title: San Francisco Residents Charged With Allegedly Committing Crimes In Front Of Surveillance Cameras Of Federal Building

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Two defendants allegedly committed crimes while standing in front of the surveillance cameras of the federal building on Seventh and Mission Streets in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. A federal grand jury indicted Rodolfo Sagastume-Pineda and the Office of the United States Attorney has filed a federal criminal complaint against Natalin Mauricio Martinez-Hernandez—both charging documents involve felonies the defendants allegedly committed within view of surveillance cameras monitoring the streets outside the federal building. The announcement of Sagastume-Pineda’s case was made by United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. The announcement of Hernandez case was made by United States Attorney Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The Sagastume-Pineda Case According to a complaint filed May 25, 2023, Sagastume-Pineda was on the sidewalk of Seventh Street between Natoma and Mission Streets when he was observed engaging in a series of hand-to-hand drug transactions. The complaint describes four hand-to-hand drug sales that allegedly occurred on April 24, 2023, over the course of several minutes. Sagastume-Pineda was arrested the same day. The complaint describes certain details regarding the circumstances of Sagastume-Pineda’s arrest. For example, the complaint alleges Sagastume-Pineda was carrying a backpack that contained 96.7 grams of fentanyl and over 30 grams of methamphetamine. Further, according to the complaint, the backpack also contained 11.1 grams of heroin, 4.3 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale. A federal grand jury indicted Sagastume-Pineda on June 6, 2023, charging him with two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), as well as one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, its salts, isomers, or salts of its isomers, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(C). Sagastume-Pineda appeared yesterday before Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim who ordered Sagastume-Pineda detained. Sagastume-Pineda’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 12, 2023, for a status conference before Hon. Charles R. Breyer, United States District Judge. The Hernandez Case The complaint filed May 26, 2023, describes how Hernandez was observed on three occasions near the federal building at 90 Seventh Street in San Francisco. On the first occasion, August 14, 2022, San Francisco Police officers were alerted to shots fired near the federal building. The law enforcement officers did not apprehend the shooter, who fled, but watched security video footage showing the incident. The complaint describes how video footage allegedly showed Hernandez near the federal building and eventually arguing with an unidentified man who brandished and put away what appeared to be a machete. The video allegedly showed Hernandez responding by removing a firearm from a backpack and firing in the direction of the unknown man. The unknown man apparently was not struck or injured by the firearm. The video showed the shooter leaving the area on a scooter. The second occasion occurred more than a month later, on October 24, 2022, when San Francisco Police officers again were alerted to Hernandez’s presence near the federal building. On that day, a security guard who had reviewed footage from the August 14, 2022, shooting reported that he recognized Hernandez as the August 2022 shooter when Hernandez parked a vehicle near the federal building. Hernandez left the scene before law enforcement officers arrived. The following day, October 25, 2022, Hernandez was sighted near the federal building for a third time and, this time, was arrested. During the arrest, officers seized a backpack that Hernandez was wearing that allegedly contained a loaded, black, 9mm Ruger Security 9 semi-automatic pistol; a pair of silver brass knuckles; and three .38 caliber bullets. Officers also allegedly recovered from Hernandez’s jacket pockets multiple baggies containing a total of 104.5 grams of fentanyl. The complaint charges Hernandez with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Hernandez is next scheduled to appear on June 9, 2023, before Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim for a detention hearing. The Hernandez complaint and Sagastume-Pineda indictment merely allege that crimes have been committed, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, both defendants may be ordered to serve an additional period of supervised release and to face additional monetary assessments. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Dahlke is prosecuting the cases with the assistance of Lakisha Holliman and Jasmine Sanders. The Hernandez case is being investigated by the FBI and the Sagastume-Pineda case is being investigated by the DEA, both with the assistance of the San Francisco Police Department and the Federal Protective Service.


title: Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Exporting Firearms to Ghana

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Eric Nana Kofi Ampong Coker, age 41, of Columbia, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to the illegal export of firearms. The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; and Stephen Maloney, Director of Field Operations for the Baltimore Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”). According to his guilty plea, since 2017 Ampong Coker has purchased at least 81 firearms from three separate Maryland Federal Firearms Licensees (“FFLs”) and in 2019 received Regulated Firearms Collector status through the Maryland State Police, which waived the restriction on the number of firearms he could purchase during a 30-day period. As detailed in the plea agreement, investigators also determined that prior to 2021 Ampong Coker had shipped passenger vehicles to Ghana. In May 2021, federal agents surveilled Ampong Coker as he retrieved firearms purchased from one of the FFLs and was then observed in a variety of locations, including a business that packaged and shipped items from the Port of Baltimore. A shipping vehicle was subsequently seen departing that location on May 27, 2021. On May 29, 2021, Ampong Coker was searched as he was departing the United States from Detroit, Michigan, bound for Ghana. Among other items seized in his luggage were foam cutouts used for packaging and securing firearms in gun cases. In early June 2021, HSI and CBP agents identified a shipping container scheduled to depart the Port of Baltimore for Tema, Ghana, on June 14, 2021. Included in the listed contents of the container was a 2018 Toyota Corolla registered to Ampong Coker. The list of contents of the container did not include any firearms. On June 8, 2021, HSI, ATF, CBP and other agents searched the contents of the shipping container. Within the trunk of the 2018 Toyota Corolla, which had the Defendant’s name on cardboard on top of the vehicle, the agents found a grey suitcase. Secreted in the lining of the suitcase, the agents found five 9mm handguns previously purchased by Ampong Coker. Law enforcement authorities identified another shipping container bound for Ghana containing other vehicles associated with Ampong Coker. The vessel on which this container was loaded sailed from the Port of Baltimore in May 2021, was intercepted at sea on June 14, 2021, and returned to Baltimore on August 20, 2021, without having been off-loaded in Ghana or any other port enroute. On August 25, 2021, this container was searched, revealing six 9mm handguns and 16 9mm pistol magazines found in the vehicles associated with Ampong Coker. Ampong Coker admitted that all of the firearms and magazines were identified on the U.S. Department of Commerce Control List, and he had not obtained the required license or written approval to export the weapons to Ghana. Ampong Coker faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for illegally exporting firearms. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled sentencing for September 6, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, HSI, and CBP for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorney P. Michael Cunningham, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Armed Harnett County Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A Dunn man was sentenced today to 212 months in prison for multiple charges, including drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Anthony Puente, 35, previously pled guilty to distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and other information presented in court, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Harnett County Sherriff’s Office oversaw multiple controlled purchases from Puente. In addition, an agent with the Dunn Police Department who was patrolling local hotels based on reports of increased narcotics activity in the area, observed Puente’s vehicle in two of the hotel parking lots. The officer approached Puente’s vehicle and, after detecting the odor of marijuana, asked Puente to exit the car. Puente consented to a weapons frisk, which uncovered 40 grams of crystal methamphetamine, five grams of cocaine and two grams of marijuana. After finding the drugs on Puente, the officer conducted a search of the car which yielded a 9mm pistol, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, 16 12-gauge shot gun shells, and additional amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office and the Dunn Police Department investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Peaden prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-297-FL and 5:21-CR-189-FL. ###


title: Seven Mile Man Sentenced to 32 Months for Assault on Police Officer

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. –Troy Pete Curtis, 33, of Seven Mile, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 32 months in prison. Curtis pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. On April 12, 2021, while on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Curtis, a member of the Navajo Nation Indian Tribe, was in the vicinity of a White Mountain Apache Tribal police officer when the officer heard Curtis load a firearm. The officer confronted Curtis and Curtis walked away from the officer. While walking away, Curtis discharged the firearm multiple times over his shoulder in the direction of the officer. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Anthony Church, Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-22-08141-PCT-DWL RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-089_Curtis # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former NYPD Detective And Four Other New York  Men Charged In Violent Racketeering Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of Indictments charging DAGOBERTO SOTO-RAMIREZ, a/k/a “Pito,” SAUL ARISMENDY DE LA CRUZ, a/k/a “Nene,” a/k/a “Venom,” EDWIN LUCIANO RODRIGUEZ-GENAO, a/k/a “Pantalla,” SANTIAGO XAVIER MALDONADO, a/k/a “Xavier,” and DIEGO MUELAS-GONZALEZ, a/k/a “Menor,” for their participation in a violent theft crew. DE LA CRUZ, RODRIGUEZ-GENAO, MALDONADO, and MUELAS-GONZALEZ were arrested this morning and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. SOTO-RAMIREZ has not been arrested at this time. DAGOBERTO SOTO-RAMIREZ: WANTED BY THE FBI U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, this crew stole substantial quantities of cash and valuables from dozens of families in New York and across the country, predominantly targeting Asian-American small business owners. And, as alleged, they bribed an NYPD detective in an attempt to get away with it. Corruption, violence, and racially targeted crime are intolerable, and this Office stands with our law enforcement partners in the fight against all three. Dagoberto Soto-Ramirez, the alleged leader of this violent crew, remains at large. We encourage anyone who may have additional information regarding Dagoberto Soto-Ramirez’s whereabouts to please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “Over an extended period, the defendants allegedly participated in a string of violent armed robberies and additional crimes designed to conceal the thefts. The crew went so far as to entice a member of law enforcement to help them evade capture. The FBI will continue to work diligently everyday to remove violent criminals from our communities.” NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said: “Violent criminal acts like the type alleged today are a disgrace. When such behavior involves a former police officer who shamelessly exploits their position of power for personal gain, it erodes public trust in law enforcement and tarnishes the reputations of the many thousands of women and men who honorably serve New Yorkers each day. There will always be zero tolerance in the NYPD for corruption of any kind. And our investigators, in close partnership with all of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to ensure that it is punished to the fullest extent possible.” As alleged in the Indictment and Superseding Indictments unsealed in White Plains federal court: [1] Between 2017 and 2022, SOTO-RAMIREZ organized a crew that committed residential burglaries and home invasion robberies, repeatedly targeting small business owners. The majority of the targeted victims were Asian-American. Armed with guns and other weapons, members of the crew stole money, jewelry, and other property from scores of homes in states across the country. RODRIGUEZ-GENAO, MALDONADO, and MUELAS-GONZALEZ took part in the crew’s criminal scheme, which also included the use of false identification, bank fraud, and laundering theft proceeds. In addition, SOTO-RAMIREZ and other members of the conspiracy bribed DE LA CRUZ, first an officer and later a detective of the NYPD, who helped members of the crew escape arrest. As part of his activities with the crew, SOTO-RAMIREZ committed two gunpoint home invasion robberies in Queens. * * * SOTO-RAMIREZ, 41, of the Bronx, New York, DE LA CRUZ, 31, RODRIGUEZ-GENAO, 48, MALDONADO, 43, and MUELAS-GONZALEZ, 26, all of Queens, New York, are each charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. SOTO-RAMIREZ is additionally charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and two counts of possession of a firearm, which was brandished, in furtherance of a crime of violence, each of which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI, the Westchester County Joint Organized Crime Task Force, the New York Public Corruption Task Force, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the NYPD, the Nassau County Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Fort Lee Police Department. He added that the investigation is ongoing. The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josiah Pertz and Jeffrey C. Coffman are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment and Superseding Indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the description of the Indictment and the other charging documents set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. U.S. v. Soto-Ramirez et al Indictment U.S. v. Muelas-Gonzalez Indictment U.S. v. Maldonado Indictment


title: Revere Man Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Trafficking Cocaine

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Revere man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with drug trafficking activities involving cocaine. Edgar Castro, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2022, Castro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. An individual in Puerto Rico attempted to ship a box containing approximately 29 kilograms of cocaine to an automotive repair garage in Lawrence. After a routine inspection of the box, employees of the shipping company found packages appearing to be narcotics wrapped in plastic and notified law enforcement. A search of the package revealed a total of 29 kilograms of cocaine. Following a controlled delivery of the package to the recipient address in Lawrence, Castro and his co-conspirator Julio Ortiz were observed unpacking the box and moving containers of cocaine into another vehicle. Ortiz and Castro were arrested on site. In November 2022, Ortiz was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Massachusetts State Police and the Woburn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Lindsey E. Weinstein of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Colombian Man Extradited to the United States for Role in Extensive Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Colombian man has been extradited to the United States from the Republic of Colombia to face charges related to his alleged role in a sophisticated money laundering organization that laundered approximately $1 million in proceeds from drug trafficking through United States banks. Luis Fernando Galindo Ramos, 55, was arrested in Cali, Colombia on Nov. 9, 2021 and extradited to the United States today. Galindo was detained after appearing in federal court in Boston earlier today. On Aug. 19, 2021, Galindo was indicted by a federal grand jury on money laundering conspiracy, laundering of monetary instruments and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. According to the charging documents, in or about August 2016, an investigation began into a sophisticated money laundering organization located primarily in Cali, Colombia. During an extensive five-year investigation, the organization allegedly laundered approximately $1 million in drug proceeds through intermediary banks in the United States, including banks in Massachusetts, by use of the Colombian Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE). Galindo allegedly arranged the domestic transfer of substantial amounts of bulk cash within the United States. He maintained the security of those funds during the transfers through the exchange of passcodes. The funds were subsequently integrated into bank accounts located in the United States and held in the names of businesses and individuals in order to repay drug suppliers in Colombia. It is alleged that, by using the BMPE, Galindo conspired to conceal drug trafficking activity and proceeds from law enforcement. Approximately $550,000 in laundered bulk currency was seized during the investigation. The charges of money laundering conspiracy and laundering of monetary instruments each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. The crime of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the amount involved. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Galindo. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Alathea E. Porter of Levy’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . 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: Whiteriver Man Will Serve 30 Months for Assault on Ex-Girlfriend

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. –Eli Myles Mansfield, 35, of Whiteriver, Arizona, was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 30 months in prison. Mansfield pleaded guilty to Assault by Strangling. On August 22, 2022, while on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, Mansfield, a member of the White Mountain Apache Indian Tribe, was in a vehicle visiting with his ex-girlfriend and their three children. Mansfield became angry and assaulted his ex-girlfriend multiple times in the presence of the children. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. The prosecution was handled by Anthony Church, Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix. CASE NUMBER: 22-08122-PCT-DWL RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-090_Mansfield # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Defendant who brought homemade gun to downtown Seattle protest sentenced to prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle –A former North Carolina man who brought an improvised gun to a 2020 Seattle protest and threatened to kill police was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two years in prison for possession of a destructive device, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Devinare Antwan Parker, 31, was arrested Sunday evening, May 31, 2020, after he possessed an improvised firearm capable of firing shotgun shells. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said, “The offense conduct was extremely dangerous…. It was a very volatile time when emotions were running high. He basically had a homemade shotgun which was extremely dangerous.” According to records in the case, at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday evening, May 31, 2020, two Seattle Police Officers were driving their marked patrol car north on Third Avenue near Benaroya Hall. They saw Parker, who was downtown in violation of the curfew, walking down the middle of the street. Parker was ultimately arrested. When he was searched, officers found an improvised firearm constructed of two pieces of pipe and a firing pin with a laser pointer/ flashlight attached to the side. Parker also carried several shotgun shells that fit the device. As he was being arrested, Parker shouted at the officers that he brought the weapon to the protest to shoot and kill police officers. Following Parker’s federal arrest, prosecutors worked with his counsel to get him mental health treatment and the opportunity to resolve the case in King County’s mental health court. However, Parker repeatedly refused to participate in the mental health program, violated the conditions of his release with illicit drug use, and posted images on social media showing him using marijuana and displaying drugs, large amounts of cash, and apparent firearms parts. In asking the court for a 27-month sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Erin H. Becker wrote to the court, “The government has struggled at length to reach a resolution in this case that would ensure community safety. For a long time, the government believed that this goal could be achieved through Mental Health Court. Parker’s mental illnesses and presumed addictions obviously present a danger to the community, and they may well have contributed to his offense. MHC offered an avenue for intensive oversight and supportive treatment to mitigate those risks. Unfortunately, it appeared that everyone wanted such a resolution except for Parker.” The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin H. Becker.


title: York County Man Charged With Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jayson Haley, age 33, of York County, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury with child pornography offenses. According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges Haley with producing, attempting to produce, and possessing child pornography, in York County in October 2022, and April 2023. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. The case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby. The total maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is up to 70 years’ imprisonment, a term of up to lifetime supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. ###


title: Juneau Man Pleads Guilty to Bank and Credit Union Theft

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: JUNEAU – A Juneau man pleaded guilty to charges of Theft, Embezzlement, and Misapplication of Funds by a Person Connected in a Capacity with a Bank and Credit Union. According to court documents, Austin Nolan Dwight Rutherford, 29, of Juneau plead guilty to Bank and Credit Union Theft. Between January 21, 2019, and March 2022, Rutherford was an armed transport guard for Axiom Armored Transport (Axiom), which provided armed transportation of U.S. Currency for U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Key Bank, NuVision Credit Union, and Alaska USA Federal Credit Union and their customers Automatic Teller Machines (ATM). Rutherford started to steal funds when he was transferred to Axiom’s Juneau branch in March 2020 through May 2022. Rutherford was terminated March of 2022 but continued to make cash deposits into his bank accounts through May 2022 that were above and beyond any legitimate sources identified during the investigation. An internal audit determined that Rutherford stole a total of $579,400.00 in bank and credit union funds. Rutherford is scheduled to be sentenced on August 17, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000.00, and up to life on supervised release. Rutherford has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $579,400.00 as part of his guilty plea. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt is prosecuting the case. ###


title: San Antonio Man Sentenced to Over 19 Years in Federal Prison on Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Wednesday to 235 months in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Thomas McKay Beck, 46, used peer-to-peer file sharing software to distribute 14 files containing CSAM. The files contained sexually explicit videos of infants, toddlers and prepubescent children. A forensic analysis of Beck’s computer revealed 295 CSAM images. Beck was arrested April 28, 2022 and has remained in custody since. He pleaded guilty to count one of the two-count indictment Oct. 24. In addition to the 235 month imprisonment, Beck was ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution. He will also incur a lifetime of supervised release following his sentence and register as a sex offender. “This defendant engaged in reprehensible acts and his lengthy sentencing serves as a powerful demonstration of our dedication to protecting the vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “With the valuable assistance of our law enforcement partners at federal, state, local and tribal levels, my office will continue to strongly prosecute anyone who exploits innocent children.” “The significant sentence imposed on Thomas Beck sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those individuals who exploit children. Beck will serve the next 19 years in federal prison for his incomprehensible acts” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. “We remain committed in working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who victimize the most vulnerable members of our society, our children.” HSI and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Escape

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kevin Leon Davis, 33, a federal inmate, pleaded guilty today to escaping from the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) at Beckley. According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis was serving a sentence for conspiracy to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine when he left FPC Beckley without permission or authorization on November 13, 2022. The United States Marshals Service captured Davis the following day near the prison. Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the United States Marshals Service and the Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force, and the assistance provided by the West Virginia National Guard. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-36. ###


title: Laurel man admits illegally possessing firearms after law enforcement finds 35 guns in his residence

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

body_text: BILLINGS — A Laurel man today admitted he illegally possessed firearms and ammunition after law enforcement found 35 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition in his residence, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Nicholas Steven Capella, 38, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition as charged in an indictment. Capella faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Capella was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in August 2022, members of the Billings Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit were surveilling a residence in Laurel when Capella and another person left the house and got into a vehicle that was parked outside. Capella had a pistol holstered on his hip. Officers converged on the vehicle, placed Capella and the other person in custody and advised them of their rights. A search warrant was executed at the residence. During the search, Capella agreed to open a gun safe, which contained a large cache of firearms. Law enforcement seized 35 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Capella was prohibited of possessing firearms because of felony convictions in Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin M. Rubich is prosecuting the case. The Billings Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. XXX


title: Greenbrier County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Raymond Matthew Ramos, 41, of Lewisburg, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 29. 2022, Ramos sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Alderson. Ramos admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling quantities of methamphetamine to the confidential informant on July 6, 2022, in Beaver and on July 27, 2022, in Lewisburg. On July 28, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence where Ramos was staying. Officers seized a quantity of methamphetamine, scales and packaging material, and over $1,000. The cash included recorded money from the July 27, 2022, drug transaction. Ramos admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it. Ramos also admitted to telling law enforcement officers that he distributed a half-pound of methamphetamine weekly between the third week of April 2022 and July 14, 2022. Ramos is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force is composed of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lewisburg Police Department. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Isabell and Timothy D. Boggess are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-228. ###


title: San Antonio ‘Boogaloo Boi’ Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison on Felon in Possession Charge

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Wednesday to 100 months in prison for one count of felon in possession of a firearm. According to court filings, Mark Ryan Hauser, 35, a three-time convicted felon, posted in an online chat group that he wanted to kill law enforcement officers and that he adhered to the “Boogaloo” ideology, which includes violent anti-government sentiment with a goal of hastening a second civil war. He posted that he wanted to purposely get pulled over by law enforcement so that he could go “pig hunting.” He also used his 3D printer to create gun parts, including “auto sears,” which unlawfully convert semi-automatic firearms to fully automatic. On multiple occasions throughout June and July 2021, Hauser disclosed to FBI sources that he possessed various firearms and carried a concealed .45 caliber pistol. In July 2021, Hauser posted in an online chat group that he was selling an AR-15 rifle. On Aug. 12, 2021, he met with undercover FBI employees posing as people with connections to criminal organizations. The undercover FBI employees purchased the rifle and provided him with cash for materials needed to 3D print a firearm suppressor. Hauser subsequently boasted on-line that he would be selling the suppressors “to some cartel.” Agents arrested Hauser on Sept. 26, 2021. At the time of his arrest, Hauser was in possession of his .45 caliber pistol. “We take seriously the threats to our law enforcement colleagues. This felon posed a real danger to the community, knew that what he was doing was illegal, and chose to ignore our federal laws which are designed to ensure peace and public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Thank you to our partners at the FBI and their task force for helping us bring this individual to justice and protect our communities.” “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that the FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to address violence, threats of violence, and criminal activity with every lever available,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. for the FBI San Antonio Division. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Stephenson and Bill Lewis (retired) prosecuted the case. ###


title: Bastrop Man Sentenced in Human Trafficking Case

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Deray Montrez Richard , 38 of Bastrop, Louisiana , has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 228 months (19 years) in prison in connection with a human trafficking case. Richard was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,000. “This is another case of a defendant taking advantage of vulnerable individuals in our society for selfish reasons,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “We know that there are many other instances of human trafficking and forced labor across our district and we are committed to funneling resources toward combating such heinous activity.” According to evidence presented to the court, Richard met a 20-year-old female (Victim 1) on Facebook in the fall of 2020 and he convinced her to travel with him. In December 2020, Richard and another female (Victim 2) drove to Kentucky to pick up Victim 1 in order to prostitute for Richard. Once they picked her up, Richard and the two females drove to Mesquite, Texas where they got two hotel rooms. While in Mesquite, at Richard’s direction, Victim 1 saw several johns and performed sexual acts in exchange for money. Richard kept the money and in fact physically assaulted and forced Victim 1 to engage in prostitution. Richard left Mesquite with the two female victims, arrived in Bossier City, Louisiana on December 12, 2020, and rented two rooms at a local hotel. While in Bossier City, Richard directed Victim 1 to post escort ads on the internet advertising sexual services. He later got into an argument with Victim 1 that escalated to him beating her. On December 13, 2020, Richard and the two female victims moved to another hotel in Bossier City and rented two rooms. While there, both female victims saw several johns and performed sexual acts at Richard’s direction. Later that day, Richard began to physically assault both female victims at the hotel. Victim 1 was able to flee the room and report the fight to the hotel clerk, then ran to a nearby convenience store for assistance. Officers with the Bossier City Police Department arrived, and Richard was arrested. After further investigation by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Richard was indicted by a federal grand jury on human trafficking charges. Richard pleaded guilty to a charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion in February 2023. The case was investigated by the FBI and Bossier City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell. # # #


title: Atlantic County Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Health Care Fraud Conspiracy Targeting State Health Benefits Programs

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A retail director for a local candy company was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for defrauding New Jersey state health benefits programs out of over $2 million by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced. Nicholas Tedesco, 49, of Linwood, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Judge Kugler imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court. Nicholas Tedesco’s brother and a leader in the conspiracy, Matthew Tedesco, pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme on Aug. 17, 2017 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 26, 2023. Nicholas Tedesco’s co-defendant, Christopher Broccoli, pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme on July 28, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26, 2023. Two doctors involved in the scheme, John Gaffney and Brian Sokalsky, also pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16, 2023, and Aug. 22, 2023, respectively. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From January 2015 through April 2016, Nicholas Tedesco and others, working under conspiracy leader Matthew Tedesco, recruited individuals in New Jersey to obtain very expensive and medically unnecessary compounded medications from an out-of-state pharmacy, Central Rexall Drugs Inc. in Louisiana. The conspirators knew that certain compound medication prescriptions – including pain, scar, antifungal, and libido creams, as well as vitamin combinations – were reimbursed for thousands of dollars for a one-month supply. The conspirators also knew that some New Jersey state and local government and education employees, including teachers, firefighters, municipal police officers, and state troopers, had insurance coverage for these particular medications. Nicholas Tedesco recruited and paid several individuals to receive the medically unnecessary medications and to recruit others to receive them, including co-defendant Christopher Broccoli. The medically unnecessary prescriptions for individuals recruited by Nicholas Tedesco were authorized by Gaffney and Sokalsky. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kugler sentenced Nicholas Tedesco to three years of supervised release. As part of the plea agreement, Nicholas Tedesco must forfeit $782,767 in criminal proceeds and pay restitution of $2.04 million. Attorney for the United States Khanna credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone in New York, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Christina O. Hud of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Deputy Criminal Chief R. David Walk Jr. of the Criminal Division.


title: Eighth Defendant Arrested in Montezuma County Area Narcotics Investigation

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Douglas Brummett, age 23, of Montezuma County has been arrested on an indictment alleging multiple instances of trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. Brummett made his initial appearance in federal court on June 1, 2023, before United States Magistrate Judge James M. Candelaria. If convicted, Brummett faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment on each count. Brummett’s arrest is the latest originating from a joint investigation by the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office, the Cortez Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Previously, seven other alleged drug traffickers in the Montezuma County vicinity have been indicted and arrested on two separate indictments: In case number 22-cr-00359, Cesar Ortiz-Castillo, William Millard, Mary Lobato, Infant Maciel, and Russell Wall were previously indicted on conspiracy to commit drug trafficking offenses, for alleged violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and other drug distribution and weapons offenses. These five individuals have been arrested and are pending trial. In case number 23-cr-00007, Luis Martinez and Crystal Bass were previously indicted on conspiracy to commit drug trafficking offenses, for alleged violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and other drug distribution offenses. Both individuals have been arrested and are pending trial. The charges contained in each indictment are allegations. All of the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office, the Cortez Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys R. Josh Player and Jeffrey K. Graves. Case Number 23-cr-00245


title: Mercer County Man Sentenced to 130 Months in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 130 months in prison for his role as the leader of a Trenton drug-trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of heroin in the Trenton area, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Robert M. Gbanapolor, 36, of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to a superseding indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of heroin. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: From June 2018 through May 2019, Gbanapolor and others engaged in a heroin trafficking conspiracy in the areas of Stuyvesant, Hoffman, and Highland avenues in Trenton, as well as in the area of Barbary Road in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gbanapolor obtained regular bulk supplies of heroin from Duane Paulino-Escalera, whom Gbanapolor referred to as “Papi.” Gbanapolor, in turn, distributed this heroin for profit to other members of the drug-trafficking organization, who distributed the heroin in and around Trenton. Paulino-Escalera pleaded guilty in January 2020 and was sentenced on May 7, 2021, to five years in prison. In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Gbanapolor to four years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, Camden Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; and task force officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Steve Wilson, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked detectives and officers of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman; detectives and officers of the Gloucester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Harkins; members of the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; detectives and officers of the Bordentown Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Pesce; and special agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric A. Boden, Attorney in Charge of the Trenton Office, and Michelle Gasparian, Chief of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.


title: El Paso Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Receiving, Distributing Child Pornography

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso today to 180 months in prison for receipt and distribution of a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. According to court documents, Oscar Garcia Jr., 33, distributed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via a global instant messaging app in July 2022. Already a registered sex offender due to a prior conviction, Garcia used a phone belonging to his father to download CSAM. An investigation revealed more than 317 images and 33 videos containing CSAM. Garcia has remained in federal custody since his arrest on Aug. 10, 2022. “This defendant was a repeat offender who continued to pursue child sexual abuse material despite his previous conviction,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “With this lengthy prison sentence, we ensure he will no longer possess the means to access such material, preventing him from further victimizing so many innocent children as he had the years prior.” “FBI El Paso’s Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force, along with our law enforcement partners around the nation remain committed in identifying individuals distributing child pornography on the internet,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey for the FBI El Paso Field Office. “Investigating those who prey on our most vulnerable population remains a top priority for the FBI. This sentence sends a clear message that there are severe consequences for those who exploit children in any way and the FBI will continue to dedicate our resources to identify these individuals and bring them to justice.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Dos Santos prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Greenwood Village Psychiatrist Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Distribution of Controlled Substances and Financial Crimes

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Howard Weiss of Greenwood Village was sentenced to six months in federal prison for distributing a controlled substance outside the usual course of professional practice, for structuring financial transactions in a way to evade reporting requirements, and for engaging in monetary transactions greater than $10,000 that were derived from unlawful activity. After his custodial sentence, the defendant will face ten months of home confinement, as part of three years on supervised release. The 69-year-old also was ordered to forfeit $826,083.24 in criminal proceeds, pay $150,000 in community restitution, and surrender both his medical license as well his license to prescribe controlled substances. According to the plea agreement, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS-CI) began an investigation into the defendant because of suspicious financial activity, reports related to his patients’ sale of controlled substances, and one patient’s poly-drug overdose death. The investigation revealed that the defendant was prescribing methamphetamine to several adult patients. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant with a high potential for abuse. The FDA has approved only one methamphetamine product for medical use in rare circumstances. When investigators looked in detail at Weiss' prescribing records they discovered other red flags, including poly-drug prescribing. It is unusual to prescribe high-dose stimulants with high-dose sedatives because of the drugs competing effects. Yet, the defendant routinely prescribed high-dose stimulants with high-dose sedatives. The defendant also regularly prescribed stimulants such as Adderall at the upper end of the usual dosing range and, sometimes, well beyond the upper end of the usual dosing range. In July 2017, one of the defendant’s patients was arrested when the patient showed up to a drug deal with 119 methamphetamine pills prescribed by the defendant. The defendant’s prescriptions to that patient were outside the usual course and did not have a legitimate medical purpose. Further, the patient’s probation officer had previously contacted the defendant to warn about the patient’s methamphetamine addiction, but Weiss prescribed the methamphetamine anyway. In addition, as described in the plea agreement, the defendant engaged in illegal banking activity. Federal regulations prohibit the “structuring” of financial transactions to thwart the requirement that banks file reports for currency deposits of more than $10,000. Between November 2015, and February 2018, the defendant made forty-five cash deposits in excess of $9,000 but below the $10,000 threshold, which would require the bank to file a Currency Transaction Report. Bank tellers reported occasions in which the defendant would show up with cash, ask for it to be counted, and then decline to deposit any amount more than $10,000. “This defendant prioritized personal enrichment over the health and safety of his patients,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “Thanks to the excellent investigation by our partners at DEA and IRS-CI, in addition to his prison sentence, the defendant will give up over $825,000 in criminal proceeds and will not be able to harm any more patients.” “Howard Weiss knowingly and unlawfully distributed controlled substances outside the usual course of practice for no other purpose than greed,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge David S. Olesky. “Thanks to the dedicated team at the DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division, the IRS-CI Denver Office and our U.S. Attorney’s Office, Weiss ended up losing more than he gained and will never lawfully practice medicine again.” “IRS-CI Special Agents are experts in uncovering the financial schemes criminals use to hide money gained through illegal activities,” said Andy Tsui, Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “Weiss’ desire for money, and his disregard for the welfare of his patients, led to an investigation into his financial activity and ultimately the severe financial penalties that were handed down today.” United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing on June 6, 2023. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS-CI. Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Fields and Jena Neuscheler are handling the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Young is handling the parallel forfeiture action. Case Number: 21-cr-00233


title: Sullivan County Woman Arrested For Multimillion-Dollar Money Laundering And Bank Fraud Scheme

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Patrick J. Freaney, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“USSS”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging TETIANA BERRIORS with conspiring to commit money laundering and bank fraud in connection with laundering the proceeds of a series of business email compromise (“BEC”) scams that sought to deceive victims into sending nearly $10 million to bank accounts that she and others opened using fake and stolen identities. The defendant was arrested and will be presented tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in the Southern District of New York. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Tetiana Berriors exploited the United States financial system to launder millions of dollars of fraud proceeds. In doing so, she helped victimize over 15 different individuals, businesses, government entities, and public institutions. In furtherance of her illegal money laundering enterprise, she lied repeatedly to banks and stole the identities of at least three other innocent victims. Thanks to the efforts of this Office and its law enforcement partners, the defendant will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” USSS Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney said: “Despite the defendant’s alleged efforts to conceal the wide range of criminal activity targeting individuals, businesses, and government alike, such attempts against discovery were no match for this investigation’s expert professional team. Today, I am privileged to recognize the invaluable partnerships that fuel the New York law enforcement community’s essential work to fight fraud, and the Secret Service’s New York Field Office especially thanks the Financial Crimes Task Force of the New York City Police Department for their critical assistance in this case.” As alleged in the Indictment: [1] From at least in or about December 2020 through at least in or about October 2022, TETIANA BERRIORS laundered funds on behalf of individuals engaged in a series of frauds, primarily BECs, that targeted individuals, public institutions, government entities, and businesses located across the United States. The victims included, among others, a public research university in Pennsylvania, a housing developer in Texas, and a county-level government in California. To launder those funds, BERRIORS created over a dozen fraudulent bank accounts, used those accounts to receive funds from victims of the frauds, and rapidly depleted those accounts through cash withdrawals, wire transfers, and cashier’s checks. Typically, the wire transfers and cashier’s checks were made payable to shell companies that BERRIORS or her co-conspirators controlled. In total, BERRIORS opened at least 13 fraudulent bank accounts in the name of at least five shell companies using four different female aliases. Three of those aliases were identities stolen from real individuals. As a result of the frauds, more than 15 victims were directed to transfer nearly $10 million to bank accounts under the control of BERRIORS and her co-conspirators. Out of those nearly $10 million, BERRIORS and her co-conspirators successfully stole over $3.5 million in victim funds. * * * BERRIORS, 49, of Smallwood, New York, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. BERRIORS was also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USSS. Mr. Williams also recognized the assistance of the New York City Police Department. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. King is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. U.S. v. Berriors Indictment


title: Huntsville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – A Huntsville man was sentenced yesterday to 240 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville. According to court documents, since August 2022, detectives with the Benton County Drug Unit and special agents with Homeland Security Investigations had been conducting an on-going narcotics investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in Northwest Arkansas. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Richard Patrick Horton , age 56. Subsequently, investigators learned that Horton was receiving methamphetamine through the mail. Law enforcement ultimately intercepted a package bound for Horton’s address that contained two large bundles of suspected methamphetamine. The purchased and seized methamphetamine was later submitted to the Homeland Security Investigations Crime Laboratory for testing where it was tested and determined to be methamphetamine. Between the controlled purchases and the intercepted parcel, Horton was held accountable for over 2 kilograms of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Benton County Drug Unit and Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Eaton prosecuted the case. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov .


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violation of Federal Drug Control Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – TIMREK ANDREWS , age 43, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 08, 2023, to time served (15 months imprisonment) by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier for Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon, a violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. ANDREWS was additionally ordered to serve a three (3) year term of supervised release and to pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. According to previously filed court documents, ANDREWS and a co-defendant were under surveillance by investigators. When agents approached, they found a firearm in the floorboard of the driver’s seat where ANDREWS had been previously sitting. ANDREWS is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous conviction for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. 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. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Four Colombian Nationals Charged with Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods Conspiracy

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Four Colombian nationals were charged today for their roles in a scheme to burglarize a home in New Jersey and transport the stolen goods to New York, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. William Londono Rojas, 28, of Plainfield, New Jersey; Andrew Cifuentes Cadavid, 32, and Nicolas Ochoa Zambrano, 19, both of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Jose Alejandro Calvo Orozco, 27, of Madison, New Jersey, are each charged by complaint with conspiracy to transport stolen property. Rojas, Cadavid and Zambrano made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and were detained. Orozco was recently deported. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Nov. 30, 2022 through Dec. 2, 2022, the four defendants burglarized a home and then transported the stolen goods across state lines from Union County, New Jersey, to New York. The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the FBI Newark’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement Removal Operations, under the direction of Field Office Director John Tsoukaris; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office under direction of Prosecutor William Daniel and Chief Harvey Barnwell; and the Cranford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ryan Greco, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked New Jersey State Police, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their assistance as well as the police departments of Berkeley Heights Township, Branchburg, Cranford, Edison, Elizabeth, Kearny, Livingston, Metuchen, Monroe, Montgomery, Mountainside, Raritan Borough, and Warren. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics Unit and Rebecca Sussman of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. rojasetal.complaint.pdf


title: New York Woman Admits Bribing Mail Carriers to Steal Postal Arrow Keys

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New York woman man today admitted her role in a scheme to bribe mail carriers to steal postal arrow keys in order to unlock mail receptacles and to use stolen items from the mail to obtain funds fraudulently from banks, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Halimatou Ndiaye, 27, of the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to an information charging her with one count of bribery of U.S. Postal Service mail carriers and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Ndiaye schemed to bribe mail carriers in East Orange and Newark by offering them cash, typically $5,000, in exchange for the mail carriers giving her and another individual a postal arrow key, which could be used to access a variety of postal service mail receptacles. Ndiaye and others sought USPS arrow keys so that they could steal mail. For example, from June to July 2021, Ndiaye and the other individual drove to various locations in East Orange and Newark, where they stopped mail carriers and handed them a note indicating they would give $5,000 to the mail carrier in exchange for an arrow key. In addition, from January 2021 to July 2021, Ndiaye conspired with others to obtain funds fraudulently from banks by using stolen checks and bank cards to draw funds from bank accounts linked to the stolen items and using the identification of others to fraudulently obtain funds. The bribery charge to which Ndiaye pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the bank fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentencing is currently scheduled for Oct. 25, 2023. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark under the direction of Postal Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jihee G. Suh of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. ndiaye.information.pdf


title: Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II to 10 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for possession of images depicting child sexual abuse material. Russell Hamblin (63) pleaded guilty in November 2022, to one count of possession of child pornography. According to court documents, on January 14, 2008, Hamblin was convicted of receipt of child pornography in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. As a result of his conviction, he was sentenced to prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. On April 12, 2022, during a home visit, U.S. Probation Officers observed printed papers on the floor depicting nude or partially dressed young females. They seized multiple flash drives and cell phones belonging to Hamblin. He admitted that he possessed between 10 and 150 items of child pornography on the seized devices. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Supriya Prasad prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Kern High School District Employee Charged with Federal Explosive Offenses

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment today against Angelo Jackson Mendiver, 26, of Bakersfield, an employee of the Kern High School District, charging him with conspiring to commit offenses against the United States; engaging in manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials; two counts of mailing an explosive device; improper storage of explosives; and making false statements to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Mendiver used an Instagram account to sell explosives and explosive materials and worked closely with a male juvenile Bakersfield high school student to fulfill transactions. A federal search warrant executed at Mendiver’s residence on June 1, 2023, resulted in the seizure of approximately 500 pounds of explosives and explosive materials. Agents seized another 500 pounds of explosives and explosive materials from the juvenile’s residence. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case. Mendiver is scheduled for arraignment on the indictment on June 15, 2023. If convicted of engaging in the manufacture and dealing in explosive materials, Mendiver faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,00 fine. If convicted of making false statements to the FBI and conspiring to commit offenses against the United States, he faces a maximum statutory penalty for each count of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Mailing an explosive device and improper storage of explosives carry a maximum penalty for each count of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm Crimes

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ramel Gulley, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to possessing and intending to distribute 400 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and to possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Gulley admitted that on February 28, 2022, he possessed heroin-fentanyl mixtures weighing a total of 2,035 grams that he intended to distribute. Gulley also admitted that he possessed four firearms in order to protect the drugs, $12,625 in drug proceeds, and his drug trafficking business. Sentencing is scheduled for October 11, 2023, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe. Gulley faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes FBI Special Agents and members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin C. Segovia is prosecuting the case.


title: Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Role in Identity Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A foreign national pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to sell identity documents belonging to U.S. citizens to undocumented noncitizens and others residing within the United States without lawful authority. According to court documents, Manuel Ruiz-Aguilera, 44, of Mexico, and his co-conspirators sold government-issued identity documents, including Government of Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates and corresponding U.S. social security cards, to undocumented noncitizens residing within the United States. Ruiz-Aguilera sold the documents to undocumented noncitizens so they could assume the identities of U.S. citizens, and/or fraudulently apply for other identity documents in that person’s name in order to reside in the United States. Ruiz-Aguilera and his co-conspirators knew these documents pertained to real people. Ruiz-Aguilera was arrested in Mexico in February 2022 pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. In March 2023, he was extradited to Puerto Rico. Ruiz-Aguilera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit identification fraud by possessing, producing, and transferring identification documents. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 29. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tae D. Johnson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement. The charges are the result of Operation Island Express, an ongoing, nationally-coordinated investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) offices in Chicago, in coordination with HSI San Juan. The Illinois Secretary of State Police; Elgin, Illinois, Police Department; Seymour, Indiana, Police Department; and Indiana State Police provided substantial assistance. The HSI Assistant Attaché office in the Dominican Republic and International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2), as well as various ICE, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, DSS, and IRS-CI offices around the country, provided invaluable assistance. Trial Attorneys Frank Rangoussis and Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with prosecutors to prepare the extradition request for Ruiz-Aguilera. The department thanks the Government of Mexico for their assistance in arresting and extraditing Ruiz-Aguilera. Potential victims and the public may obtain information about the case at www.justice.gov/criminal/vns/caseup/beltrerj.html . Anyone who believes their identity may have been compromised in relation to this investigation or who may have information about particular crimes in this case should call the ICE toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or use its online tip form at www.ice.gov/tipline . Anyone who believes that they have been a victim of identity theft, or wants information about preventing identity theft, may obtain helpful information and complaint forms on various government websites including the Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft . Additional resources regarding identity theft can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/pubs/ID_theft/idtheft.html , www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html , and www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=186436,00.html .


title: Former School Bus Driver Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Child

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Maine man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to cyberstalking an eight-year-old child, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Michael Chick, age 40, pleaded guilty to cyberstalking. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for September 25, 2023. Chick was arrested on a criminal complaint in August 2022 and was indicted on September 6, 2022. Chick, a former school bus driver, began stalking an eight-year-old child on his bus route at least as early as March 2022. Chick gave the victim candy and small toys, and asked for permission to attend the child’s sporting events. Later, Chick provided the victim with cell phones and instructed the child to call Chick when he was alone. Chick told the child lies about a secret organization that would kidnap and torture the victim and kill the child’s family if the child did not fulfill various demands, which Chick purported to be relaying to the victim on behalf of the organization. Chick traveled to the child’s home at night and photographed the inside of their home by peering through the windows. Chick also placed GPS trackers on both of the victim’s parents’ vehicles. A forensic examination of Chick’s cell phone revealed surreptitiously recorded images and videos of the child and their family at various public locations such as retail stores, theme parks, and sporting events. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Homeland Security Investigations led the federal investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Greenland Police Department, the Eliot Police Department in Maine, the Old Town Police Department in Maine, the New England State Police Information Network, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former Branch Manager of Boston Bank Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – The former branch manager for a Boston bank pleaded guilty today to stealing over $100,000 in funds from customer bank accounts. Nathan Wadsworth, 32, of Syracuse, N.Y., pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. United States District Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 7, 2023. Wadsworth was charged by an Information on May 17, 2023. From June 2020 through November 2021, Wadsworth was employed as a branch manager for PNC Bank in Boston. Beginning in or around March 2021, Wadsworth used his position to identify dormant accounts of foreign account holders, transfer the funds in those dormant accounts to a new account he opened in the customers’ names and then moved the funds to his own accounts for personal use. In total, Wadsworth stole approximately $121,000 in customer funds. All the funds have since been repaid to the affected customers. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. PNC Bank cooperated with the government’s investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Levy’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Rhode Island Priest Admits to Federal Child Pornography Charge

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Father James W. Jackson, a Rhode Island priest previously assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Providence, pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island today to a charge of receipt of child pornography, admitting to a federal judge that he downloaded files of child sexual abuse using a peer-to-peer-file-sharing network, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. According to information presented to the court, in September 2021, an East Providence Detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force identified an IP address assigned to the rectory at St. Mary’s Church that was being utilized to share files of child sexual abuse material. A court-authorized search of a computer and digital device located in a church rectory bedroom utilized by Father Jackson was found to contain images and videos of child sexual abuse, including multiple images involving prepubescent females, some of which involved acts of bestiality and sadomasochism. A forensic audit of the devices subsequently identified over 12,000 images and 1,300 videos of child pornography. The defendant, charged by way of a federal criminal complaint and arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence on November 3, 2021, was later released while awaiting trial to the custody of his sister, who resides in Kansas. In June 2022, members of the Kansas ICAC identified a computer sharing child pornography via a peer-to-peer network. Through investigation, the IP address was traced to the residence in Kansas where Father Jackson was staying. Acting on a court-authorized search warrant, members of the Kansas ICAC seized a portable computer and an external hard drive from Jacksons bedroom; an analysis of the storage device revealed evidence that numerous files with names indicative of child sexual abuse material had been deleted. Father Jackson was returned to Rhode Island and ordered detained while awaiting trial on charges filed in U.S. District Court, charges which were brought based on the initial investigation by the Rhode Island ICAC. He pleaded guilty today in that matter to a charge of receipt of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Kevin L. Hubbard. U.S Attorney Cunha expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Overland Park, Kansas Police Department and the Kansas ICAC. . ###


title: New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Edwin Collazo, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl; and to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Sept. 5, 2023. Collazo was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2022. Between approximately March 2022 and June 2022, Collazo purchased fentanyl from the DTO that he then redistributed to others. Intercepted communications revealed Collazo discussing purchasing fentanyl from the DTO and surveillance footage showed other members of the DTO visiting Collazo’s residence for brief periods of times, which is consistent with illegal drug trafficking. Fentanyl was also seized during a search of Collazo’s residence in July 2022. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael J. Myers made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; Bristol County Sherriff’s Office; and Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Scituate, Yarmouth, Providence (R.I.) and West Warwick (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Peabody Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking

body_text: BOSTON – A Peabody man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. Donald Ruby, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley to 27 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Ruby was also ordered to forfeit $28,110 which was previously seized during a search of his Peabody apartment. On Jan. 13, 2023 Ruby pleaded guilty to three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving 40 grams or more of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Ruby was arrested in May 2022 after he had distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in a number of separate controlled purchases at his home. A subsequent search of Ruby’s residence in Peabody resulted in the seizure of 85 grams of fentanyl disguised as counterfeit oxycodone pills, 132 grams of methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit Adderall pills and 85.3 grams of powder cocaine. It was later revealed that Ruby had been trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine for a decade. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Peabody Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Levy’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: New Jersey Man Indicted in Money Laundering Conspiracy Scheme

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging Angel Mendez, a resident of New Jersey, with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the indictment, between July 2020 and January 2021, defendant Angel Mendez, 33, conspired with other persons to launder millions of dollars of illicit proceeds derived from Business Email Compromise (“BEC”) schemes. A BEC is a type of internet fraud that occurs when an employee of a company is fooled into interacting with an email message that appears to be, but is not, legitimate. Criminal actors use such schemes to defraud companies into sending large payments to their criminal organization instead of the intended legitimate recipient. Specifically, the Indictment alleges that Mendez laundered money that derived from two separate BECs: a fraud perpetrated on “Victim A” and a fraud perpetrated on “Victim B.” The Indictment alleges that bank accounts controlled by Mendez received, and subsequently laundered or attempted to launder, over $2.1 million fraudulently obtained from “Victim A” and over $1.2 million fraudulently obtained from “Victim B.” Mendez is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, made the announcement. The FBI Baltimore Cyber Task Force also assisted with this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger and Samuel S. Frey are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-44. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.


title: Lavaca Man Sentenced in $134 Million COVID-19 Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: FORT SMITH – A Lavaca, Arkansas, man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $29,835,825.99 in restitution for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering. Billy Joe Taylor , age 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering on October 27, 2022. According to court documents, Taylor and his co-conspirators submitted more than $134 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare in connection with diagnostic laboratory testing, including urine drug testing and tests for respiratory illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, that were medically unnecessary, not ordered by medical providers, and not provided as represented. Taylor and his co-conspirators obtained medical information and private personal information for Medicare beneficiaries, and then misused that confidential information to repeatedly submit claims to Medicare for diagnostic tests. According to court documents, Taylor and his co-conspirators received more than $38 million from Medicare on those fraudulent claims. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson, of the FBI’s Little Rock division; Special Agent in Charge Jason Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Dallas Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Altemus of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office, made the announcement The FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elser of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas and Senior Litigation Counsel Jim Hayes and Trial Attorney D. Keith Clouser of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section’s National Rapid Response Strike Force prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov