title: Former Baton Rouge City Parish Contractor Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Blake Joseph Steiner, age 37, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to distribution of child pornography. Steiner’s conviction is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to a lifetime period of supervised release - which includes sex offender registration requirements. According to admissions made during his plea, Steiner initiated a conversation on a mobile application group chat with an undercover agent (“UCA”). Steiner hoped to gain access to a group that he thought was dedicated to disseminating child pornography. The UCA sent Steiner a message stating, “Live face video saying today’s date.” Steiner then sent the UCA a video of himself stating “Today is March 4th.” As a final effort to gain access to what he thought was a mobile application child pornography group, Steiner sent a video of a child under 12 years old being sexually assaulted by an adult male. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and the Louisiana State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jene C. Clayton. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Theodore Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Theodore man was sentenced to 121 months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Howard Leon Crum, Jr., 54, sold methamphetamine to confidential informants on two occasions in January and March 2022. Those sales led narcotics agents to obtain warrants to search Crum’s house in Theodore. During the execution of those search warrants, agents seized additional methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and Crum’s cell phones, which contained extensive communications that he had with coconspirators regarding drug deals. In an interview with agents, Crum admitted that he was a “middleman” drug dealer, buying large amounts of methamphetamine at a time and redistributing it for other, high-level drug dealers. In addition to the 121-month prison term, United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose ordered Crum to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment, and will receive mental health treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Crum to pay $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Defendants Sentenced to Prison in Separate Armed Meth Trafficking Investigations in Southwest Georgia

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

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – Two Albany residents with prior felony convictions were sentenced to federal prison this week in separate cases resulting from investigations into armed methamphetamine trafficking in Southwest Georgia. Wallace Eric Strickland, 40, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 286 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Nov. 21 after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Case No. 1:23-CR-23-002 on Aug. 28. Tanaka Grant aka “Knock-Off,” 39, of Albany, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on Nov. 22 after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine in Case No. 1:22-CR-40-001 on May 15. There is no parole in the federal system. “Armed methamphetamine trafficking endangers the communities we serve and will not be tolerated by our office,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Both cases exemplify the interagency cooperation between law enforcement at every level focused on holding the most dangerous individuals accountable for their crimes and making our communities safer.” “Wallace Strickland is clearly a dangerous individual,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Not only did he distribute illegal drugs while in possession of guns, but he advised a co-conspirator to continue to distribute methamphetamine on his behalf while he was in prison.” "The illegal possession of firearms by convicted felons poses a significant threat to our communities, and we will continue to work tirelessly to remove these dangerous individuals from our streets,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “These sentences send a clear message that methamphetamine trafficking has no place in our communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold those who endanger the public accountable, ensuring that criminals like Strickland and Grant face the full consequences of their actions." According to court documents and statements made in court in the Strickland case, on Feb. 24, 2022, Americus Police Department (APD) officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle and encountered Strickland and co-defendant Ryan Farr. Officers found a loaded .380 caliber pistol, a .32 caliber revolver, 153 grams of 94% pure methamphetamine and quantities of other illegal controlled substances during a search of the car. After Strickland’s arrest, he was recorded on jail calls instructing co-defendant Aryn Brittany Jones to destroy evidence from his Facebook account and discussing how the methamphetamine was obtained from a Mexican drug cartel near Atlanta. Search warrants executed on Strickland’s and Farr’s cell phones detailed extensive communications of a larger conspiracy involving the distribution of methamphetamine, revealing defendant Strickland and Jones had obtained a half kilogram of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply for redistribution just days before Strickland’s arrest when officers found him in possession of methamphetamine on Feb. 24, 2022. After Strickland was sent back to prison on a Georgia parole violation for another methamphetamine distribution conviction, law enforcement recovered a cell phone from a Georgia state prison inmate which revealed that Strickland continued to engage in the distribution of methamphetamine and other narcotics sourced by a Mexican drug cartel from behind bars. Strickland has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer in Worth County, Georgia, Superior Court and felony methamphetamine distribution in Dougherty County, Georgia, Superior Court. Strickland is also a validated member of the Gangster Disciples criminal organization. One of Strickland’s co-defendants pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing: Niki Lynn Crabtree-Booth, 31, of Albany, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on March 21, 2024, and is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 19, 2024. Two of Strickland’s co-defendants pleaded guilty and have been sentenced: Aryn Brittany Jones, 31, of Leesburg, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on May 22 after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 12, 2023; and Ryan Daniel Farr, 33, of Leesburg, was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 27 after he previously pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice on March 20. According to court documents and statements made in court in the Grant case, agents investigating armed drug trafficking in the Southwest Georgia community used a confidential informant (CI) while under surveillance to purchase a total of approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine from Grant on two separate occasions in May and July 2022. Agents ultimately arrested Grant at the Araamda Inn in Albany on April 18, 2023. Grant was concealing a fully loaded Glock 19 handgun with an extended magazine in his waistband; he was also carrying quantities of illegal drugs, a digital scale and a box of plastic bags. Grant has several prior felony drug convictions in the Superior Court of Dougherty County, Georgia, as well as a prior burglary conviction. The Strickland case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) and the Americus Police Department (APD) with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government. The Grant case was investigated by DEA and GBI with assistance from ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Hansis prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Waterbury Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER JUSINO-RODRIGUEZ, 32, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 180 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department determined that Jusino-Rodriguez headed a drug trafficking organization that coordinated the shipment of parcels containing kilogram-quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut. Chaddiel Ferrer was the primary “runner” for the organization. The cocaine parcels were mailed to various drop sites in the Waterbury area, and Ferrer regularly picked them up and delivered them to Jusino-Rodriguez. On October 20, 2022, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of three locations in Waterbury and seized approximately six kilograms of cocaine; nine firearms, including an AM-15 rifle; high-capacity magazines and numerous rounds of ammunition; and $132,365 in cash. A total of approximately 18 kilograms of cocaine were seized during the investigation. Jusino-Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest on December 14, 2022. On April 30, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Jusino-Rodriguez’s criminal history includes a state conviction in 2014 for first-degree burglary with a deadly weapon. Ferrer, also of Waterbury, pleaded guilty and, on November 27, 2023, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force (“NBCTTF”) and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police Violent Crimes Task Force. The NBCTTF includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Natasha M. Freismuth.


title: Member Of The Otis Sanders Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced In Federal Court

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man, Quenton James Franklin, 28, was sentenced today in federal court on his conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana as a member of the Otis Sanders drug trafficking organization. Franklin is Sanders’ cousin and was charged as a co-defendant in the federal indictment. Franklin pled guilty to the conspiracy charge in August of 2024. Sanders was convicted by a jury in May of 2023 for his participation as the leader of the organization. Evidence from the trial showed that Sanders operated a large-scale interstate drug distribution organization in south Mobile County, with ties to Biloxi, Mississippi and Houston, Texas. Sanders arranged for the acquisition of methamphetamine shipments in Houston and used couriers in private vehicles and on commercial transportation to bring the drugs to Mobile. Drug proceeds were also delivered to Houston by certain couriers. Sanders and his organization relied upon violence to further the illegal drug distribution scheme, one such incident resulting in a drive by shooting at a residence on Ramsay Road in or about May of 2023. Mobile County sheriff’s deputies responding to the call discovered Sanders’ abandoned Chevrolet Tahoe near the intersection of Highway 188 and Ramsay Road, riddled with bullet holes from return fire during the shoot-out. In July of 2024, Sanders was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for various violations of the drug laws. Court documents show that Franklin was a courier in the organization involved in the transportation of at least one load of methamphetamine for Sanders from Texas to Sanders’ residence in Biloxi, Mississippi. Others, and sometimes Sanders himself, transported methamphetamine from that residence to other members of the conspiracy for distribution in Mobile and elsewhere. Franklin also distributed some of Sanders’ drugs to his own customer base in Mobile. United States District Court Judge Kristi K. Dubose sentenced Franklin to 3 years in custody. When Franklin is released from custody, he will serve a five-year term of supervised release. Franklin will be subject to search upon reasonable suspicion that he has violated the conditions of supervision, and he will also be subject to drug testing and treatment. No fine was imposed in the case, but the judge ordered that Franklin pay $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, the Beaumont Police (Texas) Department, the St. Tammany Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organization that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Billings construction company owner admits to tax evasion

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings construction company owner accused of not paying federal income tax on his business and directing his bookkeeper to improperly categorize personal expenses as business expenses admitted to a tax crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Clay Wayland Buckmiller, 60, appeared for arraignment on and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with tax evasion. Buckmiller faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Buckmiller was released pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that Buckmiller owns and runs a company he started in 2000 called Moonlight Construction. Buckmiller earned money through the company but has not filed taxes since 2009 for the 2007 tax year. Buckmiller knew of the requirement to file taxes. The IRS repeatedly notified him of his overdue taxes, including a notice he received in 2018 that he owed more than $88,000 in unpaid taxes—the balance of which the IRS has since written off because expired collection statutes. In 2020, Moonlight earned taxable income, and Buckmiller’s bookkeeper notified him that he would be required to pay federal income tax. Buckmiller willfully made affirmative attempts during and after 2020 to evade paying taxes for that year: Buckmiller deposited customer checks into Moonlight’s bank account, but immediately withdrew large sums of cash, which he stored in a safe in his residence. Despite requests by his bookkeeper, Buckmiller refused to provide information about the source and use of these funds. Buckmiller instructed the bookkeeper to improperly categorize the withdrawals as business expenses, when in fact they were personal. Buckmiller deleted emails containing business-related invoices and instructed his bookkeeper to improperly categorize personal expenses as business expenses. Buckmiller lied to the bookkeeper by stating that the deposits he withdrew as cash were used to pay business vendors, when in reality, he used the money on personal expenses, including to buy a house in his girlfriend’s name. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The IRS conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Woman Who Laundered Cartel Cash, Trafficked Kilos of Narcotics From 18-Wheelers Pleads Guilty

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Oralia Rodriguez Flores, age 40, pled guilty to three federal charges related to her role in trafficking narcotics and money laundering for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Flores, who lived in Clayton, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. When sentenced, Flores faces up to life imprisonment. “The CJNG cartel is one of Mexico’s most violent drug trafficking organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “Their brutal reign is bankrolled by American drug proceeds flowing back to cartel leaders. Our strategy is to systematically degrade the entire criminal network by taking down the traffickers running narcotics to the Carolinas and cutting off the cashflow back to Mexico. Our new Illicit Finance Task Force dismantles the financial infrastructure enabling illegal cashflows to disrupt the cartels’ financial incentives.” “Oralia Rodriguez Flores endangered countless individuals by trafficking in large quantities of deadly methamphetamine and cocaine,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “She knowingly and intentionally helped members from the violent CJNG cartel distribute their drugs and launder their money.” According to information presented in court, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents determined that Flores, acting at the direction of a Mexican source of supply, was distributing kilogram quantities of narcotics to and from South Carolina customers. Agents used a variety of investigative techniques to conduct a controlled purchase of methamphetamine. The investigation revealed that Flores was selling kilograms of cocaine for $22,000 per kilogram. On another occasion, Flores was observed picking up cocaine for a customer. She traveled from her home in Clayton to a Blythewood, South Carolina hotel. Flores then told the customer she had 18 kilograms of cocaine and sent video evidence. During a later interview with agents, Flores admitted being involved with drug trafficking for approximately three years. She explained that she met drivers of 18-wheeler trucks on five or six occasions to pick up cocaine from Mexico. Each shipment contained approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine. She then distributed the drugs to customers in South Carolina. Flores also said that her source of supply in Mexico sent the methamphetamine she distributed from Mexico to California, and then it was mailed to South Carolina. Flores also laundered drug proceeds to Mexico. She admitted that she provided over $1 million in cash to commercial truck drivers and that she delivered drug proceeds to runners for an Asian money laundering network that were then sent to the source of supply in Mexico. Flores also used money service businesses to wire money to Mexico. Flores prosecution results from an investigation by the Eastern District of North Carolina’s Illicit Finance Task Force (IFTF) and from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Created in 2024 in partnership with the Treasury Executive Office of Asset Forfeiture (TEOAF), the IFTF is an interagency anti-money laundering task force comprised of prosecutors and agents. The IFTF is dedicated to combatting money laundering activities affecting the Eastern District of North Carolina through strategic use of criminal and civil laws. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The investigation is being conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Toby Lathan and Charles Loeser are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-252-M.


title: Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Justin L. Saunders, 27, of Mabscott, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 30, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Saunders in Beckley on a felony warrant. During the arrest, officers found a Ruger model EC9s 9mm handgun on Saunders. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Saunders knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery and malicious wounder in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 5, 2012. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian D. Parsons and Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-185.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

body_text: Federal Lands Offenses Mathew Crabtree , 36, of New Market, Alabama, was sentenced for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and refusing to consent to a breath test. For the DUI offense, the defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of $750 and placed on two years of unsupervised probation, including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time. For refusing a breath test the defendant was sentenced to pay a $750 fine and serve a seven-day term of incarceration. The defendant received credit for three days previously served and must serve the remaining four days before May 20, 2025. Crabtree pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Nov. 21 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. Matthew Stetzel , age 36, previously of Mammoth, Wyoming, was sentenced for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DUI), refusing to consent to a breath test, and possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. For the DUI, he was sentenced to a fine of $750 and one year of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that period. He was sentenced to a fine of $100 for the open container violation, and for the refusal to take a breath test, he was sentenced to seven days of incarceration. The defendant has credit for one day previously served and must serve the remaining six days before May 21, 2025. Stetzel pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Nov. 21 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the case. Drug Trafficking Ricardo Valencia, 43, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on July 11, 2022, Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) pulled over a car speeding on I-80 in Laramie County. Differing stories from the three passengers who claimed to be going to Iowa for different reasons led the trooper to deploy a narcotics detection canine, who then alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. A search of the vehicle was conducted and approximately 8 pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded .38 caliber revolver, a glass smoking pipe, and numerous clear cellophane packages were seized. Valencia admitted that the items belonged to him. He was indicted on Jan. 11, 2023, arrested in California on state charges in March 2024, and brought into federal custody in May. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 30. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Nov. 21, in Cheyenne. WHP and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00012 Nicholas Elton Terry , 40, of Torrington, Wyoming, was sentenced to 30 months in prison with three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) pulled over Terry for speeding on I-25 in Laramie County. The trooper said Terry appeared nervous and was unable to produce any documentation for himself or the vehicle. While they figured things out in the patrol vehicle, another trooper deployed a narcotics detection canine who alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. About 1,000 fentanyl pills were located along with three cell phones. Terry was indicted May 16, pleaded guilty Aug. 28 and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 19, in Casper. Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and WHP investigated the Crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00072 Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun Preston Lewis , 21, of Rock Spring, Wyoming, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for the unlawful possession of a machine gun. According to court documents, on April 11, the Rock Springs Police Department was called to a firearms dealer for a report of a suspicious male who had purchased approximately $18,000 worth of high-dollar firearms. Police later found the defendant at another firearms dealer. During questioning, the defendant admitted to straw purchasing firearms for another individual. He also acknowledged that he installed a Glock “switch,” which is a device that modifies a semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic “machine pistol,” on a firearm in his home as well as possessing other switches. The defendant also admitted that he had modified an AR-style semiautomatic rifle into a fully automatic machine gun. Lewis waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an Information on July 18. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Nov. 20 in Casper. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rock Springs Police Department investigated this crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Case No. 23-00095


title: Michigan Woman Convicted of $1.4M Health Care Kickback Scheme

component: Civil Rights - Criminal Section

body_text: A Michigan woman was convicted today for her role in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and receive illegal health care kickbacks. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mary Smettler-Bolton, 71, of Oakland County, referred Medicare beneficiaries to several Metro Detroit home health companies in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks paid by the owners and operators of the home health companies. Over the course of four years, Smettler-Bolton and her co-conspirators caused over $1.4 million of loss to Medicare. Smettler-Bolton was convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and receive illegal health care kickbacks and one count of violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy count and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the kickback count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorney Ryan Elsey and Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Springfield Sex Offender Sentenced for Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography. Marvin E. Smith, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 16 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Smith to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration. On March 5, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography. Smith’s state parole officer discovered images of child pornography on his cell flip phone on Feb. 8, 2023. The next day, the manager of the halfway house where Smith resided discovered a microSD card that had been taped to the back of Smith’s television. Investigators found additional files of child pornography on the microSD card, including infants and prepubescent girls being sexually assaulted and children engaged in bestiality and bound. In total, investigators found more than 6,400 files of child pornography. Smith has prior felony convictions for possessing child pornography and residing within 1,000 feet of a school. Smith had been released from state prison eight months earlier and was on parole at the time he committed the federal offense in this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Phelps County Felon Caught with Guns and Methamphetamine Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Friday sentenced a convicted felon caught with guns and methamphetamine to 15 years in prison. Clifford Pankey, 42, pleaded guilty in July to being a felon in possession of a firearm and admitted distributing meth, making meth and possessing numerous firearms as a convicted felon, including stolen and defaced firearms. Law enforcement officers conducting a court-approved search of Pankey’s home south of St. James on Jan. 26, 2023, encountered Pankey, who admitted possessing meth and guns. Officers found a .22 caliber revolver with a partially defaced serial number, a defaced Ruger.380 caliber semiautomatic pistol, three rifles, four pistols and a shotgun. They also found stolen property and about 230 grams of meth that Pankey said he intended to sell. The case was investigated by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker prosecuted the case.


title: Former Valentine ISD Employee Pleads Guilty for Stealing Federal Funds

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: ALPINE, Texas – A former Valentine Independent School District employee pleaded guilty to charges related to his scheme to fraudulently misappropriate school district funds for personal expenses. According to court records, Ernesto Villarreal Jr., 43, of Marfa, was employed as the Business Manager and served as the Tax Collector and Assessor for the Valentine ISD, in Valentine, TX. During his time as an agent of Valentine ISD, Villarreal schemed to defraud Valentine ISD by using two ISD credit cards to make hundreds of unauthorized personal purchases totaling thousands of dollars; issued over $10,000 in unauthorized checks to himself from Valentine ISD accounts; issued over $20,000 in unauthorized checks from Valentine ISD accounts to cover personal expenses owed to a credit card company; and changed the bank account information for certain current and former employees, and then generated over $100,000 in fraudulent payments to those current and former employees, for work that did not actually occur, which payments Villarreal routed to his own personal bank accounts, all without the knowledge or permission of the employees. Villarreal used the ill-gotten funds for hundreds of personal purchases, including but not limited to purchases for travel, lodging, home improvements, hardware store purchases, personal cell phone bills, fuel, oil changes, convenience store purchases, Airbnb rentals, personal flight purchases, and various other unauthorized purchases. Villarreal is believed to have caused over $300,000 in losses to Valentine ISD. Villarreal pleaded guilty to one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and eight counts of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2025. Villarreal faces up to 10 years in prison for the theft count and up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case, assisted by the Texas Rangers and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Fedock and Scott Greenbaum are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Lafourche Parish Resident Guilty of Federal Drug and Firearm Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on November 20, 2024, FAUSTIN WILLIAMS , (“WILLIAMS”) , age 46, of Thibodaux, Louisiana pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to one count of possessing, with the intent to distribute, an amount of cocaine and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms. Judge Africk scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2025. As to the drug count, WILLIAMS faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release. As to the firearm count, WILLIAMS faces up to fifteen years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. Both counts also carry a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. According to court records, on June 5, 2024, multiple law enforcement agencies executed search warrants on several residences in Lafourche Parish stemming from an investigation into a cocaine and methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. This conspiracy operated throughout Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, within the Eastern District of Louisiana. WILLIAMS was found inside a residence during a search and possessed two firearms and cocaine, packaged for distribution. WILLIAMS is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior cocaine distribution convictions. 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. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Thibodaux Police Department, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Inmate Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Weapon at FCI Beckley

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jonathan Webb, 28, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley, was sentenced today to one year in prison, to run consecutively to his undischarged term of incarceration, and to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 26, 2023, an FCI Beckley staff member conducted a pat-down search of Webb and found a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank” in his right front pants pocket. The shank was a piece of metal approximately six inches long with a sharpened point on one end and a cloth handle. Webb admitted to possessing the shank, and further admitted that it was designed and intended to be used as a weapon. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess 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. 5:24-cr-45. .


title: Federal and Local Government Officials Announce Memorandum of Understanding to Teach LAUSD Students about Cyber Safety

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The United States Attorney’s Office is announcing today that it has joined a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to provide cyber security training to LAUSD students, staff, and parents. LAUSD is the second-largest school district in the nation, serving more than 600,000 students across more than 1,000 schools, and is the largest public school system in California. To combat child sexual exploitation, HSI and the USAO are joining forces to offer trainings to the LAUSD community about how to stay safe online. The program will focus on preteens and teenagers avoiding sexual dangers online, but can be tailored to younger children, staff, or parents. Dr. Alfonzo Webb, senior director at LAUSD, is the school district’s representative for the MOU. “Nothing is more important than protecting and uplifting our children,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Our office often works with school and youth groups to discuss our work, introduce students to the justice system, and inspire kids to achieve success. We are proud to team up with LAUSD and HSI to expand on that work so that we can educate more young people about the dangers posed by the internet and social media and encourage students to pursue higher education – after all, knowledge is power.” “HSI has been at the forefront of investigating online crimes against children,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “This partnership with LAUSD and DOJ is taking a proactive approach to educating students and trusted adults about the dangers our children face online.” “This strategic partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations developed out of the need to ensure that our students, staff, and parents are educated on the latest and most effective online safety practices,” said LAUSD Senior Director of Climate Culture Alfonzo Webb. “By working together, we will provide age-appropriate presentations, resources, and guidance to help foster safer online environments for students.” "Our students need to be aware of online dangers in order to be protected and empowered to make informed decisions and maintain their safety while navigating the digital world," said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. "This partnership will enhance our Every School Safe Module on Cyber Safety to promote a secure learning environment." HSI rolled out its revamped Project iGuardian earlier this year. Project iGuardian is the official, in person educational program of Know2Protect, a national public awareness campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to raise awareness about the rapidly escalating threat of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Know2Protect , which launched in April 2024, leverages the investigative experience of HSI agents to “share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity.” Project iGuardian agents and staff “help kids stay safe online by providing safety tips, a number to call, and a website with links to more information and resources,” according to the Know2Protect website. HSI Los Angeles special agents, primarily from the Child Exploitation Investigations Group led by Supervisory Special Agent Jaclyn Jacobson, will offer the iGuardian trainings. HSI Los Angeles Assistant Special Agent in Charge Eugene Villanueva worked at HSI headquarters to revamp Project iGuardian and now shepherds the project in Los Angeles. The USAO in Los Angeles is an active and avid participant in the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood (PSC), which combats child sexual exploitation through high impact prosecutions. Passionate about community outreach, former PSC Coordinators Catharine A. Richmond and Kellye M. Ng, both of the Violent and Organized Crime Section, spearheaded the MOU and will be the USAO’s primary facilitators. This initiative was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Mexican National Admits Role in Smuggling and Labor Trafficking Scheme, Illegally Reentering U.S.

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that APOLINAR FRANCISCO PAREDES ESPINOZA, also known as “Pancho,” 58, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to charges stemming from his involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford. The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero, her co-conspirators in Connecticut, and associates in Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S. In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico. They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s and Paredes’ residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death. After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Sanchez and her co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas and utilities. Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area. In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork, or to assist Paredes in his job responsibilities, without compensation and without having their debt reduced. Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt. If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments. To date, investigators have identified 18 victims of this scheme. In November 2014, Paredes was encountered in the U.S. and removed the same day via foot at Hildago, Texas. He illegally reentered the U.S. and, in December 2018, was arrested by East Hartford Police and charged with various motor vehicle offenses. He was again removed to Mexico in February 2019. Paredes has been detained since his arrest on March 1, 2023. Paredes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and to illegal reentry of a removed alien, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for February 28. Sanchez and her daughter, Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez , previously pleaded guilty and await sentencing. As part of their plea agreements, Paredes, Sanchez, and Ramos, have agreed to restitution orders of $494,608. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.


title: Local veterinarian agrees to pay civil penalty for alleged controlled substance act violations

body_text: On Nov. 21, a civil settlement agreement was executed between Dr. Rodney Hartshorn, 58, a veterinarian in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the United States Attorney's Office. Dr. Hartshorn agreed to pay a $30,000 monetary penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Controlled Substance Act. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents from the Cheyenne Tactical Diversion Squad and Diversion Investigators from the Rocky Mountain Field Division began investigating Dr. Hartshorn based on a tip stating that Dr. Hartshorn’s veterinary practice, Avenues Pet Hospital, routinely takes back controlled substances from clients, places the returns in an unlocked “donated” medication bin, and allows the controlled substances to be used by other clients. On April 23, DEA conducted an inspection of Avenues Pet Hospital and found systemic recordkeeping violations and failures to safeguard controlled substances. DEA personnel also seized controlled substances found in the “donated” medication bin. “It is through our partnership with the DEA that we can ensure DEA registrants maintain proper records and institute proper protocols so that controlled substances do not fall into the wrong hands,” said Acting United States Attorney Eric Heimann. “DEA works diligently to ensure the safety of the public by regulating the use of controlled substances,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “We work daily to ensure DEA registrants are using their registrations in a manner consistent with the best interests and safety for the people of Wyoming.” The case was investigated by DEA Special Agents and Diversion Investigators and handled by Assistant United States Attorney Levi Martin. Case No. 2024-V-00086


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Nov. 19 was: Crystal Joy Blakely, 37, of Billings, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Blakely faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Blakely was detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-128. Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Nov. 18 was: Patricia Marie Holcomb, 56, of Kalispell, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Holcomb faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Holcomb was released pending further proceedings. The Northwest Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-62. Thomas Joseph Spotted Eagle, 41, of Pablo, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Spotted Eagle faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Spotted Eagle was detained pending further proceedings. The Northwest Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-48. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Dominican National Sentenced for his Role in a Human Smuggling Event that Resulted in Child’s Death

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Dominican national was sentenced today to nine years in prison for his involvement in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy in Puerto Rico. According to court documents, Alcibades De Paz, 34, was one of the individuals at the helm of a vessel carrying non-citizens, including a three-year-old boy, from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. The defendant operated the vessel during the human smuggling venture. When the vessel stopped functioning, the defendant aided in starting the engine and holding the throttle of the outboard engine of the boat towards the shore of Rincón, Puerto Rico, while evading law enforcement’s attempts to safely intercept the vessel. On Dec. 23, 2022, the vessel capsized as it reached the shoreline, leading to the death of a three-year-old child who was illegally being smuggled to the United States. On Aug. 27, De Paz pleaded guilty to one count of bringing certain aliens into the United States, resulting in death. In addition to his term of imprisonment, De Paz was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico; and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan made the announcement. HSI San Juan investigated this case, with assistance from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau’s Joint Forces of Rapid Action and U.S. Border Patrol, Ramey Sector. Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto for the District of Puerto Rico prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.


title: Armed Carjacker Gets 20 Years in Prison for Robbery and Carjacking Spree

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Deangelo Richardson, 22, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for committing an armed carjacking on July 14, 2022 and armed robbery on November 26, 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Richardson pleaded guilty on August 2, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of armed carjacking and one count of armed robbery. Today, Judge Erik Christian sentenced Richardson to 20 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on July 14, 2022, Richardson, along with two unidentified co-conspirators, committed a series of violent offenses in Washington, D.C., ending with an armed carjacking near the 600 block of Morton Place NE. During the commission of each violent crime, all three assailants covered their faces. Richardson and his unidentified co-conspirators, armed with firearms, attempted to carjack two separate individuals before proceeding to the 600 block of Morton Place NE at approximately 6:49 p.m. Once at the location, they approached the victim who was parking her car at the location. One of the co-conspirators brandished a handgun and stated, “Give me everything!” Richardson and two associates took the victim’s car keys, phone, and credit cards attached to her phone, and other property. Then they took her car. Richardson later used the victim’s credit card at gas stations and a restaurant. Richardson also committed an armed robbery that took place on November 26, 2022, near the 1300 block of South Carolina Avenue SE. At approximately 7:54 p.m., Richardson parked a car ahead of the victims who were walking their dog after dinner. When the couple walked near his car, the defendant jumped out with a gun and robbed the husband of his phone. Richardson was arrested that evening after a vehicle pursuit. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Task Force Unit. Valuable assistance provided by the FBI Washington Field Office Violent Crimes Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Evans and former Assistant United States Attorney Omeed Assefi.


title: Former Oglala Sioux Tribe Treasurer Indicted for Theft from the Tribe

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man for Larceny and Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization. Mason Big Crow, age 50, was indicted in September of 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollman on November 22, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. As the treasurer for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Big Crow had nearly exclusive access to the tribe’s debit and credit card, and also had access to the tribe’s bank accounts. Between January 2021 and March 2023, Big Crow embezzled tribal funds to make personal purchases that had not been authorized by the tribe and that were used for his personal benefit. The charges are merely an accusation and Big Crow is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. This case was brought pursuant to the Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities. The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include: the FBI; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. For additional information about the Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400. To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number. The investigation is being conducted by Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson is prosecuting the case. Big Crow was released pending trial. A trial date has not been scheduled.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of a Stolen Firearm

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schrier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Stolen Firearm. The sentencing took place on November 20, 2024. Tanner Lee Hershman, 29, was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Hershman was indicted for Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Felon in Possession of a Firearm by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm in August 2024. On December 21, 2023, officers were called to a residence in Sioux Falls for a report of a domestic disturbance. The reporting party alleged that she had been assaulted by Hershman inside the residence that evening. In speaking with the reporting party, law enforcement learned that Hershman, a convicted felon, was also in possession of a firearm. A Glock model 44, semi-automatic pistol was subsequently located in the garage of the residence and confirmed to be a firearm reported stolen in October 2023. Through investigation, detectives discovered that Hershman had stolen the firearm from the gun owner’s vehicle on October 8, 2023. 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. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Beau J. Blouin prosecuted the case. Hershman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Anchorage man charged in string of recent bank robberies

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment criminally charging an Anchorage man in connection to a string of recent bank robberies. According to court documents, on Sept. 23, Sean Javier, 36, allegedly used force, violence and intimidation to steal roughly $650 from a local credit union branch. Two weeks later, on Oct. 7, Javier stole roughly $512 from a different local credit union branch, and on Oct. 16, he stole an additional $2,000 from another local credit union branch. In total, Javier allegedly stole roughly $3,162. The indictment also alleges that on Oct. 20, Javier was also in possession of two firearms. In June 2013, Javier was convicted of stalking in the first degree in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska, and in June 2020, he was convicted of bank robbery in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, making him a felon at the time of possession. Javier was arrested on Oct. 20 on a probation violation related to his 2020 conviction. Javier is charged with three counts of credit union robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Anchorage Police Department, is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Federal Jury Finds Human Smugglers Guilty in Death of Four

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – Two individuals have been convicted on four counts of human smuggling announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and the lengths that traffickers will go to maximize profit – putting men, woman and little children in extraordinary peril, ultimately leading to the tragic deaths of an entire family,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “Today, we have brought those responsible to justice. For that, I thank the tenacious work of all of the law enforcement officers involved, including the prosecution team from my office and the Department of Justice.” According to evidence presented at trial, between December 12, 2021, and on January 19, 2022, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, a.k.a. “Dirty Harry” or “Harry Patel,” 29, and Steve Anthony Shand, 50, conspired to smuggle dozens of people across the border of Canada and into the United States. Patel and Shand were part of a large-scale human-smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on student visas and then smuggled them into the United States. The defendants’ roles in the smuggling operation included the coordination and transportation of people from Manitoba into the United States. Specifically, Patel worked with co-conspirators in Canada to organize the logistics of smuggling trips, while Shand was instructed when and where to pick up migrants just south of the Canadian border in the United States. He then drove them to Chicago. They were paid for their roles in the conspiracy and disregarded the risks posed by the cold weather at the northern border. "This tragic case is a stark reminder of the horrific realities of human smuggling. The unimaginable suffering endured by this family underscores the urgent need for robust law enforcement partnerships,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt. “These partnerships are vital in our fight against human smuggling, as they allow us to combine resources, expertise, and intelligence. By collaborating with local, state, federal, and international agencies, we can more effectively dismantle smuggling networks, bring perpetrators to justice, and provide the necessary support to victims. Working together enhances our ability to protect the most vulnerable and ensures that no family suffers such a devastating fate again." According to evidence presented at trial, on January 19, 2022, law enforcement agents with Homeland Security Investigations responded to a request for assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) based out of Pembina, North Dakota. USBP initiated a traffic stop on a white-colored, fifteen-passenger van that Shand was driving. The stop occurred less than one mile south of the U.S./Canadian border in a rural area between the official ports of entry located at Lancaster, Minnesota, and Pembina, North Dakota. A short while later, law enforcement encountered five Indian nationals approximately a quarter mile south of the Canadian border walking in the direction of where Shand had just been arrested. They explained that they had walked across the border expecting to be picked up by someone. The group estimated they had been walking around for over seven hours. One of the members of the group was in possession of a backpack that did not belong to him. He told officers that he was carrying the backpack for a family of four Indian nationals that had walked with his group but had become separated during the night. Temperatures that night had plummeted to -36 degrees below zero. The backpack contained children’s clothes, a diaper, toys, and some children’s medication. That family was found dead a short time later. As proven at trial, later the same day, January 19, 2022, USBP received a report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that four bodies – two adults and two young children – were found frozen just inside the Canadian side of the international border. As proven at trial, Patel and Shand were paid to smuggle them into the United States. Following a five-day trial in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim, a federal jury found Patel and Shand each guilty on four counts related to human trafficking of foreign nationals. “As we saw in this case involving a family of four who lost their lives attempting to illegally cross the border, human smuggling is very dangerous. I’m glad that this case came to a successful law enforcement resolution. As a reminder, anyone who puts their lives in the hands of a smuggler, is putting their life, and the lives of their family at risk,” Chief Patrol Agent Scott D. Garrett said. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by USBP and HSI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McBride and Department of Justice Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Trial Attorney Ryan Lipes tried the case.


title: Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Illegally Exporting Firearm Parts to Israel

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO —A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for illegally shipping firearm parts to Israel. AMIN BETUNI shipped the firearm parts to individuals in Israel on at least three occasions in 2022. The parts included rifle barrels, gas blocks for rifles, and bolt carrier groups. Betuni put false information on the shipping labels and concealed the firearm parts in packages containing auto parts or George Foreman grills. The firearm parts were on the United States Commerce Control List and subject to federal export regulations. As such, their export from the U.S. to Israel required a license or written approval from the Department of Commerce, neither of which was obtained by Betuni prior to his shipments. During a court-authorized search of Betuni’s residence in Palos Hills, Ill., in December 2022, law enforcement discovered more than 1,200 rounds of assorted ammunition, a shotgun, rifle, and handgun, additional bolt carrier groups, and three firearm conversion devices, also known as “Glock switches,” which equip firearms to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. Betuni, 37, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of knowingly and fraudulently exporting firearm parts in violation of U.S. laws and regulations. U.S. District Judge John F. Kness on Thursday sentenced Betuni to 46 months in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of Homeland Security Investigations, and Aaron Tambrini, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Palos Hills, Ill. Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn D. McCarthy. “Export-control violations are critically important because they undermine federal laws and regulations that seek to protect international security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit U.S. export-control laws for financial gain.” "The sentencing of Betuni to 46 months in federal prison for illegally shipping firearm parts highlights the serious consequences of violating export control laws,” said SAC Fitzgerald. “This case underscores the critical importance of strong law enforcement partnerships. By working together, we can effectively investigate and prosecute those who stand in the way of public safety.” “The sentencing of Amin Betuni sends a strong message to those that violate export controls,” said SAC Tambrini. “This multi-agency investigation demonstrates the commitment by law enforcement to intercept firearms hidden in small appliances to thwart the illegal trade of firearms around the globe.”


title: Former New York City Police Officer Convicted of Sex Offenses Involving Four Minor Boys and the Sexual Assault of Two of Those Children

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Christopher Terranova, a former New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, was found guilty today by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all six counts of a superseding indictment charging him with sexually exploiting, attempting to sexually exploit and enticing and coercing three 15-year-old boys and a 12-year-old boy. The verdict followed a five-day trial before United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. Terranova filed for retirement in September 2023 while under suspension from NYPD. When sentenced, Terranova faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to life in prison. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict. “As proven at trial, the defendant preyed on vulnerable minors through social media and on Staten Island where he abused his position as a police officer to gain the trust of his victims in a despicable strategy to gratify his sexual desires,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s verdict hopefully will help victims on their path to healing with the knowledge that the defendant has been brought to justice for his crimes. Parents and caregivers should have conversations with their children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers and as well as individuals they know, and report inappropriate contacts to law enforcement.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau for their assistance during the investigation. “Christopher Terranova, a former NYPD officer, violated his sworn oath to protect and serve by preying upon four minor boys for personal gratification,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “Terranova strategically exploited his position to establish an inappropriate relationship with his victims and impose undue sexual influence. While the majority of law enforcement conduct themselves accordingly, the FBI will continue to partner with the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau to investigate any officer abusing their badge for twisted desires.” Between approximately December 2019 and May 2023, Terranova used social media to engage in sexually explicit conversations with underage boys and attempt to entice them into taking sexually explicit photographs of themselves and sharing them with the defendant. Terranova used popular social media applications to message and gain the trust of underage boys whom he encountered socially, online or through his job as a police officer. For example, between March 2023 and May 2023, Terranova targeted a boy who was the victim of a robbery and encountered the defendant at the 121st Precinct on Staten Island when he reported the crime. Terranova obtained the boy’s cellphone number from the robbery complaint in an NYPD database and messaged him: “Hey…it’s Chris Terranova the cop you met at the 121 that day with mom, i just wanted to reach out to see if you were doing ok after the incident, I hate seeing these things happen to good Guys like yourself.” In subsequent messages, Terranova inquired about the investigation, referred to his role as a police officer and asked the boy if he had any interest in the police department or its youth programs. Terranova also suggested, “If [sic] here too if you ever want to talk[.] I been through a lot myself over the years so just know that little bro.” The defendant then asked the boy to add him on “snap” or “the gram,” referring to Snapchat and Instagram. On Snapchat, Terranova began asking the boy sexually explicit questions, sent the boy a photograph of Terranova’s genitals and asked for a sexually explicit photograph of the boy. The boy informed his mother about the inappropriate messages and she reported the matter to police. Terranova also engaged in hands-on sex acts with two of his minor victims. While giving an acquaintance’s son a ride home from a birthday party, Terranova brought the boy to a secluded location where he directed the victim to engage in sex acts with him. The defendant met another victim, who lived in Texas, on social media. Terranova traveled to Texas at least 16 times to visit the boy and purchased a house in the boy’s neighborhood. In one message, Terranova stated: “You being with me. . . and making love to me is more than a sign of everything happens for a reason.” One reason the boy trusted Terranova was because the defendant had told him he was a police officer. Terranova also met a 12-year-old victim locally while the defendant was on-duty. Terranova messaged the boy later on Snapchat and began asking him sexually explicit questions and solicited sexually explicit photos. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel A. Bennek and Lauren A. Bowman are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Chelsea Guzman. The Defendant : CHRISTOPHER TERRANOVA Age: 34 Staten Island, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-516 (KAM)


title: President and CEO of Las Vegas-Based Company Pleads Guilty for Role in Investment Fraud Scheme Where He Stole Millions in Victim Investor Funds

body_text: A Nevada man pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of wire fraud stemming from his role in a years-long fraud scheme, during which he stole more than $6.1 million in victim investor funds. According to court documents, Mykalai Kontilai, formerly Michael Contile, 55, of Las Vegas, facilitated an investment fraud scheme involving his company, Collector’s Coffee Inc., doing business as Collector’s Café (Collector’s Coffee), a company incorporated in California and headquartered in Las Vegas. From 2012 to 2018, Kontilai made or caused to be made numerous materially false and misleading representations to induce victims to invest in Collector’s Coffee — a company he claimed was on the verge of launching an online auction house for third-party owned collectibles, such as Hollywood and sport memorabilia. As a result of Kontilai’s numerous false and misleading statements, including that investor funds would be used for legitimate business purposes, that Kontilai had personally invested millions of his own money in the company, and that he did not take a salary, Kontilai successfully raised approximately $23 million from Collector’s Coffee investors. However, rather than using the proceeds as represented, Kontilai stole approximately $6.1 million for his own personal use, including for the purchase of luxury goods, apartments, and vehicles. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began investigating Kontilai for misappropriating investor funds in or around 2017. Kontilai obstructed the investigation by forging documents that he caused to be transmitted to the SEC and lied under oath to the SEC. Kontilai was charged in connection with this conduct both in the present case on June 3, 2020, and in a separate case in the District of Colorado on March 10, 2020. While under investigation but prior to charging, Kontilai fled to Russia and was ultimately arrested on an Interpol Red Notice in Germany in 2023. He was extradited back to the United States to face the pending charges in May. As part of the plea agreement in this case, the government will move to dismiss the Colorado case at sentencing. Kontilai pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 4 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)'s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement. The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the extradition from Germany of Kontilai. Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (FRD) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada prosecuted this case. Former FRD Trial Attorney Emily Scruggs provided valuable assistance.


title: Federal Jury Finds Human Smugglers Guilty in Deaths of Family of Four

body_text: A federal jury in the District of Minnesota convicted two men today for their roles in a human smuggling venture that resulted in the deaths of a family of four Indian nationals, including two children. According to evidence presented at trial, between Dec. 12, 2021, and Jan. 19, 2022, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, also known as Dirty Harry and Harry Patel, and Steve Anthony Shand, 50, conspired to smuggle dozens of migrants across the border of Canada and into the United States. Patel and Shand were part of a large-scale human-smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals to Canada on student visas and then smuggled them into the United States. The defendants’ roles in the smuggling operation included the coordination and transportation of people from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States. Specifically, Patel worked with co-conspirators in Canada to organize the logistics of smuggling trips, while Shand was instructed when and where to pick up migrants just south of the Canadian border in the United States. He then drove them to Chicago. They were paid for their roles in the conspiracy and disregarded the risks posed by the cold weather at the northern border. According to evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 19, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents responded to a request for assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) based out of Pembina, North Dakota. USBP initiated a traffic stop on a white-colored, 15-passenger van that Shand was driving. The stop occurred less than one mile south of the U.S.-Canadian border in a rural area between the U.S. ports of entry located at Lancaster, Minnesota, and Pembina. A short while later, law enforcement encountered five Indian nationals approximately a quarter mile south of the Canadian border walking in the direction of where Shand had just been arrested. They explained that they had walked across the border expecting to be picked up by someone. The group estimated they had been walking around for over seven hours. One of the members of the group was in possession of a backpack that did not belong to him. He told officers that he was carrying the backpack for a family of four Indian nationals that had walked with his group but had become separated during the night. Temperatures that night had plummeted to 36 degrees below zero. The backpack contained children’s clothes, a diaper, toys, and some children’s medication. That family was found dead a short time later. As proven at trial, later the same day, USBP received a report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that four bodies — two adults and two young children — were found frozen just inside the Canadian side of the international border. As proven at trial, Patel and Shand were paid to smuggle the family into the United States. Following a five-day trial, the jury found Patel and Shand each guilty of four counts of human smuggling. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the first and second counts and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the third and fourth counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota; Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of the HSI St. Paul Field Office; and Chief Patrol Agent Scott D. Garrett of the USBP Grand Forks Sector made the announcement. HSI and USBP conducted the investigation. The RCMP and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance. Trial Attorney Ryan Lipes of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McBride for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.


title: President And CEO Of Las Vegas-Based Company Pleads Guilty For Role In Investment Fraud Scheme Where He Stole Millions In Victim Investor Funds

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS - A Nevada man pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of wire fraud stemming from his role in a years-long fraud scheme, during which he stole more than $6.1 million in victim investor funds. According to court documents, Mykalai Kontilai, formerly Michael Contile, 55, of Las Vegas, facilitated an investment fraud scheme involving his company, Collector’s Coffee Inc., doing business as Collector’s Café (Collector’s Coffee), a company incorporated in California and headquartered in Las Vegas. From 2012 to 2018, Kontilai made or caused to be made numerous materially false and misleading representations to induce victims to invest in Collector’s Coffee — a company he claimed was on the verge of launching an online auction house for third-party owned collectibles, such as Hollywood and sport memorabilia. As a result of Kontilai’s numerous false and misleading statements, including that investor funds would be used for legitimate business purposes, that Kontilai had personally invested millions of his own money in the company, and that he did not take a salary, Kontilai successfully raised approximately $23 million from Collector’s Coffee investors. However, rather than using the proceeds as represented, Kontilai stole approximately $6.1 million for his own personal use, including for the purchase of luxury goods, apartments, and vehicles. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began investigating Kontilai for misappropriating investor funds in or around 2017. Kontilai obstructed the investigation by forging documents that he caused to be transmitted to the SEC and lied under oath to the SEC. Kontilai was charged in connection with this conduct both in the present case on June 3, 2020, and in a separate case in the District of Colorado on March 10, 2020. While under investigation but prior to charging, Kontilai fled to Russia and was ultimately arrested on an Interpol Red Notice in Germany in 2023. He was extradited back to the United States to face the pending charges in May. As part of the plea agreement in this case, the government will move to dismiss the Colorado case at sentencing. Kontilai pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 4 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement. The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the extradition from Germany of Kontilai. Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (FRD) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada prosecuted this case. Former FRD Trial Attorney Emily Scruggs provided valuable assistance. ###


title: Monmouth County Man Charged with Armed Bank Robbery

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man made his initial court appearance today for an alleged armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 50, of Wall Township, is charged by complaint with one count of armed bank robbery. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah L. Singh in Trenton federal court and was detained. A detention hearing is scheduled for November 25, 2024. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Oct. 23, 2024, Kniffin entered a bank in Wall Township, New Jersey, and demanded cash from a bank teller before grabbing and displaying for the teller a firearm. On several occasions during the robbery, Kniffin instructed the teller and other bank employees who were present, “Don’t do anything stupid.” After taking by force and intimidation cash from the teller, Kniffin fled the bank. He was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement several minutes later. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered from Kniffin and his immediate surroundings a loaded firearm and more than $17,000 in cash. The count of armed bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited officer of FBI Newark’s Jersey Shore Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Wall Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean O’Halloran, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for their assistance. The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. kniffin.complaint.pdf


title: Illegal Export of Aviation Components from Oregon to Russia Results in Federal Charges

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment Wednesday charging a Delhi, India man with conspiring and attempting to export controlled aviation components and a navigation and flight control system to end users in Russia, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act. Sanjay Kaushik, age 57, of India, has been charged with conspiring to export controlled aviation components with dual civilian and military applications to end users in Russia. Kaushik is also charged with attempting to illegally export a navigation and flight control system from Oregon to Russia through India, and with making false statements in connection with an export. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Special Agent in Charge Brent Burmester of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Portland Field Office. According to court documents, beginning in early September 2023, Kaushik is alleged to have conspired with others to unlawfully obtain aerospace goods and technology from the United States for entities in Russia. The goods were purchased under the false pretense that they would be supplied to Kaushik and his Indian company, when in fact they were destined for Russian end users. In one such instance, Kaushik and his co-conspirators purchased an Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), which is a device that provides navigation and flight control data for aircraft, from an Oregon-based supplier. Components such as the AHRS require a license from the Department of Commerce to be exported to certain countries, including Russia. To obtain an export license for the AHRS, Kaushik and his co-conspirators falsely claimed that Kaushik’s Indian company was the end purchaser and that the component would be used in a civilian helicopter. Kaushik and his co-conspirators obtained the AHRS – which was ultimately detained before it was exported from the United States – on behalf of and with the intention of shipping it, through India, to a customer in Russia. Kaushik was arrested in Miami, Florida on October 17, 2024, pursuant to a criminal complaint and arrest warrant issued by the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. Kaushik made his initial appearance in federal court today before a District of Oregon U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a 7-day jury trial scheduled to begin on January 21, 2025. If convicted, Kaushik faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and a fine of not more than $1,000,000 for each count in the indictment. The case is being investigated by BIS Portland. It is being prosecuted by Gregory R. Nyhus, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorneys Joshua E. Kurland and Dallas J. Kaplan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Greene County Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Drew Caswell, age 26, of Cairo, New York, was sentenced today to 9 years in prison for distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement. As part of his previous guilty plea, Caswell admitted that he used a file-hosting service to download child pornography and then distributed multiple image and video files of child pornography by publicly posting them to a social media site. Caswell also admitted that on August 7, 2023, he possessed child pornography on his cell phone, including nearly 300 images and videos of toddlers and infants being sexually abused. United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered that Caswell serve a 20-year term of post-incarceration supervised release. Caswell will be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison. The FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force—which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including Troop F of the New York State Police and its Computer Crimes Unit—investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .