title: Marshfield Woman Sentenced to Prison for Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shandel L. Mohr, 32, Marshfield, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to twelve months and one day in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Mohr pleaded guilty to this charge on August 20, 2024. In February 2022, Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force officers began investigating a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization operating in Wausau, Wisconsin. The multi-year investigation involved the seizure of drug-laden packages from the mail, controlled purchases of narcotics, and seizures of firearms and large quantities of drugs from residence searches. From the investigation, officers believe the drug trafficking organization was distributing kilograms quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. Shandel Mohr was identified as a regional cocaine dealer for the drug trafficking organization in the Marshfield area. During the investigation, officers learned that the prior cocaine distributor in Marshfield had been arrested. Intercepted phone calls and communications revealed the leaders of the drug trafficking organization recruited Mohr and her friend to take over distribution in Marshfield. Mohr was ultimately arrested and admitted during her interview that she sold cocaine. During the time of the investigation and while she was distributing cocaine, Mohr was out on bond, and later convicted and placed on probation for a domestic abuse case. At sentencing, Judge Conley found that Mohr joined a serious drug trafficking conspiracy and took over an important distribution point in Marshfield, even though it was for a shorter duration than many of her co-defendants. Eight others were also charged in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Teala Kumbera was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and sentenced by Judge Conley on November 14, 2024, to 54 months in federal prison. Tommie Haney, Quo Vadis Lewis, Craig C. Gates, and Troy A. Olsen have all pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months. Cases against Edwin Lewis, Samuel A. Teague, and Shelby Gutch are still pending and the three are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charge against Mohr was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Marathon County Sheriff's Office, Portage County Sheriff's Office, Everest Metro Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations.


title: Heavily Armed Sellersburg Career Criminal Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Selling Methamphetamine and Guns

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ALBANY— Todd Nance, 40, of Sellersburg, has been sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, armed drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Todd Nance was a known drug dealer and was observed by law enforcement selling at least 263 grams of methamphetamine and various firearms out of his residence located in Sellersburg, Indiana. During a portion of that time, Nance was on pretrial release for multiple drug charges in state court, including felony possession of methamphetamine. On April 29, 2024, Nance sold a .38 revolver and approximately 115 grams of methamphetamine to another person in exchange for $1,550 cash. During the transaction, Nance was carrying a 9mm handgun in his waistband. On May 30, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a court-authorized search of Nance’s residence. Investigators found and seized 50 grams of methamphetamine and seven firearms, including a 12-gauge sawed off shotgun, a Ruger 9mm with an extended magazine, cocaine, fentanyl, and assorted pills. Nance is prohibited from ever legally possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions for Possession of Methamphetamine and Residential Entry. “This violent felon sold guns, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs in our community—all while illegally armed with an arsenal that included a sawed-off shotgun and a semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Deadly drugs and deadly weapons in the hands of repeat offenders cause tremendous damage to every community, large and small. Every neighborhood deserves to be safe from career criminals like Nance, and I commend the FBI, Clarksville Police Department, and our federal prosecutors for their efforts to take him off our streets. The fifteen-year federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that these very serious crimes will result in very serious consequences.” “The defendant threatened the safety of the community and endangered lives through his choice to engage in the illegal sale of guns and drugs. This sentence sends a very clear message – those who choose to profit from violence and drug addiction will find themselves facing lengthy prison time,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to ensuring those who engage in this illegal and destructive behavior will be held accountable for their actions.” The FBI and the Clarksville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Oliver, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 3 ½ Years in Prison

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMIHGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and United States Marshal Martin Keely. U.S. District Court Judge Annmarie C. Axon sentenced Ro’Daryus Donell Mitchell, 27, of Center Point, to 42 months in prison. In August, Mitchell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement, on May 31, 2023, the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force (GCRFTF) was looking for Mitchell for multiple arrest warrants. Mitchell had arrest warrants for 22 counts of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle; four counts of Theft of Property, Second Degree; one count of Receiving Stolen Property, Second Degree; and a probation revocation warrant for Violation of the State Firearms Act. USMS GCRFTF deputies found Mitchell at a residence in Birmingham and arrested him on the outstanding warrants. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of a Glock 9mm pistol loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition, an American Tactical .300 pistol, a Taurus .45 caliber pistol loaded with five rounds of ammunition, and multiple loaded and unloaded firearm magazines. The American Tactical .300 pistol had been reported stolen to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office on May 12, 2023. The Taurus .45 caliber pistol had been reported stolen to the Birmingham Police Department on May 25, 2023. At the time of this incident, Mitchell had been convicted of two counts of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County. USMS GCRFTF and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.


title: Two Defendants Sentenced to 15 Years in 15-Year-Old’s Fentanyl Overdose Death

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: The pair that supplied fentanyl pills to a 15-year-old Carrollton girl who fatally overdosed have been sentenced to a combined 15 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Lizbeth Prieto, 19, also known as Lizbeth Escamilla, and Cristian Lopez, 24, were charged via criminal complaint in June 2023 and indicted the following month. Ms. Prieto pleaded guilty in November 2023 to distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 21 and was sentenced in April 2024 to 84 months in federal prison. Mr. Lopez pleaded guilty in July 2024 to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced Monday to 96 months in federal prison. “Fentanyl rips through communities and decimates families. And with so many traffickers wantonly pushing these pills, all of our teenagers are vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “I launched the Protect Our Children Project – aimed at using law enforcement resources to help schools prevent fentanyl overdoses and other tragedies – in honor of children like this victim, lost to drugs or guns in our schools. It is my fervent hope that we can drastically reduce fentanyl fatalities in North Texas. Removing traffickers from the streets is another step towards that goal.” “Selling poison in the form of fentanyl to our youth is one of the most treacherous and evil ways to hurt our community,” said Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “To all of those who still continue to traffic fentanyl pills: DEA Dallas and our law enforcement partners such as Carrollton PD will find you and hold you accountable for your selfish actions. The safety of our families and community depends on it.” According to court documents, Mr. Lopez supplied fentanyl pills to Ms. Prieto, who provided them to the victim, a 15-year-old student at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton identified in court documents as “J.G.” Family members called 911 when they found the J.G. unresponsive, face down on her bed on Tuesday, June 13. She was transported to the hospital and pronounced deceased shortly thereafter. Inside the child’s bedroom room, agents found ten counterfeit Percocet pills inscribed M/30, which later tested positive for fentanyl. On her Instagram, they found communications between the girl and Ms. Prieto from approximately 24 hours before the death. In messages, Ms. Prieto allegedly offered to sell J.G. 13 fentanyl pills for $100 dollars, confirmed she could pay with cash, and asked for her address. A short while later, Ms. Prieto allegedly advised J.G. that she was pulling up to the home to deliver the pills. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phelesa Guy and Rick Calvert prosecuted the case. Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that five out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill .


title: Own Every Dollar Gang Member Pleads Guilty To 2019 Murder

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea today of JERRIN PENA, a/k/a “Rooga,” a/k/a “Perry,” in connection with his criminal activities as a member of the violent gang Own Every Dollar (“OED”), including the 2019 murder of Hector Cruz. PENA pled guilty today to several charges, including racketeering conspiracy, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “On April 14, 2019, Jerrin Pena murdered Hector Cruz, an innocent bystander to gang violence. That murder is just one of the many acts of violence that members and associates of Own Every Dollar have committed that have terrorized Washington Heights and surrounding communities. This Office will not stop its pursuit of dangerous gangs, and violent gang members will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings: PENA is a member of the violent gang OED, a subset of the Trinitarios gang based in and around the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. The Indictments in this case charge 24 members and associates of OED with numerous violent crimes, including five murders and 15 attempted murders. On April 14, 2019, in the early evening, PENA and others drove to West 135th Street in Manhattan to shoot at members of a rival gang. PENA exited the car and shot at a rival gang member on West 135th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. He missed the rival gang member but struck bystander Hector Cruz—then age 57—in the liver. Cruz died of the gunshot wound approximately one month later. PENA also pled guilty to an attempted murder on February 28, 2023, when he and several other inmates stabbed another inmate in the Metropolitan Detention Center; a gunpoint robbery of a drug dealer on January 22, 2022, in the vicinity of Riverside Drive and West 145th Street in Manhattan; conspiring to traffic more than four kilograms of fentanyl; and trafficking firearms from Pennsylvania to New York. 13 other OED defendants have previously pled guilty in the case, including MAYOVANEX RODRIGUEZ, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a 2022 murder. * * * PENA, 23, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of attempted murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. PENA is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken on March 4, 2025. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Kevin Mead, Alexandra S. Messiter, and Ashley C. Nicolas are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 58 Months in Drug Trafficking Case

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 3, 2024, Roosevelt Smith, 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 58 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Smith previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl. According to court records, on September 21, 2023, law enforcement arrested Smith, in Burlington, Vermont, after executing a search warrant at 86 N. Champlain St. The warrant was executed shortly after Smith returned to the residence from a trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Items seized from the residence included nearly 300 grams of cocaine base and approximately 70 grams of fentanyl. Law enforcement later examined the contents of Smith’s phone, pursuant to a warrant. The examination revealed communications indicative of drug trafficking. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the exceptional investigative work of the Burlington Police Department and the Vermont State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti. Smith was represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.


title: Two Lake Charles Men Sentenced on Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

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

body_text: LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that two Lake Charles men have been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms and drugs, including fentanyl. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced the defendants as follows: Johnathan C. Norwood , 42, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. In early 2023, law enforcement agents investigated the suspected involvement of Norwood with drug distribution in the Calcasieu Parish area. On April 3, 2023, a traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle being driven by Norwood in order to arrest him pursuant to an active arrest warrant. During the traffic stop, agents searched Norwood’s vehicle and found approximately 29.21 grams of cocaine and over $3,000 in cash inside. A subsequent search warrant was obtained for his residence and upon execution, law enforcement officers found and seized four firearms and ammunition, approximately 6,535.3 grams of cocaine, 128,923.95 grams of marijuana, over 50 pill tablets containing hydrocodone, and over $80,000 in cash. Through their further investigation, agents learned that two of the seized firearms had been reported as stolen from their lawful owners. This case was investigated by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force in Calcasieu Parish and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Danny Siefker. The second defendant, Cohaynee D. Jones , 28, was sentenced to 72 months (6 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On April 20, 2022, agents with the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force in Calcasieu Parish had four arrest warrants for Jones which were all active. Agents executed the warrants at his residence on 10 th Street in Lake Charles and found Jones asleep on the couch with a rifle on the headrest where he was laying. Jones was taken into custody and a search of his residence was executed. Officers found two additional firearms on the couch where Norwood was laying, with one having been reported as stolen. Jones has a previous felony conviction for aggravated battery from 2020 and was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. In addition, officers conducted a search of a rental vehicle in Jones’ driveway which officers had observed him driving. Inside the vehicle was a backpack containing several Ziploc bags with a substance that appeared to be narcotics, along with mail addressed to Jones. The substance was seized and sent to the crime lab for testing and confirmed to weigh approximately 57 grams and contained a detectable amount of fentanyl. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog. # # #


title: Queens Man Pleads Guilty to Firebombing Apartment Building in Flushing

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Atahualpa Rodriguez pleaded guilty to committing arson of an apartment building in Flushing, Queens. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Allyne R. Ross. When sentenced, Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Robert S. Tucker, Commissioner New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea. “Today, the defendant admitted that he deliberately set fire to an apartment building in the pre-dawn darkness while many tenants slept, causing the destruction of one apartment unit, damage to surrounding units and injuries to the brave first responders who battled the blaze,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “His actions showed complete disregard for human life and placed hundreds of people in grave danger over a personal dispute. Rodriguez will now face just punishment for his actions.” “Deliberately setting a fire is an egregious crime that deserves severe punishment,” said FDNY Commissioner Tucker. “In this case, three of our firefighters were injured due to this unspeakable crime. We want to thank the NYPD’s Arson and Explosion Squad along with FDNY fire marshals and ATF agents for their diligent and swift work in this case. We are relieved Atahualpa Rodriguez will no longer be on our city’s streets.” “Deliberate criminal activity, such as the type Mr. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to today, poses a significant threat to both first responders and private citizens and goes against everything that New York City stands for,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “I am grateful that the injuries sustained by our FDNY colleagues were not more severe, and I commend them for their dedication in maintaining the safety of all New Yorkers. I also thank our partners at the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for their diligent efforts in ensuring that criminal actions are met with appropriate consequences.” According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, on January 11, 2022, Rodriguez was in a dispute with the tenants of one unit in the building. On January 12, 2022, Rodriguez firebombed the multi-story building on Parsons Boulevard in Flushing, Queens, which contained approximately 175 units and hundreds of tenants. At approximately 4:40 a.m. on January, a resident of the targeted apartment unit awoke to the sound of breaking glass and heard a voice state: “F—k you all.” The resident walked out of the bedroom and saw the fire ignited by the defendant. One firefighter was injured when a section of ceiling collapsed on him, another suffered first-degree burns and a third was hospitalized after breathing contaminated air. The fire caused approximately $1 million in damages and completely destroyed the targeted apartment unit, as depicted below. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Amir is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : ATAHUALPA RODRIGUEZ Age: 50 Flushing, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-266 (ARR)


title: Former Social Security Administration Employee Admits To Role In Transnational “Grandparent Scam” Operated From Dominican Republic

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man who previously worked as a claims specialist with the U.S. Social Security Administration admitted yesterday to acting as a courier for a Dominican Republic-based “grandparent scam” that targeted elderly Americans. Victor Anthony Valdez, 39, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with wire fraud conspiracy. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, the scam operated from call centers in the Dominican Republic, making phone calls to elderly American victims purporting to be the victim’s grandchild, an attorney representing the grandchild in criminal proceedings, court personnel, or other persons associated with the legal system. Conspirators told the victims that their grandchildren had been arrested and needed cash for bail or other expenses. Once victims were convinced through lies and falsehoods, coconspirators instructed the victims to provide cash to couriers, including Valdez, who went to victims’ homes to pick up the money. While acting as a courier for the scam between August 2020 and August 2021, Valdez is alleged to have retrieved, or attempted to retrieve, tens of thousands of dollars from defrauded victims at their homes in New York and New Jersey. “The defendant admitted to his role in a scam targeting vulnerable seniors. The defendant and his coconspirators took advantage of grandparents’ love and concern for their grandchildren they believed to be in trouble, convincing them to pay thousands of dollars. My office will continue to protect the rights of all victims, and we will relentlessly prosecute those who target and cheat vulnerable seniors.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through fraudulent schemes like the one in which the defendant here participated,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Those who aid transnational criminals in deliberately targeting vulnerable consumers in the United States will be held accountable.” “Mr. Valdez intentionally conspired to defraud the elderly of their money and property through a cruel, international grandparent scam,” said Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “The vast majority of the victims are Social Security beneficiaries, who live on a fixed income. We will continue to aggressively pursue such intolerable criminal activities. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work in prosecuting this case.” Valdez faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2025. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the special agents of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Alison Thompson, and Trial Attorney Joshua Ferrentino of the Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch and are prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov / or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through OVC, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov . valdez.indictment.pdf


title: Louisville Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced this week to 11 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Chief Paul Humphreys of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, on December 2, 2024, Dion Brown , 31, was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Brown’s codefendants were previously sentenced. On October 24, 2024, Raheem Richardson , 32, of Louisville, was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, five counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Richardson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On October 28, 2014, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Richardson was convicted of wanton endangerment in the first degree (three counts). On August 15, 2024, Jamesha Hickman , 31, of Louisville, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. On August 1, 2024, Demeeko Johnson , 30, of Louisville, was sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. On August 15, 2024, Samuel Keene , 35, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Keene was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense. On or about January 30, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Keene was convicted of assault under extreme emotional disturbance. On August 15, 2024, Tyrece Clark , 31, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Clark was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense. On June 5, 2020, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Clark was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense - heroin. On May 16, 2024, Hubert Brown , 54, of Louisville, was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and misprision of a felony. Brown was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offense. On November 2, 1989, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Brown was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, first offense - cocaine. There is no parole in the federal system. The DEA, HSI, and the Louisville Metro Police Department investigated the case with the assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisville Airport Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Adela Alic. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Operations Manager at McCormick Place in Chicago Charged With Pocketing Kickbacks From Snowplow Vendor

body_text: CHICAGO — An operations manager at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly pocketing kickbacks from a company contracted to provide snowplow services at the facility. DOMINICK GIRONDA was employed on behalf of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which operates McCormick Place. Gironda managed contracts with vendors that provided services at the McCormick Place campus, which consists of multiple buildings, parking lots, and other spaces for conventions and trade shows. According to an indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Gironda schemed with an associate, JAMES SANSONE, to approve inflated invoices for services that were not actually provided at McCormick Place. The false invoices included compensation for individuals who had not worked on particular snow removal projects and equipment that had not been utilized, the indictment states. After Gironda approved full payment of the false invoices, cash was kicked back to Sansone, who then passed on some or all of the money to Gironda, the indictment states. From 2022 to earlier this year, Gironda and Sansone allegedly received kickbacks totaling approximately $26,700. The indictment alleges that when Gironda, Sansone, and others texted with each other about the scam, they used coded language that referred to the kickback payments as bottles of wine. Gironda, 54, of Bloomingdale, Ill., and Sansone, 38, of Batavia, Ill., were arrested this morning. Gironda is scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court today at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila M. Finnegan, followed by Sansone at 2:15 p.m. The indictment charges them with three counts of mail fraud, each of which is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sushma Raju and Richard Rothblatt. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. gironda_et_al_indictment.pdf


title: Two Admit Promoting Prostitution of Women in St. Louis

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Two men from Tennessee have admitted this week promoting the prostitution of women in the St. Louis area. Martavis Walker, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution. Walker admitted meeting a woman in Tennessee in late December 2023. He created online ads, forced her to work well-known prostitution areas in Memphis and forced her into at least a dozen sex acts there, Walker’s plea says. On Jan. 12, 2024, Walker took the woman to St. Louis, where he forced her to engage in commercial sex acts at hotels and Airbnb rentals. Walker is scheduled to be sentenced March 12. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine. Domaniko McCrary, 33, of Memphis, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the same charge in an unrelated case. McCrary admitted buying a bus ticket for himself and the victim and traveling to the Eastern District of Missouri on April 16, 2023. McCrary then rented two hotel rooms so that the victim could engage in commercial sex acts. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the Walker case. The Hazelwood Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the McCrary case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting both cases.


title: 18 Ohio Gang Members and Associates Charged in Second Superseding Indictment

body_text: CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio today unsealed a second superseding indictment against 18 members and associates of a Cleveland-based, violent street gang known as the Fully Blooded Felons or “FBF.” The defendants charged are alleged to have committed numerous federal crimes, including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, firearms violations, conspiracy, and drug trafficking. The investigation that led to this second superseding indictment took place throughout the last two years, with the initial indictment issued on Dec. 20, 2023, followed by a superseding indictment on April 4, 2024. According to court documents, members of FBF have engaged in criminal activity for more than a decade in Ohio, since approximately 2012. The gang was primarily based on the east side of Cleveland, but also established strongholds in Akron, Youngstown, and other areas. The scope and reach of the gang’s alleged criminal operations included attempts to infiltrate the Ohio prison system. Federal and local law enforcement agents and officers apprehended individuals in a series of coordinated arrests. They seized several controlled substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and more than 400 grams of fentanyl. They also confiscated 15 illegally possessed firearms throughout the investigation. “The superseding indictment alleges that these 18 defendants were leaders, members, or associates of the Fully Blooded Felons, a violent gang that — for more than a decade — made money and controlled territory in Northern Ohio through murder, arson, robbery, drug trafficking, and firearms possession,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Violence and other gang activities make communities less safe for all of their residents. Addressing violent crime — including through the arrests announced today — is one of the Criminal Division’s highest priorities. I am proud of the outstanding work done by our Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, in partnership with our federal, state, and local partners, to make our communities safer places to live by targeting the most violent offenders on our streets.” “As the indictment alleges, the Fully Blooded Felons styled themselves after a Mafia crime family, terrorizing Cleveland’s streets and operating an open-air illegal drug market in the Cedar Central neighborhood for years. I commend the valiant efforts of our brave law enforcement partners who have worked diligently to win back our streets and protect our community by taking down these bad actors,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “The USAO will aggressively continue to pursue—through RICO prosecutions and other federal charges—violent criminals who seek to secure territory, power, and money by ruthlessly harming others, peddling poisons, and creating an atmosphere of fear. Members of FBF or other violent gangs in this District who have yet to be caught should think twice before continuing to engage in such illegal and destructive behavior.” “For several years, these individuals committed a homicide, armed robberies, and unlawfully imported and distributed fentanyl and other dangerous opioids throughout the community, said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “The Fully Blooded Felons, a subset of the Heartless Felons criminal network, has been identified as Cleveland’s most significant gang threat and their reign of terror is over thanks to the collaborative efforts of FBI and the Safe Streets Gang Task Force. We will not waver in our mission to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle gangs not only in the larger cities across America, but also right here in northern Ohio.” During the investigation, law enforcement officials uncovered the defendants’ patterns of racketeering activity, which included their establishment of an organizational structure for their criminal enterprise involving gang membership hierarchy, titles, and rules. The FBF’s framework was allegedly created by its highest-ranking member, Raven Mullins, who held the self-proclaimed position of “Godfather.” The gang structure included a “Commission” made up of a member subgroup known as “Commissioners.” Together, they maintained the enterprise’s organization through physical discipline and by determining which illicit means they would pursue to generate income. To accomplish their goal of promoting and enhancing their criminal enterprise and its members’ and associates’ activities, and preserving and protecting their territories, FBF members and associates conspired to commit and did commit a murder, assaults, robberies, and drug trafficking. As the indictment alleges, each FBF member was expected to follow a set of rules that Mullins primarily established. Mullins and the Commission disseminated these expectations to FBF members online, in text messages, and by face-to-face communications. Members were required to memorize and recite a set of rules, known as the “Fully Five,” at meetings, and they faced punishment if they answered incorrectly. Rules included following all orders issued by the Commission, pledging their loyalty to fellow members, and being respectful to the “Capos,” who were FBF members in leadership roles beneath the Commissioners. They were also expected to know and adhere to the “Fully Commandments,” another set of rules similar to the “Fully Five.” Investigators discovered that gang members occupied two separate units at a local apartment complex that they used as stash-houses to facilitate drug trafficking. While executing two search warrants, law enforcement officers recovered more than 400 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and multiple firearms from these locations. According to the second superseding indictment, on Sept. 12, 2023, Raven Mullins, Henry Burchett, and James Clemons, along with another unidentified individual, shot and killed a victim on the west side of Cleveland. After killing the victim, the defendants fled the scene in a stolen vehicle that was later set on fire. The second superseding indictment alleges a years-long pattern of racketeering and violence, including a murder, kidnapping, assaults, and drug trafficking. The defendants and their charges are as follows: Raven Mullins , aka Dunny, aka Dun, 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Henry Burchett , aka Noodles, aka Noo, aka Omerta, 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Elijah Johnson , aka Loon, 37, of Youngstown, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Demarcus Elliott , aka Moo, aka Fast Lane, 37, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Dontez Hammond , aka Donny, aka Tez, 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jeffrey Lee , aka Fatty, 24, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Jerrell Jones-Ferrell, aka Ruga, 25, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Devonte Johnson , aka D Nut, aka Nut, 32, of Euclid, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jerome Williams , aka Jay, aka JT, 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Christepher Horton , aka Cam, aka Killa, 41, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Deeundra Perkins , aka Drizzy, 33, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Deon Blackwell , aka White Boy, 38, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. James Clemons , aka Flock, aka Pope, aka Fully Pope Flock, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering. Alex Darden , aka Lil’ Pee Wee, 23, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Esmond Williams , aka Relle, 35, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Adrionna Null , aka Ali, 27, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering. Myeasha West , aka Action, 31, of Lorain, Ohio, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering. Kyla Sharie Tyler , aka Yayeo, 27, of Cleveland, Ohio, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering. An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the OCDETF Cleveland Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and subsidiary organizations, including criminal gangs, transnational drug cartels, racketeering organizations, and other groups engaged in illicit activities that present a threat to public safety and national security and are related to the illegal smuggling and trafficking of narcotics or other controlled substances, weapons, humans, or the illegal concealment or transfer of proceeds derived from such illicit activities in the Northern District of Ohio. The OCDETF Cleveland Strike Force is composed of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF), and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Border Patrol, along with task force officers from numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Cleveland Division of Police. Prosecutions are led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, the Cleveland Division of Police, USMS, the DEA, and the ATF. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul E. Hanna and Robert F. Corts for the Northern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.


title: Charges Filed in the Armed Robbery of a Postal Maintenance Worker and Multiple High-Volume Thefts of U.S. Mail from Multi-Family Luxury Residences in D.C., Virginia, and Maryland

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Ibrahim Emmanuel De La Cruz, 25, of Washington D.C., was extradited to face charges filed by criminal complaint with the alleged high-volume thefts of U.S. Mail in Washington D.C., Arlington Va., and Bowie, Maryland, as well as an armed robbery of a Postal maintenance worker, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Special Agent-in-Charge Jacob Cameron, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Washington Field Office. The 43-page complaint, filed in September 2024 in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, charges De La Cruz with multiple counts of theft or receipt of stolen mail and the August 10, 2024, armed robbery of a postal maintenance worker. “The defendant is charged with robbing a postal worker and repeatedly raiding mail collection boxes, apparently seeking to use the checks, credit cards, and personal identifying information he stole for his financial benefit. We stand ready to partner with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to hold accountable those who assault postal carriers and those who steal the valuable letters and items we depend on the Postal Service to ship,” said U.S. Attorney Graves for the District of Columbia. “The safety and security of the U.S. mail, our employees and customers remain central to the mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood. “Protecting postal workers from crimes of violence and bringing those criminals who perpetuate these crimes to justice is of great importance. This case highlights the critical work of Postal Inspectors in safeguarding the integrity of the mail and pursuing individuals who commit theft or fraud against individuals. We will continue collaborating with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to ensure that criminals are held accountable.” According to the complaint, beginning in December 2023, multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD), began investigating multiple high-volume mail thefts from mailboxes at multi-family luxury residences and the potentially related robberies of letter carriers and other victims in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The investigation found that a man was using stolen U.S. Postal Service “arrow keys” to access USPS collection boxes, outdoor parcel lockers, cluster box units, and apartment mailbox panels. The suspect in the thefts resembled a man who had robbed a postal maintenance worker of his arrow keys on August 10, 2024, while the suspect appeared to be gripping a pistol tucked into his waistband. Through surveillance camera footage, Instagram posts, and cell phone tracking, De La Cruz was tied to a theft of mail from two apartment complexes on February 19, 2024, on the 2300 block of Champlain Street NW; the theft of mail from collection box units on February 29, 2024, from the 1600 block of R Street NW; the theft of mail using a stolen arrow key on March 3, 2024, from an outdoor locked mail area on the 2200 block of 17 th Street NW; the theft of mail using a stolen arrow key on March 4, 2024, from the 2400 block of Ontario Road, NW; the theft of mail on March 5, 2024, from the 2100 block of California Avenue NW; theft of mail on March 5, 2024, from the National Landing in Arlington, Va.; the theft of mail from cluster boxes using an arrow key on March 21, 2024, on the 1500 block of Pointer Ridge Place in Bowie, MD; and theft of mail on August 10, 2024, from the 700 block of Parkside Place, NE. De La Cruz is also suspected of using personal identifying information gleaned from the stolen mail to obtain bank accounts and credit cards in other people’s names. The defendant allegedly used money stolen from accounts to pay for student tuition, rent, utilities, and cell phone bills. According to the complaint, De La Cruz also posted a rap on YouTube boasting of his exploits. This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Army Criminal Investigation Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar. An complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 24mj00286


title: Justice Department Proposes Regulations Implementing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

component: Office of Public Affairs

body_text: The Justice Department today announced it has submitted to the Federal Register two notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that, if finalized, will fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 (BSCA), the most significant gun safety legislation in over 30 years. Following the language of the BSCA, the Firearm Handlers Rule proposes that federal firearm licensees (FFLs), such as gun stores, be allowed to use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to voluntarily conduct employment background checks for certain employees. Current NICS regulations prohibit FFLs from initiating background checks for any purpose other than the transfer of firearms. Under the Firearm Handlers NPRM, FFLs will be permitted to request NICS background checks for current or prospective employees who may handle firearms, ammunition, or related materials. The Firearm Handlers Rule NPRM details the scope of employees eligible for background checks, as well as new NICS statuses proposed for such checks. The second NPRM, known as the Under-21 Rule, would codify enhanced NICS background check procedures for prospective firearm purchasers under 21 years of age, among other changes. Under the BSCA, NICS is required to conduct enhanced background checks for such under-21 purchasers, by contacting certain state and local entities to determine if a juvenile record, such as a criminal conviction or mental health record, may disqualify the purchaser from possessing a firearm. The FBI began performing these enhanced checks in late 2022 and has denied nearly 1,000 transactions solely because of enhanced outreach. View the Firearm Handlers NPRM here. View the Under-21 Rule NPRM here.


title: Fort Cavazos Soldiers Arrested on Human Smuggling Conspiracy Charges

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: ALPINE, Texas – Three Fort Cavazos soldiers were arrested on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle undocumented noncitizens. According to court documents, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent initiated a vehicle stop in Presidio on Nov. 27. The vehicle fled as the agent approached the passenger side and struck a second USBP vehicle, injuring an agent inside, according to the filed criminal complaint. Presidio County Deputies and Presidio Police Officers eventually stopped the vehicle and apprehended four individuals, three of whom were undocumented noncitizens—one Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals. The fourth individual was Emilio Mendoza Lopez, who claimed to be the front seat passenger in the vehicle. The driver, alleged to be Angel Palma, fled on foot and was located the following day at a hotel in Odessa. Mendoza Lopez and Palma allegedly traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio for the purpose of picking up and transporting undocumented noncitizens. A third individual, Enrique Jauregui, is alleged to be the recruiter and facilitator of the human smuggling conspiracy. Data extracted from Palma’s phone through a search warrant revealed messages between the three soldiers indicating collaboration in the smuggling operation. Mendoza Lopez made his initial appearance Dec. 2 in Alpine before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin. Mendoza Lopez is charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens. Palma and Jauregui were both arrested Dec. 3 on Fort Cavazos. They are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske for their initial appearance hearings in Waco on Dec. 6. The two codefendants are charged in a separate criminal complaint with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens and one count of assaulting a federal agent. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. HSI, USBP and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Cayton is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Bowling Green Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison in Fentanyl Distribution Case

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – The final member of a two-man fentanyl distribution case was sentenced this week to 10 years in prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force made the announcement. According to court documents, on December 2, 2024, Faisl Alzharani, 27, of Warren County, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and on April 23, 2024, Ahmed Al-Duliami, 25, of Warren County, was sentenced to 7 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for attempting to possess with the intent to distribute a fentanyl mixture. On August 11, 2022, in Warren County the defendants picked up a package which they believed contained fentanyl, but that package had previously been seized by law enforcement and the fentanyl removed. There is no parole in the federal system. The USPIS Louisville Domicile, Bowling Green Office, HSI Bowling Green, and the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the United States Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office prosecuted the case. ###


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Senior Living Provider to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement with Watercrest Community Management LLC (Watercrest) resolving the department’s determination that Watercrest violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) at its Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, location. The department determined that Watercrest discriminated against a non-U.S. citizen worker by rejecting her valid document showing her permission to work and asking for additional and unnecessary documents because of her citizenship status. “Under federal law, employers cannot discriminate based on citizenship status when verifying an individual’s ability to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting workers from citizenship status discrimination and removing unnecessary barriers to work in the United States.” After opening an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) determined that Watercrest improperly refused to honor the valid document that a non-U.S. citizen provided to prove her permission to work in the United States. IER’s investigation also revealed that Watercrest asked the worker for additional and unnecessary documents that Watercrest said were required by the commercial Form I-9 software program the company used. Watercrest improperly and repeatedly asked for those documents. Form I-9 is a government form that employers and workers are required to complete that verifies that a worker has the ability to work in the United States. An employer must follow all legal requirements when verifying someone’s permission to work, and using a software program to electronically complete this process does not guarantee compliance with federal law . Under the INA, employers cannot reject valid documentation or request more documents than necessary when verifying a worker’s permission to work because of a worker’s citizenship or immigration status. Under the terms of the settlement, if Watercrest encounters difficulty using its software program to complete an employee’s Form I-9, it will complete a physical Form I-9 for that employee rather than reject the employee’s valid documents showing permission to work. Watercrest also will pay a civil penalty to the United States, train its employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to monitoring by the department. IER is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee, unfair documentary practices and retaliation and intimidation . Find more information about how employers can avoid discrimination when verifying someone’s permission to work on IER’s website . Information regarding how to avoid unlawful discrimination and other Form I-9 violations when using commercial or proprietary programs to electronically complete the Form I-9 or participate in E-Verify is also available . Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video . Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge . The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email IER@usdoj.gov ; sign up for a live webinar; watch an on-demand presentation ; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.


title: El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un proveedor de viviendas para ancianos que resuelve acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigración

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio con Watercrest Community Management LLC (Watercrest), el cual resuelve la determinación del Departamento de que Watercrest infringió la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) en su sucursal en Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. El Departamento determinó que Watercrest discriminó a una trabajadora no ciudadana de los EE. UU. al rechazar su documento válido que muestra su permiso para trabajar y solicitar documentos adicionales e innecesarios debido a su estatus de ciudadanía. «En virtud de las leyes federales, los empleadores no pueden discriminar en función del estatus de ciudadanía al verificar el permiso de una persona para trabajar», dijo Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles se compromete a proteger a los trabajadores de la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y a eliminar barreras innecesarias al trabajo en los Estados Unidos». Después de iniciar una investigación basada en la queja de una trabajadora, la Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados (IER, por sus siglas en inglés), de la División de Derechos Civiles, determinó que Watercrest se negó, de forma indebida, a respetar el documento válido que una no ciudadana de los EE. UU. proporcionó para demostrar su permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. La investigación de la IER también reveló que Watercrest pidió a la trabajadora documentos adicionales e innecesarios que Watercrest dijo que eran requeridos por el programa de software comercial que la empresa utilizó para el Formulario I-9. Watercrest solicitó esos documentos de forma incorrecta y repetida. El Formulario I-9 es un formulario gubernamental que los empleadores y trabajadores deben completar y que verifica que un trabajador tiene permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. Un empleador debe seguir todos los requisitos legales a la hora de verificar el permiso de trabajo de alguien y el uso de un programa de software para completar este proceso electrónicamente no garantiza el cumplimiento con las leyes federales . En virtud de la INA, los empleadores no pueden rechazar documentación válida ni solicitar más documentos de los necesarios al verificar el permiso de trabajo de un trabajador debido a la ciudadanía o el estatus migratorio de tal trabajador. Según los términos del acuerdo, si Watercrest encuentra dificultades para usar su programa de software para completar el Formulario I-9 de un empleado, completará un Formulario I-9 impreso para ese empleado en lugar de rechazar los documentos válidos del empleado que muestren su permiso para trabajar. Watercrest también pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos, capacitará a sus empleados en cuanto a los requisitos antidiscriminatorios de la INA, revisará sus políticas de empleo y se someterá a supervisión por parte del Departamento. La IER es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación . Obtenga más información sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación al verificar el permiso de alguien para trabajar en el sitio web de la IER . También hay información disponible sobre cómo evitar la discriminación ilegal y otras infracciones del Formulario I-9 al utilizar programas comerciales o de propiedad exclusiva para completar el Formulario I-9 electrónicamente o participar en E-Verify. Aprenda más sobre el trabajo de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda mediante este vídeo corto . Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia. El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a IER@usdoj.gov ; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; visualizar una presentación a la carta; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés y español . Inscríbase para recibir actualizaciones por correo electrónico de la IER.


title: Three Idaho Falls Drug Traffickers Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the results of three separate drug distribution cases in Eastern Idaho. “The justice achieved in these cases reflects how the strong partnerships between my office and state and local law enforcement remove dangerous criminals from our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We will continue to focus on prosecuting drug traffickers in all parts of Idaho, and I am grateful for the talented officers, investigators, and prosecutors making a difference in this fight.” Convicted Felon and Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Federal Prison In one case, Jesus Rosas, 45, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced on November 25, 2024, to 55 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, on January 8, 2024, Rosas was pulled over for a traffic violation by Idaho Falls Police. Rosas’s passenger had several warrants for his arrest. The passenger fled the vehicle on foot and later shot at an officer with a handgun. The officer returned fire, striking the passenger, who ultimately died from the resulting injuries. During the traffic stop, officers removed Rosas from the vehicle and located a loaded handgun next to the driver’s seat. While removing Rosas from the vehicle, officers observed Rosas reaching in the direction of the firearm. Officers searched Rosas before placing him in a patrol vehicle. During the search, officers discovered a black bag in Rosas’s jacket pocket which contained a glass pipe, small clear bags, and two bags containing 35.9 grams of methamphetamine. Rosas’s criminal history includes five prior state felony convictions: delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of controlled substances, grand theft, and burglary. Records with the Idaho Department of Correction show that he has suspected gang ties. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Rosas to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Rosas pleaded guilty to the charge in September 2024. Idaho Falls Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine In a separate case, Brandon Luce, 43, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced on November 21, 2024 to 37 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court records, in early 2022, Luce, on two occasions, sold to another person a combined 83.24 grams of methamphetamine. Luce told the buyer that there was only one pound left in town and they were going to have to go get more. Luce’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for possession of controlled substances and misdemeanor convictions for driving offenses, possessing burglary tools, and battery. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ordered Luce to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Luce pleaded guilty to the offense in August 2024. Idaho Falls Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Drugs In a third case, Darren Payne, 51, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced on November 25, 2024 to 24 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, on January 18, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Payne’s home which included a search of his vehicle. During the execution of the search warrant, Payne was located alone in the master bedroom. He attempted to flee from the bedroom to the bathroom and attempted to swallow a bag containing methamphetamine, but ultimately spit it out. During the search, officers found a plastic bag containing hundreds of light blue M30 pills tucked inside the bottom of a shoe. These were counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. Additionally, while searching the pockets of clothing items hanging in the closet, officers located a bag containing a box of suboxone, multiple small bags, and glass pipes. A search of the bedroom revealed the following items: a green bottle containing small purple pills imprinted K57, Oxycodone Hydrochloride; heroin; and cocaine. There were also three individually packaged light blue M30 pills which appeared to be for sale. The items found appeared to be for both personal use and for sale. Payne possessed 76.8 grams fentanyl for distribution. Payne’s criminal history includes two state felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance. Payne has two pending felony charges in Bonneville County for drug trafficking in methamphetamine and in Fremont County for passing checks with insufficient funds. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Payne to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Payne pleaded guilty to the charge in July 2024. U.S. Attorney Hurwit applauded the investigations by the Idaho Falls Police Department and the Idaho State Police for their work in all three cases and thanked the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office for their investigations, which led to charges in the Rosas and Payne cases. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted these cases. These cases were handled by the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in Eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction. The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to use the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts. This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 175 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 152 have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 10,639 months (approximately 886.5 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 73.87 months (6.12 years). Defendants indicted for drug trafficking offenses serve, on average, approximately 60.33 months (5.02 years) in federal prison. ###


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Sextortion of Maine Children He Met on Instagram

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Texas man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for coercion and enticement of a minor. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Juan Jose Torres , 27, to 132 months in prison followed by seven years of supervised release. According to court records, in December 2021, the father of one of the victims contacted law enforcement after discovering that the child had sent sexually explicit photos and videos to someone who had befriended the child on Instagram. The investigation showed that the victim and another child, both in their early teens, were coaxed and coerced into creating and sending graphic and sexually explicit material of themselves to Torres. If the victims hesitated, Torres threatened to harm himself or post the images online if they did not comply. When he was arrested in February 2023, Torres told investigators that he was “just having fun” and that he threatened the young victims because he “liked the attention from them.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office is limiting identifying information, including gender, location and ages, to protect the minor victims’ privacy. “Mr. Torres pretended to be something he wasn’t to befriend these young victims, then manipulated and exploited them into a situation they were too young to handle. The crime of sextortion is increasing alarmingly, and these cases so often end tragically with young victims feeling they have no way out,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee. “Thankfully, a vigilant parent realized what was happening and immediately contacted police, averting what could have been a tragedy and likely preventing additional victims. It is so important to talk to children about why it is never safe to share intimate images, videos or livestreams with anyone – even someone they know, love or trust.” “Torres manipulated children into providing explicit photos to him, using fear and threats to coerce them after they realized they wanted to stop,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol . “This crime happens all too often, and victims often feel trapped and that there’s nowhere for them to turn. We want victims and families to know that they are not alone, and there is always help available through HSI and our partners.” Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case. Online enticement is increasing: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported an alarming 300% increase in online enticement reports between 2020 and 2023. “Online enticement” involves an individual communicating with someone believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. This type of victimization takes place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc. Learn more about online enticement, including red flags and risk factors, at https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741. Project iGuardian program available to Maine communities, schools: The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) program Project iGuardian is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness. The in-person educational outreach effort was created to share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. Schools, parent groups, and other community groups interested in bringing the program to their community can find more information at: https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect/training . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Eighteen Cleveland Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Federal Charges for RICO Conspiracy, Murder, Kidnapping, Assault, Firearms Violations, and Drug Trafficking

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal district court in the Northern District of Ohio today unsealed a second superseding indictment against 18 members and associates of a violent street gang known as the Fully Blooded Felons, who have been charged with various federal crimes, including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, firearms violations, and drug trafficking offenses. The investigation that led to the second superseding indictment took place over the last two years. Agents apprehended individuals in a series of coordinated arrests. They seized cocaine, methamphetamine, over 400 grams of fentanyl, and 15 illegally possessed firearms throughout the investigation. “The superseding indictment alleges that these 18 defendants were leaders, members, or associates of the Fully Blooded Felons, a violent gang that — for more than a decade — made money and controlled territory in Northern Ohio through murder, arson, robbery, drug trafficking, and firearms possession,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Violence and other gang activities make communities less safe for all of their residents. Addressing violent crime — including through the arrests announced today — is one of the Criminal Division’s highest priorities. I am proud of the outstanding work done by our Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, in partnership with our federal, state, and local partners, to make our communities safer places to live by targeting the most violent offenders on our streets.” “As the indictment alleges, the Fully Blooded Felons styled themselves after a Mafia crime family, terrorizing Cleveland’s streets and operating an open-air illegal drug market in the Cedar Central neighborhood for years. I commend the valiant efforts of our brave law enforcement partners who have worked diligently to win back our streets and protect our community by taking down these bad actors,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “The USAO will aggressively continue to pursue — through RICO prosecutions and other federal charges — violent criminals who seek to secure territory, power, and money by ruthlessly harming others, peddling poisons, and creating an atmosphere of fear. Members of FBF or other violent gangs in this district who have yet to be caught should think twice before continuing to engage in such illegal and destructive behavior.” “For several years, according to the indictment, these individuals committed a homicide, armed robberies, and unlawfully imported and distributed fentanyl and other dangerous opioids throughout the community,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “The Fully Blooded Felons, a subset of the Heartless Felons criminal network, has been identified as Cleveland’s most significant gang threat and their reign of terror is over thanks to the collaborative efforts of FBI and the Safe Streets Gang Task Force. We will not waver in our mission to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle gangs not only in the larger cities across America, but also right here in northern Ohio.” As alleged in the second superseding indictment, the Fully Blooded Felons have been in existence in Ohio since approximately 2012, operating primarily out of the east side of Cleveland, as well as Akron, Youngstown, and elsewhere. They are also allegedly active in the Ohio prison system. According to the facts alleged in the indictment, the Fully Blooded Felons’ structure includes a “Commission,” which is a group of members tasked with maintaining the structure and organization of the enterprise through physical discipline and by determining which illicit means the organization would use to make money. As alleged in the indictment, the Fully Blooded Felons had rules that members were required to abide by. The rules were disseminated to members online, by text message, and in face-to-face communications. Members were required to abide by “omerta,” or the code of silence. Members were also required to memorize and recite at meetings the “Fully Five,” a set of rules that included following all orders issued by the Commission, pledges of loyalty to fellow members, and being respectful to Capos, a position held by senior gang members. If a member did not know the “Fully Five,” they were punished. Members were also expected to know and abide by the “Fully Commandments,” a similar set of rules. Fully Blooded Felon members allegedly utilized different two separate stash-houses at a local apartment complex. According to court documents, during the execution of two search warrants, law enforcement recovered over 300 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as seven firearms. Members and associates of the Fully Blooded Felons allegedly came together for the common purposes of making money through robberies and drug trafficking, preserving and promoting Fully Blooded Felon territory, and promoting and enhancing the Fully Blooded Felon enterprise and its members and associates’ activities. According to the indictment, on Sept. 12, 2023, three Fully Blooded Felon members — Raven Mullins, Henry Burchett, and James Clemons — and another individual shot and killed a victim on the west side of Cleveland. After killing the victim, the defendants allegedly fled the scene in a stolen Honda Pilot, which Fully Blooded Felon members later burned. The second superseding indictment alleges a years-long pattern of racketeering and violence including a murder, kidnapping, assaults, and drug trafficking. The defendants and their charges are: Raven Mullins , 35, also known as Dunny and Dun, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Henry Burchett , 29, also known as Noodles, Noo, and Omerta, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping in aid of racketeering, assault in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Elijah Johnson , 37, also known as Loon, of Youngstown, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Demarcus Elliott , 37, also known as Moo and Fast Lane, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Dontez Hammond , 35, also known as Donny and Tez, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and illegal receipt of a firearm and ammunition by a person under indictment. Jeffrey Lee , 24, also known as Fatty, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, numerous counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Jerrell Jones-Ferrell , 25, also known as Ruga, of Cleveland, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, felon in possession of a firearm, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Devonte Johnson , 32, also known as D Nut and Nut, of Euclid, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and felon in possession of a firearm. Jerome Williams , 29, also known as Jay, and JT, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Christepher Horton , 41, also known as Cam and Killa, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. Deeundra Perkins , 33, also known as Drizzy, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Deon Blackwell , 38, also known as White Boy, of Cleveland, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. James Clemons , 32, also known as Flock, Pope, and Fully Pope Flock, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering. Alex Darden , 23, also known as Lil’ Pee Wee, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Esmond Williams , 35, also known as Relle, of Cleveland, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Adrionna Null , 27, also known as Ali, of Cleveland, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering. Myeasha West , 31, also known as Action, of Lorain, Ohio, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering. Kyla Sharie Tyler , 27, also known as Yayeo, of Cleveland, is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering and assault in aid of racketeering. The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and Alyssa Levey-Weinstein of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Hanna and Robert F. Corts for the Northern District of Ohio 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: Supervisor of Luxury Jewelry Company Sentenced for Stealing, Selling Millions of Dollars Worth of Precious Metals

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A manufacturing supervisor for a luxury jewelry company was sentenced today for stealing over $1.7 million in gold, silver and platinum from his employer over a period of more than three years. Benjamin Preacher, 54, of North Attleboro, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 59 days in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, including 10 months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service. Preacher was also ordered to forfeit $1,267,093. The government recommended a sentence of 30 months in prison. In June 2024, Preacher pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions. From 2018 until early 2024, Preacher worked as a manufacturing supervisor at a Rhode Island facility operated by a company that sells luxury items, including jewelry made from gold, silver and platinum. Preacher used his position overseeing the production and security of high-end jewelry to steal scrap precious metals from the company’s facility in Rhode Island. Preacher then drove the stolen metals into Massachusetts and then sold them to various businesses in Massachusetts. An image of some of the stolen metals appears below. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Saratoga Springs Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Barry, age 42, of Saratoga Springs, New York, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for receiving child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. As part of his prior guilty plea, Barry admitted that between June 2021 and January 2022, he received child pornography, including images of prepubescent minors, and on February 9, 2023, possessed two phones containing child pornography. The offense involved more than 1,500 still images and at least four videos of child pornography. United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered Barry to serve a 15-year term of post-incarceration supervised release, to forfeit the two phones involved in the offense, and to pay a total of $42,000 restitution to 14 victims. Barry will also be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison. HSI investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Fatal Stabbing of 23-year-old Northeast Man Results in Guilty Plea

body_text: WASHINGTON – Matthew Walker, 26, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today in Superior Court to the charge of second-degree murder while armed, stemming from the April 29, 2019 stabbing of 23-year-old Jamal Greenlee, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. As a result of the stabbing, Mr. Greenlee was left paralyzed and ultimately passed away from his injuries on November 4, 2020. Walker will be sentenced by Judge Marisa Demeo on January 10, 2025. Earlier this year, Walker was sentenced to 50 years of incarceration after being found guilty during a bench trial of, among other charges, the first-degree murder of David Remen, which occurred on February 14, 2019, at Trojan Labor, 1717 Hamlin Street NE. In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Seidel, who prosecuted the case.


title: Albany Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Firearm and Drug Offenses

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kamaro Campbell, age 42, of Albany, was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for possessing cocaine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute them and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division, made the announcement. Agents found 105 grams of fentanyl, 95 grams of cocaine, and a fanny pack containing a loaded pistol and $15,000 inside of Campbell’s bedroom closet when executing a search warrant on June 28, 2023. A separate search of Campbell’s storage unit led to the recovery of an additional 105 grams of cocaine. Campbell admitted to selling an additional 155 grams of cocaine and 74 grams of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 5-year-term of supervised release and ordered Campbell to forfeit the pistol seized in his apartment. The DEA investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced on Drug and Gun Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples. U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Waymon Lanar Robinson, Jr., 31, of Birmingham, to 140 months in prison. In September, Robinson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on March 1, 2023, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted surveillance on a house in Tarrant, Alabama, associated with the gang “Hard2Kill.” Officers conducted a traffic stop in an alleyway behind the house. Officers saw Robinson place something inside his pants and walk away from the house. They approached Robinson and asked if he had any weapons on him. Robinson said he did and showed the officer a Glock .40 caliber pistol in his waistband. Robinson also had fentanyl, methamphetamine, hydrocodone pills, heroin, and marijuana inside of a Crown Royal Bag in his pants. The FBI investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Byrd prosecuted the case.