title: Amtrak Employee Arrested on Charges of Lying to Federal Agent

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: WASHINGTON – A five-count indictment, filed in U.S. District Court and unsealed today, charges Maurice Driver, 35, of Gloucester City, New Jersey, with lying to a Federal Agent. The charges were announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Mike Waters of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General Eastern Area Field Office. According to the indictment, Driver was employed by Amtrak and was working as a Lead Service Attendant in the café car on an Amtrak train, which departed from Washington, D.C. in the afternoon of January 3, 2024, and ended in Chicago, Illinois, in the morning of January 4, 2024. While working on that train, Driver met a passenger. Driver spoke and texted with the passenger, and Driver allowed her to use a vacant sleeper car on the train. On January 4, in Chicago, that passenger reported to Amtrak Police that Driver sexually assaulted her in a sleeper car on the train. Amtrak-OIG then initiated an investigation of the sexual assault allegations. As the indictment alleges, on January 5, 2024, during an interview with an Amtrak-OIG Special Agent, Driver made multiple false and misleading statements about his communications and contacts with the passenger. These false and misleading statements included (1) Driver’s falsely denying his personal phone number; (2) Driver falsely denying that he gave the passenger his personal phone number; (3) Driver falsely denying that he texted with the passenger; and (4) Driver falsely denying that he showed the passenger to a sleeper car. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison for the charged offenses of making false statements. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided for informational purposes. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is being investigated by the Amtrak Office of the Inspector General’s Eastern Region. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca G. Ross and Brian P. Kelly, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Arizona man sentenced to 10 years for role in trafficking fentanyl to Alaska

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Arizona man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and three years’ supervised release for supplying hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to Alaska over multiple months. According to court documents, Odarious Shaw, 25, distributed fentanyl pills to Alaska twice a week for over six months in quantities of 40-50,000 pills per shipment. In some instances, the defendant would ship as many as 500,000 pills at a time. Law enforcement learned that Shaw would obtain pills in Arizona and instruct buyers in Alaska to send him $150 via a money transferring service to confirm the transaction. He would then provide a date when a courier would arrive on a commercial flight at the Anchorage airport with the drugs in their checked luggage. Upon arrival, the courier would deliver the pills to the buyer, pick up the cash payment for the drugs and immediately board a flight back to Arizona to deliver the money to Shaw. On June 25, 2023, Shaw’s courier and codefendant, Corrion James, 26, arrived at the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage on a flight from Phoenix, Arizona, with a package containing over 41,000 fentanyl pills. James was arrested at the airport after attempting to sell the pills to the arranged buyer. Those pills had an estimated street value of $400-600,000 in Anchorage, and as much as $4.8 million in rural Alaska. Shaw continued to try to sell drugs in Alaska after James was arrested but was subsequently arrested in Arizona in August 2023. James pleaded guilty in February 2024 and was sentenced to over three years in prison for his role in the conspiracy. At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason found that Shaw was a leader or organizer of the drug trafficking activity in this case and said that she hopes this sentence deters people motivated by greed from trafficking this deadly drug to Alaska. “A single pill can destroy someone’s life and the amount of fentanyl Mr. Shaw supplied to Alaska could destroy entire communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Illegal fentanyl has absolutely no place here. My office will continue to hinder the inflow of illegal fentanyl into our state by working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the supply and distribution of this poisonous drug.” “During the course of this investigation, the FBI and our law enforcement partners intercepted tens of thousands of illicit fentanyl pills before reaching local Alaska communities, preventing untold violence and devastation,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “With a task force approach, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify, disrupt, and hold accountable those who are fueling drug trafficking activities in Alaska.” The Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department and the FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Alaska High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Schroeder prosecuted the case. ###


title: Two Men Sentenced To 185 And 220 Months In Prison For Murder Of Rival Drug Dealer In 2002

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that TERRIS OLIVER, a/k/a “T-Bird,” and RICARDO AYALA, a/k/a “Richie,” were sentenced to 185 and 220 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the March 27, 2002, shooting death of 19-year-old Atari Felton. OLIVER and AYALA were participants in a drug conspiracy, members of which shot and killed Felton after a feud broke out between their group and Felton’s own drug business. OLIVER was sentenced this afternoon, and AYALA was sentenced on May 6, 2024, both by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances. During their pleas, they admitted to participating in the Felton murder. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This case is yet another reminder that no matter how much time passes, this Office will prosecute, and seek significant sentences for, any drug dealers and gang members who shoot and kill another person. There is absolutely no excuse for the taking of another life. Atari Felton has been dead for longer than he lived — a tragedy brought about by gun violence that this Office and City should never abide.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and Information and statements made in public court proceedings: OLIVER and AYALA were members of a drug crew that conducted open-air drug sales around 240 East 175th Street in the Bronx, near Monroe Avenue. The group had planned to merge operations with Felton, but when that failed, Felton attempted to shoot at members of OLIVER’s and AYALA’s group. Later that night, OLIVER, AYALA, and several other men traveled to the area of 1665 Topping Avenue, where at least four men, including OLIVER, fired shots at Felton as Felton exited a corner store. [1] One bullet struck Felton in the back, causing lethal injuries. Following the murder, both OLIVER and AYALA incurred arrests and periods of incarceration on state charges of, among other things, gun possession, to which OLIVER pled guilty in 2006, and continued drug distribution, to which AYALA pled guilty in 2004. * * * OLIVER, 42, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and AYALA, 43, of the Bronx, New York, previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and both admitted to participating in the Felton murder. In addition to the prison term, OLIVER and AYALA were sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the New York City Police Department’s Cold Case Squad. He also thanked the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Analysts for their support and assistance in this matter. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Andrew K. Chan, and Mathew Andrews are in charge of the prosecution. [1] The Court accepted for purposes of sentencing that AYALA had acted as a lookout during the shooting.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces S.A.F.F.E.R. Initiative to Confront Violent Crime in the Fargo Area

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: FARGO – Joined by federal and local law enforcement partners, United States Attorney Mac Schneider today announced an office initiative, Strategic Assistance for Fargo through Federal Enforcement and Resources (S.A.F.F.E.R.), aimed at aggressively confronting violent crime in the Fargo area through the application of federal resources and prosecutions. “This initiative is all about using new federal resources as a force multiplier to assist our local law enforcement partners in targeting the relatively few individuals who drive violent crime in Fargo and Cass County,” Schneider said. “With a forceful prosecution strategy that is focused on felons in possession of firearms and dismantling gangs and other criminal organizations before they take root in the community, we can help keep the Fargo area safe as it continues to grow. Being a safe community is special, and it should not be taken for granted.” The announcement of the initiative, which is already underway, comes on the heels of statistics showing an approximate 45% increase in violent crime in Fargo since 2019. To assist local law enforcement as they work on the front lines of public safety to address violent crime in the Fargo area, the S.A.F.F.E.R. initiative has a three-part focus: 1) Using local intelligence information and federal resources to identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals responsible for violent crime : The placement of National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) equipment in Fargo, together with ongoing intelligence-led policing and information sharing by local law enforcement, will allow the United States Attorney’s Office and its partners to precisely target the drivers of violent crime in the community. As first announced during a visit to Fargo last year by Steven Dettelbach, the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fargo Police Department will soon receive NIBIN equipment that will allow for the analysis of spent shell casings recovered from shooting incidents. NIBIN is a database of digital images that law enforcement agencies use to compare ballistic evidence from crime scenes and firearms to find investigative leads on an interstate basis. The ATF oversees the program, provides the equipment, and maintains the network of interconnected computer systems and terminals. When utilizing NIBIN, firearms examiners or technicians enter cartridge casing evidence into the system, allowing law enforcement to search against evidence from their jurisdiction, neighboring ones, and others across the country. As noted by Director Dettelbach in his 2023 visit to Fargo, the network was used several years ago to help solve a drive-by shooting in the community. In-house access to NIBIN equipment will dovetail with the efforts of the Metro Street Crimes Unit and FPD’s Intelligence and Analysis Unit, which identify and interdict individuals committing violent crimes in the Fargo area, as well as the Cass County Sheriff’s Office’s Threat Assessment Threat Management Team, which aims to divert individuals before violent acts occur. 2) Relentlessly prosecuting felons in possession of firearms, straw purchasers, and those who possess illegal weapons : As a key part of the effort to assist local partners in addressing violent crime in the Fargo area, the United States Attorney’s Office will utilize new prosecutorial resources and recently-enacted federal statutes to forcefully prosecute felons in possession of firearms, straw purchasers, and those who possess illegal weapons like machinegun conversion devices. Last year, the United States Attorney’s Office was successful in securing an additional Assistant United States Attorney for the purpose of prosecuting violent crime cases in eastern North Dakota. That position, which was filled by AUSA Jake Rodenbiker, is in addition to several career prosecutors who routinely prosecute violent crime cases in the Fargo area and beyond. Those additional prosecutorial resources provide the office with the capacity to vigorously bring prosecutions under the felon in possession statute as well as federal laws enacted as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, including 18 U.S.C. § 932, which prohibits the straw purchasing of firearms. The office will also continue to prioritize prosecutions of those who possess illegal firearms. Schneider highlighted a recent case, United States v. Opdahl , in which a Fargo man was found guilty of possession of a machinegun and an unregistered silencer after a three-day trial in April. The defendant, Patrick Opdahl, was previously involved in a standoff with the Fargo Police Department and Red River Valley Regional SWAT team in February of 2023. 3) Confronting gangs and organized criminals before they take hold in the community : The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also utilizing new prosecutorial resources from the Department of Justice to disrupt gangs and criminal groups before they put down roots in the Fargo area. Earlier this year, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Fargo Police Department began working with the Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), which has assigned a trial attorney to work with the United States Attorney’s Office in Fargo and its local partners to bring cases against organized criminal groups operating in the community. Kim Dammers, the Principal Deputy of VCRS, also recently provided in-person training to the office’s career AUSAs and their law enforcement partners on the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) statute. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Rody, who oversees VCRS, joined the office in the announcement, discussing VCRS’ role in the initiative. “Today’s launch of the S.A.F.F.E.R. initiative is a pivotal moment for Fargo,” Fargo Chief of Police Dave Zibolski said. “With the additional federal resources and support, we are better equipped to target and reduce violent crime in our community. This partnership underscores our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Fargo residents. By combining local efforts with federal expertise and technology, we can create a safer environment for everyone and proactively address the challenges we face.” “The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is excited to collaborate with the US Attorney’s Office and other federal partners to reduce criminal activity and, more importantly, violent activity in our communities,” said Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner . “Taking a multifaceted approach, utilizing available resources, and concentrating those efforts on local, state, and federal levels will have a profound impact. The launch of the SAFFER Initiative will provide the necessary tools and partnerships needed to bring justice to our citizens and victims while holding those responsible accountable for their actions.” “Our office looks forward to continued partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Fargo-area law enforcement on this initiative,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the St. Paul Field Division . “These federal tools have helped advance federal firearms cases across the country and will help make an impact in the violent crime experienced here locally. We appreciate U.S. Attorney Schneider’s forward-leaning approach to violent crime with this initiative, and we look forward to working collectively to ensure the area’s violent offenders remain accountable for their actions.” “The DEA stands ready to assist our fellow law enforcement partners in Fargo,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “History has shown that drug trafficking and violent crime work in tandem and we are committed to joining forces and utilizing our arsenal of resources to push back against those looking to cause harm in our communities.” “The FBI is steadfast in its commitment to reducing violent crime and enhancing community safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis . “Together with our local law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of North Dakota, we are dedicated to fostering environments where residents can live, work, and play without fear. Our joint efforts aim to build stronger, more secure communities.” Schneider also highlighted several recent cases as examples of the office’s efforts to aggressively utilize new federal resources to bring prosecutions aimed at reducing violent crime in the Fargo area: United States v. Berry : An indictment unsealed on June 3, 2024, alleges that Marvin Berry, Jr. possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol despite having been previously convicted of seven drug-related felonies in North Dakota state court from 2016 to 2023. The indictment also charges Berry with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. United States v. Gray et al. : An indictment unsealed last month alleges that defendants Markell Gray, Janelle Jackson, and Robert Leake knowingly possessed firearms as convicted felons. The indictment also charges possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. As noted in court filings, Gray was previously convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance in state court in Cass County in July of 2023. United States v. Jellah, et al. : As noted in court documents, Leo Jellah, a.k.a. “Chapo,” was charged via indictment with alleged conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance and money laundering. Public records indicate that in 2023, Jellah pled guilty to robbery in North Dakota state court under section 12.1-22-01(1) of the North Dakota Century Code, which makes it a felony to menace or inflict serious bodily injury in the course of committing a theft. An indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. ###


title: Sin City Deciples Member Sentenced to 204 Months in Prison

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

body_text: HAMMOND- Herman Troy Jefferson a/k/a “G-Rilla,” age 51, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after being found guilty of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine following an 18-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Jefferson was sentenced to 204 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to the Second Superseding Indictment, the Sin City Deciples, originally formed in 1967 in Gary, Indiana, is an outlaw motorcycle organization in which its members and associates engaged in acts of violence, extortion, and narcotics distribution in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere. Jefferson served as a National President of the entire club and conspiracy between 2017-2021. As National President Jefferson was 2 nd in command behind the founder of the club. Jefferson utilized another motorcycle club to sell and traffic cocaine and marijuana for him. Additionally, he attempted to create a “pyramid scheme” of narcotics trafficking by asking members to contribute $10-$30 K of narcotics to be trafficked across the U.S. and promised a 20 percent return. At trial, individuals testified that Jefferson was confronted because this return on investment never occurred. Finally, as National President, multiple acts of extortion and violence took place under his leadership. The agencies involved in this prosecution were: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents, the Merrillville Police Department, the Munster Police Department, and the Schererville Police Department. Also providing assistance were the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of Indiana, the Western District of Kentucky, and the Western District of Pennsylvania. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick, Michael J. Toth, and Kimberly L. Schultz. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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. This case was also 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: Jury Convicts KC Man of Illegal Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted in federal court today of illegally possessing a firearm. Terrell M. Simpson, 42, was found guilty at trial of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On May 11, 2020, Kansas City police officers pulled over a vehicle in which Simpson, who had active arrest warrants, was a passenger. After Simpson was ordered to get out of the car and was placed under arrest, officers searched the vehicle because they had seen Simpson moving around as if he was trying to hide something. Officers found a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun inside the driver’s purse, which was sitting on the passenger’s side floorboard of the car. The driver denied any knowledge of the handgun. A forensic examination indicated that Simpson’s DNA was located on the handgun. The FBI Crime Laboratory analyzed DNA swabs taken from the trigger and trigger guard and determined there was very strong support that the defendant was the major contributor of the DNA. The lab provided a statistical analysis that the genetic information is 3.9 septillion times more likely to be observed if the defendant and three unknown individuals are the contributors than if it were four unknown individuals that are the contributors. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Simpson has two prior felony convictions for drug trafficking and prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon. Additionally, Simpson has prior convictions for domestic assault in the second-degree and armed criminal action. Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for approximately two hours before returning the guilty verdict to U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began Monday, June 3. Under federal statutes, Simpson is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stefan C. Hughes and Stephanie Bradshaw. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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: Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug And Firearm Charges

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Beau Don Morton, age 41, of Muldrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two separate counts of an Indictment. The Government indictment alleged that from March 24, 2022, to April 6, 2022, Morton knowingly maintained a premises for the purpose of distributing and using a controlled substance. The indictment also alleged that on April 6, 2022, Morton knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition as an unlawful user of a controlled substance. The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Morton was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.


title: Marble City Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Corey Ray Pettit, age 31, of Marble City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment for illegally possessing ammunition as a prohibited person. The charge arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On September 14, 2023, Pettit pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to investigators, on December 14, 2022, Pettit fired upon a parked vehicle, striking it twice. Ballistics technicians confirmed that a spent .25 casing recovered from the crime scene was a match to spent .25 casings retrieved from Pettit’s home. At the time of the crime, Pettit knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma presided over the sentencing hearing. Pettit will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Sequoyah County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Carl Ward, age 68, of Vian, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Indictment alleged that on January 2, 2024, Ward knowingly and intentionally possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the same. According to investigators, Ward possessed and intended to distribute over 575 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Ward was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.


title: Seventeen Southwest Virginia Co-Conspirators Face Federal Fraud Charges in Pandemic Unemployment Benefit Scheme

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A federal grand jury in Abingdon, Virginia returned an indictment May 21, 2024 charging 17 individuals with conspiring to defraud the United States by filing fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits. The grand jury has charged Josef Ludwig Brown, Crystal Samantha Shaw, Jonathan Scott Webb, Christopher Kirk Webb, Stephanie Amber Barton, Haleigh McKenzie Wolfe, Terrence Brooks Vilacha, Cara Camille Bailey, Jessica Dawn Lester, Brian Edward Addair, Russell Eric Stiltner, Joseph Frederick Hass, Daneil Wayne Horton, Justin Warren Meadows, Jason Dale Worley, Jeramy Blake Farmer, and Clinton Michael Altizer with conspiring to defraud the United States, fraud in connection with emergency benefits, and conspiring to commit mail fraud. “The COVID-19 global pandemic significantly influenced the world economy and caused increased unemployment and jobless claims throughout our country,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Many Virginians who lost their jobs due to the pandemic were able to endure because of the CARES Act. However, some cheated the system and diverted resources intended to help those most affected by the pandemic, and my Office remains committed to not only recovering fraudulently obtained funds, but also vigorously prosecuting those responsible.” “Special agents from our office teamed up with our federal and local law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney to take down a conspiracy of incarcerated individuals alleged to have defrauded the unemployment insurance benefits program under the CARES Act,” said Brian D. Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. “SIGPR will remain dedicated to holding accountable those who targeted pandemic recovery funds until it is disbanded in March 2025.” “These defendants took advantage of a global pandemic that caused immense suffering across the country and exploited relief programs intended to help those in dire need. We remain committed to holding criminals accountable for their crimes,” said FBI Richmond Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador. “We are proud to have worked this investigation with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to bring justice to these victims.” “Bad actors seized on the opportunity to exploit the chaos and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic and shamelessly pocketed CARE Act funds intended to support unemployed Virginians whose lives were uprooted by COVID-19,” said Attorney General Miyares. “Collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies yield results, and I'm proud to be one step closer to justice.” According to court documents, in March of 2020, Josef Brown, Jonathan Webb, and Crystal Shaw began their scheme to steal money intended for legitimate victims of the severely impacted Virginia economy by gathering the dates of birth, social security numbers, and other personal identification information of friends and acquaintances incarcerated at Haysi Regional Jail in Dickenson County, and then filling out pandemic unemployment claim forms for each of the ineligible inmates via the Virginia Employment Commission’s website dedicated to pandemic relief. In all, the defendants stole $341,205 in pandemic relief to which they were not entitled. As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. The PRAC’s 20-member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. Agencies that assisted with this investigation included the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Virginia Employment Commission. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case for the United States. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Announces The Selection Of Deputy U.S. Attorney And Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the selection of Edward Y. Kim as Deputy U.S. Attorney and Lillian Evans as Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, as well as the departure of Andrea Griswold, Deputy U.S. Attorney, and Neil M. Corwin, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney. Since February 2024, Mr. Kim has served as the Chief Counsel to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Kim was previously an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Office from 2008 to 2017, serving in the Criminal Division. From 2015 to 2016, Mr. Kim was Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and from 2016 to 2017, he was Chief of the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. During his tenure, Mr. Kim twice received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award. He also received the Assistant Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award and was named a prosecutor of the year by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. From 2017 to 2024, Mr. Kim was a partner at Krieger Kim & Lewin LLP, a firm which he co-founded, where he represented individuals and entities in white collar criminal and regulatory matters. Mr. Kim graduated magna cum laude from Brown University in 1998 and cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2004. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Kim served as a law clerk to the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald of the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York. Ms. Evans joins the Office from the New York City Law Department, where she has worked since 2012. Since 2021, she has served as that office’s Director of Legal Recruitment, in which capacity she has overseen recruiting, hiring, and career counseling. Ms. Evans graduated from the University of Michigan in 2005 and from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2011. In making these selections, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “I am pleased to appoint Ed Kim as Deputy United States Attorney. Ed’s intellect and leadership have already been invaluable to the Office, and I look forward to benefiting from his wise counsel as the newest Deputy. Lillian Evans’s impressive work in recruiting, hiring, and career counseling at the New York City Law Department makes her an ideal person to continue the uniquely important role of staffing this Office with the most talented lawyers in the country. Lillian has big shoes to fill, and I commend and thank Neil Corwin for his remarkable tenure in this Office and wish him well in retirement. Neil’s reputation for combining excellence and kindness is reflected in the many AUSAs and interns he has recruited and mentored. Lastly, I want to thank Andrea Griswold for her service to this Office. Having worked side-by-side with Andrea for nearly a decade, I know Andrea to be a relentless investigator, a talented trial lawyer, and a strategic counselor and leader with excellent judgement. Andrea is a generational talent. I will miss her dearly.”


title: Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced To 30 Months’ Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Carla Brown, age 45, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 31, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, to 30 months’ imprisonment following her conviction on the charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the charges stem from an investigation in which the Pennsylvania State Police made a traffic stop on May 14, 2020, in Lebanon County, of a vehicle in which Brown was an occupant. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 350 grams of cocaine, and $5,020 in U.S. currency. The driver of the vehicle, William Shaw, was convicted on the charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. The charge against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Scott R. Ford prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fentanyl and Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty on May 31, 2024 in federal court in Springfield to a drug offense involving fentanyl and cocaine. Christian Caballero, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Aug. 1, 2024. On July 31, 2023, Caballero possessed fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute. At the time of his arrest, Caballero possessed 501 bags of fentanyl and 10.82 grams of cocaine. The charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Chicopee Police Chief Patrick J. Major made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.


title: Chief Financial Officer Of Multinational Media Company Charged With Participating In Scheme To Launder At Least $67 Million In Fraud Proceeds

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Jonathan Mellone, the Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”); and Andrew Wroblewski, the Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (“DSS”) Domestic Operations, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging WEIDONG GUAN, a/k/a “Bill Guan,” the Chief Financial Officer of a multinational media company headquartered in New York City with participating in a transnational scheme to launder at least approximately $67 million of illegally obtained funds to benefit himself and the media company. GUAN was arrested yesterday morning and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Bill Guan, the Chief Financial Officer of a global newspaper and media company, conspired with others to benefit himself, the media company, and its affiliates by laundering tens of millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits and other crime proceeds. When banks raised questions about the funds, Guan allegedly lied repeatedly and falsely claimed that the funds came from legitimate donations to the media company. Today’s charges reflect this Office’s ongoing commitment to vigorously enforcing the laws against those who facilitate fraud through money laundering and to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system.” DOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone said: “An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving the U.S. Department of Labor’s unemployment insurance program. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard benefits intended for unemployed American workers.” DSS Domestic Operations Assistant Director Andrew Wroblewski said: “This case highlights the expansive global reach of the Diplomatic Security Service, demonstrating our capacity to collaborate effectively with both U.S. and international law enforcement agencies on complex transnational cases. DSS, along with our law enforcement partners, are tirelessly working to conduct investigations of this nature daily around the world.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment: [1] From at least in or about 2020, through in or about May 2024, GUAN, while working as the Chief Financial Officer of a multinational media company headquartered in New York, New York (the “Media Company”), conspired with others to participate in a sprawling, transnational scheme to launder at least approximately $67 million of illegally obtained funds to bank accounts in the names of the Media Company and related entities (together, with the Media Company, the “Media Entities”). In furtherance of the money laundering conspiracy, GUAN managed, among other teams, the Media Company’s “Make Money Online” team (the “MMO Team”), which was located in a particular foreign office of the Media Company. Under GUAN’s management, members of the MMO Team and others used cryptocurrency to knowingly purchase tens of millions of dollars in crime proceeds, including proceeds of fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits, that had been loaded onto tens of thousands of prepaid debit cards. The crime proceeds were generally purchased by the scheme participants, including members of the MMO Team and others working with them, using a particular cryptocurrency platform, at discounted rates of approximately 70 to 80 cents per dollar, and in exchange for cryptocurrency. Once the crime proceeds were purchased, the MMO Team and other participants in the scheme used stolen personal identification information to open accounts, including prepaid debit card accounts, cryptocurrency accounts, and bank accounts, that were used to transfer the crime proceeds into bank accounts associated with the Media Entities. After the crime proceeds reached those bank accounts, they were often further laundered through other bank accounts held by the Media Entities, GUAN’s personal bank accounts, and through GUAN’s personal cryptocurrency accounts. In or around the same time the money laundering scheme began, the Media Company’s internal financial accounting reflected an increased annual revenue over the previous year of approximately 410%—from approximately $15 million to approximately $62 million. When banks asked GUAN about the increase in transactions entering the bank accounts of the Media Entities, GUAN lied, including to two U.S.-based banks, and claimed that the increase in funds came from donations. However, in 2022, GUAN wrote a letter addressed to a congressional office falsely stating “donations” constitute “an insignificant portion of the overall revenue” of the Media Company. * * * GUAN, 61, of Secaucus, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and two counts of bank fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. The charges do not relate to the Media Company’s newsgathering activities. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of DOL-OIG, DSS, and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its valuable assistance. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Deininger, Rebecca T. Dell, and Jane Kim are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Norman Gray, Founder And CEO Of A Biomedical Company, Convicted At Trial For Defrauding Victim Of Nearly $1.5 Million

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that on May 29, 2024, a jury returned a guilty verdict against NORMAN GRAY for wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud a victim (“Victim-1”) of nearly $1.5 million through false promises and bogus documents. GRAY falsely represented to Victim-1 that Victim-1’s funds would be invested in GRAY’s biomedical company (the “Biomedical Company”) and in deals to support the Biomedical Company through the sale of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In reality, Victim-1’s funds were not used by GRAY as promised, and he instead used Victim-1’s funds to, among other things, retire prior debts and purchase himself a high-end automobile and a large home in Connecticut. GRAY’s scheme to defraud Victim-1 also involved the use of fabricated documents and the wholesale invention of a fake mortgage company and a fictitious mortgage broker. GRAY was found guilty after a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. Judge Engelmayer remanded GRAY to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service earlier today. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Norman Gray meticulously crafted a relationship of trust and confidence with his victim by lying about his background, the financial health of his company, and how he would invest the victim’s money. Over the course of just a few weeks in 2020, Gray induced his victim to send him nearly $1.5 million after learning that the victim had recently been awarded a substantial sum of money in a commercial arbitration. Gray’s brazen scheme involved lie after lie, which included the use of fake documents and a made-up mortgage company. Gray’s lies have finally caught up with him, and he now faces substantial time in prison.” According to the Superseding Indictment, public filings, public court proceedings, and the evidence presented at trial: At all relevant times, GRAY was the founder and CEO of the Biomedical Company, which is headquartered in Hamden, Connecticut. GRAY presented himself to Victim-1 and others as a billionaire scientist with a Ph.D. from MIT at the helm of a company he was personally funding that was potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In reality, GRAY did not have a Ph.D., and, as of August 2020, both he and the Biomedical Company were in significant debt. In or about August 2020, GRAY induced Victim-1 to send him $250,000 as a purported investment in the Biomedical Company. Rather than purchase equity for Victim-1, GRAY used nearly all of Victim-1’s $250,000 payment to repay a loan that GRAY had taken out from a tenant in the same building where the Biomedical Company is headquartered in order to make payroll. In the ensuing weeks, GRAY extracted an additional $1,217,000 from Victim-1, representing that Victim-1’s funds would be invested in deals involving the procurement of PPE for two major universities in the tristate area. GRAY falsely represented that his prior PPE deals had turned a 40% profit within 90 days, that he already had purchase orders in hand for PPE worth nearly $8 million, and that, therefore, the risk was “virtually zero.” In reality, over the preceding months, GRAY had accumulated a vast inventory of unsellable PPE, the purported purchase orders were fake, and GRAY did not invest Victim-1’s funds in PPE. Instead, GRAY misappropriated Vicitm-1’s funds, in part, to purchase himself a nearly $1 million home, a $50,000 luxury SUV, and to pay down $200,000 of his and his family’s credit card debt. As part of his scheme to defraud Victim-1, and as a means of dispelling Victim-1’s concern that an investment with GRAY might require Victim-1 to forego the purchase of a home, GRAY offered Victim-1 a mortgage from a purported boutique mortgage company of which he was the sole investor. GRAY directed Victim-1 to a purported mortgage broker that worked for this boutique mortgage company. In reality, both the mortgage company and the mortgage broker were completely fabricated by GRAY and did not exist. To further this aspect of the fraud on Victim-1, GRAY registered an internet domain in the name of the purported mortgage company and created an email address in the name of the invented mortgage broker contemporaneously with making his false representations to Victim-1. As GRAY’s fraud began to unravel in or about early November 2020, GRAY promised to return all of Victim-1’s money. Ultimately, GRAY never returned any money to Victim-1, and after Victim-1 asked GRAY to provide her with the purported PPE purchase orders from the two universities, she never heard from GRAY again. As demonstrated at trial, at the outset of the scheme to defraud Victim-1, GRAY separately attempted to defraud a board member of the Biomedical Company who had introduced Victim-1 to GRAY. GRAY solicited a $150,000 loan from the board member to make the Biomedical Company’s payroll and sent the board member a fake wire transfer supposedly demonstrating that GRAY would soon receive over half a million dollars and therefore would be able to repay the board member in short order. In reality, GRAY forged the wire transfer document, and no such money actually arrived. If you believe you are a victim of any crimes related to NORMAN GRAY, please email USANYS.NormanGrayCase@usdoj.gov . * * * GRAY, 68, of Hamden, Connecticut, was convicted of one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. GRAY is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Engelmayer on September 12, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of Homeland Security Investigations. Mr. Williams also thanked the New Haven Police Department, as well as law enforcement authorities in the United Kingdom and Spain and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, for their assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Gianforti, Vladislav Vainberg, and Jessica Greenwood are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Brevard County Man Pleads Guilty To Multi-Kilogram Cocaine Offense

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jackie Jamal Hines (46, Melbourne) has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. Hines faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on December 6, 2023, a traffic stop was attempted on a vehicle being driven by Hines after he left his storage unit in Melbourne, Florida. Hines exited his vehicle and fled on foot from law enforcement. Once he was detained, officers located a bag containing over 300 grams of cocaine and two digital scales on his person. Hines was also in possession of a key to his storage unit. A search warrant was then obtained for the storage unit, where agents located a safe with five pressed bricks containing about a kilogram of cocaine each. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Melbourne Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.


title: Animal Breeder Pleads Guilty to Animal Welfare and Pollution Crimes and Will Pay More than $35M, Including Record Fine in an Animal Welfare Case

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Envigo RMS LLC pleaded guilty today to conspiring to knowingly violate the Animal Welfare Act, and Envigo Global Services Inc. pleaded guilty to a felony of conspiring to knowingly violate the Clean Water Act. Both pleas are in relation to a dog breeding facility located in Cumberland County, Virginia, from which the Justice Department secured the surrender of over 4,000 beagles in 2022. As part of the resolution, Inotiv — of which Envigo RMS and Envigo Global Services are subsidiaries — will guarantee more than $35 million in payments, be subject to increased animal care standards and be subject to a compliance monitor. This resolution marks the largest ever fine in an Animal Welfare Act case. “Our nation’s animal welfare and clean water laws exist to prevent suffering and harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “That’s why we secured the transfer of thousands of beagles from Envigo’s Cumberland facility into adoption, and that’s why today’s plea agreement is so significant. The plea agreement includes the largest ever fine in an animal welfare case as well as heightened standards of care for facilities across the country.” “Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law. This callous approach led to dire consequences: the inhumane treatment of animals and the contamination of our waterway,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia. “The historic monetary penalties and significant compliance measures as part of these guilty pleas send a clear message: every company, in every industry, must have compliance and corporate responsibility as a critical part of their business model.” “The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) were designed to protect animals from any type of inhumane treatment. Even in those instances of animals being bred for scientific and medical research purposes, they still must be provided with safe and sanitary living conditions,” said Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General. “AWA violations remain an investigative priority for us, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who fail to adhere to the provisions of the AWA.” “Envigo compounded the heartbreaking nature of its animal welfare crimes by committing egregious Clean Water Act violations that undermined public health and the wellbeing of the animals in their care,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Everyone victimized in this precedent-setting animal welfare case deserved better: the workers, the beagles, the environment and the community. Envigo deserves every dollar of its record fine.” “Envigo’s violations of the Clean Water Act and the Animal Welfare Act directly resulted in the contamination of local waterway, negatively impacting the health and wellbeing of the community, and the horrible suffering of over 4,000 beagles. This precedent-setting case emphasizes the power of collaboration between local, state and federal authorities,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. According to court documents, Envigo RMS conspired to knowingly violate the Animal Welfare Act by failing to provide, among other things, adequate veterinary care, adequate staffing and safe living conditions for dogs housed at the Cumberland County facility. In addition, Envigo Global Services conspired to knowingly violate the Clean Water Act by failing to properly operate and maintain the wastewater treatment plant at the Cumberland County facility, which led to massive unlawful discharges of insufficiently treated wastewater into a local waterway and also impacted the health and well-being of the dogs at the facility. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the entities will serve from three to five years of probation and pay a total criminal fine of $22 million — that is $11 million for each violation. In addition, the entities will pay approximately $1.1 million to the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force and approximately $1.9 million to the Humane Society of the United States for direct assistance provided to the investigation. An additional $3.5 million will be paid to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to benefit and restore the environment and ecosystems in Cumberland County, at least $500,000 of which will be spent on purchasing riparian wetland or riparian land located in or near Cumberland. The entities will spend at least $7 million to improve their facilities and personnel beyond the standards imposed by the Animal Welfare Act. Finally, the entities will pay all costs associated with a compliance monitor, which will oversee the entities’ compliance with these enhanced animal welfare standards, the Animal Welfare Act, the Clean Water Act, a nationwide compliance plan and additional terms of the agreements and probation. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7. The Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Virginia State Police provided security assistance during a multi-day federal search in May 2022 of the dog breeding facility. Senior Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan and Trial Attorney Sarah Brown of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Ramseyer, Corey Hall and Carrie Macon for the Western District of Virginia and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Welch (an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office) are prosecuting the case.


title: Justice Department to Monitor Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in New Jersey

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that they will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in Union County, New Jersey, for the June 4 primary election. The Justice Department will assign federal observers to monitor the election in Union County to observe the county’s compliance with the Voting Rights Act. In 2023, a federal court approved a consent decree to resolve the department’s claims under Sections 203 and 208 of the Voting Rights Act regarding the availability of election assistance and materials in Spanish for Spanish-speaking voters with limited English proficiency in Union County. Section 203 requires that certain jurisdictions, including Union County, provide election materials and assistance in other languages, in addition to English. Section 208 provides a right for voters who need assistance with voting – due to inability to read or write, blindness or disability – to receive that assistance from the person of their choice, with certain limited exceptions. The consent decree authorizes federal observers to monitor election day activities in the county’s polling places. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities across the country. In addition, the department also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, when authorized by federal court order. The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting . Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section . Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. Individuals may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey at www.justice.gov/usao-nj/civil-rights-enforcement or by telephone at 1-855-281-3339.


title: El Departamento de Justicia monitoreará el cumplimiento con las leyes federales de derechos electorales federales en New Jersey

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que el cumplimiento con las leyes federales de del derecho al voto será monitoreado en Union County, New Jersey, en las elecciones primarias del 4 de junio. El Departamento de Justicia asignará observadores federales a monitorear las elecciones en Union County, New Jersey, para observar cómo el condado cumple con la Ley de Derechos Electorales. En el 2023 una corte federal aprobó un decreto por consentimiento para resolver las alegaciones del Departamento bajo las secciones 203 y 208 de la ley de Derechos Electorales sobre la disponibilidad de asistencia electoral y materiales en español para votantes hispanoparlantes con conocimientos limitados del idioma inglés en Union County. La sección 203 exige que ciertas jurisdicciones, incluyendo a Union County, provean materiales electorales y asistencia en otros idiomas, además del inglés. La sección 208 provee el derecho a los votantes que necesiten asistencia para votar – debido a inhabilidad de leer o escribir, ceguera o discapacidad – a conseguir ayuda de una persona que ellos mismos elijan, con ciertas limitadas excepciones. El decreto por consentimiento autoriza a observadores federales a monitorear las actividades el Día de Elecciones en los lugares de votación del condado. El Departamento envía su personal periódicamente a monitorear el cumplimiento de las leyes federales electorales en comunidades a través de todo el país. Además, la División envía observadores federales de la Oficina de Administración de Personal de EE. UU. según autorizado por una orden judicial federal. La Sección de Votación de la División de Derechos Civiles, en colaboración con las Oficinas de los Fiscales Federales, velan por el cumplimiento de las leyes federales que protegen el derecho al voto, incluyendo la Ley de Derechos Electorales, la Ley Nacional de Inscripción de Votantes, la Ley Ayudemos a Estados Unidos a Votar, las leyes de derechos civiles y la Ley de Votación para los Uniformados y los Ciudadanos en el Extranjero. Información adicional sobre la votación y las elecciones está disponible en el portal del Departamento de Justicia en https://www.justice.gov/es/espanol . Aprenda más sobre la Ley de Derechos Electorales y otras leyes federales electorales en https://www.justice.gov/es/crt/seccion-de-votacion. Denuncias relacionadas a posibles vulneraciones de las leyes federales de derechos electorales pueden ser presentadas en el sitio web de la División de Derechos Civiles en https://civilrights.justice.gov/?lang=es o por teléfono al (800) 253-3931. Las personas también pueden ponerse en contacto con la Oficina del Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de New Jersey en www.justice.gov/usao-nj/page/file/1507671/dl?inline o por teléfono al (855) 281-3339.


title: Box Elder man sentenced to more than three years in prison for assaulting woman on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man who admitted to assaulting a woman at his residence on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in 2021 was sentenced today to three years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Gabriel Evan Jordan, 26, pleaded guilty in January to a superseding information charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on Nov. 16, 2021, the victim, identified as Jane Doe, visited Jordan at his residence. Jordan assaulted the victim by intentionally holding her down and forcing sexual contact, causing serious bodily injury to the victim. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Stephanie D. Robles prosecuted the case. The FBI, Rocky Boy’s Police Department, Hill County Sheriff’s Office and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Role in Drug Conspiracy

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DERRICK BRUMFIELD (“BRUMFIELD”) , age 23, of New Orleans, was sentenced on May 28, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 45 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and tapentadol, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. According to court documents, BRUMFIELD conspired with three of his co-defendants to sell cocaine and tapentadol. On May 19, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at his co-conspirators’ residence in the Lower Ninth Ward area of New Orleans. Inside the residence, the FBI found several baggies of cocaine, seven boxes of tapentadol pills, a digital scale and other drug trafficking supplies, large amounts of cash, and five firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Child Sexual Assault Material William Dean Decker , 65, of Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, on and before Dec. 15, 2023, the Wyoming Division of Investigation (DCI) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force received six Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators learned that a minor child, known to Decker, was involved in the production and they moved quickly to stop the abuse. A search warrant uncovered hundreds of images and video files of Decker sexually abusing the child in his residence. Decker pleaded guilty on Mar. 8 and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on May 31. This crime was investigated by DCI’s ICAC task force and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold. Firearm Offenses Taylor Jay Whiting, 33, of Lusk, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Oct. 22, 2023, Lusk Police Department located Whiting, who had a warrant for his arrest, walking down the street and instructed him to put his hands up and turn around. As officers approached him, Whiting told them he had a gun in his hoodie pocket. Officers located a Ruger .380 handgun in Whiting’s sweatshirt. Whiting is a previously convicted felon and not allowed to possess a firearm. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Mar. 8, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on May 31. This crime was investigated by the Lusk Police Department and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer. Drug Trafficking Amanda Lynn Piercy , 37, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 40 months and 21 days in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, on Sep. 8, 2023, Cheyenne Police Department officers were dispatched to a Cheyenne residence because of an unconscious person. Officers learned Piercy had overdosed on fentanyl in the basement of the residence. When she was revived, officers removed 7 fentanyl pills from her pants pocket. During a search of the property, officers found additional drugs and a handgun. Piercy pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 20 and Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on May 22. The crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood. Sandra Munoz, 40, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2023, a Cheyenne Police Department officer attempted to stop Munoz for speeding and having a cracked windshield. She fled, but after a short pursuit, she crashed, and the officer detained her and three other passengers. During a search of the vehicle, the officer found approximately 2,000 fentanyl pills and 173 grams of methamphetamine. Piercy pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 20 and Senior U.S. District Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on May 22. The crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood. Illegal Re-entry of a Previously Deported Alien Carlos Marcelo Lopez-Hernandez, 34, of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served for illegal re-entry into the United States of a previously deported alien. According to court documents, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper arrested Lopez-Hernandez on Jan. 31 for driving with no license and no identification. During the booking process, Lopez-Hernandez’s fingerprints were matched with a profile in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) database. ICE verified that Lopez-Hernandez had previously been deported and was in the United States illegally. This case was investigated by ICE and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on May 24. Gonzalo Parra-Munoz , 31, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for illegal re-entry into the United States of a previously deported alien. According to court documents, On Jan. 27, Parra-Munoz was arrested by the Converse County Sheriff’s Department (CCSD) for possession of stolen property/motor vehicle, unlawful acts, and driving under the influence. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) verified that Parra-Lopez had previously been deported and was in the United States illegally. This crime was investigated by CCSD and ICE. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on May 31.


title: Former U.S. Soldier Turned Foreign Fighter Extradited from Ukraine to the United States for 2018 Double Homicide, Armed Robbery, Immigration Document Offenses, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Other Charges

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A U.S. citizen will make his initial appearance in Fort Myers, Florida, today at 2 p.m. EDT following his extradition from Ukraine to the United States to face numerous charges in three federal districts relating to double homicide, armed robbery, false statements in a passport application, aggravated identity theft, and misuse of a passport in violation of conditions and restrictions, among other charges. Craig Austin Lang, 34, of Surprise, Arizona, faces criminal charges in the Middle District of Florida, the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the District of Arizona. “As alleged in the indictments, Craig Austin Lang went on an international crime spree that included a double murder in Florida, attempts to travel internationally to engage in other acts of violence outside the United States, and a plot to evade law enforcement detection by trading guns, a grenade, and cash to use another person’s identifying information to apply for a U.S. passport under an assumed name,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Lang’s alleged conduct is shocking in its scope and its callous disregard for human life. His wrongdoing, however, was no match for the efforts of dedicated law enforcement personnel and prosecutors in the United States and abroad to investigate, locate, arrest, and extradite Lang so he would face justice before courts in the United States.” “The alleged conduct of Craig Austin Lang, which includes homicide and armed robbery, will not be tolerated by the FBI,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. “Individuals that engage in such activity must face the consequences of their actions. We would like to thank our partner law enforcement agencies for their efforts in ensuring that criminals face justice. If you cause harm to the American public, we will relentlessly pursue you even if you are located beyond our borders.” Middle District of Florida According to the superseding indictment returned in the Middle District of Florida in December 2019 and other court documents, Lang and a co-defendant, Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer, 27, of Bloomer, Wisconsin, allegedly murdered a couple from Brooksville, Florida, in 2018. In 2017, Lang and Zwiefelhofer, both former soldiers in the U.S. Army, met in Ukraine, where Zwiefelhofer claimed they were both members of a volunteer battalion fighting Russian separatists. The pair allegedly also traveled to Kenya, where Zwiefelhofer claimed they intended to fight against terrorists, before attempting to enter South Sudan. They were allegedly detained by authorities in South Sudan and deported back to the United States, where they met up in Florida in April 2018. The superseding indictment alleges that the Brooksville couple planned to purchase firearms that Lang and Zwiefelhofer had listed for sale on a website called “ARMSLIST.” Lang and Zwiefelhofer allegedly killed the couple in the course of an armed robbery to steal the $3,000 that the couple intended to use to buy the firearms. Lang and Zwiefelhofer allegedly robbed the victims to pay for travel to Venezuela, where the defendants planned to fight the Venezuelan regime. Lang and Zwiefelhofer are charged with violating the Neutrality Act, conspiracy to kill, kidnap, or maim persons in a foreign country, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and conspiracy to discharge a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, as well as interference with commerce by robbery and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence causing death. If convicted on all counts, Lang and Zwiefelhofer face a maximum penalty of life in prison. On March 8, a federal jury convicted Zwiefelhofer on all of the above charges. Zwiefelhofer is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 6. The FBI and Lee County Sheriff’s Office are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Michael V. Leeman for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting this case. Eastern District of North Carolina According to the indictment returned in the Eastern District of North Carolina in August 2019, Lang and his co-conspirators allegedly took various actions in September 2018 to evade law enforcement detection and minimize scrutiny when travelling internationally. They allegedly devised a plan to provide two co-conspirators’ identity documents to Lang and a fourth co-conspirator, Matthew Scott McCloud, for the purpose of applying for U.S. passports under assumed names. While in North Carolina, Lang allegedly submitted a U.S. passport application in the assumed name of one of his co-conspirators, Dameon Shae Adcock. Approximately two days later, Lang allegedly gave Adcock a suitcase containing multiple firearms, a military smoke grenade, and approximately $1,500 in cash as payment for use of Adcock’s personal information. Several days later, Lang and McCloud, who had applied for a U.S. passport using the identity of co-conspirator Jordan Dean Miller, allegedly acquired airline tickets to travel from Georgia to New York and then on to Ukraine. “The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is committed to working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies around the world to investigate and prosecute all allegations of criminal activity related to identity theft,” said Assistant Director Andrew Wroblewski of DSS Domestic Operations. “The strong relationship we enjoy with our domestic and overseas law enforcement partners is vital towards ensuring the integrity of U.S. travel documents and protecting greater U.S. interests.” Lang was charged with conspiracy to commit passport fraud and aggravated identify theft, passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraud, and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents, and aiding and abetting these offenses, as well as false representation of a social security account number. Adcock, Miller, and McCloud were also charged in connection with the criminal scheme. If convicted, Lang faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on the fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents charge. Adcock pleaded guilty in November 2019 and was sentenced in September 2020 to two years and eight months in prison. McCloud pleaded guilty in April 2020 and was sentenced in July 2020 to time served. Miller pleaded guilty and was sentenced in May 2020 to one year of probation. The DSS is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabe Diaz for the Eastern District of North Carolina is prosecuting this case. District of Arizona The indictment returned in the District of Arizona in June 2019 charges Lang with misuse of a passport for allegedly presenting a U.S. passport to Mexican authorities to obtain a Mexican visa, which was in violation of the conditions and restrictions contained on the passport. If convicted, Lang faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, or more under certain aggravating circumstances. The FBI is investigating this case. Trial Attorney and Co-Director of Joint Task Force Alpha James Hepburn and Trial Attorney and Director of the War Crimes Accountability Team Christian Levesque of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bridget Minder for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case. *** Lang’s extradition from Ukraine occurred after the European Court of Human Rights recently rejected his claim challenging extradition under the European Convention on Human Rights. U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona joined in the announcement. The FBI escorted Lang from Ukraine to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI Tampa Field Office Fort Myers Resident Agency provided significant assistance in securing the arrest, extradition, and removal of Lang to the United States. The United States also thanks Ukrainian authorities for their valuable assistance. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Final Defendant in Trio Responsible for Eight Armed Robberies of Indianapolis Area Businesses in One Month Found Guilty by Federal Jury

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has found Robdarius Williams, 21, of Indianapolis, guilty of interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, following a one-and-a-half-day trial. In April of 2024, Quintez Tucker, 20, and D’Maurah Bryant, 21, each plead guilty to eight counts of robbery and eight counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, from November 8, 2021, through December 3, 2021, Tucker and Bryant worked together to rob eight cell phone retailers around Indianapolis. During each robbery, the men brandished firearms and pointed them at employees, demanding cash, cell phones, and accessories from the store and customers. Williams joined in the eighth and final armed robbery as the getaway driver, stole a license plate for the vehicle, and took Tucker to pick up an AR-style rifle used in the robbery. In total, the trio robbed eight businesses: Date Location Defendants November 8, 2021 Verizon, Olio Rd., Fishers. Tucker & Bryant November 18, 2021 T-Mobile, Southport Rd. Tucker & Bryant November 23, 2021 Verizon, Kessler Blvd. Tucker & Bryant November 26, 2021 T-Mobile, E. 86 th St. Tucker & Bryant November 29, 2021 T-Mobile, Fox Rd. Tucker & Bryant December 1, 2021 T-Mobile, E. Stop 11 Rd. Tucker & Bryant December 1, 2021 T-Mobile, W. 38 th St. Tucker & Bryant December 3, 2021 AT&T, S. Emerson Ave. Tucker & Williams The FBI investigated this case. The Fishers Police Department, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Marion County Prosecutors Office also provided valuable assistance. U.S District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson presided over the trial and will impose sentences for all three men at a later date. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy C. Fugate and Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted this case. This case was 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. ###


body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Envigo RMS LLC pleaded guilty today to conspiring to knowingly violate the Animal Welfare Act, and Envigo Global Services Inc. pleaded guilty to a felony of conspiring to knowingly violate the Clean Water Act. Both pleas are in relation to a dog breeding facility located in Cumberland County, Virginia, from which the Justice Department secured the surrender of over 4,000 beagles in 2022. As part of the resolution, Inotiv — of which Envigo RMS and Envigo Global Services are subsidiaries — will guarantee more than $35 million in payments, be subject to increased animal care standards and be subject to a compliance monitor. This resolution marks the largest ever fine in an Animal Welfare Act case. “Our nation’s animal welfare and clean water laws exist to prevent suffering and harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “That’s why we secured the transfer of thousands of beagles from Envigo’s Cumberland facility into adoption, and that’s why today’s plea agreement is so significant. The plea agreement includes the largest ever fine in an animal welfare case as well as heightened standards of care for facilities across the country.” “Envigo promoted a business culture that prioritized profit and convenience over following the law. This callous approach led to dire consequences: the inhumane treatment of animals and the contamination of our waterway,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia. “The historic monetary penalties and significant compliance measures as part of these guilty pleas send a clear message: every company, in every industry, must have compliance and corporate responsibility as a critical part of their business model.” “The provisions of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) were designed to protect animals from any type of inhumane treatment. Even in those instances of animals being bred for scientific and medical research purposes, they still must be provided with safe and sanitary living conditions,” said Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General. “AWA violations remain an investigative priority for us, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who fail to adhere to the provisions of the AWA.” “Envigo compounded the heartbreaking nature of its animal welfare crimes by committing egregious Clean Water Act violations that undermined public health and the wellbeing of the animals in their care,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Everyone victimized in this precedent-setting animal welfare case deserved better: the workers, the beagles, the environment and the community. Envigo deserves every dollar of its record fine.” “Envigo’s violations of the Clean Water Act and the Animal Welfare Act directly resulted in the contamination of local waterway, negatively impacting the health and wellbeing of the community, and the horrible suffering of over 4,000 beagles. This precedent-setting case emphasizes the power of collaboration between local, state and federal authorities,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. According to court documents, Envigo RMS conspired to knowingly violate the Animal Welfare Act by failing to provide, among other things, adequate veterinary care, adequate staffing and safe living conditions for dogs housed at the Cumberland County facility. In addition, Envigo Global Services conspired to knowingly violate the Clean Water Act by failing to properly operate and maintain the wastewater treatment plant at the Cumberland County facility, which led to massive unlawful discharges of insufficiently treated wastewater into a local waterway and also impacted the health and well-being of the dogs at the facility. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the entities will serve from three to five years of probation and pay a total criminal fine of $22 million — that is $11 million for each violation. In addition, the entities will pay approximately $1.1 million to the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force and approximately $1.9 million to the Humane Society of the United States for direct assistance provided to the investigation. An additional $3.5 million will be paid to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to benefit and restore the environment and ecosystems in Cumberland County, at least $500,000 of which will be spent on purchasing riparian wetland or riparian land located in or near Cumberland. The entities will spend at least $7 million to improve their facilities and personnel beyond the standards imposed by the Animal Welfare Act. Finally, the entities will pay all costs associated with a compliance monitor, which will oversee the entities’ compliance with these enhanced animal welfare standards, the Animal Welfare Act, the Clean Water Act, a nationwide compliance plan and additional terms of the agreements and probation. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7. The Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Virginia State Police provided security assistance during a multi-day federal search in May 2022 of the dog breeding facility. Senior Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan and Trial Attorney Sarah Brown of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Ramseyer, Corey Hall and Carrie Macon for the Western District of Virginia and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Welch (an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office) are prosecuting the case.


title: Iowa Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Senior District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Des Moines, Iowa, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 16, 2024. Douglas Hennigar, age 66, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Hennigar was indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact by a federal grand jury in September of 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 15, 2024. In 2010, Hennigar moved to the Pine Ridge Reservation after meeting the victims’ grandmother/mother through social media. The grandmother cared for multiple children, including her 10-year-old daughter at the time. Almost immediately after moving in with the grandmother, Hennigar sexually abused two female children, who were between the ages of 5-10. The abuse spanned multiple years and occurred on and off the Pine Ridge Reservation. At the time of the abuse, the youngest child was five years old, but did not disclose the abuse until she was 14 years of age. This case was investigated by the FBI. U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. Hennigar was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Medicare Fraud Prevention Week

body_text: SIOUX FALLS – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Medicare Fraud Prevention Week is being observed June 3–June 9, 2024. The Department of Justice prioritizes combating health care fraud, a commitment reflected in fiscal year 2023's outcomes. Over $2.68 billion in fraud settlements and judgments were secured, with more than $1.8 billion relating specifically to the health care sector. These recoveries replenish funds to federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, the health care program for service members and their families. Equally important is the role of federal fraud statutes enforcement and the prosecution of offenders, which serve as deterrents against fraudulent schemes. These actions not only prevent financial loss but also shield patients from unnecessary or potentially harmful medical interventions. Join us in observing Medicare Fraud Prevention Week by visiting the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota Twitter/X account @DSDNews1 to learn about ways to stop Medicare fraud from occurring.


title: Former Soldier Turned Foreign Fighter Extradited To Face Charges In April 2018 Double Homicide And Armed Robbery Of Brooksville Couple

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the extradition of Craig Austin Lang (34, Surprise, Arizona) from Ukraine to the United States to stand trial for six federal offenses. Lang, along with his co-defendant Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer (27, Bloomer, Wisconsin), was charged in 2019 in a conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering in commerce, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which resulted in the death of a couple from Brooksville, Florida. Lang is also charged with conspiring to kill, kidnap, or maim persons in a foreign country and a violation of the Neutrality Act. If convicted on all counts, Lang faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Zwiefelhofer was convicted as charged at trial on March 8, 2024, and is scheduled for sentencing on August 6, 2024. According to court documents, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Zwiefelhofer and Lang were identified as the individuals who were believed to have murdered the couple during an armed robbery of the $3,000 the couple had intended to use to purchase the firearms. The superseding indictment further alleges that Zwiefelhofer and Lang formed and pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund their travel to Venezuela for that purpose. Both Lang and Zwiefelhofer were formerly in the U.S. military before traveling overseas to Ukraine to engage in fighting, where they met. They then traveled to Kenya to fight in South Sudan before they were arrested and deported back to the United States. After being in the United States for a short time, both Lang and Zwiefelhofer planned to travel to Venezuela to fight alongside others. Lang and Zwiefelhofer met in Florida in April 2018, where they allegedly planned to take a boat to Venezuela, but their plan fell through. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Michael V. Leeman. Lang’s extradition from Ukraine occurred after the European Court of Human Rights recently rejected his claim challenging extradition from Ukraine under the European Convention on Human Rights. The FBI escorted Lang from Ukraine to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI Tampa Field Office Fort Myers Resident Agency provided significant assistance in securing the arrest, extradition, and removal of Lang to the United States. The United States also thanks Ukrainian authorities for their valuable assistance.


title: New Assistant United States Attorney Appointed to Serve in the District of Rhode Island

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha today announced the appointment and swearing-in of Rachna Vyas as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island. Ms. Vyas will serve in the Office’s Civil Division, focusing on complex, white collar matters with a particular emphasis on health care fraud cases related to the opioid crisis. Prior to joining the District of Rhode Island, Ms. Vyas served as an Associate with the law firm of Verrill Dana, LLP, where she handled health care and life science matters. Prior to that, Ms. Vyas was a Senior Associate at Choate, Hall, & Stewart, LLP, where she specialized in government enforcement and white collar matters. She is a graduate of Princeton University and the University of California, Berkeley, School of law, and served as a legal affairs intern with International Maritime Organization, London, UK, and as a judicial intern in Suffolk Superior Court, Boston. “Rachna Vyas is an exceptionally talented lawyer whose ability and experience make her a tremendous addition to the District,” remarked U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “She joins an exceedingly capable group of civil litigators and prosecutors who work tirelessly to pursue corporate accountability and protect Rhode Islanders, and I have every confidence that she will make a great contribution to our team.” ###