title: Eleven Charged in $4.5 Million Dollar Pandemic Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - Eleven residents of southeast Michigan have been charged in a 23-count indictment for their alleged role in a multi-million-dollar unemployment insurance fraud scheme targeting funds set aside for unemployment assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Joining in the announcement were Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General (DOL-OIG) Special Agent-in-Charge of the Great Lakes Region, Irene Lindow, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Devin J. Kowalski of the Detroit Feld Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Charged are Marcellus Dunham, 23, of Redford, Jaylin Davis, 22, of Detroit, Daniel Holt, 21, Day’on Holt, 22, both of Detroit, Daveontae White, 24, of West Bloomfield, Armani Haller, 22, of Clinton Township, Aaniya Carroll, 22, of Detroit, Laron Stroud, 23, of Detroit, Jaylin Qualls, 23, of Harper Woods, Cheikh Sene, 23, of Southfield, and Deleonte Rogers, 23, of Westland. Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. According to the indictment, the eleven defendants used stolen personal identifying information of other individuals to file fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment assistance in multiple states. The indictment alleges that the defendants illegally obtained over $4.5 million in government funds over the course of their scheme. “My office won’t cease our efforts to hold accountable those who used a global pandemic to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers,” stated U. S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to unemployment insurance programs. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate these types of allegations”, said Irene Lindow, Special Agent in Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. “Unfortunately, many people believed they could defraud unemployment programs during the global pandemic and never face the consequences,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “This investigation proves the FBI, and our state and federal partners, will continue to investigate and bring these criminals to justice no matter how long it takes.” The defendants face up to twenty years in prison based on the wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy charges, and a mandatory two-year prison sentence for aggravated identity theft. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Particka and Sarah Youngblood. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the FBI, DOL- OIG, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.


title: Former President of Waterbury Credit Union Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Embezzling $254K

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TARA KEWALIS, 51, of Beacon Falls, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling from a Waterbury credit union where she was employed. According to court documents and statements made in court, Kewalis was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Skyline Financial Federal Credit Union located in Waterbury. From approximately September 2016 until her employment was terminated in March 2021, Kewalis used her position to access the credit union’s accounting system to create fraudulent accounts, make fraudulent entries, and steal $254,532 in credit union funds. Kewalis has paid restitution of $254,532, but may be required to pay additional restitution to reimburse expenses incurred by the credit union during the investigation and prosecution of this criminal matter. On December 7, 2022, Kewalis pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a credit union officer or employee. She has been detained since July 17, 2023, when her bond was revoked after she was found to have violated the conditions of her release. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.


title: Hammond Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison

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

body_text: HAMMOND- Brian Long, 32 years old, of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Long was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on January 30, 2020, Brian Long possessed a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine in a parking lot of a business in Hammond, Indiana. Long’s criminal history revealed he has a prior felony conviction for continuing criminal financial enterprise, and as such is prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case. At the time of his current offense, Long was on probation from his prior felony conviction. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Hammond Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Toth. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Brookings Man Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Brookings, South Dakota, man convicted of Production of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 31, 2023. Keenan Chidaushe, age 26, was sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $186 in restitution and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Chidaushe was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on May 5, 2023. The conviction stemmed from incidents between November 8, 2021, and November 19, 2021, when Chidaushe, used his cell phone to record sexual activity with a minor female. Chidaushe knew the victim was under the age of 18. As a result of this conviction, Chidaushe will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from custody. This case was investigated by the Brookings Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Chidaushe was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Bullitt County Man for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on August 1, 2023, charging a Bullitt County man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Colonel Marcus Laytham, Chief of the Mt. Washington Police Department, made the announcement. According to the indictment, James Nott, 39, of Mt. Washington, Kentucky, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On July 11, 2023, Nott possessed an AK-type 7.62 mm rifle, a Charter Arms .38 special revolver, and ammunition. Nott was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 11, 2011, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Nott was convicted of possession of an unregistered destructive device and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of marijuana. The felon in possession of a firearm offense charged in today’s indictment, arose from a federal search warrant executed at Nott’s residence in connection with a search for firearms and trafficked human remains. Nott previously made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, and he was ordered detained pending trial. Nott is scheduled for arraignment on August 4, 2023. If convicted, Nott faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The FBI and the Mt. Washington Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Tieke and Stephanie Zimdahl are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: St. Francis Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2023. Tanner Kills Enemy, age 25, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Kills Enemy was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2023. Kills Enemy was convicted of Sexual Abuse in 2010. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. In October of 2022, Kills Enemy was released from prison and began a period of supervised release residing in St. Francis, but did not thereafter register or update his registration. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Kills Enemy was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Woman Sentenced for Theft from Indian Tribal Organization

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Theft from Indian Tribal Organization. The sentencing took place on July 31, 2023. Tiffany LaClaire, age 36, was sentenced to seven months in federal custody, three months of home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. She was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. LaClaire was indicted for Theft from Indian Tribal Organization by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. She pleaded guilty on May 1, 2023. The defendant had three children, but her parental rights were terminated in 2011 and the children lived with a new family. On July 19, 2021, the defendant fraudulently applied to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and requested $2,000 for each of her former children under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). In the application, she falsely indicated all three children were living with her and in her custody, and thus she was eligible to receive economic assistance for each of the children under the ARP. She was issued checks and used the money. The money never went to the benefit of the three children. Later, the family that was actually caring for the children learned the fraudulent application had been made by the defendant and the matter was reported and investigated. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case. LaClaire was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Mission Man Sentenced for Assault With a Dangerous Weapon

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on July 31, 2023. Cordero Morris, a/k/a Cordero McIntire, age 36, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Morris was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on May 10, 2023. The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred near Mission, on September 15, 2022. On that date, Morris was riding in a vehicle driven by the victim, Morris’s spouse and intimate partner. Morris and the victim subsequently got into an argument and Morris produced a knife, which he used to cut the victim on her arm. The victim stopped the vehicle and Morris got out, at which point the victim drove away. The victim then drove into Mission and went to the residence of a family member, who called 911. In April of 2023, while the case was pending trial, Morris called the victim from jail and attempted to persuade her to change her description of the incident and to say she did not remember what happened. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. Morris was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Operation Cross Country XIII Leads to Identification/Location of Adolescent Victims

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Note: B-roll from Operation Cross Country XIII operations can be found/downloaded here: Operation Cross Country 2023 B-Roll The FBI, working with its state and local partners, identified and located 200 victims of sex trafficking during a nationwide enforcement campaign called Operation Cross Country. The operation also led to identification or arrest of 126 suspects of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenses and 68 suspects of trafficking were identified or arrested. Through targeted operations and collaborative efforts, Operation Cross Country achieved significant milestones in recovering victims, apprehending offenders, and raising public awareness about these heinous crimes. The FBI and its partners located 59 minor victims of child sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation offenses and located 59 actively missing children during its 2-week operation in July. “Sex traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This operation, which located 59 actively missing children, builds on the tremendous work the FBI has undertaken over many years to rescue minor victims and arrest those responsible for these unspeakable crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the country to prevent human trafficking; increase detection, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking crimes; and expand support and services to protect and empower survivors.” The FBI-led nationwide initiative, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), focused on identifying and locating victims of sex trafficking and investigating and arresting individuals and criminal enterprises involved in both child sex and human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies conducted targeted operations to identify and apprehend offenders, dismantling criminal networks, and preventing further harm to victims. Those suspects identified will be subject to additional investigation for potential charges. “Human traffickers’ prey on the most vulnerable members of our society, and their crimes scar victims – many of them children – for life. The FBI's commitment to combatting this threat will never waver, and we will continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This operation would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration from our state and local law enforcement partners, and it demonstrates our continued focus on actively pursuing the criminals responsible for these heinous violations and connecting those impacted with dedicated victim services and resources.” A multidisciplinary team (MDT), to include victim specialists, child/adolescent forensic interviewers, and other victim service personnel, in addition to special agents, ensures a victim-centered, culturally responsive, trauma-informed investigative response. The FBI MDT works with state and local partners to make resources available to meet the unique needs of trafficking victims. Victim specialists provide services based on the individual needs of human trafficking victims, to include crisis intervention, emergency food and clothing, transportation to receive emergency services, and locating shelter or housing. The victim specialists also serve as conduit between the victims and the investigative team to help ensure they are receiving case updates, as appropriate. “Behind every statistic, there is a person with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from child sex trafficking and exploitation. As a society we must work together to ensure the protection, support, and empowerment of those impacted by this heinous crime.” said NCMEC President & CEO Michelle DeLaune. “We applaud the FBI and their partner law enforcement agencies for their unwavering dedication to protecting children. Their tireless efforts in combatting crimes against children sends a powerful message that child sexual exploitation will not be tolerated.” The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to combatting child exploitation and human trafficking. Operation Cross Country is just one facet of the Bureau's ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society and hold offenders accountable. The FBI encourages continued vigilance, cooperation, and reporting from the public to help identify and recover victims and bring perpetrators to justice. Resources: Victim Services Division Crimes Against Children National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) NCMEC’s 24/7 call center number: 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678)


title: Lorain Man Sentenced to 15 years for Selling and Possessing Fentanyl

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: AKRON – Gregory Ralston, 33, of Lorain, Ohio, was sentenced on Friday, July 28, 2023, to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams, after a jury convicted him of distributing fentanyl and possessing additional fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. Ralston was ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following imprisonment and pay a $200 special assessment. According to court documents and court records, Ralston sold fentanyl on May 13, 2020. The next day, detectives from the Lorain and Elyria Police Departments, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, arrested Ralston outside a restaurant in Lorain, Ohio. Ralston possessed additional fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. The investigation was conducted by Lorain Police Department and the FBI as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a joint law enforcement initiative that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers in Lorain County. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Kolansky and Payum Doroodian.


title: Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Imeesha Bradley, 27, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty today to receipt of stolen money. Bradley admitted to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $18,703 in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 21, 2021, Bradley applied for a PPP loan for her purported business, “Imeesha Bradley.” Bradley admitted that “Imeesha Bradley” was never engaged in legitimate business activity and was not a registered business entity at the time she applied for the loan. Bradley further admitted that she falsely represented that her fictitious business received $89,772 in gross income during 2020. The CARES Act, enacted in March 2020, offered emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program. Businesses applying for PPP loans had to certify that the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, and were required to provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. A California lender approved Bradley’s fraudulent PPP loan application for $18,703, and transferred the funds to Bradley’s personal bank account on May 10, 2021. Bradley admitted that she withdrew $5,000 of the stolen funds that day and an additional $7,000 on May 14, 2021, each time from a bank branch in Nitro, West Virginia. Bradley is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,00 fine. Bradley also owes $18,703 in restitution. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU). Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell is prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-112. ###


title: Final Defendant Sentenced to Federal Prison in 12-Defendant, $53 Million Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Edgar Perez, 51, of Miramar, Florida, the final defendant in a 12-defendant health care fraud conspiracy was sentenced yesterday to 12 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a restitution in the amount of $547,560.00, for his participation in a health care fraud conspiracy that billed Blue Cross Blue Shield (“BCBS”) for more than $53 million for services, including allergy tests and physical therapy, that patients never received. Jorge Caballero, 44, of Hialeah, Fla., Alexander Juan, 47, of Miramar, Fla., Aymee Caballero, 52, of Miramar, Fla., Roberto Ballester-Ramos, 55, of Hialeah, Fla., Roberta Ascencion, 69, of Hialeah, Fla., Mara Ventura, 36, of Hialeah Gardens, Fla., Vladimir Perez Pena, 58, of Hialeah, Fla., Amado Plain Moreno, 36, of Miami, Fla., Carlos Sablon, 55, of Hialeah, Fla., Maria Rodriguez-Alvarez, 58, of Hialeah, Fla., and Edgar Perez were indicted on July 28, 2022, and charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, and health care fraud. The defendants opened multiple clinics throughout South Florida, and paid recruiters to provide personal information for BCBS beneficiaries. The defendants then submitted fraudulent bills to BCBS and received payments into clinic bank accounts before transferring to personal accounts, making cash withdrawals, and laundering money through various businesses and individuals. All defendants entered guilty pleas, and have been sentenced as follows: Jorge Caballero was sentenced to 52 months in prison, Alexander Juan was sentenced to 48 months in prison, Aymee Caballero was sentenced to 41 months in prison, Roberto Ballester Ramos was sentenced to 45 months in prison, Roberta Ascencion was sentenced to 12 months in prison, Mara Ventura was sentenced to 12 months in prison, Vladimir Perez Pena was sentenced to 11 months, Amado Plain Moreno was sentenced to 33 months in prison, Carlos Sablon was sentenced to 12 months in prison, and Maria Rodriguez Alvarez was sentenced to 4 months in prison. They all have agreed to pay more than $9,000,000 in restitution. “These defendants compromised the integrity of America’s healthcare system by stealing millions of dollars that should have gone to providing quality care to patients with true medical needs,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Such criminal behavior will not be tolerated in this district.” “Individuals who steal from our health care system are not just stealing money from the government. Instead, they are stealing from the most vulnerable among us – the sick, the elderly, the poor,” said Justin E. Fleck, Deputy Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “The FBI will not relent in our efforts to investigate and bring them to justice, and seize their illegal income and assets in restitution.” U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman prosecuted it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster is handling asset forfeiture. 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-cr-20341. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Supports National Night Out

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld and his staff will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1. National Night Out is an annual initiative coordinated by law enforcement agencies across the country, bringing community members and law enforcement together to build positive relationships and create safer communities. “National Night Out showcases first responders and strengthens the bonds between police and the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. Law enforcement agencies throughout West Virginia have planned events filled with food and fun to include swimming, games, face painting, bounce houses, giveaways, educational materials and personal interaction with safety vehicles and the heroes that operate them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will participate in events at the following locations: Wheeling: Wheeling Park Ice Rink from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Clarksburg: Veteran’s Memorial Park from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Bridgeport: The Bridge Sports Complex beginning at 6:00 p.m. Martinsburg: War Memorial Park main pavilion from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Ranson: The Home Depot at Potomac Marketplace from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information on National Night Out, visit https://natw.org/ .


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Toby Lee Graley, 60, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, since at least June 2022, Graley conspired with several other people to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Graley admitted to obtaining methamphetamine and fentanyl from his supplier and distributed the controlled substances to customers at his Lumari Lane residence in Charleston and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia. Graley further admitted to arranging drug-related transactions on his cell phone with his supplier and customers. Graley also admitted that he knew several of his customers would redistribute the methamphetamine and fentanyl he sold them. Graley is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Route 119 Drug Task Force, the West Virginia State Police, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Keefe and J.C. MacCallum are prosecuting the case. The case is a result of “Operation Into The Woods,” a 10-month investigation of drug trafficking in Kanawha and Boone counties. Graley and several other individuals have been indicted, and law enforcement seized 120 grams of methamphetamine, four shotguns, and approximately $23,150 from Graley when he was arrested. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2-23-cr-44. ###


title: New Haven Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Pornography Offense

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EDWARD WALKER, 50, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for producing child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, in June and July 2019, Walker made two cell phone videos of himself engaging in sexual activity with a 16-year-old girl who was a runaway from foster care and dependent on Walker for housing, food, and other necessities. On April 12, 2023, Walker pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Judge Shea ordered that the 10-year sentence will run concurrently with a 25-year federal sentence that Walker is currently serving after being convicted of sex trafficking This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Shan Patel. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Defense contractor sentenced to prison for providing fraudulent parts to military

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A California man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Columbus today to three months in prison for committing crimes related to supplying the military with faulty parts. Timothy W. Foley, 72, was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $1.3 million. According to court documents, Foley was the operator and co-owner of Parts Source International Inc. in Goleta, California. Parts Source was a Department of Defense contractor who sold and supplied a variety of military parts to the DoD for use on military weapons systems, and some of which were critical application items, and invoiced the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) in Columbus, Ohio, for payment. Foley admitted that from 2012 through 2019, he conspired to supply non-conforming parts to the DoD. Foley submitted 131 quotes for purchase orders that stated he would provide the exact product as required by the government. Rather, as testing and documents revealed, Foley provided unapproved substitutions in fraudulent packaging rendering them unacceptable for use by the military. Parts Source received a total of approximately $1.36 million in payments for the parts. Foley pleaded guilty in November 2022 to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to money laundering. Foley’s co-defendant, Jimmy Daryl Thomas, 52, of White House, Tennessee, was sentenced in May 2023 to two months in prison and three years of supervised release for participating in the wire fraud conspiracy. Thomas assisted Foley in procuring cheaper, non-conforming parts on at least 29 contracts. He also helped provide false packaging and invoices. As part of his sentence, Thomas was ordered to pay more than $219,000 in restitution. “Behavior such as this, from individuals putting profit over the safety of the dedicated men and women in our military, will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “When we find individuals supplying fraudulent items to the U.S. military, we will address these illegal acts as the serious crimes they are.” “Protecting the integrity of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain is a priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General,” said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. “The introduction of defective parts into the DoD supply chain endangers the lives of American service members and threatens our military readiness. The DCIS is committed to working with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Ohio, the Defense Logistics Agency, and our law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals who engage in fraudulent activity, at the expense of the U.S. military, are investigated and prosecuted.” U.S. Attorney Parker and Special Agent in Charge Hegarty were joined by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), in announcing the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica W. Knight and Special Assistant United States Attorney J. Michael Marous are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Merrillville Woman Sentenced To 84 Months

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND-Stephanie Fazekas, 50, of Merrillville, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Fazekas was sentenced to 84 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release. According to documents filed in the case, on or about April 3, 2021, Fazekas distributed visual depictions of minors being utilized in sexually explicit conduct using a telecommunications application. This case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Multimillion Dollar Fraudster Returned to Prison For Structuring Transactions While On Supervised Release

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Wake Forest man was sentenced to 36 months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release and structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements. Ricky Lamont Congleton, age 53, pled guilty to the charge on November 9, 2022. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Congleton was previously sentenced to 66 months in prison in October of 2014, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for orchestrating a multi-million-dollar mortgage fraud upon various banks. In that scheme, Congleton and others used “straw buyers” to purchase properties that he and others had developed. Congleton then, with the assistance of a conspiring attorney, sold the properties at a discount by concealing from banks that he had supplied the downpayments on the sales. After being released from prison, but while on federal supervision, an investigation was opened into Congleton’s movement of large amounts of cash into bank accounts that were then used to purchase new properties. The investigation ultimately uncovered that, to evade reporting requirements, Congleton broke approximately $100,000 in cash into small amounts and deposited it into different banks in different cities. This act of breaking up cash transactions to avoid bank reporting requirements is a federal criminal offense and is commonly known as “structuring.” Not only did Congleton commit structuring, but he also did so while under federal supervision. At sentencing, the Court sentenced Congleton to the top of the guideline range – 24 months in prison, followed by an additional consecutive year for committing the offense while on supervised release. Congleton was also sentenced to an additional three years of supervised release. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge James C. Dever, III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Gilmore 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 Nos. 5:12-CR-1-1D and 7:22-cr-00108-D. ###


title: 8 charged in connection with human smuggling in kidnapping for ransom scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Three more people have been federally charged in relation to a smuggling event that turned fatal in March. Authorities took Brian Martinez, 24, East Bernard, and Miguel Gonzalez, 33, Richmond, into custody July 25 and 26, respectively, on human smuggling charges. Christian Hernandez, 25, East Bernard, is in custody and expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon at 2 p.m. today. Gonzalez is on home confinement with restrictions, while Martinez is in custody pending a detention hearing set for Aug. 3. Zachary Austin Palomo, 28, Alex Anthony Fisher, 26, and Brenda Roxana Serrano Figueroa, 25, all of Houston, have been and will remain in custody on kidnapping charges returned in May. Two others - Santiago Hernandez Jr., 26, and Lorie Lin Flowers, 25, both also of Houston - remain at large. The charges allege that on March 17 and 18, a migrant smuggling operation resulted in the armed kidnapping of three migrants along I-10 East in Waller County. Three other victims were shot and left at the scene, according to the allegations. The alleged perpetrators held the victims hostage at two Houston area hotels and began requesting ransom money from their families. The charges allege the victims were beaten and threatened while held for ransom. According to testimony presented in court, the kidnappers released two of hostages after their families paid the ransom, and law enforcement conducted an operation to rescue the remaining victim. The operation led to the death of one of the alleged perpetrators. Warrants remain outstanding for the arrest of Hernandez and Flowers who are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). Santiago Hernandez, Flowers, Palomo, Figueroa and Fisher are charged with aiding and abetting kidnapping. If convicted, they face up to life in prison. For bringing in and harboring certain aliens, Gonzalez, Cristian Hernandez and Martinez could receive up to 10 years in federal prison, upon conviction. All charged also carry a potential fine of $250,000. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the sheriff’s offices in Harris and Waller Counties and the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Lewis is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Illegal Controlled Substances as well as Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on July 31, 2023, Glendon Parrish-Cambell, 23, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III to a sentence of 42 months’ imprisonment and a 3-year term of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base and for possession with intent to distribute heroin. According to court records, during the months of March and April of 2022, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine base at a residence in Washington, Vermont. Law enforcement identified Justin Llano, aka “TJ,” and Glendon Parrish-Cambell, aka “B,” as drug traffickers distributing fentanyl and cocaine base from the residence. A Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives obtained a search warrant for the residence, which was executed on May 13, 2022. During the search, law enforcement seized 14 firearms, approximately 28 grams of cocaine base, and approximately 400 bags of fentanyl. Previously, as courts records show, on May 22, 2021, law enforcement found Parrish-Cambell in an apartment in Barre, Vermont, with approximately 10,300 bags of heroin nearby and $2,428 in United States currency on his person. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine, Homeland Security Investigations, Vermont State Police, Montpelier Police Department, Barre City Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office also provided valuable assistance. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Gilman. Parrish-Cambell was represented by Robert L. Sussman, Esq. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Michigan Man and Woman Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Crimes

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Darrell Lamar Holcomb, also known as “Smiley,” 31, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and Nicole Christian Ball, 44, of Jackson, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Holcomb also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning approximately in or before 2019, Holcomb began supplying controlled substances including methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana to an individual living in the Oak Hill area of West Virginia. Holcomb or a courier would transport the controlled substances to the individual from the Detroit, Michigan area approximately once or twice per month. Holcomb usually provided the controlled substances on consignment, accepting payment after the individual sold them. Holcomb also provided cell phones to the individual that he was to use only to communicate with Holcomb. In early December 2021, Holcomb negotiated with the individual to sell him approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of fentanyl along with approximately 2 kilograms of a cutting agent to mix with the fentanyl and increase the sellable amount. The individual was required to pay Holcomb $60,000 from a prior shipment as part of this drug deal. Ball admitted that she was the courier for this transaction, delivering what she now knows was methamphetamine, fentanyl and the cutting agent to the individual in the Pea Ridge Road area of Oak Hill on December 12, 2021. Ball further admitted to taking what she believed to be $60,000 packaged in vacuum-sealed plastic from the individual. Law enforcement officers stopped Ball’s vehicle following the transaction and seized the money. Holcomb and Ball are scheduled to be sentenced on November 8, 2023, and each faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central West Virginia Task Force. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-216. ###


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Possessing Methamphetamine for Distribution

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Leroy D. Hampton, 32, Champaign, Illinois was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 72 months for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Hampton pleaded guilty to this charge on May 9, 2023. On November 12, 2020, a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper stopped a car on Interstate 90/94 in Juneau County, Wisconsin for illegally tinted windows and an obstructed Illinois temporary license plate. During the interview with the driver, later identified as Hampton, the trooper smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. When asked, Hampton admitted to possessing a personal use amount of marijuana in his backpack. The trooper searched Hampton’s car and found a cell phone, as well as seven individually packaged bags of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory tested the methamphetamine and determined it weighed 418 grams and was 99% pure. Agents from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation searched Hampton’s cell phone pursuant to a search warrant and found text messages consistent with drug distribution. The charge against Hampton was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Juneau County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – George Michael Thayer, 52, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to four years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of oxycodone. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 24, 2022, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Thayer. The officer searched the vehicle and found approximately 12 oxycodone pills, multiple empty sandwich bags and a set of digital scales. Thayer admitted that he possessed the oxycodone found during the vehicle search and further admitted that he intended to distribute it. The Court also found that Thayer possessed and intended to distribute approximately 48 grams of methamphetamine, 1.8 grams of fentanyl, and 45 clonazepam pills. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the assistance provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-70. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins Ogden City Police Department for National Night Out Event

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City , Utah – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out, which kicks off celebrations August 1, 2023. During this year’s National Night Out, U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins will attend Ogden Police Department’s “Ogden Night Out Against Crime,” on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. The annual event will take place at Lorin Farr Park in Ogden from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is free to the public. Ogden’s Night Out is an opportunity to bring law enforcement agencies, resources, and other organizations together to aid in the fight against crime and strengthen neighborhood spirit. There will be booths, food, beverages, prizes, and great local entertainment. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to strengthening the bonds of partnerships between law enforcement and the communities we serve. Annual events like Ogden’s Night Out Against Crime provide the opportunity for us to build on those efforts and to engage with the community as well,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. “The Ogden Police Department is looking forward to the upcoming Night Out Against Crime event. We are grateful for the support of the United States Attorney's Office and are once again excited to interact with our community. As always, we appreciate the community support, and we anticipate this will be another outstanding annual event,” said Lt. William Farr, Ogden City Police Department. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/ .


title: California Truck Parts Manufacturer Sinister Diesel Agrees to Pay $1 Million After Pleading Guilty to Conspiracy and for Manufacturing and Selling Illegal Defeat Devices

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Diesel performance parts manufacturer Sinister Mfg. Company, Inc. – doing business as “Sinister Diesel” – pleaded guilty to criminal charges today in federal court in Sacramento, California, and agreed to pay a total of $1 million in criminal fines and civil penalties. The company also agreed to implement a compliance program and to not manufacture, sell or install any device that defeats a vehicle’s emissions controls. Image from U.S. v. Sinister Mfg. Company, Inc., Case no. 2:23-CR-168 JAM Plea Agreement, Exhibit A A photo of a truck “rolling coal” that Sinister posted to its Facebook page titled: “Get Serious. Get Sinister.” Sinister Diesel pleaded guilty to a two-count Information, charging it with conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act (CAA) and defraud the United States, and with violating the CAA by tampering with the monitoring device of an emissions control system of a diesel truck. Under the plea agreement, the defendant agrees to pay a $500,000 criminal fine. Sinister must pay an additional $500,000 under the civil consent decree which the United States filed simultaneously with its civil complaint against Sinister, alleging violations of the CAA’s prohibition against the sale or manufacture of devices that bypass, defeat or render inoperative emissions controls. The civil consent decree prohibits the company from making, selling or offering to sell defeat products, including delete tuners, and prevents Sinister Diesel from transferring intellectual property that would allow others to make such products. To ensure compliance with these requirements, Sinister Diesel will implement a robust internal training program and notify its distributors and former customers about the settlement. “Businesses that manufacture and sell illegal devices to defeat a vehicle’s emissions controls foster pollution and risk decades of progress in curtailing harmful emissions from motor vehicles in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The plea agreement and civil settlement show that we will take strong action to enforce the Clean Air Act and ensure that emissions control requirements for cars and trucks are being followed.” “Sinister Diesel sold products that allowed drivers to strip the emissions controls from their trucks, causing a dramatic increase in the release of pollutants that worsen air quality and harm the quality of life,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Environmental laws that control diesel pollution are especially important to protect sensitive populations such as the young, the elderly and people who suffer from respiratory conditions. My Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who place profit above the public’s health and the environment.” “For close to ten years, Sinister Diesel sold parts designed to override or disable the emissions control systems on trucks,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA testing has shown that a vehicle altered with these parts can emit more than 100 times the amount of certain harmful air pollutants, compared to a vehicle with an intact emissions control system. This case shows that we will aggressively prosecute those who manufacture and sell devices designed to defeat vehicle emissions controls.” According to court documents, Sinister Diesel – from its 2010 incorporation to April 2020 – manufactured and sold parts intended to be installed on motor vehicles, particularly diesel trucks, to enable “deleting” the trucks by removing or disabling the trucks’ emissions control systems. Various products, referred to as “delete devices” or “defeat devices,” are used in the process of “deleting” a vehicle. Sinister often sold its products as part of “delete kits,” sometimes bundled with “delete tunes.” The delete tunes were software produced by another company which could alter a diesel truck’s on-board computer to allow a truck with its emissions controls “deleted” to appear to run normally. Through its employees, Sinister Diesel reached agreements with other companies that manufactured tuners or tuning platforms to sell their products bundled together. Sinister would often advise customers on other needed parts for their deleted vehicles to run properly with Sinister’s delete kits — such as a tuner or tuning platform and delete tunes — and sell them those products, too. Sinister also counseled customers on how to evade state emissions tests. Though Sinister sometimes labeled its delete products for “racing” and included disclaimers in marketing materials indicating that its products should be used only in off-road settings, the company knew most of its delete products were purchased by diesel truck drivers who used those products on public roads, not racetracks. At times, approximately 25% of Sinister’s gross revenue stemmed from its delete products. According to Sinister’s sales statistics, between October 30, 2015, and July 17, 2017, it sold 39,792 defeat devices, including at least 35,960 kits that disable vehicles’ exhaust gas recirculation systems. Deleting a diesel truck causes its emissions to increase dramatically. For example, for a fully deleted truck with all emissions equipment removed, EPA testing has quantified the increased emissions as follows: Nitrogen oxides increased 310 times, non-methane hydrocarbons increased 1,400 times, carbon monoxide increased 120 times and particulate matter increased 40 times. EPA’s Air Enforcement Division released a report in November 2020 finding that more than 500,000 diesel pickup trucks in the United States – approximately 15% of U.S. diesel trucks that were originally certified with emissions controls – have been illegally deleted. Diesel emissions contain multiple hazardous compounds and harm human health and the environment. Diesel emissions have been found to cause and worsen respiratory ailments such as asthma and lung cancer. One study found that 21,000 American deaths annually are attributable to diesel particulate matter. Additionally, exposure to polluted air in utero has been associated with a host of problems with lifelong ramifications including low birth weight, preterm birth, autism, asthma and brain and memory disorders. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced in the criminal case by U.S. District Court Judge John A. Mendez for the Eastern District of California on November 14, 2023. Though Sinister Diesel agreed to pay a $500,000 criminal fine under its plea agreement, the company faces – for each count – a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense. Its sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of all applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The criminal case was the product of an investigation by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Sacramento Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine T. Lydon of the Eastern District of California and Senior Counsel Krishna S. Dighe and Trial Attorney Stephen J. Foster of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) are prosecuting the criminal case. The federal civil case is being handled by Senior Attorney Eric Albert and Senior Counsel Joanna Day of the Environmental Enforcement Section of ENRD, Attorney Advisor David H. Kim of EPA’s Region 9 office, and Janice Chan of the EPA’s Region 9 office. Stopping the manufacture, sale, and installation of illegal delete devices is a priority for EPA. To learn more, visit: www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines . To learn more about EPA’s criminal enforcement actions on defeat devices, visit www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-press-releases-2023 and https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-press-releases-2022 . The consent decree for this settlement, lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the court. A copy of the consent decree and information on submitting comments will be available on the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees .


title: Defendant Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Two Murders

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Demonte Kellum, age 26, of Baltimore to 19 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, specifically, his involvement in three armed robberies in 2019, two of which resulted in the murder of the victims. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Acting Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. “This crew’s reign of terror is over. The violent armed robberies committed by Kellum led to the deaths of two victims and suffering by their families, friends and the entire Baltimore community,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “We will continue to use every tool available to aggressively prosecute violent offenders.” “The reality of guns in Baltimore is that criminals who possess them do so with the intent to use them. It is not just to show off or use as a threat—they are ready and willing to shoot someone without a second thought,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby. “ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue to do everything we can to take these trigger-pullers off the street so the citizens of Baltimore can live more safely.” According to his guilty plea, from April 2019 to August 2019, Kellum and at least five others were co-conspirators in an enterprise that engaged in a pattern of deadly racketeering activity, including a series of armed carjackings, armed robberies and attempted armed robberies in Baltimore City, as well as the pawning of stolen goods. Members of the enterprise used at least three different firearms to commit the crimes and shared the proceeds of their exploits. The members also used carjacked cars to commit other carjackings and acts of violence. Kellum admitted that he participated in three armed robberies, specifically, the attempted armed robbery of a victim on July 23, 2019, in the 4900 block of Goodnow Road in Baltimore, during which one member of the conspiracy shot and killed the victim; the armed robbery of a victim on August 1, 2019, in the 2600 block of Talbot Road in Baltimore, during which the conspirators brandished firearms and tied up the victim; and later on August 1, 2019, the attempted armed robbery of a victim in the 5300 block of Fernpark Avenue in Baltimore during which one of the conspirators shot and killed the victim. As detailed in his plea agreement, the investigations showed that co-conspirators committed eight carjackings and eight additional armed robberies or attempted armed robberies, including two where the victims were shot and a third where the victim was shot and killed. Co-defendant Karon Foster, age 28 and Rashaud Nesmith, age 22, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for their roles in the racketeering enterprise; and Malik Evans, age 25, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. Co-defendant Jamai Wells, age 33, of Baltimore pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy and related charges and is awaiting sentencing. A fifth co-defendant is scheduled to go to trial early next year. This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin . 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Clinton J. Fuchs who are 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-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Shooting at Deputy

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRNGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for shooting at a Greene County Sheriff’s Department deputy when officers arrested him for escaping from a local halfway house. Richard Dale Friederich, 41, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 13 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 20, 2022, Friederich pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Friederich admitted that he fired a Kel-Tec 9mm semi-automatic pistol at a Greene County sheriff’s deputy who was assisting the U.S. Marshals Service to arrest him after he absconded from Alpha House, a halfway house in Springfield. On Aug. 20, 2022, law enforcement officers arrived at a Springfield residence searching for Friederich, who had an active federal warrant out for his arrest. Friederich had been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was released to Alpha House following his incarceration in April 2020. Less than four months later, he escaped from Alpha House. When a woman opened the door and informed officers that Friederich was in the house, an officer yelled to Friederich to come out of the bedroom. Instead, Friederich kicked the bedroom door closed and yelled for the officers to get away from the door. Officers attempted to persuade Friederich to come out of the bedroom. Friederich used his cell phone to call the woman who had opened the door to the officers; he told her that once she and her children were out of the house, he intended to “shoot it out” with law enforcement. About an hour later, the Greene County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team arrived and shot gas into the bedroom. When that was unsuccessful, a noise flash diversionary device was deployed and officers kicked open the bedroom door. A deputy sheriff stepped into the room to deploy his police dog but saw Friederich crouched down on the bed, pointing the handgun directly at him. Friederich fired two shots at the deputy sheriff. SWAT shot additional gas into the room, but Friederich still refused to leave. Officers deployed a robot into the room and could see that Friederich had retreated to a closet in the corner of the bedroom. An hour later, Friederich came out of the closet and was arrested. Officers recovered the loaded Kel-Tec pistol as well as a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the bedroom closet. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.


title: Missouri Nurse Sentenced for Taking Leftover Fentanyl from Hospital

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced a registered nurse who stole fentanyl from the hospital where she worked to three years of probation, 200 hours of public service work and a $5,000 fine. Judge Limbaugh also ordered Lindsey M. Francis, 35, to undergo drug treatment. She will be subject to random drug screenings. Francis was formerly a nurse at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. On Jan. 15, 2022, a colleague discovered a used syringe in a locker room in the hospital’s emergency department. A subsequent investigation revealed that a vial of fentanyl had been tampered with. Confronted by hospital staff, Francis said that since June or July of 2021, she had taken and injected leftover fentanyl due to work and personal stress, her plea agreement says. The total amount of fentanyl diverted was determined to be less than 4 grams. Francis pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in May to one count of unlawfully acquiring a controlled substance. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.


component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Diesel performance parts manufacturer Sinister Mfg. Company Inc. – doing business as “Sinister Diesel” – pleaded guilty to criminal charges today in federal court and agreed to pay a total of $1 million in criminal fines and civil penalties. The company also agreed to implement a compliance program and to not manufacture, sell or install any device that defeats a vehicle’s emissions controls. Sinister Diesel pleaded guilty to a two-count Information, charging it with conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act (CAA) and defraud the United States, and with violating the CAA by tampering with the monitoring device of an emissions control system of a diesel truck. Under the plea agreement, the defendant agrees to pay a $500,000 criminal fine. Sinister must pay an additional $500,000 under the civil consent decree, which the United States filed simultaneously with its civil complaint against Sinister, alleging violations of the CAA’s prohibition against the sale or manufacture of devices that bypass, defeat or render inoperative emissions controls. The civil consent decree prohibits the company from making, selling, or offering to sell defeat products, including delete tuners, and prevents Sinister Diesel from transferring intellectual property that would allow others to make such products. To ensure compliance with these requirements, Sinister Diesel will implement a robust internal training program and notify its distributors and former customers about the settlement. “Sinister Diesel sold products that allowed drivers to strip the emissions controls from their trucks, causing a dramatic increase in the release of pollutants that worsen air quality and harm the quality of life,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Environmental laws that control diesel pollution are especially important to protect sensitive populations such as the young, the elderly, and people who suffer from respiratory conditions. My Office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who place profit above the public’s health and the environment.” “Businesses that manufacture and sell illegal devices to defeat a vehicle’s emissions controls foster pollution and risk decades of progress in curtailing harmful emissions from motor vehicles in this country,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The plea agreement and civil settlement show that we will take strong action to enforce the Clean Air Act and ensure that emissions control requirements for cars and trucks are being followed.” “For close to ten years, Sinister Diesel sold parts designed to override or disable the emissions control systems on trucks,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA testing has shown that a vehicle altered with these parts can emit more than 100 times the amount of certain harmful air pollutants, compared to a vehicle with an intact emissions control system. This case shows that we will aggressively prosecute those who manufacture and sell devices designed to defeat vehicle emissions controls.” According to court documents, Sinister Diesel – from its 2010 incorporation to April 2020 – manufactured and sold parts intended to be installed on motor vehicles, particularly diesel trucks, to enable “deleting” the trucks by removing or disabling the trucks’ emissions control systems. Various products, referred to as “delete devices” or “defeat devices,” are used in the process of “deleting” a vehicle. Sinister often sold its products as part of “delete kits,” sometimes bundled with “delete tunes.” The delete tunes were software produced by another company which could alter a diesel truck’s onboard computer to allow a truck with its emissions controls “deleted” to appear to run normally. Through its employees, Sinister Diesel reached agreements with other companies that manufactured tuners or tuning platforms to sell their products bundled together. Sinister would often advise customers on other needed parts for their deleted vehicles to run properly with Sinister’s delete kits — such as a tuner or tuning platform and delete tunes — and sell them those products, too. Sinister also counseled customers on how to evade state emissions tests. Though Sinister sometimes labeled its delete products for “racing” and included disclaimers in marketing materials indicating that its products should be used only in off-road settings, the company knew most of its delete products were purchased by diesel truck drivers who used those products on public roads, not racetracks. At times, approximately 25% of Sinister’s gross revenue stemmed from its delete products. According to Sinister’s sales statistics, between October 30, 2015, and July 17, 2017, it sold 39,792 defeat devices, including at least 35,960 kits that disable vehicles’ exhaust gas recirculation systems. Deleting a diesel truck causes its emissions to increase dramatically. For example, for a fully deleted truck with all emissions equipment removed, EPA testing has quantified the increased emissions as follows: Nitrogen oxides increased 310 times, non-methane hydrocarbons increased 1,400 times, carbon monoxide increased 120 times and particulate matter increased 40 times. EPA’s Air Enforcement Division released a report in November 2020 finding that more than 500,000 diesel pickup trucks in the United States – approximately 15% of U.S. diesel trucks that were originally certified with emissions controls – have been illegally deleted. Diesel emissions contain multiple hazardous compounds and harm human health and the environment. Diesel emissions have been found to cause and worsen respiratory ailments such as asthma and lung cancer. One study found that 21,000 American deaths annually are attributable to diesel particulate matter. Additionally, exposure to polluted air in utero has been associated with a host of problems with lifelong ramifications including low birth weight, preterm birth, autism, asthma and brain and memory disorders. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced in the criminal case by U.S. District Court Judge John A. Mendez for the Eastern District of California on November 14, 2023. Though Sinister Diesel agreed to pay a $500,000 criminal fine under its plea agreement, the company faces – for each count – a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense. Its sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of all applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The criminal case was the product of an investigation by the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Sacramento Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine T. Lydon of the Eastern District of California and Senior Counsel Krishna S. Dighe and Trial Attorney Stephen J. Foster of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) are prosecuting the criminal case. The federal civil case is being handled by Senior Attorney Eric Albert and Senior Counsel Joanna Day of the Environmental Enforcement Section of ENRD, Attorney Advisor David H. Kim of EPA’s Region 9 office, and Janice Chan of the EPA’s Region 9 office. Stopping the manufacture, sale, and installation of illegal delete devices is a priority for EPA. To learn more, visit: www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-compliance-initiative-stopping-aftermarket-defeat-devices-vehicles-and-engines . To learn more about EPA’s criminal enforcement actions on defeat devices, visit www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-press-releases-2023 and https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-press-releases-2022. The consent decree for this settlement, lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the court. A copy of the consent decree and information on submitting comments will be available on the Department of Justice website at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees . sinister_-_doc_10_-_plea_agreement.pdf


title: Catawba Co. Man Is Sentenced For Bank Robbery, COVID-19 Fraud, And Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Spenc’r Denard Rickerson, 36, of Claremont, N.C., was sentenced today to six years in prison followed by two years of supervised release for committing bank robbery, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Rickerson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $87,583. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and evidence presented at Rickerson’s trial, between June 30, 2020, and March 20, 2021, Rickerson used false information to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Trial evidence established that, in order to obtain the PPP loan, Rickerson submitted a fraudulent application for a non-existent company that contained a number of false information, including the purpose of the loan and the company’s payroll costs. Rickerson also submitted fraudulent applications for several loans under the EIDL program, in which he provided fake information about the number of company employees and gross revenues. As a result of the fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications, Rickerson received more than $84,233 in fraudulent funds intended to assist businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Court documents show that, in addition to the fraudulent loan scheme, on March 18, 2021, Rickerson committed an armed robbery of a BB&T branch located at 12 North Main Avenue, in Newton, N.C. Rickerson used the stolen funds from the fraudulent loan scheme and the bank robbery to pay bills and to buy cryptocurrency. Rickerson is in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The FBI investigated the case with the assistance of the Newton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution. 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 www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Chickasha Man Sentenced to Serve a Decade in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Yesterday, JAMES LANDON MCCULLOUGH , 39, of Chickasha, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum, for illegally possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On July 21, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against McCullough, charging him with being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On December 5, 2022, McCullough pleaded guilty to the one-count indictment and admitted to possessing a 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number after a prior felony conviction. According to public records, on June 16, 2022, law enforcement encountered McCullough during an undercover commercial sex work investigation at an Oklahoma City metro motel. During the investigation, McCullough watched from a nearby balcony as authorities arrested an individual for engaging in commercial sex work. McCullough approached the room where law enforcement had taken the commercial sex worker into custody. He was armed with a firearm at the time and admitted to being a felon. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced McCullough to serve 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Palk noted McCullough’s lengthy criminal history, including his history involving domestic violence. Public records reflect McCullough holds multiple felony convictions. These convictions include Burglary in the Second Degree and Domestic Assault and Battery, in Oklahoma County case numbers CF-2014-6247 and CF-2014-6255; Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – cocaine base and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of a Child Under Twelve Years of Age in Oklahoma County case number CF-2003-2678; Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – cocaine base in Oklahoma County case number CF-2010-230; Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance – cocaine in Oklahoma County case number CF-2010-138. McCullough also holds a misdemeanor Domestic Assault and Battery in Oklahoma County case number CM-2012-1096. This case is the result of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters, the case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, the Department announced the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement has learned since the program’s launch in 2001. This case is also part of “Operation 922.” Operation 922 is the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. “Operation 922” prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok . Reference is made to public filings for more information.


title: Kahliq Richardson Sentenced for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Kahliq Richardson, 20, formerly of Rutland County, was sentenced yesterday in the United States District Court in Burlington to 30 months of imprisonment for possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances. United States District Judge William K. Sessions III also ordered that Richardson serve three years of supervised release following his period of incarceration. According to court documents, on April 3, 2021, Richardson was at the Quality Inn in Rutland when he shot 19-year-old Jonah Pandiani in the head. Jonah died instantly. The investigation of the homicide revealed that Richardson had a history of drug use and had been using crack cocaine in the hours before the shooting. The homicide and the investigation that followed resulted in the instant federal firearm charge, as well as state charges for voluntary manslaughter. The state charges are still pending. In imposing the 30-month sentence, Judge Sessions varied upward from the otherwise applicable advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines in part to recognize the recklessness which led to death of Jonah Pandiani. This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police, the Rutland Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy L. Fuller represented the government. Mark A. Kaplan, Esq. represented Richardson. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: USAO-VT to Participate in Community Events During National Night Out

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out events on August 1, 2023. During this year’s National Night Out, U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest will attend National Night Out events at Essex High School and Law Enforcement Coordinator Tony Facos will attend events in Swanton on the Village Green and in St. Albans at Taylor Park. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/ .


title: Orange County Woman and Man Charged with Running $2.2 Million Scheme that Tricked Banks into Cashing Out Victims’ Mortgages

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – Two Orange County residents have been charged by a federal grand jury with fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million by stealing the identities of homeowners – primarily elderly Vietnamese Americans – and duping banks into “cashing out” mortgages on those properties, the Justice Department announced today. Thao Thi Kim Nguyen, 47, of Garden Grove, and Nghiep Chinh Nguyen, 55, of Westminster, were arraigned Monday afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana. Both defendants, who have been granted bond, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. Thao Nguyen additionally is charged with seven counts of bank fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. Nghiep Nguyen is charged further with two counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. At their arraignments, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. A September 26 trial date was scheduled in this matter. The schemers allegedly obtained a type of mortgage that allows homeowners to convert home equity into cash by borrowing against the value of the property. According to an indictment returned on July 26, during a roughly four-month period in 2018, Thao Nguyen opened accounts in her name at two banks. The alleged purpose of these bank accounts was to collect the scheme’s ill-gotten gains. Thao Nguyen then would visit the bank, accompanied Nghiep Nguyen and other co-schemers. Nghiep Nguyen and other co-schemers posed as the victim homeowners – whose identities they allegedly had stolen – and forged the victims’ signatures to fraudulently obtain cash-out mortgages on the victim-owned properties, which otherwise were unencumbered. To pursue the fraud, Nghiep Nguyen allegedly used counterfeit California driver’s licenses and Social Security cards containing the victims’ names, and forged the victims’ signatures on documents, including bank and mortgage forms as well as grant deeds for the victims’ real estate properties. The victims’ names also were added to the Thao Nguyen-controlled bank accounts. Thao Nguyen allegedly used her accounts to receive wire transfers totaling more than $2 million in fraudulently obtained cash-out mortgage proceeds. She allegedly would transfer the fraudulently obtained mortgage proceeds to other bank accounts she controlled and would make cash withdrawals totaling approximately $1 million. The remaining funds were distributed to the co-schemers. In total, the defendants fraudulently obtained approximately $2,182,753 through the scheme, the indictment alleges. For example, in July 2018, Thao Nguyen opened a bank account in her name. Later that month, Nghiep Nguyen and another co-schemer, accompanied by Thao Nguyen allegedly posed as two homeowners at the bank branch in Orange. Two days later, Nghiep Nguyen allegedly forged the two victim homeowners’ signatures on a grant deed for properties in Garden Grove and Long Beach. Nghiep Nguyen and another co-schemer allegedly then used fake IDs in the victims’ names to add those names to Thao Nguyen’s bank account. While doing so Thao Nguyen told bank personnel that the victims were her parents, according to the indictment. In August 2018, Thao Nguyen allegedly received a wire transfer of approximately $623,196 in fraudulent mortgage proceeds. She then transferred most of the ill-gotten funds to accounts she and another co-schemer controlled, according to the indictment. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of all charges, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each conspiracy and fraud charge, and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison for each aggravated identity theft charge. The FBI, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter. The Long Beach Police Department, the California Attorney General’s Office, and investigators with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Charles E. Pell of the Santa Ana Branch Office and Special Assistant United States Attorney Gregory B. Wagner are prosecuting this case.


title: Monroe, N.C. Woman Is Charged With Embezzling More Than $2.3 Million From Her Employer

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal indictment was unsealed in federal court today, charging Kristy Lawrence, 44, of Monroe, N.C., with wire fraud, for allegedly embezzling more than $2.3 million from her employer, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. According to allegations in the indictment, from 2016 to April 2022, Lawrence was employed by a small family business located in Monroe. Over the course of her employment, Lawrence allegedly worked in a purchasing and accounting function for the business and handled the company’s books and records. The indictment alleges that Lawrence embezzled millions from the company by making multiple unauthorized electronic transfers from the company’s bank account to make payments for her personal benefit, including to pay her credit cards. Lawrence allegedly covered up the fraud by using her position and access to falsify documents and make fraudulent accounting entries in the company’s books and records. Lawrence’s alleged embezzlement scheme was uncovered after the defendant was on extended leave and another employee took over her responsibilities. Lawrence was released on bond after her initial appearance. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI in Charlotte and the Union County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.