title: Two Defendants Plead Guilty in Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain More Than $1.8 Million in COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Benefits

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Federal inmates Jason Haddox, age 40, and Jonathan Henry, age 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and Henry also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, relating to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act unemployment insurance benefits. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the National Capital Region U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”); and Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”) - Washington Division. Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included expanded eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) benefits and increased UI benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program (“PUA”), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”), and the Lost Wages Assistance Program (“LWAP”). According to their plea agreements, during the time of the conspiracy, March 22, 2020 through at least June 2021, Haddox and Henry were inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix (“FCI Fort Dix”). Haddox, Henry, and their co-conspirators (both inmates and outside individuals), submitted fraudulent online applications for UI benefits in Maryland and other states. Henry and other conspirators used the personally identifying information (“PII”) of identity theft victims in many of the applications. Based on the information in the fraudulent applications, the Maryland Department of Labor, which is responsible for processing applications for UI benefits in Maryland, issued prepaid debit cards in the names of the applicants and mailed them to addresses included on the applications, which were accessible to the conspirators. The defendants and their co-conspirators used the prepaid debit cards to withdraw money from ATMs and to make retail purchases. In addition to fraudulent Maryland UI claims, Haddox submitted fraudulent UI claims in Arizona, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisiana, Illinois, and New York, totaling at least $292,451 in losses. Henry admitted that he used the PII of identity theft victims to submit approximately 191 fraudulent claims, the majority in Maryland but also in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina. Of the fraudulent claims submitted, 152 claims were paid, with an actual loss of approximately $1,894,971. Haddox faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for him on March 13, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. Henry and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, they will jointly recommend that Henry be sentenced to 97 months in federal prison. Judge Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for Henry on March 22, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DOL-OIG and the USPIS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md . # # #


title: Armed Gunmen Sentenced for Attempted Carjacking in Greenville

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – Two Greenville men were each sentenced to 92 months in prison for an attempted carjacking. On August 23, 2023, Alterrik Laquan Parker aka “Al-Terrick Parker” and Gabriel Zachary Harris, both age 19, pled guilty to the charges. Previously, a third accomplice, a juvenile, was sentenced in Pitt County Superior to 80 to 108 months for attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and 16 to 29 months custody, consecutive, for possession of a weapon of mass destruction. “According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, carjackings increased more than 8 percent in 2022 and nine out of ten cases involve the use of a weapon,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “And, just like this case, we are seeing more cases of carjackings that involve juveniles. Carjackers in Eastern North Carolina should be on notice that we are working with our state and local partners to investigate and prosecute these cases to hold all involved in the crime – regardless of age – accountable.” "I am happy that we have been able to help bring closure to this investigation and for the victim. The men and women of the Greenville Police Department work tirelessly to investigate crimes that occur in our city. We strive to provide the highest service possible to those who suffer at the hands of those wishing to do harm. Violence of this kind is not tolerable, and it goes without saying that anyone committing these offenses will be held accountable to the highest level," said Greenville Police Department Chief, Ted Sauls. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on February 23, 2023, Parker and a juvenile accomplice, wearing ski masks and armed with handguns, approached a store patron as he left an ABC store in Greenville and got into his vehicle. Parker and his accomplice told the victim, “give us everything or we’ll kill you,” while pointing their firearms at the victim. The victim exited the vehicle and dropped his phone and wallet in the parking lot. At that time, Harris approached the scene and retrieved the victim’s items from the ground and then tried to drive away in the victim’s vehicle but was unable to start the car because the key fob was still in the victim’s pocket, outside the car. The victim offered to let the three carjackers have the car in exchange for his wallet and phone. The situation escalated and multiple shots were fired at the victim by Parker and the juvenile. The victim, who was armed with a firearm, returned fire on the three assailants, striking Parker. The three assailants fled the scene, and the victim retrieved his belongings and called authorities. Responding officers from the Greenville Police Department were able to locate the suspects fleeing in a Kia. Following a high-speed chase, all three assailants were arrested, and a search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a 9mm handgun, multiple shell casings, and approximately three ounces of marijuana. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Greenville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-CR-00030-M-RN. ###


title: Carriere, Mississippi Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 56 Grams of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Carriere man was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 56 grams of methamphetamine. Calvin Deshun Vaughn, 48, was sentenced on November 30, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization, located largely in Picayune, MS (Pearl River County). In 2019, Calvin Deshun Vaughn was identified as being part of the conspiracy. Federal agents used a confidential source to begin making purchases of methamphetamine from Vaughn. On January 30, 2019, a confidential source purchased 56 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine from Vaughn in Carriere, MS. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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: California Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Conspiracy  to Possess with Intent to Distribute 1342 Grams of Methamphetamine

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Los Angeles, California man was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1342 grams of methamphetamine. According to court records, on October 31, 2019, an anonymous tipster alerted the DEA to a PODS container being shipped by Shaun Patrick Fuller, 41, to Jackson County, Mississippi. The tipster said the PODS contained drugs that were being sent from California to Mississippi to be trafficked. A canine alerted on the container and a search warrant was obtained. The search revealed 1342 grams of meth that tested at 100% purity. A controlled delivery of the PODS container took place and it was determined that the container was sent to the Jackson County residence by Fuller. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.


title: Wilmington Felon with Six Prior Convictions Receives Seven Year Sentence for Illegal Firearm Possession

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man with six previous state felony convictions was sentenced to 85 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after he reached for a gun during a traffic stop. On August 23, 2023, Michael Eugene Williams, age 28, pled guilty to the charge. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on August 29, 2022, officers with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle the defendant was driving. The defendant was the sole occupant of the vehicle and when deputies approached the vehicle, they detected an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. When asked by deputies to exit the vehicle, the defendant did so hesitantly and provided deputies with a false name. While outside the vehicle, the defendant failed to comply with deputies’ orders and a brief struggle ensued, during which, the defendant resisted officers and reached towards his waistband. The defendant was eventually handcuffed and a 9mm handgun was located in the defendant’s pants. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately 62 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, and drug paraphernalia. Williams has six prior felony convictions in state court for burglary, selling heroin, trafficking heroin by possession, trafficking heroin by manufacturing, and conspiracy to traffic opium or heroin. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilmington Police Department’s Gun Crime Task Force, and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal violent crimes and other criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by New Hanover County. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-cr-00041M-001. ###


title: Colombian National Extradited from Colombia to the United States to Face Charges of Murder Conspiracy and Attempted Murder of U.S. Army Soldiers

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A five-count indictment, lodged against Andres Fernando Medina Rodriguez, 39, was unsealed today during the defendant’s initial appearance in federal court in Miami. Medina Rodriguez was extradited from Colombia to the United States to face federal charges. Medina Rodriguez was indicted by a Miami federal grand jury in 2022 for charges that include conspiring to murder members of the United States Uniformed Services and attempted murder of members of the United States Uniformed Services. According to the indictment, Medina Rodriguez, in concert with other co-conspirators, planned a bombing attack against U.S. Army soldiers present at the Colombian 30 th Army Brigade Base in Cucuta, Colombia. Medina Rodriguez used his status as a medically discharged Colombian Army Officer to gain access to the base where he conducted surveillance. As part of the surveillance, Medina Rodriguez took photographs and video of the areas where the U.S. Army soldiers were primarily located. One of Medina Rodriguez’s co-conspirators instructed Medina Rodriguez to find and purchase a vehicle suitable for conducting a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (“VBIED”) attack at the base. Medina Rodriguez purchased a white SUV and Medina Rodriguez and his co-conspirators drove the vehicle to Venezuela where it was outfitted with the explosives. On June 15, 2021, Medina Rodriguez drove the vehicle with the VBIED to the 30 th Army Brigade Base in Cucuta, Colombia, where he parked it in front of the location where U.S. and Colombian military personnel were located. Medina Rodriguez pulled the detonation pin on the explosive and left the area on foot before fleeing on a motorcycle driven by a co-conspirator. As a result of the detonated VBIED, three U.S. Army soldiers were injured. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI’s Miami Field Office announced the unsealing of the charges. The FBI investigated the case. The FBI, including the FBI Legal Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, was assisted by the Colombian National Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy A. Hummel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Camacho, and the Justice Department’s National Security Division Trial Attorneys David C. Smith and Michael Dittoe are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota worked with Colombian authorities, including the Colombian Attorney General’s Office, to secure the arrest and extradition of Medina Rodriguez. An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 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 22-20054-CR-SCOLA/GOODMAN. 22-20054-CR-SCOLA ###


title: Gloucester County Postal Employee Admits Mail Theft

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man who worked as a postal employee admitted today stealing more than $170,000 in cash that had been sent through the mail, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Joseph Fenuto, 51, of Blackwood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to an information charging him withone count of mail theft. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From November 2021 to August 2022, Fenuto was employed as a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier with delivery routes in Blackwood. Fenuto was assigned to a postal route which included the Gloucester Premium Outlets in Blackwood. Fenuto accepted parcels from numerous retail establishments, which he was required to place in the mail stream for delivery to the addresses listed on the parcels. Many of these parcels contained cash, which the retail stores had received from sales of their products and goods to customers. Fenuto admitted he had stolen more than 50 such parcels containing cash from numerous retail stores at the Gloucester Premium Outlets. Fenuto said he stole $171,110 from parcels that he was required to ensure remained in the mail stream for their delivery to a bank in Ohio. The mail theft charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office, and investigators of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the Gloucester Township Police Department under the direction of Chief David J. Harkins for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. fenuto.information.pdf


title: St. Louis Man Caught with Machine Guns Admits Drug, Gun Crimes

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man who was caught with fentanyl, methamphetamine and two fully automatic handguns pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to three felonies Friday. Courtlend Green, 26, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Green admitted that St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives with the Mobile Reserve Unit learned that he was known to sell drugs at a supermarket in the 8300 block of North Broadway. On Jan. 3, 2023, they spotted him driving into the supermarket parking lot. Because of his history of fleeing from police, officers deployed tire deflation devices in front of Green’s Honda Crosstour before activating their lights and trying to approach Green’s car. Green sped away before crashing into another vehicle at the intersection of Broadway and Gimblin Road. Green then got out and ran. Officers caught and arrested him. Inside Green’s Honda, officers found two Glock handguns that were equipped with illegal “switches,” or auto sears, that converted them into fully automatic weapons. One Glock, which had been stolen, had a drum magazine and the other had an extended magazine. Green, who is a convicted felon and therefore barred from the possession of firearms, admitted both possessing the firearms and buying the Glock switches for them. Officers also found about 64 grams of meth and at least 18 grams of fentanyl. Green is scheduled to be sentenced March 8, 2024 The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag is prosecuting the case.


title: Massachusetts Commercial Fisherman Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Massachusetts man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for evading taxes on income he earned as a commercial fisherman. According to court documents, Joaquin Sosa, of New Bedford, worked as a commercial fisherman and deckhand operating primarily out of the Port of New Bedford. Despite receiving approximately $1.9 million in income between 2012 and 2021, Sosa did not file tax returns reporting the income and did not pay the substantial income taxes owed on the income he earned. Sosa also worked under false identities over the years. To further conceal the source and disposition of his income, Sosa cashed his paychecks from fishing companies at check-cashing businesses, at times using false identities, and used the cash to fund his personal lifestyle. In total, Sosa caused a tax loss to the IRS of $520,415. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani for the District of Massachusetts ordered Sosa to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $520,415 in restitution to the United States. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro and Acting Section Chief John Kane of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor Wild for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case.


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for His Role in the Robbery and Murder of a Drug Dealer

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Deron Johnson, a/k/a “DJ,” age 52, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 19 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery and for committing the robbery. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. According to their plea agreements, on September 29, 2020, Johnson and co-defendants George Felds and Joseph Williams conspired to rob a 16-year-old of drugs and drug proceeds. Specifically, at approximately 4:24 a.m., Johnson and the victim pulled into the parking lot of a hotel in the 6500 block of Frankford Avenue in Baltimore, where Williams had been staying for several months, selling drugs under a fictitious name. Johnson was working as a “hack” driver and gave the victim a ride to the hotel on the ruse that the victim would be selling drugs to Williams and Fields. As detailed in the plea agreements, Williams and Fields approached Johnson’s van and Fields held out money as though he was ready to make a purchase. Williams and Fields then began robbing the victim while Johnson walked to the rear of the van and smoked. Fields admitted that he pinned the victim down in the front passenger seat of the van and went through his pockets. The victim struggled, flailing his arms and legs. Williams admitted that he then pulled out a handgun and fired a single shot into the victim’s chest at close range. The victim stumbled away from the van and collapsed on the ground. Johnson, Williams, and Fields and then got into the van and Johnson drove away. A hotel surveillance camera captured the entire incident. The victim died later that day after being taken to the hospital. No drugs, money, or cell phone were recovered from the victim’s personal effects. Later that morning, the conspirators returned to the hotel in Johnson’s van, while police were still processing the scene. Johnson, Williams, and Fields entered the hotel together. Police recognized the van from the hotel surveillance footage and towed the van and detained Johnson. A search warrant was executed on the van and law enforcement recovered a single bullet from the front row carpet. On October 1, 2020, Johnson’s phone was searched and was found to contain evidence of the plan to rob the victim, including: text messages between Johnson and Williams; a record of phone calls between Johnson and the victim; several calls exchanged between Johnson and phone numbers used by Williams in the hours before and after the murder; a photograph of Johnson with Williams and Fields; and Fields’ contact information was in Johnson’s contacts. A cell phone seized from Williams at the time of his arrest revealed that Williams had been staying at the hotel, where he was also dealing drugs and that he was in dire need of money. The phone also contained messages immediately following the murder in which Williams made plans to dispose of the murder weapon and directed another individual to destroy evidence. Co-defendants Joseph Williams, a/k/a “Blue,” age 33, and George Fields, a/k/a “Chin,” age 49, both of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and were sentenced to 26 years and 25 years in federal prison, respectively. 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. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Hagan, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Clayton Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearms Crimes

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Adam Cook, age 33, of Clayton, New York pled guilty yesterday to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in connection with a federal drug trafficking crime, and manufacturing and transferring illegal “ghost gun” rifles, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Kristyna Mills, Jefferson County District Attorney As part of his guilty plea yesterday, Adam Cook admitted that he possessed 285 grams of cocaine for distribution that was recovered during a search warrant executed at his Clayton, New York residence in September 2020. He also admitted that he possessed a 12-gauge shotgun in connection with his drug trafficking crime. In pleading guilty, Cook also admitted to manufacturing and transferring illegally short-barreled unregistered .223 caliber “ghost guns.” The guilty pleas stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force and ATF into drug and firearms trafficking in the Watertown, New York area. Sentencing is scheduled April 2, 2023, in Syracuse, at which time Adam Cook faces up to 20-years in prison for his conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least 5-years and up to life imprisonment for his conviction for possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, and up to 10-years imprisonment for making and transferring unregistered illegally short-barreled .223 caliber “ghost gun” rifles. He will also be sentenced to a term of at least 3-years of post-incarceration supervised release and may also be sentenced to fines of up to $1 million dollars. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force, consisting of Special Agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detectives from the City of Watertown Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Investigators from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Border Patrol Agents. Assistance was also provided by the City of Watertown Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and the Village of Clayton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Drug Supplier Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Clarence Coby, age 48, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 14 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad; and Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson. According to his guilty plea, in November 2019, the DEA received information about a number of drug trafficking organizations operating in and around the Annapolis, Maryland area and identified Orland Ray Coleman, Sr. as a drug trafficker responsible for distributing drugs to those organizations. Additional investigation revealed that Clarence Coby was a source of supply to Coleman, specifically providing Coleman and other Annapolis-areas drug traffickers with fentanyl and cocaine. In mid-May 2021, several search warrants were executed on houses and vehicles associated with Coby. Investigators recovered at Coby’s house, a total of 5 guns and ammunition, more than a kilogram of cocaine and approximately 62 grams of fentanyl pills, and approximately $109,941 in drug proceeds. Investigators also executed search and seizure warrants on Coby’s vehicles and recovered approximately seven kilograms of fentanyl, 947 grams of cocaine and 264 grams of heroin hidden in secret compartments in one of Coby’s vehicles. On October 10, 2023, Orlando Ray Coleman, Sr., age 48, of Millersville, Maryland pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Coleman is expected to be sentenced to eight years in federal prison at his sentencing on January 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Baltimore Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region. The Baltimore SF is comprised of agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Maryland National Guard, the Maryland State Police, and the Maryland Transportation Authority, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the FBI, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Annapolis Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: California Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 54 Grams of Fentanyl and 206 Grams of Fentanyl Analogue

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – Two Irvine, California men were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. David Quinonez, 23, was sentenced to 87 months in prison, and Aaron Torres, 24, was sentenced to 64 months in prison. According to court records, in March of 2022, law enforcement agents were made aware that David Quinonez was sending pills containing fentanyl to the Southern District of Mississippi. Undercover agents began communicating with Quinonez and were then able to determine that Aaron Torres was Quinonez’s source of supply. The agents arranged to purchase fentanyl pills from Quinonez in California. When they met with Quinonez, Torres was also present in the car and the pair had pills containing fentanyl that they intended to sell. The overall conspiracy involved 54 grams of fentanyl and 206 grams of a fentanyl analogue. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.


title: Rostraver, PA Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Conviction of Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Rostraver, PA has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison and 1 year of supervised release on her conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Patty Lynn Mavrakis, 65, of Rostraver, PA. According to information presented to the court, Mavrakis was a Branch Manager for Valley 1st Community Federal Credit Union and, in September 2016, she embezzled $399,230.00 from the credit union. In order to conceal the theft, she intentionally started a fire in the credit union’s safe and claimed a faulty wire caused the fire and destroyed the missing currency. In the days following the fire, she made a fraudulent insurance claim on behalf of the credit union for the missing currency. She further made numerous false statements to law enforcement as they investigated the embezzlement and fire. Finally, the court was advised that Mavrakis likely used the embezzled funds on gambling, as she lost approximately four times her annual salary in the months following the embezzlement and fire. Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mavrakis.


title: Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar Statement on the Passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

component: Office of the Solicitor General

body_text: WASHINGTON – The Justice Department issued the following statement from Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar following the passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor: “On behalf of the Office of the Solicitor General, I extend my deepest sympathies on the passing of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Justice O’Connor lived a remarkable life and leaves an extraordinary legacy. Her decades of distinguished service as the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court showed the nation that there are no limits to what women can do and achieve in the law — and opened countless doors for those who came after her. Her opinions for the Court reflect her formidable intellect and profound wisdom; they will shape the law for years to come. And her integrity, independence, and dedication to public service will continue to inspire all those who knew and admired her.”


title: Lowell, Michigan Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to the Sexual Exploitation of Minors

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Lowell, Michigan pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Frank Davis, age 30, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on August 9, 2022, Davis induced a minor during an online chat to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of the conduct and to send the sexually explicit material to Davis. On the same date, Davis knowingly received videos of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. On August 18, 2022, as well as on other dates in August 2022, Davis sent to the minor obscene videos depicting himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for April 16, 2024, at 8:45 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 60 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, Davis remains detained. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations-Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania State Police, Homeland Security Investigations-Grand Rapids (Michigan), and the Lowell Police Department (Michigan) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Davis. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: District Man Sentenced to Sixteen Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking at Gas Station

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Andrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 16 years of incarceration for the September 2022 armed carjacking at a southeast gas station, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Patrick was found guilty at trial on September 27, 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of armed carjacking, and related firearm offenses. According to that evidence, on September 22, 2022, the victim had driven her 2005 Chevy Suburban to the Good Hope Road gas station in Washington, DC when the defendant approached her and demanded her car keys at gunpoint. The victim begged Patrick not to hurt her. In response, Patrick pushed the victim into her vehicle, grabbed her keys, and drove off in her car. The victim called 911 and immediately reported the crime. Police apprehended Patrick in the victim’s car later that day, after a license plate reader detected the victim’s tags when he drove it through Northeast DC. Police officers also found a black and grey Glock 37 inside the vehicle. At the sentencing hearing, the victim gave a powerful and moving statement to the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz in which she explained how the defendant’s crimes had impacted her life, hurt her deep “in her soul,” and made her fear for her life. The victim specifically thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Evans and Omeed A. Assefi and Victim/Witness Advocate Christie Bloodworth for their hard work and continued support throughout the investigation and trial process. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Leibovitz sentenced the defendant to 16 years’ incarceration for the armed carjacking offense, which carries a 15-year mandatory-minimum sentence. Patrick was also sentenced to five years for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, three years for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, fourteen months for carrying a pistol without a license, one year for possession of an unregistered firearm, and one year for unlawful possession of ammunition. The judge also ordered that defendant serve five years of supervised release after he completes his sentence. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office including Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah N. Simmons, Paralegal Specialist Renee Prather, Victim/Witness Advocate Christie Bloodworth, and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Evans and Omeed A. Assefi, who investigated, prosecuted, and tried the case.


title: Area Man Charged in Federal Court for Overdose Death of Portland 15-Year-Old

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A local man is facing federal charges today for distributing counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl that caused the overdose death of a Portland teenager. Nasir Overton, 20, a resident of Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with one count each of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, resulting in death, and distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, resulting in death. According to court documents, on September 20, 2023, a detective from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) responded to a local hospital after receiving a report of a 15-year-old who had fatally overdosed on fentanyl. The detective learned that the day prior, the teenager had ingested a single counterfeit Oxycodone pill containing fentanyl and overdosed. The teenager was pronounced dead four days later. Further investigation revealed that the teen received the fatal pill from a friend who had purchased two pills from Overton, who went by the alias “Noni.” Overton was arrested Thursday without incident in Portland and made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. If convicted, Overton faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), PPB, and the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Task Force (HIT). It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Convicted Felon on Supervised Release Charged with Possessing a Machinegun in Furtherance of Fentanyl and Heroin Trafficking

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – A former resident of Homestead, Pennsylvania, has been charged in a superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for possession of a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking and other offenses, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The three-count Superseding Indictment named Erik Addison, age 27, as the sole defendant. According to the Superseding Indictment, on May 8, 2023, Addison possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and heroin, possessed a machinegun in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, and also possessed a Glock pistol equipped with a part commonly referred to as a “Glock Switch,” designed to convert a semiautomatic Glock-style handgun into a machinegun capable of fully automatic fire. As to the most serious offense, possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years of imprisonment with a maximum possible sentence of life, as well as a maximum possible fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. At the time of the new alleged offenses, Addison was serving a term of supervised release following his conviction for a prior federal firearm offense in 2021. As a result, he is now the subject of separate federal court proceedings to revoke his supervised release. According to court records in the supervised release matter, it is alleged that Addison was the subject of an attempted traffic stop on May 8, 2023. Rather than complying with law enforcement, Addison allegedly fled from the traffic stop—striking multiple law enforcement vehicles as he did so—and proceeded at a high rate of speed across the Homestead Grays Bridge from Pittsburgh to the Boroughs of Homestead and West Homestead. Addison’s vehicle was subsequently located, heavily damaged and abandoned. Multiple officers from various jurisdictions responded. One officer saw Addison fleeing on foot, and while that officer pursued him, multiple shots allegedly were fired. Addison was then apprehended and found to be in possession of the firearm that is the subject of the new federal charges contained in the Superseding Indictment. In addition to the charges returned by the federal grand jury and the alleged supervised release violations, Addison is also facing charges in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, including aggravated assault and attempted murder of a law enforcement officer stemming from his alleged conduct on May 8, 2023. “Glock switches turn handguns into machineguns,” said United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan. “Erik Addison allegedly possessed one such machinegun in furtherance of his fentanyl and heroin dealing—a lethal combination of staggering proportions. This office and our dedicated partners in law enforcement will continue our ceaseless pursuit of violent offenders in order to protect the community and ordinary citizens who just want to walk down the street without fear of deadly gunfire.” “The conduct allegedly committed by the defendant was reprehensible, reckless and extremely dangerous to the community. Stopping individuals who utilize machineguns to facilitate the illegal drug trade is one of ATF’s highest priorities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree. “We want to thank our local partners for their diligence and courage in his apprehension, as well as the support of the United States Attorney’s Office as we continue to work to take illegal weapons off the streets.” “This was a violent incident involving a dangerous, illegal weapon,” said Allegheny County Police Superintendent Christopher Kearns. “This arrest is a perfect example of how our work with our local and federal partners allows us to target dangerous individuals and weapons to keep our communities safe.” Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas C. Maloney and Brendan T. Conway are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this 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 superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Violations of the conditions of supervised release must be proven by the government by a preponderance of the evidence.


title: Former Pediatrician Sentenced to 7½ Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Scores of Images of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former pediatrician was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on dozens of DVDs as well as possessing hundreds of such images on his personal computing devices. Gary David Goulin, 62, of the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who also ordered him to pay a $50,000 fine and an additional $22,100 in special assessments. He is required to register as a sex offender and will be placed on supervised release for a period of 15 years once he is released from prison. Goulin pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In November 2021, Goulin knowingly possessed four DVDs that contained sexually explicit material involving minors who were under the age of 12 years old. Goulin further admitted in his plea agreement to knowingly possessing an additional 57 DVDs that contained CSAM. The average run time on these DVDs was three hours and 21 minutes. In August 2021, Goulin used his cellphone to knowingly receive a video of CSAM. In total, Goulin possessed more than 600 images that he knew constituted child pornography, some of which showed children engaging in sadistic or masochistic conduct. “[Goulin] received and possessed a large collection of child pornography materials – over 204 hours of videos and images,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “At the same time that he possessed these materials, he was entrusted with caring for children as a pediatrician at a hospital.” Goulin was charged in Los Angeles Superior Court with possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child. That case was dismissed considering the federal charges against Goulin, which a grand jury brought via indictment in October 2022. In November 2021, the Medical Board of California prohibited Goulin from practicing medicine. The FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah S. Lee of the General Crimes prosecuted this case.


title: “Money Mule” sentenced to one year in prison for call center scheme that defrauded victims of more than $700,000

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 33-year-old SeaTac, Washington, man was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for a money laundering conviction related to his participation in a call center scheme to defraud elderly victims across the country, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Arifkhan Pathan was arrested on January 4, 2021. Between August 2020 and January 2021, Pathan played a key role in defrauding 28 victims of more than $700,000. The restitution amount will be determined by U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik at a later date. “According to the FBI, in 2022 there was more than $1 billion in victim losses due to these call center fraud schemes. These schemers often target elderly victims and pretend to be government officials to try to build trust so they can steal their money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “We need to repeatedly remind people that government employees will never ask you to withdraw and send packages of cash to some other address for ‘safe-keeping.’” According to records filed in the case, in November 2020, investigators with Homeland Security Investigation became aware of suspicious packages arriving at Seattle UPS and FedEx locations. The investigation revealed the packages were filled with cash and were sent by victims from as far away as New York, Texas, and Colorado. The packages were sent to conspirators who used fake identity documents, such as driver’s licenses, to pick-up the packages. According to multiple victims in the case, they had received a telephone call from someone who claimed to be employed by the Social Security Administration. The caller claimed the victim’s Social Security number had been compromised, and the only way to protect the victim’s money was to withdraw thousands of dollars in cash from their bank accounts and send it via UPS or FedEx to an “agent” elsewhere in the U.S. for safe-keeping. The callers allegedly demanded the victims send packages containing as much as $30,000 in cash. The scammers used UPS and FedEx so the co-conspirators could track the packages and pick up the packages of cash using the fake identity documents. The investigation revealed the callers were connected to an Indian call center. Pathan used false driver’s licenses in real people’s identities to pick up packages of cash sent by victims. Pathan deposited much of the money he picked up in various bank accounts that could be accessed by his co-schemers. He was paid a commission on the money of about seven percent. In asking for a 40-month prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Miriam Hinman wrote to the court, “Seven of these victims have explained to the Court how severely the offense impacted them, including substantial loss of retirement savings, loss of credit, ongoing debt, and inability to afford basic items like groceries and medications. This financial hardship also caused victims to suffer from enormous anxiety, causing weight loss, migraines, and more…. Pathan participated extensively in a fraud scheme that caused enormous harm to dozens of U.S. victims, many of whom were elderly and lost their retirement savings. He did so for personal profit and should not be allowed to escape from facing the consequences of his actions ….” The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) comprised of representatives from HSI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Seattle Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Miriam R. Hinman and Casey S. Conzatti.


title: Former Correctional Officer Sentenced to 63 Months for Sexual Abuse of Two Female Inmates

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A former federal correctional officer was sentenced today to 63 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a $25,000 special assessment for his sexually abusive conduct against two female victims who were serving prison sentences at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. John Bellhouse, 40, formerly of Pleasanton, California, was initially charged with sexual abuse of an inmate on Feb. 17, 2022. A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment on Sept. 29, 2022, charging Bellhouse with two counts of sexual abuse of a ward and three counts of abusive sexual contact that occurred between December 2019 and December 2020. A jury convicted Bellhouse of all counts. “John Bellhouse exploited his position of trust at the Federal Bureau of Prisons by sexually abusing multiple women in his custody – and today he has been held to account,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The sentence of imprisonment imposed today is the latest example of the Justice Department’s continuing work to address the egregious misconduct that took place at FCI Dublin and prioritize the eradication of sexual assault from our prison system.” “While today’s sentencing cannot undo the horrific abuse that Bellhouse’s victims endured, it sends a clear message that FBOP employees who abuse inmates in their custody and care will be brought to justice. Our investigation of sexual abuse at FCI Dublin remains ongoing, and we will continue to aggressively pursue justice for victims of sexual abuse at the hands of FBOP employees,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. “The horrendous sexual abuse committed by convicted offender John Bellhouse is cruel and despicable,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “As a federal corrections officer, Bellhouse sexually abused inmates under his care and attempted to cover-up his crimes. These violations are inexcusable breaches of the trust and authority granted to government officials. This sentencing is a reminder that the FBI and our partners will relentlessly pursue those who physically harm others and hold them accountable.” “This conduct was a disturbing deviation from the expectations and requirements of all federal correctional officers,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “Bellhouse violated his oath and abused the power given to him, all to victimize the people he was supposed to protect. This sentence makes clear that the sexual abuse of inmates by guards will not be tolerated.” Bellhouse was employed as a correctional officer at the FCI Dublin, California, an all-female low security federal correctional institution. Trial evidence showed that, beginning December 2019 through October 2020, Bellhouse sexually abused and committed abusive sexual contact against a victim incarcerated and serving a prison sentence at FCI Dublin under Bellhouse’s custodial, supervisory, and disciplinary authority. Bellhouse engaged in oral sex with the victim in the prison Safety Warehouse and Safety Office and touched the victim’s vagina and breasts in the prison Safety Office. Evidence presented at trial also demonstrated Bellhouse committed abusive sexual contact against a second victim between October and December of 2020. Trial evidence showed that the acts occurred in the Safety Office at the FCI Dublin Camp. The trial evidence further showed that Bellhouse sexually abused another inmate in 2020 and 2021 when he reached through a window in her cell and grabbed her breast, and on another occasion put his finger in her vagina without her consent while she was in her cell after showering. In a memorandum filed in connection with Bellhouse’s sentencing, the government provided additional information regarding Bellhouse’s criminal conduct while he was a correctional officer. In the memorandum, the government argued that in addition to the three women who testified at trial about Bellhouse’s sexual abuse of them, Bellhouse also abused other women. Further, the government’s memorandum describes how Bellhouse used his ability to access everyday items such as Starbucks coffee, yarn, jewelry, and cleaning supplies, to get his victims both to acquiesce in the abuse and to keep them quiet about his conduct. For example, according to the memorandum, Bellhouse would provide items to coax compliance with his demands. Because these items were considered contraband at FCI Dublin, mere possession of them exposed inmates to potential punishments such as solitary confinement and loss of good time credits. Bellhouse was convicted of two counts of sexual abuse of a ward and three counts of abusive sexual conduct. Bellhouse must surrender by Feb. 2, 2024. His restitution hearing is set for Feb. 1, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. ET. The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly Priedeman and Andrew Paulson for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Madeline Wachs, Sara Slattery, Leeya Kekona, and Kay Konopaske.


title: Military Lawyer Indicted for Attempted Sexual Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – On November 30, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Ross Andrew Brown, 42, of Kailua, for attempted sexual enticement of a minor. Brown is a lawyer serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps and is stationed in Hawaii. Brown will be arraigned on the one-count Indictment on December 20, 2023. Brown was originally charged by Criminal Complaint on April 17, 2023. The Complaint alleges that during April 12 to 16, 2023, Brown communicated via social media platforms Whisper and Telegram with an undercover law enforcement agent posing as a 14-year-old girl. During the communications, Brown allegedly discussed the sexual activity in which Brown and the fictious girl would engage. On April 17, Brown drove to Schofield Barracks allegedly to meet the fictitious girl and was arrested by federal law enforcement agents. After arrest, a United States Magistrate Judge denied the government’s motion to detain Brown pending trial and released him on conditions. If convicted, Brown faces a term of imprisonment between ten years and life, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release for a term of up to life. The charge in the Indictment is merely an accusation, and Brown is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. The charge is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig S. Nolan is handling the prosecution.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Firearms Conspiracy

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Clyde Lamar Pace, 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 1, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for a firearms conspiracy and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Pace to 90 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Pace’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. A drug trafficking investigation in the Omaha area revealed Pace was using social media to communicate the sale of controlled substances and firearms between January 2021 and April 2022. Pace used his social media account to make arrangements to sell controlled substances and weapons to other account users. Pace also posted photos of firearms and controlled substances from within his residence on his social media account. On May 2, 2022, law enforcement searched Pace’s Omaha residence and seized a weapon and a pound of marijuana. Co-defendant Braniff was sentenced on October 27, 2023, to 21 months’ imprisonment for drug user in possession of a firearm. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department.


title: Grand Island Man Sentenced to 52 Years for Conspiracy to Produce Child Pornography and Production of Child Pornography

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Scott Lee Meyer, 34, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 1, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for conspiracy to produce child pornography and production of child pornography. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Meyer to 624 months’ imprisonment. Meyer will then serve the remainder of his life on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Meyer was additionally ordered to pay $11,250 in restitution as well as a $9,000 special assessment which will contribute to funds established for victims of these types of crimes. This case initiated in July of 2022 with an investigation by the FBI in an attempt to identify children in a series of child pornography images which were being shared online. Through the investigation it was determined that the files were associated with Scott Meyer and Scott Simmons. Simmons was previously sentenced to 60 years in prison on July 6, 2023, regarding the same case. On August 25, 2022, a search warrant was received to search Meyer’s and Simmons’ residence. During the search warrant, it was determined that the residence was where many of the child exploitation files were produced. Numerous electronic devices were seized from the residence. Meyer was at the residence during the execution of the search warrant. He agreed to be interviewed and admitted that he and Simmons had engaged in photographing and recording prepubescent boys in a sexually explicit manner. He admitted that these images and videos were produced at their residence and other locations to include various hotels. Four child victims were identified and interviewed by child advocate interviewers. A forensic examination was completed of Meyer’s and Simmons’ personal cellphones. Each phone contained more than 400 files of child pornography. A large majority of these files found on the phones were original productions of the minor victims in this case. Meyer was previously convicted in 2013, for two counts of sexual assault of a child in the 1 st degree in Hall County District Court, Nebraska. Meyer and Simmons met while both were serving sentences for child-sex offenses in Nebraska. Meyer and Simmons distributed the images and videos they produced of the victims in this case on the Tor network using encrypted forms of email to further hide their identities. They additionally directly shared the files they created with at least one acquaintance they made while serving their prior sentences. Following today’s sentencing, Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr expressed “The sentencing today of Scott Meyer and the July Sentencing of Scott Simmons reflect the seriousness of the crimes these men jointly committed. Their actions were reprehensible, unspeakable, and carefully planned for their own gratification without regard for the lives they were affecting. The sentences imposed although significant do not erase the impact their conduct will have on the children and their families for years to come.” 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. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm Charges

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

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Mark P. Nielson, 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 1, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Nielson to 130 months’ imprisonment for the drug distribution and a consecutive 60-month term for the firearm possession. There is no parole in the federal system. After Nielson’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Additionally, Nielson forfeited $1,914 of U.S. currency to the United States. On July 17, 2022, Omaha police officers saw a 2002 Dodge Stratus parked at the gas pumps of Casey’s located at 3435 S. 42nd Street, Omaha. Officers saw the driver of the car, later identified as the Nielson, asleep in the driver’s seat. Containers of alcohol were seen inside the car as well as a handgun on the floorboard behind the driver’s seat. The firearm behind the driver’s seat was a Sig Sauer P320 9mm handgun. DNA testing showed that Nielson’s DNA was on the firearm. Officers also located 83 grams methamphetamine, $1,914.00, and an additional handgun magazine next to the Sig Sauer in the car. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Omaha Police Department.


title: Cozad Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Gun Charges

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Christopher P. Twohig, 45, of Cozad, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 1, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more methamphetamine (actual) and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Twohig to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Twohig’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On March 22, 2023, officers in Cozad, Nebraska, attempted to arrest Twohig on a state arrest warrant. Twohig was located and apprehended in a parking lot at a convenience store. Approximately 47 grams of meth was found in Twohig’s coat, along with multiple empty baggies. A firearm was also found in his vehicle with over 100 rounds of ammunition. The suspected meth was sent to the lab, and the lab determined that there was about 45.24 grams of meth, of which at least 41 grams was actual meth. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nebraska State Patrol, and Dawson County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Buffalo man sentenced for posting social media threat against local stores days after Tops shooting

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Rolik Walker, 25, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of transmitting an interstate threat, was sentenced to a term of 3 years’ probation, by United States District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. One of the conditions of probation is that Walker must abide by the terms of an electronically monitored curfew for a period of one year. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that on May 16, 2022, two days after the mass shooting at the Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, Walker downloaded the IPVanish application onto his cell phone in order to mask his IP address. Walker, using IPVanish, then created a Twitter account with the handle @ConklinHero, and posted a threat about “targeting” several stores in the Western New York area and “Only looking to kill blacks.” Soon after the threat was posted, local, state, and federal law enforcement diverted resources to the stores to ensure the safety of the community, which resulted in one of the stores closing early. Although he attempted to conceal his IP address, the FBI linked the Twitter account to Walker’s residence in Buffalo. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.


title: Rochester man pleads guilty to making a false statement involving sunken vessel

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Vyacheslav S. Migitskiy, 33, a Ukrainian national living in Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Geraci to making a materially false statement. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on August 25, 2022, Migitskiy towed a 25-foot Bayliner boat onto Lake Ontario with the intention of sinking the abandoned vessel. Migitskiy intentionally sunk the vessel without reporting his actions. The following day, on August 26, 2022, the partially submerged boat was discovered by civilian witnesses who reported the sinking to the United States Coast Guard, which resulted in an immediate search and rescue effort by the Coast Guard, the New York State Police, and other law enforcement agencies which included deployment of surface vessels, aircraft, and SCUBA search teams. The United States Coast Guard spent $14,194 during the search and rescue effort, while the New York State Police spent $1,248. On October 4, 2022, Migitskiy was interviewed by a Special Agent with the United States Coast Guard, during which he falsely stated that he had donated the boat to unnamed individuals. Migitskiy further provided a false description of the individuals who took possession of the vessel, false information on how they removed the vessel from his property, and false information on what they did with the vessels’ trailer. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, under the direction of Joshua Packer, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Central Region, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Miklos Szoczei III, and the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Long, the Rochester Fire Department, under the direction of Chief Stefano Napolitano, the Irondequoit Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Peters, and the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood. Sentencing is scheduled for April 18, 2024 at 3 p.m. before Judge Geraci. # # # #


title: Federal grand jury indicts Frewsburg sex offender

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury gas returned an indictment charging Jeffrey Paden, 57, of Frewsburg, NY, with receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of 40 years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and previously filed complaint, the New York State Police (NYSP) received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an individual in Frewsburg, NY, uploaded images of child pornography on the internet. Subsequent investigation traced the images to Paden, who is currently on federal supervised release following a 2015 conviction for possession of child pornography. Paden was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender upon release. On September 12, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant on 12 electronic devices seized earlier in the investigation by the NYSP and recovered multiple images of child pornography. Paden was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Ardmore Resident Sentenced For Felony Assault

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy Kurt Lewis, Jr., age 26, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for assault with intent to commit a felony. This sentence will run consecutively to a separate sentence of 108 months for felony assault and a firearm offense imposed in another case. The charge arose from investigations by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, the Sulphur Police Department, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the National Park Service Rangers, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On October 12, 2022, Lewis pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to commit a felony. According to investigators, on May 29, 2021, while in custody for an unrelated felony assault and federal firearm offense, Lewis assaulted a jail officer during a failed escape attempt. Lewis subsequently pleaded guilty to the prior felony assault and federal firearm offense and has since been sentenced in that case. The terms of imprisonment in the separate cases will be served consecutively. The crime occurred in Murray County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Lewis will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States at the sentencing.


title: Ardmore Resident Sentenced For Felony Assault And Federal Firearms Offense

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jeremy Kurt Lewis, Jr., age 26, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to concurrent terms of 108 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and 108 months in prison for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. The charges arose from investigations by the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Ada Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On October 12, 2022, Lewis pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on May 6, 2021, Lewis beat the victim with his hands and a belt and obstructed the victim’s airway with a rag. While investigating the assault, officers found Lewis, a convicted felon, in possession of a firearm. While in custody for the May 6th assault, Lewis assaulted a jail officer during a failed escape attempt. Lewis subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of assault with intent to commit a felony in that separate case and was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment. The terms of imprisonment in the separate cases will be served consecutively. The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Lewis will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States at the sentencing.


title: Quinton Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eugene Lee Dozier, age 46, of Quinton, Oklahoma, was sentenced for unlawfully transferring a handgun to an out-of-state resident. Dozier was sentenced to 6 months in prison, 18 months of supervised release, and 30 hours of community service. The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On December 6, 2022, Dozier pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 29, 2021, Dozier, who did not possess a Federal Firearms License, transferred a handgun to a person he knew was not an Oklahoma resident, a violation of federal law. The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Assistant United States Attorney Jarrod Leaman represented the United States.


title: Seminole Resident Sentenced For Involuntary Manslaughter And Federal Drug And Firearms Crimes

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Mr Lee Benton, a/k/a Mister Lee Benton, a/k/a Lee Benton, age 39, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 144 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter and federal drug and firearms charges. Benton was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment on one count of Involuntary Manslaughter, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Those sentences will be served concurrently. Benton was also sentenced to a consecutive 60 months of imprisonment for one count of Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crime. The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. On February 18, 2022, Benton pleaded guilty to all four charges. According to investigators, on November 24, 2020, while driving a pickup truck under the influence of methamphetamine, Benton failed to stop for a sedan signaling a left turn in the lane ahead. Benton crashed into the back of the sedan. The force of the impact propelled the sedan off the road, causing it to collide with a guardrail and overturn, killing a backseat passenger. Benton admitted to OHP troopers that he had used methamphetamine prior to the collision, and consented to a blood draw that confirmed the presence of the drug in his system. Troopers questioning Benton observed a pistol on the driver’s side floorboard and subsequently discovered 55 grams of methamphetamine intended for distribution in the vehicle. At the plea hearing, Benton, already a convicted felon at the time of the accident, admitted he had the firearm with him in the truck for the express purpose of protecting his drug business, and that on the date of the collision he knew he was prohibited from gun possession due to his prior felony conviction. The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. District Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Benton will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.


title: Pair Sentenced to 45 Months Incarceration on Cocaine Conspiracy Conviction

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Jose Solano, 53, and Andrew Wilson, 49, were sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert Molloy to 42 months incarceration after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. According to court documents, on October 13, 2021, a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential source arranged for the purchase of 25 kilograms of cocaine at a cost of $312,000.00 from Solano. On October 14, 2021, agents and the confidential source arrived at the Havensight Mall, St. Thomas, the location of the exchange. Solano, Wilson, Matthew Hazel, Lodwin Ashton and Cesar Thomas-Leveret later arrived at Havensight to complete the cocaine sale and were arrested. Agents recovered approximately 25 bricks of cocaine from the trunk of Solano’s G35 Infiniti and one loaded semi-automatic Walther Arms handgun from the driver’s seat. An additional loaded Glock firearm was also recovered. The suspected cocaine was laboratory tested and determined to be cocaine with a net weight of approximately 25.11 kilograms. Ashton and Thomas-Leveret also pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy and are await sentencing. This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations Air Marine Operations, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Virgin Islands Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Melissa Ortiz. 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.


title: Costa Rican Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Smuggling over 4,000 Pounds of Marijuana

body_text: St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Luis Orellana-Orellana, 59, of Costa Rica, was sentenced by Judge Wilma Lewis to 37 months incarceration after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 4,000 pounds of marijuana on board a vessel subject to jurisdiction of the United States. According to court documents, on November 7, 2022, while patrolling in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, 65 nautical miles South of Boca Chica, Panama, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Campbell intercepted a go-fast vessel with no physical flag flown and no registration documents onboard. Bundles of contraband were visible on the deck of the go-fast vessel and Orellana-Orellana, Keyran Coto-Lopez and Alonso Hernandez-Hernandez were found on board. One of the three men on board claimed Colombian nationality for the go-fast vessel, but the Colombian Government neither confirmed nor denied nationality of the vessel. A search of the go-fast vessel by Coast Guard officers resulted in the recovery of 4,104 pounds of marijuana. Coto-Lopez was sentenced by Judge Lewis to 48 months following his guilty plea, and Hernandez-Hernandez awaits a sentencing date. This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: AIRLINE EMPLOYEE AND PASSENGER SENTENCED ON COCAINE CONVICTION

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Ahkoy Smith 25, and Shakari Francis, 27, both of St. Thomas, were sentenced by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy to 20 months incarceration on their convictions of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. According to court documents, on January 11, 2023, Customs and Border Protection officers observed Frances, a Cape Air employee, on an airport surveillance camera entering the men’s restroom in the departure terminal. Officers approach Francis who admitted that he was paid $2,000.00 to deliver two bricks of cocaine to Smith in the restroom. Officers later established a passenger screening station at the Spirit Airlines departure gate at the Cyril E. King Airport. As the officers approached Smith, he ran unto the active runway to escape, but was immediately apprehended. Smith was found in possession of a red “Jordan” backpack containing two bricks of cocaine. This case was investigated by Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard Potter. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCEDTF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transactional 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: Guatemalan National Charged with Illegal Reentry into the United States after Vehicle Crash Results in Six Deaths

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, JOSE PAXTOR-OXLAJ , 43, of Guatemala, was charged by criminal complaint with illegal reentry after removal from the United States, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, on November 21, 2023, Paxtor-Oxlaj was the driver of a vehicle that was involved in an accident near Elk City, Oklahoma, in which his six passengers died, and a seventh passenger was critically injured. An investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed Paxtor-Oxlaj was ordered to be removed by an Immigration Judge on June 29, 2010, and had been removed from the United States to Guatemala on July 9, 2010. According to ICE investigators, Paxtor-Oxlaj did not have permission to reenter the United States after his prior deportation. If found guilty, Paxtor-Oxlaj, depending on the extent of his criminal history, could face up to 20 years in federal prison. This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Hale and Elizabeth Joynes. The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that Paxtor-Oxlaj is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Armed Richmond Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Over 19 Years

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to 235 months in prison for distributing fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine and for unlawfully possessing three firearms. According to court documents, Steven Oliver, 43, was part of a larger drug trafficking organization operating in the Richmond area. Between June 2020 and January 2023, Oliver was involved in the trafficking of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Between April and November 2022, Oliver distributed more than 175 grams of fentanyl, some of which he marketed as heroin. During this time frame, Oliver also possessed with the intent to distribute approximately 14.5 kilograms of heroin. Moreover, Oliver informed law enforcement that, prior to his arrest in 2023, he had received approximately 750 grams of heroin from his source of supply for distribution during 2021 and 2022. On January 11, 2023, a search warrant was executed on Oliver’s residence. Law enforcement discovered that Oliver unlawfully possessed three firearms and ammunition despite his prohibited status as a convicted felon. The three firearms Oliver possessed were a Del-Ton multi-caliber pistol, a Ruger 5.7x28 caliber pistol, and a Rock Island Armory revolver, as well as assorted ammunition. Additional distribution quantities of cocaine and fentanyl were recovered from Oliver’s residence during the search. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. This case was investigated by the Richmond Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Chesterfield County Police Department; and the Richmond Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Angela Mastandrea-Miller and Patrick McGorman prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-3.


title: Louisiana Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation in Dangerous Assault of a Non-Violent Man

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former officer of the Shreveport, Louisiana, Police Department, Dylan Hudson, 37, was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release for assaulting a non-violent loitering suspect. Hudson was convicted earlier this year after a four-day trial. “This defendant’s use of force was grossly excessive, inhumane and potentially fatal. The defendant repeatedly hit a nonviolent suspect in the head, kicked him in the face, tased him multiple times and pistol-whipped him in the head,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When an officer so grievously abuses the authority entrusted to him by his community, the Justice Department will respond with the full force of the law.” “The defendant’s conduct was not representative of the oath he once swore to uphold as a law enforcement officer,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “When the federal government learns of such egregious conduct and we feel criminal civil rights charges can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, we will seek to hold those responsible accountable with an ancillary goal of restoring, and in some cases establishing, public trust in state, local and federal law enforcement.” “The jury verdict and sentencing send a clear message to those who wear the badge and to the public that sickening conduct like that of Hudson’s will simply not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “The FBI is committed to ensuring those who violate the public’s trust are held accountable.” The evidence at trial established that Hudson physically assaulted a loitering suspect during a daytime arrest in Shreveport. During the arrest, Hudson repeatedly struck the suspect in the head and face. The conduct showed by police body-worn cameras included several potentially deadly uses of force, including striking the man in the head with a loaded pistol, tasing him at the base of the skull and kicking him in the face. Hudson’s fellow officers testified that the loitering suspect was non-violent throughout the entire arrest, and that Hudson’s repeated violations of training and policy created a danger not only to the suspect, but to others as well. The FBI New Orleans Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick for the Western District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.