title: President Of Hair Testing Company Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Over 88,000 Customers In Testing Scam

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the guilty plea of KYLE TSUI in connection with a fraud scheme that resulted in sales of approximately $5.9 million worth of fabricated allergy and sensitivity tests to tens of thousands of customers. TSUI pled guilty to wire fraud and mail fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy earlier today, following his extradition from Spain in November 2023. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As he has now admitted, Kyle Tsui defrauded tens of thousands of innocent victims, whose health was put at risk with false allergy and sensitivity testing results. Tsui’s company advertised ‘highly-rated’ allergy and sensitivity testing services but didn’t even attempt to test the samples his paying customers sent in, instead directing others to throw the samples in the garbage. Tsui now faces prison time for his brazen scam.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, the defendant’s statements when pleading guilty, and statements made in related court filings and proceedings: From September 2018 through April 2019, TSUI orchestrated a scheme to defraud customers of his company, the “Allergy Testing Company,” by purporting to sell food and environmental sensitivity testing services that TSUI knew were not, in fact, being performed. In total, TSUI sold fabricated tests worth approximately $5.9 million to more than 88,000 victims through an online marketplace. TSUI’s company promoted its “[h]ighly-rated, top selling sensitivity and intolerance test” that “determines how your body responds to 800 different food and environmental items” with just “a small hair sample.” But rather than actually test the hair samples as customers were promised, TSUI directed that the hair samples be discarded in the trash without any laboratory analysis. Customers then received fabricated test results purporting to identify certain foods and environmental factors that were “safe” for them and others that the customers were supposedly “sensitive” to and should avoid. * * * KYLE TSUI, 41, of Ontario, Canada, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. TSUI also agreed to pay forfeiture in the amount of $4,165,884.70. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. TSUI’s sentencing is scheduled for May 30, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Mr. Williams also thanked the Hyde Park Police Department, the New York State Troopers, the Toronto Police Service, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for their assistance in the investigation, as well as the Government of Spain for working with U.S. authorities to arrest and extradite TSUI to the United States. If you believe you are a victim of the Allergy Testing Company fraud, updated information regarding the case and victims’ rights, as well as contact information for the victim witness coordinator, is available here . The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Qais Ghafary and Benjamin Levander are in charge of the prosecution, which was previously handled by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Loss.


title: FDIC Attorney Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Sexually Exploit Numerous Children

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) attorney pleaded guilty today to conspiring to sexually exploit numerous children. According to court documents, between January 2018 and October 2021, Mark Black, 50, of Arlington, was a member of two online groups dedicated to exploiting children. The goal of the two groups was to locate prepubescent girls online and convince them to livestream themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Black and his co-conspirators would covertly record this conduct and share the videos with each other. In July 2019, Black induced a prepubescent minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct on a live-streaming application while screen-recording that activity. That same month, Black and a co-conspirator also groomed another prepubescent minor to engage in sexually explicit acts on a photo and video-sharing application. The co-conspirator surreptitiously hacked into this girl’s live-video feed and recorded the sexual acts before sending them to Black. Black was formerly the Arlington Aquatic Club (AAC) board president. Black pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30 and faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Nicole M. Argentieri, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Michael D. Nordwall, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Shimon Richmond, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations of the FDIC Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper and Trial Attorneys McKenzie Hightower, Kaylynn Foulon, and James E. Burke IV of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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 www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-146. Any individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been victimized by Black are encouraged to contact the FBI at 202-278-2000 and ask to speak to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.


title: Grants Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Stephen Jaymes Montano appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with assault upon a federal officer inflicting bodily injury. Montano, 28, of Grants, will remain in temporary custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for January 25, 2024. According to the indictment, on Sept. 21, 2023, Montano intentionally assaulted John Doe, an officer and employee of the New Mexico Department of Corrections, while John Doe was assisting officers and employees of the United States Marshals Service in the performance of official duties. Montano allegedly inflicted bodily injury by throwing a bicycle at John Doe. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Montano faces 20 years in prison. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bell is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment # # # 24-26


title: Bergen County Man Admits Possession With Intent To Distribute Heroin

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man today admitted possession of heroin with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Dawan A. Brown, aka “DB,” 37, of Cliffside Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Brown admitted that on June 14, 2021, he possessed with intent to distribute a controlled substance containing heroin in Harrison, New Jersey. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement officers seized suspected drug proceeds and pieces of jewelry from Brown’s residence. As part of the plea agreement, Brown agreed to forfeit $436,616 – the proceeds from the narcotics trafficking. The narcotics offense carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of $5 million. Sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II; Harrison Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ronald Cuney; and Cliffside Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Marc Marano, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Frazer of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dong Joo Lee of the Narcotics/Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit, in Newark. brown.information.pdf


title: California Man Pleads Guilty to Interfering with Flight Crew, Forcing Plane to be Diverted to KCI

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A California man pleaded guilty in federal court today after he was subdued by several passengers and flight attendants when he tried to open the exit door on an American Airlines flight en route to Washington, D.C., forcing the plane to land at Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Missouri. Juan Remberto Rivas, 52, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to one count of interfering with flight crew members and flight attendants. Rivas was a passenger aboard American Airlines flight 1775 traveling nonstop from Los Angeles, Calif., to Washington, D.C., which was diverted to Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 13, 2022. By pleading guilty today, Rivas admitted that he created a disturbance which knowingly intimidated a flight attendant of the aircraft. Rivas went to the front of the plane and was arguing with the flight attendant. Rivas grabbed some plastic silverware and placed the plastic silverware in his shirt sleeve to appear to create a shank. Rivas grabbed a small champagne bottle by the neck and attempted to break the bottle on the counter. Rivas then attempted to open an exit door by lifting the handle. Another flight attendant grabbed a coffee pot and hit Rivas with it. Rivas was then restrained for the remainder of the flight. Under federal statutes, Rivas is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the FBI.


title: Bennington Man Charged with Possession of a Bomb

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Tyler Hayes, 41, of Bennington, Vermont, has been indicted for possession of a bomb that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. A federal grand jury in Burlington issued the indictment, and Hayes had his initial appearance yesterday in Burlington. This afternoon, United States Magistrate Judge Doyle ordered Hayes detained pending trial. According to court records, Hayes made the bomb himself and told acquaintances about the destruction it would cause if detonated. Hayes left the bomb in his former residence when he moved out in connection with eviction proceedings. Hayes took no apparent precautions to make sure the bomb did not fall into the wrong hands or detonate inadvertently. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the indictment is an accusation only and that each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Hayes faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. Any ultimate sentence will be determined by the Court and advised by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the United States Code. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory and collaborative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Bennington Police Department; and the Vermont State Police Bomb Squad. The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Smith. Hayes is represented by James Valente, Esq. and Assistant Federal Defender Barclay Johnson. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Bridgeport Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JEROND ROGERS, JR., 30, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 25, 2022, Rogers possessed a loaded Glock 26 semi-automatic pistol. Rogers’ criminal history includes state felony convictions for sale of narcotics, criminal possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Rogers has been detained since his federal arrest on March 20, 2023. Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for April 16, at which time Rogers faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Weingarten and Karen L. Peck through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Semi Driver Caught With 40 Kilograms of Illegal Drugs Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a semitrailer driver to 12 years in federal prison after he admitted to hauling nearly 40 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl, meth and cocaine through southern Illinois. Ledaniel Russell, 50, of Fort Worth, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance: heroin, fentanyl, meth and cocaine. “Heroin, fentanyl, meth and cocaine all have a dangerous history of infecting individuals and causing harm in communities due to the war on drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I commend the Illinois State Police for interrupting this drug trafficking operation and having the training to detect semitrailer drivers with illegitimate agendas.” Troopers with the Illinois State Police conducted a traffic stop on a semitrailer driven by Russell along Interstate 70 in Madison County on Sept. 15, 2022. Following a search of Russell’s trailer, troopers located two large duffel bags concealing a kilogram of heroin, 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl, almost 32 kilograms of meth and nearly 2 kilograms of cocaine. "The Illinois State Police is committed to stopping illegal drug traffickers and keeping dangerous drugs from flooding and hurting our communities," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. "Whether it's a trooper on the road or a special agent investigating, ISP is targeting drug traffickers and will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office to put them behind bars.” In an interview with law enforcement, Russell admitted he planned to deliver the drugs to Michigan, after he stopped in Indiana to deliver his truck’s legitimate cargo. In addition to the 12-year prison sentence, Russell will serve five years of supervised release. “We know our nations’ freeways are the arteries that bring Mexican cartels’ illegal drugs into our communities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Dixon, head of Drug Enforcement Administration investigations in southern Illinois. “DEA, working in lockstep with our partners from the Illinois State Police, will continue to be laser-focused on targeting, disrupting and dismantling the pipelines used to transport deadly drugs so they don’t impact the health and safety of our citizens." The Illinois State Police and DEA led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. Carraway prosecuted the case.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty  to Federal Gun and Drug Violations

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – COREY BESSIE , age 30, a resident of Orleans Parish, pled guilty on January 22, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion to Counts 6 and 7 of the indictment pending against him. Count 6 charged BESSIE with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Count 7 charged BESSIE with possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and marijuana, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) and (D). Based on his guilty plea, BESSIE will face the following sentences as to each count: As to Count 6, BESSIE faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000.00 fine , and up to three years of supervised release. As to Count 7, BESSIE faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000.00 fine, and not less than three years of supervised release. Additionally, as to each charged count, BESSIE faces payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee . 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 the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Webster Man Sentenced To Prison For Embezzling Funds From St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Duane Emery, 65, Webster, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud. Emery pleaded guilty to this charge on October 17, 2023. Between 2015 and 2019, Emery stole over $150,000 from the St. Croix Chippewa Housing Authority, an agency of the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. This agency is responsible for providing and maintaining housing for low-income tribal members. The Housing Authority receives more than $1 million each year in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Emery served as the director for the Housing Authority from 2011 until his termination in 2019. Emery used his position to obtain checks drawn on Housing Authority funds under the pretense that the checks were needed to make payments on a credit card maintained by the Housing Authority. Emery would instead apply the checks to his personal credit card. Emery also obtained checks drawn on Housing Authority funds to make payments on a timeshare property in Florida, and to pay for service on his personal vehicles. At sentencing, Judge Conley stated that Emery’s sustained criminal embezzlement warranted a period of imprisonment. Judge Conley also took into consideration the length of time Emery stole form the tribe, and the fact that his lack of supervision allowed other employees to steal. The charge against Emery was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case.


title: Owner of Tax Return Preparation Business Sentenced to Prison

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Florida woman was sentenced today to two years in prison for a scheme to file false tax returns and to two years in prison for an unrelated online romance scam. The two sentences are to run concurrently with each other. According to court documents and statements made in court related to the tax scheme, Iona Coates owned and operated Bits & Bytes Accounting Services Inc., which provided tax preparation and bookkeeping services. Between 2015 and 2020, Coates claimed $228,788 in tax refunds on her individual federal income tax returns by falsely reporting that taxes had been withheld from her income and had been paid to the IRS. Coates further enriched herself by creating nearly 20 sham entities for the sole purpose of filing false tax returns that claimed fuel tax credits. Between 2017 and 2019, Coates prepared and filed 35 such returns. According to court documents and statements made in court regarding the online romance scheme, in 2020, Coates met two individuals online through a dating website. She subsequently provided them with her bank account information and began receiving money into her account from victims of the scheme. She sent the money she received to them. In December 2020, U.S. Secret Service agents met with Coates and explained that she was acting as a “money mule” in an online romance scheme. As the agents described, the individuals, acting as fake suitors on dating websites, convinced victims to send money to Coates’s bank account. The Secret Service advised Coates to cease participation in the scheme, as the individuals were using her bank account to facilitate their theft. Coates, however, soon thereafter began acting as a money mule for another online romance scammer. Between December 2020 and September 2021, she received $229,376.26 into her bank accounts from victims of the scheme and sent the money to the scammer. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Brian Davis ordered Coates to serve a total of three years of supervised release for both schemes. Judge Davis also ordered Coates to pay approximately $186,288 in restitution to the United States related to the tax charges and $229,376.26 in restitution to the victims of the romance scheme. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the tax scheme and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the online romance scheme. Trial Attorneys Kevin Schneider and Wilson Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin C. Frein for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the tax case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frein prosecuted the online romance scheme case.


title: Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Prison for Sex Offense Against A Minor

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kyle Andrew Umstead, 35, of Douglasville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Umstead must also register as a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in late March 2022, Umstead began communicating online with a girl he believed to be 14 years old. Umstead admitted that in multiple online conversations he repeatedly told the girl he wanted to take her virginity and regularly described in graphic detail the sexual acts he wished to perform with her. Umstead further admitted that he sent the girl over two dozen photos of his penis and over a dozen videos of him masturbating. Umstead also sent the girl numerous images of pornography depicting adults engaged in sexual activity and women engaged in bestiality with dogs. Umstead admitted that he encouraged the girl to engage in bestiality and incest. On March 18, 2023, Umstead traveled from Douglasville, Pennsylvania, to Kanawha County, West Virginia. Umstead admitted that he traveled to Kanawha County with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with the girl, including sexual intercourse. Upon his arrival in Kanawha County, Umstead was arrested by law enforcement officers. Following his arrest, officers found videos and images of child pornography on Umstead’s cell phone. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . 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. 2:23-cr-47. ###


title: Connecticut Man Charged with Drug Trafficking in Burlington, Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jahking Allah, also known as “Stop Sign,” 44, of Quaker Hill, Connecticut was arrested on Friday, January 19, 2024 and subsequently charged by federal criminal complaint with distribution of cocaine base. Allah’s initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24 at 3:30 p.m. According to court records, Allah sold cocaine base to a cooperating subject in Burlington on two dates in January 2024. Then, on January 19, law enforcement executed a search warrant at 195 St. Paul Street, Apartment A, where Allah was staying. Within the apartment, law enforcement found seven handguns, two of which had previously been reported stolen. Seven is among the largest number of pistols that the Burlington Police Department has ever recovered during a single search warrant execution. Also within the apartment were approximately 85 grams of suspected cocaine base, approximately 25 grams of suspected fentanyl, and multiple digital scales. If convicted of the current charges, Allah faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the United States Code. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges in the complaint are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Burlington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate. Allah is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.


title: Woman Sentenced for Gambling Away Pandemic and Economic Crisis Loan

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A woman was sentenced today to 18 months and for wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Terence, C. Kern, sentenced Carmen Leann Oliver, 34. Judge Kern further ordered Oliver to 5 years of supervised release and to pay $170,832 in restitution. According to court documents, from August 2020 through July 2021, Oliver engaged in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by obtaining an Economic Injury Disaster Loan she was not entitled to. She lied on her application and received proceeds meant for the business applicant’s operating expenses. Oliver met the application requirements by claiming she had five employees and revenue prior to January 2020. Once the loan was approved and deposited into her account, Oliver misappropriated funds for personal use including gambling at various casinos. Oliver was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud


title: Lake County Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Tyran Terrell Harris (24, Leesburg) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harris faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. A federal grand jury had indicted Harris on December 12, 2023. According to the court records, Harris has multiple prior state felony convictions, including grand theft, tampering with a witness, and grand theft auto. On September 25, 2023, officers from the Leesburg Police Department observed Harris walking around an apartment complex with a loaded firearm. Knowing Harris was a convicted felon from previous interactions, the officers arrested him and took possession of the firearm. A record check showed the firearm had been reported stolen approximately two weeks earlier. Harris subsequently admitted to the officers that he knew he could not possess the firearm as a convicted felon. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Leesburg Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk. 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.


body_text: Jacksonville, FL – A Florida woman was sentenced today to two years in prison for a scheme to file false tax returns and to two years in prison for an unrelated online romance scam. The two sentences are to run concurrently with each other. According to court documents and statements made in court related to the tax scheme, Iona Coates owned and operated Bits & Bytes Accounting Services Inc., which provided tax preparation and bookkeeping services. Between 2015 and 2020, Coates claimed $228,788 in tax refunds on her individual federal income tax returns by falsely reporting that taxes had been withheld from her income and had been paid to the IRS. Coates further enriched herself by creating nearly 20 sham entities for the sole purpose of filing false tax returns that claimed fuel tax credits. Between 2017 and 2019, Coates prepared and filed 35 such returns. According to court documents and statements made in court regarding the online romance scheme, in 2020, Coates met two individuals online through a dating website. She subsequently provided them with her bank account information and began receiving money into her account from victims of the scheme. She sent the money she received to them. In December 2020, U.S. Secret Service agents met with Coates and explained that she was acting as a “money mule” in an online romance scheme. As the agents described, the individuals, acting as fake suitors on dating websites, convinced victims to send money to Coates’s bank account. The Secret Service advised Coates to cease participation in the scheme, as the individuals were using her bank account to facilitate their theft. Coates, however, soon thereafter began acting as a money mule for another online romance scammer. Between December 2020 and September 2021, she received $229,376.26 into her bank accounts from victims of the scheme and sent the money to the scammer. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Brian Davis ordered Coates to serve a total of three years of supervised release for both schemes. Judge Davis also ordered Coates to pay approximately $186,288 in restitution to the United States related to the tax charges and $229,376.26 in restitution to the victims of the romance scheme. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the tax scheme and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the online romance scheme. Trial Attorneys Kevin Schneider and Wilson Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin C. Frein for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the tax case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frein prosecuted the online romance scheme case.


title: Statement of United States Attorney Todd Gee Regarding the Arrests in East Mississippi of over 30 Persons for  Drug Trafficking, Illegal Firearms Possession, and Other Crimes

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: I am Todd Gee, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. Today we are announcing the arrests of approximately 40 individuals, who are being charged in 10 federal indictments of large-scale drug trafficking crimes that occurred throughout East Mississippi with connections to Mexico, California, Texas, Alabama, and elsewhere. The persons arrested today were engaged in trafficking major quantities of dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine. They peddled this poison for profit, affecting the lives of so many. During this investigation, agents seized large quantities of these drugs and uncovered evidence of their trafficking in many forms, such as methamphetamine pills, liquid methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine (“ICE”), powder cocaine, and crack cocaine. These deadly drugs kill tens of thousands of persons every year throughout Mississippi and our nation. Some of these defendants are even charged with committing a methamphetamine drug offense while minors, including a young toddler, were at the location. They choose to harm the health and life of the youngest in our community. Investigators also seized large amounts of cash and firearms. From one bust alone, agents seized over $48,000 in cash, a semi-automatic weapon, another firearm, numerous rounds of ammunition, and thousands of dollars in narcotics. The arrests and federal indictments we are announcing today prove the commitment our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have to working together to destroy the networks of large-scale drug traffickers operating in Meridian and the East Mississippi area. I have a simple message for the drug traffickers in East Mississippi that are still on the streets after today’s arrests: Get out of the business, or like those arrested today, you will eventually spend a large portion of your life behind bars. To the citizens of Meridian, East Mississippi, and the other areas affected by these traffickers, we hope and expect that these arrests will make your families and community safer. But we need your help to keep making a difference. If you see trafficking and other dangerous crimes going on, say something. Pull aside that police office you trust in church and tell them what you saw, call 911, or report a tip about what you saw to the hotlines maintained by the DEA, HSI, ATF, MBN, and other agencies here with me today. The large number of arrests made today is the product of several years of cooperation by federal, state, and local agencies. I want to particularly thank the agencies whose leadership is here with me today: the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the U.S. Marshal’s Service; the Mississippi Department of Public Safety; the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics; the East Mississippi Drug Task Force; the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department; the Newton County Sheriff’s Department; the Scott County Sheriff’s Department; the office of District Attorney Kassie Coleman; the office of District Attorney Steven Kilgore; the office of District Attorney Gregory Griggers; and the Alabama 17 th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force. I thank all of you for joining us here today to announce the product of our teamwork. The Department of Justice looks forward to continuing to work with all of you to fight drug trafficking and violent criminals throughout Mississippi.


title: Washington, D.C. Man Arraigned on Charge of Possessing Stolen Government Vehicle

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Andrew Chaves, 24, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned yesterday in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. A federal grand jury sitting in Burlington, Vermont returned a one-count indictment on January 18, 2024, alleging that Chaves retained and concealed a stolen U.S. Forest Service vehicle. United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Chaves detained pending trial. According to court records, shortly after December 27, 2023, personnel at the U.S. Forest Service facility in Manchester, Vermont noticed a missing vehicle. GPS data enabled authorities to track the vehicle, a 2018 Jeep Compass, to an abandoned Vermont National Guard facility in Waterbury, Vermont. At that location investigators recovered the vehicle , a pill bottle bearing Chaves’s name, a number of federal and state government license plates, and numerous receipts. When authorities recovered the Jeep, it bore U.S. government license plates assigned to a 2018 Ford owned by the U.S. government that had been reported stolen in November 2023 from a Lodi, New Jersey U.S. Army facility, where investigators had recovered a 2021 Chrysler, also owned by the U.S. government and reported stolen from Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. A latent fingerprint taken from the 2021 Chrysler matched Chaves. When the U.S. Marshals arrested Chaves in Vermont on January 19, 2024, Chaves was driving the stolen 2018 Ford. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Chaves remains presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted of a crime. If convicted, Chaves faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, although the actual sentence will be advised by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the United States Code. This case is being investigated by U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. General Services Administration, the U.S. Federal Protective Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with assistance from the Vermont State Police and the Manchester Police Department. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon Ophardt and Colin Owyang. Chaves is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.


title: Romanian Man Found Guilty of Stealing Identities of Victims on Public Assistance to Fraudulently Obtain EBT Funds

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A Romanian man was found guilty by a judge today of stealing victims’ identities to withdraw money from their public-assistance accounts without their permission. Florin Duduianu, 39, whose last known residence was in Mission Viejo, was found guilty by United States District Judge John W. Holcomb after a two-day bench trial of two counts of aggravated identity theft. According to evidence presented at trial, in August 2023, law enforcement was conducting an operation to combat Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) fraud at various banks and ATMs in Placentia. Police saw Duduianu, accompanied by a passenger, drive up to a Wells Fargo ATM and make multiple withdrawals on different cards. Based on this information, officers pulled Duduianu over. Duduianu lied to the officers, telling them he was depositing, not withdrawing, money from the ATM. During a search of Duduianu’s passenger, officers found four Visa gift cards, three Wells Fargo ATM receipts, and $1,850 in cash. The Visa gift cards were encoded with EBT card numbers. Those numbers were run through an EBT database, which showed that they belonged to four different people. Based on the Wells Fargo receipts, Duduianu used two of the cards to make three withdrawals totaling $1,850 from the ATM. Police contacted the accountholders for the two EBT accounts from which Duduianu made withdrawals. The accountholders said that they did not know Duduianu or his car passenger and did not give permission to anyone to withdraw funds from their accounts. During a search of Duduianu’s cellphone, law enforcement found dozens of photos and videos related to ATM skimming as well as tools and techniques used to skim EBT information. Law enforcement also found photos of large sums of cash and hundreds of EBT numbers from multiple states. In the chat history of Duduianu’s phone, the government found an article about EBT fraud that was sent from his phone to four other phone numbers. On another smartphone law enforcement recovered during Duduianu’s arrest, law enforcement found additional videos related to ATM skimming. Phone records and EBT records showed that this phone was used to check the balance of the EBT accounts of the victims in this case, five days before Duduianu withdrew $1,850 from those same accounts. Previously in this case, Duduianu pleaded guilty on January 5 to three counts of bank fraud and unlawful use of unauthorized access devices. Judge Holcomb scheduled a March 29 sentencing hearing, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each bank fraud count, up to 20 years in federal prison for the unauthorized access devices count, and a mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to his underlying sentence for each aggravated identity theft count. The FBI and the Placentia Police Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section and Diane B. Roldán of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Man Found with Drugs, Guns, and Explosives Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Wash. - On January 23, 2024, U.S. Senior District Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson sentenced James Daniel Bacon, 35, of Colbert, Washington, to 140 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams of Actual Methamphetamine, to be followed by 5 years on supervised release. Bacon will serve an additional 12 months in federal prison for violating his supervised release conditions from an underlying 2011 case, for a total of 152 months of imprisonment. According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents developed information that Bacon was in possession of methamphetamine and heroin. Following his arrest, federal agents searched a storage unit that Bacon was using to store drugs and weapons. Agents found 2 pounds of methamphetamine, a body armor plate carrier and plates, a velcro “police” patch for the plate carrier, several weapons including an AR-15 style rifle with a large capacity magazine, a plastic tub with more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, 5 pounds of C-4 plastic explosives, and handcuffs. “Mr. Bacon was a repeat offender who continued to distribute poison in our neighborhoods. He also had access to weapons and military-grade explosives that he could use to harm others,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. “I am thankful for our law enforcement partners whose efforts removed dangerous narcotics and weapons from our streets to build a safer and stronger community.” “DEA’s primary mission is to protect Americans from those who would poison and harm our citizens,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Mr. Bacon clearly is a drug trafficker capable of great harm, not only through his drug distribution enterprise, but also his possession of weapons, body armor, police paraphernalia, and explosives. This is a dangerous person that the combined efforts of law enforcement partnered to take into custody. The sentence shows our unified resolve to mitigate these threats.” “Mr. Bacon’s disregard for the safety of the community in which he distributed drugs resulted in his sentencing to prison, where he belongs.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “The danger he posed was greater than the illegal drugs he distributed, but also in his procurement of weapons and explosives which further aggravate the severity of his crimes. This case demonstrates the positive impact the FBI and our partners make when we work together to safeguard our communities.” “We are thankful that DEA was able to stop Mr. Bacon when they did,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Not only was he distributing drugs while possessing firearms, but it is also clear that he may have had further intentions to harm the community through the use of police paraphernalia and a significant amount of explosives. This sentence is clearly reflective of the harm he has, and could have, caused.” This case was investigated by the DEA Spokane Task Force, DEA Coeur d’Alene Task Force, assisted by the ATF, FBI and the Spokane Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Cashman. 2:20-cr-0084-RMP


title: Former Chicopee Superintendent of Schools Admits to Lying About Threatening Messages She Sent to Chief of Police Candidate

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The Superintendent of the Chicopee Public Schools pleaded guilty today to making false statements in connection with her sending 99 threatening messages to a candidate for Chicopee Police Chief. Lynn Clark, 53, of Belchertown, pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2024. Clark was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 6, 2022 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on April 21, 2022. In December 2021, the City of Chicopee was in the process of hiring a new Police Chief. On Dec. 3, 2021, law enforcement received a report that a candidate for the position was receiving threats intended to force the victim to withdraw their application for Chicopee Police Chief. In November 2021, after submitting their application for Police Chief, the victim received numerous text messages from unknown numbers containing threats to expose information that would cause the victim reputational harm. As a result, the victim withdrew their application and the City delayed the selection process. The investigation revealed that a total of approximately 99 threatening messages were sent from fictitious phone numbers purchased through a mobile app. Phone and internet records revealed that these numbers were purchased by Clark and that these accounts sent each of the threatening messages. On or about Dec. 6, 2021, Clark falsely claimed to be a victim and stated to agents that she received threatening text messages from unknown phone numbers, when, in fact she sent the messages to herself. Clark also falsely named other City employees who she felt may be responsible for sending the messages. On or about Feb. 7, 2022, Clark again falsely stated that she did not know who sent the messages in addition to denying that she had downloaded a mobile app with which she purchased the fictitious phone numbers to send the messages. Clark later admitted that she did indeed send the messages and downloaded the app. The charges of making false statements each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.


title: Chatham Man Sentenced for Insider Trading Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – A Chatham was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for trading on inside information about a Massachusetts semiconductor company’s planned acquisition of a California company. Gregory Manning, 61, formerly of Needham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to two years of supervised release, with the first three months to be served in home detention. Manning was also ordered to pay a fine of $20,000. In October 2023, Manning pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud. Manning was charged in January 2020 along with co-defendants John Younis and David Forte. In or around June 2016, Forte ¬obtained material non-public information from his brother who was a senior executive at Analog Devices, Inc. (Analog), a Norwood-based semiconductor company, about Analog’s planned acquisition of Linear Technology Corp. (Linear), a semiconductor company based in Milpitas, Calif. Forte passed the information to Manning, who purchased 3,000 shares of Linear stock in the week leading up to the public announcement of the acquisition on July 26, 2016. After the deal was announced, Manning sold all the Linear shares he had purchased for a profit and later paid Forte a kickback in appreciation for Forte’s stock tip. In June 2022 , Younis was sentenced to two years of probation, with the first month served on home detention, after pleading guilty to trading in Linear securities based on the material non-public information Forte provided to him. In July 2023 , Forte was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud. In November 2023 , he was sentenced to one year of supervised release with the first six months to be served on home detention. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Securities & Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Holcomb and Leslie A. Wright of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation Into Fatal Police Pursuit of James Herndon

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against four U.S. Park Police (USPP) officers, in connection with the June 2022 fatal police pursuit of James Herndon. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the USPP, and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) conducted a comprehensive review of the incident. This included a review of witness accounts; physical evidence; body-worn camera, surveillance footage, traffic camera footage, and aerial video footage; police radio recordings; and MPD and USPP reports. According to the evidence, on June 27, 2022, MPD attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Herndon, who was riding a three-wheeled vehicle, based upon inaccurate information that he was a wanted homicide suspect. When Herndon fled from the officers, MPD initiated a police pursuit of him. During the pursuit, MPD requested assistance from USPP. After USPP officers joined the pursuit, MPD learned that Herndon was wanted for questioning only, and MPD terminated its pursuit. USPP was not notified of this corrected information and continued to pursue Herndon, who lost control of his vehicle and crashed in a single-vehicle accident a short time later. Herndon was pronounced deceased at the scene. After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the USPP officers who were pursuing Herndon at the time of the crash are criminally liable for his death. Use-of-force investigations generally The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to charge officers with violations of either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. To prove civil rights violations, prosecutors must be able to prove that the involved officers willfully used more force than was reasonably necessary under the circumstances. This requires evidence that the force used was excessive under the circumstances, and that the officer acted with the specific intent to do something the law forbids. Similarly, for District of Columbia offenses such as second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter, where a person reasonably believes that he is or others are in danger of serious bodily injury, force may be used to defend against that danger. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely.


title: Bronx Man Charged With Production, Distribution, And Possession Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging DERICK COLON with producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. COLON was presented Monday, January 22 before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Derick Colon’s alleged conduct is horrific and deeply disturbing. Colon was entrusted to care for his daughter, but instead, as alleged, Colon violated that trust by filming himself performing heinous sex acts against her and other minors and distributing those videos through social media. Investigating and prosecuting those who sexually exploit children is of paramount importance to this Office, and we will work around the clock to protect the children in our community.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “The alleged actions of Derick Colon are depraved and beyond disturbing. Parents should nurture and protect a child, not subject them to extreme sexual exploitation and abuse. Colon now faces severe punishment for his alleged inexcusable crimes. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force will continue to do whatever it takes to protect the most vulnerable members of society—our children—from predators, no matter who they are.” According to the allegations in the Complaint: [1] On or about January 19, 2024, COLON shared videos with another individual on a social networking application that allows users to exchange private messages and send photos and videos to others within the network. The videos depict COLON engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a minor who appears to be approximately six to eight years old (“Victim-1”). On or about January 21, 2024, law enforcement officials executed a judicially authorized search warrant at a known residence of COLON. Upon entering the residence, law enforcement officials observed COLON sitting on the couch beside a girl who appeared to be approximately four years old (“Victim-2”). COLON stated that Victim-2 was his daughter. Law enforcement officials seized COLON’s cellphone pursuant to the search warrant and discovered approximately 12 additional videos of COLON sexually abusing a minor who appears to be Victim-2. Following his arrest and after waiving his Miranda rights, COLON stated, in sum and substance, that he “messed up” and that he had sexually abused Victim-2. * * * COLON, 24, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and one count of distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. COLON is further charged with possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the FBI and the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) for their outstanding work on this matter, particularly the FBI-NYPD New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Mr. Williams also thanked the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. He added that the investigation is ongoing. Any individuals who believe they have information that may be relevant to this investigation should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Stone is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Kansas man sent to prison for counterfeiting money

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for making counterfeit United States currency. According to court documents, Joseph Bulis, 38, of Wichita pleaded guilty in October 2023, to one count of manufacturing counterfeit currency and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. In July 2022, law enforcement went to Bulis’ hotel room in Wichita where they discovered a printer and paraphernalia used to manufacture counterfeit currency. They also found $3,000 in counterfeit money in the forms of $100 and $20 bills. Bulis fled when law enforcement arrived. When he was later apprehended, he had a backpack containing drawing paper, uncut counterfeit bills, and cutting tools. In a separate incident, Bulis was contacted by law enforcement during a traffic stop and found to have a gun in the vehicle. He is prohibited from having a firearm because of a prior felony conviction. The U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lanny Welch and Katie Andrusak prosecuted the case. ###


title: Woman and Her Two Daughters Convicted in Child Labor Trafficking Conspiracy in Chicago Suburbs

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury today convicted a woman and her two daughters on child labor trafficking charges for forcing two undocumented West African children to work in the Chicago suburbs. NAWOMI AWOGA, 75, of Hazel Crest, Ill., and her two daughters, MARINA OKE, also known as Marina Fandohan, 38, of Country Club Hills, Ill., and ASSIBA LEA FANDOHAN, 35, of Hazel Crest, Ill., were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy to conceal, harbor, and shield from detection two children from the West African country of Benin, one count of concealment of an undocumented immigrant, and one count of forcing labor through threats of serious harm to a victim or another person. The jury returned its verdicts this afternoon after a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey did not immediately set sentencing dates. According to evidence presented at trial, Awoga coached the victims, then age 14 and 12, in Benin to lie to U.S. immigration authorities about their family relationships in order to obtain tourist visas, and then accompanied them into the United States. Once in the U.S., the defendants harbored the victims in residences in the Chicago suburbs of Country Club Hills and Hazel Crest while the victims were forced to provide labor and services for the defendants’ financial gain. The defendants used violence against the victims to force them to work both inside the residences and at a hair salon. The convictions were 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; Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General in Chicago; and Mark Woods-Hawkins, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Substantial assistance in the investigation was provided by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Chicago Police Department, Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking, and the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, Benin. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas and Tiffany Ardam, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin M. Linsley. Anyone with information about a potential human trafficking situation or a person who may be experiencing human trafficking should contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting 233733. More information about the Justice Department’s work to combat human trafficking can be found here .


title: Federal Charges Filed After Traffic Stop Yields More Than 200 Pounds of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man is facing federal charges today after he was caught transporting more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine on Interstate 5 near Tualatin, Oregon, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. Juan Manuel Berrelleza Leyva, 22, a Mexican national residing in Portland, has been charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to possess and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. According to court documents, on January 21, 2024, law enforcement observed the suspect’s vehicle traveling north between Salem, Oregon, and Tualatin. After briefly failing to yield to the investigators’ attempts to initiate a traffic stop, Leyva, the vehicle’s driver and sole occupant, pulled over. After a narcotics K-9 alerted to the vehicle, investigators searched it and located more than 200 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a duffle bag, suitcase, and trash bag. Investigators also located and seized just over two pounds of heroin. Leyva admitted to entering the United States approximately seven months prior and being responsible for picking up drug shipments in other states and transporting them to the Portland area. Leyva made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. This case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN). It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. WIN is a Washington County, Oregon-based High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force that includes members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, DEA, FBI, and HSI. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Polk County Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Scheme to Ship Export-Controlled Firearm Components, Ammunition, and Stolen Credit Cards Overseas

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Polk County, Oregon man pleaded guilty today in federal court to multiple charges stemming from his involvement in a scheme to ship export-controlled firearm components, ammunition, and stolen credit cards to multiple foreign countries, including Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. Alan Michael Placzkiewicz, 76, of Falls City, Oregon, pleaded guilty to one count each of illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon and delaying or destroying mail. According to court documents, throughout his involvement in the illegal smuggling scheme, Placzkiewicz operated as a mule, receiving packages containing various items, and as directed by others, shipping them to addresses overseas. Placzkiewicz participated in the scheme knowingly and continued participating after being warned by multiple government officials about his reshipping activity. In October 2020, Placzkiewicz received two packages in the mail at his residence in Falls City and, following his usual course of action when receiving similar packages, opened them, sent pictures of the items they contained through a portal online, repackaged the items, and shipped them to foreign addresses. In this instance, the packages contained four AR-15-style assault rifle stocks and 1,300 rounds of 6.5mm 139 grain bullets. Placzkiewicz relabeled both packages, declared them as containing “camping gear,” and mailed them to an individual in Moscow, Russia. Both packages were intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Later, in January 2021, Placzkiewicz received a package containing a credit card issued by a bank to an individual without their knowledge. Placzkiewicz repackaged the card as “office supplies” and reshipped it. On August 2, 2022, Placzkiewicz was charged by criminal complaint with fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, and conspiracy to commit mail and bank fraud. Later, on May 2, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Placzkiewicz with conspiracy to commit mail and bank fraud, mail fraud, and unlawfully transferring, possessing, or using a means of identification. Today, Placzkiewicz pleaded guilty to a two-count criminal information, filed on November 15, 2023, charging him with illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon and delaying or destroying mail. Illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release. Delaying or destroying mail is punishable by up to one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, and five years’ supervised release. As part of his plea agreement, Placzkiewicz has agreed to pay more than $117,000 in restitution to his victims as recommended by the government and ordered by the court. He will be sentenced on April 16, 2024. This case was investigated by HSI with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and CBP. It is being prosecuted by Rachel K. Sowray, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: Mexican Mafia gang member heads back to prison for illegal firearm

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm while a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Alonso Guerrero Garcia pleaded guilty Nov. 3, 2023. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Garcia to serve 120 months in prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Garcia used the firearm to forcibly abduct two individuals at gunpoint before he was apprehended. On Jun. 3, 2023, authorities encountered Garcia when they conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling the wrong way down a one-way street at a high rate of speed. Garcia, a known Mexican Mafia gang member, was in the rear seat of the vehicle. During a search, authorities discovered a Springfield Armory Champion 9mm pistol with gold grips and Aztec markings under the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Authorities also discovered photographs of Garcia holding the distinctive firearm. Further investigation revealed Garcia had been previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in addition to convictions for aggravated assault and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm per federal law. Garcia will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.


title: Federal Hearings in Separate Middle Georgia Fraud Cases

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MACON, Ga. – Several fraud cases under investigation in the Middle District of Georgia—the first involving family members who illegally wrote millions in checks to themselves from their employer’s operating account and the second involving a woman who attempted to collect more than $3.5 million in undue tax refunds by falsifying documents and making up a business—had hearings in federal court today. Eva Rebecca Wells, 75, and Billy Lee Wells, Jr., 47, both of Macon, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud a financial institution before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Jan. 23. Both face a maximum of 30 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Mr. Wells also pleaded to an additional charge of making and subscribing a false return, which carries a maximum of three years in prison followed by one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. Lonnise Janelle Andrews, 45, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $331,758 in restitution to the IRS by U.S. District Marc T. Treadwell on Jan. 23. Andrews previously pleaded guilty to one count of making and subscribing a false return, one count of false claim for a tax credit and one count of false claim for a refund on Sept. 11, 2023. Andrews is not eligible for parole. “These schemes are costly to all involved; our office will seek justice on behalf of those who are victims of fraud, whether it is small businesses or taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “People engaged in fraud are breaking federal law and will be held accountable for these crimes.” “The hearings today serve as a warning to individuals who commit fraud upon others and the U.S. government that their criminal acts will come with consequences,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and bringing to justice those who participate in illicit schemes to enrich themselves.” “These fraud scams, although not violent, are not victimless and can be devastating to local business and ruin livelihoods,” said Robert Gibbs, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “The FBI is dedicated to working with our partners to hold anyone accountable who would steal from hard working and honest individuals, rather than put in the work themselves.” According to court documents in the Wells case, Eva Wells was the Office Manager for Mid-Georgia Sales and was responsible for its finances, including issuing weekly payroll and making other payments on behalf of the business. Her son, Billy Lee Wells, Jr., was also employed at Mid-Georgia Sales, working in IT and sales. In Dec. 2008, Eva Wells began writing unauthorized checks to herself and her son from the company’s general operating fund, as opposed to the account used for payroll. When the theft was discovered, a full accounting was conducted. Between Dec. 31, 2008, and May 10, 2019, Eva Wells wrote a total of $3,404,772.22 in unauthorized checks to Billy Lee Wells, Jr. which were either cashed or deposited in his bank account. In addition to the checks made to Billy Lee Wells, Jr., Eva Wells also wrote unauthorized checks to herself which she cashed or deposited into her bank account. For information about the Andrews case, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/macon-resident-pleads-guilty-35-million-tax-filing-scheme . The Wells case was investigated by FBI, IRS and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. The Andrews case was investigated by IRS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting both cases for the Government.


title: Former CFO Sentenced to Prison, Ordered to Pay Restitution for Embezzling More Than $3 Million from Employer

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Arizona man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release and full restitution after embezzling more than $3 million from his employer, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, David Efrem Katz, 56, was the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Durand and Associates (“D&A”), a property management company that specialized in servicing homeowner associations (“HOAs”). Between 2012 and 2017, Katz embezzled over $3 million from D&A and its client HOAs. Katz worked for D&A from approximately 1998 to 2017, starting as an accountant and eventually becoming CFO. As CFO, Katz had authorization to open credit cards in D&A’s name and use those credit cards for business expenses. However, Katz was not authorized to charge personal expenses to the cards, take out loans on D&A’s behalf without the owner’s approval, or use funds belonging to D&A or its HOA clients to pay his personal expenses. Beginning in at least 2012 and continuing into 2017, Katz embezzled over $3 million from D&A and its HOA clients. Katz, who as CFO of D&A was responsible for payroll, paid himself significantly more than his agreed upon salary. Between 2011 and 2017, Katz paid himself $6,500 every two weeks as a salary despite his base salary never being more than $47,500 annually. Katz also reimbursed himself for personal expenses and business expenses he never actually incurred. Katz paid himself between approximately $6,000 and $10,000 in reimbursements every two weeks. He labeled these payments as miscellaneous earnings and reimbursements, “recovery loans,” bonuses, and commissions. Katz never loaned or invested money in D&A that he was entitled to “recover.” To the extent he earned bonuses and commissions, they were in amounts significantly less than what he paid himself. And although Katz incurred some legitimate business-related expenses, they were in amounts significantly less than what he reimbursed himself. On June 26, 2023, Katz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez to one count of wire fraud. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert and Harry M. Jacobs prosecuted the case.


title: Drug Task Force Operation Leads to 19 Arrests

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that on January 23, 2024, an operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Nebraska State Patrol led to the arrest of 19 people and the unsealing of at least nine indictments. Those arrested and a summary of their charges and the penalties include the following. An indictment was unsealed charging Alejandro Ruiz (age 41), of California, Guadalupe Ramirez (38) of North Platte, Roberto Duran (33) of Brule, Michael Shawn Harrell (47) of Ogallala, Eduardo Gomez (33) of North Platte and Carl McKinney (37) from Kentucky, with conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine between January of 2021, and January of 2022. A conviction on that charge carries a possible penalty of not less than 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million; and a term of supervised release not less than five years. Ramirez, Gomez, and Harrell also face charges of possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, they each face a term of imprisonment of five years to life, consecutive to the drug charge; a $250,000 fine and up to 5 years of supervised release. Harrell was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. A conviction of that charge carries a penalty of not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. An indictment was unsealed charging Jamie Hopkins (37), Michael Stroble (30); Joey Romero (36), and Luke Schwartz (30) all of North Platte, with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and distribution of meth between July 2022 through February of 2023. The penalties are not less than 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million; and a term of supervised release not less than five years. An indictment was unsealed charging Jessica Binegar (37) of North Platte, John Hernandez (35) of Lincoln and Brad Leeper (46) of North Platte with distribution of 5 grams or more of meth (actual) between March and June of 2022. Leeper was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The possible penalties for distribution are not less than five years, nor more than 40 years in prison; a fine of up to $5 million; and a term of supervised release following the prison term of not less than four years. Wesley Kraft (36) of Lincoln, was charged with distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual) during April of 2023 and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Timothy Huisman (39) of North Platte, was charged with distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual) in February of 2023. Shane Ross (46) of Ogallala, was charged with distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual) in July of 2022. Richard Torres (44) of Brule, was charged with conspiracy and distribution of more than five grams of meth (actual) between December 2021 and August of 2022. Timothy Maisner (62) of North Platte, with possession with intent to distribute of 50 grams of more of methamphetamine (actual) and distribution of methamphetamine during January and July of 2023. Eddie Houpt (59) of North Platte, was charged with distribution of five grams or more of meth (actual) in June of 2022. To report tips on drug trafficking, please contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 402-492-8688 or the Nebraska Crime Stoppers tipline at 1-800-422-1494. These cases were investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, and Army National Guard Counter Drug Unit. The investigation and arrests were also assisted by the U.S. Postal Service, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, La Vista Police Department, the Tri-Cities Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT) Task Force, the Western Intelligence Narcotics Group (WING) Task Force, the Capitol Region Safe Streets Task Force (CRSSTF), the Lincoln/Lancaster County Metro Fugitive Task Force, the Lincoln and Keith County Attorney’s Offices, and Nebraska District 11 Probation Office. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Colorado Man Sentenced for Church Arson in Federal Hate Crime Case

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A Colorado man was sentenced to 39 months in prison for a hate crime charge in connection with a fire that he set to a church in Loveland, Colorado, on Jan. 19, 2023. Darion Ray Sexton, 22, pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime charge on May 5, 2023. “Places of worship are critical for our communities, and this office stands ready to protect them,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado. “Religious freedom means being free to worship without fear. Our office will take every appropriate action to ensure that every Coloradan enjoys this essential freedom.” “This defendant has now been held accountable for his deliberate attack on the church,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No one should live in fear because of their religious beliefs. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute those who seek to destroy houses of worship and interfere with the fundamental right to practice religion freely.” “This defendant admitted he set out to destroy this church, which was determined to be a federal hate crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark D. Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office. “FBI Denver worked with the Loveland Police Department to bring this man to justice. Anyone who attacks a house of worship will get the full attention of the FBI. In addition to seeking justice for these crimes, the FBI remains committed to providing resources for potential victims, such as the event with faith leaders held in this county the day before the crime occurred.” “Arson is not only destructive and deadly, but also undermines the sense of safety within places of worship,” said Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “We immediately committed all ATF resources to addressing the impact of this arson by deploying our certified fire investigator, an ATF Task Force Officer with their ATF trained accelerant detection canine and ATF Laboratory services to analyze fire debris and evidence. Early and continued collaboration with our local and federal partners ensured justice once again prevailed.” According to court documents, Sexton pleaded guilty to intentionally setting fire to the church in the evening hours of Jan. 19, 2023. Sexton admitted that he set this fire by throwing two Molotov cocktails at the church — one at the front door and the other at the basement. Sexton further admitted that he was motivated to set this fire due to the religious character of the church and that he intended to destroy the church. The FBI, ATF and the Loveland Police and Fire Departments conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Fields for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.


title: California Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Related Offenses for Forcing Victim to Engage in Commercial Sex Across the Country

body_text: A federal jury in the Southern District of Mississippi convicted Michael Deon Fulcher, 54, with sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. The co-defendant, Jonzie Hamilton, 35, previously pleaded guilty to interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. “The defendant preyed upon this vulnerable victim and used sexual violence and threats of physical harm to coerce her into commercial sex for his own financial gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We thank this victim for bravely facing her trafficker. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases to hold human traffickers accountable and bring justice to their victims.” “This way this victim was trafficked across multiple states and then into Mississippi is an example of how human trafficking affects our entire nation,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute human traffickers, like the defendant, as part of our efforts to bring an end to this horrible crime.” “The FBI takes allegations of sex trafficking very seriously and we are determined to rigorously investigate human trafficking actors,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Jackson Field Office. The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Fulcher used sexual assault, threats of violence, isolation, control, psychological manipulation and emotional abuse to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex between April and June 2020. Fulcher lured the physically injured victim into his car in Las Vegas by making false promises to help her, but then brought her to his home, where he sexually assaulted her. Shortly afterwards, Fulcher brought the victim to California, where he acted in concert with Hamilton to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex acts over the course of several weeks. Fulcher required the victim to follow his strict rules, threatened the victim with physical harm, confiscated her money and Social Security debit card and even had an unlicensed dentist pull out her teeth. Fulcher also sent the victim and Hamilton across the country for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, stopping in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and eventually Mississippi where the victim ran away. While the victim was on the road, Fulcher required the victim to send him all of her earnings and continued his coercive scheme by threatening the victim with physical harm, controlling her access to her phone, isolating her from anyone she knew and refusing to allow her to receive much-needed medical treatment. A sentencing hearing for Fulcher is scheduled for April 30. Fulcher faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and mandatory restitution for the sex trafficking charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hamilton’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31. The FBI Gulfport Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking .


title: Virginia Man and Woman Convicted of Forced Labor at Gas Station and Convenience Store for Multiple Years

body_text: Following a two-week trial, a federal jury on Friday in the Eastern District of Virginia convicted a Richmond-area couple of conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor, harboring for financial gain and document servitude in connection with their operation of a gas station and convenience store in North Chesterfield, Virginia. The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that, between March 2018 and May 2021, Harmanpreet Singh, 30, and Kulbir Kaur, 43, forced the victim, Singh’s cousin, to provide labor and services at Singh’s store, including working as the cashier, preparing food, cleaning and managing store records. Singh and Kaur used various coercive means, including confiscating the victim’s immigration documents and subjecting the victim to physical abuse, threats of force and other serious harm and, at times, degrading living conditions to compel him to work extensive hours for minimal pay. “The defendants exploited the victim’s trust and his desire to attend school in the United States, and then inflicted physical and mental abuse against him, all so they could keep him working for their profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Human trafficking is a disgraceful and unacceptable crime, and this verdict should send the very clear message that the Justice Department will investigate and vigorously prosecute these cases to hold human traffickers accountable and bring justice to their victims.” “These defendants engaged in an egregious bait-and-switch, luring the victim with false promises of an education in the United States and instead subjecting him to grueling hours, degrading living conditions and a litany of mental and physical abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Forced labor and human trafficking are abhorrent crimes that have no place in our society, and I am grateful to our team of prosecutors, agents and support staff for ensuring that justice was done in this case.” “Today’s convictions demonstrate the FBI’s commitment to seeking justice for victims of human trafficking and should also serve as a reminder to those who seek to engage in this illegal activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Field Office. “We will continue working with our local, state and federal partners to aggressively identify, investigate and bring those responsible to justice.” In 2018, the defendants enticed the victim, then a minor, to travel to the United States with false promises of helping enroll him in school. After arriving in the United States, the defendants took his immigration documents and immediately put him to work. They also left the victim at the store to sleep in a back office for days at a time on multiple occasions, limited his access to food, refused to provide medical care or education, used surveillance equipment to monitor the victim both at the store and in their home, refused his requests to return to India and made him overstay his visa. The evidence further showed that Singh pulled the victim’s hair, slapped and kicked him when he requested his immigration documents back and tried to leave, and on three different occasions threatened the victim with a revolver for trying to take a day off and for trying to leave. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 8. Singh and Kaur face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution for the forced labor charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Richmond Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Panth and Peter S. Duffey for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking .