title: Protecting Native Families: Readout from the 2024 Tribal Consultation

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Last month, U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, federal prosecutors, and other staff from the United States Attorney’s Office met with delegations from 17 Tribes, the All Pueblo Council of Governors, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address critical issues facing Native communities, including the devastating impact of fentanyl and the need for enhanced law enforcement training and retention. The consultation was held on July 18 and 19, 2024 at the University of New Mexico’s School of Law. Tribal leaders from the Pueblo of Zuni, Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Pueblo of Laguna, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Picuris, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Zia, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Isleta, Pueblo of Nambe, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Pueblo of Tesuque, Mescalero Apache, Pueblo of Acoma, and the Pueblo of San Ildefonso were present along with representatives from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This years’ consultation focused on protecting native families. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez initiated the Tribal consultation by reaffirming his office's commitment to serving Tribal communities, describing it as one of his "greatest honors" as the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. To underscore this commitment, U.S. Attorney Uballez highlighted the increased resources allocated for community outreach, education, and training for Tribal law enforcement, as well as the expansion of the Indian Country Crimes (ICC) section with the hiring of four Assistant U.S. Attorneys to more effectively address violent crime on Tribal lands. Since August 2023, Uballez has personally met with ten different Tribes and Pueblos, fostering direct communication and gaining a deeper understanding of their unique needs and concerns. In addition to the U.S. Attorney meeting personally with Tribes and Pueblos, AUSA Tribal Liaisons have meet and coordinated with Tribal leaders and law enforcement separately throughout the year. The United States Attorney's Office engaged in 28 community outreach activities like meetings, presentations, and tabling at Tribal events. In addition to community engagement, the United States Attorney’s Office has conducted nine training sessions for Tribal and Pueblo law enforcement and community providers, enhancing their capabilities to address crime and public safety issues effectively. These outreach and training efforts have reached over 1,000 people, totaling 52.5 hours of dedicated time. Furthermore, the United States Attorney’s Office, through Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski, has facilitated the allocation of more than $10 million in grants for Tribes in the last year, providing crucial resources to enhance public safety, support victim services, and strengthen Tribal justice systems. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico is notable for being the first federal prosecutor's office in the country to establish a dedicated Indian Country Crimes section, which was created in 2010. This unique organizational structure enables the office to take a proactive and specialized approach to addressing criminal justice issues in Native American communities with training initiatives, community outreach and enhanced coordination among Tribal, state and federal agencies. U.S. Attorney Uballez also underscored the positive impact of the office’s Tribal liaison program, which differs from other districts by assigning one Assistant U.S. Attorney to two Tribes, rather than having a single liaison for all Tribes in a district. This approach has led to increased communication between his office and the Tribes, enhancing government-to-government relations. Nearly all of the participants described the deleterious effects of Fentanyl on their communities, culture and family ties, and described how it is leading to more violent crime in their community and higher death rates and incidents of homelessness amongst their members. During the consultation, U.S. Attorney Uballez outlined a comprehensive strategy to combat fentanyl trafficking and its impact on Tribal communities: Expansion of Organized Crime Section : The U.S. Attorney has increased the size of the Organized Crime section to target criminal structures and organizations importing fentanyl across the southern border. Dedicated Drug Prosecutors : For the first time, two ICC prosecutors have been designated as drug prosecutors, focusing on building resources and cases related to drug trafficking. DEA Collaboration : The office is engaging with the Drug Enforcement Administration to expand its presence and operations in Tribal communities. Education Initiatives : The U.S. Attorney plans to enhance efforts to educate parents and law enforcement about the dangers of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. Support Services : Secure federal funding for developing support services to treat addiction, aiming to reduce demand for drugs in Tribal communities. Many participants commended the office’s ongoing efforts to enhance communication and relations with the Tribes, noting the ease of reaching their liaison for responses, the personal visits made by the U.S. Attorney to Tribal leadership, and the active participation of liaisons in Tribal events. “To know that you put a lot of effort and energy to expanding this program to Indian Country, we’re all sincerely, sincerely grateful for that, because now we have someone, a face.” Pueblo of Jemez Police Chief Roger Foster said. “We appreciate seeing your faces out there. We appreciate you being out there and letting us know who you are and what you do and to hear your voice, to know that you are there for our people.” Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya said. “The Navajo Nation appreciates that very much.” Regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) cases, Tribal representatives voiced deep concerns over persistent communication gaps, unresolved investigations, and the ongoing struggle to provide closure for affected families and communities, highlighting the complex challenges in addressing this critical issue. ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas touted the office’s efforts to help law enforcement agencies establish Tribal Community Response Plans for MMIP cases and offered to help Tribes who did not have one in place yet put one in place. This initiative, combined with the specialized focus of MMIP AUSA Eliot Neal, aims to improve coordination and response to MMIP cases, addressing some of the communication and investigative challenges raised by Tribal representatives. The establishment of these plans can potentially enhance the handling of MMIP cases by providing a structured framework for communication, action, and cooperation between Tribes and law enforcement. Nearly every Tribe emphasized the critical need for assistance in both training and retaining their law enforcement personnel. Tribal representatives highlighted several key challenges: Training : Tribes are seeking comprehensive training programs that cover a wide range of law enforcement skills, including investigative techniques, evidence gathering and report writing. Retention : Retention of trained law enforcement officers is a significant concern. Tribes reported high turnover rates due to factors such as competitive salaries offered by non-Tribal law enforcement agencies, limited career advancement opportunities, and the demanding nature of the job. Funding and Resources : Many Tribes called for federal assistance in securing grants and other financial support to build and sustain robust law enforcement departments. Collaborative Partnerships : Tribes are also interested in establishing partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to share resources, expertise, and training opportunities. To highlight the ability of the Tribes to use the office to build collaborative partnerships, Pueblo of Sandia Tribal Police Chief Adrian Montoya described how his department had leveraged the United States Attorney’s Office to build partnerships with the Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security. Regarding training, Navajo Nation Vice President Montoya said “tell us what we need to do. Our officers are hungry. They’re ready. They’re wanting to know what they can do.” U.S. Attorney Uballez, Indian Country Crimes Section Supervisor Elisa Dimas and Deputy Supervisor Alexander F. Flores, along with Tribal Liaisons Eliot Neal, Nicholas Marshall, Brittany DuChaussee, Matthew McGinley, Caitlin Dillon, Robert Booth, Zachary Jones, Mia Ulibarri-Rubin, Jena Ritchey, Mark Probasco, Joni Stahl, and Meg Tomlinson as well as Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski received the comments and engaged in discussion with Tribal representatives. Former President Barack Obama signed the Memorandum on Tribal Consultation on Nov. 5, 2009. The Memorandum pronounces Tribal consultations “a critical ingredient of a sound and productive Federal-Tribal relationship.” The president further directed all federal agencies to develop a detailed plan of the actions taken to fully implement former President Bill Clinton's Executive Order 13175 on “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments” within ninety days. Within 270 days and annually thereafter agencies were directed to provide a progress report on implementation and any updates to the plan. Executive Order 13175 sets forth criteria “to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with Tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have Tribal implications.” The District of New Mexico embraces this responsibility and the principles of Tribal sovereignty and Indian self-determination by actively promoting public safety in Tribal communities, recognizing the unique cultural heritage of New Mexico's Native American Tribes, and fostering government-to-government relationships. (Foreground, left to right) ICC Deputy Supervisor Alexander F. Flores, ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez (Background, left to right) AUSA Mark Probasco, Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski, Criminal Chief Kristopher Houghton (Left to right) ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, Pueblo of Jemez PD CI Allison Lucero, U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez, Pueblo of Jemez PD Chief Roger Foster (Left to right) Navajo Nation Attorney Prosecutor Kevin Barnett, ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez, Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty (Left to right) ICC Deputy Supervisor Alexander F. Flores, ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, U.S. Attorney Alexander Flores, Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez, Supervisor Elisa Dimas and Deputy Supervisor Alexander Flores listen as Jicarilla Apache Tribal Prosecutor Tonita Vigil and Vice President Sonja Newton speak (Foreground, left to right) Pojoaque Tribal PD Chief Freddie Trujillo and Major Nathan Barton. (Background, left to right) ICC Deputy Supervisor Alexander F. Flores, ICC Supervisor Elisa Dimas, U.S. Attorney Alexander Flores, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Probasco, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Holland Kastrin, Law Enforcement Coordinator Alyssa Skrepcinski Artwork by James Sanchez # # #


title: Four South Jersey Men Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – Four men from southern New Jersey were charged with negotiating fraudulent checks that had been stolen from the mail, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Tracy Felder-Carter, 23, of Blackwood, New Jersey; Dante Ford, 28, of Pennsauken and Sewell, New Jersey; and Quamell Keyes-Griffin, 21, and Donovan Bunch, 22, both of Sicklerville, New Jersey, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. They are scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Felder-Carter, Ford, Keyes-Griffin, and Bunch conspired to commit bank fraud by first obtaining checks that had been stolen from the U.S. mail. Members of the conspiracy then would alter the stolen checks by increasing the value of the check and changing the name of the payee to either a member of the conspiracy or somebody else recruited by the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy or others would negotiate each altered check and attempt to the withdraw the funds before the bank learned that the checks were illegitimate. The conspiracy involved the negotiation of hundreds of checks at banks across southern New Jersey and elsewhere, with each check written for amounts upwards of several thousand dollars. The count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Pennsylvania State Police – Media Station, Pennsauken Police Department, and the Springfield Township (Pennsylvania) Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. feldercarter.complaint.pdf


title: U.S. Attorney to Participate in Raleigh National Night Out Events

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael Easley, along with Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer ; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Benny Mims ; and U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina Glenn McNeill, Jr. will join Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson, community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in the 41st Annual National Night Out. National Night Out began in 1984 through a grant from the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance, with the goal of building relationships with and between communities and law enforcement. In North Carolina, 133 cities are participating this year in National Night Out. WHERE: *Subject to change due to inclement weather* Maple Temple Church - 304 Dacian Road Tarboro Road Community Center - 121 North Tarboro Street The Village at Washington Terrace - 1951 Booker Drive WHEN: Visits will begin at the Maple Temple Church location at 5:30 pm and continue through 7:30 pm A full list of the Raleigh National Night Out locations is located here . For logistical information related to the U.S. Attorney’s visits, please contact Katie Holcomb at USANCE.PublicInfoOfficer@usdoj.gov .


title: Owner of Newark Contruction Business Admits Tax Evasion and Failure to Collect and Pay Over Taxes

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man admitted evading taxes through a check cashing scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Alain Rodrigues, 49, of Old Bridge, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court on Aug. 1, 2024, to an information charging him with one count each of tax evasion and failure to collect and pay over taxes. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Rodrigues owned and operated a construction company in Old Bridge and Newark. Beginning around 2017, Rodrigues deposited a portion of the payments from customers into a business bank account and converted the balance to cash and money orders, which he deposited in a personal bank account or used to pay cash wages to employees. Rodrigues only reported the portion of the company’s revenue that was deposited in the business bank account on his business’s taxes. Rodrigues did not report the business revenue deposited directly into his personal bank account as income on his personal income taxes. The company, under Rodrigues’s direction, did not report to the IRS the cash wages it paid to employees and did not collect or pay over employment taxes on these wages. In total, Rodrigues and his company paid $554,873 less than they owed in income taxes and failed to collect and pay over $793,139 in employment taxes, for a total of approximately $1.35 million. Each count of tax evasion and failure to collect and pay over taxes carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea agreement, Rodrigues has agreed to pay the government restitution of $1.35 million and to file amended tax returns. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Webman of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. rodrigues.information.pdf


title: Machinegun Gets Edenton Crip Gang Member Eight Years in Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – An Edenton man was sentenced today to 100 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. On February 13, 2024, Karon Antwan McDonald pled guilty to the charge. “This case is yet another example of the dangers our members face and the important work they perform in keeping North Carolina safe,” said Commander of the State Highway Patrol, Col. Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. “We are honored to work alongside our valued partners at the Department of Justice as these cases go through the criminal justice system and are confident in their continued commitment to hold dangerous criminals accountable for their actions.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, McDonald, 34, was driving a vehicle in Plymouth when State Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop. McDonald was removed from the vehicle and then struggled briefly with Troopers as he tried to run away. He was tased and detained. A search of his vehicle revealed a stolen Glock .357 caliber handgun under the driver’s seat. The Glock was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a Glock switch, that converted the semi-automatic firearm into one capable of firing fully automatic. McDonald is a validated member of the Crips gang and has been previously convicted of two assaults with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in state court. He has also been involved in numerous other instances of violence. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The State Highway Patrol and FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-CR-8-FL.


title: Wisconsin Man Sentenced To Consecutive Life Sentences For 2018 Double Homicide And Armed Robbery Of Florida Couple

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer (27, Wisconsin) to consecutive life sentences in federal prison as a result of his convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering with commerce, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country, and a violation of the Neutrality Act. Zwiefelhofer has also been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,886 to the family members of the victims of the offenses. Zwiefelhofer was found guilty by a jury on March 8, 2024. According to testimony presented at trial, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville, Florida to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Zwiefelhofer was identified as one of two individuals who was believed to have murdered the couple during the course of an armed robbery of the $3,000 that the couple intended to use to purchase the firearms. Zwiefelhofer, who had previously fought in Ukraine in 2017 after going AWOL from the U.S. Army, pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund his travel to Venezuela. Zwiefelhofer’s co-defendant, Craig Lang, is pending trial. “There’s no question that Zwiefelhofer belongs behind bars, and his life sentence guarantees that will happen. When it comes to tackling the violent crime threat, our model is to work together with our state and local law enforcement partners to maximize impact and this case highlights those efforts with the Lee County Sheriff's Office,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor, FBI Tampa Division. “We will stop at nothing to protect our communities from these threats.” “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, no stone was left unturned in the investigation and federal prosecution of this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “This defendant committed heinous crimes, and justice was served.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Michael V. Leeman.


title: Convicted felon admits to possessing distributable amounts heroin

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The investigation began in January when law enforcement learned Raul Garcia Jr. aka Rule was selling drugs in the Laredo area. Over the next two months, investigators continued to receive information Garcia was selling narcotics, and possibly out of his home. In March, law enforcement obtained a warrant to search Garcia’s home. During the search, authorities located heroin packaged for street sale. A month later, law enforcement obtained a second search warrant and again found heroin. Similar to drugs recovered during the March search, they noted the heroin found in April was also packaged for street sale. As part of his guilty plea, Garcia admitted to possessing the drugs located and seized throughout the investigation. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Garcia faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine. Garcia will remain in custody pending that hearing. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Laredo Police Department’s Narcotics Division conducted the investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and Leslie Cortez are prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage .


title: Pakistani National with Ties to Iran Charged in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate a Politician or U.S. Government Official

body_text: Earlier today, a complaint was unsealed in Brooklyn charging Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, 46, with murder-for-hire as part of an alleged scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil. Law enforcement foiled the charged plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant is in federal custody. “For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America’s national security.” “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s complaint allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI.” “The complaint unsealed today underscores, yet again, that those who engage in lethal plotting on U.S. soil will face the full force of the American justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The targeting of former and current officials by foreign actors is an affront to our sovereignty and our democratic institutions and the Department of Justice will use every possible tool to expose and disrupt this egregious activity.” “Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This prosecution demonstrates that this office and the entire Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials and our citizens from foreign threats “Fortunately, the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were undercover FBI Agents,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office. “This case underscores the dedication and formidable efforts of our agents, analysts and prosecutors in New York, Houston, and Dallas. Their success in neutralizing this threat not only prevented a tragic outcome but also reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats.” According to allegations contained in the complaint and related publicly filed court documents, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil. In approximately April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (the CS). In early June, Merchant met the CS in New York and explained his assassination plot. Merchant told the CS that the opportunity he had for the CS was not a one-time opportunity and would be ongoing. Merchant then made a “finger gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing. Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be “targeted here,” meaning in the United States. Merchant instructed the CS to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions. Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official. At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed the CS on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked the CS to explain how a target would die in different scenarios. Merchant told the CS that there would be “security [] all around” the person. Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to “finalize” the plan and leave the United States. In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies, and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill either the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had departed the United States. Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded “yes.” The UC then stated “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded “Yes, absolutely.” Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. Merchant has stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Gilbert Rein, and Douglas Pravda for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorneys David Smith and Joshua Champagne of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Complaint


title: Former British Virgin Islands Premier Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Import Cocaine into the United States

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Former British Virgin Islands (BVI) Premier Andrew Alturo Fahie was sentenced yesterday to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams after having been convicted at trial of cocaine trafficking and money laundering conspiracies for agreeing to facilitate the safe passage of tons of Colombian cocaine through BVI ports headed to Miami. In exchange for his assistance Fahie would make millions, which would be funneled through different businesses or smuggled back to the BVI to hide the money’s source. According to evidence introduced at trial, during March and April 2022, Fahie, Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Oleanvine Pickering Maynard (O. Maynard), and the Port Director’s son, Kadeem Stephan Maynard (K. Maynard) participated in a series of meetings with the purported Sinaloa Cartel drug trafficker to broker the arrangement. Fahie and O. Maynard agreed to secure licenses, shield the cocaine-filled boats while in BVI’s ports, and grease the palms of BVI government officials and employees. They discussed bringing 3,000 kilograms of cocaine through a BVI port as a test run, followed by 3,000 kilograms once or twice a month for four months. Fahie and O. Maynard would get a percentage of the millions of dollars in cocaine sales. In April 2022, Fahie and O. Maynard were arrested in Miami as they prepared to pick up a $700,000 cash advance on their deal. K. Maynard was arrested in St. Thomas. O. Maynard and K. Maynard previously pled guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and were sentenced by Judge Williams to 112 months and 57 months in prison, respectively. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, announced the sentence. DEA Miami Field Division investigated this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gerarde and Sean McLaughlin prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture. Members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force carried out this case and prosecution. HIDTA was established in 1990. This program, which is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, fosters intra-agency cooperation among law enforcement agencies in South Florida and involves them in developing a strategy to target the region's drug-related and violent crime threats to public safety, as with the opioid epidemic, fentanyl, and the cocaine threat to our nation. South Florida HIDTA uses funding provided by the Office of National Drug Control Policy out of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and sponsors a variety of law enforcement initiatives that target the region's illicit drug and violent crime threats to our community. 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 22-CR-20191. ###


title: Laredo resident admits to possessing firearm equipped with machinegun conversion device

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to possessing a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. On March 12, law enforcement attempted to stop a truck for a traffic infraction with Francisco Isaias Rodriguez riding as a passenger. He exited the vehicle seconds before the stop and began to flee. He was told to stop but he continued on foot. During the subsequent chase, Rodriguez resisted arrest, ignored commands from authorities and threw a small bag he carried around his shoulder over a fence and into a backyard. Authorities later recovered the bag and found a Glock 9-millimeter pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch.” The switch altered the firearm’s function to shoot more than one round with a single pull of the trigger, making the firearm a fully-automatic weapon. The bag also contained one Glock pistol magazine with 14 rounds of ammunition, one Kriss extended pistol magazine containing 40 rounds, a pair of black latex gloves, one red and black plastic glove and a black balaclava ski mask. After his arrest, law enforcement searched the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record for any records pertaining to a registered machinegun, short-barreled rifle or any other weapon under Rodriguez’s name. There were none. As part of his guilty plea, Rodriguez admitted to knowing federal law prohibits him from possessing the machinegun. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage .


title: Youngstown, Ohio, Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death and Conspiring to Distribute Large Quantities of Fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl, and Cocaine

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and conspiring to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Eliot Gentry, 27, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to distributing fentanyl resulting in the death of an individual in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on January 23, 2022, and conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, and five kilograms or more of cocaine from May 2021 to October 2022. Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for December 4, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Gentry.


title: Rockland County Man Who Distributed Fentanyl That Resulted In Six Poisonings, Including Multiple Deaths, Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JUSTIN TURNICK pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl. TURNICK distributed fentanyl that resulted in three fatal fentanyl poisonings and three non-fatal fentanyl poisonings between February 2020 and April 2022 in Rockland County, New York. TURNICK pled guilty earlier today before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Justin Turnick’s actions didn’t just facilitate addiction—they fueled a crisis that claimed lives and inflicted unimaginable suffering. As we move forward, this Office remains resolute in its mission to combat the fentanyl epidemic and seek justice for the families and individuals affected by these deadly substances.” According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court: TURNICK engaged in the regular distribution of narcotics to members of his community in Rockland County, New York, including his friends, partners, and acquaintances. TURNICK knowingly distributed fentanyl — a deadly and highly potent opioid — in various forms, including fentanyl that had been packaged into pills, pure fentanyl, and fentanyl-laced powder. TURNICK distributed fentanyl to Gustaf Olsen, resulting in his death, on or about February 3, 2020; to Jonathan Shashoua, resulting in his death, on or about July 11, 2020; to a female victim, resulting in her poisoning and serious bodily injury, on or about January 5, 2021; to Ione Koenig, resulting in her poisoning and serious bodily injury, on or about July 30, 2021; to Ione Koenig, resulting in her death, on or about July 31, 2021; and to a male victim, resulting in his poisoning and serious bodily injury, on or about on or about April 19, 2022. * * * TURNICK, 25, of Congers, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, TURNICK stipulated that the substances he conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute resulted in the fatal fentanyl poisonings of Gustaf Olsen, Jonathan Shashoua, and Ione Koenig, and the non-fatal fentanyl poisonings of a female victim, a male victim, and Ione Koenig. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Clarkstown Police Department, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office. He also thanked the Ramapo Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, the Putnam County Sherriff’s Department, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office for their support and assistance in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison and Kathryn Wheelock are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Northern District of Indiana US Attorney’s Office to Participate in Community Events During National Night Out

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out events on August 6, 2024. During this year’s National Night Out, United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson has directed staff to attend community events throughout the Northern District, which includes areas within Northwest Indiana, South Bend and Fort Wayne. Staff will be meeting residents, law enforcement and first responders during this yearly event. “Community engagement events, such as the National Night Out, are essential building blocks for stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities we serve,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “I encourage everyone to participate in your community’s National Night Out events to foster the healthy, positive community and law enforcement partnership that is the bedrock of public safety.” National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the United States Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/ .


title: Columbus man sentenced to 27 years in prison for crimes related to sexually exploiting & sextorting more than 25 identified victims

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 324 months in prison for crimes related to sexually exploiting and sextorting more than 25 known victims in at least four states. Lorenzo A. Winfield, 23, persistently and aggressively sought out and collected nude files of high school classmates and minor females he met online. “Acts of sextortion are serious and have no place in our society. As we heard in court today from more than a dozen victims, this conduct creates significant harm,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Today’s sentencing reflects that we will hold such perpetrators accountable for their damaging actions.” According to court documents, from at least 2016 until 2021, Winfield used extortion tactics to solicit and collect explicit photos of underage girls at his Columbus high school, the Arts and College Preparatory Academy (ACPA), where he was known as the “ACPA Hacker”. Winfield would contact students at ACPA and demand nude images and videos of them. He would also hack into victims’ social media accounts and use the photos he obtained in their private accounts against them as leverage for more content. Winfield would threaten the victims, letting them know he had nude content depicting them or other students and that he would distribute those images and videos unless the victims complied with his demands. On numerous occasions, Winfield followed through on these threats, distributing sexually explicit photos of his victims to others to prove he was serious with his threats in a bid to contain more content. In addition, Winfield told the victims to send him sexually explicit images or videos in order to regain control of their own social media accounts. Winfield used several social media accounts of his own to engage in the exploitation and extortion of the victims. His accounts were active across platforms such as Discord, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Skype and Google Hangouts. Winfield was separately investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office for extorting and exploiting at least four victims in Fairfax and Prince William counties in Virginia. For example, one identified victim was approximately 11 years old at the time Winfield first contacted her online. During their communications, Winfield obtained nude images of her and videos of her masturbating. Winfield used this content as leverage and eventually sent nude photos of the victim to students at a Virginia middle school to prove he was serious about his sextortion of her. Eventually, as the victim got older, Winfield also sent the images to students at her high school, promising the victim that if she got her friends to help her out by sending him nude images, that he would stop. Winfield threatened to harm the family of the Virginia minor if she did not comply with his requests for sexually explicit photos and videos and continued to exploit and extort her until his arrest. Similarly, Winfield exploited at least one victim in College Station, Texas. The investigation revealed that the Texas victim sent approximately 50 pictures and videos to Winfield. Winfield demanded explicit images and videos of her daily. On one occasion, when the victim did not comply with Winfield’s demands, Winfield sent images of the victim’s nude breasts and vagina to the victim’s brother and friend. The defendant pleaded guilty in December 2023 to sexually exploiting minors, possessing child pornography, and communicating interstate with the intent to extort. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. U.S. Attorney Parker and Special Agent in Charge Iatarola commended the cooperative investigation in this case with FBI divisions and state and local law enforcement agencies in Ohio, Virginia and Texas. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Queens Resident Convicted of Acting as a Covert Chinese Agent

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Shujun Wang, an academic and author who helped start a pro-democracy organization in Queens that opposes the current communist regime in China, was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all four counts of an indictment charging him with acting and conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney General, criminal possession identification and making false statements to law enforcement. The verdict followed a seven-day trial before United States Second Circuit Judge Denny Chin sitting by designation. Wang’s co-defendants in the espionage and transnational repression scheme, Feng He, Jie Ji, Ming Li and Keqing Lu are officials from China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). They remain at large. When sentenced, Wang faces up to 25 years in prison. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Robert Wells, Executive Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Branch (FBI), announced the verdict. “The indictment could have been the plot of a spy novel, but the evidence is shockingly real that the defendant was a secret agent for the Chinese government,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Posing as a well-known academic and founder of a pro-democracy organization, Wang was willing to betray those who respected and trusted him. When confronted with his shameful conduct, the defendant lied to law enforcement, but today’s verdict revealed the truth of his crimes and now he will face the consequences.” “This defendant infiltrated a New York-based advocacy group by masquerading as a pro-democracy activist all while covertly collecting and reporting sensitive information about its members to the PRC’s intelligence service,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s verdict demonstrates that those who would seek to advance the Chinese government’s agenda of transnational repression will be held accountable.” “This conviction underscores the FBI’s commitment to countering espionage schemes by holding those accountable who collect US activist information for the benefit of China,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Any support for transnational repression is unacceptable, and the FBI works diligently with its partners to seek out and bring to justice those who support such activities.” Wang is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese descent and one of the founders of the pro-democracy Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang Memorial Foundation, an organization located in Flushing, Queens whose members are well-known pro-democracy dissidents who oppose the current government of the PRC. But instead of promoting democracy in the PRC, Wang, at the direction of PRC government officials, used his position within the Memorial Foundation and his status within the Chinese diaspora community to collect information about prominent activists, academics, and dissidents, and reported that information to the PRC government. As proven at trial, since at least 2006, Wang operated under the direction and control of his co-defendants, four officials of China’s MSS, which is responsible for the PRC’s foreign intelligence collection. At the MSS’s direction, Wang gathered information on people and groups that the PRC considers subversive, such as Hong Kong democracy protestors, advocates for Taiwanese independence and Uyghur and Tibetan activists, both in the United States and abroad. Wang conducted face-to-face meetings with MSS officials while on trips to the PRC, and used WeChat to receive orders from his co-defendants and to send and receive written messages and files. Wang often memorialized the information he collected in email “diaries” to be accessed by the MSS. These “diaries” included details about Wang’s private conversations with prominent dissidents, as well as the activities of pro-democracy activists and human rights organizations. Law enforcement recovered from Wang’s residence diary entries that he wrote to He, Ji, Li, Lu and other MSS officials. Additionally, in connection with his work for the MSS, Wang possessed telephone numbers and contact information belonging to Chinese dissidents. Wang made materially false statements to federal law enforcement, falsely denying that he had contacts with PRC officials or the MSS. Over the course of three separate interviews, between 2017 and 2021, Wang repeatedly denied or downplayed his contact with individuals from the Chinese intelligence agency. During one of the interviews, in 2019, Wang was interviewed by federal law enforcement agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, after he returned from China. Wang falsely stated that he had no contact with anyone from the Chinese government and that he had no Chinese government contact information. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Ellen H. Sise and Nina C. Gupta of the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Magdalena St. Surin and Rebecca Roth. The Defendant : SHUJUN WANG Age: 75 Queens, New York Co-Defendants At Large: FENG HE (also known as “Boss He”) Age: 51 Guangdong, PRC JIE JI Age: 52 Qingdao, PRC MING LI (also known as “Elder Tang” and “Little Li”) Age: 42 Guangdong, PRC KEQING LU (also known as “Boss Lu”) Age: 63 Qingdao, PRC E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-230 (DC)


title: Grand Jury Charges 37 Florencia 13 Members and Associates with Federal Crimes, Including 3 Murders, One of Them a Beating Death

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Federal and local law enforcement officials today announced the unsealing of federal grand jury indictments charging a total of 37 members and associates of the South Los Angeles-based Florencia 13 (F13) street gang, alleging a series of crimes, including fentanyl trafficking, extortion, and three murders, including that of a man beaten to death outside a bar in the gang’s “territory.” Today’s takedown resulted in the arrests of 23 F13 members and associates who are expected to be arraigned on 11 indictments this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Six of the defendants were already in state or federal custody, and authorities continue to search for eight other defendants charged in these cases, including multiple defendants currently believed to be fugitives in Mexico. As part of this investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of fentanyl, and 6.5 pounds of heroin. Authorities also have seized 25 firearms and approximately $70,000 in cash connected to this investigation. “Through murder, drug trafficking, violent robberies, and other criminal behavior, street gangs bring devastation upon our communities,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We must stand united against gang violence. Today’s arrests and seizures demonstrate that we will be relentless in combating these criminal organizations.” “Florencia-13 is known for its barbaric tactics which, tragically, resulted in several murders alleged in the indictment,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field office. “Residents of the community in which Florencia-13 operates deserve to live their lives without fear from violence and extortion, and this joint investigation demonstrates our shared commitment to that goal.” “Today’s coordinated take down of gang members associated with the ‘Florencia 13’ criminal street gang creates safer neighborhoods by removing dangerous individuals from our communities and disrupting their criminal network that fuels this violence,” said Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “By removing key offenders from our streets who instill fear and terrorize our communities, we are taking decisive action to restore safety and enhance the quality of life for all residents. Our commitment to reducing gang violence remains unwavering as we work together to build safer, stronger communities.” The bulk of the charges in today’s takedown comes from two federal grand jury indictments targeting Florencia 13. The first indictment charges 19 defendants – including Celerino Jaramillo, 30, a.k.a. “Bizzy,” of South Los Angeles, a “shot caller” in one of F13’s cliques – with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Among a series of alleged racketeering-related crimes, during one incident on October 17, 2022, a mob of F13 members – including Jonathan Reyes, 19, a.k.a. “Creeper,” of South Los Angeles – beat one victim to death in the early morning outside a bar in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood of Los Angeles. The victim repeatedly was stomped, kicked, and punched, and beaten with a baseball bat. The indictment further alleges that Jaramillo and co-defendant Oscar Hernandez, 30, a.k.a. “Drex,” of South Los Angeles, on June 19, 2023, murdered a victim identified in court documents as “R.A.,” an F13 member who had violated the gang’s rules. The day after R.A.’s was shot and killed, Jaramillo allegedly told fellow gang members that he wanted Hernandez inducted into F13’s Jokers clique because he “proved [Jaramillo] solid.” The following month, Jaramillo and Hugo Armando Pineda, 36, a.k.a. “Menace,” of South Los Angeles, allegedly murdered “D.E.,” another F13 member in bad standing. The rest of this superseding indictment alleges a series of criminal activity by Jaramillo and others, including the running of “casitas,” or illegal after-hours bars and clubs, including collection of extortionate “taxes” from them, trafficking of narcotics such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, and illegal use and possession of firearms. A second indictment unsealed today charges eight Florencia 13 associates – including Saul Ayon Quintero, 50, of Bellflower – with drug-related crimes, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, and illegally using and possessing firearms and ammunition. Finally, nine additional Florencia 13 members and associates are charged in eight separate indictments with methamphetamine distribution counts, and another Florencia 13 member is charged in a separate indictment with possession of an unregistered firearm and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, most of the defendants would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the United States Marshals Service are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Kendall and Daniel H. Weiner of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting these cases. This case 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Federal Jury Convicts New York Resident of Acting as a Covert Chinese Agent

body_text: Shujun Wang, 75, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese descent, an academic and author who helped start a pro-democracy organization in Queens, New York, that opposes the current communist regime in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was convicted today on all four counts of an indictment charging him with acting and conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney General, criminal use of identification and making false statements to law enforcement. “This defendant infiltrated a New York-based advocacy group by masquerading as a pro-democracy activist all while covertly collecting and reporting sensitive information about its members to the PRC’s intelligence service,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s verdict demonstrates that those who would seek to advance the Chinese government’s agenda of transnational repression will be held accountable.” “The indictment could have been the plot of a John LeCarre or Graham Greene spy novel, but the evidence is shockingly real that the defendant led a double life, pretending for years to be an activist for democracy while he was secretly passing information to the Chinese government,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “The defendant was a perfect stooge for the PRC, a well-known academic and founder of a pro-democracy organization who was willing to betray those who respected and trusted him. When confronted with his shameful conduct, Wang lied to the FBI, but today’s verdict revealed the truth of his crimes and now he will face the consequences.” “This conviction underscores the FBI’s commitment to countering espionage schemes by holding those accountable who collect U.S. activist information for the benefit of China,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Any support for transnational repression is unacceptable, and the FBI works diligently with its partners to seek out and bring to justice those who support such activities.” Wang is one of the founders of the pro-democracy Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang Memorial Foundation, an organization located in Flushing, Queens, whose members are well-known pro-democracy dissidents who oppose the current government of the PRC. But instead of promoting democracy in the PRC, Wang, at the direction of PRC government officials, used his position within the Memorial Foundation and his status within the Chinese diaspora community to collect information about prominent activists, academics and dissidents, and reported that information to the PRC government. According to court documents, since at least 2006, Wang operated under the direction and control of his co-defendants – four officials of China’s Ministry of State Security, which is responsible for the PRC’s foreign intelligence collection. At the MSS’ direction, Wang gathered information on people and groups that the PRC considers subversive, such as Hong Kong democracy protestors, advocates for Taiwanese independence and Uyghur and Tibetan activists, both in the United States and abroad. Wang conducted face-to-face meetings with MSS officials while on trips to the PRC and used an encrypted messaging application to receive taskings from his co-defendants and to send and receive written messages and files. Wang often memorialized the information he collected in email “diaries” to be accessed by the MSS. These “diaries” included details about Wang’s private conversations with prominent dissidents, as well as the activities of pro-democracy activists and human rights organizations. Law enforcement recovered from Wang’s residence approximately 163 “diary” entries that he wrote to He, Ji, Li and Lu and other MSS officials. Additionally, in connection with his work for the MSS, Wang possessed telephone numbers and contact information belonging to Chinese dissidents. Wang made materially false statements to federal law enforcement, falsely denying that he had contacts with PRC officials or the MSS. Over the course of three separate interviews, between 2017 to 2021, Wang repeatedly denied having any contact with individuals from the Chinese intelligence agency. During one of the interviews, in 2019, Wang was interviewed by federal law enforcement agents at John F. Kennedy Internation Airport in Queens, after he returned from China. Wang falsely stated that he had no contact with anyone from the Chinese government and that he had no Chinese government contact information. The verdict followed a one-week trial. Wang’s co-defendants in the espionage and transnational repression scheme, Feng He, Jie Ji, Ming Li and Keqing Lu are MSS officials who remain at large. Wang is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2025 and faces up to 25 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Sise and Nina Gupta for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.


title: Orlando Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing Firearm

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Chadwick Lemaine (26, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Lemaine faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is set on October 31, 2024. According to court records, Lemaine was convicted of felony offenses in 2018 and 2019 and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. On May 26, 2023, an officer with the Orlando Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Lemaine and discovered narcotics and a firearm inside the vehicle. A DNA analysis confirmed Lemaine was a contributor to the DNA discovered on the firearm. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate. 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: Zephyrhills Registered Sex Offender Sent Back To Federal Prison For 17 Years For Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material While On Federal Supervised Release

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Aaron Bicknell (37, Zephyrhills) to 17 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for receiving child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Bicknell to pay $20,000 in restitution to the victims of the offense. Bicknell entered a guilty plea on April 22, 2024. According to court documents, in 2011, Bicknell was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material over the internet using a filesharing program. As part of his sentence, Bicknell was required to register as a sex offender. The Federal Bureau of Prisons released Bicknell in May 2021, and he began serving a lifetime term of supervised release. In August 2023, law enforcement downloaded files of child sexual abuse material from Bicknell. After executing a search warrant at Bicknell’s home, investigators discovered more than100 images and 80 videos of child sexual abuse on Bicknell’s devices. “The sentencing of this recidivist felon for collecting child sexual abuse material underscores HSI’s commitment to protecting our communities most vulnerable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah C. McCombs. “Alongside our partners at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, we will make sure these individuals are not able to hide their actions under a cloak of internet anonymity.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (Tampa), with substantial assistance from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit. This is another case 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Armed Cocaine Trafficker from Eden, Vermont Sentenced to 29 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 5, 2024, Damien Peatman, 26, of Eden, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 29 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Peatman previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court records, Peatman distributed over two kilograms of cocaine from February 2021 to December 2022 from his family home in Eden, Vermont. Peatman kept a handgun as part of his operation that he got from a drug customer as payment for drugs. When police searched Peatman’s residence, Peatman had a flag hung in his bedroom which read, “It’s not a crack house, it’s a crack home.” Witnesses described the Peatman residence as “the main place to go in Eden” to purchase cocaine. Peatman even used cocaine as a way to pay contractors for work done on the house. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nate Burris, Nicole Cate and Colin Owyang. Peatman was represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Federal Inmate Sentenced To 30 Years’ Imprisonment For Assault With Intent To Commit Murder And Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Lorenzo Scott, age 51, formerly of Rayville, Louisiana, and an inmate at the United States Penitentiary (USP) at Lewisburg, was sentenced on August 2, 2024, by Chief District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann, to 30 years’ imprisonment following his conviction of assault with intent to commit murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Scott was an inmate at USP Lewisburg on March 25, 2015, when he physically assaulted his cellmate and repeatedly struck, stomped, and inflicted blunt force trauma to the cellmate’s head resulting in severe, life- threatening injuries. A corrections officer at USP Lewisburg, who was conducting rounds at 4:00 a.m., observed Scott stomping on the cellmate’s head as the cellmate lay on the floor of the cell in a puddle of blood. The cellmate died approximately two years and two months after the assault from the injuries inflicted by Scott. The indictment in this case originally charged Lorenzo Scott with murder. However, the charge of murder was withdrawn by the government due to existing federal caselaw regarding the “year-and-a-day-rule,” which bars a prosecution for murder in cases in which the victim dies more than a year and a day after the infliction of the wound causing the victim’s death. During the trial, Scott testified and admitted that he intended to kill his victim, who suffered a traumatic brain injury because of Scott’s attack. The case was investigated by the FBI-Williamsport Division and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Special Investigations Section (SIS). Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. O’Hara and Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Former OSU Medical Center Employee Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Repay More than $8 Million in Restitution

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Leslie Ann Ameen, 63, of Tulsa, for Wire Fraud. She was ordered to serve 49 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Ameen to pay $8,293,611 in restitution. “Ameen significantly harmed a hospital that serves our community and is funded by tax-payer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “We are committed to pursuing those who defraud and steal from taxpayers in the Northern District of Oklahoma.” According to court documents, Ameen devised a scheme to defraud her employer while employed as a telecommunications specialist at Oklahoma State University Medical Center (OSUMC). For approximately nine years, Ameen arranged for OSUMC to purchase laptops, phones, and tablets from Techsico Enterprises Solutions, LLC. The electronic devices were not sought by OSUMC nor required for operating the medical center. Ameen forged signatures on more than 2,200 invoices emailed to her, absconded, and then sold the devices to fund her gambling addiction. Ameen was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple prosecuted the case.


title: Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. George Mazey, 53, pleaded guilty to Counts One and Eight of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around February 2021 to in and around April 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Mazey conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing heroin, and quantities of a mixture and substance containing cocaine and cocaine base in the form commonly known as crack. Further, in and around April 2021, Mazey possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing cocaine and fentanyl. Mazey was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others. Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for December 11, 2024. The law provides for a total sentence of no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mazey. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Pakistani National with Ties to Iran Charged in Connection with Foiled Plot to Assassinate a Politician or U.S. Government Officials

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Asif Merchant, also known as “Asif Raza Merchant,” 46, with murder-for-hire as part of a scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on U.S. soil. Law enforcement foiled the charged plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant is in federal custody in New York. Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, Department of Justice, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher Wray, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, New York Field Office, announced the arrest and charges. “For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens, and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America’s national security.” “Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This prosecution demonstrates that this Office and the entire Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials and our citizens from foreign threats.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s Field Offices in Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago and Albany field offices for their partnership on this case. Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance. “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s charges allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI.” “The complaint unsealed today underscores, yet again, that those who engage in lethal plotting on U.S. soil will face the full force of the American justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division. “The targeting of former and current officials by foreign actors is an affront to our sovereignty and our democratic institutions and the Department of Justice will use every possible tool to expose and disrupt this egregious activity.” “Fortunately, the assassins Merchant tried to hire were undercover FBI Agents,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office. “This case underscores the dedication and formidable efforts of our agents, analysts and prosecutors in New York, Houston and Dallas. Their success in neutralizing this threat not only prevented a tragic outcome but also reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats.” According to court documents, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on U.S. soil. In approximately April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (the CS). In early June, Merchant met the CS in New York and explained his assassination plot. Merchant told the CS that the opportunity he had for the CS was not a one-time opportunity and would be ongoing. Merchant then made a “finger gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing. Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be “targeted here,” meaning in the United States. Merchant instructed the CS to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions. Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official. At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed the CS on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked the CS to explain how the target would die in different scenarios. Merchant told the CS that there would be “security [] all around” the person. Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to “finalize” the plan and leave the United States. In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies, and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill either the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had departed the United States. Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded “yes.” The UC then stated “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded “Yes, absolutely.” Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12th, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. Merchant has stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan. The charges in the complaint are allegations and Merchant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik and Gilbert Rein and Douglas Pravda are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys David Smith and Joshua Champagne of the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division. The Defendant: ASIF MERCHANT (also known as “Asif Raza Merchant”) Age: 46 Karachi, Pakistan; Tehran, Iran E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-MJ-467 (JRC)


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Staff Join National Night Out Events in South Florida

body_text: Justice Department Leadership Participate in Events Across the Country MIAMI– Since last Friday, staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office have taken part in National Night Out (NNO) events in the Southern District of Florida. Tonight, and throughout the week, members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office hope to continue to engage with the local community in support of NNO. This evening, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, and other senior Justice Department officials will also participate in NNO events across the country as part of a Department-wide effort to bring attention to efforts to build stronger police-community partnerships. The Attorney General will attend a NNO event in Urbandale, Iowa. The Deputy Attorney General will attend NNO events in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Acting Associate Attorney General will attend NNO events in Raleigh, North Carolina. Established in 1984 from a Justice Department Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant, NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. NNO is a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together through engaging activities and positive circumstances. This year, NNO takes place as violent crime continues to decline nationwide, following an uptick during the pandemic in 2020. FBI data shows a decrease in violent crime in communities across the country in 2023 compared to the previous year, including an over 13% reduction in homicides. That is the steepest yearly decline in homicides in over 50 years. Early data from 2024 indicates that this trend is continuing. NNO highlights federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships that have played key roles in the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime , which focuses federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. For information on National Night Out events in your community, visit www.natw.org . ###


title: Laramie man sentenced for distribution of fentanyl

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Tristan Chase Eickbush, 27, of Laramie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, Cheyenne Police Officers responded to 305 Storey Boulevard in Cheyenne for a report of a deceased person. On the premises, investigators found numerous small, round, blue pills, marked with “M” on one side and “30” on the other side. The pills resembled legitimate prescription medication, but subsequent testing showed that they were counterfeit and contained illicit fentanyl. An autopsy concluded that the deceased person died from fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed that Eickbush sold the decedent illicit fentanyl pills on March 3, 2023, but claimed that the pills were legitimate oxycodone pills. Eickbush was charged with drug distribution on May 6 and pleaded guilty on May 13. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal imposed the sentence on Aug. 1. “This case is a stark reminder that one pill can kill, and drug dealers cannot be trusted to tell the truth about what they are selling,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. “Cooperation between local, state and federal authorities enabled us to successfully prosecute this case, punish this drug dealer, and provide some measure of justice for this tragic and unnecessary overdose death.” “The distribution of dangerous drugs has no place in our community,” said Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco. “We will continue working with our state and federal partners to hold dealers accountable - every counterfeit pill we get off the street is a potential life saved.” This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood. Case No. 24-CR-00054


title: Mexican National Admits Being Caught with Gun, Fake ID

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Mexico on Tuesday admitted being caught with a firearm and fraudulent identification documents after a road rage incident in St. Charles, Missouri. Donnovan Mallen, 21, of Berkeley, Missouri, pleaded guilty to illegal entry and unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. He admitted that on Feb. 26, 2021, the St. Charles Police Department was called to the 1500 block of Beale Street for a “shots fired” call. They found Mallen and a Dodge Charger with a shattered rear window. Mallen, who had a fraudulent Permanent Resident Card and Social Security card, denied any involvement in the incident. After further investigation by officers, Mallen admitted that while he was driving to work, a vehicle followed him and fired four shots at him. Mallen said he fired once into the air. Police found a loaded 10mm semi-automatic pistol under the front passenger seat. At the police station, Mallen admitted buying the pistol for protection from an acquaintance for $750 and the fraudulent identification for $150 to obtain employment, his plea agreement says. There is no record of Mallen lawfully entering the United States, the plea says. Mallen is scheduled to be sentenced November 5. 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: Lee’s Summit Man Sentenced to 20Years for Child Pornography, Sextortion Scheme

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lee’s Summit, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for a sextortion scheme in which he threatened victims, including minors, to extort them into sending him pornographic images and videos of themselves. Marek Redding, 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Redding to 25 years of supervised release following incarceration. Redding will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. On April 9, 2024, Redding pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of extortion. Redding, using a fake female persona on the Snapchat application, received nude photographs from multiple females, including minors. According to court documents, some victims reported that Redding threatened to distribute or publicly post their images if they did not continue sending nude images, some of which constituted child pornography. Redding admitted that he induced two minor victims to produce child pornography in January 2022 and March 2022, and that he distributed the child pornography. Redding also admitted that he transmitted threats to injure the reputation of an adult victim in April 2022 in order to obtain more photographs from the victim. According to court documents, the adult victim told investigators she had sent nude images to Redding. When she attempted to stop, Redding threatened to disclose her images to her family, school, and employer. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison D. Dunning. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Lee’s Summit, Mo., Police Department, the Grain Valley, Mo., Police Department, the Olathe, Kan., Police Department, and the FBI. Project Safe Childhood 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."