title: Former Credit Union Employee Sentenced in Austin for Embezzlement

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A Georgetown woman was sentenced in a federal court in Austin to 41 months in prison for embezzlement by a credit union employee. According to court documents, Tracy Mikulencak, 44, embezzled approximately $144,000 from her teller drawer and the vault while working at A+ Federal Credit Union. A+ auditors also revealed that Mikulencak had made unauthorized withdrawals from customer accounts, including a deceased account holder. In total, Mikulencak embezzled $325,708 from the credit union. In addition to her imprisonment, Mikulencak was also ordered to pay $302,668 in restitution. “The excellent investigative work by our partners at the FBI and the Georgetown Police Department unraveled a scheme by a trusted credit union employee to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the credit union and its members,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “These crimes strike at the heart of our banking system. Those entrusted with customer funds must be held to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. The judge's sentence in this case affirms the commitment of the U.S. Attorney's office to swift and certain punishment.” “Tracy Mikulencak used her position to steal from the elderly and from grieving family members of a deceased customer. This sentence is reflective of the FBI’s commitment to stopping criminals who take advantage of vulnerable members of society,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson for the FBI San Antonio Division. “We want to thank the Georgetown Police Department for their continued partnership in keeping our communities safe.” The FBI and Georgetown PD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Guess prosecuted the case. ###


title: Orleans Parish Man Indicted for Drug and Weapons Violations

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on January 11, 2024, TYRIN WILTZ , age 29, of Orleans Parish, was charged in a five-count superseding indictment for alleged drug and gun violations. These violations occurred on and before September 21, 2022. In Count 1, WILTZ is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D). If convicted, WILTZ faces up to 40 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, and at least 3 years supervised release. In Count 2, WILTZ is charged with discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(iii). If convicted, WILTZ facs a manadtory minimum sentence of 10 yearsup to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00 and up to 5 years of supervised release. In Count 3, WILTZ is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D). If convicted, WILTZ faces up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, and at least 3 years of supervised release. In Count 4, WILTZ is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). If convicted, WILTZ faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to 5 years of supervised release. In Count 5, WILTZ is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). If convicted, WILTZ faces up to 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. As to each of the five (5) charged counts, WILTZ also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. On May 23, 2022, NOPD responded to a shooting on St. Roch Avenue in New Orleans and found a victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. NOPD developed WILTZ as the primary suspect and arrested him pursuant to a warrant on September 21, 2022. Pursuant to his arrest, NOPD recovered both weapons and illegal substances from WILTZ . On October 13, 2022, WILTZ was indicted for firearm and illegal substances violations. After his initial indictment, NOPD investigators recovered additional weapons and illegal substances in WILTZ’s possession that formed the basis for the superseding indictment. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Virginia Man Is Sentenced To 17.5 Years For Traveling To North Carolina To Engage In Sexual Activity With A Minor

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, James Edward Whisenant, Jr., 50, of Suffolk, Virginia, was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for traveling to Western North Carolina to engage in illicit sexual conduct, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. also ordered Whisenant to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison and to pay restitution in the amount of $39,500. Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today's announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, in March 2022, Whisenant began communicating with undercover agents expressing an interest in engaging in illicit sexual acts with a minor female child. On May 27, 2022, Whisenant traveled from his home in Virginia to the Western District of North Carolina for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with a female toddler and was subsequently arrested. Law enforcement conduced a forensic analysis of Whisenant’s electronic items seized as part of the investigation and recovered hundreds of images and videos containing child pornography. On November 30, 2022, Whisenant pleaded guilty to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. U.S. Attorney King credited HSI with the investigation leading to today’s sentence. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.


title: Two Arrested for Allegedly Trafficking More Than Two Dozen Illegal Firearms Into Boston

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Two men have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to traffic dozens of illegal firearms from South Carolina to Boston. Aizavier Roache, 30, of Boston and Trevon Brunson, 31, of Columbia, S.C., were charged with one count of firearms trafficking and conspiracy to do so. Roache was arrested in Boston on Jan. 5, 2024 and was ordered detained following a hearing on Jan. 12, 2024. Brunson was arrested in Columbia, S.C. on Jan. 9, 2024 and appeared in federal court in the District of South Carolina on Jan. 10, 2024. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. “Over the course of several years, these defendants allegedly trafficked dozens of illegal firearms many of which ended up on the streets of our communities – 11 of those guns, it is alleged, were involved in criminal activity and have since been recovered,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The unchecked flow of weapons amplifies violence, empowers criminals and puts innocent lives at risk. Our office is committed to working with ATF, FBI and local partners like the Boston Police to aggressively investigate the origin of every gun used in crime and hold accountable the people who import illegal guns into Massachusetts.” “This alleged illegal activity will not be tolerated, and ATF will continue to aggressively target firearms traffickers” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division. “ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue to work nonstop to prevent guns from being trafficked into our communities and protect citizens from gun violence.” According to the charging documents, this case arose after a firearm recovered from a shooting in Boston was identified as having been purchased in South Carolina 15 days prior. It is alleged that over a three-year period, Brunson and Roache conspired to traffic dozens of illegal firearms from South Carolina to Massachusetts. Specifically, it is alleged that Roache would text Brunson photos of the firearms he wanted. The two would then meet and Roache would provide Brunson with the cash to purchase the firearms. After purchasing the firearms in South Carolina, Brunson would allegedly meet Roache at different locations in Columbia, S.C. to transfer the firearms. It is alleged that Roache traveled between Massachusetts and South Carolina numerous times to obtain the firearms. According to the charging documents, numerous text messages as well as bank, travel and firearm records detailed the alleged conspiracy. Intercepted communications allegedly uncovered an instance were Brunson used Roache’s credit card to complete a multi-gun purchase because he didn’t have enough cash on hand, with Roache texting Brunson the pin number for the card during the transaction. It is further alleged that a video recovered from Roache’s phone depicts him on a bus showing off a carry-on bag that contained four firearms. The date of the video allegedly corresponds with Roache’s trip back to Massachusetts after a multi-gun purchase in April of 2023. In total, it is alleged that the defendants trafficked more than 24 illegal firearms into Massachusetts from South Carolina. It is further alleged that 11 of the trafficked firearms were recovered here in Massachusetts after being used in a crime. The charge of firearms trafficking provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, ATF SAC Ferguson and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Rensselaer Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Two Capital Region Armed Bank Robberies

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ulysses Jessie Walls, a/k/a “Guwala,” age 30, of Rensselaer, New York, was sentenced today to serve 204 months in federal prison for two 2019 armed bank robberies. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Dominick L. Chiumento, Acting Superintendent of the New York State Police (NYSP); Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins; and Town of North Greenbush Police Chief David Keevern. As part of his previously entered guilty pleas to armed bank robbery, firearms, and conspiracy charges, Walls admitted that he committed two armed robberies with Christopher Cohn a/k/a “Wolf.” On February 6, 2019, Walls and Cohn pulled up to an Albany Trustco Bank branch, where Cohn declared he was about to “go do this,” meaning that he planned to rob the bank. Walls and Cohn then entered the bank wearing ski masks. In the bank, Walls displayed a gun, and both men threatened to kill the bank’s employees, who surrendered approximately $150,000 to the pair. Walls also admitted that on the morning of February 26, 2019, he and Cohn entered an M&T Bank branch in North Greenbush, each wearing a ski mask and brandishing a gun. During the robbery, Cohn fired multiple shots, including one that grazed a bank employee. According to court documents, law enforcement tracked Cohn, Walls, and their getaway driver to an Albany motel using a GPS device placed in the stolen money by a member of the bank’s staff. Cohn was apprehended by officers with more than $10,000 in cash and wearing red sneakers matching those captured by the bank’s surveillance cameras during the robbery. Walls was arrested in the motel’s lobby, where officers found him with several bags containing approximately $3,800 in cash along with ski masks and other clothing matching that worn by the robbers. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Walls to serve a 5-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release, to pay $167,681 in restitution to his victims, and to forfeit $79,117. After pleading guilty to firearms, armed bank robbery and conspiracy charges, Cohn was sentenced to 241 months in prison by Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. This case was investigated by the FBI, the NYSP, the North Greenbush Police Department, and the Albany Police Department, with the assistance of the Albany County Sheriff’s Office and the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Ashlyn Miranda prosecuted the case.


title: Richmond clinic owners agree to settle allegations regarding acupuncture devices

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – The owners of a Richmond clinic have agreed to pay a total of up to $108,000 to settle allegations they submitted false claims, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ijeoma Bethel, 43, Sugar Land, Yvonne Hernandez, 41, Houston, and Nick Bryant Villegas, 43, Pearland, are the owners of Texas Wellness Clinic PLLC in Richmond. Bethel and Villegas are nurse practitioners and Hernandez is a chiropractor. From Jan. 27, 2016, to Sept. 16, 2020, Bethel, Villegas, Hernandez and Texas Wellness Clinic billed Medicare for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes. These are invasive procedures usually requiring the use of an operating room. Medicare pays thousands of dollars per procedure. However, the government alleged that no surgery was involved. Instead, patients received devices used for electro-acupuncture, which only involves inserting needles into patients’ ears and taping the neurostimulator behind the ears with an adhesive. In addition to the financial settlement, Texas Wellness Clinic agreed to a five-year-period of exclusion from participation in any federal health care programs. Campbell Medical Clinic in Houston previously employed Bethel, Villegas and Hernandez before they decided to open Texas Wellness Clinic—where they continued to improperly bill Medicare. The owner of Campbell Medical Clinic, chiropractor Suhyun An, previously agreed to a $2.6 million settlement and a 10-year exclusion from federal health care programs. The claims resolved are allegations only, and there has not been an admission of wrongdoing. To date, this is the 11th case the Southern District of Texas has resolved for similar conduct. In addition to the settlement with An, the other matters included settlements with a Katy anesthesiologist , Houston pain doctor , Rockport chiropractor , Laredo pain doctor , The Woodlands pain doctor , Cypress marketing representative , Ohio coding consultant , and two separate settlements (linked here and here ) with Cypress podiatrists. The Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Honduran National Charged with Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – CESAR A. LOBO-RAMOS , age 37, a native of Honduras, was indicted on January 11, 2024, for illegal re-entry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, LOBO-RAMOS reentered the United States after being previously deported on April 10, 2018. If convicted, LOBO-RAMOS faces up to 2 years of imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and $100 mandatory special assessment fee. He also faces a sentencing enhancement of up to 20 years, because of a 2010 felony sexual battery conviction in Jefferson Parish. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Convicted Felon Indicted For Illegally Attempting To Buy A Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jason Harris (42, Palm Coast) with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. If convicted, Harris faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to the indictment, Harris completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from Southeastern Sports, a federally licensed firearms dealer. Harris indicated on the required paperwork that he was not a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that this was a false statement, and that Harris was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including robbery, shooting or throwing a deadly missile, felony battery and sale of cocaine. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Six Individuals Charged in Connection with $7.5 Million Multi-State PPP Fraud Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – Six individuals, including three from Massachusetts, have been charged in connection with their alleged involvement in a multi-state scheme to obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds for themselves, and others, through the submission of dozens of fraudulent applications to PPP lenders. The following individuals have been charged by an Information with, and have agreed to plead guilty to, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit unlawful monetary transactions: Wallace Ford, 38, of Buford, Ga.; Adiana Pierre, 39, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn.; Gardy Alexandre, 51, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Richardson Rhau, 49, of Brockton, Mass.; and Wens Herby Mathurin, 26, of Brockton, Mass. Plea hearings have not yet been scheduled by the court. Bill Dessaps, 46, of South Easton, Mass., has been indicted separately on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of money laundering and one count of bank fraud. According to the charging documents, Ford, Pierre and Alexandre conspired to submit fraudulent PPP applications on behalf of numerous actual or purported businesses and non-profit organizations – including businesses operated by Mathurin and Dessaps – and to collect kickback payments from the borrowers for securing loan amounts. It is alleged that, shortly after PPP funds first became available in April 2020, Ford began submitting PPP applications on behalf of his own businesses, Pierre, Alexandre and other borrowers. Pierre, Alexandre, and others allegedly identified potential applicants and provided those applicants’ information to Ford. Ford then submitted applications for those borrowers online, fabricating how many employees worked for the businesses and those business’ monthly payroll expenses, facts that determined the size of a loan that a business could receive. Ford also allegedly submitted false wage and tax forms in support of the misrepresentations on the applications. As a result, between May and August 2020, Ford, Pierre, Alexandre and others obtained approximately $7 million in PPP funds to which they were not entitled. It is further alleged that the borrowers who received PPP funds based on these fraudulent applications paid kickbacks to Ford, Pierre, Alexandre and others, commonly in amounts equal to 10 or 20 percent of the loan amount they received. Collectively, Ford, Pierre and Alexandre allegedly received over $1 million in kickback payments from borrowers. The charging documents allege that, in June 2020, Rhau connected Alexandre with both Dessaps – the operator of an Abington-based used car dealership, who was then living in Bridgewater – and Mathurin – the purported operator of a warehouse and cargo delivery business living in Brockton. It is alleged that Alexandre then forwarded information about Dessaps’ and Mathurin’s businesses to Ford, who submitted fraudulent PPP applications to a lender on their behalf. Specifically, the application for Dessaps’ dealership falsely stated that the dealership had 40 employees and average monthly payroll expenses of $334,720. The application for Mathurin’s business falsely stated that the business had 25 employees and average monthly payroll expenses of $125,541. As a result of the applications, it is alleged that the lender disbursed a PPP loan of $836,800 to Dessaps and a PPP loan of $313,852 to Mathurin. After receiving these funds, both Dessaps and Mathurin allegedly made kickback payments to Alexandre. Mathurin also allegedly sent additional payments totaling $45,000 to Rhau. The charging documents also allege that Rhau fraudulently obtained $104,166 in PPP funds and $94,800 in other pandemic relief funds as a result of applications containing misrepresentations that he submitted to lenders between April 2020 and April 2021, and that Dessaps attempted to obtain a “Second Draw” PPP loan through another fraudulent application in March 2021. The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. The charges of conspiracy to commit unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transaction. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of the Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Haitian National Sentenced To 30 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry After Deportation By An Aggravated Felon

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Sheri P. Chappell has sentenced Augustin Desgrange (51, Haiti) to 30 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation by an aggravated felon. Desgrange had pleaded guilty on October 24, 2023. According to court documents, on April 13, 2015, Desgrange was convicted of illegal reentry after deportation by an aggravated felon and aggravated identity theft. His status as an aggravated felon stems from a 1998 state conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Desgrange has previously been deported from the United States to Haiti on two occasions. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.


title: Columbia County Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than Six Years On Narcotics And Firearms Charges

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Kristofferson Farmer, Jr. (24, Lake City) to six years and eight months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute Alpha-PVP, a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Farmer had pleaded guilty on October 4, 2023. According to court documents, on February 7, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Farmer’s residence. Found inside the residence was Alpha-PVP, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana. Additionally, three loaded firearms were found inside the residence, including a 45 caliber Glock pistol that had been reported stolen, a 9mm caliber Glock pistol, and an AR-15 rifle. Farmer admitted to owning the firearms and narcotics and stated he made approximately $40,000 a month selling narcotics out of his residence. Farmer’s DNA was found on the AR-15 rifle. Farmer was previously convicted (2018) for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and carrying a concealed firearm. As such, he is prohibited from producing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Former CEO Of Defense Company Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Defrauding Investors And Creditors

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that BAREND OBERHOLZER, a/k/a “Barry Oberholzer,” was sentenced to 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr. for soliciting investments in his defense technology start-up company on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentations regarding its financial solvency, access to cash, and use of investor funds. OBERHOLZER was arrested in February 2021 and pled guilty in March 2023. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant lied continuously about his company’s funding, endorsements, and capitalization to attract financing for his defense technology start-up. Soon, he will begin serving a federal sentence. Let this case be a warning to any entrepreneur who thinks that they can ‘fake it until they make it:’ this Office will protect investors and the public from lies designed to take their money.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and other filings and statements made in court: Beginning in or around 2018, OBERHOLZER began soliciting investment in his defense technology start-up company (“Start-Up-1”), and a purported security device it had developed (“Security Device-1”), from at least two venture capital firms on false pretenses. OBERHOLZER sent multiple emails to the firms, posing as a retired, four-star General in the United States Army (“Retired General-1”), who was employed by a private equity investment firm based in New York, New York. Therein, OBERHOLZER, posing as Retired General-1, endorsed and solicited investment in Start-Up-1 and Security Device-1, a smartphone case that purportedly permitted its users to detect at a distance weapons or other dangerous items concealed on another person. OBERHOLZER and his co-conspirator, Jaromy Pittario, a/k/a “Jaromy Jannard-Pittario,” also solicited investments in and loans for Start-Up-1 and Security Device-1 by falsely representing, among other things, their financial solvency, access to cash, and capitalization. For instance, the pair repeatedly provided falsified financial statements to potential creditors to secure funding. * * * In addition to the prison term, OBERHOLZER, 40, of Calabasas, California, was fined $100, ordered to forfeit $252,862, and ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jilan J. Kamal and Timothy V. Capozzi are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Justice Department Announces Significant Milestone in Ongoing Policing Reforms for City of Baltimore and Baltimore Police Department

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department and the City of Baltimore filed a joint motion today seeking court approval to declare the city and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) in full and effective compliance with key consent decree provisions related to the safe transportation of people in custody and officer assistance and support. The joint motion is based on BPD’s consistent progress towards achieving the goals of the consent decree. The independent monitor’s recent report on Dec. 29, 2023, found BPD in full and effective compliance with both provisions. If the court grants the motion, BPD must maintain compliance with the provisions for one year before the court can terminate these sections of the consent decree. “We are pleased the Baltimore Police Department has successfully implemented the reforms needed to safely transport detainees in its custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Injuries during transport have become extremely rare, and BPD now has in place the equipment, training, policies and practices to maintain this safety record. The Justice Department is committed to collaboratively working with the Baltimore Police Department and the community to ensure constitutional, fair and nondiscriminatory policing for all Baltimore residents. The citizens of Baltimore deserve nothing less.” The Justice Department opened a comprehensive investigation of BPD practices in 2015 after considering requests from city officials and community members in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray. The city agreed to and the court approved a consent decree in 2017 to resolve deficiencies identified by the investigation, including transport practices that placed detainees at significant risk of harm. Since approval of the consent decree, BPD has overhauled its fleet of transportation vehicles, safety equipment, data collection mechanisms, policies and training. BPD now closely tracks information about all transports, including any injuries suffered by detainees, and during the 17-month period assessed by the court-appointed independent monitor, there were only 11 reported injuries during over 16,000 transports. Key accomplishments include: Safe Transport Vehicles: BPD has overhauled its transport vehicles to outfit all with necessary safety equipment. Improved Video Recording Equipment: BPD has completed the installation of required video recording equipment and conducts and documents monthly inspections to confirm that the equipment is functioning. Proper Searches of Detainees: BPD has adopted policies that require searches of detainees by both the arresting officer and the transporting officer to protect the safety of the detainee during transport. Improved Data Collection: BPD has implemented a new records management system to streamline data collection, analysis and review. BPD now tracks important data, like whether a detainee reported an injury or medical distress, needed to be transported with individuals of the same sex or gender identity or required an accommodation for their medical equipment. The new software enables real time compliance assessment, which BPD can use to inform policy changes and identify training needs. Enhanced Auditing: BPD has developed an audit process to examine transport of detainees. The audit unit reviews the documentation and video recordings to determine the transporting officer’s compliance with policy. Violations of BPD policy constitute misconduct and result in referrals to BPD’s internal affairs unit for investigation. BPD has also devoted significant resources to officer assistance and support, another area found to be deficient in the department’s investigation, including creating an Officer Safety and Wellness Section within BPD, partnering with an employee assistance program to provide mental health and wellness servicers for officers and their families and establishing a network of peer support teams within BPD. Over the past few years, more than 10% of officers have consistently used the employee assistance program, with 31% using it in 2021. The consent decree, as well as additional information about the Civil Rights Division, are available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section-cases-and-matters .


title: Former Nurse Pleads Guilty to Tampering with Oxycodone

body_text: BOSTON – A former nurse has pleaded guilty to tampering with liquid oxycodone syringes at a local rehabilitation center. Jaclyn McQueen, 44, of Dedham, pleaded guilty on Jan. 5, 2024 in federal court in Boston to one count of tampering with a consumer product. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for April 4, 2024. McQueen was charged by Information on Dec. 7, 2023. McQueen was employed as a registered nurse at a rehabilitation center in Dedham that provided long-term chronic and post-acute care to patients. In her capacity as a nurse, McQueen had access to oxycodone, a Schedule II narcotic, prescribed to patients at the rehabilitation center. From approximately February through May 2020, she removed liquid oxycodone from syringes intended for use by patients, consumed the oxycodone herself and refilled the syringes with saline to avoid detection. McQueen returned the diluted syringes to the medication carts where they could have been administered to patients. The charge of tampering with a consumer product provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Begg Lawrence, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit, is prosecuting the case.


title: Former New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Arising From "Romance Scam"

body_text: BOSTON – A former New Bedford man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and money laundering charges involving funds obtained from “romance scam” victims. Chukwunonso “Douglas” Umegbo, a/k/a James Abbott, a/k/a Michael Philips, a/k/a Richard Armani, 38, pleaded guilty to six counts of making a false statement to a bank, two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for April 4, 2024. Umegbo was arrested in London in April 2022 and extradited to the United States in February 2023. He has remained in federal custody since. Umegbo was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2021. Between no later than 2018 through at least 2019, Umegbo opened bank accounts in the greater Boston area using fake identity documents. The bank accounts were used to receive fraudulently obtained funds from a number of victims of romance scams, in which perpetrators create fictitious online personas to develop online romantic relationships with individuals in the U.S., and then leverage those relationships to obtain money and/or property. Once the fraudulently obtained funds reached the accounts controlled by Umegbo, Umegbo withdrew the money in cash, used the funds to purchase cashier’s checks, or spent the money on personal purchases. Altogether, the fraudulent accounts received more than $560,000. The charge of making a false statement to a bank provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from the U.K. of Umegbo. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen A. Kearney and Leslie A. Wright of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Tangipahoa Man Sentenced for Dealing Firearms Without a License

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RICHARD LUDWIG II , age 74, a resident of Independence, La. was sentenced on January 9, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry, after previously pleading guilty to three counts of dealing a firearm without a license, to 36 months of probation, 12 months of home incarceration, a $5000 fine, and a mandatory $300 special assessment fee. Counts One through Three charged LUDWIG with dealing in firearms without a license, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(1)(A) and 924(a)(1)(D). According to court records, in December 2020, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Agents began investigating LUDWIG for selling firearms without a license. LUDWIG operated Tickfaw Guns, in Independence, La. and maintained a website advertising himself as a duly licensed Federal Firearms Licensee (F.F.L.). In reality, LUDWIG failed to renew his federal license to sell firearms. ATF agents also received information that LUDWIG sold guns to persons prohibited from possessing such, and that some of these guns had been recovered from various crime scenes. During their investigation, ATF agents witnessed LUDWIG selling firearms at a gun show in Mississippi on August 21, 2021. LUDWIG admitted to the agents that he had 400 guns to sell. Subsequently, in October 2021, undercover ATF agents purchased firearms and ammunition from LUDWIG twice. On December 01, 2021, ATF executed a search warrant for LUDWIG’s gun shop and seized 237 firearms, consisting of handguns, long guns, and shotguns, $21,476, cellular telephones, computers, and assorted financial documents. Agents also seized financial documents from LUDWIG ’s bank account. The $21,476 represented LUDWIG’s profit from unlicensed firearms sales. LUDWIG used the seized computers and financial documents, to maintain his illegal gun selling operation. 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 investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: New Britain Man Sentenced to 79 Months in Federal Prison for Stealing Cash and Cigarettes in Month-Long Robbery Spree

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EFRAIN DELEON, 61, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 79 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing nine robberies of convenience stores and smoke shops in Connecticut and New Hampshire in 2022. According to court documents and statements made in court, between February 27 and March 16, 2022, Efrain Deleon, Gilberto Deleon, and Steven Galarza, using BB guns that are designed to appear similar to real firearms, robbed the following retail locations of cash, cigarettes and other items: February 27 – Scott’s Village Mobil Gas Station, 843 Farmington Avenue, Farmington March 2 – Mystic Mobil Gas Station, 66 Whitehall Avenue, Mystic March 3 – Shell Gas Station, 168 Bridge Street, East Windsor March 3 – Food Bag, 960 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Southington March 5 – Valero Gas Station, 1 Main Street, Ellington March 5 – Sunoco Gas Station, 446 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor March 8 – Smoker’s Discount World, 636 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield March 16 – Cove Smoke Market, located at 841 Cove Road, Stamford During the robberies, Efrain Deleon typically interacted directly with the store clerk and took the cash and tobacco products. Gilberto Deleon acted as the “lookout” and Galarza acted as the “getaway” driver. At times, their roles overlapped. On March 19, 2022, Efrain Deleon and Galarza also robbed a 7-Eleven in Salem, New Hampshire. Efrain Deleon has been detained since his arrest on April 19, 2022. On May 9, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery. Deleon’s criminal history includes seven prior robbery convictions. Galarza, of Seymour, and Gilberto Deleon, of New Britain, pleaded guilty to related charges. On July 20, 2023, Galarza, who also committed two additional robberies in Connecticut and New York, was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment. On December 14, 2023, Gilberto Deleon was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, and the Farmington, Stonington, East Windsor, Southington, Windsor, Wethersfield, Stamford, New Britain, Salem (N.H.), and Somers (N.Y.) Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.


title: Orange County man sentenced for trafficking methamphetamine

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

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas– An Orange, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Roy Allen John, Jr., 47, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 122 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Jan. 16, 2024. According to information presented in court, in January of 2022, John was arrested after selling approximately 27.89 grams of methamphetamine to another person for $350 cash in the Home Depot parking lot in Orange. An additional 123 grams of methamphetamine and three firearms were found in the vehicle John was driving. This case was 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte. # # #


title: Colorado Resident Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm Offense Related to Mass Shooting at Club Q

body_text: A Colorado resident was charged today by an information with hate crimes and firearms charges related to the mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQI+ establishment in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Nov. 19, 2022. The information charges that Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, formerly of Colorado Springs, murdered five people, injured 19 and attempted to murder 26 more in a willful, deliberate, malicious and premediated attack at Club Q. According to the information, Aldrich entered Club Q armed with a loaded assault weapon and began firing. Aldrich continued firing until Aldrich was subdued by patrons of the Club. The information also alleges that Aldrich committed this attack because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of any person. Aldrich filed a notice of disposition and requested that the court schedule a change of plea hearing. In consultation with the victims of this incident, the parties jointly filed a motion requesting that the court schedule the change of plea and sentencing hearings on the same date, which the court granted. The parties further informed the court that there is a plea agreement in this matter, and it is anticipated that the defendant has agreed to plead guilty to all charges in the information. The time for the entry of the guilty plea has not yet been set. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado and Special Agent in Charge Mark D. Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Denver Field Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alison Connaughty and Bryan Fields for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. An information is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Organizer of a four year-old’s kidnapping sent to prison

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 24-year-old Edinburg resident has been sent to prison following his conviction for conspiracy to commit hostage taking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Gilbert John Montez pleaded guilty April 24, 2023. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Montez to serve 200 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that when an individual is involved in a criminal enterprise, he can be held accountable for the actions of all the participants involved. Judge Alvarez stated that ultimately you have a young child being removed from his mother, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, and handed from person to person which can be very traumatic for the child. The court further pointed out that the child was being used as a piece of property that had value and could be used for profit. “Human smugglers have a bad habit of becoming human kidnappers. Montez targeted a vulnerable family and leveraged a young child’s safety and a parents’ love to extort as much money as possible,” said Hamdani. “He did not care that this child was passed from stranger to stranger, each time increasing the risk the child would be harmed. Instead, Montez put profit before people and only cared about making more money. Now, because of the Southern District’s prosecutors and investigators, Montez’s heartless business is “out of business.” “HSI is committed to aggressively targeting human smugglers and smuggling organizers that have no qualms about using threats and even violence to collect their smuggling fees,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - San Antonio. “We’ll continue to work jointly with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who exploit people in these ruthless ways will themselves face serious consequences.” Montez recruited and hired individuals to transport and hold a 4-year-old child for ransom. On March 31, 2022, Jose Andres Romo-Torres took the young child from his mother at a Mission Texas house holding smuggled migrants and gave him to two strangers, Larissa Celena Gracia and Nichole Marie Garcia Tichacek to transport past the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint to Corpus Christi. The women then handed the child off to Michael Gee Ingram who transported the child to Houston. Once there, the child was given to Jonathan Orlando Ortiz-De Leon who took him to his apartment in Stafford. During this time, Montez and Ortiz-De Leon contacted the young child’s father and informed him that his son would not be released until he paid $4,500. On April 3, 2023, Montez hired Carlos Oyervides to help Ortiz-De Leon collect the ransom payment and deliver the child to his father. Oyervides also spoke with the child’s father and told him he needed to pay the ransom to get his son back. Authorities learned of the scheme and attempted to make arrangements with Oyervides and Ortiz-De Leon for the release of the child, but failed. They then tracked them down to an apartment complex in Stafford, took them into custody and located the child. The others involved in the scheme all pleaded guilty to their varying roles and have also been ordered to prison. Montez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Mission Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.


title: New York Man Admits Illegally Possessing Cocaine and Fentanyl

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man today admitted illegally possessing cocaine and fentanyl for distribution, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Isidro Fernandez, 35, New York, pleaded guilty to before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Feb. 26, 2021, law enforcement officers recovered a total of over 5 kilograms of cocaine and over 3 kilograms of fentanyl from a Passaic County residence occupied by Fernandez and from a vehicle that was seen leaving the residence. Fernandez admitted possessing the controlled substances with the intent to distribute. The narcotics offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $1 million. Sentencing is scheduled for May 2, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, which comprises special agents and task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York City Police Department, and New York State Police, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea D. Coleman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark. fernandez.information.pdf


title: Nevada CPA Sentenced to Three Years in Prison in False Tax Return Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Nevada man was sentenced today to three years in prison for willfully aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns, in connection with a scheme to sell purported investment opportunities to clients that he falsely claimed would entitle them to IRS tax deductions. According to court documents and statements made in court, Lance K. Bradford, of Henderson, was a certified public accountant and founder and manager of LL Bradford & Company (LLB). LLB performed accounting-related work, including tax preparation, audit and consulting services. Bradford also operated a real estate business that developed office buildings and other real property. In connection with Bradford’s real estate development activities, he operated and controlled a real estate investment partnership entity. In 2011, Bradford began offering LLB’s high-net-worth clients an “investment opportunity” through which the clients would make a payment to his partnership entity and, in exchange, receive a large tax deduction of approximately five to seven times the amount of money the client “invested.” Bradford advised that the clients’ payments would entitle them to claim the large tax deduction based on losses derived from the partnership entity, even though he knew the tax laws did not permit the sale of such deductions in exchange for an investment of money, and the partnership did not incur the losses or depreciation in the amounts represented by Bradford. Bradford also did not report the purported investments as losses on the clients’ tax returns as promised. Instead, he caused the clients’ returns to report large false deductions for cost of goods sold, professional and consulting fees or nonpassive losses. In total, Bradford’s scheme caused a tax loss to the IRS of at least $8 million. As one example from his investment scheme, in 2014, Bradford asked a client to make a $417,780 “investment” to his partnership entity in exchange for purported depreciation-based losses to be placed on his client’s 2013 corporate tax return (Form 1120S). But instead of reporting depreciation related to the investment, Bradford caused LLB to prepare and file a Form 1120S that falsely inflated the company’s cost of goods sold by $2,110,000, causing a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $860,627. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Gloria M. Navarro ordered Bradford to serve one year of supervised release and pay $6,734,338 in restitution to the United States. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case, with assistance from the FBI. Trial Attorney Patrick Burns of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.


title: Pittsburgh Resident Indicted on Federal Firearms and Narcotics Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The two-count Indictment named Johvian Everett, age 24, formerly of Mt. Oliver, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on November 27, 2022, Everett knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits a person who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The Indictment further alleges that, on the same date, Everett possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Legal permanent resident sentenced after attempting to smuggle eight kilograms of cocaine

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced following his conviction of importing cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Juan Mendoza pleaded guilty April 11, 2023. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Mendoza to serve 62 months in federal prison. He also faces loss of his legal status and possible removal proceedings. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Mendoza had smuggled illegal narcotics on other occasions as well. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Mendoza’s key role in smuggling narcotics into the United States for further distribution. At the time of his plea, Mendoza admitted he attempted to smuggle approximately eight kilograms of cocaine through the Donna Port of Entry. On Nov. 6, 2022, Mendoza stated he had no illegal drugs in his vehicle when he arrived at the checkpoint. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where they found two car batteries in the back seat. Law enforcement examined the batteries and found them to contain eight packages of a white powdery substance, later determined to be cocaine with an approximate weight of eight kilograms. The drugs had an estimated street value of $100,000. Mendoza will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Parran III and Daniel Chung prosecuted the case.


title: Men imprisoned for dealing $500,000 of cocaine

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – Three men have been ordered to federal prison for their roles in the distribution of over 40 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Legal permanent resident Luis Jaime Escamilla, 50, originally from Mexico and residing there, Joel Otoniel Medina, 35, Penitas, and Andres Montalvo Jr., 38, Mission, each pleaded guilty June 16, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now sentenced Escamilla and Medina to serve 66 and 46 months in federal prison, respectively, while Medina received 12 months and one day. Medina and Montalvo will be on supervised release for three years following their sentences, while Escamilla could face the loss of his legal status to reside in the country. At the hearing, the court considered the number of occasions they each engaged in narcotics trafficking and the role they had in furthering the distribution of drugs into the county. The court also heard that although each of these individuals had no criminal history, the danger this volume of drugs posed to the local community merited significant sentences. Rigoberto Beltran-Garza, 42, Hidalgo, previously received 46 months in federal prison. On four separate occasions from October 2021 to January 2022, Escamilla entered the United States via the Pharr Port of Entry. He then met with another vehicle in a public parking lot to transfer a black bag containing bricks of cocaine on each occasion. Law enforcement then stopped the vehicles and identified Medina, Montalvo and Beltran. The three men each admitted they were being paid to transport the cocaine. In total, law enforcement seized 41 bundles, weighing over 44 kilograms with an estimated street value of approximately $500,000. Escamilla has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. Medina and Montalvo were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Fry prosecuted the case.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of Firearm Charge

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on January 10, 2024, JOSHUA MORGAN , age 30, a resident of Orleans Parish, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). If convicted, MORGAN faces up to 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Sentencing is set for April 10, 2024. According to court records, on October 10, 2022, NOPD responded to a 911 call of shots being fired. The caller reported observing a subject in a grey shirt with black shorts flee from a vehicle, run through a parking lot, and put something in a storm drain behind a business located in the 3400 block of Tulane Avenue. Video surveillance from the area showed an Infiniti SUV driving on Tulane Avenue toward downtown New Orleans and stop at a red light. After the Infiniti stops, one vehicle pulled up next to the Infiniti while another pulled up from behind. The occupants of those two vehicles opened fire on the Infiniti. MORGAN , who was in the Infiniti, shot through his windshield, exited the Infiniti and continued firing at the two vehicles. Surveillance video also showed MORGAN running from the Infiniti with a firearm in his hand, placing the firearm in his pants pocket, and later discarding the firearm in a storm drain. MORGAN is a felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. 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. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Mother and Daughter Team Plead Guilty in COVID-19 Related Jailhouse Unemployment Insurance Fraud

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Makiah Miles, 30, of Compton, and Apryl Weston, 51, of Santa Maria, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail fraud for submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in the names of inmates, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Miles was an inmate at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, and Weston is her mother. From June through December 2020, Miles obtained other inmates’ names, dates of birth, and social security numbers and sent that information to Weston to submit claims in those inmates’ identities, as well as Miles’ own identity. The underlying applications misrepresented that Miles and the other inmates worked as childcare providers, cosmetologists, hairdressers, and other occupations, that they last worked within the prior few months and recently became unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that they were currently available to work. The fraudulent claims were worth nearly $250,000. This case is the product of an investigation by FBI, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Investigative Services Unit, and the EDD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case. This case is part of the California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force, which is one of the interagency COVID-19 fraud strike forces established by the United States Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California, and focuses on large-scale, multistate, and egregious pandemic relief fraud. The strike force uses prosecutor-led, and data analyst-driven, teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief money. Miles and Weston are scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, 2024. They face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Bakersfield CPA Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Stealing $355,000 from Investors

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Jeffrey Todd Stewart, 58, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for stealing $355,000 from investors, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Stewart was employed as a certified public accountant in Bakersfield. Between September 2014 and June 2018, Stewart solicited and received over $2 million from investors to pay fees and expenses purportedly needed for an overseas business deal. Stewart represented to the investors that their investments were being used for the deal and promised significant returns. Although Stewart used most of the money for the purported deal, he spent $355,000 of the money obtained from the investors on his own personal expenses, including mortgage payments, trips to Las Vegas, and gambling. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Brittany Gunter prosecuted the case.


title: Arizona Resident Indicted  for Federal Bank Fraud

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on January 11, 2024, WILLIAM J. WHITE , age 63, of Phoenix, Arizona was indicted for bank fraud. According to court documents, WHITE entered a local bank and used a false identification document in an attempt to cash a forged and fraudulent check. The crime of bank fraud carries a penalty of up to 30 years imprisonment, followed by up to five years of supervised release, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Diplomatic Security Service, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to over 6 Years in Prison for Madera Methamphetamine Transaction

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Jesus Alberto Reyes-Parra, 31, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today to six years and two months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, following negotiations by a third party for the sale of 50 pounds of methamphetamine for $125,000, Reyes-Parra brought approximately 48 pounds of pure methamphetamine to a drug transaction in a Walmart parking lot in Madera. He did not know that the buyer was undercover law enforcement. Reyes-Parra was arrested after he showed the officer the drugs on the rear passenger seat of his vehicle. Officers recovered the methamphetamine and located in the center console of the vehicle a stolen Colt .38-caliber handgun with a loaded magazine inserted in the handgun. This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiative task force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case.


title: Felon Sentenced to 110 Months’ for Illegally Possessing an Officer’s Firearm While Attempting to Avoid Arrest

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Brandon Keith Thompson, 43, of Salt Lake County, Utah, was sentenced today to over nine years imprisonment followed by three years supervised release after a federal jury found him guilty of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, and the evidence presented at trial in January 2023, law enforcement responded to a store in Sandy, Utah on July 8, 2021, for a report of a theft in progress. When the officers arrived, employees identified Thompson as the suspected shoplifter. Thompson fled the store. Two officers with the Sandy Police Department chased Thompson in the parking lot and stopped him. Thompson grabbed an officer’s firearm, which was holstered, and pulled on it with such force that the firearm began to move up out of the holster. A bystander observed the struggle and rushed forward to help the officers keep Thompson from gaining control of the firearm and potentially using it against the officers. Thompson placed his finger on the trigger and fired the weapon, which was still partially holstered. The bullet came within inches of striking the bystander and officers. Thompson maintained his grip on the firearm and continued to pull on it, as officers and the bystander attempted to gain control of the firearm and Thompson. After a violent struggle, the officers and bystander secured the firearm and placed Thompson into custody. Thompson had previously been convicted of a felony. This is Thompson’s third federal conviction for the unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. “Thompson’s behavior threatened the lives of police officers and bystanders in a busy parking lot,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “This case highlights the valuable and ongoing relationship between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners as we continue to seek justice for federal offenders whose actions put law enforcement and the community in danger.” “We are extremely grateful for the countless hours of hard work of everyone involved in this case,” said a spokesperson with the Sandy Police Department Administration. “We are especially thankful for Assistant United States Attorneys, Angela Clifford and Jennifer Muyskens, for their diligence in the pursuit of justice for this deliberate act of indifference against a law enforcement officer.” “Everyday law enforcement officers are confronted with life and death situations in order to protect their communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “We are fortunate and grateful this case was not deadly for the officer or other innocent bystanders.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Angela J. Clifford and Jennifer K. Muyskens of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Fresno Woman Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Bobbi Jo Heiss, 37, of Fresno, was sentenced today to seven years in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between August 2020 and September 2021, Heiss engaged in a scheme to steal debit cards, checks, identity documents, and banking information in order to make fraudulent purchases, cash checks, and open unauthorized lines of credit. The scheme caused at least $250,000 in actual and attempted loss during a year-long period. For example, as part of the scheme, on April 30, 2021, Heiss presented a check for $57,767 to a car dealership in Fresno with the name and driver’s license number of an identity theft victim in order to purchase a 2017 truck. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office - Elder Abuse Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry Z. Carbajal III prosecuted the case.


title: Commercial truck driver admits trafficking charge after trying to haul approximately 30 kilos of cocaine across Montana border into Canada

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A commercial truck driver from Canada today admitted to a cocaine trafficking crime after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine in watermelon pallets as the driver was attempting to enter Canada at the Montana border, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Kareshmaa Kaur Jagroop, 42, of Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine as charged in a superseding information. Jagroop faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for May 23. Jagroop was released on conditions to a treatment center in Montana pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in July 2021, a commercial truck was northbound on Interstate 15 near the Sweetgrass Port of Entry in Toole County. As it approached the border in the outbound lane, Customs and Border Protection officers signaled the truck to stop, but the driver ignored the signal and continued past the outbound booth. Officers chased down the truck, which eventually stopped, and had the driver, Jagroop, reverse the truck back to the outbound booth for inspection. As part of the inspection, Jagroop drove through a screening machine, which showed potential anomalies in the trailer. Officers conducted a manual search and unloaded the contents with a forklift. Officers removed two pallets of watermelons and saw a plastic bag that contained approximately 30 kilograms, which is about 66 pounds, of cocaine. During an interview, Jagroop told officers she entered the United States about one week prior to the stop and delivered produce to supermarkets in Oregon and California. She eventually admitted that she was hauling cocaine for a group in Canada. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Colorado Resident Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Firearm Offenses Related to Mass Shooting at Club Q

body_text: A Colorado resident was charged today by an information with hate crimes and firearms charges related to the mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQI+ establishment in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Nov. 19, 2022. The information charges that Anderson Lee Aldrich, 23, formerly of Colorado Springs, murdered five people, injured 19 and attempted to murder 26 more in a willful, deliberate, malicious and premediated attack at Club Q. According to the information, Aldrich entered Club Q armed with a loaded assault weapon and began firing. Aldrich continued firing until Aldrich was subdued by patrons of the Club. The information also alleges that Aldrich committed this attack because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of any person. Aldrich filed a notice of disposition and requested that the court schedule a change of plea hearing. In consultation with the victims of this incident, the parties jointly filed a motion requesting that the court schedule the change of plea and sentencing hearings on the same date. The parties further informed the court that there is a plea agreement in this matter, and it is anticipated that the defendant has agreed to plead guilty to all charges in the information. The time for the entry of the guilty plea has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mark D. Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Denver Field Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alison Connaughty and Bryan Fields for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. An information is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Tessa M. Gorman sworn in as U.S. Attorney, Western District of Washington

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – After serving six months as Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa Gorman was sworn in today as U.S. Attorney, following her appointment to the post by U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. The appointment comports with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo administered the oath of office. U.S. Attorney Gorman also issued the 2023 Report to the Community, highlighting the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2023. The report is linked below. 2023_final_report_to_the_community_1-16-2024.pdf ..


title: Schuele Boy going to prison for 18 years for racketeering conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Roderick Arrington, a/k/a Ra-Ra, 42, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 216 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who handled the case, stated that Roderick was a member of the Schuele Boys Gang, which operated in the Schuele Street area of the East Side of Buffalo. The Schuele Boys Gang was responsible for multiple acts of violence and the distribution of illegal narcotics including cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski. # # # #


title: Cheektowaga man pleads guilty to sex trafficking

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James Fox, 41, of Cheektowaga, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to sex trafficking by coercion, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper and Aaron J. Mango, who are handling the case, stated that between January 2019, and May 2020, Fox coerced an individual identified as T.P. to engage in commercial sex acts for him, providing T.P., who was addicted to heroin, with heroin and crack cocaine in exchange for sex. On the verge of physical withdrawal sickness, Fox supplied T.P. with small amounts of heroin to keep T.P. dependent and to coerce T.P. to engage in commercial sex acts, which included the use of physical restraints. On one occasion, T.P. suffered a heroin overdose. Fox administered four doses of Narcan and T.P. ultimately regained consciousness. In addition, between 2018 and 2021, Fox coerced five other individuals to engage in commercial sex acts for him. Fox provided these victims, who were also addicted to heroin, with heroin and crack cocaine in exchange for sex. Similarly to T.P., these victims would be on the verge of physical withdrawal sickness, and Fox would supply them with a small mount to keep them dependent and to coerce them to engage in commercial sex acts, which included the use of physical restraints. The plea is a result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Karn. Jr. and Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons. Sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Mexican Mafia Associates Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 16, 2024 SAN DIEGO – Marquella Marshall and Marsha Delacruz were sentenced in federal court today to 180 months and 48 months in prison, respectively, for their parts in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that operated in San Diego jails. According to court records, Marshall, a Texas resident who previously lived in San Diego, is an Eastside San Diego street gang member and a “facilitator” and “secretary” for the Mexican Mafia. In that role she was tasked by high-ranking Mexican Mafia members to communicate on their behalf, collect and launder money, handle drug transactions, and direct street operations on the Mafia’s behalf. At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Larry Alan Burns described Marshall as “a conduit” for the Mexican Mafia and further described the distribution conspiracy as “an assault on the integrity of the prison system.” U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said: “Drug smuggling and use in prisons result in overdose, violence, and power struggles. These significant sentences are a strike against the prison drug culture which puts guards and staff at risk and exists in large part because of dangerous gangs like the Mexican Mafia.” “Our focus is and always will be on protecting our communities from violent gang activity and the distribution of dangerous narcotics," said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge John Kim. "This was a collective effort, and we thank our partners that make up the Violent Crime Task Force – Gang Group for their coordination in disrupting the illegal activities of the Mexican Mafia and ensuring Marshall and Delacruz suffer the consequences of their actions.” Delacruz, of Lemon Grove, who also is an Eastside San Diego street gang member, worked at the direction of Marshall. As part of the conspiracy, Marshall, Delacruz, and others mailed methamphetamine to various locations, including jails and prisons in Southern California. Marshall and Delacruz disguised some of the narcotics-laden packages as legal mail to avoid detection by law enforcement and prison/jail officials. Marshall, Delacruz, and several other Mexican Mafia associates were apprehended after an investigation by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force - Gang Group. DEFENDANTS Case Number 23-cr-00373-LAB Marquella Marshall Age: 41 Houston, TX Marsha Delacruz Age: 47 Lemon Grove, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Distribute of Methamphetamine – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 846 and 841(a)(1) Maximum penalty: Life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of ten years (Marshall only), and $10 million fine AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation, Violent Crimes Task Force – Gang Group (VCTF-GG), which included investigators from the following agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Police Department Homeland Security Investigations Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives California Department of Corrections San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Chula Vista Police Department National City Police Department Bureau of Prisons U.S. Postal Inspection Service San Diego District Attorney’s Office Investigations


title: Grand jury indicts 5 Dayton individuals in narcotics conspiracy resulting in death

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – Five Dayton individuals have been charged federally in a narcotics conspiracy that allegedly resulted in at least one overdose death and one serious bodily injury. Those charged include: Name Also known as Age Ricardo Busbee Cardo 33 Torrence Busbee Woody 30 Demarion Galloway Duke 28 Dalaquan McGuire Rico 26 Doretha Hughes 27 In summer 2023, local and federal law enforcement began investigating a significant increase in drug overdoses that had occurred within a six-block radius in Dayton. According to the 10-count indictment, the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. They allegedly possessed and distributed methamphetamine at a premises where a minor resided. It is also alleged that on July 27, 2023, Ricardo Busbee and Hughes distributed a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine that caused an overdose death. The drug combination also allegedly caused serious bodily injury to another individual. Ricardo and Torrence Busbee are also charged with illegally possessing firearms as previously convicted felons. All the defendants are charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. They allegedly possessed at least 14 guns that they kept in a storage unit and at residences on Laura and Basswood avenues. Due to the allegation that death and serious bodily injury resulted from the drug conspiracy, if convicted, the defendants face a punishment of at least 20 years and up to life in prison. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and gangs that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Dayton Police Chief Kamran Aftal announced the charges that were unsealed on Jan. 12 and commended the cooperative investigation with the assistance of partner agencies including Huber Heights, Trotwood, Springfield and Bellefontaine police departments, Miami County and Montgomery County sheriff’s offices, the FBI, United States Marshals and Ohio Adult Parole Authority. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith and Kelly K. Rossi are representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Grand jury indicts Columbus man for committing 2 armed robberies against U.S. postal carriers

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was indicted and arrested for federal crimes related to armed robberies of United States postal carriers. Anthony J. (“AJ”) Williams, 19, was arrested yesterday in Pittsburgh and will make his initial appearance there today. He is charged with conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, aggravated robbery of property of the United States, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. According to the indictment, in November and December 2022, Williams robbed two postal carriers of their service keys. Williams allegedly brandished a Glock 19 firearm at the first victim and wounded the second victim by punching him in the face. The four-count indictment details that Williams allegedly conspired with at least four other individuals to rob postal service employees of their service keys to access USPS “blue boxes” and steal checks and money orders. Specifically, it is alleged that on Nov. 9, 2022, Williams committed an armed robbery against a postal carrier on Michigan Avenue in Columbus. Williams allegedly received $2,000from co-conspirators for stealing the carrier’s service key. On Christmas Eve in 2022, Williams allegedly punched a Canal Winchester postal carrier who was working on Kodiak Drive and threatened to kill him if he did not turn over his postal service key. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence is punishable by at least seven years and up to life in prison. Aggravated robbery of government property carries a potential penalty of up to 25 years in prison. Conspiring to commit an offense against the United States is punishable by up to five years in prison. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #