title: Gulf Cartel drug trafficker sent to prison following major cocaine and cash seizures

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 42-year-old resident of San Benito has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Salvador Cortez-Nava aka Chava pleaded guilty Aug. 24, 2023. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Cortez-Nava to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Nava ordering the kidnapping of a co-conspirator and threatened harm over the loss of several drug loads. In handing down the sentence, the court approved the government’s request to forfeit assets obtained through drug proceeds. “The Mexican Gulf Cartel is one of Mexico's oldest criminal syndicates, engaging in drug trafficking, violence, human smuggling, and more, reflecting the complex challenges posed by the cartels along Texas’s border with Mexico,” said Hamdani. “Salvador Cortez-Nava, aka Chava, demonstrated his allegiance to this cartel by coordinating the distribution of cocaine and employing ruthless tactics, including ordering kidnappings and threats of violence. His actions underscored the perilous influence of the cartel as he transported drug proceeds back into Mexico. By sending Cortez-Nava to prison, justice delivers another blow against the Gulf Cartel’s violent hold on the narcotics trade.” “The hard work of our agents leading up to this victory demonstrates Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) unique authorities and expertise in financial investigations to combat organized crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of HSI - San Antonio. “Through a multi-agency task force, we uncovered over $1.5 million in drug proceeds and seized more than 150 kilograms of cocaine; this amount of poison has no place in our country.” “The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) aggressive enforcement continues to hurt the drug trafficking business by shutting down Cortez Nava's significant cocaine trafficking network,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Daniel C. Comeaux. “Regardless of the rank or the level of sophistication used to traffic drugs and money, the DEA has always been able to disassemble the structure these drug cartels have in place to move poison into American communities and successfully eradicate the threat. Cortez-Nava was a key player in a large-scale cocaine trafficking network, importing significant quantities of cocaine from Mexico. He oversaw the transportation and distribution across multiple U.S. cities, including in the Rio Grande Valley as well as North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Florida and Indiana.” Cortez-Nava’s criminal organization employed sophisticated methods, such as using vehicles with hidden compartments at ports of entry to smuggle cocaine from Matamoros, Mexico, into the United States. He also supervised the recruitment of individuals to carry out these smuggling operations. A multi-agency task force investigating several narcotics and cash seizures from 2016 to 2020 determined Cortez-Nava led the organization. A series of drug and money seizures resulting from Cortez-Nava’s orders included $501,145.00 in drug proceeds concealed inside a vehicle in February 2016 and 1.10 kilograms of cocaine in April 2017 that was intended to be distributed. After that drug seizure, authorities discovered an additional 48.35 kilograms of cocaine belonging to the Gulf Cartel. These seizures were followed by seizures of 29.45 kilograms of cocaine and $269,996.00 in 2018, and 68.3 kilograms of cocaine and over $812,000 in 2019. During the investigation, authorities seized over $1.5 million in proceeds and approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine. As part of his guilty plea, Cortez-Nava agreed to forfeit several properties, a vehicle, two firearms and various jewelry, watches and other items. Cortez-Nava will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. HSI and DEA conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Brownsville Police Department and Customs and Border Protection. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal state and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Zachary Blackmon prosecuted the case.


title: Prior felon going back to prison on fentanyl charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Alexis Javier Centeno-Baez, 30, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that in March 2017, Centeno-Baez was sentenced to 63 months in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, following a jury trial. Centeno-Baez was also sentenced to four years of supervised release. On October 17, 2022, a United States Probation Department officer was conducting a random home contact at Centeno-Baez’s residence. During the contact, Centeno-Baez was questioned about a brown paper bag in the kitchen. Centeno-Baez said the bag contained heroin and he also admitted to engaging in drug trafficking. A subsequent search of the residence resulted in the seizure of a quantity of fentanyl, tramadol tablets, a quantity of methamphetamine, a quantity of marijuana, digital scales, $46,550 in cash and ammunition. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division, and the United States Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Timothy C. Englerth. # # # #


title: Two Aryan Brotherhood Prison Gang Members Sentenced to Two Consecutive Life Terms in Prison for RICO Conspiracy and Murder in Aid of Racketeering

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Ronald Yandell, 62, of Pinole, and William Sylvester, 56, of Norco, were each sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to two consecutive life terms in prison for murder in aid of racketeering and various other RICO-related crimes, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between 2011 and 2016, Aryan Brotherhood members and associates engaged in racketeering activity, committing multiple acts involving murder, conspiracies to murder, and drug trafficking crimes. The trial evidence showed that Aryan Brotherhood members oversaw a significant heroin and methamphetamine trafficking operation from their California prison cells using smuggled cellphones to direct drug trafficking activities, order murders, and oversee other criminal activities inside and outside of the prisons. Yandell’s murder in aid of racketeering According to evidence presented at trial, on August 15, 2015, two inmates carried out a brutal murder of another inmate at CSP-Sacramento on Yandell’s order. Before the murder, Yandell offered the two inmates membership in the Aryan Brotherhood if they were able to execute the killing. About a year after the murder, DEA intercepted calls made by Yandell over a contraband cellphone in which he bragged about directing the murder and sponsoring the killers for membership in the gang. Yandell also directed that money earned from Aryan Brotherhood criminal activities be directed to support the two murderers. Sylvester’s murder in aid of racketeering According to evidence presented at trial, on October 7, 2001, Sylvester murdered another inmate at CSP-Sacramento to earn his membership in the Aryan Brotherhood. In particular, Sylvester murdered the other inmate because the victim was a member of a gang that refused to recognize the Aryan Brotherhood’s authority and, as a result, members of the victim’s gang were marked for death. To carry out the murder, Sylvester and another inmate used substantial planning and premeditation to carry out the attack within an extremely-restrictive prison environment. They used inmate-manufactured weapons and surprised the victim with multiple lethal stab wounds to the victim’s body. Sylvester earned membership in the gang for carrying out the killing. In April 2024, following a nine-week trial before, a federal jury found Yandell, Sylvester, and co-defendant Danny Troxell, 71, guilty of RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to murder, murder in aid of racketeering, and multiple counts of drug trafficking. Troxell will be sentenced on February 18, 2025. Charges remain pending against one defendant, Kevin MacNamara, 44, of La Palma. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Vallejo Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, Ross Pearson, and David Spencer are prosecuting the case. 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: Prior felon sentenced to more than 24 years in prison on new child pornography charge

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christopher Gostick, 30, of Lancaster, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography by a person having a prior conviction relating to possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 292 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who handled the case, stated that on June 9 and 10, 2023, Gostick attended a sleepover birthday party, during which he kissed a minor victim (Minor Victim 1), who was nine years old, on the lips. Minor Victim 1 told her parents, which resulted in police officers responding to the residence and taking possession of cellular telephones and a tablet that belonged to Gostick. A review of one of the cellphones uncovered a surreptitiously recorded video of Minor Victim 1 using the bathroom. In addition to the video of Minor Victim 1, law enforcement also found on Gostick’s other cellphone a screen recording of a Snapchat conversation between Gostick and a second minor victim (Minor Victim 2), who was 10 years old at the time. During that conversation, Gostick, who was posing as an 11-year-old female, instructed Minor Victim 2 to send him a sexually explicit video, which Minor Victim 2 did. A review of Gostick’s devices also recovered approximately 613 images and two videos containing child pornography. Previously, in August 2019, Gostick was convicted on a state charge of Attempted Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia. # # # #


title: Kentucky Man Sentenced for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material to South Florida

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Dec. 12, James Ray Nichols, 32, from Louisville, Ky., was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, followed by 25 years of supervised release, and ordered to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty to the charge of distribution of child pornography. According to the court record, beginning in January 2024, Nichols, who lived at his parents’ home in Kentucky, used a social networking application on his phone to discuss having sex with an 8-year-old and 3-year-old in conversations with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force Officer and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) Detective posing as the children’s mother in the Southern District of Florida. Between January and July 2024, Nichols distributed multiple videos of child sexual abuse material to the undercover officer. On July 17, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Nichols’ Kentucky residence where he was found with a phone that held a cache of child sexual exploitation material. After his arrest, Nichols was transferred to the Southern District of Florida. At sentencing, Nichols agreed to pay $10,000 restitution to victims of the material he distributed. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI Miami, and Sheriff Rick Bradshaw of PBSO made the announcement. HSI West Palm Beach and PBSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting it. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/project-safe-childhood . To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography call (877) 4-HSI-TIP [(877) 447-4847]. Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80093. ###


title: Schenectady Woman Indicted on Social Security Fraud Charges

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Destiny Brown, age 45, of Schenectady, New York, was indicted this month on Social Security fraud charges. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office, made the announcement. The charges relate to Brown’s alleged misuse of her deceased wife’s children’s Social Security benefits that she applied for and received after Schenectady County Department of Social Services removed the children from her custody.The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Brown was arraigned on the indictment in Albany and ordered released pending further proceedings. If convicted, Brown faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised of up to 3 years. Brown would also have to pay restitution to the victims of her criminal conduct. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General investigating this case and Special Assistant United States Attorney Paul Tuck is prosecuting this case.


title: Former Healthcare Executive Sentenced for Mail Fraud

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kevin Harrington, age 50, of Oneonta, New York, was sentenced to serve a three-year term of federal probation and ordered to pay over $150,000.00 in restitution to his former employer in relation to his previous guilty plea to two counts of mail fraud, United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced. At his previous change of plea hearing, Harrington admitted that he was the former executive director at First Community Care of Bassett, LLC (an affiliate of Bassett Healthcare Network). During his employment, Harrington submitted fraudulent expense reports seeking reimbursement for the purchase of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. As part of the scheme, Harrington provided invoices to his employer that falsely claimed he had paid thousands of dollars for medical equipment when no such equipment was ever purchased. Unaware that the invoices were fraudulent, First Community Care of Bassett issued and mailed checks to Harrington for reimbursement. In total, Harrington admitted to stealing over $150,000.00 from his former employer. In addition to his term of probation, Harrington was ordered to serve six months of home confinement and was fined $5,500.00. The FBI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck.


title: Former FBI Agent Indicted On Charges Of Cyberstalking, Witness Tampering, And Obstruction Of Criminal Investigation

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND - A federal grand jury has indicted Paul Raymond Flood with cyberstalking, witness tampering, and obstruction of a criminal investigation by bribery. Flood, 54, of Castro Valley, was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal court this morning. According to the indictment, which was filed May 16, 2024, and unsealed today, Flood was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2007 through 2019. In early October 2018, Flood met a first-year law student, referred to in the indictment as “Victim-1” or “V-1,” who had contacted him for information on pursuing a future career with the FBI. A family member of V-1’s, referred to in the indictment as “B-1,” knew Flood and referred V-1 to him. Within a few weeks of meeting V-1, Flood allegedly began to make unwelcome romantic advances toward V-1 and engage in a pattern of harassing and intimidating conduct. The indictment charges that, among other conduct, Flood had a diamond ring delivered to V-1 in mid-October 2018; used different numbers and messaging applications to call and text V-1, creating and using at least 79 different numbers between mid-October 2018 through September 2019; sent messages demonstrating that he was surveilling V-1 and her family; and repeatedly pressured B-1 to have V-1 call or unblock Flood. Although V-1 initially did not report Flood due to her family’s fear of retaliation, V-1 reported him in June 2019 to federal and local law enforcement authorities. Shortly thereafter, the FBI suspended Flood from duty and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) opened an investigation into Flood’s conduct. In response, Flood allegedly employed various means to pressure, harass, intimidate, and persuade V-1 to help him by not providing statements or testimony in the investigations against him, including threatening to commit suicide, offering V-1 various bribes, and pressuring V-1’s family members to persuade her not to cooperate with law enforcement. Flood allegedly succeeded in persuading V-1 to help him obstruct the pending investigations. This included V-1’s evading multiple attempts by DOJ OIG investigators to contact her for an interview and to serve her with a federal grand jury subpoena in July 2019. According to the indictment, Flood also persuaded V-1 to agree to enter a sham marriage with him so that she would not have to testify against him, buying her a $17,000 engagement ring in the process. V-1 did not follow through with the sham marriage plan. The indictment charges Flood with one count of cyberstalking in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261A(2)(B), two counts of witness tampering by intimidation, threats, corrupt persuasion, or misleading conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(b)(2) and (b)(3), one count of witness tampering by harassment in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(d), and one count of obstruction of a criminal investigation by bribery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510(a). An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Flood faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each witness tampering count under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b), three years in prison on the witness tampering count under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(d), and five years in prison on each count of cyberstalking and obstruction. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Flood is currently on conditional release. His next appearance in federal court is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2025. United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Zachary Shroyer, Special Agent in Charge of DOJ OIG Western Region, made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Anne C. Hsieh is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Mimi Lam, Lakisha Holliman, and Helen Yee. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DOJ OIG, with assistance from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Paul Raymond Flood Indictment


title: Convicted Felon, Whom Law Enforcement Encountered On Oakland’s “Blade,” Arrested On Firearm Possession Charge

body_text: OAKLAND – An Oakland man was arrested yesterday on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jason Nious, 42, made his initial appearance in federal district court this morning. According to the criminal complaint and court documents unsealed today, Oakland police encountered Nious on Sept. 18, 2024, while searching the 500 block of East 15th Street in Oakland for a different individual who had an active arrest warrant for gun possession. Officers saw Nious standing next to the wanted person and next to a car that was registered to Nious. Officers determined that Nious was a convicted felon, currently on probation. They then searched Nious’s car and found a gun with a live round in the chamber in a bag on the front passenger seat, along with a loaded 10-round magazine. Nious has prior convictions in Alameda County for human trafficking of a minor, providing controlled substances to a minor, and armed robbery. Nious is next scheduled to appear in federal district court for a detention hearing on Dec. 23, 2024. As detailed in the criminal complaint, the 500 block of East 15th Street in Oakland is within “the Blade,” an area surrounding International Boulevard between 5th Avenue and 23rd Avenue that is known throughout the Bay Area for its widespread pimping and pandering. The Blade also has seen a significant increase in other violent crimes in recent years. Consequently, this year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Oakland Police Department have been actively coordinating and increasing enforcement to combat sex trafficking and violent crime in the area. United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp made the announcement. A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Nious faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of $250,000 on the count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). A court would impose any sentence following conviction after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ivana Djak is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Oakland Police Department.


title: Justice Department Files Nationwide Lawsuit Alleging CVS Knowingly Dispensed Controlled Substances in Violation of the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – In a civil complaint unsealed today in Providence, Rhode Island, the Justice Department alleges that CVS Pharmacy Inc. and various subsidiaries (collectively, CVS) filled unlawful prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs for unlawful prescriptions in violation of the False Claims Act (FCA). CVS is the country’s largest pharmacy chain, with more than 9,000 pharmacies across the United States. The government’s complaint alleges that, from October 17, 2013, to the present, CVS knowingly filled prescriptions for controlled substances that lacked a legitimate medical purpose, were not valid, and/or were not issued in the usual course of professional practice. Among the large number of unlawful prescriptions that CVS allegedly filled were prescriptions for dangerous and excessive quantities of opioids, early fills of opioids, and “trinity” prescriptions, an especially dangerous and abused combination of drugs made up of an opioid, a benzodiazepine and a muscle relaxant. CVS also allegedly filled large quantities of prescriptions for controlled substances written by prescribers it knew to be engaged in “pill mill practices” — that is, prescribers who issue large numbers of controlled substance prescriptions without any medical purpose. According to the complaint, CVS ignored substantial evidence from multiple sources, including its own pharmacists and internal data, indicating that its stores were dispensing unlawful prescriptions. The complaint alleges that CVS’ violations resulted from corporate-mandated performance metrics, incentive compensation, and staffing policies that prioritized corporate profits over patient safety. CVS set staffing levels far too low for pharmacists to both meet their performance metrics and comply with their legal obligations. CVS also allegedly deprived its pharmacists of crucial information (including by, for example, preventing pharmacists from warning one another about certain prescribers) that could have reduced the number of unlawful prescriptions filled. The complaint alleges that CVS’ actions helped to fuel the opioid crisis and that, in some particularly tragic instances, patients died after overdosing on opioids shortly after filling unlawful prescriptions at CVS. “Our complaint alleges that CVS repeatedly filled controlled substance prescriptions that were unlawful and pressured its pharmacists to fill such prescriptions without taking the time needed to confirm their validity,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The practices alleged contributed to the opioid crisis and opioid-related deaths, and today’s complaint seeks to hold CVS accountable for its misconduct.” “Opioid deaths remain a scourge on communities across Rhode Island and the nation, robbing families of loved ones and leaving a path of devastation in their wake,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha for the District of Rhode Island. “This lawsuit alleges that CVS failed to exercise its critical role as gatekeeper of dangerous prescription opioids and, instead, facilitated the illegal proliferation of these highly addictive drugs, including by pill mill prescribers. When corporations such as CVS prize profits over patient safety and overburden their pharmacy staff so that they cannot carry out the basic responsibility of ensuring that prescriptions are legitimate, we will use every tool at our disposal to see that they answer for it.” The government alleges that by knowingly filling unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances, CVS violated the CSA and, where CVS sought reimbursement from federal healthcare programs, also violated the FCA. The complaint alleges that CVS’s actions helped to fuel the opioid crisis. If CVS is found liable, it could face civil penalties for each unlawful prescription filled in violation of the CSA and treble damages and applicable penalties for each prescription reimbursed by federal healthcare programs in violation of the FCA. The court also may award injunctive relief to prevent CVS from committing further CSA violations, including ordering appropriate changes to corporate compliance programs and policies. “When lives are destroyed or lost to opioid abuse, it doesn’t matter if the supplier is a street-level dealer, a pill mill, or a nationwide corporation,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Our laws regarding the dispensing of opioids and other controlled substances are clear and apply to everyone. We will pursue whatever legal action is necessary to stop any enterprise, regardless of size, that places profit over the safety of our citizens.” “CVS is alleged to have dispensed large amounts of highly addictive opioid medications to persons they knew had no medical need for them,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Simply put, they put profits over their obligation to keep their customers safe. A pharmacy is the final step in the pharmaceutical distribution process that is in place to keep customers safe. In the fight against the opioid epidemic, DEA will continue to be relentless in holding those accountable who violate our drug laws and place our communities in danger whether they are a criminal cartel or large pharmacy chain.” “Pharmacies and pharmacists are critical partners to ensure controlled substances are dispensed lawfully and safely to the public,” said Deputy Inspector General Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is committed to holding individuals and entities that dispense these controlled substances improperly and without legitimate medical purpose accountable.” “Protecting TRICARE, the healthcare system for military members and their dependents, is a top priority for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS),” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Today’s filing demonstrates DCIS’ ongoing commitment to partner with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to investigate health care providers that submit false claims to TRICARE and put its beneficiaries at risk.” Whistleblower Hillary Estright, who previously worked for CVS, filed an action on October 17, 2019, under the qui tam provisions of the FCA. Those provisions authorize private parties to sue on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in any recovery. The Act permits the United States to intervene and take over such lawsuits, as it has done here. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Estright v. Health Corporation, et al. , No. 1:22-cv-222 (D.R.I.). The United States’ intervention in this matter underscores the government’s commitment to combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The DEA’s Office of Diversion Control, Washington, D.C. Division, HHS-OIG and DCIS investigated the case. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of California and Northern District of Ohio, DEA’s Office of Chief Counsel, DEA’s Office of Diversion Control, Los Angeles Field Division, Office of Personnel Management, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and FBI provided substantial assistance in the investigation. Assistant Directors Amy L. DeLine and C.B. Buente, Senior Litigation Counsel Donald Lorenzen and Trial Attorneys Benjamin Cornfeld and Amanda K. Kelly of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch; Trial Attorneys Claire L. Norsetter, Joshua Barron and Megan F. Engel of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara M. Bloom and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Love Hubbard and Rachna Vyas for the District of Rhode Island; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clare Wuerker and John Beerbower for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sydney Spector and Tracy Weinstein for the District of Hawaii; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Gillingham and Adrian Garcia for the Eastern District of Texas are litigating the enforcement action. The claims asserted against the defendants are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.


title: United States Attorney Will Thompson and Law Enforcement to Hold Press Conference in Child Sex Trafficking Case

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson and law enforcement officials will hold a press conference on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 3 p.m. to discuss the sentencing of Larry Allen Clay Jr. The press conference is contingent upon the completion of the sentencing hearing, scheduled for 11 a.m. WHAT: Press conference for the sentencing of Larry Allen Clay Jr. WHEN: Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 3 p.m. WHERE: Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston, Fourth Floor, Suite 4000 A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. ###


title: Sioux City Man Sentenced to 106 Months in Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Sioux City man was sentenced yesterday to 106 months in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. According to public court documents, Rodney Lamard Hall, II, 31, was found in possession of a distribution quantity of pills containing approximately 37 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, and a loaded nine-millimeter pistol with an extended magazine. At the time he committed this offense, he was on probation for possessing a firearm and marijuana in April 2023, with the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County. After completing his term of imprisonment, Hall will be required to serve a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. 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 more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Harlan Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Harlan man was sentenced on December 12, 2024, to 84 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography. According to public court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip that an account, later determined to be associated with Jesse Daniel Blaine, 42, received files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of Blaine’s Harlan residence. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Blaine used his electronic devices to receive, view, and possess images and videos of child sexual abuse material, and to search for child sex stories. After completing his term of imprisonment, Blaine will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Blaine was also ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation-Cybercrime Bureau, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: New Hartford, Iowa, Man Receives Prison Sentence for Child Pornography Charge

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A New Hartford, Iowa, man who received child pornography from 2004 through December of 2021 was sentenced December 17, 2024 to more than 11 years in federal prison. Robert Jene Smith, age 57, from New Hartford, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 20, 2024, guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography. In a plea agreement, Smith admitted that from 2004 through the search of his house in December of 2021, he obtained and shared hundreds of images and videos by using a file sharing program. During the search of his residence, agents found over 7,500 images and over 100 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on multiple devices in the residence. Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Smith was sentenced to 136 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. He was ordered to make $32,000 in restitution to ten identified victims who were used to produce child pornography and requested restitution for damages they suffered. He must also pay $15,100 in special assessments and serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Smith is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Urbandale, Iowa, Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-03023. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States After Being Deported

body_text: A man who had been deported, illegally returned to the United States, and then used someone else’s social security number to obtain employment was sentenced today to more than one year in federal prison. Luis Gomez-Otoy, age 39, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 21, 2024, guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of identification documents, one count of misuse of a social security number, and one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported following a felony conviction. At the guilty plea, Gomez-Otoy admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Gomez-Otoy was arrested in May 2008 during an immigration enforcement action in Postville and was deported in October 2008. On May 8, 2024, immigration officials learned Gomez-Otoy had illegally returned to the United States and found Gomez-Otoy at the Clayton County Jail following his arrest on state charges. On July 12, 2024, Gomez-Otoy was convicted in state court of operating while intoxicated, second offense, and sentenced to 7 days’ imprisonment. Gomez-Otoy was previously convicted in the Northern District of Iowa in May 2008 for use of false employment documents, a felony, served five months’ imprisonment and was deported. Gomez-Otoy also admitted he used a fraudulent Social Security card and a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card, also known as a “green card,” both bearing his name, to prove his authorization to work in the United States when he completed employment and tax forms in May 2022 at a business in West Union, Iowa. The number on the Social Security card was assigned to someone else. The alien registration number on the Permanent Resident card was assigned to a female from Mexico. Social Security and Permanent Resident cards are documents prescribed by statute or regulation for entry into or as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the United States. Gomez-Otoy was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Gomez-Otoy was sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Gomez-Otoy is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-1017. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 17 Years After Pill Killed 18-Year-Old

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A drug trafficker who sold fentanyl to an 18-year-old girl who died of an overdose was sentenced this week to 17 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Ladraelyn Bolar, 34, was charged via criminal complaint in April and pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced Tuesday by senior U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means. According to plea papers, Mr. Bolar admitted he conspired with others to distribute fentanyl. He acknowledged he sold blue M-30 pills containing fentanyl to an undercover ATF agent on March 25, 2024. A confidential informant introduced the agent to Mr. Bolar and accompanied him to a parking lot in Fort Worth, where Mr. Bolar sold the undercover agent 100 M-30 fentanyl pills for $250, or $2.50 per pill. Later in the day, Mr. Bolar offered the undercover agent a “k-pack” of 1,000 fentanyl pills; the agent then bought 900 more fentanyl pills for $1,400, or approximately $1.55 per pill. According to the evidence in the case, just five days prior, the friend of a woman who died from a fentanyl overdose told officers that she and the victim had purchased the offending pills from Mr. Bolar. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division and the Fort Worth Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas prosecuted the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith.


title: Registered sex offender sentenced to 35 years in prison for exchanging videos & images of child torture for child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A registered sex offender was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 420 months in prison for possessing and distributing images and videos depicting the torture, mutilation and murder of children. Jeremiah Morrison, 38, of Columbus, obtained the material on the dark web and traded it for images and videos of sexual abuse of young children. “The horrors in the files that Morrison collected, viewed, possessed, distributed and discussed on the dark web are so devoid of humanity, it is truly hard to put into words. The abhorrent content he sought included child mutilation and death, sadistic and masochistic torture of babies and toddlers, infants subjected to anguish and agony, all for the sexual gratification of sexually deviant individuals like Morrison,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “We cannot allow individuals like Morrison to remain in society. He’s a danger to society and should be imprisoned. May today’s sentencing provide justice for the victims and their families.” The Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information in April 2023 related to Morrison uploading child pornography. While executing a search warrant in June 2023, investigators discovered Morrison’s cell phone contained 3,000 images and 900 videos of child sexual abuse material that generally depicted prepubescent children, toddlers or infants engaged in sex acts with adults. The images and videos depicted the sexual assault of infants and children under 6 years old. In addition to the child sexual abuse material recovered on the device, investigators also discovered numerous images and videos depicting the torture, mutilation and killing of children. Morrison would obtain these videos to trade with others in order to collect child sexual abuse material for himself. Morrison has been convicted of crimes against children two other times, including a 2012 conviction for filming an 11-year-old boy under a bathroom stall divider at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Morrison was indicted and arrested on the most recent charges in September 2023, and has been in custody since. He pleaded guilty in April 2024. He was sentenced to remain under court supervision for life after completion of his prison sentence. He was also sentenced to pay restitution to victims of at least $3,000 per victim. The number of victims and actual restitution will be determined by the Court. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie M. Salazar, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit (HSI); Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Belmont County man pleads guilty to child exploitation crimes in plea agreement that calls for 30-to-60-year prison sentence

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Dennis Stopar, 65, of Flushing, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to sexually exploiting minors and possessing child pornography. The plea agreement includes a sentence recommendation of 30 to 60 years in prison. According to court documents, between 2022 and 2023, Stopar sexually assaulted multiple female minor victims, forced a minor male victim to engage in sexual activity with another child and created hundreds of videos and images of the horrific abuse. In December 2023, Dropbox, Inc. submitted a cyber tipline to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a Dropbox account. Dropbox identified the IP address associated with the account within 24 hours. Further investigation revealed Stopar, a convicted sex offender, lived in a trailer on the property identified as the IP address. On December 28, Belmont County Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a local search warrant and seized Stopar’s electronic devices. Stopar’s electronic devices were subsequently processed via a federal search warrant, and he was charged federally in April 2024. Stopar’s prior sex offense is a rape conviction for sexually abusing a victim beginning when the victim was approximately 6 years old until the victim was 16 years old. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Belmont County Sheriff David L. Lucas announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Grand jury indicts local doctor on false statements, writings charges related to 1989 rape

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment today against a Sycamore Township man whose DNA implicated him in a 1989 rape. Frederick Louis Tanzer, 66, is charged with four counts of making false statements to an agency or officer of the United States and two counts of making or using a false document or writing. Each count is punishable by up to five years in prison. These federal crimes are prosecutable even if an underlying offense has passed the statute of limitations. Tanzer has been in custody since his arrest on Dec. 11 and will remain in custody pending trial. According to court documents, Tanzer’s DNA was confirmed by a forensic laboratory as a match to the DNA the rapist had left at the 1989 crime scene, where the victim was violently raped over the course of five and a half hours in her condominium on Creighton Place in Cincinnati after arriving home from work. It is alleged that Tanzer made several materially false statements to federal investigators when approached about the rape last week, including denying having seen or interacted with the victim on the date she was raped. Tanzer is a medical doctor who has lived and practiced medicine in Ohio, Kansas and Colorado. According to a recent filing relating to detention, during a search warrant executed on Dec. 11 at Tanzer’s home, investigators located restraints, a gag, a black hat and zip ties together in Tanzer’s dresser. The same filing also detailed that two additional victims have been identified who were repeatedly drugged and raped by Tanzer, including as recently as two and a half years ago in Kansas. The document includes information about Tanzer drugging the women in order to have sex with them without their consent and about Tanzer using a burner phone to engage with sex workers when he traveled for work for weeks or months at a time. Federal law enforcement officials ask the public to consider the circumstances of the rapes, and the locations where Tanzer has lived, and to contact the FBI with any similar information at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the arrest. The IRS-Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Field Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Possession of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Justin Burney, age 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced December 18, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Burney to 104 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Burney’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. On August 15, 2022, Omaha police stopped a car driven by Burney. As officers approached the vehicle, they could see a baggie of meth in the driver’s area. Later search of the car uncovered a total of two baggies of meth, empty individual baggies, and a digital scale. Burney also had $870 cash. Laboratory testing of the meth confirmed the baggies contained 26 grams of actual meth. At the time of the offense, Burney was on parole for a felony meth conviction from Douglas County District Court. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Seth Coufal, age 34, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced December 18, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Coufal to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Coufal is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. In December 2022, Coufal distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine to another individual in Elkhorn, Nebraska. That individual used the drugs and subsequently overdosed but survived. This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Lincoln Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Dacia Leytham, age 32, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 18, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with a serious prior drug felony conviction. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Harris to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Harris’ release from prison, she will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. On August 10, 2022, Leytham was a passenger in an SUV stopped by Lincoln Police Department officers after she agreed to sell meth to an undercover narcotics investigator. Leytham’s backpack was searched, and investigators found baggies containing a total of at least 430 grams of pure meth. Leytham later agreed to talk to investigators and admitted she had sold a total of approximately 10 ounces of meth over the prior month. At the time of her arrest, Leytham had a prior felony conviction related to the distribution of meth for which she was sentenced to four to six years by the Douglas County District Court in June of 2019. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.


title: Woman Sentenced for Distributing Methamphetamine with a Firearm

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Alondra Rebolledo, age 42, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced December 18, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Rebolledo to 235 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 295 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rebolledo’s release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On May 24, 2023, a confidential source coordinated a controlled purchase of 111 grams of meth from codefendant Shelby English. To make the purchase, the confidential source drove to the residence at 45th block of N. 41st Street, Omaha, and entered the residence with English. Inside the residence, the confidential source and English encountered a Hispanic female later identified as the defendant, Alondra Rebolledo, who weighed out the meth and gave it to English, who then gave it to the confidential source. Forensic laboratory testing confirmed the substance as meth. A search warrant was later executed on the home, resulting in the seizure of several pounds of meth, cocaine, marijuana, THC derivatives, a firearm and ammunition. Shelby English pled guilty to distributing meth. On July 17, 2024, she was sentenced to 130 months custody with 5 years of supervised release to follow. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.


title: Muskogee Residents Sentenced For Child Neglect

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Andrew Allen Maher, age 33, and Azalee Louellen Maher, age 28, both of Muskogee, Oklahoma, were sentenced to five years supervised release for child neglect in Indian country. The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On April 15, 2024, Andrew Maher and Azalee Maher each pleaded guilty to one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country. According to investigators, on August 18, 2023, Muskogee officers responding to reports of an accidental firearm discharge at a Muskogee residence discovered a two-year old child with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the lower abdomen. EMS workers successfully resuscitated and stabilized the child, who was transported for life-saving surgery. As part of the plea, both defendants admitted failing to provide adequate supervision to the child in their care, resulting in the child accessing a firearm. The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie Pippin represented the United States.


title: Rochester business owner pleads guilty to food stamp fraud

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Zina Amba Mbile Mbile, 45, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to food stamp fraud before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) uses federal tax dollars to help low-income individuals purchase food. Eligible individuals are provided with a debit card from which they can make food purchases at authorized food stores. Businesses authorized to accepts SNAP benefits, can only do so for the sale of eligible food products. It is unlawful to accept SNAP benefits for non-food items such as cigarettes, beer, or for cash. Between March 1, 2020, and July 23, 2024, Mbile, who operated the Beni Food convenience store on Dewey Avenue in Rochester, accepted SNAP benefits from customers in exchange for non-food items, such as cosmetic products. Mbile also exchanged cash for food stamp benefits, resulting in a profit for Mbile. In total, Mbile fraudulently caused $246,890.00 to be deposited into Beni Food’s bank accounts for food that was never purchased. The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Charmeka Parker, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Monroe County Department of Human Services, under the direction of Commissioner Thalia Wright. Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2025, before Judge Wolford. # # # #


title: Florida Woman Sentenced to Prison for Pandemic-Related Fraud

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Calah Williams has been sentenced for stealing Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”), Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), and unemployment insurance (“UI”) benefits made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Williams stole from programs designed to help the public during a global crisis and now she will face the consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This prosecution demonstrates our office’s continuing commitment to holding individuals accountable for defrauding the CARES Act program.” “The investigative efforts of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and its partners, combined with the prosecutorial efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, demonstrate their commitment to pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting those who try to defraud the American people,” stated Special Agent in Charge Scott Moffit. According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Williams defrauded multiple government agencies – including the Small Business Administration and 10 state agencies responsible for UI benefits – by filing fraudulent EIDL, PPP, and UI benefits applications, sometimes using stolen personally identifying information. The various applications were littered with false information, including income numbers, the number of employees, employee names, and the applicant information. In total, Williams filed 42 EIDL applications, 16 PPP applications, and 177 fraudulent UI benefits applications, seeking at least approximately $4,879,641. Much of her fraud was immediately detected and stopped, but she was successful in obtaining approximately $1,026,241. Calah Williams, 29, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,026,241. Williams was convicted on these charges on July 31, 2024, after she pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Driver in Failed Meth Smuggling Conspiracy Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – An Arlington woman was sentenced in Del Rio to 168 months in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to import methamphetamine into the United States. According to court documents, Linnette Rodriguez-Potter, 46, conspired with others to import 3.422 kilograms of methamphetamine which had a purity of 100%. Rodriguez-Potter was referred to a secondary inspection at the Del Rio Port of Entry on July 25, 2020. Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered and removed seven package containing methamphetamine hydrochloride. A search of her cell phone revealed communications with co-conspirator Sally Renae Smith, in which Rodriguez-Potter was instructed to deliver the packages to Smith at a Del Rio motel. From there, the co-conspirators intended to further traffic the methamphetamine elsewhere in Texas. Rodriguez-Potter, Smith, and two other co-defendants—Joshua Keith Stewart and Stetson Lee Spearman—all pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge. Smith was sentenced on Feb. 22, 2024 to 292 months in prison. Stewart was sentenced on Oct. 4 to 235 months in prison. Spearman remains in federal custody with a sentence hearing scheduled for March 12, 2025. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Lead defendant in drug trafficking conspiracy sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: A Chatham County man identified as a leader in a drug trafficking network has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison. Kenyona Pinckney , 33, of Savannah, was sentenced to 178 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The sentence will be served consecutive to Pinckney’s current term of state imprisonment for a separate conviction. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Pinckney to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “The conspiracy identified in this investigation was responsible for distributing multiple kilograms of illegal drugs in the greater Savannah area and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “This sentence is a credit to the outstanding investigative work of our law enforcement partners.” As described in court documents and testimony, Pinckney was housed in the Georgia Department of Corrections Transition Center in Columbus, Ga., serving a state sentence for trafficking methamphetamine, and was using contraband cell phones to coordinate shipments of multiple kilos of cocaine and methamphetamine into the Savannah area, including Chatham, Bulloch, Effingham, and Laurens counties. The conspiracy first came to the attention of investigators when Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Virginia determined that drugs coming into that state were coordinated by one of Pinckney’s co-conspirators in Savannah. The January 2024 indictment in USA v. Pinckney et al. charged Pinckney and 12 co-defendants in the conspiracy. Four of those co-defendants have been sentenced after pleading guilty; two have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing; while five defendants are awaiting further proceedings and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. “Whether drug dealers operate out on the street or behind bars, the Drug Enforcement Administration stands ready to deliver justice,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Customs and Border Protection officers remain committed to working with our valued local, state, and federal partners to keep dangerous drugs from reaching our community’s streets and protecting the residents of Georgia,” said Andrea Coffey, Acting Area Port Director, CBP Savannah. “This case highlights the broad reach of the law enforcement community to bring together federal, state and local partners to dismantle a large distributor of illicit drugs,” said Jason Krizmanich, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “Postal Inspectors objectives are to rid the mail of illegal drug trafficking, preserve the integrity of the mail system, and provide a safe environment for postal employees and the American public.” 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. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Ports Authority Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Chatham Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia State Patrol, the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham County Police Department, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Z. Spitulnik and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.


title: White River Junction Man Charged with Possession of an Unregistered Silencer

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Joseph Vaillancourt, 42, of White River Junction, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with possessing a silencer that was neither registered to him nor identified by a serial number. On December 16, 2024, Vaillancourt appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Vaillancourt be detained pending further proceedings later this week. According to court records, on October 18, 2024, Hartford, Vermont police located the silencer along with thirteen firearms and over 1,200 rounds of ammunition during the execution of a search of Vaillancourt’s residence pursuant to an unrelated state warrant. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) identified the silencer as subject to the National Firearms Act. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Vaillancourt is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Vaillancourt faces up to ten years in prison if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the ATF, the Hartford Police Department, and the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Eugenia Cowles. Vaillancourt is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls. 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 more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Founders of Illegal Pyramid Scheme Sentenced for Roles in Fraud That Caused Over $23M in Losses to Victims

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Three individuals were sentenced yesterday for their roles in founding and operating an illegal pyramid scheme. Alex Dee, 50, of Fate, Texas, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,845,600 in forfeiture; Brian Kaplan, 53, of Fort Collins, Colorado, was sentenced to 22 months in prison and ordered to pay $2,838,700 in forfeiture; and Jerrold Mauer, 58, of North Bellmore, New York, was sentenced to 22 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,545,500 in forfeiture. According to court documents, from approximately January 2017 through March 2019, Dee, Kaplan and Maurer founded and operated 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle (8FDL), a Wyoming corporation, as an illegal pyramid scheme. Dee, Kaplan, and Maurer advertised 8FDL as an online marketing business that allowed members to easily earn millions of dollars by selling memberships into 8FDL. The business purportedly allowed its members to access various digital videos, mostly related to online marketing and self-help lessons, but the videos had nominal value and served merely as a vehicle for the company to appear legitimate. The main purpose of the company, however, was to allow members to make money by recruiting new members and selling additional memberships. In marketing the 8FDL memberships, Dee, Kaplan, and Maurer falsely represented to the public that typical members with no prior skills or experience would make substantial sums in a short period of time, including earning more than $10,000 within 60-90 days. In fact, the vast majority of 8FDL members never made a single sale, and Dee, Kaplan, and Maurer made these false statements to induce others to join 8FDL. In total, more than 2,800 individuals joined 8FDL, which resulted in approximately $23.5 million in losses to victim members. In November 2023, both Kaplan and Maurer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In July, Dee pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement. USPIS investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.


title: Maryland Woman Charged with Tax Refund Fraud

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, returned an indictment, unsealed last week, charging a Maryland woman with tax fraud and theft of government funds. According to the indictment, from 2014 to 2024, Monica Patricia McGinley assisted with the preparation and filing false tax returns, so that McGinley could receive large refunds from the IRS to which she was not entitled. On those returns, McGinley allegedly claimed nonexistent payments or withholdings and requested nearly $12 million in refunds. The IRS allegedly issued refunds to McGinley totaling over $1.5 million. In one instance, she allegedly received a U.S. Treasury check for over $1 million. If convicted, McGinley faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the theft of government funds charge and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the six counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns. Upon conviction, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Christina Grimes and Jeffrey McLellan of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Leader of Large-Scale Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to 22.5 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in a large-scale fentanyl trafficking conspiracy responsible for the distribution of large quantities of fentanyl across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and other states. Jasdrual a/k/a Josh Perez, 36, of Cranston, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 22.5 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Perez was also ordered to pay a fine of $1 million. In addition, Perez was ordered to forfeit his rights to the residence from which Perez distributed fentanyl. “Fentanyl kills over 2,000 people a year in Massachusetts. That is unacceptable. Jasdural Perez was running a business that pumped over 200 kilograms of this deadly poison onto the streets of Massachusetts and neighboring states, wreaking havoc and destroying lives. This was not some low-level street dealer. This is a man who bought industrial pill presses to churn out millions of pills containing highly addictive and dangerous fentanyl.” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This office and our federal partners will stay relentless in holding accountable the people contributing to this deadly crisis. We commend the tireless work of our law enforcement partners who continue, day in and day out, to root out, dismantle and punish these organizations and the people who sit atop them.” “Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison, especially in the form of pills designed to look like real prescription medication, in order to profit and destroy lives,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in Massachusetts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” “The sentence of Jasdural Perez sends a strong message to all those who seek to endanger the welfare and wellbeing of our communities in order to enrich themselves,” said Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Perez led a syndicate whose sole intent was flooding our streets with large quantities of deadly drugs. By concealing fentanyl as pharmaceutical grade prescription drugs, Perez further endangered his clients lives by selling them a product that is much more potent and deadly.” Perez was the leader of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) based in Providence, R.I., that distributed significant quantities of fentanyl. Perez and his DTO pressed fentanyl powder into pills designed to look like pharmaceutical grade Oxycodone or Percocet pills and sold these pills across multiple states. Perez and his DTO distributed an estimated 200 kilograms of fentanyl and manufactured and sold millions of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Perez led the DTO, had multiple people working for him and manufactured fentanyl pills himself. On Feb. 7, 2022, a search of a home owned by Perez resulted in the seizure of two industrial-sized pill presses and kilograms of fentanyl, including bags containing fentanyl powder and over 50,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. Perez fled from Rhode Island to New York upon hearing of the searches on his properties. While he was fleeing, Perez orchestrated another fentanyl deal, this time for the sale of 19,000 pills. Those drugs were also seized. Perez was arrested on Feb. 11, 2022 and has been in custody since his arrest. Last week, co-defendant Erik Ventura was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in this conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Levy; DEA Acting SAC Belleau; Acting IRS SAC Wlodyka; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island; Rhode Island State Police; Massachusetts State Police; and the Cranston, Warwick, and West Warwick, RI Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kunal Pasricha, Lindsey Weinstein and Craig Estes of the Criminal Division and Alexandra Amrhein of the Asset Forfeiture Unit represented the government. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Alleged Leader Of Fentanyl Pill Trafficking Operation Appears In Court On Federal Drug Charges

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The alleged leader of a fentanyl pill trafficking operation appeared in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Rahkim T. Franklin, 31, of Charlotte, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Roger “Chip” Hawley, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to allegations in the indictment and court proceedings, from November 2022 to March 2024, Franklin was the leader of a drug operation that manufactured and distributed large quantities of fentanyl pills in and around Mecklenburg county. Court documents and court proceedings show that the drug conspiracy utilized a house in Charlotte as the pill press operation. Investigators executed a federal search warrant at the house on March 7, 2024, where they seized an electric pill press, more than 500 grams of vacuum sealed fentanyl, nearly 1,000 fentanyl tablets, over 30 pounds of fentanyl mixed with suspected pill binder, and other material and paraphernalia consistent with the production of fentanyl pills. The investigation revealed that Franklin and his co-conspirators were manufacturing the fentanyl pills to appear to be prescription Oxycodone pills based on their color and imprint. Following today’s court hearing, Franklin was remanded into custody. The drug conspiracy charge and the charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of up to life in prison. The charges against Franklin are allegations, and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The ATF, the SBI and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lawrence Cameron and Tom Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Pleas for Theft and Bank Fraud

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Two Chimayo women pleaded guilty in federal court to a theft in Indian Country and a bank fraud scheme targeting multiple financial institutions across Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Rio Arriba Counties. According to court documents, on May 22, 2022, shortly after 4:00 AM, Billie Jo Gussler and Angelica Dominguez entered the Valero gas station located on Tesuque Pueblo and stole property valued at over $1,000, including lottery tickets and cigarettes. Neither Gussler nor Dominguez is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe. Furthermore, between January 6, 2020, and August 19, 2022, Gussler and Dominguez engaged in an extensive bank fraud scheme across Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Rio Arriba Counties. The pair targeted multiple federally insured financial institutions, including Del Norte Credit Union, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, Century Bank, Enterprise Bank and Trust, Washington Federal Bank, and SoFi Bank. The fraudulent activities involved altering and forging checks to withdraw funds unlawfully from account holders and financial institutions. Gussler and Dominguez will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Gussler and Dominguez each face up to 30 years imprisonment. Upon their release from prison, Gussler and Dominguez will be subject to up to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the theft case with assistance from the Tesuque Tribal Police and Quay County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the fraud case with the assistance of the Santa Fe Police Department, Espanola Police Department, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Meg Tomlinson and Maria Stiteler are prosecuting the cases. # # #


title: Sanford Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing Firearms And Distributing Narcotics Near A Playground

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that San’Drevious Jerome Lane (23, Sanford) has pleaded guilty to carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and distributing narcotics near a playground. Lane faces a minimum penalty of six years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 13, 2025. According to court records, Lane was convicted of felony offenses in 2022 and was released from the Florida Department of Corrections on April 3, 2024. On May 21, 2024, Lane distributed cocaine in Sanford. During the transaction, he possessed a firearm. Officers located two fingerprints on the firearm, one belonging to Lane. As a convicted felon, Lane is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. In addition, on June 3, 2024, Lane sold approximately 28 grams of cocaine. The transaction took place approximately 800 feet from a playground. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Taylor County Man Sentenced for Firearms Offense

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David Allen Starkey, 37, of Flemington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 165 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, officers were executing an arrest warrant for another defendant for a parole violation at a home in Barbour County. Starkey was hiding inside, where officers also found an assault rifle and a handgun. Starkey has prior drug, burglary, grand larceny, firearms, and battery convictions, prohibiting him from having firearms. Starkey will serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the United States Marshals Service; and the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To Eight Years In Federal Prison For Possessing A Firearm

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Chadwick Lemaine (26, Ocoee) to eight years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Lemaine to forfeit a Glock 19 9mm semiautomatic pistol, which was involved in his offense. Lemaine entered a guilty plea on July 25, 2024. According to court records, Lemaine was convicted of felony offenses in Florida in 2018 and 2019 and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. On May 26, 2023, the Orlando Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Lemaine. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a pistol. Lemaine’s DNA was on the firearm. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate. This case was 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 of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on the following core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Two Colombian Human Smugglers Arrested on U.S. Charges

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Note : View a copy of the indictment here . On Dec. 13, Colombian authorities arrested two men charged with human smuggling conspiracy for moving migrants through Colombia en route to the United States. In the course of that conspiracy, the defendants are alleged to have put lives in jeopardy, including by placing some of the 40 migrants and two boat captains on a boat that disappeared on its way to Nicaragua after leaving San Andres Island on Oct. 21, 2023. Hernando Manuel de la Cruz Rivera Orjuela, 52, and Luis Enrique Linero Pinto, 40, both Colombian nationals, were arrested in Colombia at the request of the United States for their alleged roles in the transnational human smuggling operation, based on an indictment obtained on Oct. 23 from a federal grand jury sitting in the Western District of Texas. According to the indictment unsealed yesterday, the defendants participated in a conspiracy that unlawfully smuggled migrants, transporting them from other locations to San Andres Island, and from there to Nicaragua via boats, north through Central America and Mexico, before reaching their final destination in the United States. Allegedly, Rivera Orjuela and Linero Pinto advised the migrants how to get to San Andres Island, personally received them once they arrived on the island, arranged for their accommodation, and brought them to the boats that transported them to Nicaragua so they could enter the United States illegally. Linero Pinto is alleged to have bribed uniformed service members of the Colombian Navy to acquire real-time intelligence about the position of Navy patrol vessels located between San Andres Island and Nicaragua, enabling the boats carrying migrants to avoid detection. “Through coordination with our domestic and international law enforcement partners, we have secured the arrest of two Colombian nationals we allege took part in a human smuggling operation that resulted in the disappearance of a boat carrying 40 migrants,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As this indictment makes clear, Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) continues to be one of the Justice Department’s most effective tools for countering insidious human smuggling operations that fuel suffering and exploitation.” “For over three years, JTFA has deployed every tool at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle human smuggling networks,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “This latest indictment demonstrates the Department’s continuing commitment to combat human smuggling across the Western hemisphere and bring those responsible to justice.” “The indictment alleges that, as part of their participation in a conspiracy to smuggle migrants to the United States, these defendants put several migrants on the boat that disappeared off the coast of Nicaragua in October 2023,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment reflects the importance of JTFA’s expansion to address human smuggling in and through Colombia. Today’s announcement also underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting the transnational criminal organizations whose business model puts human lives at risk for financial gain.” “As alleged in the indictment, these defendants are charged for their roles in the disappearance of dozens of migrants, and the allegations detail many of the dangers we see too often in combating human smuggling — from bribery to the deadly risks migrants take every day,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I appreciate the combined efforts of JTFA, our international partners, and the prosecutors involved. These partnerships are essential in dismantling the criminal organizations that impact us all and prioritize illicit financial gain over human life.” “These alleged conspirators orchestrated a complex human smuggling operation that recklessly risked human lives for ill-gotten gain,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “The devoted Special Agents of HSI work diligently to combat criminal enterprises that profit from the victimization of innocent people. HSI remains committed to dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit and subject their victims to hazardous and oppressive conditions. These transnational organizations profit by preying on vulnerable individuals, and HSI will continue to dismantle such operations. The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to encourage and induce unlawful aliens to come to, enter, and reside in the United States and with placing a life in jeopardy during that conspiracy. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. HSI is leading the investigation with participation from their McAllen, El Paso, and Cartagena Field Offices. HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, and the Justice Department’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT); Office of International Affairs (OIA); and Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS)’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department thanks Colombian law enforcement officials, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation. JTFA Co-Director Jim Hepburn and Deputy Director Daria Andryushchenko of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The indictment of these defendants is the result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Justice Department, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. In June 2024, the initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona, and Southern District of California. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by HRSP and supported by OPDAT, NDDS, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, OIA, and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 345 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of human smuggling; over 290 U.S. convictions; over 240 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.