title: Founder and Executive of Prior2IPO Indicted in Investment Fraud

body_text: A three-count indictment was unsealed this morning in federal court in Brooklyn charging Raymond John Pirrello, Jr., also known as “Ray John,” with securities fraud conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and securities fraud relating to a scheme to defraud investors and prospective investors in securities offered by Late Stage Management, LLC through several sales offices, including Prior2IPO which he controlled. Pirrello allegedly made material misrepresentations and omissions relating to, among other things, the existence and amount of fees paid by investors in stock offered by Late Stage. Late Stage offered investors “no fee” opportunities to invest in “Pre IPO” stocks, i.e. , shares of stock in companies that anticipated an initial public offering (“IPO”) in the near term. Pirrello was arrested this morning and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James M. Cho. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges. “As alleged, the defendant lied to investors by claiming that the investments made through Late Stage carried no fees and that their full investment would be used to purchase stock, when in reality he was paying himself significant fees on each investment,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office will vigorously prosecute those who think it is business as usual to abuse the trust of their clients and profit through fraud.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office, for their significant cooperation and assistance during the investigation. "Lying and making material misrepresentations to investors is not just dishonest and bad business, but also a crime. Raymond Pirrello is alleged to have done just that when he advertised no-fee opportunities. In reality there were significant up-front fees from which he personally benefited. The FBI is committed to holding accountable those who seek to profit from lies,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. As set forth in the indictment and other court documents, Late Stage was a New Jersey based manager of investment funds that bought and sold stock issued by privately held companies that anticipated an IPO. Late Stage worked with several sales offices throughout New Jersey, New York and Florida in order to promote the investments. The salespeople used pitches devised by Pirrello and his co-conspirators which consistently touted that the investments carried no upfront fee, and claimed that the only time Late Stage profited was on exit, when the company made its IPO or sold to a larger company, in which case it would be entitled to a 20% share of the investor’s profits. In reality, Late Stage charged substantial fees in the form of markups of stock ranging from 10 to 50% of the stock’s actual per share price. In total, between approximately March 2019 and July 2022, sales offices working on behalf of Late Stage raised approximately $528 million from investors and diverted approximately $88.6 million in undisclosed upfront markups to Pirrello and his co-conspirators. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Pirrello faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including wire fraud, such as the fraud that Pirrello allegedly committed. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business & Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Howard Elbert and Jessica Weigel are in charge of the prosecution. If you believe that you or someone you know was victimized by Pirrello, please inform the FBI at the following website: www.fbi.gov/Pirrello or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. The Defendants : RAYMOND JOHN PIRRELLO, JR. Age: 47 Sparta, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-499


title: Atlanta-area man sentenced to federal prison for attempted stolen-car smuggling operation

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: A Douglas County, Ga., man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in a scheme to smuggle stolen cars to Africa. Prince Bediako , 41, of Douglasville, Ga., was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to Smuggling, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. also fined Bediako $1,000 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “This sentence is a credit to our law enforcement partners who work hard every day to detect, intercept, and prevent the theft of goods and identities alike, and to hold those accountable who would attempt to smuggle goods through one of our nation’s busiest ports.” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We applaud our law enforcement partners who safeguard this vital gateway to the United States.” As described in court documents and testimony, on multiple occasions in 2020, Bediako aided a co-conspirator in the use of false and stolen identities and credit cards, including both fictional identities and those of unwitting individuals. The co-conspirator, using a false identity, would contact a dealership online and contract with them to ship vehicles from another state, after which the credit card payment would “bounce,” and the dealership would be left without payment. Nineteen dealerships across the Southeast were identified as victims of this type of theft. Bediako arranged to transport the fraudulently obtained vehicles to the Port of Savannah, and then used the false and stolen identities to attempt to smuggle those vehicles to Ghana while concealing his own identity or participation in the scheme. Personnel at the Port of Savannah intercepted the shipments. “The Bureau of Industry and Security will not tolerate efforts to undermine the integrity of our export control system through the submission of false or misleading information,” said John Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Miami Field Office, Office of Export Enforcement. “The Office of Export Enforcement will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to apply the investigative resources and utilize the authorities necessary to ensure compliance with U.S. export laws.” “Our CBP Officers continually refine their skills, knowledge and awareness of current trends and techniques utilized by bad actors. These skills led to the interdiction and recovery of these stolen vehicles,” said Henry Deblock, Area Port Director in Savannah. “Their sustained efforts, training, and analysis, along with valuable collaboration among law enforcement agencies led to the success in this case. At the Port of Savannah, we take pride in our officer’s abilities to go past the point of seizure and build out the entire criminal network. That extra step is vital in dismantling these criminal organizations and putting these bad actors behind bars.” The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security Office of Export Enforcement; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Georgia Ports Authority Police Department; and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenna G. Solari and Darron J. Hubbard.


title: Fort Eisenhower woman indicted for murder in child’s death

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: AUGUSTA, GA: A U.S. Army spouse at Fort Eisenhower has been indicted on two counts of murder by a federal grand jury. April Evalyn Short , 30, of Fort Eisenhower – formerly Fort Gordon – was indicted on charges of Premeditated Murder and Felony Murder, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The indictment alleges that on Nov. 15, 2023, at Fort Eisenhower, Short killed her 11-month-old child by “stabbing and cutting… with an edged weapon while engaged in the knowing and willful perpetration of child abuse.” Short is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and awaits further proceedings. She is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being investigated by Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr. and Patricia G. Rhodes.


title: Commerce Township Man Sentenced in Pandemic Relief Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - Commerce Township resident Ryan T. Carruthers was sentenced to two years and three months in prison yesterday for defrauding the Small Business Administration and various banks out of approximately $851,000 as part of a pandemic relief fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Carruthers was also ordered to pay $851,963 in restitution to his victims. Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Office of Homeland Security Investigations. Ryan Carruthers, 42, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of wire fraud before United States District Judge Paul D. Borman. The guilty plea arose out of Carruthers’ participation in a wide-ranging scheme to obtain loans to which he was not entitled from two pandemic relief programs overseen by the Small Business Administration (SBA). According to plea documents, in approximately April 2020, Carruthers began to submit electronic applications for pandemic relief loans in the names of various business entities he purported to own and control. Between April 2020 and April 2021, Carruthers submitted numerous loan applications through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was an SBA-administered program that provided forgivable loans to businesses to encourage them to keep workers employed during the pandemic. Carruthers also submitted a loan application under the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), which was a program that provided low-interest financing to businesses adversely affected by the pandemic. The PPP loan applications were submitted to various participating lenders of the program, while the EIDL loan application went directly to the SBA. According to the plea documents, the loan applications contained numerous material misrepresentations and false statements. Carruthers’s business entities were shells that existed on paper only; they had no revenue, employees, or ongoing operations of any sort. However, Carruthers claimed in his applications that each of these entities had between three and 15 employees. The average monthly payroll amounts included in the applications were fictitious, as were representations about how the money would be spent. According to Court documents, Carruthers spent the money on personal investments and expenses, including the acquisition of personal watercraft. “Ryan Carruthers stole nearly a million dollars from programs intended to help our economy stay afloat during an unprecedented public health emergency,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This prosecution reflects the seriousness with which my office takes this sort of fraud, and we will continue to pursue accountability for all of those who enrich themselves at the public’s expense.” “This fraud goes against everything our community stands for,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “Let this case be a warning to others who used these funds to line their own pockets. Our agents and partners are wholly committed to investigating these loans and ensuring that justice is served.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John K. Neal. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General.


title: Redondo Beach Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Leading $24 Million Scam that Billed Medicare for Unneeded Wheelchair Fixes

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A South Bay woman has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for billing Medicare more than $24 million by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment – mostly power wheelchairs (PWC) – and PWC repairs, many of which were never performed, the Justice Department announced today. Tamara Yvonne Motley, 55, a.k.a. “Tamara Ogembe,” of Redondo Beach, was sentenced Tuesday by United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr., who also ordered her to pay $13,107,422 in restitution as well as an additional $2,300 in special assessments. At the conclusion of a five-day trial, a jury on June 27 found Motley guilty of 20 counts of health care fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Blumenfeld ordered her remanded into federal custody that same day after the verdict was read. From July 2006 to August 2014, Motley was the de facto owner of the Hawthorne-based Action Medical Equipment and Supplies. From January 2013 to November 2016, Motley was the de facto owner of the Ventura-based Kaja Medical Equipment & Supply. Both companies were enrolled with Medicare in the names of Motley’s out-of-state relatives. Motley orchestrated a scheme in which she paid marketers for patient referrals and then directed them to take patients to corrupt physicians, who prescribed medically unnecessary durable medical equipment, such as PWCs, that Motley’s companies used to submit fraudulent bills to Medicare. In January 2011, when Medicare changed the reimbursement rules for PWCs to make the upfront payments less lucrative to suppliers, Action switched to billing Medicare for PWC repairs, and continued that scheme at Kaja once Action was shut down. These repairs were not medically necessary not only because the patients did not need the PWCs to begin with, but also because those repairs were not needed to make the PWCs serviceable in any event and often were never performed. These repairs were expensive – often billed for $3,000 to $4,000 each – and accounted for nearly half of Action’s billings and almost all of Kaja’s. Over an eight-year period, Action billed Medicare more than $18.2 million for DME – most for PWCs, but also for PWC accessories, knee braces and back braces – and the repair or replacement of PWCs. Medicare paid Action nearly $10.3 million. Between July 2013 and November 2016, Kaja billed Medicare $6.3 million, primarily for PWC repairs. Medicare paid Kaja approximately $2.8 million for those claims. “[Motley] manipulated those around her to serve her criminal ends,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “She used relatives and employees to conceal her role in the scheme, and even used her infant’s caretaker to carry out the illegal activities of her scheme. She took advantage of vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries in far-flung places like Calexico who were elderly and often non-English speaking. She deceived inspectors to preserve her companies’ accreditation with Medicare.” Two other defendants were convicted in this case: Cynthia Karina Marquez, 48, of Paramount, who worked as an office manager at both Action and Kaja, pleaded guilty in December 2019 to two counts of making false statements affecting a health care program. She received a time-served sentence, was placed on supervised release for three years, and was ordered to pay $9,886,646 in restitution. Juan Roberto Murillo, 47, of Montebello, who worked at both medical supply companies as a repair technician, pleaded guilty in November 2019 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced to three years’ probation and was ordered to pay $2,504,119 in restitution. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the FBI; and the California Department of Justice investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristen A. Williams of the Major Frauds Section and David H. Chao of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.


title: Meth trafficking sends Billings man to prison for 15 years

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings man convicted by a federal jury of trafficking methamphetamine after investigators intercepted a package containing the drug hidden in false bottom cans was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. After a two-day trial that began on July 10, the jury found Shane Edward Johnson, 54, guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, possession with intent to distribute meth and prohibited person in possession of ammunition. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that from about April 2020 until October 2021, Johnson, who has a prior federal drug conviction, conspired to distribute meth in the Laurel and Billings communities. In October 2021, law enforcement intercepted a package shipped through the U.S. Postal Service from California to Laurel. Officers executed a search warrant on the package and found two pounds of meth inside four plastic candles. A co-defendant took possession of the package in a controlled delivery. Law enforcement converged on the residence to execute a search warrant and encountered Johnson and the co-defendant. Agents located a backpack, belonging to Johnson, that contained baggies of meth, a digital scale, approximately $1,000 and two loaded handgun magazines. Johnson was prohibited from possessing ammunition because of his prior felony conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie R. Patten and Zeno B. Baucus prosecuted the case. The U.S. Postal Service, FBI West, Billings Police Department and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. 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. xxx


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and State and Local Law Enforcement Officials Release Second “Don’t Click December” PSA

body_text: BOISE – During the holiday season, online criminals increasingly target Idahoans through online scams and fraud schemes. Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with the FBI, the Idaho State Police, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the Boise Police Department, the Meridian Police Department, and the Garden City Police Department, released a second PSA as part of their joint “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign. The Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, AARP Idaho, and the Better Business Bureau also participated in the announcement. The campaign advises members of the public to exercise skepticism and caution when receiving unsolicited online, email, pop-up, or text communications from unknown or unverified sources. If there is any doubt about a link, message, or attachment, law enforcement cautions: “don’t click it.” In the second PSA, available here , Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh, Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar, and U.S. Attorney Hurwit warn the public about the “Package can’t be delivered” scam and explain some of the ways in which individuals can protect themselves. This scam targets individuals through text messages or emails, claiming a package cannot be delivered unless they click the provided link and enter personal information or pay a redelivery fee. Often the scammer wants you to click a link to steal your money and information. Don’t click it . Instead, contact the delivery service or seller directly using a verified number or website. As part of the ongoing campaign, two additional PSAs are planned to be released in the weeks leading up to Christmas in an effort to alert the public to other common online fraud schemes that Idaho law enforcement has seen affect Idahoans. Unfortunately, these are not the only schemes affecting the public, and new schemes arise all the time. Law enforcement hopes that the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign will raise public awareness and encourage individuals to talk to their friends and relatives about not clicking suspicious links, texts, messages, pop-ups, or attachments. “We have witnessed many Idahoans lose their hard-earned money or their entire retirement savings to online scams. And, sadly, this type of crime tends to spike during the holiday season,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “But, together, we can reduce the risks by talking with each other about how to avoid such scams, and I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners and the AARP for joining us in the Don’t Click December campaign. We also encourage Idahoans to report any scams as soon as possible so that law enforcement can investigate and we can bring these vicious online criminals to justice.” “Our detectives see the devastating impact scams like these have on members of our community every day. It can happen to anyone,” said Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. “By working with our partners to talk about scams and point out the red flags, we hope to not only prevent you and your loved ones from becoming victims but to also create an environment where those who have fallen victim to a scammer feel comfortable reporting.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners recognize that we all must work to eliminate the stigma individuals may experience if they are victimized. There is no shame to falling victim to an online scheme, which are often designed by professional criminals, sophisticated, and tested repeatedly across the country. For this reason, the “Don’t Click December” Consumer Protection Campaign also publicizes ways to report scams and incidents of fraud to the FBI and local law enforcement. To learn more about these and other scams targeting Americans visit FBI.gov , and if you believe you are the victim of a scam, take action by reporting it to FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov or by contacting your local law enforcement agency. ###


title: Sixty Foreign Nationals Charged with International Drug Trafficking

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Eight indictments were unsealed in the District of Columbia, Southern District of California, Central District of California, and Northern District of Illinois charging 60 Mexican and foreign nationals with international heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana trafficking. The unsealing of the indictments comes at the same time that the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against 12 of the defendants linked to the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO). “The eight indictments unsealed today charging 60 defendants are the latest installments in the Justice Department’s relentless pursuit of drug trafficking organizations that smuggle illicit narcotics into the United States,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Together with our partners — across the U.S. government and around the world — we will use every tool at our disposal and target every link in the supply chain to dismantle the organizations that flood our communities with deadly narcotics.” “The indictments unsealed today, charging 60 defendants that threatened our communities, are indicative of the FBI’s everlasting commitment to serving justice and dismantling criminal activities and networks,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “We work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to work hand in hand to disrupt and ultimately triumph over the shadow of drug trafficking, ensuring a safer and more secure future for all.” One defendant, Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, aka Salgado and Musico, 49, is indicted in the District of Columbia, Southern District of California, and Northern District of Illinois. As alleged in court documents, Gastelum Iribe coordinated deliveries of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin into the United States and deliveries of millions of dollars of cash narcotics proceeds from customers in the United States for the BLO. District of Columbia Three indictments were unsealed in the District of Columbia charging five Mexican nationals with international drug trafficking. As alleged in the indictments, Jose Gil Caro Quintero, aka Pelo Chino and El Chino, 55, conspired to import large quantities of cocaine from Mexico into the United States from 1994 to January 2022. Francisco Abraham Flores Ortiz, aka Panchito, 46, and two now-deceased co-conspirators, allegedly conspired to import large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana from Mexico into the United States for distribution from January 2008 to January 2018. Gastelum Iribe allegedly conspired to import large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into the United States for distribution from January 2009 to December 2015. Caro Quintero, Flores Ortiz, and Gastelum Iribe are all charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States. Gastelum Iribe is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. If convicted, Caro Quintero and Flores Ortiz face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Gastelum Iribe faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego Field Office for the investigation of Caro Quintero. Trial Attorneys Kate Naseef and Samantha Thompson of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the cases, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Martin for the Southern District of California for the prosecution of Caro Quintero. Southern District of California Three indictments were unsealed in the Southern District of California charging 29 individuals with international drug trafficking offenses. “These indictments have neutralized dozens of alleged maritime traffickers and prevented addictive, harmful, and increasingly often deadly drugs from reaching American shores and streets,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California. “Cases like this are critical for disrupting, disabling, and dismantling the sinister and deadly operations of foreign drug trafficking organizations in the United States.” The first indictment returned in September 2019 charges Gastelum Iribe, Servando Lopez Lopez, 49, and another individual with allegedly conspiring to distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States and a maritime drug conspiracy. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The second indictment returned in April also charges Juan Pablo Bastidas Erenas, 43, Bogar Soto Rodriguez, aka Ricardo Colmenarez, 49, Juvenal Leon Rodriguez, 47, Mario German Beltran Araujo, 31, Ulises Franco Figueroa, 36, Oscar Aleman Meza, 61, and 17 others with conspiring to distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States and a maritime drug conspiracy. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. “The defendants charged in these cases threatened the safety and health of the American people by trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly drugs into the United States and by using violence to further their criminal acts,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “DEA remains committed to our important work with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities and bring to justice criminal organizations like the Beltran Leyva Organization and others.” The third indictment returned in April charges Josue De Jesus Estrada Gutierrez and two others with conspiring to import cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and maximum penalty of life in prison. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Coast Guard Investigative Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua C. Mellor and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison B. Murray for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the cases. Central District of California An indictment was unsealed in the Central District of California charging Amberto Beltran, aka Amembertito, 34, for allegedly conspiring with 26 co-conspirators to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine, at least five kilograms of cocaine, and at least one kilogram of heroin. “International drug traffickers profit off the suffering of others and, in the process, devastate families and undermine communities,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Our office is committed to bringing to justice those who cause so much pain to our people.” Beltran is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison on each count and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Kendall and Skyler F. Cho for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case. Northern District of Illinois An indictment unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois charges Gastelum Iribe for allegedly conspiring with others to traffic distribution quantities of cocaine and heroin into Chicago in 2007 and 2008. As part of the conspiracy, Gastelum Iribe allegedly acted as a logistical coordinator for Arturo Beltran Leyva’s drug trafficking organization, coordinating deliveries of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin into the United States from Mexico. “The charges announced today make clear that the Department of Justice remains focused on dismantling transnational criminal organizations,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois. “We will continue to investigate and hold accountable members of drug cartels who seek to traffic narcotics in our communities.” “This joint effort is emblematic of the federal government’s commitment to combatting the scourge of illegal narcotics in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Campbell of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) Chicago Field Office. “We understand that combatting drug trafficking requires a multifaceted approach and IRS:CI is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our law enforcement partners in this endeavor.” If convicted, Gastelum Iribe faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The indictment also seeks $885 million in forfeiture from Gastelum Iribe. The DEA Chicago Field Division, IRS:CI Chicago Field Office, and Chicago Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erika Csicsila and Andrew Erskine for the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case. The cases in the District of Columbia, Southern District of California, Central District of California, and Northern District of Illinois are supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two Men Indicted in Federal Court in Connection With the Robbery and Murder of a Man in Chicago

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

body_text: CHICAGO — Two men have been indicted in federal court in connection with the robbery and murder of a man in Chicago last year. JAYLAN WILLIAMS and BRANDON CUNNINGHAM conspired to rob Anthony Oliver in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood on Sept. 13, 2022, according to a superseding indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. During the robbery, Williams and Cunningham murdered Oliver, the indictment states. The superseding indictment charges Williams, 23, and Cunningham, 21, both of Chicago, with robbery conspiracy, robbery, and firearm counts. Williams and Cunningham have been ordered detained in law enforcement custody pending trial. The superseding indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The charges against Williams and Cunningham carry a maximum penalty of death. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Williams and Cunningham indictment


title: Long Island Pastor Charged With Sexual Exploitation of Children, Coercion and Distribution Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Jose Saez, Jr., a pastor at a church located in Brentwood, will be arraigned this afternoon at the federal courthouse in Central Islip on an indictment charging him with sexual exploitation of children, coercion and enticement of children, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Saez was arrested on a complaint on September 28, 2023 and has been detained pending trial. Today’s arraignment will be held before United States Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the indictment. “As alleged, despite the trust and respect placed in him by his community and his congregation, the defendant verbally abused children online and attempted to persuade minors to produce sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves and send them to him via the internet,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Protecting children from predators and those who sexually exploit them will always be a priority of this Office.” Mr. Peace thanked the Suffolk County Police Department for their assistance with the case. “When you go to church you expect to be safe and protected...but that's not what members of Pastor Jose Saez's congregation got. He allegedly possessed child pornography and sexually abused multiple children. This is unfathomable to the families and caused lasting harm to the children. The men and women of the FBI's Long Island Child Exploitation Task Force work tirelessly to protect our children but bad people are still out there. If anyone has any information on Saez or think they know someone who may be a victim, please call law enforcement,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. As set forth in court filings, while employed as a pastor at a church located in Brentwood, New York, Saez allegedly used an encrypted messaging service to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors and with a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity (the UC). In August of 2023, Saez had online conversations with the UC. During those conversations, the defendant stated that he had sexually abused an infant, that his “sweet spot” for molesting children was children between the ages of 11 and 15, and that he was able to find his younger victims at “church.” Pursuant to a court-authorized search, FBI agents recovered numerous images and videos of child pornography from the defendant. Anyone with information about sexual exploitation by the defendant is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Saez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. This prosecution is 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Misorek and Adam R. Toporovsky are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant: JOSE SAEZ, JR. Age: 28 Brentwood, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 23-CR-480 (JMA)


title: Convicted handyman imprisoned for drive-by shooting at former client

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI – A 44-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sentenced for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jason Jaime Merdes pleaded guilty Aug. 24. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Merdes to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court heard that not only did Merdes possess a firearm, but he also used the gun in a drive-by shooting the day prior to his arrest. Two victims of the shooting provided testimony to the court, both describing how the shooting has affected their lives and how close the shots were to the rooms where their children were sleeping. On May 15, a homeowner woke up to the sound of gunshots outside his residence at approximately 3 a.m. and alerted authorities. Upon investigation, law enforcement discovered shell casings in the street and multiple bullet holes in the home and garage. The homeowner named Merdes as a possible suspect. The resident had previously hired Merdes to complete a home repair and sent legal notice to him after the job was not completed. Neighborhood cameras showed footage of a suspect vehicle. Law enforcement observed the same vehicle leaving Merdes’ residence and made a traffic stop. He was wearing a holster on his belt. Authorities also found a gun under his seat. A search of his residence revealed nine additional firearms. Of the ten firearms possessed by Merdes, one matched the shell casings found at the scene of the shooting, and two others were consistent with bullet fragments recovered. As a convicted felon, Merdes is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. Merdes will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. FBI and Corpus Christi Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.


title: Blackstone Man Arrested for Defrauding Former Employer

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Blackstone man was arrested today in connection with a fraudulent scheme to steal money from his former employer – a company that operates a national chain of second-hand retail stores. Anthony Prizio, 48, was indicted on six counts of wire fraud. Prizio will make an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester today at 2 p.m. today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy. According to the indictment, from January 2019 until July 2021, Prizio served as the manager of the company’s Worcester store location. In this position, Prizio had access to the store’s timekeeping system for employees’ working hours, human resources panel, and un-activated payroll paycards issued to certain employees for wages. It is alleged that Prizio used his position as the store manager to engage in a scheme to defraud the company by repeatedly falsifying working hours for employees, including employees who no longer worked there. Prizio would then allegedly take some or all of the wages for his own use on personal expenditures, including his home’s utility expenses, vehicle registration fees and veterinary services. It is further alleged that Prizio took steps to conceal his fraud by misrepresenting the productivity of the Worcester store to make it appear that the store processed more items, as well as by entering false paid sick and bereavement for employees to fraudulently cause payment for fictitious hours without adversely affecting the productivity measurement of the store. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross loss involved. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Juneau Armored Transport Guard sentenced to over 2 years for stealing from banks, credit unions

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: JUNEAU, Alaska – A Juneau man was sentenced yesterday to two and a half years in prison and five years’ supervised release for stealing over $579,000 from three banks and two federal credit unions while serving as an armed transport guard. According to court documents, Austin Nolan Dwight Rutherford, 29, was an armed transport guard for Axiom Armored Transport from January 2019 to March 2022. Axiom provided armed transportation of U.S. currency for several banks, credit unions and ATMs. Rutherford was transferred to Axiom’s Juneau branch in March 2020 and started stealing funds around that time. An Axiom security camera recorded Rutherford taking a large amount of cash from Axiom property and into his personal vehicle, where he drove away. Bank records later showed that the defendant made multiple cash deposits into his personal bank account totaling over $338,000 and used the money for personal benefit. The defendant was terminated in March 2022 but continued to make large cash deposits into his bank accounts through May 2022. An internal Axiom audit determined that Rutherford stole a total of $579,400 in bank and credit union funds. Rutherford pleaded guilty to bank and credit union theft in June 2023. At the time of his plea, the defendant agreed to pay back all stolen funds through restitution. He is also required to pay over $86,000 in additional restitution claims for expenses related to Axiom’s investigation into Rutherford’s actions. The defendant will also serve five years’ supervised release. “Mr. Rutherford broke the trust of his employer and the people of Alaska by stealing funds for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The United States Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute those individuals who threaten the security of our financial institutions and bring them to justice.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case. ###


title: Man Sentenced to Prison for Assault of a Federal Officer After Illegally Entering the United States

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Adbiel Martinez-Barrera, 21, of Guerrero, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 13 months and 1 day in prison. Martinez-Barrera pleaded guilty to Assault of a Federal Officer and Improper Entry by an Alien on September 6, 2023. On May 5, 2023, a United States Border Patrol agent responded to a call from a Border Patrol camera operator who had spotted two suspected undocumented non-citizens in Douglas. The agent went to the area and located the two subjects, a male and a female, hiding in the brush. The agent was in the process of arresting the female when the male, Martinez-Barrera, who was bigger and heavier than the agent, mounted the agent from behind causing them both to fall to the ground. Martinez-Barrera tried to suffocate the agent by placing his hand over her mouth and nose, restricting her ability to breathe. Martinez-Barrera finally released the agent and fled the area but was later apprehended by other agents who arrived to assist. Martinez-Barrera had illegally crossed into the United States earlier that night. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Serra M. Tsethlikai, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00777-TUC-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-195_Martinez-Barrera # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Bronx Gang Member Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For Murder

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JALEEL SHAKOOR, a/k/a “Midnight,” was sentenced today to 30 years in prison in connection with the murder of Gerry Mazzella on June 3, 2021, in the Bronx, New York. SHAKOOR previously pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and interstate transportation of a firearm before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jaleel Shakoor murdered 26-year-old Gerry Mazzella by shooting him in the back of the neck from point-blank range. Mazzella’s death was senseless. New Yorkers must be able to lead their lives free from the threat of gang violence. Gang members who commit violent crimes will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” As alleged in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court and based on statements made in public court proceedings: From at least 2020 to 2022, SHAKOOR was a member of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation (“Gorilla Stone”), which is a set of the national Bloods gang. Gorilla Stone operated primarily in the northeast United States, including in the Bronx, and in the jails and prisons of New York City and the State of New York. Members of Gorilla Stone committed robberies and distributed controlled substances in order to enrich themselves. They also murdered and assaulted members of rival gangs and members of Gorilla Stone in order to resolve disputes within the gang. Gorilla Stone members promoted and celebrated the gang’s criminal conduct — including drug distribution, acts of violence, and firearms usage — on social media. On June 3, 2021, in the vicinity of West 165th Street and Woodycrest Avenue in the Bronx, SHAKOOR shot Mazzella in the back of the neck, causing Mazzella’s death. SHAKOOR committed this murder to retaliate against one of Mazzella’s friends, with whom SHAKOOR had an ongoing, gang-related dispute. * * * In addition to his prison sentence, SHAKOOR, 28, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick R. Moroney, Christopher D. Brumwell, and Emily A. Johnson are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Chester County Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court  to Illegally Possessing Guns and Ammunition

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —Jonathan Neely, 34, of Fort Lawn, South Carolina has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on March 3, the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, United States Probation Office, and the United States Marshals Service obtained an arrest warrant for Neely for violation of his federal supervised release and a state search warrant for his residence, located in Ft Lawn. Neely was on federal supervised release based upon convictions for knowingly possession of an unregistered firearm, knowingly possession of an unregistered firearm silencer, knowingly possession of an unregistered firearm silencer without a serial number and possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user. These convictions arose out of a federal conviction in Asheville, North Carolina in 2018. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of multiple rounds of ammunition, a Ruger pistol and a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine. Law enforcement then went to another residence in Fort Lawn where investigators noted a white colored trailer on the property. This was the same trailer that was reported to have been used by Neely to hide his firearms and that he had recently hidden on this property. The police spoke to the property owner who stated that the trailer belonged to Neely, that he had dropped it off on the property, and that only Neely had access to it. The property owner stated that they did not have keys to the trailer or know what was inside of it. The police obtained a search warrant for the trailer. During the search of the trailer, investigators recovered a large amount of ammunition and the following firearms: • Rossi .22 caliber revolver; • Makarov 9mm pistol; • Palmetto State Armory AR-15 style rifle; • New England Arms 20-gauge shotgun; • Ruger pistol; • Stevens Arms .20-gauge shotgun; On March 14, the Marshals Service located Neely and placed him under arrest. Following his arrest, Neely acknowledged that he owned the firearms in the trailer and that he was aware that his felony convictions had prohibited him from possessing them. Neely faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Neely after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by U.S. Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former IRS Employee Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering in Connection with COVID-19 Fraud

body_text: A Tennessee man pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a scheme to defraud the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, a federal stimulus program authorized to provide loans to small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to court documents, Brian Saulsberry, 47, of Memphis, was employed by the IRS as a Program Evaluation and Risk Analyst in the Human Capital Office. Saulsberry submitted false EIDL applications and obtained $171,400 in loan funds. After obtaining the fraudulent loan funds, Saulsberry transferred the funds to his personal checking account. He then used the loan funds for purposes not authorized by the EDIL program, but instead transferred $100,000 to an investment account, knowing that the property involved in the transaction was derived from unlawful activity. Saulsberry pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 5, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) J. Russell George, and Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) made the announcement. TIGTA and SBA-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorney Thomas D. Campbell and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of an interagency effort to combat and prevent CARES Act fraud by federal employees. In October 2022, the Justice Department announced charges against five former IRS employees for defrauding federal COVID-19 relief programs. All five defendants have been convicted. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department 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, 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 www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Arizona Man Arrested on Two Counts of Interstate Threats

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Donald Day, Jr., 58, of Heber, was arrested on Friday, on a federal arrest warrant after a federal grand jury indicted him on two counts of Interstate Threats. From January 2022 to February 2023, Day used social media platforms to express a desire to incite violence and threaten a variety of groups and individuals, including law enforcement and government authorities. As to Count One, following the killing of two Queensland (Australia) Police Service officers in December 2022, Day posted a video on YouTube threatening any law enforcement official who came to his residence. Separately, as to Count Two, Day threatened to kill a victim (the Director General of the World Health Organization) in February 2023 on the video platform BitChute, calling on others to join him. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-8132-PCT-JJT RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-196_Day # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Suburban Chicago Man Admits Trafficking Fentanyl and Attempting to Support ISIS

body_text: A suburban Chicago man admitted in federal court today that he trafficked fentanyl and other drugs and attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, aka ISIS. According to court documents, Jason Brown, 41, of Lombard, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, one count of distributing fentanyl and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Brown admitted in a plea agreement that on three occasions in 2019 he provided $500 in cash to an individual with the understanding that the money would be wired to an ISIS soldier engaged in terrorist activity in Syria. Unbeknownst to Brown, the individual to whom he provided the money was confidentially working with law enforcement, and the purported ISIS fighter was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Brown further admitted that in 2019 he trafficked fentanyl from California to the Chicago suburbs and illegally possessed several loaded handguns in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. Brown faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison for the firearms charge; a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison for the drug charge; and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the terrorism charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Brown has been in law enforcement custody since his arrest in 2019. U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland set sentencing for May 28, 2024. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. Special Agent in Charge Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler Jr. of the FBI Chicago Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Justin Campbell of the IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago and Superintendent Larry Snelling of the Chicago Police Department made the announcement. Substantial assistance was provided by the Illinois State Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Lombard (Illinois) Police Department and Addison (Illinois) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn McCarthy for the Northern District of Illinois and Trial Attorney S. Elisa Poteat of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Naval Commander Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Retaining Classified National Defense Information

body_text: Gregory Edward McLean, 39, of Jacksonville, Florida, today pleaded guilty to one count of distributing videos depicting the sexual assault of children and one count of unlawful retention of classified national defense information. According to the plea agreement, state law enforcement in Rhode Island received a cyber tipline report that a user of a particular messaging application had shared videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. The investigation identified the user as McLean, who was at that time an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and serving as the Executive Officer of a ship stationed aboard a Naval Station Mayport in Florida. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) continued the investigation and identified additional instances where McLean had distributed child sexual abuse material. On Nov. 4, 2021, agents executed a federal search warrant at McLean’s residence, during which they seized numerous electronic devices and storage media. A forensic review revealed that several of these items contained files depicting the sexual abuse of minors. The forensic review also identified a flash drive – which had been recovered from McLean’s kitchen counter – that contained approximately 150 documents containing national defense information classified at the Secret level and 50 documents containing national defense information classified at the Confidential level. An investigation by NCIS and the FBI revealed that throughout his service as a naval officer, McLean had access to classified information and held a Top-Secret security clearance. McLean had entered into various agreements with the United States regarding the protection and proper handling of classified information and was aware that his home was not an authorized location to store classified national defense information. In particular, the criminal information and plea agreement identify two documents McLean unlawfully retained which contained national defense information related to foreign governments and their combat aircraft and naval capabilities. Disclosure of this information could reasonably be expected to cause damage and, in some instances, serious damage to the national security of the United States. McLean faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and up to 20 years in prison for the child exploitation offense and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the retention of classified information offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida, and Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement. NCIS, FBI and Rhode Island State Police are investigating the case, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Kirwinn Mike for the Middle District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Heather Schmidt of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Utah Man Pleads Guilty to Murder-for-Hire Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Pence, age 43, of Cedar City, Utah, pled guilty today to using the Internet to solicit and pay for the murders of two Rensselaer County residents. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Pence admitted that between July 16 and August 9, 2021, from his Internet-connected computer at his home in Utah, he accessed a website on the Darknet dedicated to arranging contract killings. Through the website, Pence arranged for the murder of two residents of Hoosick Falls, New York, and paid a website administrator approximately $16,000 worth of Bitcoin to facilitate the murders. Pence then provided the website administrator with the names, address and photographs of the intended victims, instructed the administrator to make the murder look like an accident or botched robbery, and requested that care be taken not to harm any of the children who resided with the victims. The intended victims were not harmed and the FBI arrested Pence in Utah on October 27, 2021. He has remained in federal custody since that time. Pence faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced by United States District Judge David N. Hurd in Utica, New York, on April 2, 2024. 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 FBI investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon is prosecuting this case.


title: Former Fairchild Airman Sentenced for Possession of Stolen Ammunition

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that John I. Sanger, 31, of Rigby, Idaho, was sentenced after pleading guilty to Possession of Stolen Ammunition. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 24 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information provided at sentencing, in August of 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) opened an investigation into Sanger, based on information Sanger was associated with two social media accounts − “awakened cascadian” and “problematicpatriot.” Sanger had used these accounts to discuss committing acts of violence to advance a political agenda. In December of 2020, Sanger used the “problematic pariot” account to call for the violent seizure of the U.S. Capitol building, stating, “They defrauded our election system and are still getting away with it. That means the system has run it’s course. People have to die.” During the investigation, an Undercover Officer met with Sanger and discussed issues involving minorities, opposition to vaccines, and targeting of critical infrastructure. Specifically, the Undercover Officer and Sanger discussed targeting the Spokane County Public Health building and COVID-19 testing sites using a Molotov cocktail. In March of 2022, Sanger told the Undercover Officer that multiple Air Force members stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane were stealing ammunition from the Air Force and shooting the ammunition, which was paid for by taxpayers, for personal use. Sanger told the Undercover Officer that he was receiving stolen ammunition from another Air Force member, Staff Sergeant Nathan Richards, of the Fairchild 92 nd Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training Management (CATM) section. Members of this section are trained in firearms and had access to ammunition. On March 12 th , 2022, Sanger, the Undercover Officer, Richards and Staff Sergeant Eric Eagleton, who also was a member of CATM, met to go target shooting at Fishtrap Lake. While at the range, Richards retrieved a plastic bag with hundreds of rounds of loose, green tip 5.56 M855 rounds and gave it to Sanger. Richards said that members of CATM would falsify records so that it appeared the stolen ammunition had been expended in the course of Air Force duties. After Sanger and others finished shooting, Sanger gave the Undercover Officer some of the stolen ammo Sanger received from Richards. In April of 2022, Agents observed Sanger and Eagleton meet in the parking lot of the Northern Quest Resort and Casino. The agents observed Eagleton give Sanger a military-style ammunition can containing stolen ammunition. Following that meeting, Sanger sent the Undercover Officer text messages with photographs showing the stolen ammunition he had been given by Eagleton. A few days after the meeting, the UC and Sanger went to the Fishtrap shooting range and shot about 250 rounds of stolen ammunition. Later that month, The Undercover Officer and Sanger met at the Undercover Officer’s RV. During the meeting, the Undercover Officer handed Sanger an unregistered gun suppressor Sanger had previously paid the Undercover Officer to buy for him. When Sanger exited the RV, he was arrested by the FBI and OSI special agents. Sanger was still in possession of the suppressor. At the time Sanger was placed under arrest, the FBI and OSI special agents executed a series of search warrants at Sanger’s home. Agents located several firearms, firearm parts, empty firearm magazines and ammunition. They also found numerous patches, stickers, and paraphernalia associated with white supremacy and the neo-Nazi movement. “Theft from the military is an affront to honorable men and women who dedicate their lives to government and military service in order to keep America safe and strong. I will not tolerate any abuse of trust by those charged to protect our great country,” stated U.S Attorney Waldref. “I applaud the tireless work and dedication of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and our Federal Prosecutors in bringing Mr. Sanger to justice.” “Like all who served the United States, Mr. Sanger took an oath when he enlisted in the military,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “His actions violated that oath, and he violated the trust imparted to him by the American people. I am proud of the work of our investigators and partners to quickly bring an end to Mr. Sanger’s conduct before his violent rhetoric turned into action.” The case was investigated by the FBI’s Seattle Field Office, Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force (“INJTTF”), and the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). This case was prosecuted by Patrick J. Cashman, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. 2:22-cr-00052-TOR


component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – December 6, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Three indictments were unsealed in the Southern District of California today charging 29 individuals with international drug trafficking offenses. The unsealing of the indictments comes at the same time that the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against nine of the defendants for their ties to the Beltran Leyva Organization, a violent, Mexico-based group involved in trafficking drugs to the United States for over two decades. Please see https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1952 “These indictments have neutralized dozens of alleged maritime traffickers and prevented addictive, harmful, and increasingly often deadly drugs from reaching American shores and streets,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Cases like this are critical for disrupting, disabling, and dismantling the sinister and deadly operations of foreign drug trafficking organizations in the United States.” “Today’s announcement sends a clear message that Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners will use all available measures to investigate and dismantle transnational criminal organizations (TCO) responsible for the smuggling, transportation, and distribution of narcotics and illicit proceeds – wherever they attempt to operate” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “HSI San Diego’s sophisticated and global investigation demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to disrupting this TCOs criminal activities. We, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to protecting the United States’ financial infrastructure from bad actors.” Five related indictments were also unsealed today in the District of Columbia, Central District of California and Northern District of Illinois charging an additional 31 Mexican and foreign nationals with international heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana trafficking, bringing the total to 60 charged. Please see Office of Public Affairs | Sixty Foreign Nationals Charged with International Drug Trafficking | United States Department of Justice “The eight indictments unsealed today charging 60 defendants are the latest installments in the Justice Department’s relentless pursuit of drug trafficking organizations that smuggle illicit narcotics into the United States,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Together with our partners — across the U.S. government and around the world — we will use every tool at our disposal and target every link in the supply chain to dismantle the organizations that flood our communities with deadly narcotics.” In San Diego, one indictment returned in September 2019, 19CR3736-GPC, charges Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, Servando Lopez Lopez, and another individual with conspiring to distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States and a maritime drug conspiracy. A second indictment returned in April 2023, 23CR0621-BAS, charges Juan Pablo Bastidas Erenas, Bogar Soto Rodriguez, Juvenal Leon Rodriguez, Mario German Beltran Araujo, Ulises Franco Figueroa, Oscar Aleman Meza, and 17 others with the same offenses. The third indictment returned in April 2023, 23CR0699-GPC, charges Josue De Jesus Estrada Gutierrez, and two others with conspiring to import cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. OFAC announced sanctions against Iribe, Lopez, Erenas, Soto Rodriguez (under the name Ricardo Estevez Colmenares), Leon Rodriguez, Araujo, Figueroa, Meza, and Gutierrez (under the name Jose De Jesus Estrada Gutierrez) on the same date the indictments were unsealed. One defendant, Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, aka Salgado and Musico, 49, is indicted in the Southern District of California , the District of Columbia and the Northern District of Illinois. As alleged in court documents, Gastelum Iribe coordinated deliveries of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin into the United States and deliveries of millions of dollars of cash narcotics proceeds from customers in the United States for the Beltran Leyva Organization. This case is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua C. Mellor and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison B. Murray. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance. DEFENDANTS Case Number 19cr3736-GPC Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe *All Defendants are from Mexico aka “El Musico,” aka “Salgado,” Servando Lopez Lopez aka “El Huevo,” Jose Fernando Zambada Ley aka “El Chino” Case Number 23cr-0621-GPC_ Juan Pablo Bastidas Erenas, aka “Payo,” Ugan Lopez Beltran, aka “Kiwuas,” aka “Prada,” Bogar Soto Rodriguez, aka “Loco,” aka “Tio,” Juvenal Leon Rodriguez, aka “Gallo,” Arnoldo Villa Sanchez, aka “Arnol,” Mario German Beltran Araujo, aka “El Ninon,” Jose Roberto Navarrete Mendoza, aka “Mono,” Cesar Homero Magallanes Gonzalez, aka “Chayo,” Ulises Franco Figueroa, aka “Charco,” Elvis Villatoro De La Cruz, aka “Yogurt,” Jesus Alonso Zamora Roman, aka “Sobrino,” Luis Antonio Espeleta Esparza, aka “Negro Trailero,” Jose Misael Macedo Alvarez, Jose Francisco Osuna Osorio, aka “Gabino,” Eduardo Adalberto Sustaita Castaneda, aka “Susto,” Carlos Antonio Pacheco Castaneda, Jesus Sergio Santiago Gonzalez, aka “Zucaritas,” Oscar Aleman Meza, Lorenzo Mendez Sanchez, aka “Lencho,” Juan Manuel Hernandez Soto, aka “Piki,” aka “Guero,” Pedro Rodriguez Moreno, Francisco Ramon Pelaez Luengas, aka “Wawis,” Eduardo Gabriel Ibarra Mone Case Number 23cr-0699-GPC_ Josue De Jesus Estrada Gutierrez, aka “Barbas,” aka “Barbon,” Brayan Carrizoza Arredondo, Alejo Lopez Perez, SUMMARY OF CHARGES International Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 959, 960 and 963 Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel - Title 46, U.S.C., Secs. 70503 and 70506(b) Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances - Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 952, 960 and 963 Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum; $10 million fine AGENCY Homeland Security Investigations Federal Bureau of Investigation Drug Enforcement Administration Coast Guard Investigative Service *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Luzerne County Man Sentenced To 24 Months In Prison For Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Omar Vargas, age 32, of Drums, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to a term of two years’ imprisonment for trafficking methamphetamine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Vargas pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on August 21, 2023. The conviction was the result of an encounter between Vargas and law enforcement officers on January 4, 2021, when officers initiated a traffic stop of a car in which Vargas was a passenger. Vargas fled from the scene and entered a third-party residence where he was arrested having been found hiding in the attic. Officers located a baggie containing approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine lying next to the front tire of one of the vehicles that Vargas ran between as he was attempting to flee. This case was jointly investigated by the DEA in Scranton and the Hazleton (Pennsylvania) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Todd K. Hinkley prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: FCI Schuylkill inmate Charged With Assault Of A Corrections Officer And Possession Of Contraband In Prison

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carlos Rodriguez-Cruz, age 32, formerly of Puerto Rico, and an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution, Schuylkill, in Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday for assaulting a federal corrections officer and for possession of contraband in prison. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges Rodriguez-Cruz with assaulting a corrections officer and possessing contraband on October 6, 2023. The charges stem from an incident in which Rodriguez-Cruz engaged in a physical confrontation with a corrections officer. After the confrontation, staff at FCI Schuylkill searched Rodriguez-Cruz and found him in possession of a dangerous prison-made weapon, commonly known as a “shank.” The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. In this case, the maximum penalty under federal law is up to 13 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting Federal Agents in Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO — A man has pleaded guilty in federal court to shooting two federal agents and a task force officer who were conducting a covert investigation in Chicago. EUGENE MCLAURIN, 31, of Chicago, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of assaulting a federal officer and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence. Each firearm count is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison and a maximum of life. Each assault count is punishable by up to 20 years. McLaurin has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in 2021. U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah set sentencing for March 13, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. The shootings occurred on the morning of July 7, 2021, when two agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and an ATF Task Force officer were driving in an unmarked law enforcement vehicle while conducting a covert federal investigation on the South Side of Chicago. McLaurin admitted in a plea agreement that he had mistakenly suspected the officers were members of an opposing gang. After following the officers’ vehicle, McLaurin pulled alongside it as the vehicle reached an on-ramp to the I-57 expressway and fired several shots at the officers. The two agents and task force officer were wounded and suffered serious injuries. Shortly after the shooting, McLaurin disposed of his handgun in a sewer drain and hid the key to his vehicle in the basement of his residence in order to conceal evidence of his involvement in the shootings. The guilty plea was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of ATF, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois State Police. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Jodrey, Jasmina Vajzovic, and Elizabeth Pozolo.


title: Jacksonville Man Indicted For Attempting To Entice And Meet An 11-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Amol Chandrashekhar Khedkar (58, Jacksonville) with using his cellphone and the internet to attempt to entice a minor child to engage in sexual activity. Khedkar faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Khedkar was arrested by FBI agents on November 29, 2023, in St. Johns County. On December 5, 2023, he appeared in federal court in Jacksonville and was ordered detained pending trial. According to court documents and evidence discussed in open court, on November 28, 2023, an undercover FBI agent in Jacksonville was conducting an online undercover operation to identify adults who were seeking to make contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as the parent of an 11-year-old child, the undercover agent posted a notice in a public chat room of a particular online social messaging app. Minutes later, an individual using the app name “drbrownee,” who was subsequently identified as Khedkar, contacted the undercover agent using a private messaging feature of the app. After being advised of the “child’s” age, Khedkar confirmed that he would “love to see the ‘child.’” He asked the undercover agent a number of specific questions about access to the “child” and the “child’s” sexual experience. Khedkar and the undercover agent discussed meeting in person the next day at the “child’s” residence. On November 29, 2023, Khedkar and the undercover agent exchanged text messages and confirmed that they would meet later that day at the predetermined location in St. Johns County. When Khedkar arrived at the location, he was arrested by FBI agents. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.


title: Browning man sentenced to prison for manslaughter in death of woman struck by vehicle on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted to striking a woman with his vehicle and killing her in 2021 on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to one year and a day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Jordan Joseph Morgan, 31, pleaded guilty in July to involuntary manslaughter. In a plea agreement in the case, the parties agreed that a specific recommendation of 12 months and one day imprisonment was appropriate. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $10,600 in restitution. In court documents, the government alleged that on the evening of Nov. 8, 2021, Morgan encountered the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was known to him, in Browning. The two argued. Morgan got into his vehicle, while Jane Doe stayed by the open window at Morgan’s door. Morgan pulled forward with Jane Doe still at his door and holding onto the open window. After a short distance, the vehicle pulled to the right, throwing Jane Doe under the vehicle. Morgan continued driving and ran over Jane Doe. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Harper Suek and Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Suburban Chicago Man Admits Trafficking Fentanyl and Attempting To Support ISIS

body_text: CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man admitted in federal court today that he trafficked fentanyl and other drugs and attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, also known as ISIS. JASON BROWN, 41, of Lombard, Ill., pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, one count of distributing fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The firearm charge is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of life. The drug charge is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years, and the terrorism charge is punishable by a maximum of 20 years. Brown has been in law enforcement custody since his arrest in 2019. U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland set sentencing for May 28, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Brown admitted in a plea agreement that on three occasions in 2019 he provided $500 in cash to an individual with the understanding that the money would be wired to an ISIS soldier engaged in terrorist activity in Syria. Unbeknownst to Brown, the individual to whom he provided the money was confidentially working with law enforcement, and the purported ISIS fighter was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Brown further admitted that in 2019 he trafficked fentanyl from California to the Chicago suburbs and illegally possessed several loaded handguns in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. The plea agreement was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the U.S. Department of Justice; Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the Illinois State Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Lombard (Ill.) Police Department, Addison (Ill.) Police Department, and FBI Field Offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn McCarthy of the Northern District of Illinois and S. Elisa Poteat, Trial Attorney from the National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section. Brown plea agreement


title: Muskegon Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Illegally Possessing A Firearm Linked To A Homicide

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Ricky Jaimal Meeks, 41, of Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm that was used in a Muskegon-area homicide. U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney also ordered Meeks to spend 3 years on supervised release after his confinement. “Armed domestic abusers are far more likely to inflict serious bodily harm on partners, and potentially create dangerous situations for innocent bystanders and responding law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “The serious sentence imposed here shows that violent and illegally armed criminals will face serious consequences in federal court.” Meeks was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm at a jury trial in May 2023. At trial, evidence showed Meeks possessed the firearm on September 11, 2022, in connection with a domestic assault that occurred at a residence in Lansing. When police responded to the scene, Meeks fled in a vehicle, leading officers in a high-speed pursuit until he lost control, crashed into a residence, and attempted to flee on foot before he was apprehended. Judge Maloney increased Meeks’ sentence because Meeks obstructed justice when he fled from police. At sentencing, the United States presented additional incriminating evidence about the firearm Meeks illegally possessed. Investigators compared ballistics evidence from the firearm that Meeks possessed in Lansing to shell casings located at the scene of the October 5, 2021, homicide of Earnest Hardy, which occurred in the City of Muskegon. Mr. Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene after being shot 10 times. Further analysis and ballistics testing confirmed the shell casings recovered at the homicide scene were fired from the firearm Meeks illegally possessed as a previously convicted felon. "The FBI is relentless in our pursuit of ensuring safety for families and communities from gun violence," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . "We are thankful to our large network of law enforcement partners for their support in combatting violent crimes. The FBI continues to request the public's assistance by calling 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or submitting tips online to http://tips.fbi.gov if anyone believes they may have information that could help save a life from gun violence." “Ricky Meeks chose to illegally possess an illegal crime gun to commit domestic abuse. Everyone deserves to live in peace without the threat of gun and or domestic violence,” said Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir . “Meeks will have significant time to reflect about his poor life choices in federal prison. The message should be clear to everyone: If you choose to carry an illegal firearm, you need to pack your bags for prison.” Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Federal Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Lansing Police Department (LPD), and the City of Muskegon Police Department (MPD). Assistant United States Attorneys Erin K. Lane and Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) played a pivotal role in the evaluation of the firearm and shell casing evidence. NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin . ###


title: Waveland Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 167 Grams of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Waveland man pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 167 grams of methamphetamine. According to court documents, on July 12, 2023, law enforcement officials received information that Lance Ali Vaughn, age 40, was selling methamphetamine in Hancock County. Agents set up a controlled purchase and, when Vaughn arrived at the predetermined location for the drug buy, a K9 alerted to drugs in the vehicle. A subsequent search yielded 167 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine. Vaughn will be sentenced on March 27, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of forty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case