title: Former CEO Of Tribal Subsidiary Charged With Embezzling Over $500,000 From Yurok Tribe

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Jessica Engle on charges that she embezzled from an Indian tribal organization and stole funds from a program receiving federal funds. Engle, 42, of Gold Hill, Ore., was arrested on Oct. 2, 2024, and made an initial appearance in federal district court in Medford, Ore., that same day. Engle is scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge in San Francisco on Oct. 16, 2024, to face the charges. According to an indictment filed Sept. 25, 2024, and unsealed Oct. 3, 2024, Engle served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Yurok Telecommunications Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Yurok Tribe. Between July 2021 and May 2022, Engle allegedly embezzled approximately $579,574 from the Yurok Tribe. In the year preceding Engle’s alleged theft, the Yurok Tribe received over $10,000 in funding from the federal government. The indictment charges Engle with one count of embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1163, and one count of theft from programs receiving federal funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Engle faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1163 and 10 years in prison for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transactions per count. However, any sentence following conviction would 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. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josiah Bournes is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Soana Katoa. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI appreciate the assistance of the Yurok Tribal Police. Jessica Engle Indictment


title: Convicted Felon Arrested and Indicted Following Mail Robbery, Drug and Gun Crimes

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

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A convicted felon had his initial appearance today on two separate indictments, and will remain in custody. The defendant was arrested last month after allegedly committing mail robbery, and drug and gun crimes in the Spring of 2024 while on federal probation. Andres “Junior” Garcia, 35, of Salt Lake City was indicted twice by a federal grand jury in June 2024 once for robbery of mail, and then for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of firearms and ammunition. Since Garcia’s arrest, both indictments have been unsealed. According to court documents, in February 2024, Garcia allegedly stole mail from a U.S. Postal Service van and threatened the postal worker when he confronted Garcia. As alleged, Garcia reached into his sweatshirt, as if he had a weapon, and told the postal worker to “get back.” Garcia then ran off with the mail. In the second case, in March 2024, on three separate occasions, Garcia allegedly sold 500 fentanyl pills, four ounces of methamphetamine and three firearms, including a Bersa Firestorm pistol, a Smith & Wesson M&P 9C pistol, and a Girsan MC 1911 S XLV pistol, and associated ammunition. Garcia, a convicted felon, is restricted from possessing firearms and ammunition and was on felony probation at the time he allegedly committed these new offenses. United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement. The cases are being investigated jointly by Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, Metro Gang Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Trip to the G7 Interior Minister’s Meeting in Italy

component: Office of the Deputy Attorney General

body_text: Deputy Attorney General (Deputy AG) Lisa Monaco traveled to Mirabella Eclano, Italy, on Oct. 3-4 for the G7 Interior Ministers Meeting, where she highlighted the importance of international partnerships in supporting the rule of law and protecting against persistent global threats. The Deputy AG described the current threat environment to her G7 colleagues as a time where the threats have never been more diverse — from more aggressive actors — and all fueled by international conflicts and emerging, disruptive technologies — especially cyber and AI. She urged the ministers to stay united against threats posed by autocratic nations like Russia, Iran, and China looking to project power at home and abroad through transnational repression, malicious cyber activity, the abuse of emerging technologies, such as AI and cryptocurrencies, and malign foreign influence — especially in a global election year. The Deputy AG joined her colleagues in committing to deepening international collaboration against these threats, as well as against terrorism, malign cyber actors, and synthetic drugs such as fentanyl. She shared how the Justice Department is targeting the broader ecosystem that allows cyber criminals and malign nation state actors to flourish — by prioritizing disruptions and placing victims first — and also highlighted how the Department is tackling all aspects of the deadly fentanyl supply chain, in every part of the globe, to protect innocent lives. Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s brutal October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, the Deputy AG and Ministers unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, both online and offline. They pledged to continue the information sharing and law enforcement partnerships that are integral to thwarting acts of terror around the world. The Deputy AG and ministers also met virtually with Ukrainian Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, and reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine and their resolve to hold Russia accountable for the war crimes and atrocities it is perpetrating in its war of aggression. She reiterated the need for sustained coordination in these efforts and underscored the Justice Department’s continued efforts to deprive the Russian war machine of funding and supplies. She joined the other ministers in announcing new efforts to help Ukraine build the rule of law and fight corruption, including through a new G7 Anti-Corruption Task Force. As part of their efforts to build cooperation and coordination among the G7 to promote the rule of law around the world, the Deputy AG and Ministers discussed common frameworks to harness the promise of AI while also protecting against the perils of its abuse. The Deputy AG cautioned that AI is changing how crimes are committed, from intensifying cyberattacks, to making fraud scams more believable, to creating child exploitative material, to supercharging malign foreign influence in elections. On the margins of the G7 Ministerial, the Deputy AG held several bilateral meetings, including with United Kingdom Home Secretary Yvette Cooper; Canadian Minister of Public Safety Dominic Leblanc; German Minister of Interior Nancy Faeser; and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson. The Deputy AG also met with the G7 host, Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, to thank him for his leadership of the G7 and his hospitality. In all these discussions, the Deputy AG reinforced the steadfast commitment of the Justice Department to partnerships that uphold the rule of law and strengthen democracies around the world. Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi welcoming Deputy AG Monaco to the G7 Ministerial. Photo credit: Italian Ministry of the Interior. Deputy AG Monaco with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Photo credit: UK Home Office. Deputy AG Monaco with G7 leaders. Photo credit: Italian Ministry of the Interior. Deputy AG Monaco meeting with Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi. Photo credit: Italian Ministry of the Interior.


title: Arizona Felon Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Arizona man has been sentenced to 150 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for attempted possession with intent to distribute over two kilograms of fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on November 18, 2023, officers with the St. Paul Police Department (SPPD) responded to a 911 call regarding an unsolicited package containing a white powdery substance. They field tested the substance, determined it was narcotics, removed and replaced it with a GPS tracking device. Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations later observed Paris Jackson, 39, picking up the package at the residence and attempted to stop him as he returned to a waiting vehicle with the package in hand. Instead, Jackson fled and was pursued by law enforcement. He ultimately crashed into an SPPD squad car at approximately 80 miles per hour, which resulted in life threatening injuries to his passenger and minor injuries to an SPPD officer. He fled from the scene and was ultimately apprehended. On June 20, 2024, Jackson pleaded guilty to attempted possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Jackson has a criminal history dating back to 2001, including multiple felony convictions for controlled substance offenses. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Paul A. Magnuson. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the St. Paul Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Baumel and Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Leary Warns About Hurricane Helene Charity Scams

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney Peter Leary is warning the public to be vigilant to fraud attempts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. “Communities across the Middle District of Georgia and the Southeast are reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. It pains me that there are criminals who would exploit storm victims trying to rebuild their lives and take advantage of people’s goodwill toward their struggling neighbors,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia. “Let this serve as a warning to anyone attempting to scam Hurricane Helene victims and the people helping those in need: Our office will prosecute fraudsters to the fullest extent allowed under law.” On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions. The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings and other similar methods. Before donating to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including: Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics. Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts) and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers. Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity. Beware of organizations with copy-cat names that are similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities. Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals. Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in .org rather than .com. Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm . Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


title: Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Juan Chuc-Lacan, age 25, of Guatemala, was sentenced October 4, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Chuc-Lacan to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. In addition, Chuc-Lacan agreed to forfeit $14,726 as proceeds of the drug conspiracy. On March 30, 2023, the Omaha Police Department utilized a confidential witness (CW) to purchase 91 grams of meth from Jeffrey Beran. On May 31, 2023, another controlled buy was done utilizing a CW. The CW met with Beran, who told the CW that he had to go meet someone to get the meth. Beran was under surveillance and was observed meeting with someone driving a silver Malibu at the Oakview Mall parking lot. Beran returned to the CW and sold him 98 grams of meth. On June 2, 2023, Beran was arrested on outstanding warrants. While in custody, Beran received a text from his source asking how long it would take to meet him. Investigators were able to determine that the source was at a nearby Hy-Vee. After going to the Hy-Vee parking lot, investigators observed the same silver Malibu that Beran was seen meeting with during the prior controlled buy. Investigators made contact and observed 390 grams of pure meth sitting on the center console. The occupant, Juan Chuc-Lacan was arrested. A search of the vehicle resulted in $4106 being recovered. A door key for Victorian Inn was also found. Chuc-Lacan admitted to staying there and that additional meth would be located. Chuc-Lacan signed a consent to search form and officers recovered two additional pounds of meth and $10,620. Chuc-Lacan’s sentence was increased due to an April 27, 2023, traffic stop that occurred in Utah. During the traffic stop, the Utah State Patrol arrested Chuc-Lacan for driving on a suspended license. During an inventory search of his vehicle, 13 pounds of meth were located. Chuc-Lacan agreed to have the amount of meth seized in Utah be combined with the meth seized in Omaha for sentencing purposes on his federal case. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Utah State Patrol.


title: Saratoga County Business Owner Sentenced for Tax Evasion

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Bruce Bochette, age 67, of Charlton, New York, was sentenced today to 1 year of probation, to pay a $20,000 fine, and to pay $219,706 in restitution, for evading taxes on unreported business income. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas Fattorusso, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), New York Field Division, made the announcement. Bochette operates a commercial painting business. In pleading previously guilty, he admitted that for tax years 2017 through 2021, he evaded income taxes by depositing checks, and portions of checks, into his personal account that were payments from his company’s commercial painting clients. Bochette did not report this income to the IRS, on either his company’s tax returns or his personal tax returns, and did not pay taxes on it. Bochette admitted to not reporting $825,719.56 in business income, and to evading the assessment and payment of $219,706 in taxes. Bochette has already made a full restitution payment in the amount of $219,706. IRS-CI investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett prosecuted this case.


title: Columbus man sentenced to 6 years in prison for conspiring to launder $9.5 million in drug proceeds

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in federal court here today to 72 months in prison for conspiring to launder millions of dollars of drug trafficking money through a Columbus grocery store front business. From at least 2016 until at least 2021, Alejandro Ventura-Santos, 45, conspired to launder upwards of $9.5 million in drug proceeds. The defendant purported to help operate La Tiendita, a small grocery store in Columbus that actually served as a large-scale money-laundering hub. Drug traffickers would come into the store and drop off large amounts of cash to Ventura-Santos, who would then falsify sender names and addresses and wire the drug money to dealers in structured amounts. According to court documents, Ventura-Santos wired the money to drug trafficking organizations in Mexico in aid of their drug trafficking in central Ohio. The defendant structured the amount and timing of transactions to avoid reporting requirements and detection. As one example, Ventura-Santos accepted $9,900 from undercover agents who said they were heroin dealers. The defendant kept a 10 percent commission from the undercover agents and wired the money to the provided recipient names. In total, Ventura-Santos personally obtained at least $1 million, which he will forfeit. Ventura-Santos was charged federally in August 2023 and pleaded guilty in April 2024. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Cincinnati Field Office; Dublin Police Chief Justin Paez; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant and officials with the Ohio HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Commission announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys S. Courter Shimeall and Timothy Prichard are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Miami Tax Return Preparers and Brothers Agree to Permanent Injunction

component: Tax Division

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a permanent injunction today against Miami tax return preparers and brothers, George and Luis Brito, and their businesses. The permanent injunction bars George Brito from preparing federal income tax returns, working for or having any ownership stake in any tax preparation business, assisting others (including family members) prepare tax returns or set up business as a preparer and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity. The court similarly enjoined Luis Brito, George’s brother, from preparing income tax returns for individuals. The Britos consented to entry of the permanent injunction against them. The complaint alleged that George and Luis Brito owned or controlled Brito and Brito Accounting USA Inc. According to the complaint, the Brito brothers prepared returns for customers that claimed various false or fabricated deductions and credits, including fabricated residential energy credits, false and exaggerated itemized deductions and fictitious and inflated business expenses. According to the permanent injunction, George Brito and his businesses are forever barred from preparing returns for others and from any involvement in the preparation of federal tax returns. He has closed his office located at 407 Lincoln Rd #9A, Miami Beach, FL 33139. The terms of the agreed order require Luis Brito to inform his customers that has been permanently enjoined from preparing tax returns except for certain types of business forms, including those reporting payroll, unemployment and corporate income taxes. The agreed order states that as a condition for being allowed to prepare those forms, the IRS is allowed to make unscheduled and random on-site visits to Luis Brito’s business and requires him to complete at least 24 hours of tax preparation education by Dec. 31. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. Brito Consent Injunction.pdf


title: Justice Department Disrupts Russian Intelligence Spear-Phishing Efforts

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of a warrant authorizing the seizure of 41 internet domains used by Russian intelligence agents and their proxies to commit computer fraud and abuse in the United States. As an example of the Department’s commitment to public-private operational collaboration to disrupt such adversaries’ malicious cyber activities, as set forth in the National Cybersecurity Strategy, the Department acted concurrently with a Microsoft civil action to restrain 66 internet domains used by the same actors. “Today’s seizure of 41 internet domains reflects the Justice Department’s cyber strategy in action – using all tools to disrupt and deter malicious, state-sponsored cyber actors,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The Russian government ran this scheme to steal Americans’ sensitive information, using seemingly legitimate email accounts to trick victims into revealing account credentials. With the continued support of our private sector partners, we will be relentless in exposing Russian actors and cybercriminals and depriving them of the tools of their illicit trade.” “This disruption exemplifies our ongoing efforts to expel Russian intelligence agents from the online infrastructure they have used to target individuals, businesses, and governments around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Working closely with private-sector partners such as Microsoft, the National Security Division uses the full reach of our authorities to confront the cyber-enabled threats of tomorrow from Russia and other adversaries.” "Working in close collaboration with public and private sector partners—in this case through the execution of domain seizures — we remain in prime position to counter and defeat a broad range of cyber threats posed by adversaries,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “Our efforts to prevent the theft of information by state-sponsored criminal actors are relentless, and we will continue our work in this arena with partners who share our common goals.” “This seizure is part of a coordinated response with our private sector partners to dismantle the infrastructure that cyber espionage actors use to attack U.S. and international targets,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “We thank all of our private-sector partners for their diligence in analyzing, publicizing, and combating the threat posed by these illicit state-coordinated actions in the Northern District of California, across the United States, and around the world.” The domain names are identified below: accutanebb[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 1 albuteroltab[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 2 allowdoorinto[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 3 baijiapaintbrush[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 4 baricitinc[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 5 cbdhempoilww[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 6 cbdonlineww[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 7 cenforcep[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 8 cialismgz[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 9 delitky[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 10 divisionintro[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 11 dompurifycheerio[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 12 fastloginway[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 13 fasttruncatedoor[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 14 finduscore[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 15 gateallowsearch[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 16 ghxsjyk[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 17 gnfamotidine[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 18 gnibuprofen[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 19 govdoorsec[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 20 hempcbdww[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 21 inthetrustview[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 22 ithostprotocol[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 23 ivermectint[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 24 londonshowcorp[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 25 maxlliance[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 26 myavtsim[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 27 newtransfersearch[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 28 outviewmachine[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 29 setitcloud[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 30 smartloginbreak[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 31 smartscontract[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 32 tipstoway[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 33 toolpointtrim[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 34 trustvaluespath[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 35 verificationtrim[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 36 viewwaypath[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 37 waylogintexas[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 38 webgovview[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 39 wingscamein[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 40 incomcorporate[.]com SUBJECT DOMAIN NAME 41 According to the partially unsealed affidavit filed in support of the government’s seizure warrant, the seized domains were used by hackers belonging to, or criminal proxies working for, the “Callisto Group,” an operational unit within Center 18 of the Russian Federal Security Service (the FSB), to commit violations of unauthorized access to a computer to obtain information from a department or agency of the United States, unauthorized access to a computer to obtain information from a protected computer, and causing damage to a protected computer. Callisto Group hackers used the seized domains in an ongoing and sophisticated spear-phishing campaign with the goal of gaining unauthorized access to, and steal valuable information from, the computers and email accounts of U.S. government and other victims. In conjunction, Microsoft announced the filing of a civil action to seize 66 internet domains also used by Callisto Group actors. Microsoft Threat Intelligence tracks this group as “Star Blizzard” (formerly SEABORGIUM, also known as COLDRIVER). Between January 2023 and August 2024, Microsoft observed Star Blizzard target over 30 civil society entities and organizations – journalists, think tanks, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) – by deploying spear-phishing campaigns to exfiltrate sensitive information and interfere in their activities. The government’s affidavit alleges the Callisto Group actors targeted, among others, U.S.-based companies, former employees of the U.S. Intelligence Community, former and current Department of Defense and Department of State employees, U.S. military defense contractors, and staff at the Department of Energy. In December 2023, the Department announced charges against two Callisto-affiliated actors, Ruslan Aleksandrovich Peretyatko (Перетятько Руслан Александрович), an officer in FSB Center 18, and Andrey Stanislavovich Korinets (Коринец Андрей Станиславович). The indictment charged the defendants with a campaign to hack into computer networks in the United States, the United Kingdom, other North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries, and Ukraine, all on behalf of the Russian government. The FBI San Francisco Field Office is investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the Justice Department’s National Security Cyber Section of the National Security Division are prosecuting the case. The case is docketed at Application by the United States for a Seizure Warrant for 41 Domain Names For Investigation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) and Other Offenses , No. 4-24-71375 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 16, 2024). An affidavit in support of a seizure warrant and an indictment are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Construction Company CEO and Foreperson Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in Connection with Newark Lead Service Line Replacement Program

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: Video Statement NEWARK, N.J. – The chief executive officer of a construction company and a foreperson for the company were arrested today for their roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the Newark Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Michael Sawyer, 57, of Burlington, New Jersey, and Latronia Sanders, aka “Tee,” 55, of Roselle, New Jersey, are each charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They are scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court. “As our complaint alleges, Michael Sawyer and Latronia Sanders worked for a company hired by the city of Newark to replace lead pipes, but instead, they intentionally left lead pipes in the ground. By causing misleading photographs and verification forms to be submitted, Sawyer and Sanders concealed that they intentionally did not replace lead pipes and defrauded Newark by collecting payment for work they did not properly perform. Today, we begin the process of holding them accountable.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “For years, lead pipes that transport drinking water to homes in Newark remained buried in the ground after the city hired a company to replace them,” Newark FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado said. “The business, along with others, were paid to replace the water service lines because any amount of lead exposure is detrimental to people's health, particularly for children. We allege the subjects in this investigation knew they were not replacing the lead pipes, and then passed off misleading photos to conceal the ones they left in the ground. We are asking anyone who sees something or knows something they want to report to please call FBI Newark at 973-792-3000. We will hold accountable anyone who sees a payday in ripping off governmental agencies entrusted to protect the communities they serve.” “These defendants allegedly undercut Newark’s lead service line replacement project that sought removal of all lead lines throughout the city,” Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon with Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division in New Jersey said. “Violators who employ deception to compromise the integrity of important public drinking water related projects will be criminally investigated and held to account.” “The EPA OIG is committed to doggedly pursuing criminal activity that targets critical water infrastructure funding," said Special Agent in Charge Nicolas Evans of the EPA Office of Inspector General. "Taking government funds but failing to replace lead service lines defrauds the program and hurts Americans’ access to safe drinking water.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Beginning in 2016, high levels of lead were found in the drinking water in some of Newark’s schools. From 2017 to 2019, periodic testing of Newark’s drinking water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) showed lead levels that were among the highest of any major city in the United States. In March 2019, Newark announced plans to replace approximately 18,000 lead service lines within city limits as part of its LSLR Program. Newark hired an engineering firm to oversee the implementation of the program and contractors to complete the replacement work. JAS Group Enterprise Inc. (JAS) was one of the contractors hired by Newark. Prior to being hired as a contractor, JAS also worked on the LSLR Program as a subcontractor for another construction company. Sawyer was the president and chief executive officer of JAS and responsible for overseeing and managing JAS’s operations. Sanders was employed by JAS as a foreperson of JAS crews assigned to replace lead pipes in Newark during the LSLR Program. Sawyer, Sanders, and others conspired to defraud Newark and others in connection with JAS’s performance as a contractor and as a subcontractor during the LSLR Program. As alleged in the complaint, Sawyer, Sanders, and others intentionally failed to replace all lead pipes at certain locations as required under the terms of the relevant contracts, yet caused the submission of payment applications to Newark falsely representing that JAS completed the work in accordance with the contracts. Sawyer, Sanders, and others submitted false or misleading documents to support payment applications with respect to certain work sites. These materials included photographs that visually represented that the lead replacement was done or was unnecessary, but in fact were taken in a way to conceal that lead pipes were left in place. At other sites where the water service lines already consisted entirely of copper pipes, Sawyer, Sanders, and others conspired to falsely represent that JAS had installed those copper pipes after removing lead pipes. Sawyer, Sanders, and others then caused the submission of fraudulent payment applications for work that JAS never completed, and induced Newark to pay JAS for work that JAS did not perform. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, twice the gross profits, or twice the gross loss suffered by the victims of the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Delgado in Newark; the EPA, Criminal Investigation Division Northeast Area Branch, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amon; the EPA Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Evans, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edeli Rivera, Clara Kim, and Katherine Calle of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. sawyersanders.complaint.pdf


title: Decatur Man Sentenced for Attempting to Sell Thousands of Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ATLANTA – Gregory Buckner has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin and attempting to sell thousands of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone tablets. “Fentanyl and heroin pose an especially insidious danger to the public because they are so often disguised as counterfeit pills,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This investigation and prosecution are the product of our collaborative efforts with our law enforcement partners to remove these deadly drugs from our communities and hold accountable individuals, such as Buckner, who attempt to distribute and profit from them.” “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The investigation and subsequent conviction of this drug dealer demonstrates the DEA’s commitment to fight drug traffickers who have no regard for the citizens of our community.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In April 2023, Buckner attempted to sell 10,000 pills that purported to be oxycodone, but actually contained fentanyl. When investigators confronted Buckner in a vehicle just prior to this drug transaction, he jumped out of his car and fled on foot. DEA special agents then searched a storage unit rented by Buckner and found a kilogram of fentanyl and more than a kilogram of heroin. Buckner was arrested three months later as part of a fugitive operation. Gregory Buckner, 48, of Decatur, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May to six years, 11 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Buckner was convicted of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, after he pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric J. White and John T. DeGenova prosecuted the case. The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia recommends that parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following websites: www.justthinktwice.gov ; www.operationprevention.com/ ; and www.dea.gov/onepill . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Man Sentenced for Attempting to Traffic Firearms Internationally

body_text: ATLANTA - Sourivahn Phonthepsone, a Canadian citizen, has been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to traffic 50 firearms to Ontario, Canada. “Firearm traffickers present a danger to communities everywhere, both nationally and internationally,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We remain resolute in our unwavering commitment to work with our federal law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle gun trafficking operations and to prosecute those who jeopardize the safety of our communities by funneling firearms to criminals.” “The arrest and conviction of this individual represent a significant victory in the fight against international firearms trafficking,” said ATF Assistant Agent in Charge Alicia D. Jones. “Our agents executed a meticulously planned operation, ensuring that dangerous weapons never made it into criminal hands. ATF will continue to be relentless in its pursuit of those who endanger public safety.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Over a three-month period in 2023, Phonthepsone conspired with multiple individuals to purchase 50 firearms for $40,000 from a source in Atlanta, Georgia, with the intent of transporting the firearms to Canada for resale. In August 2023, Phonthepsone resided in Ontario, Canada and began communicating with a source in the United States about acquiring firearms. Phonthepsone asked the source to provide a quote for the price of each firearm. He also offered to travel to the United States to meet the source in person. In September 2023, Phonthepsone flew from Toronto, Canada to Dallas, Texas and met with the source and an undercover federal agent. During the meeting, Phonthepsone and the two individuals discussed the types and prices of firearms for purchase. Phonthepsone indicated that his associates would transport 20 firearms into Canada at a time. He agreed to pay $800 per firearm and estimated they would resell for approximately $2,000 each in Canada. At the end of the meeting, Phonthepsone gave the undercover agent a $1,000 down payment. Phonthepsone returned to Canada the next day. On October 6, 2023, Phonthepsone flew from Toronto to Atlanta and arranged to meet with the undercover agent on October 11, 2023, to make a deal to purchase the firearms. Phonthepsone met the undercover agent at a storage unit in Fairburn, Georgia, where he gave the agent $40,000 in cash for the firearms. After Phonthepsone initiated the transfer for some of the 50 firearms, ATF special agents arrested him without incident. Sourivahn Ed Phonthepsone, 24, of Ontario, Canada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. to seven years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Phonthepsone was convicted of the firearms trafficking conspiracy charge on April 29, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise K. Peters prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of 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. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Readout of the Criminal Division’s Symposium on Artificial Intelligence in the Justice Department

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) co-hosted the Artificial Intelligence in the Department of Justice Symposium in Washington, D.C., at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Oct. 2. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Criminal Division, kicked off the symposium by delivering a keynote speech describing the promises and perils of artificial intelligence (AI) and announcing a new Strategic Approach to Countering Cybercrime that is part of the division’s plan to combat cybercrime and other offenses enabled by emerging technology like AI. The Strategic Approach emphasizes the division’s focus on using all tools to disrupt criminal activity and hold criminal actors accountable, developing law and policy to prevent and prosecute cybercrime, and promoting cybersecurity through capacity building and public education. As part of the Strategic Approach’s focus on developing law and policy to prevent and prosecute cybercrime, PDAAG Argentieri announced the division’s support for the UN Convention on Cybercrime , which the department negotiated along with its interagency partners to address the need for international cooperation on combatting cybercrime while protecting civil rights. In addition, PDAAG Argentieri announced that, as part of the Strategic Approach’s focus on promoting cybersecurity, the division will engage with external stakeholders to update CCIPS’s Vulnerability Disclosure Framework to foster the responsible use of vulnerability testing and reporting and to account for the need for good-faith security research into AI systems. As PDAAG Argentieri noted, such research can help identify systems whose operations or outputs are unsafe, inaccurate, or ineffective for their intended uses and can protect against potentially serious harms to individual rights. A newly released Fact Sheet illustrates the recent enforcement actions that CCIPS has taken in furtherance of its Strategic Approach. Since 2021, CCIPS, working with domestic and international law enforcement partners, has: Disrupted seven of the most prolific ransomware variants, including by seizing their infrastructure and distributing their decryption keys to victims—thereby saving victims from having to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom payments; Ended the operation of a malicious proxy service, three criminal cryptocurrency money laundering or transmitting services, two major hacker forums, and two online criminal marketplaces — thereby disrupting criminals who were using those services for narcotics trafficking, computer crimes, identity theft, and child exploitation; Liberated more than 20 million computers from botnets or other forms of malicious software; and Publicly announced the conviction of over 100 defendants in connection with schemes involving ransomware, malware, criminal marketplaces, and cryptocurrency. The symposium was attended by members of government, industry, academia, civil society, and the public, and a recording of the livestream is available on the symposium webpage . PDAAG Argentieri Delivers Remarks at the Symposium on Artificial Intelligence in the Justice Department.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Charges

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Arkmeem Y. Vaughn, age 51, of Zanesville, Ohio, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for methamphetamine charges. Vaughn pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in February 2024. According to court documents and statements made in court, the Elkins Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Vaughn and found 151 grams of crystal methamphetamine, $7,000 cash, and a drug ledger. Vaughn was traveling from Ohio to Elkins to sell methamphetamine. Vaughn will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Ten Pharmaceutical Distributor Executives, Sales Representatives, and Brokers Charged in Connection with Unlawful Sales of Nearly 70M Opioid Pills

body_text: Remote video URL Note: View DEA Administrator Anne Milgram's remarks (YouTube). Charges against five pharmaceutical distributor executives and five pharmaceutical sales representatives and brokers have been unsealed in the Southern District of Texas, Southern District of Florida, Eastern District of Missouri, and Eastern District of North Carolina as part of a larger enforcement action related to the unlawful distribution of nearly 70 million opioid pills and over 30 million doses of other commonly abused prescription drugs to alleged Houston-area pill-mill pharmacies. Three Houston-area pharmacy operators were also charged in the Southern District of Texas for their role in the schemes. Nine individuals have pleaded guilty. According to court documents, the opioids allegedly distributed — oxycodone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone — were available in numerous strengths and forms, but the distributors allegedly sold the drugs almost exclusively in their most abused, most powerful immediate-release pill forms — i.e., the ones that sold for the most money on the black market. The distributors also allegedly sold prescription drug potentiators — alprazolam, carisoprodol, and promethazine with codeine syrup — known for their reputation of enhancing the high from the opioids. The distributors allegedly charged their Houston customers far more for the drugs than what a legitimate pharmacy could or would pay. “The defendants, including pharmaceutical drug distributors, allegedly exploited the opioid crisis for profit — selling dangerous and addictive drugs to pill-mill pharmacies at above-market prices, knowing that the drugs would end up on the black market,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The drugs had a staggering black-market value of over $1.3 billion. These charges represent the Justice Department’s largest criminal enforcement action targeting executives, brokers, and alleged pill-mill pharmacy owners for unlawfully distributing opioids and other commonly abused drugs. Our message is clear: we will not hesitate in our pursuit of those involved in dumping addictive pharmaceutical drugs onto the streets.” As alleged in the charging documents, the defendants mostly targeted pill-mill pharmacies in and around Houston — a nationally recognized “hot zone” for diversion of pharmaceutical opioids onto the black market. The distributors sought to thwart the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)'s oversight function in several ways, including by following what one defendant called a “blueprint” for avoiding detection: high prices, low purchasing limits for the controlled drugs, and compliance measures that only served appearances. In addition, the distributors were all located outside Texas, far removed from their Houston-area pill-mill pharmacy customers and the communities ravaged by their alleged offenses. “The defendants in the charges announced today are alleged to be responsible for significantly contributing to the devastation caused by the opioid crisis by knowingly supplying pill-mill pharmacies and coaching pharmacy operators on how to evade law enforcement detection. According to the charging documents, they knowingly sold bulk narcotics to drug traffickers and to pharmacies they knew were selling to drug traffickers,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “As alleged, these defendants — owners, CEOs, executives, brokers — put profits over the health and safety of the American public. No one is above the law. If you contribute to the opioid epidemic, if you profit from the devastation of communities, we will hold you accountable. I commend the collaboration between DEA’s Diversion Control Division, our field divisions in St. Louis, Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix, Louisville and Houston, and our other state and federal law enforcement partners whose dedication to this investigation led us here today.” “The distributors that sourced pills into the Houston area may be located across the country in Arizona, Florida, Maryland, California, North Carolina, and elsewhere, but they targeted Houston, helping to make it a known ‘hot zone’ for drug diversion,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “This office will always support the prosecution of individuals who try to thwart law enforcement and oversight by operating across state lines, posing as legitimate businesses, while in reality poisoning our district by targeting pill mills with precisely the drugs at the heart of our country’s addiction crisis. While there remain others who will be held accountable in the future, these cases build on this district’s history of systematically dismantling pill-mill clinics, pharmacies, and the often-violent drug-trafficking organizations, responsible for selling these pills in our community.” “The use of protocols outside of common industry practice has contributed to the current opioid epidemic. To boost their profits, bad actors facilitate the distribution of opioids without medical necessity, threatening the lives and health of the public and the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agency, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to thoroughly investigate such schemes.” “The FBI is dedicated to stopping dangerous controlled drugs from ending up in the wrong hands in communities across the country,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “These charges are another example of our continued multi-prong attack on those who contribute to the opioid crisis. The FBI and our partners investigate crimes at every level from the wholesaler pharmaceutical companies supplying the local pill-mill pharmacies to those selling the dangerous drugs on the street and black-market. We will not let anyone cash in and take advantage of people dealing with a drug addiction.” “Supplying diverted prescription drugs undermines FDA safeguards designed to protect the public, compromising public safety for personal gain,” said Assistant Commissioner Justin Green of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI). “This investigation is a clear demonstration that the FDA will not stop pursuing and bringing to justice those who put the public health at risk.” “Today’s charges are a reminder of the continued danger of the opioid epidemic and the resolve of the investigative and legal teams,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service's Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). “Anyone, including corporate executives, who knowingly facilitates opioid abuse will be held accountable for their greed and total disregard for safety.” According to court documents, the following individuals were charged as part of today’s enforcement action: Sheldon Dounn , 71, of Plantation, Florida, was charged for allegedly brokering the sale of millions of opioid pills and other commonly abused prescription drugs, mostly to Houston-area independent pharmacies that then sold the pills on to the black market. He was indicted in the Southern District of Texas with five counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances; two counts of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense, and possess with intent to distribute and dispense, controlled substances; and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with a scheme to unlawfully distribute and dispense nearly 10 million opioid pills to pharmacies in Houston and Florida. Richard “Dick” Osbourne , 78, of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense, and possess with intent to distribute and dispense, controlled substances, and Courtney Rotenberry , 45, of Savannah, Tennessee, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of conspiracy to use a communications facility to further the commission of a drug felony, in connection with the same scheme. According to court documents, Osbourne was the president of Wholesale Rx, while Rotenberry served as sales manager and, for a brief period, managed day-to-day operations at the company, including purported compliance. She also handled some of the company’s pharmacy accounts. As alleged, Dounn brought Wholesale Rx what he called the “model” — a “blueprint” for staying “under the radar” of regulators and law enforcement through over-market prices, low purchasing limits, and perfunctory compliance in hopes of making a “lot of money” — which was based on Dounn’s experience as a pharmaceutical sales broker. Dounn allegedly brokered sales of commonly abused prescription drugs from Wholesale Rx to his pharmacy customers in Houston. Dounn also allegedly sold the same pills from at least two other wholesalers to his Houston-area customers and some Florida customers, often in addition to the drugs the pharmacies purchased from Wholesale Rx. Rotenberry also falsely represented to the DEA that Wholesale Rx preformed meaningful due diligence on its Houston-area pharmacy customers when Wholesale Rx did not. If convicted, Dounn faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each unlawful distribution-related count and five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Osbourne faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Rotenberry faces a maximum penalty of five years on the conspiracy to defraud the United States count and four years on the conspiracy to use a communications facility to further the commission of a drug felony count. Hernan Alvarez , 52, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances in connection with a scheme to distribute over 18.6 million commonly abused opioid units. As alleged, Alvarez, the president of DEA-registered pharmaceutical distributor Salus Medical LLC (Salus), along with his co-conspirators, aimed to generate profits by selling commonly abused opioids and other drugs into the Houston market. Despite a meeting with DEA officials in 2017, during which Alvarez and his sales manager were informed of distributors’ obligations to provide effective controls against diversion and were trained on red flags for Salus to look out for, Alvarez targeted certain Houston-area pharmacies because those pharmacies were willing to pay over-market prices for commonly abused prescription drugs. Alvarez knew that these Houston-area pharmacies were able to pay inflated prices for the drugs because the pharmacies unlawfully sold them, for cash, mainly to street-level drug dealers. Alvarez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Joshua Weinstein , 50, of Miami, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense, and possess with intent to distribute and dispense, controlled substances; and Derrick “Chad” Atkinson , 40, of Lumberton, North Carolina, was charged by information in the Eastern District of North Carolina with the same, in connection with a scheme to distribute over 7 million hydrocodone, oxycodone, and hydromorphone pills. As alleged, Weinstein was the president of a pharmaceutical drug wholesaler headquartered in Miami, and Atkinson was a sales representative who serviced many of the company’s Houston-area pharmacy accounts. Weinstein, Atkinson, and their co-conspirators allegedly sold commonly abused prescription drugs at a large markup into the Houston market, while implementing purported compliance measures that mostly facilitated, instead of prevented, diversion. According to court documents, in or around 2017, after Atkinson was hired, the company’s sales of commonly abused prescription drugs to Houston-area pharmacies dramatically increased. In addition to serving as president of the Miami wholesaler, Weinstein served as a sales representative for an alleged Houston-area pill-mill pharmacy, for which Weinstein secured an increase in the pharmacy’s purchasing limits for commonly abused prescription drugs and picked non-controlled substances the pharmacy needed to purchase to meet the wholesaler’s required controlled-to-non-controlled substance purchasing ratio. Weinstein faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted, Atkinson faces the same. Jason Smith , 43, of Plantation, Florida, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense, and possess with intent to distribute and dispense, controlled substances. Joseph Pesserillo , 38, of The Villages, Florida, and Cassandra Rivera , 40, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, were charged by information in the Southern District of Florida with one count of conspiracy to use a communications facility to further the commission of a drug felony. All three defendants were charged in connection with a scheme to facilitate the distribution of tens of millions of commonly abused prescription drugs from Salus and three other pharmaceutical drug wholesalers. According to court documents, Smith owned and operated Proven Rx Sales LLC (Proven), a purported pharmaceutical consulting company that helped mid-level distributors sell commonly abused prescription drugs to Houston-area pill-mill pharmacies. Smith dealt primarily with the owners and upper management for Proven’s distributors, while Proven sales representatives Pesserillo and Rivera allegedly serviced the accounts of pill-mill pharmacies in the Houston area. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted, Pesserillo and Rivera each face a maximum penalty of four years in prison. Eric Bailey , 59, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Missouri to one count of possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone and oxycodone, in connection with a scheme to distribute over 11 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills. According to court documents, Bailey, the owner and operator of Emed Medical Company LLC (Emed), a pharmaceutical drug distributor, controlled Emed’s purchase and sale of controlled substances — including purchasing the commonly abused prescription drugs sold to Houston-area pharmacies — setting prices, approving new customers, and setting purported compliance protocols. In December 2021, Bailey was notified by a drug manufacturer that unless Emed implemented improved due diligence programs, the manufacturer would no longer sell Emed controlled substances. Bailey received compliance recommendations but did not implement them. Instead he purchased from a new drug manufacturer thousands of oxycodone and hydrocodone pills with the intent to distribute them to Emed’s Houston-area pharmacy customers that he knew would unlawfully distribute them. Bailey faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Velencia Griffin , 42, Kendal Lyons , 29, and Andre Reid , 44, of Houston, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances. Griffin, Lyons, and Reid operated Houston-area pharmacies that purchased commonly abused controlled pharmaceutical drugs ordered through Sheldon Dounn. Griffin, Lyons, and Reid each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. DEA, HHS-OIG, FBI, USPS-OIG, FDA-OCI, and MFCU investigated the case, with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, General Services Administration Office of Inspector General, Broward Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department, and other federal and state law enforcement agencies. Today’s enforcement action was led and coordinated by Trial Attorneys Drew Pennebaker and Devon Helfmeyer and Assistant Chief Aleza Remis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section's Health Care Fraud Unit. Trial Attorneys Drew Pennebaker and Devon Helfmeyer are prosecuting the cases, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fyffe for the Southern District of Texas is assisting with forfeiture. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Texas, Southern District of Florida, Eastern District of Missouri, and Eastern District of North Carolina assisted with the prosecutions. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Atkinson information Bailey information Smith information Weinstein information


title: Two Foreign Nationals Sentenced for Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Defraud Apple Inc. Out of 6,000 iPhones

body_text: Two men were sentenced yesterday for participating in a scheme to defraud Apple Inc. (Apple) out of millions of dollars worth of iPhones. Haotian Sun, 34, a Chinese citizen residing in Baltimore, was sentenced to 57 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,072,200 in restitution to Apple and a forfeiture money judgment of $53,610. Pengfei Xue, 34, a Chinese citizen residing in Germantown, Maryland, was sentenced to 54 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $397,800 in restitution to Apple and a forfeiture money judgment of $19,890. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from May 2017 to September 2019, Sun and Xue, along with their co-conspirators, submitted counterfeit iPhones to Apple for repair to induce Apple to replace the counterfeit phones with genuine iPhones. As part of the scheme, Sun and Xue would receive shipments of inauthentic iPhones from Hong Kong at UPS mailboxes throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. They then submitted the fake iPhones, with spoofed serial numbers or IMEI numbers, to Apple retail stores, including an Apple Store in Washington, and other authorized Apple service providers. Members of the conspiracy submitted more than 6,000 inauthentic phones to Apple during the conspiracy, causing a loss of more than $2.5 million. On Feb. 20, Sun and Xue were both convicted after a five-day jury trial of one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Sun was also convicted of one count of mail fraud and Xue was convicted of six counts of mail fraud. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia; Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Washington Division; and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office made the announcement. USPIS and HSI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Ryan Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.


title: U. S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison Announces Over $66 Million in Justice Department Grants to Address and Support the Needs of Residents of the Eastern District of Michigan

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison today announced awards of $66,443,451 in Department of Justice grants to help support a variety of victim assistance programs, emergency management programs, and tribal governments. The grants awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs also included tools to reduce violent crime in the Eastern District of Michigan. United States Attorney Ison stated, “These awards reflect the many ways that the Department of Justice is engaged to improve the lives of the residents of this District. We are proud to support the work of our state, local, tribal, and community partners across our District and our whole state in a wide range of activities including reducing violent crime, assisting crime victims, supporting tribal governments, and protecting the rights of those who may have been wrongfully accused of crimes.” Some of the recipients include: Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan received $899,993.00. The tribe is a federally recognized tribe located in central Michigan. With this funding the tribe will implement supports for permanent supportive housing for residents in substance use disorder recovery. County of Washtenaw, the City of Saginaw, Alternatives for Girls, Sisters Against Abuse Society, Eleven24 Inc., Human Development Commission, Underground Railroad and Sasha Center, Inc. all received awards, totaling nearly $3.8 million, to support community-based programs assisting victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. FORCE Detroit (Faithfully Organizing Resources for Community Empowerment ). FORCE Detroit is a culmination of interfaith, grassroots, and public sector leaders committed to having hard conversations about complex community issues. FORCE Detroit received $1,999,998.00. Through this award, FORCE Detroit will implement The Keepers community violence intervention (CVI) program in Detroit. The purpose is to expand and enhance evidence-based and innovative practices that reduce and prevent gun violence in the city’s Warrendale Cody Rouge neighborhood. Common Ground . Common Ground, nationally recognized as one of the most comprehensive crisis service agencies in the country, received $950,000.00. Through this award, Common Ground Assistance Program will implement the Multi-County Comprehensive Services for Human Trafficking Victims project. The purpose of this project is to sustain, expand, and strengthen victim services for adult and youth human trafficking victims of all genders. Holocaust Memorial Center . The Holocaust Memorial Center received $1,100,000.00. The Center’s Security Sector and Law Enforcement Professional Education Program provides educational opportunities about the Holocaust and preventing atrocities to the specific needs of local and state security law enforcement agencies. Through this award, the Center’s program will increase outreach activities to develop new partnerships with security sector agencies resulting in at least 2,500 new participants from throughout the state. County of Washtenaw. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office received funding to support the work of its Conviction Integrity and Expungement Unit, which investigates claims of actual innocence to determine whether new, credible, material evidence not previously addressed by any court supports those claims and supports expungement efforts in Washtenaw County. University of Michigan . In receiving two awards totaling just under $2 million, the University of Michigan will 1) research and evaluate on firearm violence and mass shootings by conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Safe Storage Campaign in schools across Michigan, and 2) conduct a study on community perception of safety in Detroit. Michigan State University . MSU received over $2 million for research and development in forensic science for criminal justice purposes. City of Detroit. The Detroit Police Department received $300,000 to expand its National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and Detroit Crime Gun Intelligence Center that has proven successful at establishing potential links between multiple crime scenes where the same firearm was used. Michigan Health and Human Services (DHHS). With this award DHHS will improve engagement with youth and family members throughout the juvenile justice system. Michigan State Police (MSP). This award will help law enforcement agencies undertake the Mid-Michigan Law Enforcement Modernization Plan by will allow to make critical upgrades to equipment, technology, patrol vehicles and vessels. Genesee County. The Global Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) is a critical piece of law enforcement working to protect communities from the threat of sexual predators. Through this grant, GHOST will continue its efforts in combatting human trafficking and the opioid epidemic. The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page . For the full list of organizations receiving funding please see attached. About the Office of Justice Programs The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and SMART Office – can be found at www.ojp.gov . EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN AWARDS County of Washtenaw Enhancing Investigation and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (EIP) Initiative $497,630.00 Ann Arbor MI City of Saginaw Enhancing Investigation and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (EIP) Initiative $448,723.00 Saginaw MI Common Ground Services for Victims of Human Trafficking $950,000.00 Bloomfield Hills MI Community Health and Social Services Center, INC Legal Assistance for Victims $749,955.00 Detroit MI Avalon Healing Center Expanding Access to Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations $500,000.00 Detroit MI Sara's House Place Meeting Basic Needs of Underserved Crime Victims $199,988.00 Detroit MI County of Macomb Training and Services to End Violence and Abuse Against Women Later in Life Program $750,000.00 Mount Clemens MI Alternatives for Girls Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program $450,000.00 Detroit MI Sisters Against Abuse Society Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program $450,000.00 Westland MI Eleven24 Inc. Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program $475,000.00 Detroit MI Human Development Commission Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program $500,000.00 Caro MI Underground Railroad Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program $460,005.00 Saginaw MI Sasha Center Inc. Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program $475,000.00 Detroit MI Holocaust Memorial Center Provide educational opportunities about the Holocaust $1,100,000.00 Farmington Hills MI City Farmington Hills Training in Emergency Vehicle Operations $65,000.00 Farmington Hills MI City of Utica Upgrade current police camera systems, including body-cameras $153,000.00 Utica MI Village of Milford Equip each officer with a body-worn camera, patrol vehicles with updated in-car cameras, establish a joint de-escalation and response to resistance program $161,000.00 Milford MI Genesee County Combatting human trafficking and the opioid epidemic $963,000.00 Flint MI Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Implement supports for permanent supportive housing residents in substance use disorder recovery $899,993.00 Mount Pleasant MI Wayne County Postconviction Testing DNA Evidence $246,309.00 Detroit MI County of Oakland DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) $436,925.00 Pontiac MI County of Washtenaw Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program $600,000.00 Ann Arbor MI Force Detroit Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Site-Based $1,999,998.00 Detroit MI City of Sterling Heights Collaborative Crisis Response and Intervention Training Program $244,608.00 Sterling Heights MI University of Michigan Measurement of Community Perceptions $999,999.00 Ann Arbor MI University of Michigan Research and Evaluation on Firearm Violence and Mass Shootings $998,907.00 Ann Arbor MI City of Jackson Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program $336,940.00 Jackson MI City of Detroit Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Cetner Integration Initiative $300,000.00 Detroit MI County of Washtenaw Family Treatment Court Program $750,000.00 Ann Arbor MI County of Genesee Adult Treatment Court Program $763,185.00 Flint MI STATEWIDE GRANTS Michigan Health and Human Services VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant $2,680,000.00 Lansing MI Michigan Health and Human Services VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant $22,802,629.00 Lansing MI Michigan Health and Human Services Sexual Assault Services Formula Program $1,077,536.00 Lansing MI Michigan Health and Human Services STOP Formula Grant Program $4,615,493.00 Lansing MI Michigan Health and Human Services Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success $825,000.00 Lansing MI Michigan Health and Human Services Juvenile Justice System Reform and Reinvestment Initiative $1,323,816.00 Lansing MI Michigan Department of Attorney General Postconviction Testing DNA Evidence $246,275.00 Lansing MI Michigan State University State Justice Statistics Program for Statistical Analysis Centers $41,431.00 East Lansing MI Michigan State University Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes $2,062,069.00 East Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance (EFLEA) $83,625.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Program $839,464.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan Intellectual Property Enforcement Program: Protecting Public Health, Safety, and the Economy from Counterfeit Goods and Product Piracy $323,365.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) Supplemental Funding under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act $1,987,245.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) $2,257,585.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program $238,061.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan Make critical upgrades to equipment, technology, patrol vehicles and vessels, to ensure the enduring efficacy of mid-Michigan’s law enforcement $963,000.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program $188,638.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program $608,161.00 Lansing MI Department of State Police Michigan Byrne Crisis Intervention Program Formula Solicitation $4,573,367.00 Lansing MI


title: Georgia Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a Destructive Device

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – On October 2, 2024, a federal jury convicted 43-year-old Waylon Blake Gilreath, Sr., a resident of Williamson, Georgia, for possession of an unregistered destructive device, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. According to court records and evidence presented during Gilreath’s trial, on March 20, 2024, Montgomery County law enforcement responded to a Hope Hull, Alabama residence following reports of a domestic disturbance. Deputies arrived and found Gilreath sitting on the front porch of the residence. Responding officers were advised of a protection from abuse order prohibiting Gilreath from being on the property. Deputies eventually arrested Gilreath on charges related to the domestic disturbance. During a search of Gilreath’s vehicle, which was parked on the property, deputies found nine firearms — including handguns and AR-style firearms — numerous rounds of ammunition, several ammunition magazines, and two sets of body armor. Several of the magazines were high-capacity drum style magazines. In addition, deputies located four prescription medication bottles that contained what appeared to be an explosive mixture of some type. Lab analysis later confirmed that the bottles contained two common substances used in exploding targets. Three of the devices were also found to contain shrapnel, which would enhance the destructive power of the devices. Following this conviction, Gilreath faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison with no parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Christopher P. Moore prosecuted.


title: Owatonna Sex Offender Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography and Threatening to Carry Out a Murder Plot

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – An Owatonna sex offender has been sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for producing sexually explicit images of a minor and sending graphic threats detailing a murder plot against his former child sexual abuse victim, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, in March 2021, law enforcement in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, began investigating Michael Lee Kurkowski, 28, regarding the communication and exchange of sexually explicit images of a minor. The investigation revealed that Kurkowski traveled to Pennsylvania to locate the minor and to try to continue a “relationship” after the minor attempted to end the online communications. In April 2021, Kurkowski was charged with multiple felonies and convicted in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, of corruption of a minor related to the sexual exploitation of the minor and was sentenced to 142 days in prison followed by probation. Kurkowski’s probation conditions required him to register as a sex offender, not to contact his victim, to refrain from behavior which may present a danger to others, and not to possess any weapons. According to court documents, in November 2021, law enforcement began investigating Kurkowski’s online communications and sexual exploitation of another minor victim. Investigators reviewed several messages from Kurkowski to the minor describing in graphic detail a plan to travel to Pennsylvania where Kurkowski would murder the parents of his former victim, rape his sister, and then kill her in front of his former victim. According to court documents, on February 4, 2022, law enforcement learned that Kurkowski had purchased a Greyhound bus ticket and was currently en route to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the general location of Kurkowski’s former victim and his family. FBI investigators tracked Kurkowski to a bus stop in Toledo, Ohio, where authorities took him into custody. According to court documents, when he was arrested, Kurkowski had with him a bag containing 16 heavy flex cuffs, electrical tape, a taser, a knife, rubber gloves, handcuffs, and hooded facemasks. Kurkowski’s phone contained google search terms including “man kills family of 5,” “countries that don’t extradite to us,” “how to subdue a person,” “best knives used to kill,” and the penalties for murder in Pennsylvania. On February 26, 2024, Kurkowski pleaded guilty to one count of threatening interstate communication and one count of production of child pornography. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Joan N. Ericksen, who cited “the raw facts of danger” when handing down his sentence at the top of the sentencing guidelines. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Owatonna Police Department, Steele County Community Corrections, the Upper Allen Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department, the East Peoria (Illinois) Police Department, Watertown (Wisconsin) Police Department, Toledo (Ohio) Police Department, and the Cedar Falls (Iowa) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda A. Williams prosecuted the case.


title: Canonsburg Resident Indicted on 11 Counts Involving Sexual Exploitation of Minors

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The 11-count Indictment named Justin A. Darby, 36, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, Darby received and attempted to receive material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor on five separate occasions during September and October of 2021, as well as on one occasion in February 2024. Darby is also alleged to have distributed such material on one occasion in September 2021. The Indictment further alleges that, from September 20, 2021, through October 29, 2021, Darby accessed with intent to view material involving the sexual exploitation of minors, and that, on February 6, 2024, Darby induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. Additionally, Darby is charged with altering, destroying, concealing, or covering up records and documents associated with a messaging application on his cellular telephone on two separate dates. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Darby was ordered to be detained. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Jury convicts Maryland woman of taking her child to Côte d'Ivoire and leaving the child in violation of a court’s custody orders

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a national of Côte d'Ivoire on Oct. 1 of taking her child out of the United States and leaving the child there to obstruct a court’s orders granting custody rights to her estranged husband. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in August 2023, Adjoh Dorcas Manou Epse Assoko, 46, and John Franklin Assoko, who were then legally married and living in Potomac, Maryland, gave birth to a child in Washington. Adjoh filed for divorce from John in December 2023. On December 19, 2024, Adjoh obtained a protective order against John from the Montgomery County District Court on unsubstantiated grounds of domestic violence. The protective order, which has since been rescinded, awarded primary custody of the child to Adjoh and weekend visitation to John. On April 30, 2024, Adjoh and the child flew from Dulles International Airport (Dulles) in Virginia to France and then to Côte d'Ivoire. Adjoh did not inform John that she was leaving the country with their child and did not contact him after they departed. On May 3, 2024, at the time John’s next scheduled visitation window was to take place, Adjoh and the child had not returned to the United States, violating the custody arrangement outlined in the protective order. On May 7, 2024, John filed an emergency motion for temporary sole custody of the child. On May 9, 2024, the Montgomery County Circuit Court held a hearing on that motion, which Adjoh attended via Zoom from Côte d'Ivoire. After Adjoh refused the court’s opportunity to bring the child back so that John could effectuate his visitation rights, the court entered an order granting John temporary primary physical custody of the child. On June 19, 2024, Adjoh flew from Côte d'Ivoire to France and then to Dulles but left the child in Cote D'Ivoire in the care of family members. The FBI learned that Adjoh had booked a flight out of Dulles for June 26, 2024. Agents arrested Adjoh at Dulles before she could board the flight. Adjoh refused to tell the agents the child’s location within Côte d'Ivoire or the names of the relatives in whose care the child had been left. Adjoh faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith J. Edwards and Cristina C. Stam are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-172.


title: Government Contractor Pays $450,000 To Resolve Breach Of Contract Allegations

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Science Applications International Corporation (“SAIC”) entered into a settlement agreement to resolve breach of contract claims related to work to be performed in Bahrain in 2019. The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “American taxpayers work hard each day to provide for their families and through their efforts fund both the security and essential functions of our government,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Accordingly, our fellow citizens should receive the full measure of those services. This resolution demonstrates our continuing commitment to ensure that government contractors fulfill all contract obligations and are held accountable for the failure to do so.” The United States contended that SAIC was responsible for breach of a government contract awarded in January 2019 to Engility Holdings, Inc. (“Engility”), a publicly traded company that provided mission support services to federal agencies. In 2019, SAIC acquired Engility. The United States contended that Engility breached the Contract when three employees of its subcontractor, Trace Systems, Inc. (“Trace”), failed to regularly report to work while abroad in Bahrain from September 2019 to November 2019. The United States contended Engility thereafter billed the Government (and the Government paid) for the Trace employees’ work. “When companies do not provide the items or services they were contracted for, it can pose an unacceptable threat to warfighter readiness and to our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners remain diligent in our efforts to ensure allegations of procurement fraud that could lead to mission failure are thoroughly investigated.” SAIC agreed to pay $450,000 to resolve the United States’ claims. This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by SAIC, nor a concession by the United States that its claims were not well-founded. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Ann Couch represented the United States in this matter, with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Economic Crimes Field Office and Defense Criminal Investigative Service. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Mississippi Man Charged in Sextortion Scheme Involving more than 40 Victims

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was arrested today in Jackson on federal charges relating to an alleged “sextortion” scheme that targeted multiple victims, including minors. According to a nine-count indictment unsealed this week, Marquez Cameron Jones Weston, 22, allegedly operated a “sextortion” scheme in which he engaged in cyberstalking, interstate threats, extortion, attempted production of child pornography, and transportation of child pornography over the internet. As part of the scheme charged in the indictment, Weston attempted to and did extort money and nude and sexually explicit photographic images from at least 47 different identified female individuals over the internet, with more unidentified. Several of these females were minors. The indictment alleges Weston committed these crimes from July 2023 through February 2024. “We are seeing a troubling increase throughout the nation of ‘sextortion’ as criminals, like this defendant, use information they gain through on-line communications, hacking, or other means to blackmail juveniles and other victims into giving them pornography,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “I encourage parents to be aware of who their children are communicating with on-line, and all internet users to be cautious about sharing their personal information on-line.” “Today’s arrest demonstrates the steadfast commitment of the FBI, USAO and our law enforcement partners in protecting our communities from being victimized by sextortion,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff. “Marquez Cameron Jones Weston’s deliberate actions in targeting the innocence of our youth will not be tolerated. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate and bring predatory individuals, like Mr. Weston, to justice.” Weston made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew S. Harris of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. In February, a federal grand jury named Weston in a separate indictment charging him with possession of child pornography. If convicted of that charge, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Sam Houston State University Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case. The FBI provides the following six tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes: Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you. Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers. Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims. Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and this person asks you to start talking on a different platform. Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next. Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone. If you, your child, or someone you know is being exploited via sextortion, contact your local FBI field office , call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or report it online at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) . Additional resources can found at Sextortion and Financially Motivated Sextortion — FBI . If you believe you are a victim in this particular case, please also contact the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee recently recorded an Internet Safety PSA warning about the dangers of online predators. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.