title: Two From Lexington County Plead Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Weapon Charges

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA —Caleb York Rowell, 29, of Swansea, and Brandi Leann Clarke, a/k/a “Brandi Savage,” 26, of Gaston, have each pleaded guilty to their roles in a drug conspiracy in which they sold firearms and drugs to confidential informants and undercover agents in the summer of 2021. Specifically, Rowell and Clark each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Rowell also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a short-barreled shotgun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began an investigation into Rowell’s drug distribution in May 2021. During a recorded call with a confidential informant on May 11, 2021, Rowell bragged about running away from a traffic stop the day before that resulted in a wreck and how officers found his drugs and gun. ATF confirmed that the day before, Gaston Police Department had been in a car chase after they attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. That chase culminated in the driver wrecking the vehicle and fleeing on foot. Along the route where the driver fled, officers were able to locate a fanny pack containing bags of heroin and fentanyl, and they found a stolen pistol nearby. Through the recorded call and witnesses at the scene, officers were then able to identify Rowell as the driver. Thereafter, between May and July 2021, law enforcement made a series of undercover purchases of firearms, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine from Rowell and Clark. One of the firearms Rowell sold to the undercover agent was a short-barreled shotgun. Both Rowell and Clark are prohibited from possessing firearms based upon prior felony convictions in state court. Rowell has prior state convictions for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, failure to stop for blue light and siren, and driving under suspension 3 rd offense, and two convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Clark has two prior state convictions for possession of methamphetamine. Rowell faces a statutory mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison with a maximum of 40 years, a term of supervised release of 6 years, and a fine of $5,000,000 on the conspiracy charge and a maximum of 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release of 6 years, and a fine of $2,000,000 on the distribution charge. On the felon in possession of a firearm and the possession of the unregistered short-barreled shotgun charges, Rowell faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a term of supervised release of 3 years, and a $250,000 fine. Clark faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release of 6 years, and a fine of $2,000,000 on the conspiracy charge. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the duo after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with assistance of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Gaston Police Department, Swansea Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey D. Haynes is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Pasco Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Tustuji Matu Wakauwn, 43, of Pasco, Washington, to 15 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a felon. Judge Rice also ordered Wakauwn to serve ten years of supervised release following his release from prison. Wakauwn pleaded guilty to the offenses on June 8, 2022. He has been in federal custody since his arrest on October 7, 2021. According to information presented at Mirabal’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on October 7, 2021, members of a DEA task force served a search warrant on a residence located on 10 th Avenue in Spokane. Wakauwn arrived at the residence during the execution of the warrant. During a pat-down search, officers located a loaded 9mm handgun in a bag carried by Wakauwn. Wakauwn was prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior federal conviction for drug trafficking and was still on federal supervision at the time. A later search of his bag revealed that it contained 420 grams of pure methamphetamine along with fentanyl, cocaine, and other evidence of drug trafficking. Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, praised the investigative team for their quick work in disarming Wakauwn and interdicting the methamphetamine and other substances that he was preparing to deliver. U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “Our U.S. Probation Office offers significant rehabilitative services to person while on supervised release and these services play an important role in protecting our communities and in restoring persons convicted of federal crimes to productive roles in society.” She continued, “Because of this, it is especially important to deter the commission of serious crimes by people on federal supervision. The sentence imposed in this case, which is a 15-year mandatory minimum penalty, sends a strong message about the importance of enforcing serious violations of law committed by persons while on supervision.” This case was investigated by Spokane Resident Office of the DEA, with significant assistance from the DEA Coeur d’Alene Post of Duty and the Idaho State Police. The case was prosecuted by Timothy J. Ohms Assistant United States Attorneys for the Eastern District of Washington. 2:21-CR-00157-TOR


title: Rock Hill Man Sentenced in Large Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Darrell Lemonte Crockett, 51, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted at trial in a large drug trafficking case. Evidence presented at the trial showed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit began to investigate a group of defendants who were obtaining large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana from a distributor in Southern California. Based upon their investigation, the police were able to determine that members of the group were flying to California and having the drugs shipped back to the Rock Hill and Charlotte, N.C., area. Based upon surveillance and other law enforcement techniques, the police learned that Darryl Hemphill was the leader of the group and helped introduce other members of the group to the California distributor. Crockett was a member of the conspiracy and was involved in obtaining some of the packages when they were shipped from California back to the Rock Hill and Charlotte area. After the drugs were shipped back to South Carolina, Hemphill and others distributed the drugs to local dealers. Crockett was also responsible for distributing some of the drugs shipped. Later, the group began ordering fentanyl from California, which they used to make fentanyl-laced pills that were sold to users in Rock Hill, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta, G.A.. Based upon their investigation, law enforcement showed that this group shipped more than 255 packages from California and distributed more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 1 kilogram or more of heroin, and more than 1000 grams of marijuana. Crockett was convicted of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Crockett was also convicted of possession with the intent to distribute 28 grams of crack cocaine during a drug deal at Hemphill’s home. Eighteen defendants were initially charged in this case. Fifteen defendants pleaded guilty to their involvement, and Crockett and two other defendants were found guilty by a jury. Two defendants remain to be sentenced. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Crockett to 240 months in prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Rock Hill Police Department, York County Sheriff’s Office, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William K. Witherspoon, Elliott B. Daniels, Elle E. Klein, and Lamar Fyall prosecuted the case. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld named chair of Washington-Baltimore HIDTA

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld has been named as chairperson of the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (W/B HIDTA) Executive Board and will lead efforts in the region to combat the trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other illicit substances. The W/B HIDTA supports 43 drug task forces from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia. In 2022, these units collectively seized nearly nine thousand kilograms of drugs with a wholesale value of $107.5 million and disrupted or dismantled 134 criminal organizations. The W/B HIDTA also supports substance use prevention and treatment initiatives. “I’m honored to serve as chair of this important group and I’ll use the opportunity to strengthen the response in the eastern United States to the threat posed by Mexican drug cartels,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. Ihlenfeld will lead an executive board that is responsible for assessing the drug trafficking threats found in the region; developing a strategy to address the threats; designing initiatives to implement the strategy; and proposing funding needed to carry out the initiatives. W/B HIDTA Executive Director Tom Carr has worked with Ihlenfeld for over a decade. They regularly discuss strategies how best to respond to the dangers posed by illicit drugs. “The Washington-Baltimore HIDTA is fortunate to have an experienced federal prosecutor like U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld to lead our executive board and to help identify solutions to the problems caused by drug trafficking in the region,” said Director Carr. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force and The Martinsburg Initiative - an evidence-based prevention program that focuses on aiding children in Berkeley County Schools – are both supported by W/B HIDTA funding. Ihlenfeld previously served as Vice Chairperson and Budget Chair for the W/B HIDTA. He also has served as chairperson of the Appalachia HIDTA.


title: 31 Individuals Involved in a Drug Trafficking Organization in Marion County and Lorain County Indicted

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CLEVELAND, OH – Federal, county, and local law enforcement officials today announced that 31 individuals were charged in two separate indictments for their roles in drug trafficking conspiracies that involved the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the Northern District of Ohio, including in Marion, Wyandot, and Lorain Counties. Twenty-one were arrested during an early morning operation and transported to federal court in Cleveland. This announcement is made by United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko, FBI Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen, and the MARMET Drug Task Force in Marion, Ohio. “Yesterday’s arrests and announced indictments will give the community of Marion, Ohio, some relief from the opioid epidemic that has been a persistent scourge in our District,” said United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko. “These arrests reflect law enforcement targeting organizations that sell deadly drugs in our communities to hold those organizations accountable for the lives they regularly destroy. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue its targeted and collaborative efforts with our local, state, and federal partners to identify and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that bring poison and violence into our neighborhoods.” “FBI Cleveland and the Mansfield Resident Agency, together with its seven resident agencies across northern Ohio, is focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting drug trafficking organizations and eliminating their operations,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “The coordination of these arrests was highly complex and underscores the collaborative effort of the FBI, together with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement. We thank and appreciate their work as they continue to find criminal actors who seek to ruin lives and poison our communities through their expansive drug network.” The fourteen and eighteen individuals listed below, respectively, were charged in two separate multi-count indictments with the following charges: conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, distribution of a controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense: Christopher Payne, 24, Marion, OH; Michael Worthington, G., 28, Marion, OH; Dave Davis, 43, Marion, OH; Matthew Taylor, 28, Marion, OH; Tyler Landrum, 26, Marion, OH; Dalton Gruber, 42, Marion, OH; Donovan Caskey, 28, Marion, OH; Crystal Rivers, 42, Green Camp, OH; Gerald Houseworth, 31, Marion, OH; Sheena Stolz, 34, Upper Sandusky, OH; Anthony Clark, 53, Marion, OH; Christina Weaver, 25, Marion, OH; Steven Mollet, 27, Marion, OH; Starla Artressia, 26, Marion, OH; and separately, Justin Stanley, 35, Marion, OH; Freddie Sanchez, 36, Lorain, OH; Christopher Payne, 24, Marion, OH; Dustin Russell, 32, Marion, OH; Walter Thomas, 41, Marion, OH; Austin Hogan, 29, Marion, OH; Kyle Rentschler, 26, Prospect, OH; Donna Wrick, 31, Marion, OH; Lawrence Dempster, 49, Marion, OH; Ryan Pheasant, 30, Marion, OH; Michael Cottrill, Jr., 22, Marion, OH; Casey Taylor, 47, Marion, OH; Derek Hesson, 29, Marion, OH; Jacob Martin, 28, Marion, OH; James Holsinger, Jr., 29, Marion, OH; Jason Smith, 47, Marion, OH; Jeffery Hall, 31, Marion, OH; and Dustin Freeman, 36, Marion, OH. According to the indictments, between as early as on or about September 1, 2020, and continuing through on or about June 14, 2023, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base (“crack”), oxycodone, and methamphetamine. The co-conspirators obtained fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine-base (“crack”), oxycodone, and methamphetamine from suppliers in Columbus, Ohio; Lorain, Ohio; and Marion, Ohio. The coconspirators concentrated their redistribution of these drugs in and around Marion, Ohio. During the investigation, law enforcement seized 3 kilograms of fentanyl, 2 kilograms of cocaine, over 1 kilogram of methamphetamine, 15 firearms, and $25,546 in U.S. Currency. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum. For the past two and a half years, Marion-Metrich (MARMET) Drug Task Force and FBI Mansfield investigated the drug trafficking activities of the Justin Stanley DTO and the Christopher Payne DTO. Investigators and law enforcement officers of the Marion Police Department, Marion County Sheriff Office, Morrow County Sheriff Office, Lorain Police Narcotics Unit, Wyandot County Major Crimes Unit, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, and U.S. Marshal Service assisted in the investigation. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vasile C. Katsaros.


title: Blue Springs Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Conspiracy to Produce Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Blue Springs, Mo., man who watched online as a 7-year-old girl was raped and sexually abused was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to produce child pornography. Justin W. Hardin, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 27 years and three months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Hardin to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration. On Feb. 2, 2023, Hardin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography over the internet, one count of distributing child pornography over the internet, and one count of possessing child pornography. According to court documents, investigators identified an individual who was posting photos and videos of his sexual abuse and rape of a 7-year-old girl online. Hardin engaged in numerous chats with this individual on Google Hangouts between Aug. 1 and Sept. 3, 2019. During the chats, Hardin viewed in real time the individual’s sexual abuse and rape of the child victim. In addition, Hardin asked the individual to write “Abbi Dillon” (Hardin’s online screen name) on the child’s body while the abuse was occurring. On Sept. 11, 2019, law enforcement officers seized Hardin’s Apple iPhone. A forensic evaluation found evidence of the receipt and distribution of child pornography, as well as images of the sexual abuse of the 7-year-old victim. The individual who sexually assaulted the child victim was sentenced in another jurisdiction to 25 years imprisonment for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and 155 months for rape, to be served consecutively. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Western Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Paris Man Convicted of Attempted Child Exploitation

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: URBANA, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict Friday afternoon, June 16, against Tracy L. Parker, 57, of the 1600 block of S. Central Avenue in Paris, Illinois, for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. A sentencing hearing for Parker has been scheduled on October 13, 2023, in Urbana, Illinois. Over four days of testimony, the government presented evidence proving that Parker attempted to obtain sexually graphic images and videos from an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old female, requesting these items for weeks through social media and text messaging. Parker was arrested after attempting to open what he believed to be the requested pornographic images and videos of the purported 13-year-old child. At the time of his arrest, child sexual abuse material was found on Parker’s cell phone. Parker remains in the custody of the United States Marshal Service and faces statutory penalties of up to 30 years of imprisonment for his conviction of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, up to 20 years of imprisonment for attempting to receive child pornography, and up to 10 years of imprisonment for possessing child pornography. The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Ritzer and Nathan Bertrand represented the government at trial. The case against Parker was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Florida Man Indicted for Federal Sex Trafficking Offenses

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, returned an indictment charging a Florida man with 10 counts of sex trafficking. According to court documents, between 2011 and 2019, Shannima Yuantrell Session, aka Shalamar, 46, of Lake Placid, trafficked seven women and three girls. Session allegedly recruited his victims through violence and threats, among other things; including offers of drugs, employment and romantic relationships. Once Session had gained compliance from his victims, he then trafficked them for sex primarily in rural areas of Highlands County for his own profit. If convicted, Session faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a maximum of lifetime supervised release. Session is being held in custody pending trial. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office and Sheriff Paul Blackman of Highlands County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. The FBI Miami Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Elizabeth Hutson of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trarfficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Cape Coral Man Pleads Guilty To Manufacturing Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl And Other Federal Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Brandon Albanito (37, Cape Coral) has pleaded guilty to a six-count information charging him with possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) with the intent to distribute it, two counts of possessing counterfeit drugs for sale, possessing parts used to manufacture counterfeit drugs, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and bank fraud. Albanito faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for the bank fraud, up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the controlled substance offenses, up to 15 years on the firearms offense, and lesser penalties for the counterfeit drug charges. Albanito has agreed to forfeit $97,146.95, traceable to the fraud offense, and the other items he possessed illegally, including a pill press and firearms. Albanito is also required to make full restitution to the financial institution which was the victim of his fraud scheme. According to court documents, in March 2021, Albanito defrauded his federally insured bank with a scheme involving falsely disputed cash transfers which he had authorized. Albanito illegally obtained $97,146.95 through the scheme. In furtherance of its investigation into his fraud, the U.S. Secret Service executed a search warrant at Albanito’s Cape Coral residence in January 2023. Upon entry into the residence, law enforcement observed a large, commercial-grade pill press in the garage and hundreds of counterfeit oxycodone pills on a nearby shelf. The counterfeit pills, which appeared identical to prescription oxycodone pills, were found to contain fentanyl. Law enforcement obtained a second warrant permitting them to search for and seize evidence related to drug manufacturing and distribution. During this search, they seized a five-gallon bucket containing approximately 30 pounds of counterfeit alprazolam pills (which actually contained the designer drug clonazolam), a five-gallon bucket containing approximately 20 pounds of pill binding agent, pill dies ( i.e . tooling used by a pill press to create pills), and two firearms within the residence. DNA testing conducted on both firearms determined that Albanito had possessed them. Albanito was previously convicted in two federal cases (2011) involving money laundering, drug distribution, creating false identification documents, and possessing a firearm as a felon. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the United States Food and Drug Administration, the Cape Coral Police Department, with assistance from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael V. Leeman.


title: Florida Man Sentenced For Role In Credit Card Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jose Eloy Gonzalez Cuenca (33, Land O’Lakes) to four years and six months in federal prison for credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft. Gonzalez Cuenca had pleaded guilty on December 1, 2021. According to court documents, between December 2020 and September 2021, Gonzalez Cuenca was involved in a conspiracy to install credit card skimmers on gas pumps in the Tampa area and throughout the United States to obtain stolen credit card and debit card account information. The conspirators then used the stolen information to commit fraud. As part of the conspiracy, Gonzalez Cuenca sold credit card numbers and credit card skimming devices to others. Unbeknownst to him, one of the individuals to whom he sold numbers and devices was a confidential informant (CI) working with law enforcement. In April 2021, Gonzalez Cuenca sold the CI 1,000 credit and debit card account numbers and four credit card skimmers. FDLE Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said, “Criminals like this who prey on Florida’s hardworking citizens and visitors to disrupt lives and empty bank accounts have no place in our great state. I am tremendously grateful to our members and partners who worked tirelessly on this case to not only bring this thief to justice but also to prevent anyone else from falling victim to his schemes.” This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.


title: Former Navy Chief Petty Officer Sentenced for  Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A former Navy Chief Petty Officer was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for attempted coercion and enticement, attempted sex trafficking of a minor, obstruction of justice, and false statement to law enforcement officer. According to court documents, Daniel Alan Puff, 38, from Virginia Beach, negotiated to receive a sex act from a 13-year-old female, believing he was speaking to her mother. In fact, he was communicating with an undercover law enforcement agent (UC). The investigation began on March 29, 2022, when Puff contacted the UC and agreed to pay $60 in exchange for a sex act from what he believed was a 13-year-old female. On March 30, 2022, the UC directed Puff to the meeting location in Chesapeake. Puff arrived at the agreed-upon meeting location in Chesapeake and surveilled the area to check for the presence of law enforcement. Puff then approved the UC, gave $60 to the UC, and stated the sex act he wished to engage in with the child. He was then arrested and taken into custody. While handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle, he deleted the text application from his phone and falsely claimed to a law enforcement agent that he was attempting to text someone. Puff was found guilty of four counts by a jury on January 26, 2023. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Montoya and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-44.


title: Illinois Man Caught in St. Louis with AR-15 After Police Shooting Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Thursday sentenced a convicted felon who was caught with an AR-15-style rifle in St. Louis, Missouri after someone shot at a police officer in Illinois to eight years in prison. Ryan Fleming, 31, of Belleville, Illinois, was first spotted early in the morning of Sept. 24, 2021 by a Washington Park police officer responding to a call for shots fired. During the resulting pursuit, someone in Fleming’s car fired repeatedly at the officer’s car, court filings say. Less than 90 minutes later, the Hyundai Sonata involved in the shooting was spotted and pursued by Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers. Fleming, who was driving at speeds reaching 100 m.p.h. on Interstate 70, crashed into a concrete barrier while trying to exit in downtown St. Louis. He got out with a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 semi-automatic rifle but dropped it and ran. He was arrested nearby after a foot chase. Fleming was found guilty by a federal jury in February of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Fleming has prior convictions in Illinois including drug possession and two charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The case was investigated by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen is prosecuting the case.


title: Tarpon Spring Man Who Threatened To Commit Violence To A Child And Grandmother Arrested And Charged

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Antonio McCray (22, Tarpon Springs) with possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. If convicted, McCray faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. McCray made his initial appearance on June 21, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda Arnold Sansone, and was ordered detained pending trial. According to the complaint and evidence introduced during his detention hearing, on October 29, 2022, McCray was a passenger in the backseat of a vehicle that was pulled over by deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. The deputies observed and seized a firearm located under the back side of the front passenger seat, underneath McCray’s feet. The firearm, a loaded 9-millimeter Springfield “Hellcat” pistol, had previously been reported stolen. A search warrant executed on McCray’s phone revealed various messages sent by McCray, including one in which he said, “listen bra if u care about ur son an ur grandma have my money by Thursday…or I’m coming for u n ur family.” DNA swabs taken from the Hellcat pistol matched McCray’s DNA. Additionally, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined that the ammunition found inside of the pistol matched casings utilized in a recent drive-by shooting in Hernando County. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Mexico citizen admits trafficking 29 pounds of meth in Bozeman, Billings

body_text: BILLINGS — A Mexico citizen accused in trafficking 29 pounds of methamphetamine from Denver, Colorado, to the Bozeman and Billings communities admitted to a drug crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Victor Daniel Mejia Ocampo, 22, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possession with intent to distribute meth. Ocampo faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Ocampo was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that during an investigation in mid-July 2022, law enforcement made a controlled purchase of cocaine from co-defendant Isidro Vega Carmona in Bozeman. Ocampo was with Carmona during the purchase. About a month later, law enforcement arranged to buy four pounds of meth from Carmona and Ocampo and made another controlled purchase of the drug in Bozeman. Carmona told the buyers that people were bringing the meth from Denver, Colorado. The government further alleged that in October 2022, Carmona offered to sell an undercover person 25 pounds of meth for $100,000. On Oct. 12, 2022, Carmona contacted the undercover and confirmed that another co-defendant, Risela Soberanes, was driving the 25 pounds of meth to Billings from Denver and that he would meet the undercover in Billings. Carmona and Ocampo traveled together from Bozeman to Billings, where both were arrested, along with Soberanes. Ocampo removed a large rolling suitcase, which contained 25 pounds of meth, from the trunk of a vehicle that had been driven by Soberanes to a Billings residence. Carmona was arrested as he walked with the suitcase toward a downtown hotel to meet the undercover person. Ocampo drove toward the hotel and was arrested after he parked the vehicle. Twenty nine pounds of meth is the equivalent of approximately 105,000 doses. Carmona was sentenced recently to 14 years in prison, while Soberanes was sentenced to two years in prison for their convictions in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Missouri River Drug Task Force. 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. XXX


title: Two Men Sentenced for Cyberstalking Conspiracy That Resulted in Murder of KC Man

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a cyberstalking conspiracy that utilized GPS tracking devices to carry out the murder of a Kansas City, Mo., man by tracking him and shooting him to death in front of his minor daughter. Michael Young, 32, of Independence, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Wednesday, June 21, to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Ronell Pearson, 36, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison without parole. Both Young and Pearson pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy, and both have been detained in federal custody since their arrests in August 2019. The court also ordered Young and Pearson to pay $19,012 in restitution to compensate the murder victim’s family for funeral and burial expenses, for which they are jointly and severally liable. Co-defendant Lester E. Brown, 36, of Kansas City, Mo., was found guilty at trial on May 5, 2023, of one count of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, one count of cyberstalking resulting in death, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brown’s sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. Murder of Christopher Harris Brown, Young, and Pearson participated in a conspiracy from Nov. 1, 2017, to March 19, 2018, to engage in the cyberstalking of Christopher Harris. Brown, the leader of the conspiracy, deployed multiple GPS devices on vehicles used by Harris and his associates to track their locations. On March 14, 2018, Brown tracked Harris to a dance studio in Raytown, Mo. With Brown driving and Young and Pearson passengers, they followed Harris’s vehicle as he drove his daughter home from dance class and dropped her off at her mother’s residence in Independence. Brown pulled up behind Harris’s vehicle; Brown and Young got out of the car; and Brown shot a firearm multiple times into Harris’s vehicle, causing Harris to scream, “My daughter’s in the car! My daughter is in the car!” Brown fired several more rounds at Harris as he ran to the door. Harris’s daughter was able to make it inside the house unharmed but Harris fell to the ground before he reached the house. Brown stood over him and fired two last rounds at him while he lay on the ground. Prior to his murder, conspirators had been sending threatening messages to Harris using the social media service Snapchat. These messages included photographs of GPS devices, and demanded a payment to Brown of $10,000 per month. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Wolesky and Nicholas P. Heberle. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the FBI.


title: Highlands County Man Indicted for Sex Trafficking

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida has returned an indictment charging Shannima Yuantrell Session, aka Shalamar, 46, of Lake Placid, Fla. with 10 counts of sex trafficking. According to court documents, between 2011 and 2019, Session allegedly trafficked 10 female victims (7 adults and 3 minors). It is alleged that Session recruited his victims through violence and threats, among other things; including offers of drugs, employment, and romantic relationships. Once Session had gained compliance from his victims, he then trafficked them for sex primarily in rural areas of Highlands County for his own profit. If convicted, Session faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as a maximum of lifetime supervised release. Session is being held in custody pending trial. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Paul Blackman of Highlands County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. FBI Miami and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover and Trial Attorneys Leah Branch and Elizabeth Hutson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting it. An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-cr-14074. ###


title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced for Illegally Selling Steroids Online

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Las Vegas, Nevada, man who made millions of dollars by selling illegal steroids online was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a money-laundering conspiracy. Michael R. Breitel, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to three years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Breitel to forfeit to the government $2,749,363, which represents the proceeds he obtained as a result of his criminal activity, and which will be offset by $403,735 seized from his bank account and the proceeds from the sale of four parcels of real estate in Nevada. On Oct. 11, 2022, Breitel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Breitel admitted that he and co-defendant Mario Arreola-Soria, 37, of Las Vegas, operated a business known as STACKMEUP from October 2017 through October 2021. STACKMEUP offered various prescription drugs available for purchase without a prescription to customers throughout the United States. Many of the drugs offered for sale were anabolic steroids. Other products available on STACKMEUP are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in humans. Investigators executed a search warrant at two storage units in Nevada on Nov. 3, 2021, that contained STACKMEUP products. Federal agents seized 2,371,800 units of anabolic steroids with a street value of more than $1.7 million. Breitel also admitted that he conspired with others to conduct financial transactions that involved the proceeds of the conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids. STACKMEUP customers, who paid for the anabolic steroids and associated drugs with cash or through a number of different peer-to-peer payment processors (such as Venmo, Zelle, Square, Paypal and Google Pay), were instructed to describe the transaction as “Gift” because the payment processors would cancel payments if the real reason for payment was used as the description. During the course of the illegal anabolic steroid conspiracy, Breitel purchased four real estate properties in Las Vegas, totaling more than $1.2 million, with proceeds from the money laundering conspiracy. All the properties were purchased with cash and without a mortgage. The federal investigation began when investigators intercepted a package shipped to a bodybuilder, who said he purchased the products from STACKMEUP over Wickr (an encrypted communication application that automatically deletes all messages). The bodybuilder learned of STACKMEUP while at a bodybuilding event in St. Louis, Mo. Agents made seven undercover purchases from STACKMEUP during the investigation. Some of the purchased drugs were tested and, in several instances, the product did not contain the active pharmaceutical ingredient that was claimed or contained different ingredients. Arreola-Soria was sentenced on May 3, 2023, to three years in federal prison without parole. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper. It was investigated by Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Johnson County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department and the Henderson, Nevada, Police Department.


title: Baltimore Felon Sentenced to Almost Six Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggs today sentenced Marquis Johnson, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 71 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; and Acting Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. “The actions of the DEA and the Baltimore City Police Department, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, literally stopped a felon with a bulletproof vest before he used a gun on Baltimore’s streets,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “We will swiftly respond to those who would bring violence to our communities.” According to his guilty plea, on September 21, 2021, Johnson robbed someone who was standing near his residence on Chapel Street in Baltimore City. Immediately after the robbery, Johnson claimed in a call he made to a friend from his cell phone that 10 to 15 shots were fired at him. The call was intercepted as part of a months-long DEA investigation of several individuals, including Johnson. As detailed in the plea agreement, Johnson asked his associates to help him find the individual who shot at him so he could retaliate, telling them, “I already know which one it was.” Shortly after the calls, DEA investigators saw Johnson walking in East Baltimore along with several of his associates. While investigators watched Johnson, he got into an argument with the driver of a van on the street. Knowing that Johnson was on his way to retaliate against the individual who shot at him and was most likely armed, investigators stopped Johnson and conducted a pat down for weapons. Investigators recovered a .45 caliber handgun loaded with 12 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, with one in the chamber, from Johnson’s waistband. Johnson was also wearing a bulletproof vest. Johnson knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as the result of a previous felony conviction. Further, the investigation showed that the gun had been reported stolen on June 21, 2021. 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. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Y. Oldham and Ari Evans, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Second Man Charged in Connection with Cool Valley Murder

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Hazelwood, Missouri was indicted Wednesday on charges connected to the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old at a Cool Valley gas station in January. Christopher “Face” Hall, 22, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, joining Bryant “BJ” Pirtle, who was indicted in March. Each now faces four felonies: possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death, conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment accuses them of aiding and abetting one another in discharging a firearm while involved in a drug conspiracy, causing the Jan. 29, 2023 death of Devon Williams. A detention motion says Hall and Pirtle shot the 18-year-old at about 3:15 a.m. after he tried to buy marijuana from them at the BP gas station at 1790 South Florissant Road. They then ran Williams over while driving away, the motion says. The shooting was caught on video. Hall is currently in jail on pending charges in St. Louis County Circuit Court involving a March 2023 shooting. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis County Police Department, and the Normandy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nino Przulj and Jen Szczucinski are prosecuting the case.


title: Belle Vernon Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Belle Vernon, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of wire fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Patty Lynn Mavrakis, 65, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in September 2016, Mavrakis was the Branch Manager for Valley 1st Community Federal Credit Union in Belle Vernon, Pa. The Court was further advised that, on September 5, 2016, the Credit Union was closed because of Labor Day, but Mavrakis entered the Credit Union, accessed the safe, and left the Credit Union with multiple boxes, at least one of which contained cash from the safe. On the following day, September 6, 2016, Mavrakis arrived at the Credit Union before any other employees and staged a fire in the safe. As the only witness to the fire, Mavrakis falsely claimed that an alarm wire “caught on fire” and consumed $340,200 in cash. On September 7, 2016, Mavrakis submitted an insurance claim to the Credit Union’s insurance company and again falsely claimed that an alarm wire caused the fire. The insurance company processed and paid the claim. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for October 11, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Mavrakis may remain released on bond. Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Mavrakis.


title: Illegal possession of firearm sends Billings felon to prison

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

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings felon who admitted to illegally possessing a firearm after law enforcement found a gun in his vehicle, which had stopped in the middle of the road near Hardin, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Cody Lawrence Big Hair, 32, pleaded guilty in February to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that shortly after midnight on April 23, 2022, a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer came upon a pickup truck stopped in the middle of the road near Hardin, in Big Horn County. The officer conducted a wellness check and found Big Hair, the driver and sole occupant, who initially gave a false name and admitted he had been drinking and doing drugs. Big Hair also said he was “trying to kill somebody.” Big Hair was in possession of a .22-caliber bold action rifle, three knives and a pair of brass knuckles. Big Hair had a felony conviction in 2021 in Big Horn County and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Hargrove prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Naples Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing Firearm During Drug Trafficking Crime

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Michael Karp (50, Naples) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Karp faces a minimum penalty of five years, up to life, in federal prison. According to court documents, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Karp in 2022. The investigation included Karp meeting an undercover ATF agent, who was posing as a drug dealer needing protection during drug deals. Karp indicated to the agent that he participated in that type of work. According to the plea agreement, on May 23, 2023, Karp met at a hotel in Naples believing that he was going to protect the sale of five pounds of methamphetamine. The drug transaction actually involved the sale of faux methamphetamine between two undercover ATF agents. Karp stood by with a pistol as the transaction took place. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Milwaukee Woman Indicted for Perpetrating a $2.3 Million Health Care Fraud

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 21, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Markita Barnes (age: 30) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for perpetrating a $2.3 million health care fraud and kickback scheme that involved Barnes lying about having provided prenatal care coordination (PNCC) services and childcare coordination services to at-risk and low-income pregnant women and new mothers in Milwaukee. According to the indictment, from October 2020 through November 2021, Barnes owned Here For You, which was a PNCC agency operating in Milwaukee. PNCC agencies are reimbursed by Medicaid when they provide services intended to address Wisconsin’s historically high rate of infant mortality among at-risk populations. Specifically, PNCC services are supposed to ensure that women at high risk are identified as early as possible in their pregnancies, receive psychosocial support, prenatal care services, and health and nutrition education, and are referred to available community services that they need to help them achieve positive birth and parenting outcomes. The indictment alleges that Barnes offered and provided kickbacks to induce women to sign up for prenatal care coordination services with Here For You, and then allegedly submitted millions of dollars of fraudulent claims for services never actually provided to those women. Barnes also allegedly submitted claims for services she contended were provided to her clients before she or anyone from her agency had ever met the client. The indictment charges Barnes with multiple counts of Health Care Fraud and False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and 18 U.S.C. § 1035, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b, Obstruction of a Healthcare Fraud Investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1518, Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957, and Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. If convicted, Barnes faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for each count of Aggravated Identity Theft, up to twenty years in prison for each count of Health Care Fraud, up to ten years in prison for each count of Anti-Kickback Statute violations and Money Laundering, and up to five years in prison for each count of False Statements and Obstruction. “One of the primary reasons the Department of Justice focuses on prosecuting health care fraud is to ensure public funds are used to help the people they are designed to help, and not to unfairly enrich others at the expense of the public and those who desperately need these services,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “We are committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to hold individuals who seek to take advantage of these programs for their own benefit fully accountable for their actions.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel will prosecute. An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Drug Traffickers from St. Martinville Area  Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that five men who were involved with the trafficking of cocaine and cocaine base in the St. Martinville, Louisiana, area were each sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge David C. Joseph. The five defendants and their sentences are as follows: Marvis Mason , 41, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Kendrell Jones , 43, of New Iberia, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Marcus Bourda , 44, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Dennis Benoit , 44, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Codie James , 43, of St. Martinville, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. In late 2019, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), assisted by officers with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, began an investigation into the suspected illegal activities of a narcotics distributor residing in the Western District of Louisiana. Through their investigation, agents were able to identify this distributor of cocaine and cocaine base. Law enforcement agents were granted an application authorizing the interception of wire communications from this individual’s phone. During the interception period, agents learned that this individual used his residence to sell cocaine as well as cook and sell cocaine base. Agents were able to intercept communications wherein he agreed to multiple narcotics transactions which were then confirmed through physical surveillance of his residence. Through their investigation, agents determined that the individual’s suppliers for powder cocaine and cocaine base included Kendrell Jones, Dennis Benoit, and Marvis Mason . Jones also supplied narcotics to others, including Marcus Bourda . In addition, agents determined that Codie James also assisted in the distribution of cocaine. “This case has resulted in the arrest and conviction of numerous individuals who chose to illegally possess and distribute controlled substances and contribute to the corruption in this area,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “It is without a doubt thanks to the great work of law enforcement agents in the Western District of Louisiana, from both the federal and state agencies, who partnered together and put in many long hours investigating and developing the evidence needed to convict these individuals. We look forward to continuing these partnerships in our district.” Another defendant in this case, Darrall Johnson , 29, of New Iberia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and is scheduled to be sentenced June 29, 2023. Other defendants in this case who have already been convicted and sentenced are as follows: Joshua Bourda , 38, of St. Martinville, was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release. Brandon K. Fontnett , 39, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 151 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen. # # #


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Thomas D. Manns, 37, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 26, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to a report of shots fired at a Ewart Avenue apartment complex in Beckley and encountered Manns holding what they believed to be a firearm as he ran into a stairway. Officers searched the stairway and found a Mossberg, model 500AT, 12-gauge shotgun in a trash can. Video footage from the apartment complex’s security cameras showed Manns holding the shotgun before he put it in the trash can. Manns admitted to possessing the firearm. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Manns knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Raleigh County Circuit Court on November 29, 2006. Manns is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Police Department. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-66. ###


title: Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Timothy Allen Loudermilk, 63, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Loudermilk admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area. According to court documents and statements made in court, between January and March 2023, Loudermilk was living in the Charleston area and obtaining methamphetamine from a local supplier. Loudermilk’s supplier knew that he was re-distributing at least a portion of the methamphetamine. Loudermilk typically would receive one-half ounce of methamphetamine at a time, but sometimes he would obtain more. Loudermilk admitted that he was responsible for between 200 and 350 grams of methamphetamine in connection with the conspiracy. Loudermilk is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Loudermilk is among 30 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement has seized of well over 200 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 28 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of fentanyl, 18 firearms and $747,000 in cash. Nine other co-defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31. ###


title: Former Dell City Employee Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Dell City Funds

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – A City of Dell City woman was arrested Wednesday on a criminal charge related to her alleged theft of Dell City funds. According to an indictment returned by an El Paso Grand Jury on June 14, Diana Suarez, 53, a former Dell City employee, used funds from the city’s bank accounts to make purchases and cash withdrawals for personal use between Sept. 13, 2020 and Sept. 12, 2021. Suarez is charged with one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey of the FBI El Paso Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Arreola is prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Acosta handling the forfeiture component. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Scott Phalen, 63, of Charleston, was sentenced today to one year in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 15, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to a report from an employee at a restaurant in the Kanawha City section of Charleston that an individual had placed a firearm in a trash can at the restaurant. Officers recovered a SCCY, model CPX-1, 9mm semi-automatic pistol from the trash can. Phalen admitted to possessing the firearm and further admitted to placing the firearm in the trash can. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Phalen was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for first-degree sexual abuse in Kanawha County Circuit Court on February 14, 2012. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-204. ###


title: Tyngsborough Daycare Worker Arrested for Child Exploitation

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A New Hampshire woman employed at a daycare in Tyngsborough, Mass., was arrested this morning on child exploitation and child pornography charges. Lindsay Groves, 38, of Hudson, N.H., was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography. Groves, who is currently in custody, will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, Groves worked at Creative Minds located in Tyngsborough, Mass. It is alleged that, between May 2022 and June 2023, Groves took nude images of children at the day care and sent the photos to an individual with whom she was previously in an intimate relationship. Specifically, Groves allegedly used natural bathroom breaks for the children (routine diaper/pull-up changes prior to “naptime”) to take multiple photos of the prepubescent children in a private bathroom and then sent the photos to the individual via text message. A preliminary forensic review of Grove’s cellphone allegedly revealed over 2,500 text messages between Groves and the individual. These messages allegedly included discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs that Groves had taken of children while employed at Creative Minds – including at least four sexually explicit images of children who appear to be approximately three to five years old. This investigation is continuing. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Nashua (N.H.) Police Chief Kevin Rourke made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office; and the Hudson, N.H. Police Department. Creative Minds Early Learning Center cooperated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Jessica L. Soto of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting 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. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. US v. Lindsay Groves - Complaint Affidavit


title: Maryland Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to  Employment and Other Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Maryland restaurant owner pleaded guilty today to willful failure to account for and pay over employment taxes and to filing a false personal tax return. According to court documents and statements made in court, John H. Worthington of Owings Mills, Maryland, owned and operated The Grill at Harryman House restaurant since 1995. As part of managing the restaurant, Worthington issued Forms W-2 to his employees and withheld federal income and Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes from their wages. However, from 2010 through 2021, Worthington did not file with the IRS the required Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns (Forms 941) reporting these employment taxes and did not pay the withholdings over to the IRS. In total, Worthington did not report or pay approximately $2,813,348.94 in employment taxes due and owing to the IRS. Instead of meeting his tax obligations, Worthington used funds from his business to pay other creditors and for a variety of personal expenses, including golf club membership dues, season tickets to the Baltimore Orioles, international vacations, and salaries for himself and his wife. Additionally, Worthington filed a joint 2016 personal tax return (Form 1040) that falsely claimed $24,207 in federal income tax withholdings from his own wages from the restaurant, which he knew had not been paid to the IRS. This resulted in a $9,096 refund to which he was not entitled. Had Worthington accurately reported $0 in withholdings for that year, he would have owed $15,111. Worthington also failed to timely file his personal income taxes for 2017 through 2021, despite having received wages and compensation from the restaurant. He also failed to timely file corporate tax returns for 2016 through 2021, even though the corporation was active and generated gross receipts or sales of more than $15 million during that time frame. Worthington faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for willfully failing to account for and pay over the employment taxes and three years in prison for filing a false tax return. He also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties, and restitution. Judge Julie R. Rubin will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant Chief Jorge Almonte and Trial Attorney Matthew L. Cofer of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean R. Delaney of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.


title: Interstate Identity Thief Sentenced To More Than 5 Years In Federal Prison For Access Device Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Yonasky Fernandez Rosa (40, Tampa) to 4 years and 3 months in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The court also sentenced Rosa to a consecutive 10-month sentence for violating the terms of his supervised release in a separate fraud case from the Northern District of Ohio. Rosa had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2023. According to the plea agreement, in 2018, Rosa was convicted of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft in federal court in Cleveland, Ohio. After serving 22 months in prison, Rosa’s supervised release was transferred to the Middle District of Florida, during which he continued to commit identity theft and access device fraud. On April 6, 2021, Rosa used a victim’s personally identifiable information (PII) to purchase gas at a Circle-K in Plant City without the victim’s authorization. The victim told law enforcement that he did not know Rosa, did not authorize the purchase, and did not give Rosa permission to possess his PII. On June 2, 2021, during a search of Rosa’s residence in the Town N’ Country neighborhood of Tampa, law enforcement officers discovered device-making equipment, including magnetic stripe encoders and skimmers, and hundreds of instances of PII in the form of credit card numbers, cardholder names, and PINs on Rosa’s laptop computer. “The Secret Service is proud to partner with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Engel of the United States Secret Service – Tampa Field Office. “The results of this investigation are a testament to strong partnerships across the law enforcement community. The Secret Service remains committed to investigating those who engage in crimes that exploit our financial system.” “I am beyond proud and thankful for the partnership we have with the United States Secret Service, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement, and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “There is no doubt that our shared dedication to protecting residents put a stop to Rosa’s inexcusable actions. Thankfully, he will no longer be able to victimize members of our community.” “In partnership with state and federal law enforcement, our Agricultural Law Enforcement team was able to help bring down this criminal and prevent any further harm to consumers,” said Colonel Lee Adams, Director of FDACS’ Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement. “This case sends a clear warning signal to criminals who intend to target the residents and visitors of Florida with fraudulent schemes that these crimes are taken seriously and there will be consequences.” This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDAC) – Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.


title: Justice Department Releases New Tool to Manage Substance Withdrawals in Jails

component: Office of Justice Programs (OJP)

body_text: The Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), one of six program offices within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) today announced the release of Guidelines for Managing Substance Withdrawal in Jails: A Tool for Local Government Officials, Jail Administrators, Correctional Officers and Health Care Professionals. This groundbreaking document supports the department’s commitment to increasing access to evidence-based treatment for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and those at risk for overdose, including individuals who are incarcerated or reentering their communities. “These guidelines are a critical and much needed resource to support local government officials, jail administrators, correctional officers and health care professionals faced with the difficult task of managing substance withdrawal in jail settings,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Providing this new, evidence-based tool and treatment guidance, developed by a committee of clinical and correctional experts, will better safeguard the health and well-being of individuals at risk for or experiencing substance withdrawal in jails.” The high prevalence of SUD among individuals in jail is well-known, both empirically and anecdotally. The number of those in jail who died from drug or alcohol intoxication increased nearly 400% from 2000 to 2019. Less often recognized, but also potentially fatal, is the risk of substance withdrawal complications, such as profound dehydration and aspiration pneumonia due to severe vomiting. “Jails face a unique and serious challenge managing substance use withdrawal among individuals in their custody, resulting in increased risk of in-custody deaths,” said OJP Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “These guidelines, developed by a committee of experts representing correctional and medical professionals, offer concrete and evidence-based guidance to help jail administrators protect the health and rights of people in their care.” “For many, incarceration is the first opportunity for substance use disorder diagnosis and treatment. Guidelines for Managing Substance Withdrawal in Jails can help jails of all sizes safely manage or prevent withdrawal, which may very well be the first step toward a person’s recovery from a substance use disorder and help avoid a return to incarceration,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “These guidelines are an important tool for corrections and health care staff who often face life-saving situations in their daily work life,” said NIC Acting Director Dr. Alix McLearen. “As a clinician myself, I know the value of services grounded in evidence, and I am thrilled these guidelines are now available to help providers safeguard the well-being of individuals in custody.” An expert committee of clinicians and jail administrators compiled recommendations, grounded in evidence-based practice, for systematically identifying individuals who are at risk for withdrawal and determining the appropriate level of monitoring and medical care. “As a member of the expert committee, I can attest to the rigor of the process for developing the guidelines,” said Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Marc Stern of the National Sheriffs’ Association and the American Jail Association. “We recognized, from our collective years of experience, that implementing withdrawal management cannot be a solo effort by jails. Successful implementation of the guidelines requires community involvement, such as establishing partnerships with hospitals and opioid treatment providers.” BJA and NIC are offering technical assistance and training through Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program website to support efforts to implement the guidelines. This webpage serves as a central hub to find relevant resources, submit questions and request TTA tailored to meet individual needs.


title: Four Nigerian Nationals Extradited To The United States To Face Charges In Wire Fraud And Identity Theft Conspiracy

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger Handberg announces the successful extraditions of Akinola Taylor of the United Kingdom, Olayemi Adafin of the United Kingdom, Olakunle Oyebanjo of the United Kingdom, and Kazeem Olanrewaju Runsewe of Sweden. These individuals have been charged in the Middle District of Florida with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, filing false claims with the United States, theft of public money or property, and aggravated identity theft. Taylor, Adafin, and Runsewe were arrested on November 30, 2022, and Oyebanjo was arrested on December 2, 2022. Taylor, Adafin, and Oyebanjo were apprehended in London, United Kingdom at the request of the United States, and Runswewe was apprehended in Malmo, Sweden at the request of the United States. In connection with the arrests, foreign authorities conducted searches of the residences of Taylor and Runsewe. These individuals first appeared in the Middle District of Florida in May and June 2023. Another related defendant, Ogunlana Oluwarotimi of Texas, was arrested in Texas in January 2023 and is currently pending trial. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud conspiracies, as well as additional penalties for the remaining counts. The indictments also notify the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit assets which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offenses. According to their indictments, Taylor and Runsewe obtained unauthorized access to United States businesses’ computer servers, participated in stealing from those servers the personally identifying information (PII) of U.S. residents, and used that information to file false and fraudulent IRS Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (“Form(s) 1040”) seeking income tax refunds from the IRS. Adafin, Oyebajno, Ogunlana, and others assisted in the collection of fraud proceeds directed to prepaid debit cards in their possession or to addresses or bank accounts they controlled or to which they had access and transferred a share of the fraud proceeds to other conspirators. One of the places that Taylor and Runsewe had obtained unauthorized access to computer servers was the xDedic Marketplace, a website that operated for years and was used to sell access to compromised computers worldwide and the PII of U.S. residents. The xDedic administrators strategically maintained servers all over the world to facilitate the operation of the website. The xDedic Marketplace was taken down as part of coordinated, global enforcement operations led by the FBI Tampa Division, the IRS-CI Tampa Field Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This investigation was led by the IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit in Washington, D.C. Substantial assistance was provided by the IRS-CI Tampa Field Office, the FBI Tampa Division, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, IRS-CI International Operations at Mission UK and Canada, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United Kingdom’s National Extradition Unit, the United Kingdom’s Eastern Region Special Operation Unit, the United Kingdom’s North West Regional Organized Crime Unit, and the Swedish Economic Crime Authority. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones.


title: New York Man Agrees To Plead Guilty To Multiple Federal Crimes Related To “Ichioka Ventures” Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the United States announced the filing of an information charging William Koo Ichioka with multiple felonies in connection with “Ichioka Ventures,” an alleged investment fraud scheme involving cryptocurrencies and other investment vehicles. According to court documents filed in the case, Ichioka has agreed to plead guilty to charges of wire fraud, aiding or assisting in the preparation of a false or fraudulent tax return, fraud in connection with the purchase and sale of securities, and commodities fraud. The announcement was made by Acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Colthurst of the Northern District of California United States Attorney’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp; and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian. According to the information filed in federal court, Ichioka, 30, of New York and formerly of San Francisco, operated a scheme in which he fraudulently raised tens of millions of dollars from over 100 persons and entities, including residents of the Northern District of California. Ichioka began doing business under the name “Ichioka Ventures” in or about 2019. Ichioka solicited investors by promising that their funds would be invested in various securities and/or commodities, including cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency arbitrage, futures, and derivatives, and foreign exchange currency transactions. He represented to prospective investors that they would earn 10% returns every 30 business days and that his investment and trading activities had been generating or had the ability to generate returns in excess of these amounts. Ichioka created a website for Ichioka Ventures that allowed investors to create and login to accounts to invest, view balances and investments, and view transaction history. “The allure of using cryptocurrencies to make massive profits in a short timeframe provides fertile ground for fraudsters to take advantage of unwary victims,” said Abraham Simmons, a spokesperson from the Office of the U.S. Attorney. “The information filed in this case alleges Ichioka convinced victims to invest millions of dollars into his phony venture by claiming he was making legitimate profits when, in fact, he was reporting fake results and creating bogus documents.” “William Ichioka was able to secure millions from investors by telling them lie after lie,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “His ‘miraculous’ rates of return, however, were illusory. He stole from family, friends, and others to fund his lavish lifestyle while sustaining his deceit through investment repayments. The charges filed today are an important step to bring justice for Ichioka’s victims.” “Mr. Ichioka operated a decades-old type of fraudulent scheme and defrauded over 100 investors,” said Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian of the IRS-CI Oakland Field Office. “The hard work and dedication of our investigators and prosecutors led to Mr. Ichioka’s agreement today to plead guilty. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring this investigation to a thorough and complete conclusion. IRS-Criminal Investigation remains dedicated to bringing to justice those who cheat and defraud.” According to court filings describing Ichioka’s agreement to plead guilty, Ichioka admitted that he commingled investor money with his own funds and used investor money to make purchases of luxury items, including vehicles, watches, and jewelry, and to fund his own personal expenses, including for rent for his personal residence, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, taxi and car share rides, retail stores, gym membership fees, and online purchases. Moreover, Ichioka admitted that he and Ichioka Ventures did not actually earn 10% returns every 30 business days for his investors throughout the time that he represented that it did. Rather, he and Ichioka Ventures sustained losses from portions of funds that he invested. By the end of 2019 – unbeknownst to investors – Ichioka privately acknowledged that the “[c]ompany hasn’t made any money since we started.” Ichioka admitted that he repaid existing investors using new investor funds to further perpetuate the scheme to defraud, according to court filings describing Ichioka’s agreement to plead guilty. According to the court filings, Ichioka has agreed that he owes non-family investors in “Ichioka Ventures” at least $21 million as a result of the scheme and additionally owes his family members over $40 million. Ichioka also admitted that he concealed and hid the scheme by doctoring financial documents to overstate the value of assets (including bank, brokerage, and cryptocurrency exchange materials) and providing doctored documents to prospective investors, according to court filings. He also presented false statements of account to investors via the Ichioka Ventures website, failed to provide tax documentation to investors, and willfully failed to report income to the Internal Revenue Service in this scheme. In sum, Ichioka has agreed to plead guilty to the following crimes and faces the following maximum penalties: Offense Statute Maximum Statutory Penalty (per count) Wire fraud (1 count) 18 U.S.C. § 1343 20 years Aiding or assisting in the preparation of a false or fraudulent tax return (2 counts) 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2) 3 years Fraud in connection with purchase and sale of securities (1 count) 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b), 78ff; 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 20 years Commodities fraud (1 count) 18 U.S.C. § 1348 25 years The court may order additional terms of supervised release as well as additional monetary penalties and restitution. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. An information merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Ichioka’s initial federal court appearance has not yet been scheduled. Individuals who believe that they may be a victim in this case but have not yet been contacted by the government should contact the FBI by email at: IVinvestors@fbi.gov . The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section and Oakland Branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the federal law enforcement agencies also thank the San Francisco Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The SEC and CFTC each conducted parallel investigations that were also announced today.