title: Pair of indictments charge conspiracies to use drones to deliver illegal drugs, contraband cell phones to Georgia prisons

body_text: indictment_usa_v_alan_hall_et_al.pdf indictment_usa_v_robert_harris_et_al.pdf STATESBORO, GA: Two newly unsealed federal indictments charge 23 defendants in widespread conspiracies that used drones to deliver methamphetamine, marijuana, and cell phones to Georgia state prisons. The indictments, USA v. Hall, et al, and USA v. Harris, et al, were unsealed in U.S. District Court, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The primary charge in each indictment, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, carries a statutory penalty of 10 years to life in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “These indictments identify networks of individuals determined to introduce into prisons controlled substances and other contraband that compromise the safety and security of individuals who are held in those facilities and those employed there, and further endanger members of the outside public,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We’re grateful to the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose cooperative work unraveled these criminal operations.” Investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces by agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigations and Intelligence divisions, with assistance from multiple local law enforcement agencies, Operation Night Drop identified two networks of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver large quantities of drugs, cell phones and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Ga., Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, Ga., and various other Georgia state prisons. The indictments allege the conspiracies began as early as 2019 and continued through July 2024. In addition to the conspiracy charges, multiple defendants are charged with Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility, and the indictment provides detailed information revealing the use of cell phones to coordinate the sale of drugs and other contraband, direct activities of conspirators outside the prisons, and arrange deliveries of contraband to the prisons using drones. Text messages and Facebook Messenger exchanges between the defendants included aerial images of prisons, drug quantities and prices, and photos of drones, drugs, and cell phones, and of materials and equipment used for packaging contraband. The indictments include notices that the government seeks the forfeiture of a total of 10 drones and 21 firearms seized during the investigation. The 15 defendants charged with conspiracy in USA v. Hall, et al., are: Alan Hall , a/k/a “Strong,” a/k/a “Krook,” 44, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Ga; Deivon Waller , a/k/a “Hitman,” a/k/a “VP,” 33, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Ga.; Travious Bateman , a/k/a “Nut,” 39, of Covington, Ga. Bateman was in the continuous custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until March 7, 2022; Asa Ward , a/k/a “Foolay,” 28, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Ga.; Devonn Collins , a/k/a “Vonn,” 28, of Locust Grove, Ga. Collins was in the continuous custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Feb. 12, 2019, and again from Sept. 5, 2019 to April 14, 2020; Torlandus Fuller, a/k/a “Mustafa$upa,” 33, of Lithonia, Ga. Fuller was in the continuous custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Oct. 1, 2021; Martin Holmes , a/k/a “The Mayor,” 33, currently incarcerated at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Ga.; Raymond Razo , a/k/a “Flako,” 36, currently incarcerated at Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, Ga.; Anisha Usher , 38, of Covington, Ga.; Marquez Chandler , 25, of Conyers, Ga. Chandler was in the continuous custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections from Nov. 9, 2021 to June 2, 2023; Chad Henry , 26, of Conyers, Ga.; Katrina Hampton , 28, of Killeen, Texas; Jamar Hill , 37, of Tucker, Ga. Hill was in the continuous custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Feb. 3, 2020, and again from Dec. 15, 2020 to Jan. 6, 2022; Raane Onessimo , 29, of Powder Springs, Ga.; and, Donald Pate , 51, of Valdosta, Ga. Pate was in the continuous custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections from Jan. 3, 2019 to Jan. 6, 2021. Seven of the eight defendants named in USA v. Harris, et al., are charged with conspiracy: Robert Harris , a/k/a “Messiah,” a/k/a “Dean,” 32, currently incarcerated at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Ga.; Kelvin Rogers , a/k/a “Gangsta,” 38, currently incarcerated at Smith State Prison in Glennville, Ga.; Quinton Samples , a/k/a “JR,” 29, of Atlanta. Samples was in the continuous custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until March 10, 2022; Thomas Cothran , a/k/a “Shoota,” a/k/a “Tee,” 37, currently incarcerated at Ware State Prison in Waycross, Ga.; Quintaveous Samples , a/k/a “Peewee,” 26, of Jonesboro, Ga.; Quinesha Oliver , 27, of Jonesboro, Ga.; and, Tristahn Ash, a/k/a “Mohawk,” 27, currently incarcerated at the Metro Reentry Facility in Atlanta. Ash had been in custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections prior to the start of indictment, was released on Aug. 5, 2020, and reentered Department of Corrections custody on May 11, 2023. The eighth defendant, David Williams, 35, of Atlanta, is charged along with Ash with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Of the 23 defendants in the two indictments, six were not in Department of Corrections custody at any time during the conspiracies, and each of them is alleged to have been in contact with incarcerated co-defendants in furtherance of the conspiracy. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Operation Night Drop was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigations Division, the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, and local law enforcement agencies including the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, the McRae-Helena Police Department, and the Eufala, Ala., Police Department, and is being prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy P. Dean and Patricia G. Rhodes.


title: Justice Department Announces an Organizational Assessment of the Charlottesville, Virginia, Police Department under the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative

component: Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

body_text: The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced that it will conduct an organizational assessment of the Charlottesville, Virginia, Police Department through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. Over the next year, the Charlottesville Police Department will work with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team to focus on: Community Policing/Problem Solving; Crime Analysis/Crime Prevention; Employee Wellness, Training, Development and Retention; Resource Analysis/Strategic Planning; and Accountability, Oversight and Evaluation. “The overall goals of the Organizational Assessment program include building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, enhancing officer safety and wellness and improving fairness and effectiveness in an agency’s operations,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Any department that actively commits to pursuing those goals is taking a step in the right direction.” “This is a comprehensive assessment that includes data and document review, direct observations of the agency’s activities and practices, interviews, focus groups and more,” said COPS Office Director Hugh T. Clements, Jr. “At the same time the work is taking place, the public will receive regular updates, as transparency is a critical part of this process.” Regular updates on the team’s work with the Charlottesville Police Department will be provided at cops.usdoj.gov/active-oa-site-charlottesville-va-police-department as part of the transparency and public accountability of this new Organizational Assessment effort. The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies: the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response and Organizational Assessment programs (complete details of these programs can be found at cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform ). Managed out of the COPS Office, this continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; build agencies’ capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement; and promote community policing practices nationwide. The Organizational Assessment program provides the most intensive form of technical assistance on the continuum, involving in-depth assessments and long-term assistance on systemic issues that can challenge community trust and confidence. A continual assessment and implementation process ensures that time and resources are used to focus on identifying areas for improvement, reinforcing agency strengths and assisting with the implementation of improvements expeditiously. At the same time, the process provides transparency and accountability with routine public reporting. Each engagement will be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment team composed of subject matter experts with diverse experience and perspectives, including in law enforcement, community engagement, research and evaluation, program management and organizational reform. The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.


title: St. Louis Man Sentenced for Home Health Care Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Tuesday sentenced a man who used his brother’s identity to fraudulently obtain money from the Missouri Medicaid Program to six months of incarceration and six months of house arrest. Judge Clark also ordered Christopher J. Spencer, 46, to repay $56,173 to Missouri’s Medicaid Program. Spencer made false statements from June 2018 to February 2022 in connection with claims for Medicaid-reimbursed personal care assistance services. “HHS-OIG is dedicated to safeguarding taxpayers and our communities from schemes targeting the Missouri Medicaid Program,” said Linda T. Hanley, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our ongoing partnership with the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit strengthens our collective ability to ensure resources meant for those in need are used appropriately.” Spencer’s brother, who lived with him at the time, once provided him with personal care services, which can include housekeeping, meals, bathing, grooming and transportation. After his brother moved out in 2018, Spencer continued to submit, on a near daily basis, time sheets and Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) records falsely claiming that his brother was providing care for him. Spencer also submitted enrollment paperwork to the Medicaid vendor listing his brother as his personal care attendant and containing his brother’s forged signature. Spencer kept the debit card used by the Missouri Medicaid Program and its vendors to reimburse his brother and spent the fraudulently-obtained payments on bills, rent, groceries, shopping, hotels and other personal expenses. He also used his brother’s name and personal information to obtain loans or advances on reimbursement payments from the Medicaid vendor. Spencer pleaded guilty in March to five counts of making false statements relating to health care benefits. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow prosecuted the case.


title: Greenbrier County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Wilbur Curtis Arnold Jr., 58, of White Sulphur Springs, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2024, law enforcement officers found a Winchester model 190 .22-caliber rifle at Arnold’s residence while arresting him on a warrant. Arnold told officers the rifle belonged to him. On June 30, 2023, Arnold brought a Rock Island Armory model 1911 .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun to a White Sulphur Springs business, where he sold the firearm for $300. Arnold presented his identification and signed a purchase agreement for the sale of the gun. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Arnold knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on March 7, 2016. Arnold is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lewisburg Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-61. ###


title: Federal Charges Filed In St. Johns Drive-By Shooting On I-95

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Nathaniel Thomas Hatcher, III (28, Jacksonville) and James Toney (20, Jacksonville) with committing a drive-by shooting and discharging a firearm in connection with a crime of violence. The charges stem from their alleged roles in a shooting that occurred along I-95 in St. Johns, Florida, on October 17, 2023. Hatcher is also charged with conspiring to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, conspiring to straw-purchase firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, making materially false statements during the purchases of firearms, conspiring to commit money laundering, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. Toney is also charged with conspiring to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. In addition, the indictment charges Al’Donta Easterling (26, Jacksonville) with conspiring to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on all counts, Hatcher faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, up to two life sentences, plus 115 years. Toney faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life imprisonment, plus 45 years. Easterling faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, up to life, plus 60 years. All three individuals have been arrested and ordered detained pending trial, which is set for November 4, 2024. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is part of an investigation which has led to the arrests of five defendants, including Hatcher, Toney, and Easterling. Desmond Maxwell (28, Jacksonville) previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to straw-purchase firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces up to 25 years in federal prison. Yaquasia DelCarmen (28, Jacksonville) previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana and conspiring to commit money laundering and faces up to 40 years in federal prison. DayJon Major (21, Jacksonville) has been charged with illegally possessing a machinegun and possessing a stolen firearm. Major is currently in state custody. This case is 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 is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aakash Singh and Kirwinn Mike.


title: Armed Lumberton Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – An armed Lumberton fentanyl trafficker was sentenced today to 150 months in prison. On May 22, 2024, Charlton Townsend, age 29, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and other information presented in court, in February 2022, the Fairmont Police Department (FPD) and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office received multiple complaints about Townsend selling drugs from his residence in Fairmont. As a result, the FPD utilized a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Townsend. On March 7, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Townsend’s residence. Townsend, who was present at the time, was verbally combative with officers and had to be secured in a patrol vehicle. Prior to being secured, officers found a loaded 9mm semiautomatic gun on the ground next to Townsend. The search of the home resulted in the seizure of cocaine base (crack), cocaine, fentanyl, a sawed-off shotgun, a stolen .223/.556 AR-style pistol, a .40 caliber semi-automatic firearm and more than $6000 in cash. Townsend was arrested on the same day as the search. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Fairmont Police Department, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gainer prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-CR-000690D-RN. ###


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentence for Convicted Child Predator

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison following a trial where evidence revealed that between January 2016 and January 2020, Joel Ruiz , 65, used candy to lure two children under the age of 12 into his trailer on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, where he sexually assaulted them. There is no parole in the federal system. During the trial, Jane Doe 1 testified that Ruiz abused her when she was six or seven years old. The jury also heard from Jane Doe 2, who testified that Ruiz abused her once when she was three or four years old. Both victims described similar methods used by Ruiz to lure them and the abuse they suffered. Upon his release from prison, Ruiz will be subject to l0 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin L. Dillon and Matthew J. McGinley prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Restitution Hearing Set for Former Roswell Escrow Company Owner Convicted of Fraud Scheme

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A restitution hearing has been scheduled for former Roswell Escrow Services, Inc. owner Christopher Adam Jensen-Tanner , 45. The hearing will take place on September 18, 2024, at 1:30 PM at the U. S. Courthouse located at 100 N. Church Street, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001. Jensen-Tanner was previously sentenced to 46-months in prison for wire fraud on July 25, 2024. This hearing will provide an opportunity for all parties involved to discuss and determine the restitution amounts owed in connection with the recent case. Jensen-Tanner admitted in his plea agreement that from January 2017 through October 2019, while owning and operating Roswell Escrow Services, Inc., he engaged in a scheme to defraud clients by making false representations. The business involved holding clients' funds for 1031 exchanges and servicing real estate contracts. Jensen-Tanner misrepresented how these funds would be held or spent and used them for personal purposes on numerous occasions. If you are a victim or potential victim and would like to attend the hearing, please contact Victim Specialist Jacquie Gutierrez at (575) 522-2304 before the date of the hearing for more information. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico are seeking individuals who may have been victims of a wire fraud scheme involving Jensen-Tanner and Roswell Escrow Services, Inc. (RES) between January 2017 and October 2019. If you were a client of Jensen-Tanner and/or RES and believe you are a victim, please contact the FBI tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov. The Roswell Division of the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Securities and Financial Institutions Divisions of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Ry Ellison and Richard Williams are prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 284 Months in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Brandon James, 35 years old, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. James was sentenced to 284 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in May 2019, James agreed with others to buy methamphetamine in California to bring back to the Midwest for distribution. James provided the cash to buy bulk methamphetamine at a low price. James then flew to California with several co-conspirators, obtained more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, and loaded it into a car. As the methamphetamine was being driven across the country, the car was stopped in Missouri, and the methamphetamine was discovered. James’ co-defendants previously received the following sentences: Benjamin Hicks was sentenced to 292 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release. Terrence Reid was sentenced to 150 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release. Kelvin Franklin was sentenced to 108 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration including the DEA North Central Laboratory with the assistance of the Mishawaka Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the former St. Joseph County Drug Investigation Unit, and the Missouri State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.


title: Nevada Man Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison

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

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Joseph R. Quinones, 31 years old, of Reno, Nevada, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Quinones was sentenced to 150 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on November 14, 2023, the Fort Wayne Police Department was dispatched to a local fast-food restaurant regarding an individual with a firearm. Quinones, upset he could not order lunch items during the breakfast service, displayed a firearm and threatened employees. Law enforcement apprehended Quinones near the restaurant and located a loaded firearm on his person. Quinones has a prior felony conviction, as such, he is prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Ashcraft. 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: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 19, 2024. Gregory Lamar Bell, age 55, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Bell was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on May 8, 2024. The conviction stemmed from an incident on April 4, 2023, when Bell, who had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, possessed a Taurus G3 9mm handgun and 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which had been transported in interstate commerce. At the time he was in possession of the firearm, which was stolen, Bell was driving a stolen vehicle and was found in possession of small amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Bell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Three Colorado Men Sentenced to Over 10 Years Each in Federal Prison  for Drug Trafficking

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced three Colorado men convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance on August 12, 2024. Sean Flynn, age 44, from Denver, Colorado, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Brian White III, age 49, from Broomfield, Colorado, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Marcelo Moreno, age 35, from Brighton, Colorado, was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Flynn, White, and Moreno were indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. Flynn pleaded guilty on May 17, 2024. White III and Moreno pleaded guilty on May 28, 2024. These convictions stemmed from activities involving the large-scale distribution of cocaine in Rapid City, South Dakota. Flynn, who organized and coordinated drug sales and distribution between Denver and Rapid City, was the source of supply for Thomas Delong, who distributed the cocaine with others in Rapid City. Flynn’s primary source of supply was White, who obtained cocaine from Moreno for much of the conspiracy. Co-defendant, Thomas Delong pleaded guilty in August of 2023 and received a sentence of 12 years and seven months in prison. This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case. All three men were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following their respective sentencing.


title: Little Eagle Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison for Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation and Suffocation

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation and Suffocation. The sentencing took place on August 19, 2024. Lance Tomas Mata, age 41, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Mata was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on May 20, 2024. During the night of November 21-22, 2022, at his home in Little Eagle, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, Mata got high and intoxicated on methamphetamine and alcohol. Around 7:30 a.m., he woke up his live-in girlfriend and dragged her by the hair across the floor, then choked her for 30 seconds, telling her she would die “today” and that no one wanted her. After throwing her over a couch, Mata coerced her to kneel before him in a degrading manner and began assaulting her with his fists. Whenever the victim fell, Mata forced her to get back on her knees. If his girlfriend whimpered, Mata threatened to throw her down the stairs and chain her in the basement. This torture continued for two hours. When Mata finished, he told his girlfriend he would bury her with another woman, then fell asleep on the couch. The girlfriend fled the home and began walking the 37-mile trek through the snow to her mother’s home in Fort Yates, North Dakota, until she was picked up by a friend. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Mata was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service


title: Former Benicia Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $3.2 Million from His Former Employer

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Euan David MacGregor, formerly known as David Joseph Bean, 54, of Iowa City, Iowa, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of wire fraud for defrauding his former employer out of more than $3.2 million, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between November 2014 and January 2020, Euan MacGregor, then known as David Bean, used his position as a Chief Administrative Officer to embezzle money from his employer. According to court documents, MacGregor defrauded his former employer in two ways. First, he diverted at least 122 checks made payable to his employer to bank accounts that he controlled. MacGregor did this by creating a shell corporation that had a business name similar to the name of his employer and depositing the checks into bank accounts that he opened in the name of the shell corporation. MacGregor then presented false financial information to the company’s president and shareholders causing them to believe they had received the monies he diverted. In addition, MacGregor falsely represented to his employer that he was outsourcing his employer’s bookkeeping work to a third party, a company named Essential Business Services, another company that MacGregor created and controlled. MacGregor’s false representations caused his employer to pay Essential Business Services thousands of dollars each month for bookkeeping services that it did not perform. MacGregor used the money he fraudulently obtained to pay for personal expenses for him and his family, including mortgage payments, the payment of credit cards, educational expenses, travel, and the purchase of vehicles. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger is prosecuting the case. MacGregor is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Jan. 28, 2025. MacGregor faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Alcester Woman Sentenced for Wire Fraud

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Alcester, South Dakota, woman convicted of Wire Fraud. The sentencing took place on August 19, 2024. Michelle Warner, age 57, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100; and restitution in the amount of $261,066.09 to Heartland Counseling Services. Warner was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. She pleaded guilty on March 20, 2024. The conviction stemmed from incidents beginning on or about June 1, 2018, and continuing through May 17, 2022, when Warner, who was employed as a bookkeeper/accountant, and later as business administrator for Heartland Counseling Services, fraudulently paid herself unauthorized payroll payments and then used the funds for her own purposes. Additionally, Warner used her employer’s credit card without authority for her own personal use. This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Sioux City (NE) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case. Warner has been allowed to self-report to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on September 16, 2024.


title: Porcupine Man Sentenced for Domestic Abuse Assault

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on August 12, 2024. Tyrell White Crane-Kills Back, 24, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. White Crane-Kills Back was indicted for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner, and Assault on a Federal Officer by a federal grand jury in April of 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024. White Crane-Kills Back assaulted his intimate partner on March 17, 2024, by hitting her with a hammer and his fists in the face and the head. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case. White Crane-Kills Back was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Crimes

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Donald A. Ennis, 43, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to two counts of wire fraud. Ennis admitted that he filed false insurance claims to obtain $347,237.70 after setting fire to his residence and defrauded a volunteer fire department of $153,728 while serving as its finance and operations manager. According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2018 Ennis purchased a residence on Ridgeview Way in St. Albans with assistance from a mortgage company that required him to insure the residence for loss. Ennis obtained a residential insurance policy with a maximum value of $161,100 for the dwelling and $120,825 for its contents. Ennis paid an annual premium of approximately $979.35 for the policy, which had effective dates from November 8, 2020, through November 8, 2021. The policy covered losses for multiple contingencies including fire, and explicitly excluded intentional acts of loss or damage by Ennis. Ennis admitted that he intentionally set fire to his residence on February 15, 2021. The fire department responded but could not extinguish the fire, which consumed the residence and left it and its contents a total loss. Ennis falsely reported the fire to his Indiana-based insurance company as an accident later that day and began the process of filing a claim. Ennis admitted that he placed a series of claims electronically from February 21, 2021, to March 19, 2021, fraudulently claiming losses from the fire. Ennis further admitted that he obtained $347,237.70 from the insurance company as a result of this wire fraud scheme. The fraudulent insurance funds were deposited in Ennis’ bank account. From at least 2009, Ennis worked for a volunteer fire department serving the Tornado area of Kanawha County. As its finance and operations manager, Ennis had access to the fire department’s debit card with a North Carolina-based bank and regularly acted as its accountant. Ennis admitted that from some time prior to March 19, 2020 through about September 18, 2022, he fraudulently obtained $153,728 of the fire department’s funds through a series of ATM withdrawals and dozens of unauthorized online purchases with its debit card for his personal benefit. Ennis is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Ennis also owes $500,965.70 in restitution. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU), the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner-Special Investigations Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-129. ###


title: McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Assault

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Simple Assault and Assault by Striking, Beating and Wounding. Kenton Wynn Walks, age 39, was sentenced to one year and four months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $35. Walks was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2022 and was found guilty on May 22, 2024, following a two-day jury trial. This conviction arose from an assault that took place on April 22, 2022, in McLaughlin, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. The victim in this matter was laying on the ground, working on a vehicle, when Walks walked up to the victim and kicked him in the head. The victim suffered a laceration on the rear right side of his head, which produced a significant amount of blood and caused him to lose consciousness. The laceration was approximately three inches long and required six staples to be closed. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case. Walks was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.


title: Three Federal Workers Indicted on PPP Loan Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned indictments charging three Metro East residents for scheming to falsely obtain more than $20,000 each in pandemic relief funds through the Paycheck Protection Program. In response to financial hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Small Business Administration utilized the Paycheck Protection Program to offer relief and forgivable loans to struggling businesses. Under PPP, business owners could apply for loans to offset operational costs for payroll, employee benefits, facility expenses and other bills. “Countless small business owners and employees fell on hard economic times during the COVID-19 pandemic, and PPP loans allowed many to keep their families fed and lights on,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “In one of the most prevalent and widespread fraud crimes in history, the greedy individuals who sought to steal from the federal government under false pretenses and enrich themselves with PPP funds will be held accountable under the law.” Katherine L. Liggins, 36, of Belleville, is facing one count of wire fraud and one count of material false statement for allegedly lying to acquire more than $20,000 in PPP funds. Eric C. Scott, 43, of Belleville, is facing one count of wire fraud and one count of material false statement for allegedly applying for and spending more than $20,000 in PPP funds under false pretenses. Tamika N. Wilson, 44, of Belleville, is facing two counts of wire fraud, two counts of material false statement and two counts of material false document. Wilson is accused of applying for and receiving more than $40,000 in PPP loans she was not entitled to. “These indictments send a clear message that VA employees will be held accountable if involved in fraudulent activities,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.” The defendants also used misinformation to apply for loan forgiveness and each was approved. At the time of the alleged misconduct, Liggins, Scott and Wilson were full-time employees of the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Louis County. An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. Wire fraud convictions are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and material false statement and document convictions may lead to up to five years in federal prison. Agents with the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General are contributing to the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Verseman is prosecuting the case.


title: Environmental Manager Pleads Guilty to Stealing From Employer

body_text: GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Michael Mayfield, who orchestrated a more than one-million-dollar scheme to defraud his employer by stealing rebate checks and submitting false invoices to his company, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. “Mayfield stole over one million dollars from his employer related to environmental and recycling programs,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “After being entrusted with a fiduciary role, he betrayed that trust and demonstrated that he cared more about his personal gain than the faith his employer placed in him.” “Michael Mayfield not only betrayed his employer, but his actions ultimately increased the costs of business not only for the company but it’s customers too,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “The FBI is committed following every lead to bring white-collar criminals like Mayfield to face justice.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Around early December 2016, Michael Mayfield was employed as an environmental manager at the Mars Wrigley factory in Flowery Branch, Georgia. In that role, he oversaw the Health, Safety, and Environmental and Recycling Programs. The recycling waste produced at the factory was valuable and companies often made direct payments or sent Mars Wrigley rebate checks after disposal of the material. But unbeknownst to Mars Wrigley, Mayfield diverted the checks to his own company, WWJ Recycling. The fraudulently obtained checks totaled over $500,000. Mayfield used the funds to pay for hunting trips worth more than $100,000, a donation to his church for more than $80,000, and more than $200,000 in personal checks. Mayfield also directed his co-conspirator to create false invoices from ASA Safety Supply, a supplier to Mars Wrigley. The co-conspirator sent the invoiced items to Mayfield for his personal use and then submitted false invoices from ASA Safety Supply to Mars Wrigley for payment. The purchased items included football supplies for the Flowery Branch High School football team, such as cleats and clothing, improvements to the stadium, tickets to a University of Georgia football game, and gift cards. These false invoices totaled over $199,000. Mayfield also sent invoices from WWJ Recycling to ASA Safety Supply. His co-conspirator directed ASA Safety Supply to pay those invoices and then submit the false invoices to Mars Wrigley for payment for work that was not done. The WWJ Recycle invoices totaled over $750,000. Michael Mayfield, 55, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on August 19, 2024. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story in Gainesville, Georgia. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thomas McNeil Hedrick II, 36, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 26, 2023, Hedrick visited a Shrewsbury residence while armed with a Ruger model AR-556 semi-automatic rifle loaded with a 60-round drum magazine and equipped with a bipod. Hedrick admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms, and that he sought to conceal the loaded semi-automatic rifle under his jacket when he entered and left the residence. Hedrick further admitted that surveillance video at the residence captured his actions. The surveillance video captured another felony offense committed while Hedrick was in possession of the firearm. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hedrick knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of his prior felony conviction for wanton endangerment in Kanawha County Circuit Court on March 1, 2022. Hedrick is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the result. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-56. ###


title: Two people arrested, charged with fentanyl possession

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Edwin Santana-Cosme, 56, and Arieana Garcia Del Gado, 37, both of Buffalo, NY, were arrested and charged in by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the criminal complaint, on August 17, 2024, the New York State Police conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by defendant Santana Cosme, with defendant Del Gado in the passenger seat. Santana Cosme hesitated to pull over, while Del Gado appeared to turn around to move an unknown object behind the driver’s seat. After eventually stopping, the defendants provided conflicting stories regarding their travel. A K9 dog was brought in and alerted to the presence of narcotics in two boxes located behind the driver seat. The boxes were searched and found to contain two vacuum-sealed packages of suspected fentanyl. Both Santana Cosme and Del Gado were arrested and taken into custody. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Stanley Edwards, III. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Leonard Samiia, 32, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to production of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about February 20, 2023, Samiia employed, used, persuaded, induced, and enticed a minor victim residing within the Southern District of West Virginia to send images of her nude vagina to him through the internet using an instant messaging service. Samiia admitted that the minor victim stated that she was not 18 yet. Samiia also sent the images back to the minor victim using the messaging service. Samiia admitted that he sent a series of messages to the minor victim, directing her to make specific poses and take specific actions for these images. Samiia further admitted that he threatened the minor victim with the images she sent him, including by messaging her “(h)ave fun with these pics being posted now,” “being posted all over Facebook google snapchat twitch and everywhere,” and “THEY WILL BE POSTED ON YOUR SCHOOL WEBSITE TOO.” In one message, Samiia threatened to travel to where the minor victim lived and physically harm her and others. Samiia is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Samiia also owes restitution, in an amount to be determined by the Court, and must register as a sex offender. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-18. ###


title: Charlotte Man Is Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Possession Of A Firearm By A Felon

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. sentenced Everette Josiah Phifer, 30, of Charlotte, to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Dena J. King U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, in 2016, Phifer was convicted in North Carolina of Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury and served a term of imprisonment. As a result of the conviction, Phifer is prohibited from possessing firearms. Court documents show that between February 7, 2022, and March 5, 2022, Phifer illegally possessed a firearm. Specifically, on March 5, 2022, CMPD officers responded to a 911 call for a shooting at an apartment complex in Charlotte. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered that at least 79 shots had been fired from multiple guns, and an innocent resident of the complex had been struck and killed by a stray bullet. Witnesses directed law enforcement to a particular apartment within the complex believed to be connected to the shooting. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at that apartment. Phifer was located inside along with a quantity of fentanyl pills and several firearms, including an SKS rifle and a loaded Glock handgun with an undermount laser hidden inside a toilet tank, and ammunition. Phifer’s cell phone was also seized and analyzed. Law enforcement recovered from the cell phone photos of Phifer with the same SKS rifle that was found in the apartment, and a video that showed the same Glock handgun also seized from the apartment. On June 23, 2023, Phifer pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In January 2024, Marcus Alexander Allen, another individual connected to the March 5th shooting and the apartment where Phifer was found, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon committed on March 5, 2022. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Sielaff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Fraudster sentenced for nationwide scheme to sell thousands of fake Texas paper vehicle tags

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Dallas man who formerly resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiring to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Daniel Rocky Christine-Tani pleaded guilty Nov. 29, 2023, to conspiring with others to buy and sell thousands of fraudulent Texas-issued temporary buyer tags for car sales when no cars were actually sold. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Christine-Tani to serve 93 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Christine-Tani and others engaged in a widespread fraud to use fictitious car dealerships to generate and sell Texas temporary buyer tags without actually selling cars. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Christine-Tani committed the offense utilizing mass marketing and sophisticated means. Christine-Tani must also pay restitution to the Texas Department of Motor vehicles in the amount of $3,440,625. “The prosecution sounded the alarm that led to changes in Texas law which will make paper vehicle tags a thing of the past by next year,” said Hamdani. “Christine-Tani’s behavior was part of an epidemic of fake Texas paper tags that threatened the safety of Texans and citizens throughout the United States.” “Through the sale of thousands of fake Texas temporary tags, Christine-Tani and his partners permitted criminals to commit crimes without fearing the consequences,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “This paper tag scheme enabled criminals to use fake Texas buyer tags while perpetrating violent crimes like drive-by shootings and armed robberies. FBI Houston agents proudly worked alongside law enforcement partners across the nation to dismantle this conspiracy which endangered so many American lives.” Christine-Tani and co-conspirators used the internet to buy and sell the fraudulent state-issued buyer tags and exchange proceeds from the illegal tag sales. At the time of his plea, Christine-Tani acknowledged he and his co-conspirators used accounts on Google Mail, Instagram and Facebook to receive and deliver fraudulent buyer tags to illegal sellers and to make purchases all over the United States. He also admitted he and his co-conspirators received and shared fraud proceeds via electronic payment services such as Cash App and Zelle. Christine-Tani was taken into custody following the sentencing hearing. Emmanuel Padilla Reyes aka Christian Hernandez Bonilla or Noel Rivera is still a fugitive in this case. The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone providing information that directly leads to his arrest. Those with information about the fugitive’s location should call 1-800-call-FBI or email TIPS.FBI.GOV . The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance of Travis County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Adam Goldman prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Army Financial Counselor Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Defrauding Gold Star Families

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: Video statement by U.S. Attorney Sellinger TRENTON, N.J. – A former Monmouth County, New Jersey, financial counselor with the United States Army who is a major in the U.S. Army Reserve was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for admitted defrauding Gold Star families and related crimes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Caz Craffy, aka “Carz Craffey,” 42, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to the indictment filed against him, which charged six counts of wire fraud and one count each of securities fraud, making false statements in a loan application, committing acts affecting a personal financial interest, and making false statements to a federal agency. Judge Castner imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court. “Caz Craffy was sentenced to prison today for brazenly taking advantage of his role as an Army financial counselor to prey upon families of our fallen service members, at their most vulnerable moment, when they were dealing with a tragedy born out of their loved one’s patriotism. These Gold Star families have laid the dearest sacrifice on the altar of freedom. And they deserve our utmost respect and compassion, as well as some small measure of financial security from a grateful nation. No amount of money can undo their enormous loss. Instead of offering guidance, Caz Craffy chose to defraud these heroic families. The lengthy term of imprisonment imposed today is just punishment for this heinous and shameless crime.” U.S.. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “Those who prey on the family members of fallen soldiers, will be sought out and held accountable,” Special Agent in Charge Joel Kirch, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Northeast Field Office, said. “The hard work, long hours, and dedication of our partners within the Task Force, from the United States Attorney’s Office, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and our own investigative analyst, resulted in this investigation’s swift resolution.” “Families of service members who have sacrificed their lives for our country should receive care, respect, and dignity from those assigned to help them secure survivor benefits,” Principal Deputy Director James R. Ives of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the criminal investigative arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, said. “This outcome underscores DCIS and our law enforcement allies’ unwavering dedication to ensuring that those who exploit their official roles to prey on mourning military families are held accountable.” “Craffy made a conscious decision to defraud Gold Star families suffering from losing their loved one who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving this country,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “The money these survivors are given does nothing to ease their suffering. It does, however, help with the burdens they face, such as paying off a mortgage or putting their children through college. They believed Craffy was acting in their best interest, but instead, he was using their money as a method to make his own. Heartless and despicable don’t even begin to sum up his crimes.” “The sentencing of Craffy represents the culmination of a thorough, long-term investigation that enabled us to obtain justice for the military families robbed in this case,” Homeland Security Investigations Newark acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker said. “Craffy dishonored the Gold Star families he swore to serve and disgraced his position as an advisor to these families by seeking his own gain in illicit financial transactions. I am proud of our multiagency team of detectives, agents and prosecutors who prevailed in holding this fraudster accountable.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: When a member of the Armed Services dies during active duty, his or her surviving beneficiary, now a member of a Gold Star family, is entitled to a $100,000 payment and the servicemember’s life insurance of up to $400,000. These payments are disbursed to the beneficiary in a matter of weeks or months following the servicemember’s death. To assist the beneficiaries in this time of need, the military provides a number of services to the servicemember’s family, including the assistance of a financial counselor. From November 2017 to January 2023, Craffy was a civilian employee of the U.S. Army, working as a financial counselor with the Casualty Assistance Office. He is also a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he has been enlisted since 2003. Craffy was responsible for providing general financial education to the surviving beneficiaries. He was prohibited from offering any personal opinions regarding the surviving beneficiary’s benefits decisions. Craffy acknowledged that he was not permitted to participate personally in any government matter in which he had an outside financial interest. However, without telling the Army, Craffy simultaneously maintained outside employment with two separate financial investment firms. Craffy used his position as an Army financial counselor to identify and target Gold Star families and other military families. He admitted to encouraging the Gold Star families to invest their survivor benefits in investment accounts that he managed in his outside, private employment. Based upon Craffy’s false representations and omissions, the vast majority of the Gold Star families mistakenly believed that Craffy’s management of their money was done on behalf of and with the Army’s authorization. From May 2018 to November 2022, Craffy obtained more than $9.9 million from Gold Star families to invest in accounts managed by Craffy in his private capacity. Once in control of this money, Craffy repeatedly executed trades, often without the family’s authorization. These unauthorized trades earned Craffy high commissions. During the timeframe of the scheme, the Gold Star family accounts lost more than $3.7 million, while Craffy personally earned more than $1.4 million in commissions, drawn from the family accounts. In addition to the prison term, Judge Castner sentenced Craffy to three years of supervised release and ordered forfeiture of $1.4 million. Restitution will be determined at a later date. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has a pending civil complaint against Craffy based on the same and additional conduct. Craffy has been permanently prohibited from association with any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA). U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kirch; special agents of DCIS, under the direction of Principal Deputy Director Ives; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy; and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Walker, with the investigation leading to the indictment. He also expressed appreciation for the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the direction of Gurbir S. Grewal, Director, Division of Enforcement, and FINRA, under the direction of Head of Enforcement Bill St. Louis. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark and Martha K. Nye of the Criminal Division in Trenton.


title: FCI Schuylkill Inmate Indicted For Possession Of A Weapon

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Anthony Gilbert-Brown, age 29, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges Gilbert-Brown with possessing a prohibited object designed to be used as a weapon, commonly known as a “shank.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Centre County Man Indicted For Drug Trafficking And Firearm Offenses

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Taylon Hamilton, age 30, of Centre County, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking and firearm offenses. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges that Hamilton possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distributed methamphetamine on multiple occasions. It is further alleged that Hamilton possessed a Hi-Point Model C9 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number after previously been convicted of a felony offense. The charges stem from a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Centre County Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Moreno is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Indictment is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Two Members of Marion Gardens Jersey City Gang Sentenced for Racketeering, Violent Crimes

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two members of a Jersey City gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex were sentenced for their roles in two different shootings and other gang-related crimes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Jakeem Gibson-Madison, aka “Beanz,” 30; and Terick Rogers, aka“Moot,” 32, both of Jersey City, New Jersey, were sentenced before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court. Judge Cecchi sentenced Gibson-Madison to 15 years in prison and sentenced Rogers to 16 years in prison. Both defendants were ordered to serve five-year terms of supervised release following their terms of imprisonment. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Gibson-Madison, Terick Rogers, and others were all members and associates of the neighborhood street gang associated with the Marion Gardens Housing Complex. They routinely distributed cocaine and heroin, among other controlled substances, in and around the Marion Gardens Housing Complex. They also engaged in acts of violence, including numerous assaults, shootings, and murders, which targeted rival gang members and others. Gibson-Madison and another member of the enterprise participated in a shooting on Jan. 9, 2019. Gibson-Madison drove his fellow gang member to the area of Grant Avenue and Ocean Avenue to target a rival gang member, at which time his fellow gang member shot two victims and attempted to shoot a third. On June 30, 2018, Rogers, with two other members of the enterprise, collectively shot five people while celebrating “Meech Day” in honor of a deceased fellow gang member; U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; investigators of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez: and the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, for the investigation leading to the charges. This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate to strategize and prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the Jersey City Police Department, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, the Hudson County Jail, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace, Chief of the Criminal Division for the District of New Jersey in Newark.


title: Law Firm Employee Who Embezzled Nearly $1.5M Sentenced to 4+ Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A law firm controller who embezzled over $1.48 million from her firm by inflating her payroll was sentenced today to more than four years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Christiane Kathleen Irwin, 44, was indicted in March 2022. She pleaded guilty in August 2023 to wire fraud and was sentenced Wednesday to 50 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr, who also ordered her to pay $1,483,008.56 in restitution. According to court documents, Ms. Irwin, who worked for a law firm and was responsible for submitting payroll each week, falsely inflated her salary, which was set at approximately $140,000 annually, not including bonuses, some as high as $50,000. In accordance with her fraudulent payroll submission, the firm’s payroll vendor transferred her purported pay from the firm’s bank account into her bank account every two weeks. Over the course of three years, from 2019 to 2021, Ms. Irwin took home over $1.48 million in fraudulently obtained funds. Irwin used these funds to enhance her personal lifestyle, including the purchase of a luxury vehicle, and multiple vacations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nashonme Johnson and Jenna Rudoff prosecuted the case with the help of Financial Auditor Sheila Powell.


title: Lee County Offenders Collect More Than 127 Years in Federal Prison Sentences for Firearms, Drug Offenses

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO, N.C. – Since May 2023, federal judges have sentenced 17 defendants with charges originating in Lee County, North Carolina, to an aggregate total of 1,529 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). In the most recent case, SAHEEM SHAREEF WILLIAMS, age 37, of Sanford, North Carolina, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Loretta C. Biggs to 120 months’ imprisonment, the maximum sentence allowed by statute. WILLIAMS was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release. According to court records, on April 7, 2022, Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to WILLIAMS’ residence in Sanford for a domestic violence call. The situation escalated when WILLIAMS barricaded himself inside the home and opened fire on deputies. Deputies briefly exchanged fire with WILLIAMS but never again discharged their weapons. WILLIAMS, however, periodically shot from inside his home towards deputies who had taken cover on the property. One deputy reported hearing a bullet fly by him, while another reported having taken cover behind a pickup truck when a bullet from WILLIAMS’ gun struck it. Deputies repeatedly ordered WILLIAMS to surrender. After 45 minutes, he threw his .22 caliber revolver onto the porch and left the residence with his hands raised. WILLIAMS is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. He pleaded guilty on October 16, 2023, to possessing a firearm as a felon. “The citizens of Sanford and Lee County are safer as a result of these prosecutions,” said U.S. Attorney Hairston. “The cases were investigated and prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which allows federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to focus resources on repeat, violent offenders, many of whom illegally possess firearms. PSN is a proven strategy for reducing violent crime in areas where the strategy is in use.” 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. Today’s sentencing is the most recent in a series of cases resulting from a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement intended to reduce violent and gun-related crime in Sanford and Lee County. At least 17 defendants, including WILLIAMS, have been sentenced for firearm or drug offenses in U.S. District Court for the MDNC in the past 15 months. Several other defendants pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced before the end of the year. The Sanford/Lee County defendants include the following: SENTENCED Diante Teryl Roberson, age 26, of Sanford, NC: Roberson was sentenced on May 9, 2023, to 46 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. Jamel Christopher Harris, age 29, of Sanford, NC: Harris was sentenced on May 22, 2023, to 30 days’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for making a false statement on ATF Form 4473 in acquisition of a firearm. Steven Trent Goins, age 29, of Sanford, NC: Goins was sentenced on June 14, 2023, to 97 months’ imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Tyquan Bernard Jones, age 25, of Sanford, NC: Jones was sentenced on September 6, 2023, to 21 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine hydrochloride. Brian Thomas Bright, age 48, of Sanford, NC: Bright was sentenced on September 12, 2023, to 97 months’ imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Larry Brown, age 47, of Sanford, NC: Brown was sentenced on September 12, 2023, to 100 months’ imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Robert Terrell Bush, age 33, of Sanford, NC: Bush was sentenced on September 26, 2023, to 78 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine hydrochloride. Rosa Raquel Diaz, age 25, of Broadway, NC: Diaz was sentenced on November 17, 2023, to 87 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine hydrochloride. Chad Marques Jennings, age 41, [no permanent address]: Jennings was sentenced on December 19, 2023, to 120 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon. Christian Berberana Diaz, age 44, [no permanent address]: Diaz was sentenced on March 8, 2024, to 100 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon. Calvin Devonte Bush, age 29, of Winston-Salem, NC: Bush was sentenced on March 12, 2024, to 60 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon and doing so while under a term of federal supervised release. Keyonta Tyreese McDougald, age 28, of Durham, NC: McDougald was sentenced on March 15, 2024, to 80 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Jeremy Fontaz Moore, age 28, of Fayetteville, NC: Moore was sentenced on June 13, 2024, to 120 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon and distributing fentanyl. Ricky Brown, age 31, of Sanford, NC: Brown was sentenced on July 24, 2024, to 168 months’ imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl. Tommy Gene East, Jr., age 52, of Sanford, NC: East was sentenced on August 2, 2024, to 144 months’ imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine. Jonathan Alexander Washington, age 33, of Sanford, NC: Washington was sentenced on August 2, 2024, to 90 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for possessing ammunition as a felon. PENDING SENTENCING Dalvin Davis, age 27, of Sanford, NC: Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2024, for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. Flavio Cesar Sandoval-Romero, age 29, of Mexico: Sandoval-Romero is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17, 2024, for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride. Latavious Kwame McIver, age 35, of Sanford, NC: McIver is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24, 2024, for distributing fentanyl. The following agencies investigated or assisted with one or more of the above cases: Sanford Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County District Attorney’s Office, North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections Special Operations and Intelligence Unit, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jacob D. Pryor and Laura J. Dildine of the Middle District of North Carolina. ###


title: Vienna man pleads guilty to illegally possessing ricin

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Vienna man pled guilty today to possession of ricin by an unregistered person. According to court documents, in December 2022, Russell Richardson Vane IV, 42, conducted a number of searches on his federal government workplace computer for instructions on how to isolate ricin toxin from castor beans. At some time in December 2022 or January 2023, Vane obtained castor beans and successfully separated ricin toxin from them in his residence in Vienna. Vane disposed of the byproducts of the production and stored a sample of the ricin in a test tube for further testing but was unable to readily obtain testing equipment. He kept the test tube in a storage box in his home. On April 10, 2024, laboratory equipment that Vane used to isolate the ricin was recovered during a search of his residence. Vane does not have a registration as required by regulations under the Public Health Services Act to lawfully possess ricin, which is a deadly poison. Vane is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7. He faces up to five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Sanjay Virmani, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Counterterrorism Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda St. Cyr and Danya E. Atiyeh are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-101.


title: Bradford County Man Indicted For Drug Trafficking And Firearm Offenses

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jamar McDowell, age 32, of Columbia Cross Roads, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for drug trafficking and firearm offenses. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges that on or about May 30, 2024, in Bradford County, McDowell possessed with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, psilocin and marijuana. It is further alleged that McDowell possessed a Glock 37 .45 caliber handgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges stem from a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Border Enforcement Security Taskforce, the Elmira Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Indictment is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jack Paskin, 34, of Nelsonville, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to money laundering. According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about mid-summer 2019 to on or about August 31, 2020, Paskin facilitated the shipment of wholesale quantities of marijuana to Mullens, West Virginia. Paskin admitted that the shipments were directed to addresses provided by Merrick Rice, who then obtained the marijuana packages following their delivery. Paskin further admitted that he knew Rice sold the marijuana to other individuals who then distributed it within the Southern District of West Virginia. Proceeds from Rice’s sale of the marijuana were deposited into bank accounts that Paskin individually controlled or had signatory authority over. On February 24, 2021, Paskin withdrew $30,000 in cash from one of the bank accounts he knew held proceeds from Rice’s marijuana sales. Paskin admitted that he knew that the $30,000 and the other deposited funds represented proceeds from illegal drug sales in the Southern District of West Virginia. Paskin is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Rice, 44, of Mullens, and Miranda Aliff, 32, of Rock Creek, both pleaded guilty on May 7, 2024, to structuring transactions with one or more domestic financial institutions. Rice and Aliff admitted to structuring bank deposits of the illicit drug proceeds totaling $228,000 to evade currency transaction reporting requirements, and await sentencing. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-122. ###


title: Former Brattleboro Resident Sentenced to Prison for Social Security Fraud

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Ella Mae Woods, 76, a former Brattleboro resident who recently has been living in Iowa, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Rutland to twelve months and one day of imprisonment following her May 2024 guilty plea to a charge of wire fraud. Visiting U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino from the Northern District of New York ordered that Woods serve a one-year term of supervised release upon completion of her prison term and pay restitution in the amount of $328,000. Woods has been incarcerated since she was found to be in violation of the conditions of her pre-trial release in April. In September 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Woods with wire fraud and theft of government money. The indictment charged Woods with misappropriating her mother’s Social Security benefit payments for about 28 years after her mother died. Woods’ mother, Jeannette Styles, died in Brattleboro in early 1994. At the time of her death, Styles was receiving monthly Social Security benefit payments and those payments should have stopped upon Styles’ death. The Social Security Administration, however, did not learn of Styles’ death until about 2022 and between 1994 and 2022 SSA continued to send payments to Styles. Woods fraudulently converted the payments to Styles for her own benefit. As part of the scheme, Woods twice opened bank accounts in her mother’s name, years after her death, in one case forging Styles’ signature on account-opening documents. Altogether, Woods misappropriated $328,000 in SSA payments. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commends the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration for its investigation of this case. Woods is represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels. The prosecutors are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Waples and Thomas Aliberti.


title: Washington Man Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking 100,000 Fentanyl Pills

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Washington man has been sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute tens of thousands of fentanyl pills, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, during the early morning hours of August 31, 2022, Bloomington police officers were investigating a report of suspected fraud at an area hotel. The officers encountered Marcus Trice, 38, of Lakewood, Washington, and placed him under arrest for his suspected involvement in the financial fraud scheme. Officers learned that Trice had flown to the Twin Cities that night from Seattle, Washington. During a subsequent search of Trice’s belongings, officers found eleven large vitamin bottles wrapped in clothing inside his suitcase. The vitamin bottles were filled with over 100,000 round blue “M-Box” or “M-30” fentanyl pills. On January 25, 2024, Trice pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Michael J. Davis. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bloomington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.


title: Tulsa Man Sentenced After Second Assault on Same Victim

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Victor Manuel Vallejo-Rivera, 34, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Judge Hill ordered Vallejo-Rivera to 84 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. “Vallejo-Rivera did not believe the law applied to him,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This case shows that prosecutors in the NDOK will continue to advocate and seek justice for victims of domestic violence in our district. I hope the victim can move forward in healing.” After serving 24 months in prison for strangling the victim, Vallejo-Rivera was released in July 2023. Upon his release in 2023, he continued to remain in contact with the victim and violated several conditions of his supervised release. The court then ordered him back to federal prison to serve 18 months. In November 2023, Vallejo-Rivera was indicted for assaulting the victim again. During a heated argument, Vallejo-Rivera flushed the victim's anti-seizure medication, took her cell phone and the keys to her car, slashed her tires, and threatened to kill her. When the victim tried to leave, Vallejo-Rivera cut her face. She managed to call 911, but Vallejo-Rivera hung up the call. When Officers arrived to check on the victim, Vallejo-Rivera was standing over the victim while she was having a seizure. The victim is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Vallejo-Rivera will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Upon release, Judge Hill further ordered the defendant not to have contact with the victim. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa Weems and Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.