignment of veterans’ benefits. The scheme worked as follows: Numerous individuals and small corporate entities, referred to as Structured Cash Flow (SCF) entities, offered veterans – many of whom were in acute financial distress – an up-front lump sum payment in exchange for the assignment of the veterans’ monthly pension and/or disability payments for a period of time. Working through a network of investment advisors and insurance agents, the SCF entities would then solicit retirees to invest in these contracts – providing the up-front lump sums under the false pretense that the flow of repayments by veterans over time would translate into a return for the retiree-investors. For more than eight years, Kern, through her law firm, served as the banker, legal counsel, and debt collector for the SCF operation. Among other services, Kern’s law firm (1) managed, controlled, and maintained the bank accounts through which payments to and from investors and veterans flowed; and (2) filed suits against veterans who defaulted. Throughout the duration of the scheme, and unbeknownst to the veterans or the retirees, the pension assignment contracts were in fact void, as it is illegal to assign a pension under federal law – a fact Kern knew but never disclosed during the execution of any contract. Over time, the scheme collapsed, as many veterans (who tended to be in dire financial straits) either were unable to repay their “obligations” under the contract or opted not to do so upon learning that federal law prohibited pension assignments. Over the course of this scheme, approximately $14 million in illegally assigned veterans’ benefits flowed through the accounts controlled by Kern’s law firm. Notwithstanding the invalidity of the contracts, Kern pursued enforcement actions against veterans who defaulted, securing numerous default judgments against veterans in absentia . As a result, Kern’s law firm received approximately $1,446,336, while retiree-investors – who were misled and fraudulently induced to purchase the SCF product without being informed of all material information about the contracts – lost approximately $31,352,897.26. “This elaborate scheme preyed upon and exploited some of our most vulnerable populations, and when it collapsed, it left thousands of veterans in financial ruin and scores of retiree-investors without adequate resources to retire,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to protecting servicemembers, veterans, and older adults from fraud. And we are dedicated to ensuring that those involved in this scheme are held accountable.” “The District of South Carolina has been at the forefront of prosecuting fraud related to veterans’ pensions and associated investment scams,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “It is reprehensible that a former member of the South Carolina state bar would participate in such a scheme and use her standing as a lawyer to give victims a false confidence. My office will continue its efforts to protect our veterans and to bring perpetrators to justice.” “This guilty plea is a true testament to the FBI’s steadfast mission to uphold justice and protect the most vulnerable members of our society from financial exploitation and fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI recognizes the sacrifice and dedication of our veterans and values the contributions of our seniors to our communities. The guilty plea represents our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to take advantage of our nation’s heroes and seniors.” Assistant U.S. Attorney William Watkins for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case. The matter was investigated by the FBI. The Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division and the Defense Finance Accounting Service also assisted. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the investigation and prosecution. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov. For more information on the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative, or to file a complaint, visit https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.


title: Justice Department Hosts Forum in Newark, New Jersey to Highlight Nationwide Effort to Combat Modern-Day Redlining

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department hosted a forum in Newark, New Jersey, to discuss efforts to combat modern-day redlining. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in certain communities because of the race, color or national origin of the residents of those communities. The forum, which commemorated Fair Housing Month and the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, featured Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger for the District of New Jersey and New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who each spoke at today’s program about their respective agencies’ response to the pernicious problem of residential redlining. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka also provided opening remarks at the event, which was hosted at Seton Hall Law School. “We must use every tool available to us to confront modern-day redlining and to hold banks and financial institutions accountable when they fail to provide communities of color equal access to lending opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “Since the launch of the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative, we have secured nearly $85 million dollars in relief for communities that have suffered from lending discrimination. Redlining, appraisal discrimination, so-called crime-free ordinances and racial steering stand as continued threats to fair housing and economic opportunity in our country – we are committed to eradicating these unlawful practices that have caused harm to communities of color for far too long.” “Redlining is not a relic of the past. It exists in new forms, including in the physical and digital worlds,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “When it comes to modern-day redlining, the CFPB is prioritizing efforts with federal and state prosecutors to uncover illegal digital redlining by algorithms and artificial intelligence, reverse redlining through predatory targeting, and harmful discrimination by nonbanks.” “Part of the promise of America is equal opportunity,” said U.S. Attorney Sellinger. “Achieving that dream should be color blind – whether you get a home loan should not depend on the color of your skin or national origin. Redlining is racist, pure and simple. This type of systemic and intentional discrimination cannot – and will not – be tolerated.” “Access to quality and safe housing is a right that should be enjoyed by all,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “As we commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, we still have work to do to ensure that no one is denied that right due to the color of their skin or national origin. New Jersey’s strong housing laws and our federal fair lending laws send the message that we will not tolerate discriminatory practices in housing access, and, as a nation, we must ensure that those laws are enforced.” “Redlining has been historically pervasive and deliberate in this country, and cities like Newark have been at the front end of the abuse. While redlining is illegal, we know that this ugly form of racism is still widely practiced,” said Mayor Baraka. “To deny people, specifically in Black and Latino neighborhoods in Newark, mortgage-lending services, based strictly on their race, robs and makes the American dream of homeownership unattainable. It impedes families from building generational wealth and widens the racial wealth gap. We must hold lenders accountable for their illegal and racist policies and behaviors and take deliberate action to reverse the effects of redlining and stop it.” The forum also featured Seton Hall Law professors as well as civil rights stakeholders in New Jersey, who provided their invaluable perspectives on the effects of redlining on communities of color in New Jersey, and the vital role that community engagement can play in combating redlining. In connection with the event, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division also released a fact sheet highlighting the successes of the Combating Redlining Initiative. In October 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland launched the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative , a coordinated enforcement effort to address this persistent form of discrimination against communities of color. The initiative has expanded the department’s reach by strengthening partnerships with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country, regulatory partners and its partners in state Attorneys General offices. Since the initiative was launched, the department has announced six redlining cases and settlements and nearly $85 million in relief for communities of color that have been victims of lending discrimination across the country, including a $31 million settlement with City National Bank , the largest redlining settlement in department history. The settlements also include two agreements with Trident Mortgage Company , for $20.4 million, and the Lakeland Bank , for $13.4 million. These two settlements provide tens of millions of dollars to increase credit opportunities for residents of communities of color in and around Camden and Newark, New Jersey. Additional information about the department’s fair lending enforcement can be found at Fair Lending Program . Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online. Individuals may also report civil rights violations through www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement or call the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339.


title: Former Venezuelan National Treasurer and Her Husband Sentenced in Money Laundering and International Bribery Scheme

body_text: The former National Treasurer of Venezuela and her husband were each sentenced today to 15 years in prison for their roles in a multibillion-dollar bribery and money laundering scheme. According to court documents, Claudia Patricia Díaz Guillen, 49, and her husband, Adrian José Velásquez, 43, accepted and laundered over $136 million in bribes from co-conspirator Raúl Gorrin Belisario, a Venezuelan billionaire businessman who owned Globovision news network. Gorrin allegedly paid bribes to Díaz, including through Velásquez, to obtain access to purchase bonds from the Venezuela National Treasury at a favorable exchange rate, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of profit. The conspiracy involved bulk cash hidden in cardboard boxes, offshore shell companies, Swiss bank accounts, and international wire transfers allegedly sent by Gorrin for Díaz and Velásquez’s benefit, including to purchase multiple private jets and yachts, and to fund a high-end fashion line started by Díaz and Velásquez in South Florida. “As a result of the Department of Justice’s relentless efforts, the defendants will serve lengthy prison terms for their roles in a massive bribery and money laundering scheme in which Díaz abused her role as the Venezuelan National Treasurer,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this prosecution demonstrates, the Criminal Division never wavers in its determination to hold accountable corrupt officials who subvert the rule of law and use our financial system to launder money related to their illicit schemes.” “The sentences imposed against former Venezuelan National Treasurer Díaz and her husband send a clear message: The United States will not tolerate its financial systems being used as personal money laundering tools by corrupt foreign officials,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “The significant sentencings and judgments imposed today against Díaz and Velásquez Figueroa demonstrate that individuals who use their positions of trust to launder illicitly obtained funds through the U.S. financial systems will be held accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office. “HSI Miami’s El Dorado Task Force South will continue to work with our global partners to pursue those individuals and organizations who are involved in these multibillion-dollar conspiracies and money laundering schemes.” Díaz and Velásquez were each convicted after trial in December 2022 of money laundering offenses. Gorrin was first charged by indictment in August 2018 and remains charged in the superseding indictment as a co-conspirator in the same money laundering scheme. He is currently a fugitive residing in Venezuela. HSI Miami, FBI Miami, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter. The department appreciates the significant cooperation provided by authorities in Spain and Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice. Trial Attorneys Paul Hayden and Michael Culhane Harper of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kurt Lunkenheimer and Joshua Paster for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Philadelphia man admits to operating a multi-state drug enterprise

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man has admitted to operating a multi-state organized drug trafficking business dubbed the “19 th Street Enterprise.” Christopher Arthur Jones, also known as “Smooth,” pled guilty today to a racketeering enterprise (RICO) conspiracy and fentanyl distribution charges. Jones, 38, was the leader of the organization, directing members of the enterprise to sell drugs, commit acts of violence, launder money, and commit fraud in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The business was based in Philadelphia, but Jones had drug houses in Martinsburg, West Virginia and elsewhere. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble heard testimony today that Jones ordered armed robberies at residences in West Virginia and Maryland to help fund his enterprise. The homeowners were targeted because of perceived wealth. The organization was selling an estimated 100 grams of fentanyl per week and laundering at least $500 per day from a house on Crooked Way in Martinsburg. Jones also committed COVID fraud, receiving COVID relief funds under false pretenses. As a part of the plea agreement, Jones has agreed to forfeit any proceeds from the crimes, as well as his Philadelphia property, which was used as the stash house for his operation. Jones is facing at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the West Virginia State Police; the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the West Virginia Air National Guard investigated. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Kent County Sheriff’s Office assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. 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 https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Former Alabama Correctional Sergeant Found Guilty of Civil Rights Violations and Obstruction for Assaulting Three Incarcerated People with a Riot-Baton and Falsifying a Report

body_text: A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all four counts of the indictment against a former Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) sergeant for assaulting three incarcerated persons with a riot-baton and then writing a false report to cover up the beating. In April 2022, a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama returned a four-count indictment against Lorenzo Mills, 55, that included three civil rights charges and a charge for writing a false report. Evidence presented at trial proved that on Oct. 25, 2020, Mills, while acting in his official capacity as a correctional sergeant with ADOC, subjected three incarcerated persons to cruel and unusual punishment by striking them with a wooden riot-baton. According to trial evidence and testimony, one victim suffered a broken arm, and two others suffered injury, including pain and bruising, as a result of the beating. After the unlawful use of force, the defendant authored a use of force report wherein he denied using any force against the victims. “This verdict shows that our community members agree that no person is above the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Constitution protects the rights of all people, including those in our jails and prisons. We will continue to prosecute correctional officers who abuse their power and use our federal civil rights laws to protect the rights of those detained inside our jails and prisons.” “Correctional officers have an important and difficult job,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. “These officers are tasked with maintaining good order and safety in our prisons, while protecting the constitutional rights of the inmates they supervise. Although most correctional officers serve honorably, my office will work tirelessly to ensure rogue officers are held accountable.” “An individual's rights do not end after being convicted of a crime,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the Mobile Field Office. “The FBI takes any violation of civil rights seriously, especially allegations against those sworn to protect and uphold the law. The few who tarnish the badge and illegally use their official capacity will be caught and tried like any other criminal.” Mills faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the civil rights charges and 20 years in prison for the obstruction of justice offense. Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama and Special Agent in Charge Brown made the announcement. The FBI Mobile Field Office and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney David Reese of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force Seizes a Large Quantity of Deadly Fentanyl-Laced Pills in Spokane Valley, Washington

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of multiple local law enforcement partners, executed several federal search warrants at the Motel 6 in Spokane Valley, Washington on March 30, 2023. As a result of the execution of these search warrants, the Task Force seized approximately 24.7 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills (approx. 83,000 pills), 2 pounds of methamphetamine, 1 pound of cocaine, as well as 2 firearms, and over $13,000 in US Currency. Two individuals, Jordy Deboer and Matthew Sailors (a.k.a. Rabbit) were also arrested and have been federally indicted. Prior to this incident, Deboer was previously arrested and federally indicted for allegedly trafficking in large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced pills from the Tri-Cities, Washington area to the Spokane, Washington area. After his indictment, Deboer was released from federal custody to attend inpatient drug treatment. According to information provided in court documents and proceedings, a short time after Deboer’s release from custody, the Safe Streets Task Force received information he had re-engaged in drug trafficking activities, this time with Sailors. Deboer and Sailors were located at the Motel 6 in Spokane Valley engaging in apparent drug trafficking activities. Law enforcement acted quickly, obtaining multiple federal search warrants that resulted in the large seizure of controlled substances. U.S. Attorney Waldref commended the joint efforts of law enforcement, which acted quickly to remove dangerous controlled substances from our community. “Illegal drugs, especially fentanyl, continue to harm our communities. I’m grateful for the FBI Safe Streets Task Force’s strong partnership with local law enforcement that resulted in the seizure and removal of dangerous narcotics –including over 24 pounds of fentanyl-laced pills – from the streets of Spokane.” This ongoing case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of agents of the FBI and United States Border Patrol, as well as detectives for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Spokane Police Department, the Spokane Valley Police Department, and the Washington State Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2:22-CR-94-TOR 2:23-CR-41-TOR


title: Duquesne Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Escape from Renewal Reentry Center

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by two years’ supervised release on his conviction of escape from custody, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Keenan Williams, age 25. According to information presented to the court, on Sept. 26, 2022, the defendant escaped from the Renewal, Inc. Residential Reentry Center, where he had been confined pursuant to a judgment and commitment order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Williams was arrested by the Monroeville Police Department on Oct. 4, 2022. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Marshals Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.


title: Hanford Site Subcontractor and Its Tennessee Owner Indicted by Grand Jury for Stealing More than $1.4 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funding

body_text: Richland, Washington – Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a grand jury returned an Indictment charging Hanford Site Subcontractor BNL Technical Services, LLC (BNL) and its owner, Wilson Pershing Stevenson III, age 44, of Nashville, Tennessee, with eleven counts of fraudulently obtaining more than $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funding intended for struggling businesses. The charges in the Indictment are the most recent announced by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, which was created in 2022 to combat fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided government-backed loans to small businesses which could be forgiven so long as the proceeds were used for payroll and other eligible expenses. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington. “COVID-19 relief programs quickly ran out of money due to the number of people and businesses that requested funding, which meant that some deserving small businesses were not able to obtain funding to keep their businesses in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We created the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force because it is critical to the strength and safety of our community in Eastern Washington that we all work together to combat pandemic-related fraud. The Strike Force is one way to ensure that limited resources are provided to deserving local businesses that provide vital services for our communities.” In February 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, Department of Homeland Security OIG, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, General Services Administration OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, and others. Cases investigated and prosecuted by the Strike Force have resulted in numerous indictments, convictions, and civil penalties, and have returned millions of dollars in fraudulently-obtained funds to the public. Between 2020 and 2021, BNL provided contract labor services to Hanford Site prime contractors. As alleged in the Indictment, BNL’s labor costs and payroll continued to be paid by DOE throughout the pandemic, including when BNL employees were not able to physically work at the site and instead were teleworking or simply home in “ready” status. The Indictment alleges that Stevenson III, on behalf of BNL, nonetheless fraudulently sought and obtained more than $1.3 million in PPP funding for these employees despite their pay and benefits already being covered by DOE contract funds and other federal sources. The Indictment further alleges that Stevenson III transferred nearly all of the fraudulently-obtained CARES Act funding to himself and his family, including to a family trust, to pay off personal debts, and to personal accounts for himself and his wife. The Indictment alleges that Stevenson III then fraudulently and improperly sought and obtained forgiveness for more than $1.3 million in PPP funds by falsely representing that they had been used for payroll and other eligible business expenses. The fraud charges carry maximum sentences of up to 30 years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General, Richland Field Office, the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Strike Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Dan Fruchter are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States v. Wilson Pershing Stevenson III et al., Case No: 4:23-cr-06014-MKD


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Receiving Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Michael Dale Bouwens, 69, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, in Lincoln by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for receipt of child pornography. Bouwens was sentenced to 84 months in prison and will also serve 10 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. After serving his prison sentence, Bouwens will also be required to register as a sex offender. In May of 2021, law enforcement reviewed a cybertip regarding suspected child pornography. The IP address on the cybertip was traced to a residence in Lincoln belonging to Bouwens. A search warrant was executed on Bouwens’s residence and he was interviewed by law enforcement. He admitted that he had an interest in child pornography and used his laptop to search for child pornography online. He said he had last downloaded child pornography a couple days prior to the interview. A forensic review of several of the devices seized from Bouwens’s home contained approximately 19,666 files that qualify as child pornography and 262 videos of child pornography. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Cocaine and Fentanyl Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Dylan Roberts, 31, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Roberts to 240 months in prison for distributing cocaine and fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. After serving his sentence, Roberts will be placed on supervised release for 4 years. There is no parole in the federal system. On August 18, 2021, Roberts distributed cocaine to an individual at a residence in Lincoln. The individual used that substance in his vehicle outside his residence. Shortly thereafter, he lost consciousness. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and found the victim lying on the ground outside his home. The victim was transported to the hospital, was administered Narcan to reverse the effects of the overdose, and ultimately survived. Law enforcement seized the remainder of the substance sold by Roberts from the victim’s vehicle. A lab determined that the substance contained cocaine and fentanyl. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Taskforce.


title: Civil War Reenactor Admits to Planting Bomb at Cedar Creek Battlefield

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: HARRISONBURG, Va. – Gerald Leonard Drake, a Winchester, Virginia man and former Civil War reenactor, pleaded guilty yesterday to mailing threatening letters and planting a pipe bomb at the Cedar Creek Battlefield in Middletown, Virginia during a Civil War reenactment event in 2017. In the mailings sent to victims and two newspapers, Drake purported to be a member of Antifa and threatened harm, including referencing the Unite the Right riots in Charlottesville. Drake, 63, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of an unregistered explosive device and stalking. “Our highest priority at the Department of Justice is to keep our nation safe. This defendant sought to intimidate and harm innocent people, and further, he tried to sow discontent by falsely claiming that the attempted bombing was politically motivated,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “I am deeply grateful to the first responders for their work to quickly neutralize the bomb, as well as the special agents of the FBI and the federal prosecutors who – for years – tirelessly worked this case to identify Mr. Drake and bring him to justice.” “The mission of the FBI is to protect the American people. Those who seek to instill fear and cause harm will be investigated and held accountable for their actions. Mr. Drake's plea is representative of the FBI, state and local law enforcement's cooperative efforts to keep our communities safe. We implore anyone who may have information about similar crimes or potential threats to contact law enforcement immediately,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Division. According to court documents, Drake belonged to a reenactment unit that participated in the annual reenactment at Cedar Creek Battlefield until he was removed from his unit in 2014. In later years, Drake volunteered with the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation (CCBF), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of history related to the Cedar Creek Battlefield and which hosts an annual reenactment attended by merchants, reenactors, and visitors. On September 23, 2017, a letter was received at the CCBF visitor center addressed to “Cedar Creek Battlefield people.” The envelope and its letter both bore a printed Antifa symbol depicting a black flag overlayed atop a red flag inside of a circle. The letter claimed the reenactment event “clearly celebrates the war to keep African-Americans in chains,” and warned the reenactment organizers that if the event was not cancelled, the trouble Antifa would inflict on Cedar Creek Battlefield would make the riots that took place in Charlottesville in August look like “a Sunday picnic.” On October 14, 2017, the CCBF hosted the planned 153rd anniversary and reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek. During the afternoon hours, as the reenactment of the battle was coming to an end, an unexploded pipe bomb was discovered in one of the merchant tents. The pipe bomb contained metal nuts, a mercury switch, a battery, ball bearings, black and red wires, powder, and other items. Deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene to investigate and seize the explosive device, which was later rendered safe by Virginia State Police. Due to its discovery, however, all remaining reenactment activities were cancelled, and individuals were evacuated from the area. Following this incident, Drake continued writing letters purporting to be sent by Antifa, including letters to the CCBF, its board members, an individual associated with Civil War reenactments, and news publications. During this same time frame, Drake continued to volunteer with the CCBF. Drake admitted today that he manufactured the pipe bomb using a metal pipe nipple, metal nuts, a 9-volt battery, black and red wires, and a mercury switch. The bomb contained powder, Pryodez, and BBs. Drake admitted to placing the bomb at Cedar Creek Battlefield to instill fear and cause harm to those attending the reenactment. In addition, Drake admitted today to being the author of the threatening letters sent to members of the CCBF and various news agencies between September 2017 and December 2018. Those letters included threats of violence and sexual assault against members of the CCBF and their family. At sentencing, Drake faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia State Police, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Middletown Police Department participated in the investigation. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Burroughs Medearis, Melanie Smith, and Cagle Juhan are prosecuting the case.


title: Sioux City Woman to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Sioux City woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine with others was sentenced on April 14, 2023, to 37 months in federal prison. Kimberly Hansen, 58, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty on October 21, 2022, in federal court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Hansen was involved in a conspiracy with 7-8 other persons that distributed at least 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from June 2017 through August 2019. On 12 occasions, Hansen received multiple pounds of meth through the mail from California for local drug dealer Melroy Johnson Sr. Hansen also traveled to California and acquired multiple pounds of methamphetamine from the same California source, then transported the meth back to Sioux City, Iowa, for distribution. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hansen was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 2-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Hansen remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the United States Postal Service, and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-4086. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts Second Community Hate Crimes Prevention Presentation

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Today, Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), announced the completion of an event designed to help community members and leaders have a better understanding of hate crimes and how to report them to law enforcement. Yesterday evening, EDVA hosted a presentation called “United Against Hate: Identifying, Reporting and Preventing Hate Crimes” at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center. Members of the Richmond community, as well as organizations representing those who are at risk of being targeted in hate crimes, were invited to the event. The goal of this event series is to empower community members to prevent and respond to hate crimes and incidents by meeting and facilitating conversations with the law enforcement members to whom they can direct questions and reports about hate crimes and hate incidents. “Hate or bias-motivated crimes are some of important crimes that we prosecute in EDVA. All citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation, regardless of their background or identity, deserve to live freely and without fear of discrimination and violence,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The United Against Hate event is only the beginning of many conversations and action steps that our office and our law enforcement partners are taking to increase public awareness about hate crimes and how to report them. EDVA, alongside community organizations such as the Weinstein JCC, encourage the community to come together to call out hatred, report all incidents of hate crimes, and help us create neighborhoods that are safe and welcoming to all.” The speakers at the event included U.S. Attorney Aber and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Anthony and Nick Durham. Speakers also included law enforcement professionals from the FBI Richmond Field Office and Virginia State Police. Through hypothetical scenarios and video clips depicting real-life hate crime cases and stories, United Against Hate promotes robust interaction between community members and law enforcement participants. Program topics include defining hate crimes versus hate incidents; the importance of reporting unlawful acts of hate; providing options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute a federal or state crime; and distinguishing unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, including identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes. To request a United Against Hate presentation at your organization, house of worship, or school, please contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Durham, EDVA Civil Rights Coordinator, at (703) 299-3700. On May 27, 2021, Attorney General Garland issued a memorandum on “Improving the Department’s Efforts to Combat Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents,” which emphasized the importance of prioritizing community outreach around hate crimes. The United Against Hate presentation, developed by the Department’s Hate Crimes Enforcement and Prevention Initiative, is designed to meet that objective. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia applied for and was proud to be selected for the first national phase of this important program. 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.


title: Media Advisory: United Against Hate Event to be Held in Cedar Rapids

body_text: CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa is joining with the FBI, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, the Linn County Attorney’s Office and others to host a forum designed to identify and address key issues related to hate crime reporting, investigation, prosecution and prevention. The forum is designed to educate the public on how to respond to hate crimes or hate incidents, including who to contact should a member of the public be the victim of a hate crime or incident. The forum is part of the Department of Justice’s United Against Hate initiative. United Against Hate is a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate. This initiative will connect federal, state and local law enforcement with communities in order to build trust and encourage people to report hate crimes and incidents. Event Details When: April 25, 2023 Where: Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library – Beems Auditorium B Time: 6:00 P.M. A press release will be provided and interview opportunities will be available. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Prison guard who smuggled contraband to prison inmate pleads guilty to federal drug charge

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

body_text: BRUNSWICK, GA: A former Georgia state prison guard awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to her role in a widespread drug trafficking conspiracy linked to a white supremacist street gang. Desiree M. Briley, 26, of McRae-Helena, Ga., faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, Methamphetamine, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Briley was a Georgia state corrections officer with the rank of sergeant when arrested as part of Operation Ghost Busted in January 2023. “Desiree Briley played a key role in enabling members of the Ghost Face Gangsters to operate a massive drug trafficking operation inside and outside Georgia’s prison system,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Her actions compromised the security of the facility she was sworn to protect, and threatened the safety of every person in the community where this conspiracy distributed illegal drugs.” Operation Ghost Busted, announced with the January unsealing of the indictment in USA v. Alvarez, et al ., is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation, led by the FBI Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force, the Glynn County Police Department, the Brunswick Police Department, the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Camden County Sheriff's Office. Over a more than two-year period, the investigation identified a sprawling drug trafficking network operating in south Georgia counties including Glynn, Pierce, Camden, Wayne, Treutlen, McIntosh, Toombs, Telfair, Dodge, and Ware. The conspiracy operated inside and outside state prison facilities with assistance from Briley, who worked with an inmate indicted as part of the conspiracy: James D. NeSmith , 25, who currently is serving a life sentence for murder at Telfair State Prison. Including Briley and NeSmith, 76 defendants were indicted on federal charges as part of Operation Ghost Busted. As noted during her plea hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, at the time of her arrest, Briley was attending training to become a canine handler and then would have been in a position to further allow contraband in prisons. Sentencing for Briley will be scheduled before Judge Wood after completion of a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. “Briley betrayed the trust placed in her by the Georgia state prison system through her illegal and potentially dangerous activity,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This extensive investigation proves that the FBI will not tolerate public corruption, especially by fellow law enforcement officials who choose their own personal gains over protecting the people they were sworn to protect.” “This operation has dismantled a serious criminal enterprise which funneled guns and drugs into our communities,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka “ATF and its law enforcement partners acted quickly and judiciously on information developed during this long investigation. The safety of the public is at the core of ATF’s mission and we stand at the front line eradicating violent crime from our streets.” “Illegal activity being carried out by prison staff will not be tolerated,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Michael Register. “This guard is being held accountable for her role in facilitating drug trafficking behind the wire. We are committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate drug trafficking and smuggling and bring these offenders to justice.” “We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for individuals who choose to bring discredit to the Georgia Department of Corrections and pose a threat to the safety of the public and the operations of our facilities,” said Tyrone Oliver, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections. “We appreciate the support of our federal partners in ensuring that justice will be served, and we are proud of our agents who were diligent in working this case to help stop the introduction of dangerous contraband into one of our facilities.” The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Glynn County Police Department; the Brunswick Police Department; and sheriff’s offices from Glynn, Pierce, Camden, Wayne, Treutlen, McIntosh, Toombs, Telfair, Dodge, and Ware counties. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Criminal Division Deputy Chief E. Greg Gilluly Jr.