title: Columbus, Ohio, Resident Sentenced to Prison and Supervised Release for Fentanyl and Heroin Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin and for possessing fentanyl and heroin with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Jackie Bell, 32, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon, who also ordered Bell to serve six years of supervised release following his prison sentence. According to information presented to the Court, Bell served as an interstate source of fentanyl and heroin for drug dealers in Mercer County in 2021. At that time, Bell had 2012 and 2018 fentanyl and heroin trafficking and possession convictions from two Ohio prosecutions that both involved fatal drug overdoses, and also was on probation in Ohio following a separate 2019 conviction for aggravated drug possession. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bell. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Citizen Of Dominican Republic Sentenced To 79 Months In Prison For $16 Million COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that YOHAURIS RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ was sentenced to 79 months in prison in connection with her participation in a fraudulent scheme to obtain over $16 million in Government benefits intended to provide relief to individuals without employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Yohauris Rodriguez Hernandez participated in a scheme that systematically targeted Government funds established as a safety net for millions of people across the United States struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s sentence demonstrates that this Office and our law enforcement partners continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those who sought to commit pandemic relief fraud.” According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in unemployment insurance benefits payable to eligible, lawful workers and administered through state agencies, such as the New York State Department of Labor (“NYS DOL”) in New York, in accordance with federal laws and regulations. From February 2020 through December 2020, RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ and her co-defendant, Henry Fermin, along with others, participated in a scheme to obtain COVID-19 unemployment benefits through the fraudulent filing and verification of hundreds of benefit applications using the names and social security numbers of numerous other individuals. Law enforcement agencies were first alerted to the scheme after RODIRGUEZ HERNANDEZ and Fermin fled a Yonkers hotel in December 2020, leaving behind in their previously occupied room approximately 747 pieces of mail from the NYS DOL. Those pieces of mail contained, among other unemployment benefit-related materials, NYS DOL-issued prepaid debit cards for numerous other individuals linked to approximately 568 New York State unemployment insurance benefit accounts. Over the course of the relevant time period, RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ and Fermin exchanged numerous text messages, images, and other communications that included personal identifying information — such as names, social security numbers, and dates of birth — that were used in connection with the filing and verification of numerous fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits primarily in New York as well as other states. RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ also recruited and bribed a letter carrier of the U.S. Postal Service, who in turn enlisted two other postal workers, to collectively intercept NYS DOL mail that RODRIGUEZ and her co-conspirators directed to addresses on each of the postal workers’ respective postal routes. Overall, the fraudulent scheme resulted in at least approximately $16.1 million in unemployment insurance benefit payments authorized across hundreds of accounts and at least approximately $3.2 million in actual benefit payments disbursed. * * * In addition to the prison term, RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ, 42, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $3,294,368.50 and to pay $3,294,368.50 in restitution. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. Mr. Williams also thanked the City of Yonkers Police Department, the NYS DOL, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance with the investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Sullivan is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Computer Fraud Charge

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of computer fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Kevin N. Ukaegbu, 31, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on December 5, 2022, Ukaegbu, formerly a graduate nurse at Allegheny General Hospital, criminally used the hospital credentials of a Highmark resident physician and attempted to modify prescription medications for two patients, putting one of the patients at risk of serious bodily harm. In neither case was the medicine administered to the patients. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for May 21, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with the assistance of Highmark Health Police, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ukaegbu.


title: Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Secure $440,000 Agreement with MedStar Health, Inc. to Provide People with Disabilities Equal Access to Medical Care

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – A complaint and proposed consent decree have been filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland to resolve allegations that MedStar Health, Inc., a healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by denying people with disabilities equal access to medical care by excluding their necessary support persons. Under the proposed consent decree, which the Court must approve, MedStar Health has agreed to pay a total of $440,000 to compensate eligible affected individuals. MedStar Health will also revise its policies to ensure ADA compliance, train its workforce on the new policies, and report to the Department on any future exclusion of support persons, as defined in the Decree. The lawsuit and proposed consent decree was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Patients are entitled to equal access to healthcare.” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “We appreciate MedStar Health’s cooperation in this investigation and are pleased that MedStar Health has agreed to take comprehensive steps to ensure that patients with disabilities have the same opportunities to obtain medical care and services.” “For some people with disabilities, having a support person accompany them is critical to ensure they have the same access to health care as everyone else. This is a key promise of the ADA,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When health care providers do not appropriately account for the needs of people with disabilities, they may provide unequal care in violation of the ADA. The Justice Department is committed to combatting such discrimination.” As detailed in the complaint, certain individuals with dementia, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and other disabilities may require the assistance of a support person (such as a family member, companion, or aide) when accessing medical care, including to provide information about medical history and/or to understand medical directions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MedStar Health instituted policies restricting the flow of individuals into its buildings. The government’s complaint alleges that MedStar Health failed on numerous occasions to modify its visitor restrictions so that people with certain disabilities, which affected their ability to independently access medical care, could be accompanied by their support persons. As a result, they were unable to receive equal care without the assistance of their support person. This matter was handled jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section. U.S. Attorney Erek Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Marquardt and Trial Attorney Anne Langford of the Civil Rights Division, who handled the case. Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires private hospitals and other health care providers to provide individuals with disabilities with full and equal enjoyment of their goods and services. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office’s civil rights work, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/civil-rights . ADA complaints may be filed online at https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/ . Anyone in Maryland may also report civil rights violations by emailing USAMD.Civilrightscomplaint@usdoj.gov . # # #


title: Florida Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Distributing Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Ronnie Lee Seward (41, Seffner) to 25 years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Seward entered a guilty plea on September 20, 2023. According to court documents, on January 12, 2023, the Tampa Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at an apartment in South Tampa where Seward had just delivered methamphetamine to a co-defendant, Sean Barton. Seward was detained and ultimately arrested after law enforcement discovered over a half-kilogram of methamphetamine in Seward’s vehicle. Seward had previously served three separate state prison sentences in Florida. His prior convictions include lewd and lascivious molestation, felony battery, armed trafficking in amphetamine, trafficking in amphetamine, and felon in possession of a firearm, among others. Barton previously pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 1, 2024. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.


title: Long Beach Man Sentenced for Attempted Coercion of a Minor

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Aldo David Alcaraz, 30, of Long Beach was sentenced Monday to 10 years and one month in prison for attempted coercion of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The sentence imposed includes a lifetime term of supervised release, during which Alcaraz’s access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. According to court documents, Alcaraz used an iPhone, the messaging application Skout and text messages to engage in sexually explicit communications for several days with a person he believed to be 14 years old. On Jan. 23, 2021, Alcaraz traveled to Bakersfield to meet the purported minor for sexual activity. The “minor” was actually undercover law enforcement investigators. On arrival, Alcaraz was arrested and booked into the Kern County Jail. This case was the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States 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 those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: St. Michael, ND, Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Accessory After the Fact, False Statements and Retaliation Against a Witness

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on January 29, 2024, Skyla Kay Cavanaugh , age 23 of St. Michael, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to three years in federal prison, three years supervised release and $300.00 in special assessments for one count of Accessory After the Fact, one count of False Statements, and one count of Retaliation Against a Witness. The federal prison term will run consecutive to an unrelated state sentence she has yet to complete. Cavanaugh pleaded guilty to the offenses on October 12, 2023. As charged by the United States Attorney’s Office, Cavanaugh pleaded guilty to being an Accessory After the Fact in relation to the May 22, 2022, non-fatal shooting of a man in St. Michael, and for giving False Statements in the ensuing investigation. Cavanaugh also pleaded guilty to Retaliation Against a Witness for confronting and striking a witness to the May 22 shooting several months later. For committing the May 22, 2022, shooting, 21-year-old Nathaniel Azure was convicted in December 2023, after a 7-day jury trial of two crimes for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Azure was also convicted at trial for his role in a non-fatal shooting in Fort Totten, ND, on January 6, 2021, and for assaulting another person while brandishing a firearm in St. Michael, ND, on May 21, 2022. Sentencing of Azure is scheduled for April 16, 2024. Michael Al-Jerome Denne, the 25-year-old brother of Azure, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the January 6, 2021, shooting and has been sentenced. Dantae Jerome Whitetail, aged 23, Minnewaukan, ND, previously pleaded guilty to his participation in the May 21, 2022, brandishing assault, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2024. “This result is reflective of the office’s commitment to public safety in Indian country,” Schneider said. “Retaliation against people who witness crimes and tell the truth to law enforcement will not be tolerated. This sentence will serve as a strong deterrent to anyone who thinks they can use violence to evade justice.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Benson County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemestrud Puhl, District of North Dakota. ######


title: Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in SIM Swapping Identity Theft and Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A local man was sentenced to federal prison today for participating in a conspiracy to steal millions of dollars of cryptocurrency using a SIM swap scam technique that takes over victims’ cellular phone accounts to access sensitive personal information. Daniel James Junk, 22, of Portland, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution to his victims. According to court documents, from at least December 2019 through March 2022, Junk engaged in an online fraud scheme known as SIM swapping to access and steal from his victims’ cryptocurrency exchange accounts. SIM swapping is a cellular phone account takeover scam technique where a victim’s incoming calls and text messages are routed to a different phone. Once a SIM is swapped, an individual may be able to gain access to a victim’s personal accounts including email accounts, cryptocurrency exchange accounts, and other accounts that use two-factor identification. Junk actively participated in an online SIM-swapping community where various individuals would partner with one another to play different roles needed to successfully execute a SIM swap scam. Throughout his involvement in such schemes, Junk performed some aspects of all the required roles including finding victims to target through breached databases or other exploits, porting victim phone numbers to devices controlled by members of the fraud conspiracy, and physically possessing the phone used for the “swap.” Junk and members of his online community also coordinated with one another to plan and carry out various in-person crimes including attempting to steal a 90-year-old victim’s cell phone and committing fraud at cellular telephone stores. On March 3, 2022, the FBI executed a federal search warrant on Junk’s apartment. Agents seized nearly all of Junk’s electronic equipment including a computer with an active browser showing that Junk was attempting to illegally access accounts in other people’s names when the agents arrived at his residence. The FBI seized more than 71 bitcoin worth approximately $3 million the day of the search. Two months later, Junk surrendered an additional 33 bitcoin worth approximately $1 million. On March 15, 2023, Junk was charged by criminal information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and, on April 20, 2023, he waived indictment and pleaded guilty to the single charge. In early January 2024, while awaiting sentencing, Junk was found by law enforcement to possess additional evidence of fraud including multiple victim target lists and approximately 25,000 compromised email addresses. On January 10, 2024, Junk’s release was revoked, and he was ordered into custody pending sentencing. This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Quinn P. Harrington, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child to Produce Child Pornography

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland - U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Jose Hilario Aldana-Moreno, age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, yesterday to 22 years in federal prison, followed by 40 years of supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a child to produce of child pornography. Judge Hollander also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Aldana-Moreno must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates. According to his guilty plea and other court documents, from 2014 to 2020 Aldana-Moreno sexually abused a minor victim, beginning when the victim was 10 years old. Aldana-Moreno was a truck driver and traveled for work. On at least five occasions while Aldana-Moreno was away, he engaged in video chats with the victim and convinced the victim to pose for him, taking screenshots of her genitals. Aldana-Moreno also took images and videos documenting his sexual abuse of the victim at her home and when the victim traveled with him. As detailed in his plea agreement, Aldana-Moreno was arrested on January 15, 2022, and his cellphone was recovered. A search of the phone revealed that Aldana-Moreno used a messaging application to send a video depicting the genitals of two prepubescent males to two separate individuals on May 29, 2018. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

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

body_text: A Texas man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. According to court documents, in 2021 and 2022, Gregory Massey, 30, and his girlfriend and co-defendant, Patricia Hart, forced two adult victims to engage in commercial sex in different locations. Massey and Hart advertised the victims for commercial sex on websites, kept the money the victims made from commercial sex transactions, required the victims to meet a minimum dollar threshold from commercial sex every day, and restricted the victims’ access to food. Massey also tracked the geolocation data on the victims’ phones so that they could not leave and used violence to accomplish the scheme. Massey is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21. If the court accepts the plea, the government and Massey will agree to a sentence of 22 years and six months in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release. He will also agree to pay $128,800 in restitution to the victims. As a result of his plea, Massey must also participate in the sex offender registration and notification program. Hart also pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Charged with Being an Alien in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, announced that David Pasillas Martinez appeared in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with being an alien in possession of a firearm. Pasillas Martinez, 52, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 7, 2024, while conducting surveillance at the Las Cruces Gun Show in Las Cruces, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) observed a vehicle with Chihuahua, Mexico license plates which was registered to Pasillas Martinez. Agents observed Pasillas Martinez leave the gun show and place a firearm in the rear passenger side door of his vehicle before he drove away. Agents followed Pasillas Martinez from Las Cruces to El Paso, Texas. A short time later, a New Mexico State Police trooper executed a traffic stop on Pasillas Martinez for impeding traffic in a safety corridor. After the stop, HSI agents conducted an investigation of Pasillas Martinez, who agreed to speak to agents. Pasillas Martinez told agents that he was a Mexican national and had travelled to Las Cruces to attend the gun show and purchase a firearm because he knows vendors there will not ask for identification when selling a firearm. Pasillas Martinez stated that he purchased three or four rifles and a pistol to take to Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico for sport shooting and planned to register the firearms in Mexico. Pasillas Martinez identified himself as a Municipal Police Officer in Juarez and stated that he knew it was illegal to purchase firearms in the U.S. and export them to Mexico. A criminal complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted on the current charges, Pasillas Martinez faces up to 15 years in prison. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Saltman is prosecuting the case. # # # 24-43


title: Six Defendants Convicted of Federal Civil Rights Conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act Offenses for Obstructing Access to a Reproductive Health Services Facility in Mount Juliet, Tennessee

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NASHVILLE – A federal jury convicted six defendants today of federal civil rights offenses arising out of their blockade of a reproductive health care clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, on March 5, 2021. The defendants were each convicted of a felony conspiracy against rights and a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) offense. According to evidence presented at trial, Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Calvin Zastrow, Coleman Boyd, Paul Vaughn and Dennis Green engaged in a conspiracy to prevent the clinic employees from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services, a civil right secured by the FACE Act. As part of the conspiracy, Idoni, Zastrow, Boyd and Green traveled to Tennessee from other states to participate in the clinic blockade, and Gallagher and Vaughn stalled the Mount Juliet Police Department through negotiations that Gallagher referred to as a delay tactic. Evidence at trial further proved that the defendants violated the FACE Act by using physical obstruction to interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient because the clinic was providing, and the patient sought, reproductive health services. “These defendants are being held accountable for unlawfully obstructing access to reproductive health services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to enforce the FACE Act to protect the rights of those who provide and those who seek access to such services.” “These defendants knowingly chose to violate laws they disagreed with,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “The jury’s verdict today is a victory for the rule of law in this country and a reminder that we cannot pick and choose which laws we follow. It is also a testament to the outstanding work done in this case by the trial team and our law enforcement partners.” A sentencing hearing has been set for July 2. The defendants each face up to a maximum of 10 and a half years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines of up to $260,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Memphis Field Office, Nashville Resident Agency investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: McComb Man Pleads Guilty to  Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A McComb man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on April 1, 2021, Norkeithus Malik Reed, 24, was found in possession of a firearm when Brookhaven Police officers responded to a complaint at an area restaurant where Reed was causing a disturbance. Reed was previously convicted in state court of drug-related felony charges and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Reed will be sentenced on April 30, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.


title: District Man Found Guilty of Armed Carjacking of Handyman’s Car, Which He Crashed During A Police Chase

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Gianni Saunders, 21, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today of the May 24, 2023, armed carjacking of a handyman as the victim exited his car in the 2800 block of Denver Street SE, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith. Following a week-long trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, the jury found Saunders guilty of armed carjacking, armed robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The Honorable Errol Arthur scheduled sentencing for April 10, 2024. At sentencing, Saunders faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 1:24 pm on May 24, 2023, the victim pulled up to the 2800 block of Denver Street SE to make repairs inside a residential building. Saunders, armed with a handgun with an extended magazine, demanded the victim’s car keys. Saunders then drove off in the victim’s black Honda Civic. Police apprehended Saunders two days later when Forest Heights, Maryland, police officers attempted a traffic stop of the stolen car. Saunders led police on a high-speed chase before causing a multi-car crash. Police pulled Saunders from the driver’s seat after the crash and recovered a handgun with an extended magazine from the car, along with the victim’s identification documents. The police investigation uncovered surveillance video that showed Saunders parking the stolen car at his residence hours after the carjacking; Saunders’ appearance and clothing were consistent with the victim’s description of the carjacker. The government also introduced DNA evidence, which linked Saunders to the handgun. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. Invaluable assistance was provided by the Forest Heights Police Department from the inception of the case through trial. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Gimenez and Iris McCranie of the Major Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to  Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Randy Rodriquez Jones, 49, sold a firearm to an individual on January 8, 2020. Jones had multiple prior drug-related felony convictions and a previous state court conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Jones to possess any firearm. Jones will be sentenced on April 30, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement. The ATF is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime .


title: Savage Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun and Attempted Possession of Grenades

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Savage man has been sentenced to 80 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a machine gun and attempted possession of hand grenades, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, in September of 2022, the FBI received tips from concerned citizens reporting disturbing behavior of a man at a firearm range, later identified as River William Smith, 21. In November and December 2022, Smith began communicating via a social media platform with an FBI confidential human source (the “CHS”). The FBI’s investigation revealed evidence that Smith was preparing for a violent exchange with police. Smith stated he is “pro mass shooting,” sympathized with the Parkland school shooter, and expressed admiration for the individual charged with the recent shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub. The FBI also discovered Smith had access to an AR-style rifle, handguns, body armor, and a Kevlar helmet. In online messages, Smith discussed learning about his “enemy” by watching police bodycam shootings online. According to court documents, on November 17, 2022, Smith asked a second CHS for auto sears to convert his AR-15 style rifle and his Glock handgun into fully automatic machine guns. The CHS told Smith that he could obtain the auto sears for him, and Smith provided the CHS with a down payment of $60. On November 28, 2022, Smith asked whether the CHS knew about M67 fragmentary grenades, which are hand grenades used by the U.S. military in close combat. Smith told the CHS that he wanted three hand grenades to outfit his tactical vest and discussed a plan to purchase the grenades. On December 5, 2022, Smith provided the CHS with a $200 down payment for three hand grenades, priced at $250 per hand grenade. According to court documents, on December 14, 2022, under supervision of law enforcement, a meeting between Smith and the second CHS was arranged. At the meeting, Smith took possession of three auto sears and three inert hand grenades in exchange for $690 in cash. Smith was then placed under arrest by law enforcement. Smith pleaded guilty on May 16, 2023, to one count of possession of a machine gun. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge David S. Doty. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Savage Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Winter and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Justin Sher prosecuted the case.


title: Oraine Christie Convicted Of Drug Trafficking And Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On January 29, following a three-day trial in United States District Court, Knoxville, Tennessee, a jury convicted Oraine Christie, 44, of Massachusetts, of drug trafficking and firearms charges relating to a traffic stop conducted by the Knoxville Police Department’s drug interdiction team, on December 1, 2021. Christie will be sentenced by the Honorable Judge Katherine C. Crytzer at a later date. Christie faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life, fines, and a term of supervised release of at least five years. The evidence presented at trial showed that Oraine Christie, the driver of a Chevy Trailblazer, and co-conspirator Shemar Newland, the passenger, were transporting 3.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and six firearms, including a stolen Smith & Wesson revolver and a PA-15 assault rifle when they were stopped after committing a traffic violation on Highway 640. An investigation revealed that the pair were heading back to Atlanta with the guns and drugs after failing to sell the drugs in West Virginia, as initially planned. Testimony at trial revealed that Newland obtained the drugs from an individual in Atlanta and Christie conspired with Newland to sell the drugs to Christie’s associate in West Virginia. Newland pleaded guilty on July 14, 2022, and his sentencing is set for February 8, 2023, before Judge Crytzer, in the United States District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement. Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent convictions included the Knoxville Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne-Marie Svolto and Brian Samuelson represented the United States at trial. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community face. ###


title: New Haven Felon Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TEEJAY JOHNSON, 38, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Johnson must also serve the first six months of his supervised release in home detention. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 9, 2022, members of the New Haven Police Department Shooting Task Force and other law enforcement officers executed a state search warrant at Johnson’s residence. Johnson was found coming out of the bathroom after narcotics had been flushed down the toilet. Investigators collected samples of narcotics from the bathroom, and found in other areas of the residence fentanyl and other narcotics, marijuana, more than $8,600 in cash, and a loaded .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine and 16 rounds of ammunition. Johnson’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm and assault related offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Johnson has been detained since his federal arrest on April 21, 2022. On August 28, 2023, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia King through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Hopewell Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years for Possessing Methamphetamine and AR-Style Firearms

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Hopewell man was sentenced today to 124 months in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute over fifty grams of methamphetamine in Chesterfield County, while also possessing fentanyl, cocaine, and two AR-style semiautomatic pistols. According to court documents, Shaone Lovett, 27, was the subject of a January 2023 search warrant executed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Chesterfield County Police Department at his residence. When law enforcement encountered Lovett, he possessed various substances containing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, as well as an AR-style semiautomatic pistol loaded with a high-capacity magazine containing 40 rounds of ammunition. When law enforcement searched his apartment, they found another AR-style semiautomatic pistol and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Colonel W. Keith Early, Prince George County Police Department; and Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz, Chesterfield County Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shea Gibbons and Erik S. Siebert 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-102.


title: Schenectady Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Matthew Shaver, age 23, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to illegally possessing a loaded shotgun as a felon. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. Shaver admitted that on December 15, 2022, he knowingly possessed a loaded shotgun at his residence in Schenectady. On that date, federal investigators recovered the shotgun while executing a search warrant on the residence. A prior felony conviction for assault in the first degree prevented Shaver from legally possessing the firearm in New York. Shaver was arrested following the search and has remained in custody since then. Shaver faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years when he is sentenced on May 29, 2024, by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. ATF and HIS investigated this case with assistance provided by the Rotterdam Police Department, the Schenectady Police Department, and the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: United States Reaches Agreement with Guam Waterworks Authority Requiring Investment in Sewer System Infrastructure

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) agreed to a consent decree with the United States today to improve the quality of its sewer system, estimated to cost approximately $400 million, to address unauthorized overflows of untreated sewage and other violations of the Clean Water Act. The Government of Guam is also a party to the agreement. The United States filed a complaint alleging that GWA was in violation of provisions of the Clean Water Act and applicable permits by repeatedly discharging untreated sewage from its wastewater collection system and discharging excess pollutants from its wastewater treatment plants. At least 237 sanitary sewer overflows have occurred from GWA’s collection system since 2018. GWA has also been implementing Safe Drinking Water Act work and other Clean Water Act work under a 2011 federal court order. “Today’s action shows our continuing commitment to prioritize enforcement and encourage environmental improvement in the communities most burdened by environmental harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “By improving Guam’s sewer system infrastructure, GWA can encourage and support better health for people and the environment and improve their ability to meet the challenges presented by a changing climate.” “Sewer overflows can cause significant health and environmental problems in communities, which is why today’s settlement with Guam Water Authority is so essential,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “By improving sewer system operations and updating infrastructure, Guam will meet its legal obligations and be better prepared for the major storms that are likely to happen more frequently due to climate change.” “Clean water is fundamental to public health,” said U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. “Guam deserves an enhanced, modern infrastructure to ensure the continuing preservation of its natural resources and the health of our communities. The benefits of this agreement will be enjoyed by generations of residents and visitors on this beautiful island.” The consent decree requires GWA to minimize overflows, which will have immediate benefits to the island’s environment. Untreated sewage from overflows can pose serious threats to human health and damage the environment. GWA will improve sewer system operation and maintenance programs and implement new requirements for pretreatment of wastewater and to control fats, oils and grease (FOG). Sewer system upgrades will include practices to improve climate change resiliency of pump stations and to consider EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities initiative, including the Resilient Strategies Guide for Water Utilities. The settlement also requires enhanced public outreach and engagement to increase transparency around GWA’s plans to comply with the agreement and educate the public on its environmental improvements. GWA will also develop a feasibility study for secondary treatment upgrades to the Hagåtña wastewater treatment plant, which will include analyses of climate change and sea level rise and be submitted for EPA’s approval. This secondary treatment upgrade will be embodied in a subsequent judicial settlement. GWA receives some grant funding from EPA for wastewater and drinking water projects, including $50 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding over the past two years. Reducing overflows will also protect coral reef ecosystems from adverse nutrient imbalances and coral diseases that can result from sewage discharges. The environmental impacts of sewage spills to waters include hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, habitat degradation, floating debris and impacts to sensitive species. For more information about today's settlement, please visit the Guam Waterworks Authority settlement sheet here . The proposed partial consent decree is lodged in the U.S. District Court of Guam. The settlement is subject to a public comment period and final court approval. The consent decree will be available for viewing on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees .


title: Serial Health Care Fraudster Sentenced for $234M Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A California man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for conspiring to conceal his involvement in operating a laboratory and billing Medicare approximately $234 million for various lab tests, including COVID-19 and respiratory pathogen panel tests, despite his decades-long exclusion from the Medicare program. “Criminals who cheat federal health programs and profit at the expense of American taxpayers will be met with the full force of the Justice Department,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As our country was battling the COVID-19 pandemic, this individual was fraudulently billing Medicare for hundreds of millions of dollars. Today, thanks to the work of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, he will now spend 10 years in federal prison for his crimes. We will continue to disrupt schemes that defraud the federal health programs the American people rely on, and we will hold accountable those who perpetrate those schemes.” According to court documents, Imran Shams, 65, of Glendale, was convicted of Medicare and Medicaid fraud in separate 1990 and 2001 cases in New York and California, respectively. After each conviction, he was excluded from participation in Medicare and all federal health care programs, and advised by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) that he had to submit a written application to be considered for reinstatement in federal health care programs. Shams never sought reinstatement, yet he continued to operate health care clinics in New York that billed federal health care programs. In November 2017, Shams pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and other charges in the Eastern District of New York related to his operation of these clinics. By 2018, Shams was an owner, operator, and manager of Matias Clinical Laboratory, doing business as Health Care Providers Laboratory (HCPL), a Baldwin Park, California-based clinical testing laboratory that billed Medicare and other federal health care programs. In order to maintain HCPL’s status as a Medicare provider and enable it to receive payments from Medicare for its testing services, Shams and a co-conspirator fraudulently concealed Shams’ role in HCPL from Medicare, including failing to submit required enrollment documentation identifying Shams’ ownership, management position, and prior convictions; causing the submission of false documentation to Medicare identifying another person as HCPL’s sole owner and managing officer; submitting false documentation concerning HCPL’s ownership and management to the California Department of Public Health; and making false statements to the U.S. Probation Office and Pretrial Services Agency while Shams was on federal court supervision following his 2017 conviction. Between August 2018 and April 2022, when the grand jury returned the indictment in this case and Shams was arrested and ordered detained without bond, HCPL fraudulently billed Medicare approximately $234 million. Medicare paid HCPL approximately $31.7 million based on these fraudulent claims. Shams pleaded guilty in the Central District of California on Jan. 24, 2023, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and concealment of his exclusion from Medicare. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Shams was ordered to forfeit $31,761,286.21, including $4,513,106.30 in funds that the government previously seized from two bank accounts, as well as his interest in two residential properties and one business property in the Los Angeles area. Shams was also ordered to pay $31,761,286.21 in restitution. “Shams engaged in a years-long scheme in which he billed American taxpayers nearly $234 million and lined his pockets with millions of dollars of funds intended for the health and welfare of patients,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to rooting out fraud to help ensure critical healthcare funds go where they are needed most.” “The integrity of the federal health care system rests, in part, on providers’ proper, lawful billing of Medicare and other HHS programs,” said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of HHS-OIG. “Providers who violate federal health care law and defy measures intended to protect programs and patients from fraud will be held accountable. We remain steadfast and persistent in our efforts to investigate schemes targeting federal health care programs.” The FBI Los Angeles Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Gary A. Winters and Raymond E. Beckering III of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll for the Central District of California handled the financial penalties. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


body_text: WASHINGTON – A Texas man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. According to court documents, in 2021 and 2022, Gregory Massey, 30, and his girlfriend and co-defendant Patricia Hart forced two adult victims to engage in commercial sex in different locations. Massey and Hart advertised the victims for commercial sex on websites, kept the money the victims made from commercial sex transactions, required the victims to meet a minimum dollar threshold from commercial sex every day, and restricted the victims’ access to food. Massey also tracked the geolocation data on the victims’ phones so that they could not leave and used violence to accomplish the scheme. Massey is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21. If the court accepts the plea, the government and Massey will agree to a sentence of 22 years and six months in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release. He will also agree to pay $128,800 in restitution to the victims. As a result of his plea, Massey must also participate in the sex offender registration and notification program. Hart also pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2024 Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.


title: Joint Statement by U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Australia Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC Announcing Entry into Force of the United States and Australia’s Data Access Agreement to Support Investigations of Serious Crime

body_text: The United States and Australia today have brought into force the landmark Agreement on Access to Electronic Data for the Purpose of Countering Serious Crime. The Agreement will transform and enhance international cooperation in addressing serious crimes, including terrorism and child sexual abuse. The Agreement will complement the existing close relationships between the United States and Australia across law enforcement, contributing to the safety and security of both nations. The Agreement will allow U.S. and Australian authorities to obtain more timely access to electronic data held by service providers in the partner nation. Obtaining this information will help U.S. and Australian agencies prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute serious crime and safeguard our national security. Importantly, the Agreement also provides safeguards and protections that reflect the commitment of both countries to human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law. These include stringent privacy and oversight protections to ensure any data collected meets the Agreement’s robust requirements. Signed between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia, on Dec. 15, 2021 , the Agreement is supported by each Party’s domestic legislative frameworks – the United States’ Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act and Australia’s Schedule 1 of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 (Cth).


title: Chinese Nationals Charged With Illegally Exporting U.S-Origin Electronic Components to Iran and Iranian Military Affiliates

body_text: WASHINGTON – An indictment, filed in the District of Columbia, charges Chinese nationals Baoxia Liu a/k/a Emily Liu, 42, Yiu Wa Yung a/k/a Stephen Yung, 63, Yongxin Li a/k/a Emma Lee, 36, and Yanlai Zhong a/k/a Sydney Chung, 40, with various federal crimes related to a years-long conspiracy to unlawfully export and smuggle U.S.-origin electronic components from the United States to Iran. According to court documents, Baoxia Liu aka Emily Liu; Yiu Wa Yung aka Stephen Yung; Yongxin Li aka Emma Lee; and Yanlai Zhong aka Sydney Chung unlawfully exported and smuggled U.S. export controlled items through China and Hong Kong ultimately for the benefit of entities affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), which supervises Iran’s development and production of missiles, weapons, and military aerial equipment to include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the Detroit Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of the Department of Commerce’s Chicago Field Office, Office of Export Enforcement. According to the indictment, beginning as early as May 2007 and continuing until at least July 2020, the defendants utilized an array of front companies in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to funnel dual-use U.S.-origin items, including electronics and components that could be utilized in the production of UAVs, ballistic missile systems, and other military end uses, to sanctioned Iranian entities with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) such as Shiraz Electronics Industries (SEI), Rayan Roshd Afzar, and their affiliates. Throughout the course of the conspiracy, the defendants concealed the fact that the goods were destined for Iran and Iranian entities and made material misrepresentations to U.S. companies regarding the end destination and end users. These deceptive practices caused the U.S. companies to export goods to the defendants’ PRC-based front companies under false pretenses and under the guise that the ultimate destination of these products was China as opposed to Iran. As a result, a vast amount of dual-use U.S.-origin commodities with military capabilities were exported from the United States to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws and regulations. “Our indictment alleges a years-long, complex conspiracy to violate U.S. laws by procuring U.S. technology with military uses for entities in Iran who would do us harm – a serious offense that endangers our national security,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “Our office, along with our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to turn over every stone to find those who break our laws and put us at risk. We are committed to making sure that U.S. technology is kept out of the hands of those taking aim at the U.S. and its citizens through robust enforcement of U.S. sanctions.” “For more than a decade, the defendants allegedly orchestrated a scheme to smuggle U.S. manufactured parts to the IRGC and the Iranian agency charged with developing ballistic missiles and UAVs,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. “Such efforts to unlawfully obtain U.S. technology directly threaten our national security, and we will use every tool at our disposal to sever the illicit supply chains that fuel the Iranian regime's malign activity.” “Aggressively combatting illicit procurement networks that support Iranian miliary systems like radars and UAVs is essential to U.S. national security,” said Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement. “Today’s indictment, tied to the work of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, reaffirms that proliferators cannot hide behind front companies in third countries to funnel technology to our adversaries.” “The theft of technology from the U.S. to Iran and Iranian military affiliates is a threat to our economic and national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to combating the illegal transfer of technology and export fraud. We will continue to work with our national security partners to investigate anyone who seeks to weaponize U.S. technology or commodities.” “This multi-year investigation is the product of vigorous, cooperative law enforcement focused on denying the diversion and export of sensitive U.S.-origin items to Iran that endanger our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini, of the Office of Export Enforcement’s Chicago Field Office. “The Office of Export Enforcement, working with our interagency law enforcement partners, is committed to investigating violations of BIS export control rules and prosecuting the individuals involved, as appropriate, whether in the U.S. or abroad.” The defendants are charged with conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), violating IEEPA, smuggling goods from the United States, and one count of submitting false or misleading export information. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for violating the IEEPA; up to 10 years in prison for smuggling goods from the United States; and up to five years in prison for each count of conspiracy and submitting false or misleading export information. Arrest warrants have been issued for Liu, Yung, Li and Zhong who all remain fugitives. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and the Chicago Field Office of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack F. Korba for the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Heather Schmidt and Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. In June 2023, the Department of Justice joined with the Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury to issue an advisory to share information about the threat posed by Iran’s procurement, development, and proliferation of UAVs. Four months later, in October 2023, the Department joined with the same interagency partners to issue an advisory describing the threat posed by Iran’s ballistic missile procurement activities. The advisories gave an overview of the key components sought by Iran, the regime’s use of deceptive practices to acquire certain types of technologies, and recommendations for implementing effective compliance controls to minimize sanctions and export control risk. Charges in an indictment are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Edward Steven Monge, 22, of Beltsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to participating in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Monge pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes set a sentencing date for May 29. Monge faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, but the plea agreement calls for a sentence of 87 to 108 months. The prison term will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to the government’s evidence, between February and August 2023 Monge sold more than 4,500 pills containing fentanyl to Jennifer Echeverria Flores, 26, of Silver Spring, MD. Echeverria Flores then sold the pills to a DEA undercover agent on five separate occasions between February 17 and July 19, 2023, in the District and Maryland and the District of Columbia. The pills were blue, marked “M” on one side, and “30” on the other. The total approximate weight of the pills was 479 grams. These pills are designed to look like authentic oxycodone “M30” pills, but instead contain fentanyl. Echeverria Flores was arrested on July 31, 2023. On August 3, 2023, law enforcement arrested Monge in Hyattsville, MD, and found him carrying about 1,102 pills, which field tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. As part of the Plea Agreement, Monge also admitted that he possessed a firearm in connection with his unlawful distribution of fentanyl. Echeverria Flores pleaded guilty in December to the drug conspiracy charge. She is scheduled to be sentenced March 19. This case was investigated by the DEA – Washington Division. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Javier Urbina and Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Henek, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses section. Valuable assistance was provided by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Leiter.


title: Lodi Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and for Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marcello Marlo Rivera, 49, of Lodi, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to evidence presented at trial, on May 11, 2022, while law enforcement agents were attempting to execute a federal search warrant, Rivera flushed methamphetamine down the toilet at his residence in Lodi. The agents found large bags with leftover methamphetamine shards and residue in Rivera’s room. Rivera was also found to be in possession of a loaded high-capacity magazine containing 17 live rounds of ammunition. Rivera cannot legally possess ammunition because he has previously been convicted of multiple felonies. This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the Lodi Police Department, the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Spencer and Kerry Blackburn prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations. The mission of the OCDETF Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and Priority Transactional Organized Crime Groups (PTOCs).


title: New Yorker sentenced for possessing automatic rifle in basilica school zone

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Brooklyn, NY man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Ahmed Abdalla Allam, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in a school zone and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Jan. 30, 2024. According to information presented in court, Allam, who is from New York, purchased an AR-15 style rifle in Pennsylvania, two days after a counterterrorism operation resulted in the death of Al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Allam then undertook a trek throughout the United States that ended in Beaumont, Texas, where he parked his car next to a Christian elementary school. On January 29, local police searched Allam’s vehicle following a traffic stop and found him in possession of the AR-15, a 30-round magazine, and 150 rounds of ammunition. Chillingly, Allam penned writings that indicated he was planning to murder children and their parents in retaliation for the counter-terrorism work of the United States. The day he was arrested, Allam, told a parent that he was on a “mission” and that “no one would ever see him again.” “The citizens of Beaumont and the Saint Anthony’s community should be proud that their collective vigilance in reporting Mr. Allam’s suspicious activities—parking his SUV outside of a Catholic school for hours at a time over the course of several days, while armed with an AR-15 rifle and multiple rounds of ammunition—prevented what would have been a mass shooting,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “The work of the Beaumont Police Department and our federal law enforcement partners should be commended, as they worked together to prevent what was sure to be a sad day in Beaumont and the nation.” “Vigilant Beaumont citizens took the phrase ‘See Something, Say Something,’ to heart, potentially saving numerous lives and uncovering Mr. Allam’s sinister motivations,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “Days after a U.S. military operation killed a top al-Qaeda leader, Ahmed Allam drove to Beaumont, parked his car near a Catholic school, and observed children and their parents while possessing a rifle and hundreds of bullets. The quick reporting of Allam’s suspicious activities to law enforcement by community members allowed FBI Beaumont counterterrorism agents, Beaumont police officers, and ATF investigators to swiftly respond and disrupt what could have been a devastating retaliatory attack.” “This incident serves as a prime example of the success of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign,” said Acting ATF SAC Francisco Ortega. “ATF was able to work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to prevent a potential violent crime. It is through the community’s collective efforts that we can maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone. We encourage all members of our community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement.” “The Beaumont Police Department is committed to the safety of all of our citizens, especially our children,” said Beaumont Police Chief Jimmy Singletary. “This case is a perfect example of the importance of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign. It takes all of us working together to be vigilant and report suspicious activity. Protecting our children is a mission everyone should stand behind. BPD will continue to work with our Federal Law Enforcement partners to ensure swift justice for anyone who jeopardizes the safety of the most vulnerable in our community. I would like to commend the leadership of Saint Anthony for their diligence and steadfastness in protecting their students.” This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the FBI's Beaumont Resident Agency; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Beaumont Police Department; Jefferson County District Attorney's Office; Port Arthur Fire Department, and Montgomery County Fire Marshall. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John B. Ross and Joseph R. Batte. ###


title: Dubuque Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm as a felon and unlawful drug user was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison. Eric Thomas, age 49, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 7, 2023 guilty plea to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Thomas admitted that, in January 2023, he possessed a Ruger pistol after having been convicted of multiple felonies and while being an unlawful drug user. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that, on January 23, 2023, Thomas sold a mixture of heroin and fentanyl to another person while at Thomas’s residence. That same day, law enforcement officers searched Thomas’s residence and located a Ruger pistol and 2.14 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl in Thomas’s bedroom. Thomas was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Thomas was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Thomas is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force (consisting of the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and the Dubuque Police Department). Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-1012. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Iowa Falls Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: An Iowa Falls man who possessed a stolen gun as a felon was sentenced January 30, 2024, to more than five years in federal prison. Deron Michael Humes, II, age 34, from Iowa Falls, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 7, 2023, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Information disclosed at sentencing showed that, on October 4, 2022, Humes carried a Shadow Systems, MR920, 9x19mm pistol into a gun store in Iowa Falls. The Shadow Systems pistol had been stolen from its owner the week before. While Humes was inside the gun store, he purchased a thirty‑round magazine for the firearm and asked an employee of the store if they had a device that could turn the firearm into a fully automatic weapon. After Humes exited the store, law enforcement officers responded and confronted Humes. During the encounter, officers searched the vehicle Humes was located in, and they found the Shadow Systems pistol hidden behind the glovebox compartment. Humes had two prior felony convictions, and he was prohibited from possessing firearms. Humes was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Humes was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a three‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. Humes is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa Falls Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23‑CR‑00032‑CJW. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: A felon who possessed a firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Malachi Patton Handley, age 23, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Handley admitted that, between December 2022 and March 2023, he possessed an SCCY pistol after having been convicted of three felonies. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Handley remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Handley faces a possible maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Marion Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is CR 23-57. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Ada Resident Sentenced To Life For First Degree Murder In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyler Jay Mullins, age 45, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to concurrent life sentences in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—First Degree, and one count of Causing the Death of a Person in the Course of a Violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Oklahoma, and the Ada Police Department. On June 30, 2022, Mullins was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Murder in Indian Country—First Degree, and one count of using a firearm to commit that murder. Evidence presented at trial established that in the early morning hours of April 20, 2002, Mullins attacked and beat the victim, transported the victim to another location, then shot the victim three times and buried the body. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents found the victim’s blood in Mullins’ trunk and on his shoe, leading to Mullins’ eventual confession and disclosure of the location of the victim’s body. The crimes occurred in Pontotoc and Seminole Counties, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Mullins originally entered a guilty plea to a state district court charge of First Degree Murder in Pontotoc County District Court in December 2002. That conviction was vacated in March 2021 based on the United States Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, handed down in July 2020. “Although the pursuit of justice for the victim’s family was interrupted by a change in jurisdiction, the cooperative work of state and federal law enforcement allowed the United States Attorney’s Office to successfully prosecute the case after more than twenty years,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The sentences imposed in federal prison now ensure the defendant will spend the rest of his life answering for his heinous crimes.” The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Mullins will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick M. Flanigan and Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.


title: Guam Cryptocurrency Broker Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for $5.5 Million Bitcoin Scheme

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Julien Abat Weymouth, age 32, from Dededo, Guam was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. He was charged with Operating an Unlawful Money Transmitting Business, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1960. The Court also ordered 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. From January 2020 to April 2021, Julien Abat Weymouth was engaged in the operation of an unlawful money transmitting business involving the exchange and transfer of cryptocurrency, primarily Bitcoin. Weymouth solicited cash and cryptocurrency from “clients" or "investors" within and outside the District of Guam, and transmitted the bitcoin to a third-party, William Ichioka, located outside of Guam for purported investment purposes. Ichioka operated a fraudulent investment scheme known as Ichioka Ventures. Ichioka was prosecuted separately in the Northern District of California. Weymouth guaranteed his clients and investors a percentage return on their alleged investment and kept any excess return over and above the guaranteed rate as his fee. As part of his scheme, Weymouth solicited and accepted funds and cryptocurrency from individuals involved in illegal activity. Operating as a cryptocurrency exchanger and engaged in the business of transmitting funds on behalf of others to third parties for a fee, he failed to register with FinCEN and failed to comply with federal regulations governing money transmitters. During the time of his scheme, Weymouth transmitted funds and cryptocurrency worth approximately $5,517,323.48. He generated significant personal profits which he reinvested into various forms of cryptocurrency, held in bank accounts, and funded the purchase of vehicles and other assets. As part of his plea agreement, Weymouth stipulated to the forfeiture of over 200 Bitcoin with a present value of over $8 million, 6 vehicles, and $127,000 in a PenFed bank account. “Cryptocurrencies are often used to facilitate fraudulent activity,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “These financial assets do not guarantee anonymity, as generally perceived by criminals. Our office will continue to target unlicensed money transmitting, money laundering, and any other unlawful transactions associated with cryptocurrency. “U.S. Secret Service Guam Resident Office is dedicated to protecting our nation’s citizens within the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands,” said Resident Agent in Charge Neal de Paz. “We appreciate federal law enforcement partners, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Guam Police Department, whose hard work and dedication ensured successful outcome in this complex investigation.” This case was investigated by U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Benjamin K. Petersburg, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.


title: Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 135 Months Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm

body_text: Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Shaylene Doris Valentine, age 29, from Guam, was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment. Valentine was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1). The Court also ordered 5 years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. On February 24, 2023, GPD officers stopped Valentine for a traffic violation. Officers noticed that she appeared to be nervous and kept looking down at her feet. Valentine consented to a search of the vehicle. Officers then located a glass jar and a cooler, both of which contained suspected methamphetamine. Forensic testing indicated a net weight of 362 grams with a purity level of 99%. Officers also found a handgun, 16 rounds of ammunition, and an empty magazine beneath the driver’s seat. Valentine is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition. A search of Valentine’s cellular phone revealed that she sold methamphetamine. The phone also contained videos of her discharging firearms on prior occasions. A subsequent search of Valentine’s residence revealed two additional firearms and ammunition. “Drugs and firearms are a dangerous combination,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “This case demonstrates the threats faced by law enforcement during seemingly routine traffic stops. I applaud the efforts of GPD and our federal partners in combating this illegal activity.” “This sentencing sends a message that drug traffickers will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge John F. Tobon. “Any time we can remove large amounts of debilitating drugs such as methamphetamine, it is a big win. HSI remains committed to working hand in hand with our state, local and federal partners to keep our communities safe. HSI commends the outstanding work of all the agencies who participated in this investigation.” This case was a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), and the Guam Police Department (GPD). The case was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.


title: Drug Dealer Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Sales

body_text: Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Aaron Matthew Pangelinan, age 50, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment by the U.S. District Court of Guam. Pangelinan was convicted of Distribution of More than Five Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered four years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. From December 2, 2019, to October 7, 2020, Pangelinan distributed methamphetamine hydrochloride from his Ordot, Chalan Pago residence. On four occasions, law enforcement conducted undercover purchases of methamphetamine from Pangelinan at an outdoor patio of his residence. The drug purity levels ranged from 93% to 99% pure methamphetamine based upon laboratory testing. Pangelinan was previously convicted of a drug trafficking offense in Kitsap County Superior Court in the State of Washington on June 5, 2009. He served 14 months in a state prison for that offense. “Unfortunately, this defendant’s first conviction was not a deterrence from additional criminal conduct,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Repeat offenders are subject to substantial penalties in federal court, as demonstrated here. The sentence imposed by the Court will help promote respect for the law and protection for our communities.” This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division-Guam Resident Office and prosecuted by Marivic P. David, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.


title: Spartanburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Marijuana Through Greenville Spartanburg Airport

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — Raquentin Kendrick Gray-Miller, 34, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and conspiracy. Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 25, 2022, Gray-Miller and another man flew into Greenville Spartanburg International Airport with suitcases containing approximately 50 pounds of marijuana. The traffickers loaded the marijuana into a coconspirator’s vehicle and drove into a parking garage beside the terminal. While attempting to transfer some of the marijuana into another vehicle, two men drove up and attempted to rob the traffickers at gunpoint. A gunfight broke out in the parking garage between two of Gray-Miller’s coconspirators and the robbers. Dozens of shots were fired and one of the traffickers was severely injured before the robbers fled in their car. United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong sentenced Gray-Miller to 24 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the GSP Airport Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Rock Hill Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Archie Arsenio Caldwell 35, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. He also plead guilty to distributing crack cocaine and money laundering. Evidence presented to the court showed that the FBI Columbia Field Office and the York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit began to investigate a group of defendants who were obtaining large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana from a distributor in Southern California. Based upon their investigation, the police were able to determine that members of the group were flying to California and having the drugs shipped back to the Rock Hill and Charlotte area. Based upon surveillance and other law enforcement techniques, the police learned that Caldwell was a member of the group and helped other members obtain flights to California to purchase the illegal substances. Caldwell also flew to California to purchase the illegal substances for other members of the group and orchestrated shipping the packages back. After the drugs were shipped back to South Carolina, the group distributed the drugs to local dealers. Later, the group began ordering fentanyl from California which they used to make fentanyl laced pills which were sold to users in Rock Hill, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Based upon their investigation, law enforcement could show that this group shipped more than 255 packages from California. Caldwell was held responsible for 37 grams of crack cocaine, six kilograms of methamphetamine, 27 kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of fentanyl and eight kilograms of marijuana. Nineteen defendants were charged in this case in South Carolina. Seventeen defendants pled guilty, including Caldwell, to their involvement and three were convicted at trial. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Caldwell to 200 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This law enforcement operation and prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case. ###