title: Passenger in Highway 76 Emergency Plane Landing Facing Drug Charges

body_text: SAN DIEGO –Troy Othneil Smith, a passenger aboard a small aircraft that made an emergency landing on Highway 76 in Oceanside last month, appeared in federal court today to face drug charges stemming from the incident. According to a complaint, after the plane landed safely, Smith attempted to hide a package of cocaine from Oceanside police officers who responded to the emergency landing that occurred at about 1:39 a.m. on September 26, 2024. According to the complaint, Smith was under investigation by the DEA and the U.S. Postal Service prior to the emergency landing. In that ongoing probe, Smith is suspected of shipping narcotics from Oceanside, California, across the United States through the United States Postal Service. Flight records indicate the private plane departed from a San Diego airport at approximately 10:49 a.m. on September 25, 2024, and landed at about 6:48 p.m. that evening in Mesa, Arizona. At approximately 11:08 p.m. on September 25, 2024, the airplane departed Mesa, Arizona and headed westward toward California. At approximately 1:28 a.m., the airplane flew past Carlsbad over the Pacific Ocean, and made a U-turn heading back toward Oceanside. At approximately 1:39 a.m., the airplane made an emergency landing on Highway 76. Based upon information gathered during the investigation, law enforcement learned that the pilot and passenger, later identified as Smith, began experiencing mechanical issues with the airplane during the flight as it arrived in San Diego County airspace. The pilot and passenger were planning an ocean landing because the airplane seemed to shut-off and was malfunctioning. They were able to turn the airplane around over the ocean as the airplane and engine began working again. After a short time, the engine shut off a second time, which resulted in the pilot landing the plane on Highway 76. The Oceanside Police Department immediately responded to the scene on Highway 76 and found the pilot and passenger near the airplane. The passenger identified himself to police officers as Smith. One of the officers on scene noticed Smith was wearing a backpack and was pacing near the plane. After ordering Smith to stop going back to the airplane, the officer turned his attention away from Smith. When he heard the unzipping of a backpack, the officer immediately turned his attention back toward Smith, who was near the guardrail on the highway. The officer observed Smith reach into the backpack, take something out, and place it in the bushes. The officer ordered Smith to step away from the guardrail, while another officer went over to the guardrail and found a heat-sealed, air-tight package resting on the ground among the bushes. The contents of the package tested positive for cocaine. Smith was arrested. Smith’s preliminary hearing and arraignment are scheduled to take place on October 31, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. DEFENDANT Case Number 24-MJ-03788 Troy Othneil Smith Age: 36 Oceanside, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute– Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1) Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $1 million fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Drug Enforcement Administration United States Postal Inspectors San Diego Field Division Narcotics Task Force Team 6 North County Narcotics task Force Oceanside Police Department *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Richfield Felon Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison in Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Richfield man has been sentenced to 262 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. On September 19, 2023, Andrew Jerome Bigbee, 58, was convicted by a federal jury on one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John R. Tunheim. According to the evidence presented at trial, the defendant conspired to distribute methamphetamine between approximately September 2019 and May 2021. Law enforcement officers obtained a warrant and searched the defendant’s house in Richfield, Minnesota, on September 4, 2019. Law enforcement found more than 520 grams of methamphetamine in the defendant’s house, as well as other miscellaneous indicators of drug trafficking, such as a digital scale, more than $8,000 in cash, a money counting machine, drug packaging materials, and two firearms. According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 16, 2020, law enforcement searched the defendant’s RV in Bloomington, Minnesota. There, law enforcement found more than 5,000 grams of methamphetamine throughout the RV as well as drug trafficking paraphernalia, including a vacuum sealer machine, plastic bags, digital scales, a money counting machine, and more than $300,000 in cash. On May 6, 2021, law enforcement searched the defendant’s residence in Elko, Minnesota. Law enforcement found almost 12,000 grams of methamphetamine in the residence. Law enforcement also found additional evidence of drug trafficking, including a digital scale, a money counter machine, almost $18,000 in cash, and a firearm. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Bloomington Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Edina Police Department, Richfield Police Department, Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force, and the Springerville Police Department in Arizona. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan H. Nelson prosecuted the case.


title: Red Lake Woman Sentenced to Prison for Child Neglect Following the Death of a Child on the Red Lake Reservation

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake woman has been sentenced to 15 months in prison following the death of a child in her care, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to evidence presented at trial, Sharon Rosebear, 64, intentionally deprived a child, Minor A, of necessary food and health care over the course of 2022. The evidence at trial established that Minor A died in 2022 from the combined effects of starvation and infection. Rosebear’s codefendant, Julius Fineday, Sr., pleaded guilty to one count of felony child neglect causing the death of a child and was sentenced to five years in prison earlier this year. The evidence at trial established that Rosebear acted as one of Minor A’s caretakers in 2022. In accordance with Minnesota law, the jury was instructed that Rosebear’s lack of formal legal custody of Minor A did not alter her responsibility to the child. The evidence at trial established that Rosebear was reasonably able to provide for Minor A’s nutrition and healthcare—including evidence establishing that healthcare and transportation to healthcare is free within the Red Lake Nation, and that all of the adults and children involved in the case received nutritional and cash assistance adequate to meet their basic needs—and that Rosebear nonetheless intentionally deprived Minor A of those basic needs by withholding food, and by looking the other way while Minor A’s health deteriorated. The evidence at trial included evidence that Minor A died at the same weight she had been nearly three years earlier, and that while Rosebear was aware of Minor A’s severe lice infestation, Rosebear responded by keeping Minor A isolated rather than seeking medical attention for Minor A. Medical testimony at trial established that the type of infection Minor A had when she died could have entered Minor A’s body through scratches in her scalp related to her unaddressed lice. The medical testimony also established that Minor A’s prolonged starvation may have been an independently sufficient cause of death, or may have severely compromised Minor A’s immune system’s ability to fight infection. On April 29, 2024, Rosebear was found guilty of felony child neglect following a six-day trial in U.S. District Court. She was sentenced today by Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz. In handing down the sentence, Chief Judge Schiltz commented, “One of the most tragic things about Minor A’s death is that it was so easily preventable … day after day, week after week, month after month, Ms. Rosebear watched as Minor A slowly starved to death.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Middlecamp and Rachel L. Kraker tried the case.


title: Two Plead Guilty in Nationwide Marijuana Trafficking and Money Laundering Conspiracies

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” age 45, of Albany, and Niara Banks, aka “Nie,” age 32, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to offenses related to their involvement in nationwide marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracies. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. Mumphrey and Banks admitted to being members of a marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) trafficking organization that cultivated marijuana on a commercial scale in Fresno, California, and shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region of New York. Banks admitted to receiving packages of marijuana shipped by Dwight A. Singletary, II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, at her home in Troy and another home in Albany. Banks was notified of the packages of marijuana by Dwight Singletary and David Singletary, aka “DB,” and typically notified David Singletary, who retrieved the packages, when they arrived. Banks also sold marijuana, which she obtained from Dwight and David Singletary. Between September 2020 and March 2022, Banks received 33 packages containing approximately 133 kilograms (293 pounds) of marijuana at her home in Troy and the other home in Albany. Banks also admitted to laundering marijuana and THC proceeds for the organization by purchasing cashier’s checks with cash drug proceeds. Federal law requires financial institutions to complete a currency transaction report for cash transactions over $10,000. To avoid the reporting requirement and otherwise conceal the cash drug proceeds, Banks purchased seven cashier’s checks in amounts slightly below the reporting threshold for cash transactions with $65,880 in cash drug proceeds. The cashier’s checks were payable to Dwight Singletary; Dwight Singletary’s company, DAS Empire, Inc.; and a person from whom Dwight Singletary and DAS Empire purchased real estate. Mumphrey admitted to receiving packages of marijuana shipped from Fast Pack & Ship at his apartment in Albany and to selling marijuana and THC “edibles” for the organization out of a “knock spot” in Troy. In searching the “knock spot” in January 2022, law enforcement discovered 29 pounds of marijuana, which was in several plastic shelves with sticky notes denoting the strain and price of the marijuana, and in a backpack. The “knock spot” also contained $3,953 in cash, several digital scales, a large safe with a bulletproof vest, and a box shipped from Fast Pack & Ship to Mumphrey at his apartment in Albany. In June 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mumphrey’s apartment in Albany and discovered, among other things, a dogfood container with approximately eight pounds of marijuana in a room in the basement. In the same room, law enforcement discovered a Ruger model AR-556 5.56x45mm caliber semiautomatic rifle, a 5.56x45mm caliber semiautomatic rifle with no serial number, an Anderson model AM-15 5.56x45mm caliber semiautomatic rifle with no serial number, and a Taurus 9mm caliber pistol with no serial number, and assorted ammunition. Mumphrey possessed the firearms to protect the organization’s marijuana, THC edibles, and drug proceeds, including from potential robbers. Between February 2020 and June 2022, 74 packages containing approximately 341 kilograms (752 pounds) of marijuana were shipped from Fast Pack & Ship to Mumphrey at his apartment in Albany. Mumphrey also admitted to laundering drug proceeds for the organization. Between March 2020 and June 2022, Mumphrey purchased 14 cashier’s checks in amounts slightly below the reporting threshold for cash transactions with $132,270 in cash drug proceeds. Mumphrey also gave cash drug proceeds to two other members of the organization for use in purchasing cashier’s checks in amounts slightly below the reporting threshold. Banks faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the two counts to which she pled guilty, conspiring to distribute marijuana and THC and conspiring to commit money laundering; fines of up to $1 million and $500,000, respectively, on each count; and a term of supervised release of between three years and life. Mumphrey faces a total of at least 10 years in prison and up to life on the three counts to which he pled guilty, conspiring to distribute marijuana and THC, conspiring to commit money laundering, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; a total of $5.75 million in fines; and a term of supervised release of between four years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Banks and Mumphrey were charged in an indictment with Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, Coles, and 19 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes. Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, and Coles have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. In addition to Banks and Mumphrey, 14 other defendants, Rosemary Coles , Latrice Mumphrey , Sammy Olague , Victor Turner , Kristle Walker , Ruby Ledesma , Lateek White , Onisha Smith , Jazell Shuler , Earnest Flood, aka “Pop,” Consanga Harris, aka “Sondy,” James Tyrell Daniels, aka “Red” and “Ghost,” LaFay Pearson, aka “Lala,” and Alyssa June White previously pled guilty and are pending sentencing. The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: 6 defendants sentenced to prison for trafficking nearly 12 kilograms of methamphetamine in Adderall lookalike pills via the dark web

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Six Texans convicted as part of a large-scale dark web drug trafficking organization have been sentenced in federal court in Cincinnati. According to court documents, from July 2019 through December 2020, the co-conspirators distributed significant quantities of methamphetamine – pressed to look like legitimate Adderall pills – over the dark web. The defendants sold at least 11.98 kilograms total of methamphetamine in pills and laundered between $15,000 and $50,000 per month using cryptocurrency. The group shipped the drugs nationwide, including into the Southern District of Ohio, using the United States Postal Service. The defendants used the vendor name “Loverbois,” along with several other usernames, and averaged 20 orders per day. Those sentenced in this case include: Name Age City of Residence Sentence Imposed Hung Ahn Huy Phung 26 Houston, Texas 84 months in prison John G. Dang 24 Houston, Texas 75 months in prison Bernardo Guzman 31 Houston, Texas 72 months in prison Stephanie R. Pray 35 Houston, Texas Five years’ probation Kevin Tran 25 Houston, Texas 60 months in prison Chazton Harris 29 Houston, Texas 74 months in prison Court documents detail that Phung created and ran the Loverbois account(s) for much of the conspiracy period. He took orders online and obtained pills from Tran and Guzman. Phung also coordinated the receipt of cryptocurrency in exchange for the pills and laundered those proceeds. Guzman had a pill press and industrial mixer at his apartment in Houston, where Phung also lived for a period of time. Harris also lived in the Houston apartment, where he pressed his own pills for distribution. Pray aided Guzman by helping obtain, pack, and ship the pills. Dang packaged pills for shipment and delivery and helped move and launder cryptocurrency. Dang laundered approximately $15,000 per month. The Loverbois online drug trafficking organization sold and shipped pills to undercover law enforcement officers in the Southern District of Ohio in a series of transactions. A federal grand jury indicted the defendants in June 2021. The final defendant, Kevin Tran, was sentenced on Sept. 30. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Charles L. Grinstead, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), Kansas City Field Office; Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Mason Police Chief Levi Wells; Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz and the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic C. “Fritz” Shadley is representing the United States in this case. 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. # # #


title: Three Bloods Gang Members Convicted at Trial of Racketeering (RICO) and Firearms Offenses

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three Minneapolis Bloods gang members were found guilty of racketeering (RICO) and firearms offenses in connection with a years-long pattern of gang violence, including two murders, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “The Minneapolis Bloods gang is a violent criminal enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “As the evidence proved, the defendants convicted today were members of that enterprise, and they carried out violence and murder on its behalf. As Bloods members, the rules these defendants lived by superseded all criminal laws and social tenets, such as respect for human life or concern for public safety.” “Today, a jury reached a verdict that sends a clear message to those who seek to terrorize our streets: we will find you, we will remove you from our streets, and we will bring you to justice,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “Thank you to all those who have put in countless hours to ensure the successful prosecution of these violent individuals. To our community members who have been affected by the violent acts perpetrated by these violent gang members, I hope today brings you some sense of justice and closure.” “The FBI is committed to working tirelessly to disrupt violent gangs like the Bloods and ensure that our communities are safer,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “This guilty verdict sends a clear message: we will not tolerate gang violence, drug trafficking, or the devastation these criminal organizations cause. We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring these individuals to justice.” Following a weeks-long trial before Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court, Desean James Solomon, aka Black, 34, Michael Allen Burrell, aka Skitz, 44, and Leontawan Lentez Holt, aka Leon, aka Shotta, aka Shot Dog, 26, were found guilty on all charges. Solomon was convicted of one count of RICO conspiracy and two counts of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. Burrell and Holt were each convicted of one count of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. According to the evidence presented at trial, since at least 2020, Solomon, Burrell, and Holt, have been members and associates of the Minneapolis Bloods street gang. Historically, the gang’s territory is located on the south side of Minneapolis, near Chicago Avenue South and 38 th Street East. The hierarchy of the Bloods includes a head or leader of the gang, senior leaders, street-level leaders, and other members or associates. New recruits (called “YGs” or young gangsters) must fight, shoot, or make money to gain respect and increase their position in the gang. The next level is “OG” (original gangsters), who are well-respected members of the gang, and the highest level is “double OG.” All OGs are equal in rank and can direct “shots” or orders. “Enforcers” carry out the OG’s “shots” or orders by beating or assaulting the offender. If a Bloods member is disrespected, other members are expected to retaliate. When shootings break out with opposition gangs, Bloods members within proximity are expected to come to each other’s aid by firing their own weapons at opposition gang members. According to the evidence presented at trial, on June 14, 2020, Solomon, Burrell, and other Bloods members went to the 200 Club, a nightclub in north Minneapolis, where they assaulted a rival gang member in the men’s restroom. Following the assault, a shooting broke out outside the club. Solomon and Burrell both fired their weapons multiple times, resulting in the murder of a rival gang member. According to the evidence presented at trial, on April 23, 2022, Solomon, Holt, and other Bloods members went to Williams Pub, a bar in the Uptown neighborhood of south Minneapolis, to celebrate a birthday. Inside the bar, Holt threw an unprovoked punch at a rival gang member and the rest of the Bloods members joined in. A large bar fight ensued. After several minutes, the Bloods members exited the bar onto a nearby street, where Holt and a juvenile member of the Bloods shot at and killed a rival gang member. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date. With today’s convictions, a total of 17 Bloods members and associates have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Esther Mignanelli Soria, Kristian Weir, and Campbell Warner tried the case.


title: Former Naval Engineer Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Disclosure

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Nicole K. Schuster, 32, of Naples, Florida was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine by United States District Court Judge Paul S. Diamond for unlawfully disclosing to one company the confidential contractor bid, proposal, and source information of another company. Schuster was a mechanical engineer and “project lead” employed by the United States Department of the Navy (“the Navy”) at the Naval Foundry and Propeller Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the “NFPC”). The NFPC’s primary mission was to design, manufacture, and repair submarine propellers. In her role with the Navy, Schuster served as a project lead for several multi-million-dollar projects at the NFPC supporting both Columbia Class and Virginia Class naval submarines. On January 22, 2024, Schuster pleaded guilty to the unlawful disclosure charge in a criminal information that was filed on September 25, 2023. According to that charge, in 2019, Schuster began working as the project lead on a solicitation for a procurement contract for a submarine propeller-making machine known as a VTC. During the contracting and bidding process, Schuster favored one company, identified in the information as “Company 1,” over other competing companies. Schuster urged her superiors to make the contract for this VTC a “sole source” contract for Company 1. That is, she requested that the contracting process should be established in a manner that would ensure that Company 1 would be awarded the procurement contract. The NFPC and DLA agreed to favor Company 1 in this process but did not agree to prevent other companies from pursuing the contract. Rather, they established a process that allowed other contractors to submit information and compete for the contract. Schuster demonstrated her favoritism for Company 1 in September 2019 when she sent a WhatsApp message to a representative of Company 1 expressing her “loyalty” to Company 1 and attaching to the message Company 2’s confidential and proprietary contractor bid, proposal, and source selection information for its VTC. In a text message to her associate, Schuster expressed that she would be extremely upset if Company 2 obtained the contract for the VTC because she said “it’s not for them,” and that she would “ruin” Company 2 if they interfered with her efforts to help Company 1 obtain the contract. The documents that Schuster provided to this representative of Company 1 were marked “SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION,” “OFFICIAL USE ONLY,” and “[Company 2] Proprietary information.” The documents included cost and pricing data and proprietary information about manufacturing processes and techniques. This disclosure gave Company 1 a competitive advantage over Company 2 and other companies seeking to obtain the VTC contract. In April 2020, the procurement contract for the VTC was awarded to Company 1 for a total price of $15,254,608. Schuster's sentence is evidence that we will hold accountable those who enrich themselves at the expense of our armed forces; this kind of corruption impacts us all: the military, taxpayers, and legitimate businesses," said U.S. Attorney Romero. We continue to ask for assistance in identifying and reporting those engaged in this type of activity, as it bolsters the ability to maintain integrity in the procurement process." “Investigating individuals who corrupt the integrity of Department of Defense (DoD) procurement is a top priority for the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). We must help to ensure that the DoD contracting process remains fair and competitive," said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty, DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to work with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who misuse their official positions.” “It is essential that government procurements are unbiased and devoid of unlawful influence and corruptive practices,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our investigative partners are committed to thoroughly investigating any person or entity that would disrupt the fair and open competition necessary to ensure our warfighters are fully equipped for superiority on the battlefield.” The case was investigated by the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Field Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Meth Distribution, Drug and Gun Possession

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Malik Lewis, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge John F. Murphy to 11 years in prison, 5 years’ probation, 2,500 fine and 400 special assessment for drug and firearm offenses. Lewis was charged by information in April 2023 with two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, cocaine base, and marijuana, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He pleaded guilty to the charges against him in May 2023. In April of 2021, the FBI had developed information that showed Lewis was selling pound quantities of methamphetamine and illegal firearms throughout the Mayfair section of Philadelphia. From April to June of that year, the FBI purchased multiple pounds of methamphetamine directly from Lewis. Ultimately, members of the FBI conducted a search warrant on Lewis’ residence and recovered approximately six pounds of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, bulk marijuana, and a Glock firearm with a 30-round extended magazine. “Malik Lewis and others profiting from the drug trade here have no regard for the harm they do to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Getting illicit drugs and illegal guns off the street makes the city of Philadelphia safer. That’s why my office and the FBI work together every day to build and prosecute these cases.” “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to those who would sell drugs and illegal firearms in our communities – you will be held accountable for your crimes,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office will not cease in our efforts to stop such individuals from endangering our communities.” The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everett Witherell.


title: Okmulgee Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug And Firearm Crimes

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Richard Tyrone Dawson, age 35, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment of one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Indictment alleged that on October 16, 2023, Dawson knowingly and intentionally possessed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and that Dawson knowingly possessed a loaded .40 caliber pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Dawson was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.


title: Gore Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug And Firearm Charges

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tracey Nicole Radick, age 38, of Gore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The Indictment alleged that on February 14, 2024, Radick knowingly and intentionally possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute. The Indictment also alleged that on that same day, Radick possessed one .22 caliber bolt action rifle, and one 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol, together with five rounds of 9mm Luger caliber ammunition, despite having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knowing of that conviction. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Radick will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles Americans with Disabilities Act Investigation of Water Utility Company, Ensuring Access to Customer Service Line

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – The United States has reached a settlement with Aqua Services, Inc. (“Aqua”), a company providing water and wastewater utility services to more than 3 million people in eight states, including Pennsylvania, announced Jacqueline C. Romero, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The settlement ensures equal access to Aqua’s customer service telephone line for individuals with disabilities pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by businesses that serve the public. The agreement resolves an ADA complaint filed with the Department of Justice by an Aqua customer alleging that Aqua failed to effectively communicate with him when he called its customer service telephone line. The complainant, who is nonspeaking due to a disability, uses a relay calling service to communicate by telephone. The complainant alleged that on several occasions when he called Aqua’s customer service line to address a billing issue, the customer service representatives who answered the phone hung up on him rather than accept the relay call. As a result, he alleged, he was unable to promptly resolve his billing issue. The ADA requires that businesses communicate with people with disabilities — including people who have vision, hearing, or speech disabilities — as effectively as they communicate with people without disabilities. This can include communicating through auxiliary aids and services such as telephone relay services. Under the agreement, Aqua will designate an ADA Coordinator, implement a telephone number and email address to receive comments and complaints relating to access to Aqua’s customer service line, and adopt and publish an Effective Communications Policy for effectively communicating with people with disabilities. Aqua will also pay a monetary sum to the complainant. “Many individuals who have hearing or speaking disabilities use relay services to communicate by phone,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Businesses must ensure that their employees are prepared to communicate effectively with customers who use such services. My office appreciates Aqua’s cooperation during this investigation and its commitment to effective communication with its customers who have disabilities.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is committed to investigating alleged violations of the ADA. Those interested in learning more about obligations under the ADA may access https://www.ada.gov/ or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint . This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin E. Lindgren. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: U.S. Attorney Announces an Additional Civil Settlement With Chiropractor and His Practice as Part of National Effort to Combat Electronic Stimulation Fraudulent Billing Scheme

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Gregory Thomas White Jr, DC and Healing Place Medical, P.C. (collectively, “Healing Place”) agreed to pay $170,000 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged improper billing of “Sanexas” devices. This settlement is the latest action in the national investigation into the improper billing involving the RST Sanexas neoGEN-Series device (“Sanexas”). Healing Place is a chiropractic clinic that principally used Sanexas treatment for patients diagnosed with edema and other forms of acute and chronic pain. Sanexas is an electric stimulation device marketed by RST Sanexas, Inc. (“RST”) to treat various forms of pain and other medical conditions. It consists of a large central unit and electrical leads that are temporarily affixed to the area being treated. Patients typically received treatment on an outpatient basis and received two treatments per week for 12 weeks, for a total of approximately 24 treatments. Treatment times generally lasted approximately 30 to 40 minutes. In conjunction with Sanexas treatment, the clinics injected patients with a vitamin blend. White is a chiropractor and owner of the Healing Place, which operated at 1600 Horizon Drive #123, Chalfont, Pa. The United States contends that Healing Place submitted approximately 27,121 claims to Medicare for payment under various codes for Sanexas treatment and vitamin injections, TM Flow testing, and ENFD testing, during the relevant time period, all of which were non-reimbursable. The United States contends that Medicare did not permit reimbursement of Sanexas or vitamin injections used in conjunction with Sanexas in the way in which Healing Place administered them. In particular, National Coverage Determination 160.7.1 states: “Electrical nerve stimulation treatments furnished by a physician in his/her office, by a physical therapist or outpatient clinic are excluded from coverage by § 1862(a)(1) of the Act.” Similarly, Local Coverage Determination (“LCD”) 35222 reinforces that “[t]he use of electrostimulation alone for the treatment of multiple neuropathies or peripheral neuropathies caused by underlying systemic diseases is not medically reasonable and necessary.” Other LCDs contain the same or similar statements, such as L35456, L35457, L37642, and L36850. The United States Food and Drug Administration cleared Sanexas as substantially equivalent to a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (“TENS”) on or around January 24, 2003. Sanexas treatment was not FDA-cleared for use in combination with vitamin injections, the vitamin blend was not FDA-approved, and the vitamin blend was produced in bulk, rather than prescribed for individual patients. The United States contends that vitamin injections used in conjunction with Sanexas treatment as Healing Place administered them do not fall under the limited coverage available for prescription drugs under Medicare Part B. The LCDs noted above reinforce that vitamin injections that act as nerve blocks are not medically reasonable and necessary. Healing Place also submitted Medicare claims for testing used in conjunction with electric stimulation treatment – ENFD testing and/or TM Flow testing. ENFD testing involves performing a punch biopsy on patients to purportedly evaluate nerve damage that could be treated with the Sanexas device. ENFD testing was also conducted after Sanexas treatment, purportedly to evaluate whether there has been an improvement to nerve health. The Sanexas device, however, is not FDA-cleared for healing or regrowing nerves. In addition, the United States alleges that it was not medically reasonable or necessary to conduct additional testing related to electrical stimulation treatment, which was not covered by Medicare in the way in which Healing Place administered it. Healing Place also offered “TM Flow” testing to screen new patients for various diseases, which, if identified, could purportedly support the need for electric stimulation treatment using the Sanexas device. The TM Flow device conducts various autonomic nervous system (“ANS”) and vascular function assessments. The applicable LCD includes 10 limitations, which the United States contends render ANS testing not medically reasonable and necessary and not covered, including “patient screenings without signs or symptoms of autonomic dysfunction,” testing where “results are not used in clinical decision-making and patient management,” and testing without the competence in the Autonomic Disorders medical subspecialty. See L35395. LCDs L23236, L33609, and L35124 contain similar limitations. Contrary to these limitations, however, Healing Place used it to screen patients during an initial visit, offered treatment with the Sanexas device regardless of the results of TM flow testing, and lacked the necessary training to perform and interpret ANS testing. “Our office continues to lead the national charge to hold alleged fraudsters accountable for improper Sanexas billing,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “We will continue working closely with our partners at CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and sister U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country to hold accountable any other providers who inappropriately billed for these devices and caused false claims to be submitted.” “Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare enrollees is required of all health care providers participating in the program,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to evaluate and pursue allegedly inaccurate billings of Sanexas and similar devices.” Prior DOJ press releases related to the Sanexas national initiative include: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/two-doctors-and-their-medical-practice-pay-more-181000-resolve-false-claims-act https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/us-attorney-announces-two-additional-civil-settlements-part-national-effort-combat This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. The investigation and settlement were handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Wolfish, Civil Division Chief Gregory B. David, and Auditors Dawn Wiggins and Andrew Schobert. The settled civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.


title: Three Texas Men Face Federal Charges for Robbing an ATM Repairman at Truist Bank in Murfreesboro

body_text: NASHVILLE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Robert Bailey, Jr., 24, Demond Johnson, Jr., 19, and Ryan Smith, Jr., 26, all of Houston, Texas, with one count of bank larceny, announced Thomas J. Jaworski, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. According to the indictment and publicly available information, on November 14, 2023, the defendants stole over $50,000 from an ATM outside of Truist Bank on Old Fort Parkway in Murfreesboro while it was being repaired. Smith was arrested on Interstate 24 while riding in an Uber. Johnson was arrested at the Nashville International Airport. Bailey was able to catch a flight to Houston and was arrested on a later date. Law enforcement officers in Houston seized the bag containing the stolen money when it arrived at the Houston Hobby Airport. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a minimum fine of $250,000. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office and Houston Field Office, the Murfreesboro Police Department, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Montminy is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. # # # # #


title: Owner of Massachusetts Cellular Phone Tower Installation and Repair Business Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty on Friday to willful failure to collect, account for and pay over any payroll taxes owed by businesses he owned and controlled. According to court documents, Kenneth Marston, of Kingston, was the owner and operator of Bowmar Steel Industries Inc., a steel fabrication company, and Teleconstructors Inc., which provided installation services on cellular phone towers. Marston was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ paychecks and paying those funds over to the IRS. However, from approximately March 2015 through December 2018, Marston caused Bowmar Steel and Teleconstructors to not withhold taxes or pay them to the IRS on approximately $3.8 million in wages. In total, Kenneth Marston caused a tax loss to the IRS of between $550,000 and $1.5 million. Marston is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 3. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Mark McDonald of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.


title: Trio Responsible for Eight Armed Robberies of Indianapolis-Area Cell Phone Stores Sentenced to Combined Sixty-Five Years in Federal Prison

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Robdarius Williams, 21, D’Maurah Bryant, 21, and Quintez Tucker, 20, all of Indianapolis, have all been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a series of eight armed robberies of Indianapolis cell phone retailers. Defendant Charges Sentence Quintez Tucker, 20 Eight counts of robbery Four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence 30 years in prison 3 years of supervised release $64,894 in restitution D’Maurah Bryant, 21 Four counts of robbery Three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence 25 years in prison 3 years of supervised release $24,485 in restitution Robdarius Williams, 21 One count of robbery Brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence 9.5 years in prison 3 years of supervised release In April of 2024, Tucker and Bryant each plead guilty. In June of 2024, a federal jury found Williams guilty following a one-and-a-half-day trial. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, from November 8 through December 3, 2021, Tucker and Bryant worked together to rob eight cell phone retailers around Indianapolis. During each robbery, the men brandished firearms and pointed them at employees, demanded cash, cell phones, and accessories from the store and customers. Williams joined in the eighth and final armed robbery as the getaway driver, stole a license plate for the getaway car and took Tucker to pick up an AR-style rifle used in the robbery. In total, the trio robbed eight businesses in twenty-five days: Date Location Defendants November 8, 2021 Verizon, Olio Rd., Fishers. Tucker & Bryant November 18, 2021 T-Mobile, Southport Rd. Tucker & Bryant November 23, 2021 Verizon, Kessler Blvd. Tucker & Bryant November 26, 2021 T-Mobile, E. 86 th St. Tucker & Bryant November 29, 2021 T-Mobile, Fox Rd. Tucker & Bryant December 1, 2021 T-Mobile, E. Stop 11 Rd. Tucker & Bryant December 1, 2021 T-Mobile, W. 38 th St. Tucker & Bryant December 3, 2021 AT&T, S. Emerson Ave. Tucker & Williams “No one should have a gun pointed in their face by heartless criminals simply because they went shopping, or went to work,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These armed criminals terrorized their victims with utter disregard for the consequences of their actions—going so far as to point an AR-style firearm at a toddler as their parent shielded the child with their body. These horrific crimes will not be tolerated in our community. The Department of Justice has no higher priority than keeping the public safe from armed, violent crimes. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the FBI, the Fishers Police Department, IMPD, and our federal prosecutors, our communities will be protected from these criminals for many years to come.” “The lengthy sentences handed out should serve as a deterrent to remind potential offenders that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting those who live in the communities we serve,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The defendants didn’t just steal items; they instilled a sense of fear in and disrupted the lives of their victims. “The sentencing of these three violent felons to a combined 65 years in prison sends a strong message that our community will not tolerate such criminal behavior,” said Ed Gebhart, Fishers Police Chief, “I commend the hard work of our officers, our law enforcement partners and the justice system for ensuring that these dangerous individuals will be off the streets for a significant amount of time.” The FBI investigated this case. The Fishers Police Department, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Marion County Prosecutors Office also provided valuable assistance. The sentences were imposed by U.S District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy C. Fugate and Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted this case. This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. ###


title: Atlanta Businessman Convicted Of Defrauding Former NBA Players Dwight Howard And Chandler Parsons

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the conviction of CALVIN DARDEN, JR. for his role in defrauding former National Basketball Association (“NBA”) players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons out of $8 million. The defendant was found guilty following an 11-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Calvin Darden, Jr. exploited the trust of former NBA players Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons, using elaborate lies and deception to line his own pockets with millions. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that financial deceit will not be tolerated. This Office remains committed to pursuing those who exploit others, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial: In the fraud against Howard, DARDEN, JR. deceived Howard into sending him $7 million, purportedly for the purpose of buying the Atlanta Dream (the “Dream”), a team in the Women’s National Basketball Association. DARDEN, JR. worked with Charles Briscoe, Howard’s agent, to perpetrate the fraud. DARDEN, JR. sent a “Vision Plan” to Howard about the purported purchase of the Dream. The Vision Plan falsely claimed that a number of celebrities and companies—including Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, Naomi Osaka, Aflac, and Starbucks—had agreed to be advisors to the Dream or to sponsor the Dream after Howard purchased it. In truth and in fact, those individuals and companies had never agreed to be advisors or corporate sponsors to the Dream and many had never even heard of DARDEN, JR. or the plan to purchase the Dream. DARDEN, JR.’s father (“Relative-1”) is a prominent businessman. DARDEN, JR. repeatedly impersonated Relative-1 in an attempt to add credibility to his fraud scheme. DARDEN, JR. directed Howard to send the $7 million to a shell company he controlled, in order to effectuate the purported purchase of the Dream. DARDEN, JR. then laundered the money through a number of different bank accounts he controlled. DARDEN, JR. did not spend any money on the purchase of the Dream. Instead, he spent the money on a $3.7 million mansion, a Rolls-Royce, a Lamborghini, a Porsche, Basquiat paintings, and other luxury goods for himself. Howard learned that he did not in fact own the Dream only when ESPN reported that the Dream had in fact been sold to someone else. In the fraud against Parsons, DARDEN, JR. deceived Parsons into sending him $1 million, purportedly for the purpose of loaning the money to James Wiseman, a prospect in the 2020 NBA draft. DARDEN, JR. and Briscoe falsely claimed to know Wiseman, and forged a document stating that Wiseman had agreed that Briscoe would be his agent in order to convince Parsons to send the money. In truth and in fact, DARDEN, JR. and Briscoe did not know Wiseman and did not send any of the money to Wiseman. Instead, DARDEN, JR. spent his cut of the fraud proceeds on watches, a Mercedes, and other personal expenses. DARDEN, JR. was previously convicted of fraud in New York state in 2005. He was also convicted of fraud in the Southern District of New York in 2015. In the 2015 case, DARDEN, JR. committed frauds involving a purported purchase of Maxim magazine and a purported NBA exhibition game in Taiwan. In that prior fraud, DARDEN, JR. also impersonated Relative-1 in an attempt to add credibility to his fraud scheme. * * * DARDEN, JR., 50, of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; and one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. DARDEN, JR. is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Broderick on January 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead, Brandon C. Thompson, and William C. Kinder are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Mexican National Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced German Altamirano-Hernandez (42, Mexico) to two years and six months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. Altamirano-Hernandez entered a guilty plea in June 2024. According to court documents, Altamirano-Hernandez is a native and citizen of Mexico. He had been granted voluntary removal from the United States 10 times between 1999 and 2002 after it was determined he was illegally in the United States. In 2005, he was encountered by law enforcement in New Mexico and was prosecuted for illegal entry into the United States, then was deported to Mexico later that year. In 2013, he was encountered by law enforcement in Florida and was convicted of illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. He was deported to Mexico in 2015 after his release from federal prison. In 2019, Altamirano-Hernandez was encountered by law enforcement in Arizona, after having crossed the border illegally, and was prosecuted a third time for illegal reentry into the United States. He was again deported to Mexico in 2020 after his release from federal prison. In March 2024, Altamirano-Hernandez was encountered by deputies with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office when they conducted a traffic stop on the car he was driving. During the stop, Altamirano-Hernandez provided deputies with a false name and a fraudulent identification card. During a search of his car, deputies found multiple forms of fraudulent identification. After confirming Altamirano-Hernandez’s identity, he was arrested. Altamirano-Hernandez admitted to law enforcement that he had again unlawfully reentered the United States. This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.


title: Fitchburg Man Sentenced to 45 Months for Illegally Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Damariyah Muhammad, 23, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced on October 4, 2024 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 45 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Muhammad pleaded guilty to this charge on July 10, 2024. On January 8, 2024, law enforcement sought to arrest Muhammad for charges related to a domestic disorderly conduct and hit and run. When detectives encountered Muhammad, he fled. He slipped in the snow and dropped a firearm, which law enforcement immediately recovered and identified as a loaded Glock 9mm handgun with a 31-round extended magazine. The Wisconsin State Crime Lab confirmed Muhammad’s DNA was present on the gun. Muhammad is prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior felony convictions. At sentencing, Judge Conley considered Muhammad’s continued escalating criminal behavior, which has involved possession of high-capacity firearms and violent activity. The Judge noted that Muhammad has had chances to reflect and resources available, but he did not accept them and squandered those opportunities. The Judge urged Muhammad to use his time in custody to confront his past, to decide that this is his low point, and to stop his decent into the criminal lifestyle. The charge against Muhammad was the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consisting of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.


title: Mexican National Ordered To Serve A Consecutive Prison Sentence For Reentering The United States Illegally

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara has sentenced Ramon Ochoa (43, Mexico) to 18 months in federal prison, consecutive to another sentence Ochoa is serving in the Florida Department of Corrections, for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. Ramon Ochoa entered a guilty plea on July 8, 2024. According to court documents, Ochoa is a Mexican citizen who entered the United States illegally in 2008 and again in 2014. He was removed from the United States on both occasions, most recently in May 2014. In 2017, Ochoa again entered the United States without permission from appropriate government officials, and he remained here until he was arrested in Polk County in May 2019. United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials were alerted to the fact that Ochoa was in custody in the Polk County Jail under the name Samuel Santana-Ortuno and was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine. Ochoa admitted to a Border Patrol agent that his true name is Ramon Ochoa and he did not have any documents allowing him to enter the United States. Ochoa was later sentenced in state court to seven years’ imprisonment for his state drug-trafficking offense. Judge Lazzara ordered that his 18-month federal sentence be served consecutive to his state prison sentence. This case was investigated by United States Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.


title: Pequot Lakes Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Pequot Lakes man has been sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for producing images and videos of child sexual abuse, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, over the course of several years, Jeffrey Benjamin Adkins, 43, repeatedly engaged in sexual acts with a minor victim. On one of the occasions, Adkins produced a five-minute video that depicted the sexual abuse of a minor. On May 28, 2024, Adkins pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. He was sentenced on October 4, 2024, in U.S. District Court by Judge Katherine M. Menendez. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Polachek prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Lapointe Reminds the Public to Be Aware of Scams in the Wake of Hurricane Helene and Other Natural Disasters

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – United States Attorney Markenzy Lapointe reminds the public to be vigilant of hurricane relief fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters. “Throughout hurricane season and in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, I urge the public to be wary of fraudsters looking to exploit victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters through identity theft schemes, solicitations for fake charities, or other types of fraud. Report suspected disaster fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling (866) 720-5721 or by going online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm ,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions. The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before making a donation to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including: Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics. Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers. Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity. Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities. Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals. Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in .org rather than .com. Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm . Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ###


title: Felon Convicted At Trial For Possessing Firearm In Connection With Drug Trafficking Fentanyl

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – After a 5-day trial, a federal jury returned a verdict against Timothy Darren Proctor, age 40, finding Proctor guilty of felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. The guilty verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and, Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department. According to the evidence presented at trial, on July 10, 2021, at approximately 1:31 p.m., officers responded to a location in Temple Hills, Maryland due to a suspicious occupied vehicle that was parked in the area. Upon arrival, officers observed Proctor unresponsive in the driver seat, behind the steering wheel, with the windows up, and the doors locked. Officers banged on the windows to wake up Proctor and he eventually woke up and exited the vehicle. Law enforcement thereafter saw and retrieved a clear bag hanging from Proctor’s front pocket, which contained approximately 10 grams of fentanyl. Additionally, Proctor possessed a firearm, which was located inside the center console of the vehicle. The firearm was loaded with thirteen 40mm caliber cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber. Once at the jail, officers located an additional clear zipped bag containing 29 small clear bags, which also contained fentanyl. Proctor possessed the firearm in connection with his fentanyl drug trafficking. At the time Proctor possessed the firearm, he was prohibited from doing so due to prior felony convictions. Proctor faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm; a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has not yet scheduled sentencing. 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 Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel Crespo, and David I. Salem, who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Five Arrested, Accused of Targeting Elderly Victims in Tech Support Scam

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Five people have been arrested on an indictment that accuses them of stealing at least $8 million from elderly victims in at least ten states via a tech support scam involving gold bars. Dariona Lambert, 22, Zhamoniq Stevens, 23, Chintankumar Parekh, 51, Mehul Darji, 41, and Sital Singh, 42, were each charged in a October 4 superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Lambert, Stevens and Parekh were originally indicted on that charge in June. Singh surrendered Monday in Newark, in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Parekh and Darji were both arrested last week in the Eastern District of Michigan. Lambert and Stevens were arrested on the initial indictment and have pleaded not guilty. The indictment accuses the conspirators of contacting elderly victims via telephone calls and electronic messages, falsely claiming that the victims’ savings and retirement accounts had been compromised. They told their victims to transfer funds to the conspirators to keep their accounts secure, the indictment says. Sometimes, the transfers came via gold bars that had been bought by victims and then picked up by couriers working for the fraudsters, the indictment says. Couriers worked with a “handler,” who arranged transportation for the couriers and shipped the gold bars to others, the indictment says. An 82-year-old St. Louis woman was one of the victims, having been told by scammers pretending to be from a computer software support team that her financial accounts had been compromised, the indictment says. They said she needed to pay money to prevent her funds from being stolen, the indictment says. The scammers had the victim open new bank accounts, transfer her money into those accounts and wire money overseas, in addition to buying about $250,000 worth of gold bars, the indictment says. On May 1, 2024, Lambert flew from Gainesville, Florida to St. Louis, the indictment says. Parekh rented a car and drove Lambert to a parking lot near the victim’s home, it says. Lambert then took an Uber to the victim’s home to retrieve the gold bars, but was intercepted by law enforcement agents, the indictment says. Lambert sent a warning message via WhatsApp to her conspirators, saying “police,” it says. Lambert and Stevens were couriers, and were paid in cash, the indictment says. Parekh, Darji and Singh were handlers and travelled to victims’ residences in order to pick up gold bars, it says. Parekh worked as a handler in gold bar pickups from victims in Yuma and Scottsdale in Arizona; Placentia and La Jolla in California; Largo, Florida; Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Pittsburgh, Penn., the indictment says. Singh worked a handler in gold bar pickups from victims in Collierville, Tenn.; Universal City, Texas; and Greendale, Wisc., it says. Darji worked as a handler in gold bar pickups from the Scottsdale victims and received three separate FedEx packages containing gold bars obtained from the Largo victim, it says. Lambert worked as a courier in Scottsdale; Placentia; La Jolla; Largo; Universal City; Hanover, Mass.; and Erie, Penn., it says. Stevens worked as a courier in gold bar pickups from victims in Yuma; La Jolla; Collier; Largo; Greendale; Oxnard, Calif.; Long Island, N.Y.; and Cincinnati, Ohio, the indictment says. “This case is another example of the FBI being able to stop the scam before a victim gets robbed out of his or her life savings,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley T. Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “We’ve been successful in protecting victims when family members, friends or businesses become suspicious and immediately notify the FBI in time for us to intervene.” A motion seeking to have Parekh and Darji held in jail until trial says both are in the United States unlawfully, Parekh having overstayed his work visa and Darji having been removed from the country in 2014. When Parekh was alerted by Lambert that she had been apprehended by the police, he fled Missouri for Pittsburgh, Penn., it says. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both prison and a fine. This case was investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa, Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case. If someone you know is a victim of a cyber scam, report it to the FBI. You can file the complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or use 1-800-CALL-FBI.


title: New Canaan Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that VISHAL DHAR, 56, of New Canaan, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for tax evasion. According to court documents and statements made in court, Dhar formed and operated various entities, including Grey Brown, Inc. (a holding company for several restaurants operating under the name “Oaxaca Taqueria”), West Partners, Inc., and NY Cloud Kitchens, LLC. From approximately October 2013 through August 2023, Dhar willfully failed to disclose to the Internal Revenue Service significant income from his business and gifts from family members. Instead of paying his outstanding tax liabilities, Dhar paid off personal and business debts, invested in a new business venture, and paid various personal expenses. In evading his payment of taxes owed, Dhar used financial accounts in the names of entities and other individuals rather than in his own name, paid personal expenses with corporate funds, and omitted significant assets on IRS forms. In addition, in the bankruptcy case In re Grey Brown Inc. , filed in the Southern District of New York, Dhar failed to disclose the receipt of an Employee Retention Credit check in amount of $254,203.01 made payable to Oaxaca Atlantic Avenue, LLC. The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2011 through 2020 tax years, Dhar owed $272,390.07 in back taxes, penalties, and interest. Dhar has paid full restitution to the IRS. Dhar pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024. Dhar, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on February 12, 2025. This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.


title: Mother and Son Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A mother and son were sentenced in federal court in Boston for participating in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that allegedly distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Javier Bello, a/k/a “Javi,” 29, of Beverly, Mass. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2024 Bello pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Bello’s mother, Chevon Dorce, 45, of Lynn, Mass. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV to 23 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Dorce pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, the DTO distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, among other things, to various individuals in the Lynn area. Bello directed a number of individuals to acquire, distribute and store controlled substances on his behalf. Based on intercepted communications and simultaneous surveillance, it was determined that Bello distributed approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills to Ortiz, which were seized. Subsequent forensic analysis determined that 1,008 counterfeit oxycodone pills contained fentanyl and that the seized pills weighed approximately 135.5 grams. Bello used his mother’s residence as a stash location. On Oct. 25, 2022, during a search of Dorce’s residence,2.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 22 grams of cocaine, a firearm concealed in a piece of furniture and an inoperable pill press, were recovered. Bello also used Isaac Clayton’s residence as a second stash location. On Oct. 25, 2022, during a search of Clayton’s residence, various quantities of marijuana, cocaine base and fentanyl, as well as three loaded firearms, additional rounds of ammunition, $2,640 in drug proceeds and materials used to package and distribute controlled substances were recovered. Kion Shepherd also stored controlled substances on Bello’s behalf. On Oct. 25, 2022, during a search of Kion Shepherd’s mother’s home, a backpack containing several hundred grams of fentanyl and cocaine as well as a handgun with an obliterated serial number were recovered. Additionally, Erick Solis Lopez stored and distributed drugs on Bello’s behalf. On Oct. 28, 2022, during a search of Solis’s home more than 2,300 fentanyl pills and more than 100 grams of powder fentanyl from a Subaru Outback registered to Solis and parked at Solis’s residence. Bello and a co-conspirator, Melvin Nieves, were arrested at Logan Airport as they boarded a flight to California with the intent of purchasing marijuana. At the time of their arrests, Bello and Nieves were in possession of a combined total of $70,000 in United States currency. Ortiz pleaded guilty in June 2024 and was sentenced to 28 months in prison and three years of supervised release in September 2024 ; Clayton pleaded guilty in February 2024 and was sentenced to two months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served in home confinement August 2024 ;Shepherd pleaded guilty in April 2024 and was sentenced to 70 months in prison in July 2024 ; Solis pleaded guilty in October 2023 and was sentenced to 62 months in prison in January 2024 ;Nieves pleaded guilty in October 2023 and was sentenced to 27 months in prison in January 2024 . Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Geoffrey Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Beverly, Everett, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan D. Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf . The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: St. Louis Woman Admits Stealing Dead Grandmother's Government Benefits

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Louis on Monday admitted stealing from government benefits intended for her grandmother, who had passed away. Shamari Jackson, 32, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of theft of government money. She admitted as part of her guilty plea that the deaths of her grandmother and father were not properly reported to the Social Security Administration. Jackson used her grandmother’s debit card to access $13,047 in Social Security benefits that continued to be paid by direct deposit into her grandmother’s account after her death. She also used a $1,200 COVID-19-related stimulus payment intended for her grandmother, her plea says. Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 21, 2025. The theft of government funds charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Voluntary Forfeiture And Pending Repatriation Of 16th Century Hebrew Religious Text

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that, on October 4, 2024, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres confirmed the voluntary forfeiture to the United States of the Chamisa Humshe Torrah (Five Books of Moses), Venice, Giovanni di Gara, 1588, and Haftarot, 1589, Miniature, 162+60 Leaves (the “Di Gara Text”). The United States anticipates repatriating the Di Gara Text to the Jewish Theological Seminary of the University of Jewish Studies in Budapest, Hungary (the “Budapest Rabbinical Seminary”), in the coming weeks. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “With this forfeiture, a small, but meaningful, piece of the history of the Jewish faith will be returned to its rightful owner, the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary. The Di Gara Text went missing for nearly 80 years after it was looted from the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary during the city’s occupation by Nazi forces in 1944. We may never know how it ended up in the Southern District of New York, but it is now returning home. My Office retains its firm commitment to protecting priceless cultural property and, where it has been illegally taken, returning it to its rightful peoples.” According to the stipulated facts in the voluntary forfeiture order, statements made in court filings, and relevant online publications: Giovanni di Gara was a Venetian printer of Hebrew books in the 16 th century. The Di Gara text is comprised of two works from the Jewish faith: (1) the Chamisa Humshe Torrah (Five Books of Moses) , or the Jewish Torrah in book form, and (2) the Haftarot , a series of selections from the Hebrew Bible. An image of the leatherbound Di Gara text is included below. Lelio Della Torre was an Italian Jewish scholar and rabbi who lived from approximately 1805 to 1871. At some point during his life, the Di Gara Text came into Della Torre’s personal collection (the “Della Torre Collection” or the “Collection”). Works in the Della Torre Collection were stamped to indicate that they belonged to the Collection, as set forth below. In or about 1877, after Della Torre’s death, the Collection was sold to the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary. The Collection catalogue, which was published in or about 1872, is in the custody of the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary. The Di Gara Text is listed in the catalogue of the Della Torre Collection as “( Homasc) Pentateuc. sine accentis et punctis vocal., Venetiis, 5348, vol. 1, in-3 .” The Jewish year 5348 equates to 1588 and the place of publication ( Venetiis ) is the Latin translation of Venice, Italy. In 1944, in the midst of World War II and the Jewish Holocaust, Nazi forces invaded Budapest and seized and occupied the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary, looting its holdings. The Di Gara Text is believed to have disappeared during this period. At no point did the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary deaccession—that is, formally remove from its collection—the Di Gara Text. In March 2023, Hungarian officials notified the Department of Homeland Security that a volume that appeared to be the Di Gara Text was for sale for $19,000 on www.abebooks.com. AbeBooks is an online marketplace used by independent vendors to sell, among other things, rare books. The vendor (“Vendor-1”), who was based in Manhattan, specialized in selling Judaica in various languages. The description of the volume on Vendor-1’s AbeBooks page was consistent with the description of the Di Gara Text in the catalogue of the Della Torre Collection. Furthermore, an image of a stamp in the volume was consistent with the stamp used by Della Torre, as set forth below. In late March 2023, Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) met with Vendor-1 in Manhattan. Vendor-1 admitted that he possessed the Di Gara Text, having acquired it during the 1980s without knowledge of its provenance, and stated that he was willing to give the book to HSI if served with valid legal process. In early April 2023, Special Agents with HSI served Vendor-1 with a seizure warrant issued by United States Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses and took custody of the Di Gara Text. On October 4, 2024, Judge Torres issued an order confirming Vendor-1’s voluntary forfeiture of the Di Gara Text. * * * Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents from HSI’s Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities Squad. Mr. Williams also thanked the Hungarian Inspectorate of Cultural Goods for notifying the Government of the Di Gara Text’s presence in the Southern District of New York and providing helpful information to effectuate its seizure and forfeiture. Finally, Mr. Williams thanked Vendor-1 for his cooperation in this matter. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Gianforti is in charge of this matter. 24-312 ###


title: Car battery cocaine conspiracy lands conviction

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 20-year-old Pharr resident has pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jesus Neftali Padilla directed drivers to travel north through Border Patrol (BP) checkpoints further into the United States. He admitted to directing the drug smuggling events and supplying cocaine. He also placed modified cocaine-filled batteries in hidden compartments to attempt to avoid detection. One incident occurred Jan. 27, 2023, at the Sarita BP checkpoint when authorities encountered a vehicle with approximately four kilograms of cocaine hidden in its battery compartment. Approximately two months later, a truck approached the same checkpoint, at which time law enforcement again found four kilograms of cocaine hidden in the same manner inside a truck. The cocaine bundles were to be delivered to various locations including San Antonio and Houston. Padilla admitted to coordinating both events. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Jan. 8, 2025. At the time, Padilla faces the rest of his life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine. Padilla was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. The Drug Enforcement Administration and BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman and Izaak Bruce are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Nurse Pleads Guilty in Connection with Diverting Fentanyl from ICU Patient

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Northfield woman pleaded guilty today in federal court for diverting fentanyl from an ICU patient at Concord Hospital, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Lisa Richardson, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of Tampering with Consumer Products. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for January 16, 2025. On December 30, 2022, while working as a nurse at Concord Hospital, Richardson removed a quantity of fentanyl from an intravenous line bag inserted in an Intensive Care Unit patient. She then replaced the fentanyl with saline. The defendant was not assigned to the patient’s care as part of her duties as a nurse. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 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. The Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration jointly led this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the cases. Law enforcement in the District of New Hampshire has utilized resources to enforce federal laws in connection with the diversion of dangerous narcotics by medical professionals. In July 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office settled a $300,000 civil action with Catholic Medical Center to resolve allegations they violated the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), by failing to keep accurate records of controlled substances, which enabled a nurse anesthetist to steal hundreds of doses of fentanyl over the course of a year. In June 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office settled a $2 million civil action with Cheshire Medical Center for their failure to fulfill obligations under the CSA, which enabled a nurse to steal twenty-three intravenous bags of fentanyl solution from an automatic medication dispensing machine. Also in June 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office settled a $300,000 civil action with PillPack by Amazon, a pharmacy, to resolve allegations that they violated the CSA, which risked the division of drugs that are often abused in our communities. ###


title: Ukrainian National Pleads Guilty to “Raccoon Infostealer” Cybercrime

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas– A Ukrainian national pleaded guilty in federal court in Austin today to one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. According to court documents, Mark Sokolovsky, 28, conspired to operate the Raccoon Infostealer as a malware-as-a-service or “MaaS.” Individuals who deployed Raccoon Infostealer to steal data from victims leased access to the malware for approximately $200 per month, paid for by cryptocurrency. These individuals used various ruses, such as email phishing, to install the malware onto the computers of unsuspecting victims. Raccoon Infostealer then stole personal data from victim computers, including log-in credentials, financial information, and other personal records. Stolen information was used to commit financial crimes or was sold to others on cybercrime forums. In March 2022, concurrent with Sokolovsky’s arrest by Dutch authorities, the FBI and law enforcement partners in Italy and the Netherlands dismantled the digital infrastructure supporting the Raccoon Infostealer, taking its then existing version offline. Sokolovsky was extradited to the United States from the Netherlands in February 2024 after being indicted for crimes related to fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. As part of the plea, he agreed to a forfeiture money judgment of $23,975 and restitution of at least $910,844.61. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement of the defendant’s plea. The FBI’s Austin Cyber Task Force is investigating the case with the assistance of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID), the Austin Police Department, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the Round Rock Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Karthik Srinivasan is prosecuting the case. Victims of the Raccoon Infostealer can find more information at www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/victim-assistance-raccoon-infostealer . ###


title: U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad Alerts Public to Charity Scams in Wake of Hurricane Helene

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, issued a public safety alert on October 7, 2024 advising the public to be vigilant to hurricane relief fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene. “When natural disasters strike, Americans are often are at their best, seeking to help their neighbors and fellow citizens in any way possible,” said United States Attorney Greg Haanstad. “However, these disasters also provide an opportunity for scam artists to take advantage of this compassion and generosity. Although the Eastern District of Wisconsin was not directly impacted by Hurricane Helene, residents of Wisconsin have shown themselves to be among the most thoughtful and caring in the country, often seeking to donate money to relief efforts. To help ensure that these donations reach their intended goal and do not get diverted to those who seek only to enrich themselves, I ask residents of the Eastern District to be mindful as they consider participating in solicited or unsolicited donation requests.” On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions. The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before making a donation to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including: • Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. • Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics. • Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers. • Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity. • Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities. • Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals. • Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in .org rather than .com. • Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm . Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. # # #