title: Jackson County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Jackson County, Oregon man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison today for distributing child pornography online using Tumblr, a microblogging and social networking website. Thomas Ray Taylor, 50, a resident of Eagle Point, Oregon, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Taylor was also ordered to pay $27,000 in restitution to his victims. According to court documents, in November 2018, officers from the Eagle Point Police Department received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an individual residing in Eagle Point, who was later identified as Taylor, was suspected of uploading images and videos depicting child sexual abuse to Tumblr. On March 13, 2019, investigators met Taylor at his place of employment and seized his cell phone. Taylor admitted to viewing child pornography and told police about several digital devices he possessed. Later the same day, police executed a search warrant on Taylor’s residence and seized multiple devices. A forensic examination of the devices later confirmed that Taylor possessed more than 1,000 illicit images and videos, some of which he had shared online. On October 2, 2019, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Taylor with possessing and distributing child pornography. On September 20, 2021, he pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography. After pleading guilty, Taylor absconded his pretrial supervision and his whereabouts were unknown to law enforcement for more than 10 months. On October 8, 2022, he was located and arrested in Lee County, Florida. This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Eagle Point Police Department. It was prosecuted by Judith H. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Leader of La Luz del Mundo Megachurch Charged by Federal Grand Jury with Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: INDICTMENT LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today charged the leader of the Mexico-based La Luz del Mundo megachurch with two felony counts alleging he produced and possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting a 16-year-old victim. Naasón Joaquín García, 54, previously served as a minister for the church in Santa Ana and, from December 2014, led the church in Mexico. He was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in June 2019 on state child sexual exploitation charges. In today’s two-count federal indictment, García is charged with one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. García is expected to make his initial court appearance and be arraigned in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks. According to the indictment, on May 6, 2019, García knowingly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor – identified in the indictment as “Minor Victim 1,” who was 16 years old at the time – to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. On June 3, 2019, García allegedly possessed an iPad that contained five videos depicting Minor Victim 1 engaging in sexual activity. Law enforcement seized the iPad when García was arrested at LAX. García has been in state custody since then and in June 2022 he pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible oral copulation on a minor and one count of committing a lewd act on a child. He is serving a 17-year prison sentence for those crimes and is incarcerated at the California Institution for Men in Chino. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted of both federal charges, García would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the child pornography production count and a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for the child pornography possession count. The FBI and the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Investigation are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Catharine A. Richmond of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Thibodaux Man Charged with Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material and Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that a two-count indictment was unsealed today charging SIMON PAUL ADAMS , age 27, a resident of Thibodaux, Louisiana, with receiving and attempting to receive child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) (Count 1) and receiving obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1466A (Count 2). The unsealed indictment revealed that a federal grand jury returned the indictment under seal on September 29, 2023. As to Count 1, beginning at a time unknown, but not later than on or about March 26, 2023, and continuing until on or about July 3, 2023, ADAMS, received images, including some as young as approximately three (3) years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 2256(2), and such visual depictions were of such conduct, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1). As to Count 2, beginning at a time unknown, but not later than on or about March 26, 2023, and continuing until on or about July 3, 2023, ADAMS , did knowingly produce, distribute, receive, and possess with the intent to distribute, images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1466A(a)(1) and 2252A(b)(1). ADAMS faces a mandatory minimum of five (5) years in prison and a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years as to each of Counts 1 and 2. ADAMS also faces a lifetime of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine, as to each of Counts 1 and 2. ADAMS may also be required to register as a sex offender. U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg , Chief of the Public Integrity Unit , is in charge of the prosecution. - Press release has been updated for accuracy.


title: Former UGA Football Player Convicted on All Counts in RaceTrac Shooting Case

body_text: ATHENS, Ga. – A federal jury today convicted a Pennsylvania resident and former University of Georgia student and football player of federal charges resulting from a lengthy investigation into the shooting death of an Oconee County, Georgia, man. Ahkil Nasir Crumpton aka “Crump,” 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was found guilty of one count of interference with commerce by attempted robbery and one count of false statement during the purchase of a firearm today. Crumpton faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for attempted robbery and a maximum of ten years in prison for the firearm charge. The sentencing date will be determined by the Court. The defendant is not eligible for parole. Crumpton is facing state charges for murder and other offenses in Georgia. The trial began on Oct. 16 before U.S. District Judge Tilman “Tripp” Self. “No matter today’s outcome, there is no returning Elijah Wood to his family and friends, who have had to endure both the pain of his loss and many unanswered questions,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Pursing justice in this case was challenging and lengthy, but ultimately the dedicated collaboration of investigators and prosecutors prevailed. I hope that today’s verdict offers some measure of justice for Elijah Wood’s family.” “Ahkil Crumpton’s crime was senseless, tragic, and irreversible,” said Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Gibbs of the FBI’s Athens office. “This outcome reflects the commitment of the FBI to working with our law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable. We hope Elijah Wood’s family can find some healing in this verdict.” “NIBIN is proven technology used to link the criminal use of firearms with the person who pulled the trigger,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “In this case, NIBIN allowed investigators to successfully connect both shootings to the defendant. Working alongside our local, state and federal partners, ATF is committed to using every resource at our disposal to reduce violent crime and hold violent offenders accountable.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Crumpton was alone when he entered the RaceTrac gas station and convenience store on Macon Highway in Watkinsville, Georgia, on March 19, 2021, where Elijah Wood was working as the store clerk, filling in for a sick coworker. Crumpton’s face was covered, and he was wearing dark clothing and football gloves. There was another customer in the store; Crumpton is seen on surveillance video exiting and then returning at 1:15 a.m. Upon his return, Crumpton approached Wood, who was standing behind the counter at the cash register. Crumpton pointed a Glock 19 pistol with a weapon mounted light at Wood, firing one round at close range towards Wood, striking him in the chest. Wood’s girlfriend testified at trial that she was on a FaceTime call with Wood at the time. Crumpton ran out of the store without taking any money or merchandise. Wood died at the scene. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) located one 9mm shell casing from the counter between two of the cash registers. Four months later, on July 17, 2021, Crumpton was seen exiting the South Street Diner at 140 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 3:18 a.m. to retrieve a Glock 43 pistol from a vehicle and was approached by Anthony Jones. Surveillance video from a nearby business captured the encounter between Jones and Crumpton. Jones brandished a silver handgun and pointed it at Crumpton, then appeared to grab the car keys out of Crumpton’s left hand. Jones forcefully removed the Glock 43 pistol from Crumpton’s right pocket while simultaneously holding him at gunpoint. When Jones turned around following the robbery and began to run away, Crumpton pulled a Glock 19 pistol from his waistband and fired 13 gunshots that ultimately struck and killed Jones. The spent 9mm shell casings ejected from Crumpton’s handgun were collected by law enforcement and later submitted to ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) for comparison testing. The analysis confirmed that the firearm used in the RaceTrac murder in Oconee County, Georgia, was the same firearm used in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shooting. On the morning of March 16, 2022, FBI and ATF agents arrested Crumpton in Philadelphia on a murder warrant issued out of the Superior Court of Oconee County, Georgia. Crumpton jumped out of his bedroom window to escape arrest, but he was taken into custody by FBI SWAT following a chase. Inside Crumpton’s bedroom, agents located the Glock 19 pistol that was confirmed in ballistics testing to be the one used in the shooting deaths of Elijah Wood in Oconee County and Anthony Jones in Philadelphia. The gun was found inside Crumpton’s official 2018 Rose Bowl Game backpack given to the players who competed in the football game. In addition, agents found items of clothing worn by Crumpton in both shooting deaths and a loaded AR-15 rifle. Crumpton was a former member of the University of Georgia (UGA) football team, where he played wide receiver during the 2017 and 2018 season and attended UGA as a student from the fall of 2017 to the spring of 2021, although he did not graduate. At the time of Elijah Wood’s murder, Crumpton resided at an apartment in Watkinsville, Georgia, less than two miles from the RaceTrac, with his close friend and UGA football teammate, Juwan Taylor, who is currently a player development assistant for the team. Taylor testified at trial that Crumpton came to their apartment after the shooting holding the pistol and was visibly upset saying, “I didn’t mean to do it – I just wanted the money, I just shot him at the store, at the store.” Crumpton explained further that when he lifted the gun up, it “just went off.” Taylor said he was frightened for his own safety and did not tell anyone. In July 2021, Crumpton returned to live in his hometown of Philadelphia. Co-defendant James North Armstrong, 35, of Commerce, Georgia, testified that Crumpton was a client of his at his tattoo studio. Armstrong testified that Crumpton asked him to purchase a gun for him. Armstrong admitted that he illegally purchased the Glock 19 for Crumpton on Feb. 8, 2021, at the Franklin Gun Shop in Athens, Georgia, by falsely claiming to be the buyer on the Firearms Transaction Record-Form 4473 when Crumpton was the actual buyer. It is a federal offense to lie on Form 4473. Armstrong pleaded guilty to one count of false statement during the purchase of a firearm on Oct. 3 and faces a maximum of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing for Armstrong will occur at a date determined by the Court. Crumpton was originally indicted on four federal charges (for more information, please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/federal-murder-attempted-robbery-firearms-charges-filed-shooting-death-oconee-county ). The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Taylor, handed down a month and ten days after Crumpton’s federal indictment, found that attempted Hobbs Act robbery was not a crime of violence. Therefore, Counts Two and Three in Crumpton’s original indictment were dismissed prior to trial. This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, please visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin . The case was investigated by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI, GBI, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Morrison and Daniel Peach are prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Officials Sentenced for Using Excessive Force Against an Inmate

body_text: WASHINGTON – Three former Mississippi Department of Corrections officials were sentenced today for using excessive force against an inmate, involving the use of dangerous weapons and resulting in bodily injury. According to court documents, on July 11, 2019, at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, Corrections Officer (CO) Jessica Hill, CO LaToya Richardson and Case Manager Nicole Moore assaulted a defenseless inmate, L.C., while L.C. was in the fetal position and not resisting in any fashion. Hill struck L.C. several times with an OC cannister and then repeatedly punched her in the head. Richardson kicked the inmate four times in the head and upper torso, and Moore kicked L.C. one time in the back of the head. Hill continued to strike L.C., who was still laying on the ground in the fetal position, until fellow prison staff intervened to stop Hill’s assault. All three defendants previously pleaded guilty to their respective roles assaulting L.C., in violation of the inmate’s Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Hill was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine. Richardson was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine. Moore was sentenced to two years in prison, two years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine. “These defendants are being held accountable for their criminal abuse of their authority by using excessive force against an inmate who was not resisting them,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting prison officials who violate the law and their oaths by subjecting inmates in their custody to cruel and unusual punishment.” “The defendants in this case ignored their sworn duty to protect inmates and chose violence instead,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “We will continue to prosecute those who abuse their positions of authority and violate the civil rights of inmates.” “Our citizens serving time for their criminal acts against the public are warranted the safety and protection from harm by correctional officers responsible for their care,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Hill’s deliberate violation of this trust is a disservice to those in the penal system, correctional officials who are honorable in their profession and citizens in general. The FBI is committed to protecting all citizens of our community.” The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi prosecuted the case.


title: Cincinnati man pleads guilty to sex trafficking missing teen

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to sex trafficking a missing teen girl. As part of his plea, Payton Jamar Brown, 26, will forfeit his home on Niagara Street in Cincinnati. Proceeds of the sale of the home will be given to Brown’s victim. According to court documents, from June until October 2022 and again in February 2023, Brown sex trafficked the teenaged girl. Brown met the victim online and began a relationship with her. The victim began to reside with Brown, who created prostitution advertisements of her. Brown would transport the victim to hotels for prostitution dates that he had arranged. Brown arranged at least 40 prostitution dates in this timeframe and collected the proceeds from the victim. In October 2022, Colerain police officers responded to Brown’s residence and recovered the victim, who was subsequently taken to a juvenile facility in another state. In February 2023, the juvenile escaped the facility and messaged Brown on Instagram to pick her up. Brown drove interstate to pick up the victim and her friend and bring them to his residence. Brown again created a prostitution advertisement of the victim and arranged sexual encounters with other men for money. Throughout his time with the victim, Brown would regularly engage in sex acts with the minor and record those acts with a cell phone. He would then sell the photos and videos to others online. Brown was arrested by the FBI in February 2023. Parties involved have recommended a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III; and members of the Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations (RECI) task force announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Mexican national sentenced for possessing child pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 34-year-old resident of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced for possessing child pornography found on his cell phone as he tried to enter the country, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Juan Jesus Banda-Olivo pleaded guilty Jan. 25. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Banda-Olivo to serve 97 months in federal prison. Garza was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a known victim and will serve eight years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. On Aug. 15, 2022, Banda-Olivo attempted to make entry into the United States through the Veterans Port of Entry. Authorities believed he was in the country illegally and sent him to secondary inspection. There, law enforcement conducted a consensual search of Banda-Olivo’s cell phone and discovered multiple photographs and videos of child pornography. The investigation revealed Banda-Olivo possessed 1,223 unique images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone and his cloud storage account. Some of the images included images of the sexual abuse of toddlers and prepubescent minors. The images found on the seized cell phone were submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for victim identification. Banda-Olivo has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: Transnational criminal organization leader detained in U.S.

body_text: HOUSTON - A 67-year-old naturalized citizen of the United States has made his appearance in Houston federal court and remains detained pending further criminal proceedings, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ricardo Barrera was the leader of a transnational criminal organization operating from the Republic of Mexico, the Rio Grande Valley and Houston. He was recently extradited to the United States and is now in custody. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan, at which time the court heard evidence outlining Barrera’s organization. The court determined he was a flight risk and ordered he remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings. Barrera’s organization allegedly provided domestic transportation services for the Los Zetas Cartel and Cartel del Golfo to conceal the transportation of narcotics and currency through Mexico and into the United States. The charges allege the organization utilized numerous cloned tractor trailers from various well-known retailers and businesses to conceal the transportation of narcotics. The investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 76,795 pounds of marijuana, according to the allegations. Barrera fled to Mexico after learning of the charges. Mexican authorities arrested him on a provisional arrest warrant in Miguel Aleman, Mexico, Oct. 23, 2021. He was extradited to the United States Oct. 10. If convicted, Barrera faces up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $10 million fine. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) with assistance from Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, IRS Criminal Investigation, Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Pasadena Police Department as well as the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Mexican Attorney General’s Office to secure the arrest and extradition of Barrera. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric D. Smith is prosecuting the case. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Burn Down a Church that Planned to Host Drag Show Events

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: An Ohio man pleaded guilty yesterday to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and to using fire and explosives to commit a felony, all in connection with his attempt to burn down a church because of the church’s support for the LGBTQI+ community. According to court documents, on March 25, Aimenn D. Penny, 20, of Alliance, made Molotov cocktails and drove to the Community Church of Chesterland (CCC), in Chesterland, Ohio. Angered by the church’s plan to host two drag events the following weekend, Penny threw two Molotov cocktails at the church, hoping to burn it to the ground. Through Penny’s guilty plea, he admitted to using force through fire and explosives, intending to obstruct CCC congregants in their enjoyment and expression of their religious beliefs. Penny was arrested and charged earlier this year with violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, one count of malicious use of explosive materials and one count of possessing a destructive device. “Attempting to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland for their support of the LGBTQI+ community is reprehensible,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no room in this country for such bias-motivated violence and terror, and the Justice Department will continue to protect all Americans in their free exercise of religious beliefs by vigorously prosecuting those who target houses of worship. Our churches should be safe havens for all people, not sites subjected to violence motivated by hate and vitriol.” “Mr. Penny admitted to attempting to burn down a church because he did not like the way congregants chose to express their beliefs,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Such acts of extremist violence are antithetical to core American values of freedom of expression and worship and we will not tolerate those who would use force to deny our citizens the free exercise of their rights.” “By pleading guilty, Aimenn Penny has admitted that he attempted to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland because he disagreed with a planned LGBTQI+ event,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Violence is never appropriate to settle differences in beliefs. All members of our community are entitled to peacefully assemble, worship, and express themselves freely, without fear of violence or intimidation, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio will aggressively prosecute criminals who threaten that right.” “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force worked in tandem with our local law enforcement and community partners to identify and bring federal charges against a hate-fueled individual, motivated to violence by his extremist ideology,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “He committed these despicable acts in an effort to terrorize and intimidate a religious institution’s free expression, and he should face accountability for these crimes.” Penny faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act and a 10-year mandatory prison sentence that will run consecutively with any other prison term imposed for using fire to commit a federal felony. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 29, 2024. The FBI Cleveland Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Deckert and Matthew W. Shepard for the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorneys Jacob Warren and Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: Chester Man Indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a single-count indictment against Montell De’Angelo Cousar, 32, of Chester, for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment alleges that on May 5, 2023, Cousar unlawfully possessed a loaded Glock 9mm pistol after having been convicted of a previous felony. Cousar faces a maximum penalty of 10 years and is currently detained pending trial. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rock Hill Police Department (RHPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Charleston Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that on October 20, 2023, Daniel Blow, 41, of Charleston, Vermont was sentenced to a 10-year term of imprisonment, following his guilty plea to possessing child pornography, also referred to as child sexual abuse material. The 10-year sentence was the mandatory minimum required by law due to Blow’s prior felony conviction in New York State related to possession of child sexual abuse material. United States District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Blow to serve an eight-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. According to court records, a social media company reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user had uploaded 41 files of suspected child sexual abuse material. NCMEC referred the tip to the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Records from the social media company provided IP address information for the user which corresponded to the residence of Daniel Blow in Charleston. A check of Blow’s criminal history revealed his prior conviction in New York. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations conducted additional investigation and obtained a federal search warrant for Blow’s residence. During the execution of the search warrant, a Vermont State Police forensic examiner discovered images of child sexual abuse material on Blow’s cellular phone and his desktop computer. On a small video recording device, agents discovered a covertly recorded video of a teenage child changing clothes, with Blow visible at the beginning of the video while hiding the camera, and at the end of the video while retrieving the camera. In addition, agents seized multiple rifles and shotguns from Blow’s residence, including an M-4 style Colt rifle. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory and collaborative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Vermont State Police. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Blow is represented by the Assistant Federal Public Defender Mary Nerino. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, Criminal Division (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Baltimore-Area Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison After Pleading Guilty to Tax Evasion and Drug Conspiracy

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Maryland man was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to tax evasion and conspiracy to import, transport and sell drug paraphernalia. Sean Weston, of Windsor Mill, was also ordered to make restitution to the United States. According to court documents and statements made in court, from January 2015 through at least July 2019, Weston operated the Northwest Variety Store in Baltimore, where he sold empty gel capsules, colored plastic tops, dust masks, metal strainers, electric weighing scales, razor blades and mannite and quinine, which are used as cutting agents in illicit drugs. Weston admitted that he purchased from China hundreds of kilograms of quinine, a prescription medication for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Importing quinine for any other use is illegal. Weston concealed his purchases by requesting his foreign supplier label the quinine something else, such as “beta glucan.” For tax years 2016 through 2018, Weston did not file federal income tax returns with the IRS. In addition to owning the Northwest Variety Store – which had significant profits during that time – Weston was on the payroll of a water treatment facility. To conceal his income from the IRS, Weston dealt substantially in cash. For example, from 2016 through 2018, Weston paid $29,835 in cash for the monthly rent of the Northwest Variety Store and deposited $352,026 in cash into two personal bank accounts. In 2016, Weston made a $25,000 cash down payment for the purchase of a 2013 Bentley Continental GT – worth approximately $117,000 – and signed a credit application stating that his annual income was $180,000. In May 2017, Weston made a $15,000 cash down payment on the lease of a 2014 Bentley Flying Spur, worth more than $139,000. To obtain the lease, Weston had an individual prepare his tax return for 2016 that reflected a purported gross income of $358,984. Weston submitted the return to the car dealership but did not file it with the IRS. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), with the assistance from the Baltimore Police Department. Senior Litigation Counsel John Sullivan of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth S. Clark for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.


title: Halifax County Man Convicted on Federal Drug Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Halifax County man last week on a charge of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Taj’ma De’yong Ussery, also known as “Pop Off,” age 25, distributed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance on December 21, 2022. The sale was a hand-to-hand transaction with a confidential informant. The offense was the result of a drug investigation conducted by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics unit which utilized a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Ussery. Ussery was identified as a regular dealer of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the community who worked within a network of others to distribute these dangerous drugs throughout Halifax County. This indictment resulted as part of a larger effort to combat dangerous drugs and gang-related violence in Halifax County North Carolina and was the result of coordination between the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Attorney’s Office. “Drug traffickers are pushing high-purity meth and fentanyl, driving addiction and overdoses in some of North Carolina’s most vulnerable communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are partnering with law enforcement in all corners of Eastern North Carolina to dismantle dangerous drug organizations. The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office should be commended for their work and their commitment to keeping their community safe.” “I want to thank our dedicated drug agents along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their great job,” said Halifax County Sheriff Tyree Davis. “The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate people terrorizing our county or taking actions that cause citizens to live in fear. We will continue to work together with local, state, and federal partners to keep our community safe.” Ussery faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years in prison when sentenced in January 2024. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the verdict. Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Foxx and Phil Aubart prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-00034-BO-RJ-1.


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sex Trafficking

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge sentenced 37-year-old Karnival McGhee, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 125 months in prison. McGhee’s sentence follows his entering a guilty plea to the charge of sex trafficking a minor. During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, the judge also ordered that McGhee serve five years of supervised release following the prison term. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole. According to his plea agreement and other court records, in December 2021, McGhee was in contact with a child under the age of 16 for several days. During this time, McGhee – both in person and via social media – assisted and enabled the minor to engage in sexual acts with others for money. McGhee facilitated the commercial sex by arranging for hotel rooms and using his own financial accounts for payment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The United States Department of Homeland Security, the Montgomery Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the United States Marshals Service investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys J. Patrick Lamb and Tara S. Ratz prosecuted.


title: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. Announces Selection of First Assistant and Counsel to the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announces the selection and appointment of April Leon Johnson to First Assistant United States Attorney. Mrs. Johnson is the first woman and African American woman appointed to this title. The former First Assistant United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis is now Counsel to the United States Attorney. Mrs. Johnson has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana where she is assigned to the Special Matters Division. She also served as the criminal civil rights coordinator and human trafficking coordinator for the Middle District. Previously, she clerked for the Honorable Benjamin Jones and Honorable Carl Van Sharp of Louisiana’s 4th Judicial District Court before joining the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office as an Assistant District Attorney in 2009. During her tenure at the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office, Mrs. Johnson earned an administrative position as Section Chief of Section IV Trials and has the distinction of being the first African American woman in the Parish to obtain such status. Since joining the Department of Justice in April of 2022, Mrs. Johnson has had the distinction of representing the Middle District at the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference. She also served on the United States District Court’s Merit Selection Panel to consider the reappointment of United States Magistrate Judge Erin Wilder-Doomes, and the host committee for the 28 th Annual African American Heritage Celebration. She participated in piloting “United Against Hate” outreach programs across the district in a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice to combat hate crimes and encourage discussion between representatives of law enforcement, community organizations, and members of the public. Mrs. Johnson obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Howard University in 2004 where she studied Communications and Rhetoric. She then obtained her Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center. During her law school tenure, she was selected by the faculty as a member of the moot court and mock trial competition teams. Mrs. Johnson externed as a law student at East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney's Office as a Special Assistant Rule XX Prosecutor and tried her first case as a prosecutor before graduating. Mrs. Johnson’s accolades include an appointment by Governor John Bel Edwards to the Louisiana Women's Incarceration Task Force as well as a Writing Fellow for Southern University Law Center where she assists recent graduates with preparation and passage of the Louisiana State Bar Examination. Her involvement in the legal community consists of mentoring with Louisiana State Bar Association’s “Transition Into Practice” Program, and memberships in the National Black Prosecutors Association, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Federal Bar Association, and Louisiana State Bar Association. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Mr. Travis has served as First Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Louisiana since 2018. He was appointed and sworn in as the Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana from March 2021 to December 2021, following the resignation of Brandon J. Fremin who had served as the United States Attorney since 2018. Previously, Mr. Travis was with the Louisiana Department of Justice for over twenty years. During his tenure with the Louisiana Department of Justice, he served as the Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Criminal Division (2017-2018), as an Assistant Attorney General in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (2002–2017), and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division (1997–2002). Mr. Travis also served as an Assistant District Attorney (1990–1996). During his thirty years in public service, he has prosecuted all manner of criminal matters, including violent crimes, financial crimes, and public corruption. Mr. Travis helped author and pass legislation to penalize those who commit electronic abuse of persons with infirmities and those who commit public program fraud. He also represented the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the state Legislative Task Force on Medicaid Fraud Prevention. Mr. Travis received his Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Louisiana State University.


title: Two Men Indicted in Austin for Robbing U.S. Postal Carriers

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A federal grand jury in Austin returned an indictment charging two men with crimes related to the robberies of postal carriers. According to court documents, Camren Hamilton, 22, of Saint Louis, Missouri, and Jonathan Rangel, 26, of Austin, allegedly robbed two postal carriers in Round Rock on Sept. 30. The affidavit in a filed complaint alleges that Rangel also assaulted multiple letter carriers with the intent to rob them in Georgetown and Austin in the days prior. The affidavit alleges that in each incident, the assailant demanded that the carriers give him their Arrow Key, which enables the carrier to access mail receptacles on their route. Hamilton is charged with two counts of robbery of mail matter, money or other property of the United States and two counts of receipt, possession, concealment and disposal of stolen mail matter and property of the United States. Rangel is charged with four counts of robbery of mail matter, money or other property of the United States and two counts of receipt, possession, concealment and disposal of stolen mail matter and property of the United States. The defendants made their initial court appearances on Oct. 2 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin M. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas; and Inspector in Charge Scott Fix of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Houston Division made the announcement. The USPIS is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Guess is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former Owner of Drug Paraphernalia Store Sentenced to Federal Prison After Pleading Guilty to a Conspiracy to Import, Transport and Sell Drug Paraphernalia and to Tax Evasion

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Sean Weston, age 56, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, yesterday to 15 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after Weston pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to import, transport, and sell drug paraphernalia and to tax evasion. The sentenced was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. According to his guilty plea, from January 2015 through at least July 2019, Weston operated the Northwest Variety store, where he sold empty gel capsules, colored plastic tops, dust masks, metal strainers, electric weighing scales, razor blades, and mannite and quinine, which are used as drug cutting agents. Weston admitted that he purchased hundreds of kilograms of quinine from China. Quinine’s only approved use is a prescription medication for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Importation of quinine for any other use is illegal. To conceal his purchase of quinine, Weston communicated with his foreign supplier and requested that the quinine be labelled as something else, such as “beta glucan.” As detailed in his plea agreement, Weston also failed to file federal income tax returns with the IRS for tax years 2016 through 2018. In addition to owning the Northwest Variety Store, which had significant profits during that time, Weston was on the payroll of a water treatment facility. To conceal his income from the IRS, Weston conducted his finances substantially in cash. For example, from 2016 through 2018, Weston paid $29,835 in cash for the monthly rent for the Northwest Variety Store and deposited $352,026 in cash into two personal bank accounts. In 2016 and 2017 Weston paid cash down payments of $25,000 and $15,000, respectively, for the purchase and lease of Bentley automobiles, with fair market values of more than $117,000 and $139,000. In 2016, Weston signed a credit application stating that his annual income was $180,000 and in 2017, he had an individual prepare his 2016 tax return, which reflected a gross income of $358,984. Instead of submitting the return to the IRS, Weston submitted it to the car dealership. By failing to report his income for tax years 2016 through 2018, Weston caused a tax loss to the United States of more than $98,000. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg commended the DEA, the IRS-CI, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron and Mr. Goldberg thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth S. Clark and Senior Litigation Counsel John E. Sullivan of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to the Armed Robbery of a Baltimore Jewelry Store

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Davontay Conner, age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to the armed robbery of a jewelry store and to using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. According to his guilty plea, on October 13, 2019, Conner and three co-conspirators robbed a jewelry store in Baltimore. During the robbery, four masked men entered the store with guns. While three of the robbers held up the security guard at gunpoint, Conner used a hammer to smash a display case and steal several pieces of jewelry. Conner and his co-conspirators then fled the store, with one of the robbers firing a shot back toward the store. The robbers escaped in a waiting SUV. Another shot was fired from inside the vehicle, breaking the rear window and leaving glass in the parking lot. Conner and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Conner will be sentenced to between seven and 10 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for January 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Harford County Man Pleads Guilty to Using a Hidden Camera in His Bathroom to Produce Sexually Explicit Images of Five Minor Female Victims

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Charles F. Wheat, III, age 38, of Bel Air, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to producing sexually explicit images of five minor girls while they used a bathroom in his home, using a hidden camera. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; and Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. According to his plea agreement, between April and November 2020, Wheat used a hidden camera to produce sexually explicit images of five minor girls while they used a bathroom in his home. During that same time, Wheat was in communication with three female sex traffickers in the Philippines to whom Wheat provided payment in exchange for them sending Wheat images and videos of minors being sexually exploited. As detailed in the plea agreement, Wheat sent sexually explicit images he produced of three of the minor female victims to two Filipino women. One of the women who received the images was also depicted in several videos found on Wheat’s phone engaged in sexual conduct with a prepubescent boy. Some of the videos also depict a prepubescent girl whom the woman encourages to engage in sex acts with the boy. Wheat faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for January 17, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. As detailed in the plea agreement, upon his release from prison, Wheat will also be required to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: United States Attorney's Office Releases 2023 Third Quarter Immigration Enforcement Statistics

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office announced its immigration enforcement statistics for July 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the Tucson and Yuma Sectors of the Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the three-month period ending September 30, 2023, the United States brought criminal charges in Arizona against 1,219 individuals who illegally entered or re-entered the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States also filed 254 cases against individuals responsible for smuggling undocumented noncitizens to and within the District of Arizona. In this time period, the United States also prosecuted 82 reactive drug cases arising out of immigration ports of entry and checkpoints. Reducing migrant smuggling and mitigating the risk to communities impacted by these offenses continues to be a priority for the Office and its law enforcement partners. Some of these prosecutions are directed against leaders and coordinators of alien smuggling organizations. Other prosecutions are aimed at deterring young adult drivers, often recruited over social media platforms, from engaging in this dangerous activity. Prosecutions against young drivers include four cases brought against juvenile smugglers during this time period. These statistics represent United States Attorney’s Office prosecutions only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process. RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-157_2023 Third Quarter Immigration Enforcement Statistics # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty  to Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Jackson County man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing heroin. Bradford Thompson, Jr., 39, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court documents and information presented to the Court, in May of 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence of Bradford Thompson, Jr. During the execution of the warrant, agents found suspected cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin, over $30,000.00 in cash, and a firearm. Laboratory tests subsequently confirmed that the controlled substances included 100 grams or more of a substance containing heroin. Field tests also confirmed the presence of fentanyl and cocaine. Thompson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2024. He faces a minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment. The sentencing took place on October 19, 2023. Antonino Alvarez-Resendiz, 36, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Alvarez-Resendiz was indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Receiving a Firearm While Under Indictment by a federal grand jury in January 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 14, 2023. In December of 2021, in Rapid City, Alvarez-Resendiz, while knowing he was under indictment on felony charges in South Dakota state court, was in possession of a Beretta, .40 caliber Smith & Wesson, which was found after Alvarez-Resendiz came into contact with law enforcement. Alvarez-Resendiz was also found in possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Alvarez-Resendiz was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: North Dakota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Fargo, North Dakota, man, convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on October 10, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Bryant Elliot DeCoteau, age 32, was sentenced to 10 years federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. DeCoteau was indicted for Sexual Abuse by a federal grand jury in December of 2022. He pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact on July 10, 2023. According to court documents, in January of 2018, and continuing through December of 2019, DeCoteau knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual contact with the victim. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case. DeCoteau was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.


title: Dover Man Pleads Guilty to Two Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Dover man pleaded guilty in federal court to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Evan Gadarowski, 29, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an information charging one count each of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for February 2, 2024. Between 2018 and 2021, Gadarowski solicited, received, and disseminated sexually explicit images and videos depicting numerous minor survivors. Gadarowski posed as a teenage girl using sexually explicit images and videos of one minor survivor and adopting them as part of a fictious online persona, a practice sometimes referred to as “catfishing.” Using this fictious persona, Gadarowski posed as a bisexual female and pursued online relationships with high-school aged girls. Gadarowski sent sexually explicit images and videos depicting one minor survivor to others and induced unsuspecting minor survivors to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves in return. The investigation also revealed that Gadarowski sold collections of sexually explicit images depicting some of the minor survivors to others online. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of 5 years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and mandatory restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Senior Executive Pleads Guilty To Defrauding International Cargo Airline Employer

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea today of ROBERT SCHIRMER in connection with a massive scheme to defraud Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (“Polar”), a leading cargo airline, of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the honest services of its employees. SCHIRMER pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Polar senior executive Robert Schirmer admitted his guilt in a scheme to defraud his employer that lasted more than a decade. Today’s plea reflects our Office’s longstanding commitment to rooting out corporate fraud.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings: From at least in or about 2009 through in or about July 2021, ROBERT SCHIRMER and nine other individuals participated in a massive scheme to defraud Polar. At all relevant times, SCHIRMER and three codefendants were senior executives of Polar (the “Executive Defendants”), and six codefendants (the “Vendor Defendants”) owned and operated various Polar vendors and customers. The Executive Defendants agreed to accept millions of dollars in kickbacks from the Vendor Defendants, and also reaped substantial financial benefits as a result of their secret ownership interests in certain Polar vendors, in exchange for ensuring that those vendors received favorable business arrangements with Polar. The fraud they perpetrated — which involved a substantial portion of Polar’s senior management and at least 10 customers and vendors of Polar — led to pervasive corruption of Polar’s business, touching nearly every aspect of the company’s operations, for over a decade. As a result of the scheme, the Executive Defendants, along with two co-conspirators who also worked as senior executives at Polar, received unlawful payments, either directly or through various limited liability companies they controlled, in excess of approximately $23 million in kickback payments or disbursements as a result of their ownership of conflicted companies. * * * SCHIRMER, 58, of Port Jefferson Station, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. SCHIRMER also agreed to pay forfeiture in the amount of $983,759.32 and to make restitution to Polar in the amount of $9,340,729. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. SCHIRMER is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Furman on February 13, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Reilly, Danielle Kudla, Kevin Mead, and Qais Ghafary are in charge of the prosecution.


title: AECOM to Pay $11.8 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations  in Connection with Hurricane Disaster Relief

component: Civil Division

body_text: AECOM, an architecture and engineering firm based in Dallas has agreed to pay $11.8 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by knowingly submitting false claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the replacement of certain educational facilities located in Louisiana that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and corresponding rules, FEMA provided institutional applicants, such as schools and universities, with public assistance (PA) funds for the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Funding was limited to the cost of repairing a damaged facility, unless that cost exceeded 50% of the facility’s replacement cost, in which case full-replacement funding was available. Between 2006 and 2010, AECOM served as a technical assistance contractor in support of FEMA disaster recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. In this role, AECOM prepared requests for PA funds on behalf of applicants that included, among other things, damage descriptions, estimates of the cost to repair damage and estimates of the cost to replace structures. The settlement resolves allegations that an AECOM project officer deployed to Louisiana for the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort submitted to FEMA fraudulent requests for disaster assistance funds for several educational facilities in New Orleans, which resulted in certain applicants receiving PA funds in excess of what FEMA rules permitted, including in some cases because the facility was entitled only to repair rather than replacement costs. These facilities included the gymnasium, student center and electrical grid at Xavier University of Louisiana and a cafeteria building at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans’ St. Raphael the Archangel School. According to the allegations in the government’s complaint, AECOM supervisors reviewed and did not correct disaster assistance applications that included materially false design, damage and replacement eligibility descriptions. “FEMA plays an essential role in helping communities recover from natural disasters,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement sends a strong message that FEMA contractors, as well as funding recipients, must provide truthful and accurate information so that FEMA’s resources are used to help those truly in need.” “Federal disaster funds are instrumental in the effort to aid disaster victims with their recovery,” said the U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “The favorable resolution of this False Claims Act matter illustrates the collaborative efforts and firm commitment by our federal partners to use all available remedies to address signs of fraud, waste and abuse.” “With our law enforcement partners - the Department of Justice Civil Division and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana - DHS-OIG worked tirelessly to ensure that these defendants were brought to justice and that nearly $12 million in disaster relief funds will be returned to the U.S. taxpayer,” said Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari of DHS. The settlement with AECOM resolves claims brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The United States may intervene in the action, as it did in part in this case. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Robert Romero v. AECOM, Inc., et al. , No. 16-cv-15092 (E.D. La.). As part of the settlement with AECOM, the whistleblower, Robert Romero, will receive more than $2.4 million. The United States has now recovered nearly $25 million in connection with the disaster assistance applications prepared by AECOM. The United States previously settled with Xavier University of Louisiana and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans with respect to their alleged role in the submission of the false certifications for FEMA funding prepared by AECOM. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, with substantial assistance from FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel. Investigative support was provided by the DHS-OIG's Major Fraud and Corruption Unit and New Orleans Resident Office. This matter was handled by Trial Attorneys Laura Hill, Richard Hagner, Gavin Thole, and Robin Overby of the Civil Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mimi Nguyen for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Charles Schexnaildre of FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To 15 Years For Firearm Offense

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

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Cameron Dain Gillilan, 31, of Navarre, Florida, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “This sentence ensures that our community will be safer and sends a message that there are real and severe consequences for federal firearm offenses,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. "Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, this armed felon has been called to account for his continued criminal conduct." During the evening hours on October 25, 2022, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a structure on Mobile Highway in Pensacola, Florida. Bail bondsmen of Billy Clark Bail Bonds were executing a warrant service on Gillilan, who had failed to appear for court in Santa Rosa County. The failure to appear warrant related to a case against Gillilan involving trafficking of methamphetamine and fentanyl. After the bail bondsmen handcuffed Gillilan behind his back and walked him outside, Gillilan pulled a loaded and chambered firearm out of his backside waistband. Fortunately, the bail bondsmen quickly seized the firearm, cleared it, and set it aside. Gillilan had previously been convicted of several felony offenses to include three drug trafficking convictions, an additional conviction for carrying a concealed firearm, and a prior misdemeanor crime of domestic violence battery involving strangulation. Such prior convictions prohibited Gillilan from possessing firearms. Gillilan was well-known to the law enforcement community as a drug dealer who often carried weapons on his person. “This is a huge public safety win for residents of Northwest Florida,” said ATF Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “It’s also a reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face every day to protect their communities.” This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Callahan prosecuted the case. 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 available 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, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Kansas Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Galena, Kansas, man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing methamphetamine to distribute and a firearm. Carlos Joseph Blake Gandy, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Monday, Oct. 23, to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Gandy was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions. On Oct. 18, 2022, Gandy pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Gandy was arrested on Aug. 30, 2021, when a law enforcement officer saw him driving a motorcycle in Joplin, Mo., although his driver’s license was revoked. Gandy pulled into a restaurant parking lot and carried a black backpack with him into the restaurant. Gandy placed the backpack in a booth while he waited in line with other customers to order. A Joplin police officer placed Gandy under arrest for driving with a revoked license. When the officer asked him about the backpack, Gandy denied having a bag. Officers found the backpack in a booth. Inside the backpack, officers found a plastic baggie that contained approximately 33.86 grams of methamphetamine, another baggie that contained approximately 3.2 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded Rock Island Armory .45-caliber pistol. Gandy committed this federal offense while on parole or probation for two robbery convictions and a conviction for stealing a car. Gandy also has two prior felony convictions for robbery, two prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, and prior felony convictions for possessing methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, resisting arrest, possessing a chemical with the intent to create a controlled substance, and possessing a stolen vehicle. This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department.


title: Haitian Gang Leader Charged with Hostage Taking Offenses that Resulted in the Death of a U.S. Citizen in Haiti in October 2022

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – An indictment, filed in the District of Columbia and unsealed today, charges Vitel’homme Innocent, a Haitian national and leader of the Kraze Barye gang, for his alleged role in the October 2022 armed hostage taking, in Haiti, of two U.S. citizens, one of whom was killed during the event. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, of the Miami Field Office. According to the indictment, Vitel’homme Innocent and the Kraze Barye gang operate in the Ouest department of Haiti to include Delmas, Torcelle, and Tabarre. The gang actively participates in kidnappings for ransom, extortion, and car thefts. Vitel’homme Innocent ordered gang members to kidnap Jean Franklin and Marie Odette Franklin from their home in Haiti on October 7, 2022. On that date, armed gang members forced entry into the Franklin residence and attempted to kidnap the couple by force. During the kidnapping, Marie Odette Franklin was shot and killed by the gang members. Her husband was taken into captivity and held at an undisclosed location in Haiti. While Jean Franklin was in captivity, Vitel’homme Innocent participated in ransom negotiations in exchange for Jean Franklin’s release. Jean Franklin was released from captivity on October 28, 2022, following ransom payments made to the gang on behalf of his family. “As alleged in the indictment, Vitel’homme Innocent, a leader of the Kraze Barye gang in Haiti, directed gang members to kidnap two American citizens for ransom, ultimately resulting in the death of one of the victims,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is vigorously pursuing those who harm or endanger Americans living in Haiti.” “We remain steadfast in our mission to hold those responsible for violent crimes committed against U.S. citizens in Haiti,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The gangs and gang leaders in Haiti must be held accountable for their atrocities committed against innocent civilians. We will utilize all methods at our disposal to apprehend and prosecute those who commit such heinous acts." “The indictment unsealed today demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to follow the evidence wherever it leads and to work our way up to the leaders of criminal plots wherever they are,” said Special Agent in Charge Veltri. “Neither time nor distance will weaken our resolve. We will use all tools available and go to the farthest reaches of the globe to bring to justice those who seek to harm Americans.” Vitel’homme Innocent remains at large and is believed to reside in Tabarre, Haiti. Vitel’homme Innocent faces additional charges in the District of Columbia related to his role in the kidnapping of 16 U.S. citizens in the Fall of 2021, for which he was indicted. In the Fall of 2022, the U.S. State Department announced a reward offer of up to $1 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Vitel’homme Innocent. The reward is being offered under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. If convicted, Vitel’homme Innocent faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or could face the death penalty. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Miami Field Office, with the assistance of the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Haiti and with valuable assistance from the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack F. Korba with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michael Watts for the District of Columbia. Charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Metairie Doctor Pleads Guilty in $5,600,000 Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DR. ALEX L. GLOTSER , age 36, a resident of Metairie, pled guilty on October 18, 2023, to defrauding Medicare out of approximately $5.6 million in connection with ordering medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (“DME”) and Cancer Genetic Testing (“CGx”). GLOTSER pled guilty to a bill of information charging him with health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347. According to court documents, GLOTSER was an independent contractor for several purported telemedicine companies. From approximately September 2017 to August 2019, GLOTSER , through the telemedicine companies, signed thousands of doctors’ orders for DME and CGx tests for Medicare beneficiaries he never saw, spoke to, or otherwise treated. As a result, GLOTSER ’s orders resulted in over $5.6 million in false and fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare, of which Medicare reimbursed over $2.4 million. To conceal and perpetuate the fraud, GLOTSER made several false and fraudulent statements to support these orders, including falsely certifying, in medical records and requisition forms, that he was the beneficiaries’ “treating physician,” that he had “personally” examined patients, including performing certain in-person procedures for knee braces, and that he used the DME and CGx tests ordered for the “management” of the patients’ conditions. In exchange for electronically reviewing patient charts and ordering DME and CGx tests, GLOTSER was paid a set fee per doctor’s order, typically $30, totaling $270,570. GLOTSER faces up to ten years in prison, up to three years of supervised release after release from prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain to GLOTSER or the gross loss to any victims, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. GLOTSER is also required to pay $2,420,100 in restitution to Medicare. Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle set the sentencing hearing for January 24, 2024. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorneys Kelly Walters and Samantha Stagias of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses, Healthcare Fraud Coordinator for the Eastern District of Louisiana, are prosecuting the case.


title: Large-Scale Iranian Heroin Trafficker Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MALEK BALOUCHZEHI, a/k/a “Malek Khan,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring to import heroin into the United States and distributing heroin for importation into the United States. BALOUCHZEHI was convicted after a one-week jury trial in May 2023 before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Malek Balouchzehi was in the business of peddling poison. His drug trafficking operations had already brought large-scale quantities of deadly narcotics around the world for at least a decade, but when he sought to expand his operation to the United States, our law enforcement allies, in partnership with the career prosecutors of this Office, swiftly put an end to his life-endangering trade.” According to court documents and the evidence presented at the trial of BALOUCHZEHI: BALOUCHZEHI is an Iran-based drug trafficker. In or about September 2019, BALOUCHZEHI and his associate began communicating with individuals whom BALOUCHZEHI believed were heroin traffickers interested in large quantities of heroin for importation into the United States, as well as methamphetamine for distribution in Australia. Those individuals were, in fact, a confidential source working at the direction of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and an undercover DEA agent posing as a New York-based heroin distributor. In December 2019, BALOUCHZEHI caused a sample of approximately two kilograms of heroin to be delivered in Mozambique with the understanding that those drugs would be transported to the United States for testing and sale. Following this sample shipment, BALOUCHZEHI planned to supply larger quantities of heroin for importation to and distribution within the United States. In meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2021, BALOUCHZEHI agreed to distribute ton quantities of heroin for importation to New York and to provide the heroin via maritime routes, using a fishing company to conceal his narcotics activities, in order to make millions in profits. During these meetings in Nairobi, BALOUCHZEHI also described his prior international drug trafficking activities over the last decade, including transporting loads of thousands of kilograms of heroin, and showed photographs evidencing his large-scale trafficking operation. * * * In addition to the prison term, BALOUCHZEHI, 40, of Iran, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, and New York Field Division; the DEA’s Nairobi, Maputo, Pretoria, Bucharest, and Jakarta Country Offices; the Kenyan National Police; the Mozambique National Criminal Investigation Services; and the Western Australia Police Force. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for its assistance. The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky, Michael J. Lockard, Kimberly J. Ravener, and Elinor L. Tarlow, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Kayla Collins, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Sacramento Area Tax Preparer Convicted of Presenting False Tax Returns

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a five–day trial, a federal jury found Leticia Tyshalle Marie Reed, 47, of Sacramento, guilty Monday of six counts of making false claims to the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The trial was held before U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. According to evidence presented at trial, Reed was a paid tax preparer who was registered with the IRS. In 2014 and 2015, Reed prepared and submitted federal income tax returns for Sacramento-based clients, relating to tax years 2013 and 2014. These tax returns requested tax refunds to which the clients were not entitled. Reed deliberately manipulated the reported income on each tax return by either inflating it or fabricating it altogether, in order to qualify her clients for the maximum refundable tax credits available. Based on these falsehoods, each return that Reed submitted sought thousands of dollars in tax refunds from the IRS. At times, the refunds requested were almost half of the annual income claimed. Reed would then take a substantial portion of any tax refunds that issued as compensation for preparing her clients’ Form 1040s. This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shelley D. Weger and Kristin F. Scott are prosecuting the case. Reed is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Calabretta on Feb. 1, 2024. Reed faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the six counts. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the Court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Eastern Washington COVID-19 Strike Force Announces Indictment of Spokane Valley Couple in Connection with Fraudulent COVID Relief Loan

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that a federal grand jury has indicted a Spokane Valley couple for fraud in connection with COVID-19 relief funding. The Indictment is the most recent announced by the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Strike Force, which has brought criminal charges against numerous individuals and recovered millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained COVID relief funding. On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The EIDL program have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington. The Indictment announced today charges Raymond and Jennifer Hilderbrand, ages 53 and 52, of Spokane Valley, Washington, with eight counts of fraud in connection with a fraudulently-obtained EIDL loan. The Indictment alleges that Raymond Hilderbrand applied for and received $363,000 in EIDL funding on behalf of his company, Hilderbrand Auto Service, with the intent to defraud, steal, and convert the proceeds of the EIDL loan for the couple’s use in Powerline Enterprise LLC, a purported business that was not eligible to receive EIDL funding. The Indictment also alleges that Defendant Jennifer Hilderbrand made false and fraudulent representations on an application for EIDL funding on behalf of Powerline Enterprise LLC, a purported business that was not eligible to receive EIDL funding. The SBA denied that application. “We created the Eastern Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force because combatting pandemic-related fraud and holding those accountable who abused these programs is critical to the strength and safety of our community in Eastern Washington, stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “My Office will continue to lead the effort to prosecute those who stole money intended for those in legitimate need.” In February 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref and the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the USAO, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, General Services Administration OIG, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, and others. The fraud charges carry sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison as well as restitution for fraudulently-obtained funds. This case was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force and by TIGTA, SBA OIG, and IRS-CI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frieda K. Zimmerman and Jeremy J. Kelley. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Off-Duty Commercial Airline Pilot Charged in Federal Court for Interfering with Flight Crew

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—An off-duty commercial airline pilot, who was arrested on Sunday after he attempted to shut down the engines of passenger plane in flight, has been charged in federal court. Joseph David Emerson, 44, of Pleasant Hill, California, has been charged by criminal complaint with one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants. According to court documents, on October 22, 2023, Port of Portland police officers responded to a report of inbound aircraft that had diverted from its route between Everett, Washington, and San Francisco to Portland International Airport due to an inflight disturbance. Police dispatch reported that Emerson, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot seated in a cockpit jump seat, had attempted to shut down the plane’s engines during flight. After landing, responding officers interviewed the two pilots. The pilots recounted that, approximately halfway between Astoria, Oregon, and Portland, after engaging with them in casual conversation, Emerson attempted to grab and pull two red fire handles that would have activated the plane’s emergency fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines. After a brief physical struggle with the pilots, Emerson exited the cockpit. Flight attendants placed Emerson in wrist restraints and seated him in the rear of the aircraft. During the flight’s descent, Emerson tried to grab the handle of an emergency exit. A flight attendant stopped him by placing her hands on top of his. After landing in Portland, Emerson was arrested without further incident and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on multiple state charges of attempted murder and reckless endangerment. He remains in custody in Multnomah County on a federal hold pending his first appearance in federal court on a later date. This case was investigated by the FBI and Port of Portland Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.