title: Former Atlanta business-owner sentenced to prison for obtaining millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief fraud, tax identity theft and credit card fraud

body_text: ATLANTA – Jose Fernandez has been sentenced for seeking over $5 million by submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) applications, filing false tax returns using stolen identities, using credit cards he obtained with stolen identities, and check fraud. He ultimately obtained more than $2 million in fraudulent funds, which he then used for his personal benefit. “Fernandez committed a litany of frauds, including an attempt to steal millions of dollars from a COVID relief program, financial institutions, and the IRS by stealing the identities of innocent victims to file false tax returns,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His sentence reflects the scope of his criminal conduct.” “Fernandez will have many years in prison to think about his long list of crimes and greed. He not only hurt business owners in need of the Covid relief funding, but even stole the identities of family members,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who violates the law to siphon money from these programs into their own pockets.” “People who commit PPP fraud and identity theft can expect to be held accountable just as Jose Fernandez has,” said Lisa Fontanette, acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice individuals who commit these types of crimes that financially harm honest law-abiding citizens and defrauds the U.S. Government.” “This sentencing holds the defendant in this case accountable for seeking to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program, the IRS, and our Nation’s financial institutions,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate financial crimes and bringing to justice those who threaten to undermine the integrity our Nation’s financial system.” “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively pursues those who endeavor to defraud taxpayer-funded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act programs, which were established to provide assistance to American business owners during unprecedented times,” stated Inspector General J. Russell George. “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners in ensuring individuals engaged in criminal activity are held to account.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES”) is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding. Additional funding was authorized by Congress in December 2020. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within eight weeks of receipt and use at least 75 percent of the forgiven amount for payroll. Fernandez operated multiple small businesses in the metro-Atlanta area from at least as early as 2016 through 2020. Fernandez submitted multiple PPP applications on behalf of several companies controlled by him or his associates that contained materially false information about the companies’ total number of employees, corporate expenses, and revenue. As a result of these false applications, he received over $1.6 million in fraudulent PPP funds. He then used these fraudulently obtained funds to make unauthorized expenditures, including purchases of a home, automobiles, and additional personal items. Fernandez, who operated a tax preparation business for several years, also stole thousands of identities of his own clients, and of other individuals from a medical supply company, to file false tax returns claiming over $2 million in fraudulent refunds. The IRS was able to stop the vast majority of these funds from being issued to Fernandez. In addition, Fernandez committed fraud against financial institutions. He obtained fraudulent credit cards in the names of family members and identity theft victims, which he then used to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases. Finally, Fernandez obtained blank check stock that was to be used to print tax refund checks for his tax preparation business clients. He used those checks to attempt to fraudulently write more than $900,000 worth of checks to businesses under his control and to pay personal expenses and debt. Jose Fernandez, 36, of Winter Haven, Florida, has been sentenced to five years and ten months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Fernandez was charged in a five-count criminal information on January 25, 2023, and pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Also, the Gwinnett County Police Department provided substantial assistance in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas J. Krepp and Tracia M. King prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Three Charged with Stealing Firearms from La Crosse County Gun Shop

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Three men are charged with stealing firearms from a business located in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, in an indictment returned on June 28, 2023 by a federal grand jury sitting in Madison, Wisconsin. The indictment is announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. The indictment charges Robert E. Benson, 18, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Mackey K. Drake, 22, also of La Crosse, and Nehemiah J. Sample, 26, Trempealeau, Wisconsin with stealing 41 firearms from a federally licensed firearms business located in the Village of Rockland, Wisconsin. The indictment alleges that the firearms were stolen on April 25, 2023. The indictment also charges Drake with being a felon in possession of firearms. Benson is scheduled to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Madison today. The initial appearances of Drake and Sample have not been scheduled. If convicted, Benson, Drake, and Sample each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on the charge of stealing the firearms. Drake also faces a maximum penalty of 15 years on the felon in possession of firearms charge. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Village (Arkansas) Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the prosecution. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 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: Former chair of Ohio Republican Party sentenced to 5 years in prison for role in racketeering conspiracy

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Former Ohio Republican Party chair Mathew Borges, 51, of Bexley, Ohio, was sentenced in federal court today to 60 months in prison for participating in a racketeering conspiracy. A jury found Borges and former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, 63, of Glenford, Ohio, guilty of violating the racketeering statute. The verdict was announced on March 8 following a six-week trial. The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that Borges conspired with others to violate the racketeering statute in a conspiracy involving nearly $61 million in bribes paid to a 501(c)(4) entity to pass and uphold House Bill 6, a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout. “Borges willingly joined the criminal enterprise knowing its members were involved in a bribery conspiracy. He personally sought out, solicited, and bribed an individual for insider information,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Borges has been involved in politics and worked with public officials for more than 20 years. He knew exactly where the lines were when he decided to cross them and participate in a criminal enterprise. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for that illegal conduct.” Borges’ primary role in the enterprise was to deprive Ohioans of the opportunity to overturn what Borges knew was corrupt legislation. He was budgeted $25,000, which he laundered through his own bank accounts, to bribe a political operative for secret, real-time information. The defendant created a new entity – 17 Consulting Group LLC – and agreed to funnel $1.62 million to 17 Consulting that had already been laundered through Householder’s 501(c)(4), Generation Now. Borges gave the operative a $15,000 check in exchange for information on the number of signatures collected on the anti-House Bill 6 ballot referendum. Borges paid himself $360,000 of the laundered money. Campaign and political strategist, Jeffrey Longstreth, and lobbyist Juan Cespedes, both of Columbus, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. They await sentencing. FirstEnergy Corp. signed a deferred prosecution settlement in July 2021, agreeing to pay a $230 million penalty for conspiring to bribe public officials and others. Householder was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday to 240 months in prison. Both he and Borges have been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer, Megan Gaffney Painter and Timothy S. Mangan represented the United States in this case. # # #


title: Willoughby Hills Couple Indicted for Insurance-Fraud Arson

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

body_text: CLEVELAND – Rebecca C. Lutzko, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland returned a three-count indictment charging a Willoughby Hills couple with conspiring to set fire to rental properties in order to collect insurance money. Lonnie White, 46, and Lisa Ogletree, 46, of Willoughby Hills, Ohio, face one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and one count of conspiracy to use fire in commission of a felony. The indictment charges that from April 2013 through March 2019, White and Ogletree devised a scheme to defraud several insurance companies by setting houses on fire and falsely collecting insurance proceeds. White and Ogletree agreed to purchase ownership rights in houses, recruit additional people to act as nominal owners and renters, and obtain insurance on the houses. White and Ogletree then arranged for the houses to be set on fire while staging the fires to appear accidental. White and Ogletree recruited nominal owners to submit fraudulent loss claims to the house insurers for the fire damage and after payment would distribute the funds to White and Ogletree. White and Ogletree agreed with others to transfer proceeds obtained from the insurance payouts to different accounts. White and Ogletree agreed to use fire to defraud insurance companies. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s 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. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio would like to acknowledge and thank the Cleveland Fire Investigation Unit; the Cuyahoga County Fusion Center; the Ohio State Fire Marshal; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General for their cooperation with this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Adam J. Joines. ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. Anyone having information about an incidence of arson should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283- 8477). Individuals may also email ATFTips@atf.gov , or contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips . Tips may also be submitted to ATF using the ReportIt® app, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com.


title: Six Indicted for Drug Trafficking in San Joaquin County and Elsewhere

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment Thursday against Jorge Omar Arredondo Garcia, 44, of Lodi; Gregorio Ontiveros Verdugo, 39, of Morada; Jose Manuel Ontiveros Verdugo, 37, of Stockton; Alberto Navarro Zapata, 36, of Stockton; and Wilfredo Reyes, 48, of Manteca; charging them with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of heroin, and unlawful use of a telephone, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between July 2019 and December 2019, the defendants conspired with each other and with others to distribute methamphetamine. During the investigation, an undercover source bought a total of 11 pounds of methamphetamine and a half pound of heroin from this drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement interdicted the group’s shipments of 50 pounds of methamphetamine destined for Nebraska, as well as a 21‑pound shipment destined for Pennsylvania. This investigation also resulted in the indictment of Robert Godinez, 50, of Hayward, who was pulled over on a traffic stop after buying methamphetamine from a former member of this conspiracy. A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Godinez today, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and unlawful use of a cellphone. Two pounds of methamphetamine and approximately a half pound of heroin were found in his vehicle. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Customs and Borders Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Joaquin County Probation, the Stockton Police Department, and the Tracy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella is prosecuting the case. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Four Owensboro Residents Sentenced for Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Owensboro, KY – This week, the fourth and final member of an Owensboro federal drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Sheila Lyons of the DEA Chicago Field Division, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement. On June 29, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Owensboro Division, Darrell Murphy , 48, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. On March 29, 2023, Terry Cook , 45, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. On March 16, 2023, William Darmell Murphy , 61, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. On March 16, 2023, Elizabeth Breanne Harris , 41, of Owensboro, was sentenced to 3 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. There is no parole in the federal system. The DEA Evansville Resident Office and Owensboro Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Dahl. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: Two Kern County Defendants Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment Thursday against Bakersfield residents Roy Richard Truitt III, 40, and Amber Louise Lowe, 46, charging them with sexual exploitation of a minor, attempt and conspiracy. Lowe is further charged with distribution of child pornography. Truitt is further charged with receiving and distributing child pornography and committing a felony offense involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Truitt and Lowe conspired to, attempted to, and sexually exploited a minor victim, producing photographs of the sexual exploitation, which Lowe distributed to Truitt, and Truitt distributed to others. Truitt further distributed other images of child pornography to other individuals over the internet. During the relevant time period, Truitt was required to register as a sex offender in California. This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Truitt faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum of 50 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for sexual exploitation of a minor, a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of up to 40 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography. If convicted for committing a felony offense against a minor while being a registered sex offender, Truitt faces a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison. If convicted, Lowe faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of up to 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for sexual exploitation of a minor. If convicted of distribution of child pornography Lowe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of up to 20 years in prison. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Violent Felon with Four Prior Convictions Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Cameron Johnson, 32, of Indianapolis, Indiana has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. According to court documents, on Friday, September 15, 2019, at approximately 2:01 a.m., a uniform Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer was on patrol when she noticed a dark blue Dodge Charger illegally parked on the side of the road near North Ralston Avenue. The officer approached the vehicle and made contact with Cameron Johnson, who was in the driver’s seat. Johnson initially told the officer that he did not have his driver’s license with him and provided a false name of “Christian Turman.” A BMV check of “Turman’s” license returned as a habitual traffic violator, and Johnson was placed under arrest. During his arrest, officers located a driver’s license in Johnson’s pocket with the name of “Cameron Kimbrough” listed. Johnson eventually admitted that he was not “Christian Turman,” and was in fact Cameron Johnson. Johnson told officers that he changed his last name to Kimbrough because of numerous felony arrests under the name Cameron Johnson. Officers also confirmed that Johnson had an outstanding warrant in Hendricks County, Indiana. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9mm handgun on the floorboard of the driver’s seat. The handgun had one live round in the chamber and seventeen rounds in the magazine. Johnson is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his three previous felony convictions for robbery and one felony conviction of dealing in a narcotic drug. “Any time a firearm can be taken out of the hands of someone with a history of violent felonies is a win for our community,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates our office’s commitment to partnering with ATF and IMPD as we seek to reduce gun violence in Indianapolis and all of the communities we serve.” “Repeat felony offenders have no business possessing firearms,” stated Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “Working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that violent repeat offenders don’t have guns is at the core of our mission. We will keep working together to make our communities safer for all of us.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Johnson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey L. Massa, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Staff Sergeant at Fort Leonard Wood Indicted for Killing a Child

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A U.S. Army staff sergeant stationed at the Fort Leonard Wood military base has been indicted by a federal grand jury for killing a two-year-old child. Kevin Long, 40, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Tuesday, June 27. That indictment was unsealed and made public today following Long’s arrest and initial court appearance. Long remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on July 6, 2023. The federal indictment alleges that on Nov. 6, 2019, Long physically assaulted a two-year-old child, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe,” as part of a pattern and practice of assault against a child. Long killed Jane Doe, the indictment says, by blunt force injuries in the perpetration of child abuse. Jane Doe was being cared for by Long and his wife in a day care she operated out of their home on Fort Leonard Wood. Under federal law, murder committed in the perpetration of child abuse is murder in the first degree. Long also is charged with one count of making a false statement. Long allegedly told authorities during the murder investigation that he was unaware of Army regulations that restricted the operation of a daycare at Fort Leonard Wood. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ami Harshad Miller and Shannon T. Kempf. It was investigated by the United States Army – Criminal Investigation Division, the St. Robert, Mo., Police Department, and the Missouri Department of Social Services.


title: Florida Resident Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A Florida resident has been sentenced in federal court to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, plus restitution of $158,250 on his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Adrian Orozco Perez, 26, of Kissimmee, Florida. According to information presented to the court, Orozco Perez was part of a scam that targeted elderly victims in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Georgia. As part of the scam, the elderly victims were falsely informed that their grandchildren were being detained by law enforcement and needed cash in order to pay their bail. Orozco Perez, who functioned as a courier for the scam, picked up cash from the elderly victims at their homes while posing as a bail-bondsman. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Ranjan stated that Orozco Perez’s conduct had been egregious and emphasized the emotional and financial harm done to vulnerable victims. Orozco Perez was taken into the custody of the United States Marshals at the conclusion of the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Orozco Perez.


title: Two Pittsburgh Residents Indicted on Charges of Conspiracy and Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - Two residents of Pittsburgh, PA, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The three-count Indictment named Brian DiPippa, age 36, and his wife, Krystal DiPippa, age 40, as defendants. According to the Indictment, on April 18, 2023, the DiPippas participated in a protest at the O'Hara Student Center on the University of Pittsburgh campus, at which time Brian DiPippa ignited and dropped two homemade smoke bomb containers in and around a line of persons waiting to enter the O’Hara Student Center to attend a scheduled event featuring guest speakers. The Indictment further alleges that, when Pitt Police officers gathered and formed a barrier to prevent the protesters from entering the rear of the building, Brian DiPippa, concealed by his wife, Krystal DiPippa, ignited and threw a large explosive firework into the group of Pitt officers, causing a loud explosion and injuries to several officers. Brian DiPippa was also charged with using an explosive to commit a federal felony. For the charges of conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both. The charge of using an explosive to commit a federal felony has a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment, with a maximum fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force, of which the University of Pittsburgh Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police are all members, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Former Housing Authority Executive Director Sentenced to Federal Prison for Using Funds for Personal Expenses

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A U.S. district judge sentenced the former executive director of the Jefferson County Housing Authority to spend 10 months in federal prison after he converted more than $20,000 in authority funds for personal expenses. In addition to the prison sentence, Thomas J. Upchurch, 53, now of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, was ordered to pay $20,150 in restitution back to the housing authority, and he will serve one year of supervised release. “To promote respect for the law, the defendant’s sentence sends a clear message to deter other organizational leaders from abusing their power and spending authority,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The actions of Thomas Upchurch undermined the ability of the housing authority to provide housing assistance to those who need their services,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Rodriguez. “The FBI is particularly vigilant in instances where individuals take advantage of federal program funds.” According to court documents, Upchurch linked the housing authority’s credit card to his personal Amazon account and made nearly 300 inappropriate charges for personal items. Over a three-year period, the charges totaled more than $20,000. To conceal his fraud, Upchurch blocked the members of JCHA’s Board of Commissioners from reviewing his spending records. The defendant was charged with one count of conversion of federal funds due to the JCHA’s funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The JCHA serves 712 residents over 425 housing units in Mt. Vernon, Dix, Ina, Waltonville and Woodlawn. Members of the Jefferson County Board appoint the JCHA’s Board of Commissioners who then appoint an executive director to oversee its operations. The FBI Springfield Field Office conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft prosecuted the case.


title: Member of Violent Bridgeport Gang Pleads Guilty

body_text: JAUWAN EDWARDS, also known as “Yaya,” 25, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a racketeering offense stemming from his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang. Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder and other acts of violence. Edwards was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities. Analysis of numerous social media posts and text messages revealed that Edwards possessed firearms, and that he sold a variety of drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack, Percocet pills, and marijuana. Edwards also participated with other O.N.E. members in the theft and possession of stolen vehicles, including a Lexus Rx350 that was stolen from Rye, New York. In early December 2019, O.N.E. members were involved in multiple shots-fired incidents in Bridgeport. In one incident, the mother of two East End gang members was shot outside of her Bridgeport home. In another incident, on December 8, 2019, O.N.E. members used the stolen Lexus in a shooting incident at the P.T. Barnum Housing Complex, and then drove it to Newfield Avenue in Bridgeport, considered the turf of the East End/East Side gang, where they shot and killed Ty’Quess Moore, also known as “Breezo,” 18. Edwards has been detained since his arrest on July 27, 2021. Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for September 27. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory and the Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Five Milwaukee Men Federally Indicted for Involvement in Armed Robberies of U.S. Postal Carriers

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 27, 2023, five Milwaukee men were indicted for their involvement in several armed robberies of U.S. postal carriers that occurred between October 2022 and March 2023. Huria H. Abu, age 20, was charged with four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of conspiracy. Jessie L. Cook, age 19, was charged with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy. Hussein A. Haji, age 21, was charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Darrion M. Allison, age 22, was charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, one count of theft of mail, and one count of conspiracy. Abdi A. Abdi, age 22, was charged with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of crime of violence, one count of theft of mail, and one count of conspiracy. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants robbed the U.S. postal carriers of arrow keys. They then used the arrow keys to steal U.S. mail from mail receptacles. If convicted, each individual faces up to 20 years in prison on each robbery count and a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years and up to life in prison on each charge of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, which must run consecutive to any other sentence. If convicted of conspiracy, each individual faces up to five years in prison and if convicted of theft of mail, each individual faces up to five years in prison. This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force and the Milwaukee Police Department, in collaboration with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick. The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely a charge, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Michael Raymond Holst, age 48, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Receipt of Child Pornography, Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children, and Possession of Child Pornography following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on June 29, 2023. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to lifetime of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. Holst was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. Evidence at trial established that law enforcement was alerted after Holst downloaded an image of child pornography off the internet that was later uploaded to his Synchronoss account. The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce identified Holst as the owner of the account and executed a search warrant on his home where they seized multiple devices. A forensic examination of those devices found hundreds of images of child pornography and thousands of images of computer-generated child pornography. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Anna Lindrooth tried the case. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on June 26, 2023. Kyle J. Kirchhoff, 28, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a $5,000 special assessment to the Victims of Trafficking Fund. Kirchhoff will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Kirchhoff was indicted for Production of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2023. The conviction stems from Kirchhoff possessing child pornography that he self-produced between January of 2019 and February of 2022. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. Kirchhoff was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that Edgar Correa, aka “Joker,” 35, of Springfield, Massachusetts was sentenced today to serve 24 months of imprisonment after his conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Correa pleaded guilty to the drug trafficking crime on March 17, 2023. Correa’s co-defendant, Jose Luis Maldonado, Jr., aka “Peeto,” remains pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. According to court records, on October 12, 2022, law enforcement was monitoring electronic video surveillance of a house on Robbins Street in Rutland, Vermont where drug trafficking activity was suspected. On the video, officers noted a man, later identified as Maldonado, carrying a black shotgun with a pistol grip and walking with another man, later identified as Correa, toward a white Honda Civic. The two put bags in the trunk and left the premises. Rutland Police officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Four firearms were in the vehicle, including the shotgun in the trunk, a .380 caliber pistol beneath Correa’s seat, a .38 Special revolver between Correa’s seat and the center console, and a .22 caliber pistol between Maldonado’s seat and the center console. A search of the vehicle revealed two bags, found to contain approximately 24 grams of cocaine base, approximately 7 grams of cocaine, and over 550 bags of fentanyl. When Correa was searched incident to arrest, he was found in possession of a firearm magazine loaded with .380 caliber ammunition and a digital scale commonly used to weigh drugs for the purposes of selling a particular quantity. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the coordinated investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police’s Drug Task Force, the Rutland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Correa was represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels, Esq. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Deputy U.S. Marshal Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Cell Phone Location Information Unlawfully

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A deputy U.S. Marshal pleaded guilty today to misusing a law enforcement service to obtain cell phone location information for personal use. According to court documents, Adrian Pena, 49, of Del Rio, Texas, used a law enforcement service to locate individuals with whom Pena had personal relationships and their spouses. Pena obtained the cell phone data by uploading blank and random documents to a system operated by Securus Technologies exclusively for authorized law enforcement purposes. Pena falsely certified that those documents were official and that they granted Pena permission to obtain the individuals’ data. “Adrian Pena abused his position as a deputy U.S. Marshal when he used a law enforcement service to locate the cell phones of personal associates and their spouses, and then lied to cover up his illegal actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this prosecution demonstrates, the Justice Department and our partners are committed to holding accountable any official who violates the public’s trust and misuses sensitive law enforcement capabilities for personal ends.” Pena also lied to law enforcement during the investigation. When Pena was asked, “Other than yourself, have you ever pinged anybody using the system? You know, family members, friends, ex-girlfriend?,” Pena falsely responded, “No.” After the interview, Pena attempted to cover up his illegal actions by asking one of the individuals for a notarized letter. Pena then drafted a statement in the individual’s name and caused the individual to sign it. The statement falsely stated that the individual granted Pena unlimited access to the individual’s social media and cell phone data, including call history, text messages, and cell phone location data. “We trust law enforcement officers to act with integrity. Instead, Pena abused his access to sensitive information for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Cloey C. Pierce of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Dallas Field Office. “The DOJ-OIG is committed to rooting out those who abuse their power and bringing them to justice.” Pena pleaded guilty to unlawfully obtaining confidential phone records. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DOJ-OIG is investigating the case. Deputy Chief Robert Heberle and Trial Attorney Nicole Lockhart of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from PIN Trial Attorney Alexander Gottfried.


title: Newburgh Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Phillip Abell, 46, of Newburgh, Indiana, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, on January 23, 2020, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Abell’s home in Newburgh, Indiana. Law enforcement officers located and seized data storage discs and a custom-built desktop computer. Abell admitted that he had used a file sharing program for the last three years to search for child sexual abuse material. Abell stated he did not always look at child sexual abuse material but would sometimes get a “hankering” for it and needed to satisfy that desire. Abell also admitted to first viewing child sexual abuse material while in college. Abell stated he used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to search for the types of files he was interested in. Abell engaged in a pattern of intentionally finding, downloading, viewing, and then deleting child sexual abuse material. The materials Abell downloaded included visual depictions of the sexual abuse of prepubescent children under twelve years old. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, and Billy Bolin, Chief of Evansville Police Department made the announcement. “Over the course of many years, the defendant trawled through the darkest corners of the internet to find images of the sexual abuse of young children,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Trafficking in these images furthers the trauma inflicted on innocent children and fuels the desires of criminals with sexual interests in children. The federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that our office is committed to working with the FBI and Evansville Police to protect our children from those who desire to do them harm.” The FBI and Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Abell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years following his release from federal prison. Abell must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, and goes to school. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lauren M. Wheatley, who prosecuted this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on June 29 was: Joshua James Groh, 41, of Billings, and Gary Michael Byrd, 52, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Groh and Byrd face a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Groh and Byrd were detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-74. Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on June 29 was: Matthew Cory Glen Robocker, 27, of Shelby, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Robocker faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Robocker was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Toole County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-48. Heath Lynn Schmoeckel, 42, of Missoula, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Schmoeckel faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Schmoeckel was detained pending further proceedings. The Montana Highway Patrol, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Missoula Police Department and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-22. Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on June 27 was: James Cleveland Manywhitehorses, 42, of Browning, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Manywhitehorses faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Manywhitehorses was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference.23-55. Bradley Bear Standing Rock, 26, of Havre, on charges of sexual assault, a misdemeanor. If convicted of the most serious crime, Standing Rock faces a maximum of six months imprisonment and a $500 fine. Standing Rock was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-59. Jacqueline Rose Hydock, 33, of Great Falls, on charges of possession of stolen mail and wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hydock faces maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Hydock was released pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Service, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-54. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Houma Drug Dealer Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On Wednesday, June 28, 2023, LARANZA THOMAS, a/k/a “Dude,” age 28, a resident of Houma, Louisiana, was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison, five years of supervised release upon release from prison, as well as payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. This prosecution was a part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans Levee District Police Department, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections – Division of Probation and Parole. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Cartel-Linked Meth Trafficker Sentenced to Life in Prison Following Threats to Inmates, Agent

body_text: A major Dallas drug trafficker was sentenced yesterday to life in prison for trafficking methamphetamine out of his car dealership, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. In December 2021, after four days of trial, a federal jury convicted Marco Antonio Gonzalez, 45, of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr. According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Gonzalez, an associate of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) who called himself “Speedy,” dealt methamphetamine out of Hampton Motors, a car dealership he owned. He and several coconspirators stored large quantities of narcotics at the dealership and used proceeds of drug sales to purchase vehicles in order to disguise the source of the funds. The defendants used homes in Dallas and DeSoto to serve as laboratories for the recrystallization of methamphetamine, and often carried firearms on those premises. Agents testified at trial that members of the cartel trafficked thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine this way. During trial, prosecutors discovered that Mr. Gonzalez threatened to kill one of his co-conspirators, who was slated to testify against him. The threatened man went on to testify anyway, saying that Mr. Gonzalez used his dealership as a front for large-scale drug deals. In another instance, Mr. Gonzalez attacked another inmate who Mr. Gonzales believed would be testifying during his trial. And during trial, Mr. Gonzalez passed a note to federal agents that was believed to represent a threat against the agents. During sentencing, these facts were discussed at length and Judge Starr stated that the life sentence for Gonzales was based, in part, on these egregious acts. Ten of his co-conspirators entered guilty pleas prior to trial. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Garland Police Department and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P.J. Meitl and John Kull prosecuted the case.


title: Denton County Sex Offender Sentenced for Child Exploitation Violations

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Denton man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Michael Ray Guillory, 67, pleaded guilty to child exploitation violations and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant. According to information presented in court, Guillory came to the attention of law enforcement when it was discovered that he was chatting with a 13-year-old child on an online social media platform. The messages from Guillory were sexually charged and included descriptions of the sex acts Guillory wanted to perform on the child when they met in person. In support of his interest, Guillory sent the child a number of pornographic images and videos, depicting the sex acts he described. Through investigation, law enforcement determined that Guillory had been engaging in similar chats with other suspected minors. Officers also discovered that Guillory is a registered sex offender in Denton County due to prior convictions for solicitation of a minor to commit sexual assault and possession of child pornography. Guillory pleaded guilty to two counts of transferring obscene material to minors and was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. “Through social media platforms, predators like this defendant have access to our children’s bedrooms from anywhere in the country,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “Repeat offenders like Mr. Guillory demonstrate an unwillingness or inability to stop committing these crimes, further contributing to the trauma already inflicted on child victims. Today’s sentence demonstrates the commitment of both state and federal law enforcement to make our children safer by ensuring that dangerous repeat offenders like Mr. Guillory are in prison where they belong.” “This defendant preyed on innocent children without regard for the long-lasting harm his actions would cause,” said Lester R. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “HSI will never relent in our commitment to identifying and prosecuting those who exploit and victimize children.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Denton Police Department, and West Jordan, Utah Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa J. Miller. ###


title: Arkansas Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charge of Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Activity

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on June 30, 2023, Nicholas Shelton, 24, of Hope, Arkansas, pleaded not guilty to a single-count indictment that charges him with using a facility of interstate and foreign commerce to entice, persuade, and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity for which a person could be held criminally liable. United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle had previously ordered that Shelton remain in custody until trial, which has not been scheduled. According to court records and proceedings, in approximately March 2023, Shelton began communicating with a 15-year old minor female victim from Essex, Vermont, using various social media platforms, telephone conversations, and text messaging. The communications between Shelton and the minor victim included sexually explicit content. Shelton traveled to Vermont in early April and met with the minor victim, who hid him in the garage of her family’s home. After her parents discovered Shelton, they instructed him to leave and to leave their daughter alone. Instead, Shelton and the minor victim left together, which triggered the filing by the parents of a missing persons report with the Essex Police Department. Three days later, Shelton and the minor victim were discovered camping in a wooded area near Sand Hill Park in Essex, Vermont. Shelton was taken into custody. Shelton gave consent for law enforcement to search his cell phone, which is where his communications with the minor victim were discovered. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Essex Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson is handling the prosecution of Shelton. Shelton is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L. Barth. 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 Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, Criminal Division (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Louisville Man Charged with Online Enticement of 15-Year-Old Girl

body_text: Louisville, KY –A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued earlier this week charging a local man with online enticement. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Colonel Greg Smith, Chief of the Oldham County Police Department, made the announcement. According to court records, in January and February of 2023, Richard Pelphrey, 33, met a minor female victim on a social networking application. The two subsequently met in person, and the victim told Pelphrey she was 15 years old. On more than one occasion, Pelphrey drove the victim to his home in Louisville, Kentucky, where they engaged in sexual activities. Pelphrey made his initial appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Pelphrey remains in federal custody and is scheduled for a detention hearing on July 5, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. If convicted, Pelphrey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and maximum potential penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The FBI and the Oldham County Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jo E. Lawless is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Metairie Man Charged with Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JASON CAREY , age 42, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was charged today in a twenty-count indictment for bank fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, beginning on or about November 4, 2020 and continuing until on or about November 20, 2020, CAREY allegedly executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $20,000 from Hancock Whitney Bank by depositing altered United States Postal Money Orders into his minor daughter’s bank account at Hancock Whitney Bank. CAREY then withdrew these funds from Hancock Whitney Bank before the fund transfers cleared. If convicted, CAREY faces up to thirty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans emphasized that an indictment is merely an allegation, and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. U.S. Attorney Evans also praised the work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U. S. Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Violent Carjacking Conspiracy Targeting Uber and Lyft Drivers

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to his role in a violent carjacking ring that targeted Uber and Lyft drivers, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, between September and October 2021, Shevirio Kavirion Childs-Young, 20, along with others, engaged in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies, targeting Uber and Lyft drivers. As part of the scheme, members of the conspiracy lured victim-drivers to particular locations under the guise of picking up or dropping off passengers. When the victim-drivers arrived, members of the conspiracy brandished firearms and demanded the cell phones and wallets of the victim-drivers. Members of the conspiracy forced the victim-drivers at gunpoint to unlock their cell phones and provide passcodes. The conspiracy members then transferred money, via Cash App or other applications, from the accounts of the victim-drivers to the accounts of members of the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy then carjacked the victim-drivers at gunpoint. To intimidate and force compliance, members of the conspiracy struck, pistol whipped, and threatened to kill the victim-drivers. Childs-Young pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez to one count of conspiracy to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence. On June 15, 2023, co-defendant Javeyon Demario Tate, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence. On October 21, 2022, co-defendant William Charles Saffold, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence and one count of assault on a federal officer. Sentencing dates will be scheduled at a later time. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez are prosecuting the case.


title: Louisville Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced this week to 15 years and 8 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to court records, On June 28, 2023, Brandon Hillard, 23, was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for possessing with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of a fentanyl mixture. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Filed Office and the Louisville Metro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Bonar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz prosecuted the case. ###


title: Former Deputy U.S. Marshal Sentenced for Cyberstalking, Perjury, and Obstruction

body_text: A former deputy U.S. Marshal was sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison for conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking, perjury, and obstruction of justice. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ian R. Diaz, 45, of Glendora, California, and his then-wife, an unindicted co-conspirator (CC-1), posed as a person with whom Diaz was formerly in a relationship (Jane Doe). In that guise, they sent themselves harassing and threatening electronic communications that contained apparent threats to harm CC-1; solicited and lured men found through Craigslist “personal” advertisements to engage in so-called “rape fantasies” in an attempt to stage a purported sexual assault on CC-1 orchestrated by Jane Doe; and staged one or more hoax sexual assaults and attempted sexual assaults on CC-1. Diaz and CC-1 then reported this conduct to local law enforcement, falsely claiming that Jane Doe posed a genuine and serious threat to Diaz and CC-1. Their actions caused local law enforcement to arrest, charge, and detain Jane Doe in jail for nearly three months for conduct for which Diaz and CC-1 framed her. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Harry A. Lidsky of the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) Cyber Investigations Office, and Special Agent in Charge Zachary Shroyer of the DOJ-OIG Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement. DOJ-OIG investigated the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Marco A. Palmieri of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and Senior Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case. Former PIN Trial Attorney Rebecca G. Ross provided significant assistance.


title: Slidell Man Indicted for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that CHRISTOPHER YARBROUGH (“YARBROUGH”) , age 42, of Slidell, Louisiana, was indicted for receipt of child pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1). If convicted, YARBROUGH faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person of the offense under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. In addition, YARBROUGH faces a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life after his release from prison as well as payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents , the case against YARBROUGH stemmed from an online Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”) investigation by the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was referred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”). On June 26, 2023, HSI special agents, along with members of the Slidell Police Department and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, executed a federal search warrant at YARBROUGH’s Slidell home. HSI agents arrested YARBROUGH during the search and charged him with receipt of CSAM. HSI’s investigation revealed YARBROUGH received images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office; the Slidell Police Department; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Iowa Air National Guardsman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Kevin Swanson, 35, from Sioux City, Iowa, entered a guilty plea in federal court on May 4, 2023, to possession of child pornography. In a plea agreement, Swanson admitted that between August 2020, and August 2021, he used an Internet-based, peer-to-peer (P2P) network to knowingly receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including depictions involving prepubescent minors who had not reached the age of 12. Swanson had over 1,168 images and 4 video files of child exploitation materials. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set for a later date after a presentence report is prepared. Swanson was taken into custody by the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Swanson faces a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of not more than $250,000, a mandatory special assessment of $100 and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years to life. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Sioux City Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-4080. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Louisville Men for Possession of Firearms as Convicted Felons

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned a two-count indictment on May 2, 2023, charging two local men with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, John Lindsay, 35, and Rayshawn Lee, 35, both of Louisville, are each charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the indictment, on January 22, 2023, Lindsay possessed a Taurus, Model G3C, 9-millimeter pistol. Lindsay was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 4, 2016, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of burglary in the third degree. On November 28, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of promoting contraband and tampering with physical evidence. On July 21, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lindsay was convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2 counts), trafficking in a controlled substance I schedule II cocaine less than four grams, wanton endangerment I (2 counts), illegal possession of a controlled substance schedule I marijuana while in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of drug paraphernalia while in possession of a firearm, intimidating a participant in the legal process, strangulation II, assault IV third or subsequent offense, and criminal mischief I. Also, according to the indictment, on January 22, 2023, Lee possessed a Kel-Tec, Model PF-9, 9-millimeter pistol. Lee was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On September 10, 2008, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lee was convicted of assault second degree. On August 14, 2017, Lee was convicted of wanton endangerment in the second degree. The defendants made their initial court appearance on June 28, 2023, before a U S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Both defendants remain in federal custody. If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by ATF and LMPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Waterloo Man Convicted of Multiple Methamphetamine Crimes

body_text: A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine was convicted by a jury on June 28, 2023, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Jeffery Turner, age 48, from Waterloo, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. The verdict was returned following about an hour and a half of jury deliberations. The evidence at trial showed that Turner distributed methamphetamine out of his home in Waterloo. Turner worked with various other people who helped him get ice methamphetamine from various sources of supply in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and California. Law enforcement eventually purchased methamphetamine from Turner in two controlled buys. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Turner remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Turner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Dillan Edwards and was investigated by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-02059-CJW. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: New Haven Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASHON SPEARMAN, also known as “J ” and “Deuce,” 35, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to a narcotics conspiracy offense stemming from his leadership of a New Haven area drug trafficking ring. According to court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2021, the New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and New Haven Police Department began investigating Spearman and others for the distribution of fentanyl, heroin crack and cocaine in and around the West Hills neighborhood, including the McConaughy Terrace housing complex located on South Genesee Street in New Haven. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, fixed video surveillance and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Spearman was receiving fentanyl and heroin from James Hillard, of New York, and shipments of kilogram quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico, which were arranged by Jean Mangual-Castro, also known as “Mangui,” of West Haven. Spearman then distributed the drugs to others, several of whom processed, packaged, and sold fentanyl and crack at the McConaughy Terrace housing complex. On February 4, 2022, investigators arrested Spearman and Hillard after they met in the Bronx and a search of Hillard’s car revealed more than 7,000 folds of heroin/fentanyl and approximately $30,000 in cash. On February 8, investigators executed court-authorized search warrants at several locations, including a residence on Ward Street in New Haven where Spearman distributed narcotics, and vehicles in which Spearman was suspected of storing narcotics. A search of a minivan revealed approximately 19 kilograms of cocaine; a search of a vehicle registered to Spearman revealed $750,400 in cash, assorted jewelry and a quantity of fentanyl; and a search of the Ward Street residence revealed additional cash, several money counters, and numerous cellphones. The search also found and seized five firearms. On February 15, 2022, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Spearman, Hilliard and six co-defendants with narcotics trafficking offenses. On April 19, 2022, Spearman, Mangual-Castro, and two others were charged in a separate indictment with offenses related to the trafficking of cocaine through the mail from Puerto Rico. Spearman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine base (“crack”) and heroin. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for October 16, at which time Spearman faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. He has been detained since his arrest. Spearman has agreed to forfeiture of the seized cash, firearms, and three vehicles. All 11 defendants charged during this investigation have now pleaded guilty. On May 11, 2023, Mangual-Castro was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Hilliard and several other defendants await sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, and the New Haven Police Department. The FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force includes participants from the New Haven Police Department, Milford Police Department, East Haven Police Department, West Haven Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Kenneth L. Gresham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Kidnapping and Murder Charges

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANDON BATISTE, also known as “B,” 35, of Springfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses stemming from his role in the kidnapping and murder of a Massachusetts man in 2020. According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 24, 2020, Batiste and Calvin Roberson, also known as “Cutty,” kidnapped Francisco Roman, Jr., 28, at gunpoint from his residence in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Batiste and Roberson threatened to harm Roman if he did not comply with their orders, handcuffed him, and stole cash, marijuana, and other items from Roman. Batiste and Roberson forced Roman into the rear of Roman’s 2010 Acura ZDX, and transported Roman and the other stolen property to Connecticut. Batiste shot and killed Roman while the car was en route to Hartford. They then drove to the car Shultas Place in Hartford and left it parked on the street. Shortly before 9 p.m. on December 26, 2020, Hartford police and fire personnel responded to Shultas Place and found the car engulfed in flames. After the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered Roman’s body with multiple gunshot wounds in the rear of the vehicle. Batiste pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnaping, and one count of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm. Under the terms of a binding plea agreement, if accepted by the court, Batiste will be sentenced to between 30 and 45 years of imprisonment. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford on September 22. Batiste has been detained since his arrest on February 11, 2021. Roberson pleaded guilty to the same charges on April 27, 2023, and is detained while awaiting sentencing. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, FBI’s Springfield Gang Task Force, Massachusetts State Police, Hampden County (Mass.) District Attorney’s Office, Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, Chicopee Police Department and Springfield Police Department, with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department and the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Angel M. Krull. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts for their assistance in this matter.