title: Tax Attorneys And Insurance Agent Convicted In Tax Shelter Scheme

body_text: STATESVILLE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte has found two tax attorneys and an insurance agent guilty of conspiring to defraud the United States and helping clients file false tax returns based on their promotion and operation of a fraudulent tax shelter, said Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS CI), join U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the Western District of North Carolina made the announcement. “Tax fraud is not just a crime against the government,” said U.S. Attorney King. “It’s a betrayal of trust to every honest taxpayer. Today’s guilty verdict sends a clear message that we will not tolerate tax fraudsters who promote and operate fraudulent tax schemes. Their conduct compromises the integrity of our tax system and burdens the rest of us with the weight of their deceit.” “The defendants’ use of tax schemes was clearly intended to conceal income from the IRS,” said Special Agent in Charge Eakins. “Today’s verdict reinforces our commitment to every American taxpayer that IRS CI special agents will continue to identify and help bring to prosecution those who promote illegal schemes designed to evade the payment of taxes.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 2011 to November 2022, Michael Elliott Kohn and Catherine Elizabeth Chollet, both attorneys and residents of St. Louis, Missouri, and David Shane Simmons, a licensed insurance agent and broker based out of Jefferson, North Carolina, promoted, marketed, and sold to clients a fraudulent tax scheme known as the Gain Elimination Plan. The defendants designed the Plan to conceal their clients’ income from the IRS by inflating business expenses through fictitious royalties and management fees. These fictitious fees were paid, on paper, to a limited partnership largely owned by a charity. In reality, Kohn and Chollet fabricated the fees. Kohn and Chollet advised clients that the Plan’s limited partnership was required to obtain insurance on the life of the clients to cover the income that was allocated to the charitable organization. The death benefit was directly tied to the anticipated profitability of the clients’ businesses and how much of the clients’ taxable income was intended to be sheltered. Simmons earned more than $2.3 million in commissions from selling the insurance policies, splitting the commissions with Kohn and Chollet. Kohn and Chollet received more than $1 million from Simmons. Simmons also filed false personal tax returns that underreported his business income and inflated his business expenses, resulting in a tax loss of more than $480,000. In total, the defendants caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $4 million. A sentencing date has not been set. They face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each charge of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Simmons also faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count of filing false personal tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte and Trial Attorneys Kevin Schneider and Todd Ellinwood of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Four indicted for scheme to smuggle people into the United States for profit

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A federal grand jury in Seattle has indicted four people for a conspiracy to smuggle non-citizens across the northern border for profit, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The group has been connected to two smuggling episodes in November and December 2023. The four named in the indictment were arrested Seattle, Chicago, and Santa Rosa, California. They will be transported to Seattle for arraignment in the weeks ahead. According to a criminal complaint and the indictment, the four conspirators have been linked to two smuggling events involving eight different citizens of India. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to bring in and transport non-citizens for profit, eight counts of bringing a non-citizen into the U.S. at a place other than a designated Port of Entry and eight counts of attempted illegal transportation of a non-citizen for financial gain. The defendants are: Rajat Rajat, 26, of Santa Rosa, California who was arrested in Chicago; Sushil Kumar, 35, of Santa Rosa, California; Bobby Joe Green, 67, of Santa Rosa, California; and Sneha, 20, a citizen of India who is in the U.S. on a student visa and goes by just her last name. She was arrested in Renton and released on an appearance bond. According to records filed in the case, on November 27, 2023, a motion-activated camera caught multiple people jumping a fence near the Boundary Village Apartments. The fence is a quarter mile east of Peace Arch Park. Border Patrol agents near the apartments saw five people run to a white minivan. The vehicle was stopped by Border Patrol. Five citizens of India were in the van with Bobby Joe Green as the driver. The investigation revealed that Kumar and Rajat directed the non-citizens on where and how to cross the border, and that Rajat paid Green to transport the non-citizens from the border. Rajat asked for monetary payments from the non-citizens for being smuggled into the U.S. Similarly, in December 2023, Rajat contacted three citizens of India in Peace Arch Park and allegedly directed them how to cross through the park and get into a car driven by Sneha. The car was stopped, and the non-citizens were interviewed. They indicated they had promised to make monetary payments to be smuggled into the U.S. Rajat was picked up near the border after Sneha and the three Indian nationals had been taken into custody. All of the charges in the indictment are punishable by up to ten years in prison. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Border Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jin Kim. rajat_indictment.pdf


title: Richmond felon sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm

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

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, at around 10:00 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2023, Richmond Police observed Walter Lavelle Allen, 25, displaying a firearm in an Instagram story that Allen posted at around 8:00 p.m. At around 11:30 p.m., a Richmond Police officer on foot patrol on North 25 th Street found Allen asleep in the passenger seat of a parked vehicle, with the firearm, a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol, under Allen’s leg. The officer secured the firearm and detained Allen. On June 23, 2020, Allen was convicted for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. As a previously convicted felon, Allen cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case. 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. 3:23-cr-121.


title: Justice Department Seeks Injunction Against California Tax Return Preparer for Allegedly Filing Fraudulent Returns

component: Tax Division

body_text: The Justice Department filed a civil complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against a California tax return preparer. The complaint seeks to enjoin Maria Guitron, also known as Maria Lopez, both individually and doing business as Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing federal income tax returns for others. The complaint alleges that Guitron and others at Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, which is in Modesto, have allegedly prepared tax returns for customers that falsely understated their federal income tax liabilities by fabricating businesses and business expenses and fabricating and inflating deductions for child, dependent and education expenses. The complaint goes on to allege that from 2011 to 2019, the IRS sent Guitron at least 11 letters notifying her of issues with the tax returns she prepared or sought improvements in her preparation. The complaint also alleges the IRS previously found that Guitron had violated due diligence requirements when determining her customers’ eligibility for tax credits in 2013 and 2014, imposing fines of $23,000 against her in 2015. Despite repeated written warnings and prior fines, Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service allegedly continued to prepare and file thousands of false tax returns every year. As the complaint states, the IRS reviewed tax returns from 2019 through 2023 and interviewed a random sample of 51 customers of Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service from the 2019 tax year. According to the complaint, the IRS found that of those 51 customers, 38 had returns that understated their tax liabilities, resulting in approximately $103,474 in lost tax revenue to the United States from those returns alone. The complaint alleges that Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service have prepared and filed more than 2,000 tax returns each year since 2019, likely resulting in millions of dollars each year in direct financial harm to the United States in lost tax revenue. Guitron’s conduct also allegedly harmed customers by exposing them to statutory penalties and accruing interest for tax underpayments. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen Tax Scams and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against dishonest tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. Guitron Complaint Filed.pdf


title: Defendant Pleads Guilty for Environmental Crimes Committed in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Las Mareas Community of Salinas, Puerto Rico

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Pedro Luis Bones Torres pleaded guilty today to environmental crimes related to the illegal construction and deposit of material into the wetlands and waters of the United States in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (the “Jobos Estuarine Reserve”) and Las Mareas community of Salinas, Puerto Rico. According to court documents, starting no later than January of 2020, Bones-Torres engaged in construction and land clearing activities on a property to the South of Camino de Galileo in the las Mareas area of Salinas, Puerto Rico (the “Property”). At the time that the Defendant began construction activities, the majority of the property was a wetland consisting of mangrove trees and open area that was occasionally partially submerged by the sea tides. The wetland area of property was within the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Between January 2020 and October 2022, Bones-Torres removed mangroves and deposited fill material within the wetland area of the Property using excavation and earth moving equipment that the Defendant operated. Bones-Torres disposed of the mangroves at the edges of the property and on Camino de Galileo. After the Defendant filled the wetlands, he built a concrete pad, a concrete gazebo with an outdoor kitchen, a wooden gazebo, and a dock extending into Mar Negro. Bones-Torres did not seek or receive approval to fill the wetlands, and at no point was the Defendant permitted to fill wetlands on or near the Property. Bones-Torres pleaded guilty to one violation of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1311(a), and one violation of the Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 U.S.C. § 403. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for the Clean Water Act violation as well as one year in prison for the Rivers and Harbors Act violation. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon for the U.S. EPA Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement. Various federal agencies are involved in this ongoing investigation into environmental crimes in the Jobos Estuarine Reserve and Las Mareas community, including the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army-CID), U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General (DOC-OIG), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement (NOAA-OLE), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement (FW OLE). The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of the Environmental Crimes Section of the U.S. Department of Justice and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe, Environmental Litigation Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico. If you have any information related to this investigation or environmental crimes in the area, please contact enforcement officials, which may be done anonymously. The EPA can be contacted at (787) 977-5821 or at https://echo.epa.gov/denuncie-violaciones-ambientales . The FBI can be contacted at (787) 987-6500 or https://tips.fbi.gov/ . For more information on the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Reserve, please visit https://www.drna.pr.gov/jbnerr/ or https://coast.noaa.gov/nerrs/reserves/jobos-bay.html . ###


title: Caldwell Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Sexually Entice a Minor

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Tyler Douglas Asker, 33, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on the charge of attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor, which involved the defendant using the internet to entice a minor into sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, between August 3, 2023, and August 18, 2023, Asker communicated online with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. During the communications, Asker sent the purported child an explicit video and discussed engaging the child in sexual acts. Asker requested the child’s address and was arrested after he traveled to meet the child. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Asker to ten years of supervised release. Asker will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction. The investigation was part of “Operation Summertime Blues,” a joint local, state, and federal undercover operation conducted in Boise in August 2023 to identify individuals predisposed to meet minors for sexual contact. Participating agencies included the Boise Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Meridian Police Department, the Garden City Police Department, and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office. Asker is the last of three defendants charged in federal court as a result of Operation Summertime Blues. Earlier this year, Shawn Edwin Long, 42, of Kuna, and Daniel DeLong, 44, of Ontario, were both sentenced by Judge Winmill to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for attempted use of interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor. “I am grateful to all the agencies who supported ‘Operation Summertime Blues,’” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “The proactive and collaborative approach used to catch these would-be predators is essential to protecting Idaho’s children. We will continue to pursue anyone seeking to sexually exploit minors through online communications.” “This attempt to prey on a child was fortunately thwarted though the unquestionable expertise found through our law enforcement partnerships,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Dark ideations that would put our children at risk cannot be allowed to thrive in the shadows of cyberspace, and it is our collective efforts that will protect Idaho communities from online predators.” “I am very proud of the work our ICAC Unit has done to protect children across Idaho,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “They have forged solid relationships with federal and local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies across Idaho. These demonstrated partnerships are critical for keeping our communities safe from predators and abusers.” “One of the highest responsibilities we have as law enforcement, is to protect those who are vulnerable and unable to protect themselves—our children,” said Boise Police Chief Ron Winegar. “Those like Mr. Asker, who would prey on our children, deserve our utmost attention, our strongest investigative and prosecutorial efforts, and our dedication to keep them from being successful in their efforts to victimize our society’s most vulnerable.” “We are extremely proud of the work by our men and women involved in this case,” said Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea. “These cases are very difficult especially with the ever-changing world of technology coupled with the toll these types of investigations take on our investigators. It is their dedication and excellence that helped bring another predator to justice.” “These are difficult investigations for the victims, their families, and our investigators,” said Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh. “I am thankful that the work by the members of the task force have put another person who preys on kids in prison.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this 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. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Man sentenced to prison for international parental kidnapping of two small children

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On April 23, a man was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for the international parental kidnapping of his two young daughters to Morocco and Turkey. In August 2019, the children’s mother asked the defendant for a divorce. While the children’s mother was in the Dominican Republic, Hamilton Alexander Merilus, aka Salahudin Sabah Alexander Amhadulla-Merilus, 43, fraudulently obtained full custody of their two small children—then two and four. To fraudulently obtain custody of the children, Merilus lied to a Broward County Circuit Court judge claiming that the children’s mother had abandoned the family and he was unaware of her whereabouts. While the children’s mother was in the Dominican Republic, Merilus sent her an audio message stating that she would never see her children again and that he would do his best to “disappear.” When the children’s mother returned to the United States, she was unable to locate Merilus or their children. After she learned that Merilus had fraudulently obtained full custody of the children, she filed for and obtained joint and ultimately full custody of the two children; Merilus purposefully ignored the court’s orders. On Nov. 7, 2022, Merilus left the United States and flew with the children to Morocco. After Moroccan authorities conducted a wellness check in July 2023, Merilus flew with the children to Antalya, Turkey to continue evading authorities. During the international kidnapping, Merilus left the two small children behind in Morocco and Turkey on at least three occasions. In those instances, he traveled to the United States and claimed that the children were with their mother. On another occasion, Merilus said that they were with his mother in Jacksonville, Florida. Merilus was arrested in Arizona on Aug. 9, 2023. On Oct. 5, 2023, after over four years apart, the two children now nine and seven, were reunited with their mother in Turkey. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra D. Comolli and Stephanie Hauser prosecuted this case. FBI Miami investigated the case with assistance from the FBI’s Legal Attaché Offices in Ankara and Rabat. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about the Project Safe Childhood initiative and for information regarding Internet safety, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-60154. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Crime Victims and Victims’ Rights Advocates at Annual Ceremony

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – As part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania again honored a number of crime victims for their strength and resiliency, as well as law enforcement personnel, community partners, and attorneys for their exceptional service to victims of crime during the office’s annual Victim and Victim Advocates Recognition Ceremony that took place yesterday afternoon in the Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States Courthouse. President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater attention and respect to the needs and rights of victims of crime. Each April, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania joins U.S. Attorney’s Offices and other federal, state, and local communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by honoring victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also participates in several events throughout the district to bring awareness to the services available to victims. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is April 21-27. The theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors,” with a focus on creating safe environments for crime victims to share their experiences and offer support, options for life-saving services, and most importantly, hope. “Crime does not discriminate. It finds victims from all walks of life and makes them members of a club they never wanted to join,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan. “The strength and resilience victims of crime demonstrate throughout the criminal justice process is truly remarkable, and we are proud to stand beside them every step of the way. The work that our office and our partners—inside and outside government—do to support these individuals, protect and enforce their rights under the law, and pursue justice on their behalf is at the core of what we do.” In addition to honoring several civilian victims of crime during the ceremony, the U.S. Attorney’s Office presented awards to several members of the office and law enforcement and community partners, recognizing their work on behalf of victims of crime throughout the past year. Law enforcement and community partner award recipients included: • Five physically injured members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police—Officers Daniel Mead, Michael Smidga, Anthony Burke, Timothy Matson, and John Persin—were honored with Strength and Resiliency Awards for their bravery in responding to the October 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting and their assistance in the resulting investigation and prosecution. • Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Carla Durrant was honored with an Outstanding Service Award for her role as the lead investigator in a case involving hate crimes committed by two defendants against more than a dozen severely disabled, non-verbal residents of a Western Pennsylvania health care facility. • Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents Michael Radens and Carey Smith and Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Bengel were recognized with Outstanding Service Awards for their roles in the successful dismantling and prosecution of a large-scale conspiracy to defraud elderly victims. A local bank manager was also honored for quickly alerting local law enforcement when a victim attempted to withdraw a substantial sum of cash based on false representations made to the victim by members of the conspiracy. • Margie Rosselli from the Clearfield County Victim Witness Office was recognized with an Outstanding Service Award for her work providing primary advocacy assistance to a victim and the victim’s family members in a case involving the sexual exploitation of a child. • Assistant United States Attorney Heidi Grogan was honored with the U.S. Attorney’s Victim Advocate Award for both her role as the office’s Project Safe Childhood coordinator and her advocacy for victims and victims’ rights in each of her own cases. By ensuring that victims are regularly updated and consulted regarding case developments and allowing time to meet with victims whenever they have questions, Ms. Grogan has fostered increased trust with and participation from victims and their families, resulting in numerous successful convictions and sentencings. • Victim Assistant Specialist Adrienne Howe also was awarded the U.S. Attorney’s Victim Advocate Award for her outstanding years of service in all facets of the work at the U.S. Attorney’s Office on behalf of crime victims, and in particular for her years of assistance to the those impacted by the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting and her tireless support of those crime victims during the months-long capital trial. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania is committed to ensuring that federal crime victims are afforded all rights to which they are entitled by law. To learn more about our Victim Witness services, please visit our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/vw .


title: La Crosse Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Benjamin W. Thoreson, 43, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 7 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing methamphetamine for distribution. Thoreson pleaded guilty to these charges on February 1, 2024. He was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release. On August 2, 2023, Thoreson was arrested for violating the conditions of his state supervision and admitted to having a handgun in his waistband. The arresting officer recovered a loaded Ruger LCP .22 caliber handgun and 14 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the backpack that Thoreson was carrying. Thoreson is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions. At sentencing Judge Peterson recognized that Thoreson struggled with addiction. Judge Peterson determined, however, that Thoreson’s chances of relapsing and returning to criminality was high, which made him a danger to society and required a longer period of incarceration. The charges against Thoreson were the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.


title: National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 21-27. This year’s theme “ How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors ,” emphasizes the importance of creating safe environments for crime victims. In these places, crime victims can share what happened to them, receive support, learn about life-saving services, and gain hope. “Our community’s system of values is built on a shared commitment to seeing and serving our neighbors who have been harmed or taken advantage of,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is a steadfast partner to help victims of crime remedy harm and rebuild a sense of safety after trauma has occurred.” Over the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama has provided direct services to over 650 crime victims. The office also worked alongside community partners to raise awareness about human trafficking and opioids and to host trainings and events for community members and law enforcement focused on those problem areas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to maintain pivotal partnerships with One Place Metro Birmingham Family Justice Center, One Place of the Shoals, the National Children’s Advocacy Center, North Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention. These partnerships are key to expanding access to services and enabling crime victims to find the justice they seek, in whatever form that might take. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Financial Litigation Program (FLP) has worked tirelessly to recover illegally obtained funds and return them to crime victims. In 2023, the FLP collected over $11 million in restitution debts imposed in criminal cases. These funds were provided directly to crime victims. The FLP also collected nearly $400,000 in fines imposed in criminal cases in 2023. “Rebuilding life after victimization is not a quick or simple process for survivors of crime,” added U.S. Attorney Escalona. “We are here to walk alongside victims, to help guide them through the justice system, and to connect them with resources within our community that can help them heal and move toward a safe and hope-filled future.” The Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), during which victim advocacy organizations, community groups, and state, and local agencies traditionally host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services. For more information about this year’s NCVRW and how to assist victims in your own community, please visit the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week website . The U.S. Attorney and staff will attend the following events in our local area to commemorate NCVRW 2024: One Heart in the Park hosted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office on Saturday, April 20, 2024, beginning at 11 a.m. at Linn Park. NCVRW Candlelight Vigil hosted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Bessemer Division on Thursday, April 25, 2024, beginning at 6 p.m. at Perfecting Reconciliation Church.


title: Montevallo Man Sentenced to More Than 33 years for Child Pornography Crimes

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge sentenced a Montevallo man for child pornography offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger. U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco sentenced Timothy Joseph Page, 40, to 405 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In December 2023, Page pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. This conviction will require him to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). According to the plea agreement, Page produced child pornography depicting a twelve-year-old female. He was also in possession of more than 400 images of child pornography, including images depicting prepubescent children. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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 and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . HSI investigated the case along with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Alabaster Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.


title: Edmond Man Sentenced to Serve 22 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy, Capping Investigation into Major Methamphetamine & Cocaine Organization in Oklahoma

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Organization distributed narcotics throughout the United States OKLAHOMA CITY – ANTONIO ORTIZ HERRERA , 46, of Edmond, has been sentenced to serve 264 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) which was responsible for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. The sentencing is the culmination of a nearly two-year, nationwide investigation, led by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with support from IRS Criminal Investigation. On June 8, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a 14-count Indictment against Ortiz and several other co-defendants for their roles in the DTO. According to public record, co-defendant Victoriano Neri Hernandez , 37, was head of the DTO in Oklahoma, while Ortiz facilitated the distribution of the drugs throughout the country, including to North Carolina and Kentucky. The Indictment alleges the DTO had ties to Mexico, and that the methamphetamine and cocaine would be shipped from Mexico into both Texas and Oklahoma. According to public record, the organization would smuggle the illegal drugs in hidden compartments of camper shells attached to pick-up trucks. On July 25, 2023, Ortiz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. As part of his plea, Ortiz admitted to knowingly participating in the conspiracy that distributed both methamphetamine and cocaine throughout the Western District of Oklahoma and elsewhere. At the sentencing hearing on April 24, 2024, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Ortiz to serve 264 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. As part of the sentencing, the court noted the seriousness of the offenses, including the geographic scope of the organization and the quantity of controlled substances, as well as Ortiz’s role in the organization. In all, nine defendants with involvement in the DTO have been sentenced to serve more than 91 years collectively in federal prison: - Victoriano Neri Hernandez – sentenced to serve 288 months in federal prison for drug conspiracy and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; - Cesar Cecilio Perez Rubio – sentenced to serve 108 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine; - David Gandara – sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; - Jorge Luis Becerra – sentenced to serve 72 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; - Ruby Jackson – sentenced to serve 72 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; - Yoelmmi Franco Sandoval – sentenced to serve 71 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; - Arturo Alberto Gonsen Romo – sentenced to serve 71 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and - Ivan Chanax Aguilar – sentenced to serve 64 months in federal prison for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with support from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Anderson and Nick Coffey prosecuted the case. This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Chinese National Arrested In U.S. For Alleged Role In Scheme To Illegally Export Semiconductor-Related Machinery

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – An indictment was unsealed charging Chinese nationals, Han Li, 44, also known as “Anson” Li, and Lin Chen, 64, with crimes related to a conspiracy to illegally export U.S technology to prohibited end users in China, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). The technology at issue includes a machine manufactured by a California-based company that is used to process silicon wafer microchips. Chen was arrested in Chicago yesterday. “The export restrictions at issue in this case were put in place to prevent the illicit procurement of commodities and technologies for unauthorized military end use in the People’s Republic of China,” said the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Ismail Ramsey. “This office will continue to vigorously enforce the nation’s export laws, including those pertaining to advanced technologies, to protect our national security.” “As alleged, the defendants sought to evade export controls to obtain U.S. semiconductor manufacturing technology for a prohibited Chinese company,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing export controls and holding accountable those who seek to illicitly procure U.S.-developed technologies that puts our national security at risk.” “Stopping the illegal export of U.S. technology to China is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We will aggressively pursue anyone who violates export control laws designed to protect our national and economic security. I am proud of the tenacious work that resulted in today’s announcement,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “U.S. business leaders should be encouraged to establish a relationship with their local FBI field office to help protect against the pervasive threat of criminals looking to steal American technology.” “This arrest highlights the importance of interagency collaboration in preventing illegal exports that could compromise sensitive technologies and our national security as well as undermine our American economy. Thank you to our partners at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Dept. of Commerce’ Bureau of Industry and Security, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, and the Dept. of Justice National Security Division.” said HSI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “Stopping the flow of U.S. semiconductor technology that supports the PRC’s military modernization efforts is a top priority for the Office of Export Enforcement,” said Brent Burmester, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, San Jose Field Office. “BIS will continue to prioritize investigations involving exports of advanced technologies to prohibited parties to protect U.S. national security.” Federal regulations restrict the export of certain items to companies, research institutions, and other entities identified on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List. In August 2014, the Department of Commerce added Changdu GaStone Technology Company (“CGTC”), a company based in China, to the Entity List, making the company ineligible to receive exports of certain U.S. technologies and services. As alleged in the indictment, between at least May 2015 and August 2018, Li and Chen conspired to evade the export restrictions imposed by the Department of Commerce on CGTC by using intermediary companies. Specifically, the defendants sought to illegally obtain for CGTC a DTX-150 Automatic Diamond Scriber Breaker machine from Dynatex International, a Santa Rosa, California company. The machine is used to cut thin semiconductors used in electronics, also known as silicon wafers, and under Department of Commerce regulations, requires a license and authorization to export to CGTC. The defendants sought to obtain the machine through an intermediary company called Jiangsu Hantang International (JHI), which they fraudulently represented as the purchaser and end user. ), a proxy they fraudulently represented as the purchaser and end user. To avoid detection, Li and Chen instructed Dynatex International to ensure that the export information associated with the sale did not list CGTC as the ultimate consignee of the shipment. Li is believed to be in the People’s Republic of China. In sum, Li and Chen each are charged as follows: Count Violation Description and Maximum Sentence, if Convicted 1 18 U.S.C. § 1705 and 15 C.F.R. § 764.2(d) Conspiracy to Violate IEEPA; 20 years prison, $1,000,000 fine 2 13 U.S.C. § 305 and 18 U.S.C. § 2 False Electronic Export Information Activities; 5 years prison, $250,000 fine 3 18 U.S.C. §§ 554 and 2 Smuggling; 10 years prison, $250,000 fine 4 18 U.S.C. § 1705 and 15 C.F.R. § 764.2(d) IEEPA Violations; 20 years prison, $1,000,000 fine An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security.


title: Ventura Man Pleads Guilty to Extortion, Armed Robbery, Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Charges Related to Crime Spree Last Year

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County man pleaded guilty today to 10 felonies for extorting a taco truck vendor, robbing two small businesses, and fraudulently using debit and credit cards from a victim he robbed at gunpoint during a crime spree late last year. Oscar Aguirre Silva, 30, of Ventura, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by extortion (Hobbs Act), two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), three counts of bank fraud, two counts of attempted bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Also pleading guilty today at a separate hearing was Edward Donaldo Ramirez Martinez, 28, of Ventura, Silva’s accomplice, who pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court documents, on November 6, 2023, Silva threatened violence to extort a taco truck vendor in Oxnard. On November 10, 2023, Silva robbed a woman at gunpoint and stole her iPhone, and her purse, which contained a credit card and a debit card in the victim’s name as well as a debit card in the name of another victim. Ramirez served as the getaway driver during this armed robbery. Both men then traveled to a Walmart store in Ventura, where they used the stolen cards to purchase $524 worth of merchandise. Later, Silva and another co-defendant, David Ray Reyes, 30, of Ventura, then used and attempted to use the stolen cards to purchase other items at an Oxnard smoke shop. On November 25 and 26, 2023, Silva robbed two Oxnard businesses – a smoke shop and a grocery outlet. Finally, on December 2, 2023, Ramirez, while under the influence of methamphetamine, possessed an assault rifle that did not bear a serial number – commonly known as a “ghost gun.” The firearm carried four rounds of ammunition. Ramirez was not legally permitted to possess the ghost gun or the ammunition because of his February 2020 felony conviction in Ventura County Superior Court for carrying a loaded firearm. United States District Judge Hernán D. Vera scheduled an August 8 sentencing hearing for Silva, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud-related count, up to 20 years in federal prison for each Hobbs Act extortion and robbery count, and a mandatory two-year consecutive prison term for each aggravated identity theft count. Judge Vera also scheduled an August 8 sentencing hearing for Ramirez, who will face a statutory maximum sentence of 12 years in federal prison, which includes a mandatory two-year prison sentence for the aggravated identity theft count. Reyes pleaded guilty on March 6 to one count of attempted bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Reyes will face up to 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count and a mandatory two-year consecutive prison sentence for each aggravated identity theft count at his May 29 sentencing hearing before Judge Vera. All three defendants remain in federal custody. The Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ventura Police Department, conducted this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lyndsi C. Allsop of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Eight Year Sentence Handed Down for Carjacking and Robbery of a Delivery Driver

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Daquan Skipper, 27, of Alexandria, Virginia was sentenced to eight years in prison for carjacking an Uber Eats delivery driver of his motorized scooter in July 2023, and for robbing him of his cell phone, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Skipper pleaded guilty to both charges on January 31, 2024. Superior Court Judge Jason Park, who sentenced Skipper on April 12, 2024, also ordered three years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, with which Skipper agreed, on July 29, 2023 outside of a Pizza Hut located at 1501 Maryland Avenue NE, the defendant and two others approached the delivery driver who had just picked up an order. The victim was putting his cell phone into a holder on the handlebars when the defendant and his accomplices ran up to and surrounded him. The defendant threated the victim by telling him he had a gun while gesturing to his waistband as if he did have a gun. The victim believed that the defendant was armed. The defendant grabbed the victim’s phone and the keys to the scooter. The defendant tried to start the scooter several times, but when he failed, he and one of his accomplices dragged the scooter toward the Bladensburg Road NE intersection. The victim followed the defendant until he saw and flagged down MPD police officers. The defendant dropped the scooter and ran when an MPD police officer tried to arrest him. Police eventually apprehended him and recovered the victim’s phone. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Ans and Rashmika Nedungadi.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – Oliver Coverson, 41 years old, of Calumet City, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Coverson was sentenced to 96 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,013,543.86 in restitution to the victims of the offenses. According to documents in the case, between May 2019 and December 2020, Coverson supervised and executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $3.3 million from the proceeds of 17 stolen business checks. Coverson and his co-conspirators registered fictitious corporations with the Indiana and Illinois Secretaries of State, opened fraudulent corporate bank accounts, and deposited the stolen checks into the fraudulent accounts. Coverson’s actions contributed to the loss of $1,013,543.86 to multiple banks and businesses. This case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abizer Zanzi and Zachary D. Heater.


title: Defendant Charged with Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in Overdose Deaths of Two People

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 25, 2024 SAN DIEGO – Scott Anthony Sargent of San Diego appeared in federal court today to face charges that he distributed the fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of two victims in North Park in 2022. During the same incident, Sargent and another person also overdosed but survived. Sargent is also charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. At today’s hearing, Sargent was detained without bond. San Diego Police officers along with investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team responded to a 911 call just before 6 a.m. on November 10, 2022. When they arrived, four individuals were found lying on the floor of a bedroom. Two of the individuals, identified in court records by the initials Z.W. and M.L., were pronounced dead at the scene, while Sargent and another individual were treated with Narcan and transported to nearby hospitals where they recovered. Sargent allegedly brought and then distributed the fatal mix of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl (a common fentanyl analogue) to a residence in North Park. Investigators linked Sargent to the overdoses through the fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl mixture found at the overdose location. The mixture was also found inside Sargent’s backpack and duffel bag recovered from the scene. A subsequent search by investigators of Sargent's storage unit also turned up additional baggies containing the same combination of fentanyl/para-fluorofentanyl. “Fentanyl kills indiscriminately,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Yet as was accomplished in this case investigators will leave no stone unturned in the effort to identify and charge distributors of this poison.” “Mr. Sargent’s alleged actions cost two people their lives,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis. “The San Diego DEA and its partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that sell, traffic, or provide fentanyl in our community.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Gordon and Sarah Goldwasser. Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team (formerly known as Team 10) led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the San Diego Police Department, and the California Department of Health Care Services to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County. DEFENDANT Case Number 24-CR-807-RSH Scott Anthony Sargent Age: 63 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death – Title 18, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) Maximum penalty: Life in prison Mandatory minimum: Twenty years in prison Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine - Title 18, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1), and 846 Maximum penalty: Life in prison Mandatory Minimum: Ten years in prison INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation Homeland Security Investigations San Diego County District Attorney’s Office San Diego Police Department State of California Department of Health Care Services *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: BVI MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ALIEN SMUGGLING

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, VI - United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Lorenzo Ortis Charles, 36, of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty to smuggling aliens into the United States. According to court documents, on February 23, 2024, Customs and Border Patrol intercepted a vessel that departed Tortola, BVI and entered United States waters. The vessel, operated by Charles, had no navigational lights as it entered Leinster Bay, St, John. On board the vessel was five individuals who had no legal rights to enter the United States. This case was investigated by Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly M. Riley.


title: FIVE CHARGED FOLLOWING DEA UNDERCOVER DRUG OPERATION

body_text: St. Thomas, VI - United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that a federal grand jury retuned indictments charging Jamil Bell, 43, Peter Francis, 33, Niah Henry, 44, Anwar Lockhart, 41, and Kenson Plasimo, 43, with drug trafficking. According to court documents, between December 5, 2023, and December 7, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department utilized an undercover agent to conduct purchases of cocaine and oxycodone pills from the defendants in the area of Red Hook, St. Thomas. These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cherrisse R. Woods and Kimberly M. Riley. United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that an indictment is not evidence of guilt, and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: ST. CROIX PRISON GUARDS CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING INMATE AND FALSIFYING REPORTS OF THE ASSAULT

body_text: St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that a federal jury convicted two former Virgin Islands Correctional Officers of depriving an inmate of his rights under color of law and obstruction of an FBI investigation. After an eight-day trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts against Maxwell Bryan, 53, and Elvin Bloice, 72, both Correctional Officers at the John A. Bell Correctional Facility in St. Croix at the time of offenses. Bloice was also convicted of making materially false statements to the FBI. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all citizens, including inmates who must rely on correctional officers to protect them. This case warranted attention from the Department of Justice because of the Color of Law violations that makes it a crime for anyone to abuse their legal power or authority to deprive another of their rights”, United States Attorney Smith said. According to the evidence presented at trial, on September 17, 2021, after refusing to return to his cell, Bryan cornered the inmate, lifted, and pushed him into his cell. Once in his cell, Bryan punched the inmate twice on his forehead and choked him. While the assault was underway, Bloice stood in front of the cell and partially closed the cell door to prevent the ongoing assault from being captured by the facility’s video cameras. Trial evidence further established that Bryan’s assault of the inmate was in retaliation to an incident that occurred on August 23, 2021, when the inmate kicked the door of Bryan’s vehicle. After the assault, both Bryan and Bloice knowingly submitted false incident reports denying any assault occurred. Thereafter, on October 4, 2021, Bloice again denied to the FBI that the assault ever occurred. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by United States Attorneys Evan Rikhye and Dan Huston. Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division provided invaluable assistance in the prosecution of this case.


title: Christian County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Hopkinsville, Ky., man, Veontae Leemond Lewis, 32, was sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 138 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on September 4, 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a car operated by Lewis. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer smelled marijuana and asked Lewis to step out of the car. The officer located approximately five pounds of methamphetamine in a bag, two marijuana cigarettes, and $907 in cash. Under federal law, Lewis must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Chief Kyle Rader, Erlanger Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Erlanger Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: British National to Reimburse United Airlines $20,638 for Interfering with Flight Crew on Flight Diverted to Bangor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Chelmsford, England man was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Bangor for interfering with a flight crew. The charge stemmed from an incident on a United Airlines flight that diverted to Bangor International Airport (BGR) on March 1, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Alexander Michael Dominic MacDonald , 30, to time served; he had been in custody since his arrest on March 1. MacDonald was also ordered to pay $20,638.00 in restitution. He pleaded guilty on March 22. According to court records, MacDonald was a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight traveling from London, England to Newark, New Jersey on March 1, 2024. While the flight was in U.S. airspace, MacDonald began arguing with his travelling companion and causing a disturbance. When flight attendants asked MacDonald to be quiet and attempted to calm him, he became belligerent, threatening, and intimidating towards them. When the international purser aboard the flight intervened, MacDonald became belligerent and intimidating toward him as well and stated that he would “mess up the plane.” When MacDonald’s conduct continued, he was restrained in flex cuffs, and the flight was diverted to Bangor. The FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Bangor Police Department investigated the case. ###


title: Out-of-State Gunmen Indicted for July Shooting That Injured Two

body_text: WASHINGTON – Daquawn Lubin, 29, of Maryland, and Jonathan Young, 34, of Virginia, are charged in a 14-count indictment, filed today in Superior Court, with conspiring to shoot and kill a victim in Southeast D.C., in July of 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. The indictment charges Lubin and Young with conspiracy, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and other related offenses. According to the Government’s evidence, in the evening of July 24, 2023, Lubin and Young had a confrontation with A.A. at an apartment building in the 4600 block of Benning Road, Southeast. Afterward, the two defendants hid in the apartment building’s parking lot, armed with firearms and hidden by dark hooded sweatshirts and masks, lying in wait for the victim. As A.A. walked the dimly lit pedestrian walkway to his car, Lubin and Young burst out of hiding and fired off more than 20 gunshots, striking the victim eight times and twice striking a second victim, who was with A.A. Lubin and Young then fled the scene. Both victims survived. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Cocuzza. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.


title: Iowa City Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison Related to Overdose Death

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa– A Iowa City man was sentenced today to 27 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Heroin Resulting in Death. According to public court documents and evidence presented, on January 23, 2021, Iowa City Police officers were dispatched to a residence in Iowa City, Iowa, related to a suspected overdose. After investigation, Dione Dante Mobley (a.k.a. “Flee”), 43, and Lugene Shipp, 43, were identified as the source of the heroin and both were arrested for conspiracy to distribute heroin. Mobley and Shipp were both convicted after a trial last fall. Today, Mobley was sentenced to 27 years of imprisonment. Shipp was previously sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment. After completing their terms of imprisonment, both Mobley and Shipp will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa City Police Department, the University of Iowa Police Department, and the Johnson County Drug Taskforce.


title: Bettendorf Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Child Pornography and Gun Charges

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Bettendorf man was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison for Receiving/Distributing Child Pornography and being an Unlawful Drug User in Possession of a Firearm. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Jakob Paul Newberry, 29, had shared files containing child sexual abuse material from an iCloud account. Officers subsequently obtained another tip that Newberry had uploaded child sexual abuse material using a Kik account as well. During the investigation, officers found that Newberry had also utilized Instagram to obtain nude photographs of minor females and had attempted to extort the minors into sending other sexual images. As a part of the investigation, officers also found that Newberry was possessing firearms as an unlawful drug user. After completing his term of imprisonment, Newberry will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office. 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 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . / For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.


title: Riverview Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $400,000 From Senior Citizens

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Victoria Zerillo (49, Riverview) to 18 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud in connection with her embezzlement of funds from a senior citizen residential community. As part of the sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $410,963.78, the proceeds of the wire fraud. Zerillo entered a guilty plea on August 18, 2023. According to court documents, Zerillo was employed as a general manager of a non-profit that provided HVAC, appliance, and plumbing repair services to members of a senior citizen residential community. From December 2015 through November 2022, Zerillo and others conspired to commit wire fraud and embezzled more than $400,000 from the non-profit by creating false and fraudulent bank statements and destroying records. Zerillo spent the money on personal expenses, including luxury vacations. At sentencing, members of the senior citizen community testified that Zerillo’s embezzlement significantly harmed them financially. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with inappropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.


title: Doctor Indicted on Charges of Unlawfully Distributing Controlled Substances and Health Care Fraud

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, VT – A New Hampshire doctor made his initial appearance yesterday afternoon in federal court in Burlington and was arraigned on charges related to his alleged involvement in conspiracies to illegally distribute controlled substances and to commit health care fraud. According to court documents, Adnan S. Khan, M.D., 48, of Grantham, New Hampshire orchestrated his alleged illegal prescribing and health care fraud conspiracies through New England Medicine and Counseling Associates (NEMCA), which operated a network of clinics located in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Through NEMCA, Khan allegedly distributed drugs to individuals outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. Khan allegedly required that patients pay cash in exchange for their prescriptions, despite many of his patients having insurance through Medicare and Vermont Medicaid. Khan allegedly prescribed the drugs knowing that at least some of his patients were abusing and diverting the drugs. In addition, Khan allegedly ordered medically unnecessary definitive urine drug testing while soliciting kickbacks and bribes from laboratories, knowing that federal health care programs would be billed for the medically unnecessary tests. Khan is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, 12 counts of illegal distribution of a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and two counts of health care fraud. If convicted, Khan faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the illegal distribution counts and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the health care fraud counts. As a condition of Khan’s release pending trial, he is prohibited from writing prescriptions for controlled substances. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest for the District of Vermont; Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau and Diversion Program Manager Evangela Dortch of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New England Division; Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Boston Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli of the FBI Albany Field Office; and Attorney General Charity R. Clark of the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, on behalf of the office’s Medicaid Fraud & Residential Abuse Unit, made the announcement. DEA, HHS-OIG, the FBI, and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Thomas D. Campbell and Danielle H. Sakowski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Gilman for the District of Vermont are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section partners with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. The Vermont Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit receives 75% of its funding from HHS-OIG under a grant award totaling $1,229,616 for federal fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25%, totaling $409,870 for federal fiscal year 2024, is funded by the State of Vermont. Anyone needing access to opioid treatment services can contact HHS-OIG’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7 National Helpline for referrals to treatment services at 1-800-662-4359. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements In An Attempt To Buy A Firearm

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Peter Alexander Lawrence (41, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to making false statements and representations to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Lawrence faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to the plea agreement, in March 2023, Lawrence completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. On the form, Lawrence indicated that he had not been convicted of a crime where a judge could have imprisoned him for more than one year, and also that he had never been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Both those statements were false in that, in 2008, Lawrence was convicted of a crime where the prison sentence could have been more than a year, and in 2018, he was convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta. 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: Former Comptroller General of Ecuador Convicted for $10M International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury in Miami convicted the former Comptroller General of Ecuador yesterday for his role in a multimillion-dollar international bribery and money laundering scheme. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2010 to 2015, Carlos Ramon Polit Faggioni, 73, solicited and received over $10 million in bribe payments from Odebrecht S.A., the Brazil-based construction conglomerate. Polit, in his position as Comptroller General of Ecuador, was responsible for protecting public funds against fraud and rooting out corruption. Instead, Polit took bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for removing fines and not imposing fines on Odebrecht’s projects in Ecuador. Additionally, in or around 2015, Polit received a bribe from an Ecuadorian businessman in exchange for assisting the businessman with obtaining certain contracts with the state-owned insurance company of Ecuador. “As Comptroller General of Ecuador, Carlos Ramon Polit Faggioni was entrusted to protect the people of Ecuador from the misuse of public funds. Instead, Polit abused his position as a public official by soliciting and pocketing over $10 million in bribes and then laundering the illicit funds in Miami,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to ensuring that the United States is not a safe haven for the illicit funds of corrupt officials.” “This verdict is a reminder of our office’s firm commitment to investigating and prosecuting corrupt foreign officials who bring their criminally obtained funds to South Florida to buy real estate,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. From in or around 2010 and continuing until at least 2017, at the direction of Polit, another member of the conspiracy caused proceeds of Polit’s bribery scheme to “disappear” by using Florida companies registered in the names of friends and associates, often without the associates’ knowledge. The conspirators also used funds from Polit’s bribery scheme to purchase and renovate real estate in Florida. “This conviction shows that despite your wealth, title, or influence, nobody is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “HSI and its partners on the El Dorado Financial Crimes Task Forces will continue to pursue corrupt foreign officials who utilize their official positions for their own illicit gain”. The jury convicted Polit of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, three counts of concealment money laundering, and two counts of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Odebrecht S.A. pleaded guilty in December 2016 in the Eastern District of New York to conspiring to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a broader scheme to pay nearly $800 million in bribes to public officials in 12 countries, including Ecuador. HSI’s Miami Field Office investigated this case. The FBI International Corruption Squad investigated the Odebrecht case and provided substantial assistance in this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department also thanks the assistance of law enforcement authorities in Ecuador, Brazil, Panama, and Curacao with the investigation. Trial Attorney Jil Simon and Assistant Chief Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael N. Berger for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx P. Calderon for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa .


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Escaping From Halfway House

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Michael A. Crider (44, Jacksonville) to 30 months in federal prison for escaping from custody. Crider entered a guilty plea on January 3, 2024. According to court documents, in 2018, Crider was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. In January 2023, while Crider was completing that term of imprisonment, the Bureau of Prisons transferred him into the custody of Bridges Federal Reintegration Centers–Jacksonville, a residential re-entry center or halfway house. While in custody there, Crider was subject to drug testing. On the evening of April 11, 2023, Crider was provided a copy of an incident report documenting a recent positive test for cocaine. Later, around midnight, a halfway house staff member noticed that Crider was not in his assigned dormitory. Staff members searched the facility but could not locate Crider. A month later, on May 13, 2023, at approximately 6:00 a.m., in St. Augustine, Florida, a police officer saw a minivan (which Crider was driving) traveling at over 100 mph, running red traffic lights, and weaving in and out of traffic. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Crider refused to pull over, and a chase ensued. Crider eventually crashed the minivan and was arrested. At the crash scene, the officer smelled marijuana coming from the minivan. Crider initially refused to identify himself, but eventually stated that he knew there was a warrant for his arrest. In the backseat of the minivan, police found a backpack, which contained several documents bearing Crider’s name, a scale, and a dose of buprenorphine 8mg, a synthetic opioid and Schedule III controlled substance. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.


title: U.S. Attorney Recognizes National Crime Victims' Rights Week

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Timothy M. O’Shea, is joining with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, in recognizing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 21- 27, 2024. National Crime Victims’ Rights week was established in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime. The week is an opportunity “to reflect on the importance of making the justice system work for survivors of crime,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “Many people think justice is only a conviction or an arrest, but for survivors, justice means being heard, treated with dignity and respect, and restored to the degree that goal can be achieved through restitution, treatment, and other remedies. My office will continue to strive to honor the voices of crime victims throughout all stages of federal criminal prosecutions.” U.S. Attorney O’Shea also praised the work of those in law enforcement and in the larger community who support crime victims, “being a crime victim can have lifelong impacts on an individual’s mental and physical health. Providing emotional support and other assistance to crime victims is an invaluable part of providing justice and I applaud those who do this important work.” More information about Crime Victims’ Rights Week can be found at: https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/national-crime-victims-rights-week/overview.


title: California Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Role in Multistate Recovery Home Patient Brokering Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A California man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to broker patients as part of a multistate patient scheme in which he directed recruiters to bribe drug-addicted individuals to enroll in drug rehabilitation and received referral fees from the rehabilitation centers, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Kevin M. Dickau, 35, of Tustin, California, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence on April 23, 2024. Six other individuals have previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme: Peter Costas; Seth Logan Welsh; John C. Devlin; Akikur Mohammad; Lauren Philhower; and Anastasia Passas. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Dickau, Welsh, Devlin, and their conspirators owned and operated a marketing company in California. Dickau, Welsh, and Devlin used the marketing company to help orchestrate a scheme in New Jersey, Maryland, California, and other states that involved bribing individuals addicted to heroin and other drugs to enter into drug rehabilitation centers so Dickau, Welsh, Devlin, and their conspirators could generate referral fees from those facilities. Two facilities in California that paid such referral fees were owned or operated by Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas. The marketing company run by Dickau, Welsh, and Devlin maintained contractual relationships with drug treatment facilities around the country, including the ones run by Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas. The marketing company also engaged a nationwide network of recruiters – including Costas in New Jersey – to identify and recruit potential patients, from New Jersey and other states, who were addicted to heroin or other drugs and who had robust private health insurance. To convince drug-addicted individuals to travel to and enroll in rehabilitation when they otherwise would not have, Costas and other recruiters offered to bribe them – often as much as several thousand dollars – with the approval of Dickau, Welsh, and Devlin. Once the patients agreed to enroll in drug rehabilitation in exchange for the offered bribe, Dickau, Welsh, Devlin, and Costas would arrange and pay for cross-country travel to the drug treatment centers in California and other states, in concert with the owners of the facilities themselves, including Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas. Costas would stay in touch with the New Jersey patients at the facilities and specifically instruct them to stay at the facilities long enough to generate referral payments, and he would pass along information to Dickau, Welsh, and Devlin about the patients’ status at the facilities. Dickau, Welsh, and Devlin would monitor the other patients they brokered by speaking to other recruiters or to the owners and employees of the drug treatment facilities themselves. The drug treatment facilities run by Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas had contracts with the marketing company. Those facilities typically paid the marketing company a fee of $5,000 to $10,000 per patient referral. Dickau, Welsh, Devlin, and their conspirators shared that money among themselves. Costas and other recruiters received approximately half that amount for each patient they brokered. Dickau, Welsh, Devlin, and their conspirators brokered scores of patients to drug treatment facilities around the country, including the ones run by Mohammad, Philhower, and Passas, and the conspiracy caused millions of dollars of losses for health insurers. In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Dickau to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading the sentencing. He also thanked the FBI, under the direction of Acting Assistant Director in Charge Amir Ehsaei in Los Angeles and the District Attorney’s Office in Orange County, California. The government is represented by Jason S. Gould, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Angelica Sinopole of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Man of Illegally Possessing Machine Gun in Chicago Suburb

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

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a man on firearm charges for illegally possessing a machine gun in a Chicago suburb. KEVIN DIXON, 27, of Midlothian, Ill., was found guilty April 19, 2024, of both counts against him, including one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and one count of illegal possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Each count is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall set sentencing for Sept. 10, 2024. Evidence at the week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago revealed that Dixon illegally possessed the firearm on June 6, 2021, in his vehicle in Lansing, Ill. The firearm was a Glock handgun equipped with a “switch” device, also known as a “Glock switch,” making it capable of firing in fully automatic mode. Dixon initially crashed his vehicle into another car and then sped off. The victim followed Dixon and eventually was able to block Dixon’s vehicle, at which point Dixon fired several gunshots and then drove off again. Dixon then sped through a red light and collided with two vehicles before running off on foot. Law enforcement apprehended him a short time later. The conviction was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Alfred Phillips, Chief of the Lansing, Ill. Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois State Police, Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, and Illinois Department of Corrections. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Totten and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Fox. Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods , the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.