title: Armed Man Sentenced For Attempted Kidnapping On The Blue Ridge Parkway

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A Whittier, N.C. man has been sentenced following his conviction for possession of a firearm during an assault on the Blue Ridge Parkway, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Evan William Blankenship, 23, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Debra A. Flowers, Acting Chief Ranger of the Blue Ridge Parkway, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, in the early morning hours of September 28, 2023, L.P. and a second victim, L.M., were sitting in a parked vehicle at Water Rock Knob Overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Blankenship drove his vehicle to where the victims were located and pointed a semi-automatic pistol at them. He tried to pull L.P. out of the vehicle by the hair and arm, threatened to harm both victims, and struck L.P. in the face, causing temporary hearing loss. Blankenship also fired his firearm into the air before pointing it again at the victims. L.M. eventually convinced Blankenship to let them go, and the victims reported the incident to law enforcement. Shortly thereafter. L.P. informed investigators that she knew Blankenship through Snapchat and believed he had used Snapchat’s location-sharing feature to find her on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Blankenship was arrested on October 11, 2023, and has remained in federal custody since. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. U.S. Attorney King thanked the National Park Service for their thorough investigation and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.


title: Morganton Man Is Sentenced To 17 Years For Trafficking Fentanyl

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Joseph Paul Mosteller, 42, of Morganton, N.C., was sentenced today to 17 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Robert Schurmeier, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NC SBI), Sheriff Banks Hinceman of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Donald G. Brown II of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in June 2023, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Mosteller for suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking in Burke and Catawba Counties. On June 2, 2023, law enforcement were conducting surveillance of Mosteller, and observed the defendant and another individual, who was carrying a shoebox, walking toward Mosteller’s car, which was parked in the parking lot of a hotel in Hickory, N.C. Law enforcement attempted to arrest Mosteller before the defendant drove off in his vehicle. Law enforcement arrested the other individual and seized the shoebox, which contained methamphetamine. The individual told law enforcement that Mosteller had received a delivery of methamphetamine at the hotel the day prior. According to court documents, on June 22, 2023, law enforcement believed Mosteller had received methamphetamine and was located at a residence in Burke County. Law enforcement observed Mosteller enter a vehicle that had been parked in the driveway. As Mosteller drove off in the vehicle, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop but Mosteller did not stop and instead began to drive off at a high speed. Mosteller travelled several miles before colliding into an embankment. Law enforcement arrested Mosteller and seized a paper bag located inside the vehicle, that contained multiple controlled substances, including fentanyl, packaged for distribution. Later the same day, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Burke County residence. During the search, law enforcement seized additional distribution amounts of fentanyl and digital scales. Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger presided over Mosteller’s hearing and ordered the defendant to remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated federal Bureau of Prisons facility. U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF, the NC SBI, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Second Defendant Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery  of Danville Convenience Store

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – A Danville, Virginia man pled guilty recently to committing Hobbs Act robbery of the Sunrise convenience store in Danville. Calvin Franklin Hughes, Jr., 38, pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Co-defendant Arshay Treyvant Haley, 19, also from Danville, previously pled guilty to committing the Hobbs Act robbery. According to court documents, on the night of February 15, 2023, Hughes and Haley entered the Sunrise convenience store in Danville wearing masks. Haley approached the store clerk and brandished a machete, while Hughes pointed a pistol at the clerk. Hughes took around $750 from the cash register and Haley grabbed cigarette cartons off the shelf. Before fleeing the store with Haley, Hughes fired his pistol into the ceiling, leaving a shell casing. Surveillance footage revealed a distinctive tattoo on Hughes’ left hand, aiding in his identification. Days later, officers executed a search warrant at his apartment where they found a pistol hidden in an HVAC vent and a machete in a closet. Ballistic analyses confirmed the pistol found in Hughes’ apartment was the same one he fired in the Sunrise store. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Craig B. Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement. The Danville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Parker Gochenour prosecuted the case for the United States.


title: Justice Department Repatriates $1.4B Misappropriated 1MDB Funds to Malaysia

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has repatriated an additional $156 million in misappropriated 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds to the people of Malaysia, bringing the total returned by the department to approximately $1.4 billion. According to court documents, the funds from 1MDB, formerly Malaysia’s investment development fund, were laundered through major financial institutions worldwide, including in the United States, Switzerland, Singapore, and Luxembourg. As alleged in the civil forfeiture complaints, from 2009 through 2015, high-level officials of 1MDB, their associates, and Low Taek Jho , also known as Jho Low, misappropriated more than $4.5 billion in funds belonging to 1MDB through a criminal scheme involving international money laundering and embezzlement. Some of the embezzlement proceeds were also allegedly used to pay bribes. Beginning in 2016, a landmark effort encompassing 41 civil forfeiture actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and one in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division led to the seizure of over $1.7 billion in stolen assets. This is the largest recovery to date under the department’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. The funds include both funds finally forfeited and funds the department assisted in recovering and returning. The department continues to litigate actions against additional assets allegedly linked to this scheme. 1MDB was created by the government of Malaysia to promote economic development in Malaysia through global partnerships and foreign direct investment. Its funds were intended to be used for improving the well-being of the Malaysian people. Instead, funds held by 1MDB and proceeds of bonds issued for and on behalf of 1MDB were misappropriated and spent on a wide variety of extravagant items, including luxury homes and properties in Beverly Hills, New York, and London; a 300-foot superyacht; and fine art by Monet and Van Gogh. The funds were also sent into numerous business investments, including a boutique hotel in Beverly Hills, a movie production company that made “The Wolf of Wall Street,” the redevelopment of the Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan, and shares in EMI, the largest private music rights holder. As alleged, other funds were provided to various public officials and co-conspirators. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Chief Guy Ficco of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement. The FBI’s International Corruption Squads in New York and Los Angeles and IRS-CI are leading the investigation. MLARS Trial Attorneys Barbara Levy, Josh Sohn, Jonathon Baum, and Sean Fern are prosecuting the case, with assistance from former MLARS Deputy Chief Woo S. Lee; Trial Attorney Kyle Freeny; and former Asset Forfeiture Section Chief Steven Welk, Asset Forfeiture Section Chief Jonathan Galatzan, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Kucera and Michael Sew Hoy for the Central District of California. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing substantial assistance. MLARS’ Program Operations Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service also provided significant support. Significant assistance has also been provided to the department over the course of its work in the investigations and civil and criminal litigation by the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority, the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA), the Attorney General’s Chambers of the Territory of the British Virgin Islands, the Attorney General’s Office of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Guernsey Economic Crime Division, the International Anti-Corruption Coordinate Centre, the Attorney General’s Chambers of Singapore, the Singapore Police Force–Commercial Affairs Division, the Office of the Attorney General and the Federal Office of Justice of Switzerland, the judicial investigating authority of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Grand-Ducal Police of Luxembourg, and Indonesian, Latvian and French authorities. The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is led by a team of dedicated MLARS prosecutors in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorney’s Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to seize, forfeit, and repatriate those recovered assets to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should email kleptocracy@usdoj.gov or submit information at https://tips.fbi.gov/ .


title: Tampa Man Sentenced To More Than 4 Years For Possession  Of Firearm As A Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Gerard Eric Beasley (50, Tampa) to four years and nine months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Beasley was found guilty on March 12, 2024, following a bench trial. According to evidence presented at trial, Beasley was stopped by officers from the Tampa Police Department for driving without his headlights on and for a partially open trunk. During a search of Beasley’s vehicle, the officers located marijuana, crack cocaine, and a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol loaded with one round of ammunition. During an interview, Beasley admitted to possessing the firearm and the narcotics. At the time of the offense, Beasley had multiple prior felony convictions and therefore is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Shauna Hale. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud Involving Stolen Mail

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Frank Anthony Acanda (26, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Acanda faces up to 30 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to the victims he and his co-defendant, Jonathan Benavide Hidalgo (26, Jacksonville), defrauded. A sentencing date has not been set. According to court documents, for several months, Acanda, Hidalgo, and others drove around Fleming Island, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine and stole large volumes of mail from residential and business mailboxes. After opening the mail and stealing checks and money orders, Acanda, Hidalgo, and others acting on their behalf, deposited the items into bank accounts controlled by them and then used ATMs to immediately withdraw cash. In some instances, the co-defendants altered the stolen checks by increasing the amount of the checks to maximize the amount of money they could withdraw from ATMs. Hidalgo is set for trial in August 2024. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the United States Postal Inspection Service - Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.


title: New York Man Charged With Defrauding Harrisburg Resident And Others, Of Thousands Of Dollars In Cash And Gold

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG– The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kuldeep Jaggi, age 39, of Huntingdon Station, New York, was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Jaggi was a member of a conspiracy that operated a fraud scheme that targeted victims throughout the United States including Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In part, the fraud scheme was carried out by causing pop-up windows to appear on victims’ personal computers. These pop-up windows falsely stated the victims’ computers had been infected with a virus and instructed victims to call the telephone number provided to receive technical assistance. It is further alleged that victims who called the number spoke with a member of the conspiracy who falsely represented himself to be a government agent or employee. During the telephone call, it was falsely represented to the victims that their compromised computers had been used to commit crimes for which they would be charged, and that for the virus to be removed from the computer, victims had to pay a fee in the form of cash or gold. Victims were instructed to hand deliver the cash or gold payment to an “agent” who was being sent to the victim’s homes. The indictment alleges that Jaggi was one of the scheme’s “agents” who travelled to victims’ homes to pick up the cash or gold. According to the Indictment, on October 3, 2023, Jaggi traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to collect approximately $64,000 in gold from a victim, and between September 26, 2023, and October 3, 2023, Jaggi traveled to Massachusetts, Idaho, and Texas where he collected a total of approximately $129,000 from three victims. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Swatara Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph J. Terz is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for the indicted offenses is 20 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release after imprisonment, a fine, and special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: St. Louis County Man Accused of Drug Robbery with a Machine Gun

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from St. Louis County, Missouri has been accused of committing a drug robbery while armed with a machine gun. Walter C. Moore, 19, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, robbery and possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a crime of violence. A June 5 indictment accuses Moore of robbing someone engaged in the sale of controlled substances on April 25. A motion seeking to have Moore held in jail until trial says he was armed with a Glock equipped with a “switch,” or auto sear, rendering if a fully automatic weapon. The Glock was also equipped with an extended magazine and a laser sight. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a crime of violence charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 30 years. The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Prior felon pleads guilty to new child pornography charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christopher Gostick, 30, of Lancaster, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to receipt of child pornography by a person having a prior conviction relating to possession of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that on June 9 and 10, 2023, Gostick attended a sleepover birthday party, during which he kissed a minor victim (Minor Victim 1), who was nine years old, on the lips. Minor Victim 1 told her parents, which resulted in police officers responding to the residence and taking possession of cellular telephones and a tablet that belonged to Gostick. A review of one of the cellphones uncovered a surreptitiously recorded video of Minor Victim 1 using the bathroom. In addition to the video of Minor Victim 1, law enforcement also found on Gostick’s other cellphone a screen recording of a Snapchat conversation between Gostick and a second minor victim (Minor Victim 2), who was 10 years old at the time. During that conversation, Gostick, who was posing as an 11-year-old female, instructed Minor Victim 2 to send him a sexually explicit video, which Minor Victim 2 did. A review of Gostick’s devices also recovered approximately 613 images and two videos containing child pornography. Previously, in August 2019, Gostick was convicted on a state charge of Attempted Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia. Sentencing is scheduled for October 4, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Arcara. # # # #


title: INTERPOL WASHINGTON AND PANAMA ENHANCE BORDER SECURITY THROUGH PROJECT TERMINUS

component: Interpol Washington

body_text: INTERPOL Washington’s Project TERMINUS, in collaboration with the National Central Bureau (NCB) Panama, has significantly enhanced Panama's border security by integrating INTERPOL data into the newly established Border Information and Analysis Targeting Unit (BIATU). “Through international collaboration, we have significantly increased our Panamanian partners’ ability to detect and disrupt threats, increasing the security in both of our nations,” said INTERPOL Washington Acting Director Jeffrey Grimming. “By better enabling the BIATU to provide timely, relevant, and actionable intelligence to border security leaders, we have collectively made significant strides toward building a safer region and safer world for us all.” The Panama Ministry of Security recently established BIATU to provide critical intelligence at both strategic and operational levels to law enforcement. This U.S. Embassy-vetted unit operates with the support of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection advisor, who collaborates closely with BIATU personnel to address security vulnerabilities and threats. However, during an initial site survey by PROJECT Terminus at the BIATU fusion center, it was determined that the center lacked direct access to INTERPOL databases managed by NCB Panama, causing significant gaps and delays in information exchange. With funding from the U.S. Department of State, Project TERMINUS facilitated the direct connection of BIATU to critical INTERPOL data through NCB Panama, significantly enhancing operational efficiency. This integration not only strengthens Panama's overall security but also reinforces its relations with partner nations. Project TERMINUS provides expert technical assistance to countries across the world seeking to integrate access to INTERPOL databases into their national border security information-sharing systems. This assistance helps nations screen against the illicit international travel of transnational criminals and terrorists.


title: St. Louis Man Admits Producing Child Sexual Abuse Materials Involving Multiple Victims

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis, Missouri on Wednesday admitted producing child pornography involving at least eight victims. Tracy Jenkins, 59, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of production of child pornography and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted sexually abusing five children and recording the abuse. The series of videos have been circulating online since at least 2022. At this point in the investigation, three other victims have also been identified, Jenkins’ plea agreement says. One of the victims was 6 years old when the abuse began and another was 11. Jenkins provided food, money, clothing and other items of value to some of the victims. Jenkins’ face is clearly visible in many of the videos he produced. After the FBI’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Unit was able to determine the identity of one of the victims, they contacted the St. Louis FBI office. Agents quickly located Jenkins and conducted a court-approved search of his home, finding multiple electronic devices with thousands of files containing child pornography. They also located about 200 videos that Jenkins produced of his sexual abuse of the victims in this case, ranging in length from seconds to over one hour and 45 minutes, the plea agreement says. Jenkins began making videos at least as early as 2013. He was present with one victim the day before the FBI searched his home. FBI agents also found a Sarsilmaz 9mm pistol in Jenkins’ home. The gun had been stolen in St. Louis County. Jenkins is a convicted felon and is barred from possessing firearms. Jenkins is scheduled to be sentenced in December. At sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson will ask for a sentence of 40 years, the plea agreement says. The FBI investigated 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice 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 www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Tampa Man And Woman Sentenced For Narcotics And Firearms Offenses Following Jury Conviction

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Elias Xavier Rosario Torres (26, Tampa) and Veronica Estefania Rodriguez Pinuela (23, Tampa) after both were found guilty by a jury on March 8, 2024. Rosario Torres was sentenced to 38 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of cocaine, possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Rodriguez Pinuela was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of cocaine, and possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to evidence presented at trial, Rosario Torres and Rodriguez Pinuela were stopped by Tampa Police Department officers on March 8, 2022, for a traffic infraction. During the traffic stop, officers located two backpacks containing nearly a kilogram of cocaine, 16 grams of fentanyl, a Glock 23 handgun, two loaded magazines, and additional ammunition. The Glock 23 was modified with a chip that converted the handgun into a machine gun. At the time of the offense, Rosario Torres was a convicted felon, having been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Chang, James C. Preston, and Samantha E. Beckman. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Supreme Court’s decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine : “The Justice Department is gratified that today’s unanimous decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine ensures that mifepristone remains available for women across the country on the terms approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more than two decades, and across five presidential administrations, millions of Americans have relied upon FDA’s expert judgment that mifepristone is safe and effective for termination of early pregnancies. Today, more than half of those who choose to terminate their pregnancies rely on mifepristone to do so. I am proud of the work of lawyers at the Justice Department for vigorously defending the FDA’s expert judgment about the safety and efficacy of a medication that women have relied upon for more than twenty years. But our work does not end today. The Department will continue to work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedoms under federal law. As I said the day Dobbs was decided, women who reside in states that have blocked access to comprehensive reproductive care must remain free to travel to states in which that care is lawful. Under the First Amendment, individuals must remain free to inform and counsel each other about the reproductive care that is available across state lines. And, as the Office of Legal Counsel has concluded, the Comstock Act does not prohibit people from mailing mifepristone or misoprostol when they do not intend the recipient to use those drugs unlawfully. The Department of Justice is committed to protecting reproductive freedom. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect women’s access to mifepristone and other lawful reproductive care.”


title: Shreveport Businessman and Military Veteran Sentenced on Federal Charges

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Edward L. Angel, Sr. , 71, of Shreveport, has been sentenced for theft of government funds and making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Angel to 3 years of supervised probation, with the first 6 months being served as home confinement. Angel was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $141,972.89 and a fine in the amount of $850,000. In February, Angel was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a week-long trial. The jury was deadlocked as to the remaining counts in the indictment charging Angel with theft of government funds and a mistrial was declared. After the mistrial was declared, the government and Angel eventually agreed to enter into a plea agreement. Pursuant to that plea agreement, Angel pled guilty to one count of theft of government funds. Angel is a military veteran and owned and operated two businesses, ELA Group, Inc. (ELA) and Paradigm Engineers and Constructors PLLC (Paradigm). The VA has a service-disabled veteran owned small business program (SDVOSB) which is a program that provides federal contracting assistance to small businesses owned by disabled veterans by providing them the opportunity to get certain set-aside contracts. To be eligible for this program, the veteran must meet specific criteria demonstrating eligibility, ownership, and control of the small business. In 2011 and 2012, Angel submitted forms to the SDVOSB stating that he was the President of ELA and responsible for all day-to-day responsibilities and decisions. He also submitted documentation stating he worked 40+ hours each week and his compensation was taken at the end of the year in the form of IRS Subchapter S regulations distributions. On the forms Angel submitted, he represented to SDVOSB that the reason he did not take a salary was because he chose to leave money in the corporation to keep as much working capital as possible. In 2016, Angel purchased and became the President of Paradigm. Soon after his purchase of Paradigm, he began to submit documentation to qualify the company for the SDVOSB program. He certified that he was the 100% owner of Paradigm and worked an average of 50 or more hours a week committing 5-6 hours a day to each of his entities. As a result of these representations, ELA and Paradigm were accepted into the SDVOSB program and received millions of dollars in set-aside contracts from the SDVOSB. From on or about November 2013, Angel also received Individual Unemployability from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). Angel submitted documents to substantiate his disability claims for the VBA stating he was unable to work and had been unemployed since 2008. As a result of his misrepresentations to VBA, Angel admitted that he received $93,819.29 in IU payments that he was not entitled to receive and that were deposited into his bank account in the form of monthly payments. On June 16, 2011, Angel also applied for SSA Disability Insurance Benefits stating that he had been unable to work since 2010 due to a medical condition. The SSA approved his application to receive disability benefits. Angel admits that he failed to disclose that he owned and operated two companies and was gainfully employed. As a result of these misrepresentations, he received $48,153.60 in disability payments he was not entitled to receive. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General, and Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and was prosecuted by Executive Assistant United States Attorney Earl M. Campbell and former Assistant United States Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath. # # #


title: Lebanon County Man Charged With Drug Trafficking And Illegally Possessing A Firearm

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angel Lopez-Guzman, age 37, of Lebanon, PA, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges related to the distribution of controlled substances and unlawful possession of firearms. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Lopez-Guzman possessed over 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute. It also alleges that Lopez-Guzman illegally possessed a firearm as a convicted felon and possessed a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in Lebanon County, on January 5, 2024. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lebanon County Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The maximum penalty Lopez-Guzman faces under federal law for these offenses is up to life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Final Member Of Benton Harbor Machinegun And Drug Trafficking Investigation Sentenced

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Earl Austin IV, 22, of Benton Harbor, Michigan was sentenced to 108 months in prison for his part in trafficking methamphetamine, guns, and machinegun switches. Austin is the last of 17 defendants, from three criminal indictments to be sentenced from this investigation. “The families of Benton Harbor deserve to carry out their lives without the fear of violence.” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Safety is a civil right. These cases represent our commitment to making that right a reality. While we can never prosecute our way out of the gun violence epidemic, accountability for those few individuals who are driving violence is critical.” On December 15, 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan announced charges against 10 defendants, including Earl Austin IV. Seven additional defendants were later charged in three different criminal cases. In this case, investigators seized over one pound of methamphetamine, five firearms, and three machinegun switches over the course of six months. Undercover officers bought methamphetamine, fentanyl, and oxycodone from Austin on 17 different occasions. On two occasions in August and September of 2022, Austin sold machinegun switches to undercover officers. Austin then sold an assault rifle and two pistols on three separate occasions from November to December 2022. Police eventually executed a search warrant at Austin’s residence and found more methamphetamine and two guns. Austin is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Austin proceeded to trial, where a jury found him guilty on all 15 counts of the indictment. Austin’s codefendants pleaded guilty. Robert Griffin was sentenced to 70 months in prison for selling methamphetamine. Rhonda Acklin was sentenced to 41 months in prison for selling methamphetamine. Evorion Anderson was sentenced to 70 months in prison for selling methamphetamine and machinegun switches. Ten other defendants were charged with firearm violations, mostly related to machinegun switches. In that case, Torez Burnett imported machine gun conversion devices, or “switches,” from China and distributed them to members of his street gang, My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), and others in Benton Harbor and Grand Rapids. Finally, in a third case, three defendants were charged with being felons in possession of firearms. Following a jury trial in August 2023, a jury convicted each man of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing, Chief Judge Hala Jarbou found that Mark Curtis possessed his gun in connection with first degree premeditated murder. “Families in Benton Harbor can take comfort in knowing the individuals responsible for distributing harmful drugs throughout the community and possessing dangerous weapons were held accountable for their crimes,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “It is through the tremendous partnerships fostered among our local, state, and federal partners that we are able to find and apprehend criminals who endanger public safety.” Serious crimes have serious consequences. Illegal machinegun conversion devices are a threat to our community and public safety. They are not toys and they have no place in our communities,” said ATF Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir . “Mr. Austin chose to illegally convert firearms while conspiring to distribute methamphetamines onto our streets. Ultimately, Mr. Austin and his co-cohorts will have considerable time in prison to reflect on their poor decisions.” This case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, DEA, Michigan State Police, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, Benton Charter Township Police Department, and the Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Castle and Jacob S. Metoxen handled the prosecution. ###


title: Washington man receives jail sentence for thermal trespass and a closure violation in Yellowstone National Park

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Viktor Pyshniuk , 21 of Lynwood, Washington, was sentenced to seven days in jail for thermal trespass at Steamboat Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). In addition, he was placed on two years of unsupervised release and received a two-year ban from YNP for a closure violation. The court also ordered Pyshniuk to pay a $1,500 fine, $30 mandatory court processing fee and $20 special assessment. According to court documents, a YNP law enforcement officer was dispatched to the thermal area at Steamboat Geyser by an on-duty park employee who reported a person walking off the boardwalk at that location. The employee had taken a photo of the defendant who had clearly crossed over the fence and was walking up the hillside within 15-20 feet of Steamboat Geyser’s steam vent. When contacted, Pyshniuk told the officer he left the boardwalk to take photos. While speaking with Pyshniuk, the officer showed him the signs posted throughout the area stating it is illegal to leave the boardwalk and explained that walking in a thermal area is very dangerous due to possible weak ground layer, the geothermal features of mud pots, heated steam and water, and all other dangers associated with walking in a heated, unpredictable geothermal area. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on June 4. During sentencing she explained to the defendant that the sentence was designed to deter him, specifically, but also the public from leaving the boardwalk in this area. She expressed her concern that the defendant’s actions were seen by the people around him, and they might have thought it was okay to do the same thing. And if every visitor to YNP disobeyed the rules, the park would be destroyed, and no-one would be able to enjoy it. “Trespassing in closed, thermal areas of Yellowstone National Park is dangerous and harms the natural resource,” said Acting United States Attorney Eric Heimann. “In cases like this one where we have strong evidence showing a person has willfully disregarded signs and entered a closed, thermal area, federal prosecutors will seek significant penalties, including jail time.” Steamboat Geyser is a prominent feature within YNP and the world’s tallest active geyser, but it is also the most dangerous. It has erratic and unpredictable eruptions that can rise anywhere from six to 300 feet high. In the last four years, the intervals between eruptions ranged anywhere from three to 89 days according to the YNP website: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/steamboat-geyser.htm . Judge Hambrick also explained that the three-foot fencing around the boardwalk is a clear sign that the area is closed and prohibited from entering. This case was investigated by Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. For questions relating to Yellowstone National Park, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 307-344-2015 or yell_public_affairs@nps.gov . You may also visit https://www.nps.gov/yell


title: Money Launderer Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Laundering Millions Of Dollars Of Health Care Fraud Proceeds

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MUKHIDDIN KADIROV was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to launder millions of dollars from a health care fraud scheme that primarily targeted the Medicare and Medicaid programs. KADIROV controlled three shell company bank accounts, opened in the name of another person, that he used to launder over $6 million in health care fraud proceeds, including over $4 million for his co-defendant NERIK ILYAYEV. KADIROV previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Mukhiddin Kadirov participated in a complex international money laundering network to launder millions of dollars fraudulently obtained from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as from other insurers. Kadirov abused our financial system by providing false information to banks to use shell company bank accounts to launder millions in fraud proceeds. This prosecution and today’s sentence are part of my Office’s ongoing work to take down complex money laundering networks and safeguard the integrity of our financial systems.” According to the Complaint, the Information, court filings, and public court proceedings: From approximately March 2021 through the spring of 2022, KADIROV participated in a sophisticated money laundering network that primarily launders health care fraud proceeds (the “Money Laundering Network”). Members of the Money Laundering Network typically deposit checks from health care companies that represent health care fraud proceeds into New York-based bank accounts held by shell companies. The conspirators controlling the shell companies collect cash typically from U.S.-based individuals who want to remit funds, often to Uzbekistan, through unlicensed channels. The conspirators controlling the shell companies then provide that cash, minus a fee, to the conspirators providing the health care checks. The conspirators controlling the shell companies next typically wire the check deposit proceeds from the shell companies to foreign companies to purchase goods from those foreign companies. The foreign companies ship the goods to importers in Uzbekistan. The importers pay the Uzbekistan-based partners of the conspirators operating the shell companies in U.S. currency for the goods. Those Uzbekistan-based partners would then give the U.S. currency to the families and friends of the individuals who had provided the cash to the conspirators controlling the shell companies in New York. As part of his participation in the Money Laundering Network, KADIROV controlled three business bank accounts held in the names of three different shell companies that were purportedly wholesale companies (the “Shell Company Accounts”). KADIROV used the Shell Company Accounts to launder approximately $4.2 million from a pharmacy in Manhattan (“Pharmacy-1”) controlled by ILYAYEV that was engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid by submitting fraudulent billing for expensive HIV medications. Between March 2021 and April 2022, approximately $6.9 million flowed through KADIROV’s Shell Company Accounts, which included not only the fraud proceeds from Pharmacy-1 but also deposits from other pharmacies and health care companies. KADIROV took significant steps to conceal his role in the money laundering scheme. KADIROV used the identity of another person who was no longer in the United States to control the Shell Company Accounts. When using ATM machines to access the Shell Company Accounts, KADIROV covered his face to obscure his face on bank surveillance video and wore latex gloves to prevent leaving fingerprints. KADIROV also used a burner phone subscribed using a fake name and email address to access the Shell Company Accounts and to call the banks regarding the Shell Company Accounts. KADIROV conducted his money laundering scheme consistent with the typical practices of the Money Laundering Network, using the Shell Company Accounts to engage in check cashing and unlicensed money transmitting. The three Shell Companies KADIROV used to conduct the money laundering all had either “Wholesale” or “Supply” in their names to give the false impression to banks and law enforcement that the Shell Companies were medical supply companies to disguise the true nature of the transactions between Pharmacy-1 and the Shell Companies. KADIROV’s Shell Company Accounts were funded virtually entirely by check deposits from Pharmacy-1 and other pharmacies. Moreover, consistent with the practices of the Money Laundering Network, KADIROV wired virtually all the funds that flowed through the Shell Company Accounts abroad to companies in China, Ukraine, and Russia. KADIROV stopped operating the Shell Company Accounts by the spring of 2022, soon after Pharmacy-1 closed in March 2022 after another member of the Money Laundering Network who attempted to launder fraud proceeds from Pharmacy-1 was arrested. KADIROV nevertheless continued to facilitate ILYAYEV’s money laundering. After closing Pharmacy-1, ILYAYEV, using the identity of another person, continued to operate another pharmacy, which he used to defraud No Fault insurance providers of over $1.2 million and to unlawfully sell medications obtained from illegitimate sources, for which the pharmacy received over $900,000 in proceeds. ILYAYEV also used that stolen identity to open multiple corporate bank accounts for the pharmacy to receive and spend the fraud proceeds generated by the pharmacy. KADIROV, who is also a construction contractor, used a debit card in the name of that stolen identity to buy materials for a construction project for ILYAYEV. * * * In addition to the prison term, KADIROV, 46, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit more than $6 million. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Williams also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor for their assistance in the investigation. The case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cecilia E. Vogel and Thane Rehn are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Behavioral Health Companies, CEO, Pay Nearly $4.6 Million to Settle Allegations Related to Telehealth Services for Nursing Home Residents

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, today announced that SUPPORTIVE CARE HOLDINGS, LLC, its related healthcare companies doing business in Connecticut and other states (“Supportive Care Companies”), and its CEO, JOSEPH “DOV” NEWMARK, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal government and paid $4,595,739 to resolve allegations that they fraudulently and improperly submitted claims to Medicare and Connecticut Medicaid related to telehealth services provided to nursing home residents. In addition to Supportive Care Holdings, LLC, the Supportive Care Companies are Supportive Care, LLC; Step Up Care, PC LLC; Supportive Care of Pennsylvania, LLC; Supportive Care Psychology of NJ, PC; Supportive Care Psychology of NY, PC; Sunrise Psychological Services, LLC; Supportive Behavioral Care of MA, LLC; Step Up Care of Tennessee, LLC; Supportive Care of Virginia, LLC; Supportive Care of Maryland, LLC; Supportive Care of New Hampshire, LLC; Supportive Care of South Carolina, LLC; Supportive Care of Michigan, LLC; and Supportive Care I of Rhode Island, PC. The related health care companies provide, among other things, psychological services to patients residing in skilled nursing facilities in Connecticut and other states. Newmark is the CEO for each of the Supportive Care Companies. The government’s allegations against the Supportive Care Companies and Newmark involve improper and false claims submitted for “telehealth originating site facility fees.” A telehealth visit involves an exchange between a patient at an originating site (e.g. a nursing home) and a physician, or other qualified healthcare professional, at a distant site. Relevant billing rules and guidance, specifically Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code Q3014, allows payment for a “telehealth originating site facility fee” in addition to the professional fee for the underlying psychological service being provided. However, HCPCS code Q3014 should only be billed by the originating site (in this case, the nursing homes) when the facility provides administrative and clinical support for a patient receiving services via telehealth. The government alleges that the Supportive Care Companies and Newmark submitted or caused to be submitted improper and false claims for “telehealth originating site facility fees,” billed pursuant to HCPCS code Q3014, which should only have been billed by the nursing homes. In addition, the government alleges that the Supportive Care Companies and Newmark submitted or caused to be submitted false or fraudulent claims for payment to Medicare and Connecticut Medicaid for psychological services allegedly provided to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries residing in nursing homes when those Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries were not, in fact, residing in the nursing homes, but had been transferred to various hospitals and admitted as inpatients. The settlement resolves False Claims Act and common law allegations for conduct occurring between 2019 and 2023. “As telehealth plays an increasingly important role in our health care system, it is critical that health care providers follow the relevant rules and bill for such services accurately and honestly,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigorously investigate any provider that submits fraudulent claims related to telehealth services, as this misconduct increases the cost of health care for all of us.” “Our federal health care system relies on the basic principle that providers bill properly and follow the rules, and the taxpayers who fund the Medicare and Medicaid programs deserve nothing less,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “We are committed to protecting the integrity of those programs, and we will continue to pay particular attention to schemes that seek to undermine the legitimate delivery of telehealth services.” This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Molot. People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 777-6311.


title: 12 Alleged Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Based in Philadelphia’s Fairhill Section Indicted on Narcotics and Gun Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – At a news conference this morning, United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that 12 alleged members of a drug trafficking organization based in Philadelphia’s Fairhill section have been indicted on dozens of narcotics and gun charges. U.S. Attorney Romero discussed the case alongside Eric J. DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF Philadelphia; First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford and Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore of the Philadelphia Police Department; Christopher Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Philadelphia Division; Nehemiah Haigler and James McCaffrey, Regional Directors of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics Investigations; and U.S. Marshal Eric S. Gartner. The indictment alleges that, from at least February 2023 through June 2024, a drug trafficking organization led by Wilfredo Avila sold significant quantities of packaged fentanyl, fentanyl pills, and cocaine in and around the Fairhill-Kensington area. In addition to selling these narcotics, the Avila DTO routinely offered and sold firearms of all kinds to its drug dealer customers. Information on the defendants, all residents of Philadelphia, and the charges they face is below. Ten have been arrested, one awaits removal from another state, and one – Ahmed Perez – remains at large. “People who illegally traffic in drugs and guns help unravel families and undermine entire communities,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “I hope this takedown shows the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to tackling such critical public safety issues, and holding the perpetrators accountable for the harm they’ve caused to our city. I also hope it sends a message to all the other drug and gun traffickers out there. That message is… you’re next.” “The ATF Philadelphia Field Division is committed to supporting the Philadelphia Police Department’s efforts to tamper the drug-fueled violence in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, and help the community there,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge DeGree. “Last week’s Operation Black Diamond is a concrete example of that commitment. It is also another example of our long history of working with our local, state, and federal partners to prevent, investigate and prosecute the crime that plagues many of our communities.” “The indictments announced today mark a significant step forward in our ongoing battle against the epidemic of drug sales, use, and violence that has plagued our communities, especially in Kensington,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “Our synergy with federal partners is vital in Mayor Parker's mission to eradicate these crimes, and to bring hope back to our Kensington communities. Ongoing collaboration with the ATF, U.S. Attorney's Office, and other local, state, and federal agencies will be instrumental in dismantling these dangerous organizations and restoring safety to our neighborhoods. I thank our LE colleagues for their partnership; and together, we are committed to continuing this united effort to protect our citizens and uphold the law.” “The members of this organization allegedly trafficked weapons and drugs throughout Kensington. Every illegally-possessed firearm presents a threat to public safety, as those guns are often used in violent crimes,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said. “I am grateful for the hard work of all the agencies who partnered in this investigation. Together, we will continue efforts to stop the trafficking of firearms and make Pennsylvania safer for all who live here.” “Every day, Postal Inspectors work to protect the mail from being misused by criminals, including large scale Drug Trafficking Organizations,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Nielsen. “When prevention and investigative efforts can come together with the efforts of other agencies to identify and charge individuals who distribute drugs throughout Philadelphia, it makes all our communities safer. I want to acknowledge the contributions of the officers and agents from the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the ATF, and the Postal Inspectors of the Philadelphia Division. I also want to acknowledge and thank the Assistant United States Attorneys who supported this investigation.” This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case is being prosecuted under a new criminal provision created in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act includes the first federal statute, Title 18, United States Codes, Section 933, that was specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking of firearms. If convicted, the defendants face maximum possible sentences ranging from five years to lifetime imprisonment. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Philadelphia Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney David Osborne. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A chart of the defendants and the charges against them: Name Age Charges Wilfredo Avila 30 ▪ Attempt and conspiracy (1 count) ▪ Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud U.S. (1 count) ▪ Manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess a controlled substance (25 counts) ▪ Unlawfully engaging in the business of firearms (1 count) ▪ Unlawful shipment, transfer, receipt, or possession of a firearm by a felon (16 counts) ▪ Trafficking in firearms (1 count) Chanel Diaz Oscar 48 ▪ Attempt and conspiracy (1 count) ▪ Manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess a controlled substance (9 counts) Zaida Diaz 59 ▪ Attempt and conspiracy (1 count) ▪ Manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess a controlled substance (3 counts) Marcelino Minaya Lebron 44 ▪ Attempt and conspiracy (1 count) Noel Arce 26 ▪ Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud U.S. (1 count) ▪ Unlawfully engaging in the business of firearms (1 count) ▪ Unlawful shipment, transfer, receipt, or possession of a firearm by a felon (3 counts) Abdul Ortiz 37 ▪ Manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess a controlled substance (2 counts) Ahmed Perez 28 ▪ Manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess a controlled substance (1 count) Juan Acosta 55 ▪ Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud U.S. (1 count) ▪ Unlawfully engaging in the business of firearms (1 count) ▪ Unlawful shipment, transfer, receipt, or possession of a firearm by a felon (2 counts) ▪ Trafficking in firearms (1 count) Angel Colon 35 ▪ Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud U.S. (1 count) ▪ Unlawfully engaging in the business of firearms (1 count) ▪ Unlawful shipment, transfer, receipt, or possession of a firearm by a felon (1 count) ▪ Trafficking in firearms (1 count) Alexander Roman Delgado 33 ▪ Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud U.S. (1 count) ▪ Unlawful shipment, transfer, receipt, or possession of a firearm by a felon (1 count) ▪ Trafficking in firearms (1 count) Angel Velez 33 ▪ Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud U.S. (1 count) ▪ Unlawful shipment, transfer, receipt, or possession of a firearm by a felon (1 count) Jose Rodriguez 30 ▪ Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud U.S. (1 count)


title: New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits. Anthony Patterson, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2024. Patterson was charged in May 2024. From 2013 to 2023, Patterson collected Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, which are only available to people with limited financial means. During two interviews with the Social Security Administration in 2012 and 2022, Patterson made sworn false statements regarding his marital status and living situation to conceal household income and resources. As a result, he collected $92,582 in SSI benefits that he was ineligible to receive. The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Bradley Parker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Second Person Charged in Armed Carjacking in Northeast DC

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Maurice Edwards, 20, of Washington, D.C., was charged yesterday with armed carjacking in District of Columbia Superior Court, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Edwards is detained pending his June 14, 2024, preliminary hearing. According to the government’s evidence, on March 11, 2024, Edwards drove a car through a stop sign at 48 th Pl and Lee St, NE, and struck the victim’s vehicle. Edwards and his accomplice, Auzsa Beatty, got out of their car and yelled at the victim. When the victim got out of his car, Edwards pulled a gun on him, and Beatty got into the victim’s car. Beatty drove off in the victim’s vehicle, and Edwards drove off in the vehicle he had been driving. The victim immediately reported the offense. MPD Officers later found the victim’s car parked near Beatty’s home. Beatty, 28, of Washington, D.C., was previously charged with carjacking, and has been detained pending her August 12, 2024, trial before the Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld. Edwards’ case will be joined with Beatty’s. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Cocuzza. Charges are merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Founder/CEO and Clinical President of Digital Health Company Arrested for $100M Adderall Distribution and Health Care Fraud Scheme

body_text: The founder and CEO of a California-based digital health company and its clinical president were arrested today in connection with their alleged participation in a scheme to distribute Adderall over the internet, conspire to commit health care fraud in connection with the submission of false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for Adderall and other stimulants, and obstruct justice. Ruthia He, the founder and CEO of Done Global Inc., was arrested in Los Angeles and will make her initial appearance at 1:30 p.m. PDT/4:30 p.m. EDT in Los Angeles. David Brody, the clinical president of Done Health P.C. (collectively, Done), was arrested in San Rafael, California, and will make his initial appearance at 10:30 a.m. PDT/1:30 p.m. EDT in San Francisco, California. “As alleged, these defendants exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to develop and carry out a $100 million scheme to defraud taxpayers and provide easy access to Adderall and other stimulants for no legitimate medical purpose,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Those seeking to profit from addiction by illegally distributing controlled substances over the internet should know that they cannot hide their crimes and that the Justice Department will hold them accountable.” “The individuals charged today allegedly disregarded the first rule of medical care—do no harm—in order to maximize profits, and there is no place for such fraud in our healthcare system,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The indictment levied against these individuals sends a clear message: the Department of Homeland Security, our Homeland Security Investigations personnel, and our partners across the federal government will hold accountable those providers and prescribers who prey on their patients.” “As alleged in the indictment, the defendants provided easy access to Adderall and other stimulants by exploiting telemedicine and spending millions on deceptive advertisements on social media. They generated over $100 million in revenue by arranging for the prescription of over 40 million pills,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These charges are the Justice Department’s first criminal drug distribution prosecutions related to telemedicine prescribing through a digital health company. As these charges make clear, corporate executives who put profit over the health and safety of patients—including by using technological innovation—will be held to account.” According to court documents, He and Brody allegedly conspired with others to provide easy access to Adderall and other stimulants in exchange for payment of a monthly subscription fee. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy’s purpose was for the defendants to unlawfully enrich themselves by, among other things, by increasing monthly subscription revenue and thus increasing the value of the company. Done allegedly arranged for the prescription of over 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants, and obtained over $100 million in revenue. “The internet is a place of remarkable innovation, allowing its users to make innumerable types of transactions with greater ease. Such transactions, however, must always be legal,” said Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division Matthew Yelovich for the Northern District of California. “The indictment alleges that He and Brody used an internet-based infrastructure to illegally distribute drug sales and to conspire to commit health care fraud. This office will always prosecute health care fraud and illegal drug distribution on the internet as vigorously as we do traditional frauds and illegal drug distribution.” He and Brody allegedly obtained subscribers by targeting drug seekers and spending tens of millions of dollars on deceptive advertisements on social media networks. They also allegedly intentionally structured the Done platform to facilitate access to Adderall and other stimulants, including by limiting the information available to Done prescribers, instructing Done prescribers to prescribe Adderall and other stimulants even if the Done member did not qualify, and mandating that initial encounters would be under 30 minutes. To maximize profits, He allegedly put in a place an “auto-refill” function that allowed Done subscribers to elect to have a message requesting a refill be auto-generated every month. He wrote that Done sought to “use the comp structure to dis-encourage follow-up” medical care by refusing to pay Done prescribers for any medical visits, telemedicine consultation, or time spent caring for patients after an initial consultation, and instead paying solely based on the number of patients who received prescriptions. “The defendants in this case operated Done Global Inc., an online telehealth website that prescribed Adderall and other highly addictive medications to patients who bought a monthly subscription. The defendants allegedly preyed on Americans and put profits over patients by exploiting telemedicine rules that facilitated access to medications during the unprecedented COVID-19 public health emergency,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Instead of properly addressing medical needs, the defendants allegedly made millions of dollars by pushing addictive medications. In many cases, Done Global prescribed ADHD medications when they were not medically necessary. In 2022 the FDA issued a notice of shortages in prescription stimulants, including Adderall. Any diversion of Adderall and other prescription stimulant pills to persons who have no medical need only exacerbates this shortage and hurts any American with a legitimate medical need for these drugs. The DEA will continue to hold accountable anyone, including company executives, that uses telehealth platforms to put profit above patient safety.” “As more health care needs are met through telemedicine, we will not tolerate fraud schemes that seek to recklessly exploit digital technologies,” said Honorable Christi A. Grimm of the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the enrollees of federal health care programs by ensuring that requirements for the appropriate, legal prescribing of stimulants and other drugs are always met, and those who choose to violate them are held accountable.” He and Brody allegedly persisted in the conspiracy even after being made aware that material was posted on online social networks about how to use Done to obtain easy access to Adderall and other stimulants, and that Done members had overdosed and died. They also allegedly concealed and disguised the conspiracy by making fraudulent representations to media outlets to forestall government investigations and action and induce third parties to continue doing business with Done. “Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime. It levies a tremendous cost on our nation’s healthcare systems and economy,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Today’s announcement should serve as a reminder that it is only a matter of time before anyone engaging in fraudulent activity is caught and brought to justice.” “Instead of prioritizing the health of their customers, He and Brody’s telemedicine company allegedly prioritized profits—more than $100 million worth—by fraudulently prescribing medications like Adderall and other stimulants,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation. “This led customers to addiction, abuse, and overdoses, which the company tried to conceal by making false representations to the media in order to deter oversight by government agencies.” He, Brody, and others also conspired to defraud pharmacies and Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers to cause the pharmacies to dispense Adderall and other stimulants to Done members in violation of their corresponding responsibility; Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers to pay for the cost of these drugs; and Done members to continue to pay subscription fees to Done. He and others allegedly made false and fraudulent representations about Done’s prescription policies and practices to induce the pharmacies to fill Done’s prescriptions. As a result, Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial insurers paid in excess of approximately $14 million. The indictment also alleges that He and Brody conspired to obstruct justice after a grand jury subpoena was issued to another telehealth company and in anticipation of a subpoena being issued to Done, including by deleting documents and communications, using encrypted messaging platforms instead of company email, and ultimately failing to produce documents in response to a subpoena issued to Done by a federal grand jury. If convicted, He and Brody each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances counts. The DEA, HHS-OIG, HSI, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. Principal Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorney Raymond Beckering III of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina Green, Katherine Lloyd-Lovett, and Lloyd Farnham for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . Any patient of Done or medical professional who has been involved with the allegedly illegal conduct should call to report this conduct to the DEA hotline at 646-466-5159. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Brockton Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

body_text: BOSTON – A previously convicted felon pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to unlawfully possessing a Glock pistol and 18 rounds of ammunition. Michael Whitfield, 43, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2024. In November 2023, Whitfield was indicted by a federal grand jury. On March 6, 2023, upon arrival at a motor vehicle accident scene in Brockton, law enforcement observed Whitfield in a vehicle with significant damage, its airbag deployed and a broken passenger door window. There was a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and an empty tequila bottle was observed on the passenger seat floor. A Glock 19X .9mm pistol loaded with 18 rounds was found on the driver’s side floorboard between Whitfield’s legs. Due to a prior felony conviction stemming from 2006, Whitfield is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Brockton Police Department and the Brockton Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Foreign National Convicted for Participation in Business Email Compromise Scheme

body_text: A federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia, convicted a Nigerian national today for operating a business email compromise scheme targeting victims in the United States and elsewhere. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ebuka Raphael Umeti, 35, and his co-conspirators sent victim businesses phishing emails, which were made to appear as though they originated from trusted senders, such as a bank or a vendor. These phishing attacks allowed the co-conspirators to gain unauthorized access to victim computer systems and email accounts, including by infecting victim computers with malicious software or “malware” that provided the co-conspirators with remote access. The co-conspirators then exploited that access to obtain sensitive information, which they used to deceive individuals at victim companies into executing wire transfers to accounts specified by the co-conspirators. As a result of this scheme, the co-conspirators caused or attempted to cause more than $1.5 million of loss to victims. “Umeti participated in a sophisticated computer hacking and business email compromise scheme that targeted numerous businesses in the United States,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Although Umeti and his co-conspirators carried out their scheme from outside the United States, they were not beyond the reach of the Justice Department. Today’s conviction should serve as yet another reminder that, if you target American victims, the Criminal Division is committed to tracking you down and holding you responsible for your criminal conduct, no matter where you are.” “The reach of cyber criminals is extensive, but so too is the reach of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Umeti relied on hidden malware, deception, and an ocean of distance to steal from American businesses and avoid prosecution. Despite those obstacles and obfuscations, a dedicated team of investigators and prosecutors showed outstanding resolve in bringing him to justice.” “Today’s guilty verdict is a victory in our fight against cybercrime and should serve as a warning to cybercriminals who believe they can operate with impunity,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to relentlessly pursuing those engaged in malicious cyber activities and ensuring they are held accountable.” The jury convicted Umeti of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to cause intentional damage to a protected computer, and intentional damage to a protected computer. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 27 and faces a maximum penalty of 27 years in prison on the wire fraud conspiracy count, five years in prison on the conspiracy to cause intentional damage to a protected computer count, 20 years on each wire fraud count, and 10 years on the intentional damage to a protected computer count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Co-defendant Franklin Ifeanyichukwu Okwonna, 34, pleaded guilty on May 20 to his role in the scheme and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 3. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Directorate of Criminal Investigation to secure the extradition of Umeti and his co-defendant. Senior Counsel Thomas S. Dougherty of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Withers for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. CCIPS Senior Counsel Aarash Haghighat assisted in the investigation and indictment of the case.


title: Assault with Intent to Kill Charges Brought Against District Man  for Shooting in Northeast

body_text: WASHINGTON – Alante Partlow, 29, of Washington, D.C., was charged yesterday in D.C. Superior Court with several offenses arising from an April 23, 2024, shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief, Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Partlow is detained pending the June 27, 2024, preliminary hearing before the Superior Court Judge Robert Okun. Partlow was charged with one count of assault with intent to kill while armed for firing on the adult, and a second count of assault with intent to kill while armed for firing at the child in his effort to shoot the adult. He was also charged with aggravated assault while armed and possessing a firearm during each of the three crimes of violence. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 11:26 p.m. on April 23, 2024, the victim and a 5-year-old child were walking out of an apartment building in the Fort Totten neighborhood after the adult had argued with Partlow. Partlow followed the victims outside and then fired multiple shots at the adult victim. The adult tried to shield the child and sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The child also sustained injuries. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Roberts. A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Nurse Sentenced for Adulteration of Fentanyl

body_text: BOSTON – A former nurse was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for adulteration of fentanyl at a local hospital. Caroline Sheehan, 39, of Lowell, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to three years of probation and ordered not to pursue employment that requires a registered nurse license or permits access to prescription narcotics. In February 2024, Sheehan pleaded guilty to one count of adulteration of a prescription drug with intent to defraud and mislead. In March 2021, while working at a Massachusetts hospital, Sheehan removed a bag of intravenous fentanyl solution from an automated dispensing machine. Sheehan used a syringe to remove fentanyl from the IV bag, injected saline into the bag to replace the fentanyl she had removed and returned the bag to its drawer in the machine. A hospital employee saw a blood stain on the IV bag and removed the IV bag, which laboratory testing confirmed contained less than the declared concentration of fentanyl, from the machine before any of the adulterated fentanyl solution was administered to a patient. Sheehan later admitted that she had withdrawn fentanyl from the IV bag and replaced it with saline to avoid getting caught. Sheehan later admitted that she had been stealing prescription drugs from the hospital for months, replacing the siphoned drugs with saline solution, to feed her substance abuse addiction. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Robert Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Begg Lawrence, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: DOJ and Evergreen Treatment Services settle allegations regarding double billing of government health programs

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice today resolved double billing allegations against Evergreen Treatment Services, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The settlement is on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which runs the Medicare program and other government health plans. Evergreen Treatment Services will pay the government $1,453,982 to resolve the matter. “I want to commend the data analysis work done by our Affirmative Civil Enforcement unit and HHS-OIG to identify the double billing,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “We want to be sure taxpayer dollars are safeguarded so they can legitimately go to critical services such as drug treatment.” “Providers that participate in Medicare are obligated to bill for services honestly and lawfully. Submitting false claims diverts funding from essential health services, including critical drug treatment, which puts both patient well-being and federal health care programs at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement shows that HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to detect and deter actions that threaten the Medicare program and its enrollees.” According to the settlement agreement, in January 2020, Medicare began paying for drug treatment services including medically assisted treatment. Evergreen, a non-profit based in Seattle, submitted claims in 2020 for the period January 1, 2020, to July 2020 and those claims were paid. The claims are paid weekly, and services are bundled: medications, counseling, therapy, toxicology testing, intake activities and periodic assessments are billed under one billing code. Evergreen then knowingly resubmitted bills that had already been paid. This conduct continued from January 8, 2021, to February 26, 2021. Evergreen was improperly reimbursed for these services. These double billings totaled $726,991. Of the $1,453,982 settlement, $726,991 is restitution and the rest is a penalty under the False Claims Act. This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Waldrop and Ryan Hardy, investigative analyst with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. HHS-OIG and the DEA Diversion Control Division provided significant investigative assistance.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Highlights Efforts Aimed at Curbing Summer Violence

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – To combat the uptick in violent crime expected during the summer months, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is working to engage with students, expand community outreach and strengthen relationships with law enforcement in southern Illinois. “Typically, as temperatures rise, so do the violent crime rates,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “In a proactive effort, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is working to connect with southern Illinois communities and law enforcement to help combat the expected surge.” This week, U.S. Attorney’s Office employees traveled to various communities around the district to connect with police and civic leaders working to improve public safety. To discuss violence reduction initiatives, employees visited members of the Public Safety Enforcement Group in East St. Louis on Monday to engage with law enforcement and community leaders. In partnership with the Illinois State Police, members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined attendees at the Team Illinois Youth Police Camp Wednesday and participated in the outdoor programming in Jackson County. "Good relationships between law enforcement and the community are critical when it comes to solving and stopping crime, and keeping communities safe," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. "Our Public Safety Enforcement Group interacts daily with members of the East St. Louis community to strengthen their trust in law enforcement and show we are there to help them. We also host Team Illinois Youth Police Camps each year to build positive interactions with law enforcement from a young age, as well as teach youth about leadership development, substance abuse resistance, team building principles, and other life enhancing skills - all designed to steer kids away from crime." On Wednesday, employees took a ride along with a police officer with the Centralia Police Department and met officials with the Marion County Housing Authority to discuss their crime prevention partnership program. An Assistant U.S. Attorney also visited the Carbondale Police Department this week to brief investigators on federal prosecutorial tools for illegal gun possession and straw purchase cases. Crime reduction and community outreach efforts will continue throughout the summer. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois serves the state’s lower 38 counties.