title: WNY Medical agrees to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations of improper Medicare billing for chronic care management services

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – Acting U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti announced today that Western New York Medical P.C. has agreed to pay $251,477 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it submitted false claims to federal health care programs related to billing for chronic care management services. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Coriell, who handled the case, stated that WNY Medical is a health care provider with locations in Erie and Niagara Counties. The Government alleges that between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2023, WNY Medical submitted claims to Medicare for Chronic Care Management encounters using current procedural terminology, which requires that clinical staff provide at least 20 minutes of services per month. However, for a portion of these encounters, WNY Medical failed to provide at least 20 minutes of clinical staff time during the month in which WNY Medical billed Medicare for the services. “The financial integrity of the Medicare program depends on providers accurately and truthfully reporting the services that they are providing,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Violanti. “This office is committed protecting the integrity of the Medicare program by holding providers accountable when they seek payments for which they are not entitled.” The resolution of this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. # # # #


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Gun Crime

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

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Nashville Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Herman Dewayne Steen , 35, to 60 months in prison. In November 2024, Steen pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement, Steen illegally possessed a firearm on two separate occasions. First, on December 14, 2022, Steen possessed a firearm at a bus station in Birmingham. A Birmingham Police officer responded to a call regarding Steen. This was the third time that day that the officer had responded to the same address regarding Steen. When the officer arrived, she was approached by a security guard who stated that Steen had a firearm. The officer took a loaded Glock 9mm pistol from Steen. Second, on March 12, 2023, Steen went to the Jefferson County Jail to make a report that he had been assaulted in the Center Point area. While making the report, Steen complained of being dizzy and his head hurting. Birmingham Fire and Rescue responded; and during a pre-transport search, a sheriff’s deputy found a loaded Taurus .380 caliber pistol in Steen’s pocket. The ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Gun Crime

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An illegal alien has been sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Joel Armando Martin-Martin , 24, of Guatemala, to 24 months in prison. In November 2024, Martin-Martin pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on August 5, 2024, a Homewood Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on Martin-Martin. The officer smelled marijuana and asked Martin-Martin to exit the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded DTI AR-style rifle, 11 magazines fitted for the rifle, ammunition, a loaded Springfield 9mm magazine, and 3 spent shell casings. HSI investigated the case along with the Homewood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Camp prosecuted the case.


title: DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA  Grand Island Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Matthew Molsen announced that Robert Burkhardt, 56, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced February 19, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Burkhardt to 57 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Burkhard is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release On January 30, 2024, co-conspirators Jolene Armentrout and Lonnie Mason flew from Omaha to Los Angeles, California, and purchased 25 pounds of methamphetamine. Meanwhile, Burkhardt drove Mason’s car from Omaha to Las Vegas, Nevada, with co-conspirator Stephanie Cummings. Burkhardt and Cummings met Armentrout and Mason in Las Vegas. Mason and Cummings then flew back to Nebraska while Armentrout and Burkhardt drove to California from Las Vegas and picked up the 25 pounds of methamphetamine purchased by Armentrout and Mason. Armentrout and Burkhardt then drove the 25 pounds of methamphetamine back to Nebraska and arrived on February 4, 2024. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and located the 25 pounds of methamphetamine contained in a hidden compartment. Cummings pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2025. Armentrout pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and is scheduled for sentencing on March 19, 2025. Mason pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and is scheduled for sentencing on May 7, 2025. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Omaha Police Department. 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: Washington Man and Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Matthew Molsen announced that Maleeka Gilbert, 23, of Federal Way, Washington, was sentenced February 19, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Gilbert to 120 months’ imprisonment. On February 14, Judge Rossiter sentenced co-defendant, Damar Johnson, 21, of Tukwila, Washington, to 120 months’ imprisonment consecutive to 60 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. There is no parole in the federal system. After Gilbert and Johnson are released from prison, they will each begin a 5-year term of supervised release. They will also forfeit to the United States $16,020.11 in United States currency that was drug proceeds. On March 31, 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop near Grand Island, Nebraska. Gilbert was driving a Dodge Durango and Damar Johnson was the passenger. The deputy informed Gilbert the reason for pulling them over was for a road rage incident. The officer indicated he could smell marijuana from inside the vehicle. The deputy had to repeatedly request Gilbert to exit the vehicle. Johnson was also being disruptive and was on his phone to 911 requesting to speak to a supervisor. Based on the deputy smelling marijuana, he conducted a search of the Durango. In the center console, the deputy located a firearm and $16,020.11 in United States currency. In the back of the vehicle on the driver’s side, in a pink duffle bag, the deputy located approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills. Johnson claimed responsibility for the firearm, and there was no evidence Gilbert knew of its existence. The $16,020.11 was proceeds from or money used to facilitate the distribution of fentanyl. This case was investigated by the Hamilton County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Office.


title: Arizona Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Matthew Molsen announced that Carlos Loya-Rodriguez, 33, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced February 19, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Loya-Rodriguez to 70 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Loya-Rodriguez is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Loya-Rodriguez will also forfeit to the United States $61,195.00 in United States currency that was drug proceeds or used to facilitate his drug trafficking. On January 2, 2024, law enforcement utilized an undercover agent to purchase 445.3 grams of actual methamphetamine from Loya-Rodriguez in Omaha. On February 5, 2024, law enforcement officers saw Loya-Rodriguez leave his residence and enter into his vehicle. They watched Loya-Rodriguez commit traffic infractions and initiated a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, a K9 conducted a sniff of the vehicle and indicated to the presence of narcotics. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and located 419.9 grams of actual methamphetamine. Loya-Rodriguez was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. Also located in the vehicle was $20,225 in United States currency. Also on February 5, 2024, law enforcement searched Loya-Rodriguez’s residence in Omaha, pursuant to a search warrant. Law enforcement seized 450 grams of actual methamphetamine, 344 grams of cocaine in multiple baggies, a scale with suspected drug residue, $40,970 in United States currency, and money wire receipts. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Omaha Police Department. 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: United States Attorney’s Office Announces Departure of Darcie N. McElwee as U.S Attorney

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced today the departure of Darcie N. McElwee as U.S. Attorney following termination by the new administration. Under the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig M. Wolff is now the Acting U.S Attorney for the District of Maine. As Acting U.S. Attorney, he is the chief federal law enforcement official in the state of Maine. Wolff is a career prosecutor who became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2002. He has served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Senior Litigation Counsel, and prior to joining the District of Maine he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Maryland for four years. Wolff received an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. Before joining the Department of Justice, he clerked for U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz in the District of Maryland and worked as an associate in the Washington, D.C. office of an international law firm. ###


title: Convicted Robber Sentenced to Additional Prison Term After Firing Machine Gun at Law Enforcement Officer

body_text: ATLANTA - Montrez Ballard has been sentenced to ten years in prison after firing a machine gun at a Georgia State Patrol officer. “Ballard’s brazen actions endangered the life of a law enforcement officer,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Moultrie, Jr. “This lengthy prison sentence reflects Ballard’s dangerous, and potentially lethal, attack on a Georgia State Patrol trooper whose very mission is to help keep our community safe.” “The swift and coordinated response of law enforcement ensured that a dangerous individual was taken off the streets before he could inflict further harm. ATF will not stand by while criminals use illegally modified weapons to terrorize our communities. We will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who believe they can act without consequence,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: On July 21, 2023, Ballard, driving a Nissan Maxima, abruptly cut off a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) trooper in Atlanta. Ballard fled from the trooper after the officer activated his emergency equipment to stop Ballard. In his attempt to evade the trooper, Ballard drove more than 20 miles per hour above the speed limit in a residential neighborhood, ran stop signs, and nearly struck another motorist. Minutes into the chase, Ballard’s vehicle crashed into a stop sign. Ballard then exited his vehicle and fled on foot. When the trooper chased him, Ballard confronted the officer and fired at least three shots at the trooper. The trooper returned fire but Ballard escaped. Other law enforcement agencies, including the Atlanta Police Department and Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, responded to help locate Ballard. Officers eventually arrested Ballard – who was on probation for a state robbery offense at the time – and recovered his firearm. Ballard’s gun, a Glock 19 9mm handgun, was examined and determined to be equipped with a device that converted the weapon into a machine gun, allowing the gun to fire continuously without multiple trigger pulls. Montrez Ballard, 21, of Hampton, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to ten years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance from the Atlanta Police Department and Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown, Jr. prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: United States Attorney Gary M. Restaino  Completes His Service to the Department of Justice

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced that United States Attorney Gary M. Restaino has completed his service to the Department, effective yesterday. Mr. Restaino was informed of his termination in a communication from the White House. As a Presidential appointee, Mr. Restaino is subject to removal from office in the discretion of the sitting President. The White House thanked him for his service to the United States. “Getting the opportunity to lead an Office in which I have worked for many years has been energizing,” said U.S. Attorney Restaino. “I am grateful to President Biden for the appointment, to Senators Kelly and Sinema for their support of my nomination, and to Attorney General Garland for his stewardship of the Department of Justice. And most of all I am thankful for our people here in Arizona – the dedicated prosecutors, victim advocates and administrative professionals at the United States Attorney’s Office, as well as the agents, analysts, and accountants at our federal law enforcement agencies – who work collaboratively and collegially with state and local partners and leaders of underserved communities to make Arizona a better and safer place.” Since 2021 the Office has continued its strong efforts at border security, enhanced violent crime prosecutions and increased civil rights prosecutions and interventions. Border Security In fiscal year 2024 the District led the nation in criminal consequences for illegal entry and reentry into the United States. Prosecutors engaged in victim-centric prosecutions of alien smugglers, including a defendant who sexually assaulted a migrant and leaders extradited from Mexico and from Honduras who threatened, harassed and robbed aliens in their care. Our team dismantled transnational criminal organizations trafficking fentanyl and other poisons into the United States. Working with federal partners, the Office has disrupted firearms trafficking organizations through: interdictions at ports of entry ; increasing cooperation with Mexico ; seizures en route to Canada ; undercover sting operations ; long-term straw purchasing investigations tied to border interdictions; and in a case alleging an attempt to incite regime change in South Sudan via attempts to export grenade launchers and Stinger missiles. Violent Crime Prosecutions Indian Country prosecutors secured a first-degree murder conviction arising out of a missing persons case from the Navajo Nation. Federal partners in Tucson reimagined federal firearms prosecutions through a Public Safety Partnership. The District secured a second-degree murder conviction against a man who shot and killed a Deputy United States Marshal . Our team developed consistency and rigor in prosecuting threats of violence conveyed against President Biden , President Trump , election officials , law enforcement agents , university students , and victims of “swatting” incidents . Civil Rights The District secured convictions (and a 438-month sentence) for arson and interference with the free exercise of religion against a man who burned two churches in Douglas, Arizona. Prosecutors vindicated the rights of a minor who was sexually assaulted by a Customs and Border Protection Officer by obtaining convictions for kidnaping and deprivation of rights . The Office and its colleagues in the Civil Rights Division reached a settlement with the Arizona Department of Corrections to improve accommodations for inmates with vision limitations and therefore to increase opportunities for positive reentry. Our team intervened in an election lawsuit to ensure that Arizona voters have access to ballot drop boxes free from intimidation. Lawyers and advocates from around the District participated in many United Against Hate outreach events to increase reporting of hate crimes and bias incidents. Mr. Restaino became United States Attorney in November 2021 after 20 years of service as a federal employee, including two years in the Peace Corps in Paraguay and 18 years as an Assistant United States Attorney here in Arizona. During his tenure, Mr. Restaino served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, advising Attorney General Garland on matters of policy, procedure, and management, and also elevating the voices of the U.S. Attorney community in Washington. In addition, for nearly 90 days in the spring and summer of 2022, and at the direction of President Biden, Mr. Restaino served the women and men of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as their Acting Director, pending the confirmation of the agency’s nominee. Pursuant to the Vacancy Reform Act, career prosecutor and First Assistant United States Attorney Rachel C. Hernandez currently serves as the Acting United States Attorney for the District. The United States Attorney’s Office represents the interests of the United States in criminal and civil cases in federal court in Arizona, coordinates the efforts of its federal law enforcement partners, advocates for the rights of victims, and enhances and strengthens communities through dialogue, outreach, and engagement. The Office currently has approximately 180 Assistant United States Attorneys and approximately 160 additional administrative professionals spread between two large offices in Phoenix and Tucson, and two smaller branch offices in Yuma and Flagstaff. RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-018_Departure of United States Attorney Gary M. Restaino # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Alleged serial arsonist faces federal charges

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 36-year-old McAllen resident has been charged with arson and possession of a destructive device, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Daniel Eduardo Rivera is expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker at 9:00 a.m. According to the criminal complaint, Rivera has allegedly been targeting an individual since 2022 by setting multiple fires to the victim’s residence and vehicles. The charges allege that in November 2022 at approximately 2:03 a.m., fire department officials responded to the victim’s residence due to a fire coming from a storage shed. They extinguished it, but authorities later determined it to be incendiary in nature, according to the complaint. At approximately 1:10 p.m. that same day, the fire department was allegedly dispatched to the victim’s house for a second time where they discovered the porch to be fully engulfed with fire seeping into the home. The charges allege they were again able to extinguish it but not before it had caused significant damage to the home. They also found a Molotov cocktail at the scene, according to the complaint. According to the victim, Rivera had allegedly confronted him and threatened to kill his family at night and burn the victim’s house down. The complaint further alleges that in May 2024, fire officials responded to a vehicle fire in McAllen. It has already been extinguished, but authorities allegedly determined another Molotov cocktail was used in an attempt to set the car ablaze. The investigation links Rivera to that incident, according to the charges. If convicted, Rivera faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the arson and a maximum of 10 for possession of a destructive device. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosives is conducting the investigation with the assistance of the McAllen Fire Marshal’s Office, Fire and Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Devin V. Walker are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced To 23 Months In Prison For Illegal Reentry In The United States

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eddie Damian-Guillen, age 38, of Guatemala, was sentenced on February 13, 2025, to 23 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion for illegal reentry into the United States by an illegal alien. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Damian-Guillen was encountered in the United States at Pike County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania, having been arrested for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Damian-Guillen was previously removed from the United States in 2003, 2004, and 2020. His removal in 2020 followed his conviction and sentence for assault in the first degree in Connecticut, in which he ran over a victim with his car following a bar fight. Damian-Guillen will be removed from the United States following service of his sentence. The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Federal Trial Jury Convicts New Orleans Woman of Two 2022 Robberies of Igor’s Lounge

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA- Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson announced that on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, DEBORAH COOPER (“COOPER”) , 54, of New Orleans, was found guilty of all charges following a jury trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. The jury found COOPER guilty of all seven counts against her. Count 1 charged COOPER with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). Counts 2 and 4 charged COOPER with interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951(a) and 2. Counts 3 and 5 charged COOPER with using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§924(c)(1)(A)(ii) and 2. Count 6 charged COOPER with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). Count 7 charged COOPER with tampering with proceedings, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(1). According to court documents, COOPER , and an unknown person, robbed Igor’s Lounge, located on St. Charles Avenue, in New Orleans in February and March of 2022. During the February robbery, COOPER , and the unknown person, held an Igor’s bartender at gunpoint and demanded she open the register and poker drawer. The robbers then forced the bartender to the rear of the bar, and ordered her, at gunpoint, to lie on the floor while they fled. The robbers stole over twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) in U.S. currency. Similarly, during the March robbery, COOPER and the unknown person, retuned to Igor’s and robbed another bartender at gunpoint. This time , they stole over seven thousand dollars ($7,000.00) in U.S. currency. The New Orleans Police Department investigated the robberies and obtained surveillance footage showing the robbers parking COOPER’s Ram pickup truck near Igor’s on the day of the February robbery. NOPD then obtained a search warrant for COOPER’s residence and located various items of clothing worn by COOPER during the robberies, twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) in U.S. currency, and a Smith and Wesson firearm, that COOPER attempted to hide, during this search. The NOPD also located blue latex gloves in COOPER's Ram truck, similar to the blue latex gloves worn by the robbers during the March robbery . U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo will sentence COOPER on May 7, 2025. COOPER faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years imprisonment up to a maximum term of life imprisonment as a result of being convicted of two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime. This sentence will run consecutive to the sentences imposed by the Court for the remaining counts for which COOPER was convicted. As it relates to her convictions for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, Hobbs Act Robbery, and Tampering with Proceedings, COOPER faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. For the felon in possession of a firearm conviction, COOPER faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. COOPER also faces a term of supervised release of up to 5 years after completing her term of imprisonment. At sentencing, the Court will also impose a mandatory special assessment fee of $700.00. Additionally, the Court may impose fines and restitution. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brittany Reed and Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime/Strike Force Unit.


title: United States Attorney’s Office Announces Departure of Adair Ford Boroughs as U.S. Attorney

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews is now Acting U.S. Attorney COLUMBIA, S.C. — The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina announced today the departure of Adair Ford Boroughs as U.S. Attorney following termination by the new administration. Under the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews is now the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. As Acting U.S. Attorney, Andrews is the chief federal law enforcement official in the state of South Carolina. Andrews is a career federal prosecutor who first joined the Department of Justice through the Attorney General’s Honors Program in 2009. In addition to serving as First Assistant, Andrews previously served as Deputy Criminal Chief over the White Collar and General Crimes Section, District Ethics Officer, and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney handling a wide range of criminal, civil, and appellate matters. Andrews received an undergraduate degree from Davidson College, a master’s degree from the George Washington University, and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Before joining the Department of Justice, Andrews clerked for U.S. District Judge Margaret Seymour of the District of South Carolina, and Chief Justice Jean Toal of the South Carolina Supreme Court. Boroughs was sworn in as United States Attorney in July of 2022, following a nomination by President Biden and confirmation by the U.S. Senate. As United States Attorney, Boroughs oversaw a staff that included approximately 140 attorneys and support personnel. During her tenure, Boroughs prioritized enforcement of federal civil rights laws and partnering with local, state, and federal law enforcement to address violent crime. The office secured five federal hate crime convictions and hosted seven United Against Hate events around the state in partnership with FBI Columbia to educate the public on the existence of a federal hate crime statute and encourage the reporting of hate crime incidents. Boroughs prioritized the prosecution of offenders driving violence in South Carolina communities and recognized the value of local partners in identifying these offenders. Under her tenure, the office announced multi-defendant indictments and takedowns disrupting gun trafficking rings, illegal narcotics operations, and gang violence. She also oversaw multiple human trafficking, child exploitation, and white-collar prosecutions, including the recent indictment and extradition of a Nigerian national for a sextortion scheme resulting in the death of a 17-year-old Gavin Guffey. “It has been the honor of my career to return to the Department of Justice and to serve alongside the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Adair Ford Boroughs, “The career men and women of this office work tirelessly day in and day out to meet the Department’s mission–to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. It has been my honor to support them in this critical and patriotic work however I could for as long as I could. To my colleagues, our law enforcement partners, and our South Carolina community, thank you for trusting me with this work.” ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana announces departure of U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana today announced the departure of U. S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, effective yesterday. Mr. Laslovich has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District of Montana since being sworn into office on June 2, 2022. President Joe Biden nominated Mr. Laslovich for the position on Jan. 31, 2022, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him on May 17, 2022. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Laslovich oversaw all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation on behalf of the U.S. government. The district has offices in Helena, Great Falls, Missoula, Butte, and Billings. “It has been the honor of my life to serve as the United States Attorney for the state that raised me. I am profoundly grateful to the talented and hard-working people in this office, as well as our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners who strive every day to uphold the rule of law, keep people safe, and steadfastly defend the interests of the United States of America. I have never been prouder to have served with them, and I will always be rooting hard for their continued safety and success,” Mr. Laslovich said. During Mr. Laslovich’s tenure, the U.S. Attorney’s Office focused on prosecuting drug trafficking and violent and sexual abuse crimes occurring on Montana’s six Indian Reservations that are within federal jurisdiction for major crimes; building strong partnerships with other federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement agencies; addressing violent and firearms crimes in communities across the state through initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF); and protecting civil rights for all Montanans. The office continued its work to protect children from online and in person sexual predators, abusers, and traffickers, and to catch fraudsters, especially those who prey on elderly and vulnerable persons. Mr. Laslovich also emphasized the importance of strong working relationships with numerous law enforcement agencies at the local, state, tribal and federal levels. Mr. Laslovich and office representatives met regularly with tribal leadership to discuss various issues. The office also worked closely with other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and organizations to strengthen trust, communications, and cooperation in working toward the shared goal of keeping people safe and holding offenders accountable. In Indian Country, the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with tribal and federal law enforcement partners to shut down trafficking rings attempting to set up bases on Montana reservations and enlist residents to distribute drugs transported from outside Montana. One of those cases involved dismantling a large, multi-state drug trafficking organization that was based on Crow Indian Reservation property known as Spear Siding and distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl to three other Montana Indian reservations and communities from suppliers in Washington and a Mexican cartel. The case resulted in federal convictions in Montana of 27 persons and was one of the largest federal drug trafficking investigations in Montana. Additionally, a recent six-month-long enforcement initiative led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, in cooperation with Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Reservation, led to indictments of multiple individuals on drug crimes. The enforcement action was aimed at identifying hot spots and devoting law enforcement resources to communities facing rising rates of drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths. During the last three years, federal prosecutors remained committed to making communities across Montana safer by identifying and prosecuting the most dangerous offenders through initiatives like PSN and OCDETF. In Great Falls, a multi-agency investigation into a large fentanyl trafficking ring led to a coordinated take down of suspects and convictions of 10 individuals. During Mr. Laslovich’s tenure, prosecutions of individuals on federal firearms crimes increased significantly. The average number of defendants charged with illegal possession of a firearm averaged 111 cases a year from 2022 through 2024, compared with an average of 83 cases per year from 2014 to 2021. And the number of defendants charged with carrying a firearm in relation to a crime of violence or drug trafficking also increased to an average of 56 cases a year from 2022 to 2024 from an average of 40 cases per year from 2014 to 2021. Additionally, Mr. Laslovich oversaw the launch in Montana of United Against Hate, a Justice Department initiative focused on improving the prevention of hate crimes and hate incidents by building relationships at the local level. Laslovich and the office’s civil rights coordinator and prosecutor held a series of community meetings across the state with law enforcement partners, community and faith organizations, tribal communities, and citizens to discuss identifying and reporting hate crimes and to learn about available resources. Further, the office successfully prosecuted a Basin man on federal hate and firearms crimes after he fired an AK-style assault rifle at the residence of a woman, who identified as lesbian, and was home at the time. The defendant was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The office’s civil team continued its work defending the United States in litigation, collecting debts owed to the federal government, and investigating fraud. As part of that work, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reached a civil settlement agreement in 2024 between the federal government and St. Peter’s Health, in Helena, in which St. Peter’s agreed to pay $10,844,201 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payments to federal health care programs for services performed by an oncology doctor. Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, Mr. Laslovich served as regional vice president for SCL Health Montana-Wyoming since 2017. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Laslovich was chief legal counsel in the office of the Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, where he prosecuted securities fraud cases. During 2011 and 2012, Laslovich also served as a special assistant U.S. attorney on securities cases in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana. He previously worked in the Montana Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Laslovich began his legal career at Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C. in Missoula and taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana School of Law for two semesters. As one of the youngest Montanans ever elected to the Montana Legislature, Mr. Laslovich first served in the House of Representatives from 2001 through 2004 and then in the Senate from 2005 to 2010, representing Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Granite, and Powell counties. Mr. Laslovich received his J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law in 2006 and his B.A., with high honors, from the University of Montana in 2003. XXX


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Crack Conspiracy and Federal Gun Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – STEVE BANKS (“BANKS”), age 49, of New Orleans, was indicted on February 14, 2025, for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. BANKS is charged in Count 1 with possession, with the intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing crack, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). Count 2 charges BANKS with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). Count 3 charges BANKS with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A) and 924(c)(1)(A)(i). As to the drug trafficking charge in Count 1, BANKS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release. For Count 2, BANKS faces a maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. For Count 3, BANKS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 5 years of supervised release. According to the indictment, beginning at a time unknown but prior to September 2024, and continuing to on or about October 21, 2024, BANKS conspired with others to distribute crack in the Eastern District of Louisiana. On October 21, 2024, BANKS possessed, with the intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of a mixture containing crack, and three guns, including a Zastava Model ZPAP85, 5.56 millimeter semi-automatic rifle, a Glock Model 22, 40 millimeter semi-automatic pistol, with a loaded extended magazine, that had been reported stolen, and a Glock Model 17Gen5, nine millimeter semi-automatic pistol. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Former Guatemalan Congressman sentenced to 18 years in federal prison  for international drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A former Guatemalan congressman has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his role in an international drug trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. of the Eastern District of Texas. Jose Armando Ubico Aguilar, 45, a former senior Republic of Guatemala official, pleaded guilty to being involved in an international drug trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on February 11, 2025. According to information presented in court, Ubico Aguilar served as an elected member of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala from 2016 to 2024. He also served as an elected Deputy and was the President of the National Defense Committee of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala from 2018 to 2023. “The sentencing of this corrupt Guatemalan official who brokered and facilitated cocaine shipments into the United States while betraying his country through his partnerships with known drug traffickers and other corrupt officials shows the commitment of the Eastern District of Texas United States Attorney’s Office to identify, disrupt, and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. “I am grateful to our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to ensure that Ubico Aguilar will no longer be allowed to hide behind his position of power.” “The sentencing of this corrupt official who brokered and facilitated cocaine shipments into the United States sends a message to Transnational Criminal Organizations across the world that they will be held responsible for the poison they distribute into the United States,” said Dallas DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez. “This sentence reflects our continued resolve to partner with our international law-enforcement counterparts to fight greed, violence, and public corruption.” On March 3, 2021, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas indicted Ubico Aguilar charging him with federal drug trafficking violations. In May 2024, Ubico Aguilar arrived in the United States and pleaded guilty. During his plea hearing, Ubico Aguilar admitted his role in the conspiracy, including relaying drug-related information and U.S. currency to another Guatemalan official on behalf of an international drug trafficker. These actions resulted in the safe passage of at least 450 kilograms of cocaine through Guatemala for distribution in the United States. 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. This case was investigated by the North Texas Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) Strike Force Group Two; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Division; the DEA’s Guatemala City Country Office and the DEA’s San Jose (Costa Rica) Country Office; the FBI’s Dallas Field Office; the Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas and Guatemala Field Offices; the U.S. Marshals Service’s Dallas Field Office; and Customs and Border Protection’s San Diego Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division also provided significant assistance in securing the surrender of Ubico Aguilar. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Eason.


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Being Felon in Possession of Firearms

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JARROD CARTER (“CARTER”) , age 29, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on February 13, 2025, before Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, to violating the Federal Gun Control Act, by being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to court records, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers received a complaint about several unidentified black males on Mandeville Street in New Orleans, brandishing firearms and distributing narcotics. A Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force Officer (TFO) from NOPD observed a male subject, later identified as CARTER , walking on the sidewalk with a black AR-15 style rifle in his hand and a backpack. The TFO attempted to contact marked units with the NOPD to detain him, but no units were available, and CARTER left. The following day, January 3, 2023, the TFO again observed CARTER standing in the same area. CARTER was carrying the same backpack he carried the previous day. The TFO saw that the backpack had the same shape as a rifle. Shortly thereafter, NOPD officers stopped and searched CARTER, locating a loaded, Taurus .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number in his waistband. CARTER was then arrested and when the officers searched his backpack, they found a loaded, Springfield AR-15 style rifle. CARTER was a previously convicted felon that and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Chief Judge Brown set sentencing for May 8, 2025. On each count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, CARTER faces up to15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky Collects Over $104 Million in Fiscal Year 2024

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY- U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office collected $104.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024, which includes $9,239,721.20 in criminal restitution, $95,604,774.97 in civil actions, and $2,441,761 through asset forfeiture. The Office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $23,133,763.62 in matters pursued jointly by these offices. “Due to extraordinary teamwork in our district in both our Criminal and Civil Divisions, last year federal crime victims received more than $9 million in compensation for their financial losses, and federal agencies recouped more than $95 million in fraudulently-obtained funds and delinquent civil debt,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. “I am extremely proud of our Office’s dedication to track down every possible dollar from perpetrators, fraudsters, and those who refuse to pay their federal obligations. Through outstanding collection efforts, our Office has provided meaningful recoveries to crime victims and the federal taxpayers we serve.” Last year, the Western District of Kentucky recovered significant criminal restitution for victims, including those injured by crop insurance fraud, employee-related theft, and health care fraud. Of the over $95 million collected through civil actions, most of the recoveries were collected through actions brought pursuant to the False Claims Act, which permits the United States to recover up to three times the amount of money fraudulently obtained from government programs. The District’s civil recoveries also include $2.5 million for federal agencies in state and federal foreclosures. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts, fines, and assessments owed to the federal government and criminal restitution owed to victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs. ###


title: United States Attorney’s Office Announces Departure Of Roger B. Handberg As U.S. Attorney

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announces the departure of Roger B. Handberg as U.S. Attorney. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney will serve as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Handberg was a career federal prosecutor. He joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2002, and he served in various senior positions within the office, including as Criminal Chief (North), Chief of the Orlando Division, and Senior Litigation Counsel. During his career with the office, U.S. Attorney Handberg specialized in the investigation and prosecution of public corruption and white-collar crime cases. As part of his practice, he successfully prosecuted more than $500 million in fraud cases. In December 2021, U.S. Attorney Handberg was appointed as United States Attorney by order of the Attorney General, and he was reappointed by the Chief Judge of the United States District Court in April 2022. President Joseph R. Biden nominated U.S. Attorney Handberg for the position in September 2022, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate in December 2022. Under his leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office increased its number of criminal cases by more than 60% over the past three fiscal years. That includes increases in each of the five offices: Ocala 124% increase Orlando 90% increase Jacksonville 87% increase Fort Myers 51% increase Tampa 35% increase These increases have been in every type of prosecution: Violent crime 77% increase Child exploitation 70% increase Immigration 69% increase White collar 53% increase Drug trafficking 33% increase U.S. Attorney Handberg prioritized each of these categories of prosecutions. “During my more than three years as Untied States Attorney, I made it a priority to engage with the community, to hear directly from the people that my office served to learn about their priorities and what is important to them, and to let them know about the great work that is being done by law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “As part of those efforts, I made more than 100 speeches and presentations to local organizations, bar associations, and chambers of commerce, and at other gatherings and press conferences. From my many conversations with members of the community and law enforcement leaders, I tried to focus the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the matters of most pressing concern.” With respect to violent crime, one of U.S. Attorney Handberg’s first actions was increasing the number of prosecutors in the office focused on violent crime and firearms cases. Over the past three fiscal years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has federally charged more than 750 defendants with firearms violations, with more than 300 of those defendants being charged in the 2024 fiscal year. That is the largest number of firearms violations ever charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a single year. The following are some of the significant violent crime and firearms cases that were prosecuted during U.S. Attorney Handberg’s tenure: Seven defendants charged with offenses stemming from 4 years of dealing in drugs and an armed robbery spree that culminated in a double homicide More than 50 defendants prosecuted as part of the Polk County Violent Crime Task Force established by Sheriff Grady Judd after a shooting in Lakeland Three defendants indicted for the contract killing of a 17-year-old Hernando County high school student to prevent her testimony in court Two defendants charged with committing a drive-by shooting on I-95, brought in connection with a largescale drug trafficking and firearms trafficking investigation Firearms trafficker sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for trying to send firearms to Mexican drug cartel members Defendant sentenced to consecutive life sentences for double homicide and armed robbery of a Florida couple 160 firearms and violent crime cases prosecuted with the Tampa Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in 2022 The U.S. Attorney’s Office has continued to be a leader in the prosecution of child exploitation and sex trafficking offenses. Over the past three fiscal years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged more than 340 child exploitation and sex trafficking cases, including more than 130 cases in fiscal year 2024. That is the highest number of child exploitation prosecutions charged in a single year in the office’s history. Significant cases include: The first three “AI” cases brought in the District’s history involving defendants who produced and distributed AI-generated child sexual abuse material , who used a cellphone application to create and possess synthetic or “AI” images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct , and who possessed AI generated images that appeared to depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct Sanford foster parent sentenced to 170 years in federal prison for exploiting least 18 children under his care and for using them to produce depictions of child sexual abuse Bradenton defendant sentenced to life in federal prison for sexually abusing two minor victims for six years During that same timeframe, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted more than 600 immigration cases. Significant prosecutions include: Two defendants plead guilty for attempting to smuggle 25 migrants to Brevard County from the Bahamas as part of a conspiracy responsible for the smuggling of more than 90 migrants, some of whom were employed by one of the defendants to do construction work Five defendants indicted for operating shell companies to “rent” workers’ compensation to work crews that unlawfully employed illegal aliens and for cashing approximately $292 million in payroll checks and failing to pay more than $52 million in payroll taxes Concrete company owner pleads guilty to harboring more than 50 illegal aliens who worked at his company The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged more than 500 white collar cases over the past three fiscal years, with more than $1 billion in restitution being ordered to be paid to victims during that time period. Those cases include: Administrator of webhosting domain indicted for engaging in a ransomware scheme that resulted in the payment of more than $100 million in ransoms Defendant indicted for a $70 million Medicare fraud scheme involving the payment of kickbacks and bribes to obtain doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment Two defendant plead guilty to more than $14 million in COVID test kit fraud and to more than $5 million in COVID testing fraud Former Jacksonville Electric Authority CEO sentenced to four years in federal prison for conspiracy to steal and embezzle approximately $40 million Over 100 defendants federally charged with COVID fraud Defendant sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for $57 million investment fraud Four defendants charged with engaging in bank fraud and money laundering conspiracies involving more than $128 million in criminal proceeds Prosecution of more than 60 cases against public officials, government employees, and others who breached the trust that was placed in them or who conspired with them, including former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg and six others convicted of bribery , honest services fraud , or fraud offenses as part of the Greenberg investigation The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged more than 1,100 defendants with drug trafficking offenses and seized more than $3 billion in narcotics. Fentanyl trafficking in particular has been a top priority. The number of defendants being federally prosecuted in those cases has more than doubled, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners have seized more than 80 million fatal dosage units of fentanyl. Significant cases include: 16 Chinese nationals and 13 Chinese companies indicted in 2023 and 2024 for their role in trafficking in the precursor chemicals that cartels use to manufacture fentanyl Former Deputy Sheriff and DEA Task Force Officer plead guilty to conspiring to distribute narcotics, defrauding the United States, and tax evasion Colombian National Police Officer indicted for role in cocaine trafficking conspiracy Fentanyl trafficker sentenced to life in federal prison for causing fatal overdose Four charged in fentanyl overdose death of a University of South Florida student Defendant responsible for the largest methamphetamine seizure in the history of DEA in Orlando sentenced to 19 years in federal prison Port Richey brothers plead guilty to trafficking 100 kilograms of fentanyl U.S. Attorney Handberg increased the size of the office’s National Security Section and added dedicated national security prosecutors to three offices. He also created a Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. These efforts resulted in the doubling of the number of national security prosecutions over the past three fiscal years and an increased focus on civil rights enforcement. Significant matters include: More than 25 defendants charged for making true threats or committing hate crimes Defendant sentenced to four years in federal prison for conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China in the United States Two Florida steel traders sentenced to 72 months and 21 months in federal prison for money laundering and Russia-Ukraine Sanctions violations Jordan national pleads guilty to threatening to use explosives and destroying an energy facility Defendant sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for unlawfully exporting technical data of critical U.S. military technology Two Florida men sentenced to 60 months and 36 months in federal prison for a racially-motivated hate crime for violent assault of a Black man Establishment of a 20-member Servicemembers and Veterans Working Group to safeguard the rights of servicemembers and veterans from discrimination and unfair treatment and the publication of a Manual to collect valuable legal information and resources in a centralized location The first redlining settlement in the history of Florida During his tenure, U.S. Attorney Handberg increased the number of attorneys in the Civil Division to be able to handle one of the largest defensive caseloads in the country and to prioritize affirmative civil enforcement cases. In addition to ensuring excellent representation of the United States in defending civil cases, these efforts resulted in the filing of a nationwide lawsuit alleging that Walgreens knowingly filed millions of prescriptions that lacked a legitimate medical purpose and the settlement or entry of judgments of more than $500 million in claims involving government funds that had been lost due to fraud or other misconduct. Significant affirmative civil enforcement cases include: A Kentucky businessman and his companies have judgments of more than $370 million entered against them for a laboratory testing scheme that targeted the Medicare program Walgreens agrees to pay $106.8 million to resolve allegations it billed the Government for prescriptions never dispensed A businessman agrees to pay over $27 million for Medicare fraud in connection with cancer genomic tests A healthcare organization agrees to pay $24.5 million to settle allegations of unnecessary testing, improper remuneration to physicians and a false statement in connection with COVID-19 relief funds A hospital operator agrees to pay $20 million to settlement allegations relating to impermissible Medicaid donations A healthcare company to pay $19.85 million to settle allegations relating to medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral health services Florida research hospital agrees to pay more than $19.5 million to resolve liability relating to self-disclosure of improper billing Chronic disease management provider to pay $14.9 million for allegations related to the submission of false claims to Medicare An automotive group agrees to pay $9 million to settlement allegations relating to Paycheck Protection Program Loan Florida companies ordered to pay $7.6 million in redress and penalties in connection with the marketing of smoking cessation products Federal court issues temporary restraining order prohibiting Tampa-area clinic from distributing opioids and other prescription drugs Recovering funds to return to crime victims has been a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Asset Recovery Section completed the forfeiture of more than $65 million in 2022 and more than $19 million in 2023 , most of which will be returned to crime victims. In 2022 and 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office returned to crime victims more than $68 million that had been forfeited in those and prior years. Under U.S. Attorney Handberg’s leadership, the Middle District of Florida has become the top District in the country among non-border districts in charging defendants in federal court according to statistics compiled by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts for fiscal year 2024. “As someone who was born and raised in this District, I can think of no higher honor than getting the chance, first, to serve as a federal prosecutor in this office and, then, as the United States Attorney,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “During my more than two decades with the office, I have worked with incredible public servants at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Through our work with the excellent local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who serve this District and our country, we have prosecuted and litigated cases that have served to protect the public, to reduce crime, to do justice for victims and the community, and to hold accountable those who have violated the law. I am grateful for my colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and for our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment and for everything that they do, day in and day out, to keep everyone in the Middle District of Florida and the United States safe. It has been a privilege to have served as a federal prosecutor in my hometown and to have worked side-by-side with my law enforcement partners for the past 22 years.”


title: Illegal Alien Charged with Firearm Offenses

body_text: Paducah, KY –A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant was issued last week charging an illegal alien with aggravated identity theft, making a false statement during a firearm transaction, and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement. According to court records, on or about November 11, 2024, Manuel Antonio Xante-Ajanel, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, attempted to purchase a firearm from Academy Sports in Paducah using fraudulent identification belonging to another person. The transaction was terminated when the identification provided was flagged as being fraudulent. A search warrant was executed on January 31, 2025, at the defendant’s residence in Mayfield, Kentucky. Law enforcement located numerous fraudulent identification documents. Later that day, a search warrant was executed on the defendant’s vehicle, yielding a loaded 9-millimeter handgun. The defendant admitted to possessing the firearm and to being in the United States unlawfully. Homeland Security Investigations verified that Xante-Ajanel is Guatemalan and entered the United States illegally. Xante-Ajanel is in state custody and will make an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky at a later date. If convicted on the charges in the complaint, Xante-Ajanel faces a minimum sentence of 2 years and a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the ATF – Paducah Post of Duty, HSI – Paducah Post of Duty, and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Gun Trafficking Offense

body_text: Orlando, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Michael Adrian Nieto (31, St. Cloud) has pleaded guilty to dealing in firearms without a license. Nieto faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Nieto, a sworn law enforcement officer, repeatedly purchased and resold firearms to individuals. Among others, Nieto supplied firearms to Ernesto Vazquez, a key member of a criminal conspiracy that smuggled hundreds of firearms to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. In addition, to benefit the conspiracy, Nieto corruptly used police databases to provide sensitive and confidential information to Vazquez. Between June 6, 2022, and September 4, 2024, Nieto purchased at least 58 firearms. Many of the firearms were identical and were purchased together or close in time to one another. On October 17, 2024, FBI and ATF agents executed a federal search warrant at Nieto’s residence. At the time of the search warrant, 12 firearms were still in his possession. On October 17, 2024, Nieto was interviewed by FBI and ATF agents. He admitted to repeatedly buying and reselling guns to individuals, including Vazquez, despite knowing that Vazquez was transferring these guns to third parties, in violation of federal law. Nieto also admitted that Vazquez had provided him with illegal items, including a machinegun conversion device. Vazquez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2025. “The St. Cloud Police Department has worked closely with the Department of Justice to assist them in their investigation regarding former officer Michael Nieto. In the wake of the recent DOJ findings, we are conducting our own in-depth investigation into the matter.” said St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke. “SCPD pledges to take immediate action should an officer act in a manner that could break a community’s trust, no matter their rank or tenure with the department.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.


title: Mexican National Arrested For Illegal Reentry

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Jose Luis Carrasco-Aldape (37, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Carrasco-Aldape faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. According to court documents, Carrasco-Aldape is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on March 22, 2004, and October 12, 2017. On February 13, 2025, Carrasco-Aldape was found voluntarily back in the United States when he was encountered by law enforcement in Clay County. Carrasco-Aldape has not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.


title: Atlanta Woman Indicted For Aggravated Identity Theft And Passport Fraud

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Jermirria Jackson (48, Atlanta, GA) with aggravated identity theft and making a false statement on a passport application. If convicted, Jackson faces a minimum sentence of 2 years, up to12 years, in federal prison. According to court records, on January 19, 2022, Jackson applied for a passport in a name that was not her own. Prior to applying for the passport, Jackson had obtained means of identification in the victim’s name. When Jackson applied for the passport, Jackson pretended to be the victim and submitted the fraudulent identification as her own. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.


title: Mexican National Sentenced To 24 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Elias Garcia-Cervantes (37, Mexico) to 24 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Garcia-Cervantes entered a guilty plea on November 22, 2024. According to court documents, Garcia-Cervantes was convicted of carrying a concealed firearm on July 28, 2015, and illegal reentry into the United States after deportation on February 21, 2017. Following those convictions, Garcia-Cervantes was deported from the United States to Mexico. After his deportation, Garcia-Cervantes illegally reentered the United States. This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.


title: Port Charlotte Man Sentenced To Fifteen Years In Federal Prison For Producing Child Sexual Abuse Videos

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Demario Desmond Fenton (21, Port Charlotte) to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production of videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child. This sentence will run consecutive to any state sentence imposed. Fenton must also register as a sex offender. He entered a guilty plea on April 24, 2024. According to court documents, between July and August 2023, Fenton used or persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Fenton also produced videos of the minor being sexually abused. On November 15, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Fenton’s home and his laptop and electronic storage devices were seized. Fenton agreed to speak with law enforcement and admitted to sexually abusing the minor and recording that abuse. The subsequent forensic examination of Fenton’s electronic devices revealed videos of the minor’s sexual abuse. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Three Aryan Brotherhood Prison Gang Members Convicted of Rico Conspiracy and Murder in Aid of Racketeering

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO , Calif. — Following a four-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, three members of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang were found guilty of racketeering activity that included murder, drug trafficking, fraud, and robbery, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. A federal jury found California State Prison inmate John Stinson, 70, guilty of one count of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. The jury found California State Prison inmate Francis Clement, 58, guilty of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and five counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the murders of Allan Roshanski, Ruslan Megomedgadzhiev, Michael Brizendine, James Yagle, and Ronnie Ennis. The jury found California State Prison inmate Kenneth Johnson, 63, guilty of conspiracy to conduct the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering for the murders of Allan Roshanski and Ruslan Megomedgadzhiev. According to court documents and evidence produced at trial, between 2015 and 2023, AB members and associates engaged in racketeering activity, committing multiple acts involving murder, conspiracies to murder, fraud, robbery, and drug trafficking crimes. Using smuggled-in cellphones, Stinson, Johnson, and Clement directed various criminal acts while controlling the membership of the AB. Stinson was a leader of the AB and had significant authority over the enterprise, including resolving disputes among members and approving the murder of current or former members. Johnson and Clement ordered murders of individuals in the Los Angeles area of California. Additional individuals charged in the case and still pending trial include the following: Jayson Weaver, 47, scheduled for trial in April 2026. Waylon Pitchford, 47, scheduled for trial in April 2026. Andrew Collins, 42, scheduled for trial in April 2026. Evan Perkins, 38, scheduled for trial at a pending date. Justin Gray, 39, scheduled for trial in September 2025. The charges against the remaining defendants are only allegations, and those individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was the product of an extensive long-term investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Office of Correctional Safety (CDCR), United States Marshals Service, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, Pomona Police Department, Torrance Police Department, San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sheriff Department, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and Kern County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Justice and California Highway Patrol Special Operations Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Clovis Police Department, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Stokman and James Conolly and Department of Justice attorney Jared Engelking are prosecuting the case. Stinson, Clement, and Johnson are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Thurston on May 19, 2025. Defendants Johnson and Clement face mandatory life sentences based upon their convictions for murder in aid of racketeering. Defendant Stinson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison based upon his RICO conspiracy conviction. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 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. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Daytona Beach Man Sentenced To Prison For Theft Of Government Money And Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Richard Eugene Findley (63, Daytona Beach) to 3 years and 9 months in federal prison for theft of government money and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, Findley must also pay restitution to the Social Security Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and the victim of the identity theft. Findley entered a guilty plea on April 30, 2024. According to court documents, Findley obtained E.G.’s identification card, Social Security card, and birth certificate sometime in the 1990s. He then used E.G.’s identity without E.G.’s permission to fraudulently obtain various government benefits, including a Florida driver license, Social Security benefits, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.


title: District Court Enters Permanent Injunctions Prohibiting Unauthorized Debits to  Consumer and Small Business Bank Accounts

component: Civil Division

body_text: On Jan. 31, a court in Miami entered the final in a series of consent decrees, permanently barring 10 individuals and entities from operating a scheme to steal funds from thousands of bank accounts belonging to consumers and small businesses across the United States. In a civil complaint unsealed on Dec. 11, 2023, the Justice Department alleged that a network of individuals and their companies, including defendants Farhan Khan, Jeremy Todd Briley, Christopher Foufas, Brandon Hahn, and Melinda Petit-Homme, participated in a scheme to steal millions of dollars from consumers and small businesses by making recurring unauthorized charges against their bank accounts. The defendants allegedly used sham companies, including Altitude Processing Inc., which does business as Clear Marketing Agency, to cover their tracks and make the unauthorized charges appear legitimate. The defendants also allegedly took elaborate steps to portray the sham companies as legitimate businesses that provided online marketing services, creating bogus websites for the sham companies, fake customer authorizations for the charges, and a “customer service” call center to field complaints and offer refunds. The government alleged that, in reality, victims of the scheme never signed up for — or received — any services from the defendants. “These consent decrees are the hard-won result of the Department’s efforts to eradicate schemes that prey upon consumers and small businesses across the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to using all the tools at its disposal to block fraudsters from reaching into victims’ bank accounts and draining their savings through repeated unauthorized charges.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will relentlessly pursue any and everyone masquerading as legitimate businesses to fraudulently steal money from unsuspecting consumers,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “Postal inspectors work diligently to investigate fraud scams and educate the public about how to protect their money from criminals.” Under the consent decrees, the defendants may not charge consumers without authorization. The consent decrees also prevent the defendants from taking any measures to: (a) evade fraud and risk monitoring programs established by any financial institution, payment processor, or the operator of any payment system; (b) disguise the nature of transactions; or (c) artificially reduce chargeback rates. They are further prohibited from assisting any other individuals or entities with taking any of the prohibited actions. The consent decrees do not constitute an admission of guilt on behalf of the defendants. The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Carolyn Rice and Meredith Reiter of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch represented the government in this matter. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida provided substantial assistance. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch .


title: Denton County woman sentenced to federal prison for fatal fentanyl overdose

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Denton woman has been sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for her role in a fatal fentanyl overdose in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Tiffane Chantial Volz, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on February 18, 2025. Co-defendant, Courtney Green, 28, also of Denton, pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on January 30, 2025, by Judge Mazzant. According to information presented in court, on April 15, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a reported overdose death on Heatherton Drive in Celina, Texas. Autopsy results determined the victim died of pulmonary congestion and edema due to the toxic effects of fentanyl. An investigation revealed emails and text messages between the victim and Green discussing the distribution of prescription pills. Further investigation determined Volz to be Green’s source of supply. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. The Public Safety Alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. The campaign aims to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge in fake pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate. For more information, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill. This case was investigated by the Celina Police Department, Denton County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ###


title: Bonita Springs Man Sentenced To Thirty Months For Interstate Threats And Cyberstalking

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Aaron Thomas Fister (30, Bonita Springs) to two years and six months in federal prison for interstate transmission of threats and stalking. Fister entered a guilty plea on November 7, 2024. According to court documents, Fister engaged in a years-long campaign of threats and harassment against a former intimate partner and her sister. Fister’s conduct included making hundreds of harassing phone calls, including dozens in a single day and many during the early-morning hours. Fister also created a series of graphically threatening voicemails, including numerous threats to kill both victims and their family members, as well as a threat to kill and decapitate one victim’s infant daughter. Fister engaged in physically threatening and harassing conduct as well, including slashing car tires, smashing headlights, hitting a family residence with paintballs, using a GPS tracking device to track one victim, and nearly striking one victim with his car while she was pregnant. One victim fled the state of Florida, traveling hundreds of miles away and leaving behind family members and possessions to get away from Fister. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Winter.


title: Venezuelan National Indicted For Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Alvis Alexander Briceno-Yajures (24, Venezuela) with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien. If convicted, Briceno-Yajures faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, on July 30, 2024, Briceno-Yajures illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition while knowing that he was illegally or unlawfully in the United States. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Holly Hill Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Del Mastro.


title: California man who molested teen on flight sentenced to two years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 42-year-old Los Angeles County, California man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two years in prison for abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft enroute to Seattle from Burbank, California, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Justin Baker was arrested March 14, 2024, when the Alaska Airlines plane arrived at SEA. Baker has been in custody since the jury returned its guilty verdict on October 23, 2024. At sentencing U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour imposed the maximum sentence allowed by law saying, “I was particularly struck by the candor of the victim and her bravery in testifying.” “This was a calculated and predatory sexual assault on an 18-year-old girl,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “Mr. Baker underestimated the victim’s strength in testifying, as well as the commitment we have in the Western District of Washington to hold these aircraft offenders accountable.” According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Baker was in the middle seat, with the victim seated to his right next to the wall of the plane. Baker learned the victim was preparing to go to college and was just 18 years old. According to testimony at trial, Baker showed the teen sexually explicit text messages he had on his phone and then draped his jacket over his lap as well as her lower body. The victim attempted to move away from Baker and closer to the wall. He reached under the jacket and groped her leg. Despite the victim saying “No” and moving away when he first tried to touch her, he continued to grope her genitals over her clothing. Then he reached into her top and groped her breast Ultimately, the victim got out of her seat to contact the flight crew. As she tried to pass by Baker, he groped her buttocks and pulled her back down into her seat. Ultimately the victim was able to leave and report the assault. Speaking in court today, Assistant United States Attorney Grace Zoller said Baker, “treated the victim like an object… He dehumanized her.” The victim shared how the assault has “shattered the trajectory of her life.” She told the court about anxiety around airports and flying, and how her family and loved ones “have watched me change in ways I have never imagined.” Her goal she said is to “hold Baker accountable.” Judge Coughenour said he was imposing the maximum two-year sentence because of the “seriousness of the crime, the harm to the victim and the danger (Baker) poses to the community.” When released from prison, Baker will be on five years of federal supervision and will be required to register as a sex offender. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Port of Seattle Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Grace Zoller.


title: Health Net Federal Services LLC and Centene Corporation Agree to Pay Over $11 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Related to Cybersecurity

body_text: SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Health Net Federal Services Inc. (HNFS) of Rancho Cordova and its corporate parent, Centene Corporation, have agreed to pay $11,253,400 to resolve claims that HNFS falsely certified compliance with federal contractor cybersecurity requirements, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. The cybersecurity requirements were contained in a contract between HNFS and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to administer the Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) health insurance program TRICARE for servicemembers and their families. “Safeguarding sensitive government information, particularly when it relates to the health and well-being of millions of service members and their families, is of paramount importance,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California. “When HNFS failed to uphold its cybersecurity obligations, it didn’t just breach its contract with the government, it breached its duty to the people who sacrifice so much in defense of our nation.” “As TRICARE’s managed healthcare services contractor, DoD entrusted HNFS with safeguarding the sensitive information of the nation’s servicemembers and their families,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to pursue federal contractors that place such data at risk by failing to meet material cybersecurity requirements in their contracts.” “This settlement reflects the significance of protecting TRICARE, and the service members and their families who depend on the health care program, from risks of exploitation,” said Cyber Field Office Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General. “DCIS will not be deterred from investigating contractors that fail to comply with federal cybersecurity requirements and risk exposing protected information vulnerable to criminal hackers. The U.S. taxpayers who fund these government contracts expect no less.” The settlement resolves allegations that, between 2015 and 2018, HNFS failed to meet certain cybersecurity controls and falsely certified compliance with them in annual reports to DHA that were required under its contract. The United States alleged that HNFS failed to timely scan for known vulnerabilities and to remedy security flaws on its networks and systems, in accordance with its System Security Plan and the response times HNFS had established. Furthermore, the United States alleged HNFS ignored reports from third-party security auditors and its internal audit department of cybersecurity risks on HNFS’s networks and systems related to asset management; access controls; configuration settings; firewalls; end-of-life hardware and software in use; patch management (i.e., installing critical security updates released by vendors to counter known threats); vulnerability scanning; and password policies. Nonetheless, the United States alleged, HNFS annually certified to DHA that it complied with controls that it violated and, for all of these reasons, its claims for payment were false. The government’s pursuit of this matter is part of its ongoing efforts to hold accountable entities or individuals that put sensitive information at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, knowingly misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols or knowingly violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents. Information on how to report cyberfraud can be found here . The United States was represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Tennyson, along with Christopher Wilson, Laura Hill, and Jonathan Thrope of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, with assistance from DoD’s Office of Inspector General, including the DCIS, Cyber Field Office Western Region, the Inspector General’s Office of Audits, Cyberspace Operations Directorate, and DoD’s Defense Contract Management Agency, Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center. The claims asserted against defendants are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. https://justice.gov/usao-edca/media/1389341/dl?inline