title: Southwest Virginia Drug Ring Arrested for Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – Ten individuals who conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Southwest Virginia were arrested last week on federal charges. Arrested last week are: Matthew Ryan “Red” Addington, of Pound, Va. Ashley Linden Beverly Jr., of Pound, Va. Brandon Gene Boggs, of Pound, Va. Eric Lee Coffey, of Norton, Va. James Eugene Gamble, of Wise, Va. Thomas Ray Houston Jr., of Blountville, Tenn. Keith Edward Payne Jr., of Wise, Va. Brittany Chantae Rose, of Pound, Va. Cody Allan Rose, of Pound, Va. Andora Lee Smith, of Pound, Va. and Mayking, Kentucky According to court documents, between 2021 and 2024, law enforcement in Wise County, Virginia investigated the widespread distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl by the ten defendants and subsequently made various arrests after conducting interviews and executing controlled drug buys from multiple members of the conspiracy. The investigation revealed that members of the drug ring traveled to drug supply sources in both North Carolina and Kentucky to obtain multiple pounds of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and methamphetamine and then brought the drugs back to southwest Virginia for further distribution. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Drug Task Force (consisting of the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Police Department, Big Stone Gap Police Department, and Virginia State Police), the Clintwood Police Department, the Pennington Gap Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Kentucky State Police, the Winchester (KY) Police Department, the Fleming-Neon (KY) Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: United States Attorney Ritz Announces Ten Federal Indictments for Firearm and Violent Crimes

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced today the indictments of ten individuals who were charged with federal gun and violent crime offenses in West Tennessee. United States Attorney Ritz also reinforced his office’s commitment to federal prosecution of individuals who commit violent crimes, illegally possess machine-gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), or commit other federal firearm offenses. “As alleged, these individuals have committed serious federal crimes involving firearms or violent activity,” said United States Attorney Ritz. “Our office will continue to work with the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force and other law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime in our community. The citizens of Memphis and Shelby County deserve to feel safe.” The following defendants were charged with federal crimes involving switches: Wayne Sanders, 31 . Sanders was charged in June 2024 with being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing a machine gun on February 24, 2024. A superseding indictment returned on August 29, 2024, charged Sanders with four additional counts related to his arrest by officers in April 2024: Possession of a machine gun; Being a felon in possession of a firearm; Assault of a Task Force Officer with the U.S. Marshals Service; and Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the assault on a federal officer. Myles Bowens , 22 . Bowens was indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device. Taveon Earnest , 20 . Earnest was indicted on August 29, 2024, for possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device. Actavious Ellis , 30 . Ellis was indicted on August 29, 2024, for possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device. The following defendants were charged with other firearm or violent crime offenses: Nathenael Tekle, 23 . Tekle was indicted on August 29, 2024, for four separate armed business robberies in Memphis, committed over a 10-day span in October and November 2023. He is charged with four counts of robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce and four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robberies. Caran Stokes , 26 . Stokes was indicted on August 29, 2024, on one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking. Tony Thomas , 27 . Thomas was indicted on August 29, 2024, on one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking. Pierre Jones , 34 . Jones was indicted on August 29, 2024, for possession of a firearm after having at least three prior convictions for serious drug offenses or violent felonies. Marcus Oher , 26 . Oher was indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm on two different occasions. Jermaine Cooper , 35 . Cooper was indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force; the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force; the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. These indictments are 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, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked the Assistant United States Attorneys prosecuting these cases, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the cases. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Justice Department Secures Language Access Agreement with Dane County, Wisconsin, Sheriff’s Office

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Dane County, Wisconsin, Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) as part of its Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative . The MOU resolves an inquiry into whether DCSO complied with its nondiscrimination obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). Under the MOU, DCSO has agreed to take new action to improve language access for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) in Dane County. Title VI prohibits entities that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of race, color and national origin. Denial of appropriate language services can be national origin discrimination prohibited by Title VI. “To serve and protect all communities in the United States, our state and local law enforcement agencies must be able to communicate effectively with crime victims, witnesses, and other members of the public who do not speak fluent English,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Under this agreement, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office is implementing important reforms that will help ensure their services are accessible to all residents, regardless of the language they speak.” The inquiry into DCSO began after the department received information raising concerns that an individual with LEP had not received adequate language services during the investigation of a child’s accidental death, leading to a misunderstanding about the identities of those involved in the accident. The department has offered technical assistance to DCSO, which agreed to work cooperatively with the department toward a resolution. Under the memorandum of understanding, DCSO will establish a formal language access policy that includes staff trainings, quality controls and outreach initiatives, and will undergo a period of departmental monitoring. This agreement is part of the department’s Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative , a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies in overcoming language barriers to better serve and protect communities and keep officers safe. The initiative, which is led by the Civil Rights Division, provides technical assistance resources and tools that can help state and local law enforcement provide meaningful language access to individuals with LEP, affirmatively engages law enforcement agencies that want to review, update and/or strengthen their language access polices, plans and training and strengthens the connection between law enforcement agencies, community stakeholders and populations with LEP. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt and information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at www.lep.gov . More information on LELAI is available at www.lep.gov/law-enforcement . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/ .


title: El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Dane, Wisconsin sobre el acceso lingüístico

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha conseguido un memorando de entendimiento con la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Dane, Wisconsin, (DCSO, por sus siglas en inglés) como parte de su Iniciativa de Agencias del Orden Público para el Acceso Lingüístico . El memorando de entendimiento resuelve una indagación sobre si la DCSO cumplió con sus obligaciones antidiscriminatorias en virtud del Título VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 (Título VI). En virtud del memorando de entendimiento, la DCSO ha acordado tomar nuevas medidas para mejorar el acceso lingüístico para las personas con un dominio limitado del inglés (LEP, por sus siglas en inglés) en el Condado de Dane. El Título VI prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de raza, color de piel y origen nacional por parte de entidades que reciben apoyo financiero federal. La denegación de servicios lingüísticos adecuados puede considerarse como discriminación por motivos de origen nacional, la cual está prohibida por el Título VI. «Para servir y proteger a todas las comunidades de los Estados Unidos, nuestras agencias estatales y locales del orden público deben ser capaces de comunicarse de manera eficaz con víctimas de delitos, testigos y otros miembros del público que no dominan el inglés», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «En virtud de este acuerdo, la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Dane está implementando reformas importantes que ayudarán a garantizar que sus servicios sean accesibles para todos los residentes, independientemente del idioma que hablen». La indagación sobre la DCSO comenzó después de que el Departamento recibiera información que planteaba inquietudes de que una persona LEP no había recibido servicios lingüísticos adecuados durante la investigación de la muerte accidental de un niño, lo que provocó un malentendido sobre las identidades de las personas involucradas en el accidente. El departamento ha ofrecido asistencia técnica a la DCSO, que acordó trabajar en colaboración con el Departamento para lograr una resolución. En virtud del memorando de entendimiento, la DCSO establecerá una política formal de acceso lingüístico que incluya capacitaciones del personal, controles de calidad e iniciativas de proyección comunitaria. Por otra parte, se someterá a un período de supervisión departamental. Este acuerdo forma parte de la Iniciativa de Agencias del Orden Público para el Acceso Lingüístico , un esfuerzo nacional para ayudar a las agencias del orden público a superar las barreras lingüísticas para servir y proteger mejor a las comunidades y mantener a los oficiales seguros. La iniciativa, dirigida por la División de Derechos Civiles en asociación con las Fiscalías Federales, proporciona herramientas y recursos de asistencia técnica que pueden ayudar a las fuerzas del orden público estatales y locales a proporcionar un acceso lingüístico significativo a las personas LEP, trabaja afirmativamente con las agencias del orden público que desean revisar, actualizar o fortalecer sus políticas, planes y capacitación de acceso lingüístico y fortalece la conexión entre las agencias del orden público y las partes interesadas de la comunidad LEP y las poblaciones LEP. Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt e información sobre el dominio limitado del inglés y el Título VI está disponible en www.lep.gov . Encontrará más información sobre LELAI en www.lep.gov/law-enforcement . Los miembros del público pueden denunciar posibles infracciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/ .


title: Kissimmee Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Giovanny Rivera-Sanchez (38, Kissimmee) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Rivera-Sanchez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 17, 2024. According to court records, Rivera-Sanchez was convicted of felony offenses in 2004 and 2008. He began serving a term of federal supervised release on September 16, 2021, after being released from prison. On March 25, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rivera-Sanchez’s residence and located a Glock pistol and ammunition in the closet of the master bedroom. Near the firearm was paperwork related to Rivera-Sanchez’s federal supervision and a copy of his judgement and sentence for a prior conviction for drug trafficking. As a previously convicted felon, Rivera-Sanchez is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Officers interviewed Rivera-Sanchez, who stated he knew the firearm was inside his residence. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate. 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 High-Ranking New York State Government Employee Charged with Acting as an Undisclosed Agent of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Linda Sun with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy. Sun is alleged to have acted on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) and the Chinese Communist Party (the “CCP”). Sun’s husband and co-defendant Chris Hu was also charged with money laundering conspiracy, as well as conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of means of identification. Sun and Hu were arrested this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned later today before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced the prosecution. “As alleged, while appearing to serve the people of New York as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive Chamber, the defendant and her husband actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the CCP,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “The illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s family to the tune of millions of dollars. Our Office will act decisively to prosecute those who serve as undisclosed agents of a foreign government.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the New York State Office of the Inspector General, the New York State Police and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) for their work on the case. He also thanked the New York State Executive Chamber for its cooperation with the investigation. “As alleged in the indictment, Linda Sun, a former New York State government employee, acted as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government while her husband, Christopher Hu, facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars in kickbacks for personal gain. Sun wielded her position of influence among executives to covertly promote PRC and CCP agendas, directly threatening our country’s national security. The FBI is committed to protect the American people from any threat actors who seek to influence officials at the direction of foreign entities,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director Curtis. “Sun is alleged to be an undisclosed agent of the PRC and CCP, using Chinese money and her influence within the state of New York to benefit the Chinese government. Sun and her husband then laundered millions of dollars for the foreign country and used the monetary benefits of this scheme to buy luxury vehicles and million dollars properties here in New York,” Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of IRS CI New York. “It is with the unwavering determination of federal law enforcement to root-out foreign agents and their schemes that Sun and Hu will now face justice for their criminal acts.” As alleged in the indictment, while working for the New York State government – including in high-ranking posts in the Executive Chamber of the New York State government and in multiple state agencies – Sun also acted as an undisclosed agent of the PRC and the CCP. Acting at the request of PRC government officials and the CCP representatives, Sun engaged in numerous political activities in the interests of the PRC and the CCP, including blocking representatives of the Taiwanese government from having access to high-level New York State officers; changing high-level New York State officers’ messaging regarding issues of importance to the PRC and the CCP; obtaining official New York State proclamations for PRC government representatives without proper authorization; attempting to facilitate a trip to the PRC by a high-level New York State politician; and arranging meetings for visiting delegations from the PRC government with New York State government officials. Sun also repeatedly violated internal rules and protocols within the New York State government to provide improper benefits to PRC and the CCP representatives, including by providing unauthorized invitation letters from the office of high-level New York State officers that were used to facilitate travel by PRC government officials into the United States for meetings with New York State government officials. Sun’s unauthorized invitation letters for the PRC government delegation constituted false statements made in connection with immigration documents and induced the foreign citizens into unlawfully entering the United States. Sun never registered as a foreign agent with the Attorney General, and in fact actively concealed that she took actions at the order, request, or direction of PRC government and the CCP representatives. In return for these and other actions, Sun received substantial economic and other benefits from representatives of the PRC government and the CCP, including the facilitation of millions of dollars in transactions for the PRC-based business activities of Hu; travel benefits; tickets to events; promotion of a close family friend’s business; employment for Sun’s cousin in the PRC; and Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a PRC government official’s personal chef that were delivered to the residence of Sun’s parents. Sun and Hu laundered the monetary proceeds of this scheme to purchase, among other items, real estate property in Manhasset, New York currently valued at $4.1 million, a condominium in Honolulu, Hawaii currently valued at $2.1 million, and various luxury automobiles, including a 2024 Ferrari. Sun never disclosed any benefits she received from representatives of the PRC government and the CCP to the New York State government, as she was required to do as a New York State government employee. Hu also laundered unlawful proceeds through bank accounts opened in the name of a close relative but that were actually for Hu’s exclusive use. To open these accounts, Hu unlawfully used an image of the relative’s driver’s license. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon and Robert Pollack are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Trial Attorney Scott Claffee from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Litigation Analyst Mary Clare McMahon. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Mantell of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Defendants : LINDA SUN Age: 41 Manhasset, New York CHRIS HU Age: 40 Manhasset, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-346 (BMC)


title: Two South Dakota Men Indicted for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, and authorities in Clay and Yankton Counties announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man and a Yankton, South Dakota, man for Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. Evan Wylde Nelson, age 18, and Udda Ambi Kobaba, age 19, were indicted in August of 2024. Nelson appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 29, 2024, and Kobaba appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 30, 2024. Nelson and Kobaba pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 20 years in custody, up to life and/or a $1,000,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. On or about between December 20, 2023, and December 22, 2023, in the District of South Dakota, the defendants, Evan Wylde Nelson and Udda Ambi Kobaba, a/k/a “Tayski,” intentionally distributed fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, and the distribution of said fentanyl resulted in the death of a victim. In May of 2024, Nelson was indicted by a Yankton County Grand Jury on three felony counts: one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance to a Minor Resulting in Death; one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance to a Minor; and one count of Unauthorized Possession of a Controlled Substance, which is a Class 5 Felony. The state charges will now be dismissed due to the federal indictment. “We appreciate the working relationship with all of the agencies involved,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Fentanyl cases, especially ones leading to death, need to be strongly prosecuted by all law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.” U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell agreed, “We are fortunate to have good working relationships with our state counterparts, which allows law enforcement agencies to seek federal prosecution when appropriate. Here, where it is alleged that the distribution of fentanyl resulted in the death of a minor victim, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively pursue a just result in federal court.” The charge is merely an accusation and Nelson and Kobaba are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Agencies involved in the investigation include the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Vermillion Police Department, Yankton Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce is prosecuting the case. Nelson and Kobaba were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.


title: Clear Lake Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm as a felon and person convicted of domestic violence was sentenced today to more than 4 years in federal prison. Michael Ryan Mikkelson, age 37, from Clear Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 26, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and a person convicted of domestic violence. In a plea agreement, Mikkelson admitted that on the night of September 15, 2023, he was riding his bicycle in Clear Lake, when an officer from the Clear Lake Police Department spotted him. The officer was aware Mikkelson had an arrest warrant out of Cerro Gordo County and made contact with him. After being advised he was to be taken into custody on the warrant, Mikkelson ran. After a short foot pursuit, the officer lost Mikkelson in the dark between houses at the end of an alley. Mikkelson later turned himself in. On October 3, 2023, a resident found a handgun next to a garage where the officer lost sight of Mikkelson during the foot pursuit. Mikkelson later admitted the gun was his. Mikkelson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Mikkelson was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. Mikkelson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Clear Lake Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Mason City Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office, and United States Marshal’s Service. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-03009. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Justice Department Awards $500,000 to East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office for Systems Upgrade

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded $500,000 to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office to acquire a new digital High Definition (HD) Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR)/camera system for the Air Support Unit's helicopter. The purpose of the proposed project is to improve the quality of aerial surveillance, search and rescue operations, criminal investigation and apprehension and other activities which require the use of this important tool. The service area for this project is the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge and the surrounding eight parishes that encompass the Baton Rouge Metropolitan area. Additionally, the new system will allow for improved safety for personnel, as the improved resolution will ensure that officers can more easily spot potential dangers and take appropriate action. For more information about these awards, please contact the OJP Office of Communications at 202-307-0703 or OJP.OCOM@ojp.usdoj.gov .


title: Four defendants plead guilty to defrauding Virginia Medicaid

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – The final defendant pled guilty on Aug. 29 in a healthcare fraud scheme that resulted in nearly $1 million in loss. The Virginia Medicaid Program provides medical assistance to indigent individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements. Under its consumer directed care program, Medicaid authorizes the provision of personal and respite care services to eligible Medicaid recipients by a personal care attendant (PCA). Personal care services include a range of support services to enable Medicaid recipients to remain at or return home rather than enter a nursing facility and include assistance with activities of daily living, access to the community, self-administration of medication, or other medical needs, supervision, and the monitoring of health status and physical condition. According to court documents, from May 2015 through at least November 2023, Jamahl Rennelle Burch, aka Jarod or Jerrod Burch, 43, of Hampton, identified and selected Medicaid recipients to sign up for Medicaid reimbursed personal care or respite care services. Burch and his co-conspirators executed agreements that designated numerous different individuals as PCAs for those recipients. The conspirators used the personal identifying information (PII) of the Medicaid recipients and purported PCAs to create accounts for the submission of timesheets for purported personal care and respite care services. For over eight years, the conspirators submitted fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid showing thousands of hours of personal care and respite care services. Burch and his coconspirators approved these timesheets attesting that services were provided, when the conspirators knew that none of the PCAs provided any personal or respite care services to the Medicaid recipients. In total, Burch and his co-conspirators knowingly caused Medicaid to pay at least $936,950.70 in fraudulent reimbursements for personal care and respite care services that never occurred. Burch pled guilty Aug. 29 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025, and faces up to 10 years in prison for the healthcare fraud counts and a minimum of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. Tonisha Staton, 36, of Hampton, and William Carter Jr., 40, of Newport News, were Medicaid recipients and acquaintances of Burch. In 2015, Carter signed up to receive personal care and respite care services, and purportedly hired seven PCAs. None of the seven PCAs provided any services to Carter. In total, the conspirators submitted $262,373.27 in fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid for services that had never been provided to Carter. Similarly, in 2016, Staton signed up to receive personal care and respite care services, and purportedly hired 10 different PCAs, none of whom ever provided any services to her. The conspirators submitted $228,972.44 in fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid for services that had never been provided to Staton. In 2017, Jesse Jerome Hendren, 46, of Henrico, signed up his relative, a Medicaid recipient identified in court records as Recipient 1, to receive personal care and respite care services. Hendren and his co-conspirators purportedly hired two people as PCAs, neither of whom provided any services to Recipient 1. The conspirators submitted $150,425.99 in fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid for services that had never been provided to Recipient 1. Staton, Carter, and Hendren pled guilty in February to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Each faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced in 2025. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Troy W. Springer, Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. accepted Burch’s plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla Jordan-Detamore and Brian R. Hood are prosecuting the case. The Virginia Department of Medical Assistive Services Fraud and Abuse Referral Hotline is available for concerned citizens to report allegations related to inappropriate use of Medicaid benefits. Follow this link for more information. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:23-cr-151 (Burch), 3:24-CR-6 (Carter), 3:24-CR-7 (Hendren) and 3:24-cr-8 (Staton).


title: Non-Profit Americans For Peace Now, Inc. to Pay $261,890 to Resolve PPP Fraud Allegations

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Americans For Peace Now, Inc., a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit organization, has agreed to pay $261,890 to settle allegations that the organization violated the False Claims Act when it applied for and received a $130,945 second-draw loan under the Paycheck Protection Act Program of the CARES Disaster Relief Program, and when it further applied for and was granted forgiveness of the entire amount of the loan. The agreement was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia and Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Eastern Region. In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was created to provide emergency financial support to Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small business and other entities, including non-profit organizations, struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. Under the applicable provision of the CARES Act, a business concern or other entity, including a nonprofit organization, is not eligible to receive a second draw loan if it is primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities, which shall include any entity that is organized for research or for engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public document. At the time it applied for the second draw PPP loan, Americans For Peace Now certified to the SBA in the loan application that it was “not a business concern or entity primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities, including any entity that is organized for research or for engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public documents.” It further certified in the loan forgiveness application that it met the conditions for receiving the second draw PPP loan. Americans For Peace Now contends that any misstatements in this application were inadvertent. Under the False Claims Act, a party found to violate the Act must pay three-times the amount of damage to the United States. Had Americans For Peace Now been found liable to the United States under the False Claims Act, it would have been ordered to pay three times the amount of the loan and lost interest, along with civil penalties for each certification made in the loan application and forgiveness application. In connection with this settlement, Americans For Peace Now agreed to pay an amount equal to two-times the loan amount, or $261,890. The settlement announced today stems from a Federal investigation that was initiated when another public interest group, TZAC, filed a whistleblower complaint pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability in the civil case. “Funds allocated for the Paycheck Protection Act Program had a specific purpose: get businesses eligible for the Program through the global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “When ineligible businesses falsely claimed to be eligible, they harmed both the taxpayers who funded the program and the eligible businesses that needed it.” “Misusing SBA program funds is a serious violation that affects the integrity of the assistance programs meant to support those in genuine need,” said Special Agent in Charge McCall-Braithwaite. “This settlement reflects our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to exploit government resources. We appreciate the diligent work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in pursuing justice in this matter.” “The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SBA’s Office of Inspector General and other Federal law enforcement agencies, as well as private individuals who uncover fraudulent conduct to recover the product of this fraud as well as penalties,” said SBA General Counsel Therese Meers. The civil settlement was the result of an investigation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen DeGenaro and Auditor Timothy Hurley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. U.S. Attorney Graves commended Attorneys Gary Fox and Kandace Zelaya of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of the General Counsel for their assistance in the investigation and settlement negotiations. The case is captioned U.S. ex rel. TZAC v. Americans For Peace Now . Tips and complaint regarding potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting a NCDF Web Complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: West Mifflin Felon Pleads Guilty to Multiple Firearms and Drug Trafficking Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on August 28, 2024, to charges of violating federal drug trafficking and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Giante Hilliard, 30, pleaded guilty to four counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. During his plea hearing, Hilliard admitted facts related to three separate incidents in late March and late May of 2023 that led to the charges in this case. The first incident took place on March 28, 2023, when Hilliard was involved in an exchange of gunfire outside of a McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, bar. Video of the incident shows that, moments after Hilliard and another individual left the bar and started to drive off, a third person shot at the car they occupied. Hilliard returned fire from the vehicle’s passenger seat, with several muzzle flashes visible in the video. In the second incident, on May 8, 2023, Hilliard was the passenger in a vehicle that law enforcement attempted to stop. Rather than complying, the driver rammed three law enforcement vehicles—allowing one of the officers to observe Hilliard with a black firearm—and sped off. Shortly after, law enforcement located the disabled vehicle abandoned near a convenience store. Nearby surveillance video showed the driver and Hilliard leaving the disabled vehicle together, and then splitting up, with Hilliard holding a black bag that he attempted to conceal under a dumpster. The black bag was recovered by law enforcement and found to contain a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun and approximately 300 doses of what laboratory results later confirmed was a heroin and fentanyl mixture. Ballistic testing of the handgun against nearly a dozen 40 caliber casings from the earlier March 28 shooting determined the firearm to be a match with the one used by Hilliard in that earlier incident. The gun previously had been reported stolen. Based on evidence recovered in connection with the May 8 incident, including analysis of cell phones seized from within the disabled vehicle, the government obtained an arrest warrant for Hilliard. Finally, in the third incident, on May 31, 2023, Hilliard posted on social media a video of himself with another firearm. Based on information from that video and other evidence gathered during the investigation, the government obtained a search warrant for a residence where Hilliard was hiding out and the vehicle that he had been driving. Law enforcement surrounded the house, but Hilliard refused to come out until several hours after officers fired multiple rounds of tear gas into the home. A subsequent search of the residence resulted in the seizure of a box of ammunition from a kitchen drawer and 100 stamp bags in a kitchen cabinet. The bags were marked with the same logo in the same colors of ink as those found in the black bag on May 8, and contained a heroin and fentanyl mixture similar to the May 8 drugs. In the vehicle, investigators also discovered yet another loaded firearm—a “ghost gun” without a serial number. Prior to these incidents, Hilliard had previously been convicted of a number of other felony offenses, including aggravated assault, possession of unlicensed firearms, and terroristic threats. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Hilliard pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in connection with the March 28 incident; possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in relation to the May 8 incident; and being a felon in possession of ammunition on May 31. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up life in prison, a fine of up to $1,750,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Douglas C. Maloney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hilliard, along with officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police Department, Homestead Police Department, West Homestead Police Department, and McKees Rocks Police Department.


title: Sacramento Woman Indicted for Fraudulent Investment Scheme

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 32-count indictment against Maria Dickerson, aka Dulce Pino, 47, of Sacramento, charging her with 24 counts of wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, and seven counts of money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed following her arrest. According to the indictment, from 2020 through 2024, Dickerson created an investment scheme, selling interest in her illusory shell company, Creative Legal Fundings of California, to investors. Dickerson promised investors that their investments were safe and secure and backed by substantial starting capital. Dickerson promised approximately 140 investors a fixed percent of return per month on their principal investment with additional compounding monthly interest if they left their money invested with her. In reality, Dickerson used new investor money to pay off prior investors, to fund a lavish lifestyle, and to purchase Mercedes-Benz vehicles and a home in Sacramento. Dickerson did not register the sale of her securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Dickerson took money from investors and collected millions of dollars in investment funds solicited with her false promises and representations. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Alabama Securities Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin F. Scott and Rosanne L. Rust are prosecuting the case. The Securities and Exchange Commission is filing a parallel action against Dickerson. The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation previously filed a Desist and Refrain Order against Dickerson. If convicted, Dickerson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud. Additionally, she faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count of money laundering. On the securities fraud charge, Dickerson faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million. 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 defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: The “M30 King of Fresno” Pleads Guilty

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr., 23, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, the investigation began after a series of fentanyl-pill overdoses in the Fresno area. These overdoses were caused by counterfeit oxycodone M30 tablets containing fentanyl, referred to on the street as M30s. Similar to authentic oxycodone M30 tablets, they are small, round, and light blue or green in color with “M” stamped on one side and “30” on the other. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Killer High,” aimed to search for the drug dealers believed to have supplied the toxic pills that caused the spike in fentanyl-related overdoses. The operation uncovered a large drug-trafficking ring led by Torrecillas Urias, the self-proclaimed “M30 king of Fresno.” Torrecillas Urias was obtaining, directly from sources in Mexico, tens of thousands of counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills and large quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, and methamphetamine. He and his co-defendants were then distributing these illicit drugs to dealers inside and outside of California. During the investigation, federal, state, and local law enforcement agents conducted traffic stops, intercepted packages, and executed residential search warrants that resulted in the recovery of over 55,000 counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills, 6 pounds of fentanyl powder, 10 pounds of methamphetamine, a pound of cocaine, 25 firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Operation Killer High resulted in charges for 17 other defendants, and all but one have now pleaded guilty. The remaining co-defendant, Alma Garza, is set for trial on Sept. 24, 2024. This case is the result of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Clovis Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the Bakersfield Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case. Torrecillas Urias is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Dec. 2, 2024. Torrecillas Urias faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The actual sentence, however, will 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. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Harrison County Man Sentenced for Selling Fentanyl

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Edward Breeden, age 30, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 124 months in federal prison for selling fentanyl in Upshur County. According to court documents and statements made in court, during a traffic stop, Upshur County sheriff’s deputies were on routine patrol and witnessed a vehicle speed into a motel parking lot. Deputies observed Breeden engage in activity indicative of drug trafficking. Eventually, the actions of the defendant led to a search Breeden’s motel room where officers seized 277 fentanyl stamps. Breeden will be on three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Previously Removed Foreign National and Felon Indicted on Drug & Gun Crimes

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – A foreign national living in Utah, who is also a felon, was ordered by the court to remain in custody after a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City indicted him for multiple federal crimes. According to court documents, Armando Reyes-Ascension, 43, of Salt Lake City, a foreign national, who was previously deported from the United States in July 2003 and March 2020, illegally reentered the United States in May 2024. As alleged in court documents, Salt Lake City police officers received multiple anonymous tips of a man selling large amounts of fentanyl pills from an apartment in Salt Lake City. During surveillance, officers observed a man, later identified as Reyes-Ascension, exit the apartment and make multiple “short stay” stops in known drug areas. Officers then stopped Reyes-Ascension and obtained a search warrant. During a search of Reyes-Ascension’s vehicle, officers found more than 7,000 pills that field-tested positive for fentanyl. Officers also found more than $32,000 cash. In June 2024, Reyes-Ascension was deported a third time from the United States. In August 2024, Reyes-Ascension, was found back in the United States illegally. According to court documents, on August 7, 2024, Salt Lake City Police officers were patrolling the area of 1300 South Main Street when they observed a man wearing a backpack and riding a bicycle against traffic. Officers stopped the man, later identified as Reyes-Ascension, for a traffic violation. During an initial search, officers found drug paraphernalia and Reyes-Ascension was taken into custody. During a further search of his backpack, officers found a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield Firearm with a loaded magazine, more than 2,000 pills that field-tested positive for fentanyl, and more than $55,000 cash. Officers also located several dangerous weapons and coins. In total, over the span of three months, Reyes-Ascension, was found in possession of more than 9,000 fentanyl pills, a loaded firearm, several dangerous weapons, and $87,000 cash. Photo Credit: Salt Lake City Police Dept. Photo Credit: Salt Lake City Police Dept. Reyes-Ascension is charged with reentry of a previously removed alien, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and felon in possession of a firearm. His initial appearance on the indictment was August 29, 2024, at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Salt Lake City Police Department, and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney, Bryan N. Reeves, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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 Justice.gov/PSN . An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentencing of Albuquerque Man for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 248 months in prison for drug trafficking and firearms offenses after being found in possession of over 500 grams of methamphetamine and two firearms in a stolen vehicle. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on February 22, 2022, Octavio Jimenez-Marquez , 38, was driving a stolen black Dodge Ram pickup truck when he was approached by Albuquerque Police Department officers in the parking lot of an apartment complex. When Jimenez attempted to evade detection by moving from the driver's seat to the truck bed, he was detained. A search of the vehicle revealed: Two large bundles of methamphetamine, weighing a total of 529 net grams An unloaded revolver stored with the larger methamphetamine bundle A loaded assault rifle in the front passenger seat Photo of rifle Photo of bullets During a subsequent interview, Jimenez admitted to using methamphetamine on the day of his arrest and to handling the firearms found in the vehicle. Photographic evidence from Jimenez ’s cell phone further implicated him in the possession of the firearms. Jimenez selfie with revolver On April 17, 2024, following a three-day trial, a jury returned a verdict convicting Jimenez of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm by an illegal alien; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and escape. Upon his release from prison, Jimenez will be subject to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, Albuquerque Police Department, Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis Mattei and Elaine Y. Ramirez prosecuted the case. # # #


title: McKeesport Felon Indicted for Possession of Ammunition

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The one-count Indictment named Desmond Dontae Lee, also known as Desmond Donte Lee Belton, 46, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about March 1, 2023, Lee possessed ammunition after having been convicted of three prior felonies, including for drug trafficking and firearms charges. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Lee was found in possession of the ammunition as part of an investigation into a March 1, 2023, shooting at a McKeesport apartment complex during which two people were killed and another injured. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Allegheny County Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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 an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Washington, D.C., Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – MacArthur Walker Jr., 58, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees involving physical contact. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2024, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Walker on Interstate 64 near Sandstone, West Virginia. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana and a passenger in Walker’s vehicle said there was approximately 3.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle. The officer directed Walker to exit his vehicle and stand by the officer’s vehicle while the officer searched Walker’s vehicle. On multiple occasions Walker failed to obey the officer’s commands. Walker admitted that he eventually approached the officer and punched him on the right side of his body after the officer removed something from Walker’s vehicle during the search. Walker is scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Walker is also forfeiting a Rossi .38 Special revolver that was seized from a bag found in his vehicle. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-88. ###


title: California drug dealer sentenced to 30 years in prison for meth, fentanyl trafficking in Butte, Helena communities

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

body_text: MISSOULA — A California man convicted by a federal jury of trafficking pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills in the Butte and Helena communities as part of a large conspiracy was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. After a four-day trial in April, a jury found the defendant, Juan Felipe Vidrio Fuentes, 36, of Anaheim, California, guilty of conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. “Fuentes thought he could use his California connections to set up a drug trafficking ring to profit at the expense and misery of Montanans to whom he peddled meth and fentanyl pills. He was wrong. Fuentes, and all of those charged in this conspiracy, stand convicted of drug trafficking crimes, and can no longer poison our communities. These convictions would not have happened without the extraordinary collaboration and diligence of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, for which I am grateful,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. In court documents, the government alleged that from June 2022 until about January 2023 in the Butte and Helena areas, Fuentes, along with seven other co-defendants, conspired to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. In June 2022, the Utah Highway Patrol stopped an individual traveling in a vehicle carrying 3.5 pounds of meth and 6,000 pills containing fentanyl and learned that the individual was transporting the drugs to Butte for distribution by “Esco,” who was Fuentes. Law enforcement further learned that Fuentes was staying at a house in Whitehall along with at least one co-defendant, James Andrew Stringari, of Whitehall, and that Fuentes was supplying both fentanyl and meth throughout the Butte area from the Whitehall residence. In addition, law enforcement inspected a source’s cell phone and corroborated information about meth and fentanyl trafficking that implicated Fuentes, Stringari, co-defendant Janet Dean White, of Butte, and another co-defendant. Stringari and White were convicted at trial with Fuentes and are pending sentencing. Law enforcement conducted coordinated stops and raids of addresses in Helena and Butte. In the Butte residence, law enforcement located approximately six pounds of meth, 208 grams of fentanyl, $15,000 cash and seven firearms. In the Helena residence, law enforcement located approximately seven pounds of meth and 68 grams of fentanyl. The government further alleged that Fuentes was one of the main organizers and suppliers of the criminal conspiracy, which trafficked pounds of meth and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills over approximately six months. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Utah Highway Patrol and Utah State Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF. XXX


title: Carrollton Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison  for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Carrollton, Mississippi man was sentenced to 189 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to court documents and facts stated in open court, Robert Earl Givens, Jr., 50, participated in a scheme to defraud multiple banks by obtaining fraudulent heavy equipment loans. Givens, who organized the scheme that spanned the State of Mississippi, has numerous convictions for embezzlement, fraud, felony bad check, uttering a forgery, and possession of stolen property. The bank fraud scheme involved the use of forged signatures, falsified documents, and fraudulent representations to bank employees. Givens frequently used the proceeds from fraudulent loans to pay off previous fraudulent loans, but also spent large sums gambling in various casinos. Givens pled guilty on August 22, 2023 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case.


title: Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Transfer of Firearms

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Devon Newsome, age 31, of Forrest Park, Georgia, pled guilty today to unlawfully transferring firearms to a New York resident. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division; and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. Newsome admitted that on May 21, 2023, he delivered 29 firearms to a New York resident in Georgia, including stolen firearms and a handgun equipped with a conversion device that allowed it to function as a machinegun. Those firearms were then transported from Georgia to a property on Western Avenue in Albany. Newsome knew the firearms were destined for New York and knew that neither he nor the person for whom the guns were destined were licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers or collectors of firearms. On May 23, 2023, law enforcement searched the Western Avenue property and found 34 firearms, including the firearms that Newsome had transferred. Law enforcement also found significant quantities of drugs at the Western Avenue property, which has resulted in criminal charges against Anthony Luizzi and Brandon Bartley, and supervised release revocation proceedings against Jabree Jones. Sentencing for Newsome is scheduled for January 6, 2025, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Newsome faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of up to 3 years, to begin after he finishes his prison term. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The following defendants have been charged in connection with this investigation: Anthony Luizzi pled guilty on March 18, 2024 , to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, and his possession of more than 30 firearms, including drugs and guns found at the Western Avenue property. Luizzi is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2024. Brandon Bartley pled guilty on May 24, 2024 , to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, and his possession of more than 30 firearms at the Western Avenue property. Bartley is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2024. Jabree Jones was charged with a violation of the terms of his supervised release on May 23, 2023, based on violations of federal gun and drug trafficking laws, and has been detained pending the resolution of the supervised release violation petition. A final revocation hearing is currently scheduled for September 23, 2024. These supervised release violations are merely accusations. Jones is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The DEA and the ATF are investigating the case, with assistance from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), and the Henry County Police Department in Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.


title: St. Louis Felon Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison After a Shooting and Being Caught with Stolen Gun

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who was caught by police with a stolen gun after fleeing from a carjacked vehicle to 97 months in prison. The sentence for Cedric Cross Sr., 43, consisted of 85 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm and 12 more months for violating his supervised release from a prior felon in possession case in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis. In 2017, he was sentenced there to 63 months in prison after being caught with a stolen pistol. Cross pleaded guilty to the new charge in May, admitting that he was caught with a gun by Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers on Jan. 30, 2022, after jumping out of a carjacked truck. Cross was a passenger and denied being involved in the carjacking. Judge Fleissig found by a preponderance of the evidence that Cross was also responsible for the non-fatal shooting of his paramour in the Walnut Park West neighborhood of St. Louis the day before the carjacking. Ballistics evidence from the shooting matched the handgun found with Cross the next day. The case was investigated by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag prosecuted 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.


title: Justice Department Announces Terrorism Charges Against Senior Leaders of Hamas

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Remote video URL Note : The complaint was unsealed on Sept. 3 and can be viewed here . The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of terrorism, murder conspiracy, and sanctions-evasion charges against six senior leaders of Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The charges relate to the defendants’ central roles in planning, supporting, and perpetrating the terrorist atrocities that Hamas committed in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 (the October 7 Hamas Massacres), involving the murders and kidnappings of countless innocent civilians, including American citizens, which was the culmination of Hamas’s decades-long campaign of terrorism and violence against Israel and its allies, including American citizens. The defendants are either deceased or remain at large. “The Justice Department has charged Yahya Sinwar and other senior leaders of Hamas for financing, directing, and overseeing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the national security of the United States,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “On October 7 th , Hamas terrorists, led by these defendants, murdered nearly 1200 people, including over 40 Americans, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians. This weekend, we learned that Hamas murdered an additional six people they had kidnapped and held captive for nearly a year, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23 year old Israeli American. We are investigating Hersh’s murder, and each and every one of Hamas’ brutal murders of Americans, as an act of terrorism. The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas’ operations. These actions will not be our last.” “Yahya Sinwar and the other senior leaders of Hamas are charged today with orchestrating this terrorist organization’s decades-long campaign of mass violence and terror — including on October 7th. On that horrible day, Hamas terrorists viciously massacred nearly 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, including over 40 Americans, kidnapped hundreds more, and used sexual violence as a weapon of brutality,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Since that horrific day, we have worked to investigate and hold accountable those responsible, and we will not rest until all those who kidnapped or murdered Americans are brought to justice. Our thoughts continue to be with the families of all the victims of this barbaric terrorist attack.” “From the moment Hamas launched its horrific attack on October 7, the FBI has been dedicated to identifying and charging those responsible for these heinous crimes,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI has and will continue to relentlessly investigate these attacks on civilians, including Americans. Hamas is a Foreign Terrorist Organization with a long history of violence, and the group’s actions have resulted in increased terrorism threats in the U.S. and against American interests throughout the world. Countering terrorism remains our number one priority, and our work continues.” “The core mission of the National Security Division is to protect Americans from violent terrorists and extremist organizations like Hamas,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel on October 7 are intolerable, and the Justice Department will not rest in our pursuit to hold Hamas accountable for perpetrating its campaign of terror, death, and destruction.” “For decades, Hamas and its leadership have dedicated themselves to the eradication of the State of Israel, and to murdering, maiming, and brutalizing anyone — including dozens of Americans — who stood in their way,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “The October 7 Hamas Massacres – in which over 40 American citizens were murdered – is only the latest act of savagery carried out by Hamas. This office has long been dedicated to serving as a bulwark against terrorism, and striking blows against its leaders. Our commitment is clear: if you hurt one member of our community, you hurt all of us — and we stand with all victims of Hamas’ reign of terror. We will bring justice to this terrorist organization from the top down for the atrocities they have committed.” According to court documents, Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya, commonly known as Hamas, is a terrorist organization that was founded in 1987, and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the United States since 1997. From its inception, Hamas’ stated purpose has been to create an Islamic Palestinian state throughout Israel by eliminating the State of Israel through violent holy war, or jihad. Hamas also promotes attacks against the U.S. and its citizens and, over more than two decades, Hamas has murdered and injured dozens of Americans as part of its campaign of violence and terror. The defendants charged in the complaint are all senior leaders of Hamas who have orchestrated, overseen, and supported Hamas’s decades-long campaign of terrorism, including the October 7 Hamas Massacres. They and their co-conspirators control all aspects of the terrorist organization, including its political and military branches, known as the Politburo and Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (al-Qassam Brigades). Ismail Haniyeh was the chairman of Hamas’s Politburo from 2017 until his reported death on or about July 31. Prior to 2017, Haniyeh was the deputy chairman of the Politburo and the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Haniyeh was based principally in Turkey and Qatar. Yahya Sinwar, also known as Abu Ibrahim, 61, is the leader of Hamas. Previously, beginning in approximately 2017, he was the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and is one of the founders of the al-Qassam Brigades. Sinwar is based principally in the Gaza Strip. Mohammad Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif and al Khalid al-Deif, was the commander in chief of the al-Qassam Brigades, a position he held from in or about 2002 until his reported death on or about July 13. Al-Masri was based principally in the Gaza Strip. Marwan Issa, also known as Abu Baraa, was the deputy commander of the al-Qassam Brigades from approximately 2007 until his reported death on or about March 10. Issa was based principally in the Gaza Strip. Khaled Meshaal, also known as Abu al-Waleed, 68, was the chairman of Hamas’ Politburo from approximately 2004 to 2017 and is now the head of Hamas’ diaspora office — effectively responsible for Hamas’ official presence outside of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Meshaal is based principally in Qatar. Ali Baraka, 57, has been Hamas’ head of National Relations Abroad since approximately 2019, and was previously Hamas’s representative in Lebanon. Baraka is based principally in Lebanon. Hamas has pursued its objectives through innumerable acts of brutal terrorist violence, including launching thousands of rockets specifically targeting civilian populations; suicide bombings of restaurants, markets, public transportation systems, and other public spaces; and military-style attacks on towns and residential communities. Hamas’s campaign of terrorism has killed and wounded citizens of Israel, the U.S., and many other countries. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas committed its most violent, large-scale terrorist attack to date — the October 7 Hamas Massacres. Hamas targeted civilian populations with a barrage of rockets, before waves of Hamas terrorists breached the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, infiltrated Israel, and launched attacks on civilians, by land, sea, and air. Hamas sent thousands of armed fighters into southern Israel, where they carried out the massacres of over a thousand people and the kidnappings of more than 200 others. Hamas terrorists attacked civilians, firing handguns, assault rifles, and handheld rocket launchers, in small residential communities in Kfar Aza, Be’eri, Nir Oz, Nahal Oz, Re’im, Holit, Zikim, Kerem Shalom, Sufa, and others; the Israeli town of Sderot; and a music festival held near Re’im; among other places. Armed Hamas operatives attacked and shot civilians, including children, sometimes with machineguns and sometimes at point blank range, and weaponized sexual violence against Israeli women, including through rape and genital mutilation. Hundreds of civilians, including Americans, and Israeli soldiers, were killed and wounded; other victims, including Americans, were kidnapped, taken hostage, and brought into Gaza by Hamas. As of the date of the complaint, over 40 American citizens were among those murdered, and at least eight American citizens were taken hostage or remain unaccounted for. Most recently, Hamas executed a U.S. citizen who was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 Hamas Massacres and remained in captivity until he was murdered. Throughout Hamas’ existence, the organization’s ability to carry out acts of terrorism, including the October 7 Hamas Massacres, has been fueled in part by the Government of Iran, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Qods Force (IRGC-QF) — the element of the IRGC responsible for conducting external terrorism operations and providing support to terrorist groups — which has supported, supplied, and trained Hamas, and by the Lebanon-based Shia Islamic terrorist organization Hizballah. Hamas’ attacks have played a significant role in the Government of Iran’s regional and global campaign of supporting terrorism to weaken and ultimately destroy both the United States and Israel. Hamas’ leaders, including the defendants, have been instrumental in Hamas’ relationship with the Government of Iran, including through personal communications with leaders in the Iranian regime. Emblematic of this close relationship, Ismail Haniyeh, who had been the chairman of Hamas’s Politburo since 2017, was reported killed in Iran on or about July 31, while visiting Tehran to attend the swearing-in of Iran’s President. Hamas’ leaders, including the defendants, have acknowledged the importance of the support from the Government of Iran and Hizballah to Hamas’ ability to carry out the October 7 Hamas Massacres, including the IRGC-QF providing Hamas, among other things, rockets and technical assistance necessary to build rockets, and extensive funding for Hamas’ terror wing. Hamas raises money to fund its terrorist activities through a variety of methods, including by soliciting and receiving cryptocurrency payments, advertising the ostensible anonymity of such transactions. Since 2019, Hamas’ military wing has used social media and other platforms to call for cryptocurrency contributions from supporters abroad, including in the United States, to Hamas-controlled virtual wallets, explicitly acknowledging that those payments would be used to fund Hamas’ campaign of violence. Through these mechanisms, Hamas has received tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency payments to fund its activities. The complaint unsealed today charges each of the defendants with: conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; conspiring to provide material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; conspiring to murder U.S. nationals outside the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; conspiring to bomb a place of public use resulting in death, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison; conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction resulting in death, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life in prison; conspiring to finance terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; and conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Adelsberg, Jacob H. Gutwillig, Sarah L. Kushner, Michael D. Lockard, Ben Arad, and Samuel L. Raymond for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorneys Alicia Cook and C. Alexandria Bogle of the Justice Department’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Quintez Robert Kilgore, also known as “Cortez Robert Jackson,” 29, of Huntington, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 6, 2023, law enforcement officers encountered Kilgore on the 200 block of Olive Street in Huntington while searching for a fugitive. Kilgore admitted that he possessed a Glock Model 33 .357-caliber pistol that he placed underneath a nearby vehicle to conceal it as the officers approached him. The officers saw Kilgore’s attempt to hide the firearm and seized it. Kilgore admitted that he also possessed 12.64 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and 9.78 grams of fentanyl that the officers found and seized. Kilgore further admitted that he intended to distribute the seized controlled substances. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Kilgore knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in Cabell County Circuit Court on October 12, 2017, and being a person prohibited from possessing firearms in Wayne County Circuit Court on January 8, 2020. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-6. ###


title: Former High-Ranking New York State Government Employee Charged with Acting as an Undisclosed Agent of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party

body_text: Note: View the indictment here . An indictment was unsealed today charging Linda Sun, 41, with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, bringing in aliens, and money laundering conspiracy. Sun is alleged to have acted on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Sun’s husband and co-defendant, Chris Hu, 40, was also charged with money laundering conspiracy, as well as conspiracy to commit bank fraud and misuse of means of identification. Sun and Hu were arrested earlier this morning and were arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn. “As alleged, while appearing to serve the people of New York as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive Chamber, the defendant and her husband actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the CCP,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for Eastern District of New York. “The illicit scheme enriched the defendant’s family to the tune of millions of dollars. Our office will act decisively to prosecute those who serve as undisclosed agents of a foreign government.” “These indictments demonstrate, yet again, the brazen attempts of the PRC to corrupt our political processes,” said Assistant Director Kevin Vorndran of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division. “As alleged in the indictment, Linda Sun and Chris Hu deceived the highest leadership of New York government to further the political agenda of the Government of China. The FBI, along with our partners, remain committed to protection our democratic institutions from the manipulation of the PRC.” “Sun is alleged to be an undisclosed agent of the PRC and CCP, using Chinese money and her influence within the state of New York to benefit the Chinese government. Sun and her husband then laundered millions of dollars for the foreign country and used the monetary benefits of this scheme to buy luxury vehicles and million-dollar properties here in New York,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) New York. “It is with the unwavering determination of federal law enforcement to root out foreign agents and their schemes that Sun and Hu will now face justice for their criminal acts.” According to court documents, while working for the New York State (NYS) government – including in high-ranking posts in the Executive Chamber of the New York State government and in multiple state agencies – Sun also acted as an undisclosed agent of the PRC and CCP. Acting at the request of PRC government officials and CCP representatives, Sun engaged in numerous political activities in the interests of the PRC and the CCP, including blocking representatives of the Taiwanese government from having access to high-level New York State officers; changing high-level New York State officers’ messaging regarding issues of importance to the PRC and the CCP; obtaining official New York State proclamations for PRC government representatives without proper authorization; attempting to facilitate a trip to the PRC by a high-level New York State politician and arranging meetings for visiting delegations from the PRC government with NYS government officials. Additionally, Sun repeatedly violated internal rules and protocols within the New York State government to provide improper benefits to PRC and CCP representatives, including by providing unauthorized invitation letters from the office of high-level New York State officers that were used to facilitate travel by PRC government officials into the United States for meetings with New York State government officials. Sun’s unauthorized invitation letters for the PRC government delegation constituted false statements made in connection with immigration documents and induced the foreign citizens into unlawfully entering the United States. Sun never registered as a foreign agent with the Attorney General, and in fact actively concealed that she took actions at the order, request or direction of PRC government and CCP representatives. In return for these and other actions, Sun received substantial economic and other benefits from representatives of the PRC government and the CCP, including the facilitation of millions of dollars in transactions for the PRC-based business activities of Sun’s husband and co-defendant Chris Hu; travel benefits; tickets to events; promotion of a close family friend’s business; employment for Sun’s cousin in the PRC; and Nanjing-style salted ducks prepared by a PRC government official’s personal chef that were delivered to the residence of Sun’s parents. Sun and Hu laundered the monetary proceeds of this scheme to purchase, among other items, real estate property in Manhasset, New York, currently valued at $4.1 million, a condominium in Honolulu, currently valued at $2.1 million, and various luxury automobiles, including a 2024 Ferrari. Sun never disclosed any benefits she received from representatives of the PRC government and the CCP to the New York State government, as she was required to do as a New York State government employee. As alleged, Hu also laundered unlawful proceeds through bank accounts opened in the name of a close relative but that were actually for Hu’s exclusive use. To open these accounts, Hu unlawfully used an image of the relative’s driver’s license. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the IRS. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon, Robert Pollack and Laura Mantell for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Litigation Analyst Mary Clare McMahon. A n indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Browning man admits fentanyl trafficking

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning man admitted today to trafficking fentanyl pills on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation after officers attempting to arrest him found blue pills scattered around the bedroom floor, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Rayne Forrest Rivers Charette, 41, appeared for arraignment on and pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Charette faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 8, 2025. Charette was detained pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that in March 2023, the Blackfeet Tribe issued an arrest warrant for Charette because he was wanted in Yellowstone County on a state drug charge. The Tribe adopted the state warrant and issued a tribal warrant. During the execution of the warrant at a residence where Charette was known to be living, officers observed Charette attempting to leap out of a bedroom window. During the arrest, officer observed blue pills, believed to be fentanyl, scattered around the floor of the bedroom. After getting a search warrant, officers collected more than 500 fentanyl pills, more than $1,000 cash and drug paraphernalia in the room where Charette was arrested. Law enforcement also interviewed several informants who stated they had obtained fentanyl from Charette. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Service and the FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Convicted Child Molester Pleads Guilty to Naturalization Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Aug. 29, Dorian Velasquez, 43, a convicted child molester, pled guilty to naturalization fraud for having unlawfully obtained United States citizenship. According to court documents, Velasquez was born in Guatemala. On April 11, 2014, he submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). On his application, and under penalty of perjury, Velasquez responded “No” to the question “Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?” On July 24, 2014, Velasquez was interviewed by a U.S.CIS officer and provided the same response to the question while under oath and penalty of perjury. In a ceremony, on July 25, 2015, Velasquez took the Oath of Allegiance and was naturalized as a United States citizen. In October 2019, Velasquez pled guilty to four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child and was ordered to register as a sex offender. Velasquez committed the crimes over a period of four years, between July 19, 2011 and July 19, 2015. Velasquez was not arrested for these offenses until after he was naturalized. Velasquez is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, as well as the automatic revocation of his United States citizenship. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Field Office Director Garrett Ripa of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and District Director Brett R. Rinehart of USCIS Miami and Caribbean made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Shaw for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case. The case was presented by ICE’s ERO division in Miami as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing national initiative designed to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained United States citizenship. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Rated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20202. ###