title: Elk City Man Sentenced to Serve 40 Years in Federal Prison for Production and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – TIMOTHY STEVEN BLAYLOCK , JR. , 38, of Elk City, has been sentenced to serve 480 months in federal prison for producing child pornography and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On November 17, 2023, Blaylock was charged with production of child pornography involving two victims and possession of child pornography. According to public record, in July 2023, an undercover FBI agent began communicating with Blaylock via a mobile messaging service. The agent purported to be the mother of a 12-year-old girl, to whom Blaylock made several sexually explicit comments. The affidavit alleges the conversation continued for several days, during which Blaylock shared several videos with the agent depicting himself sexually abusing minors. Blaylock was arrested on July 28, 2023. After his arrest, the FBI determined that Blaylock had produced child pornography with two children using his cell phone. Blaylock also downloaded other child pornography via the Internet and possessed it on his cell phone. On November 27, 2023, Blaylock pleaded guilty and admitted to sexually abusing two minors multiple times, which he filmed using his cell phone between March of 2021 and July of 2023, and to possessing other child pornography on his cell phone. At the sentencing hearing on July 15, 2024, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Blaylock to serve 480 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life. In announcing his sentence, Judge Russell described Blaylock’s actions as “unforgiveable,” and added that the “world needs to know you pay a price” for this kind of criminal conduct. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, FBI New Orleans Field Office, and Elk City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Stoughton Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robberies of Postal Workers

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Stoughton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to the armed robberies of United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carriers that took place on Nov. 29, 2022 in Mattapan and Dec. 16, 2022 in Hyde Park. In one instance, the defendant robbed the letter carrier at knifepoint. Kenneth Demosthene, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts each of robbery of any person having lawful charge, control, or custody of any mail matter or of any money or other property of the United States, aiding and abetting and two counts each of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees, aiding and abetting. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Oct. 22, 2024. In May 2023, Demosthene was indicted with Myesha Lewis. USPS has seen a rise in the use of arrow keys to facilitate the theft of U.S. Mail. An arrow key is a specific key designed to open designated blue USPS collection boxes in a specific area. These arrow keys are the property of USPS and it is a federal offense for an unauthorized person to possess one. Since July 2022, there have been at least 23 assaults on USPS letter carriers while in the performance of their official duties in Boston and its surrounding communities. These incidents included the attempted or successful robbery of USPS arrow keys from letter carriers. Additionally, of these 23, 15 of the robberies were instances where the perpetrators were reportedly armed with a knife, firearm, or both. On Nov. 29, 2022, in Mattapan, Demosthene and, allegedly, Lewis followed forcibly robbed a USPS letter carrier of an arrow key. Demosthene approached the letter carrier and said, “I’m going to need your master key,” before reaching into the letter carrier’s mail satchel and grabbing the arrow key. The arrow key was secured around the letter carrier’s belt with a brass chain. It is alleged that the force used to physically break the brass chain caused the letter carrier to be pulled off the front steps. Demosthene and, allegedly, Lewis fled the scene in a rental vehicle. On Dec. 16, 2022, in Hyde Park, Demosthene and, allegedly, Lewis robbed another USPS letter carrier of an arrow key at knife point. Demosthene approached the USPS letter carrier and said, “Give me your f****** arrow key.” The letter carrier put their hands in the air as the defendants attempted to remove the arrow key, at first by force pulling at the chain. Demosthene and, allegedly, Lewis then attempted to cut it with the knife – eventually breaking the arrow key loose, and fleeing the scene on foot. The charges of robbery of any person having lawful charge, control, or custody of any mail matter or of any money or other property of the United States each provide for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Paul Anthony Rucker, 47, of Nitro, was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Rucker admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Rucker and searched his Nitro residence. Rucker admitted that he and others used the residence to distribute controlled substances. Officers seized 64.45 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 41 grams of fentanyl, 11 firearms, and ammunition during the search. Rucker admitted that he and another individual possessed the firearms and ammunition and intended to distribute the controlled substances found during the search. Rucker further admitted to participating in the DTO from at least February 2023 through November 2023. As part of that participation, Rucker admitted that he distributed fentanyl to a confidential informant at his Nitro residence on May 19, 2023, and to transporting quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Huntington to Nitro in a vehicle with co-defendant Mark Lawrence Lowe on September 9, 2023. Law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and seized approximately 149 grams of fentanyl and 222.6 grams of methamphetamine. Rucker admitted that he and Lowe intended to distribute the controlled substances. Rucker and Lowe are among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia. Rucker is also among 21 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against Lowe and the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180. ###


title: North Berwick Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud for Applying for PPP Loans for Travel Agency He No Longer Owned

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A North Berwick man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to filing fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). According to court records, between April 2020 and September 2021, Frederick Avery , 49, submitted two applications for PPP loans that claimed he was the 100% owner of Superior Cruise and Travel LLC. Avery sold the agency to a limited liability company in Pennsylvania in November 2019. He claimed on the applications that the loans, which totaled more than $215,000, were for payroll, lease/mortgage interest, utilities, and other items. Avery submitted falsified bank statements from a non-existent account to support one of the applications. Avery faces up to 30 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1 million, followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The PPP was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP permitted participating third-party lenders to approve and disburse SBA-backed PPP loans to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the SBA. ###


title: Mercer County Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

body_text: BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Austin Pannell, 27, of Bluefield, was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 18, 2022, Pannell sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant outside of a Princeton apartment. Pannell admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling additional quantities of fentanyl to a confidential informant on three other occasions in Princeton and Bluefield between July 12, 2022, and August 18, 2022. On July 27, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Pannell at a residence in Bluefield. Officers executed a search warrant at that residence and found 568 grams of fentanyl, a Delton 5.56mm AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, and a Phoenix Arms .25-caliber handgun that were attributed to Pannell. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The task force consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Princeton Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-109. ###


title: Lowell, Mass. Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Lowell, Massachusetts man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiring to distribute and possess methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Angel Luis Lozano , 27, to 60 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Lozano pleaded guilty on February 15, 2024. According to court records, in November 2022, an undercover officer arranged to purchase two pounds of methamphetamine from Mandy Shorey , 43, of Peru, Maine. Lozano traveled from Massachusetts to Maine with at least 938.4 grams of methamphetamine to provide to Shorey. In January 2023, the agent again arranged to purchase two pounds of methamphetamine, and Lozano traveled with other coconspirators from Massachusetts and delivered approximately 459.3 grams of methamphetamine. Mandy Shorey pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, to distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiring to distribute and possess methamphetamine, and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. She faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million followed by supervised release for at least five years and up to life for the two drug charges. She faces a minimum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearms charge. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case. ###


title: Guam Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Kevin Mayberry, age 64, from Tamuning, was sentenced to 110 months imprisonment. He previously pled guilty to Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered two years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. On August 14, 2017, U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package containing methamphetamine hydrochloride. Law enforcement replaced the drugs with a sham product and conducted a controlled delivery. Mayberry attempted to receive the package. Upon arrest, he admitted that a friend in California sent him the methamphetamine which he intended to sell on Guam. The package contained D-methamphetamine hydrochloride with a net weight of 23 grams and a 95% purity level. This was Mayberry’s third federal conviction for a drug offense. “Repeat drug offenders are subject to enhanced penalties under federal law,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “These defendants are priority targets for our office as we continue to combat drug trafficking in an effort to keep our communities safe.” “Sending methamphetamine in the mail endangers the community and postal workers. Postal inspectors will not allow the U.S. Mail to be used to traffic controlled substances. We work diligently with our law enforcement partners to remove contraband from the mail and hold suspects accountable,” said USPIS San Francisco Division Inspector-in-Charge Stephen Sherwood. “I want to thank our partner members of the Guam Interdictions Anti-Narcotics Trafficking Task Force (GIANT TF), including the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, Guam Police Department, and our federal law enforcement partners for their dependable teamwork.” This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.


title: McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Vehicular Battery

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Charles B. Kornmann, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Vehicular Battery. The sentencing took place on July 8, 2024. Jerry Bruce Petersen, age 69, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Petersen was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 13, 2023. Shortly before 9:00 p.m. on January 28, 2023, Petersen was driving his F-150 truck on South Dakota Hwy 63 near McLaughlin, when he struck three pedestrians. One of the pedestrians incurred life-threatening injuries requiring an airlift to Bismarck, North Dakota. Petersen’s alcohol concentration was 0.13. The location of the offense lay within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the General Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes federal prosecution of certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Petersen was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Leader of Aryan Knights Prison Gang Pleads Guilty to  RICO Conspiracy and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon  in Aid of Racketeering

body_text: BOISE – James Ramsey, 43, formerly the overall leader of the Idaho prison gang known as the Aryan Knights, or “AK,” pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise under the federal RICO statute (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act) conspiracy and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid or racketeering, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. With Ramsey’s guilty plea, all defendants in a ten-defendant RICO case charged in 2019 have now pleaded guilty. Sentencing for Ramsey is set for October 22, 2024. The defendant was a member of an enterprise called the “Aryan Knights” (“AK”) since at least 2007. The AK is a prison gang that operates within Idaho Department of Correction (“IDOC”) prison facilities but also outside of IDOC facilities in the District of Idaho. It was founded to organize criminal activity for a select group of white inmates within IDOC custody. The defendant has held various positions of rank in the AK, including being the overall leader of the gang in 2015 and 2016. The AK is a corrupt racketeering enterprise, as defined in the RICO statute. It has a code of conduct that includes, but is not limited to, carrying out orders and submitting to discipline from the leaders of the gang. The AK derives its revenue from, among other things, extortion and smuggling and distributing controlled substances into IDOC facilities. The defendant knowingly agreed that he or a co-conspirator would participate in the conduct of the affairs of the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. Among other things, AK members were ordered by AK leaders, including the defendant, to engage in criminal activity. As part of his participation in the AK, the defendant frequently communicated with other members of the AK about participating in collecting debts, extortion in IDOC prison facilities to be committed by AK members and distributing controlled substances in IDOC prison facilities. As part of the racketeering conspiracy, the defendant participated in, and understood that other AK members would participate in the following acts: From 2010 to 2017, the AK trafficked drugs within IDOC. This includes a 2015–2016 scheme to smuggle methamphetamine into IDOC using an inmate’s wheelchair, arranging for methamphetamine to be smuggled in using another inmate’s girlfriend, and a system of “kick downs” the Defendant implemented. The defendant, along with other AK members, distributed and arranged the distribution of drugs, including methamphetamine, during this period. In the spring of 2016, the Defendant ordered that AK members attack another inmate (the victim). The victim was a former AK member. On June 15, 2016, co-defendant Harlan Hale and two other AK members attacked the victim on an IDOC baseball field. They beat and stabbed the victim multiple times with homemade knives, intending to kill the victim. Hale previously pleaded guilty to participating in the RICO conspiracy and admitted that he committed this attack as an integral aspect of gang membership. All ten of the AK defendants in this case have pleaded guilty, and eight have been sentenced so far: Harlan Hale, 58, was sentenced in March of 2021 to life in federal prison. Christopher Foss, 35, was sentenced in September, 2020, to 210 months in federal prison, with 174 months to be served after his earliest possible parole date for his current state prison sentence. Foss was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. Buck Pickens, 35, was sentenced in September, 2020, to 206 months in federal prison, with 60 months to be served after his earliest possible parole date for his current sentence. Pickens was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. Steven Bowman, 41, was sentenced in May, 2023, to 78 months in federal prison, to be served after his earliest possible parole date for his current sentence. Bowman was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. Nicholas Sites, 39, was sentenced in January, 2023, to 55 months in federal prison. Sites was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration. Mark Woodland, 53, was sentenced in June, 2023, to 51 months in federal prison, to be served after his earliest possible parole date for his current sentence. Woodland was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration. Lucas Johnson, 35, was sentenced in May, 2021, to 48 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Michael McNabb, 40, was sentenced in August, 2020, to 28 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from IDOC’s Special Investigations Unit, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office. # # #


title: Schenectady Man Charged with Distributing Fentanyl and Xanax

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Omar Alaidrus, age 23, of Schenectady, New York, was charged today with distributing controlled substances. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General Northeast Region (USDA-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office; and Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino made the announcement. According to a criminal complaint, on March 29, 2023, a police officer, posing as a customer, went into the deli and grocery in Schenectady where Alaidrus was working behind the counter. Alaidrus used the officer’s electronic benefits card to record a purchase of $201.15 using what are commonly known as “food stamps,” removed $100 from the cash register, kept that cash, and gave the officer fentanyl pills and Xanax. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charge filed against Alaidrus carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 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. Alaidrus appeared today in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for July 17, 2024. USDA-OIG, HSI, the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office, the Schenectady Police Department, and the New York State Police are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 9 Months in Federal Prison for Operating Website that Offered Computer Attack Services

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Texas man was sentenced today to 9 months in federal prison for running a website that allowed paying users to launch powerful distributed denial of service – or DDoS – attacks that flooded tens of thousands of targeted computers with information and prevented them from being able to access the internet. Scott Raul Esparza, 24, of Katy, Texas, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald who also ordered two years of supervised release with conditions including a full computer monitoring program after serving his prison sentence. Esparza pleaded guilty on March 6 to one count of conspiracy to commit unauthorized impairment of a protected computer and one count of unauthorized impairment of a protected computer. From 2019 to September 2022, Esparza operated and co-administrated with Shamar Shattock, 21, of Margate, Florida, a DDoS-for-hire service called “Astrostress.com.” The term “DDoS” refers to a type of computer attack in which multiple computers attempt to make connections through the Internet to a targeted computer at the same time. The amount of internet traffic generated by such an attack quickly overwhelms the capacity of the victim computer, resulting in the victim computer being unable to send, receive or respond to commands. Astrostress.com was a type of DDoS-for-hire service known as a “booter” service, referring to its ability to “boot” victims off the internet. Customers of Astrostress.com were offered various levels of subscriptions – depending on how many attacks they wanted to conduct and with what power – and were charged accordingly. This site thus enabled co-conspirators worldwide to set up accounts on Astrostress.com and then use the Astrostress.com resources to direct attacks at internet-connected computers around the globe. Esparza was responsible for procuring the attack servers and maintaining the attack functionality of Astrostress.com. Esparza also helped Shattock market the service, and he hired a co-conspirator to assist with responding to support requests from customers of the service. Esparza neither owned nor had the rights to use the third-party computers he exploited to generate the amplified attack power made available via the Astrostress.com website. He was aware that his customers were using the site to attack computers that did not belong to the customers, and which the customers had no authorization to impair. Esparza personally conducted thousands of attacks using his own service. From September 2021 to September 2022, while Esparza administered the website, customers used Astrostress.com to attack tens of thousands of protected computers. As a result, they impaired or attempted to impair the availability of the victim computers by knocking them offline. In or around September 2022, shortly after the FBI caused Astrostress.com to shut down, Esparza called Shattock and left him a voicemail message in which he instructed Shattock to “clear” all his social media accounts “so nothing gets linked back to us.” Shattock pleaded guilty in March 2023 to one felony conspiracy count and faces up to five years in federal prison at his sentencing hearing, which is expected to occur in the coming months. The FBI investigated this matter as part of Operation PowerOFF, a multi-national effort to combat DDoS-for-hire services. Assistant United States Attorneys Cameron L. Schroeder, Chief of the National Security Division, and Aaron B. Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section prosecuted this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the seizure of the Astrostress domain.


title: Fresno Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Receipt of Child Pornography

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO , Calif. — Nicolas Adan Guereca, 25, of Fresno was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 25 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The court also ordered Guereca to pay a total of $60,200 in financial assessments and scheduled a hearing on restitution for September 16, 2024. The prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release during which time his access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. Guereca was also ordered to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, on approximately July 30, 2019, Guereca used a cellphone and an Instagram account with username jayriggs_14 to locate and communicate with a minor victim. During a series of messages, Guereca coerced the victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and create visual depictions of that conduct for the purpose of transmitting them to Guereca. Investigators later learned that Guereca had used multiple phones and Yahoo, Snapchat, and Instagram accounts to communicate with minor females. Guereca received images of minors, some as young as 12 years of age, engaged in sexually explicit conduct from approximately June 2019 through July 2020. This case is a product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically Homeland Security Investigations, the Clovis and Fresno Police Departments, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Sanford Man Sentenced To More Than 10 Years In Federal Prison For Armed Robbery

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida– U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Cristian Manuel Rodriguez Nunez (28, Sanford) to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison for Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robbery. Rodriguez Nunez entered a guilty plea on April 1, 2024. According to court documents, on August 10, 2019, Rodriguez Nunez, along with his co-defendants Tauri Benjamin Rivas Nunez (Rivas Nunez), Victor Hugo Castillo Vallejo (Castillo Vallejo), and Luis Miguel Valdez Mendez (Valdez Mendez) robbed a T-Mobile store in Oviedo, Florida. During the robbery, Rodriguez Nunez entered the store wearing a facemask and pointed a firearm at one of the employees. While pointing the firearm at the employee, Rodriguez Nunez forced the employee to open the store’s safe and remove the electronics and other merchandise from the safe into a trash bag. Meanwhile, Rivas Nunez approached another T-Mobile employee, who he placed in a chokehold, after which he stole that employee’s cell phone and money from the cash register. Valdez Mendez searched through a customer’s purse and assisted Rivas Nunez with taking money from the register. Once the robbery was completed, all defendants entered a vehicle driven by Castillo Vallejo, who acted as the lookout and getaway driver. Unbeknownst to Rodriguez Nunez and his co-defendants, a location tracking device placed into the trash bag containing the stolen merchandise provided law enforcement with their location, which led to the apprehension of Valdez Mendez, Rivas Nunez, and Castillo Vallejo, as well as the recovery of approximately $20,000 in stolen electronics and the firearm. Rodriguez Nunez had fled the area prior to law enforcement arriving and remained a fugitive for several years. In October of 2023, law enforcement located and apprehended Rodriguez Nunez in New York. Castillo Vallejo pled guilty and was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison on July 14, 2021. Valdez Mendez pled guilty and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on July 14, 2021. Rivas Nunez was found guilty by a jury on May 12, 2021, and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison on July 21, 2021. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Dominican Republic National Sentenced To Federal Prison For Passport Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ivan Desiderio Peralta Rosario (33, Dominican Republic) to four years in federal prison for passport fraud and aggravated identify theft. Peralta Rosario pleaded guilty to these offenses on March 20, 2024. According to the plea agreement, Peralta Rosario is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was previously deported from the United States after being convicted of unauthorized possession of an identification card and dealing in stolen property. He subsequently reentered the United States and filed an application for a U.S. Passport. Peralta Rosario presented a false Florida Driver License and birth certificate in the name of L.J.M.M. and used the name, date of birth, and Social Security Number of L.J.M.M. in his passport application. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Diplomatic Security Service, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the North Carolina DMV Police, the Georgia DMV Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Dickson Tennessee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.


title: Former Jericho Road employee charged with theft of government funds

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dejan Karlovic, 29, of Amherst, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with theft of government funds, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between October 16, 2023, and July 2, 2024, Karlovic was employed by Jericho Road as a Senior Grants Accountant. In this position, he had access to three commercial credit cards issued through M&T Bank. Among the expenses charged to these credit cards were charges purportedly related to UHAUL, with many of the most significant UHAUL related charges supported by invoices from an entity named D and D. Between March 1 and June 26, 2024, there were more than $574,000 in D and D related transactions conducted on the credit cards. In March 2024, Jericho Road switched its credit card process to an online credit card management system called Ramp. Ramp accounts were issued to a limited number of personnel, which did not include Karlovic. One employee who was to receive a Ramp account with administrative access, did not establish his user profile in a timely manner. However, an unknown individual established the employee’s profile on Ramp. At approximately the same time the profile was established, an invitation for administrative access to Ramp was sent to Karlovic and a credit card through Ramp was issued to Karlovic. Karlovic was questioned about this, and he admitted that he received the invitation. Karlovic’s access to the Ramp credit card was revoked. However, when the Ramp program was rolled out to Jericho Road, Karlovic received access to two credit cards. He was to manage the program expenses related to these cards, and was able to make legitimate program purchases using both these credit cards. Between April 10 and June 17, 2024, there were more than $10,000 in D and D related transactions that were conducted on one of the two credit cards Karlovic had access to through Ramp. Subsequent investigation determined that some of the funds allegedly stolen by Karlovic in the name of D and D, were transferred to his personal bank account at Northwest Bank. The timing of the transactions coincided with transactions on the M&T credit cards. Jericho Road became aware of the suspicious nature of the transactions involving D and D, conducted an internal investigation, and concluded that the charges were not for legitimate business purposes. Since Karlovic’s access was revoked, no new purchases from D and D have cleared on Ramp. The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Oklahoma City Resident Sentenced For Possession Of An Unregistered Silencer

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandon Scott Coats, age 38, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 55 months in prison for one count of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On September 25, 2023, Coats pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered silencer. According to investigators, on January 11, 2022, Coats was in possession of a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle that had a silver cylindrical device attached to the barrel. The device functioned as a silencer and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Under federal law, a silencer is considered a firearm, and it is illegal to possess a silencer unless the device is registered. 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 Honorable William Paul Johnson, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Coats will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: El Salvador Citizen Sentenced For Firearm Possession

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Elian David Vasquez-Lopez, age 24, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for one count of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by an Illegal Alien. Following his sentence, he will be released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal from the United States. The charge arose from an investigation by the Kiowa Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On August 28, 2023, Vasquez-Lopez pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien. According to investigators, on July 17, 2023, officers conducting a routine traffic stop on U.S. Highway 69 discovered Vasquez-Lopez was illegally in the United States and in possession of a 9mm pistol and six rounds of ammunition. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Vasquez-Lopez will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration prior to his removal from the United States. Assistant United States Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: Holdenville Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Bryant Dilbeck, age 28, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The charge arose from an investigation by the Holdenville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On November 20, 2023, Dilbeck pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. According to investigators, on January 3, 2023, Dilbeck knowingly possessed a .38 caliber revolver and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable William P. Johnson, Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Dilbeck will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Tulsa Resident Sentenced For Possessing A Firearm In Furtherance Of A Drug Trafficking Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marco Ernesto Heras, age 26, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for one count of Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The charges arose from an investigation by the Fort Gibson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On August 23, 2023, Heras pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on October 14, 2022, Heras was stopped by a Fort Gibson patrol officer for a traffic violation and discovered in possession of a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol with an extended magazine, over 22 grams of cocaine, and digital scales. “Firearms coupled with illegal narcotics pose an increased danger to public safety, and the United States Attorney’s Office will work with our local, state, Tribal, and federal law enforcement partners to identify and aggressively prosecute offenders like Mr. Heras,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. 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 Honorable William P. Johnson, U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Heras will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Checotah Resident Sentenced For False Statement Made During Acquisition Of A Firearm

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Steven Peavler, age 67, of Checotah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On September 29, 2023, Peavler pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 29, 2022, Peavler attempted to receive two firearms from Checotah Firearms, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Checotah, Oklahoma. During his visit, Peavler intentionally made a false written statement on the ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473, asserting that he was not under indictment or information in any court for a felony or for any other crime for which he could be imprisoned for more than one year. In reality, at the time of the transaction, Peavler was under indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding of one year and knew of such prosecution. 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 Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Peavler will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on Shooting at Former President Donald J. Trump’s Rally

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the shooting at former President Donald J. Trump’s rally: “I have been briefed on the shooting at former President Trump’s rally, and have briefed the President. The FBI, ATF, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Department’s National Security Division are currently working with the Secret Service as well as state and local law enforcement partners on the ground in Butler, Pennsylvania. My heart is with the former President, those injured, and the family of the spectator killed in this horrific attack. We will not tolerate violence of any kind, and violence like this is an attack on our democracy. The Justice Department will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation.”


title: Montgomery County Landlord and His Property Management Company Agree to Pay $570,000 to Settle Allegations of Collecting Excess Rent from Section 8 Tenants

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – Landlord Allan R. Posner and his property management company ILJOR Properties, LLC, have agreed to pay $570,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act during their participation in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), commonly known as “Section 8.” The HCVP is the federal government’s primary program for helping low-income families, the elderly, and disabled people to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. As conditions of participation in the HCVP, landlords must regularly certify that the rents they charge to tenants who receive housing assistance vouchers (“assisted tenants”) are not higher than those paid by unassisted tenants residing in comparable properties, and must certify that they are not charging any additional amounts to assisted tenants other than charges specified in each housing assistance payment contract. The United States contends that, during the period from January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2020, ILJOR regularly charged Section 8 tenants more than unassisted tenants in comparable properties. These overcharges arose, in part, from Posner’s engagement in a prohibited quid pro quo sexual relationship with an unassisted tenant in which he made an unwelcome proposal to lower that tenant’s monthly rental payments in exchange for sex. The individual acquiesced because she was afraid of losing her housing. Then, Posner regularly lowered her rent in exchange for sexual acts. In doing so, Posner overcharged the Section 8 tenants whose rent was higher than this unassisted tenant, whose rent was regularly reduced. “Quid pro quo harassment, where a landlord requires a person to submit to an unwelcome sexual request in exchange for housing, is illegal. Here, where the landlord lowered the rent of an unassisted tenant in exchange for sex, he also falsely certified to the government that Section 8 tenants and HUD were not being charged more than unassisted tenants in comparable units,” said Jacqueline C. Romero, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “This office will continue to investigate landlords who take advantage of tenants and who overcharge the government under the Section 8 program.” ILJOR also charged assisted tenants additional fees that exceeded the fees paid by unassisted tenants, and that were not specified in the housing assistance payment contracts, including excess fees for storage space, garage access, and laundry. In one circumstance, the housing authority determined that a tenant, JS, could only afford to pay $4 a month toward her rent. Posner agreed in the Section 8 contract with the housing authority that the tenant would have no additional charges, other than electric services, aside from the agreed-upon rent. But in the lease for this unit, Posner charged JS $25 a month for a storage locker. Posner later threatened to evict JS when she could not make a $30 payment for rent of her apartment and the storage locker. In another instance, Posner charged assisted tenant LR, someone with an amputation who used a wheelchair for mobility, $125 a month for a storage unit located down a flight of stairs in the basement. This additional fee was not included in the housing assistance payment contract Posner entered into with the housing authority, as required. From January 1, 2017, to December 1, 2020, Posner received over $38,000 in fees he was not allowed to receive from HCVP-assisted tenants. “Exploiting vulnerable individuals through sexual misconduct or overcharging HUD-assisted tenants is both reprehensible and abusive,” said Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “We will continue to partner with the United States Attorney to hold these landlords accountable, protect low-income households from sexual and financial predation, and promote the integrity of HUD programs.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office and HUD’s Office of Inspector General invite participants in HUD’s Section 8 program who have experienced sexual harassment by a landlord or a landlord requesting extra money from them to call the HUD OIG hotline at 1-800-347-3735. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Lindgren. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Two Georgia Women Sentenced for Stealing Social Security Benefits

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Teresa Carter and Sharon Crowder have been sentenced for theft of government funds for their unlawful receipt of Social Security benefits intended for relatives, who died years earlier. “Carter and Crowder chose to assume the responsibility of acting on behalf of loved ones as the recipients of their relative’s Social Security benefits,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Then they concealed the deaths of their relatives and knowingly and unlawfully continued to receive these government funds to which they were not entitled. The defendants’ prosecution and sentence should place others on notice that stealing money from the government and taxpayers is a serious offense.” “As representative payees, these defendants had a responsibility to report the death of the beneficiary, rather they falsified information to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and wrongfully converted funds to their own use, which is a crime. These sentences demonstrate that we will continue to investigate representative payees who misappropriate funds issued by the SSA,” said Rodregas W. Owens, Special Agent in Charge, SSA Office of the Inspector General, Atlanta Field Division. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman for their work in this case.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Teresa Carter was the representative payee for her father’s Social Security benefits. As the representative payee, she was required to spend all of his monthly benefits on his behalf and submit annual reporting statements to the SSA that documented any changes in his condition. Carter’s father died on July 17, 2006. Rather than report his death to the SSA, Carter continued to submit annual reporting statements to the SSA in which she falsely stated that her father was still alive. In March 2023, when SSA investigators interviewed Carter, she admitted that her father had died and that she had submitted false statements after his death to continue to receive the benefits. But she falsely claimed that a Social Security employee told her to lie on the annual reporting form so that she could continue to receive the benefits which she falsely claimed were pension benefits from a private pension fund. In total, Carter stole over $130,000 in government funds. Sharon Crowder acted as the representative payee for her brother’s Social Security benefits. Her brother died on September 10, 2009. Like Carter, Crowder did not report her brother’s death to the SSA. Instead, she submitted annual reporting statements to the SSA in which she falsely stated that her brother was still alive. When confronted by investigators in August 2023 about this deception, Crowder admitted that she submitted the false statements to the SSA and spent the funds knowing that she was not entitled to receive them. In total, Crowder stole more than $139,000 in government benefits. Teresa Carter, 66, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown two years of probation with the first 90 days to be served on home confinement. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $130,182.90. Carter was convicted of this charge on March 7, 2024, after she pleaded guilty. Sharon R. Crowder, 55, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by Judge Brown to four years of probation with the first six months to be served on home confinement. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $139,656.00. Crowder was convicted of this charge on March 12, 2024, after she pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Colombian Citizen Pleads Guilty To Illegally Exporting Firearms From Florida To Colombia

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jorge Giovanny Gonzalez-Lopez (42, Colombia) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the United States to Colombia. Gonzalez-Lopez faces a maximum term of five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release, although he is expected to be removed from the United Staes at the completion of his prison sentence. Gonzalez-Lopez was extradited from Colombia to the United States in February 2024, and he has been in custody since that time. His sentencing hearing is expected to be set in the next 90 days. According to court documents, Gonzalez-Lopez is a citizen of Colombia who traveled to Florida in late 2017 and again in early 2018 and, aided and abetted by others, acquired firearms, including several types of assault rifles, then illegally exported them from Clearwater, Tampa and Kissimmee, Florida, to Colombia. Gonzalez-Lopez and his co-conspirators attempted to obliterate the serial numbers on some of the firearms so that they could not be traced. Neither Gonzalez-Lopez nor his co-conspirators applied for or obtained the necessary licenses for exporting defense articles as required by federal law. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Colombia’s Policía Fiscal y Aduanera (POLFA), a unit of the National Police of Colombia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs, Jr. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá worked with Colombian authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Gonzalez-Lopez.


title: U.S. Attorney, Homeland Security Investigations Secure 17-Year Sentence in Child Exploitation Case

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An El Paso man was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for his role in a cross-border conspiracy to distribute child pornography, following an investigation that uncovered thousands of explicit images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, including infants. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, between April 28, 2022, and April 24, 2023, Yamil Pillado , 23, and his cousin, Ryan Gallardo, engaged in a conspiracy to send and receive images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material via various online platforms. Pillado and Gallardo used WhatsApp and the MEGA file hosting service to exchange these illegal materials across state lines, with Pillado located in Texas and Gallardo in New Mexico. During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered extensive conversations between Pillado and Gallardo discussing their mutual sexual interest in minors, including infants. The cousins exchanged numerous files containing sexually explicit images and videos of children. Specifically, on April 29, 2022, Gallardo sent Pillado several videos showing an adult male sexually abusing a prepubescent female. On July 5, 2022, Pillado reciprocated by sending Gallardo an image of a minor female being sexually exploited. A search of Pillado 's phone uncovered more than 2,000 files containing child sexual abuse material. Upon his release from prison, Pillado will be subject to 20 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Gallardo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and receive child pornography and remains in custody pending sentencing which is current scheduled for July 17, 2024. At sentencing Gallardo faces up to 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the El Paso Police Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and A’Kiesha Soliman are prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Douglas Man Who Burned Two Churches Convicted of Hate Crimes and Arson

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, a federal jury in Tucson found Eric Ridenour, 58, of Douglas, guilty of all six arson and hate crimes counts, for the burning of two churches on May 22, 2023. Ridenour burned down two churches in Douglas, Arizona: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church. The churches were located on Church Square, a historic district in the border town of Douglas, approximately two hours southeast of Tucson. It is believed to have been the only intersection in the nation containing churches from four different denominations: Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Methodist. Trial testimony established that Ridenour intentionally started the fires in both churches because of his hostility towards their practice of having women and members of the LGBTQ community serve in church leadership roles. Ridenour was arrested on May 23, 2023. “Religious freedom is sacrosanct in America,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “Arson of a church is deplorable. Arson motivated by objections to the religious principles of a church’s congregation is worse. Many thanks to Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church, and their parishioners, for their collective courage in responding to this hate crime.” A conviction for Arson of Property Used in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison and maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A conviction for Obstruction of Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A conviction for Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony carries a penalty of 10 years in prison. A second conviction for Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony carries a penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for October 22, 2024, before United States District Court Judge Scott H. Rash. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Douglas Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin Fenwick, Ben Goldberg, and Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 23-00908-TUC-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-093_Ridenour # # # 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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Meth Conspiracy Conviction

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on July 10, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City. Kenneth Dawdy, 39, from Sioux City, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on January 26, 2024. At the plea and sentencing hearings evidence showed that Dawdy participated in a conspiracy from January 2021 through June 2023 that distributed at least 3500 grams of methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Dawdy admitted to assisting others in the conspiracy by acquiring and delivering money and methamphetamine to/from others involved in the conspiracy. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Dawdy was sentenced to 31 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of three years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Dawdy remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-4055. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Columbia County Man Arrested For Distribution Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging William Ervin Daniels (45, Lake City) with distributing child sex abuse material. If convicted, Daniels faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5, up to 20 years, in federal prison. According to the criminal complaint, Daniels distributed two videos containing child sex abuse material in a group called “Da Litl Kidz Gc” on a social media application on November 16, 2023. He identified his name and phone number in his account profile on the social media application. Daniels was also listed as an administrator for the group to which he distributed the videos. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron. This is another case 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.justice.gov/psc.


title: Justice Department Meets with International Partners to Enhance Cooperation to Counter Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE) is a serious global threat. REMVE attacks and transnational linkages are increasing, and new threats are emerging posed by technological changes and Russia-linked actors developing and spreading false narratives on REMVE in Ukraine. The international community has developed strong coordination and cooperation over the last 20 years to counter terrorist groups and networks, such as al-Qa’ida and ISIS. There is not yet the same type of routine information sharing for REMVE threats. To address this gap in international cooperation, the Justice Department’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (State CT) co-hosted the third annual meeting of the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum (CTLEF) in The Hague on July 10 and 11. The CTLEF gathered law enforcement, prosecutors, and other criminal justice practitioners from around the world to discuss how to effectively address and counter REMVE threats. The CTLEF increased the participants’ shared understanding of REMVE global activity, including the overlap between anti-government and conspiracy theorist movements. This meeting, which builds on the conversations that participants had in the first two forums in Berlin and Oslo in 2022 and 2023, respectively, reflects the type of cooperation that will be needed in the coming years as REMVE threats continue to build their transnational ties. The CTLEF continues to serve as a locale to begin building lines of communication between like-minded law enforcement and other partners and practitioners around the world who are working on combating REMVE. Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division delivered opening remarks, along with U.S. Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ian Moss. AAG Olsen discussed the Justice Department’s efforts to combat heightened threats from domestic violent extremists, including those who cite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as inspiration in targeting Jewish and Muslim Americans. AAG Olsen also highlighted the importance of international law enforcement cooperation to confront the increased transnational connections among REMVE actors, many of whom spread their violent ideologies across borders, including through their use of social media and online gaming platforms. OPDAT Director Faye Ehrenstamm, along with Deputy Director for Counterterrorism Jill Rose, delivered closing remarks after both days of the CTLEF. Director Ehrenstamm noted the importance of international cooperation to combat the REMVE threat, especially considering new threats from rapid technological changes and Russia-linked false REMVE narratives in Ukraine. Participants came from numerous like-minded countries in Europe, North and South America, the Pacific Rim (Australia and New Zealand), and South Africa, as well as specialists from Europol, INTERPOL, the European Union, Global Counterterrorism Forum, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, and other multilateral organizations. For more information about OPDAT’s capacity building efforts around the world, visit www.justice.gov/criminal-opdat .


title: Norwalk Felon Admits Possessing Loaded Handgun with Obliterated Serial Number

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that PATRICK ELMORE, 32, of Norwalk, pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, which has been investigating gang violence in Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford, assisted local law enforcement in executing a state arrest warrant for Elmore on April 12, 2023. At the time of his arrest, Elmore possessed a loaded SCCY, model CPX-2, 9mm semiautomatic handgun with an obliterated serial number. Elmore’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony drug distribution and weapon possession offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Elmore has been detained since his federal arrest on May 25, 2023. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled. This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Norwalk Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham with the assistance of Law Student Intern Michael Fording. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Guatemalan Man Previously Deported Three Times Sentenced to Seven Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Guatemalan man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Genaro Romero-Romos, 34, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young to seven months in prison and one year of supervised release. He will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In April 2024, Romero-Romos pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry. Romero-Romos is a citizen of Guatemala who had been deported from the United States on three prior occasions and served two prior sentences for immigration offenses. In November 2023, Romero-Romos was arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Immigration and Customs Enforcement became aware of Romero-Romos’ unlawful presence in the United States following this arrest. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Del Valle Felon Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking, Firearm Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A Del Valle man was sentenced in federal court to 150 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Anthony Robles, 48, sold nine ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent on April 26, 2023. The following day, agents executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered 19 firearms, ballistic vests and body armor, and diamonds. Agents also recovered more than 600 grams of methamphetamine, more than 500 grams of heroin, approximately one kilogram of fentanyl, and more than 50 grams of cocaine. Robles was arrested Oct. 18, 2023. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Harding prosecuted the case. ###


title: Richlands Woman Pleads Guilty to Selling Black Market Prescription Drugs

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Richlands, Virginia woman, who is not a licensed healthcare provider but received and distributed prescription drugs as well as other drugs that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pled guilty this week to federal charges. Melissa Bandy, 54, waived her right to be indicted and pled guilty this week to a one count Information charging her with receiving misbranded drugs in interstate commerce and delivering and proffering for delivery the misbranded drugs for pay. “When the public buys an FDA-approved drug, they are purchasing a drug that has been vetted for safe consumption in line with its intended purpose,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “When individuals skirt these safeguards in order to enrich themselves, they put the health and safety of others at risk. I am grateful to the FDA for their work on this important matter and their continued relationship with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia.” “Unlicensed individuals who sell unapproved and misbranded ‘Botox-like’ products and other prescription drugs put their unsuspecting customers at risk because FDA has not found these products to be safe and effective for their intended uses and they cannot be safely administered without the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner,” said George Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metropolitan Washington Field Office. “We are fully committed to bringing to justice those who subvert FDA’s requirements and place consumers at risk of serious harm. Our valued partnership with the Virginia State Police and the forethought of the Richlands Police Department for channeling this matter to FDA-OCI were integral to our efforts in safeguarding the public health and safety in this case.” Although not a licensed healthcare provider and with no valid prescriptions, Bandy accessed prescription drugs through black-market websites specializing in products manufactured overseas. Many of her orders were for drugs that require injection needles, including Saxenda, SelaTox, Botulax 200, and Innotox. Serious negative health effects may occur by taking these drugs without legitimate medical supervision, including thyroid c-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, and acute gallbladder disease. Nevertheless, Bandy resold dozens of misbranded and unapproved doses to multiple individuals. Sentencing is scheduled for October 1, 2024 at the United States Courthouse in Abingdon. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Virginia State Police, and the Richlands Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.


title: Sulphur Man Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Time for Receipt of Child Pornography Charge

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a Sulphur, Louisiana man was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. on child pornography charges. Gabriel Lyons , 26, was sentenced to 150 months (12 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, on child pornography charges. According to information introduced in court, in July 2022, Lyons was communicating with a 15-year-old minor female and began asking her for sexually explicit images and videos. Lyons would engage in “cybersexing” with the minor female. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip in August 2022 and began an investigation into these activities. Through their investigation, law enforcement agents determined that on July 4, 2022, Lyons received a video of the minor female over the internet. Law enforcement agents obtained a search warrant for the residence in which Lyons lived in the Lake Charles area. Lyons was present during the search and admitted to agents that he had been communicating with the minor female, knowing that she was 15 years of age, and in fact at the time of the search admitted that he was still communicating with her. Lyons was charged and pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. This case was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Luke Walker. # # #


title: Illegal Possession of Fentanyl and Firearms Results in Federal Prison for Three Men

body_text: LAKE CHARLES, La. – Three South Louisiana men were sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. in separate cases involving illegal possession of firearms and narcotics, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Duane Khristopher Huntsberry, 36, of Lake Charles, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on firearms charges. On May 3, 2021, an anonymous citizen’s complaint was received alleging drug activity at a local apartment in the Lake Charles area. Deputies with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office went to the apartment and were approached by Huntsberry, who advised them that he lived at the apartment, but it was in his girlfriend’s name. When deputies informed him of the reason for their visit, Huntsberry advised that there was a firearm inside the apartment and admitted that he was currently on parole. Deputies subsequently asked the girlfriend for consent to search the residence, but she declined. A search warrant was obtained to search the residence and upon entry of the apartment, officers found and seized a Troy AR style pistol with a loaded magazine, as well as four boxes of ammunition in the master bedroom. Law enforcement agents determined that Huntsberry has numerous felony convictions, including illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of controlled substances, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and pleaded guilty to the charge on March 11, 2024. This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog. Kirk Wayne August , 46, of Lake Charles, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On May 14, 2022, Lake Charles Police Department officers responded to a complaint of gunshots fired in an area near N. Lyons Street in Lake Charles. Officers spoke to a citizen who informed them that they had observed August in his backyard holding a firearm. When officers approached August and questioned him about the incident, he denied possessing any firearm. Officers were able to obtain a search warrant for August’s residence and upon execution of the warrant, found and seized a Henry .22 caliber rifle and a Savage .410 shotgun. August was charged and pleaded guilty on March 28, 2024, and admitted to possessing the firearm despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so. August has a prior felony conviction for simple burglary from 2022. This case was investigated by ATF and Lake Charles Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig R. Bordelon. Brandon Alfred , 33, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In April 2021, detectives with the Anti-Drug Task Force based in Calcasieu Parish began an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of Alfred. On April 14, 2021, law enforcement officers conducted mobile surveillance of the vehicle Alfred was driving and conducted a traffic stop. When officers made contact with Alfred, they detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Alfred admitted that he had a bag of marijuana in his pants pocket and the officer retrieved approximately 4 grams from Alfred’s person. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a tan compressed substance wrapped in plastic in the driver’s side door where Alfred had been sitting. The substance was sent to the crime laboratory for testing, and it was confirmed to be a mixture containing tramadol, heroin, and fentanyl and weighed approximately 236 grams. Alfred was charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances containing fentanyl and pleaded guilty on February 26, 2024. This case was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen. # # #


title: Odessa Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for January Carjacking

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: MIDLAND, Texas – An Odessa man was sentenced in federal court in Midland to 30 years in prison for carjacking and discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. According to court documents, Isaac Ramirez Carrasco, 38, carjacked a couple on Jan. 30 by pointing a shotgun at the driver and ordering both occupants out of their vehicle. The victim did not initially comply, and Carrasco fired the shotgun at least one time in the air before returning his aim to the victim. The couple ultimately exited the truck and Carrasco drove away in it. Odessa Police were able to track the truck to a nearby residence, where they also located Carrasco and the shotgun. “This 30-year sentence sends a strong message that violent crime in our community will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Carrasco demonstrated a complete and total disregard for human life and risked causing innocent people severe injury or worse. Thanks to the response by our local law enforcement partners, Carrasco is off the streets and our community is safer.” “The partnerships that we have with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors allows us to create a safer community for all of our citizens,” said Odessa Police Chief Michael Gerke. “We are appreciative that multiple entities came together to remove this dangerous criminal from our streets.” The Midland/Odessa Violent Crimes Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Mahoney prosecuted the case. ###


title: Repeat Drug Dealer Sentenced to 8 ½ Years for Orchestrating Cocaine Trafficking in Beloit

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kelvin Haley, Jr., 41, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine in the Beloit area from July 2021 to August 2023. The prison term will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Haley pleaded guilty to this charge on March 25, 2024. During a federal investigation, multiple witnesses identified Haley as an individual selling large quantities of cocaine). Law enforcement discovered that Haley used multiple homes in the Beloit area to store and sell cocaine. As part of the investigation, law enforcement conducted recorded purchases of cocaine from Haley at some of these homes on multiple occasions between November 2022 and March 2023. Haley had previously been convicted and sentenced by Judge Conley for drug trafficking. Judge Conley expressed disappointment that Haley returned to drug trafficking after his release from prison, despite having legitimate employment options. Finding that Haley was a central figure in selling large amounts of cocaine in the Beloit area, Judge Conley said 8 ½ years was warranted given the nature of Haley’s offense and repeat conduct. The charge against Haley was the result of an investigation conducted by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Beloit Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson prosecuted this case.


title: Former Hospitality Executive Sentenced To More Than Five Years In Prison For Multiple Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Geoffrey Palermo, a former hospitality executive who went on to operate numerous auto repair shops in the Bay Area, was sentenced to 65 months in prison, following his conviction on wire fraud, failing to pay over taxes, and other charges, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Robbins, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp, and IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable James Donato, U.S. District Judge. Palermo, 60, of Novato, Calif., pleaded guilty on March 11, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; two counts of honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346; one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; one count of making a false statement to a bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014; and one count of willful failure to collect or pay over tax, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7202. He had been charged in a Second Superseding Indictment in October 2021 with these charges. During the relevant time, 2008 through 2016, Palermo was working as the manager of the Hilton hotel located in downtown San Francisco. During this timeframe, Palermo had authority to enter into contracts, choose contractors, and otherwise manage construction and capital improvement projects at the hotel. According to his plea agreement, Palermo admitted he devised a kickback scheme involving contractors to deprive the Hilton hotel’s owners of more than $1.8 million in kickbacks that went to Palermo. As part of the scheme, Palermo agreed with one contractor, Adan Roldan, 56, of Roseville, Calif., that Roldan would submit falsely inflated invoices for construction and renovation work at the hotel, that Palermo would approve the false invoices, and that Roldan and the second contractor would pay a kickback to Palermo associated with the falsely inflated invoices. From 2013 through 2016, as a result of this scheme, Palermo approved—and the hotel’s owners paid—over $6.4 million to A. Roldan Construction based on invoices submitted by Roldan’s construction company. In exchange, Roldan paid more than $1.6 million in kickbacks to Palermo. Additionally, in 2014 and 2015, Palermo approved—and the hotel’s owners paid—over $2 million to a second contractor based on falsely inflated invoices submitted by that contractor, and the contractor paid Palermo over $300,000 in kickbacks. In exchange for kickbacks, Palermo continued to hire Roldan and the second contractor to do work at the Hilton. According to Palermo’s plea agreement, after leaving his job as a manager at the Hilton San Francisco in 2016, Palermo managed GMP Cars, LLC, a collision and auto repair business he owned and controlled. Beginning in approximately August 2019 and continuing through December 2019, Palermo devised and participated in a scheme to obtain approximately $5 million in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for GMP Cars from a commercial lender by making false statements and omissions in loan applications. Specifically, when applying for SBA loans, GMP Cars failed to disclose that its business banking account was overdrawn by more than $700,000, presented false bank statements showing inflated cash balances, submitted an incomplete debt schedule, submitted false financial statements showing inflated revenue, and presented falsified documents relating to an acquisition. Furthermore, according to the plea agreement, on April 3, 2020, Palermo caused GMP Cars to make false statements in its application for a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan. Specifically, Palermo caused GMP Cars to falsely certify on its loan application that it had employees for whom it paid salaries and payroll taxes, and Palermo caused GMP Cars to submit a purported payroll summary showing that payroll taxes were being accrued and paid when in fact Palermo had caused GMP Cars to not pay payroll taxes. Also as part of his plea agreement, Palermo admitted that as the owner and manager of GMP Cars he had a duty to collect, account for, and pay over employee federal income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax. Palermo admitted that in 2018 he caused GMP Cars to withhold federal income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax totaling more than $1 million. Palermo willfully caused GMP Cars to fail to pay over to the IRS more than $1 million in federal taxes withheld from employee paychecks owed to the IRS for 2018. A federal grand jury issued a second superseding indictment against Palermo and Roldan on October 5, 2021. Palermo and Roldan were charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Palermo was charged with two counts of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346; one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; one count of making a false statement to a bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1014; and four counts of failure to collect or pay over taxes due and owed, in violation of 26 U.S.C § 7202. At Palermo’s sentencing, the three outstanding tax counts were dismissed pursuant to the plea agreement between Palermo and the United States, and the related case, United States v. Palermo, Case No. 21-cr-187 JD, was also dismissed. Palermo has been detained since June 27, 2023. In addition to the 65-month sentence, Judge Donato ordered Palermo to serve three years of supervised release, which will begin after he leaves prison. Judge Donato scheduled a hearing for August 19, 2024, to determine issues regarding restitution and forfeiture. On March 11, 2024, Roland pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 12, 2024. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Noah Stern are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Aarian Beti. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI.