title: Solar Company Owner Indicted for Fraud

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – On August 14, 2024, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an 11-count indictment against Daniel Jarrett Ridlinghafer, 37, of Marana for Bank Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Mail Fraud. The indictment alleges that Ridlinghafer owned and operated Psalm 112 LLC, d.b.a. Tucson Solar Pros, a solar installation company based in Tucson. Beginning in January 2021 and continuing through July 7, 2022, Ridlinghafer engaged in a scheme to defraud at least 25 homeowners and two federally insured credit unions. Ridlinghafer, or his employees, signed fraudulent contracts with victim homeowners for the purchase and installation of solar power electrical systems on the victims’ homes. The victim credit unions then funded loans for many of the projects based on those contracts. After receiving payment from the victim homeowners and credit unions, Ridlinghafer abandoned the projects, failed to provide the victim homeowners any of the equipment they had purchased, and did not install any solar equipment on their homes. Ridlinghafer allegedly defrauded the victim homeowners and credit unions out of at least $695,000.00. A conviction for Bank Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000.00 fine. A conviction for Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-2024-05232 TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-115_Ridlinghafer # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Billings business owner admits tampering with pollution-monitoring devices for diesel trucks in violation of Clean Air Act

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings business owner accused of developing and selling software devices and kits to circumvent emissions monitoring systems for at least 845 diesel trucks admitted today to violating the Clean Air Act, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Thomas James Nash, 37, appeared for arraignment on an information and pleaded guilty to tampering with Clean Air Act monitoring device. Nash faces a maximum of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Nash was released pending further proceedings. In a plea agreement filed in the case, the parties agree that a term of probation and a $250,000 fine is appropriate. The government alleged in court documents that from 2019 until April 2021, Nash, through his businesses, DRK and Flash Performance, tampered with Clean Air Act monitoring devices by developing, marketing and selling software known as “tunes” that, when downloaded onto a vehicle’s computer, would override and disable the on-board diagnostic system so that it would no longer detect malfunctions in the emissions control system. Nash loaded his tunes onto a device known as a “tuner” that would plug into a vehicle’s on-board diagnostic port, establishing a connection so that the tune could be downloaded. Nash also packaged the tuners with devices, such as “straight pipes,” which are used to disable the emissions control hardware. Nash sold these packages as DRK “delete kits” over the internet on eBay. Nash specifically marketed these “delete kits” as a way to circumvent the emissions control system in diesel trucks and customers purchased them with that intention. When the hardware devices and “tunes” were installed, a truck’s on-board diagnostic system was rendered ineffective, causing the truck to greatly exceed emission standards established under the Clean Air Act and release significantly more pollution. The pollutants include nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, non-methane hydrocarbons and particulate matter, which degrade air quality and pose a significant risk to public health. Further, Nash provided ongoing technical assistance to customers who purchased the kits to ensure they were able to effectively circumvent the emissions monitoring system. Nash successfully tampered with at least 845 trucks. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Environmental Protection Agency conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Former Hospital Employee Sentenced to 12 Months in Federal Prison for Embezzling Over $100,000 in Intended Donations for the Jasper Community

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: EVANSVILLE—Michele M. Rose, 62, of Jasper, Indiana, has been sentenced to a year and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty to five counts of wire fraud. Rose was also ordered to pay $153,769 in restitution. According to court documents, since 1991, Michele Rose was employed as Medical Staff Coordinator at a nonprofit health care organization headquartered in Jasper, Indiana. In this role, Rose had various responsibilities, including overseeing the medical staff checking account and preparing a monthly financial report of that checking account. The medical staff checking account was funded through dues paid by physicians. The money contributed by the doctors was then donated to fund community initiatives including scholarships, food banks, and humane societies, as well as sponsoring events for local students such as after-prom celebrations, with a small portion used for operating expenses. Between March 2011 and December 2020, Rose abused her position by writing fraudulent checks to herself out of the medical staff checking account, falsely representing that the money was intended to reimburse her for legitimate business expenditures. Rose then cashed the checks and used the money for personal living expenses. Rose got signatures on the fraudulent checks lying to people with signature authority, telling them they were for legitimate business expenses. Once the blank checks were signed, Rose completed the checks by writing them to herself. Rose did not account for the fraudulent checks in the monthly financial reports that she prepared for her management. Over nearly a decade, Rose $153,769 from the medical staff fund. If Rose had not stolen the money, some or all of it would have been donated to the local community as intended. “For nearly a decade, this woman stole from community-minded professionals who trusted her, lining her pockets at the expense of the Jasper community groups the doctors intended to support,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Embezzlement and fraud by trusted insiders can have devastating effects on businesses and ordinary people. That’s why our office will continue to prioritize federal prosecution of economic crimes. I commend the work of the U.S. Secret Service and the Jasper Police Department, alongside our federal prosecutor, to untangle this web of deceit and hold the defendant accountable for her crimes.” “The U.S. Secret Service values our partnership with the Jasper Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office - Southern District of Indiana,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott McGuckin, of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The Secret Service will continue to prioritize these types of investigations to ensure that there are consequences for anyone who violates the public’s trust and takes advantage of charitable organizations.” “I am proud of our Detectives’ work on this case, and our close collaboration with the United States Secret Service has been instrumental in successfully investigating cases of this caliber,” said Lieutenant Dave Burger of the Jasper Police Department. The United States Secret Service and Jasper Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Man Who Threatened to Kill Federal Judges and Other Public Officials Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A man who sent letters from state prison expressing a desire to kill federal judges, U.S. Marshals, and federal prosecutors was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison. During a hearing in Miami, on Aug. 19, U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno sentenced Michael Dean Drew, 51, to 240 months in federal prison, a term of incarceration above the guideline range, to run consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. Drew had previously been sentenced, five times, for sending threatening letters to federal judges, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement officers. “The public officials who work to keep our country safe and uphold the rule of law should not have to fear for their lives or the lives of their families,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This sentence should make clear that the Justice Department has no tolerance for violence or threats of violence against public servants.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate heinous threats of violence that target prosecutors, the judiciary, and our partners in law enforcement,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “As evidenced in the case against Michael Dean Drew, we will continue to investigate threats against public servants and aggressively seek penalties against those who engage in such abhorrent crimes. We must protect our dedicated government employees, so that they may carry out their jobs without fear and ensure the functions of our democracy.” “Law enforcement officers, judges, and prosecutors work every day to keep us safe against an ever-growing list of threats,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Threatening them for doing their jobs to keep our communities safe strikes at the very heart of our society. This long sentence sends a strong message that we will take all measures to protect the public servants who dedicate their lives to ensure our public safety.” "Threats against officers of the court strike at the very heart of our judicial system,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office. “The dedicated agents and prosecutors who investigate and prosecute criminal activity and the judges who impartially operate our court system must be unburdened by intimidation. This is fundamental to the rule of law. The FBI will relentlessly investigate and bring to justice those individuals who attempt to tip the scales of justice through fear and threats.” "The U.S. Marshals Service is dedicated to protecting our justice system and those who serve it," said Gadyaces Serralta, U.S. Marshal for the District of Southern Florida. "We will not tolerate threats against prosecutors, judges, or law enforcement. Just as we did in the case of Michael Dean Drew, we will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate public servants. Protecting those who enforce the law is crucial to maintaining our democracy and keeping our communities safe." According to the court record, in May 2023, Drew mailed a letter to a federal judge in the Southern District of Florida threating that the judge would die a violent death for presiding over a particular criminal case. In August of 2023, Drew mailed two letters to the federal courthouse in Miami, in which he threatened another federal judge and members of the U.S. Marshal Service. In each of the letters, Drew described how he was recruiting other people to violently murder the judge and members of the U.S. Marshal Service. In September of 2023, Drew mailed letters from his place of incarceration in Florida to Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Virginia and Georgia stating that he had recruited gang members and members of the Aryan Nation to carry out the violent murder of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and their family members. In all the letters, Drew expressed his sincere intent to carry out the threats and described in detail how each of the victims would die. In one letter, Drew said he would “take great pleasure in knowing you will suffer and die” and that the judge’s body would be “discarded as a piece of trash, thrown in a ditch.” In the letter addressed to the U.S. Marshals Service, Drew said he was “recruiting” as many fellow inmates as possible into the Aryan Nation gang and that “[o]ur first objective is to murder as many U.S. Marshals as possible… I and my fellow comrades have taken a blood oath to kill, harass, terrorize and destroy federal agents.” In each of the letters, Drew explained how the victim’s death would be in retaliation for their role in the judicial system. On June 6, Drew pled guilty to five counts of mailing threatening communications. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the U.S. Marshals Service made the announcement. FBI Miami and the U.S. Marshals Service Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Funk and Zachary A. Keller prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Stone is handling asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case no. 24-CR-20039. ###


title: Tattnall County mechanic pleads guilty to tampering with logging equipment to evade environmental controls

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: STATESBORO, GA: A Tattnall County man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to operating a business that tampered with government-mandated emissions controls on commercial logging equipment. Justin Taylor, 30, of Collins, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to an Information charging him with Conspiracy to Tamper with a Monitoring Device, and Fraud and False Statement, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The plea subjects Taylor to a possible statutory sentence of up to five years in prison and substantial financial penalties, followed by a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Emissions controls on heavy duty commercial equipment exist to help prevent excessive pollution from diesel engines, and evading those controls makes the air dirtier and less safe for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With this plea agreement, Justin Taylor will no longer profit at the expense of our communities.” As described in court documents and testimony, Taylor was a mechanic working from a shop at his home and at remote job sites from as early as Jan. 1, 2018, through Jan. 20, 2021. Using a high-powered computer that supported diagnostic tools for heavy-duty logging equipment, Taylor performed emission-control “deletes” for more than 200 owners of diesel engines. The changes Taylor made to the emission controls on those machines disabled the electronic monitoring devices and methods required under the Clean Air Act. Taylor routinely charged $2,000 for this service, earning more than $1.2 million during this period while reporting only $166,853 in income. As a consequence of falsifying the information on his tax filings for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020, Taylor agrees in his plea to pay a total of $279,642 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, along with accrued interest. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing for Taylor upon completion of a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. “Justin Taylor has pled guilty to conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act and tampering with the emissions control equipment on hundreds of Tigercat brand heavy-duty diesel logging equipment throughout the Southeast,” said Acting Director Jennifer Lynn of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. “These crimes would increase air pollution which intensifies respiratory illnesses and environmental degradation. This guilty plea serves as a reminder that EPA and our partners are steadfast in our commitment to protect human health and the environment.” “Justin Taylor assisted others in illegally evading EPA rules, receiving payments for it and failing to pay taxes on it,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigations. “Justin Taylor enriched himself substantially and did not fully report his income or pay taxes. IRS Special Agents will continue to investigate and hold tax cheats accountable” The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and IRS Criminal Investigations, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.


title: Palm Beach County Man Sentenced to Over Nine Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a Convicted Felon

body_text: MIAMI – On Aug. 20, Charles Grim Rudolph, 32, of Riviera Beach, Fla., a 23-time convicted felon, was sentenced to 114 months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Kenneth A. Marra after having been convicted at trial for being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. After 9:30 p.m., July 26, 2023, a West Palm Beach Police officer spotted a car with illegal tint pull out of a motel parking lot and conducted a traffic stop on the car, driven by Rudolph. Rudolph did not have a valid license, and after the officer saw two baggies of drugs in plain view near the gear shifter, conducted a search of the car. Rudolph’s girlfriend, the passenger, had a purse inside the car by her seat. Inside the purse was a loaded .38 special revolver. A DNA test identified Rudolph’s DNA on the gun. The guilty verdict in this case resulted in Rudolph’s fifth conviction for being a felon in unlawful possession of a firearm. Rudolph was on probation for the same offense at the time of his arrest in this matter. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and West Palm Beach Police Chief Frank Adderley announced the sentence. The case was investigated by the FBI, ATF and West Palm Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Walters and Adam McMichael prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce 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 . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-80002. ###


title: Investment Fraud Disrupted by Seizure of $5 Million in Cryptocurrency

component: Cyber Division (FBI)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the seizure of nearly $5 million worth of Tether, a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar. These seized funds were traced to cryptocurrency addresses allegedly associated with the laundering of criminally derived proceeds stolen from victims of cryptocurrency investment scams, commonly known as “pig butchering.” “Americans are losing their life’s savings to investment frauds as funds are being rapidly transferred to cryptocurrency accounts overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “In this case one victim lost his entire individual retirement account to a scam. We are clawing back every dollar we can, even when criminals are located abroad. We are determined to seize their illegal proceeds and return money to the victims. According to court filings, criminal actors approached and recruited victims through the guise of a romantic relationship to develop their trust. Once the relationship was established, the scammer would claim to have a technique to quickly make large profits trading cryptocurrency and introduce their victim to a fictitious cryptocurrency trading platform that bore a similar name and appearance to a legitimate cryptocurrency trading platform. These fake investment platforms display a fictitious investment portfolio with abnormally large investment returns, which is designed to induce the victim to invest more. When the victims do attempt to withdraw funds, they are unable to do so and are often met with various excuses, including being told that they must pay a “tax” or “penalties” to release their funds, which is just a technique for the scammers to elicit even more money out of their victims. Once the victims’ funds have been transferred to a cryptocurrency wallet under the scammers’ control, the funds are quickly moved through many other wallets to obfuscate the nature, source, control, and ownership of those fraud proceeds. In this case, agents, and analysts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were able to trace those victim funds into and through various cryptocurrency wallets allegedly used in furtherance of the fraud and money laundering scheme, some of which still contained large amounts of funds subject to seizure and forfeiture. “As criminal actors continue to evolve in the world of cyber-enabled fraud, the FBI and its law enforcement partners must also evolve,” said FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt. “This cryptocurrency seizure serves as an example of the FBI adapting to the changing criminal landscape and fighting for victims of cyber-enabled fraud schemes.” The Department would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets. If you are a victim of a cryptocurrency scam, or other scam involving the use of the Internet, please file a report with the IC3 at ic3.gov and with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov . Related court documents and information from the seizure warrant are on PACER by searching for Case No.5:24-MJ-1976.


title: Former Congressional Candidate Charged With Violating Campaign Finance Laws

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christie M. Curtis, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment today charging MICHELLE BOND with conspiring to cause and causing unlawful campaign contributions in connection with her unsuccessful run for Congress in 2022. BOND will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Michelle Bond and her co-conspirator romantic partner attempted to fund her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives by illegally using hundreds of thousands of dollars from corporate coffers, among other sources, and then lying to Congress and others to cover it all up. Misconduct by those campaigning for public office undermines public trust in American elections and in representative government more broadly. This Office is committed to holding elected officials and candidates accountable if they break the law.” FBI Acting Assistant Director Christie M. Curtis said: “Michelle Bond, a former congressional candidate, allegedly financed her campaign with illicitly obtained funds then made calculated efforts to conceal her misconduct, including lying to Congress about the deposits’ origin. Attempting to start a hopeful career in our government using unlawful transactions and lies erodes the integrity and credibility of our legislative system. Investigating all forms of corruption remains a top priority of the FBI, as those seeking to hold governing positions are expected to comport themselves honestly and transparently to preserve public confidence.” As alleged in the Indictment: [1] In 2022, BOND—then a high-level executive at a digital assets trade group (the “Trade Group”)—ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. BOND sought to represent New York’s first congressional district, which comprises the eastern portion of Long Island. Shortly after launching her congressional campaign in May 2022, BOND’s romantic partner (“CC-1”)—then a high-level executive at a Bahamas-based subsidiary of a now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange (the “Exchange”)—orchestrated a sham consulting agreement between BOND and the Exchange, pursuant to which BOND was paid $400,000. BOND then used that money to illegally finance her campaign. Further, between June and August 2022, CC-1 wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to BOND’s personal bank account, which BOND then used to illegally fund her campaign. CC-1 and BOND discussed how CC-1 would pay the expenses for BOND’s campaign, and CC-1 was aware that BOND was using CC-1’s money to make large loans and contributions to her campaign. BOND and CC-1’s conduct violated federal campaign finance laws prohibiting corporate contributions, excessive contributions by an individual, and conduit (or straw) contributions. BOND attempted to conceal her and CC-1’s conduct by, among other things, making false statements to a congressional committee and the Federal Election Commission, and lying to her employer at that time. For example, in a financial disclosure form filed with the House Ethics Committee, BOND described the $400,000 Exchange Payment as consulting income. However, in talking points BOND prepared for a meeting with the board of her Trade Group, BOND acknowledged that she did not work for the Exchange and that the Exchange gave the money for her campaign. * * * BOND, 45, of Potomac, Maryland, is charged with one count of conspiracy to cause unlawful campaign contributions; one count of causing and accepting excessive campaign contributions; one count of causing and receiving an unlawful corporate contribution; and one count of causing and receiving a conduit contribution. Each of the crimes charged carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The statutory maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Simon and Sheb Swett are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.


component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A man who sent letters from state prison expressing a desire to kill federal judges, U.S. Marshals, and federal prosecutors was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison. During a hearing in Miami, on Aug. 19, Michael Dean Drew, 51, was sentenced to 240 months in prison, to run consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving. Drew had previously been sentenced, five times, for sending threatening letters to federal judges, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement officers. “The public officials who work to keep our country safe and uphold the rule of law should not have to fear for their lives or the lives of their families,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This sentence should make clear that the Justice Department has no tolerance for violence or threats of violence against public servants.” “Law enforcement officers, judges, and prosecutors work every day to keep us safe against an ever-growing list of threats,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Threatening them for doing their jobs to keep our communities safe strikes at the very heart of our society. This long sentence sends a strong message that we will take all measures to protect the public servants who dedicate their lives to ensure our public safety.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate heinous threats of violence that target prosecutors, the judiciary, and our partners in law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “As evidenced in the case against Michael Dean Drew, we will continue to investigate threats against public servants and aggressively seek penalties against those who engage in such abhorrent crimes. We must protect our dedicated government employees, so that they may carry out their jobs without fear and ensure the functions of our democracy.” “The U.S. Marshals Service is dedicated to protecting our justice system and those who serve it,” said U.S. Marshal Gadyaces Serralta for the District of Southern Florida. “We will not tolerate threats against prosecutors, judges, or law enforcement. Just as we did in the case of Michael Dean Drew, we will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate public servants. Protecting those who enforce the law is crucial to maintaining our democracy and keeping our communities safe.” According to the court record, in May 2023, Drew mailed a letter to a federal judge in the Southern District of Florida threating that the judge would die a violent death for presiding over a particular criminal case. In August 2023, Drew mailed two letters to the federal courthouse in Miami, in which he threatened another federal judge and members of the U.S. Marshal Service. In each of the letters, Drew described how he was recruiting other people to violently murder the judge and members of the U.S. Marshal Service. In September 2023, Drew mailed letters from his place of incarceration in Florida to Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Virginia and Georgia stating that he had recruited gang members and members of the Aryan Nation to carry out the violent murder of the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and their family members. In all the letters, Drew expressed his sincere intent to carry out the threats and described in detail how each of the victims would die. In one letter, Drew said he would “take great pleasure in knowing you will suffer and die” and that the judge’s body would be “discarded as a piece of trash, thrown in a ditch.” In the letter addressed to the U.S. Marshals Service, Drew said he was “recruiting” as many fellow inmates as possible into the Aryan Nation gang and that “[o]ur first objective is to murder as many U.S. Marshals as possible… I and my fellow comrades have taken a blood oath to kill, harass, terrorize and destroy federal agents.” In each of the letters, Drew explained how the victim’s death would be in retaliation for their role in the judicial system. On June 6, Drew pleaded guilty to five counts of mailing threatening communications. The FBI Miami Field Office and the U.S. Marshals Service Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Funk, Zachary E. Keller, and Emily Rose Stone for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.


title: Saint Tammany Parish Man Sentenced For Violating Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – LARRY JAMES (“ JAMES”) , age 23, of Madisonville, Louisiana, was sentenced on August 20, 2024 after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. JAMES also pled guilty to three counts of distribution of fentanyl and, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. JAMES was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment, four years of supervised release, and a $500 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, JAMES sold fentanyl pills to an undercover agent on August 25, 2023, September 8, 2023, and September 15, 2023. On September 28, 2023, law enforcement searched JAMES’s residence pursuant to a state search warrant and found additional fentanyl pills, packaging materials, two digital scales, and three firearms. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit oversees the prosecution.


title: Three Florida Men Plead Guilty in Multimillion-Dollar Tax Refund Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: Christopher Johnson, of Orlando, Florida, and Jasen Harvey, of Tampa, Florida, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the United States by promoting a tax fraud scheme called the “Note Program.” Arthur Grimes, of Ocoee and Orlando, Florida, previously pleaded guilty on April 2 to obstructing the IRS in connection with the scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 to 2018, Johnson and Harvey conspired to promote a scheme in which Harvey and others prepared tax returns for clients that claimed large nonexistent income tax withholdings had been paid to the IRS, and sought large refunds based on those purported withholdings. The conspirators charged clients fees and required them to pay over a portion of the fraudulently obtained refunds. Overall, the defendants claimed over $3 million in fraudulent refunds on their clients returns, of which the IRS paid about $1.5 million. Grimes participated in the scheme by causing four false income tax returns prepared by Harvey to be filed. When the IRS attempted to recover a refund issued to Grimes based on one of those returns, Grimes made false statements and submitted false documents to an IRS revenue officer and transferred funds to a nominee bank account. Johnson was paid more than $200,000 in 2016 and more than $100,000 in 2017 as his share of the proceeds from the scheme. Johnson filed false tax returns for those years that did not report that income, resulting in a tax loss of $78,259. A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date for Johnson and Harvey. They each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Grimes is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 12. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for the tax obstruction charge. All three defendants also face a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind, Jeffrey McLellan and Caroline Pearson of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Hu for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.


title: Salisbury Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Possessing a Stolen Firearm

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 21, 2024, Scott Clark, 41, of Salisbury, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mae D’Agostino to 78 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Clark previously pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm on July 13, 2023. According to court records, on September 23, 2022, Clark unlawfully entered a camper which had been parked at a campground in Salisbury, Vermont. While inside of the camper, Clark located and took possession of a Glock Model G23 .40 caliber pistol that belonged to the camper’s owner. Clark was confronted by a Vermont State Police trooper responding to complaints of a suspicious person attempting to break into campers at the campground. While Clark was being questioned he clandestinely removed the Glock from his person and provided it to his girlfriend, who was standing nearby and then placed the Glock in her purse. The Vermont State Police trooper observed the Glock in the girlfriend’s purse and seized the pistol. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Middlebury Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt and Thomas J. Aliberti. Clark was represented by Karen Shingler, Esq.


title: Two Former Presidents of Boilermakers International Union Among Seven Indicted for $20M Embezzlement Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Kansas returned an indictment yesterday charging seven defendants, including five current and former high-level officers of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmith, Forgers and Helpers (Boilermakers Union) for their alleged roles in a 15-year, $20 million embezzlement scheme. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit offenses under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, as well as other charges including embezzlement, health care fraud, wire fraud, and theft in connection with health care and retirement plans. “As alleged in the indictment, these defendants, including two former presidents of the Boilermakers Union, enriched themselves by spending millions of dollars in union funds for their own benefit, including for salary and benefits for no-show jobs, tuition, rent, luxury international travel, meals, vacation payouts, and unauthorized loans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment marks an important step in restoring financial security to the Boilermakers Union and control of the union’s future to its membership. The department is committed to protecting union members from officials who abuse their positions of authority for their own personal ends.” The defendants are former union president Newton Jones, 71, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; former secretary-treasurer William Creeden, 76, of Kearney, Missouri; former president Truman “Warren” Fairley, 59, of Chapel Hill; current secretary-treasurer Kathy Stapp, 53, of Shawnee, Kansas; former vice president Lawrence McManamon, 76, of Rocky River, Ohio; Kateryna Jones, 32, of Chapel Hill; and Cullen Jones 35, of Chapel Hill. “Union members pay their dues believing union leaders will use the money in support of the organization’s mission to advocate for and protect employment rights,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas. “The Department of Justice is deeply concerned whenever there are accusations of fraud and misappropriation of union funds.” “The employees believed the Union executives would promote and protect their best interests. Instead, they allegedly utilized their positions for personal and financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “By allegedly unlawfully misappropriating Union funds, the defendants betrayed their members’ trust and confidence. Anyone who unlawfully profits at the expense of others will be held accountable.” “We would like to thank our fellow law enforcement partners, the Criminal Division, and the United States Attorney’s Office for working collaboratively to bring change within the Boilermakers International Union,” said District Director Christiane Abendroth of the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS). “Today’s indictment of seven defendants, including five current and former high-level officers, is a direct result of OLMS’s audit findings and a multi-agency criminal investigation. We look forward to obtaining justice for the rank-and-file union members by removing officers who allegedly treated the union as their personal piggy bank.” Over the course of 15 years, the defendants, led by Newton Jones and William Creeden, allegedly engaged in widespread embezzlement of the funds of the Boilermakers Union including: Over $5 million in unnecessary luxury international travel; Over $2 million in salary and benefits to Kateryna Jones and Cullen Jones for no-show jobs, at which they were not required to work, including payment of two years of salary to Kateryna Jones for a period when she resided in Ukraine and was dating Newton Jones; Hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition, rent, and relocation expenses for members of the family of Newton Jones; Millions of dollars in cash payments relating to fraudulently claimed vacation time; Hundreds of fraudulent restaurant charges by Newton Jones and Kateryna Jones in their hometown; Funds wrongly expended to engage in email surveillance of Union employees to defend Newton Jones and McManamon from internal union charges; and $7 million in loans from the Boilermakers Union MORE Fund executed by Newton Jones and Creeden to the Bank of Labor, which were not authorized under the terms of the Boilermakers Union constitution or its conflict-of-interest policy. The indictment also charges Newton Jones and Creeden with wire fraud relating to their alleged demand and acceptance of no-show employment with the Bank of Labor for which they were paid more than $3.4 million each in salary, benefit contributions, and other paid benefits. The indictment additionally seeks forfeiture of $20 million. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the RICO conspiracy count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Kansas City Field Office and the Department of Labor are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Vincent Falvo of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Faiza Alhambra and Jabari Wamble for the District of Kansas are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: August Federal Grand Jury 2023-B Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2023-B Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Scott James Berkshire. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Berkshire, 63, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to induce and entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, Berkshire is charpged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Scott Dunn are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-275 Preston James Campbell. Assault of a Federal Officer. Campbell, 41, of Bristow and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon while the officer was performing his official duty. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-264 Jose Erlyn Carbajal-Soliz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Carbajal-Soliz, 30, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Sep. 2021 at or near Alexandria, Louisiana. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-266 Dominique Rashaad Delonia. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender . Delonia, 30, transient, is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender from Jul. 2024 through the date of the Indictment. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-267 Markell Juanye Grass. Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Grass, 31, of Jay and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with assaulting an intimate and dating partner by strangulation. The FBI and the Jay Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen J. Flynn and Melissa Weems are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-269 Jose Ramon Guerra-Andrade. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Guerra-Andrade, 35, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Oct. 2013 at or near Harlingen, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-268 Drayle Montey Nelson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Nelson, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-276 Danny Lawrence Newton. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Newton, 42, of Broken Arrow, is charged with attempting to induce and entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Skiatook Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua M. Carmel is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-274 Sergio Ramirez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ramirez, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition knowing he was unlawfully in the United States. He is further charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and carrying a firearm in relation to drug trafficking. Additionally, Ramirez is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Aug. 2022 at or near Laredo, Texas. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Attila Bogdan is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-270 Roger Lee Woolman. Arson in Indian Country. Woolman, 67, of Vinita and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with maliciously setting fire to Burroughs Manor and endangering the lives of several occupants. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vinita Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-265


title: Asheville Methamphetamine Distributor Is Sentenced To 28 Years In Prison On Drug And Gun Charges

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Jason Dean Keever, 42, of Asheville, was sentenced to 336 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release today for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Sheriff William Wilke of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, Keever and his co-defendant, Joel Wesley Creech, engaged in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Haywood, Buncombe, McDowell, and Transylvania Counties. The investigation began in 2021, after the DEA and the HCSO learned that Keever and Creech were acquiring large quantities of methamphetamine and redistributing it to others within the Western District of North Carolina. On June 21, 2021, law enforcement conducting surveillance of Keever and Creech observed Keever’s vehicle leaving Creech’s residence in Haywood County. Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, detectives located a void area under the steering wheel that contained a semi-automatic pistol with one round of ammunition in the chamber and four rounds in the magazine. Investigators also seized more than $10,000 in cash and two large plastic bags that contained nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine. According to filed court documents, the next day, detectives executed a search warrant at Creech’s residence, where they seized more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine buried in the backyard. On August 25, 2023, Keever pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons. On November 2, 2023, Creech was sentenced to 11 years in prison, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the ATF, and the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the DEA and the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case, and thanked the McDowell, Buncombe, and Transylvania County Sheriffs’ Offices for their invaluable assistance. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.


title: Morganton Man Is Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Allen Lee Henson, 54, of Morganton, N.C., was sentenced today to 168 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Sheriff Banks Hinceman of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, in March 2021, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation after learning that Henson was acquiring methamphetamine and then re-distributing it to others within the Burke County area. During the investigation, BCSO investigators used a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine from Henson at his residence on at least two occasions. On April 23, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Henson’s residence. During the search, deputies seized distribution quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and $23,733 in U.S. currency. Court records show that on February 10, 2022, Henson met with an undercover officer (UC) in Caldwell County, where Henson sold the UC more than 71 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $1,400 in cash. On November 15, 2023, Henson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Lenoir Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.


title: Former executive of injured child benefit program charged with stealing over $4.8 million

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Providence Forge man was arrested today related to his alleged embezzlement of funds from his former employer, the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program (Birth-Injury Program). John Hunter Raines, 38, the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Director of the Birth-Injury Program, is charged in a criminal complaint with felony fraud. The Birth-Injury program pays monetary compensation to families of infants who suffer from brain or spinal cord injuries resulting from the birth process that render the infant developmentally and/or cognitively disabled. According to Court documents, Raines’ role required that he oversee the finances of the Birth-Injury Program, including approximately $650 million in investments in 2023. From at least January 2022 through at least October 2023, Raines allegedly stole over $4.8 million from the Birth-Injury Program, including by using his access to the Birth-Injury Program bank account to initiate at least 59 separate wire transactions, sending funds to bank accounts in Raines’ own name. Raines also allegedly used the Birth-Injury Program debit card for personal gain. According to the criminal complaint, Raines spent embezzled Birth-Injury Program money on various personal expenses. For example: Raines allegedly purchased numerous vehicles, including eight luxury golf carts for over $160,000 and a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban; Raines allegedly spent over $100,000 on gambling, including at Rivers Casino in Portsmouth, Virginia, Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent, Virginia, and the Virginia Lottery; Raines allegedly spent over $9,000 to hire private limousines, including to chauffer Raines and his guests to Virginia-area vineyards; Raines allegedly made numerous purchases of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Dogecoin, and transferred funds to his brokerage accounts; Raines allegedly paid over $30,000 for private jet travel to take his wife and friends to Nashville, Tennessee, for three days; Raines allegedly paid over $60,000 to pay down his student loan debt, his mortgage, and other loans; and Raines allegedly spent over $19,000 to purchase eight separate 2022 1-oz American Gold Eagle Bullion coins and a 100-oz silver bar. If convicted, Raines faces up to 20 years in prison. 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; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; and Michael C. Westfall, State Inspector General for the Commonwealth of Virginia, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Panth and Kashan K. Pathan 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. 3:24-mj-75. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Chicago Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – Shawn Edwards, 34 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to wire fraud announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Edwards was sentenced to 18 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $189,850 in restitution to the victims of the offense. According to documents in the case, between July 2020 and September 2021, Edwards was the leader and organizer of a fraud ring which stole checks that had been placed in the care of the United States Postal Service intended to be sent to local Indiana businesses. The payee on each stolen check was then altered so that the check could be cashed by Edwards or one of his associates. In total, Edwards and his associates were able to cash or deposit $189,850 in stolen funds over the time period of the scheme. Edwards’ co-defendant is scheduled to be sentenced later this year. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Office of Inspector General for the United States Postal Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath.


title: Pendleton County Couple Sentenced for Armed Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A DeMossville, Ky., couple, Robert Gullion, 31, and Catelyn Simpson-Barnett, 33, were sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 204 months and 138 months, respectively, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Gullion was also sentenced for possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking. According to their plea agreements, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by Gullion and Simpson-Barnett, finding two bags of fentanyl, a loaded syringe on the passenger floorboard, and three bags of a crystal substance later confirmed to be 722.8 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also seized multiple safes in the vehicle, one containing a bag of 27 grams of methamphetamine, a handgun with an extended magazine, other drug paraphernalia, miscellaneous pills, and $5,509.04. Gullion and Simpson-Barnett both admitted to their roles in conspiring to distribute the controlled substances for approximately two months. Gullion claimed ownership of the firearm and admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Under federal law, Gullion and Simpson-Barnett must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon their release from prison, they will both be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Covington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Lowell Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Armed Bank Robberies

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced yesterday for the robberies of three Worcester banks in April 2023. Joselito Santiago-Matias, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 76 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Santiago-Matias was also ordered to pay $20,528 in restitution. In May 2024, Santiago-Matias pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery and two counts of armed bank robbery. On April 3, 2023, Santiago-Matias entered a Santander Bank in Worcester wearing a mask, demanded money from the teller and carried away $7,560. On April 12, 2023, Santiago-Matais entered a Berkshire Bank in Worcester while wearing a mask and carrying a firearm, pointed the firearm gun at the teller and stole $2,150. On April 19, 2023, Santiago-Matias entered a Santander Bank in Worcester. While inside the bank, he pointed a firearm at the teller and threatened, “give me the bag or I will shoot you.” Santiago-Matias left the bank with $10,818. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Worcester Police Department Interim Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Former Anderson County Band Director Sentenced  for Production of Child Pornography

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A former Anderson County High School Band Director and teacher, Patrick Howard Brady, 38, was sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to 25 years in prison, for production of child pornography. Brady was a teacher at Anderson County High School and served as the band director until May 15, 2023. According to his plea agreement, Brady used text messaging, FaceTime, and a social media app (VSCO), to engage a minor into a romantic and sexual relationship. Specifically, beginning in the summer of 2022, Brady and the victim engaged in a sexually explicit relationship, starting via text, calls, and FaceTime, eventually occurring in person, multiple times, including at the high school. Law enforcement began investigating the relationship between Brady and the victim in May 2023. When law enforcement arrested Brady and seized his cell phone, he had removed the VSCO application from his phone. Brady admitted that, on two or more occasions, he knowingly used a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of transmitting live visual depictions of that conduct. Under federal law, Brady must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Joe Milam, Anderson County Sheriff's Office, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, Kentucky State Police, and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . — END —


title: Louisville Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in  Federal Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced today to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville made the announcement. John Christopher Cecil, 40, was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for four counts of distribution, two counts of receipt, and one count of possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Cecil was an active participant in online child pornography chat groups focused on trading and chatting about child pornography. Cecil was also ordered to pay $58,000 in restitution to multiple victims in the case. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by HSI Louisville. Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” ###


title: United States Files Suit Against the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia Tech Research Corporation Alleging Cybersecurity Violations

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – The United States has filed a complaint-in-intervention against the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC) raising claims under the False Claims Act and federal common law alleging that those defendants failed to meet cybersecurity requirements in connection with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. GTRC is an affiliate of Georgia Tech that contracts with government agencies for work to be performed at Georgia Tech and its related entities. On February 20, 2024, the United States intervened in a whistleblower suit brought by current and former members of Georgia Tech’s cybersecurity team against Georgia Tech and GTRC. “Cybersecurity compliance by government contractors is critical in safeguarding U.S. information and systems against threats posed by malicious actors,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “For this reason, we expect contractors to abide by cybersecurity requirements in their contracts and grants, regardless of the size or type of the organization or the number of contracts involved. Our office will hold accountable those contractors who ignore cybersecurity rules.” “Government contractors that fail to fully implement required cybersecurity controls jeopardize the confidentiality of sensitive government information,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative was designed to identify such contractors and to hold them accountable.” “Deficiencies in cybersecurity controls pose a significant threat not only to our national security, but also to the safety of the men and women of our armed services that risk their lives daily,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Darrin K. Jones, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “As force multipliers, we place a substantial amount of trust in our contractors and expect them to meet the strict standards our service members deserve.” The United States’ complaint alleges that, from at least as early as 2019 and extending for multiple years, Georgia Tech essentially had “no enforcement” of federal cybersecurity regulations in connection with DoD contracts and fostered a “culture of somebody up the line is going to overturn me . . . [so] I might as well go ahead and ignore the policy” with respect to cybersecurity compliance. Georgia Tech, the suit alleges, routinely acquiesced to the demands of “star researchers”—who were treated like “star quarterbacks” because they secured large government contracts—when those researchers “pushed back” on cybersecurity compliance because the researchers found it troublesome. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that from at least May 2019 until at least February 2020, the Astrolavos Lab at Georgia Tech failed to develop and implement a required system security plan that set out the cybersecurity controls that were put in place in the lab to comply with applicable DoD cybersecurity requirements. Nor, until August 2019 at the earliest, did Georgia Tech undertake to implement the required DoD cybersecurity controls at the lab the suit alleges. Even when the Astrolavos Lab finally implemented a system security plan in February 2020, the lawsuit alleges that Georgia Tech failed to properly scope that plan to include all covered laptops, desktops, and servers, and then in the ensuing years failed to monitor and update that plan as required by applicable cybersecurity rules and regulations. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that from at least as early as May 2019 until December 2021, the Astrolavos lab failed to install, update, or operate anti-virus or anti-malware tools on desktops, laptops, servers, and networks at the lab. Georgia Tech allegedly approved the lab’s refusal to install antivirus software—in violation of both federal cybersecurity requirements and Georgia Tech’s own policies—to satisfy the demands of the professor who headed the lab. In connection with contracts that DoD entered into with GTRC on behalf of Georgia Tech, defendants were obligated to implement these and other cybersecurity controls at the Astrolavos Lab. The lawsuit further alleges that in December 2020, Georgia Tech and GTRC submitted a false and fraudulent cybersecurity assessment score to DoD for the Georgia Tech campus. DoD requires contractors to submit summary level scores reflecting the status of their compliance with applicable cybersecurity requirements on covered contracting systems that are used to store or access covered defense information. The submission of this score is a “condition of contract award” for most DoD contracts. The lawsuit alleges that the summary level score of 98 for the Georgia Tech campus that Georgia Tech and GTRC reported to DoD in December 2020 was false and fraudulent because: (1) Georgia Tech did not have, nor could it ever have, a campus-wide IT system; (2) the score was for a “fictitious” or “virtual” environment that was a “construct” since it was not “specifically associated to any active research at Georgia Tech” and was “not actually describing something that exists;” and (3) the score was not for any covered contracting system at Georgia Tech that could or would ever process, store, or transmit covered defense information. On October 6, 2021, the Deputy Attorney General announced the Department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative to hold accountable entities or individuals that put United States information or systems at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, knowingly misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols, or knowingly violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Information on how to report cyber fraud can be found here . This lawsuit is the first matter the United States has litigated as part of the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative. The whistleblower lawsuit was filed by Christopher Craig and Kyle Koza, who were previously senior members of Georgia Tech’s cybersecurity compliance team, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. The act allows private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. The act also permits the United States to intervene and assume responsibility for litigating these cases, as it has done here. A defendant who violates the act is subject to liability for three times the government’s losses, plus applicable penalties. This case is being handled by the Justice Department’s Civil Division and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Craig v. Georgia Tech Research Corp, et al. , No. 1:22-cv-02698 (N.D. Ga.). Investigative support is being provided by the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Air Force Material Command. This matter is being handled by Senior Trial Counsel Jake M. Shields and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. Nugent and Melanie D. Hendry. The claims in which the United States has intervened are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 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: Falmouth Woman Charged and Agrees to Plead Guilty to Embezzling More Than $1.3 Million

body_text: BOSTON – The former bookkeeper of a Falmouth flooring company has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with embezzling more than $1.3 million from her employer. Susan Figuerido, 73, of Falmouth, was charged with wire fraud and filing a false tax return. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. According to the charging documents, between June 2015 and February 2023, Figuerido embezzled more than $1.3 million from her employer by writing checks to herself drawn on her employer’s bank account. To conceal her scheme, Figuerido allegedly did not record the checks that she wrote to herself in her employer’s accounting system. It is further alleged that Figuerido did not report or include the funds that she embezzled on her federal income tax filings, resulting in a tax loss of approximately $353,000. The charge of wire fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Harry T. Chavis Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. The Falmouth Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jefferson City Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Armed Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFRSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for the armed robbery of a Jefferson City credit union. Tre Joseph Connor, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 16 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Connor to pay $111,700 in victim restitution. On Feb. 16, 2024, Connor was found guilty at trial of one count of bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the evidence at trial, Connor ran into the River Region Credit Union, 3608 W. Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City, on the morning of Jan. 19, 2023. Connor, wearing all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves, brandished a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol. He leaped over the customer counter into the employee-only space, demanded to be taken to the vault, and ordered a credit union employee to open the vault. Connor stole approximately $111,700 from the vault, filled a backpack with the cash, and left through a side door. The money Connor stole from the bank was never recovered. Investigators used security cameras from various sources to identify Connor, including Walmart security camera footage that depicted Connor’s purchases of clothing and other items used in the robbery. Evidence admitted at trial suggested that Connor began planning to rob a bank as early as Jan. 4, 2023, when he first conducted an internet search for “bank robbery.” He continued to plan for weeks leading up to the commission of the crime, inquiring “when do most bank[s] typically have the most money,” “how many bankers press the silent button during robbery” and “how long does it take police to respond to a bank robbery.” Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Connor, who has prior felony convictions for dissemination of private sexual images and harassment, was on probation at the time he committed the armed robbery. This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Pierce. It was investigated by the Jefferson City, Mo., Police Department, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.


title: Lehigh Valley Man Charged with Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud and for Defrauding Local Car Dealerships

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Justin Heimbach, 33, of Bath, Pennsylvania, has been charged by indictment with six counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud in connection with schemes to defraud the federal government and multiple local car dealerships. In March of 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA). The PUA program provided unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation, or extended unemployment benefits. The indictment alleges that Heimbach, who operated a construction company called TeamKJ Construction, engaged in a scheme that caused fraudulent PUA applications to be filed in the names of individuals allegedly no longer employed by TeamKJ as a result of COVID-19. In reality, the applications contained a number of materially false statements, including that the applicant had lost their job with TeamKJ as a result of COVID-19 and the date the applicant lost their job with TeamKJ due to the pandemic. The indictment further alleges that Heimbach successfully defrauded multiple Lehigh Valley car dealerships by purchasing vehicles in the names of other construction companies registered to or associated with him, by writing checks for those vehicles on bank accounts that were either closed or had an insufficient balance to cover the transaction. If convicted, Heimbach faces a maximum possible sentence of 200 years in prison. The case was jointly investigated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the FBI – Allentown Resident Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and S. Chandler Harris. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Swanzey Man Indicted for Stealing Firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD –A Swanzey man was indicted in federal court for stealing firearms from a federally licensed gun store, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Khale Guillou, 19, of Swanzey, was indicted on one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Guillou is in Massachusetts state custody on unrelated charges. He will appear in federal court on a later date. On July 6, 2024, Guillou stole 17 firearms from the premises of a person federally licensed to deal in firearms, including one rifle and 16 pistols. The charge of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to a 3-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene Police Department, Swanzey Police Department, Winchester Police Department, and Tewksbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: SBA employee indicted in COVID-19 fraud scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A Carrollton man has been charged with federal violations related to a COVID-19 fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Faruk Syed, 44, was named in the two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 15, 2024, in the Eastern District of Texas. The indictment charges Syed with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Syed made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson. According to information presented in court, Syed was employed by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a loan specialist and was responsible for reviewing and approving applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Syed allegedly conspired to submit multiple fraudulent applications for EIDL loans requesting hundreds of thousands of dollars of CARES Act funds. As an SBA loan specialist, Syed approved these fraudulent loan applications in his official capacity. He then received the loan proceeds and laundered the money through his Fidelity Investment account. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. If convicted, Syed faces up to 20 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the SBA-OIG and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Taylor. A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


component: Civil Division

body_text: The United States joined a whistleblower suit and filed a complaint-in-intervention against the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Georgia Tech Research Corp. (GTRC) asserting claims that those defendants knowingly failed to meet cybersecurity requirements in connection with the Department of Defense (DoD) contracts. GTRC is an affiliate of Georgia Tech that contracts with government agencies for work to be performed at Georgia Tech. The whistleblower suit was initiated by current and former members of Georgia Tech’s Cybersecurity team. “Government contractors that fail to fully implement required cybersecurity controls jeopardize the confidentiality of sensitive government information,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative was designed to identify such contractors and to hold them accountable.” Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that until at least February 2020, the Astrolavos Lab at Georgia Tech failed to develop and implement a system security plan, which is required by DoD cybersecurity regulations, that set out the cybersecurity controls that Georgia Tech was required to put in place in the lab. Even when the Astrolavos Lab finally implemented a system security plan in February 2020, the lawsuit alleges that Georgia Tech failed to properly scope that plan to include all covered laptops, desktops, and servers. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges until December 2021, the Astrolavos lab failed to install, update or run anti-virus or anti-malware tools on desktops, laptops, servers and networks at the lab. Instead, Georgia Tech approved the lab’s refusal to install antivirus software — in violation of both federal cybersecurity requirements and Georgia Tech’s own policies — to satisfy the demands of the professor who headed the lab. The lawsuit further alleges that in December 2020 Georgia Tech and GTRC submitted a false cybersecurity assessment score to DoD for the Georgia Tech campus. DoD requires contractors to submit summary level scores reflecting the status of their compliance with applicable cybersecurity requirements on covered contracting systems that are used to store or access covered defense information. The submission of this score was a “condition of contract award” for Georgia Tech’s DoD contracts. The lawsuit alleges that the summary level score of 98 for the Georgia Tech campus that Georgia Tech and GTRC reported to DoD in December 2020 was false because (1) Georgia Tech did not actually have a campus-wide IT system and (2) the score was for a “fictitious” or “virtual” environment and did not apply to any covered contracting system at Georgia Tech that could or would ever process, store or transmit covered defense information. “Cybersecurity compliance by government contractors is critical in safeguarding U.S. information and systems against threats posed by malicious actors,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “For this reason, we expect contractors to abide by cybersecurity requirements in their contracts and grants, regardless of the size or type of the organization or the number of contracts involved. Our office will hold accountable those contractors who ignore cybersecurity rules.” “Deficiencies in cybersecurity controls pose a significant threat not only to our national security, but also to the safety of the men and women of our armed services who risk their lives daily,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the DoD's Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “As force multipliers, we place a substantial amount of trust in our contractors and expect them to meet the strict standards our service members deserve.” The whistleblower lawsuit was filed by Christopher Craig and Kyle Koza, who were previously senior members of Georgia Tech’s cybersecurity compliance team, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to receive a share of any recovery. The act permits the United States to intervene and take over responsibility for litigating these cases, as it has done here. A defendant who violates the act is subject to liability for three times the government’s losses, plus applicable penalties. On Oct. 6, 2021, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced the department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative to hold accountable entities or individuals that put U.S information or systems at risk by knowingly providing deficient cybersecurity products or services, knowingly misrepresenting their cybersecurity practices or protocols or knowingly violating obligations to monitor and report cybersecurity incidents and breaches. Information on how to report cyber fraud can be found here . Senior Trial Counsel Jake M. Shields of the Justice Department's Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. Nugent and Melanie D. Hendry for the Northern District of Georgia are handling the matter. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Craig v. Georgia Tech Research Corp, et al. , No. 1:22-cv-02698 (N.D. Ga.). Investigative support is being provided by the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Air Force Material Command. The claims alleged by the United States are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Complaint


title: Texas Man Charged with Armed Kidnapping of Rideshare Driver

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Texas man was charged with kidnapping a rideshare driver at gunpoint and forcing the driver to travel to South Florida. According to allegations in the criminal complaint, a rideshare driver working in Arlington, Texas, picked up Miguel Alejandro Pastran Hernandez, 23, on Aug. 16 at approximately 10:30 p.m. Pastran Hernandez had ordered a ride to a closed gas station. When they arrived at the gas station, Pastran Hernandez pulled out a gun and the victim heard a round being chambered in the firearm. Pastran Hernandez threatened to tie up and put the driver in the back of the vehicle. Pastran Hernandez then ordered the victim to drive to Florida, through multiple states. When they arrived in south Florida, Pastran Hernandez discussed his plan to kidnap another victim for ransom. On Aug. 19, Pastran Hernandez made the victim drive to a store in Hialeah to buy supplies for the second kidnapping. While at the store, the victim fled from Pastran Hernandez who was later arrested and found in possession of a bag containing a loaded firearm. During his appearance in Miami federal court on Aug. 20, on charges of kidnapping, carjacking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Pastran Hernandez was ordered detained. A pre-trial detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the charges. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hannah 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 . A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-mj-3751. ###


title: Clean Harbors Inc. Agrees to Clean Up Devil’s Swamp Lake Superfund Site Near Baton Rouge, Louisiana

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Clean Harbors Inc. and two of its subsidiaries, Clean Harbors Baton Rouge LLC and Baton Rouge Disposal LLC, have reached an over $5 million agreement with the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up decades-old contamination at the Devil’s Swamp Lake Superfund Site just north of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A complaint filed today along with a proposed consent decree seeks an order requiring the Clean Harbors companies to perform a cleanup of pollution at Devil’s Swamp Lake, pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund. The cleanup is estimated to cost over $3 million. Additionally, the consent decree requires reimbursement of over $2 million in costs incurred by the United States in responding to the contamination at Devil’s Swamp Lake. The companies will also pay the United States for all costs it spends in the future for that purpose. “The Devil’s Swamp Lake Superfund Site is located in an area that is unfortunately already overburdened by a variety of environmental problems,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This settlement will protect the public from the dangerous chemicals that have been contaminating Devil’s Swamp Lake for decades and bring the community one step closer to reclaiming this and other important natural resources.” “The people of Louisiana deserve safe, clean natural resources,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr. for the Middle District of Louisiana. “This proposed consent decree will ensure that the Devil’s Swamp Lake Superfund Site is appropriately remediated and that the American taxpayers are reimbursed for costs incurred in responding to contamination at that site. I appreciate the hard work of our partners at EPA and at the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division toward achieving this settlement.” “The East Baton Rouge community expects and deserves the full protection of EPA’s cleanup laws and standards. This settlement is a huge step in resolving a decades-long issue for families that experience a higher burden of environmental problems than other areas of the parish,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance of EPA Region 6. “Holding companies accountable and financially responsible for the harms they commit is one of our strongest tools for getting overburdened communities the relief they deserve. I would like to thank our federal partners for their support in ensuring the site is cleaned up and given back to the communities.” Devil’s Swamp Lake is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are extremely harmful chemicals that build up in the environment over time and have been linked to cancer. Due in part to the levels of PCBs, Louisiana state agencies have repeatedly issued advisories warning the public not to swim in or eat fish caught in Devil’s Swamp Lake. The Devil’s Swamp Lake Superfund Site is located in East Baton Rouge Parish, an area with a population that disproportionately suffers from pollution in the water and the air. Ensuring cleanup of hazardous waste at sites such as Devil’s Swamp Lake is an important aspect of a broader fight to achieve environmental justice. The Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section is handling the case, in conjunction with EPA. The complaint and the proposed consent decree were filed with the U.S. District Court for Middle District of Louisiana. The settlement is subject to a public comment period and final court approval. The consent decree is available for viewing on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees .