title: RGV carjacker sent to prison

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 35-year-old McAllen resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for robbery of a motor vehicle with intent to cause serious harm or death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Fidel Garza Jr. pleaded guilty Feb. 15. Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez handed Garza a 85-month term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Garza’s criminal history, including prior felony convictions for discharging a firearm in 2016 and being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2021. On Nov. 25, 2021, Garza was on the 1200 block of 28 th street riding in the passenger seat of a truck which pulled in front of an SUV and stopped. A 67-year-old man was driving that vehicle. Garza exited the passenger side of the truck and approached the SUV. He then pointed a handgun at the driver and demanded he and his three minor passengers get out of the vehicle. Fearing for their lives, they complied. Garza then entered the SUV and fled the scene. Law enforcement tracked him to a rural location in Edinburg. They arrested him in December 2021, at which time he admitted his role in the robbery. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The McAllen Police Department and Texas Department of Criminal Justice conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI and the Edinburg Police Department as part of the Rio Grande Valley Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony J. Evans and James Sturgis prosecuted the case.


title: “Pig meat” hauler sentenced for smuggling 71 people in trailer

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 48-year-old Splendora resident has been order to federal prison for transporting undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Denny Fuentes pleaded guilty Sept. 15, 2022. Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña ordered Fuentes to serve 15 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard the aliens, including five unaccompanied minors, were locked in the semi-trailer. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Fuentes put everyone who was in the trailer in danger of harm. On June 15, 2022, Fuentes drove a white semi-tractor pulling a white refrigerated utility trailer. He slowly approached the primary commercial lane at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint in Webb county, but authorities had to order him to stop. At initial inspection, he displayed nervous behavior, and his lips were trembling. Fuentes told authorities he was “hauling pig meat.” He provided his passport and a manifest for products requiring transport at no higher than 45 degrees. However, the trailer temperature was set at 56 degrees. Upon a secondary inspection, authorities discovered 71 undocumented aliens that included five minors. The temperature inside the enclosed metal trailer was almost 80 degrees while the outside temperature was approximately 100 degrees. Fuentes was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility no earlier than September 8, 2023. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.


title: RGV carjacker sent to prison


title: Waterbury Man Admits Role in Kidnapping and Murder of Massachusetts Man Whose Body was Found in Hartford

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CALVIN ROBERSON, also known as “Cutty,” 40, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses related to the kidnapping and murder of a Massachusetts man in 2020. According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 24, 2020, Roberson and another individual kidnapped Francisco Roman, Jr., 28, at gunpoint from a residence in Chicopee, Massachusetts. Roberson and his associate threatened to harm Roman if he did not comply with their orders, handcuffed him, and stole cash, marijuana, and other items from Roman. Roberson and his associate forced Roman into the rear of Roman’s 2010 Acura ZDX, and transported Roman and the other stolen property to Connecticut. Roberson’s associate shot and killed Roman while the car was en route to Hartford. They then drove the car to Shultas Place in Hartford and left it parked on the street. Shortly before 9 p.m. on December 26, 2020, Hartford police and fire personnel responded to Shultas Place and found the car engulfed in flames. After the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered Roman’s body with multiple gunshot wounds in the rear of the vehicle. Roberson was arrested on February 11, 2021. Roberson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnaping, and one count of causing the death of a person through the use of a firearm. At sentencing, Roberson faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life. He has been detained since his arrest. As to Roberson’s associate, who is awaiting trial, U.S. Attorney Avery that charges are not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, FBI’s Springfield Gang Task Force, Massachusetts State Police, Hampden County (Mass.) District Attorney’s Office, Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, Chicopee Police Department and Springfield Police Department, with the assistance of the Waterbury Police Department and the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Angel M. Krull. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts for their assistance in this matter.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 24, 2023. Matthew Shawn Buchko, 40, was sentenced to two 10-year terms in federal prison, to run concurrently, followed by five years of supervised release, to run concurrently. Buchko was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Buchko was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2021. He was found guilty at trial on January 20, 2023. Buchko was federally indicted following a Cybertip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children in relation to an upload of child pornography using the application Discord. The Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce executed a search warrant on Buchko’s home and located multiple devices. A forensic examination of those devices found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, as well as images and videos of child erotica and computer-generated child pornography. This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Heather Sazama prosecuted the case. Buchko was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Summerset Man Sentenced for Child Pornography and Assault on a Federal Officer

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Summerset, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography and Assault on a Federal Officer. The sentencings took place on April 21, 2023. As to the charge of Receipt of Child Pornography, Caleb Wayne Cook, 24, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. For the Assault on a Federal Officer, Cook was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, to be served consecutively to the other five-year sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay another $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Cook was indicted for Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He was indicted for Assault on a Federal Officer in May of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 18, 2023. Between September 2016 and December 2021, Cook used the Internet to download images of child pornography and videos depicting child pornography into his Dropbox account and other devices. This conduct was brought to the attention of law enforcement through a Cybertip sent by Dropbox to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. When the Dakota Territory Fugitive Taskforce executed the arrest warrant on Cook at his workplace, Deputy U.S. Marshals attempted to place Cook into custody. Cook pulled a handgun out of his waistband, racked the slide, and barricaded himself in a restroom. The Rapid City Special Response Team and their negotiators were called in and were able to talk Cook out of the restroom. Cook was placed under arrest for the child pornography charges and an additional charge for the assault on the Deputy U.S. Marshals. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox Sazama prosecuted the case. Cook was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 24, 2023. Kyle Mackay, 33, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Kyle Mackay was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in May of 2021. He pleaded guilty on January 20, 2023. On January 28, 2021, law enforcement had contact with Mackay after he was reported as an unwanted subject at the gas station on East Highway 44 in Rapid City. Once he was identified, law enforcement discovered Mackay had an active arrest warrant. When he was searched, Mackay had a firearm on his person, as well as approximately a half ounce of methamphetamine. A check of the firearm showed it had been reported as stolen. Because of a previous felony conviction, Mackay is prohibited from being in possession of firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rapid City Police Department, Dakota Territory Fugitive Task Force, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Mackay was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Joins in Recognizing 42nd Annual National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 23-29, 2023

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— Every April, the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) to honor crime victims, promote their rights and recognize victim advocates. This year’s observance, the 42nd annual commemoration, takes place April 23-29, 2023, with the theme: Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change. The U.S. Attorney’s Office joins its federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement partners in taking this opportunity to highlight the importance of providing necessary services at the earliest possible stage of victimization and litigation. Early intervention helps prevent further victimization and encourages victim involvement in the criminal justice system, mitigating the cycle of violence and restoring hope for the future. “Giving victims information and choices about how they can participate fully in cases is not only their right, but also meaningful and helpful for their recovery from the trauma of their victimization. We are honored to be a part of this important process,” said Amanda Reichmuth, Victim-Witness Coordinator for the District of Oregon. During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local, and tribal agencies host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services. OVC and U.S. Attorney’s Offices encourage widespread participation in the week’s events and in other victim-related observances throughout the year. For additional information about this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and how to assist victims in your community, please visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov . For ongoing updates from OVC and ideas throughout the year on how you can support victims, please subscribe to OVC’s email notifications at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/subscribe/ . If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you believe you’ve been the target or victim of a crime, please contact your local law enforcement agency or your nearest FBI field office immediately. The FBI Portland Field Office can be reached at (503) 224-4181 or by submitting tips online at tips.fbi.gov .


title: Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on April 24, 2023. Isaac Mathews, 41, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Isaac Mathews was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 25, 2023. On May 10, 2022, law enforcement had contact with Mathews and recovered a firearm, along with a distributable amount of methamphetamine. Between 50 grams and 200 grams of methamphetamine were distributed during the course of the conspiracy. This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Mathews was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Hot Springs Man Sentenced for Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Hot Springs, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on April 20, 2023. Brian Lynn Spitzer, 59, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a $5,000 special assessment to the Victims of Trafficking Fund. Spitzer will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Spitzer was indicted for Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in January of 2021. He pleaded guilty on December 7, 2022. Spitzer was arrested and federally indicted after attempting to exploit an undercover law enforcement agent posing as a 14-year-old female. Spitzer sent the undercover agent multiple sexually explicit messages between August of 2020 and September of 2020. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey Blair and Heather Sazama prosecuted the case. Spitzer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Mission Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 21, 2023. Frank White Thunder, age 35, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. White Thunder was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 11, 2023. White Thunder was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in 2008. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and to update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment. In February of 2022, White Thunder was released from prison and began a period of supervised release. White Thunder initially registered and resided at an address in Mission, but he subsequently moved from his registered address and did not update his registration. His whereabouts were unknown until his arrest in Mission on August 13, 2022. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . White Thunder was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Maury County Corrections Officer Convicted Of Obstruction Of Justice

component: Civil Rights - Criminal Section

body_text: NASHVILLE – A Maury County, Tennessee corrections officer was convicted today by a federal jury of obstruction of justice, announced U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis. James Justice, aka James Stewart Thomas, 32, of Columbia, Tenn., a corrections officer with the Maury County Sheriff’s Office, was indicted in May 2022 and charged with falsifying records relating to nonconsensual sexual contact that he had with a female inmate in his custody. “Today’s verdict ensures that James Justice will be held accountable for his actions. As importantly, it ensures that he will no longer be entrusted to serve as a law enforcement officer,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “I commend our trial team and partners at the FBI for an excellent job of investigating and presenting this case to the jury.” Testimony and evidence produced at trial established that Justice wrote an official report in which he falsely claimed that he had reported to two Maury County Jail supervisors that an inmate had made sexual advances toward him while the inmate was in his custody at a hospital. The report also falsely claimed that those two Maury County Jail supervisors both advised him not to write a report about the alleged sexual advances by the inmate, and the report omitted that he had a sexual relationship with the inmate after her release from the custody of the Maury County Jail. Justice faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 18, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Klopf of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: East St. Louis Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Attacking Park Rangers on Arch Grounds

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from East St. Louis was sentenced Wednesday to 37 months in federal prison for assaulting Park Rangers in an incident that began on the grounds of the Gateway Arch National Park. On Feb. 28, 2021, Park Rangers made a lawful traffic stop of a vehicle in the Old Cathedral parking lot. Antione Lamont Hawkins, now 39, was in the driver’s seat and an open beer bottle and an open beer carton were in the vehicle. Hawkins admitted that he had been drinking. Hawkins provided his name but wouldn’t provide identification. He refused to keep his hands on the steering wheel and then became confrontational. When rangers tried to handcuff Hawkins, he struggled, stomping on one ranger’s foot and kicking him in the leg. When rangers tried to put him in a patrol vehicle, he kicked a ranger in the face. Hawkins grabbed a different ranger by the throat during a struggle in jail. Hawkins pleaded guilty in December in front of U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry to two counts of assaulting an officer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.


title: Stratford Doctor Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud and Illegal Kickback Offenses

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANANTHAKUMAR THILLAINATHAN, MD, 45, of Stratford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for health care fraud and illegal kickback offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, Thillainathan is a medical doctor and the owner and president of MDCareNow LLC, a medical practice with offices in Stratford and Milford. MDCareNow has been a participating provider enrolled as both an internal medicine group and as a behavioral health clinician group in the Connecticut Medicaid program. Between approximately June 2019 and May 2022, Thillainathan submitted or caused to be submitted to Connecticut Medicaid approximately $839,724 in fraudulent claims for psychotherapy services that he knew patients did not receive from his employees. Thillainathan knew that the billed psychotherapy Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, which identify the nature and complexity of the services provided, were not supported by medical records provided by his employees, and that the services were not provided. The investigation revealed that Thillainathan submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for reimbursement that falsely represented his employees had rendered 60-minute psychotherapy sessions when, in fact, his employees only had very brief conversations with patients, had only left a voicemail for patients, or had no contact with patients at all. In addition, in violation of his Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CTMAP) provider agreement, Thillainathan paid a third-party “patient recruiting” company for each Connecticut Medicaid patient the company recruited and provided with transportation to MDCareNow for medical services. Thillainathan paid the patient recruiting company approximately $100 per patient for an initial visit to MDCareNow and approximately $40 per patient for any subsequent visit. Between approximately November 2019 and May 2021, Thillainathan paid the patient recruiting company for the recruitment of approximately 1,018 Connecticut Medicaid patients, and Connecticut Medicaid reimbursed MDCareNow a total of approximately $1,071,328 for services provided to these patients. Judge Underhill ordered Thillainathan to pay $1,674,880 in restitution, with $500,000 due within 60 days. On November 3, 2022, Thillainathan pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of kickbacks involving federal health care programs. While he was released on bond and awaiting sentencing, Thillainathan surrendered his Connecticut Controlled Substance Certificate of Registration. Despite no longer holding a valid controlled substance license, Thillainathan wrote at least 34 prescriptions for controlled substances, including 14 prescriptions for oxycodone. Thillainathan’s bond was revoked, and he has been detained since January 13, 2023. Thillainathan, a citizen of Sri Lanka and a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office and the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather L. Cherry and Elena L. Coronado. People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.


title: Vermonter Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement and Coercion of a Minor

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scarlet Shadows, a/k/a “Dragongurl69,” age 32, of West Rutland, Vermont, pled guilty today to one count of attempted enticement of a minor. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Shadows, formerly known as Randy Emillion Goodreau, admitted that she attempted to entice and coerce an individual, whom Shadows believed to be an 11-year-old girl, to have sex. After weeks of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with this individual and another person Shadows believed was the child’s guardian, Shadows traveled in January 2022 from Vermont to Warren County, New York, with an engagement ring, condoms, and gifts for the child, intending to have sex with the child. Shadows faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced on August 25, 2023 by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Shadows will also be required to register as a sex offender upon her release from prison. This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department and the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Washington County Man Admits to Stealing 32 Firearms from Hudson Falls Gun Store, and Using the Firearms in Relation to Drug Trafficking

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jonathon Combs, age 43, of Granville, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of theft of firearms from a licensed dealer, and to using firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli; and Washington County Sherriff Jeffrey J. Murphy made the announcement. Combs admitted to stealing firearms from Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes, a federally licensed firearms dealer, in Hudson Falls, New York, on two separate dates in October 2022. On the second occasion, Combs and a co-conspirator used a sledgehammer to break into the store after hours and steal 31 semi-automatic pistols. Combs and the co-conspirator subsequently exchanged most of the stolen pistols to another individual in return for a supply of cocaine. Combs faces at least 5 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 5 years when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The following defendants still face charges in this case, and face the following penalties: Name Age Minimum Maximum Martin Taft 48 5 years Life Kwahpreme Mitchell 32 5 years Life These charges are merely accusations, and Taft and Mitchell are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. NYSP, ATF and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance provided by the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Allen J. Vickey are prosecuting this case.


title: Honduran Woman Charged with Illegally Using Social Security Number to Obtain Employment

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – ENNA SERRANO-CRUZ , age 31, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on April 27, 2023 for illegally using a social security number to qualify for employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. United States District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe sentenced SERRANO-CRUZ to (1) one year of probation and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. According to court documents, on December 14, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received information that certain individuals used fraudulent Social Security cards in an initial application to obtain employment. Prior to finalizing employment with their prospective company, the individuals had to report to the Gulf Coast Safety Council, which provides safety courses to applicants applying to work with companies that service petrochemical processing plants. On December 14, 2022, SERRANO-CRUZ arrived at the Gulf Coast Safety Council office in St. Rose, Louisiana to complete the safety course to finalize his employment with Company “A.” On that day, SERRANO-CRUZ presented a fraudulent United States Social Security card bearing the name and United States Social Security number of a United States citizen, which she represented to be her own, in order to obtain employment. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney M. Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: California Man Pleads Guilty to Bringing Over 65,000 Fentanyl Pills to Syracuse for Distribution

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Orozco Acosta, age 22, of Bakersfield, California, pled guilty today to possessing over 65,000 fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute them. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division Frank A. Tarentino III, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. DEA California Division Bob Beris, and New York State Police (NYSP) Acting Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli made the announcement. As part of his plea, Acosta admitted that, on April 4, 2022, he travelled from Bakersfield, CA to a storage unit in Syracuse, NY. Acosta transferred the contents of his storage unit, which included a black plastic tote, to a different storage unit in the city of Syracuse. The black plastic tote that Acosta transported contained over 65,000 fentanyl pills, weighing approximately 7.2 kilograms. The defendant possessed the fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute them throughout the Central New York area. The investigation, which was coordinated primarily by NYSP Investigators in conjunction with DEA Special Agents in Bakersfield, CA, revealed that Acosta was transporting fentanyl and other narcotics from his home in Bakersfield to drug dealers in the Central New York area for further distribution. As part of the investigation, many of the local dealers that Acosta was supplying were arrested in August 2022 during what authorities called the largest drug seizure in Cayuga County in over 10 years . As a result of his plea, Acosta faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22, 2023 by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse, New York. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. NYSP Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (NYSP-VGNET) and DEA Resident Offices in Syracuse, NY and Bakersfield, CA are investigating the case with assistance from the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force, Auburn Police Department, Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, United States Marshal Service, United States Army National Guard Counterdrug Program, Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office, Cortland City Police Department, Bakersfield Police Department, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and Kern County Probation Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case.


title: Readout of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Visit to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee today hosted Attorney General Merrick B. Garland at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland. The Attorney General met with the staff of U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement. After separate sessions with federal agents and state/local law enforcement officials from throughout Maine to hear their needs and concerns, the Attorney General met with the full staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He praised the cooperation between the Office, federal, state and local law enforcement, saying that the way to solve problems is through communication and integration of law enforcement. The Attorney General also discussed the Department’s priorities and thanked the staff for their commitment to public service, reiterating that protecting communities and upholding the rule of law is at the core of what U.S. Attorney’s offices do. # # #


title: Denver Woman Pleads Guilty to $3.3 Million Covid Fraud

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces DeJane Reaniece Lattany, age 32, of Denver, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for receiving more than $3.3 million of fraudulent COVID-19 loans. On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which provided emergency assistance to small business owners suffering adverse economic effects caused by the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and expanded existing programs, including programs created or administered by the SBA. Two sources of funding for small businesses were the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) program. The CARES Act mandated that only businesses in operation on February 15, 2020, for PPP, or before February 1, 2020, for EIDL, were eligible under the programs. In addition, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to issue advances of up to $10,000 to small businesses, known as Economic Injury Disaster Grants (“EIDG”). The amount of the EIDG was determined by the number of employees the applicant certified having. The EIDGs did not need to be repaid. According to court documents, beginning in June 2020 and continuing through January 2022, the defendant prepared and submitted fraudulent EIDL applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of business entities that she purportedly owned. In these fraudulent EIDL applications, Lattany made false statements regarding the entities’ number of employees, gross revenues, and cost of goods sold; she further falsely certified that the information provided in the EIDL applications was true and accurate and that the funds would be used to pay payroll and other permissible expenses when, in fact, she used the bulk of the proceeds for her personal benefit. The SBA approved and funded five EIDL applications and three EIDGs for a total of $430,000 in EIDLs and $20,000 in EIDGs. From June 2020 through December 2021, Lattany submitted fraudulent PPP applications to participating lenders on behalf of business entities that she purportedly controlled and obtained $2,887,976.94 in PPP loans as a result of the Scheme. These PPP applications contained a number of false and fraudulent certifications and representations regarding Lattany’s ownership of other businesses, as well as the businesses’ average monthly payroll and number of employees. Lattany falsely represented that all PPP funds would be used to pay eligible business expenses, when, in fact, the bulk of the proceeds were used for her personal benefit. She also submitted false and fraudulent documentation in support of the PPP applications to the participating lenders. Lattany also sought loan forgiveness for PPP loans by submitting loan. In total, $3,337,976.94 of PPP, EIDL, and EIDG proceeds were paid out as a result of the scheme. The defendant pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang on April 26, 2023. Sentencing is scheduled for August 15, 2023. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Denver Division. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole C. Cassidy and Rebecca S. Weber. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . CASE NUMBER: 23-cr-00074-NYW


title: New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Theft of More than $86,000 in Social Security Funds

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DANIELLE COLEMAN , age 39, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on April 27, 2023 after previously pleading guilty to Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. According to court documents, COLEMAN’s grandmother was authorized to receive Social Security Administration (“SSA”) Title II – Retirement Survivor Insurance (RSI) benefits up until her death on September 8, 2009. An investigation by special agents with the SSA, Office of Inspector General and United States Department of Treasury, Inspector General for Tax Administration, revealed COLEMAN possessed her late grandmother’s ATM card and began withdrawing money from her account after her death. COLEMAN used her late grandmother’s ATM card to pay for her own personal expenses knowing she was not entitled to those Social Security benefits. COLEMAN failed to notify the SSA of her grandmother’s death and took approximately $86,280.00 in SSI benefits from her account. An additional $1,200.00 of COVID-19 stimulus funds were erroneously deposited into COLEMAN’s grandmother’s account, and COLEMAN also used these funds on personal expenses. United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced COLEMAN to five (5) years of probation, restitution, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General and the United States Department of Treasury, Inspector General for Tax Administration. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and Spiro Latsis.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAMAL SMITH , age 34, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to 131 months incarceration for violations of the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances Acts. Judge Barbier ordered that SMITH be placed on supervised release for three (3) years following his release from imprisonment. SMITH was also ordered to pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee for each count. SMITH previously pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to Counts 1, 3, 5 and 6 of the indictment. Count 1 charged SMITH with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D), for which he received 60 months imprisonment. Counts 3 and 6 charged SMITH with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), for which he received 71 months imprisonment. The sentences for Counts 1, 5 and 6 are to run concurrently with each other. Count 5 charged SMITH with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A), for which he received 60 months imprisonment. The sentence for Count 5 must run consecutively to the sentences for Counts 1, 3 and 6. Therefore, SMITH was sentenced to a total of 131 months imprisonment. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of New Orleans Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Elizabeth Privitera, Unit Chief and Assistant United States Attorneys Inga Petrovich and David Haller, all of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Houston resident sentenced for smuggling minors

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 46-year-old man has been ordered to prison following his conviction of conspiracy to smuggle undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Medardo Cano pleaded guilty Feb. 15. Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Cano to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In delivering the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted the seriousness of the offense and expressed her concerns that Cano had no way to verify the minors would be reunited with family had the smuggling attempt been successful. “Do not hire smugglers to transport your children,” said Hamdani. “You may never know where they took them or the degree of danger associated with the trip. Do not place your child’s life in the hands of criminals.” On Dec. 7, 2022, Cano traveled with two minor children from Mexico to the United States. He encountered law enforcement at the Pharr Port of Entry and presented them with fraudulent Texas birth certificates on behalf of the minors. The investigation revealed the minor children were undocumented aliens. Cano later admitted he had been hired to transport the children to the United States and knew the birth certificates were fraudulent. Cano will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps prosecuted the case.


title: Dual citizen admits to laundering romance scam proceeds

body_text: HOUSTON – A 39-year-old man who holds citizenship in the United States and Ghana has pleaded guilty to operating an illegal money transmitting business, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Kenneth Anim had resided in the Houston and Richmond areas. He admitted that from 2014 to 2019, he operated an unlicensed money transmitting business to launder funds from wire fraud schemes including internet fraud and romance scams. Anim ran the unlicensed money transmitting business by using shell companies that existed only on paper. As part of the plea, he acknowledged opening and maintaining bank accounts to collect proceeds from internet and romance fraud schemes to send the money to himself, co-conspirators and overseas. A romance scam occurs when criminals adopt fake online identities to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a close relationship to induce the victim, under false pretenses, to send money to the scammer. U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein accepted the plea and set sentencing for July 21. At that time, Anim faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Amin has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Grace Murphy are prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering  the United States After Being Deported Four Times

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported four times was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison. Aron Vargas-Acosta, age 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Marshalltown, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 28, 2022, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported. At the guilty plea, Vargas-Acosta admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Vargas-Acosta was previously deported in April 2003, January 2008, July 2010, and April 2016. Vargas-Acosta was convicted of operating while intoxicated in Marshall County in April 2000, in Tama County in January 2001, and in Polk County in October 2001. In June 2002, he was convicted of operating while intoxicated in Marshall County and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. In April 2003, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the first time. In September 2004, Vargas-Acosta was convicted of domestic assault. In December 2005, he was convicted of driving while barred, identity theft and possession of marijuana. In July 2006, he received his fifth conviction for operating while intoxicated and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. In January 2008, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the second time. In May 2008, Vargas-Acosta was arrested by immigration authorities in Texas. In October 2008, he was convicted in the Southern District of Texas of illegally reentering the United States and sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. In July 2010, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the third time. In November 2014, Vargas-Acosta was convicted in the Southern District of Iowa of illegally reentering the United States and sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. In April 2016, Vargas-Acosta was deported to Mexico for the fourth time. On September 13, 2022, immigration officials learned Vargas-Acosta had illegally returned to the United States and found Vargas-Acosta at the Tama County Jail following his arrest and conviction for possession of a controlled substance and operating while intoxicated. Vargas-Acosta was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Vargas-Acosta was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Vargas-Acosta is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-90. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Federal Government Reaches Settlement with Providence Skilled Nursing Center for Alleged Violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE –Elmhurst Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (“Elmhurst”) has entered into an agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, resolving allegations that Elmhurst failed to furnish sign language interpreting services during interactions with a resident who is deaf, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Under the settlement agreement , Elmhurst will adopt new ADA policies and practices, train its staff on those policies, will report any future complaints, and agrees to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure ongoing compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement. Elmhurst will also pay a settlement of $30,000 to the complainant and a $5,000 civil penalty. “When deaf Rhode Islanders seek medical care, they shouldn’t have to worry whether a lack of legally required interpreter services will keep them from communicating effectively with their healthcare providers,” remarked U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Today’s settlement ensures that those services will be provided, as the law requires, for all patients.” Elmhurst is a private medical practice that provides skilled nursing services, post-acute medical services, and rehabilitation programs in Providence. Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in places of public accommodations, such as medical centers. The ADA requires places of public accommodation to provide the necessary auxiliary aids and services to ensure that communication is effective. Such aids and services can include American Sign Language interpreters for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and must be paid for by the place of public accommodation. The matter was litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy R. Romero. The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities in complying with the ADA, including Effective Communication and a Business Brief on Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings. For more information on the ADA and to access these publications, visit www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD). Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that a place of public accommodation or public entity in Rhode Island is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (401) 709-5000 or by email at USARI.CivilRightsComplaint@.gov . ###


title: Former Mississippi Department of Corrections Official Pleads Guilty to Using Excessive Force Against an Inmate

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former case manager with the Mississippi Department of Corrections pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court Judge Tom Lee for using excessive force against an inmate, involving the use of a dangerous weapon and resulting in bodily injury. According to court documents and information presented in court, on July 11, 2019, Nicole Moore willfully deprived inmate L.C. of the Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment when the defendant, aiding and abetting others, kicked a non-resisting inmate in the head even though L.C. was not resisting. “When corrections officials working inside jails and prisons violently assault inmates held in their custody, they will be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department stands ready to hold all prison officials accountable for violating the Eighth Amendment right of prisoners to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.” “Those that abuse positions of power will be dealt with accordingly,” said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca for the Southern District of Mississippi. “This should be a reminder to those responsible for the care and control of inmates, that they too must abide by the laws of this nation.” “Our citizens serving time for crimes against the public deserve the safety and protection from harm by those officials who are charged with their care,” said Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby for the FBI Jackson Field Office. “Ms. Moore's blatant violation of this trust is a disservice to those in the penal system, the corrections officers who take pride in their profession and citizens in general. The FBI is committed to protecting all citizens of our community.” Moore faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 25. The FBI Jackson Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Fentanyl Supplier Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Providence man who acted as a supplier of fentanyl to a mid-level drug trafficker was sentenced today to nearly six-and-a-half years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Keven Restrepo, 32, formerly of Kissimmee, FL, was arrested in September 2021, as the result of a wide-ranging FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force and Providence Police Department drug trafficking investigation in Rhode Island that resulted in the arrest of sixteen individuals. According to court documents and information presented to the court, Restrepo set up multiple deliveries of fentanyl to a Providence man, and instructed him on how to “cut,” or increase the weight of fentanyl he was selling to him to increase its volume and provide a greater profit. On at least two occasions Restrepo set-up deliveries that totaled 70 grams of fentanyl. According to court documents, with judicial approval, law enforcement monitored and recorded telephone conversations in which Restrepo boasted of supplying significant quantities of drugs to others in the past; detailed how to “cut” and increase the volume of drugs; and discussed obtaining a firearm. At the time of his arrest on federal drug trafficking charges, Restrepo was on bail and awaiting sentencing in Rhode Island state court, having been convicted of multiple firearm and assault charges in a case in which an individual was shot in a gang-related incident and suffered serious injuries. In the matter charged in federal District Court, Restrepo pleaded guilty on December 12, 2022, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to seventy-seven months in federal prison to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson. The Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, United States Marshals Service, Central Falls Police Department, Cranston Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Providence Police Department, West Warwick Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, and Rhode Island State Police. ###


title: Former Green Haven Correction Officer Pleads Guilty To Assaulting Inmate In State Custody

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that TAJ EVERLY pled guilty to a deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law. On May 28, 2020, EVERLY, then a correction officer at Green Haven Correctional Facility, assaulted an individual incarcerated in the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (“DOCCS”), striking and tackling the inmate without provocation, and then attempted to obstruct the investigation of his assault by preparing a false report. EVERLY’s actions deprived the incarcerated individual of the constitutional right to be free from excessive force amounting to cruel and unusual punishment. EVERLY pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As he admitted today, former correction officer Taj Everly violated the constitutional rights of an incarcerated individual by using excessive force amounting to cruel and unusual punishment. The protections afforded by the U.S. Constitution extend to all Americans, including those who are serving time in prison. When individuals in power abuse their authority to injure the powerless, we will act aggressively to ensure justice is served.” According to the Superseding Indictment and other documents in the public record as well as statements made in public court proceedings: EVERLY previously worked as a correction officer assigned to Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York. On May 28, 2020, while on duty, EVERLY assaulted an incarcerated individual without provocation, striking him with a closed fist and then tackling him to the ground. After the assault, EVERLY falsified a report about the incident, identifying the inmate as the aggressor, thereby obstructing the investigation into the unjustified use of force. * * * EVERLY, 32, of Cortlandt Manor, New York, pled guilty to a deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations. The case is being handled by the Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo and Lindsey Keenan are in charge of the prosecution.


title: California-Based Company, Company President Sentenced in Scheme to Violate the Export Control Act

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Tao Jiang, the president and owner of Broad Tech System, Inc., a California-based electronics distribution company, and his company were both sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for concealing information from the U.S. Department of Commerce and from U.S. Customs and Border Protection as part of a scheme to illegally export chemicals manufactured and/or distributed by a Rhode Island-based company to a technology company in China with ties to the Chinese military, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Tao Jiang, aka Jason Jiang, 53, of Riverside, CA, and Broad Tech Systems pleaded guilty on January 11, 2023, to charges of conspiracy, violation of the Export Control Act, and money laundering conspiracy. Jiang was ordered by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to serve one year of federal probation, to pay a fine of $5,500, and to perform 100 hours of community service; Broad Tech Systems was placed on federal probation for one year and ordered to pay a fine of $120,000. Additionally, Jiang and Broad Tech Systems were ordered to implement ethics and training programs for all officers and employees of Mr. Jiang and his companies; and to hire an employee whose responsibility is to monitor Broad Tech, and all companies owned by Mr. Jiang, to ensure that his companies and his employees are in full compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. In pleading guilty, Jiang and Broad Tech System admitted to a federal judge that they conspired together, as well as with Bohr Winn-Shih, an engineer employed at Broad Tech System, to order the chemicals Photoresist and HPRD (Developer) from a North Kingstown-based manufacturer, and then knowingly submitted false and misleading documentation to the U.S. Government and to shipping companies in an effort to have those products illegally shipped to a company in China, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act. The intended recipient of the shipment, a state-owned Chinese entity in Nanjing, China, mainly engages in the manufacturing of electronic components and research, development and production of core chips and key components that are used in China’s military strategic early warning systems, air defense systems, airborne fire control systems, manned space systems, and other large-scale national projects. Photoresist and HPRD are essential to the chip manufacturing process. The Chinese company that was intended to receive these products is on a U.S. government list of businesses that are not permitted to receive products manufactured in the United States. In October 2018, the Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center alerted the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) of an intended export of 58 gallons of Photoresist to the China-based company. The product was returned to the manufacturer. Several days after the shipment was halted, the Rhode Island manufacturer received a call from Jiang, acting on behalf of Broad Tech System, seeking to purchase 94 gallons of Photoresist, and asking that it be shipped to a different China-based company. The manufacturer communicated to DOC agents that they found this to be suspicious because they had not done business with Broad Tech in the past; the quantity of Photoresist ordered was unusually significant; and the request came just days after the first shipment had been recalled. It was determined by DOC agents that Jiang, Shih and Broad Tech concealed the intended recipient, and that the shipment’s final destination was actually the Nanjing-based company controlled by the Chinese government. On January 29, 2019, Broad Tech received a wire transfer of $65,984 to its bank account within the United States, representing payment for the 58 gallons of Photoresist. It was determined that the wire transfer originated from an account controlled by the Nanjing, China-based company. Bohr Winn-Shih, 65, of Ontario, CA, pleaded guilty on May 11, 2021. Winn-Shih was sentenced on August 3, 2021, to one year of probation. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. ###


title: Maryland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening a Member of Congress

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett today sentenced Justin Kuchta, age 40, of Annapolis, Maryland, to four months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for threatening to murder a United States Member of Congress. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the United States Capitol Police; and Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. According to his plea agreement, Kuchta made threats to murder a Member of the U.S. Congress. Specifically, a U.S. Member of Congress’ district office in Texas reported that on July 18, 2022, it received a threatening message via an event management website. The website was being used by an event planner to coordinate an event held in the State of Missouri, being attended by Member of Congress 1. The Subject line of that email read, in relevant part: “Rally in Missouri – Featured Guest [Member of Congress 1], [Individual 1], and [Individual 2].” The message stated, “Thank you for the address!!! I’m coming to murder all of you Satanist f*ckers!!! Especially the chuckle-f*ck Zodiak [sic] Killer [Member of Congress 1]!! That fat fake f*cker ass will be the first on the gallows!! SEE ALL OF YOU F*CKERS REALLY SOON!!! With my fresh militia and weapons!!! Thanks for the info f*ckers!!!” The Member of Congress’ Washington office reported that a similar message was sent on July 22, 2022, using the same event management website. As detailed in the plea agreement, an investigation revealed that the IP address was registered to a private high-speed network operated by the State of Maryland. Network records revealed that the IP address originated from a Virtual Private Network and computer assigned to Kuchta. Kuchta was subsequently interviewed, after being advised of his rights, by Special Agents with the U.S. Capitol Police and investigators assigned to the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit at his place of employment in Annapolis, Maryland. While Kuchta initially denied sending the email messages, he ultimately admitted that he sent the July 18, 2022, threatening message over the website. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the United States Capitol Police and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, and its efforts to protect national security, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/anti-terrorism . # # #


title: Tesoro to Pay $27.5 Million for Violating Previous Court Order Requiring it to Reduce Air Pollution at Its Martinez, Calif. Refinery

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company will pay a $27.5 million penalty for violating a 2016 consent decree ordering the company to reduce air pollution at its petroleum refinery in Martinez, California. In particular, according to today’s settlement, Tesoro failed to limit air emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX), a pollutant that contributes to smog. The settlement requires Tesoro to adhere to strict pollution controls at the facility. The facility is currently undergoing conversion into a renewable fuels plant, which will use renewable sources such as vegetable oils to produce fuels instead of crude oil. The settlement also sets up a framework for additional pollutant reductions, including significant climate co-benefits. Specifically, the settlement requires Tesoro to forego hundreds of annual emission credits that it could otherwise sell to area sources who could then increase their emissions. “Today, we are holding Tesoro accountable for its failure to implement court-ordered pollution controls,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This settlement requires Tesoro to forfeit substantially more air emission credits than the excess emissions associated with its violations, resulting in cleaner air for those who live and work in the San Francisco area.” “Tesoro did not meet the consent decree pollution limit because it did not install adequate pollution controls,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “As this settlement shows, EPA will seek substantial penalties when companies delay installing appropriate pollution controls to meet environmental obligations.” In May 2020, Tesoro suspended operations at the Martinez refinery and then announced its plan to convert the refinery to a renewable fuels plant. Today’s agreement includes requirements to limit air pollution from the future renewable fuels plant. The agreement does not prohibit Tesoro from resuming petroleum refining, but if it does so, Tesoro must install specific air pollution control technology, at an expected cost of $125 million, to ensure stringent NOX emission limits are met. “Tesoro failed to meet its requirement to reduce air pollution at the Martinez refinery, and EPA is now taking firm action to hold Tesoro accountable,” said Regional Administrator Martha Guzman of the EPA Pacific Southwest. “This settlement ensures that Tesoro complies with stringent air pollution limits, to protect neighboring communities regardless of fuel type.” To mitigate pollution resulting from its violation of the 2016 consent decree, Tesoro agreed to surrender most of its existing NOX emission trading credits. Tesoro also agreed to forego almost all trading credits from the shutdown of petroleum refining equipment should it convert to a renewable fuels plant. A company can receive emission credits by shutting down equipment and then apply such credits to offset emissions from new projects or trade such credits to other companies for their use. By requiring Tesoro to surrender existing credits and forego petroleum-related shutdown credits if it converts to a renewable fuels plant, the settlement prevents Tesoro and other local sources from using these credits. As a result, the settlement filed today will limit emissions in the San Francisco Bay area. Specifically, if Tesoro resumes petroleum refining, the settlement requirements will reduce annual air emissions by about 261 metric tons of NOX. If Tesoro converts the facility to a renewable fuels plant, the settlement will result in annual air emissions reductions of about 440 tons of NOX, 327 tons of sulfur dioxide, 697 tons of carbon monoxide, 69 tons of volatile organic compounds, 301 tons of fine particulate matter and the equivalent of 1,342,025 tons of carbon dioxide. The terms of a 2016 federal consent decree, which resolved Clean Air Act violations at the Martinez refinery and five other refineries nationwide, established emission limits for multiple pollutants including NOX. The settlement announced today, which will modify the 2016 settlement, includes new requirements that apply whether Tesoro chooses to reopen the Martinez facility as a petroleum refinery or a renewable fuels plant. There will be a 30-day public comment period on the modification to the 2016 settlement. Information on how to comment on the modification will be available in the Federal Register and at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. For more information on the 2016 federal consent decree and today’s agreement, go to 2023 Tesoro Martinez Clean Air Act Settlement Information Sheet | US EPA .


title: Memphis Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Robbery and Attempted Robbery

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Rodercus Freeman, 42, was sentenced to over two decades in federal prison for bank robbery and attempted credit union robbery. Freeman was convicted of the charges following a five-day jury trial in August 2022. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today. According to United States Attorney Ritz and information presented in court, on August 18, 2018, Freeman robbed Independent Bank on Poplar Avenue in Memphis, using a simulated firearm. Two weeks later, Freeman attempted to rob Southern Security Federal Credit Union on Ridge Meadow Parkway. United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Freeman to 240 months for the bank robbery and 22 months for the attempted credit union robbery, to run consecutive to one another for a total of 262 months. The court also sentenced the defendant to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Ritz said: “These federal robbery crimes were very serious, and this defendant will justifiably serve a significant period of time in federal prison. Our office appreciates the hard work of the FBI and the MPD in bringing this defendant to justice.” “The Memphis Police Department has a strong working relationship with United States Attorney Kevin Ritz’s office and the Safe Streets Task Force, as is evident in the recent arrest and charges against Mr. Rodercus Freeman. The Memphis Police Department is committed to continuing these collaborative investigations to create a safe place for all,” said Chief of Police Cerelyn J. Davis . This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department. United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Tony Arvin and Scott Smith, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case. ### For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or cherri.green@usoj.gov. Follow @ WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.


title: Readout of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Trip to Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas

body_text: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division traveled to Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on April 24 and 25 to continue the Civil Rights Division’s tour to engage with stakeholders in underserved communities and reaffirm the department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans. U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross for the Eastern District of Arkansas joined her for the meetings and events on both days. On Monday, Assistant Attorney General Clarke visited the historic Little Rock Central High School, where she met with Principal Nancy Rousseau and students to discuss careers in civil rights and the Civil Rights Division’s efforts to enforce federal civil rights laws. This school year marks 65 years since the desegregation of the school. After her visit at the high school, she took a tour of the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. In the afternoon, Assistant Attorney General Clarke participated in a fireside chat with President Roderick L. Smothers Sr., school leadership and students at Philander Smith College, an HBCU founded in 1877. She discussed her career as a civil rights attorney and the department’s efforts to address economic justice issues, including housing discrimination. She also encouraged the students to continue to use their voices to advance racial justice and racial equity. After her visit to Philander, Assistant Attorney General Clarke met with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas. She thanked the office’s leadership and staff for their service and commitment to protecting civil rights. She ended the day at the Willie Hinton Community Center for a community conversation with Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Police Chief Heath Helton and local stakeholders to hear about local civil rights and racial equity concerns, including modern-day redlining, fair housing and issues impacting small businesses. On Tuesday, Assistant Attorney General Clarke traveled to Pine Bluff to meet with Mayor Shirley Washington and Police Chief Denise Richardson. She reiterated the Justice Department’s commitment to work with local leaders to address civil rights and racial equity issues. In the afternoon, she met with University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander and participated in a fireside chat with students as the school marked its 150th anniversary. She encouraged the students to pursue careers in government and public service, and discussed the division’s broad civil rights enforcement efforts, including work to address law enforcement misconduct, and ongoing work to protect voting rights in Arkansas . Assistant Attorney General Clarke ended her trip by joining Mayor Washington at a community listening session with dozens of local leaders, faith leaders and long-time residents, where she discussed the department’s broad efforts to combat hate crimes, ensure educational opportunity and address modern-day redlining. In the upcoming weeks, Assistant Attorney General Clarke will travel to Mississippi and South Carolina to continue meeting with stakeholders in underserved communities. Assistant Attorney General Clarke with U.S. Attorney Ross speaking to a teacher at Little Rock Central High School. Assistant Attorney General Clarke touring the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. Assistant Attorney General Clarke speaking at fireside chat at Philander Smith College. Assistant Attorney General Clarke speaking at fireside chat at University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Jonathan Ross and Mayor Shirley Washington at community meeting in Pine Bluff. Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Jonathan Ross and staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced for Stealing Over 712 Bitcoin Subjected to Forfeiture

component: Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

body_text: WASHINGTON – An Ohio man was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for stealing over 712 bitcoin that were the proceeds of the darknet bitcoin mixer Helix and subject to forfeiture in a then-pending criminal case. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and IRS Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered 36 months of supervised release and ordered a forfeiture money judgment of $4,881,532.40, and forfeiture of specific properties including cryptocurrencies that are now valued in excess of $20 million due to the increase in market prices. According to court documents, Gary James Harmon, 31, of Cleveland, Ohio, perpetrated a scheme to steal cryptocurrency that was the subject of pending criminal forfeiture proceedings in the case of Larry Dean Harmon, Gary Harmon’s brother. In February 2020, Larry Harmon was arrested for his operation of Helix, a darknet-based cryptocurrency money laundering service, known as a “mixer” or “tumbler.” Helix laundered over 350,000 bitcoin – valued at over $300 million at the time of the transactions – on behalf of customers, with the largest volume coming from Darknet markets. Law enforcement seized various assets, including a cryptocurrency storage device containing Larry Harmon’s illegal proceeds generated through the operation of Helix, which were subject to forfeiture in the criminal case. However, law enforcement was initially unable to recover bitcoin stored on the device due to the device’s additional security features. Knowing that the government was seeking to recover the bitcoin stored on the seized device for forfeiture in Larry Harmon’s criminal case, Gary Harmon used his brother’s credentials to recreate the bitcoin wallets stored on the device and covertly transfer more than 712 bitcoin, valued at approximately $4.8 million at the time, to his own wallets – stealing those funds and obstructing the pending criminal forfeiture proceeding. Gary Harmon further laundered the proceeds through two online bitcoin mixer services before using the laundered bitcoins to finance large purchases and other expenditures. Gary Harmon agreed to the forfeiture of cryptocurrencies and other properties derived from the fraudulently taken proceeds, including more than 647.41 Bitcoin (BTC), 2.14 Ethereum (ETH), and 17,404,400.64 Dogecoin (DOGE). Due to the increase in market prices, the total value of these forfeitable properties exceeds $12 million. In August 2021, Larry Harmon pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in connection with his case. The FBI and the IRS-CI District of Columbia Cyber Crime Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Brown for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), both now also members of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, prosecuted the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Michon Tart, Angela De Falco, and Brian Rickers, and former Paralegal Specialist Chad Byron. Additional assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Segev Phillips and Daniel Riedl for the Northern District of Ohio and CCIPS Trial Attorney S. Riane Harper.


title: Man Sentenced for Stealing Over 712 Bitcoin Subject to Forfeiture

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Ohio man was sentenced today to four years and three months in prison for stealing over 712 bitcoin that were the proceeds of the darknet bitcoin mixer Helix and subject to forfeiture in a then-pending criminal case. According to court documents, Gary James Harmon, 31, of Cleveland, perpetrated a scheme to steal cryptocurrency that was the subject of pending criminal forfeiture proceedings in the case of Larry Dean Harmon, Gary Harmon’s brother. In February 2020, Larry Harmon was arrested for his operation of Helix, a darknet-based cryptocurrency money laundering service, known as a “mixer” or “tumbler.” Helix laundered over 350,000 bitcoin – valued at over $300 million at the time of the transactions – on behalf of customers, with the largest volume coming from darknet markets. Law enforcement seized various assets, including a cryptocurrency storage device containing Larry Harmon’s illegal proceeds generated through the operation of Helix, which were subject to forfeiture in the criminal case. However, law enforcement was initially unable to recover bitcoin stored on the device due to the device’s additional security features. Knowing that the government was seeking to recover the bitcoin stored on the seized device for forfeiture in Larry Harmon’s criminal case, Gary Harmon used his brother’s credentials to recreate the bitcoin wallets stored on the device and covertly transfer more than 712 bitcoin, valued at approximately $4.8 million at the time, to his own wallets – stealing those funds and obstructing the pending criminal forfeiture proceeding. Gary Harmon further laundered the proceeds through two online bitcoin mixer services before using the laundered bitcoins to finance large purchases and other expenditures. Gary Harmon agreed to the forfeiture of cryptocurrencies and other properties derived from the fraudulently taken proceeds, including more than 647.41 Bitcoin (BTC), 2.14 Ethereum (ETH), and 17,404,400.64 Dogecoin (DOGE). Due to the increase in market prices, the total value of these forfeitable properties exceeds $20 million. In August 2021, Larry Harmon pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in connection with his case. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement. The FBI and the IRS-CI District of Columbia Cyber Crime Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Brown for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), both now also members of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, prosecuted the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Michon Tart, Angela De Falco, and Brian Rickers, and former Paralegal Specialist Chad Byron. Additional assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Segev Phillips and Daniel Riedl for the Northern District of Ohio and CCIPS Trial Attorney S. Riane Harper.


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison Following Gun and Drug Convictions

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – On April 27, 2023, Patrick Maurio Bass, 43, from Montgomery, Alabama, received a sentence of 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal gun and drug charges, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. The federal judge also ordered that Bass serve four years of supervised release following his prison term. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole. According to court records and statements made in open court, on August 14, 2020, the Montgomery Police Department (MPD) received information that Bass had a large quantity of illegal drugs in his possession. Later that day, MPD officers observed Bass at a Montgomery gas station, parked in a sport utility vehicle. The officers searched the vehicle. During the search, officers found significant amounts of cocaine and marijuana, along with a handgun. Bass is a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. On June 6, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Bass for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute the controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Bass pleaded guilty to these charges on December 19, 2022. MPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua J. Wendell prosecuted the case.


title: Real Estate Investor Convicted Of Defrauding Government Rental Assistance And Medicaid Programs

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today’s conviction in federal court of PAUL FISHBEIN of multiple counts of fraud and aggravated identity theft. FISHBEIN stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from rental assistance programs administered by New York City’s Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) and New York City’s Housing Preservation & Development (“HPD,” and with HRA, the “Agencies”) by renting out properties throughout the City that he falsely claimed to own and by collecting made-up broker fees. FISHBEIN was also convicted of Medicaid fraud. The jury convicted FISHBEIN today following a nearly two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “New York City assists millions of low-income and vulnerable New Yorkers through different types of programs, including rental assistance programs and Medicaid. These programs were designed to help New Yorkers in need. But, as a jury has now found, for years, Fishbein abused those programs to enrich himself. To do that, he told lie after lie after lie. He stole money, including federal funds, from the City’s rental assistance programs by lying about being the landlord of homes he didn’t actually own. He stole the identity of a real estate broker to get the City to pay him made-up broker fees. And he stole Medicaid benefits by lying to the City about how much money he made. Today, a unanimous jury has held Fishbein accountable for his yearslong fraudulent schemes.” According to the Indictment, documents previously filed in the case, and the evidence introduced at trial: From in or about 2013 through May 4, 2021, FISHBEIN rented out properties in New York City to low-income New Yorkers through the Agencies’ rental assistance programs, collecting rent payments from the Agencies as the purported owner of the properties. In fact, FISHBEIN was never the owner of those properties and lied to the Agencies to collect the rent payments. In addition, FISHBEIN lied to HRA that he used the services of a real estate broker to rent out certain properties in order to collect broker fee payments from HRA, also through its rental assistance program. FISHBEIN used an actual real estate broker’s license and name without her authority to collect these made-up broker fees from the City. In-need New Yorkers were placed in these properties, which FISHBEIN, because he was not actually the owner of the properties, failed to maintain. In one instance, the ceiling completely collapsed while a tenant and her family were living in a property FISHBEIN claimed to own. Through these two schemes, FISHBEIN fraudulently obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars from HRA and HPD, including more than $90,000 in federal funds. FISHBEIN was also convicted of healthcare fraud because, from 2014 through May 4, 2021, he lied to New York City’s Medicaid program about how much money he made in order to collect Medicaid benefits. Medicaid is meant for low-income New Yorkers. FISHBEIN, each year, told the City that he made only $150 a week, or $7,200 a year, when in reality, he was raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars each year from his rental assistance and broker fee schemes described above. By lying about his income and assets, the defendant received at least approximately $49,524.80 in Medicaid benefits to which he was not entitled. * * * FISHBEIN, 49, of Queens, New York, was convicted of one count of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of theft of government funds, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of healthcare fraud. The wire fraud and mail fraud charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the theft of government funds and healthcare fraud charges each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year sentence, which must run consecutive to any other prison term imposed. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. FISHBEIN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Crotty on July 31, 2023. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Christy Slavik, and Jared Lenow are in charge of the prosecution and were assisted at trial by Paralegal Specialist Joseph Magliocco.


title: Texas Tax Preparer Sentenced for False Returns

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Texas woman was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for willfully assisting clients in the preparation and filing of false tax returns with the IRS. According to court documents, between 2014 and 2017, Adela Cruz operated a business in Uvalde County preparing tax returns. To inflate her clients’ refunds, Cruz claimed on those returns false education credits, dependents, and business profits or losses. Cruz did not sign these false returns as the preparer, but rather concealed her involvement by using fictitious taxpayer emails. Cruz also claimed false education credits on her own tax returns for 2015 and 2016. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge David Counts ordered Cruz to serve one year of supervised release and to pay a $1,500 fine and $129,239 in restitution to the United States. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jaime E. Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Robert A. Kemins and Nicholas J. Schilling, Jr., of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuted the case.


title: Metro East Drug Trafficking Leader Sentenced to 198 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A U.S. District Court judge sentenced an East St. Louis man to 198 months after he pled guilty to several drug charges for his involvement in a national trafficking ring as the local, Metro East leader. Jeffrey Taylor, 40, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Cocaine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Money Laundering. In addition to imprisonment, Taylor will serve 5 years of supervised release. “The defendant was responsible for bringing significant quantities of illicit, destructive narcotics across state lines and into southern Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “This sentence demonstrates the severity of drug trafficking, and I applaud DEA’s efforts for bringing these offenders to justice.” "This sentence concludes an investigation that perfectly represents DEA's mission," said Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Rehg, head of Drug Enforcement Administration enforcement operations in southern Illinois. "We want the entire criminal drug organization, from the dealers to the highest level of distribution leadership, off our streets. Jeffrey Taylor and his entire network will not be putting his illegal products in our communities any longer." “Drug traffickers are in business to make money. IRS CI special agents have an important role in following the money and disrupting a drug trafficking organization’s ability to operate,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock, St. Louis Field Office. “This sentence is a victory for communities in southern Illinois and metropolitan St. Louis. We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners on this important mission.” DEA investigated the drug trafficking ring from February 2017 to August 2018 in Madison and St. Clair counties, primarily in East St. Louis. The conspiracy involved at least 240 pounds of ice methamphetamine and 48 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, Taylor ran operations in the drug organization, recruited members for illegal activities and provided direction. Sixteen co-defendants were also indicted in the conspiracy to various drug charges and have been sentenced from time served and supervised release up to 262 months in federal prison. During the investigation, the defendants resided in East St. Louis, Washington Park and Wood River in Illinois as well as California, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation with contributions from the IRS, the Illinois State Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Fischer is prosecuting the case. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces 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.