title: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: FORT WAYNE–Javion D. Woods, 23 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl and fentanyl analogue, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Woods was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Woods sold fentanyl pills on two occasions and operated his drug business for months out of a Fort Wayne apartment. Specifically, on February 11, 2022, Woods coordinated a drug transaction and sent another individual to complete the deal. On February 18, 2022, Woods was the one who completed the drug deal. When his residence was later searched in March 2022, multiple firearms and ammunition were recovered. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller. This case was 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.


title: Florida Man Admits to Operating a Gift Card Draining Scam

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Yasmany Roque Cruz, age 34, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty to a federal charge of access device fraud. According to court documents and statements made in court, during a traffic stop of Cruz’s vehicle, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of the car and found 748 gift cards. The investigation revealed that Cruz possessed the cards in relation to a gift card draining scam. As part of the scheme, Cruz would alter the gift cards so that once the cards were purchased by others and funds added to them, Cruz would be able to drain the funds from the cards and transfer them to an account he controlled. As part of his guilty plea, Cruz agreed that he intended to cause a loss of approximately $374,000. Cruz faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The United States Secret Service and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office investigated. The Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office assisted. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Key Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Ronald Lavaughn Mason, 46, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Mason admitted to his major role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in Beckley and elsewhere within the Southern District of West Virginia. According to court documents and statements made in court, Mason participated in the DTO in April and May 2024, working with other individuals to distribute fentanyl and crack in and around Beckley. Mason admitted that he supplied other individuals with controlled substances that they would redistribute. Mason further admitted to delivering the controlled substances to these individuals at times, and at other times have them come to his Beckley residence to pick up the drugs. On April 9, 2024, Mason sold co-defendant Tilford Joe Bradley Jr. a half-ounce of controlled substances while they were in Mason’s vehicle in Beaver. Mason admitted that law enforcement officers conducting surveillance saw him meet Bradley for the transaction, and that he knew Bradley intended to redistribute the controlled substances. Mason further admitted that officers intercepted phone calls and text messages in May 2024 in which he communicated with other individuals about distributing controlled substances. On May 30, 2024, officers executed a search warrant at Mason’s residence and seized 541 grams of cocaine, 381 grams of fentanyl, and $10,293. Mason admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them. Mason is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Mason is among 12 individuals indicted on charges alleging the defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack within the Southern District of West Virginia from in or about June 2023 to in or about May 2024. Mason is also among three defendants who have pleaded guilty. The charges against Bradley and the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. “This case and the convictions secured so far are the result of a major investigation that disrupted a significant drug trafficking operation in the Beckley area, and represent how this office and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly and together to protect our communities,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. “Illegal drugs are devastating lives across Southern West Virginia, fueling violent crime and eroding the foundations of our community. The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to rooting out drug traffickers and bringing them to justice,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The message today is clear: if you bring drugs here, you will be caught and you will be held accountable.” United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-90. ###


title: Lewiston Man Arrested, Charged with Possessing Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Illegally Possessing Firearm

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was arrested on Wednesday and charged by criminal complaint today with possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute and unlawfully possessing a firearm. According to the criminal complaint filed in the case and other court documents, Nasir Kenya-Malik White (aka Biggie), 24, was arrested at his residence in Lewiston on Wednesday evening on probable cause following a search of his apartment. Investigators recovered more than 300 grams of suspected cocaine during the search. Ten firearms, including several assault-style rifles, were also recovered. The complaint alleges that White is precluded from possessing firearms as a result of a 2023 conviction in Androscoggin County Superior Court for reckless conduct with a firearm or dangerous weapon. White was scheduled to make his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Portland today. The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force is investigating the case with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Organizer sent to prison for smuggling 60 kilos of meth into United States

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 55-year-old Mexican national residing in Houston has been sentenced following her conviction of conspiracy to import and possession with intent to deliver meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. A federal jury in Laredo deliberated for less than two hours before returning the guilty verdict Feb. 8, 2023, against Ana Maria Pena-Gutierrez following a two-day trial. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Pena-Gutierrez to serve 210 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. “Pena-Gutierrez and others like her who poison our communities with drugs and jeopardize the lives of countless persons of all ages deserve to be found and prosecuted without hesitation,” Hamdani said. “That continues to be my commitment to our communities, our people and our youth.” Between Dec. 13, 2020, and June 14, 2022, Pena-Gutierrez and others conspired to import almost 60 kilograms of meth. She organized transportation, provided vehicles to load drivers and paid the drivers for each successful criminal venture. At the time of the trial, co-conspirator Mike Mendoza testified Pena-Gutierrez hired and paid him to drive two vehicles to smuggle drugs from Mexico into the United States several times from Jan. 10, 2021, through Feb. 25, 2021. Law enforcement arrested Mendoza Feb. 25, 2021, as he drove a pickup truck into Laredo with 24 bundles of meth, weighing 56.232 net kilograms and hidden within the tires. According to testimony given at trial, the approximate street value of the drugs was $451,244. Mendoza admitted he successfully made two prior trips from Mexico at Pena-Gutierrez’s direction; however, an investigation revealed Mendoza had four prior entries from Mexico in a sedan. Mendoza testified Pena-Gutierrez paid him $5,000 for each of the two prior smugglings and promised to pay him $9,000 at the time of his arrest. Pena-Gutierrez also fronted Mendoza $500 for travel expenses. Authorities arrested another co-conspirator, Erik Alonso Martinez, April 23, 2021, as he entered Laredo with 52.28 kilograms of meth in the sedan’s fuel tank with a net weight of 25.04 kilograms and an approximate street value of $200,938. During an interview, Martinez told law enforcement he picked up the car in Houston from someone whom he declined to identify. An investigation later revealed Pena-Gutierrez provided Martinez with the sedan. After her arrest Aug. 10, 2021, Pena-Gutierrez told authorities others paid her to recruit Mendoza and Martinez. She also told law enforcement she received about $4,000 for each successful drug importation and paid each driver between $7,000 and $8,000 per trip. During the trial, authorities presented evidence including charts of 350 phone calls and text messages between Pena-Gutierrez and Mendoza regarding the price of meth and how it increases as one travels further north from the border. At the trial, the jury also heard from an expert in financial records describing the irregularities of Pena-Gutierrez’s bank activities. Authorities also testified, detailing her confession and the entire conspiracy. Mendoza and Martinez received 84 months and 174 days in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in the smuggling organization. Pena-Gutierrez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Jose Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case. Former AUSAs Matthew Isaac and José Angel Moreno tried the case to a jury.


title: Harrisburg Man Indicted for Escape

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kyle Eugene Gordon, age 36, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 23, 2024 by a federal grand jury on escape charges. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on October 7, 2024, Gordon escaped from custody of the Capital Pavilion Residential Reentry Center in Dauphin County, where he was confined. Following the escape, he was apprehended on October 15, 2024. The case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tristian Gerrell-Robert Murphy, 35, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 10, 2024, Murphy possessed a Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard .380-caliber pistol, found under the driver seat of a vehicle he operated, and a Taurus 9mm pistol found in the trunk in St. Albans. Both firearms were loaded. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Murphy knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on October 21, 2021. Murphy is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-101. ###


title: Two Defendants Plead Guilty In Federal Conspiracies Involving High-End Stolen Vehicle Rings

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two defendants appeared in federal court today and entered guilty pleas for their respective roles in cases involving high-end stolen vehicles worth millions of dollars, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed documents and statements made in court, Andre Lamar Sumner, 41, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to violate federal law, including by transporting and possessing stolen vehicles in interstate commerce, and altering vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Sumner also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a stolen vehicle. According to filed court documents, between 2022 and 2024, Sumner and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to buy and sell high-end motor vehicles that were stolen from car dealerships, rental car companies, and private parties across the United States, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Missouri. Sumner operated as a “fence” in the conspiracy, arranging the buying and selling of the stolen motor vehicles. A fence is someone who assists in finding or dealing with buyers for stolen properties. To maximize profits, Sumner sought to fence high-end stolen vehicles such as luxury models made by BMW, Land Rover, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Rolls-Royce, as well as trucks and other expensive modes from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and RAM. As court documents show, Sumner and his co-conspirators possessed stolen vehicles with an estimated value well over $2 million. According to court records, Sumner sold the stolen cars to buyers at prices significantly below the vehicles’ fair market values. As Sumner admitted in court today, to avoid detection and to maximize the stolen vehicles’ resale values, Sumner and others regularly altered the stolen vehicles’ original VINs and fraudulently registered the stolen vehicles with various state motor vehicle agencies. One of Sumner’s co-conspirators, Erren Woodson, 40, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty last Friday, October 18, 2024, to one count of conspiracy and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle. Court documents show that Woodson purchased stolen vehicles from Sumner. Court documents filed in Woodson’s case show that Woodson regularly communicated with Sumner to discuss the available inventory of stolen vehicles and potential buyers as well as prices for the stolen cars. Both Sumner and Woodson also pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to court records, the defendants were involved in marijuana trafficking, in part funded by the stolen vehicles scheme. In a separate case involving high-end stolen vehicles, Terrick D. Lumpkin, 39, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to violate federal law, including by transporting and possessing vehicles in interstate commerce and altering VIN numbers. Lumpkin also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a stolen vehicle. According to documents filed in this case and the plea hearing, between November 2023 and January 2024, Lumpkin conspired with other individuals to steal and possess luxury and high-end models of vehicles worth over $1 million. Lumpkin and his co-conspirators obtained stolen vehicles from various locations throughout the United States, including in North Carolina, Illinois, and New York. In addition, several of the vehicles Lumpkin possessed were stolen from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Court documents show that Lumpkin and others mainly sought high-end vehicles made by Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini and Mercedes, as well as sports utility vehicles, and other expensive models from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, and Jeep. Once they came to possess the stolen vehicles, Lumpkin and his co-conspirators altered or removed the vehicles’ VINs to avoid detection by law enforcement. All three defendants are currently released on bond. The conspiracy charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Each charge of possession of a stolen vehicle carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. At sentencing, Sumner and Woodson face a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment. Lumpkin faces a maximum of 15 years of imprisonment. Since August 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged 11 individuals with conspiracy offenses related to high-end stolen vehicles and other related offenses. Of those charged, nine have pleaded guilty to federal charges. Additional individuals involved in stolen vehicle possession have also been prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for other federal crimes, including illegal gun possession and drug trafficking. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD’s Stolen Car And Recovery Law Enforcement Team (SCARLET) for their investigation of these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are in charge of the prosecutions.


title: Former Rhode Island Man Indicted in Alleged Fraudulent Investment Scheme

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A former Rhode Island resident who held himself out to be a “Master Software Architect” and “Data Scientist” while allegedly orchestrating fraudulent investment schemes has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Providence on seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. The indictment alleges that Jack A. Ranallo, aka Giacomo A. Siciliano, 69, most recently of Manorville, NY, held himself out to potential investors as a software developer and businessman. He falsely claimed to would-be investors in Rhode Island that he was in the process of developing software programs, such as iGuardian360, a purported cyber security program, and Intelligrid, a program designed to divert electricity between power stations to avoid an outage. Additionally, he falsely claimed to own a company, iGuardian Angel, which held copyrights on his cybersecurity software, when in fact no such company or copyrights existed. It is further alleged that Ranallo falsely claimed to investors to be in the process of developing yet another company, 1013 Products Group, to acquire and resell liquidated products. The indictment alleges that, to bolster his credibility with potential investors, Ranallo created bogus text messages and simulated incoming calls from well-known entrepreneurs, such as the founders of Apple, Oracle Corporation, Amazon, Microsoft, and the hedge fund Appaloosa Management. To reinforce the impression that some of these corporations had interests in his businesses, Ranallo allegedly purchased bank checks made out to some of these companies, and to the “Register of Copyrights,” which he showed to an investor. After allegedly showing the investor the checks, Ranallo deposited them into his personal bank account, along with monies he collected from would-be investors. He allegedly used the funds to purchase a condominium, vehicles, and to pay personal expenses. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sandra R. Hebert. The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Suffolk County, NY, Police Department. ### indictment.pdf


title: Five Defendants Involved in String of Violent Crimes, Drug and Gun Offenses, And Money Laundering Have Been Sentenced

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A fifth defendant was sentenced this week to 30 years in federal prison for his role in numerous felony offenses, including kidnapping, robbery, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Several other defendants were previously sentenced on the charges. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Sheriff Walt Sholar of the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office, and Sheriff John E. Aubrey of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. According to court documents, Dayton Peterson , 24, of Louisville, was sentenced on October 22, 2024, to 30 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for kidnapping, impersonator making arrest or search, robbery, using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and engaging in monetary transactions derived from a specified unlawful activity. Joshua Lohden , 26, of Louisville was sentenced on July 24, 2024, to 22 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for kidnapping, impersonator making arrest or search, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and robbery. David Langdon , 39, of Louisville was sentenced on September 11, 2024, to 11 years and 5 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for kidnapping, impersonator making arrest or search, robbery, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On or about August 23, 2022, Langdon was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On October 14, 2015, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Langdon was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree. On October 15, 2015, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Langdon was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree greater than 2 grams of heroin. J. Louis Nance , 34, of Louisville was sentenced on July 24, 2024, to 6 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for kidnapping and impersonator making arrest or search. Samantha Trummer , 30, of Louisville was sentenced on July 22, 2024, to 4 years of probation for engaging in monetary transactions derived from a specified unlawful activity. John Lohden is awaiting sentencing. Defendants Dayton Peterson , John Lohden , and Samantha Trummer were found guilty after a 10-day jury trial in March of 2024. The remaining defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial. There is no parole in the federal system. The FBI, LMPD, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance from the ATF, IRS, DEA, and Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia P. Gomez and Frank E. Dahl III are prosecuting the case, with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic. 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 Jury Convicts Two Former  Broward Deputy Sheriffs of COVID-19 Relief Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Oct. 23, a federal jury in Miami convicted Tracy Wade, 51 and Carolyn Wade, 49, both former deputy sheriffs with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to make false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA), and making false statements to the SBA, all in connection with obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans based on false information. According to evidence presented at trial, in 2021, Tracy and Carolyn Wade applied for and received PPP loans for phony sole proprietor businesses using falsified Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax forms submitted with each application. The Wades also applied for and received forgiveness of their fraudulently obtained PPP loans based upon additional falsehoods, which included falsely representing to the SBA that they had spent their loan proceeds on payroll. During the commission of the offenses, Tracy and Carolyn Wade were employed as deputy sheriffs in BSO’s Department of Detention. A sentencing date has not yet been set by the court. The maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison; the maximum sentence for each wire fraud conviction is 20 years in prison; the maximum sentence for conspiracy to make false statements to the SBA is 5 years in prison; the maximum sentence for each conviction of making false statements to the SBA is 2 years in prison. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, FBI, Miami Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker, Eastern Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-OIG); and BSO Sheriff Gregory Tony made the announcement. FBI Miami, FRB-OIG, and BSO investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Snider and Adam Love prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Grove is handling asset forfeiture. 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 . On Sept. 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-60173. ###


title: Animal Breeder Sentenced in Animal Welfare and Water Pollution Crimes, Will Pay More than $35M, Including Record Fine in Animal Welfare Case

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: LYNCHBURG, Va. – Envigo RMS, LLC and Envigo Global Services, Inc., (together, “Envigo”) were sentenced today for conspiring to knowingly violate the Animal Welfare Act and Clean Water Act. Envigo pleaded guilty in June 2024 in relation to a dog breeding facility located in Cumberland County, Virginia, from which the Justice Department secured the surrender of over 4,000 beagles in 2022. Today, the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia sentenced Envigo pursuant to a resolution between the Justice Department and Envigo, and it imposed a total criminal fine of $22 million and at least three years of probation. In addition, Envigo is required to expend at least $7 million in improvements to its facilities and personnel beyond the standards imposed by the Animal Welfare Act, and it must pay all costs associated with a compliance monitor, who will oversee Envigo’s compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and Clean Water Act, as well as enhanced animal welfare standards. Finally, in June 2024, as part of the resolution, Envigo was required to pay approximately $1.1 million to the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force and approximately $1.9 million to the Humane Society of the United States, both for direct assistance provided to the investigation, and $3.5 million to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to benefit and restore the environment and ecosystems in Cumberland County, Virginia. In all, Inotiv, Inc., Envigo’s parent company, is required to guarantee more than $35 million in payments. This resolution marks the largest ever fine in an Animal Welfare Act case. According to court documents, Envigo RMS conspired to knowingly violate the Animal Welfare Act by failing to provide, among other things, adequate veterinary care, adequate staffing, and safe living conditions for dogs housed at the Cumberland County facility. In addition, Envigo Global Services conspired to knowingly violate the Clean Water Act by failing to properly operate and maintain the wastewater treatment plant at the Cumberland County facility, which led to massive unlawful discharges of insufficiently treated wastewater into a local waterway and also impacted the health and well-being of the dogs at the facility. First Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Lee, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the sentence today. The Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Virginia State Police provided security assistance during a multi-day federal search in May 2022 of the dog breeding facility. Senior Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan and Trial Attorney Sarah Brown of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Ramseyer, Corey Hall, and Carrie Macon for the Western District of Virginia and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Welch (an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office) are prosecuting the case.


title: Driver Sentenced to Almost 16 Years in Prison for His Role in Two Violent Delco Carjackings

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Jamar Miller, 24, of Claymont, Delaware, was sentenced today by United States District Court Chief Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg to 190 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, $1,919 in restitution, and a $500 special assessment for his role in two armed carjackings in Delaware County in January of 2023. In April of 2023, Miller and codefendant Keenan Righter were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking, two counts of carjacking, and two counts of using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with these carjackings. Miller pleaded guilty to all the charges in March of this year. In May, a federal jury convicted Righter on all counts; he was sentenced last week to 280 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On January 14, 2023, at approximately 9 p.m., Miller drove Righter and another male to a Wawa on Route 322 in Upper Chichester Township, Delaware County. Righter and the other male then ambushed a 23-year-old college student who was walking to his car after leaving the store. The men, each brandishing firearms and wearing masks to disguise their identities, demanded the victim’s vehicle at gunpoint. They pistol-whipped the victim in the back of the head and fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle, with Miller following in his own car. On January 24, 2023, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Miller drove Righter and another male to a Wawa on Edgmont Avenue in Brookhaven, Delaware County. Again, Righter and the other male wore masks and carried firearms as they carjacked a 33-year-old victim at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Wawa. The two men pistol-whipped the victim multiple times in the head with a firearm as they stole his belongings and fled the scene in his car, with Miller again trailing behind them in his vehicle. “Jamar Miller drove his co-conspirators to the crime scenes, watched as they violently carjacked two innocent people, and followed as they fled in the stolen vehicles,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “As his almost 16-year prison sentence shows, even a supporting role in a carjacking can lead to federal charges — and utterly life-changing consequences.” “Today’s sentencing demonstrates how strong partnerships in law enforcement contribute to safer communities,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Our office, alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our local law enforcement partners, will not relent in our efforts toward safer neighborhoods for all of us.” 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 FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency, the Brookhaven Police Department, and Upper Chichester Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Doherty and Branwen McNabb O’Donnell.


title: Defense Contractor Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Fraud, Money Laundering, and Unlawful Export of Technical Data

body_text: Yuksel Senbol, 36, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, violating the Export Control Reform Act, and violating the Arms Export Control Act. As part of her sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $275,430.90, the proceeds of Senbol’s fraud and money laundering scheme. Senbol entered pleaded guilty on May 7. According to facts taken from public filings, beginning in approximately April 2019, Senbol operated a front company in the Middle District of Florida called Mason Engineering Parts LLC. She used this front company to assist her co-conspirators, Mehmet Ozcan and Onur Simsek, to fraudulently procure contracts to supply critical military components to the Department of Defense. These components were intended for use in the Navy Nimitz and Ford Class Aircraft Carriers, Navy Submarines, Marine Corps Armored Vehicles, and Army M-60 Series Tank and Abrahams Battle Tanks, among other weapons systems. To fraudulently procure the government contracts, Senbol and her co-conspirators falsely represented to the U.S. government and U.S. military contractors that Mason Engineering Parts LLC was a vetted and qualified manufacturer of military components, when in fact, the parts were being manufactured by Ozcan and Simsek in Turkey. As Senbol knew, Simsek’s involvement had to be concealed from the U.S. government because he had been debarred from contracting with the U.S. government after being convicted of a virtually identical scheme in the Southern District of Florida. In order to enable Ozcan and Simsek to manufacture the components in Turkey, Senbol assisted them in obtaining sensitive, export-controlled drawings of critical U.S. military technology. Using software that allowed Ozcan to remotely control her computer — and thus evade security restrictions that limited access to these sensitive military drawings to computers within the United States — Senbol knowingly facilitated the illegal export of these drawings. She did so despite having executed numerous agreements promising to safeguard the drawings from unlawful access or export, and in spite of the clear warnings on the face of each drawing that it could not be exported without obtaining a license. Once Ozcan and Simsek manufactured the components in Turkey, they shipped them to Senbol, who repackaged them — making sure to remove any reference to their Turkish origin. The conspirators then lied about the origin of the parts to the U.S. government and a U.S. government contractor to receive payment for the parts. Senbol then laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in criminal proceeds back to Turkey through international wire transfers. This scheme continued until uncovered and disrupted by federal investigators. Parts supplied by Senbol were tested by the U.S. military and were determined not to conform with product specifications. Many of the components supplied to the U.S. military by Senbol were “critical application items,” meaning that failure of these components would have potentially rendered the end system inoperable. Alleged co-conspirators Mehmet Ozcan and Onur Simsek are fugitives. The General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security; Air Force Office of Special Investigations; FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; and Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Lindsey Schmidt for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Stephen Marzen of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Humble resident arrested in connection to fatal fentanyl overdose

body_text: HOUSTON – A 22-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection to the fentanyl overdose death of a Houston resident, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Law enforcement arrested Cole Martin Millsap Oct. 23. He is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m. “The victim in this case had just completed rehabilitation before allegedly receiving the fatal dose,” said Hamdani. “Time and time again, Millsap had the chance to change his ways; however, he allegedly continued to sell fentanyl while on bond. Alleged poison peddlers who think they’re getting away with plaguing our communities have no place to hide.” According to court documents, Millsap allegedly sold drugs to the victim multiple times. A forensic examination of the victim’s phone allegedly revealed text message conversations between Millsap and the victim discussing the purchase of illegal narcotics. On April 22, law enforcement discovered the victim deceased at his residence following a welfare check, just three days after his last message to Millsap, according to the charges. The criminal complaint alleges an autopsy later confirmed that fentanyl toxicity caused the victim’s death. At the time, Millsap was allegedly on felony bond with a condition that he wear a GPS monitoring device. Millsap’s GPS coordinate allegedly corroborate the delivery described in the text messages. Through a cell phone number in the victims’ phone allegedly labeled as “COLE WORLD,” law enforcement identified Millsap as the alleged fentanyl dealer responsible for the overdose death. On Aug. 29, Millsap allegedly arranged the sale of 0.4 grams of powder fentanyl for $40 to a member of law enforcement as part of an undercover investigation. On Sept. 4, Millsap sold 3.55 grams of powder fentanyl and 3.9 grams of heroin in plastic baggies to an undercover member of law enforcement for $530, according to the charges. Again, on Oct. 3, Millsap allegedly sold 105.4 grams of fentanyl powder for $3,470. If convicted, Millsap faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison as well as a possible $5 million maximum fine. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fentanyl/Overdose Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Perry Woman Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison For Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Conspiracy And Methamphetamine Distribution

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Miranda Marie Stafford, 57, of Perry, Florida, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of over 500 grams of methamphetamine, distribution of over 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “Methamphetamine distribution is a scourge on large and small communities of our district,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “With our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to identifying and aggressively prosecuting those who threaten our citizens’ health and safety by distributing such addictive, controlled substances. This sentence, by a habitual drug trafficker, acknowledges the defendant’s continued criminal conduct and sends a straightforward message that there are real and severe consequences for federal drug offenses.” Court records show that from March 1, 2023, through April 11, 2023, Stafford, who was already serving an active term of supervised release for a 2019 federal methamphetamine trafficking conviction, conspired with other individuals to possess with intent to distribute and distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. During the investigation, undercover officers made several purchases of multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine from Stafford; then as a result of ongoing surveillance of Stafford and her associates, on April 11, 2023, she was found in possession of over 700 grams of methamphetamine during a traffic stop after returning from the Jacksonville area where she was suspected of having been supplied the drugs. “We will continue to go after bad actors who poison our communities with illicit substances,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This operation was the result of great teamwork with our law enforcement partners. These relationships allow us to do our jobs more effectively and for that I’m grateful.” Stafford’s prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. “Those who endeavor to distribute methamphetamine do not observe jurisdictional boundaries. The only way to disrupt the abilities and markets of those dedicated to distributing illicit substances in our rural communities is through strong cooperative enforcement efforts,” said Perry Police Chief Jamie Cruse. The investigation and prosecution in this case was made possible by means of collaborative efforts. To have state, local, and federal partners dedicate competent professionals to this investigation are a positive example of an effective alliance with substantive results. The Perry Police Department and the City of Perry are appreciative of all who participated in this investigation.” This conviction was the result of a large-scale, regional investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Perry Police Department, as well as members of the NorthStar Drug Task Force, including the Wakulla, Bay, Gulf, and Leon County Sheriff’s Offices. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin prosecuted the case. This prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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. More information about OCDETF may be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Steven Valder, age 34, of Syracuse, and formerly of Cayuga County, was sentenced today to Life imprisonment plus 10 years following his trial conviction for sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. Following a jury trial in June, Valder was convicted of two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child for producing sexually explicit images of a 13-year-old boy in 2023, one count of Committing a Felony Offense Against a Minor as a Registered Sex Offender, and one count of Receipt of Child Pornography. The jury also found that Valder committed the Sexual Exploitation offenses after a prior conviction for a sex offense against a minor. Today, he was sentenced to concurrent mandatory life sentences on each of the two sexual exploitation counts, a concurrent sentence of 40 years for his receipt of child pornography over the internet, and a mandatory consecutive 10 years for committing the exploitation offenses as a registered sex offender. The evidence at trial showed that approximately one year after being released from prison for 2010 convictions in Cayuga County Court for Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (forcible anal sexual conduct with a 14-year-old child for which he received a 10 year sentence), and in Federal Court for transportation and possession of child pornography (for which he received a 15 year sentence), Valder produced sexually explicit images of a 13-year old boy, who he sexually abused multiple times over a period of months in multiple locations around the City of Syracuse. Valder, who also downloaded child pornography over the Internet through Russian applications he had downloaded to his phone, was a registered sex offender on both federal supervised release and state parole at the time of his offenses. Valder’s crimes were discovered after his United States Probation Officer found him in possession of an unauthorized smart phone on which the images of the child victim and internet child pornography were found. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, and the United States Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York, prosecuted the case. 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov


title: Man Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter  After Heated Exchange

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Raul M. Arias-Marxuach sentenced Thomas Lee Knox, 39, of Tulsa, for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. Judge Arias-Marxuach ordered Knox to 180 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on Nov. 20, 2023, Knox admittedly got into a heated argument with someone he considered his friend. During the argument, Knox pulled out a firearm, shooting Paul Schultz in the leg. Video surveillance from the area showed the altercation. Knox was seen fleeing the area in a vehicle while Paul crawled away. Tulsa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call, where someone discovered Paul wounded. The medical examiner's report showed that Paul died as a result of the gunshot wound. Knox is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Dennis Fries prosecuted it. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – Yuksel Senbol, 36, of Orlando, Florida, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, violating the Export Control Reform Act, and violating the Arms Export Control Act. As part of her sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $275,430.90, the proceeds of Senbol’s fraud and money laundering scheme. Senbol entered pleaded guilty on May 7. According to facts taken from public filings, beginning in approximately April 2019, Senbol operated a front company in the Middle District of Florida called Mason Engineering Parts LLC. She used this front company to assist her co-conspirators, Mehmet Ozcan and Onur Simsek, to fraudulently procure contracts to supply critical military components to the Department of Defense. These components were intended for use in the Navy Nimitz and Ford Class Aircraft Carriers, Navy Submarines, Marine Corps Armored Vehicles, and Army M-60 Series Tank and Abrahams Battle Tanks, among other weapons systems. To fraudulently procure the government contracts, Senbol and her co-conspirators falsely represented to the U.S. government and U.S. military contractors that Mason Engineering Parts LLC was a vetted and qualified manufacturer of military components, when in fact, the parts were being manufactured by Ozcan and Simsek in Turkey. As Senbol knew, Simsek’s involvement had to be concealed from the U.S. government because he had been debarred from contracting with the U.S. government after being convicted of a virtually identical scheme in the Southern District of Florida. In order to enable Ozcan and Simsek to manufacture the components in Turkey, Senbol assisted them in obtaining sensitive, export-controlled drawings of critical U.S. military technology. Using software that allowed Ozcan to remotely control her computer — and thus evade security restrictions that limited access to these sensitive military drawings to computers within the United States — Senbol knowingly facilitated the illegal export of these drawings. She did so despite having executed numerous agreements promising to safeguard the drawings from unlawful access or export, and in spite of the clear warnings on the face of each drawing that it could not be exported without obtaining a license. Once Ozcan and Simsek manufactured the components in Turkey, they shipped them to Senbol, who repackaged them — making sure to remove any reference to their Turkish origin. The conspirators then lied about the origin of the parts to the U.S. government and a U.S. government contractor to receive payment for the parts. Senbol then laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in criminal proceeds back to Turkey through international wire transfers. This scheme continued until uncovered and disrupted by federal investigators. Parts supplied by Senbol were tested by the U.S. military and were determined not to conform with product specifications. Many of the components supplied to the U.S. military by Senbol were “critical application items,” meaning that failure of these components would have potentially rendered the end system inoperable. Alleged co-conspirators Mehmet Ozcan and Onur Simsek are fugitives. The General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security; Air Force Office of Special Investigations; FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; and Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Lindsey Schmidt for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Stephen Marzen of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Spartanburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Second Federal Cocaine Trafficking Conviction

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: SPARTANBURG, S.C. —Maurice Suber, 39, of Spartanburg was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine. Evidence presented to the court showed that since at least 2022, Suber was distributing drugs in the Highlands area of Spartanburg. On Nov. 15, 2023, a search warrant was executed on Suber’s home and multiple firearms and cash were located. Suber had previously been sentenced for conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the same federal courthouse. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Suber to 141 months in federal prison, followed by a court ordered term of supervision. The court also entered an order of forfeiture for $3.8 million dollars. This prosecution 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Border Enforcement Security Task Force – Upstate South Carolina, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Woman admits to smuggling rare chickens

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 46-year-old Aransas Pass resident has pleaded guilty to smuggling Dong Tao chickens into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. In August 2023, Jennifer Mayo had illegally smuggled 60 Dong Tao chicken eggs into the United States from Vietnam and Cambodia. She was also attempting to hatch them at her home in Ingleside. Although Mayo initially reported all the animals that hatched had died, authorities conducted subsequent checks which revealed there were multiple live Dong Tao chickens on her property. However, due to their health, they had to be euthanized. Dong Tao chickens aka Dragon chickens are a rare, expensive breed of chicken typical to southeast Asia. Originally from the village of Dong Tao in Vietnam, these chickens have very large legs as their identifying feature. It is illegal to import poultry into the United States from regions affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza or regions where Newcastle disease exist in commercial poultry populations unless specific conditions are met. According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Vietnam and Cambodia are listed as regions affected with highly pathogenic avian influenza and are not listed as free of Newcastle disease. U.S. District Court Judge David S. Morales will impose sentencing Jan. 23, 2025. At that time, Mayo faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Mayo was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liesel Roscher and Tyler Foster are prosecuting the case.


title: Long Island Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Minors

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Edgardo Mejia was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 28 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors. The defendant was charged with causing an 11-year-old girl (“Jane Doe 1”) to create numerous sexually explicit videos of herself, as well as at least two sexually explicit images of Jane Doe 1’s two-year-old niece, all of which was sent to the defendant. Mejia pleaded guilty in August 2022. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence. Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) for their work on the case. As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum and other court documents, on February 20, 2017, Facebook reported several cybertips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding social media accounts that were being used to sexually exploit female minors. One account was under the name “Bryan Gonsalez” and two other accounts were under the name “Eddie Mejia.” Further investigation by law enforcement determined that the electronic device being used to access the accounts was registered to the defendant at an address in Uniondale, New York. Mejia was using the accounts to communicate with numerous minors, sending them explicit images of himself and enticing them to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send him images of such conduct. On December 15, 2017, Mejia, while posing as a 13-year-old boy, communicated with Jane Doe 1 asking her if she wanted to be his “gf” and send a picture of herself. Mejia also asked her to perform sexually explicit acts and record them on video. On December 17, 2017, Mejia asked Jane Doe 1 to take sexually explicit images of her niece and send them to him. The defendant engaged in similar conduct with numerous other minors, and frequently threatened and extorted those victims when they did not comply with his requests. On January 25, 2018, the defendant was arrested in Port Washington, New York by HSI and NCPD, and has been detained since then. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan E. Farrell is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : EDGARDO MEJIA (also known as “Eddie Mejia,” “Eddie Reyes,” “Carlos Reyez,” and “Bryan Gonsalez”) Age: 42 Uniondale, Long Island E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-81 (JMA)


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced For Heroin Trafficking

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEVIN JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”) , age 34, a New Orleans resident, was sentenced on October 23, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. JOHNSON was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, the Federal Bureau Investigation New Orleans Gang Task Force and the New Orleans Police Department investigated JOHNSON for his involvement in a drug distribution operation in April 2021. The investigation revealed that JOHNSON conspired with AL VERNON BROWN, CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, DONALD MYLES, and others to distribute heroin. On June 22, 2021, agents seized a package containing 485 grams of heroin that was mailed by AL VERNON BROWN from California to New Orleans and intended for JOHNSON . The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation - New Orleans Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the New Orleans Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, led the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit.


title: St. Albans Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Sarah J. Ward, 41, of St. Albans, was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Ward and her husband Timothy A. Ward admitted that they distributed methamphetamine or aided and abetted each other to distribute methamphetamine to confidential informants on seven occasions in Kanawha County from October 2, 2023, through December 6, 2023. The Wards further admitted that they received money for several of these transactions, and for others received clothing that was shoplifted at their direction. The transactions included the sale of a half-ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a St. Albans bar on October 2, 2023. The Wards also sold a pistol with an obliterated serial number to a confidential informant, which Timothy Ward referred to as a “throwaway” firearm during the transaction. Timothy A. Ward, 42, was sentenced on June 6, 2024, to eight years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-201. ###


title: Cherokee County Felon And Five Straw Purchasers Sentenced For Federal Firearms Crimes

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eduardo Garcia, age 55, Eric Lopez, age 46, Eric Jesus Lopez, age 28, Savanna Jade Lopez, age 28, Francisco Hernandez, age 25, and Christian Lopez, age 27, each of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, were sentenced on federal firearms charges. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Eduardo Garcia, aka Eduardo Garcia Olvera, aka Eduardo Olvera Garcia, aka “Lalo”, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. On May 18, 2023, Garcia pleaded guilty to the charge. Eric Lopez, Eric Jesus Lopez, Savanna Jade Lopez, and Christian Lopez each pleaded guilty to one count of False Statements During the Purchase of a Firearm and were sentenced to five years’ probation. Francisco Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of False Statements During the Purchase of a Firearm and was sentenced to four years’ probation. According to investigators, on November 4, 2022, ATF agents discovered Eduardo “Lalo” Garcia in possession of one 20 GA Browning Light Twenty shotgun, one 20 GA Mossberg model 185K shotgun, one 9mm Ruger PC Carbine, and one completely built AR-15 style upper receiver in 5.56 NATO caliber, together with 19 empty gun boxes for manufactured firearms and over 2,900 rounds of ammunition, all shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. At the time Garcia possessed the firearms, he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and was prohibited from possessing firearms. An investigation by ATF agents revealed that five of those gun boxes bore serial numbers that matched firearms purchased for Garcia. The investigation also revealed that between October of 2021 and October 2022, Eric Lopez, Eric Jesus Lopez, Savanna Jade Lopez, Christian Lopez, and Francisco Hernandez purchased a total of 107 firearms from four licensed firearms retailers in the Tahlequah and Muskogee areas. For each purchase, the defendants falsely stated on a Department of Justice ATF Form 4473 that they were the actual buyers of the firearms. In reality, the defendants were purchasing the firearms for Garcia, who was unable to complete purchases due to his felony conviction. Law enforcement in Mexico recovered one of those firearms, a Glock 9mm pistol, five months after a family member purchased it for Garcia. “Enforcing federal firearm regulations is a crucial part of protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and ensuring public safety,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Felons like Mr. Garcia and others who would otherwise not be able to legitimately purchase or possess firearms often look for buyers with no previous criminal history to act as straw purchasers on their behalf. Garcia and his co-defendants attempted to thwart the safeguards and are being held accountable for their acts.” “When family and friends choose to commit crime together, they become felons together. Federal firearms laws are designed to keep weapons from those that shouldn’t have them, and today’s sentencing is a notice to all that ATF and its partners will relentlessly pursue those who choose to ignore them. Whether you are a felon in possession or supplying prohibited persons with firearms, we will find you and prosecute,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. 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 Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Garcia will remain out of custody pending assignment to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.


title: Florida Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Clean Air Act

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today Ryan Hugh Milliken and his company, Hardaway Solutions, LLC (Hardaway), pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Clean Air Act. Milliken is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2024 at 10:30 a.m., in Spokane, Washington. Under the Clean Air Act, diesel trucks are required to maintain systems and components that limit harmful emissions of dangerous pollutants such as diesel particulates. Exposure to diesel exhaust can lead to serious health conditions like asthma and respiratory illnesses and can worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly. Heavy-duty diesel trucks are also required under the Clean Air Act to maintain an onboard-diagnostic system which monitors the functionality of the hardware emissions control components. In order to ensure that the required emissions control systems are functioning properly, if the system detects that an emissions control component is not working, or has been removed, it will ultimately put the truck into what is known as “limp mode,” which limits the top speed to as low as 5 miles per hour. Based on the plea agreement accepted by the court and information disclosed during court proceedings, between August 2017 and November 2023, Milliken and Hardway created and sold illegal “delete tune” files designed to disable and defeat required emissions controls and monitoring systems. According to the Plea Agreement and information disclosed during court proceedings, Milliken and Hardway created and sold these “delete tune” files for specific customers and vehicles and their specifications, including for numerous Spokane-based trucking companies and their owner, Pavel Ivanovich Turlak, who is also charged in the Indictment that names Milliken and Hardway. “Mr. Milliken had an illegal business built around defeating important safeguards regulating the amount of emissions from diesel engines,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “These safeguards are critical to protecting public health and a safe environment. I am grateful to investigators with the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division, technical experts with EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center, and prosecutors in my office who work to achieve environmental justice and make Eastern Washington a clean, safe place to live and work.” This case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center, the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the Spokane Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Jacob E. Brooks are prosecuting the case. While Ryan Milliken and Hardway have pled guilty and those pleas have been accepted by the court, the indictment as to Pavel Turlak is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2:24-cr-00057-TOR


title: U.S. Reaches Settlement for Over $100M in Civil Lawsuit Against Owner and Operator of the Vessel That Destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the Singaporean corporations that owned and operated the Motor Vessel DALI, have agreed to pay $101,980,000 to resolve a civil claim brought by the United States for costs borne in responding to the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The settlement resolves the United States’ claims for civil damages for $103,078,056 under the Rivers and Harbors Act, Oil Pollution Act, and general maritime law. The settlement monies will go to the U.S. Treasury and to the budgets of several federal agencies directly affected by the allision or involved in the response. “Nearly seven months after one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory, which claimed six lives and caused untold damage, we have reached an important milestone with today’s settlement,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Thanks to the hard work of the Justice Department attorneys since day one of this disaster, we were able to secure this early settlement of our claim, just over one month into litigation. This resolution ensures that the costs of the federal government’s cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel are borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy and not the American taxpayer.” “This is a tremendous outcome that fully compensates the United States for the costs it incurred in responding to this disaster and holds the owner and operator of the DALI accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The prompt resolution of this matter also avoids the expense associated with litigating this complex case for potentially years.” In the early morning hours of March 26, the Motor Vessel DALI left the Port of Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka. While navigating through the Fort McHenry Channel, the vessel lost power, regained power, and then lost power again before striking the bridge. The bridge collapsed and plunged into the water below, tragically killing six people. In addition to this heartbreaking loss of life, the wreck of the DALI and the remains of the bridge were left to obstruct the navigable channel, bringing all shipping into and out of the Port of Baltimore to a standstill. The loss of the bridge also severed a critical highway in the transportation infrastructure and blocked a key artery for local commuters. The United States led the response efforts of dozens of federal, state, and local agencies to remove about 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt from the channel and from the DALI itself. While removal operations were underway, the United States set up temporary channels to start relieving the bottleneck at the port and mitigate some of the economic devastation caused by the DALI. The Fort McHenry Channel was cleared by June 10, and the Port of Baltimore was once again open for commercial navigation. On Sept. 18, the Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, seeking over $100 million in damages from Grace Ocean and Synergy. The Department’s claim was part of a legal action that the vessel companies filed shortly after the tragedy, in which they seek exoneration or limitation of their liability to approximately $43.7 million. Today’s settlement is in addition to $97,294 recently paid by Grace Ocean to the Coast Guard National Pollution Fund Center for costs incurred to abate the threat of oil pollution arising from the incident. The settlement does not include any damages for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The State of Maryland built, owned, maintained, and operated the bridge, and attorneys on the state’s behalf filed their own claim for those damages. Pursuant to the governing regulation, funds recovered by the State of Maryland for reconstruction of the bridge will be used to reduce the project costs paid for in the first instance by federal tax dollars. The resolution of the civil matter was handled by attorneys from the Civil Division’s Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.


title: Former General Counsel for Major Public Company Sentenced to Eight Months in Prison for Criminal Tax Offenses

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey man, and former general counsel for a large public corporation, was sentenced today to eight months in prison for willfully failing to file federal income tax returns, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. John Goggins, 63, of Chatham, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa to a four-count information charging him with willfully failing to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2018 through 2021. Judge Espinosa imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Goggins was a former senior vice-president and general counsel of a large publicly traded corporation. For the years 2018 through 2021, Goggins earned total gross income of $54 million from wages, restricted stock awards, the exercise of annual nonqualified stock options, interest, dividends, and gains from stock sales. Nevertheless, Goggins failed to file federal income tax returns for those years. In addition to the prison term, Judge Espinosa sentenced Goggins to one year of supervised release, ordered restitution to the IRS of $3.11 million, which has already been paid, and fined him $40,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan with the investigation leading to the sentence. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae D. Gray of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark, and Trial Attorney Kenneth Vert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Myles Robert Williams, 37, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 26, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Williams in Beckley. Officers searched the vehicle and found a Ruger model EC9S 9mm semi-automatic handgun and 41 grams of fentanyl. Williams admitted that he possessed the firearm and he used it for protection. Williams further admitted to possessing the fentanyl found in his vehicle, and that he intended to distribute it. Williams also admitted that he sold 1.3 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Beckley shortly before officers conducted the traffic stop. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Williams knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for common law robbery in Lincoln County, North Carolina, Superior Court on September 10, 2013. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-79. ###


title: Former Nurse from Atlantic County Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Anthony Barbarino, 38, of Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From April 12, 2022, to Aug. 3, 2022, Barbarino knowingly possessed 93 still photographs and 108 videos of child sexual abuse across three electronic devices, including at least one image of a prepubescent minor or a minor under 12 years of age, and at least one image that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence. Barbarino was arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint on Aug. 3, 2022, with the same offense. Prior to that arrest, Barbarino was employed as a nurse. In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Barbarino to 10 years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $13,000 in restitution to his victims, $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and $5,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office for its assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the Criminal Division in Camden.


title: Man Who Murdered Fellow Soldier on Military Base in Germany Sentenced to Prison

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former U.S. soldier was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for the murder of a pregnant, 19-year-old fellow soldier on a U.S. Army base in Germany over 22 years ago. On May 7, a jury in Pensacola, Florida, found Shannon L. Wilkerson, 44, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Amanda Gonzales. According to court documents, Wilkerson beat and strangled Amanda Gonzales to death on Nov. 3, 2001, in her barracks room at Fliegerhorst Kaserne, then a U.S. Army base in Hanau, Germany. Evidence introduced at trial indicated that Wilkerson feared he was the father of Gonzales’ unborn child and that her pregnancy would interfere with his military career and his marriage to another soldier on the base. Wilkerson was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces at the time of the offense but was later discharged. “Shannon Wilkerson brutally murdered Amanda Gonzales, a fellow soldier who Wilkerson knew was pregnant at the time,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “While nothing we can do will reunite Amanda with her family, we hope today’s sentencing brings some measure of closure and comfort to Amanda’s loved ones. I am proud of the dedicated and hardworking members of the Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners, who are committed to pursuing justice for victims of violent crime, no matter how challenging that pursuit may be.” “The murder of Amanda Gonzales and her unborn child was a horrific act of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida. “This decades-long investigation and resulting prosecution demonstrate the unwavering resolve of our law enforcement partners and their commitment to obtain justice for the victims and their family. The defendant took the life of a 19-year-old woman serving her country far from home — knowing that he was killing her unborn child. The sentence acknowledges the brutal, selfish nature of his crime and imposes just punishment.” “Justice for victims is not just a promise, it’s a commitment, no matter how long it takes,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “This sentencing comes just as Amanda Gonzales’ family will mark 23 years since she and her unborn child were brutally murdered by Shannon Wilkerson on Nov. 3, 2001. While no amount of prison time will bring the young Army solider back, we hope this will close another chapter in the Gonzales family’s grieving process.” The FBI New York and Jacksonville Field Offices investigated this case, with assistance from the Army Criminal Investigative Division, which originally investigated the case. Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida prosecuted the case.


title: Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for 10 Child Pornography Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A former Border Patrol agent was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 50 years in prison for 10 counts related to the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, Paul Casey Whipple, 41, of Hondo, was arrested Dec. 19, 2017, during a search warrant at his residence. Agents seized evidence showing Whipple had produced and distributed hundreds of image and video files depicting a child victim engaged in sexually explicit content. The law enforcement actions came after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from a foreign law enforcement agency related to seven files depicting the sexual exploitation of a prepubescent female child. Agents with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and IRS, worked to identify the child depicted in the images. Whipple was indicted for four counts of production of child pornography, five counts of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to all 10 counts June 6. In addition to spending 50 years in federal prison, Whipple was ordered to pay $54,000 in restitution, forfeit the electronic items used to commit the offenses, pay a $1,000 special assessment, and serve a term of supervised release if he is released from prison. “This significant 50-year sentence reflects the seriousness of Whipple’s heinous crimes and the devastating impact that child sexual abuse material has on its victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Thank you to our federal agency partners for their thorough and dedicated investigative work in this case and were instrumental in securing this outcome. Together, we will continue to bring perpetrators to justice and strive to protect our children and our communities.” “Whipple’s long-term exploitation of a minor is reprehensible, and we hope this sentence will grant the victim some measure of comfort in knowing he will never be able to hurt another child,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “We want to thank our partners at the IRS for their continued assistance in keeping our communities safe.” The FBI, HSI and IRS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###