title: Compton Man Who Led Ring that Trafficked Cocaine from California to Alaska Pleads Guilty to Federal Narcotics Charge

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Compton man who led a Southern California-based drug trafficking organization that shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine to Alaska via commercial flights and U.S. mail pleaded guilty today to a federal narcotics charge. Raul Cisneros Jr., 45, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He has been in federal custody since October 2020. According to his plea agreement and other court documents, from at least July 2014 to August 2016, Cisneros managed the operations of a drug trafficking outfit that sold cocaine and methamphetamine to customers. In October 2015, law enforcement stopped Cisneros in his car while he was en route to an accomplice’s home to pick up money. In his car, Cisneros possessed approximately $5,003 in cash, which were drug proceeds. He also possessed approximately 10 kilograms (22.1 pounds) of cocaine packaged in five separate bundles, which he intended to sell to customers. After obtaining a search warrant for Cisneros’ home, law enforcement seized from Cisneros’ kitchen cabinets approximately 30.7 kilograms (66.1 pounds) of cocaine, approximately 167.7 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately 3.6 kilograms (1.1 pounds) of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also found hundreds of used empty green cellophane wrappers and a money counter, which Cisneros used to facilitate his drug distribution operation. Law enforcement also seized from Cisneros’ kitchen four firearms and 72 rounds of ammunition during this search. In total, agents recovered $568,357 in cash proceeds from drug deals and – in the trunk of Cisneros’ white Honda Accord vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of his residence – approximately 7.02 kilograms (15.5 pounds) of cocaine wrapped in seven packages of green cellophane stashed inside a bag. Cisneros admitted in his plea agreement to intending to distribute the cocaine to others as part of his drug trafficking operation. Cisneros is the final defendant to plead guilty in this case. Federal prosecutors have secured eight convictions in this matter. United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin scheduled an August 8 sentencing hearing, at which time Cisneros will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this matter. Substantial assistance was provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. This investigation was conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy Yu and Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Co-Owner of Mattapan Plumbing and Heating Supply Company Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns and Using Unreported Receipts to Buy Gold Bars

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The co-owner of a Mattapan plumbing and heating supply company pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns in connection with a scheme to use millions of dollars of unreported business receipts to buy gold bars. Claudio Poles, 78, of Dorchester, pleaded guilty to four counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Aug. 9, 2024. Poles was charged on April 30, 2024. Poles failed to accurately disclose the company’s gross business receipts to its tax preparer, who prepared the company’s tax returns using the false information Poles provided. Poles then used some of the unreported gross receipts to purchase more than $10 million of gold and silver bars for himself from bullion dealers. To conceal the nature of the purchases he made from the company’s bank accounts, Poles described the purchases, in the memo section of the checks, as being for boilers, materials, and plumbing and heating supplies. Between 2019 and 2022, Poles falsely and fraudulently reported losses on his individual tax returns and omitted personal income that he received from the business by purchasing the gold and silver bars. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Kerrville Man Who Made Terrorist Threats Sentenced on Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Kerrville man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on May 27, 2021, Coleman Thomas Blevins, 31, sent a social media post stating, “I’m going to Walmart,” which was followed by a picture of Blevins holding a black assault-style rifle. Blevins then sent another message stating, “I have no problem spending the rest of my life in prison for Shootings (sic) up Walmart.” The next day officers executed a search warrant at Blevins’ apartment and found 556 rounds of ammunition. In addition, a black AR-15 .223 rifle with four magazines was found in a vehicle belonging to Blevins’ roommate. The rifle matched the rifle Blevins was holding in the picture he posted. Subsequent investigation into Blevins’ social media activity revealed three other occasions where Blevins had recently posted pictures of himself holding firearms or ammunition. On November 28, 2023, Blevins pled guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Blevins was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he was previously convicted of a felony drug offense. “Threats to carry out mass shootings are reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza. “Thanks to the quick work of our law enforcement partners, this threat remained just that and did not turn into a tragic event. This case demonstrates our commitment to peel back the veneer of online anonymity and aggressively pursue and prosecute those who threaten harm to our community.” “Blevins threatened to commit violent acts and had access to weapons that would have allowed him to carry out those threats,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank Kerr County Sheriff's Office for their continued assistance in ensuring the safety of our citizens.” The FBI, with assistance from the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs and Kelly Stephenson 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: KC Father, Son Indicted for Illegal Firearms Trafficking, Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., father and son have been indicted by a federal grand jury for selling firearms without a license, illegally possessing firearms, and drug trafficking. Nathan Caldwell, Sr., also known as “Prince Bossalinie,” 52, and Nathan Caldwell, Jr., 32, were charged in a 29-count indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, May 7. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon their arrest and initial court appearances. The federal indictment alleges the Caldwells have aided and abetted each other to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, although they are not licensed dealers, since Dec. 20, 2023. Nathan Caldwell, Sr., is also charged with 10 counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, eight counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of distributing cocaine, one count of distributing marijuana, and two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Nathan Caldwell, Jr., is also charged with three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of distributing marijuana. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Nathan Caldwell, Sr., has two prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and prior felony convictions for aiding a felon, attempted aggravated assault, attempted possession of cocaine, conspiracy to commit robbery, and possessing cocaine. Nathan Caldwell, Jr., has a prior felony conviction for assault. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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: Yuba City Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Unlawfully Possessing and Selling Guns

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif . — On May 9, 2024, Billy Glyn Sims Jr. of Yuba City was sentenced to 70 months in prison for unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between April 1, 2022, and March 9, 2023, Sims, who is not a licensed firearms dealer, unlawfully engaged in the business of dealing in firearms. In three separate transactions in motel and apartment complex parking lots, Sims sold an FBI confidential source a Mossberg Shotgun, a Ruger single-action revolver, and a black powder revolver and a box containing .45 caliber ammunition. The transactions occurred in Yuba, Yolo, and Sutter Counties. At least one of the transactions occurred after Sims became aware that the source was a “double felon” and thus prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Sims also offered to sell the source several other firearms, including an AR-15 assault rifle, although these transactions were never completed. Sims was prohibited from possessing any firearms because of his own prior felony convictions, including for domestic violence and burglary. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Lee and Dhruv M. Sharma 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Five Men Sentenced in a Federal Case Involving Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy, Illegally Possessing a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Money Laundering Conspiracy, and Retaliating Against a Witness

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – This week the last of five defendants was sentenced in a case involving methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, money laundering, and retaliating against a witness. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek Davodwich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Ron Eckart of the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force made the announcement. According to court documents , Steven Edlin , 50, of Loretto, Kentucky was sentenced on May 8, 2024, to 1 year in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of retaliating against a witness. Chaz Hughes , 31, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced on April 18, 2024, to 10 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl, two counts of money laundering, and one count conspiracy to commit money laundering. Bryson Sleet , 26, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was sentenced on April 18, 2024, to 5 years and 6 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Sleet was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 20, 2018, in Taylor Circuit Court, Sleet was convicted of possession of cocaine. On December 22, 2021, in Marion Circuit Court, Sleet, was convicted of possession of a controlled substance. On January 7, 2021, in Marion Circuit Court, Sleet was convicted of trafficking in cocaine and possession of methamphetamine. Curtis Cunningham , 27, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was sentenced on February 14, 2024, to 6 months home detention, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Joshua Salazar , 34, of Lebanon, Kentucky, was sentenced on February 8, 2024, to 12 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl, one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, six counts of money laundering, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Salazar was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On July 29, 2011, in Marion Circuit Court, Salazar was convicted of trafficking in cocaine. On August 19, 2016, in Nelson Circuit Court, Salazar, was convicted of trafficking in cocaine, felon in possession of a handgun, and felon in possession of a firearm. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the DEA, the IRS, the ATF, the KSP, and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. ###


title: May Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the May Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Filiberto Almaguer-Estrada. Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Almaguer-Estrada, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. He is further charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-149 Eduardo Agustin Barrera-Lopez; Marco Antonio Lopez-Damian; Dennis Manuel Salazar-Lopez. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute. Barrera-Lopez, 38, Lopez-Damian, 26, Salazar-Lopez, 22, all Mexican nationals, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and heroin starting in Oct. 2023. They are further charged with intentionally possessing methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-148 Kelly Wayne Bolden. Distribution of Child Pornography. Bolden, 47, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Ihler is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-146 Jeffery John Bowers. Arson in Indian Country. Bowers, 41, of Bartlesville and a member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, is charged with maliciously setting fire to a dwelling in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bartlesville Fire Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle W. Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-135 Kyle Jackson Fugate. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor (Counts 1 & 4); Destruction of Evidence (Count 2); Attempted Production of Child Pornography (Count 3) (superseding). Fugate, 26, of Owasso and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with knowingly attempting to persuade two persons whom he believed were under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. He is further charged with the destruction of evidence. Additionally, Fugate coerced and enticed a minor child to share a photo depicting sexually explicit conduct. The Homeland Security Investigations and Rogers County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Todd is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-101 Cory Lamar Jackson; Nicholas Ryan Ransom. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Jackson and Ransom, are both 34 and from Springfield, Missouri. They are charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-140 Amber Dawn Knight. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Knight, 36, of Collinsville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mayes Country Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Nasar is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-147 Misael Ramirez-Benitez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez-Benitez, 43, an El Savador national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Oct. 2019, at or near Alexandria, Louisiana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-139 Rayes Angel Sanchez. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Receipt of a Firearm by Person Under Indictment for a Felony. Sanchez, 25, and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. He is further charged with possessing a firearm knowing he was under indictment. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-141 Ronna Marie Stone. Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country. Stone, 46, of Tulsa and a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, is charged with breaking into a residence with intent to steal property. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-142


title: Defendant Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison For Two Shootings And Armed Carjacking

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CHRISTOPHER SMITH, a/k/a “Christopher Johnson,” a/k/a “Mad Max,” a/k/a “Max,” a/k/a “Trouble,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams to eight years in prison in connection with committing two shootings and an armed carjacking in the Bronx and Yonkers, New York. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Christopher Smith committed two dangerous shootings and an armed carjacking over the span of two months. He put New Yorkers’ lives in jeopardy and brazenly flouted the rule of law. This Office remains steadfast in its commitment to ending the scourge of gun violence on the streets of New York City and will continue to hold accountable those who endanger public spaces.” According to the Superseding Indictment, public filings, and statements made in court: Over a two-month period in the fall of 2022, SMITH committed two shootings and an armed carjacking. In September 2022, SMITH encountered a group of men standing in front of a convenient store in Yonkers, New York. SMITH asked the men to sell drugs for him, but when the men refused, SMITH brandished a black handgun with a light blue handle, as depicted in the images below: After SMITH brandished his gun, the group of men dispersed, and SMITH and a friend drove away in the friend’s black Mercedes-Benz. Approximately 30 minutes later, SMITH and his friend drove back to the same area and found the group of men with whom SMITH had gotten into an argument. After another altercation, SMITH fired his gun twice in the vicinity of the group of men, and SMITH and his friend sped off in the Mercedes-Benz. Approximately 30 minutes later, law enforcement stopped the Mercedes-Benz in Mount Vernon, New York. Although SMITH’s friend was in the driver’s seat, SMITH jumped onto his friend’s lap and attempted to drive the Mercedes-Benz into the police vehicle to flee. When that failed, law enforcement opened the driver’s side door and arrested SMITH’s friend, but SMITH fled the scene on foot while carrying his gun in his pocket. A 30-minute foot chase ensued. Eventually, SMITH ran up to a 70-year-old woman who was exiting her church and placing her belongings into her Jeep. SMITH shouted at the woman to give him her car keys, forcibly ripped her keys out of her hands, climbed into her Jeep, and sped off with her Jeep, as well as her other personal belongings. Just two months later, in November 2022, SMITH was residing in the Bronx, New York, with a friend whom he had known for approximately 10 years. SMITH argued with his friend over poor quality narcotics and left the apartment. Soon thereafter, SMITH reappeared on the outside balcony of the apartment with a black handgun with a light blue handle. SMITH lifted the window screen, aimed his firearm through the window at his friend’s head, and fired one shot. The friend ducked and ran at SMITH, who fled the scene. * * * In addition to his prison term, SMITH, 28, of Mount Vernon, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York City Police Department, the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda C. Weingarten and Katherine Cheng are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two People for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on May 7, 2024, charging a Frankfort man and woman with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement. According to the indictment, from May 2021 to December 2022, Kendrick C. Brown , 33, and Brooke R. Williams , 33, both formerly of Louisville, unlawfully obtained money and property totaling over $130,000 from a federally insured financial institution. Brown and Williams utilized several business entities they created to obtain commercial lines of credit. Using lines of credit issued to “Kendrick Brown Properties, LLC,” “BBS Tax Services, LLC,” and “Little Brown People, LLC,” Brown and Williams funded personal expenditures on items such as jewelry, salon visits, high-end clothing, dining out, and thousands of dollars in retail gift cards. As they approached and exceeded the limits on the commercial lines of credit, Brown and Williams made a series of fraudulent transactions that appeared to be automated clearinghouse (“ACH”) payments on the accounts. In making these fraudulent transactions, Brown and Williams used account numbers for closed accounts and accounts belonging to other people. These fraudulent transactions temporarily freed up more credit on the accounts and Brown and Williams continued to make fraudulent purchases. Brown and Williams made their initial court appearances yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Brown and Williams each face a maximum sentence of 120 years in prison followed by a mandatory minimum 24 months in prison for identity theft. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the State of Iowa Regarding Unconstitutional State Immigration Law

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department today filed suit against the State of Iowa to challenge Senate File 2340 (SF 2340) under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and Foreign Commerce Clause. The Constitution assigns the federal government to regulate immigration and manage our international borders. Pursuant to this authority, Congress has established a comprehensive immigration framework governing the entry of noncitizens into the U.S. and the removal of noncitizens from the country. Because SF 2340 is preempted by federal law and violates the United States Constitution, the Justice Department seeks a declaration that SF 2340 is invalid and an order preliminarily or permanently enjoining the state from enforcing the law. “Iowa cannot disregard the U.S. Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “We have brought this action to ensure that Iowa adheres to the framework adopted by Congress and the Constitution for regulation of immigration.” As outlined in the complaint, Iowa’s law would create a new state crime for unlawful reentry, with charges ranging from an aggravated misdemeanor to a felony. Additionally, SF 2340 would require state judges to order removal from the United States. The Supreme Court, in Arizona v. United States , has previously confirmed that decisions relating to removal of noncitizens from the United States touch “on foreign relations and must be made with one voice.” SF 2340 impedes the federal government’s ability to enforce entry and removal provisions of federal law and interferes with its conduct of foreign relations. The suit was filed on behalf of the United States, including Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State. Complaint


title: Three Tennessee Physicians Sentenced for Roles in Drug Trafficking and Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: FRANKFORT, Ky. – Three Tennessee physicians were sentenced on Wednesday and Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, following their convictions for conspiracy to illicitly prescribe controlled substances and related fraud and money laundering offenses. Evann Herrell was sentenced to 120 months in prison, Mark Grenkoski to 108 months, and Stephen Cirelli to 48 months. Herrell, Grenkoski, and Cirelli worked at EHC Medical clinics, located in Harriman and Jacksboro, Tenn., that purported to offer treatment for opioid use disorder. At trial, the United States presented evidence that the defendants participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy to provide prescriptions for high doses and dangerous combinations of Suboxone and benzodiazepine-class drugs, to cash-paying customers. These drugs were then being sold, traded, and abused throughout southeastern Kentucky. The evidence further established that the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to falsify medical records, while supposedly treating patients, and that Herrell, Grenkoski, and another physician defendant, Keri McFarlane, conspired to cause millions of dollars in fraudulent submissions to Medicare, Kentucky Medicaid, and other health benefit programs for prescription drugs and urine drug testing. Robert Taylor, who opened EHC Medical in 2013 and operated it through late 2018, pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking conspiracy charge and was sentenced in 2023 to 30 months in prison. He forfeited $13.8 million and paid an additional fine of $200,000. Lori Barnett, a registered nurse who helped Taylor supervise day-to-day operations, and three other physicians – Matthew Rasberry, Helen Bidawid, and Eva Misra – also pleaded guilty to related drug or money laundering charges. McFarlane is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2024. Under federal law, Herrell, Grenkoski, and Cirelli must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for two years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; and Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), jointly announced the sentences. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, IRS, and HHS, with support from the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Rosenberg, Amanda Huang, and Andrew Smith. The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, an initiative focusing on significant drug trafficking and money laundering criminal organizations. – END –


title: Four Bergen County People Charged for Roles in Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Four Bergen County, New Jersey, residents were arrested for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin in Newark, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Ernesto Adon Martinez, 38, Luis Arismedy Gomez Torres, 28, and Deury Luis Gomez Torres, 25, all of Fort Lee, New Jersey, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Jenny Desiree Rosario-Lorenzo, 28, also of Fort Lee, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and aiding and abetting the same. Three defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court on May 8, 2024, and were detained. Deury Gomez Torres remains at large. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: The defendants are members and associates of a drug trafficking organization that dealt fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in and around Fort Lee and New York. The organization is affiliated with the Trinitarios street gang. The investigation revealed that the drug trafficking organization distributed in excess of 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The fentanyl and methamphetamine conspiracy count carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. The heroin conspiracy and drug possession counts each carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark; U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, under the direction of Port Director TenaVel Thomas; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), under the direction of Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti; the Fort Lee Police department, under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze; the New York City Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban; and the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Goldberg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. rosariolorenzo.complaint.pdf martinezetal.complaint.pdf


title: Retail Theft Ringleader Sentenced

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa woman who led a large retail theft operation was sentenced today for one count of conspiracy; 165 counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and 40 counts relating to engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Linda Ann Been, 51, to 64 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Been to pay $43,197.76 in restitution. According to court documents, Been was indicted with 23 co-defendants in January 2022 and pled guilty in July 2022 . Operation Booster Buster was a national investigation targeting a retail theft ring and its conspiracy to distribute stolen property throughout the country. Been paid “boosters” to steal property from various retail stores, including Walmart, Sam’s Club, CVS, Walgreens, and others. She then sold and shipped the stolen property to various operations outside of Oklahoma, where they would be sold online. Been recruited the boosters and coached them on what to shoplift. She would then pay the boosters for the stolen property. If a booster was arrested, Been would either pay their bond or put money on their jail account to ensure the person would not cooperate with law enforcement. Twenty of Been’s co-defendants pled guilty and have been sentenced. Been was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, and Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reagan V. Reininger prosecuted the case.


title: Enoree and Piedmont Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Logan Holmes, 21, of Piedmont, was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison, and Christian Cruz, 28, of Enoree was sentenced to more than eight years after both pled guilty to a drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine and methamphetamine. Evidence presented to the court showed that Logan Holmes was a source of supply for kilograms of methamphetamine, and Christian Cruz was a source of supply for kilograms of cocaine to co-conspirators in the case. Holmes was on home detention for a state conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine at the time he was supplying others in this conspiracy with methamphetamine. When state officers executed arrest and search warrants at Holmes’ residence, they located methamphetamine and five guns, two of which were stolen. When law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Cruz’s house, officers found another five guns, including an unregistered short barrel rifle. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Logan Holmes to 135 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Coggins sentenced Christian Cruz to 98 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Bank Robber Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing American Falls Bank

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: POCATELLO – Steven James Parker, 50, who most recently lived in Gooding, Mountain Home, and Boise, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for the September 1, 2023, robbery of the Bank of Commerce in American Falls, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, on September 1, 2023, a man entered the Bank of Commerce in American Falls, holding a handgun. He charged toward the first teller’s station and pointed a gun directly at the tellers’ faces, ordering them to fill a grocery bag with money. Both tellers put money in the bag and the man left the bank, stating “I’ll be back,” on his way out. Police arrived at the bank and located photos of the robber from cameras in the bank and from nearby businesses and also found photos of the robber’s truck. Photos were circulated on social media and a tipster stated that the robber was Parker. Police went to Parker’s residence in Mountain Home and to his friend’s residence in Boise where they obtained search warrants and located the gun and Parker’s truck used in the robbery. Police also found some of the bank money taken in the robbery. The 13-year sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill is a combined sentence of six years for the bank robbery and a consecutive seven-year sentence for the use of the gun in the commission of the bank robbery, for a total sentence of 13 years. Judge Winmill also ordered Parker to pay restitution to the bank of $11,106 and to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to the crimes on January 24, 2024. Parker has three prior convictions for bank robbery, including a 2002 federal conviction and two other state court bank robbery convictions. Parker had been out on parole from state custody for only about five months when he committed the bank robbery in American Falls. U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the American Falls Police Department, the Power County Sheriff’s Office, the Power County Prosecuting Attorney’s office, the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Blackfoot Police Department, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, and the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock prosecuted the case. ###


title: California Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Selling Guns and Methamphetamine over Internet

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A California man was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for conspiring to unlawfully sell firearms and methamphetamine via the internet, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Angelo Chavez, 24, of Manteca, California, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to an information charging him with one count each of conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Starting in August 2020, undercover law enforcement agents began communicating with Chavez and several conspirators via a social media platform, where Chavez and his conspirators advertised for sale various narcotics and firearms. From August 2020 and December 2021, undercover law enforcement agents purchased 13 firearms from Chavez and his conspirators, including six AR-15 firearms, two of which were shipped with auto sear switches which enable the firearms to function as fully automatic machine guns. Undercover agents also purchased methamphetamine from Chavez and his conspirators. Chavez and his conspirators were paid mostly in cryptocurrency and mailed the drugs and guns from addresses in California to New Jersey. In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Chavez to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Postal Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; and special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division in Newark.


title: Repeat Drug Offender Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – A Camden man was sentenced today to 200 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute More than 50 Grams of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge James M. Moody Jr. presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville. According to court documents, in March of 2023, detectives with the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force learned that Ronald Antonio Moorehead , age 43, of Camden, Arkansas was transporting methamphetamine into Northwest Arkansas area for distribution. On May 13, 2023, detectives surveilled Moorehead inside a vehicle parked in residential neighborhood in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Thereafter, law enforcement made contact with Moorehead, who was on active parole supervision at the time. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed approximately 500 gross grams of methamphetamine and a distribution amount of cocaine. Moorehead was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple counts related to drug trafficking. On November 3, 2023, he pleaded guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute more than 50 grams of Methamphetamine. At sentencing, the United States provided the Court with evidence that Moorehead had a lengthy criminal history, which included multiple prior convictions related to drug trafficking. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case. Deputy Criminal Chief Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov


title: San Felipe Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge handed down a 48-month prison sentence to a San Felipe man who was convicted by a federal jury of abusive sexual contact. There is no parole in the federal system. According to evidence presented at trial and other publicly available court records, between August 13, 2016, and February 13, 2017, Kyle Aguilar , while intoxicated, touched the victim's genitalia and breasts over her clothing. On one occasion, Aguilar unlocked the door to the room where the victim was watching a movie, came into the room, and began massaging the victim's back before touching her breasts and genitals over her clothes. Upon his release from prison, Aguilar will be subject to 5 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Mia Ulibarri-Rubin are prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Former Serviceman Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse While Stationed at Fort Sill

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, JESSIE SOLOMON DUNNAWAY , 23, of Georgia, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On March 9, 2023, a federal grand jury charged Dunnaway with sexual abuse. According to public record, on November 3, 2019, while stationed at Fort Sill Military Installation, Dunnaway sexually abused another person stationed at the military base. Today, Dunnaway pleaded guilty, and admitted to sexually abusing the victim without their consent. At sentencing, Dunnaway faces up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and term of supervised release of up to life. This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon is prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Former MDOC Officer Sentenced to 16 years  for Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A Jackson County man who had previously worked as a Michigan Department of Corrections Officer was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children and distributing child pornography, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Ison was joined in the announcement by Shawn Gibson, acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit. Aaron Ray Fetters, 29, of Jackson, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terrence G. Berg. Fetters’ conviction stems from his years-long sexual exploitation of a minor girl known to him, who was in her mid-teens at the time. Fetters recorded himself sexually assaulting the girl repeatedly over the course of several years. Fetters’ crimes came to light in 2022, when Homeland Security Investigations and Michigan State Police received a tip that Fetters had distributed images of child pornography to other users using a social media application. Law enforcement began investigating Fetters and retrieved his electronic devices, which led to the discovery of his recorded sexual abuse of the minor victim. On the same devices, investigators located hundreds of images of child pornography that Fetters had downloaded from the internet and shared with others, including children as young as infants being sexually assaulted. “Thanks to the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners, including the MSP and HSI agents working on this case, a prolific sexual predator became known, his abuse was stopped, and he has been punished for his heinous acts .” U.S. Attorney Ison stated. “HSI is dedicated to protecting our most vulnerable population against sexual predators who seek to take advantage of their innocence especially offenders in positions of public trust,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively protect children by diligently investigating online sexual offenses involving minors. My thoughts are with the victim in this case, and it is my hope that they can continue the healing process knowing justice has been served.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Michigan State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne and Diane Princ.


title: St. Louis Man Convicted of the Robbery / Attempted Robbery of Four Restaurants

body_text: ST. LOUIS –A jury on Wednesday evening convicted a St. Louis man of the robbery or attempted robbery of four restaurants in one week in 2020. Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis found Kammeron Davis, 33, guilty of three counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Evidence and testimony presented at the trial showed that Davis robbed a Penn Station restaurant in St. Louis on Sept. 13, 2020, by pointing a gun at employees and demanding money. Three days later, he tried to rob a Subway restaurant in Maplewood but was chased off by an employee with a broom. Court exhibit. About 15 minutes later, Davis robbed a Subway in St. Louis by leaping over the counter and stealing money from the cash register while armed. On September 20, Davis and another person robbed a different Subway in St. Louis. The robberies were captured on video, as was the car Davis used. Three people also identified Davis as the robber in court. Davis is scheduled to be sentenced October 22. He faces a mandatory term of 21 years in prison for the firearm charges. The robbery and attempted robbery charges are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Maplewood Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald Boyce and Cort VanOstran are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Shelby Township Doctor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Illegally Distributing More than 270,000 Opioid Pills worth more than $6.3 Million

body_text: DETROIT - Shelby Township physician Lawrence Mark Sherman, 75, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison based on his conviction following a jury trial on 20 charges related to the unlawful diversion of prescription drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Joining Ison in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Cheyvorea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office. Sherman was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy, who presided over the trial. The charges on which he was convicted and sentenced stemmed from his involvement in the operation of Tranquility Wellness Center, Inc. from about March 2020 through June 2021. Sherman worked part-time at Tranquility Wellness Center, which operated first in Dearborn and later in Saint Clair Shores. Out of that clinic, Dr. Sherman unlawfully prescribed primarily Oxycodone, Oxymorphone , and Oxycodone-Acetaminophen 10- (Percocet), three of the most addictive prescription opioids. These prescription drugs are also among the most highly diverted prescription opioids due to their high street value. Federal agents first executed search and arrest warrants against Sherman and Tranquility Wellness Center in June 2021. The other defendants charged in the case, including clinic operators Janeice Burrell and Angelo Smith, clinic employee Akeyla Bell, and Peter Burrell previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced. According to the evidence presented at trial, Dr. Sherman conspired with the other defendants to illegally authorize more than 3,000 opioid prescriptions for supposed “patients” who did not have a legitimate medical need for the drugs, and who were typically brought to the clinic by “patient recruiters/marketers.” Tranquility Wellness Center accepted only cash, and charged patients not based on the service provided, but instead based on the quantity, type, and dosage of prescription opioids that the “patient” received. The clinic also charged cash for the creation of fraudulent medical records for the supposed “patients.” Janeice Burrell and Angelo Smith paid Dr. Sherman in cash or peer-to-peer money transfer application, and only paid him if he wrote controlled substance prescriptions, not based on any supposed “medical care.” During the trial the jury heard evidence and testimony that Doctor Sherman issued more than 270,000 dosage units of Schedule II opioid prescriptions during the conspiracy. These controlled substances had a street value in excess of $6.3 million. While the unlawful controlled substance prescriptions were paid for in cash, both controlled and non-controlled “maintenance” medications were billed to health care benefit programs by pharmacies. Billings to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for medically unnecessary prescription drug medications and maintenance medications during this conspiracy exceeded $500,000. “My office will not waver in its commitment to aggressively identify, investigate, and prosecute doctors and other health care professionals who feed the opioid epidemic by writing illegal opioid prescriptions,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “Health care professionals have both an opportunity and a duty to help address the terrible impact the opioid epidemic has had on our community, but Dr. Sherman chose to only make it worse.” "The sentencing of Dr. Sherman highlights the FBI's ongoing efforts against medical professionals who are using their position to line their own pockets while ultimately contributing to the opioid crisis," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "His actions endangered countless lives, which goes against the oath he took as a doctor. We remain committed to investigating health care fraud and holding those who exploit their positions accountable." “Physicians and other medical providers who abuse their oath by unlawfully prescribing potentially dangerous and addicting opioids for financial gain, do so without regard for the wellbeing of their patients,” said Mario M. Pinto of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our office is committed to working together with our law enforcement partners to bring those who engage in unlawful and dangerous overprescribing to justice.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Lievense and Adriana Dydell. The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative that uses data to target and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis. The case was investigated by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General.


title: Ingham County Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Exploitation of Children

body_text: DETROIT – An Ingham County man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children and transporting child pornography, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvorea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division. John Michael Garron, 40, of Stockbridge, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Judge David M. Lawson. Garron’s conviction stems from his years-long sexual exploitation of a minor girl under his care, who was under 12 years old at the time. Garron took sexually explicit images and videos of the girl and recorded himself masturbating over her while she slept. Garron’s crimes became known in 2023, when he bragged about his abuse of the minor child and distributed images of child pornography to other users online. Unknown to Garron, one of the online users he was communicating with was an undercover FBI agent. The FBI began investigating Garron, tracing him to his residence near Lansing. After a obtaining a search warrant, agents entered Garron’s residence and collected his devices. On the devices, agents located the images Garron had produced of himself assaulting the minor victim in his care, as well as over 28,000 images of child pornography that Garron had downloaded and shared with other users online. “Garron sexually assaulted and exploited a vulnerable prepubescent girl under his care. Our office remains committed to using whatever resources necessary to bring those who prey on our children to justice,” U.S. Attorney Ison stated. "This sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our community. The years of exploitation endured by this young girl are utterly reprehensible," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Today's verdict sends a clear message that our community will not tolerate such heinous acts, and we will relentlessly pursue justice for the victims." This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne and Diane Princ.


title: Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced on Bribery Charges

body_text: EL PASO – An El Paso man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for bribery of public official. According to court documents, in June 2023, Fernando Castillo, 42, who was a Border Patrol Agent with the United States Border Patrol (Customs and Border Protection), solicited a $5,000 bribe from a citizen of El Salvador and Mexico. Castillo told the foreign national that in exchange for a payment of $5,000 Castillo could provide immigration paperwork that would permit the individual to remain in the United States. Castillo made false entries in the individual’s immigration file and printed the fraudulent document. Shortly after he met with the individual, agents apprehended Castillo in possession of the false documentation. On February 1, 2024, Castillo pled guilty to one count of bribery of a public official. On May 9, 2024, Castillo was sentenced to 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. “A federal officer who sells his office for personal gain shatters public trust in government officials,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza. “Unfortunately, Castillo’s crime unfairly tarnishes the honest officers who serve the public with dedication day in and day out. We will eagerly hold officers like Castillo accountable.” “Fernando Castillo engaged in conduct that betrayed the oath he took to faithfully serve the citizens of the United States of America,” said Special Agent in Charge John Morales of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “His behavior should not take away from the outstanding work done each day by the vast majority of law enforcement professionals at U.S. Border Patrol. The FBI encourages the public to continue to support our active and ongoing efforts to root out public corruption by reporting corrupt activity to the FBI El Paso Field Office at (915) 832-5000.” “CBP takes all allegations of misconduct seriously,” said CBP OPR Acting Special Agent in Charge Rosa P. Mendez-Mier. “CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility is proud to be a part of the Border Corruption Task Force and appreciates the hard work of all of the investigative agencies that contributed to this outcome.” The FBI, Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General, and United States Customs and Border Protection-Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Johnston prosecuted the case. ###


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Narcotics and Firearm Violations

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARRAN BOYKINS , a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on May 2, 2024, by U.S. Chief District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown, to 57 months incarceration after previously pleading guilty to Count 1 of an indictment. Chief Judge Brown also ordered that BOYKINS be placed on supervised release following 3 years of imprisonment. BOYKINS must also pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Count 1 charged BOYKINS with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). According to court documents, on March 20, 2021, New Orleans Police Department officers responded to an aggravated assault with a firearm at a residence in the Seventh Ward neighborhood of New Orleans. During the investigation, officers discovered ammunition in a dresser in the residence, along with BOYKINS’s Louisiana identification card. BOYKINS had prior felony convictions punishable by a term of imprisonment in excess of one year, that made his ammunition possession illegal. Most recently, BOYKINS was convicted on January 23, 2019, in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 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. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Fentanyl Importer Sentenced to More than Five Years in Prison

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Francisco Nicolas Orozco-Montijo, 28, a United States citizen residing in Nogales, Mexico, was sentenced on Wednesday by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 63 months in prison, followed by 60 months of supervised release. Orozco-Montijo pleaded guilty to Importation of Fentanyl on February 5, 2024. In March 2023, Orozco-Montijo applied for entry into the United States from Mexico via the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a search of his vehicle, Customs and Border Protection agents discovered over 50 kilograms of fentanyl concealed within the spare tire and rear quarter panels of the car. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00943-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-059_Orozco-Montijo # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Mexican National Found Guilty of Drug and Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: EL PASO – A federal jury convicted a Mexican national of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of straw purchasing firearms; one count of trafficking in firearms; and one count of conspiracy to smuggle bulk cash. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rene Hernandez-Cordero, 52, of Ciudad Juarez was involved in an organization that smuggled firearms into the Republic of Mexico and methamphetamine into the United States. In August 2023, Hernandez and co-defendant Jesus Gerardo Ramos, 53, of El Paso, met at a gas station in El Paso with the purpose of obtaining 20 AK-47 type firearms and two Barrett .50 caliber rifles which would have been smuggled to Mexico. Evidence produced at trial showed that this particular group smuggled hundreds of firearms from the United States into Mexico from August of 2022 to August of 2023. Co-defendants Ramos and Brian Alexis Munoz-Castro, 21, of El Paso pled guilty to one count of trafficking in firearms. Munoz also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Hernandez and Munoz face up to 10 years to life in prison on the methamphetamine conspiracy charge. Hernandez, Munoz and Ramos face up to 15 years in prison for each of the firearm charges and Hernandez faces up to 10 years in prison for the cash smuggling charge. Munoz is scheduled for sentencing July 10 and Ramos is scheduled for sentencing July 17, 2024. Hernandez is scheduled for sentencing on August 8, 2024. All defendants have remained in custody since their arrests in August 2023. The firearms charges are new offenses under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw purchasing of firearms. They also carry potential fines of up to $250,000. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the OCDETF El Paso / Las Cruces Strike Force is to target drug trafficking organizations along the southwest border that dominate the illicit drug trade and who are largely responsible for the violence plaguing the border communities. The OCDETF Strike Force Enforcement Group is comprised of agents and officers from Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations, Homeland Security Investigations, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorneys for the Western District of Texas in conjunction with an attorney from Customs and Border Protection Office of Chief Counsel. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the OCDETF El Paso/Las Cruces Strike Force Enforcement Group 3 investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Myers and Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Shannon Holderfield from Customs and Border Protection Office of Chief Counsel are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former Connecticut Resident Charged with Offenses Stemming from Alleged $4 Million Investment Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 21-count indictment charging JOHN A. MASANOTTI, JR. , 69, of Bonita Springs, Florida, with offenses stemming from an alleged investment fraud scheme. The indictment was returned on May 7, 2024, and Masanotti was arrested today. He appeared in federal court in Fort Myers, Florida, and was released on a $100,000 bond. Masanotti is scheduled to be arraigned in Hartford federal court on May 15. The indictment alleges that Masanotti, who formerly resided in Darien, Connecticut, was the owner and managing member of Middlesex Mortgage Group, LLC, also known as Middlesex Group, LLC (“Middlesex”), based in Darien. Through Middlesex, Masanotti, acting as an investment advisor, purported to manage a pooled investment vehicle on behalf of investors. Masanotti claimed to clients and potential clients that invested funds were going to be, and were in fact, pooled together and invested in foreign currency and other investments. Between approximately 2016 and 2023, Masanotti defrauded at least 10 clients of a total of more than $4 million by using their money for personal expenses, and to pay returns to other clients. Masanotti provided clients with fraudulent monthly account statements from Middlesex that showed fake investment profits. The indictment also alleges that Masanotti made false statements to the FBI during the investigation, and filed false records in an attempt to obstruct the investigation. The indictment charges Masanotti with eight counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; 11 counts of making illegal monetary transactions, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count; one count of making false statements, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years; and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; with the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry.


title: Bloomington Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for Receiving and Distributing Drugs Through the Postal Service

component: USAO - Illinois, Central

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – A Bloomington, Illinois husband and wife, Wesley Noonan, 50, and Christina Noonan, 44, of the 1900 block of East Taylor, were sentenced on May 8, 2024, to federal prison for conspiring to distribute, and possessing with intent to distribute, the fentanyl analogue, para-Fluorofentanyl. Christina Noonan was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Wesley Noonan, whom the court found played a minor role in the conspiracy as compared to his wife, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment. Wesley Noonan was also ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon completion of his term of imprisonment. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government presented evidence that Christina and Wesley Noonan, acting together, unlawfully received and sent a wide variety of drugs using the United States Postal Service. Acting from their home in Bloomington, Illinois, they utilized a popular phone application to coordinate with an overseas source of supply to obtain parcels of pills that they then further distributed throughout the United States using the United States Postal Service. The Noonans distributed these substances for over a year until April 6, 2022, when federal and state authorities executed a search warrant at their residence and uncovered the distribution center in their family home. A distribution log revealed that Christina, acting with Wesley’s assistance, mailed over 1,750 parcels containing over 250,000 Schedule I, II, and IV pills to locations in all 50 states between February 2021 and April 2022.The shipments included parcels logged as Tramadol, Zolpidem, Cathinone, Adderall, Lorazepam, Hydrocodone, Percocet, and other substances. Although the Noonans distributed a diverse spectrum of pills, the search warrant on their home yielded approximately 1,750 pills marked as Adderall, but which in fact tested positive as para-Fluorofentanyl, a Schedule I opioid analgesic analogue of fentanyl. A federal complaint, followed by an indictment, were filed in July 2022. Christina Noonan pleaded guilty in August 2023, and Wesley Noonan pleaded guilty in November 2023. The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute para-Fluorofentanyl are 10 years to life imprisonment, a possible $10,000,000 fine, followed by a minimum of 5 years of supervised release. At sentencing, both Christina and Wesley Noonan qualified for “safety valve” pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 3553(f), which relieves certain drug trafficking offenders from statutory mandatory minimum sentences. “This case demonstrates how illegal drug distribution is ever evolving and how law enforcement will use all available tools to counter it. It also shows why taking illegally obtained pills is extremely dangerous. As documented in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign, an illegally obtained pill, often manufactured overseas, can appear to be one substance, like Adderall, and in fact be something very different and deadly like fentanyl,” explained Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Unit, which focuses on cases involving pharmaceutical controlled substances diverted from the legal chain of commerce to the illegal drug market, investigated this case in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution.


title: Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty To Access Device Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft In Furtherance Of A Stolen Identity Tax Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – On May 8, 2024, Dolapo Lawal, age 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to federal charges of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office. According to the guilty plea, Lawal knowingly and willfully participated in and executed a stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme to obtain fraudulent tax refunds using the identities of elderly victims, then load those refunds onto debit cards tied to bank accounts opened in the victims’ names, send those cards to secure known addresses throughout the United States, and finally withdraw those refunds in cash. As outlined at his guilty plea Lawal’s involvement in the scheme can be grouped into two efforts. In the first instance, Lawal intentionally trafficked and used 24 Green Dot Bank debit cards in elderly victims’ names in the spring of 2022. These cards were fraudulently loaded with more than $200,000 in 2021 tax refunds, which were fraudulently obtained through identity theft. On April 8, 2022, the Baltimore County Police Department lawfully stopped and searched Lawal’s Mercedes S-class sedan. During the search, officers found approximately $18,900 in cash and these 24 debit cards in a bag left under Lawal’s seat. Lawal admitted to officers on the scene that this was his bag. The vehicle also contained multiple plastic bags filled with opened packaging for these or similar debit cards. Cell tower pings, automated license plate reader data, bank records, and Lawal’s admissions to law enforcement show that Lawal had used these 24 cards to conduct more than 300 cash withdrawals at ATMs to obtain more than $80,000 in the preceding month. Lawal later admitted that he used these fraudulent debit cards on multiple occasions to conduct cash withdrawals for his personal benefit – specifically to make payments on his Mercedes and to pay off personal credit card debt. In the second instance, Lawal possessed over 300 additional unique Green Dot Bank debit cards in his home on or about June 21, 2023. That day, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Lawal’s residence. During the search, IRS-CI agents found, among other items, a box containing more than 300 additional unique Green Dot Bank debit cards. Lawal’s iPhone – also seized pursuant to the same search warrant – contained photographs of several of these cards along with portions of the packaging for each of the cards that had the bank account number and routing number for the corresponding account associated with the card. Approximately 200 of these cards were linked to bank accounts opened in the names of additional victims, which were listed as the direct deposit accounts for fraudulent 2021 and 2022 tax refund claims filed in the names of those same victims. Many of these tax returns were filed after Lawal’s April 8, 2022 traffic stop. The total amount of fraudulent tax refund claims associated with these cards was over $3 million. The IRS had not issued these refund claims before law enforcement searched Lawal’s home. In total, Lawal’s offenses furthered a scheme to defraud the United States of over $3 million. Lawal faces a maximum of ten years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release for access device fraud. He also faces a minimum mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, which will run consecutive to the access device fraud sentence, followed by up to one year of supervised release. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov . Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the IRS-CI for its work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph L. Wenner, and Paul Riley, who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: California Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking Charges

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AL VERNON BROWN , age 52, a Los Angeles, California resident, pleaded guilty on May 8, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to a two-count indictment which charged him with conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, BROWN mailed half-kilogram quantities of heroin from California to his co-conspirators in New Orleans, including CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON and KEVIN JOHNSON. On June 22, 2021, agents seized a package containing 485 grams of heroin that was mailed by BROWN to Metairie, Louisiana and was intended for KEVIN JOHNSON. For each charge, BROWN faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years, up to forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the New Orleans Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, led the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: San Francisco Resident Pleads Guilty To Stealing Over $340,000 In Funds Intended For Low-Income Families

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Gregory Finkelson, a San Francisco resident, has pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property in connection with his fraudulent receipt of hundreds of thousands of dollars in low-income housing benefits, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Special Agent in Charge Mark Kaminsky; and IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office. Finkelson’s guilty plea was accepted by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge, on May 6, 2024. The Section 8 Certificate Program is a rent subsidy program funded by HUD and administered jointly in San Francisco by HUD and the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA). The program is intended to help low- and moderate-income families afford housing, and it has income limits and other eligibility requirements that applicants must meet to qualify for assistance. In his plea agreement, Finkelson, 64, admitted that, between approximately August 2006 and February 2020, he wrongfully claimed $341,455 in Section 8 Program subsidies by lying about his income and his ownership of (i) a San Francisco residence he purchased in 2005 that is now valued at approximately $2.4 million; and (ii) a business he ran out of his residence. He then used the funds he fraudulently obtained to benefit himself, including by funding his business, paying his credit card bills, and making payments on a timeshare in Hawaii. “This defendant fraudulently obtained housing benefits designated for some of the neediest individuals in our society and used them to enrich himself,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “I am proud of the work this Office does to prosecute those who defraud the government, particularly where, as here, it is low-income families who suffer the most as a result of the defendant’s selfish conduct.” “Finkelson stole money that was intended to provide safe housing for low-income families and used it for his own self-enrichment,” said HUD OIG Special Agent in Charge Mark Kaminsky. “HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to diligently pursue and hold accountable bad actors who willfully misuse federal assets.” “Today’s plea makes clear that greed does not pay. For years, Finkelson took advantage of Section 8 housing assistance funds by using nominee ownership to conceal his ill-gotten gains while simply lining his own pockets,” said CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley. “Our agents are experts at following the money and building cases that help bring financial criminals to justice.” Finkelson admitted that, as part of his scheme, he used the name of a Russian national living in Russia to purchase his San Francisco home, claiming, wrongfully, that she was his landlord and that he made rent payments to her. Finkelson also admitted he opened several bank accounts, including in the Russian national’s name, and that he used these bank accounts to conceal his use of the ill-gotten Section 8 Program subsidies. Finally, pursuant to his plea agreement, Finkelson agreed to pay at least $341,455 in restitution, which represents the total amount he admitted he stole from the government. Finkelson was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 25, 2023. He pleaded guilty this week to one count of theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 & 2, for which he faces a statutory maximum prison term of 10 years. In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order the defendant to pay a fine of up to $250,000 and to serve a term of supervised release of up to three years. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Judge Donato has scheduled Finkelson’s sentencing hearing for September 9, 2024. Assistant United States Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Kevin Yeh are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop and Laurence Macaraeg. The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the FBI, HUD OIG, and CI, with assistance from SFHA.


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to drug charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Carlo D’Angelo, 45, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (a-PVP), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2021, D’Angelo possessed approximately 6.1 grams of a-PVP, which he intended to sell, when he was located at a hotel in Amherst, NY. Also, located in D’Angelo’s vehicle were glass pipes with burnt residue, multiple plastic containers consistent with the manufacture of aPVP, and $5,100.00 in cash, proceeds of drug trafficking. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino, III, New York Field Division. Sentencing is scheduled for October 9, 2024, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Fredonia man pleads guilty to selling drugs that led to overdose death

body_text: U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that John Wallace Buchanan, 37, of Fredonia, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that during the conspiracy, Buchanan sold heroin, which he admits often contained fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He utilized social media to conduct his drug trafficking activities, and engage in unlawful firearms activities. Buchanan also utilized his residence to conduct his drug trafficking activities. One of Buchanan’s drug customers was an individual identified as B.G. In the early morning hours of January 10, 2022, the Ellicott Police Department responded to B.G.’s residence in Celoron, NY, for a death investigation. B.G. was found lying on the living room floor, clenching an elastic head band in his hands with a needle in close proximity. Law enforcement seized B.G.’s cell phone and recovered a social media conversation on January 7, 2022, between Buchanan and B.G., during which they discussed controlled substances. Buchanan sold methamphetamine and an opioid to B.G. later that day. The following day, B.G. sent Buchanan a message stating, “That stuff is strong.” This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, and the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: Bronx Resident Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Over Five Kilograms of Cocaine

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jevon Henry, age 42, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty today to possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. As part of his plea, Henry admitted that, on January 29, 2024, he travelled to Syracuse from New York City carrying approximately five and one-half kilograms of cocaine in two pieces of luggage. Henry also admitted that he intended to distribute the cocaine in Syracuse. Through investigation, DEA Agents were able to interdict Henry at a local hotel before he could distribute any of the cocaine. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2024, in Syracuse, at which time Henry faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 40 years, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. 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 United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case with assistance from the Syracuse Police Department, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case.


title: Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl with the Intent to Distribute

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jamall Harris, age 45, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. As part of his plea, Harris admitted that, on November 8, 2023, he possessed in his home and car over one kilogram of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl, which he intended to distribute. He further admitted that, before he committed this offense, he had previously been convicted in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with the intent to distribute. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2024, in Syracuse, at which time Harris faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, a fine of up to $2,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 6 years and up to life. 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 United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case with assistance from the United States Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case.


title: Troy Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK –Jamaine Myers, age 46, of Troy, New York, pled guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) by obtaining unemployment insurance benefits under the name of another person, including benefits funded by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, North East Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG). Myers admitted that he provided Carl J. DiVeglia III with the personal identifying information of a third party, which DiVeglia used to file a false claim via the NYSDOL website. DiVeglia previously pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $1.6 million in unemployment insurance benefits as part of the scheme. Charges against one of Myers’s co-defendants, Todd Ward, are still pending. The other two co-defendants, Christopher Ward and Rocco Resciniti, previously pled guilty. Myers faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on September 12, 2024, by United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. The FBI and USDOL-OIG are investigating this case, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph S. Hartunian and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Albany Resident Indicted for Child Pornography Crimes

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Stephen Brisee a/k/a Sage Brisee, age 30, of Albany, was indicted earlier this week for distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, made the announcement. A criminal complaint, previously filed in this case, alleges that Brisee distributed videos depicting adults sexually abusing girls as young as infants. The charges in the indictment and complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted on all charges, Brisee faces at least 15 years and up to 40 years in prison; a fine of up to $250,000; and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Brisee may also be ordered to forfeit the devices used to commit the crimes, and to pay restitution to victims. 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. Brisee would also be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. Brisee has been ordered detained pending trial. HSI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .