title: Wewoka Resident Pleads Guilty To Murder And Federal Firearms Offense

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joseph Celdon Mullins, age 22, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. According to the Information, on June 20, 2023, Mullins intentionally discharged a firearm, unlawfully killing the victim with malice aforethought. The crimes occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from investigations by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. 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. Mullins will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Biofuel Fraud Conspiracy

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Florida man pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel. According to court documents, Royce Gillham was the general manager of a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Florida, that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits and claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. When reporting the number of gallons produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his co-conspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers. Gillham pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to filing false claims. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. A federal district court judge will determine whether to accept the plea agreement after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Hipkins of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Miami field office and Acting Special Agent in Charge Leslie Carroll of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) made the announcement. EPA-CID and IRS-CI investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.


title: Boston Man Convicted of Possessing with Intent to Distribute Over a Kilogram of Fentanyl

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of distributing fentanyl. An individual referred to as “John Doe” was convicted of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Jan. 28, 2025. Doe was charged by criminal complaint in September 2021 and was later indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2021. In June and July of 2021, Doe sold over 100 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in Lawrence which was capture on a recording device. In September 2021, Doe was arrested by law enforcement in possession of over 100 grams of fentanyl. As part of the investigation, law enforcement surveilled the defendant traveling to an apartment in Boston prior to selling fentanyl to the cooperating witness. On the day of Doe’s arrest, a search warrant was executed at the apartment where over a kilogram of fentanyl hidden inside a wall was recovered. At the time of his arrest, Doe was using the stolen identity of a Puerto Rican man. Doe’s true identity remains unknown. “Today’s conviction underscores the serious harm fentanyl continues to inflict on our communities and our office’s commitment to hold accountable the dealers who push this poison onto our streets,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “When it comes to fentanyl, the public needs to know that one pill can kill, leaving shattered families behind, and lives can be devastated by the scourge of addiction. Our office will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to combat fentanyl trafficking and protect the health and safety of our communities here in Massachusetts.” “Fentanyl is causing tremendous damage to our community,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration New England Field Division. “Those who distribute fentanyl are endangering the safety of the citizens of Massachusetts. We will continue to work each day alongside our law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those who are responsible for distributing fentanyl and other deadly drugs.” The charges of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provide for a sentence of no less than five years in prison and up to 40 years in prison, no less than four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years in prison and up to life, no less than five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was proved by the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Lauren A. Graber are prosecuting the case.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Timothy Jarrett Brown, 43, of Charleston, was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 24, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of 2011 Mercedes C300 driven by Brown in the Jefferson area of Kanawha County. During the traffic stop, a police K-9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of methamphetamine in Brown’s person, a Smith & Wesson model SW40VE .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol hidden in the electrical compartment of the vehicle’s trunk, and quantities of 9mm ammunition in the vehicle. Brown told officers he possessed the firearm for protection. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Brown knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, heroin, in Kanawha County Circuit Court on January 31, 2020. On August 19, 2023, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of Brown while he was driving his Mercedes in St. Albans. Officers searched the vehicle and found a Kahr Arms CM9 9-millimeter pistol hidden in the engine block. A female passenger in the vehicle told officers that Brown asked her to say the pistol belonged to her. Brown has a long criminal history that also includes prior convictions for indecent liberties with a child, battery, domestic battery, violation of a protective order, failure to register as a sex offender, criminal possession of a firearm, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-heroin, and theft. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the St. Albans Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-203. ###


title: Lee’s Summit Man Indicted for Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for robbing an Independence, Mo., bank after a bank customer attempted to stop him from fleeing. James K. Kerr, 54, was charged with one count of bank robbery in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Kerr on Oct. 23, 2024. The federal indictment alleges that Kerr robbed Hawthorn Bank, 17430 E. 39 th Street in Independence, on Oct. 21, 2024. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Kerr was wearing a black hood over his head, a hooded sweatshirt with the hood down, a winter hat, sunglasses, a medical mask, and gloves when he walked into the bank at about 10:39 a.m. As Kerr walked behind the teller counter into the employee-only area, the affidavit says, he withdrew a black handgun, which appeared to be an air pistol, from the pocket of his sweatshirt and held it up in the air. Kerr began yelling at the employees while hitting the counter, according to the affidavit. The victims reported hearing Kerr yell phrases to the effect of “Let’s do this!” and “100s and 50s no bait money!” Kerr went to all three of the victim tellers’ stations and obtained money while holding the handgun. Kerr then fled from the bank and got on a motorcycle parked nearby. A customer, who was in the drive-through lane at the time of the robbery, followed Kerr as he ran toward the motorcycle. The witness got out of the car and pushed Kerr off the motorcycle. Kerr threatened the customer with a gun, the affidavit says, and fled from the scene on the motorcycle. Another witness was nearby during this altercation and filmed part of it with a cell phone. Employees of the bank told FBI investigators they recognized Kerr as a customer of the bank. The next day, investigators established surveillance at Kerr’s residence and saw him leave on his motorcycle. Investigators followed Kerr, whom the affidavit says was driving erratically, until he stopped at a gas station, where he was arrested. Investigators found a Daisy air pistol, which was consistent in appearance with the handgun displayed in the bank robbery, in a saddle bag of the motorcycle. Investigators also found articles of clothing that matched those worn during the bank robbery. The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office, DEA and HSI Announce Charges Against Fourteen Individuals in Major Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – This week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Marshal Service, the Las Cruces Police Department, and the Doña Ana Sheriff’s Office, conducted a coordinated operation to dismantle a significant drug trafficking network in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The operation targeted 15 defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute and/or possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine and fentanyl, and six properties in Las Cruces and Anthony, New Mexico, along with one defendant charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises. The defendants include Armando Conrad Gonzales , a.k.a. "Forty," 43, Leticia Maria Rodriguez , 41, Jessica Juel Henderson , a.k.a. "JJ," 45, Veronica Levario , 39, Richard Regan Beserra , 47, Daniel Roberto Herrera , a.k.a. "Fat Boy," 33, Ernesto Salas Flores , 63, Beatriz Adriana Gonzalez , a.k.a. Beatriz Adriana Herrera-Gonzalez, 46, Sylvia Ann Parra , 52, Amanda Lea Weinrich , 38, Phillip Andrew Estell , a.k.a. "Flip," 43, D'Anna Michelle Chavez , 47, Bruce Martin King , 68, Angel Flores , 45, and Kenneth Eric Yeager , 44, all of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Antonio Valles , a.k.a. "Tony," 49, of Canutillo, TX,. According to court documents, 14 of the defendants conspired to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine and fentanyl, and one of the defendants maintained a residence which he allowed to be used for drug distribution and use. The investigation revealed multiple instances of drug sales and transportation among the defendants, including: March 9, 2023: Beserra transported 182 fentanyl pills, 3.2 grams of methamphetamine, and a firearm in Anthony, New Mexico. He was stopped by law enforcement, who seized the items. April 4, 2024: Levario and Herrera were travelling to sell 40 fentanyl pills and was stopped by law enforcement while delivering them, resulting in the seizure of 202 fentanyl pills and 30.9 net grams of pure methamphetamine in Levario ’s purse. April 16, 2024: Henderson sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $1,800. April 25, 2024: Gonzales delivered methamphetamine to Henderson , who sold the drugs to an undercover agent for $1,800. May 10, 2024: Henderson sold 105.62 net grams of fentanyl for $1,200 and a 20-gauge shotgun for $300 to an undercover agent. On November 6, 2024, HSI and DEA, with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New Mexico State Police, Texas Department of Public Safety and the New Mexico National Guard, executed search warrants at six properties associated with the drug trafficking conspiracy: 5301 Bell Road SW, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88012: central hub for A. Gonzales and drug distribution point. 3115 El Camino Real, Space 82, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88007: A. Gonzales ’s mother’s house and drug distribution point. 5266 Ralls Road, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88012: primary location for B. Gonzalez and E. Flores ’ drug transactions. 2826 Ox Cart Court, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88007: primary location for Herrera, used for storing stolen property and drug distribution. 1954 Lyon Place, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001: residence of Kenneth Yeager and Beserra ’s brother, used for drug distribution, purchase, and consumption, as well as location of a reported overdose death. 2775 Night Owl Lane, Anthony, New Mexico 88021: residence of Valles and drug distribution point. During the investigative phase of the operation, agents seized 1,315.2 net grams of pure methamphetamine, 394.5 net grams of fentanyl pills (approximately 4,000 fentanyl pills), and three firearms. During the search and arrest operations this week, authorities seized additional substantial quantities of illegal substances, including 842 grams of fentanyl, 1,118 grams of methamphetamine, 285 grams of cocaine, 36 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 400 grams of marijuana, and 96 grams of hydrocodone. The search and arrest operation also resulted in the seizure of 13 firearms and $2,200 in US currency. The operation resulted in 24 arrests, with 16 individuals facing federal charges, and 8 facing state charges. “As federal prosecutors, we are known for leading investigations into international drug cartels and major drug trafficking organizations. But in order for those organizations to make their money, local networks of drug traffickers must peddle their poison to the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez. “When those local networks trade in death and violence, through overdose and firearms, we will focus the substantial weight of the federal government on dismantling their operations.” “If drug traffickers think they can come set up shop in Southern New Mexico, they are mistaken,” said Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James. “This operation is just one example of how the DEA will partner with other law enforcement to put them out of business and bring them to justice.” “Any investigative effort that curbs the flow of fentanyl, methamphetamine and other lethal drugs into our communities is a victory and saves lives,” said Acting Special Agent on Charge Jason T. Stevens. “HSI is a key player in a unified effort to ensure public safety by capturing and prosecuting drug traffickers and anyone else who belongs to transnational criminal organizations.” If convicted, Weinrich, Parra, Estell , and Yeager face up to 20 years in prison. Herrera and Chavez face a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. A. Gonzalez , Rodriguez , Valles , Levario, Beserra, E. Flores, B. Gonzalez, King and A. Flores each face a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. Henderson faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations jointly investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshal Service, the Las Cruces Police Department, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New Mexico State Police, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the New Mexico National Guard. Assistant United States Attorneys Kirk Williams, and Renee Camacho are prosecuting these cases. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The task force initiatives are also part of the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program (HIDTA), a federal grant program that supports law enforcement efforts to combat the drug threat in the state. View the Indictment (Gonzales et al).pdf View the Criminal Complaint (Yeager).pdf View the Criminal Complaint (Flores).pdf An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Stilwell Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime

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 Miranda Morgan Pauley, age 32, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for one count of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Drug Task Force 27, the United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On October 12, 2023, Pauley pleaded guilty to possessing over 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. According to investigators, on January 11, 2023, law enforcement officers learned that John Tillison, an individual with active arrest warrants, was located at Pauley’s residence. Law enforcement attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Tillison as it left the residence, but Tillison fled. Law enforcement pursued, ending the chase by deploying tire deflation devices. Tillison ran from the scene but was later captured, and Pauley, Tillison’s passenger, was taken into custody. A search of the vehicle located a loaded revolver between the driver’s seat and console, along with nearly $18,000 in United States Currency and approximately 890 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers subsequently executed a search warrant on Pauley’s residence where they discovered another 992 grams of methamphetamine and various rounds of ammunition. The Honorable Kenneth J. Gonzales, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Pauley will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Troy Woman Sentenced, Ordered to Repay $82,940 After Yearslong Fraud to Obtain Benefits

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Troy woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor for Social Security fraud, health care fraud, and theft of public money. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Christie Mitchell , 49, to three years of probation, including five months of home detention. She was also ordered to pay $82,940 in restitution. Mitchell pleaded guilty on April 26, 2024. According to court records, from about October 2013 to February 2020, Mitchell lied to the Social Security Administration (SSA) about her husband’s presence in her household and his income to fraudulently appear eligible for Supplemental Security Income payments. Mitchell also concealed her husband’s presence and income from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (ME/DHHS) from about October 2013 to December 2019, during which time she received MaineCare benefits and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Mitchell falsely represented to the SSA and ME/DHHS that she and her husband lived separately. She failed to disclose her husband’s presence and income despite knowing that she was required to and that it would affect her eligibility to receive benefits. SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and ME/DHHS’s Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit investigated the case. ###


title: Jury Convicts Reno Man Of Assaulting A Federal Officer

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: RENO – A federal jury convicted a Reno man on Wednesday for assaulting a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon during the execution of an arrest warrant. According to evidence presented at trial, on February 16, 2022, Matthew John Nason, 38, fired a handgun in the direction of a Deputy United States Marshal while the Deputy was attempting to serve a valid arrest warrant for Nason and his girlfriend at Nason’s residence. Following a three-day trial, the jury found Nason guilty of one-count of assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. United States District Judge Miranda M. Du presided over the jury trial. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 4, 2025. Nason faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement. The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Randy St. Clair are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raheem Travon Walker, age 22, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshals Service and the Muskogee Police Department. On January 3, 2024, Walker pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. According to investigators, on October 28, 2023, while responding to a report of a disturbance at a Muskogee residence, officers discovered Walker in possession of one 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol and 12 rounds of 9mm Lugar caliber ammunition. At the time of the disturbance, Walker had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and was prohibited from possessing firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Walker will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith Singer and Lewis Reagan represented the United States.


title: Boise Nurse Practitioner Sentenced to 48 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances

body_text: BOISE – Angela Kathryn Hughes, 50, of Boise, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, Hughes was a nurse practitioner in Boise, Idaho. Between January 2022 and March 2023, Hughes issued illegitimate prescriptions for oxycodone, oxycodone acetaminophen, and hydrocodone acetaminophen. In exchange for prescriptions, she received cash, a portion of the pills from the prescription, and other controlled substances such as methamphetamine. Hughes conspired with her co-defendant Sydney Neal, 39, of Boise, and others, to knowingly and intentionally distribute Schedule II controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. The unlawful prescriptions Hughes issued as part of the conspiracy totaled approximately 4,358 pills of oxycodone acetaminophen, 2,854 pills of oxycodone, and 2,625 pills of hydrocodone acetaminophen. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Hughes to be placed on supervised release for three years following her release from prison. Sydney Neal was previously sentenced to five years of probation for her role in the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court records, Neal received cash from selling controlled substances and provided the proceeds to Hughes. In exchange, Neal continued to receive and distribute controlled substances. “Medical providers are supposed to take care of their patients and their community. The defendant in this case did the opposite, adding to the dangerous problem of prescription drug abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am grateful for the team of prosecutors and investigators that found out what was happening and put a stop to it.” “Providers who recklessly distribute controlled substances undermine efforts to address the ongoing opioid crisis and betray their professional responsibility to serve the health and well-being of the American public,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold bad actors accountable and keep Idaho communities safe.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Boise Police Department, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darci Crane and Erin Blackadar prosecuted the case. ###


title: Merced County Man Indicted for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — On Oct. 31, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Joel Damian Ortega, 35, of Merced, charging him with receipt and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed following Ortega’s arrest yesterday. According to court documents, between Jan. 26, 2024, and July 7, 2024, Ortega used a Samsung Galaxy smartphone to receive and distribute at least one visual depiction of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Ortega also used an iPhone to receive at least one visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on April 2, 2024. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Ortega faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for each charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Spiro Resident Sentenced For Distribution Of Methamphetamine

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Presley Edward Lawson, age 50, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Trails Task Force. On October 3, 2023, Lawson pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine. According to investigators, on June 8, 2022, Lawson sold over 222 grams—approximately one half-pound—of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The Honorable Kenneth J. Gonzalez, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Lawson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Flanigan represented the United States at sentencing.


title: Heart Butte man sentenced to more than two years in prison for stabbing employee in Glacier Peaks Casino and Hotel on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Heart Butte man who admitted to stabbing an employee of the Glacier Peaks Casino and Hotel while in the business was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Kal William Runningcrane, 27, pleaded guilty in July to assault with a dangerous weapon. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court ordered Runningcrane to self-report when assigned to a Bureau of Prison’s facility. The government alleged in court documents that in the early morning hours of Feb. 25, Runningcrane stabbed a Glacier Peaks employee, identified as Riverblu Boggs, with a knife while in the Browning business. Runningcrane had been drinking with family and friends to celebrate his birthday. The group was listening to live music, and Boggs was sitting alone at an adjacent table. Runningcrane and Boggs did not know each other. Without provocation, Runningcrane walked to Boggs’s table and stabbed Boggs in the neck. Boggs fought back and was able to get way from Runningcrane. Runningcrane stabbed Boggs three times, left the scene and was arrested later that night miles from Browning, off the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. An emergency medical services worker who happened to be in the casino, provided initial treatment of Boggs and rushed him to the hospital. Boggs was flown to Great Falls for life-saving treatment of wounds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Pondera County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Stilwell Resident Sentenced For Assault

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Travis Earl Eubanks, age 36, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. The charge arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On May 8, 2024, Eubanks pleaded guilty to the crime. According to investigators, on January 28, 2024, during an assault that lasted over four hours, Eubanks choked, hit, kicked, smothered, and stabbed an individual at a Stilwell, Oklahoma, residence. The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Eubanks will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Etna Man Who Used Deceased Brother’s Identity for Decades Ordered to Repay $175,757

body_text: BANGOR Maine: An Etna man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for identity theft, passport fraud, Social Security fraud and mail fraud. Napoleon Gonzalez , 87, had been found guilty of six federal charges on August 18, 2023, following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. ordered Gonzalez to pay $175,757 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, citing Gonzalez’s age and health, sentenced him to five years of probation. According to court records, beginning in the mid-1960s, Gonzalez took on the identity of his brother, Guillermo, who had died as an infant in 1939. In 1981, Gonzalez applied for a Social Security number in his deceased brother’s name and filed applications for Social Security retirement benefits in his own name in 1999 and in his brother’s name in 2001. Over the years, Napoleon Gonzalez obtained multiple passports bearing Guillermo Gonzalez’s name, most recently in October 2017, a passport he used to travel to Canada in July 2018. Gonzalez collected retirement benefits under both identities until March 2020, when investigators requested the suspension of benefits being paid to Guillermo Gonzalez pending investigation. Gonzalez mailed a letter to the Social Security Administration, signing the name Guillermo Gonzalez and the Social Security number assigned to that identity, asking for an explanation for the suspension. In the letter, he requested a prompt reply, claiming that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, he was locked in his apartment, unable to drive and dependent on neighbors to obtain food and other items. Gonzalez also obtained Maine state identification cards under both his own identity and his brother’s. In January 2020, the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles uncovered the decades-long ruse and alerted federal authorities. “The jury conviction and this sentence holds Napoleon Gonzalez accountable for his intolerable crimes. Using a Social Security number (SSN) not assigned to him, Gonzalez furnished false information and concealed information to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits,” said Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA) . “My office will continue to investigate those who defraud SSA benefit programs and compromise the integrity of SSNs for their selfish gain. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanne Semivan for their efforts in prosecuting this case.” The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles Division of Enforcement, Anti-Theft and Regulations investigated this case. ### 11/12/24: Sentence corrected to include probation amount


title: Lebanese Fraudster Posed as Dubai Prince, Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Lebanese man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 240 months in prison for wire fraud. According to court documents, Alex Georges Tannous, 39, of Ain-Akrine, Lebanon, told his victims he was a prince from Dubai who was charged with bringing U.S.-based businesses to market in Dubai. He claimed millions were available, but that an initial payment from the victim was required to initiate the flow of funds. Once the funds were secured, he used the money to support his lavish lifestyle and the lifestyles of multiple family members. In total, Tannous stole approximately $2.5 million from his victims. Tannous was arrested Feb. 9 and indicted on six counts of wire fraud. He pleaded guilty to one count on July 25. In addition to imprisonment, Tannous was ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution. “Alex Tannous was a serial con-artist who betrayed dozens of hard-working Americans in San Antonio and elsewhere, capitalizing on the trust he’d developed with them over years,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Fraudsters who see this nation and its citizens as targets for their illicit schemes should know that we will stop at nothing to find, prosecute and imprison you—and in the process, ensure you to pay back your victims every bit of what you stole.” “Tannous convinced his victims that he was offering legitimate business opportunities, when in reality, he was simply lining his own pockets,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “Many of his victims were small business owners trying to live the American dream, but instead they were pulled into a financial nightmare. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI, and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a financial scam to report it at www.tips.fbi.gov ." The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons prosecuted the case. ###


title: Lolo man admits distributing, receiving child pornography

body_text: MISSOULA — A Lolo man accused of distributing and receiving child pornography admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Erik Robert Salazar, 29, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. Salazar faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years to life of supervised release on each charge. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. A sentencing before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen was set for March 13, 2025. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Salazar was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged that in September 2023, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children detectives received a Cyber Tipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report originated from Snapchat, which reported to NCMEC that a user, later identified as Salazar, had uploaded two images of child sexual abuse material on their servers in August 2023. Detectives determined that the Snapchat account belonged to Salazar and received the remaining content of his account. Detectives found that Salazar’s communications with other parties on Snapchat were replete with contact with minor females from between September 2015 and October 2023. Salazar consistently requested images and videos from minors with whom he was communicating of those minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Some of these minors sent Salazar such images and videos in response to his requests. Salazar used Snapchat to send some of these minors images and videos depicting other minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . XXX


title: Sioux City Woman Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Dominique Burow, 37, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on November 6, 2024, to 127 months’ imprisonment. Burow pled guilty June 12, 2024, in federal court, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from January 2022 and February 2023, Burow and others distributed more than 6 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Evidence also showed that twice in 2022, Burow distributed or aided another in the distribution of methamphetamine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement. Burow admitted to obtaining at least nine pounds of meth from a number of sources to distribute in Sioux City, and to wiring drug proceeds to sources in Mexico and California. She was also caught with ½ pound of methamphetamine while on pre-trial release for her original charges. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Burow was sentenced to 127 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of five years of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Burow remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-4038. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: A man who possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute was sentenced today to more than 10 years in federal prison. Jose L. Velez, Sr., age 39, from Omaha, Nebraska, received the prison term after a June 12, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea and sentencing hearings, Velez admitted on or about February 23, 2024, he knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 14 pounds of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Velez, Sr. was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Velez, Sr. was sentenced to 126 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Velez, Sr. is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the North Central Iowa Drug Task Force, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Clear Lake Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Mason City Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa DCI Laboratory, and the Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-03018. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Kidnapper Who Abducted and Repeatedly Raped a Total Stranger in Maryland and D.C. Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison

body_text: WASHINGTON – Mark A. Blue, 34, of Washington, D.C was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 40 years in prison for the December 2018 kidnapping, robbery, and repeated rapes of a young mother from Maryland who was a total stranger to him. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. On March 6, 2024, after a five-day trial, a federal jury found Blue guilty of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping while armed, robbery while armed, and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse while armed. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Blue to pay restitution in the amount of $999 to the victim. After his sentence, Blue will have a lifetime term of supervised release. According to the evidence presented at trial, Blue, along with a co-conspirator, targeted the victim, who was walking home from a bus stop in Prince George’s County, MD. Blue stripped her naked, robbed her, forced her into a car, threatened to kill her, covered her eyes with her shirt so she would not be able to see, and sexually assaulted her in Maryland. Then Blue drove her to Southeast Washington, D.C., where he forced her to disclose her ATM information. His co-conspirator drained her bank account of nearly everything as Blue assaulted her again. Blue drove the victim to an alley where both men sexually assaulted her yet again. They left her naked in an alley, with her shirt covering her head. At the time of the attack, Blue was under supervised release for a 2013 armed robbery conviction. Elements of the crime were captured by surveillance footage and ATM cameras. Two days after the offenses, on December 5, 2018, Blue quit his job and fled to North Carolina. A tipster, who recognized Blue’s mugshot on a television news show, called law enforcement. The tipster stated that Blue had said he was wanted by police for robbing and kidnapping a girl. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Burrell, Rachel Forman, and Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson of the District of Columbia. The prosecution team received valuable assistance from Veronica Vaughan of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart Allen, Nicholas Miranda, and Jessica Wash. ## 21cr221


title: Owner And Manager Of Cape Coral Roofing Company Plead Guilty To Tax Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Skaggs, Jr. and Billie Adkison today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit tax fraud. Each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to the plea agreement, Skaggs owned and operated Nastar Roofing, a Cape Coral based roofing company. Adkison served as the main office administrator for Nastar, and her duties included managing the company’s payroll. Between 2013 and 2023, Nastar paid its employees predominantly in cash to avoid paying taxes they knew were owed to the federal government. Typically, one or more Nastar employees, including Skaggs and Adkison, withdrew significant amounts of cash on Thursdays and Fridays to make Nastar’s payroll at the end of the work week. Between 2013 and 2023, Nastar employees withdrew more than $21 million from the company’s bank accounts to pay employees in cash. Skaggs and Adkison knew, and intentionally caused, Nastar to not withhold taxes from the cash payments to employees. Nastar also did not pay its own share of FICA taxes on these wages. As part of their plea agreement, Skaggs and Adkison have agreed to make full restitution to the United States for the employment taxes Nastar avoided, including an upfront partial restitution payment of $1 million prior to their sentencing hearing, which has not yet been set. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman and Department of Justice Tax Division trial attorney Kevin Schneider.


title: Lake Charles Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Crimes

body_text: LAKE CHARLES, La. – Albert Royster, Jr. , 42, of Lake Charles, was sentenced today on drug possession and firearms charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Royster to 70 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. In June 2021, law enforcement agents became aware of Royster’s drug trafficking activities and began an investigation. On August 5, 2021, detectives with the Combined Anti-Drug Task Force in Calcasieu Parish obtained and executed a search warrant on Royster’s residence in Lake Charles. When law enforcement arrived at the residence, they found Royster inside and he was detained. During the search, detectives located 215.25 grams of cocaine and 61.03 grams of crack cocaine packaged in various amounts consistent with drug distribution. In a bedroom used by Royster, they located and seized an American Tactical AR-15 style rifle, a Norinco rifle, over 60 rounds of ammunition, and over $3,000 in cash. After further investigation, law enforcement officers learned that the American Tactical AR-15 style rifle had been reported as stolen. The seized narcotics were sent to the crime lab for testing and confirmed to be cocaine and crack cocaine. Royster was previously convicted of distribution of cocaine in 2012 and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was indicted in this case and pleaded guilty on July 19, 2024 to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen. # # #


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Biofuel Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Florida man pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme that generated over $7 million in fraudulent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewable fuels credits and sought over $6 million in fraudulent tax credits connected to the purported production of biodiesel. According to court documents, Royce Gillham was the general manager of a biofuel company based in Fort Pierce, Fla., that produced and sold renewable fuel and fuel credits and claimed to turn various feedstocks into biodiesel. When reporting the number of gallons produced to the IRS and EPA, Gillham and his employer vastly overstated their production volume in an effort to generate more credits. When auditors sought more information from the company, Gillham and his co-conspirators provided false information about their fuel production and customers. Gillham pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and to filing false claims. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. A federal district court judge will determine whether to accept the plea agreement after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Hipkins of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Leslie Carroll of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID) made the announcement. IRS-CI and EPA-CID investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Funk for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-14046. ###


title: Federal Charges for Michigan Man Who Attempted to Enter U.S. Capitol with a Flare Gun, a Torch, and Gasoline

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Austin M. Olson, 27, of Westland, Michigan, had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court this afternoon, following his November 5, 2024 attempt to enter the U.S. Capitol with a flare gun, a torch, and two bottles of gasoline. Olson was charged in a complaint with unlawful activities for carrying a weapon or incendiary device on Capitol grounds. U.S. Capitol Police officers arrested Olson on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. At about 12:30 p.m., Olson entered the complex and was asked to remove his belongings for inspection in a security x-ray machine. When Olson’s black coat passed through the x-ray machine, an officer saw what appeared to be a torch and a small firearm. The officer recovered a small torch device and an orange flare gun from the coat. Officers also noted that Olson’s small backpack reeked strongly of gasoline. Inside the backpack, officers found two bottles filled with fuel. According to the USCP officer, Olson stated he was at the Capitol to send a message to Congress and that he had brought the torch and flare gun to “light up the message in fire.” Another officer asked Olson what message he was planning to deliver. Olson removed a red closed envelope from under his shirt and stated it contained the message he wanted to send to the members of Congress. USCP officers handcuffed Olson and patted him down for additional contraband. Olson refused to provide identification. Due to the strong odor of fuel emitting from Olson and his bag, USCP closed the Capitol Visitor Center. It reopened about 90 minutes later. Officers searched Olson’s belongings and recovered two booklets containing writings and an identification card. Olson was charge with unlawful activities, possession of a prohibited weapon, and disorderly conduct and transported to USCP headquarters. This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Capitol Police. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Schneider and Rachel Craft of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Main Defendant in a Drug Trafficking Operation is Sentenced to Prison

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Pedro De Jesus Figueroa-Roman, 20, was sentenced to 53 months’ imprisonment, and three years of supervised release after admitting to possession of 14,000 fentanyl pills with intent to distribute. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge David Barlow, comes after Figueroa-Roman’s co-defendant, Juan Robles-Ramos, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to the possession of heroin with intent to distribute. In July 2024, Robles-Ramos was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents and admissions made at Figueroa-Roman’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, beginning in July 2023, he was selling large amounts of narcotics on behalf of a Mexican drug trafficking organization. In July 2023, an undercover officer purchased 472 grams of methamphetamine from Figueroa-Roman. Two months later, law enforcement arranged and completed a second controlled narcotics purchase with Figueroa-Roman’s co-defendant, Robles Ramos. On October 5, 2023, law enforcement seized 14,000 pills of field tested positive fentanyl, 1,435 grams of field-tested positive heroin, and $4,192 in U.S. currency at a residence in Clearfield, Utah, where both Figueroa-Roman and Robles-Ramos were residing. United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement. The FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF) consisting of the FBI and Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force (DMNSF) investigated 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 .


title: Kirkland, Washington, contractor sentenced to prison for defrauding more than two dozen customers

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 59-year-old Kirkland, Washington, home remodeling contractor was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to four years in prison for wire fraud for his scheme to steal approximately $4 million from customers using fake invoices, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Joseph D. Bergevin pleaded guilty in July 2024, admitting that he forged invoices to steal money from at least 24 customers who had hired him for their remodeling projects. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead spoke of the victims saying, “You stole their futures, you stole their hope, you stole their momentum for success… you created the kind of stress that you can’t run from, the stress that wakes you up at night. It was not just one lapse in judgement, it was hundreds of lapses over the years.” “This defendant stole from friends, members of his church, the elderly, and people in his children’s school community,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “The betrayal of those who trusted him deserves a significant sentence. Sadly, the dozens of victims of his deceit can never replace the time lost, and the anguish suffered from his illegal actions.” According to the plea agreement, between 2016 and 2019, Bergevin served as the general contractor on a number of home remodeling projects. As the general contractor, Bergevin was responsible for arranging for subcontractors to work on the project and making sure they got paid. However, during the wire fraud scheme, Bergevin presented his customers with hundreds of forged subcontractor invoices. Bergevin used the names, logos, and other identifying information about the subcontractors to create the false invoices. He then sent them to the customers for payment. Bergevin falsely told the customer that the invoice was for work that had been done or would be done. In some instances, he claimed that by paying “up front,” the customer could lock in lower rates for building materials when the work was done. Many of the victims submitted heartrending impact statements. One wrote: “The amount of money Bergevin stole from us is nearly unthinkable. He stole more than an entire year’s salary from me. [Bergevin] not only stole our entire life savings but induced us to borrow money and take on credit card debt in order to keep our build going. He literally took from us more than all of the money we had.” And another, “[Bergevin] stole five years of our lives and showed no remorse While he raised his daughters happily, built his dream house, purchased luxury cars and boats, and actively participated in his church and community, these are the very experiences he robbed from us.” Other victims spoke in court today about how Bergevin’s crime robbed them of time, money, and trust in others. Another spoke of how his theft decimated her children’s college funds, damaging their future. A third recounted how Bergevin exploited their desperation to get their house finished, all the while taking their money to finish his own luxury home and buy himself a boat. At the time of the plea, the false invoices totaled $3,554,054 and went to twenty-four different customers. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Bergevin is responsible for at least $3,554,054 in restitution. Today the parties agreed that the total restitution should be approximately $4 million for all the losses caused by the criminal conduct in this scheme. Judge Whitehead ordered the full restitution. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Kirkland Police Department, and King County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Dion and Yunah Chung.


title: Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – David Eric West II, 42, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to deliver quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 8, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by West near Parkersburg. Officers found quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the vehicle and a Taurus G3C 9mm pistol on West’s person. West admitted that he possessed the found controlled substances and intended to distribute them in and around the Southern District of West Virginia. West is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Parkersburg Police Department. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-135. ###


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Charles Eugene Moore, 37, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 22, 2022, Moore sold approximately 28 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and caffeine to a confidential informant in Charleston. Moore admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling approximately 17 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and xylazine, a powerful veterinary sedative also known “Tranq,” to a confidential informant in Charleston on April 15, 2022. At the time of these offenses, Moore was on parole following his conviction for second-degree murder in Kanawha County Circuit Court on May 5, 2008. Moore is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-109. ###


title: South L.A. Man Sentenced to More Than 9 Years in Federal Prison for Robbery Spree that Ended in High-Speed Crash and Freeway Foot Pursuit

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A South Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 110 months in federal prison for committing a string of robberies of businesses throughout Los Angeles County – a series of crimes that ended with a high-speed chase that resulted in him and other defendant crashing their getaway car before running across a freeway last year. Anthony Flores, 28, a.k.a. “BabyGfar,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Hernán D. Vera, who also ordered him to pay $10,439 in restitution. Flores has been in federal custody since September 2023. At the conclusion of a three-day trial, a jury on July 18 found Flores guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and two counts of Hobbs Act robbery. “This defendant’s careless disregard for the law put lives at risk,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Today’s sentence highlights that my office – through the Operation Safe Cities initiative – will make sure that violent criminals face real consequences. The public deserves no less.” From May 27, 2023, to May 31, 2023, Flores and other co-conspirators robbed BevMo! liquor stores in Long Beach and Lakewood and conspired to rob other stores in West Covina and Pasadena, and on June 5, 2023, attempted to rob a BevMo! store in Canyon Country. During the robberies, Flores and others stole high-end liquor stored behind security glass and, in some instances, threatened employees with violence. In total, Flores and his co-conspirators stole approximately $14,143 in merchandise during this spree. On June 5, 2023, Flores and co-defendant Ivin Kitu Sanford, 32, formerly of South Los Angeles but now a resident of Las Vegas, attempted to rob the Canyon Country BevMo! store. Flores and a co-conspirator subdued a store employee and attempted to steal high-end bottles of liquor. They fled in a stolen gray Dodge Charger with a stolen license plate and attempted to evade officers during a traffic stop. Flores and Sanford led law enforcement on a chase before crashing into a tree. After the crash, they ran on foot across the 14 Freeway during rush hour traffic. Flores and Sanford were later found in bushes in a desolate area and arrested. At the same July trial, Sanford was found guilty of one count of Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 30, 2025, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Operation Safe Cities establishes strategic enforcement priorities with an emphasis on prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. Across this region, the most damaging and horrific crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic enforcement approach is expected to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of recidivists engaged in the most dangerous conduct. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, or robbery crews that cause havoc and extensive losses to retail establishments. The FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the West Covina Police Department, and the Long Beach Police Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe prosecuted this case.


title: High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel Indicted on Drug Conspiracy Charge

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States. According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, 44, served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, along with his three brothers, allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment alleges Canobbio Inzunza conspired with the brothers — who are known as the “Chapitos” — and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. The indictment states that Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as “Los Chimales,” which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States. The Chapitos have been charged in other indictments in the United States within the last year. Canobbio Inzunza is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States and to import controlled substances into the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be currently residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath for the Southern District of California, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona made the announcement. The FBI and HSI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum for the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Maurice Bryant, age 49, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 7, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Wolfe to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bryant’s release from prison, he will serve a 4-year term of supervised release. In March of 2024, confidential informants working with the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force purchased meth from Bryant on two occasions for an estimated total of one ounce. On April 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Bryant’s Lincoln residence, and investigators found a total of approximately 59 grams of meth. Bryant agreed to talk to investigators and admitted buying and selling meth in the Lincoln area. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Gun Charges

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jesse T. Budenholzer, age 42, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha after having pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Budenholzer to 240 months’ imprisonment. Budenholzer also forfeited $8,150 seized in the investigation. There is no parole in the federal system. After Budenholzer’s release he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. On November 21, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Budenholzer’s south Omaha residence and seized approximately 320 grams of meth, 3212 grams of DMT (a schedule I Controlled Substance), along with $8,150 in drug proceeds and a drug ledger. The drug evidence was found in Budenholzer’s bedroom. At the time of the search warrant, Budenholzer was a convicted felon and was found in the bathroom taking a shower. A gun was found in his pants laying on the bathroom floor. A search of Budenholzer’s phone revealed texts messages with his Mexican source of supply about receiving multiple pound quantities of meth dating back to September 2022. His phone also contained pictures of multiple pounds of meth. This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Colorado Man Sentenced for Possession of Fentanyl Pills at Omaha Airport

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kene Coleman, age 43, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced November 7, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Coleman to 151 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Coleman’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On August 11, 2023, Coleman arrived at the Omaha airport on a flight from Denver, Colorado. An investigator approached Coleman near the baggage carousel area and Coleman agreed to talk with the investigator. When asked about a suitcase he had, Coleman claimed the suitcase was not his. Moments later, Coleman ran away and was tackled to the ground by other officers. Search of the suitcase pursuant to a warrant uncovered approximately 6,155 fentanyl pills. At the time of the offense, Coleman was on parole for a Colorado conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and the Omaha Airport Authority Police Department.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 11 Years for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Edwin J. Correa Miranda, age 26, of Mexico, was sentenced on November 7, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Correa Miranda to a total of 132 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Correa Miranda’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On August 17, 2023, a trooper stopped a vehicle traveling east bound on Interstate 80 in Hamilton County, Nebraska, for following too closely. The driver was identified as co-defendant Juan Martinez Arroyo and the passenger was identified as Edwin Correa Miranda. Each defendant gave conflicting stories on their travels and a drug dog was requested at the scene. The dog made a positive alert to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle was conducted and inside of the trunk, troopers found a duffle bag containing 11 packages that later tested positive for meth. The State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed the meth weighed a total of 24,777 grams. A loaded Ruger handgun and a magazine containing five rounds were also found under the passenger seat. Co-defendant Juan Martinez Arroyo was previously sentenced to 11 years imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release on October 23, 2024, by Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Dexter Hall, age 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced November 7, 20224 in federal court in Omaha for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hall to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hall is released from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release. On February 8, 2023, Dexter Hall entered a pawn shop in Lincoln, Nebraska and sold a box containing ten rounds of Hornady .50-caliber ammunition for $30. Mr. Hall has been previously convicted of non-violent felony offenses, namely possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Kevin Warsocki, age 32, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced November 7, 20224 in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Warsocki to 188 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Warsocki is released from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. He will also forfeit to the United States $1,034.00 in U.S. currency that was proceeds from Warsocki distributing drugs. On November 9, 2022, officers were called to the Hampton Inn at 11201 Davenport Street, Omaha, for a death investigation. Officers found the victim deceased in her room. A drug pipe was found next to the victim and six colorful pills, stamped M-30, suspected to be fentanyl, on the bathroom counter. While officers were on scene, Kevin Warsocki arrived at the hotel room. Warsocki stated he went down to his car to have a cigarette and fell asleep, and when he woke up, he saw a police presence. Warsocki then returned to the hotel room, where he found an officer inside. Warsocki was then advised of the victim’s death. Warsocki was in possession of keys to a white 2004 Buick Rainier with no plates, which was in the parking lot of the Hampton Inn. Law enforcement went and looked inside the vehicle, from the outside, and observed a $20 bill in plain view on the driver's side floorboard, along with apparent residue on the steering wheel and an apparent peach colored pill on the dash that was stamped "30." Warsocki was taken to Omaha Police Department Central Headquarters, where he was interviewed post- Miranda , and Warsocki admitted to possessing the pill that was seen in the vehicle and he confirmed it was fentanyl. Upon searching the vehicle, officers located a total of 122 multi-colored pills that were stamped "M" on one side and "30" on the other. These pills were tested at the lab and were confirmed to be fentanyl. Two of the pills were found near the driver's seat with one on the top of the dashboard and another on the driver's side door threshold. The other 120 pills, along with 5 blue rectangle pills stamped "B707," were found in a rear compartment of the vehicle on the driver's side in a compartment cubby. The five pills tested positive for Alprazolam. When Warsocki was initially detained, he was found to have $1,034.00 on his person. The pills found in the driver's area of the vehicle matched the other 120 pills that were found in the rear compartment and all tested positive for fentanyl. Warsocki also met with other individuals that night in and around the hotel and sold them fentanyl pills. This case was investigated by the Overdose Drug Task Force, which is comprised of law enforcement from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Omaha Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Palmyra man pleads guilty to production of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that John C. Aldrich, IV, 54, of Palmyra, NY, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that law enforcement began investigating Aldrich in March 2024, after receiving information that he had engaged in the ongoing physical and sexual abuse of a minor victim in Palmyra, NY. Investigators recovered messages between Aldrich and the victim, which revealed that Aldrich had been involved in an ongoing pattern of abuse, during which he sexually abused the victim and produced child pornography. The abuse took place on a weekly basis over a period of more than one year, beginning when the victim was only 14 years old. The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, Lyons, under the direction of Acting Major Kevin Sucher, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan. Sentencing is scheduled for March 12, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford. # # # #


title: Mexican National Caught with Gun, Fake ID Sentenced

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a man from Mexico who was caught with a firearm and fraudulent identification documents after a road rage incident to a year and a day in prison. Donnovan Mallen, 22, of Berkeley, Missouri, will be deported after his release from prison. Mallen admitted in a guilty plea in August that on Feb. 26, 2021, he was driving to work when a vehicle followed him and fired four shots at him in St. Charles, Missouri. Mallen said he fired once into the air. Police found a loaded 10mm semi-automatic pistol under the front passenger seat of Mallen’s Dodge Charger, which had a shattered rear window. Mallen also had a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card and Social Security card. Mallen pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to illegal entry and unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Charles Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Atlanta VA Doctor Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Female Veteran Patient

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Following an eight-day trial, Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a primary care physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, was found guilty by a jury of violating a patient’s constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law and for engaging in unwanted sexual contact. “Dr. Patel violated the cardinal rule of a physician to do no harm to patients under his care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Veterans who consulted him for treatment, like the victim in this case, trusted Dr. Patel and he violated that trust. His conviction hopefully provides a measure of healing for those impacted by his crimes.” “The verdict is an important step in seeking justice for a sexual assault committed against a veteran seeking care at a VA medical center,” said Michael J. Missal, Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs. “VA employees are entrusted with keeping our nation’s veterans safe while receiving care. Acts of violence against veterans in VA facilities are reprehensible and shatters that trust. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold anyone who would commit these crimes accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was charged with sexually assaulting four of his female patients during routine exams, where he groped their breasts and improperly touched their vaginal area between 2019 and 2020. The jury acquitted him of charges related to three victims and found him guilty of violating the fourth victim. Rajesh Motibhai Patel, 69, of Lilburn, Georgia is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. by U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II. Dr. Patel was found guilty by a federal jury on November 5, 2024. This case is being investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin N. Spritzer and Jennifer Keen are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Tampa Drug Trafficker Responsible For Selling More Than $1 Million In Methamphetamine Sentenced To 28 Years

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Enock Edouard (37, Tampa) to 28 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and obstruction of justice. Edouard was found guilty on May 8, 2024, following a two-day bench trial. His co-conspirators have been sentenced to the following prison terms: Joshua Robertson (36, Auburndale) 14 years Cameron Mosley (31, Tampa) 10 years, 7 months Nathaniel Fagan (38, Tampa) 8 years, 4 months Jordan Myers (32, Los Angeles) 5 years Michael Lee Johnson (22, Auburndale) 2 years, 9 months According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, between 2021 and 2023, Edouard was part of a drug trafficking network that operated throughout the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, including California. Working with others, Edouard moved methamphetamine and fentanyl originating in Mexico, shipped to California in car tires, then shipped or transported to Orlando and Tampa. Edouard carried large amounts of cash to California to purchase the narcotics, then utilized various accomplices to hide narcotics in boxes and passenger suitcases for distribution in Florida. At trial, one co-conspirator described Edouard as “the only person between me and the cartels,” and estimated that Edouard sold him over 300 kilograms of methamphetamine in less than 10 months. FBI agents arrested Edouard in Las Vegas and executed a search warrant at his apartment in downtown Tampa, recovering additional fentanyl and a firearm. Fifteen firearms, two hand grenades, more than 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than $80,000 in cash were seized from Edouard and his co-conspirators as part of this investigation. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. 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 . It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Kenneth and Diego F. Novaes.


title: Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Making False Statement in Attempt to Acquire Firearm

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on November 5, 2024, to a charge of violating federal firearms law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. George Sotiris Vlastos, 38, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Vlastos knowingly made at least two false written statements on the ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record) regarding his status as a convicted felon in an attempt to acquire a firearm. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Vlastos.


title: 10 Convicted in South Carolina for Multi-State Identity Theft and Fraud Ring

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ten defendants have been convicted in federal court for their participation in an identity theft and fraud ring based out of Columbia, South Carolina with victims in at least South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, and New York. The following defendants have been convicted of the following offenses: Ronda Weston, a/k/a “Lisa Caldwell,” a/k/a “Lisa Baker,” 49, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud related to PPP loans. Weston faces up to 20 years in federal prison, plus an additional mandatory two years in prison consecutive to any other time, forfeiture of assets and property seized from Weston during the investigation, and mandatory restitution. Weston is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21. This is Weston’s third federal prosecution. Kashon Harrison , 46, of Elgin, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Harrison faces an agreed-upon two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Harrison is awaiting sentencing. This is Harrison’s second federal prosecution. Michael Terrance Butler , 54, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Butler faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14. Kasaun Dante Simons , 27, of Blythewood, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Simons faces up to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property seized from Simons during the investigation, and mandatory restitution. Simons is awaiting sentencing. William Charles Brown, 37, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Brown faces a mandatory two years in federal prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Brown is awaiting sentencing. This is Brown’s second federal prosecution. Monique Sherrie Corbett, a/k/a “Monique Sumter,” 52, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervision, and more than $37,000 in restitution. Stanzetta Teresa Johnson , 63, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Johnson faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Johnson is awaiting sentencing. Shakirah Khalidah Chapman , 28, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Chapman faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Chapman is awaiting sentencing. Ashley Nicole Drummond , 39, of Lugoff, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Drummond faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Drummond is awaiting sentencing. Darryl Dewayne Dumas, 61, of Palatka, Florida, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervision. According to evidence presented in court, from at least July 2020 through August 2023, the conspirators obtained the stolen personal identifying information of identity theft victims from the dark web, including the names, home addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, and credit scores of victims from at least nine states. One defendant’s home was searched by federal search warrant, and that search led to the recovery of a ledger with 151 identity theft victims listed in alphabetical order. Agents recovered fraudulent identity documents and financial records from numerous conspirators. Weston generally led the scheme and recruited others to participate. The conspirators used the stolen identities to manufacture fraudulent driver’s licenses, utility bills, pay stubs, social security cards, and bank statements using their identity theft victims’ names and credit but with photos of the conspirators on the driver’s licenses. They then obtained money and property through fraudulent means, including: A vehicle purchase scheme , where conspirators obtained luxury vehicles including a Jaguar, a Maserati, a Range Rover, RVs, pickup trucks, sports utility vehicles, sedans, golf carts, motorcycles, three-wheel side-by-side vehicles, and all-terrain vehicles; A vehicle title loan scheme , where conspirators obtained title loans from financial institutions in the name of their identity theft victims by claiming they were selling vehicles between themselves; A personal title loan scheme , where conspirators obtained personal loans from financial institutions in the name of their identity theft victims by claiming planned home renovations or the purchase of appliances; and A residential rental scheme where conspirators fraudulently leased and rented residences in the name of their identity theft victims but for their own personal use, often leaving the residence owner unpaid and a debt in their identity theft victims’ names. Individual conspirators were responsible for as much as $650,000 fraud through this scheme, and during the investigation, agents seized residences, real property, boats, vehicles, golf carts, cash, and other property as fruits and proceeds of the scheme. Many of the vehicles have been returned to the sellers. Some conspirators also obtained fraudulent loans through the PPP program, which provided fully forgivable loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide emergency relief to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson accepted the guilty pleas of the defendants and will sentence the eight defendants awaiting sentencing at a later date. All of the defendants will be subject to court-ordered supervision by the U.S. Probation Office following any term of incarceration. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels is prosecuting the case. ###