title: Justice Department Strengthens Efforts to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day . Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day. The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission—to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis. “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” “Crime in Indian Country, particularly when it involves violent crime, domestic violence, kidnapping, abduction, or murder, is best addressed with swift and effective action through a coordinated law enforcement response,” said United States Attorney Robert J. Troester from the Western District of Oklahoma. “These cases and investigations are a priority for my Office, and we remain committed to work with our local, state, Tribal and federal law enforcement partners agencies to resolve jurisdictional complexities and coordinate efforts so that criminal offenders are held accountable, and victims receive justice.” Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction — along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ — to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. With respect to missing Indigenous persons, just a few weeks ago the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma (USAO-WDOK) issued MMIP Investigative Guidelines, pursuant to Savanna’s Act, which will serve as a roadmap for handling these cases. The USAO-WDOK also created a new position of Senior Counsel for Tribal Relations and selected Arvo Q. Mikkanen, an experienced Assistant U.S. Attorney with extensive experience prosecuting cases arising in Indian country, to serve in this role. The creation of this position further heightens the USAO-WDOK’s commitment to criminal justice issues, particularly those affecting the 21 tribes with lands located in the Western District of Oklahoma. The USAO-WDOK will also work more closely with Tribal justice partners following the passage of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act in 2022. As a result of that law’s passage, Tribal justice systems are now able, with expanded special criminal jurisdiction, to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults on Tribal law enforcement officers, unlike before. Further, the USAO-WDOK has a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney—who is dually appointed as a prosecutor with the Chickasaw Nation—embedded in its office to further streamline its response and enhance coordination. Recently, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the USAO-WDOK, along with various other state agencies participated in the “Missing in Oklahoma 2023” event on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the University of Central Oklahoma Forensic Science Institute in Edmond. Many families and friends of missing persons attended the event providing DNA and reporting additional information to be added to NamUs. Next year, the Missing in Oklahoma event will be held on April 27, 2024, at the same location. Publication of Updated Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines , which were updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities. National Native American Outreach Services Liaison Last year, the department announced the creation of a new National Native American Outreach Services Liaison. Since that announcement, the Liaison has begun to help amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families across the department as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. In the coming months, the Liaison will meet with survivors and family members of MMIP to learn more about the current challenges in MMIP cases and to make recommendations about the department’s continued response. Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the MMIP Crisis In July 2022, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior submitted a report pursuant to Sections 2 and 4(a) of Executive Order 14053, which called for “coordinated and comprehensive Federal law enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including to address missing or murdered indigenous people where the federal government has jurisdiction.” The report was published late last year and is available on the department website here . Guide for Tribal Community Response Plans for Missing Persons Cases In December 2022, the department published a Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Persons Cases . This Guide is a resource for Tribes interested in developing a plan to respond to missing person cases that is tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of Tribal communities. Launch of the COPS Office Tribal MOU/MOA Resource Library On Monday of this week, the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) published its Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sample Resource Library. This library provides users with the resources to research and successfully draft agreements that will help agencies develop and solidify partnerships to address missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases. Expanded Scope of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Grant Program The department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) expanded the scope of allowable activities under its Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) grant program to permit Tribal communities to pay for costs related to generating awareness of individual missing persons cases involving American Indians and Alaska Native persons, supporting private search efforts for missing American Indians and Alaska Native persons in certain circumstances, and supporting efforts to coordinate the Tribal, state, and federal response to MMIP cases. Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women In September 2022, the department’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) held the 17th Annual OVW Government-to Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Anchorage, Alaska. OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here. National Institute of Justice Study of MMIP Cases in New Mexico Last year, the department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded a study that will provide vital information regarding the prevalence and context of cases of MMIP in New Mexico and, importantly, will inform long-term data collection, analysis, and reporting strategies on MMIP cases. These improvements will support data-driven decision-making regarding MMIP in New Mexico moving forward. Additional Department of Justice Resources For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


title: Foreign National Extradited to the United States for Kidnapping and Assaulting U.S. Army Soldiers in Colombia

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Colombian national has been extradited from Colombia to the United States to face charges related to kidnapping and assaulting two U.S. Army soldiers who were on temporary duty in Bogota, Colombia. Jeffersson Arango Castellanos made his initial court appearance today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. According to court documents, Arango and his co-conspirators targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogota. The two victims were in an entertainment district in Bogota watching a sporting event on the evening of March 5, 2020. While at a pub in Bogota, the two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated. Medical examinations later confirmed the presence of benzodiazepines in their systems. The defendants are alleged to have targeted the two victims at the pub, incapacitated them with drugs, and kidnapped them to acquire the victims’ valuables and credit and debit card information. Arango and his co-conspirators are each charged with kidnapping an internationally protected person, conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person, assaulting an internationally protected person, and conspiracy to assault an internationally protected person. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché Office in Bogota, and the U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendant. The United States also thanks Colombian law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance. Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dayron Silverio for the Southern District of Florida 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: Extranjero extraditado a los Estados Unidos por secuestro y agresión a soldados del Ejército de los EE. UU. en Colombia

body_text: Un ciudadano colombiano ha sido extraditado de Colombia a los Estados Unidos para enfrentar cargos relacionados con el secuestro y agresión a dos soldados del Ejército de los EE. UU. que se encontraban en servicio temporal en Bogotá, Colombia. Jeffersson Arango Castellanos hizo su primera comparecencia ante el tribunal hoy en el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Sur de Florida. Según documentos judiciales, Arango y sus cómplices atacaron, incapacitaron y secuestraron a dos soldados estadounidenses en Bogotá. Las dos víctimas estaban en un distrito de entretenimiento en Bogotá viendo un evento deportivo en la noche del 5 de marzo de 2020. Mientras estaban en un bar en Bogotá, las dos víctimas perdieron el conocimiento hasta el día siguiente, momento en el que se separaron. Posteriormente, los exámenes médicos confirmaron la presencia de benzodiazepinas en sus sistemas. Se alega que los acusados atacaron a las dos víctimas en el pub, las incapacitaron con drogas y las secuestraron para adquirir los objetos de valor de las víctimas y la información de las tarjetas de crédito y débito. Arango y sus cómplices están acusados de secuestrar a una persona protegida internacionalmente, conspiración para secuestrar a una persona protegida internacionalmente, agredir a una persona protegida internacionalmente y conspirar para agredir a una persona protegida internacionalmente. Si son declarados culpables, cada uno de ellos enfrenta una pena máxima de cadena perpetua. El Fiscal General Adjunto Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. de la División Criminal del Departamento de Justicia, el Fiscal Federal Markenzy Lapointe para el Distrito Sur de Florida y el Agente Especial a Cargo Jeffrey B. Veltri de la Oficina Local del FBI en Miami hicieron el anuncio. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia, la Oficina del Agregado Judicial de la Sección de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas en Bogotá y el Servicio de Alguaciles de los EE. UU. brindaron asistencia significativa para asegurar el arresto y la extradición del acusado. Estados Unidos también agradece a las autoridades policiales colombianas por su valiosa asistencia. Los abogados litigantes Clayton O'Connor y Elizabeth Nielson de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Procesamientos Especiales de la División Criminal y el Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Dayron Silverio para el Distrito Sur de Florida están procesando el caso. Una acusación es simplemente una acusación. Se presume que todos los acusados son inocentes hasta que se pruebe su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de jus


title: Justice Department Reaches Settlement in Suit to Block ASSA ABLOY’s Proposed Acquisition of Spectrum Brands’ Hardware and Home Improvement Division

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement in its litigation regarding ASSA ABLOY AB’s (ASSA ABLOY) proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Spectrum Brand Holding Inc.’s Hardware and Home Improvement division. The proposed settlement requires ASSA ABLOY to divest assets as a condition of finalizing ASSA ABLOY’s transaction with Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. Under the terms of the proposed settlement, which is subject to court approval, ASSA ABLOY must divest assets to Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. that are designed to allow Fortune to compete in the markets for premium mechanical door hardware and smart locks used in residential and multifamily buildings. These assets include ASSA ABLOY’s EMTEK and Schaub premium mechanical door hardware businesses, its Yale and August residential smart lock businesses in the United States and Canada, and other assets for multifamily smart lock applications in the United States and Canada. Additional terms of the settlement include: expanding Fortune’s intellectual property and commercialization rights in smart locks, inclusion of additional residential mechanical lock assets, the appointment of a monitoring trustee, a penalty provision for delayed transfer of a manufacturing facility, and the ability, under certain circumstances, for the Department to seek additional relief later if the divestiture fails to maintain the intensity of competition that existed before the merger for smart locks used for residential and multifamily buildings. ASSA ABLOY AB is a publicly traded Swedish stock company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. It sells its residential door hardware products in the United States under the August, EMTEK, and Yale brands. Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. is a publicly traded Delaware corporation headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin. It sells its residential hardware products in the United States under the Baldwin and Kwikset brands. Fortune Brands Innovation, Inc. is a publicly traded Delaware corporation headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. It sells various products for the home under the Moen, Fiberon, and MasterLock brands, among others. As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Justice Department Continued Efforts to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND-- The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day . Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day. The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis. “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson said, “Since their federal recognition in 1994, my Office and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi have built a very deep and strong relationship in which concerns are openly discussed. One of the topics we have discussed is the unacceptable levels of victimization of American Indian and Alaska Native community members. Through those discussions, into which we invited our local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement partners, we have developed plans and strategies to address any incident of violence directed at members of the Pokagon Band that occur in the Northern District of Indiana.” Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases - In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction — along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ — to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. Publication of Updated Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance- In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines , which was updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities. National Native American Outreach Services Liaison- Last year, the department announced the creation of a new National Native American Outreach Services Liaison. Since that announcement, the Liaison has begun to help amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families across the department as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. In the coming months, the Liaison will meet with survivors and family members of MMIP to learn more about the current challenges in MMIP cases and to make recommendations about the department’s continued response. Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the MMIP Crisis - In July 2022, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior submitted a report pursuant to Sections 2 and 4(a) of Executive Order 14053, which called for “coordinated and comprehensive Federal law enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including to address missing or murdered indigenous people where the federal government has jurisdiction.” The report was published late last year and is available on the department website here . Guide for Tribal Community Response Plans for Missing Persons Cases - In December 2022, the department published a Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Persons Cases . This Guide is a resource for Tribes interested in developing a plan to respond to missing person cases that is tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of Tribal communities. Launch of the COPS Office Tribal MOU/MOA Resource Library - On Monday of this week, the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) published its Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sample Resource Library. This library provides users with the resources to research and successfully draft agreements that will help agencies develop and solidify partnerships to address missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases. Expanded Scope of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Grant Program - The department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) expanded the scope of allowable activities under its Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) grant program to permit Tribal communities to pay for costs related to generating awareness of individual missing persons cases involving American Indians and Alaska Native persons, supporting private search efforts for missing American Indians and Alaska Native persons in certain circumstances, and supporting efforts to coordinate the Tribal, state, and federal response to MMIP cases. Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women - In September 2022, the department’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) held the 17th Annual OVW Government-to Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Anchorage, Alaska. OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here. National Institute of Justice Study of MMIP Cases in New Mexico - Last year, the department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded a study that will provide vital information regarding the prevalence and context of cases of MMIP in New Mexico and, importantly, will inform long-term data collection, analysis, and reporting strategies on MMIP cases. These improvements will support data-driven decision-making regarding MMIP in New Mexico moving forward. Additional Department of Justice Resources - For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


title: Deltona Man Indicted For Distributing, Receiving, And Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Images And Videos Over The Internet

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Troy Mitchell McGowan (25, Deltona) with three counts of distributing child sexual abuse images and videos over the internet, two counts of receiving child sexual abuse images and videos over the internet, and one count possession of child sexual abuse images and videos. If convicted, McGowan faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 20 years’ imprisonment, for each count of distributing and receiving child sexual abuse images and videos, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for possessing child sex abuse images and videos. According to court documents, McGowan used a particular chat application to download images and videos depicting children being sexually abused and distributed them over the internet. McGowan also distributed some of these materials to an undercover FBI agent. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Terry B. Livanos. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Kissimmee Man Pleads Guilty For Lying To The FBI In Connection With An International Terrorism Investigation

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg, announces that Moad Mohamed Benkabbou (23, Kissimmee) has pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to a federal agency. He faces a maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. On August 9, 2022, FBI agents interviewed Benkabbou and asked him several questions relating to a terrorism investigation. When asked if he ever talked about ISIS with a person known to FBI, Benkabbou falsely answered “No, I didn’t.” Benkabbou was asked if he ever made plans to travel overseas to join ISIS. Again, he falsely stated, “No, I didn’t.” According to the plea agreement and evidence admitted during a detention hearing, Benkabbou swore an oath to support ISIS in January 2020, made plans to travel to Turkey and Syria to fight for ISIS, sent money to support ISIS, purchased airplane tickets for travel to Turkey in August 2020 and January 2021 (later canceling both tickets), and sent ISIS propaganda videos to others, including ISIS-sponsored videos showing the executions (by gunshot and beheading) of American allies fighting against ISIS. Benkabbou also sent a picture of himself dressed as an ISIS fighter with the statement, “Hey Crusaders hey Jews die within your rage.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn P. Napier.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Muskogee Resident Of First-Degree Murder In Indian Country

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Robert William Rainford, age 50, of Muskogee, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of First-Degree Murder in Indian Country, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and one count of Causing Death with a Firearm. The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, May 1, 2023, and concluded on Friday, May 5, 2023, with the guilty verdicts. Based on the verdicts, the defendant is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on or about December 12, 2021, the defendant shot his 49-year old neighbor ten times and killed him. The defendant claimed insanity, arguing that he was involuntarily intoxicated on prescription Adderall at the time of the crime. The Government refuted this at trial, showing that while the defendant had used methamphetamine and abused his prescription Adderall, he understood the actions he took when he killed his neighbor. The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the victim in this case is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation. The Honorable Margaret Strickland, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by designation, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Gross and Ryan Bondura represented the United States at trial.


title: Department Of Justice Recognizes Two U.S. Attorney's Office Employees

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced that two U.S. Attorney’s Office employees were among the 159 members of the Justice Department recognized by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 38 th Director’s Awards Ceremony yesterday in Washington, D.C. The Western District of North Carolina was one of 31 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. Fred Hudson was recognized for his exemplary work as the Western District’s Law Enforcement Coordinator (LEC). As an LEC, Mr. Hudson has spent years cultivating relationships with federal, state, and local law enforcement, coordinating law enforcement officer training, and assisting partner agencies with federal grant opportunities. For over 18 years, Mr. Hudson has also spearheaded the Office’s community outreach efforts by fostering relationships with community organizations, schools, service providers, and other important stakeholders, and organizing events and engagement opportunities that advance Department of Justice priorities. Lia Bantavani was recognized for her work as the Office’s Public Information Officer. In that capacity, Ms. Bantavani handles the Office’s communications with the media and the public, drafts and disseminates press releases, responds to media inquiries and coordinates media interviews. In addition, Ms. Bantavani maintains the Offices’ website and social media accounts, and assists with amplifying the Office’s outreach efforts and Department of Justice initiatives through targeted campaigns that promote public safety. “I am honored and delighted that Fred and Lia were recognized for their achievements and contributions to furthering the mission of the Justice Department. This well-deserved award speaks to their dedication, hard work and professionalism. Fred and Lia are dedicated public servants who embody our ongoing commitment to serve our communities and further the cause of justice,” said U.S. Attorney King. EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao .


title: Riverview Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Two Armed Robberies

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jamaal Black (21, Riverview) to 15 years in federal prison for two armed robberies and discharging a firearm during one of the robberies. Black had pleaded guilty on January 26, 2023. According to court documents, on January 30, 2021, Black entered a gas station in Riverview, pulled out a pistol with an extended magazine, aimed it at a clerk, and demanded money. Black attempted to go behind the counter when the clerk refused to give Black the money. Black engaged in an altercation with the clerk and shot the clerk in the arm during the struggle. The clerk fell to the ground. Black approached the clerk, aimed the firearm at the clerk, and repeated the demand for money. The clerk, bleeding profusely from the gunshot wound, complied. The clerk gave Black the contents of the cash register and Black escaped the gas station with $200. Two months later, on March 14, 2021, Black committed another robbery. Black used a juvenile girl to arrange for a marijuana transaction. The girl went to a local drug dealer’s home under the guise of purchasing marijuana. Black approached the dealer when the dealer retrieved the marijuana for the sale. Black pressed a firearm to the drug dealer’s head and demanded the marijuana. The drug dealer threw the marijuana at Black and retreated back into the home. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Spring Hill Man Pleads Guilty To Tampa Bank Robbery

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that John Charles Anderson (39, Spring Hill) has pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Anderson faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, on January 14, 2022, Anderson entered the SunTrust Bank located at 12902 North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa armed with a Crossman BB pistol, a dangerous weapon. Anderson brandished the BB pistol while demanding money from the teller. The pistol appeared to be a functioning handgun, which caused fear in the mind of the teller, who complied with Anderson’s demand and gave him $941 in cash from the cash drawer. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Bullitt County Man on Elder Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on May 2, 2023, charging former Bullitt County Master Commissioner John Anthony Schmidt with engaging in a scheme to commit wire and bank fraud. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the Louisville Field Office made the announcement. According to the indictment, between September 2014 and January 2019, while serving as the trustee for two separate trusts, Schmidt devised a scheme to defraud and to obtain money from the trusts by means of false and fraudulent pretenses and representations to use the trusts’ money for his own personal expenditures. Schmidt is charged with one count of wire fraud and two counts of bank fraud. The defendant made his initial court appearance yesterday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Schmidt faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Zimdahl is 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: U.S Attorney Will Thompson Invites Survivors and Loved Ones to Crime Victims Assistance Awards Ceremony on May 9, 2023

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson is inviting survivors and their loved ones to the 2023 Crime Victims Assistance Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the West Virginia State Capitol. The ceremony is part of Operation Reach Out and follows up on National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change,” which calls upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and commit to creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported. The May 9 ceremony will feature a special Tree of Remembrance. Victims and survivors are encouraged to sign cards and place them on the tree as part of the ceremony in remembrance of a loved one or for themselves as a survivor. Cards will be available at the ceremony and are also on the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week resource page of the Southern District of West Virginia website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/national-crime-victims-rights-week . The ceremony’s featured speakers include Kanawha County Circuit Judge Tera Salango, whose brother was murdered when she was 16, and Angie Conn, a human trafficking survivor, victim advocate and founder of SheWhoDares Consulting LLC. Several individuals and organizations will be honored for their service, support and advocacy on behalf of crime victims and survivors. The ceremony will be held on the south steps of the West Virginia Capitol, near Kanawha Boulevard, or outside the Senate Chamber in the event of inclement weather. Operation Reach Out is a collaborative effort involving local advocacy programs that raise awareness of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and of the various organizations that provide services to crime victims. The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov . More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/national-crime-victims-rights-week/overview . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. ###


title: Warren County man sentenced to 12 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: AUGUSTA, GA: A Warren County man was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine into the Southern District. Michael Shane Jenkins , 44, of Warrenton, Ga., was sentenced to 144 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen also fined Jenkins $2,000 and ordered him to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Methamphetamine and other illegal and highly addictive drugs are a scourge to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With the help of our law enforcement partners, we will hold accountable those who bring these deadly substances into the Southern District of Georgia.” As described in court documents and testimony, Jenkins came to the attention of the FBI in November 2021 when investigators learned that Jenkins was distributing methamphetamine in Warren and McDuffie counties, making frequent trips to the Atlanta area to resupply. In March 2022, Jenkins was arrested during a traffic stop while returning from one of those trips when Georgia State Patrol troopers found a quantity of methamphetamine in his vehicle that later tested at a high level or “ice” purity. During a subsequent search of Jenkins’ residence, investigators found more methamphetamine, along with multiple firearms, ammunition, and high-capacity magazines. “The FBI is dedicated to protecting the people of Georgia from the dangers of drug trafficking and the related crimes that result from it,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This lengthy sentence demonstrates how seriously we take drug trafficking, and that we will do everything in our power to hold accountable those who are delivering dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods.” The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Georgia State Patrol, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah L. Johnson.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to More than 12 Years for Drug Trafficking in the Tri Cities

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, Washington – United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Jose Mendoza-Ruelas, 38, to 150 months in federal prison after his guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine, 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl, and 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine. Mendoza-Ruelas, who is from Mexico, also will serve 5 years of federal supervision after he is released from federal custody. According to information disclosed in court documents and proceedings, Mendoza-Ruelas was part of a large drug trafficking organization that involved a legitimate landscaping business used to cover up the organization’s drug trafficking activities. During the course of the investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration recovered large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cash. Mendoza-Ruelas further made statements that the drug trafficking organization would give him 50,000 to 60,000 fentanyl laced pills in addition to large quantities of methamphetamine. Mendoza Ruelas was negotiating a 30 pound methamphetamine delivery when he was taken into custody. Around that time, DEA, in partnership with local law enforcement, executed numerous search warrants to include at the landscaping compound. There, law enforcement recovered over $160,000 in U.S. currency secreted inside a compartment in the wall. Law enforcement also recovered several automatic rifles armed with loaded barrel drums hanging on the wall. This compound was utilized to intake and process large drug shipments for distribution. Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, stated “Drug distribution continues to be a scourge in the Tri-Cities and elsewhere.” U.S. Attorney Waldref continued: “I commend the collaborative efforts of state, local, and federal law enforcement to identify Mr. Mendoza-Ruelas’s drug trafficking activities and to prevent him from further distributing this poison in our communities. The Tri-Cities area and Eastern Washington are safer and stronger as a result of today’s sentence.” Mr. Mendoza-Ruelas will spend a significant amount of time in prison due to the dedication of our state, local and federal partners who continue to work to keep our communities safe, healthy and free of individuals like him,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. This case was investigated by the DEA Tri-Cities, Border Patrol, the METRO Drug Task Force, Richland Police Department, Kennewick Police Department, Pasco Police Department, and West Richland Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter. 4:21CR06028-MKD-1


title: Attorney General Merrick Garland Honors Three Spokane Federal Prosecutors for their Outstanding Government Service

body_text: Spokane, Washington – U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today that three members of her team – Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) Frieda Zimmerman as well as Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) Tyler Tornabene and Dan Fruchter – were honored for their service to the United States and the citizens of Eastern Washington. SAUSA Zimmerman received the Director’s Award for Superior Performance as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. AUSAs Tornabene and Fruchter were awarded with the Director’s Award for Superior Performance by Civil AUSAs. Each was honored by Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Annual Director’s Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C. earlier today. Attorney General Garland himself is a past recipient of a Director’s Award. SAUSA Zimmerman, who serves as a SAUSA for the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General, was honored for her incredible contributions to the Department of Justice, including in the areas of white-collar crime, False Claims Act cases, health care fraud, civil rights, and COVID-19 fraud. She is universally respected throughout the Department for her unique expertise in procurement fraud, and she is beloved by agents for her skill, dedication, breadth of expertise, and poise. SAUSA Zimmerman embodies not only the best qualities in a federal prosecutor and SAUSA, but the critically important relationships between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners. AUSAs Tornabene and Fruchter were honored for their work to protect innocent patients, who were being defrauded by their medical providers . AUSAs Tornabene and Fruchter resolved allegations against two neurosurgeons , who performed medically unnecessary spinal surgeries and falsely billed federal and state health programs in Eastern Washington. Not only did AUSAs Tornabene and Fruchter – along with their state and federal partners – stop the appalling conduct, but their team secured the Eastern District of Washington’s largest-ever health care fraud settlement of $22,690,458. As part of the settlement, Providence Health and Services not only admitted that their doctors endangered patient safety for profit, Providence also entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement requiring Providence to implement and maintain quality-of-care and patient safety obligations. Beyond this trailblazing case, AUSAs Tornabene and Fruchter have prosecuted numerous nation-wide fraud cases, built a successful COVID-19 Relief Fraud Strike Force, and significantly contributed to the District’s expanded civil rights efforts. In announcing today’s awards, U.S. Attorney Waldref thanked SAUSA Zimmerman and AUSAs Tornabene and Fruchter for their incredible service. “Today’s awards are a reflection of the amazing work being done in the Eastern District of Washington by our entire team. The AUSAs in our District often face daunting and sometimes dangerous challenges. Yet, Frieda, Tyler, and Dan have dedicated their leadership, time, expertise, and energy to the service of their nation. And they, like each of the members of my office, are devoted to the high ideals and deeply-held values that define our great nation and our mission to ensure justice is meted out fairly and swiftly. Each member of our office routinely sacrifices their time and energy to keep Eastern Washington safe and strong. I am honored to serve alongside such talented government servants, whose commitment to justice is beyond reproach. I am also so grateful for the support and administrative staff, without whom our mission could not be possible.” SAUSA Zimmerman works at the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General, and serves as a SAUSA at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Spokane, Washington. Through her work at the Department of Energy, SAUSA Zimmerman is able to take on additional cases combating fraud and supporting environmental remediation at the Hanford Cleanup Site . AUSA Tornabene leads the Civil Rights Unit for the Eastern District of Washington and serves as an AUSA in the Civil Division. AUSA Fruchter leads the office’s Fraud and White Collar Unit and serves as a Deputy Chief in the Criminal Division. He handles both criminal and civil fraud matters.


title: Shelbyville Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling more than $600,000 in Company Funds Over Nearly a Decade

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Tammy J. Scudder, 52, of Shelbyville, Indiana, was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to four counts of wire fraud. According to court documents, from 2012 to December of 2021, Tammy Scudder devised and participated in a scheme to defraud her employer of more than $600,000. Scudder served as the Controller for a company located in Shelbyville, Indiana for nine years. As Controller, Scudder was the company’s top accountant and maintained its accounting ledgers, managed payroll, and had access to online bank accounts. Scudder also had access to the company’s accounting software, which she used to generate checks in Plymate’s name. Scudder abused her position of trust as Controller to exploit a vulnerability in the company’s accounting system. Scudder knew that the company’s Group Health Plan bank account was difficult to double-check because it was funded based upon the total amount of the weekly claims on the list it received from another company, rather than by each claim individually. Scudder accessed the victim company’s accounting software to generate and print a company check to herself, signed using another employee’s signature stamp. After Scudder printed the check, she concealed the theft by altering and falsifying the victim company’s accounting records. Scudder used the stolen money to take vacations, pay off personal debts, fund her children’s educational expenditures, and by make improvements to her Shelbyville residence. Between February 2, 2012, and December 17, 2020, Scudder generated 154 false and fraudulent checks totaling $693,708.75. United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office made the announcement. “The defendant abused her position of trust and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to pay for the health care of her colleagues,” said U.S. Attorney, Zachary A. Myers. “This incessant greed, spanning nearly a decade, has been quashed thanks to our dedicated partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Our office will continue to identify and prosecute individuals who scheme and steal to satisfy their own greed.” The FBI investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Scudder by supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 2 years following her release from federal prison and pay the full $693,708 in restitution to Plymate. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Zuni Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Brian Wallace pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Wallace, 44, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. In his plea agreement, Wallace admitted that he killed the victim, identified as John Doe, sometime between July 5, 2022, and August 9, 2022, and buried him in a shallow grave in the backyard of a friend’s house. In October of 2022, Wallace informed law enforcement of what had happened and where John Doe’s body was located. The body was recovered and the Office of Medical Investigator determined that John Doe had died from blunt force trauma to his chest. By the terms of the plea agreement, Wallace faces up to 12 years in prison. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-97


title: Former Naugatuck Resident Charged with Offenses Stemming from Alleged Investment Fraud Scheme

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, today announced that RAFAEL MUZZI, 27, a citizen of Brazil formerly residing in Naugatuck, has been charged in a 14-count indictment with fraud and money laundering offenses stemming from an alleged investment fraud scheme. As alleged in the indictment, in 2017 and 2018, Muzzi, at times using two entities he formed, Solace Investments LLC and Asseno LLC, induced victim-investors to provide him funds based on the representation he would use the funds for trading currencies in foreign exchange markets using a trading software program that he told his victims he had developed. Muzzi represented to victims that his software program had a feature that would cause trading to cease in the event of a certain loss in value, thus minimizing downside risk. Muzzi failed to invest a substantial portion of invested funds as he represented, and instead diverted those funds for his own personal use, and to pay other individuals who had invested with him. It is alleged that, through this scheme, Muzzi defrauded at least 12 victim-investors out of a total of more than $550,000. The indictment further alleges that Muzzi sent victims fabricated monthly account statements that falsely overstated their return on investment and their account balances. These misrepresentations induced some victim-investors to provide him with additional investment funds. Muzzi also provided victims with purported tax documents reflecting fictitious investment profits, causing victims to report and pay taxes on profits that they had not realized. As alleged in court documents, in response to victim complaints, the State of Connecticut’s Department of Banking investigated Muzzi’s conduct, issued orders finding that Muzzi and Solace Investments had violated state securities laws, ordered them to make restitution to victims, and fined Muzzi $300,000. On September 6, 2020, Muzzi traveled to Brazil and did not return. On August 23, 2022, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Muzzi with 12 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. Muzzi was arrested on April 1, 2023, in Panama, and subsequently waived his right to contest his extradition to the U.S. He appeared in Hartford federal court on April 28, pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and was ordered detained. A detention hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Banking, Securities Division. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked Interpol and Panamanian authorities for their assistance in apprehending this defendant, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for coordinating the extradition proceedings in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor M. Reardon and Michael S. McGarry.


title: New Hampshire Man Sentenced for Using Stolen Identities to Fraudulently Purchase Vehicles

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A New Hampshire man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a scheme to use the stolen identities of United States citizens from Puerto Rico to fraudulently purchase vehicles and apply for and utilize credit cards. Ricardo Acevedo, 34, of Manchester, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to six years in prison and three years of supervised release. On Jan. 13, 2023, Acevedo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and false representation of a Social Security number. Acevedo and multiple co-defendants were charged by criminal complaint in September 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020. The defendant was also charged in the State of New Jersey. According to court documents, between October 2017 and January 2019, Acevedo visited Massachusetts car dealerships to purchase late-model vehicles and applied for 100% financing. In support of the applications, Acevedo provided stolen biographical information of real United States citizens, fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s licenses and Social Security cards in those identities, as proof of identification. Acevedo used the stolen identities to illegally open bank accounts and credit cards and to purchase vehicles, many of which were exported out of the United States. Acevedo used stolen identities to obtain car loans and purchase at least 19 vehicles, resulting in losses between $550,000 and $1.5 million. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Woburn and Dartmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Adam W. Deitch of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case. The District of Massachusetts investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: California pair indicted for retail theft scheme; more than $800,000 in equipment stolen from home improvement chain

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A man and woman from Southern California were arrested this week on an indictment charging them with conspiracy and ten counts of wire fraud related to an organized retail theft scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Jalen Amir Thomas, 27, of Santa Monica, California, and Armia Ta’Jae Timmons, 25, of Los Angeles, were arrested on the eleven-count indictment. They appeared in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California yesterday. Prosecutors will ask that they be detained and transported to the Western District of Washington for arraignment. “Organized retail theft has exploded across the country, due in large part to the growth of an online resale marketplace,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, we allege the coconspirators hatched a scheme to rent high-value construction equipment and then fail to return it. They allegedly sold the stolen goods on websites such as OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. They traveled through 23 different states and hit nearly 200 stores causing more than $800,000 in losses. We are putting a stop to it here in Western Washington.” “As the US retail sector faces increasing challenges such as layoffs and store closings, it becomes more difficult for stores to absorb the impact of retail fraud, which amounts to billions of dollars in losses,” said SAC Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “HSI is proud to have started a strategic initiative with the Seattle Police Department and various corporate partners in 2023 to hold those involved in organized retail theft accountable for their actions.” According to the indictment, as early as March 2022, Thomas led a group including Timmons, that traveled the U.S., stopping at home improvement stores and renting two types of expensive construction equipment: jumping jack tampers and vibratory plate compactors valued between $1,500 and $2,000 each. The group used debit cards to make a small rental deposit for each machine and signed an agreement that if the equipment was not returned on time, they would pay mounting fees. They used false identities and ruse telephone numbers to rent the equipment. They transported stolen goods in vans and rental trucks. In all, some 480 pieces of equipment were stolen from the home improvement stores. When a store tried to charge the debit account for the value of the equipment or the penalties incurred, it learned there was insufficient funds to cover the debt. Thomas and Timmons then attempted to sell the stolen equipment at a steep discount on various online marketplaces. The group stole multiple items of equipment from stores in Federal Way, Tacoma, Vancouver, Covington, Longview, Bothell, Everett, Redmond, and Seattle. Because the deposits traveled by wire outside the state of Washington, the pair is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and ten counts of wire fraud and/or aiding and abetting wire fraud. The conspiracy count and the wire fraud counts are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation is being led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar.


title: Former Information Technology Manager Agrees to Plead Guilty to Theft of Over $1.4 Million from Employer

body_text: BOSTON – The former information technology manager of a Quebec City, Canada-based telecommunications company has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with a fraud scheme that involved the theft of over $1.4 million in computer equipment from his employer. Tod Erickson, 60, of Londonderry, N.H., has been charged, and has agreed to plead guilty, to wire fraud and filing a false tax return. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. According to the charging documents, Erickson served as the information technology manager at a telecommunications company that, until February 2019, had an office located in Chelmsford, Mass. As information technology manager, Erikson was responsible for submitting requests to purchase equipment – such as computers and hard drives. It is alleged that from at least January 2012 through February 2019, Erickson fraudulently submitted purchase requests for computer equipment that the company did not need. Thereafter, without the knowledge or approval of his employer, Erickson allegedly sold the items to third parties and used the illicit proceeds for his personal benefit. Erickson also filed income tax returns for the tax year 2016 in which he intentionally underreported his income by failing to disclose money he received from the sale of his employer’s property. The charge of wire fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution, and forfeiture. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, restitution, and forfeiture. 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. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Centreville Man Pleads Guilty  to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Centreville man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Phillip Montgomery, 41, pled guilty in U.S. District in Gulfport on May 3, 2023. According to court records, in late 2021, the DEA conducted an investigation involving a large drug trafficking organization trafficking large quantities of fentanyl in Moss Point, Mississippi. The investigation revealed that individuals were selling fentanyl that was brought to them by Phillip Montgomery. Montgomery admitted in court to bringing 3 kilograms of fentanyl into Jackson County and furnishing it to the individuals involved in the drug trafficking organization in Moss Point so that it could be sold. Montgomery will be sentenced on August 3, 2023 and faces a minimum of 10 years to life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.


title: Defense Contractor and Chief Executive Officer Resolve False Claims Act and FIRREA Allegations for Misusing Pandemic-Relief Funds

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – CybeCys, Inc., a defense contractor located in Texas, and its Chief Executive Officer, Harish Vajja of Fairfax, agreed to pay more than $283,000 in civil penalties, damages, and restitution and have repaid the full amount of two pandemic-relief loans to resolve allegations that Vajja transferred funds from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to his individual investment account, where he used the funds to purchase cryptocurrency and other investments. The PPP and the EIDL program offered loans to eligible small businesses for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP borrowers were required to certify that they would use the funds to retain workers and maintain payroll or for other permissible purposes. EIDL borrowers were required to certify that they would use the funds solely as working capital to alleviate the economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the allegations, Vajja, on behalf of CybeCys, applied for a $954,446 PPP loan and an $80,700 EIDL loan. After CybeCys received the $954,446 PPP loan, Vajja transferred PPP funds to his individual investment account, where he allegedly purchased securities, exchange-traded funds, and cryptocurrency, while CybeCys used other corporate funds to maintain payroll. Vajja also allegedly directed EIDL funds issued to CybeCys to be deposited into his personal bank account, after which he allegedly transferred portions of the funds to his individual investment account and used the funds to purchase securities, exchange-traded funds, and cryptocurrency. As part of the resolution, CybeCys and Vajja agreed to pay $178,493 in restitution, civil penalties, and damage multipliers under the False Claims Act, and $104,515 in civil penalties under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA). CybeCys also repaid the full amounts of the PPP and EIDL loans and agreed not to seek forgiveness of the PPP loan. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hochul III. The civil claims are allegations only; there has been no admission of liability. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia .


title: Armed Meth Dealer Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison After Fleeing Officers with Children Inside His Vehicle

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Nathaniel Bradley, 41, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, with intent to distribute. According to court documents, on March 16, 2021, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department initiated a traffic stop on Nathaniel Bradley near his home on Rural Street in Indianapolis. Bradley refused to stop and fled from officers with two children inside his car. Officers stopped their pursuit because of the children in Bradley’s vehicle. They later saw him park in a driveway on Nicholas Avenue on the East side of Indianapolis. Bradley ran into the backyard of the residence, leaving the two children in the car alone. Bradley was apprehended and taken into custody. He admitted that he had approximately one pound of methamphetamine, pills, seven grams of crack, and an AR-style firearm at his home. Investigators executed a search warrant at Bradley’s residence that evening, and located 406 grams of methamphetamine, 7.03 grams of cocaine base, 3 grams of heroin, a loaded AR .223 rifle, two AR magazines, and a loaded Smith and Wesson pistol. Bradly was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law, due to a prior felony conviction in West Virginia for possession with intent to deliver cocaine. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Michael Gannon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Indianapolis Field Office, and Randall Taylor, Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department made the announcement. “This defendant chose to traffic in deadly drugs, illegally arm himself with a weapon of war, and flee from police with children in his car,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “Criminals who demonstrate an utter disregard for the safety of our neighborhoods and the sanctity of our laws must face consequences. I am grateful to the DEA and IMPD for their ongoing efforts to help hold dangerous criminals accountable in federal court. The federal prison sentence imposed here should serve as a warning to any who choose to menace our streets—serious crimes warrant serious consequences.” The DEA and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Bradley be supervised by the U.S Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michelle P. Brady, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: St. Louis County Felon Indicted for Store Robbery

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from St. Louis County, Missouri was indicted by a federal grand jury here Wednesday and accused of robbing a convenience store at gunpoint. Richard E. Barber, 51, is now facing three felonies: robbery, possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Barber used a firearm to rob a Gas Mart in north St. Louis County on Feb. 11, 2023. Barber is a convicted felon and is barred from possessing a gun. A detention motion says Barber entered the store and took a beer from the refrigerator before pulling a pistol and calmly ordering the cashier to empty the cash register. Two days later, a pistol resembling the one used in the robbery was recovered after Barber wrecked his car. The robbery was captured on video, the motion says. The robbery charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both and the felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years and the same fine. The firearm brandishing charge carries a penalty of at least seven years in prison. Barber was on supervised release at the time of the robbery after having been sentenced in 2014 to serve 100 months in federal prison on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is also facing charges of robbery and armed criminal action in St. Louis County Circuit Court. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.


title: Multiple Men Indicted in Utah for Firearm Offenses, Including Allegedly Attempting to Smuggle 34 Guns into Mexico

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City , Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment charging five Salt Lake County residents, including two foreign nationals, with firearm offenses after speaker boxes full of guns were confiscated at the Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. Today’s announcement includes charges enacted as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed into law last year. According to court documents, between October 2022 and March 2023, in the District of Utah, Javier Catalan Bahena, 34, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Erasmo Martinez, 43, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Alvaro Martinez, 23, of Magna, Utah, Filiberto Tapia Ocampo, 50, of West Valley City, Utah, and Oscar Martinez, 24, of West Valley City, Utah, conspired with each other, and against the United States to deceive a licensed firearm dealer during the illegal purchasing of firearms. As charged in the indictment, in January 2023, Ocampo purchased two Beretta M9 pistols and a Ruger rifle using Catalan Bahena’s credit card and stated on an ATF form he was the actual purchaser of the firearms. Between February 3, 2023, and March 16, 2023, Erasmo Martinez purchased a Zastava ZPA M70 rifle from Oscar Martinez, which was later recovered at the border. In February 2023, Alvaro Martinez purchased a Beretta M9 using Catalan Bahena’s credit card and stated on an ATF form he was the actual purchaser of the firearm. The Beretta M9 was also later recovered at the border. In March 2023, Alvaro Martinez purchased an Escort Rifle and stated on an ATF form that he was the actual purchaser of the firearm. Approximately nine days later, the Escort Rifle was recovered at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas. Between March 7, 2023, and March 16, 2023, in the District of Utah, Catalan Bahena and Erasmo Martinez arranged for drivers in Salt Lake City, Utah, to transport speaker boxes full of firearms to Mexico. Subsequently, the drivers were stopped in Eagle Pass, Texas, and 34 firearms were discovered and seized. Javier Catalan Bahena, Erasmo Martinez, Alvaro Martinez, Filiberto Ocampo, and Oscar Martinez are charged with conspiracy to make false statements during acquisition of firearms. Additional individual charges include but are not limited to; smuggling goods from the United States; straw purchase of a firearm; and false statement during the acquisition of firearms. The defendants had their initial court appearances before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and West Valley City Police Department. An Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: 20 now serving sentences in combined massive drug operations

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Houston resident has been handed a significant sentence for his role in a meth distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Abril Pineda-Ortiz aka Carlos Raudel Pineda-Ortiz pleaded guilty May 13, 2021. Today, U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal ordered Pineda-Ortiz to serve a 130-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, the court found that Pineda-Ortiz was the source of supply in transactions involving significant amounts of meth. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the devastating effects that meth has had on people and communities. To date, more than 30 people have been convicted in the related drug conspiracies involving meth, cocaine and heroin. With the sentence today, 20 have now been sent to prison. “These traffickers will pay with their freedom,” said Hamdani, “to the tune of a combined sentence of more than 2000 months in federal prison for infecting our communities with hundreds of kilograms of meth, fentanyl, cocaine and heroin.” “The success of these investigations and the corresponding sentences serve as an example of the impact multiple agencies can have when they join forces,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “This operation dismantled the activities of a dangerous criminal organization that was responsible for smuggling and distributing hundreds of pounds of illicit narcotics throughout the State of Texas. The DEA will continue to focus our resources on drug trafficking organizations that oversee, coordinate and facilitate the distribution of illegal drugs in our communities.” At the time of the plea, Pineda-Ortiz admitted she supplied meth in multiple drug transactions involving co-conspirators Juan Carlos Salinas, 41, and Crystal Lynn Harrold, 42, both of Houston. Authorities also executed a search warrant at the residence of Pineda-Ortiz where they found and seized a firearm, an additional 1,857 grams of meth and drug sale paraphernalia. The investigation into these three individuals began in 2015. Over the next two years, law enforcement was able to execute operations aimed at curtailing the organization’s sale of meth, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. As a result of the investigations, law enforcement seized 82.3 kilograms of meth, 16.4 kilograms of fentanyl, 176.7 kilograms of marijuana, 83.9 kilograms of cocaine, 31 kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of GHB as well as $586,706.61 in assets. The combined sentences in the related cases thus far have exceeded 2000 months in federal prison with several receiving sentences well in excess of 10 years. One was ordered to serve 222 months. The DEA conducted the initial investigations along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; police departments in Houston and Huntsville; sheriff’s offices in Fort Bend and Harris counties; and Texas Department of Public Safety. The subsequent DEA-led Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations were dubbed Operation Goody Two Shoes and Beverly Hills 90210. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad Khandelwal, Carolyn Ferko and Michael Day are prosecuting the cases. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage .


title: Oklahoma City Woman Convicted of Federal Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering, and Financial Crimes in Eastern District of Texas

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – An Oklahoma City, OK woman has been convicted of various federal crimes related to an international drug trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today. Debra Lynn Mercer-Erwin, 60, was found guilty by a jury following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant. Mercer-Erwin was convicted of money laundering; wire fraud; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine; and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States. “In the aircraft world, planes registered in the United States and displaying a ‘N’ tail-number, are coveted as being properly vetted and trusted to legally operate around the world. Mercer-Erwin found ways to exploit the registration process in order to profit from illegally obtained money being paid for her services,” said U. S. Attorney Featherston. “Mercer-Erwin became a drug dealer when she became aware of planes she had registered were being used to transport large quantities of cocaine. Mercer-Erwin knew that many of her clients were in the illegal drug business and she hid their identities and the sources of their money in order to reap a large profit. She became a money launderer when she created fake sales of planes that were not actually for sale in order to hide and move drug money. Transnational criminal organizations require assistance to operate in the U.S. and Mercer-Erwin facilitated the drug dealing by exploiting the plane registration process.” “This investigation required cooperation between our international partners, investigating agents and our prosecutors,” added U.S. Attorney Featherston. “They did an amazing job putting the case together, and they are to be commended for their work.” “This guilty verdict stems from the collaborative efforts of our trusted international, federal, state and local law enforcement partners,” said Lester R. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “Disrupting the illegal activities of transnational criminal organizations is one of HSI ‘s highest priorities and is enhanced by our partnerships at all levels. After listening to testimony of high-ranking leaders of the Columbian and Nicaraguan governments, I am convinced this investigation has significantly decreased the flow of narcotics smuggled into the U.S.” “This investigation and successful prosecution serves as an example of how federal, state, and international law enforcement agencies work together to take down those involved in large scale money laundering in support of international drug trafficking organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Trey McClish of the Dallas Field Office of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement (OEE). “OEE and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify, investigate, and dismantle transnational criminal organizations who pose a threat to our national security.” According to information presented in court, between 2010 and 2020, Mercer-Erwin conspired with others to enable the distribution of cocaine in the United States by purchasing and illegally registering aircraft under foreign corporations and other individuals for export to other countries. Non-US citizens are allowed to register an aircraft with the FAA if the aircraft is placed in a trust that is managed by a U.S. trustee. Mercer-Erwin was the owner of Wright Brothers Aircraft Title (WBAT) and Aircraft Guaranty Corporation (AGC). WBAT often served as an escrow agent for transactions involving AGC and was the designated party responsible for FAA filings related to AGC aircraft. AGC, a corporation at that time operating out of Onalaska, Texas, an east Texas town in the Eastern District of Texas, without an airport. AGC acted as trustee to over 1,000 aircrafts with foreign owners. This allowed the foreign nationals to receive an “N” tail number for their aircrafts. The “N” tail number is valuable because foreign countries are less likely to inspect a U.S.-registered aircraft for airworthiness or force down an American aircraft. According to prosecutors, several of the illegally registered and exported aircraft were used by transnational criminal organizations in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico to smuggle large quantities of cocaine destined for the United States. The illicit proceeds from the subsequent drug sales were then transported as bulk cash from the United States to Mexico and used to buy more aircraft and cocaine. Aircraft purchases were typically completed by foreign nationals working for transnational criminal organizations who came to the United States with drug proceeds and purchased aircraft valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mercer-Erwin exploited her position as trustee to circumvent U.S. laws by disguising the true identity of the foreign owners, failing to conduct due diligence as to the identity of the foreign owners, providing false aircraft locations, and falsifying and forging documents. Trial testimony revealed the investigation was initiated after aircraft filing irregularities were discovered in tandem with numerous AGC aircraft found carrying substantial amounts of cocaine. The testimony further revealed additional aircraft in AGC’s trust were not seized but found by foreign officials destroyed or abandoned near clandestine landing strips in several South American countries. Some of these wrecked or abandoned aircraft still contained muti-ton kilos of cocaine onboard, and few, if any, of the seized or destroyed aircraft were in the location they were reported to be located. When authorities confronted Mercer-Erwin as the representative of AGC, she refused to comply and each time law enforcement would seize an AGC registered aircraft laden with drugs, Mercer-Erwin attempted to distance herself from the narcotic’s trafficking by transferring ownership of the aircraft using fictitious information to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the aircraft. Additionally, Mercer-Erwin and co-defendants participated in a series of bogus aircraft sales transactions in order to conceal the movement of illegally obtained funds. The co-defendants would provide buyers and investors with fabricated documents and supply false representations regarding the bogus sale of an unsellable aircraft. The aircraft was unsellable because, unbeknownst to the buyers, the true owners of the aircraft had no knowledge or intention of selling the aircraft. Other bogus sales presented to buyers consisted of aircraft that was owned by a commercial airline and previously decommissioned and inoperable. None of the aircraft presented to the buyers were for sale. The defendants would convince the buyer to place a deposit into an escrow account with WBAT, the title company owned by Mercer-Erwin, pending the completion of the sale. Once the money was placed in WBAT’s escrow account, the buyers were responsible for the interest accrued, and an escrow fee would be charged. In a typical sale, the deposit would remain in the escrow account. However, Mercer-Erwin would transfer the money from the escrow account to bank accounts controlled by the co-conspirators. Since the aircraft was not truly for sale, the purchase of the aircraft would inevitably fall through, and the deposit would have to be returned. The co-conspirators would repeat the process by luring another buyer for the purchase of another unsellable aircraft. Each transaction would pay for the previous one, and Mercer-Erwin would receive an escrow fee ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 for her participation in the scheme. Mercer-Erwin was the only defendant to proceed to trial. Co-defendants Kayleigh Moffett and Carlos Rocha Villaurrutia pleaded guilty on April 10, 2023. Moffett pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit export violations, and Villaurrutia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States; conspiracy to commit money laundering; and conspiracy to commit export violations. Four other defendants have active arrest warrants but are not in custody and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Mercer-Erwin was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2021. She faces up to life in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. This is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case and is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (Dallas, Brownsville, Laredo, Guatemala, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, and Transnational Criminal Investigative Units); Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (Dallas and Houston offices); Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG); Office of Export Enforcement; Polk County Constable Precinct 1; Southeast Texas Export Investigations Group; Internal Revenue Service; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Estado Mayor De La Defensa Nacional Guatemala; Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca; and Fuerza Aerea Colombiana. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ernest Gonzalez, Heather Rattan, and Lesley Brooks. ###


title: Middlesex County Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison for Role in Heroin and Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 97 months in prison and four years of supervised release for leading a drug trafficking organization that operated out of a drug mill located in the Bronx, New York. Luis Cabrera, 38, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court on Aug. 24, 2022, to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.


title: Citizen of Dominican Republic Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Role as Leader of International Money Laundering Organization

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – The leader of an international money laundering organization in the Dominican Republic was sentenced today to 78 months in prison and ordered to pay $80 million in forfeiture for his role in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. Luis Velazquez-Cordero, aka El Pequeño, 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti on May 4, 2022, to Count One of an indictment charging him with conspiring to commit money laundering. Velazquez-Cordero was extradited to the United States after his arrest the Dominican Republic on July 28, 2020.