title: Bend Repeat Offender Sentenced to More Than 12 Years Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Methamphetamine and a Firearm

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A Bend, Oregon man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison today for possessing methamphetamine and a firearm. Dana Lee Johnson, 41, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on March 26, 2021, a deputy from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Tetherow Resort in Bend after a housekeeper found a bag of suspected drugs in a guest room. Upon arrival, the deputy located a one-gallon plastic bag containing approximately one quarter pound of methamphetamine, two hypodermic needles, and a metal safe. The safe was later found to contain an additional half pound of methamphetamine. Hotel records indicated that Johnson, who had a suspended driver’s license and an outstanding felony warrant for failing to register as a sex offender, was the last guest to stay in the room where the drugs were found. On April 1, 2021, a deputy returned to the resort after learning that Johnson had contacted the hotel to inquire about the safe he had left behind. One week later, on April 8, 2021, law enforcement officers located and stopped Johnson traveling in a rental vehicle. Investigators searched the vehicle and found more than $7,000 in cash, a rental car agreement in Johnson’s name, and a black backpack belonging to Johnson. Inside the backpack, investigators found and seized an additional half pound of methamphetamine, nearly a half pound of heroin, and a loaded semi-automatic pistol. On November 18, 2021, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a four-count indictment charging Johnson with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. On October 11, 2023, Johnson pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE) with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. The CODE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. CODE includes members of the Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Sunriver, and Black Butte Police Departments; the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department; the Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices; the Oregon State Police; the Oregon National Guard; DEA; and the FBI.


title: New Castle Felon Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking fentanyl and cocaine and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Donald Jeter, 34, pleaded guilty before United States Senior District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine between May 2021 and October 2022 and to possessing a firearm on August 10, 2022, after a felony conviction. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for September 24, 2024. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jeter.


title: Compton Mother and Son Indicted for Allegedly Forcing Two 13-Year-Old Victims to Engage in Commercial Sex Acts

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against a Compton mother and son for allegedly forcing two 13-year-old victims to engage in sexual activity for money, the Justice Department announced today. Daisy Pollard-Gilliam, 41, a.k.a. “Queen,” and her son, Reuben Gilliam, 24, a.k.a. “Tre,” are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor and two counts of sex trafficking of a minor. Reuben Gilliam also is charged with one count of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Daisy Pollard-Gilliam also is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Reuben Gilliam is in state custody on unrelated charges and is expected to be transferred over to federal custody in the coming weeks. Daisy Pollard-Gilliam was arrested on April 24 and a federal magistrate judge ordered her jailed without bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 14 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. According to court documents, the victims were walking down a street in Bell Gardens at approximately 2 a.m. on June 3, 2023, when a vehicle containing three men – including Reuben Gilliam – stopped next to them. One of the men exited the vehicle and told the minor victims to get in. The victims were then driven to a residence in Lynwood. Throughout the next week, both victims were required to engage in sexual activity with Reuben Gilliam, Daisy Pollard-Gilliam and unidentified commercial sex customers to make money, the indictment alleges. The customers told one victim that they paid $100 to have sexual intercourse with her and the defendants collected the cash after the customer had sex with the victims, according to court documents. The defendants allegedly also directed the victims to dress in lingerie and pose for pictures to be used to advertise commercial sex. After spending a few nights at the Lynwood residence, the defendants allegedly saw missing children’s flyers in circulation on social media – identifying both victims as 13 years old – seeking the minor victims’ whereabouts. The victims were then transferred to different locations in Los Angeles County. On the evening of June 9, 2023, law enforcement officials rescued the victims from a recreational vehicle in Gardena. Among the items law enforcement seized during the rescue were clothing, shoes, eyewear, and one cellphone that the suspects allegedly gave the victims so they could call the suspects if they were in trouble. The victims allegedly used the cellphone to text and call Daisy Pollard-Gilliam on multiple occasions. On June 6, 2023, Daisy Pollard-Gilliam distributed images and videos of the victims to an inmate at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California, according to court documents. A review of Reuben Gilliam’s Instagram account made pursuant to a search warrant revealed that on June 4, 2023, he communicated with other Instagram users regarding his commercial sex trafficking of the two victims, according to court documents. In April 2024, Pollard-Gilliam allegedly possessed a semi-automatic pistol and 25 rounds of ammunition. She is permitted to possess neither because of her felony conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2021 for child abandonment. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, the defendants would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Damaris Diaz of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Angela C. Makabali of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section are prosecuting this case. Any member of the public who has information related to child sex crimes is encouraged to call the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565 or report tips online at https://tips.fbi.gov .


title: Windsor Woman Sentenced to 4 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Alicia M. Allen, 38, Windsor, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 4 years in federal prison for possessing more than 40 grams of fentanyl intended for distribution, and money laundering. The prison sentence will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Allen pleaded guilty to these charges on January 24, 2024. Law enforcement began investigating Allen in the summer of 2022, after she was observed meeting with another individual under investigation for fentanyl trafficking. On November 28, 2022, officers met with Allen at her residence, and she admitted that she purchased fentanyl pills for distribution. She turned over 579 fentanyl pills and a firearm to the officers. A subsequent financial investigation showed that Allen made significant sums of money selling fentanyl. She used personal and business bank accounts to launder the drug proceeds, providing false explanations to the bank about the source of the funds. On March 9, 2023, officers seized over $42,000 from Allen’s business bank account. Allen was unemployed during the entirety of the investigation, had no legitimate business, and the source of the funds in her business bank account was determined to be drug proceeds. At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that Allen was dealing large quantities of an extremely dangerous drug, fentanyl, over a long period of time. Judge Peterson also found Allen’s pattern of dishonesty and concealment of significant drug proceeds to be aggravating factors. The charges against Allen were the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Dane County Narcotics Task Force. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.


title: Romanian Man Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Violations Involving Use of Skimming Devices at Local ATMs

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Bacau, Romania, has been sentenced in federal court to four years of imprisonment on his conviction of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Ciprian Costel Borcea, 46. According to information presented to the Court, a local financial institution discovered that it was targeted through a skimming device scheme that caused losses of more than $450,000 and the theft of account information related to more than 700 customers. A skimming device is one that fraudsters place over automated teller machines (ATMs) that captures the information from the magnetic strips of ATM cards. Those devices are then used in conjunction with pin hole cameras that capture customers’ personal identification numbers to create fraudulent ATM cards and then withdraw money from the customers’ bank accounts. The investigation revealed that the skimming devices and cameras were placed on area ATMs in March and April 2023. Borcea was captured on surveillance video installing the skimming devices and cameras, retrieving the devices, and using the counterfeit ATM cards to withdraw money from customer accounts. In early May 2023, Borcea installed a skimming device on an ATM located in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. The Cleveland Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service set up surveillance of the ATM machine and observed Borcea approaching the machine. Borcea was taken into custody, and a search of his vehicle revealed a skimming device, counterfeit ATM cards, and other evidence tying him to the ATM skimming device fraud in the Pittsburgh area. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Secret Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Borcea.


title: Indianapolis Resident Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Submitting Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loan Applications

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Antranette Echols, 57, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States Senior District Judge Nora Barry Fischer. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Echols prepared and submitted for borrowers falsified COVID-19 pandemic relief loan applications, for which she took a fee. Some of the borrowers were located in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for August 16, 2024. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Echols.


title: Previously Convicted Felon Charged with Possession of Machinegun in Furtherance of Cocaine Trafficking Crime

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The four-count Indictment named Christopher Pollard, 33, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about November 3, 2023, Pollard, who has multiple prior felony convictions, possessed a Glock handgun that had been illegally modified to fire as a fully automatic machinegun. In addition to prohibiting individuals from possessing machineguns, federal law makes it illegal for an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing any firearm or ammunition. Additionally, on the same day, Pollard possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine. The Indictment alleges that Pollard possessed the illegal firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense. The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin C. Dobkin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Box Elder man sentenced to more than six years in prison for sexually abusing teen on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man was sentenced today to six years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for sexually abusing a teenage girl he lured through social media to his isolated home on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Jonathan Ray Gonsalez, 40, pleaded guilty in January to sexual abuse. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that on Jan. 3, 2023, Gonsalez initiated contact with the victim, a 16-year-old identified as Jane Doe, though Facebook Messenger and ultimately lured the victim to his home through comments. Jane Doe arrived at Gonsalez’s residence, which was isolated, around 10 p.m. A short time later, Jane Doe got scared and wanted to leave, but the temperature was below freezing. Jane Doe asked Gonsalez to have someone pick her up and fell asleep while waiting for the ride. Jane Doe awoke to Gonsalez sexually abusing her. After he was done, Jane Doe left the residence and called 911 for help. A Rocky Boy’s Police Department officer found Jane Doe and picked her up on the road near Gonsalez’s residence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Myers and Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Wichita man sentenced to prison for threats to Pres. Biden

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for threatening to kill the President of the United States of America. According to court documents, Cody McCormick, 28, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of making a threat against the President of the United States. In April 2023, McCormick sent a Wichita television station a Facebook message detailing his intention to murder U.S. President Joseph (Joe) Biden. The message read in part, “I will get a Greyhound bus ticket and go and shoot him." U.S. Secret Service agents interviewed McCormick. The agents asked McCormick if they needed to be worried about him if President Biden came to Wichita. McCormick responded that if given the opportunity, he would "force him (POTUS) to step down from office" and would "kidnap him". He also told agents, "My intent is to kill Joe Biden if I don't get the help I need." The U.S. Secret Service and the Wichita Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster prosecuted the case. ###


title: Local Physician and Practice Agree to Pay  Over $2 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – James Aronovitz, D.O., and Michigan Ear Care PLLC have agreed to pay over $2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by charging the Medicare and Medicaid programs for services purportedly provided by Aronovitz, but actually rendered by physician assistants who Aronovitz did not properly supervise, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Under the settlement, Aronovitz and Michigan Ear Care will pay $2,003,800.91 to resolve allegations that Aronovitz submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid under his National Provider Identifier for ear care services provided by physician assistants in nursing facilities and home health settings, without Aronovitz providing the required supervision of the physician assistants. The State of Michigan will receive $65,993.20 of the settlement amount based on its share of alleged damages to the Medicaid program. “Physicians are expected to submit accurate billing when charging the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “This investigation and settlement demonstrate that our office continues to deploy the resources necessary to combat Medicare and Medicaid fraud in this district.” “Ensuring providers adhere to supervision requirements and regulatory standards is crucial for safeguarding the integrity of federal health care programs and the well-being of patients," said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. "HHS-OIG remains committed to promoting compliance and the prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in HHS programs." The civil investigation was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonny Zajac of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from HHS-OIG. The investigation originated as a U.S. Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Strike Force investigation. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination or admission of liability.


title: Defendants in Deadly Drug Distribution Scheme Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: DETROIT – The last of seven defendants in a drug conspiracy that resulted in overdoses and at least one death was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Today, United States District Court Judge Bernard A. Friedman sentenced Lavante Brown, 30, of Detroit. Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death on May 16, 2023. An FBI investigation revealed that, for years, a group of dealers operated an on-demand drive through for drugs, including crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, on Yacama street in Detroit, Michigan. Drug customers who drove down the street were served at their car window with drugs at any time of day, as many times as they could afford. Residents of the area had been plagued with this incessant drug activity, resulting in home abandonments, which were, in turn, used to further the distribution. Drugs sold from Yacama street caused many overdoses, including at least one fatal overdose. Seven members of the conspiracy, most of whom had lengthy criminal histories, were charged in federal court. All seven pleaded guilty to offenses related to the sales of controlled substances on Yacama, before United States District Judge Bernard A. Friedman. The co-defendants, and their sentences, are listed below: Anthony Foster, 38, of Detroit, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Willie Swift, 58, of Detroit, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to over 10 years in prison. Terrance Hall, 34, of Eastpointe, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Dana Hudson, 46, of Detroit, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. David Terry, 41, of Harper Woods, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to over 4 years in prison. Justin Fields, 33, of Rochester Hills, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to one day custody with credit for time-served, followed by three years of supervised release. “These defendants believed that they could take over areas of our city, destroy neighborhoods, and risk others’ lives with impunity, but these sentences should serve as notice that federal law enforcement will not stand idly by while drug dealers do harm to our community,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “ "Today's sentencing marks a significant victory in our relentless fight against opioid trafficking and its devastating impact on our community," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "This case sends a strong message that we will not tolerate activities that endanger our citizens' lives and will continue to work tirelessly to hold those responsible accountable. I commend the diligent efforts of the FBI's Oakland County Gang and Violent Crime Task Force in bringing these criminals to justice." This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the Oakland County Gang and Violent Crime Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Hindelang.


title: Billings woman admits carjacking

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

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings woman accused of carjacking a vehicle while armed admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Talena Florence Boyiddle, 20, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging her with carjacking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Boyiddle faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the carjacking crime and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the firearm charge. 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. Boyiddle was detained pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that on Jan. 23, 2023, the victim, identified as John Doe 1 reported to the Billings Police Department that he had been carjacked. The victim told law enforcement that he had met a woman he knew as “Nicole” online and that at 1 a.m. on Jan. 23, 2023, she arranged for him to pick her up. When the victim arrived, the woman got into the front seat and two unknown males got into the back seat. The three individuals instructed the victim to drive to an alley behind a laundromat. There, the woman pulled out a Glock pistol, racked it twice and pointed it at John Doe 1. All three individuals made statements that they intended to rob the victim. The victim got out of the car and ran away, and the three individuals took his car, a 2003 Honda Civic. An officer found the car with switched plates later the same day and had it towed. A few days after the car was returned to the victim, it was stolen again. In February 2023, police found Boyiddle in the victim’s car and in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun. Investigators determined through a Facebook photo that “Nicole” was Boyiddle. The government further alleged that Boyiddle and her associates were able to steal the car a second time by using keys they had obtained from the carjacking. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich is prosecuting the case. The Billings Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Former Memphis Police Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights, Kidnapping and Weapons Offenses Related to Fatal Shooting

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an eight-count indictment today charging former Memphis Police Officer Patric J. Ferguson with federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal shooting of a victim identified as R.H. The indictment also charges Ferguson and a civilian, Joshua M. Rogers, with federal offenses for conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting and destroying evidence of the crimes. The indictment further charges Rogers with accessory after the fact for helping Ferguson cover up his crimes. The indictment alleges that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Ferguson, while on duty as a Memphis Police Department officer, kidnapped and shot R.H. in the head, resulting in R.H.’s death. Ferguson then allegedly conspired with Rogers to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.’s body in the Wolf River in Memphis. The indictment further alleges that Rogers disposed of the car used to transport R.H.’s body by selling the car at a scrap metal dealership. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Memphis Field Office and Memphis Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section 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. Updated May 8, 2024 Topic CIVIL RIGHTS Components Civil Rights Division Civil Rights - Criminal Section Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) USAO - Tennessee, Western Press Release Number: 24-589


title: Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who admitted to using and selling drugs while in possession of a firearm, was sentenced May 3, 2024, to more than 2 years in federal prison. Devonta Cobbs, age 23, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 19, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user. Evidence in the case revealed that from about May 2022 through June 2022, Cobbs, while being an admitted user of marijuana, possessed multiple firearms. During an investigation into a shooting incident, while executing search warrants on Cobbs’ property, officers located several guns, ammunition, magazines as well as more than $2,000 in cash and marijuana. Cobbs was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced to 34 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Cobbs is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-4069. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: East Bay Entrepreneur Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Salman Salman pleaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. The plea was accepted by the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., United States District Judge. The announcement was made by United States Attorney for the Northern District of California Ismail J. Ramsey and IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office. Salman, 47, of Rodeo, Calif., was charged with a scheme to evade taxes by filing false Form 1040 joint income tax returns for himself and his wife for tax years 2016 through 2019. Specifically, Salman admitted to falsely underreporting income he and his wife enjoyed from three businesses he owned and operated during the course of the scheme, The Plug Tattoo & Piercing, Inc., S&S Real Estate Investment Group, and Synergy Investment Group Ohio Inc. In the plea agreement, Salman admitted that he both understated income from his companies and that he claimed false and overstated expenses as part of his scheme to further reduce his tax obligations. In total, Salman admitted that he failed to disclose over $3.4 million in income he received from his companies for tax years 2016 through 2019. On December 11, 2023, Salman was charged by information with four counts of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Salman admitted the conduct alleged as support for all four counts in the information, but pleaded guilty to Count Four, which charges him with tax evasion for tax year 2019. Judge Gilliam scheduled Salman’s sentencing hearing for September 18, 2024. For the tax evasion charge, Salman faces a maximum prison term of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and restitution of at least $438,247 to the IRS. As part of any sentence, the court may also order Salman to serve a period of supervised release and to pay additional assessments, however, the court will impose a sentence only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Green, with the assistance of Kay Konopaske and Christine Tian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.


title: Executive Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Monopolize, Rig Bids and Allocate Territories for Wildfire Services

body_text: BOISE – The former owner of contractor companies that provided fuel truck services to the U.S. Forest Service’s wildfire fighters pleaded guilty today to conspiring to monopolize, rigging bids and allocating territories in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The plea follows a judicially authorized wiretap investigation that led to the indictment of two executives in December 2023. According to a plea agreement and superseding information filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Ike Tomlinson, 60, of Terreton, conspired with co-defendant Kris Bird, 61, of Salmon, and others in at least two conspiracies. First, from at least as early as March 2015 until about March 2023, Tomlinson conspired to rig bids — and allocate territories — in the market for wildfire-fighting fuel truck services for certain dispatch centers of the U.S. Forest Service’s Great Basin wildfire dispatch region. Then, from at least as early as February 2020 until about March 2023, Ike Tomlinson and Kris Bird also conspired to monopolize that same market. As summarized in his plea agreement, Tomlinson and his co-conspirators sought to exclude competing vendors from the market and to maintain his power to price higher than he would have otherwise. In March 2023, for example, Tomlinson coordinated his bids with Bird to “squeeze,” “drown,” “punch,” “low ball” and de-prioritize two competing vendors on the Forest Service’s dispatch priority lists. “Congress criminalized conspiracies to monopolize in 1890 to protect the American promise of free enterprise,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s guilty plea shows that the Justice Department and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) partners will deploy every appropriate law enforcement tool — including court-authorized wiretaps — to prosecute blatant monopolistic conduct that harms the public.” “Agencies like the U.S. Forest Service rely on a fair bidding process to secure the best deal at the best price for taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit. “When contractors collude rather than compete, they wrong the public and honest competitors who submitted bids fair and square.” “The FBI will pursue and find those who would overcharge the federal government and submit false federal certifications,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Contractors who collude with their counterparts will be investigated and held accountable.” “The defendant rigged prices of their fuel truck services, overcharging the U.S. Forest Service’s wildfire fighters,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s plea agreement shows that there will be serious consequences for executives for conspiring against the federal government. The FBI and our partners are committed to ensuring the American government, and its taxpayers, are not victimized by criminal monopoly schemes.” A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals and a maximum penalty of a $100 million fine for corporations. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by victims if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors. The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, and FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Boise Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorney Matthew Chou and Assistant Chief Christopher J. Carlberg of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case. Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the PCSF at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint . The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Hudson County Woman Charged with Six Burglaries of U.S. Post Offices

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, woman was arrested today for burglarizing two U.S. Post Offices on six occasions, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Zyeama Johnson, 29, Jersey City, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with six counts of burglary of a post office. Johnson appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy Waldor in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Jan. 10, Jan. 13, Jan. 21, Jan. 26, and Feb. 3, 2023, Johnson broke into a post office in Hudson County. Johnson had previously been employed at the post office and terminated from her position. On each occasion, Johnson stole mail from the post office and loaded the stolen mail into her vehicle before driving off. On Feb. 7, 2023, Johnson broke into a second post office location and was arrested by law enforcement as she left the building. Each count of burglary carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the U.S. Postal Service, Officer of the Inspector General under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi; and the Jersey City Police Department with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Zuckier of the General Crimes in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. johnson.complaint.pdf


title: Orange County Man Charged with Scheming to Steal High-End Violins and Later Robbing a Bank Branch in Irvine

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Irvine man has been charged in a federal criminal complaint for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to steal high-value violins and then allegedly robbing a bank in Orange County, the Justice Department announced today. Mark Meng, 57, is charged with bank robbery and wire fraud in a complaint filed on May 7. He has been in state custody since April 11 and is expected to make his initial appearance in United States District Court on May 9. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, from August 2020 to April 2023, Meng engaged in a scheme to steal high-end violins and then resell them for his personal gain. The stolen violins included: one Lorenzo Ventapane violin, dated 1823, and valued at $175,000; a one Guilio Degani violin, dated 1903, and valued at $55,000; one Caressa & Francais violin, dated 1913, and valued at $40,000; one Gand & Bernardel violin, dated 1870, and valued at $60,000; and one Francais Lott violin bow, stamped “Lupot,” and valued at $7,500. Meng allegedly contacted violin shops across the country to express interest in receiving violins on loan for a trial period to determine if he wished to purchase the instruments. He allegedly gained the trust of these stores by representing himself as a collector, and in some cases, he purchased violin bows before asking for violin trial periods. After receiving each violin on a trial-period basis, Meng kept the violins and ultimately sold them to a violin dealer in Los Angeles who was unaware of their stolen origin. After Meng knew he was under investigation by the FBI for the stolen violins, Meng on April 2 allegedly entered a bank branch in Irvine, wearing a hat, sunglasses, a bandana covering his face, and blue latex gloves. Meng allegedly gave the bank teller a note stating “$18,000. - Withdraw. Please. Stay Cool! No harm. Thx.” After obtaining money from the bank teller, Meng fled the bank in his white minivan, according to the complaint. Law enforcement personnel determined that a latent print from the robbery note was identified as belonging to Meng, the affidavit states. Officers ultimately tracked the minivan back to Meng’s house where Meng was arrested several days later. A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Meng would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on both the bank robbery count and the wire fraud count. The FBI’s Art Crime Team investigated this matter, with assistance from the Irvine Police Department and the Glendale Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Alexander and Mark A. Williams, both of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, are prosecuting this case.


title: District Man Sentenced to Prison for Hardware Store Break-in

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Earl Britt, 60, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for burglarizing the W.S. Jenks & Sons Hardware store on February 12, 2024. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Britt pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree burglary in March 7, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. According to the government’s evidence, on February 12, 2024, at approximately 9:05 p.m., MPD officers responded to the report of a burglary at the W.S. Jenks & Sons Hardware store located at 910 Bladensburg Rd, NE. When officers arrived, they observed that the front glass window pane of the store had been shattered. A man walking his dog in the area at the time of the break-in reported seeing a man break the window to the store and gave a description of the man to the officers. The store manager, who had received an alert on his phone when Britt broke into the store, was able to provide footage from the surveillance video to law enforcement. Surveillance video from the store showed a man, matching Britt’s description, destroying the store’s glass windowpane with a cinder block and crawling inside of the broken window into the store. The video further captured the defendant jump behind the counter where the register is located and begin to open and search the register drawers for cash. A short time later, Britt is seen leaving the store through the same broken window where he entered and fled on foot along Bladensburg Rd NE. Britt was apprehended a short time later, after officers were able to match his description with the surveillance video and eyewitness account. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Cocuzza and Lindsey Miller, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Former CEO of dental device company pleads guilty to wire fraud for fraudulent investment scheme

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – Stephen Baird, the former CEO of S-Ray, Inc., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Baird, 68, formerly of Bainbridge Island, Washington, defrauded investors by making false statements about S-Ray’s product development and falsely claiming the company had obtained FDA authorization to market a dental device. Baird is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on August 2, 2024. Baird claimed S-Ray had developed an innovative ultrasound device that could take the place of X-rays, allowing dentists to quickly and safely image patients’ mouths. Baird falsely told investors that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted S-Ray “market clearance” to sell the device when, in fact, S-Ray never obtained FDA authorization to sell any device. At a court hearing today, Baird admitted to engaging in a scheme to defraud S-Ray’s investors in connection with his promotion and sale of S-Ray stock. The Court will determine at a future hearing the amount of loss investors sustained and other facts relating to Baird’s fraudulent scheme. Charging documents allege Baird’s scheme began in 2012 and defrauded some 200 investors of $10.75 million. The documents allege Baird told investors their funds would be used to bring a product to market, but Baird instead used at least 62% of the money – some $6.7 million – for his and his family’s personal expenses, including to purchase a luxury car and a house on Bainbridge Island. Under the plea agreement, Baird agreed to pay restitution to investors and to forfeit property in amounts to be determined by the Court. The government agreed to recommend no more than seven years in prison. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil securities fraud action against Baird and S-Ray in March 2022. On January 6, 2023, the Honorable John H. Chun issued an order that imposed civil penalties against Baird and S-Ray, held them liable for disgorgement of investment funds, and enjoined Baird from serving as an officer or director of certain companies and from participating in certain types of securities transactions. The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.


title: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison

body_text: FORT WAYNE –Brandon K. McBride, 38 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. McBride was sentenced to 150 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on August 1, 2023, just 13 days after being discharged from parole for a felony handgun conviction, McBride was found with a stolen handgun containing a 50 round drum style magazine. Then on September 22, 2023, McBride was found with three firearms, one of which was a machine gun, in his vehicle after taking officers on an hour-long pursuit through the streets of Fort Wayne and New Haven, in which he struck two police vehicles before being taken into custody. McBride has eight (8) prior felony convictions and twenty-one (21) misdemeanor convictions. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Former Albany County Employee Sentenced for Stealing Government Funds

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – John T. Cox, age 62, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 2 years of probation, including 180 days of home confinement, for mail fraud and stealing money from a federally funded governmental agency. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Northeast Region, made the announcement. As part of his previously entered guilty plea , Cox admitted that between June 2017 and February 2023, while employed as a Budget Analyst in the Albany County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), he stole $122,251.25 by issuing 16 fraudulent checks drawn on funds in the care of the ACSO, an agency that received more than $10,000 in federal funding each year during this time period. Cox used the checks to pay himself directly or to pay down his line of credit. Cox then tried to cover up his fraud by falsifying ACSO records to suggest that the funds were being used for legitimate purposes such as vehicle and equipment purchases. Cox stole some of the money from a Department of Justice program in which the federal government shares the proceeds of federal asset forfeitures with state and local law enforcement agencies. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a $5,500 fine and ordered Cox to pay $122,251.25 in restitution to the ACSO. The FBI, DOJ OIG, and ACSO investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal prosecuted the case.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Sale

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Sean Christopher Adams, age 35, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 175 months in federal prison for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, a cooperating individual advised law enforcement officers that Adams was selling methamphetamine. Investigators tasked the individual with making a purchase of drugs from Adams. The transaction took place in a retail parking lot in Buckhannon while officers provided surveillance. Once the transaction took place, officers intercepted the drugs and arrested Adams, seizing more than $14,000 in cash and a one-pound bag of methamphetamine. Adams will serve eight years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jackie Harper, 51, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for making false statements to the Small Business Administration. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Harper to three years’ probation and ordered him to pay $154,247.06 in restitution, nearly all of which has already been paid. During 2020 and 2021, Harper, assisted by another person, submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program loans. Those loan programs were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The applications misrepresented how much Harper’s business had paid employees in past compensation and how much revenue Harper’s business had received, resulting in applications for significantly inflated loan amounts under the PPP and EIDL programs. The PPP applications were supported by false tax documents. The fraudulent applications on behalf of Harper resulted in him receiving loans and grants totaling approximately $145,300. 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 . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.


title: Former Hawaii Resident Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Defrauding Investors of $1.2 Million

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – Newton Kaleo DeLeon, 48, of San Juan Capistrano, California, was sentenced by Senior District Judge Helen Gillmor today to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release for wire fraud and money laundering related to a scheme to defraud at least 42 Hawaii and California victim-investors out of more than $1.2 million. DeLeon, a former Big Island resident, is required to pay $1,246,850 in restitution to the victims of the scheme. He also must pay a forfeiture money judgment of $1,194,650. According to information produced to the court, from at least 2017 to December 2020, DeLeon solicited money from victim-investors, many of whom were friends and teachers, by falsely representing that the money they provided him was for his flower lei business, “leiorders.com.” Instead, DeLeon spent the money on his personal expenses, including gambling and luxury items, such as a Chevrolet Tahoe. DeLeon falsely told victim-investors that he needed investment funds to purchase flowers and supplies for lei purchase orders that he had already executed with third parties, such as well-known casino hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada. To further his scheme to defraud, DeLeon then falsely promised that he would repay the principal investment loan within a short time frame and split the profit with the investors as a return. DeLeon created and signed loan agreements and promissory notes for investors to create the false appearance of legitimate financial transactions upon which investors could rely. To further legitimize his scheme to defraud, DeLeon provided investors with fictitious and fabricated purchase orders, contracts, and other documents that he created with unauthorized and false branded logos and forged signatures to make it appear he had large business lei orders with third parties, such as well-known casino hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he knew that he did not secure these orders. “Holding people like DeLeon accountable for criminally defrauding multiple victims in Hawaii and elsewhere is a top priority of our office,” said United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. “And while we will continue our law enforcement efforts to bring such perpetrators to justice, we encourage everyone to be their own first line of defense against those who create and then exploit relationships of trust.” "The FBI hopes this sentence sends a message to those who try to take advantage and victimize investors in these types of schemes for their own personal greed," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “We urge the public to remain vigilant and thoroughly research any investment. As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” “Our communities here, along with people all over the world, value leis as symbols of hospitality, of honor, of friendship. DeLeon, however, only saw and valued his own greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Seattle Field Office. “Financial crime is not victimless, and DeLeon deliberately chose to dishonor and hurt those in our communities with his actions. Today’s sentencing is a start to making things right, and CI is continually committed to bringing justice to those who do wrong.” The FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and Orange County Sherriff’s Department conducted the investigation that led to the conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter handled the prosecution.


title: Convicted felon pleads guilty to new child pornography charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Preston Herbst, 27, of Canandaigua, NY, pleaded guilty to transferring obscene matter before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that in July 2023, Herbst was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison after being convicted on a federal charge of possession of child pornography. Herbst was allowed to self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons and was scheduled to begin his sentence on October 12, 2023. Prior to self-surrendering, on September 3, 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received information from Snap Inc., that a user had uploaded child pornography to the Snapchat platform. Subsequent investigation traced the user back to Herbst’s residence. In October and November 2023, search warrants were executed on Herbst’s Snapchat account and at his residence. The search of the Snapchat account determined that Herbst used the account to trade child pornography in September 2023, after he had been sentenced, but before self-surrendering to the Bureau of Prisons. Herbst was under the supervision of United States Probation when the uploads took place and had been using a prohibited device in violation of his release conditions. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci. # # # #


title: Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty To Murder In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Randall England, age 36, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree. The Information alleged that on or about February 7, 2023, England shot and killed the victim with an assault rifle. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. England was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.


title: U.S. Charges Russian National with Developing and Operating LockBit Ransomware

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Remote video URL U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey's recorded remarks The U.S. Justice Department unsealed charges today against a Russian national for his alleged role as the creator, developer, and administrator of the LockBit ransomware group from its inception in September 2019 through the present. At times, LockBit was the most prolific ransomware group in the world. “Earlier this year, the Justice Department and our U.K. law enforcement partners disrupted LockBit, a ransomware group responsible for attacks on victims across the United States and around the world,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today we are going a step further, charging the individual who we allege developed and administered this malicious cyber scheme, which has targeted over 2,000 victims and stolen more than $100 million in ransomware payments. We will continue to work closely alongside our partners, across the U.S. government and around the world to disrupt cybercrime operations like LockBit and to find and hold accountable those responsible for them.” “As part of our unrelenting efforts to dismantle ransomware groups and protect victims, the Justice Department has brought over two dozen criminal charges against the administrator of LockBit, one of the world’s most dangerous ransomware organizations,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Working with U.S. and international partners, we are using all our tools to hold ransomware actors accountable—and we continue to encourage victims to report cyberattacks to the FBI when they happen. Reporting an attack could make all the difference in preventing the next one.” Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev (Дмитрий Юрьевич Хорошев), also known as LockBitSupp, LockBit, and putinkrab, 31, of Voronezh, Russia, is charged by a 26-count indictment returned by a grand jury in the District of New Jersey. “Today’s indictment of LockBit developer and operator Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev continues the FBI’s ongoing disruption of the LockBit criminal ecosystem,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The LockBit ransomware group represented one of the most prolific ransomware variants across the globe, causing billions of dollars in losses and wreaking havoc on critical infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. The charges announced today reflect the FBI’s unyielding commitment to disrupting ransomware organizations and holding the perpetrators accountable.” The indictment against Khoroshev unsealed today follows a recent disruption of LockBit ransomware in February by the U.K. National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Cyber Division, which worked in cooperation with the Justice Department, FBI, and other international law enforcement partners. As previously announced by the Department, authorities disrupted LockBit by seizing numerous public-facing websites used by LockBit to connect to the organization’s infrastructure and by seizing control of servers used by LockBit administrators, thereby disrupting the ability of LockBit actors to attack and encrypt networks and extort victims by threatening to publish stolen data. That disruption succeeded in greatly diminishing LockBit’s reputation and its ability to attack further victims, as alleged by the indictment unsealed today. “Dmitry Khoroshev conceived, developed, and administered Lockbit, the most prolific ransomware variant and group in the world, enabling himself and his affiliates to wreak havoc and cause billions of dollars in damage to thousands of victims around the globe,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “He thought he could do so hidden by his notorious moniker ‘LockBitSupp,’ anonymous and free of any consequence, while he personally pocketed $100 million extorted from Lockbit’s victims. Through relentless investigation and coordination with our partners at the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the FBI and abroad, we have proven him and his coconspirators wrong. Today’s indictment marks a significant milestone in the investigation and prosecution of LockBit, which has already led to charges against five other LockBit affiliates—two of whom are in custody awaiting trial—and a major disruption of the now discredited LockBit operation.” In addition, as previously announced, law enforcement developed decryption capabilities that may enable hundreds of victims around the world to restore systems encrypted using the LockBit ransomware variant. Victims targeted by this malware are encouraged to contact the FBI at https://lockbitvictims.ic3.gov/ to enable law enforcement to determine whether affected systems can be successfully decrypted. According to the indictment and other documents previously unsealed in the District of New Jersey: Khoroshev and the LockBit Ransomware Group Khoroshev allegedly acted as the LockBit ransomware group’s developer and administrator from its inception in or around September 2019 through May 2024. Khoroshev and his affiliate coconspirators, grew LockBit into what was, at times, the most active and destructive ransomware variant in the world. The LockBit ransomware group attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries, including 1,800 victims in the United States. LockBit victims included individuals, small businesses, multinational corporations, hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, critical infrastructure, and government and law-enforcement agencies. Khoroshev and his co-conspirators extracted at least $500 million in ransom payments from their victims and caused billions of dollars in broader losses, such as lost revenue, incident response, and recovery. Khoroshev allegedly designed LockBit to operate in the “ransomware-as-a-service” (RaaS) model. In his role as the LockBit developer and administrator, Khoroshev arranged for the design of the LockBit ransomware code itself, recruited other LockBit members—called affiliates—to deploy it against victims, and maintained the LockBit infrastructure, including an online software dashboard called a “control panel” to provide the affiliates with the tools necessary to deploy LockBit. Khoroshev also maintained LockBit’s public-facing website—called a “data leak site”—for the publication of data stolen from victims who refused to pay a ransom. As alleged in the indictment, Khoroshev—as the LockBit developer—typically received a 20% share of each ransom payment extorted from LockBit victims. The affiliate responsible for an attack would receive the remaining 80%. During the scheme, Khoroshev alone allegedly received at least $100 million in disbursements of digital currency through his developer shares of LockBit ransom payments. LockBit infrastructure seized by law enforcement through the February 2024 disruption allegedly showed that Khoroshev retained copies of data stolen from LockBit victims who had paid the demanded ransom. Khoroshev and his affiliate co-conspirators had falsely promised those victims that their stolen data would be deleted after payment. Moreover, after the February 2024 disruption, Khoroshev allegedly communicated with law enforcement and urged them to disclose the identities of his RaaS competitors—whom Khoroshev called his “enemies”—in exchange for his services. Khoroshev is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, and related activity in connection with computers; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; eight counts of intentional damage to a protected computer; eight counts of extortion in relation to confidential information from a protected computer; and eight counts of extortion in relation to damage to a protected computer. In total, those charges carry a maximum penalty of 185 years in prison. Each of the 26 counts charged by the indictment also carries a maximum fine of the greatest of $250,000, pecuniary gain to the offender, or pecuniary harm to the victim. The LockBit Investigation With the indictment unsealed today, a total of six LockBit members have now been charged for their participation in the LockBit conspiracy: In February 2024, an indictment was unsealed in the District of New Jersey charging Russian nationals Artur Sungatov and Ivan Kondratyev , also known as Bassterlord, with deploying LockBit against numerous victims throughout the United States, including businesses nationwide in the manufacturing and other industries. In June 2023, a criminal complaint was filed in the District of New Jersey charging Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov , a Russian national, in connection with his participation in the LockBit group. Astamirov is currently in custody awaiting trial. In May 2023, two indictments were unsealed in Washington, D.C., and the District of New Jersey charging Mikhail Matveev , also known as “Wazawaka,” “m1x,” “Boriselcin,” and “Uhodiransomwar,” with using different ransomware variants, including LockBit, to attack numerous victims throughout the United States, including the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. Matveev is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at tips.fbi.gov/ . Finally, in November 2022, a criminal complaint was filed in the District of New Jersey charging Mikhail Vasiliev in connection with his participation in the LockBit ransomware group. Vasiliev, a dual Russian-Canadian national, is currently in custody in Canada awaiting extradition to the United States. The FBI Newark Field Office is investigating the LockBit ransomware variant. Trial Attorneys Jessica C. Peck, Debra Ireland, and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly, David E. Malagold, and Vinay Limbachia for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the charges against Khoroshev. The Justice Department’s Cybercrime Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust, Office of International Affairs, and National Security Division also provided significant assistance. Additionally, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced today that it is designating Khoroshev for his role in launching cyberattacks. For more information, visit https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2326 . Authorities in the United Kingdom and Australia also announced sanctions today against Khoroshev. The Department of State also announced today a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the apprehension of Khoroshev. Information that may be eligible for this award can be submitted by email at fbisupp@fbi.gov, Telegram at @LockbitRewards, Signal at @FBISupp.01, and tox B0B98577F0541160C745B464E42C9AB782B036682FAD59D5F228EA75BF71691BE68A8E08BD55. The reward announced today supplements a previous reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of any individual who holds a leadership position in the criminal group behind LockBit ransomware. For more information on this reward, visit Reward for Information: LockBit Ransomware-as-a-Service . Victims of LockBit should contact the FBI at https://lockbitvictims.ic3.gov for further information. Additional details on protecting networks against LockBit ransomware are available at StopRansomware.gov. These include Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Advisories AA23-325A, AA23-165A, and AA23-075A. An indictment is merely an allegation. Under U.S. law, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Indictment


title: Two Men Sentenced To Federal Prison For Bank Robbery

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Charles Deon Mathews, 30, and Shai Trymaine Fields, 31, both of Houston, Texas, were each sentenced to 51 months in federal prison, having previously pled guilty to bank robbery. The sentences were announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “Through the coordinated efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, the defendants’ crime spree has ended, and they have been held accountable for their criminal conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with federal crimes of violence.” On July 19, 2023, Mathews and Fields drove from Houston, Texas, to Tallahassee, Florida, where they robbed an ATM technician repairing a Wells Fargo ATM off Mahan Drive. During the robbery, Mathews and Fields jumped out of a rental vehicle wearing hoods and masks and rushed at the ATM technician who backed away. Mathews removed four cassettes of money from the ATM, and the two men then fled. Mathews and Fields then traveled down to Gainesville, Florida, where they paid cash for flights back to Houston. “This conviction highlights the Tallahassee Police Department's commitment to ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors in this city," said Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department. "Let this serve as a clear message: Tallahassee is not a haven for criminals looking to evade justice. If you commit a crime here, regardless of where you come from, we will find you, we will arrest you, and you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law." TPD and the FBI cooperated in their initial investigation of the robbery and were able to identify Mathews and Fields. The FBI’s continued investigation showed that Mathews and Fields were both also present in Detroit, Michigan, when another ATM technician was robbed at a Chase Bank ATM on August 18, 2023. “Communities across the country are safer with these criminals behind bars,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler. “This case exemplifies the FBI’s dedication to protecting communities from violent crime. We will continue identifying and disrupting violent acts through intelligence-driven investigations and close partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement.” The FBI worked with officers from the Houston Police Department to locate Mathews and Fields in Houston and both were arrested on federal warrants for the Tallahassee robbery. Mathews’ and Fields’ imprisonment will be followed by 3-years of supervised release, and each was ordered to pay $88,710.00 in restitution to Wells Fargo and to also forfeit $88,710.00 to the government. This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department and the Houston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Harley Ferguson prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Mason City, Iowa Man Sentenced to 18.5 Years Federal Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: A man from Mason City, originally from Alabama, was sentenced May 6, 2024, to more than 18 years in federal prison. Tristan Walker, age 44, received the prison term after a January 2, 2024, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Evidence in the case revealed between October 2022, and December 2022, Walker knowingly and intentionally conspired and to distribute 195 grams of pure “ice” methamphetamine. Walker has an extensive criminal history, including convictions for attempted first degree murder (two counts), domestic battery, domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury, assault causing bodily injury, accessory after the fact, burglary, and going armed with intent. Walker was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 222 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Walker is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s office and Iowa Department of Public Safety – Division of Narcotics and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3019. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Two Teens Charged with Assault with Intent to Kill After Opening Fire Near High School

body_text: WASHINGTON – Saki Frost, 17, of Washington, D.C., was charged by complaint yesterday as an adult in D.C. Superior Court on the charges of assault with intent to murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed, stemming from a shooting that occurred on May 3, 2024, near Dunbar High School. Frost’s codefendant, Azhari Graves, 18, was charged on May 4, 2024, with assault with intent to kill while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. Both defendants have also been charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Both defendants are held without bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 28, 2024. According to the government’s evidence, on May 3, 2024, at approximately 9:53 am, Graves and Frost opened fire on a sedan that was driving down Kirby Street NW, near Dunbar High School. A witness to the shooting reported hearing machine gun fire. Surveillance video captures Frost and Graves running down an alleyway holding firearms prior to the shooting. Surveillance video also captures the shooting, in which an individual appearing to be Frost fires a gun toward the sedan. Surveillance footage also captures Graves after the shooting holding a firearm with the slide locked to the rear of the weapon, indicating that the weapon had been fired. Graves and Frost then fled the area in a vehicle. Later that day, MPD officers located the defendants’ vehicle and arrested Graves and Frost. Investigators recovered a total of 29 shell casings from the scene of the shooting and numerous fragments from the exterior of Dunbar High School as well as classrooms inside the school. Investigators also observed at least six bullet strikes to the N Street side of Dunbar. During the shooting, one Dunbar student suffered a graze wound to the head from the gunfire. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand of the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Charges Russian National with Developing and Operating Lockbit Ransomware

body_text: NOTE: A video-recorded statement by U.S. Attorney Sellinger and FBI Special Agent in Charge Dennehy is available here: Lockbit Press Statement - YouTube . A video-recorded statement by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, can be obtained here . NEWARK, N.J. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Justice Department unsealed charges today against a Russian national for his alleged role as the creator, developer, and administrator of the LockBit ransomware group from its inception in September 2019 through the present. At times, LockBit was the most prolific ransomware group in the world. Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev (Дмитрий Юрьевич Хорошев), aka LockBitSupp, LockBit, and putinkrab, 31, of Voronezh, Russia, is charged by a 26-count indictment returned by a grand jury in the District of New Jersey. “Earlier this year, the Justice Department and our U.K. law enforcement partners disrupted LockBit, a ransomware group responsible for attacks on victims across the United States and around the world,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today we are going a step further, charging the individual who we allege developed and administered this malicious cyber scheme, which has targeted over 2,000 victims and stolen more than $100 million in ransomware payments. We will continue to work closely alongside our partners, across the U.S. government and around the world to disrupt cybercrime operations like LockBit and to find and hold accountable those responsible for them.” “Dmitry Khoroshev conceived, developed, and administered Lockbit, the most prolific ransomware variant and group in the world, enabling himself and his affiliates to wreak havoc and cause billions of dollars in damage to thousands of victims around the globe. He thought he could do so hidden by his notorious moniker ‘LockBitSupp,’ anonymous and free of any consequence, while he personally pocketed $100 million extorted from Lockbit’s victims. Through relentless investigation and coordination with our partners at CCIPS, the FBI and abroad, we have proven him and his coconspirators wrong. Today’s indictment marks a significant milestone in the investigation and prosecution of LockBit, which has already led to charges against five other LockBit affiliates – two of whom are in custody awaiting trial – and a major disruption of the now discredited LockBit operation.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “As part of our unrelenting efforts to dismantle ransomware groups and protect victims, the Justice Department has brought over two dozen criminal charges against the administrator of LockBit, one of the world’s most dangerous ransomware organizations,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said. “Working with U.S. and international partners, we are using all our tools to hold ransomware actors accountable—and we continue to encourage victims to report cyberattacks to the FBI when they happen. Reporting an attack could make all the difference in preventing the next one.” “Today’s indictment of LockBit developer and operator Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev continues the FBI’s ongoing disruption of the LockBit criminal ecosystem,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. “The LockBit ransomware group represented one of the most prolific ransomware variants across the globe, causing billions of dollars in losses and wreaking havoc on critical infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. The charges announced today reflect the FBI’s unyielding commitment to disrupting ransomware organizations and holding the perpetrators accountable.” “Most people would not consider being accused of creating and administering the most destructive ransomware group in the world as a badge of honor,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “However, the alleged ringleader. Dmitry Khoroshev, wears it like an Olympic Gold Medal. Hackers lock down computer systems for ports of entry into countries, post offices, hospitals, children’s schools, banks, and the list goes on. Even more sinister and dangerous, these cybercriminals simply don’t care. It’s a game to them, sport to prove how smart they are. I can guarantee if their child couldn’t get medical care because another hacker had locked down a local hospital, they’d understand how unbelievably frustrating and debilitating their actions are. This isn’t a game of cat and mouse to us. We are charged as the FBI with stopping bad actors from breaking the law. Our action today, every day up until now and every day going forward, proves we won’t quit. We will see that these thieves are brought to justice.” The indictment against Khoroshev unsealed today follows a recent disruption of LockBit ransomware in February by the U.K. National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Cyber Division, which worked in cooperation with the Justice Department, FBI, and other international law enforcement partners. As previously announced by the Department, authorities disrupted LockBit by seizing numerous public-facing websites used by LockBit to connect to the organization’s infrastructure and by seizing control of servers used by LockBit administrators, thereby disrupting the ability of LockBit actors to attack and encrypt networks and extort victims by threatening to publish stolen data. That disruption succeeded in greatly diminishing LockBit’s reputation and its ability to attack further victims, as alleged by the indictment unsealed today. In addition, as previously announced, law enforcement developed decryption capabilities that may enable hundreds of victims around the world to restore systems encrypted using the LockBit ransomware variant. Victims targeted by this malware are encouraged to contact the FBI at https://lockbitvictims.ic3.gov/ to enable law enforcement to determine whether affected systems can be successfully decrypted. According to the indictment and other documents previously unsealed in the District of New Jersey: Khoroshev and the LockBit Ransomware Group Khoroshev allegedly acted as the LockBit ransomware group’s developer and administrator from its inception in or around September 2019 through May 2024. Khoroshev and his affiliate coconspirators, grew LockBit into what was, at times, the most active and destructive ransomware variant in the world. The LockBit ransomware group attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries, including 1,800 victims in the United States. LockBit victims included individuals, small businesses, multinational corporations, hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, critical infrastructure, and government and law-enforcement agencies. Khoroshev and his co-conspirators extracted at least $500 million in ransom payments from their victims and caused billions of dollars in broader losses, such as lost revenue, incident response, and recovery. As with other major ransomware variants, Khoroshev allegedly designed LockBit to operate in the “ransomware-as-a-service” (RaaS) model. Under this model, Khoroshev himself acted as the LockBit developer and administrator. He allegedly arranged for the design of the LockBit ransomware, recruited other LockBit members – called affiliates – to deploy it against victims, and maintained the LockBit infrastructure, including an online software dashboard called a “control panel” to provide the affiliates with the tools necessary to deploy LockBit. Khoroshev allegedly designed LockBit to operate in the “ransomware-as-a-service” (RaaS) model. In his role as the LockBit developer and administrator, Khoroshev arranged for the design of the LockBit ransomware code itself, recruited other LockBit members—called affiliates—to deploy it against victims, and maintained the LockBit infrastructure, including an online software dashboard called a “control panel” to provide the affiliates with the tools necessary to deploy LockBit. Khoroshev also maintained LockBit’s public-facing website—called a “data leak site”—for the publication of data stolen from victims who refused to pay a ransom. As alleged in the indictment, Khoroshev—as the LockBit developer—typically received a 20% share of each ransom payment extorted from LockBit victims. The affiliate responsible for that attack would receive the remaining 80%. During the scheme, Khoroshev alone allegedly received at least $100 million in disbursements of digital currency through his developer shares of LockBit ransom payments. LockBit infrastructure seized by law enforcement through the February 2024 disruption allegedly showed that Khoroshev retained copies of data stolen from LockBit victims who had paid the demanded ransom. Khoroshev and his affiliate co-conspirators had falsely promised those victims that their stolen data would be deleted after payment. Moreover, after the February 2024 disruption, Khoroshev allegedly communicated with law enforcement and urged them to disclose the identities of his RaaS competitors—whom Khoroshev called his “enemies”—in exchange for his services. Khoroshev is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, and related activity in connection with computers; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; eight counts of intentional damage to a protected computer; eight counts of extortion in relation to confidential information from a protected computer; and eight counts of extortion in relation to damage to a protected computer. In total, those charges carry a maximum penalty of 185 years in prison. Each of the 26 counts charged by the indictment also carries a maximum fine of the greatest of $250,000, pecuniary gain to the offender, or pecuniary harm to the victim. The LockBit Investigation With the indictment unsealed today, a total of six LockBit members have now been charged for their participation in the LockBit conspiracy: In February 2024, an indictment was unsealed in the District of New Jersey charging Russian nationals Artur Sungatov and Ivan Kondratyev , also known as Bassterlord, with deploying LockBit against numerous victims throughout the United States, including businesses nationwide in the manufacturing and other industries. In June 2023, a criminal complaint was filed in the District of New Jersey charging Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov , a Russian national, in connection with his participation in the LockBit group. Astamirov is currently in custody awaiting trial. In May 2023, two indictments were unsealed in Washington, D.C., and the District of New Jersey charging Mikhail Matveev , also known as “Wazawaka,” “m1x,” “Boriselcin,” and “Uhodiransomwar,” with using different ransomware variants, including LockBit, to attack numerous victims throughout the United States, including the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. Matveev is currently the subject of a reward of up to $10 million through the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program, with information accepted through the FBI tip website at www.tips.fbi.gov/ . Finally, in November 2022, a criminal complaint was filed in the District of New Jersey charging Mikhail Vasiliev in connection with his participation in the LockBit ransomware group. Vasiliev, a dual Russian-Canadian national, is currently in custody in Canada awaiting extradition to the United States. The FBI Newark Field Office is investigating the LockBit ransomware variant. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly, David E. Malagold, and Vinay Limbachia for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys Jessica C. Peck, Debra Ireland, and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). The Justice Department’s Cybercrime Liaison Prosecutor to Eurojust, Office of International Affairs, and National Security Division also provided significant assistance. Additionally, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced today that it is designating Khoroshev for his role in launching cyberattacks. For more information, visit https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2326 . Authorities in the United Kingdom and Australia also announced sanctions today against Khoroshev. The Department of State also announced today a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the apprehension of Khoroshev. Information that may be eligible for this award can be submitted by email at fbisupp@fbi.gov, Telegram at @LockbitRewards, Signal at @FBISupp.01, and tox B0B98577F0541160C745B464E42C9AB782B036682FAD59D5F228EA75BF71691BE68A8E08BD55. The reward announced today supplements a previous reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification of any individual who holds a leadership position in the criminal group behind LockBit ransomware. For more information on this reward, visit Reward for Information: LockBit Ransomware-as-a-Service . Victims of LockBit should contact the FBI at https://lockbitvictims.ic3.gov for further information. Additional details on protecting networks against LockBit ransomware are available at StopRansomware.gov. These include Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Advisories AA23-325A, AA23-165A, and AA23-075A. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. khoroshev.indictment.pdf sellinger_remarks.pdf