title: Project Safe Neighborhoods Investigation Nets More Than  Five Kilos of Fentanyl Pills and Powder, Along With Commercial Pill Presses

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Two Rhode Island men were arrested for drug trafficking and more than seven kilos of fentanyl pills and powder, and two commercial pill presses have been seized as the result of an ongoing Project Safe Neighborhoods Investigation into the trafficking of fentanyl pills, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Jorge Pimentel, 33, of Cranston, and Matthew Jones, 29, of North Smithfield, have been charged by way of federal criminal complaints with conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. It is alleged in charging documents that, as a result of an ongoing FBI Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force investigation, on multiple occasions Pimentel arranged for the sale and delivery of thousands of fentanyl pills, some of which were delivered by Jones. In each instance, the pills were quickly seized by members of the task force. In addition to the seizure of tens of thousands of fentanyl pills during the investigation, on September 28,2023, members of the Safe Street Task Force executed a court-authorized search of a storage unit in Pawtucket and seized approximately 5.7 kilos of fentanyl; 50 kilos of binding agents used in the production of fentanyl pills; two commercial pill presses; and a kilo press. Altogether, over seventy-five thousand fentanyl pills and over two kilograms of powder fentanyl have been seized in connection with 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. In May 2021, the Justice 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 by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Milind M. Shah. The matter is being investigated by the FBI Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force consisting of agents and officers from the FBI, United States Marshals Service, Central Falls Police Department, Cranston Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Providence Police Department, West Warwick Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, and Rhode Island State Police. ###


title: Brevard County Man Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison For Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Leslie Duppins, Jr. (40, Brevard County) to five years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. The court also ordered Duppins to an additional 12 months’ imprisonment, to run consecutively, for violating his supervised release conditions by committing the drug offense and driving recklessly. Duppins had pleaded guilty on June 13, 2023. According to court documents, a deputy from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office observed Duppins driving his vehicle recklessly. The deputy followed Duppins and was assisted by fellow deputies and a task force officer from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The officers tracked the vehicle to a gas station on Palm Bay Road in Melbourne. As the officers surveilled the vehicle, Duppins remained in the driver’s seat and did not exit the vehicle, but other individuals exited and entered the vehicle. Law enforcement officers subsequently conducted a traffic stop due to the reckless driving. While officers were approaching the vehicle, Duppins appeared to reach down towards his waist. Duppins was given several loud verbal commands to place his hands up. Duppins failed to comply, appeared to remove something near his waist, and reached into the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Upon contact at the driver’s door, Duppins was asked to step out of the vehicle and was placed under arrest for reckless driving. During a search of the vehicle, the officers located a clear bag containing a blue powdery substance on the rear passenger floorboard. The substance, later tested and weighed by a Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory, weighed approximately 114 grams and tested positive for fentanyl. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John M. Gardella and Michael Sartoian.


title: Convicted COVID-19 fraudster sentenced to federal prison, ordered to repay stolen funds

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BRUNSWICK, GA: A Georgia man has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay substantial restitution for leading a conspiracy that stole nearly $2 million in COVID-19 small business relief funding. Bernard Okojie , 41, of McDonough, Ga., was sentenced to 64 months in prison after being convicted at trial in March of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering Conspiracy, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood also ordered Okojie to pay $1,946,283 in restitution, and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Bernard Okojie devised a complex and far-reaching scheme to steal federal funding intended to provide relief to small businesses struggling from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “This sentence imposes a strong measure of accountability for these blatant acts of fraud.” As described at trial and in court documents, Okojie used information for non-existent companies to file at least 46 fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program loans for himself and others from April 2020 through May of 2021, seeking more than $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. Okojie received nearly $2 million in funding directly, or was paid by other recipients of the fraudulently obtained funding for his work in submitting the EIDL applications on their behalf. Okojie then conspired to launder the fraudulent proceeds to hide the source of the funds. Funds from the nearly $2 million Okojie and others received through the schemes were used to purchase a home, vehicles, shopping trips to Versace, for personal investments, and a toy poodle. Okojie also was intercepted as he attempted to leave the United States with nearly $40,000 in cash. “Mr. Okojie chose greed over compassion by fraudulently obtaining funds from the PPP and EIDL programs. He will now spend more than five years in prison and must pay all the money back,” said FBI Savannah’s Senior Supervisory Special Agent Will Clarke. “Theft of government funds will not be tolerated, and prosecuting PPP fraud remains a priority for law enforcement.” “Lying to gain access to economic stimulus funds will be met with justice,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent-in-Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “This sentence showcases that SBA OIG will continue to aggressively pursue evidence of fraud against SBA’s programs to expose wrongdoers’ actions. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.” The case was investigated by the FBI and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer A. Stanley and Matthew A. Josephson. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Two Anne Arundel County Men, Including Department of Defense Deputy Chief, Charged with Facilitating Dog Fighting Ring

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Frederick Douglass Moorefield, Jr., age 62, of Arnold, Maryland, and Mario Damon Flythe, age 49, of Glen Burnie, Maryland with promoting and furthering animal fighting venture. The criminal complaint was filed on September 21, 2023, and was unsealed at the defendants’ initial appearances on September 28, 2023. At their initial appearance, U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson ordered that the defendants be released pending trial under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services. The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington Field Office, Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; U.S. Marshal for Maryland Johnny Hughes; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad. According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Moorefield, a Deputy Chief Information Officer for Command, Control, and Communications, for Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Flythe used an encrypted messaging application to communicate with individuals throughout the United States to discuss dogfighting. Moorefield used the name “Geehad Kennels” and Flythe used the name “Razor Sharp Kennels” to identify their respective dogfighting operations. For example, as detailed in the affidavit, Moorefield, Flythe and their associates used the encrypted messaging application to discuss how to train dogs for illegal dogfighting, exchanged videos about dogfighting, and arranged and coordinated dogfights. Moorefield and Flythe also discussed betting on dogfighting, discussed dogs that died as a result of dogfighting, and circulated media reports about dogfighters who had been caught by law enforcement. As further alleged in the affidavit, Moorefield and others also discussed how to conceal their conduct from law enforcement. On September 6, 2023, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Moorefield and Flythe’s residences in Maryland. Following the execution of these warrants, twelve dogs were recovered and seized by the federal government. Law enforcement also recovered veterinary steroids, training schedules, a carpet that appeared to be stained with blood, and a weighted dog vest with a patch reading “Geehad Kennels.” In addition, law enforcement officers seized a device consisting of an electrical plug and jumper cables, which the affidavit alleges is consistent with devices used to execute dogs that lose dogfights. A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for possessing, training, or transporting animals for participation in an animal fighting venture. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Animal Control, and thanked the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for their valuable assistance in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Levin and Darryl Tarver, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Internal Revenue Service Information Technology Supervisor Facing Federal Charges for Extortion and Attempted Witness Tampering

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Satbir Thukral, age 61, of Germantown, Maryland, for interference with commerce by extortion, and attempted witness tampering. The defendant had an initial appearance on September 29, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajmel A. Quereshi. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Washington Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). “A top criminal priority for the FBI is to investigate public corruption perpetrated against the government and American taxpayers,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Today’s indictment is an example of an important partnership with TIGTA and the work we do every day towards our common goal. The FBI will not relent in our mission to root out corruption and fraud within the government, and to hold those accountable who put greed above their trusted positions.” TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay said, “Internal Revenue Service employees are placed in a position of trust, and when an employee tries to sell that trust for personal gain, the faith of the American taxpayer falters. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration takes allegations of public corruption very seriously and will ensure that any employees involved in such acts are held accountable. I want to thank our law enforcement partners at the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Justice Fraud Section for their efforts.” According to the indictment, Thukral was employed as an information technology manager for the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), assigned to an office in Lanham, Maryland. He had a supervisory role in connection with contracts between the IRS and various businesses. Victim 1 was the President of Business 1, which was a professional services firm based outside of Maryland, that conducted business in Maryland. Businesses 2 and 3 had prime contracts with the IRS for the performance of IT services. At various times from approximately September 2018 through February 2021, Business 1 subcontracted with Businesses 2 and 3 to assist in executing the contracts with the IRS. According to the indictment, in March 2018, Victim 1 provided their resume to Thukral who passed Victim 1’s resume within the IRS, to Business 2, and elsewhere for purposes of facilitating the hiring of Business 1 as a subcontractor on a prime contract with the IRS. The indictment alleges that, beginning in September 2018, Business 1 was hired as a subcontractor by Business 2 to perform services in support of Business 2’s contract with the IRS; at a later point, Business 1 was hired to assist Business 3. Beginning in October 2018, Thukral allegedly demanded that Victim 1 pay him a portion of the earnings on Business 1’s subcontracts, claiming that Thukral enabled Business 1’s employment and telling Victim 1 that there would be consequences if Victim 1 did not pay. From approximately October 2018 through December 2020, Victim 1 allegedly provided such payments to Thukral, totaling at least approximately $120,000. The indictment alleges that Victim 1 made these payments out of fear that Thukral would cause Victim 1 economic and reputational harm if Victim 1 did not pay. Further, the indictment alleges that, in February 2023, Victim 1 informed Thukral that they had been approached by federal investigators inquiring about cash withdrawals that Victim 1 made from their bank accounts. Thukral allegedly attempted to persuade Victim 1 to deceive the federal investigators about the reason for Victim’s 1 cash withdrawals and about the extortion scheme. If convicted, Thukral faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count in the indictment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. Members of the public who suspect misconduct such as that described above, or believe they have been the victim of such misconduct, should contact the TIGTA telephone line at 800-366-4484 or visit https://www.tigta.gov/reportcrime-misconduct . United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri commended the FBI and TIGTA for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron and Ms. Argentieri thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Christopher Sarma and Trial Attorney Matt Kahn from the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Wayne County Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – David Lee Pinson, 41, of Ceredo, was sentenced today to six years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of prepubescent child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, Pinson admitted to uploading several images and videos of child pornography to his Google Photos account on May 28, 2022, in Ceredo. One of the videos depicts a prepubescent boy and girl engaging in sexual intercourse and sexually explicit conduct. Pinson further admitted to possessing six images and 332 videos of child pornography on a memory card on August 16, 2022, and to viewing the images using his cell phone. Pinson also admitted that 44 of the images and videos depict known child victims, and that some of the images depict infants and toddlers. Pinson was previously convicted of possession of child erotica in Wayne County Circuit Court on August 28, 2020. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie M. White and Andrew J. Tessman prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-173. ###


title: South Carolina Physician and Nephrology Practice Agree to Pay Over $585,000 to Settle Laboratory Kickback Allegations

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: WASHINGTON – Moustafa Moustafa, M.D. and his medical practice, South Carolina Nephrology and Hypertension Center Inc., of Orangeburg and Bamberg, South Carolina, have agreed to pay $585,540 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they received illegal kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute in return for referring patients for laboratory testing. Dr. Moustafa and his practice have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department's investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged kickback schemes. “Financial inducements to healthcare providers can influence medical decisions and undermine the integrity of public healthcare programs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to hold accountable those who participate in kickback arrangements, including unlawful arrangements involving clinical laboratory testing.” The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded healthcare programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that Dr. Moustafa and his practice received kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute in return for Dr. Moustafa’s laboratory referrals and caused the submission of false or fraudulent claims to Medicare and TRICARE. Office Rent and Phlebotomy Kickbacks. From June 2017 to December 2021, Dr. Moustafa and his practice allegedly received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments, paid monthly or in a lump sum money order, from a clinical laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, in return for Dr. Moustafa’s laboratory referrals. Clinical Staff Kickbacks. From August 2020 to December 2022, Dr. Moustafa and his practice allegedly received from a clinical laboratory in Kenilworth, New Jersey, remuneration in the form of free clinical staff to provide services to Dr. Moustafa’s practice unrelated to that laboratory, in return for Dr. Moustafa’s referrals for laboratory testing. Consulting and Medical Director Kickbacks. From September 2019 to March 2023, Dr. Moustafa allegedly received from marketing company Ralston Health Group Inc. (Ralston) thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as consulting and medical director payments, paid monthly, in return for Dr. Moustafa ordering clinical laboratory services from five laboratories. The settlement resolves allegations that Ralston kicked back to Dr. Moustafa a portion of the commissions those five laboratories paid to Ralston, in return for Dr. Moustafa ordering laboratory testing from those laboratories. “Rooting out healthcare fraud is a priority in the District of South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Kickbacks raise costs for taxpayers and undermine our healthcare programs by leading to unnecessary medical services. We are committed to holding those who give and receive illegal kickbacks accountable.” “Kickbacks have no place in our healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Health care providers and clinical laboratories are on notice that benefits in exchange for referrals are improper, and may violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. We will continue to pursue those who enter into unlawful arrangements that waste taxpayer dollars and improperly influence healthcare providers’ medical judgments.” “Healthcare providers who accept kickbacks can allow greed to influence their medical decision-making, putting patients and their healthcare programs at risk of harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect HHS programs from abuse and ensure that patient needs drive providers’ decisions.” “Kickback schemes have no place in federal healthcare programs and will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS and our partner agencies continue to stand firm in our dedication to protect the integrity of these programs.” The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Districts of South Carolina and New Jersey, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, HHS-OIG and DCIS. The settlement announced today was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section), Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kruti Dharia for the District of New Jersey. The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Maryland Man Found Guilty on All Counts for Sexual Exploitation of Children to Produce Child Pornography and Related Charges

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – A federal jury convicted Gary Rocky Jones, age 42, of Baltimore, on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, use of interstate commerce facility to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, commission of a felony crime involving a minor by a registered sex offender and possession and distribution of child pornography. The guilty verdict was returned on September 27, 2023, after a three-week trial. The verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Baltimore Field Office; and Acting Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. Previously convicted sex offender Gary Rocky Jones, was found guilty of 27 counts of sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography, 15 counts of use of an interstate commerce facility, specifically, the internet, to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity—relating to 15 minor victims from around the country, and commission of a felony crime involving a minor by a registered sex offender, as well as distribution and possession of child pornography. According to the evidence presented at trial, between 2014 and August 2015, Jones twice produced images and videos of a minor male engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The victim was age 14 to 15 years old during the exploitation. Additionally, as detailed during the trial, from September 2018 through August 2020, Jones used social media accounts to persuade, entice, and coerce another 15 minor males from several states and ranging in age from eight to 17 years old, to engage in sexually explicit conduct. During these internet-based communications, Jones caused the victims to both produce live-streamed and recorded visual depictions of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct, both alone and with others, and send Jones the sexually explicit images and video via the internet. On April 2, 2018, Jones used a social media account to distribute child pornography. Further, Jones possessed child pornography from December 2, 2014 through January 31, 2020, and from May 29, 2017 through July 14, 2020, respectively, in connection with two separate email addresses and related storage accounts. Finally, the jury found that, based on the evidence presented at trial, between 2015 and September 2020, Jones committed felony offenses involving minors while he was required to register as a sex offender under Maryland law. Jones faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison for each count of sexual exploitation of a child; a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for each count of coercion and enticement of a child; a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison for distribution of child pornography; and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Jones also faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of 10 years in federal prison for commission of a felony crime involving a minor by a registered sex offender. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has not yet scheduled sentencing. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the Jones case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Colleen E. McGuinn. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Tampa Armed Career Criminal Sentenced To 15 Years’ Imprisonment For Possessing Firearm

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell today sentenced Deandre Riviera Lopez (33, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Lopez had pleaded guilty on June 29, 2023. According to court documents, on May 15, 2022, officers from the Tampa Police Department (TPD) arrested Lopez on an active felony warrant from the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County. During Lopez’s arrest, the officers observed Lopez blade his body and appear to reach for an item near his waist. A search of Lopez revealed a Century Arms “Canik” TP9 Elite Combat semi-automatic pistol tucked near Lopez’s right waist. The firearm was loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition. Lopez later admitted that he always carried a firearm for personal protection and that he had owned the pistol for several months. At the time of his arrest, Lopez had multiple prior felony convictions and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Samantha J. Newman. 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: Two Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Their Employer Out of Over $2 Million in Connection with the Sale of Chicken Frame Products

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that William Ross Hickman , 49, of Arcadia, Louisiana , and Brian K. Whiteman, 48, of Haughton, were sentenced today on fraud charges. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced Hickman to 52 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Hickman was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,693,221. Whiteman was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,183,949. Hickman and Whiteman participated in a scheme to defraud which began prior to 2018 and involved Raeford Farms of Louisiana, LLC (Raeford Farms), where Hickman was employed as the Sales Manager and Whiteman was as the Assistant Sales Manager of their Arcadia production plant. Raeford Farms sells various products to include fresh and frozen chicken, and chicken frames. A chicken frame is the core of the chicken that remains after processing the breasts, thighs, wings, and legs. Hickman negotiated the sale of these chicken products seeking the highest possible return when selling them. While employed at Raeford Farms, Hickman developed a scheme to fraudulently divert business from Raeford Farms by using Group 7792 as an intermediary to purchase chicken frames from Raeford Farms. Hickman used his position as Sales Manager to provide favorable sales terms to other entities to the detriment of Raeford Farms. Hickman had a pre-arranged agreement with an unnamed individual and his corporation to sell the chicken frames to Heritage Food Sales (Heritage), which was another company controlled by Hickman. Heritage paid Group 7792 a guaranteed return for each transaction but never took possession of the chicken frames or added anything of value to the transaction. Hickman would then sell the same chicken frames to a poultry wholesaler in Chattanooga, TN for profit. To further the scheme to defraud, Hickman and others acting in concert with him, sent invoices by email from Arcadia, Louisiana, through interstate commerce, for Heritage to receive payment for the chicken frames. Hickman and Whiteman conspired together to conceal the involvement of Heritage from Raeford Farms in these chicken frame transactions. As Assistant Sales Manager for Raeford Farms, Whiteman was responsible for tracking inventory and the details regarding all shipments. Whiteman provided this type of information to Hickman to further the conspiracy to defraud in order to get a higher price for chicken frame loads sold by Heritage. In exchange for his participation in the conspiracy to defraud, Whiteman understood and agreed with Hickman that Heritage would pay him through his own business entity, All Trade Enterprise, LLC (All Trade). Hickman would pay Whiteman a monthly commission through All Trade and occasionally to him personally. The transactions conducted during the time period of this investigation resulted in a loss of over $2 million to Raeford Farms. Hickman and Whiteman each pleaded guilty on March 8, 2023, to conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath. # # #


title: N.Y. Man Traveling From the Dominican Republic Arrested at T.F. Green International Airport After More Than Thirteen Kilos of Cocaine is Seized from a Carry-on Bag

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A New York man has been ordered detained in Rhode Island on federal drug trafficking charges after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at T.F. Green International Airport located more than thirteen kilograms of cocaine inside a carry-on bag alleged to have been in the man’s possession when he disembarked in a wheelchair from a direct flight from the Dominican Republic on September 28, 2023, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. It is alleged in charging documents, Richard Pineda Novas, 46, of Bronx, N.Y., was among passengers on a flight from Santo Domingo. After initial screening upon his arrival in Rhode Island, Pineda was referred for secondary inspection. According to the charging documents, a carry-on bag located near Pineda after his arrival at T.F. Green International Airport was found to contain twelve rectangular brick-like packages wrapped in plastic and tape, consistent with the manner in which cocaine is packaged. One of the packages was more closely inspected by CBP agents and was alleged to have been found to contain cocaine. The total weight of the twelve packages was approximately 13.28 kilograms. Also located inside the bag was a bible that contained a paycheck from a New Jersey company in Pineda’s name and a voided check/direct deposit slip from a New York bank that listed Pineda as the payee. It is alleged that Pineda initially denied that the carry-on bag belonged to him; he later claimed to CBP agents that he had been given the bag by someone whose name he did not know and that he did not know who was going to pick up the package in the United States. Pineda is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with a charge of conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; as well as a charge of distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, a controlled substance. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton. The matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection, Port of Providence. ###


title: Violent Drug Dealer and Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A Dunn man was sentenced today to 199 months in prison for trafficking heroin and fentanyl. Oshea Massey, 25, pled guilty to the charges. Massey has been a validated member of the United Blood Nation street gang. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Massey was a leader of a violent United Nation Blood street gang responsible for at least 10 shootings from 2019 to 2021. These shootings were typically related to territorial disputes, attempted armed robberies, or intimidation and retaliation. Law enforcement made seven controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Massey between January and March of 2021. These purchases were made after Massey was identified as having sold another defendant varying amounts of heroin over a two-year period. During the investigation, others also identified Massey as a heroin dealer. Much of the heroin that was distributed by Massey also tested positive for fentanyl. A traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle occupied by Massey to serve an arrest warrant for state charges in May 2021. A search of the vehicle found marijuana, cash, a receipt with an off-white powdery substance and a handgun near Massey’s leg. A subsequent search of Massey’s residence found 3.1 grams of heroin. “It is through partnerships with surrounding local and federal agencies such as ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office that we can identify and convict violent, drug dealing gang leaders who are attempting to destroy our communities and youth,” said Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats. “Oshea Massey was a violent criminal in Harnett County who will now spend many years in prison.” "This is another great example of ATF agents partnering with the Sheriff to ensure safer communities within Johnston County," said Sheriff Steve Bizzell. "We value the working relationship we have with the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s office and will continue to aggressively pursue and remove drug dealers and felons that are in possession of firearms from our neighborhoods." Massey pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl and distribution of a quantity of fentanyl. Massey was previously convicted on felony burglary (2013) and felony larceny (2015) charges. In 2016, he was convicted of possession of firearm by a felon. Massey also faces state charges for drug trafficking for offenses that allegedly occurred in 2018 and 2019. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Dunn Police Department and the Johnston and Harnett County Sheriffs’ Offices investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-00240-FL. ###


title: Former Illinois Police Officer Indicted, Accused of Assaulting Handcuffed Man

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A former police officer from Venice, Ill. appeared in court Monday to answer a federal civil rights charge accusing him of assaulting a handcuffed man. Justin Gaither, 33, was indicted September 27 on one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force. The indictment accuses Gaither of assaulting someone on Nov. 20, 2022. The victim was handcuffed and was not posing a threat to anyone, the indictment says. Gaither pleaded not guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. 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 FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.


title: Joint Investigation Leads to Federal Indictment for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on September 19, 2023, charging several Hopkinsville, Kentucky residents with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, Jay Brown , 54, Joseph Brown , 34, Vanchaize Brown , 39, Deerrica Finch , 34, Jane Majors , 43, and Tapaulda Hancock , 41, all of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, were charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and distributing 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The defendants recently made their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty and the Hopkinsville Police Department Special Investigations Unit, with assistance from the ATF Bowling Green Field Office, HSI, USPIS, the Kentucky State Police, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madisonville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting this case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Nigerian Man Sentenced To 66 Months In Prison For Business Email Compromise Scams

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CHIBUNDU JOSEPH ANUEBUNWA was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 66 months in prison for his role in fraudulent business email compromise scams that targeted thousands of victims around the world, including in the United States. Collectively, the scams attempted to defraud victims of over $3.5 million, resulting in over $2.5 million in actual losses to victims. On June 29, 2023, ANUEBUNWA pled guilty to participating in a wire fraud conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, who imposed today’s sentence. In connection with the same conspiracy as ANUEBUNWA, co-defendant DAVID CHUKWUNEKE ADINDU was previously sentenced to 41 months in prison, and co-defendant ONYEKACHI EMMANUEL OPARA was previously extradited from South Africa and sentenced to five years in prison. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “From halfway around the world, Chibundu Joseph Anuebunwa tried to victimize thousands of people by stealing millions of dollars using fraudulent and deceptive emails that were sent to company employees in the United States and elsewhere. He will now spend time in prison for these serious crimes. Today’s sentence should deter scammers outside of the United States who may be tempted to steal money from American victims with cyberattacks and email scams.” According to publicly filed court documents and statements made at public court proceedings: Between 2014 and 2016, ANUEBUNWA, OPARA, and ADINDU participated in business email compromise scams (“BEC scams”) targeting thousands of victims around the world, including in the United States. ANUEBUNWA sent bogus emails to employees of various companies directing that funds be transferred to specified bank accounts. The emails purported to be from supervisors at those companies or third-party vendors that did business with those companies. The emails, however, were not legitimate. Rather, they were either from email accounts with a domain name that was very similar to a legitimate domain name, or the metadata in the emails had been modified so that the emails appeared as if they were from legitimate email addresses. After victims complied with the fraudulent wiring instructions, the transferred funds were quickly withdrawn or moved into different bank accounts. In total, the BEC scams attempted to defraud the victims of over $3.5 million, resulting in over $2.5 million in actual losses to victims. ANUEBUNWA was arrested on March 16, 2021, in the United Kingdom and was extradited to the Southern District of New York on May 20, 2022. * * * In addition to the prison term, ANUEBUNWA, 30, of Lagos, Nigeria, was ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution. Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked United Kingdom authorities and the Yahoo E-Crime Investigations Team for their assistance in the investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from the United Kingdom. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew K. Chan is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Ian Freeman Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Operating a Bitcoin Money Laundering Scheme

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – Ian Freeman was sentenced today in federal court for laundering over ten million dollars in proceeds from romance scams and other internet fraud, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Ian Freeman, 43, of Keene was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 96 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and a fine of $40,000. Freeman was ordered to pay restitution to victims in an amount to be determined on a later date. Freeman was convicted by a federal jury on December 22, 2022. “The defendant’s criminal conduct devastated many vulnerable people,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Dozens of victims were identified during the investigation. Many of them lost their life’s savings by way of Freeman’s bitcoin money laundering scheme. The Court recognized that an important part of this sentence was for the defendant to provide restitution to the victims. In financial crimes cases such as this, providing restitution to victims is one of the highest priorities of the U.S. Department of Justice and this Office.” “Ian Freeman catered to fraudsters. He played a shell game with other people’s hard-earned money, turned a blind eye to the scam artists who were ripping them off, and walked away with millions, depriving their victims of their life’s savings. Today’s sentence is a significant step toward justice for the dozens of victims all over the country who have suffered significant financial losses and heartbreak as a result of this man’s criminal conduct,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “In addition to our efforts to disrupt outrageous schemes like this one, we must also work to raise public awareness to prevent them. Last year, New Hampshire residents reported losing almost $33 million due to internet-related crimes. So we caution everyone to be wary of people you meet online - especially when it comes to cryptocurrency.” “Ian Freeman’s sentencing shows that IRS Criminal Investigation is working vigorously to stop internet fraudsters like Ian Freeman,” said Harry T. Chavis Jr, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Boston Field Office. “Not only did Freeman launder millions of dollars, but he also provided a conduit for other scammers to leave countless victims destitute in their wake. The role of IRS Criminal Investigation becomes even more important in internet fraud cases due to the complex financial transactions that can take time to unravel so that fraudsters like Ian Freeman can be brought to justice.” Freeman laundered over ten million dollars in proceeds of romance scams and other internet frauds by exchanging U.S. dollars for bitcoin. By failing to register his business with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network as required by law, disabling “know your customer” features on his bitcoin kiosks, and ensuring that bitcoin customers did not tell him what they did with their bitcoin, among other things, Freeman created a business that catered to fraudsters. By charging exorbitant fees, Freeman made more than a million dollars. Records and exhibits in the 10-day trial proved that as part of the conspiracy, Freeman and his co-conspirators opened and operated accounts at financial institutions in the names of various churches including the Shire Free Church, the Church of the Invisible Hand, the Crypto Church of New Hampshire, and the NH Peace Church. Freeman instructed bitcoin customers, who were often victims of scams, to lie to the financial institutions and describe their deposits as church donations. From 2016 to 2019, he paid no taxes, and concealed his income from the Internal Revenue Service. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and the Department of Justice, Tax Division, provided valuable assistance in the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald, John Kennedy, and Seth R. Aframe. ###


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Nathaniel Jarvis Kennard, 40, of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced today to six years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 12, 2022, Kennard sold approximately 20 grams of fentanyl for $1,000 to a confidential informant at a location on U.S. Route 60 in Huntington. Kennard admitted to that transaction and further admitted to five additional transactions with the confidential informant between July 20 and September 21, 2022. Kennard sold a total of approximately 82 grams of fentanyl, 10 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, and 10 grams of methamphetamine during these transactions. On September 28, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence where Kennard lived. During the search, officers found approximately 96 grams of fentanyl and 274 grams of methamphetamine in a vacant lot across the road from the residence. Kennard admitted that he hid the controlled substances in the vacant lot and intended to distribute them. Kennard told officers that he had distributed controlled substances “off and on” in the Huntington area for at least the previous three years. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-189. ###


title: Bluefield Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Crime

body_text: BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Matthew Huffman, 37, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty today to theft or embezzlement in connection to healthcare services. Huffman admitted to stealing more than $45,000 from the Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center while employed as its chief substance use disorder officer. According to court documents and statements made in court, between October 2022 and January 2023, Huffman embezzled money from Southern Highlands including more than $5,000 it received from the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP). Southern Highlands is a non-profit medical treatment center that offers a variety of services including addiction treatment. COSSUP grants are distributed, in part, to treat and support those impacted by illicit substance use and misuse. Huffman admitted that he forged signatures required to approve the use of COSSUP grants and other funds, and also used the names of patients and consumers no longer receiving services from Southern Highlands on the necessary forms. Huffman further admitted that he embezzled these funds for his personal gain, using the money to pay his utility bills, vehicle loan payments and to purchase gift cards and prepaid debit cards. Huffman is scheduled to be sentenced on February 5, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Huffman also owes $45,258.51 in restitution. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Owen Reynolds and Andrew D. Isabell are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-137. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Rodney Lee Browne Jr., 31, of Huntington, was sentenced today to four years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 19, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Fourth Avenue residence in Huntington and seized approximately 1.5 grams of heroin, 68 grams of methamphetamine, 245 grams of marijuana, and 328 grams of fentanyl. Officers also found an AK-47 semiautomatic rifle, drug distribution paraphernalia and $2,075. Browne admitted that he possessed the heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana and intended to sell the controlled substances. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-64. ###


title: Jonestown Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device

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

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas– A Jonestown man pleaded guilty in a federal court in Austin today to possessing an unregistered destructive device, namely a pipe bomb, that detonated in a hospital parking garage. According to court documents, on Aug. 9, Raymond Luke Garner, 38, parked his pickup truck in a parking garage at St. David’s Hospital in Austin. A short time later, there was an explosion in the back of Garner’s truck. Investigators found the remains of a pipe bomb near the truck. They also found a quantity of a homemade high explosive, circuit boards/timers, electric matches, and other items. While he was detained by police, Garner contacted another individual to ask that person to move a box out of Garner’s home. That box was later found to contain, among other things, a quantity of the high explosive, precursor chemicals, and electric matches. Searches at other locations revealed a recipe for the high explosive, remote control devices, and other components for destructive devices. Garner has admitted that he was in possession of an unregistered destructive device on Aug. 9. Garner pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas; FBI Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr., San Antonio Division; and ATF Special Agent in Charge Fred J. Milanowski, Houston Division, made the announcement. The ATF and FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force were the lead federal agencies investigating the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department, and Cedar Park Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Karthik Srinivasan is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Nowata woman pleads guilty to accidentally killing her daughter

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Nowata woman pleaded guilty in federal court to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Amanda Myrene Fields Moffett, 43, a Cherokee citizen of Nowata pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Indian country for shooting and killing her daughter while attempting to shoot a stray dog. “Every gun owner has the legal responsibility to use extreme caution when discharging a firearm. This case unfortunately highlights the potential tragic results absent that caution,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. After sunset on Oct. 5, 2018, Moffett’s daughter told her that a stray dog was attacking kittens outside. Moffett admitted she stepped out onto her front porch and discharged a handgun into the dark yard at what she believed was the stray dog. Moffett further admitted that she did not confirm that her daughter was out of her line of fire. Moffett faces a maximum of eight years in federal prison. A date for sentencing has not been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Moffett will remain on conditions of supervised release until sentencing. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, FBI and Nowata County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Jolly and Valeria Luster are prosecuting the case.


title: Clearfield Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Clearfield, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Dennis James Rauch, age 38, of Clearfield, PA, pleaded guilty to Counts Two and Seven of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson. In connection with the guilty plea, from July 2019 to June 2020, Rauch did conspire to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Further, in and around March 2020, Rauch did possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2024. The law provides for a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000 or both at Count Two, and a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, at Count Seven. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rauch. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Stanford University Agrees to Pay $1.9 Million to Resolve Allegations That it Failed to Disclose Foreign Research Support in Federal Grant Proposals

component: Civil Division

body_text: Stanford University, located in Palo Alto, California, has agreed to pay $1.9 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting proposals for federal research grants that failed to disclose current and pending support that 12 Stanford faculty members were receiving from foreign sources. The settlement relates to research grants that Stanford received between 2015 and 2020 from five federal agencies: the Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). All of these agencies require grant applicants to disclose all current and pending support received by the institution and the principal investigators (PIs) and co-PIs on the grant proposals. Current and pending support is defined as all resources from whatever source — including foreign government sources — that are made available to researchers in support of and/or related to their research endeavors. The United States alleged that on 16 grant proposals submitted to the Army, Navy, NASA and NSF, Stanford knowingly failed to disclose current and pending foreign funding that 11 Stanford PIs and co-PIs had received or expected to receive in direct support of their research. The United States further alleged that Stanford knowingly failed to disclose to the Army, Air Force and NSF that a Stanford professor received research funding in connection with his employment at Fudan University, a foreign public university and from a foreign government’s national science foundation. In connection with the settlement, Stanford has agreed to work with the NSF Office of the Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy on best practices in the areas identified by the United States. “Universities and their researchers must disclose all sources of current and pending support, including any foreign support, in federal research grant applications,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to ensure that grant applicants submit complete and truthful disclosures, so the government has full transparency into the applicant’s funding sources.” “Complete and accurate disclosures by principal investigators and universities of current and pending support are essential to federal agencies that make decisions on awarding federal grants,” said U.S. Attorney Erek Barron for the District of Maryland. “Those individuals and universities that knowingly fail to do so skew the grant awarding process in their favor and will be held accountable.” “The National Science Foundation awards billions of dollars in grants each year to promote promising scientific research. NSF and other federal funding agencies rely on grant recipients to accurately track the commitments of their personnel and fully disclose all funding sources. Stanford failed to disclose foreign funding in grant proposals submitted to multiple federal agencies. Full and accurate disclosures are essential to protect the interests of American taxpayers and ensure that federal funds are properly awarded to deserving institutions,” said NSF Inspector General Allison C. Lerner. “We thank the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and our investigative partners for their work in protecting the integrity of federal research.” “This settlement is a prime example of our agents and partner law enforcement agencies pursuing those who do not disclose foreign government ties when entering into contracts with the U.S. Army,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Curran of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office. “It is imperative that when someone partners with the U.S. Army, they comply with all their obligations.” “The failure of U.S. universities to disclose current or pending awards with foreign entities on research grant proposals submitted to the U.S. government as required by law has the potential to threaten government interests,” said Assistant Director Thomas Cannizzo of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) National Security Directorate. “Through the efforts of the National Science Foundation with support from NCIS and additional law enforcement partners, sensitive research funded by the U.S. military was protected from disclosure to foreign interests.” “Protecting research and development programs funded by taxpayer dollars is a top priority for us,” said Acting Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Michael Graham of the NASA Office of Inspector General (NASA-OIG). “The settlement agreement with Stanford University is the result of a joint effort to guard against fraud, waste and abuse in government grants. This case demonstrates the commitment of NASA-OIG and our partners to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to safeguard public funds.” “This settlement demonstrates the Office of Procurement Fraud’s determination and commitment to identify and hold accountable those who conceal foreign affiliations to obtain research funding,” said Special Agent in Charge William W. Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). “AFOSI, along with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, will continue to work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the federal grant process." The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, with assistance from Army CID, NCIS, AFOSI, NSF OIG, NASA OIG and the Department of Education. The matter was investigated by Trial Attorney Sarah E. Loucks of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas F. Corcoran for the District of Maryland. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Man Sentenced for Role in $55M Investment Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Florida man was sentenced today to six years in prison for orchestrating an investment scheme that defrauded more than 10,000 victims of over $55 million. According to court documents, Michael Glaspie, 72, of Palm City, marketed an investment opportunity under the name “CoinDeal” or “Coin Deal.” Glaspie claimed that CoinDeal would yield extremely high returns on the premise that a consortium of wealthy buyers was about to acquire one or more technology companies that Neil Suresh Chandran, 51, of Las Vegas, allegedly owned and operated under the banner of “ViRSE.” To entice investors to put money into CoinDeal, Glaspie falsely promised that in the event the returns from CoinDeal failed to materialize, he would repay investors their money with seven percent annual interest over three years. In fact, Glaspie knew he had no means of making such repayments. According to court documents, to support his false repayment promise, Glaspie deceptively claimed that he had an exclusive and lucrative contract with AT&T to distribute government‑funded phones. He also claimed that the Better Business Bureau was distributing an app that he developed, and it would yield over $400 million in revenue. In reality, Glaspie had no such contract or distribution agreement. Furthermore, when the promised sale of Chandran’s companies did not close, Glaspie transmitted investor funds to Chandran after falsely representing to CoinDeal investors that he would not do so. Glaspie also falsely claimed that he never paid himself with CoinDeal investor funds, when in truth, he misappropriated nearly $2.5 million of victim investments for personal purposes, including trading cryptocurrency, paying his employees’ salaries, and buying a life insurance policy for a family member. Chandran was arrested on June 29, 2022, for allegedly defrauding more than 10,000 victims of over $45 million. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Susan T. Lehr for the District of Nebraska, and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Omaha, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles Field Offices. Assistant Chief William E. Johnston and Trial Attorney Tian Huang of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald J. Kleine for the District of Nebraska prosecuted the case. All potential investor victims of this fraud are encouraged to visit the webpage www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/united-states-v-chandran to identify themselves and obtain more information on their rights, including the opportunity to submit a victim impact statement. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two German Nationals Charged With Enticement And Sexual Abuse Of A Minor

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging THOMAS ALEXANDER BRANDENSTEIN and JOHN-PHILIPP PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN with enticing a 15-year-old victim (the “Minor Victim”) to engage in sexual activity and then traveling across state lines in order to engage in illicit sexual activity with the Minor Victim. BRANDENSTEIN was arrested on September 29, 2023, in Queens, New York, and was presented today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN remains at large. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Thomas Alexander Brandenstein and John-Philipp Piehl-Brandenstein preyed upon a 15-year-old victim for sex and then traveled from Germany to the United States, where they met with the victim and engaged in illegal sexual acts at a Manhattan hotel. My Office is committed to keeping our borders safe from sexual predators, and thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office, Brandenstein and Piehl-Brandenstein have now been charged for their egregious conduct.” HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “The defendants are alleged to have traveled thousands of miles to commit unimaginable crimes against an underage victim. These charges serve as notice to anyone contemplating such heinous acts that we will take every measure necessary to safeguard the children of New York. HSI New York is proud of the collaboration with our federal partners to charge these predators before they could inflict more trauma on young New Yorkers.” According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: [1] From March 2023 through July 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN, who are German nationals, enticed the Minor Victim, who was 15 years old at the time, to engage in illegal sexual activity. While in Germany, BRANDENSTEIN used internet-enabled messaging applications to send sexually explicit communications to the Minor Victim, including an image of a naked male in which the male’s penis was exposed. BRANDENSTEIN also sent sexually explicit videos to the Minor Victim, which depicted BRANDENSTEIN lying in bed, blowing kisses, and exposing his penis and masturbating, among other things. BRANDENSTEIN further communicated with the Minor Victim over these messaging applications about his plans to travel to New York with PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN, sending the Minor Victim a video message depicting the two men on an airplane and writing, “next stop, New York.” In June 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN traveled from Germany to Florida and then New York, where they met with the Minor Victim to engage in illegal sexual activity at a Manhattan hotel (the “Hotel”). Between July 5, 2023, and July 13, 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN reserved a room at the Hotel (the “Room”). BRANDENSTEIN brought the Minor Victim to the Room and BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN engaged in illegal sexual activity with the Minor Victim. Some of that illegal sexual activity was video recorded. On July 13, 2023, BRANDENSTEIN and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN departed from New York and returned to Germany. There may be more victims of this alleged conduct. If you have information to report about sexual abuse or sexual assault perpetrated by THOMAS ALEXANDER BRANDENSTEIN or JOHN-PHILIPP PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN , contact HSI through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2423 or sextrafficking_outreach@hsi.dhs.gov and reference this case. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing-impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. * * * BRANDENSTEIN, 57, of Berlin, Germany, and PIEHL-BRANDENSTEIN, 38, of Berlin, Germany, are charged with one count of enticing a minor victim to engage in illegal sexual activity, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative efforts of HSI and the New York City Police Department. He added that the investigation is ongoing. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi S. Steiner is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Sanger Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues in Operation Killer High

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Abel Lozano, 29, of Sanger, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing detectible amount of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl analogue, and 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, after a series of overdoses in the Fresno area caused by counterfeit oxycodone M30 tablets containing fentanyl, or M30s, an investigation began to find the drug dealers suppling the toxic pills. The investigation, named “Operation Killer High,” uncovered a large drug-trafficking ring led by Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr., the self-proclaimed “M30 king of Fresno.” According to court documents, in February 2022, investigators learned that Urias planned to deliver several thousand fentanyl pills to Lozano. Two days later, federal officers searched Lozano’s home and found about a kilogram of fentanyl analogue, over a kilogram of fentanyl mixture, about a kilogram of methamphetamine, over 3 kilograms of marijuana, and a small amount of cocaine. Lozano was interviewed and admitted that the drugs were his and that he was regularly buying and reselling them in large quantities, including to customers in other states. Lozano and 17 others were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2022. Lozano is the first defendant to be sentenced. Marvin Carreno, 24, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Feb. 12, 2024. Twelve co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty to fentanyl or cocaine distribution charges and are now awaiting sentencing. Henry Cox, 23, of Sanger; Justin Riddle, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Erica Ramirez, of Fresno; Alejandro Guzman, of Fresno; Agustin Hernandez, of Fresno; Christian Harris-Blanchette, of Fresno; Oscar Jaramillo-Cortez, of Fresno; Jacob Valles, of Fresno; Cody Fyfe, of Fresno; Juan Valencia Jr., of Fresno; Amadeo Sarabia Jr., of Fresno; and Alex Garcia, of Fresno. Charges are pending against the remaining four defendants: Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr., Alma Garza, Brayan Cruz, and Victor Yair Torrecillas-Urias. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is the product of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (FORT), an agency composed of officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno and Clovis Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Laurel J. Montoya are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Two Essex County Men Charged with Unlicensed Firearms Trafficking

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two Essex County, New Jersey, men were charged today with unlicensed dealing in firearms and trafficking firearms in interstate commerce; one of the defendants was also charged with conspiracy to sell fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Carlo M. De Leon De Jesus, 26, and Victor Gonzalez, 36, both of Newark, are each charged by complaint with one count of dealing firearms without a license, one count of transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident, and one count of firearms trafficking. De Jesus is also charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and were detained. According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in court: According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From July 2023 to September 2023, De Jesus sold four firearms, including two rifles and a semi-automatic handgun, as well as a substance that tested positive for fentanyl. Gonzalez sold a firearm with no serial number in September 2023. The counts of dealing firearms without a license and transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident are punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain to the defendant or twice the gross pecuniary loss to victim. The count of count of firearms trafficking is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain to the defendant or twice the gross pecuniary loss to victim. The count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Kurtz, with the investigation leading to charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry O’Connell of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)/Narcotics Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. gonzalez.complaint.pdf dejesus.complaint.pdf


title: Boston Man Sentenced for Defrauding Victims of More Than $1 Million Using Various Online Scams

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in connection with his role in expansive online fraud schemes targeting individuals in the United States, including romance and advance fee schemes. In total, approximately 30 victims lost more than $1.3 million as a result of the schemes. Kelechi Collins Umeh, 40, of Boston and formerly of Quincy, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young to 40 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Umeh was also ordered to pay restitution of $878,652. In January 2023, Umeh pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud conspiracy. Umeh participated in a series of online scams – including romance and advance fee schemes – designed to defraud victims into sending money to accounts controlled by him and his co-conspirators. Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. Advance fee scams occur when a criminal asks a victim to pay a fee up front – usually described as a fee, tax, or commission – in order to obtain a bigger payout later, but that payout never occurs. Umeh used fake passports in the names of numerous aliases to open bank accounts in and around Boston to collect and launder the proceeds of the online scams. Umeh and co-conspirators then rapidly executed large cash withdrawals from those accounts, often within days of the deposit and generally structured in amounts less than $10,000, in an effort to evade detection and currency transaction reporting requirements. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Five Men Plead Guilty to Roles in Multimillion-Dollar COVID-19 Relief Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: Five Texas men pleaded guilty today to their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain and launder millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to court documents, Muhammad Anis, 55, Nishant Patel, 41, Harjeet Singh, 49, all of Houston, and Arham Uddin, 27, and Ammas Uddin, 30, both of Richmond, engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the SBA and certain SBA-approved PPP lenders by submitting false and fraudulent PPP loan applications. All five defendants also assisted in laundering the fraudulently obtained PPP loan funds by supplying co-conspirators with blank, endorsed checks, which were made payable to people posing as employees of the companies that received the PPP loan, but who were in fact not employees. These fake paychecks were then cashed at check cashing stores that other members of the conspiracy controlled. As part of the scheme, Anis obtained a false and fraudulent PPP loan in the amount of approximately $483,333; Patel obtained a false and fraudulent PPP loan in the amount of approximately $474,993; Singh obtained two false and fraudulent PPP loans for a total of approximately $937,379; Arham Uddin obtained a false and fraudulent PPP loan in the amount of approximately $491,664; and Ammas Uddin obtained a false and fraudulent PPP loan in the amount of approximately $498,415. Anis, Patel, Singh, Arham Uddin, and Ammas Uddin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 4, 2024, and each face a total maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In addition to these five defendants, one other individual was convicted at trial for his involvement in the scheme, and 15 other individuals have pleaded guilty to their involvement in the loan fraud scheme. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Brady Ipock of the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) Central Region, Special Agent in Charge Catherine Huber of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Mark B. Dawson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, Special Agent in Charge Anand Ramlall of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) Dallas Region, and Special Agent in Charge Gary Smith of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) made the announcement. The SBA-OIG, FHFA-OIG, HSI, FDIC-OIG, and TIGTA are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Louis Manzo, Della Sentilles, Kate McCarthy, and Spencer Ryan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Kristine Rollinson for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the cases. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Five more guilty for roles multi-million dollar COVID-19 relief fraud conspiracy

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON - Five Texas men have pleaded guilty to their participation in a scheme to fraudulently obtain and launder millions of dollars in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to court documents, Muhammad Anis, 55, Nishant Patel, 41, Harjeet Singh, 49, all of Houston, and Arham Uddin, 27, and Ammas Uddin, 30, both of Richmond, engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the SBA and certain SBA-approved PPP lenders by submitting false and fraudulent PPP loan applications. All five also assisted in laundering the fraudulently obtained PPP loan funds by supplying co-conspirators with blank, endorsed checks, which were made payable to people posing as employees of the companies that received the PPP loan, but who were in fact not employees. These fake paychecks were then cashed at check cashing stores that other members of the conspiracy or others controlled. As part of the scheme, Anis obtained a false and fraudulent PPP loan in the amount of approximately $483,333; Patel obtained a false and fraudulent PPP loan in the amount of approximately $474,993; Singh obtained two false and fraudulent PPP loans for a total of approximately $937,379; Arham Uddin obtained a false and fraudulent PPP loan in the amount of approximately $491,664; and Ammas Uddin obtained a false and fraudulent PPP loan in the amount of approximately $498,415. Anis, Patel, Singh, Arham Uddin and Ammas Uddin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They are scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 4, 2024. At that time, each face up to five years in prison. In addition to these five, one other individual was convicted at trial for his involvement in the scheme and 15 other individuals have pleaded guilty to their involvement in the loan fraud scheme. The SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Housing Finance Agency OIG, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – OIG and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Kristine Rollinson are prosecuting the cases along with Trial Attorneys Louis Manzo, Della Sentilles, Kate McCarthy and Spencer Ryan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Union County Man Admits Role in Conspiracy to Target Asian Small Business Owners in Residential Burglaries

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man today admitted his role in a conspiracy that targeted residences belonging to Asian small business owners, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Kevin Jackson, 57, of Rahway, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From Dec. 2, 2016, to March 20, 2019, Jackson participated in a conspiracy to burglarize the residences of certain Asian small business owners living in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, stealing large sums of money, valuable jewelry, and other items and transporting the stolen goods in interstate commerce, including to residences in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited FBI Newark’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the South Plainfield Police Department, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of State, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Bernards Township, Bethlehem Township, Cherry Hill, Cinnaminson, Clark, Colonial Regional, Cranford, Delaware State Police-Troop 2, Delran, Edison, East Brunswick, East Hanover, Eatontown, Elizabeth, Essex County Sheriff’s Office-Bureau of Narcotics, Evesham Township, Exeter Township, Fair Lawn, Forks Township, Fort Lee, Franklin Township, Glassboro, Gloucester Township, Hackensack, Haverstraw, Hazlet, Highland Park, Hillside, Hillsborough Township, Howell Township, Jackson, Kenilworth, Lawrence Township, Linden, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Marlboro Township, Maywood, Middletown, Montgomery County, Montville, Morris Township, Mount Laurel, Mountainside, New Castle County, New Providence, New York Police Department’s 105th Detective Squad, North Brunswick, North Plainfield, Old Bridge, Paramus, Parsippany, Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Pocono Mountain Regional, Pocono Township, Raritan, Roselle Park, Sayreville, Somerville, South Brunswick, South River, South Whitehall Township, Spotswood, Town of Tuxedo, Tinton Falls, Toms River, Township of Ocean, Union, Upper Macungie Township, Wall Township, Warren, Washington Township, Watchung, Westfield, Whitehall Township, and Woodbridge Township police departments. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the U.S. Attorney’s Office OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark. jackson.information.pdf


title: Houston airport trespasser sent to prison

body_text: HOUSTON – A 36-year-old man has been ordered to prison for illegally entering an aircraft area in violation of security requirements to commit a felony therein, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Allan Leon Goins III pleaded guilty May 24. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal has now ordered Goins to serve 12 months and a day in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered him to pay $2,276.48 in restitution. Goins admitted he willfully breached and entered the restricted airport operations area at Houston Bush Intercontinental airport on Nov. 2, 2021. The restricted area services domestic and foreign air carriers. He evaded posted security procedures, fencing and restricted areas. Additionally, Goins stole an Atlantic Aviation Inc. uniform, utility cart and caused damage to the cart. He evaded security and authorized personnel efforts to apprehend him causing a pursuit to ensue for over an hour in dark and foggy conditions. Authorities had to shut down airport runways, taxiways and the West complex operations for approximately two hours. Ultimately, law enforcement located and arrested Goins, at which time he said they, “should have shot him.” On Nov. 5, 2021, authorities conducted a search on articles of clothing found in the area Goins was apprehended which revealed a loaded A Walther PPS 9mm caliber pistol. Goins will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prison facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Airport System, Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Porto prosecuted the case.