title: Texas Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: MIDLAND, Texas – A Kingsville man was sentenced in a federal court in Midland to 168 months in prison for enticement of a minor. According to court documents, Joel Garcia Elizondo Jr., 34, discussed engaging in multiple sexual acts with a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl over various social media applications. Elizondo agreed to meet the girl outside an Odessa middle school one evening. Once Elizondo arrived outside the school, he was immediately taken into custody by Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) special agents and Odessa Police Department officers. On Aug. 1, a federal jury in Midland found Elizondo guilty of the charge. “These investigations are crucial to protecting children across our district, and the nation, as they identify and apprehend adults who are willing to meet children online for sex,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I appreciate the proactive efforts of our law enforcement partners who potentially prevented a hands-on sexual assault of a child by this defendant.” TX DPS, the Odessa Police Department and Midland County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Mahoney and John Fedock prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Three Convicted by Jury of Housing Authority Kickback Conspiracy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Tonya Robinson, 60 years old, Albert Smith, 47 years old, and Douglas Donley, 42 years old, were each found guilty of various federal felony charges following an eight-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Senior Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. The jury found Robinson, Smith, and Donley guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. Donley was also found guilty of a single count of bank fraud. Robinson and Smith were found guilty of 6 counts of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud along with a single count of federal program theft. Smith was also found guilty of an additional wire fraud count. Three counts were dismissed against Donley during the trial and he was acquitted of four counts while Robinson was acquitted of one count. Robinson, Smith, and Donley are all scheduled for sentencing on February 29, 2024. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander, Joel Gabrielse, and Jerome W. McKeever.


title: Former Air Force Contractor Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former U.S. Air Force (USAF) contractor pleaded guilty today to engaging in a bribery scheme relating to a large technology contract awarded by the USAF. According to court documents, from late 2013 to late 2019, Juan Carlos Arevalo III, 44, of Occoquan, Virginia, served as the chief technologies officer and senior technical consultant for a USAF component that focuses on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and innovation. Arevalo worked closely with senior USAF officials in the Pentagon and helped them to design, develop, and deliver various military technologies. Julio R. “Jace” Sotomayor was a retired USAF colonel who was the owner of two consulting firms – Eagle Market Group (EMG) and Federal Security Agency (FSA) – and the minority owner of a government contracting firm. As alleged, beginning in late 2013, Sotomayor and the contracting firm’s majority owner sought to provide services to the USAF to support various technology projects and initiatives. As part of this objective, Arevalo and Sotomayor agreed to engage in a corrupt, multi-year scheme in which Sotomayor, through EMG, paid $185,000 to Arevalo using his relative as a pass-through intermediary. In exchange for these payments, Arevalo agreed to perform and did perform official acts, and sought to influence other officials, to benefit Sotomayor, the firm, and the firm’s majority owner. Beginning in late 2014, Sotomayor also engaged in a similar pass-through bribery scheme with a former federal contracting officer, Diane Sturgis, by using EMG to pay $150,000 to Sturgis’s relative in exchange for official assistance regarding the same USAF technology contract. Through early 2020, the firm had received approximately $51.6 million from the USAF of which at least $5.9 million was paid to Sotomayor. Arevalo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 13 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sotomayor and Sturgis have pleaded guilty and were sentenced for their various schemes. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Elisabeth Kaminsky of the Department of State Office of Inspector General (State OIG) made the announcement. The FBI and State OIG investigated the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Edward P. Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section is prosecuting the case.


title: Felon Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison in Connection With Firearm Trafficking Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack sentenced Dennis Wolfolk of Marietta, Georgia, to 57 months in prison for possessing firearms in relation to a larger scheme to purchase and illegally transport into New York more than two dozen handguns. Wolfolk pleaded guilty in May 2023 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Co-defendant Patrick Polidore pleaded guilty in September 2023 to making false statements to acquire firearms and is awaiting sentencing. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Thomas Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced the charges. “The so-called gun trafficking “Iron Pipeline” from Georgia to Long Island took a detour to a federal courtroom for Wolfolk, a convicted felon, who was punished today for his continuing disregard of the law and serious criminal conduct that resulted in guns being found in the hands of juveniles, a parolee, criminals and at the scene of a murder,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those like the defendant who attempt to circumvent state and federal gun laws and contribute to the presence of deadly guns in our community.” Mr. Peace thanked the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the ATF’s Atlanta Field Division, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the Nassau County Police Department, and the Hempstead Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. “The interstate flow of illegal guns is a grave threat to public safety,” stated ATF Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Kalogiros. “This sentencing sends a clear message to those who think they can traffic firearms into NY without consequence. ATF NY will continue to share Crime Gun Intelligence with law enforcement partners across all boundaries to identify, disrupt and dismantle firearms trafficking schemes. Each illegal firearm recovered is a potential life saved. I commend the work of ATF NY’s Long Island Field Office, Nassau County PD, Hempstead PD and EDNY for their diligent efforts and collaboration through this investigation.” Between October and December 2020, Polidore visited numerous federally licensed retailers in the Atlanta metropolitan area and acted as the straw purchaser for approximately 27 handguns, many of which were purchased in rapid succession on a handful of common dates. For example, on October 29, 2020, Polidore purchased two handguns from two different retailers; six days later, on November 4, 2020, he purchased six more handguns from four different retailers; on November 18, 2020, he purchased five firearms from four different retailers; between November 20, 2020 and November 23, 2020, he purchased 10 handguns from at least four different retailers; on November 30, 2020, he purchased two handguns from two different retailers; and two days later, on December 2, 2020, he purchased three more handguns from two different retailers. On ATF Forms 4473—federal records that document firearms transactions—Polidore falsely affirmed that he was the intended recipient of the weapons when, in actuality, he had conspired with Wolfolk, who, as a convicted felon, was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm, to traffic the handguns to New York, where he distributed them to street-level buyers, many of whom were themselves prohibited from having a gun. At least 12 of the handguns Wolfolk transported to New York have been recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes in and around Long Island. On November 4, 2020, for example, Polidore purchased six firearms from four different retail locations in Georgia, which Wolfolk trafficked to New York. Shortly after, those firearms began emerging on Long Island. On December 22, 2020, a serialized gun box matching a .40-caliber Glock model 27 handgun purchased by Polidore was recovered from the scene of a murder in Hempstead. On January 13, 2021, during a traffic stop in Hempstead, three juveniles were found in possession of a 9mm Ruger model Security-9 handgun purchased by Polidore. on May 28, 2021, during a traffic stop in Patchogue, police arrested an individual in possession of a .22-caliber Walther model P22 handgun purchased by Polidore. And on October 3, 2021, a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun purchased by Polidore was recovered from a robbery suspect in Bethpage. Other firearms involved in the scheme were similarly recovered in the hands of criminals. On January 12, 2021, for example, a Taurus 9mm model G3C handgun purchased by Polidore on November 23, 2020, was recovered from a parolee in Lynbrook. Wolfolk has a previous felony conviction for attempted second-degree criminal possession of a firearm. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Bagnuola and Mark E. Misorek are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Special Agent Michael Cassidy. The Defendants : DENNIS WOLFOLK Age: 30 Marietta, Georgia PATRICK POLIDORE Age: 33 Powder Springs, Georgia E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-347 (JMA)


title: KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm after Public Disturbance

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Kansas, man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm after causing a disturbance by firing the gun on a public street in the Swope Parkway neighborhood. Michael S. Simmons, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 11 years and two months in federal prison without parole. On April 18, 2023, Simmons pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. This is his third federal felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Simmons was arrested on Sept. 18, 2022, when Kansas City, Mo., police officers received multiple 911 calls reporting that Simmons was standing in the street near the intersections of 55th Street, Swope Parkway and Cleveland Avenue, acting emotionally disturbed, removing his clothing, and pointing a gun at passing vehicles. Officers saw Simmons fire four to five gunshots in the direction of the ground and a nearby dog, prompting them to re-route traffic and create a perimeter of the scene. Simmons initially refused to comply with the officers’ commands to surrender, instead rolling in circles in the grass. He appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance or alcohol and had difficulty walking and maintaining balance. Following his eventual arrest, officers located a Glock 22 .40-caliber pistol and six spent shell casings in the area where he had lain. Simmons later told officers he was under the influence of PCP. Simmons was on supervised release at the time of his arrest, after being convicted in 2019 of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Today’s sentence includes 14 months in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release and 10 years in prison on the felon in possession charge, which must be served consecutively. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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.


component: Criminal - Public Integrity Section

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former U.S. Air Force (USAF) contractor pleaded guilty today to engaging in a bribery scheme relating to a large technology contract awarded by the USAF. According to court documents, from late 2013 to late 2019, Juan Carlos Arevalo III, 44, of Occoquan, served as the chief technologies officer and senior technical consultant for a USAF component that focuses on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and innovation. Arevalo worked closely with senior USAF officials in the Pentagon and helped them to design, develop, and deliver various military technologies. Julio R. “Jace” Sotomayor was a retired USAF colonel who was the owner of two consulting firms – Eagle Market Group (EMG) and Federal Security Agency (FSA) – and the minority owner of a government contracting firm. As alleged, beginning in late 2013, Sotomayor and the contracting firm’s majority owner sought to provide services to the USAF to support various technology projects and initiatives. As part of this objective, Arevalo and Sotomayor agreed to engage in a corrupt, multi-year scheme in which Sotomayor, through EMG, paid $185,000 to Arevalo using his relative as a pass-through intermediary. In exchange for these payments, Arevalo agreed to perform and did perform official acts, and sought to influence other officials, to benefit Sotomayor, the firm, and the firm’s majority owner. Beginning in late 2014, Sotomayor also engaged in a similar pass-through bribery scheme with a former federal contracting officer, Diane Sturgis, by using EMG to pay $150,000 to Sturgis’s relative in exchange for official assistance regarding the same USAF technology contract. Through early 2020, the firm had received approximately $51.6 million from the USAF of which at least $5.9 million was paid to Sotomayor. Arevalo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sotomayor and Sturgis have pleaded guilty and were sentenced for their various schemes. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Elisabeth Kaminsky of the Department of State Office of Inspector General (State OIG), made the announcement after U.S District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr., accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Sullivan is prosecuting the case. 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. 1:23-cr-162.


title: Three more sentenced in Laredo drug trafficking conspiracy

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – Three Laredo residents have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder money, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Cesar Mendiola, 57, Rafael Rodriguez, 63, and Jose Angel Rodriguez III, 34, each pleaded guilty June 7. U.S. District Judge Lee H Rosenthal has now imposed a 151-month term of imprisonment for Mendiola, while Rodriguez III and Rafael Rodriguez received 12 and 24 months, respectively. Each must also serve at least three years of supervised release following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence including this drug trafficking organization’s ties to the CDN cartel. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Rosenthal also ordered Mendiola to forfeit $25,400 of drug proceeds. Elizardo Vasquez Jr., 31, was previously sentenced to 32 months in federal prison for his involvement. Another man - Jose Angel Rodriguez Jr., 60 - also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date. Throughout the course of this investigation, authorities seized nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine and over $147,000 in drug proceeds. The investigation revealed brothers Rodriguez Jr. and Rafael Rodriguez would receive kilograms of cocaine from a source in Mexico and provide that cocaine to Mendiola for further distribution in and around Laredo. Rodriguez III kept records of transactions and drug proceeds for his father, Rodriguez Jr. Mendiola and Rafael Rodriguez have been and will remain in custody while Rodriguez III, was permitted to remain on bond. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Webb County District Attorney’s Office, the Webb County Sheriff’s Office and the United Independent School District Police Department. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony J. Evans and Brian Bajew prosecuted the case.


title: Grand Coulee Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison For Violent Assault Against Partner, Tribal Elders

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Xander Lee Ostenberg, 18, of Grand Coulee, Washington was sentenced after having pleaded guilty to Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, or Dating Partner in Indian Country. Ostenberg also pleaded guilty to two counts of Assault by Beating, Striking or Wounding. U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Ostenberg to 60 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. According to court documents, in early February 2023, Ostenberg and his partner began fighting in the bedroom of their residence on the Kalispel reservation. Ostenberg’s partner began screaming and her grandfather and family friend rushed to her aid. Then, Ostenberg hit the grandfather in the head causing him to fall to the ground and lose consciousness. Ostenberg subsequently turned to attack the family friend, knocking him to the ground, pulled out some of his hair, and began choking him. The family friend was eventually able to break free. At that point, Ostenberg dragged his partner out of the house, hit her, and put her in his vehicle. Later that day, Pend Orielle Sheriff’s Deputies located Ostenberg’s truck, pulled it over and detained him. Ostenberg’s partner was bleeding around her lips and nose, she also had bruises on her face and body. She confirmed to deputies that the injuries were from Ostenberg assaulting her. U.S. District Judge Rice imposed the sentence based on the victim impact statements and aggressive nature of the offense. U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “My heart goes out to the victims in this case. No one should have to live in fear of violence in their home from a domestic partner or spouse. My office is committed to working closely with our federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to ensure Native American women and families are protected from this kind of violence and trauma.” “Addressing violent crime is a priority for the Kalispel Tribe. We are thankful for the partnership between the Kalispel Tribal Police Department, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office,” stated Kalispel Tribal Vice Chair Curt Holmes. “We stand committed to vigorously pursuing prosecution for people who commit crimes on our Reservation; especially crimes against our women and vulnerable people.” “Mr. Ostenberg’s youth cannot be used as an excuse for his violent actions.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge or the FBI’s Seattle field office. “While he has time to reflect on the choices he made which led to this prison sentence, his actions impacted the lives of multiple victims. Addressing violence on our state’s reservations remains a priority for the FBI and our partners across Washington.” This case was investigated by the Kalispel Tribal Police, Colville Tribal Police Department, Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Richard R. Barker, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington and Michael Vander Giessen, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. 2:2023-cr-00031-TOR


title: Bastrop Man Convicted and Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

body_text: MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Gary Landon Harper, Jr. , 33, of Bastrop, Louisiana , has been sentenced by United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 300 months (25 years) in prison, for production of child pornography. This case was the result of an investigation by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office into allegations that Harper was misusing the internet social media application Snapchat to contact minor females in the Monroe area. Their investigation revealed that between January 1, 2021, and October 29, 2021, Harper utilized Snapchat to communicate with numerous females between the ages of 13 and 16 who attended Monroe-area middle and high schools. Harper would pay some of these females for their Snapchat login information which he would use to impersonate them and direct other females in their contact lists to “friend” accounts that he controlled, under the guise of making money from a “sugar daddy.” Harper would further the scheme by paying females to send him sexually explicit videos and images, and to meet up with him for sex. The specific instance related to the charge in the indictment occurred between January and September 2021 when Harper enticed a 16-year-old female victim to meet him and have sex in exchange for $150. When they met, Harper filmed the pair having sex inside his pickup truck. He did this knowing she was a minor at the time. Investigators recovered that video recording from Harper’s cell phone pursuant to a search warrant and positively identified the female victim. Through their investigation, agents learned that Harper victimized over 25 minor females in his heinous schemes. Harper pleaded guilty to the one count of production of child pornography in this case on April 5, 2023. The case was investigated by the FBI and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Shannon. # # #


title: Virginia Business Owner Charged with Tax Evasion and Employment Tax Offenses

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging a Virginia man with income tax evasion and failure to pay employment taxes. According to the indictment, Rick Tariq Rahim of Great Falls owned and operated two businesses, BV Management LLC, an Amazon reseller, and BusinessVentures.com LLC, an umbrella company over other businesses including laser tag facilities. Starting in at least 2012, Rahim allegedly took steps to evade IRS efforts to collect more than $1 million in federal income taxes he allegedly owed for tax years 2004 and 2011. The indictment charges that in November 2016, Rahim submitted a false form to the IRS that omitted valuable assets he owned, including a helicopter, a 2006 Bentley, a 2008 Lamborghini and real property, the ownership of which he allegedly transferred to his wife two weeks after submitting the form. The indictment further alleges that Rahim also withdrew a total of more than $1.1 million in cash in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid triggering currency transaction reports from the bank and paid personal expenses from his businesses’ bank accounts, including more than $889,000 toward his mortgages and more than $669,000 to purchase or lease cars, including three different Lamborghinis. In addition, the indictment charges that from 2015 to 2021, Rahim also did not pay to the IRS the taxes that his businesses withheld from employee paychecks or file quarterly tax returns reporting those withholdings. If convicted, Rahim faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the tax evasion count and five years in prison for each count of failing to pay over employment tax withholdings. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney William Montague of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar for the Eastern District of Virginia 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: Colombian Citizen Arrested for Transportation of Mexican Citizens Who Entered the United States Unlawfully

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that David Henao-Palacio, 28, a citizen of Colombia most recently residing in Newark, New Jersey, was charged by criminal complaint with unlawfully transporting Mexican citizens who had entered the United States unlawfully. Henao-Palacio made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle yesterday, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing on Friday, November 3, 2023. According to court records, United States Border Patrol agents observed a vehicle being driven by Henao-Palacio on the All-American Highway, a rural road that is adjacent to the international border with Canada and known for human smuggling activity. A traffic stop of Henao-Palacio revealed that three Mexican citizens were in the back seat of his vehicle, all of whom admitted to having crossed the border moments before the traffic stop. After the three Mexican citizens were removed from the vehicle, they attempted to flee into the woods, but were apprehended shortly thereafter. According to immigration records, Henao-Palacio is a Colombian citizen who illegally entered the United States near Hidalgo, Texas on August 31, 2022. Henao-Palacio was paroled into the country on September 4, 2022, pending immigration proceedings. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only, and that Henao-Palacio remains presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted of a crime. As presently charged, Henao-Palacio faces a maximum sentence of 5 years of imprisonment; however the actual sentence following any conviction would be determined with reference to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the United States Border Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by AUSA Jonathan Ophardt. Henao-Palacio is being represented by Assistant Federal Defender Barclay Johnson. Note: Press Release was edited to correct the spelling of the nationality of the defendant.


title: Former Investment Banker Sentenced To 36 Months For Insider Trading And Obstruction Of Justice

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that BRIJESH GOEL, a former investment banker at Goldman Sachs, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for insider trading and obstruction of justice. GOEL was previously convicted after a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s sentence vindicates the integrity of our financial markets and the investors who play by the rules and serves as a reminder that crime doesn’t pay. If you try to cheat the system by engaging in insider trading, you will be punished, and if you try to cover your tracks while under investigation, you only make matters worse.” According to the Indictment, statements made in public court proceedings and filings, and the evidence at trial: BRIJESH GOEL was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs in New York, New York. In that position, GOEL received confidential internal emails directed to Goldman Sachs’ Firmwide Capital Committee and Credit Markets Capital Committee, which contained detailed information and analysis about potential merger-and-acquisition transactions that Goldman Sachs was considering financing. In violation of the duties that he owed to Goldman Sachs, GOEL misappropriated that confidential information and tipped a friend, Akshay Niranjan, who worked at another investment bank in New York, New York, with the names of potential target companies from those internal emails during in-person meetings such as when the two met at the New York Health and Racquet Club. Niranjan then used that confidential information to trade call options, including short-dated, out-of-the-money call options, in brokerage accounts that were in the name of Niranjan’s brother. GOEL and Niranjan agreed to split the profits from their trading. Between approximately 2017 and 2018, GOEL tipped Niranjan on at least six deals in which Goldman Sachs was involved, yielding total illegal profits of approximately $280,000. Between approximately May and June 2022, GOEL also obstructed investigations by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Specifically, GOEL deleted and asked Niranjan to delete text messages regarding the insider trading scheme, including during an in-person meeting that Niranjan consensually recorded. * * * In addition to the prison sentence, GOEL, 39, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years’ supervised release and ordered to forfeit $85,000 and a restitution in an amount to be determined at a future date to Goldman Sachs. GOEL was also ordered to pay a $75,000 fine. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams further thanked the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for their assistance and cooperation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Samuel P. Rothschild and Andrew Thomas are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Harrison County man sentenced to 10 years on federal gun charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Richard Edward America, III, age 46, of Salem, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for possession of an unregistered firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, America fired shots at law enforcement officers who were attempting to execute a search warrant at his home in May of 2022. America fled the scene but was later apprehended. Officers found eleven firearms, including an assault-style rifle in the area near where America fired shots at law enforcement, along with two silencers and assorted ammunition. America is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous conviction in state court in Doddridge County, West Virginia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, West Virginia State Police, Doddridge County Sheriff’s Office, and Salem Police Department. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Former Tennessee Supervisory Corrections Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Offenses After Assaulting an Inmate and Ignoring His Medical Needs

component: Civil Rights - Criminal Section

body_text: NASHVILLE – Former supervisory state corrections officer, Kenan Lister, was sentenced to two years in prison followed by two years of supervised release today after he pleaded guilty to two civil rights offenses, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee In April 2022, Lister pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law for using unlawful force on an inmate and one count of being deliberately indifferent to the same inmate’s medical needs. “The defendant, who was entrusted with the care of inmates, abused his authority as a corrections officer by violently assaulting an inmate. This sentence sends a clear message that our office will investigate and hold accountable anyone who violates the constitutional rights of others,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “Correctional officers who abuse the people in their custody not only violate the Constitution, but also erode public trust in the criminal justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “While on duty as a supervisory officer, the defendant brutally assaulted a man in a state corrections facility and then deliberately ignored his obvious medical needs resulting from the assault. The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting officials inside our jails and prisons who abuse their power and exploit their position in full disregard of the constitutional rights which we all possess.” “When correctional officers abuse their authority and harm inmates, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system as a whole,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.” The facts established in connection with the defendant’s guilty plea revealed that, on August 30, 2019, Lister assaulted an inmate in a holding cell at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility in Hartsville, Tennessee. At the time, Lister was on duty as the facility’s security threat group coordinator. While the inmate was sitting calmly in a holding cell, Lister punched the inmate in the head, knocking him to the ground. Lister then kicked, punched and struck the inmate multiple times in his head, chest and torso after he was on the ground and not resisting. The assault fractured the inmate’s ribs and punctured his lung. After the assault, Lister knew that the inmate had serious medical needs. Despite this knowledge, Lister failed to provide medical care to the inmate or obtain medical care from others. Instead, Lister left the inmate locked in a holding cell and filed a report that omitted any mention of his assault. The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda J. Klopf for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case. # # # # #


body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging a Great Falls man with income tax evasion and failure to pay employment taxes. According to the indictment, Rick Tariq Rahim, 55, owned and operated two businesses, BV Management, LLC, an Amazon reseller, and BusinessVentures.com, LLC, which was an umbrella company over other businesses including laser tag facilities. Starting in at least 2012, Rahim allegedly took steps to evade IRS efforts to collect more than $1 million in federal income taxes he allegedly owed for tax years 2004 and 2011. The indictment charges that in November 2016, Rahim submitted a false form to the IRS that omitted valuable assets he owned, including a helicopter, a 2006 Bentley, a 2008 Lamborghini, and real property, the ownership of which he allegedly transferred to his wife two weeks after submitting the form. The indictment further alleges that Rahim also withdrew a total of more than $1.1 million in cash in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid triggering currency transaction reports from the bank and paid personal expenses from his businesses’ bank accounts, including more than $889,000 toward his mortgages and more than $669,000 to purchase or lease cars, including three different Lamborghinis. In addition, the indictment charges that from 2015 to 2021, Rahim also did not pay to the IRS the taxes that his businesses withheld from employee paychecks or file quarterly tax returns reporting those withholdings. If convicted, Rahim faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the tax evasion count and five years in prison for each count of failing to pay over employment tax withholdings. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stuart M. Goldberg, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar and Trial Attorney William Montague of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case. 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. 1:23-CR-173. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Former FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Structuring Charges

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: An Estes Park, Colorado, man and former FBI Agent pleaded guilty today to structuring charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Gregory Paul Trahan, 60, was charged via criminal information in October. He pleaded guilty today to one count of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen. Because Trahan worked as a Special Agent in the Houston FBI office, and presented cases to the Southern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s office, the Southern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys were recused, and Northern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Busch was appointed as a Special Attorney to the Attorney General. In plea papers, Trahan admits to structuring transactions to prevent his spouse at the time from knowing that he had money in undisclosed bank accounts and hiding cash to prevent those funds from becoming part of the resolution of the community estate during their divorce proceedings. Trahan withdrew several hundred thousand dollars from various bank accounts in amounts under the reporting requirements and made deposits, also under the reporting requirements, in other bank accounts. He also stashed money at family residences. Mr. Trahan now faces up to 5 years in federal prison. His sentencing will be set at a later date. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Busch is prosecuting the case.


title: Felon Found with Almost a Dozen Firearms,  Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

body_text: Spokane, Washington. - United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Zachary Wade Bennett, 41, of Spokane Valley, to 84 months in federal prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Judge Rice also imposed 3 years of federal supervision upon Bennett’s release from custody. According to court documents, In September of 2020, Spokane County Sheriff’s detectives developed information that Bennett, who is a convicted felon, was dealing drugs and was in possession of a large number of weapons. During the execution of a search warrant at his home, Deputies found Bennett hiding in the attic. Bennett told deputies he did not respond to law enforcement at his house the night before the search warrant because he knew he would go to jail. He also told deputies he did not believe there were guns in the house. During a search of home, deputies found 10 guns, including three AR-15 rifles, boxes of ammo, drug paraphernalia, ledgers detailing his drug distribution operations, heroin and hallucinogenic mushrooms. Bennett had previously been convicted for burglary, first degree and robbery, second degree in Spokane County Superior Court. “I commend the work of our law enforcement partners who work to prevent violent crime by ensuring that repeat offenders like Mr. Bennett do not stockpile firearms and ammunition.” Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington stated. “Our community is safer and stronger today, because of the excellent work of the prosecutors and investigators in this case.” “Drug dealing and stolen firearms in the hands of a convicted felon are a dangerous combination for the community,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “This sentence demonstrates that these types of actions will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” This case was investigated by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Spokane Regional Safe Streets Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Cashman.


title: Pittsburgh Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Firearm After a Prior Felony Conviction

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – Isaiah Wise was convicted of possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Wise, age 23, of Pittsburgh, pled guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy. Wise pled guilty to possessing a firearm on December 4, 2021, after prior felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and endangering the welfare of children. Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing to occur on March 1, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice 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: Not Invisible Act Commission Transmits Recommendations to Federal Government to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples and Human Trafficking

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Not Invisible Act Commission (NIAC), a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee composed of law enforcement, Tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of missing and murdered individuals, and survivors, today transmitted its congressionally mandated recommendations to the Justice Department, Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Congress. Federal responses to the Commission’s recommendations are due within 90 days. The Commission was created by the Not Invisible Act, sponsored by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland during her time in Congress. Its mandate was to develop recommendations on actions the federal government can take on six focused topics to help combat violent crime against Indigenous people and within Indian lands, and to address the epidemic of missing persons and the murder and trafficking of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, as specified under the law. “These recommendations will play an important role in our shared work to address the violence Tribal communities face,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the Commissioners for approaching this critical and difficult work with the urgency and thoughtfulness it deserves. The Justice Department is committed to working with the Department of Interior, Congress, and our state, local, and Tribal partners to address the Commission’s recommendations and respond to the public safety challenges facing American Indians and Alaska Natives.” “I am so grateful to the members of the Not Invisible Act Commission for the time and effort they have given to this work and this report over the past two years. Indian Country will be safer, and lives will be saved, because of this Commission’s work,” said Secretary Haaland. “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community. Crimes against Indigenous peoples have long been underfunded and ignored, rooted in the deep history of intergenerational trauma that has affected our communities since colonization. I look forward to reviewing the recommendations, which will help us continue to galvanize attention and resources toward these tragic epidemics.” The recommendations received today will help further the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to advance and invest in public safety in Indian Country. At the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, President Biden signed Executive Order 14053 on Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , which directed the Departments of Justice, the Interior, and Health and Human Services to work with Tribal Nations and partners to build safe and healthy Tribal communities and to support comprehensive law enforcement, prevention, intervention and support services. Last year, the President signed the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 into law, which built on advancements from previous reauthorizations, included new provisions to address the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) across the country, and re-enforced Tribal sovereignty by providing means for Tribes to address the epidemic of violence within their lands and communities. At the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the FBI announced an agreement to provide for the effective and efficient administration of criminal investigations in Indian Country. The agreement specified that the BIA Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) and the FBI would cooperate on investigations, share information and investigative reports, and establish written guidelines outlining jurisdiction and investigative roles and responsibilities. The agreement also requires that all BIA, FBI, and Tribal law enforcement officers receive training regarding trauma-informed, culturally responsive investigative approaches. Secretary Haaland has traveled throughout the nation and internationally to highlight the need for coordination and collaboration on issues related to violence against Indigenous peoples. Within the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris Administration, Secretary Haaland created a new Missing and Murdered Unit within the BIA-OJS, which is providing leadership and direction for cross-departmental and interagency work involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. The NIAC’s recommendations will inform the Department’s efforts to evolve the MMU to address gaps within the BIA’s law enforcement program and across the federal government. Last week, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta met with the Tribal Nations Leadership Council , including a Council member who serves as a Commissioner on the NIAC, and discussed a range of pressing issues impacting American Indian and Alaska Native people. Attorney General Garland traveled to Alaska in August and visited Anchorage and the Village of Galena. Attorney General Garland met with Tribal leaders and representatives of Native Tribal organizations to discuss the public safety challenges that Alaska Native individuals and communities face and address the Justice Department’s continued efforts to work in partnership with Tribal communities to combat the MMIP crisis. Secretary Haaland and Deputy Attorney General Monaco gave remarks at the first in-person plenary session of the Not Invisible Act Commission in February at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. In the past year, Associate Attorney General Gupta has held meetings with Tribal and Native leaders in Minnesota and Alaska . This month in Alaska, the Associate Attorney General spoke at the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention and announced the launch of the Alaska Pilot Program , which empowers designated Tribes to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians present in their Villages for certain crimes. Since the establishment of the NIAC in 2020, the Justice Department has made strides in implementing systems aimed at preventing new instances of MMIP, locating individuals who are reported missing, and, where a crime has occurred, investigating and prosecuting those responsible. Earlier this summer, the Department launched a MMIP Regional Outreach Program . This program places attorneys and coordinators at U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the United States to help prevent and respond to cases of missing or murdered Indigenous people. Over the next 90 days, the Justice Department and the Department of the Interior will carefully consider the NIAC’s recommendations


title: Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – Kayla Fair was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Fair, age 36, of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Fair pled guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine in October 2021. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing to occur on March 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence for Fair of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Under States Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Mercer County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.


component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Former supervisory state corrections officer, Kenan Lister, was sentenced today to two years in prison followed by two years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to two civil rights offenses. In April 2022, Lister pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law for using unlawful force on an inmate and one count of being deliberately indifferent to the same inmate’s medical needs. “Correctional officers who abuse the people in their custody not only violate the Constitution, but also erode public trust in the criminal justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “While on duty as a supervisory officer, the defendant brutally assaulted a man in a state corrections facility and then deliberately ignored his obvious medical needs resulting from the assault. The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting officials inside our jails and prisons who abuse their power and exploit their position in full disregard of the constitutional rights which we all possess.” “The defendant, who was entrusted with the care of inmates, abused his authority as a corrections officer by violently assaulting an inmate,” said U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. “This sentence sends a clear message that our office will investigate and hold accountable anyone who violates the constitutional rights of others.” “When correctional officers abuse their authority and harm inmates, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system as a whole,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.” The facts established in connection with the defendant’s guilty plea revealed that, on Aug. 30, 2019, Lister assaulted an inmate in a holding cell at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility in Hartsville, Tennessee. At the time, Lister was on duty as the facility’s security threat group coordinator. While the inmate was sitting calmly in a holding cell, Lister punched the inmate in the head, knocking him to the ground. Lister then kicked, punched and struck the inmate multiple times in his head, chest and torso after he was on the ground and not resisting. The assault fractured the inmate’s ribs and punctured his lung. After the assault, Lister knew that the inmate had serious medical needs. Despite this knowledge, Lister failed to provide medical care to the inmate or obtain medical care from others. Instead, Lister left the inmate locked in a holding cell and filed a report that omitted any mention of his assault. The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda J. Klopf for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Livermore Falls Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining Needs-Based Benefits

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND Maine: A Livermore Falls man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for Social Security fraud, health care fraud, and theft of public money. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Rick V. Greene , 56, to five years of probation, and he was ordered to pay $34,119 in restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and $37,944.34 in restitution to the Maine Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). Greene pleaded guilty on June 20, 2023. According to court records, from about January 2017 through December 2020, Greene concealed self-employed work activity, as well as various assets, from SSA to appear eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. SSI benefits are paid to people with limited income who are blind, disabled or elderly. Greene also concealed his work activity and assets from the Maine DHHS to appear eligible to receive MaineCare and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which are also needs-based programs. In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Greene falsely represented to the SSA and Maine DHHS that his only income was from SSI. He did not disclose his income and assets despite knowing that he was required to do so and that they would affect his eligibility to receive benefits. This investigation was conducted by SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and the Maine DHHS’s Fraud Investigation & Recovery Unit. ###


title: Justice Department Awards $10.5 Million in Grants to New Mexican Tribes and Organizations for Domestic Violence Prevention

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Justice Department announced that it awarded 17 grants totaling $10.5 million to two Tribal governments and 15 organizations in the District of New Mexico through its Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). The grants were made possible through authorization under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). The Department awarded 496 grants totaling more than $251.1 million to bolster coordinated community responses aimed at bringing an end to domestic violence, as well as sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The grants will reach communities across the United States, including Tribal nations, historically marginalized communities, underserved communities, college and university campuses, rural towns, and more. The funding prioritizes increasing access to justice, bolstering survivor safety, holding perpetrators accountable, and offering training and technical support to professionals addressing these crimes. Data from the most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicate that about 41% of women and 26% of men experience contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and report an intimate partner violence-related impact during their lifetime. Domestic violence rates are even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, Black individuals, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez joins the U.S. Department of Justice in paying tribute to victims and survivors whose bravery makes justice possible, and saluting the dedication of advocates, service providers, justice professionals, law enforcement officers, and first responders who tirelessly work to secure that justice. “Everybody deserves to feel safe in their home,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “We must believe survivors when they come forward, support them when they testify against their abusers, and have systems in place to aid them in healing. The Department of Justice is proud to announce over $10.5 million in grant funds awarded to two Tribal governments and 15 other New Mexican organizations to support outreach, prevention, intervention, services, and training relating to domestic violence.” The following New Mexican Tribal governments and organizations received federal grants to support survivors and fight domestic violence: Capacity Builders, Inc. and the American Indian Development Associates, LLC each received $500,000 from the OVC Developing Future Victim Specialists to Serve American Indian Victims of Crime grant. The Pueblo of Jemez and Santo Domingo Pueblo received $900,000 and $664,869, respectively, from the OVW Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program grant. The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women received $382,188 from the OVW Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions grant. The New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Program received $950,000, the Phoenix House Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Resource Center received $750,000, the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center received $750,000, the Tri-County Family Justice Center of Northeast New Mexico received $616,950, and the Community Against Violence, Inc. received $500,000 from the OVW Rural Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program grant. Casa Fortaleza received $495,000 from the OVW Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program grant. La Casa received $550,000 from the OVW Transitional Housing Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking grant. New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence received $108,034 from the OVC State and Territorial Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program grant. New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Program received $232,584 from the OVC State and Territorial Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program grant. New Mexico Dream Center of Albuquerque received a total of $1.8 million from the OVC Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking and OVC Services for Victims of Human Trafficking grant. New Mexico Immigrant Law Center received $800,000 from the OVC Services for Victims of Human Trafficking grant. "We are thrilled to receive funding to support the Tribal Victim Specialist Internship (TVSI) III for a third three-year cycle,” said President Ada Pecos Melton of the American Indian Development Associates, LLC. “Through the TVSI III, we are helping to link individuals interested in working with victims living in rural or remote Tribal settings with Tribes serving as host sites. The TVSI helps Tribes build programs that attract qualified and culturally informed individuals to strengthen and grow their victim services workforce. We thank OVC for funding this project in NM and across the nation with other providers." “Everyone has a role to play in ending gender-based violence,” added U.S. Attorney Uballez. “Every day, federal law enforcement and prosecutors work hand-in-hand with our local and tribal counterparts to protect survivors and seek justice. As a community, we owe these brave survivors support outside of the courtroom. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, speak out. We will be here for you.” Organizations interested in applying for these and other grants are encouraged to visit the OVW and OVC websites for more details and application guidelines. Immediate help for domestic violence victims is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline (@ndvhoffiial) at 1-800-799-7233 or the Strong Hearts Native Helpline (@strongheartsdv) at 1-844-762-8483. To find additional information on local support and resources by state, visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/local-resources. # # # 23-256


title: Wolf Point man sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after armed carjackings spanning Yellowstone and Cascade counties

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

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point man who admitted to attempted carjacking and a firearms crime stemming from a violent crime spree that began with an armed carjacking in Yellowstone County and ended in Cascade County with another carjacking was sentenced today to 11 years and two months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Santana Cruz Ledeau, 27, pleaded guilty in May to attempted carjacking and to using, carrying and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $500 restitution. There is no parole in the federal system, however a defendant may be eligible for a reduced sentence not exceeding 15 percent of the overall sentence by earning credit for good behavior. “Ledeau terrorized two communities during his armed carjacking rampage, causing schools and residents to shelter-in-place and putting people in fear of having their vehicles stolen at gunpoint. It is a miracle no one was killed or seriously injured. But Ledeau still inflicted severe trauma on the victims he randomly attacked, and he nearly ran over two deputies with the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office as they were attempting to stop him,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. “Ending Ledeau’s crime spree and holding him accountable would not have happened without the extraordinary dedication to public safety by local, state, and federal law enforcement, many of whom jeopardized their own lives to bring Ledeau to justice. I am grateful to and proud of the Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Attorney’s Office, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office, Billings Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their outstanding work on this case.” The government alleged in court documents that on Sept. 30, 2022, in Billings, Ledeau accosted a woman as she tried to get out of her car in a hospital parking lot. Ledeau pointed a gun at her, demanded keys and sprayed pepper spray her in the face. He then carjacked the woman’s vehicle and fled. The woman described the gun as “red with some silver.” Law enforcement found the car a few days later in Musselshell County. The government further alleged that a few weeks later, on Oct. 17, 2022, Ledeau and a female companion were driving around Great Falls in a white truck that was later discovered to be stolen from North Dakota. Ledeau got into a fight outside a motel and fired a pistol into the air. He fled the scene and was involved in a hit-and-run car accident. Great Falls police were unable to stop Ledeau, who drove south on Interstate 15 toward Ulm. When he neared Ulm, Ledeau exited the interstate, drove up behind a Buick sedan, got out of the truck and demanded the Buick from the man driving it. The driver refused to give up his car. Ledeau then pointed a pistol at the car and shot through the rear driver’s side window. The window shattered, and the bullet traveled into the trunk, where it was recovered. The driver sped away, and Ledeau took off down Interstate 15 in the stolen truck. The government further alleged that Ledeau made it to Cascade where he ran out of gas. There, a man offered to take Ledeau to get gas, and Ledeau and his companion got into the man’s car. However, once in the car, Ledeau threatened the driver with a knife and demanded the vehicle. The driver jumped out of the car and noticed law enforcement beginning to arrive. Deputies attempted to stop Ledeau, but he drove the stolen car at the officers, who had to flee out of his path. As deputies continued trying to stop Ledeau, Ledeau drove back onto Interstate 15 at a high rate of speed and traveled the wrong way on the interstate. Ledeau eventually exited the interstate and crashed near Simms. At the crash scene, officers found Ledeau in possession of a pistol that appeared to be the same gun he used in the Billings carjacking and a bottle of Southern Comfort whiskey. Ledeau was intoxicated and belligerent, and agents recovered numerous cartridges, ammunition and empty ammunition boxes from the truck. The gun had a red stock and dark colored slide and was determined to be a 9mm pistol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica A. Betley and Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Attorney’s Office, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office, Billings Police Department 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: U.S. Postal Service Employee Convicted of Theft of Postal Money Orders and Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of embezzling over $90,000 and fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits. Jamesa Rankins, 27, of Brockton, was convicted of one count of theft of government money and three counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Feb. 2, 2024. In July 2022, Rankins was indicted by a federal grand jury. “The public’s trust and confidence in our government is eroded when federal employees abuse their positions for personal gain. That is exactly what happened in this case. Ms. Rankins exploited her position to embezzle nearly $100,000 in money orders from her employer, the U.S. Postal Service, at the same time she was trying to fleece taxpayers by fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Today’s guilty verdict should be a stern warning to all who contemplate scamming the government – you will be identified, prosecuted and held accountable.” “The Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General are committed to maintaining the integrity of the Postal Service and its personnel. When a Postal Service employee abuses their position and decides to break the public’s trust, USPS OIG Special Agents will work tirelessly with their law enforcement partners to bring those responsible to justice. The dedicated work of Postal Service employees should never be overshadowed by those who compromise their integrity for personal gain. The USPS OIG is thankful for the great relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and with the District of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office. “Jamesa Rankins violated the public trust placed in her as a U.S. Postal Service employee by fraudulently collecting unemployment insurance while she was employed by the U.S. Postal Service. Rankins stole taxpayer funds intended for those Americans who lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Rankins began working for USPS around 2016, most recently as a Sales & Service Distribution Associate at the Montello Post Office in Brockton. In this role, Rankins had the ability to generate postal money orders, including replacement money orders. During the relevant period, customers could obtain replacement money orders without paying any additional fees if the original money orders were lost, damaged or erroneous. Rankins issued over $90,000 worth of replacement money orders to another individual where the original money orders were not erroneous and had not been lost or stolen. On at least one occasion, Rankins personally negotiated one of the replacement money orders at a check cashing business. Rankins also applied for and obtained unemployment assistance from the Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance despite being employed by USPS and thus being ineligible to receive unemployment assistance. The charge of theft of government money provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, USPS OIG SAC Modafferi and DOL OIG SAC Mellone made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Car battery conspiracy: three men convicted of cocaine trafficking

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two men have pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic cocaine across the border, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Mikeal Jovany Phillips, 35, Huffman, and Juan Andres Rodriguez-Murillo, 31, Mexico, conspired with others to smuggle narcotics into the United States by concealing the drugs inside car batteries. On Jan. 6, Christopher Sheffield, 38, Crosby, drove a gold SUV to the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Sarita. Upon inspection, authorities discovered approximately 2.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the battery compartment. The battery shell contained a smaller battery to power the vehicle and three bundles of cocaine. The investigation revealed numerous text and Facebook messages between Sheffield and Phillips discussing the trip. Subsequently, authorities learned Phillips had coordinated the trip and arranged for Sheffield to travel from the Houston area to Brownsville to retrieve the cocaine. While in Brownsville, Sheffield met Rodriguez-Murillo who then provided the cocaine-filled car battery and made the switch in the vehicle. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing for Phillips and Rodriguez-Murillo Jan. 30 and Feb. 6, 2024, respectively. At that time, each man faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine. Phillips and Rodriguez-Murillo have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Sheffield previously pleaded guilty and is also pending sentencing. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin is prosecuting the case.


title: Man Sentenced To 20 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing A Child

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: BOISE – Chris Hamburg, 63, was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 240 months in federal prison for transporting a child across state lines with the intent to sexually abuse the child, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Hamburg’s victim appeared in court and gave a victim impact statement. “You stole every bit of peace and contentment, from my childhood...from my entire life. My struggles continue, daily,” the victim said to Hamburg. According to court records, in approximately 1990, Hamburg began dating the victim’s mother. Hamburg moved into the family’s Washington residence and shortly thereafter began sexually abusing the victim. The victim was approximately eight or nine years old when the abuse began. Hamburg impregnated the victim when she was 11 years old. After the victim gave birth to a son, Hamburg moved the family to Idaho to avoid contact with child protective services. Hamburg continued to sexually abuse the victim and he impregnated her for a second time. When the victim was 13 years old, she gave birth to a second son. For over a decade, Hamburg moved the family to various cities in Idaho and Utah. Hamburg sexually abused the victim until she was in her early twenties. In 2021, the victim reported the abuse to the FBI and the Boise Police Department. The FBI obtained a federal warrant to collect Hamburg’s DNA. Paternity testing confirmed that Hamburg fathered the victim’s children. Hamburg was subject to the penalties and federal sentencing guidelines that were in effect at the time that he committed the crimes. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Hamburg to three years of supervised release. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Winmill said, “I would have a hard time coming up with a case that is more horrific than this one.” Hamburg will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction. “In this case, the defendant raped and sexually abused a child for over a decade. What he did to the victim is inhuman,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “The strength that the victim showed in reporting this abuse, however, shows the amazing resiliency of the human spirit. I hope that the sentence in this case provides some solace to her and her family. I thank the FBI and the Boise Police Department for their investigation in this case. Together, we stand ready to do all we can to seek justice for survivors of sexual abuse.” “Our detectives spent a year and a half seeking justice for the victim in this horrific crime and we feel it’s important to commend her for her bravery in coming forward and for her participation in this process. It is a difficult but worthy endeavor,” said Boise Police Lieutenant Terry Weir. “We remind all victims that it’s never too late to report crimes of this nature. Boise Police officers and our Special Victim’s Unit work closely with victim support services at Faces of Hope Victim Center and we are ready and available to do whatever we can to bring some sense of justice to those who have been victimized.” “The FBI commends the victim’s courage to report Mr. Hamburg's atrocious crimes. Because of her bravery, he will not have the opportunity to hurt her or another child again,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha. “As a society, we must do all we can to protect our most vulnerable. The FBI and our partners are committed to keeping kids safe and holding those who hurt them accountable.” Faces of Hope is a triage and support center for victims. Individuals are encouraged to report crime and seek services by calling (208) 577-4400 or visiting facesofhopevictimcenter.org . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: St. Joseph Man Sentenced for Heroin Conspiracy, Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Joseph, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing firearms. Franklin T. Hicks Jr., also known as “Frankie,” 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 10 years and six months in federal prison without parole. On May 31, 2022, Hicks pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in the St. Joseph area from Sept. 1, 2019, to March 26, 2021, and to two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to court documents, Hicks is directly responsible for distributing at least 115.5 grams of heroin, which is over 1,150 potentially lethal, 0.1-gram “doses” of the drug, and was involved in a conspiracy that moved kilograms of heroin. Hicks was arrested outside of a hotel in St. Joseph on Jan. 22, 2021. He was in possession of 35.8 grams of heroin and $2,687 in cash. Officers also found a loaded Rock Island Armory .380-caliber handgun under the driver’s seat of his car and a Ruger 9mm handgun in the glovebox. Hicks is the third and final defendant to be sentenced in this case. Co-defendant Roderick A. Hughes, 48, was sentenced on Oct. 10, 2023, to 17 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to court documents, Hughes is responsible for distributing at least 461.9 grams of heroin, which is over 4,600 potentially lethal, 0.1-gram “doses” of the drug. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hughes’s apartment on Feb. 23, 2021. Officers found a silver revolver on the kitchen table. They also found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun on a nightstand in the bedroom, a Stoeger 9mm handgun and a Jennings Bryco 9mm handgun on a shelf in the bedroom, and a black safe under the bed that contained 23.4 grams of heroin and $4,703 in cash. Officers also searched the garage and found three plastic bags with a total of 96.3 grams of heroin hidden in the rafters. Co-defendant Harvey E. Johnson, 50, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced on Oct. 26, 2023, to 12 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the heroin-trafficking conspiracy. Johnson was in possession of approximately 51 grams of heroin when he was arrested on March 16, 2021, after fleeing from law enforcement officers in a high-speed car chase. According to court documents, Johnson is responsible for distributing at least 2.835 kilograms of heroin, which is over 28,000 potentially lethal, 0.1-gram “doses” of the drug. Johnson was on state parole following his conviction on drug charges during his involvement in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black. It was investigated by the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department, the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


title: North Stonington Woman Admits Trafficking Crystal Meth

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that JILL MULLIGAN, 43, of North Stonington, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, in April and May 2023, the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force made three controlled purchases of crystal meth from Mulligan. On May 4, 2023, court authorized searches of Mulligan’s North Stonington residence and her vehicle revealed approximately 390 grams of crystal meth, and quantities of crack cocaine, LSD, and prescription pills. Mulligan was arrested on that date. Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for January 24, 2024, at which time Mulligan faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Mulligan is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, which includes members of the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham.


title: Meth trafficking in Billings sends Washington woman to prison for 10 years

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — A Washington woman was sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, after she was caught while trying to flee law enforcement and admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in the Billings community, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Lyzette Vargas, 41, of Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute meth. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that in September 2022, agents with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force learned that Vargas was distributing large quantities of fentanyl pills in Billings. Law enforcement pulled over a vehicle Vargas was driving, but as the officer approached, Vargas switched seats with a passenger, who then sped away. A short time later, officers located the vehicle, which was abandoned. In a search of the area, law enforcement located Vargas, who tried to flee but was caught and arrested. Agents searched a bag Vargas had possessed and found it contained approximately 873 grams, which is almost two pounds, of meth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich prosecuted the case, The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force 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: Two Sentenced for Roles in Wide-Ranging Drug Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – Two men were sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for their participation in a wide-ranging fentanyl, heroin, crack and cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Adiangel Paredes, 37, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 135 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2022, Paredes was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine). Jonathan Villot, 32, was sentenced by Judge Hillman to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2023, Villot pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Following a fatal fentanyl overdose in September 2018, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization in the Fitchburg area. Intercepted communications, surveillance and controlled purchases identified Paredes as a fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine supplier and Villot as a cocaine distributor. Between September 2018 and November 2019, Paredes conspired to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine as well as a fentanyl and heroin mixture. Nearly 850 grams of the fentanyl and heroin mixture supplied by Paredes in three controlled purchases was seized during the investigation. In addition, Paredes is responsible for distributing an additional 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.6 kilograms of cocaine and at least 550 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture. Between January and July 2020, Villot distributed cocaine to a cooperating witness on three occasions. For two of those deals, Villot sent co-conspirator Ivan Torres to deliver the cocaine. Torres pleaded guilty to the indictment and was sentenced in September 2023 to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In addition to the sales to the cooperating witness, Villot is responsible for distributing an additional two kilograms of cocaine in February 2020. Over the course of the investigation, over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, over 3.6 kilograms of cocaine and over 50 grams of crack cocaine were seized, as well as a stolen, loaded handgun, drug manufacturing equipment and over $376,000. The defendants are the 16th and 17th to be sentenced in this case. All 18 defendants have been convicted – either by guilty plea or jury conviction following trial. The remaining defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 16, 2023. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments and U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Former Economy Inn Managers Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, MS – Two former managers for the Economy Inn in Bay St. Louis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to court documents, in 2023, agents began investigating drug activity at the Economy Inn located at 810 Us Hwy 90. Agents received information that Pernell Robert Galloway, 54, and his girlfriend, Cassie Louise McKenzie, 42, were managers at the hotel but also selling drugs from the hotel. Law Enforcement began doing controlled purchases of a methamphetamine/fentanyl mixture from the duo. On or about June 8, 2023, a search warrant was executed at the Economy Inn where Galloway and McKenzie were located. Agents also located an additional 14 grams of a methamphetamine/fentanyl mixture in two separate bags. Agents also located a firearm, digital scales, and additional unused distribution baggies. The pair pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. They are both scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2024, and they each face a up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.


title: Tenderloin Dealer Pleads Guilty To Six Drug Offenses, Including Conspiracy To Distribute Fentanyl And Possession With Intent To Distribute Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, And Methamphetamine

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Melvin Alexis Diaz Arteaga (Diaz), a resident of Oakland, has pleaded guilty to six drug charges stemming from his sale of—and intent to sell—fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. Diaz’s guilty plea was accepted by the Hon. Charles R. Breyer, Senior United States District Judge, on October 26, 2023. In his plea agreement, Diaz, 28, admitted he possessed 6.6 kilograms—that is, nearly 15 pounds—of fentanyl, along with lesser quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and other controlled substances, all of which he intended to sell, when he was arrested outside an apartment in Berkeley, California, on November 16, 2022. According to the plea agreement, Diaz also admitted using the same Berkeley apartment to manufacture and store significant quantities of drugs for sale in the Tenderloin, among other locations. He also admitted he sold, or arranged the sale of, fentanyl and methamphetamine to an undercover officer of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) on four separate occasions between September 16, 2022, and October 5, 2022. Finally, pursuant to the plea agreement, Diaz agreed to forfeit, among other things, more than $50,000 in cash that officers seized on the night of his arrest, including nearly $42,000 found in Diaz’s bedroom. Diaz acknowledged these funds either were, or were derived from, drug proceeds, or that they were used, or were intended to be used, to commit or facilitate his drug trafficking crimes. Diaz and two co-defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on January 5, 2023. Diaz was charged in six of the eight counts alleged in the indictment: Count Charge Statute(s) Statutory Maximum Prison Term 1 Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(vi) Life 2 Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(vi) Life 3 Possession with Intent to Distribute 100 Grams or More of Heroin 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(i) 40 years 4 Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(ii) 40 years 7 Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(viii) 40 years 8 Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Methamphetamine 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) 20 years Pursuant to his plea agreement, Diaz pleaded guilty to all six of the counts in which he was charged. In addition to the penalties listed above, as part of any sentence, the court may order the defendant to pay a fine of up to $10 million per count on Counts 1 and 2; $5 million per count on Counts 3, 4, and 7; and $1 million on Count 8. The defendant also faces a mandatory additional term of supervised release of five years on Counts 1 and 2; four years on Counts 3, 4, and 7; and three years on Count 8. However, any sentence will 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. Diaz has been in custody since he was arrested on November 16, 2022. Judge Breyer has scheduled Diaz’s sentencing hearing for February 21, 2024. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas M. Parker is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Jessie Chelsea. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from SFPD.


title: Fort Washakie man arraigned on sexual abuse charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Robert Antone Brown, age 36, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was arraigned on Oct. 31 on three counts of aggravated sexual abuse and three counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Brown pleaded not guilty. A trial has been set for Jan. 2, 2024 before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson. If convicted on all counts, Brown faces 30 years to life imprisonment with five years to life of supervised release, up to a $1.5 million fine, $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Victims of Sex Trafficking Act of 2005, and a $600 special assessment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This crime is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist. An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Case No. 23-CR-00135


title: Fremont County man sentenced for illegal possession of a firearm

body_text: John William Goodman, age 29, of Fremont County, Wyoming, was sentenced recently to 48 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on April 12, 2023, the Riverton Police Department received a report of a physical assault involving a handgun near the Riverton bike path. Witnesses observed Goodman “pistol-whip” a man, knocking him to the ground, then beating him, before putting another person in a chokehold and pointing the gun at the person’s head. Afterwards, Goodman walked to the Murdoch’s store nearby where law enforcement officers observed Goodman drop something in a garbage can outside the store. Officers recovered a loaded 9mm Taurus pistol from the garbage can. Goodman was indicted by a federal grand jury in May and pled guilty on July 21. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on October 31. This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with substantial assistance from the Riverton Police Department and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-CR-00078