title: United States Charges Four Mariners from Arabian Sea Vessel Transporting Suspected Iranian-Made Advanced Conventional Weapons

body_text: A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging four foreign nationals after U.S. naval forces interdicted a vessel in the Arabian Sea that was transporting suspected Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry. Two Navy SEALs lost their lives during the interdiction. “The Justice Department extends our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the two Navy SEALs who lost their lives on January 11th while conducting an operation in the Arabian Sea,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The charges resulting from that interdiction make clear that the Justice Department will use every legal authority to hold accountable those who facilitate the flow of weapons from Iran to Houthi rebel forces, Hamas, and other groups that endanger the security of the United States and our allies.” “The flow of missiles and other advanced weaponry from Iran to Houthi rebel forces in Yemen threatens the people and interests of America and our partners in the region,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Two Navy SEALs tragically lost their lives in the operation that thwarted the defendants charged today from allegedly smuggling Iranian-made weapons that the Houthis could have used to target American forces and threaten freedom of navigation and a vital artery for commerce. Alongside our partners around the world, the Justice Department will continue to deploy every available tool to combat this grave threat.” “The FBI will aggressively investigate and disrupt the Iranian Government’s attempts to provide Houthi rebels with missile components that are intended for use against U.S. military ships, merchant vessels, and Israel,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The defendants in this case allegedly transported suspected Iranian-made missile components for the type of weaponry used by the Houthi rebels in recent attacks. The FBI is committed to using its global partnerships to stop the illegal flow of weaponry that endangers U.S. national security.” “As charged, Mr. Pahlawan attempted to smuggle advanced missile components, including a warhead, to Houthi rebels for use against cargo ships and U.S. vessels sailing across the Horn of Africa,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department, together with U.S. agency partners, is working tirelessly to deny malign actors the means to threaten international shipping and imperil the lives of our men and women in uniform.” “The complaint alleges that the defendants were transporting weapons consistent with those used by Houthi rebel forces and then lied to the U.S. Coast Guard during the boarding of the vessel,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “I want to thank the career prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for ensuring that the defendants now will face justice in an American court.” “Today’s complaint sends a message that acting as a proxy for the IRGC in an effort to bring harm to U.S. persons overseas will not be tolerated by the U.S. Government,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Transporting explosive materials intended to be used to threaten and cause harm is yet another example of the IRGC’s disruptive and hostile actions. The FBI and our U.S. Government partners will continue to disrupt efforts by hostile foreign governments seeking to intimidate and cause harm through violence.” According to court records, on the night of Jan. 11, U.S. Central Command Navy forces operating from the USS LEWIS B. PULLER , including Navy SEALs and members of the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team East, boarded an unflagged dhow, a small vessel, in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Somalia. The U.S. boarding team encountered 14 individual mariners on the vessel. During a search of the dhow, the U.S. boarding team allegedly located and seized what is believed to be Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry. According to court records, preliminary analysis of the advanced conventional weaponry indicates that it includes critical components for medium range ballistic missiles (MRBM) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), to include a warhead and propulsion and guidance components. The type of weaponry found aboard the dhow is allegedly consistent with the weaponry used by the Houthi rebel forces in recent attacks on merchant ships and U.S. military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. According to court records, the Navy brought the fourteen mariners aboard the USS LEWIS B. PULLER after determining the dhow was unsafe and unseaworthy. On Feb. 11, the United States obtained arrest warrants for four of the mariners who were aboard the dhow — specifically, defendants Muhammad Pahlawan, Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah, and Izhar Muhammad. Pakistani identification cards allegedly were found on the dhow for each of the four defendants. The United States also obtained ten material witness warrants for the remaining individuals aboard the vessel. The defendants and material witnesses were transferred from the USS LEWIS B. PULLER to the Eastern District of Virginia. The four defendants and eight of the 10 material witnesses made their initial appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Richmond today. Defendant Muhammad Pahlawan is charged with: (1) intentionally and unlawfully transporting on board the dhow a warhead, knowing the warhead would be used by the Houthi rebel forces against commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters; and (2) providing materially false information to U.S. Coast Guard officers during the boarding of the dhow regarding the vessel’s crew and cargo. Co-defendants Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah, and Izhar Muhammad were also charged with providing materially false information to U.S. Coast Guard officers during the boarding of the dhow regarding the vessel’s crew and/or cargo. Pahlawan faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted of unlawfully transporting a warhead, and all four defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted of the false statements offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, and U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement. The FBI Washington Field Office and Naval Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case, with significant assistance provided by the Department of Defense, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Navy, Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Department of State, and Department of Homeland Security, including the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Troy A. Edwards Jr., John T. Gibbs, and Gavin R. Tisdale for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Lesley Woods of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Pahlawan complaint


title: A Leader Of Gorilla Stone Sentenced To 35 Years In Prison For Murder Of 15-Year-Old And Other Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that BRANDON SOTO, a/k/a “Stacks,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern to 35 years in prison for racketeering, transferring a firearm to a juvenile, and conspiracy to commit arson arising out of his leadership role in the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods Gang (“Gorilla Stone”). As part of his participation in the racketeering conspiracy, SOTO planned out and ordered a fellow gang member, who was a teenager at the time, to murder a rival gang member. On September 21, 2020, SOTO drove the shooter to the location and provided him with the gun and directions to commit the shooting. With people, including small children, nearby, the shooter shot Jalani Jones in the head, killing him instantly. Jones was just 15 years old at the time. Following the murder, SOTO took numerous steps to avoid detection, including setting fire to the car that was used in connection with the murder and ordering the deletion of social media accounts associated with those involved. SOTO previously pled guilty on October 27, 2022, before Judge Halpern to one count of conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, one count of transferring a firearm to a juvenile, and one count of conspiracy to commit arson. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Brandon Soto used his leadership role in the violent Gorilla Stone gang to direct a teenager to kill a 15-year-old boy, who was riding his bike down the street. This horrific act of violence was committed in broad daylight as small children looked on just feet away. Today’s sentence holds Soto accountable for the senseless murder of Jalani Jones, as well as for his yearslong participation in the wide range of crimes committed by the Gorilla Stone gang. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively prosecute those who engage in such violence in our communities.” According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court: Since at least 2004, Gorilla Stone has been a brutally violent street gang with a national presence that was founded by SOTO’s co-defendant Dwight Reid, a/k/a “Dick Wolf.” Gorilla Stone has many members across New York State, including throughout New York City, Westchester, and the New York State Prison System, and all over the country. Gorilla Stone is comprised of various sets (or “Caves” as they are called by gang members). Gorilla Stone is a highly organized and efficient street gang with an organizational commitment to violence that strictly enforces its internal laws. For years, SOTO participated in and was associated with the Gorilla Stone racketeering conspiracy. Over time, SOTO rose to a leadership role in the gang. SOTO took an active role in the gang’s distribution of crack cocaine, which is one of the main ways the gang made money. SOTO was also one of the gang’s more violent members. SOTO bragged about his access to firearms and directed that his reports in the gang commit retaliatory acts of violence, the most significant of which was his direction and involvement in the murder of Jalani Jones. Following the murder of Mr. Jones, SOTO got a new phone number and directed another Gorilla Stone member to delete relevant social media accounts to avoid being caught. Days after the murder, SOTO’s car, which he had used in connection with the murder, was towed. SOTO went with other Gorilla Stone members to the lot where the car was parked, stole the car from the lot, and then set it on fire in a further effort to avoid being caught. SOTO’s violence extended beyond his involvement in the murder of Mr. Jones. SOTO violently attacked someone in the street, punching and kicking the man in the head and body as he lay defenseless on the ground and ultimately became unconscious. As SOTO beat the man unconscious, he yelled “You’re not Gorilla.” The violent incident was recorded on video, and SOTO proudly posted the video to his Instagram account. * * * In addition to the prison term, SOTO, 26, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. All 21 defendants in the Gorilla Stone case before Judge Halpern have been convicted. With SOTO’s sentencing today, 14 defendants have been sentenced and seven defendants have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing. The 13 defendants aside from SOTO who have been sentenced by Judge Halpern to date are: Godfather DONAVAN GILLARD, a/k/a “Donnie Love,” who was sentenced to 248 months in prison; Godmother NAYA AUSTIN, a/k/a “Baby,” who was sentenced to 234 months in prison; Godmother BRINAE THORNTON, a/k/a “Luxury,” who was sentenced to 210 months in prison; JARRETT CRISLER, Jr., a/k/a “Jayecee,” who was sentenced to 207 months in prison; CASWELL SENIOR, a/k/a “Casanova,” who was sentenced to 188 months in prison; Godfather BRANDON NIEVES, a/k/a “Untouchable Dot,” who was sentenced to 110 months in prison; JAMAL TRENT, a/k/a “Trap Smoke,” who was sentenced to nine years in prison; DEZON WASHINGTON, a/k/a “Blakk,” who was sentenced to 97 months in prison; ROBERTA SLIGH, a/k/a “Trouble,” who was sentenced to eight years in prison; JORDAN INGRAM, a/k/a “Flow,” who was sentenced to eight years in prison; STEPHEN HUGH, a/k/a “Chino,” who was sentenced to seven years in prison; ISAIAH SANTOS, a/k/a “Zay,” who was sentenced to seven years in prison; and SHANAY OUTLAW, a/k/a “Easy,” who was sentenced to three years in prison. Five additional defendants have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing: Godfather DESHAWN THOMAS, a/k/a “Don,” Godfather WALTER LUSTER, a/k/a “Shells,” AHMED WALKER, a/k/a “Ammo,” NEIKO CRUDUP, a/k/a “JhitRilla,” and ROBERT WOODS, a/k/a “Blakk Rob.” Finally, DWIGHT REID a/k/a “Dick Wolf,” and CHRISTOPHER ERSKINE, a/k/a “Beagle,” were convicted following a jury trial and are awaiting sentencing. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (“FBI”) Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of special agents and task force officers from the FBI; U.S. Probation; New York State Police; New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; New York City Police Department; Westchester County Police Department; Westchester County District Attorney’s Office; Putnam County Sheriff’s Office; Rockland District Attorney’s Office; and the Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh, White Plains, Peekskill, Ramapo, and Clarkstown Police Departments. Mr. Williams also thanked the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office and the Poughkeepsie Police Department for their assistance. This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shiva H. Logarajah, David R. Felton, Courtney L. Heavey, and Kathryn Wheelock are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Kemper County Men Sentenced to Over 20 Years in Prison  for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Jackson, Mississippi – Two Kemper County men were each sentenced to over 20 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams of more of methamphetamine. Donovan Sherill Bourrage, 45, was sentenced to 324 months in federal prison and Orlando Bourrage, 48, was sentenced to 280 months in federal prison. According to court documents, Donovan Sherill Bourrage and Orlando Bourrage, both of DeKalb, Mississippi, conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the Kemper County area. On May 22, 2023, after a five-day trial, a jury found the defendants guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in the Neshoba and Kemper County areas. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Kemper County Sheriff’s Office, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Mississippi National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and the Madison Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Keesha Middleton and Carla Clark.


title: Retired South Georgia Teacher Admits to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – A retired South Georgia school teacher pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after authorities located hidden cameras inside his rental property’s bathroom filming young children bathing and undressing. David Swanson, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography before U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Feb. 22. Swanson faces a maximum of 20 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Swanson will have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. Swanson is not eligible for parole. “Crimes against children are despicable, and it’s unthinkable when teachers or other trusted people are guilty of harming kids,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office prosecutes child predators to the fullest extent of the law. I am thankful for the excellent investigative work by our local and federal law enforcement partners that helped stop a child predator.” According to court documents, a concerned citizen notified Ray City Police in March 2023 that she found a hidden camera in the home she rented from Swanson. The responding officer located a camera hidden in the bathroom’s ceiling plugged into an extension cord that ran through the attic. The officer also found two more cameras hidden in electrical outlets in the same bathroom. The SD cards from the cameras contained images of four children between the ages of one and 12-years-old taking baths, changing clothes and using the toilet. There was also a video clip of Swanson stepping on the toilet, reaching towards the ceiling and then placing a small black object in his pocket. All of the images were recorded between Jan. 21, 2023, and Feb. 28, 2023. Authorities checked Swanson’s other rental properties in Lowndes County and Berrien County and did not find additional cameras at the other residences. A search warrant was executed at Swanson’s Valdosta home on March 3, 2023. Agents found approximately 750 images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and other incriminating evidence on his electronic devices. Some of the material included children nude in bathrooms, as well as minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The cameras were still set to record when they were found and removed from the home. This includes the CSAM that was downloaded as well as the CSAM images that he produced through the use of the hidden cameras. Swanson had recently retired as a teacher in the Lowndes County School System. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Ray City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals is prosecuting the case.


title: Fourteen Indicted in Pharmaceutical Kickback Case

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Ten doctors, two pharmaceutical executives, and two business entities have been charged in a scheme to bribe doctors for prescriptions, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. The fourteen defendants were charged in a two-count indictment filed Wednesday. Medical doctors Robert Leisten, Amy Haase, Arnold Farbstein, Barry Weinstein, Eric Berkman, Jorge Cuz, Katherine McCarty, James Ellis, and David Wolf; executives Amir Mortazavi and Arvin Zeinali; and Management Service Organizations (MSOs) Trinity Champion Healthcare Partners, LLC and Hexamed Business Solutions, LLC were charged with conspiracy to violate the Travel Act by violating the Texas Commercial Bribery Statute and conspiracy to deny patients their right to honest services; and with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Medical doctor Walter Strash was charged with conspiracy to violate the Travel Act by violating the Texas Commercial Bribery Statute and conspiracy to deny patients their right to honest services. “Our community trusts doctors to write prescriptions that serve their patients’ best interest. Kickbacks and bribes cloud physicians’ judgment,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to hold accountable those who abandon the Hippocratic oath in the name of personal enrichment. We will not permit greed to taint the practice of medicine.” “The alleged scheme in this indictment included doctors who used their positions of trust to profit personally at the expense of their patients. Health care fraud affects all sectors of the economy and costs U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars each year,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “The FBI is committed to investigating and exposing all forms of health care fraud. We will work with our law enforcement partners to hold anyone accountable that uses the health care system for their own personal benefit.” According to the indictment, several pharmacies allegedly identified profitable prescriptions and recruited doctors to write those prescriptions. The doctors allegedly referred the prescriptions, including highly lucrative pain creams, to those pharmacies in return for a share of the profits on the prescriptions. The pharmacies allegedly tracked each prescription by doctor and illegally funneled a share of the profits back to the doctors through various marketing firms and management service organizations (MSOs), including Trinity Champion and Hexamed. The indictment alleges that profits were generally handled as follows: Roughly 45 to 55% of net profits were retained by the pharmacy, which would pay roughly 50 to 55% of profits to a marketer called Med Left. Med Left would take a significant percentage of the payment, sometimes as much as half, and pay the rest to MSOs including Trinity Champion, Hexamed, and Eagle Ridge. Trinity Champion would funnel a small percentage to its managing partner and then pay the remaining proceeds to an entity controlled by Dr. Leisten, who would then pay Drs. Haase, Farbstein, Weinstein, Berkman, and Cuza; Hexamed and Eagle Ridge would pay a small percentage to its managing partner and then pay the remaining proceeds to Drs. McCarty, Wolf, and Ellis. The conspirators concealed these bribes as returns on investments from physician ownership in the pharmacies. In reality, physician ownership required referrals and ownership was offered for a nominal fee – in some cases, as little as $1,000 or $1,250. Virtually 100% of pharmacy revenues were created by prescriptions written by physician owners, and profits generated from those prescriptions were shared with prescribing doctors. According to the indictment, in May 2018, a confidential human source met with Mortazavi and Zeinali, saying he represented a group of doctors who wanted to get paid on their prescriptions. Mortazavi and Zeinali allegedly said they would only agree to pay doctors through an MSO model. The following week, the confidential source met with an MSO operator who allegedly explained how the doctors would get paid for prescriptions they sent to pharmacies. Later that same month, Mortazavi and three of the doctors met for dinner to discuss changing their MSO model. They agreed that the MSO would receive a weekly report of scripts submitted the previous week. A report subsequently sent to an MSO tracked each doctor by the patient, number of prescriptions filled, sum of monies due from insurance companies, sum of cost to fill each prescription, and sum of net. Three weeks later, a person affiliated with one of the MSOs asked Zeinali about which new drugs doctors “can get a good reimbursement on?” An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years on the Travel Act conspiracy, 20 years on the Deprivation of Honest Services Wire Fraud conspiracy, and 20 years on the money laundering conspiracy charge. Two businessmen, Andrew Hillman and Semyon Narosov, owners of Next Health, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from this scheme in October 2018. They were sentenced to 66 months (Hillman) and 76 months (Narosov) in prison for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. The two men, in their capacities as co-owners of a surgical brokerage called Hospital Business Concepts, were also charged in the Forest Park healthcare fraud scheme ; they pleaded guilty in October 2018 to conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare bribes and were later sentenced to 60 months (Hillman) and 51 months (Narosov). The owner of marketing firm Med Left, Vinson Woodlee, pleaded guilty in a separate case to conspiracy to solicit and receive kickbacks for referrals to federal health care programs. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General, HHS’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, U.S. Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigations, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad Meacham, Donna Max, and Marty Basu are prosecuting the case.


title: Settlement Agreement Reached with Burlington Preschool to Resolve Americans with Disabilities Act Complaint

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with Stepping Stones Children’s Center, Inc. (“Stepping Stones”), a childcare center that provides childcare services for children ages 2 years old to 5 years old in Burlington, Vermont, to resolve allegations that Stepping Stones was not operating in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”). The settlement agreement addresses an ADA complaint filed by the parents of a child with a disability, alleging that Stepping Stones terminated the child from the program because of his disability. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Stepping Stones will implement nondiscriminatory policies, practices, and procedures for children with disabilities who wish to attend their childcare center; train its staff on compliance with Title III of the ADA; and evaluate each request for reasonable modifications on an individualized basis. Stepping Stones has also agreed to pay compensatory damages to the parents who filed the complaint. “Access to childcare is crucial for all families, including families with children with disabilities,” said United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest. “We are glad that Stepping Stones has recognized its obligation to come into compliance with the law and has committed to being inclusive of children with disabilities.” This matter was handled by Civil Chief and Civil Rights Coordinator Julia “Jules” Torti on behalf of the United States. Stepping Stones was represented by Justin Sherman, Esq. and Liz Mackey, Esq. of Langrock Sperry & Wool, LLP. For more information on the ADA, visit www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD). The Civil Rights Program at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont enforces federal civil and criminal civil rights laws, including the ADA. For more information on the Civil Rights Program, or to file a complaint, visit: www.justice.gov/usao-vt/civil-rights-program . The settlement agreement between the United States and Stepping Stones Children's Center, Inc. is available at this link: Stepping Stones Settlement Agreement.pdf


title: Two New Orleans Men Plead Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Gun After Felony Convictions

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MICHAEL CONNER , age 22, and ROBERT HALL , age 24, both residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on February 20, 2024, before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, CONNER and HALL each admitted to being arrested by the New Orleans Police Department due to their possession of firearms. Prior to their arrests, CONNER and HALL were each convicted of felony offenses, with CONNER having a prior conviction for drug trafficking and HALL having prior convictions for attempted robbery, robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Africk set sentencing for June 12, 2024. CONNER and HALL each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, who is Senior Litigation Counsel at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. * * *


title: Multi-Convicted Felon Sentenced To Four Years In Federal Prison After Shooting Down Law Enforcement Drone

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Senior United States United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Wendell Doyle Goney (52, Mount Dora) to four years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Goney entered a guilty plea on October 5, 2023. According to the plea agreement, on July 11, 2021, deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary at a 10-acre business property in Mount Dora. The deputies used a law enforcement drone to assist with the outdoor search, only to have the drone destroyed by gunfire from a neighboring property. When deputies responded to that location, they confronted Goney, who admitted that he had just shot down the drone with a .22 caliber rifle. Goney claimed the drone had been “harassing” him. Goney then admitted to the deputies that he could not lawfully possess a firearm because he was a convicted felon. A record check confirmed multiple prior state felony convictions, which included aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, illegal drug possession, burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Goney is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr. 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: Federal judge convicts Wyoming man for role in commercial sex activity in Billings, making false statements to law enforcement

body_text: BILLINGS — A U.S. District Court judge on Feb. 20 convicted a Wyoming man for his role in arranging for commercial sex in Billings and then making false statements to federal investigators, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. After a one-day bench trial on Feb. 20, U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters found the defendant, Mark Jay Albrecht, 66, of Gillette, Wyoming, guilty of use of facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering and making a false statement as charged in a fourth superseding indictment. Albrecht faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each crime. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for March 20 and continued Albrecht’s release pending further proceedings. “Spinning a web of lies to federal agents about his efforts to engage in commercial sex activity has now made Albrecht a federal felon. His desire and actions to have commercial sex contributed to the sex trafficking of a minor, for which the trafficker was previously held accountable by this office. I applaud and thank our federal prosecutors, as well as the FBI, IRS, and Billings Police Department for their tenacity in holding Albrecht accountable for his deceit,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on April 21, 2021, law enforcement responded to a report of possible commercial sex activity at the Quality Inn in Billings. Billings police officers knocked on the door of the suspect room and announced themselves. A woman, identified as Ashley Stella, of Reno, Nevada, Jane Doe 1, who was a minor at the time, and Albrecht emerged. Albrecht was seen buttoning up his shirt as he exited the room. Albrecht initially denied to police and FBI officers, who had responded to assist, that he was in the room for a sexual encounter and offered various stories about why he was there. Ultimately, Albrecht acknowledged going to the room to engage in commercial sex. Albrecht explained how he used a social media website to arrange for commercial sex and how he responded on Tryst using his cellphone. He showed law enforcement the cellphone messages setting up the meeting. Stella acknowledged in interviews that Albrecht was in the room for commercial sex, and that Jane Doe 1 traveled with her for the purpose of commercial sex. Following the events of April 21, 2021, law enforcement began a federal sex trafficking investigation. As part of the sex trafficking investigation, Albrecht was issued a federal grand jury subpoena to testify about the events surrounding April 21, 2021. In anticipation of the grand jury appearance, Albrecht was invited to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for an interview in May 2021 to explain the grand jury process to him. FBI and IRS agents were present for that interview. Albrecht was informed several times that he was not a target of the investigation and that the only way he could get into trouble was to make false statements. Albrecht also was informed that making false statements to a federal agent was a crime. Despite these assurances, Albrecht repeatedly stated that he did not go to the Quality Inn for commercial sex but rather offered another story about why he was communicating with Stella. Albrecht never admitted he was soliciting commercial sex during his May 2021 interview, contrary to facts known by law enforcement. Stella was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for conviction of transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, IRS and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Leader of Real Estate Telemarketing Fraud Scheme That Defrauded Investors of Over $19 Million Sentenced to 4 Years Prison

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - A leader of an extensive real estate fraud scheme was sentenced to four years in federal prison today after having pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, U.S Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. This marks the 20th and final defendant to be convicted and sentenced in this case. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. According to court documents, Izhak Halbani, 39, admitted to leading a telemarketing fraud scheme based in Florida that lured victims into purchasing residential real estate in Detroit and elsewhere through a variety of lies. Halbani and his co-conspirators, using a number of aliases, told victims they were buying bank-owned properties at a fraction of the remaining mortgage balance. These properties were then purportedly “flipped” to hedge funds and foreign investors—generating supposed returns for the victims and inducing them to invest more into the scheme. The victims were also told that the telemarketers did not make any money on the victims’ initial purchase but only received a commission from the subsequent resale of the properties—supposedly aligning their incentives with those of the victims. In reality, the properties the victims purchased were not bank-owned. Instead, the properties were owned by other entities controlled by Halbani and his co-conspirators, who had routinely purchased the properties for a fraction of what the victims paid. And the telemarketers did, in fact, make money from the victims’ initial purchase. Furthermore, rather than being re-sold to third-party hedge funds or foreign investors, the properties bought by the victims were sold to shell entities that were also controlled by the co-conspirators—all part of an effort to portray a ready market for flipping homes. As part of the scheme, the victims were also provided with fraudulent documentation showing the purported profits earned on the resale of their properties. Believing that there was a ready market for flipping homes to third parties, many victims sent substantial additional sums to the co-conspirators. They were, however, eventually left owning properties with little actual value or resale potential. Halbani admitted that the scheme victimized over 290 individuals, involved more than 2000 properties, and caused losses totaling at least $19 million. “Not only did the perpetrators of this scheme financially devastate countless victims, but they also used homes in our community like Monopoly pieces in a game of fraud—callous to the real impact residential vacancies and blight have on our neighborhoods,” stated United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. The following defendants were previously convicted and sentenced for their roles in the fraud scheme: • Joseph Arsenault: 121 months’ imprisonment • Scott Amster: 102 months’ imprisonment • Erez Arsoni: 84 months’ imprisonment • Gregory Swarn: 82 months’ imprisonment • Antwan Reid: 63 months’ imprisonment • John Trumble: 60 months’ imprisonment • Richard Silverstein: 57 months’ imprisonment • Wayne Scott Simpson: 57 months’ imprisonment • Joseph Haden: 52 months’ imprisonment • Scott Lipman: 30 months’ imprisonment • Steven Goldstein: 27 months’ imprisonment • Joel Munoz: 27 months’ imprisonment • Theodore Jacobs: 24 months’ imprisonment • Matthew Golden: 15 months’ imprisonment • Richard Pierce: 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment • Edward Keeler: 1 day of imprisonment and 30 months’ supervised release • Amanda Balcer: 1 day of imprisonment and 24 months’ supervised release • Michelle Pintado: 1 day of imprisonment and 24 months’ supervised release • Robert Gallik: 1 day of imprisonment and 24 months’ supervised release The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Nathan is handling forfeiture matters.


title: Woman charged with murder at U.S. Army military installation

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas woman has been charged through criminal complaint for a shooting death that took place on a federal military installation in Junction City, Kansas. According to court documents, Margaret E. Shafe, 30, of Fort Riley is charged with murder in the second degree for shooting and killing Greg Shafe on February 19, 2024, while on Fort Riley. The defendant made her initial court appearance February 22, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rachel E. Schwartz of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. The Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen A. Hunting and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham are prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Raleigh Man Sentenced to 7 Years on Child Pornography Charge After Video Chats with Prepubescent Minors

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Michael Andrew Gilson, of Raleigh, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for receipt of child pornography. Gilson, 43, pled guilty to the charges. on August 22, 2023. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on August 9, 2020, the Raleigh Police Department received a call from a woman who reported she had found images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on a friend’s iPad. She met with officers and explained that she had been staying the night at the home of defendant Michael Gilson when he lent her his iPad because she couldn’t sleep. While using it, a notification popped up and she discovered images of nude children saved to the device. In the images, Gilson appeared to be video chatting with young girls. She confronted Gilson, and he responded that he was seeking therapy for sexual addiction to juveniles and that he was helping the girls with their “sexual awakening.” Officers obtained a search warrant for the iPad and for Gilson’s Apple iCloud storage account. A forensic examination of the iPad and iCloud account revealed 61 still images and 26 videos flagged as child sexual abuse material. Many of the minors were prepubescent. All images and videos were recorded from video chats with minors on an anonymous video chat program that Gilson admitted to using. A text chat box is visible in the videos, and in some, Gilson could be seen instructing minors as young as 8 years old to engage in sexual activity. Several files depicted Gilson masturbating while young girls watched. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Raleigh Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-0221-BO. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announces fraud alert for COVID-19 cryptocurrency scam

body_text: NOTE: This press release has been updated to reflect the removal of the names of uncharged entities. BILLINGS — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich for the District of Montana and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office are alerting the public about a nationwide scam to trick individuals into paying cryptocurrency to lift fake, non-existent arrest warrants. Targets of the scam receive phone calls or forged court documents stating that they are being investigated for Payroll Protection Program (PPP) fraud and are the subject of an arrest warrant. The documents often claim to have been sent on behalf of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch. Additional documents sent by scammers advise the recipient that to lift the arrest warrant, the recipient must make a payment through a cryptocurrency kiosk. The documents contain detailed instructions on how to use a cryptocurrency kiosk to send payment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with the FBI, are warning the public that these solicitations are unapproved and illegitimate. If you receive solicitations to lift an arrest warrant in exchange for cryptocurrency payments, you should not respond or follow those instructions. “We are aware of scammers attempting to target Montanans to trick us into paying cryptocurrency for bogus arrest warrants. No Montanan should ever be contacted by law enforcement asking for money to lift an arrest warrant. If you are contacted to do this, it’s fraudulent. These fraudsters can be convincing, and the documents may appear to be authentic, but they are not. I urge anyone who may be the targets of this scheme to report it to local law enforcement and the FBI,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. “Scammers prey on people’s fears or use intimidation tactics so victims will hastily provide personal information or payment,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Keep in mind, federal agencies and law enforcement will never contact individuals to ask for money.” Please report these scams to law enforcement by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721, or by submission to the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. You also may report the scam to the FBI at: https://www.ic3.gov/ . On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. XXX


title: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

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

body_text: FORT WAYNE –Seth Bireley, 35 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to theft of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Bireley was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on or about February 24, 2023, and March 2, 2023, Bireley, who had multiple felony convictions, entered a residence and removed firearms and ammunition from the property of a deceased person without authority to do so. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith. 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: Four Indicted For Narcotics And Firearms Offenses Following The Seizure Of Over 30 Firearms In Monticello, New York

body_text: Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging multiple defendants with narcotics and firearm offenses in and around Monticello, New York, following the recovery of body armor, ammunition, and approximately 30 firearms from the residence of DWAYNE JOHNSON. JOHNSON, who was previously arrested on May 24, 2023, is charged with conspiracy to engage in narcotics trafficking, possession of short-barreled rifles in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, unlawful possession of body armor, aiding and abetting the unlawful interstate transfer of firearms, and aiding and abetting firearms trafficking. JESSICA FRANCIS, who was previously arrested on September 14, 2023, is charged with engaging in the narcotics conspiracy with JOHNSON. LORI COONEY was arrested earlier today in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and is charged with the unlawful interstate transfer of firearms to JOHNSON. TERESA SANTINI was arrested earlier today in Milford, Pennsylvania, and is charged with trafficking firearms to JOHNSON and the unlawful interstate transfer of firearms to JOHNSON. SANTINI and COONEY were presented in federal court earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. JOHNSON and FRANCIS will be arraigned before U.S. District Court Judge Vincent Briccetti on March 13, 2024. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the sheer number of firearms recovered from Johnson’s residence — which include assault weapons, short-barreled rifles, and an untraceable “ghost gun” — underscores the harsh reality of violence that accompanies drug trafficking and the danger its poses to communities. Today’s Superseding Indictment sends a clear message that those who engage in violent and illegal enterprises and those who offer their support will face federal criminal charges.” As alleged in the Complaint previously filed in this case and the Superseding Indictment unsealed today: [1] Between at least October 2016 through May 2023, JOHNSON, FRANCIS, and others known and unknown conspired to possess with the intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. In 2023, law enforcement secured a warrant to search JOHNSON’s known Gmail Account, which contained multiple photos and videos associated with JOHNSON’s marijuana trafficking business, including videos of JOHNSON counting large quantities of cash in a particular room within his residence, photographs of marijuana in its retail packaging, and pounds of marijuana stored on tables and in a safe within the house. In one video, JOHNSON can be seen holding stacks of United States currency, counting a stack of bills, and saying, in sum and substance, that it’s “hard work” to accrue that amount of currency. JOHNSON then pans to the walls of guns and states, “you have to protect it, though.” JOHNSON also can be heard in a video saying, “Just in case you think you can fuck with my money, you come and I’ll spread you with a 12-gauge, you run and I’ll catch you with the 30 aught 6 or the 308.” Screenshots taken from videos and photos taken from the Gmail Account are depicted below: During the pendency of the conspiracy, COONEY and SANTINI separately and unlawfully transferred, sold, traded, gave, transported, or otherwise delivered to JOHNSON multiple firearms from Pennsylvania, including five pistols, the lower receiver of a short-barreled rifle, and the upper receiver of a second short-barreled rifle. * * * JOHNSON, 44, of Monticello, New York, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; possession of a short-barreled rifle in furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any sentence for the underlying conspiracy and a maximum sentence of life in prison; unlawful possession of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; unlawful possession of ammunition, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; unlawful interstate transfer of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and unlawful possession of body armor, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. FRANCIS, 35, of Monticello, New York, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. COONEY, 57, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, is charged with unlawful interstate transfer of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. SANTINI, 45, of Milford, Pennsylvania, is charged with firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and unlawful interstate transfer of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police, and the Hudson Valley White Collar Crime Task Force. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaiya Arroyo is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Complaint and the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Mexican man imprisoned for organizing multiple cocaine shipments

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 36-year-old resident of Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced following his conviction for trafficking cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Manuel Alejandro Soto-Bazan pleaded guilty Dec. 19, 2022. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Soto-Bazan to serve 135 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed how Soto-Bazan organized multiple cocaine shipments to be smuggled into the United States. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Soto-Bazan played a key role in the trafficking scheme. At the time of his plea, Soto-Bazan admitted he facilitated multiple cocaine shipments into the United States through the Hidalgo port of entry. Between April and June 2022, Soto-Bazan coordinated at least four separate shipments of cocaine totaling approximately 20 kilograms. Soto-Bazan would direct others who were smuggling drugs into the United States in vehicles to specific locations. He would then coordinate the transfer of the drugs to other vehicles for further distribution. The drugs Soto-Bazan was responsible for transporting had an estimated street value of $200,000. Soto-Bazan admitted he was paid to traffic drugs and assisted in removing drugs from concealed compartments hidden in vehicles after their entry into the United States. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Parran III prosecuted the case.


title: Insider trading – Husband illegally profits $1.7M after using wife’s private company information

body_text: HOUSTON – A 42-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to securities fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Tyler Loudon made $1.7 million in illegal profits from the purchase and sale of stock market shares. Loudon’s wife was an associate manager in mergers and acquisitions at an internationally-based oil and gas company. Loudon learned that her company was planning to purchase a travel center operator business. Unbeknownst to his spouse, Loudon used the non-public information about the expected acquisition to purchase 46,450 shares ahead of the public notice. After the announcement, the travel center operator’s stock price increased. Loudon then sold his shares for a substantial profit. As part of his plea agreement, Loudon agreed to forfeit the $1.7 million in illegal proceeds. U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the plea and has set sentencing for May 17. At that time, Loudon faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden is prosecuting the case.


title: Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Lawsuit Concerning Unnecessary Law Enforcement Responses to Mental Health Emergencies

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department today filed a statement of interest in Bread for the City v. District of Columbia , a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that the District’s reliance on police officers as the default responders to mental health emergencies violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The statement explains that the ADA requires public entities to afford people with mental health disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from emergency response systems. This may require dispatching a different type of response to mental health emergencies when appropriate, such as mobile crisis teams staffed with behavioral health professionals, to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability. “Sending mobile crisis response teams to mental health emergencies when appropriate is akin to sending EMTs to a reported heart attack,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Relying on a less effective, potentially harmful response to people experiencing mental health emergencies may deprive people with mental health disabilities of an equal opportunity to benefit from a critical public service. People with mental health disabilities must have an equal opportunity to benefit from a city’s emergency response system. We are committed to fully enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act and ensuring that people with mental health disabilities are not subjected to discrimination.” The department’s statement of interest clarifies that Title II of the ADA applies to all services, programs and activities provided or made available by public entities, including emergency response systems. Public entities must make reasonable modifications to afford people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from their programs, services and activities, including dispatching a different type of response to an emergency call when necessary to avoid discrimination based on disability. The statement also addresses other arguments made by the District of Columbia concerning the claims in this case. The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the ADA’s goals of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. In May 2023, the Justice Department and Department of Health & Human Services issued guidance for Emergency Responses to People with Behavioral Health or Other Disabilities. In addition, the department recently concluded investigations in Minneapolis and Louisville , Kentucky, in which it found, in part, that the emergency response systems discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov/ . Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt . Assistance with this statement of interest provided by the Affirmative Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Unit in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – De’Quan Briggs, 28 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Briggs was sentenced to 70 months in prison. According to documents in the case, in June 2021, Briggs, who had an outstanding arrest warrant for violating his federal supervised release, was found in a car with a loaded handgun. The firearm contained a high-capacity magazine and had been reported stolen two weeks previously from a gun shop burglary. Briggs had previously been convicted of at least one felony offense and, as such, was prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander and former AUSA Frank E. Schaffer. 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: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –TEDDY NATHAN , age 25, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on February 20, 2024, before United States District Judge Susie Morgan to violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, NATHAN, armed with an AR-15 rifle loaded with over 25 rounds, entered a daycare in Central City where several small children were sleeping. The staff got him out of the building and called the police. NATHAN fled as the police approached but was quickly apprehended. The police found the AR-15 on the front seat of a vehicle located where NATHAN stood before he ran. Records checks revealed that NATHAN’s criminal history includes felony convictions for aggravated assault with a firearm, purse snatching, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm. Judge Morgan set sentencing for June 4, 2024. If the Court determines that NATHAN is an Armed Career Offender, he will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release. If he is not an Armed Career Offender, he will face up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Under either scenario, NATHAN must pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. It is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel, David Haller.


title: Angola Man Sentenced to 92 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: FORT WAYNE –Nolan Thomas, 36 years old, of Angola, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Thomas was sentenced to 92 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in December 2022, law enforcement received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding child sexual abuse material being uploaded to an online storage site. After investigation, law enforcement determined the origin of the upload to be an account associated with Thomas. After obtaining a search warrant in January 2023 for Thomas’ Angola home, law enforcement recovered evidence of Thomas’ possession of child sexual abuse material. During a post-Miranda interview, Thomas admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material. This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Angola Police Department and the Lagrange Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Cranston Man Sentenced for Role in Conspiracy to Ship Cocaine into Rhode Island

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A Cranston man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that shipped upwards of 100 kilograms of cocaine into Rhode Island from Puerto Rico, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Hector G. Rios pleaded guilty on May 9, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. At the time of his guilty plea, Rios admitted to a federal judge that, on behalf of leaders of a drug trafficking organization, he accepted multiple packages containing kilos of cocaine shipped to his residence from Puerto Rico, which in turn he delivered to leaders of the organization. According to court documents, between December 2019 and July 2020, Rios received packages shipped through the U.S. Postal Service containing a total of at least five kilos of cocaine. The United States Postal Inspection Service determined that, at the direction of members of the drug trafficking operation, over sixty Priority Mail packages containing one or more kilograms of cocaine were shipped from different post offices in Puerto Rico to various addresses in Woonsocket, RI. The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Rhode Island High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Lowell, Denise M. Barton and Stacey A. Erickson. ###


title: North Carolina Man Found Guilty of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges Related to Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: WASHINGTON – A North Carolina man was found guilty in the District of Columbia on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, of felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election. Christopher Raphael Spencer, 43, of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony, and misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. Spencer was convicted following a stipulated bench trial in front of U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Spencer will be sentenced at a later date. According to the government’s stipulated evidence, Spencer and his wife, Virginia Marie “Jenny” Spencer, traveled from Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C., to see the former President on Jan. 6, 2021. At some time during the day, the couple walked to the U.S. Capitol building and into the restricted permitter of the Capitol grounds, bypassing bike rack barricades. The couple made their way into a crowd of rioters gathered near the Inauguration stage on the west side of the Capitol building. The two watched as rioters attacked police and climbed the walls of the Capitol and the Inauguration stage scaffolding. The couple then ascended the stairs underneath the scaffolding to the Northwest Terrace near the Senate Wing of the Capitol. At approximately 2:19 p.m., the Spencers entered the Capitol building via the Senate Wing Door. The couple then made their way into the Crypt and observed as rioters clashed with police. During this time, Christopher filmed a Facebook Live Video and urged rioters to “Don’t stop!” in relation to an ensuing struggle with police. The two then made their way to the second floor and went briefly into the hallway offices of former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Christopher Spencer again recorded a Facebook live video in which he stated, “Where’s Nancy’s office?” The couple then made their way to the House Chamber and Christopher recorded a video, in which he stated, “Kick that m— open!” in reference to the House Chamber Door. In another video, Christopher yelled, “Smile, m—, smile b—, f— traitor!” at United States Capitol Police officers as they were involved in an altercation with a rioter. The couple spent approximately 30 minutes inside the Capitol. The FBI arrested the couple on Feb. 8, 2021, in North Carolina. Virginia Marie “Jenny” Spencer was previously sentenced to 90 days incarceration for her role in the matter. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Charlotte and Washington Field Offices. The U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department provided valuable assistance. In the 37 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,313 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 469 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov. ###


title: Sex Offender Indicted for Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dustin Smith, age 30, of Rome, New York, was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. Smith was previously convicted in Oneida County Court of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and is rated a Level 3 Sex Offender. The indictment filed against Smith alleges that, in April 2022, he sent and received images and videos of child pornography with two other individuals using Snapchat, and that he possessed images of child pornography on his cellphone. The charges carry a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, and a maximum term of 40 years, in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and up to life. 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 charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. HSI investigated this case with assistance from New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, New York State Parole, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: District Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Prison for April 2020 Killing

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Ravel Mills, 29, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 29 years in prison for the murder of Toussaunt Strong on April 18, 2020, in the 3400 block of 24 th Street SE. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On October 3, 2023, a jury convicted Mills of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. According to the evidence presented at trial, Toussaunt Strong, 28, of Clinton, Maryland, was outside of his father’s home in the Shipley Terrace neighborhood shortly before 7:00 pm on April 18, 2020. The defendant encountered Mr. Strong after he exited a nearby home and then pointed a weapon at him. In response, Mr. Strong ran away. The defendant then began to chase Mr. Strong up the 3400 block of 24 th Street SE. As Mills got closer to Mr. Strong, he pulled his jacket hood over his head before shooting Mr. Strong. Video cameras captured the chase however, the shooting was not captured on camera. There were no eyewitnesses to the murder. The government presented video surveillance, circumstantial, and motive evidence in securing the conviction. Under the Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines, Mills faced a sentencing range of 144 to 288 months for second-degree murder while armed, 36 to 84 months for the possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and six to 24 months for the carrying a pistol without a license. The Honorable Michael K. O’Keefe sentenced Mills to 288 months for second degree murder while armed, 60 months for possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and 24 months for the carrying a pistol without a license. He further ordered that the time for the possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence run consecutive to the murder. In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach and Sharon Donovan, Deputy Chiefs of the Homicide Section; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark and former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcey Rinker; Supervisory Victim/Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Paralegal Specialists Mabry Johnson, Meridith McGarrity, Grazy Rivera and Stephanie Gilbert; and Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling, Maisha Treadwell, and Charlie Bruce. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Korba who investigated and indicted the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miles Janssen and Andrea Antonelli who prosecuted the case.


title: Joint Investigation Results in Federal Indictment for  Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Paducah, Kentucky returned an indictment on February 13, 2024, charging a Hopkinsville, Kentucky man with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek G. Davodowich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, Jason Stewart, 35, was charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Stewart made his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky on February 21, 2024. If convicted, Stewart faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The defendant remains in federal custody pending further proceedings. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty and the Hopkinsville Police Department Special Investigations Unit, with assistance from the ATF Bowling Green and Paducah Field Offices, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Investigations Service, the Kentucky State Police, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madisonville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting this case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Thibodaux Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SIMON PAUL ADAMS , age 27, a resident of Thibodaux, La., pled guilty on February 21, 2024 before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B). According to court documents, on multiple dates, including, on or about October 15, 2022, December 14, 2022, and January 19, 2023, Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) agents investigated the sharing of digital files depicting the sexual exploitation of children via a peer-to-peer file sharing network. Agents downloaded a series of files depicting the sexual exploitation of children, from an IP address connected to a residence in Thibodaux subsequently determined to be ADAMS’s residence. The files included videos between approximately three minutes and twenty-three minutes long depicting juvenile females being sexually victimized. Agents executed a search warrant at ADAMS’s residence in July 2023 and seized electronic devices, several of which contained contain files (i.e., images and videos) depicting the sexual victimization of children and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. An analysis of the devices revealed at least approximately 5 images and 70 videos depicting the sexual victimization of children and over 30 images and 1,500 videos depicting obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. Some of the depictions included children less than three years old being victimized and depictions that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence. ADAMS faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to a lifetime of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. He may also be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing before Judge Africk has been scheduled for June 12, 2024. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Makah tribal member indicted for drunken crash on beach that killed friend

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 21-year-old member of the Makah Tribe was indicted February 21, 2024, for involuntary manslaughter for the death of a friend in a car accident on a Pacific Ocean beach within the Makah Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Meric Soeneke is scheduled for arraignment in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on March 4, 2024. According to records filed in the case, on December 21, 2023, Soeneke was driving at a high rate of speed on the ocean beach with three others in the vehicle. Soeneke had been drinking and was impaired. He was driving on the unlit beach in the dark when he hit a large tree that had fallen across the beach. Another Makah Tribal member, a 26-year-old woman, was killed in the crash. Soeneke was originally charged in Tribal Court and released on bail. At his first federal court appearance a Magistrate Judge will determine whether there are conditions under which he can be released from federal custody. Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to eight years in prison. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Neah Bay Public Safety Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jocelyn Cooney. Ms. Cooney serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington. soeneke_indictment.pdf


title: Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Conviction Of A Tennessee Individual For Violating The Freedom Of Access To Clinic Entrances Act

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: “As a unanimous jury found moments ago, Bevelyn Beatty Williams unlawfully interfered with patients seeking, and medical professionals providing, reproductive health services at a Manhattan health clinic. Over two days in June 2020, the defendant used threats and physical force and repeatedly blocked doors to prevent individuals from gaining access to the health clinic. Williams went so far as to crush a staff member’s hand in the clinic door as the staff member was attempting to open the door. Regardless of one’s personal views, bullying and depriving other citizens of their right to healthcare is not a legitimate form of protest, and I’m proud of the career prosecutors of the Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division for enforcing our nation’s laws — without fear or favor — in this case.”


title: Clarksdale resident sentenced to prison for assaulting a postal carrier

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: Oxford, MS – A Clarksdale, Mississippi resident was sentenced today to serve the statutory maximum sentence of eight years in prison following his conviction for assaulting a U.S. Postal carrier. According to court documents, John Scott, 21 years old, assaulted a U.S. Postal carrier and attempted to force the carrier to perform oral sex on February 11, 2023. Scott was arrested that day and has remained in Federal custody since. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills ordered Scott to serve 96 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He also recommended that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons evaluate Scott for sexual dangerousness under Federal law. “Postal employees and all gainfully employed people should be able to do their jobs without being victimized by violent individuals,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We hope that today’s sentence will send a message that this type of violence against unsuspecting, hard-working individuals in the workplace will not go unpunished.” “The safety and security of Postal Service employees is core to the mission of the Postal Inspection Service. While assaults against our employees are rare, when they do occur, we will aggressively investigate to find those responsible and bring them to justice,” said Scott Fix, Inspector-in-Charge of the Houston Division. “The severity of the sentencing handed down to John Thomas Scott shows that the Judge has also taken the physical assault against our Letter Carrier seriously. We extend our appreciation to the Clarksdale Police Department that assisted with this investigation.” The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Clarksdale, Mississippi Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Roberts prosecuted the case.


title: Associate of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Home Invasion Robbery

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A member of the violent Boston gang Cameron Street pleaded guilty today to committing an armed home invasion robbery with fellow gang members. Brendon Amado, 27, of Randolph, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2024. Amado was identified as an associate of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston. According to court documents, Cameron Street members use violence, including murder and attempted murder, to preserve, protect and expand their territory. They allegedly use social media to promote Cameron Street, celebrate murders and other violent crimes and denigrate rival gangs. They allegedly possess, carry and use firearms; distribute controlled substances; commit armed robberies; and engage in human trafficking in part to generate income. In July 2018, Amado, along with Cameron Street members and co-defendants Deronde Bethea and Michael Nguyen, committed a home invasion robbery with firearms of two victims at the home of a rival drug dealer in Canton. Amado, Bethea and Nguyen broke into the home through the back door, wearing masks and dark hoodies and carrying firearms. One victim ran out of the front door of the house and called 911. The second victim was brought into the living room, punched in the head, had a gun put to her head. as the men ransacked the house demanding, “where’s the stuff, where’s the money, where’s your boyfriend?” Amado, Bethea and Nguyen later fled the house in a silver pickup truck after stealing $2,000 in cash and a safe. Among other evidence, Amado and Bethea were identified on convenience store surveillance footage shortly before the robbery took place. Nguyen pleaded guilty in December 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2024. Bethea pleaded guilty on on Feb. 12, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2024. Conspiracy to interference with commerce by threats or violence provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, and Boston Police Commissioner Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.