title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More Than $233 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2023

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: New Haven – U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery today announced that the District of Connecticut collected $233,519,760 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, approximately $185,939,535 was collected in criminal actions and approximately $47,580,225 was collected in civil actions. The Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $493,544 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. “This past fiscal year, our Office’s dedicated attorneys and staff helped to recover more than $233 million, which ranked third in the nation among all U.S. Attorney’s Offices,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “These funds are not only returned directly to victims of crime, but they also are used to fund ongoing federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts, and to provide needed services for victims. Through both our criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement work we are committed to seeking justice for victims, removing ill-gotten gains from wrongdoers, and protecting the integrity of important government programs.” The majority of monies recovered in criminal actions were from Glencore, Ltd., to resolve the government’s investigation into a commodity price manipulation scheme, and from Nomura Securities International, stemming from its fraudulent trading of Residential Mortgage Backed Securities. Large civil recoveries were from a medical doctor and his practice to resolve allegations that it defrauded the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and from Yale University and a professor to settle a case involving the failure to share patent royalties with the government. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Additionally, the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $47,825,883 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation. The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford.


title: Cranston Man Admits to Producing and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Cranston man admitted to a federal judge today that he produced and possessed images and videos of child pornography, including some that he produced involving a girl who was under ten years old, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Gregory Phillips, 42, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2024. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Philips admitted to the court that in late 2021 and early 2022, he produced sexually explicit images and videos involving a minor female, and that he stored those and other images and videos of child sexual abuse on a storage cloud that he controlled. Philips first came to the attention of law enforcement when members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force reviewed a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicating that an individual in Rhode Island possessed and transferred child pornography. Further investigation by the ICAC Task Force and a Cranston Police Detective determined that the images and videos were being transferred from an account linked to Philips’s phone number. A forensic review of images and videos located on cellphones seized from Philips by law enforcement resulted in the discovery of a total of 109 images and 15 videos of child pornography, some containing images of Philips and various household items and locations within Philips’s residence. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lee H. Vilker. The matter was investigated by the ICAC Task Force and Cranston Police, with the assistance of Homeland Security. United States Attorney Cunha extends his thanks to the Cranston Police Department for its support and assistance in this matter. ###


title: Long Island MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to 520 Months in Prison for Participating in Two Murders, an Attempted Murder and Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Jonathan Hernandez, also known as “Kraken” and “Travieso,” a member of the Sailors Locos Salvatruchas Westside (Sailors) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 520 months’ imprisonment. Hernandez pleaded guilty in May 2022 to racketeering charges in connection with his participation in the January 28, 2016 murder of Michael Johnson, the April 29, 2016 murder of Oscar Acosta, an attempted murder on August 10, 2016, and a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Robert Waring, Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence. “Today’s sentence is the result of choices the defendant made to commit serious crimes on behalf of the Sailors clique of the MS-13, including the brutal premeditated murders of two young men, assaults with dangerous weapons, attempted murders, and the distribution of drugs,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The substantial period of incarceration imposed today will protect the public from more crimes committed by the defendant and it is my hope, deter young men from joining this depraved gang.” “The significant sentence handed down today hopefully provides a sense of justice and closure for the families of the victims murdered by Jonathan Hernandez. The FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, along with our law enforcement partners, will remain relentless in our efforts to eliminate the threat posed by MS-13’s barbaric violence,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. “The actions of this murderer were barbaric, lack humanity and robbed families of a loved one,” stated SCPD Acting Police Commissioner Waring said. “This sentence ensures Hernandez will never have an opportunity to brutalize another person again. We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to disband this criminal enterprise and prioritize the safety of our community.” According to court filings and statements made during Hernandez’s sentencing and guilty plea proceedings, Hernandez is a member of the Sailors clique of the MS-13 – one of the more powerful, violent, and well-established cliques on the East Coast of the United States – and committed the following crimes in order to maintain or increase his status in the gang: The January 28, 2016 Murder of Michael Johnson On January 28, 2016, the local leader of the Sailors clique and other MS-13 members and associates were at the Jocorena Deli in Brentwood, where they saw 29-year-old Michael Johnson, and claimed to recognize him as a member of the rival Bloods street gang. At that point, Johnson was marked as their “food” – a reference to their intention to kill him. After receiving the requisite approval from the New York leader of the Sailors clique to commit this murder, Hernandez and several other MS-13 members were contacted by the local clique leader, informed of the plan to kill Johnson and instructed to bring weapons, including a machete and a baseball bat, to a wooded area in Brentwood. Johnson was then lured to that secluded meeting location by the local clique leader under the guise of smoking marijuana. The MS-13 members and associates, including Hernandez, ambushed him from behind – striking Johnson with the baseball bat, stabbing him with a knife, and taking turns hacking him with the machete. They fled after hearing police sirens in the area. Subsequently, Hernandez and other MS-13 associates were promoted in rank for their participation in this murder. Johnson was reported missing by family members. Less than one week after his murder, on February 2, 2016, members of the SCPD responded to a 911 call about a body found in the woods by a passerby, and recovered Johnson’s body. An autopsy determined Johnson’s cause of death to be sharp and blunt force injuries. The April 29, 2016 Murder of Oscar Acosta In early 2016, Hernandez and his fellow Sailors clique members decided to “green light” 19-year-old Oscar Acosta for murder because they suspected that he was associating with the rival 18th Street gang after previously aligning himself with the MS-13. The New York Sailors clique leader assigned roles as to which members would take the lead in planning and carrying out the murder. On April 29, 2016, a number of MS-13 members met Acosta in a wooded area near an elementary school in Brentwood where he had been lured under the guise of smoking marijuana. They brutally beat Acosta with tree limbs, knocking him unconscious. They bound Acosta’s hands and feet, wrapped an article of clothing around his mouth to prevent him from making noise, and summoned other MS-13 members, including the local Sailors clique leader and Hernandez, who arrived together. The MS-13 members loaded Acosta into the trunk of a car and drove to a more secluded area in Brentwood near the abandoned Pilgrim State Psychiatric Hospital. They removed Acosta, who was still alive, from the car trunk and carried him into the woods where they took turns hacking him to death with a machete. The murder was supervised by the local Sailors clique leaders. The MS-13 members then buried Acosta’s body in a shallow grave. Acosta’s body was discovered by law enforcement nearly five months later, on September 16, 2016, during a search for another MS-13 victim. His cause of death was homicidal violence, including sharp and blunt force injuries to his head and torso. The August 10, 2016 Attempted Murder of Rival Gang Members In 2016, members of the MS-13 were engaged in a series of disputes with members of the Goon Squad, a rival gang in Brentwood. On August 10, 2016, two armed MS-13 members, including the local leader of the Sailors clique, drove through the neighborhood around Lukens Avenue in Brentwood, and spotted several men who they believed were members of the Goon Squad, outside of a house. The MS-13 members then rallied other members of the Sailors clique, including Hernandez, to kill the rivals. The MS-13 members divided into two vehicles, and drove towards the house where the suspected Goon Squad members had been spotted. Hernandez and another MS-13 member, armed with a .40 caliber and .45 caliber handgun, exited the car and approached the group of suspected rivals. Both fired numerous shots in their direction. No one was hit, although a stray bullet entered a neighbor’s house and struck the headboard of a bed in which the neighbor was sleeping. Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana For a year and a half, from approximately April 2016 through October 2017, in order to finance the illegal operations of the Sailors clique, Hernandez and his fellow MS-13 members and associates regularly sold street-level quantities of cocaine and marijuana in Brentwood and its surrounding areas, which they obtained from clique leaders. After the sales, the profits were turned over to the clique leaders, for use in, among other things, purchasing firearms for use by clique members, wiring money to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador and buying additional narcotics for further distribution. A conservative estimate of the amount of marijuana distributed attributable to Hernandez and his clique during this time period is between five and 10 kilograms. Hernandez was previously sentenced in March 2018 by then-United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco to 51 months’ imprisonment in connection with his earlier guilty plea to assault with dangerous weapons in aid of racketeering. That conviction related to assaults that Hernandez and several other MS-13 members and associates carried out at athletic fields adjacent to the Brentwood East Elementary and Brentwood East Middle Schools in October 2015. Hernandez and his fellow MS-13 gang members confronted a group of individuals who they suspected of being members of a rival gang, and when that group attempted to leave the area, Hernandez and several other MS-13 members surrounded them and began viciously attacking the group with baseball bats and pipes. Today’s sentence credited Hernandez for the time he spent in custody on the previously-imposed 51-month sentence toward the 520 months’. Today’s sentence is the latest achievement in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent, transnational criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 65 murders in the Eastern District of New York, resulting in the convictions of dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers of the FBI, SCPD, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Hempstead Police Department, the Rockville Centre Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci and Megan E. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : JONATHAN HERNANDEZ (also known as “Kraken” and “Travieso”) Age: 26 Brentwood, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-403 (GRB)


title: Tse Bonito Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact

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 FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Tom Tso pled guilty to abusive sexual contact. Tso, 85, of Tse Bonito, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment against Tso on May 9, 2023. In his plea agreement, Tso admitted that between Aug. 4, 1998, and Oct. 11, 2000, he committed abusive sexual contact upon a minor under the age of 18. Specifically, he intentionally and directly touched Jane Doe’s genitalia, groin, and inner thigh with an intent to gratify his sexual desires. At sentencing, Tso faces up to three years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. View the Plea Agreement # # # 24-46


title: TWO INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH PRODUCTION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 23, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against registered sex offender Daniel L. Anderson (age 54) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chasity S. Evans (age 37) of Ripley, Tennessee (formerly of Milwaukee). The indictment charges Anderson and Evans with production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and 2251(e). The indictment also charges Anderson with Commission of a Felony Sex Offense by an Individual Required to Register as a Sex Offender, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2260A. According to the indictment, Anderson and Evans aided and abetted the repeated production of CSAM of a minor child between February 2023 and June 2023. The child is alleged to have been between the ages of 11 and 12 years old during the production of the CSAM. The indictment further alleges that Evans sent the CSAM to Anderson via cell phone, in exchange for small sums of money via Cash App. If convicted of producing CSAM, Anderson faces a mandatory 25 years’ imprisonment and up to 50 years’ imprisonment. This enhanced penalty is predicated on Anderson’s 2014 state criminal convictions for child enticement. If convicted of that offense, Evans would face a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 30 years’ imprisonment. Each also could be fined up to $250,000 for the production offense. If convicted of committing a felony as a registered sex offender, Anderson would also face a mandatory sentence of 10 years, which would run consecutively to any sentence for producing CSAM. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Memphis, Tennessee field offices) investigated this case, with the assistance of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick. An indictment contains allegations is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove them each guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Protecting Places of Worship Forum Held to Prevent and Combat Hate Crimes, Acts of Religious Violence, and Discrimination

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Jan. 30, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the FBI, hosted a Protecting Places of Worship forum, facilitated by the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, with nearly 200 faith and community leaders as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s United Against Hate initiative. The Protecting Places of Worship forum brought together U.S. Department of Justice representatives and others, including faith-based leaders and congregants (from churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples), federal and state prosecutors, and law enforcement and public safety personnel to prevent and combat hate crimes and protect our local faith-based institutions. The attendees came together to learn about and discuss: best practices for protecting and securing places of worship; how local, state, and federal hate crimes laws are used to prosecute people who harm or threaten places of worship and their congregants; how and when to identify, report and prevent threats to places of worship, hate crimes, acts of religious violence, and faith-based discrimination; hate crimes statistics; strategies to prepare staff, clergy, and congregants for an active shooter situation; resources available to places of worship; as well as victim services and community concerns. “In a time when we are witnessing a rise in religious-based violence, hate crimes, and threats to our places of worship, yesterday’s forum in support of the Department’s United Against Hate initiative could not be more imperative,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe. “One of the best ways to prevent crimes fueled by religious bias is to ensure that our faith-based leaders have the information and resources they need to help protect their places of worship and congregants. No one should live in fear because of their religious beliefs. We must all speak out against the insidious threats that strike at our right to practice our religious beliefs freely and safely. Remember, united, we are stronger than hate.” “Everyone who attends a religious service deserves to do so in peace,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami. “Yesterday’s gathering marked another milestone in our ongoing partnership with faith-based community leaders to protect houses of worship from those intent on violence. Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI’s civil rights program. As such, we want our religious leaders to have the latest information on ways to secure their facilities and deal with threats that may come their way. We hope that the forum serves to further educate our faith communities about civil rights laws, maintain an open dialogue, and encourage ongoing cooperation between law enforcement and these important communities. Our common goal is to ensure people are safe.” The Protecting Places of Worship forum fostered partnerships and engagement, while providing attendees with invaluable federal, state, and local resources, to include tools to help protect and secure places of worship. Forum partners included the Department of Justice Community Relations Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Defense Agency, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, the Broward State Attorney’s Office, the Broward Sherriff’s Office, the Miami-Dade County Asian American Advisory Board, the Miami-Dade County Interfaith Advisory Board, the Anti-Defamation League of Florida, and the Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement and community partners will not stop working to protect everyone in South Florida from unlawful acts of hate. In Sept. 2022, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland started the United Against Hate program to convene local forums that connect community groups to federal, state, and local law enforcement to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes; build trust between law enforcement and communities; and create and strengthen alliances between law enforcement and other government partners and community groups to combat unlawful acts of hate. The United Against Hate program represents a “whole of government” approach to combating hate crimes. To learn more visit https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/spotlight/united-against-hate. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and our law enforcement partners are United Against Hate. Our united mission is to prevent, investigate and prosecute threats to places of worship and hate crimes through education, outreach, and the justice system. The U.S. Attorney’s Office Hate Crimes Public Service Announcement (PSA) can be viewed at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/media/1336351/dl?inline. For more information visit the Southern District of Florida’s Hate Crimes Prevention and Enforcement website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/hate-religious-crimes. In support of the United Against Hate mission, following the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, U.S. Attorney Lapointe and Special Agent in Charge Veltri issued a statement highlighting the Department’s commitment to combat hate crimes and potential threats to the South Florida community. A copy of the statement can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/joint-statements-us-attorney-markenzy- lapointe-southern-district-florida-and-special. In a Nov. 2023 program, U.S. Attorney Lapointe, FBI Special Agent in Charge Veltri, Broward County State Attorney Harold F. Pryor, and Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle addressed over 200 South Florida law enforcement officers during a day-long interactive training session. The program included a keynote address by Judy and Dennis Shepard of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and a presentation by the Anti-Defamation League. More information regarding the training program is available by visiting https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/south-florida-law-enforcement-officers- receive-latest-hate-crimes-training. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI’s outreach, prevention, and enforcement efforts are ongoing. If you have information about a possible threat to a place of worship or believe you are a victim of or a witness to a hate crime, contact your local law enforcement agency (911), then the FBI at www.fbi.gov/tips or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225- 5324). You can also report a hate crime, find resources and grant information, and learn more about the Department of Justice’s hate crimes prevention and enforcement work by visiting www.justice.gov/hatecrimes. ###


title: Twenty-Year Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export Defense Articles to Iran

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – En-Wei Eric Chang, age 48, a citizen of the United States and the Republic of Taiwan, residing in Taiwan, pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge, related to the export of defense materials to Iran. Such materials were embargoed under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR). The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “National security is a top priority, and we will relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those who put us at risk,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. As detailed in the plea agreement, the export from the United States of arms, munitions, military aircraft parts, and related components and technology, is strictly controlled. The Munitions List is a catalog of designated “defense articles” which are subject to export and certain import restrictions. Any person who intends to export defense articles on the Munitions List from the United States is required to first obtain a license and must identify in the required license application the ultimate and final destination of the goods. At the time of the conspiracy, it was the policy of the United States to deny licenses, other approvals, and exports of defense articles destined for Iran. According to Chang’s guilty plea, from January 2002 and March 2003, Chang conspired with David Chu to ship items on the Munitions List to Iran without obtaining the proper licensing. Chu had a business relationship with an Iranian businessman and was the sole individual in contact with the Iranian businessman during the time of the conspiracy. In 2001 Chu became acquainted with Chang through Chang’s work as an electrical component supplier. According to the plea and other court documents, in January 2002, the Iranian businessman requested that Chu research satellite imagery dealers. Chu asked Chang to facilitate this request, and Chang agreed to do so. Shortly thereafter, Chang emailed a Maryland corporation to acquire high-definition satellite space images of Tehran, Iran for export from the United States to Iran. An undercover government agent based in Maryland ultimately responded to Chang, pretending to be a businessman who could help him acquire the satellite images from a defense contractor. The undercover agent told Chang: “if the items are going for end use in Iran, sending them there would be a violation of U.S. law.” Chang wrote back that the images could be sent to Taiwan, and that “from Taiwan to Iran my friend will take care of it.” Chang and the undercover agent communicated over serval months regarding the status of the satellite images order. After Chu’s Iranian contact asked Chu to research and source antennas, on March 12, 2002, Chang contacted the undercover agent asking for quotes on antennas and included in his email specific part numbers for cavity-backed spiral antennas with military applications, including related to the detection and surveillance of ground-based radar. These antennas were designated as defense articles on the United States Munitions List. The undercover agent agreed to attempt to source the antennas. Chang admitted that he knew that the acquisition of the antennas from the United States for export either directly or indirectly to Iran without proper licensing, was a violation of the laws of the United States. Chang also knew that he did not have the proper license or authorization. As detailed in the plea agreement, the undercover agent ultimately quoted prices for various models of antennas and noted that the U.S.- based manufacturer “won’t even accept order without approved export license up front.” Chang repeatedly urged the undercover agent to act faster and on July 19, 2002, Chang wrote: “Please understand our final end user is Iran. ‘the country’ They will keep buying the stuff if we can always deliver . . . The Iran guy promises [my co-conspirator, Chu] a 10 million USD business [per] year if we can really do this.” On July 31, 2002, Chang provided banking information from the undercover agent to Chu to facilitate $6,400 to be transferred to the undercover agent in Maryland as a 50% down payment on the cavity-backed antennas, which would take approximately five months to produce. From March 2002 through January 2003, Chang kept in regular contact with the undercover agent regarding the antennas and asked the undercover agent for pricing information that he indicated was requested by his “buyer” in Iran for items that Chang indicated his “buyer” was interested in purchasing. The items included: an anti-submarine and surveillance radar system for installation on helicopters and airplanes; military-grade night-vision goggles for use by pilots; helicopters and helicopter engines; ten handheld laser range-finders; and other military items. By January 2003, the cavity-backed spiral antennas had been produced in the United States. Chang, his co-conspirator, David Chu, and the undercover agent agreed to transfer the cavity-backed spiral antennas in Guam, where Chu could take possession of them and transfer them to Iran. In February 2003, Chu travelled to Guam and took possession of the cavity-backed spiral antennas from the undercover agent, then checked his luggage, which contained the antennas, for a flight from Guam to Taipei, Taiwan. Chu was arrested and his luggage was seized by U.S. authorities, before he could board the flight to Taiwan. On March 4, 2003, the undercover agent, via email, informed Chang of his true identity and told Chang that he had been indicted in the District of Maryland with conspiracy to export U.S. Munitions List items to Iran, and that his co-conspirator Chu was in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The undercover agent encouraged Chang to turn himself in. On March 12, 2003, Chang met with U.S. officials in Taiwan who told Chang that he should consider surrendering to the United States on the current charges, but Chang declined to surrender to the United States. Chang remained a fugitive until his arrest on April 10, 2023, at Rome-Fiumicino International Airport in Italy and subsequent extradition to the United States. Co-defendant David Chu, age 48, of Monterey Park, California, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced on February 23, 2004, to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Chang faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI and DCIS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron S.J. Zelinsky and Robert I. Goldaris, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Barre City Man Charged with Possession of a Short-Barreled Shotgun and Possession of a Firearm as an Unlawful Drug User

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Gage Garr, 33, of Barre City, Vermont, has been indicted for possession of a short-barreled shotgun and possession of a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance. A federal grand jury in Burlington issued the indictment, and Garr was arraigned yesterday in Burlington. At his arraignment, Garr pleaded not guilty to the charges. U. S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered Garr to remain in the custody of the United States Marshals pending trial. According to court records, Garr was discovered asleep in his vehicle on November 26, 2023. He was found to be in possession of suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as a short-barreled shotgun for which he did not have proper registration. Garr had pending state charges against him at the time. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the charges in the indictment are accusations only and that Garr is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Garr faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the possession of the short-barreled shotgun and 15 years in prison for possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Any ultimate sentence will be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the United States Code. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory and collaborative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); the Barre City Police Department; the Randolph Police Department; and the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement and Safety. The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne M. Smith. Garr is represented by Devin McLaughlin, Esq. 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 Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 120 months in prison for illegal re-entry into the United States. According to court documents, Gabriel Aguado-Contreras, 42, of Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Brackettville in January 2019. During processing at the Brackettville Border Patrol Station, he was identified as having been previously deported multiple times since 2006. Additionally, Aguado-Contreras had previously been convicted of multiple felonies. Aguado-Contreras was arrested Jan. 18, 2019 and has remained in federal custody since. His 10-year prison sentence includes credit for time served since his arrest. “This defendant was not only a repeat offender on the illegal re-entry charge but carried with him numerous other felonies,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “The lengthy sentence is certainly reflective of the charge, and I appreciate the work of our partners at the Border Patrol in helping us keep our communities and citizens safe.” USBP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister prosecuted the case. ###


title: Arizona Woman Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Second Alien Smuggling Conviction

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: Tucson, Ariz. – Nicole Shermaine Martinez, 40, of Sells, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. A jury found Martinez guilty of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Transportation of Illegal Aliens on November 8, 2023. Martinez also was sentenced to six months in prison for violating conditions of her federal probation from a prior alien smuggling conviction. On January 18, 2023, Martinez picked up two undocumented non-citizens, including a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor, near the village of Menagers Dam on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. She was apprehended by United States Border Patrol agents as she was driving the individuals further into the United States. Martinez had previously been convicted of alien smuggling after she transported four undocumented non-citizens, including two in the trunk of her car, also through the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. Martinez was placed on five years of probation but violated her conditions of probation by committing the new offense five months after she was sentenced. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-21-01459-TUC-CKJ-MAA CR-23-00081-TUC-CKJ-MAA RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-011_Martinez # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Final Member of Cargo Theft Ring Convicted of Stealing 19,000 Pounds of Perry Ellis Perfume Worth Over $230,000

body_text: MIAMI – On Jan. 19, a jury found Eligio Bacallao, 69, of Miami, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit cargo theft and one count of cargo theft. The evidence at trial revealed that Bacallao and his co-conspirators stole over $230,000 of Perry Ellis perfume, weighing in at over 19,000 pounds, from the inside of a steel-sealed, GPS-monitored tractor trailer in April 2016. The shipment was destined for Laredo, Texas, but 22 of the 24 pallets of perfume never left Hialeah, Florida because of the theft. Two of Bacallao’s co-conspirators were previously found guilty for their roles in the theft, in July 2017. U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard is scheduled to sentence Bacallao on April 10, 2024. The defendant is facing a total statutory maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the convictions. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stefan Diaz Espinosa and Alexandra D. Comolli are prosecuting this case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 16-cr- 20965. ###


title: Washington Gun Offender Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Reily William Arambul, age 28, was sentenced after pleading guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 70 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information disclosed at sentencing, on May 9, 2023, Armbul met a man at a friend’s house, who he asked for a ride to an apartment complex near West 5 th Avenue in Spokane. When they arrived, Arambul walked up to the apartment complex. The driver waited in the vehicle. While outside the vehicle, Arambul engaged in a verbal confrontation with individuals at the apartment complex. During this verbal confrontation, a residence of the complex call 911 to report disturbance and that an individual, later identified as Arambul, was in possession of a weapon. As officers with the Spokane Police Department arrived to Arambul’s location, they observed Arambul run back to the truck in which he arrived, and enter the passenger seat. SPD officers ordered the men in the truck to show their hands. The driver put his hands in the air, but Arambul refused. Instead, Arambul attempted to flee law enforcement, reached over from the passenger seat, put the truck in reverse, pressed the gas and began to steer the truck westbound on 5 th Avenue. After a short distance, however, the driver managed to press the brakes and stop the truck. SPD then boxed the truck in. After the truck was boxed in, Arambul got out and began running from officers. He was arrested a short distance away. Officers searched Arambul and found two knives, a black leather holster, a bag of syringes, and a small red bag with approximately 60 fentanyl pills inside. Officers also found a black and silver semi-automatic pistol belonging to the defendant lying the grass nearby. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Dimke noted Arambul’s choice to pull out a firearm put many people, including law enforcement and members of the community, at risk. “Mr. Arambul put the community in danger by recklessly taking control of a vehicle in an attempt to escape from the police – all while armed with an illegal firearm. Thankfully, he did not get far, and no one was hurt,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful to the brave men and women in law enforcement who place their safety at risk every day to protect our community.” “As a convicted felon, Mr. Arambul knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Not only did he possess a gun, he continued to disregard the law and engaged in other criminal activity including possessing dangerous weapons and illegal drugs while fleeing from law enforcement. Fortunately, no one was injured due to the swift actions taken by the Spokane Police. The FBI relies on partnerships like these as we work to protect the citizens of Washington state.” “Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that a convicted felon who illegally possesses a firearm will be held accountable. Mr. Arambul showed no regard for community members or police officers during this incident which highlights the dangers our officers increasingly face when those involved in criminal activity are armed and refuse to comply with police when contacted,” stated Interim Spokane Police Chief Justin Lundgren. “The Spokane Police Department appreciates the collaboration with our federal partners that helps keep the Spokane community safe and armed felons out of our neighborhoods. “ This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Spokane Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Cashman.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees and Partners for the 2022 and 2023 Attorney General’s Awards

body_text: MIAMI – Today, in Washington, D.C., Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country. Employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida were among those recognized during the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards ceremony. “We are incredibly proud of our Southern District of Florida staff members who were recognized today with an Attorney General’s Award,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “The honorees have carried forth the Department of Justice’s mission with extraordinary skill and dedication. These distinguished employees have protected our safety and security, as well as our civil rights. They have given a voice to the victimized, prevented crime, prosecuted fraud schemes, and litigated important appellate issues. As a community, we are incredibly grateful for their tireless efforts and commend their well-deserved accolades.” 70th Attorney General’s Awards – 2022 The Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention recognizes exceptional dedication and effort to prevent, investigate, and prosecute fraud, white collar crimes, and official corruption. The award was presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brooke C. Watson and Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida, alongside a Southern District of New York Assistant U.S. Attorney and other honorees, to include Special Agents and employees of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), U.S. Secret Service, Small Business Administration (SBA), Social Security Administration (SSA), FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). 71st Attorney General’s Awards – 2023 A Distinguished Service award was presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica Harrell James for the Southern District of Florida, alongside a Deputy Chief of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section, trial attorneys, and other personnel of the Civil Rights Division. A John Marshall Award for Handling of Appeals was presented to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Thomas Rivero and Michael Brenner for the Southern District of Florida. ###


title: Benton Harbor Men Sentenced To Years In Prison

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Mark Curtis, Jr. (26), Jordan Allen (22), and Calvin Hill (25), all of Benton Harbor, were each sentenced to federal prison. Curtis was sentenced to 15 years; Allen was sentenced to 8 years; and Hill was sentenced to 46 months. Following a jury trial in August 2023, a jury convicted each man of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing, Chief Judge Hala Jarbou found that Curtis possessed his gun in connection with first degree premeditated murder. “Gun violence is an epidemic here in Michigan and across the country that inflicts immense trauma on our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Totten . “We’ll never prosecute our way out of this epidemic, but accountability is critical. My office is committed to working with community and law enforcement partners to prosecute dangerous offenders.” Mark Curtis Calvin Hill Jordan Allen Witnesses at trial testified that Hill was feuding with another Benton Harbor man. On the night of September 10, 2022, Curtis, Hill, and Allen met at Hill’s apartment. Investigators found pictures and videos of their guns on Hill’s kitchen table and Hill wiping off rounds of ammunition. The man that Hill was feuding with was found dead the next morning. He had gunshot wounds to his neck, abdomen, and hand. GPS data from Hill’s Snapchat account showed that he was two blocks north of the victim two minutes before the first 911 call about the shooting. Later that morning, Allen confirmed with another person that the victim had died. “The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety (BHDPS) works hard every single day to protect our residents from violent crime,” said BHDPS Director Daniel McGinnis . “We appreciate U.S. Attorney Mark Totten’s commitment to the residents of Benton Harbor, as well as our other law enforcement partners who help remove illegal guns from our streets, hold dangerous offenders accountable, and provide safer neighborhoods within our city.” “While the damage and death caused in this case cannot be undone, our hope is that this sentence brings a sense of justice to all those impacted by this senseless violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan . “We would like to commend our law enforcement partners on the Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force for their efforts in bringing closure to this case. The FBI remains committed to removing violent offenders from our streets in order to ensure a safe environment for all Michigan residents.” This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement work closely together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities in order to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Individuals with information or concerns about violent crime or firearms offenses should contact local law enforcement. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit: https://www.justice.gov/psn . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Federal Investigation, the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, the Benton Township Police Department, the Michigan State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) played a pivotal role in the evaluation of the firearm and shell casing evidence. NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin . ###


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department Of Justice Employees And Partners For The 2022 And 2023 Attorney General’s Awards

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: WASHINGTON – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country. “It is indeed an honor to join Attorney General Garland in recognizing three members of my office for their distinguished service to our district and country,” stated U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “AUSAs Bratt, Krigsman, and Asokan continue to perform at the highest level as they work with our law enforcement partners to keep our citizens safe.” In the Middle District of Florida, for 2023, Distinguished Service Awards were presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt for his contributions to an international investigation involving the Hive ransomware group that targeted more than 1,500 victims in over 80 countries around the world, including hospitals, school districts, financial firms, and critical infrastructure. In addition, the Middle District of Florida’s National Security Chief Cherie Krigsman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Risha Asokan were recognized for their valuable contributions to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. For details on all of today’s award recipients, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-honors-justice-department-employees-and-partners-70th-and


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Trafficking Cocaine into U.S. from Mexico

body_text: PECOS, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Pecos to 41 months in prison for cocaine trafficking. According to court documents, Ana Cristina Alarcon Rios, 24, of Chihuahua, was stopped for speeding along Highway 90 in Alpine by a Brewster County Sheriff’s Deputy. A canine search of her vehicle revealed 10 bundles containing 11.1 kilograms of cocaine destined for Denver, Colorado. Rios pleaded guilty on Aug. 25, 2023 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. “This sentence serves as a warning to anyone who would consider trafficking illicit drugs into the U.S.,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Thanks to our partners at the local and federal levels, these offenders run a high risk of being apprehended and prosecuted for their crimes.” HSI and the Brewster County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Greenbaum and Dustin Farahnak prosecuted the case. ###


title: Philadelphia Man Indicted for Targeting U.S. Army Servicemembers in Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft and Cyberstalking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Alpha Omega Mayhue, 39, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft, seven counts of misuse of a Social Security number, seven counts of aggravated identity theft, twenty-one counts of false statements, and one count of cyberstalking. The indictment alleges that from February 2018 to March 2021, Mayhue, who served in the United States Army with his victims, stole and used their personally identifiable information to harass and stalk them over past grievances he had with them in the military. Mayhue and his co-conspirators impersonated the victims and conducted numerous unauthorized transactions with banks, credit unions, the Federal Trade Commission, and other entities. In addition, Mayhue cyberstalked one victim, claiming he was surveilling her and subjecting her to sexual threats. If convicted of these offenses, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 164 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $9,250,000 fine, and a $3,700 special assessment. The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (“DCIS”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Company Office of Inspector General (“FDC-OIG”) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Two Plead Guilty To Robbing An Armored Truck At A Gas Station

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Battle, Jr. (29, Palm Harbor) and Carlos Keanu Smith (28, Largo) have pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robbery. Each faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the robbery offenses and a minimum mandatory sentence of 7 years, up to life, for brandishing the firearm. Battle also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act Robbery, which involves a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2024, and Battle is scheduled to be sentenced on May 2, 2024. According to court documents, on the morning of June 9, 2023, Battle and Smith met for the purposes of robbing an armored truck. They followed the armored truck along its route from Pinellas County to eastern Hillsborough County before eventually reaching a gas station in Ellenton. Florida Department of Transportation toll records show Battle’s vehicle following seconds behind the targeted armored truck that morning. Surveillance video showed the vehicle also following the armored truck to other locations before conducting the robbery at the gas station in Ellenton when the driver returned to his vehicle. Battle and Smith approached the victim with pistols pointed at him, forcing him to the ground. They stole more than $150,000 from the armored truck. In connection with the same armored truck robbery, Jorge Serrano Espinoza (19, Clearwater), was also recently charged with Hobbs Act Robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and aiding and abetting others who brandished firearms during the robbery. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Four Additional Defendants Plead Guilty to Bid Rigging in Michigan Asphalt Industry

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: Two Michigan companies and two individuals have pleaded guilty for their roles in conspiracies to rig bids for asphalt paving services contracts in the State of Michigan. According to court documents and proceedings, four defendants — Asphalt Specialists LLC, its former Vice-president, Bruce F. Israel, Al’s Asphalt Paving Company Inc. (Al’s Asphalt) and its president, Edward D. Swanson — conspired with each other and other co-conspirators to rig bids in each other’s favor from March 2013 through November 2018. Asphalt Specialists and Israel also participated in a separate conspiracy with F. Allied Construction Company Inc. (Allied) and its employees from July 2017 through May 2021. Al’s Asphalt and Swanson participated in a separate conspiracy of their own with Allied and its employees from June 2013 through June 2019. Allied and two of its executives previously pleaded guilty in August 2023 for their participation in the conspiracies with Asphalt Specialists LLC and Al’s Asphalt. Each conspiracy operated in much the same way: the co-conspirators coordinated each other’s bid prices so that the agreed-upon losing company would submit intentionally non-competitive bids. These bids gave customers the false impression of competition when, in fact, the co-conspirators had already decided among themselves who would win the contracts. “Asphalt paving is a key component of our transportation infrastructure,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The division and our law enforcement partners will continue to prosecute corporations and individuals who undermine the competition that is crucial to responsible taxpayer spending and providing transportation services throughout Michigan.” “Through these guilty pleas, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) holds accountable two executives and two Michigan companies that engaged in this bid rigging scheme,” said Special Agent in Charge Andrea M. Kropf of the DOT OIG, Midwestern Region. “We will continue to partner with our law enforcement and prosecutorial colleagues to pursue and prosecute those who attempt to stifle competition by violating federal antitrust laws.” “The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, along with our other federal law enforcement partners, secured a victory today in our fight against bid-rigging and collusion,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG). “The USPS OIG will vigorously investigate those who would engage in harmful anticompetitive practices and hold accountable those companies that subvert the competitive process for personal gain and corporate greed.” The defendants each pleaded guilty to two counts of violating Section One of the Sherman Act. The maximum penalty for individuals is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Antitrust Division’s Chicago Office, DOT OIG and USPS OIG investigated the case, as part of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the asphalt paving services industry. The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division prosecuted the case. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations .


title: Three Defendants Charged In Interstate Gun Trafficking Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); Tommy Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging CHRISTEN CHEN, a/k/a “Nauti,” SHAQOYA HALL, a/k/a “Q,” and ZACHARY HAMPTON, a/k/a “J,” with conspiracy to engage in the unlicensed dealing of firearms, firearms trafficking, and interstate transportation of firearms, in connection with their involvement in a scheme to illegally transport firearms from Georgia to New York, among other places, for resale. SHAQOYA HALL and ZACHARY HAMPTON were arrested on January 30, 2024, in New York, New York. CHRISTEN CHEN was arrested on January 30, 2024, in Staten Island, New York. HALL and HAMPTON were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger and detained. CHEN will be presented later today before Judge Lehrburger. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these defendants directly contributed to the flow of illegal guns into New York City, endangering communities in this District for little more than financial gain. To anyone who is thinking about illegally selling guns to New Yorkers or illegally bringing guns to New York: we and our law enforcement partners are watching.” HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “HSI New York’s Violent Gang Task Force worked collaboratively with the ATF and the NYPD to disrupt the alleged iron pipeline of firearms flooding New York neighborhoods. I commend all agencies involved in this vital partnership, which prevented 13 illegal firearms from potentially making their way into the hands of criminals and gang members.” ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tommy Kalogiros said: “The unchecked flow of weapons onto our streets is a threat to every single person in NYC. These arrests serve as a notice to those who think they are above the law and can illegally traffic guns into our communities. The men and women of ATF NY will never waiver on our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers. The proliferation of illegal guns may be continuous, but law enforcement is united and strong. I thank all the members of the ATF NY Joint Firearms Task Force, HSI, NYPD, and SDNY for their diligent work and tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “When investigating the gun violence that plagues our city, the NYPD and our law enforcement partners always look at how the illegal firearms arrived in the five boroughs and who is selling them here – then we devise and execute a strategy to dismantle those schemes. These latest arrests are a prime example of a great plan coming together. I commend everyone involved in this multi-agency effort, from our NYPD investigators to all of our colleagues at the ATF, HSI, and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.” According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: [1] From at least in or around September 2023, up to and including January 2024, the defendants worked together to obtain firearms in southern states — primarily Georgia —, transport the firearms to New York via car or bus, and resell the firearms in, among other places, New York City (the “Gun Trafficking Scheme”). Over the course of the Gun Trafficking Scheme, the defendants discussed the sale of approximately 40 firearms and successfully sold at least 13 firearms to a confidential informant (the “CI”). Over the course of the Gun Trafficking Scheme, HAMPTON and CHEN communicated directly with the CI and discussed the potential sale of a variety of firearms including, among other things and as depicted below, semi-automatic handguns, handguns with extended magazines, at least one assault style handgun, and at least one rifle: On three occasions, CHEN, HAMPTON, and HALL met with the CI to sell firearms. On or about October 16, 2023, CHEN, HAMPTON, and HALL sold one firearm to the CI in Staten Island. On or about October 22, 2023, CHEN and HALL sold the CI four firearms in Staten Island. And, on or about January 30, 2024, HAMPTON and HALL were arrested in New York, New York, while attempting to sell the CI eight firearms. October 15, 2023, Sale October 22, 2023, Sale January 30, 2024, Attempted Sale * * * CHEN, 28, of Staten Island, New York; HALL, 24, of Staten Island, New York; and HAMPTON 28, of Augusta, Georgia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit gun trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of gun trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. CHEN and HALL are additionally charged with one count of interstate travel with intent to engage in gun trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, ATF, and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Nicolas is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, 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: Chelsea Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Machinegun Conversion Devices

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Chelsea man pleaded guilty today to illegally selling multiple machinegun conversion devices to an undercover federal agent. Michael Williams, 50, was indicted on two counts of transferring or possessing a machinegun and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2024. Williams was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in July 2023 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023. In January 2023, Williams agreed to sell several machinegun conversion devices and other firearm accessories to an undercover agent. Following a series of communications, Williams met the undercover agent twice at a pre-arranged location. On Jan. 12, 2023, Williams sold the first machinegun conversion device, along with numerous rounds of ammunition. On the following day Williams sold two additional machinegun conversion devices to the undercover agent. Williams is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction. The charge of unlawful transferring or possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The felon in possession charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Clay County Woman Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison For Possessing With The Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, And Cocaine

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Alyssa Avery (32, Green Cove Springs) to six years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine base, and cocaine. Avery entered a guilty plea on October 19, 2023. According to court documents, on January 30, 2023, deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) observed Avery driving in a rental vehicle in Green Cove Springs. When deputies learned Avery did not have a valid driver’s license, they initiated a traffic stop. During the stop, a CCSO canine alerted the detectives to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Deputies searched the vehicle and found over 20 grams of fentanyl in 17 individual sealed baggies, 60 grams of pure crystal methamphetamine, over 13 grams of cocaine, and over 16 grams of cocaine base. Deputies also recovered a digital scale. Detectives learned Avery had been released from the Florida Department of Corrections the month prior for trafficking methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh.


title: Glastonbury Psychologist Admits Defrauding Medicaid of More Than $1.6 Million

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that MICHAEL B. PINES , 75, of Avon, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to health care fraud. According to court documents and statements made in court, Pines is a psychologist who owned and operated Michael B. Pines, Ph.D., P.C., located in Glastonbury. Pines provided psychotherapy to young children, adolescents, adults, and he was enrolled individually as a Behavioral Health Clinician provider in the Connecticut Medicaid Program (“Medicaid”). Between January 2017 and October 2023, Pines submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for psychotherapy services that were purportedly provided to his Medicaid clients. Specifically, Pines submitted claims for dates of service when no services of any kind had been provided to the Medicaid clients identified in the claims, including when he was traveling, on vacation, recovering from surgery, or otherwise not working. He also submitted claims when an appointment had been canceled, when the claimed client was in the hospital, when he had stopped treating the claimed client, and when the claimed client had never been his client. In addition, when Pines treated multiple Medicaid clients in the same family at the same time, he billed Medicaid for the group visit as multiple individual claims, a practice that he knew was not permitted by Medicaid. Through this scheme, Pines defrauded Medicaid of $1,617,679. As part of his plea, Pines has agreed to pay full restitution. He also has agreed to forfeit several jewelry items that were seized during the investigation. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for May 6, at which time Pines faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Pines is released on a $250,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang. People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.


title: Attorney General Recognizes Portland Federal Prosecutor for Contributions to January 6 Capitol Breach Cases

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: WASHINGTON— Today, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland presented federal prosecutor Geoffrey Barrow, an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Oregon, with the prestigious John Marshall Award for his exceptional contributions to criminal cases stemming from the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6, 2021. John Marshall awards, presented annually by the Attorney General, are the Justice Department’s highest awards presented to attorneys and other litigation support staff for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.” “We are incredibly proud of the contributions Geoffrey Barrow has made to these important cases. The department’s January 6 prosecution effort is unprecedented in both its scope and complexity, and has required many dedicated public servants, like Geoff, to temporarily put aside their normal duties to represent the interests of all Americans,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Barrow was recognized, together with 14 other department attorneys and litigation support staff, for his innovation and leadership in meeting the extraordinary discovery demands posed by the simultaneous prosecution of more than 1,200 capitol breach defendants. Together, these cases have produced more than 5 million electronic files and an unprecedented amount of surveillance video, police camera footage, and other digital evidence collected on or after January 6. Barrow and his team worked with a contracted partner to create a secure, online repository for all January 6 evidence to expeditiously meet the government’s discovery production requirements across all January 6 cases. In the 36 months since January 6, 2021, more than 1,265 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 440 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. Department of Justice staff from across the country, including multiple Assistant United States Attorneys from the District of Oregon, have been detailed to the department’s January 6 investigation, which is ongoing. Anyone with information or tips should call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov .


title: Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office staff presented with Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: WASHINGTON: Staff members from the Southern District of Georgia received recognition today as Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.” Southern District of Georgia First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons, along with Paralegal Tracy Long and Victim Witness Coordinators Kellie Wiggins and Iverna Campbell, received the 70 th Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, the agency’s second-highest award, along with nine staff members from the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the FBI. The award recognizes the investigation and prosecution team in the Ahmaud Arbery case. “The trial and conviction of the three men responsible for the murder of Brunswick, Ga., resident Ahmaud Arbery was a painstaking, arduous journey for these dedicated investigators and prosecutors, and this prestigious award recognizes their accomplishments,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We especially are honored that our staff members’ hard work on behalf of the United States delivered a measure of justice for the victim’s family.” Three Brunswick men – Travis McMichael; his father, Gregory McMichael; and William “Roddy” Bryan – were convicted at trial in February 2022 of violating Ahmaud Arbery’s civil rights, targeting Arbery because of his race as they pursued him through a Brunswick neighborhood. Arbery died after Travis McMichael shot him. The McMichaels were sentenced to life terms in August 2022, while Bryan was sentenced to 35 years in prison. All three also are serving state sentences. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons of the Southern District of Georgia, and Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.


title: Wisconsin Man Sentenced To Prison For Hacking Fantasy Sports And Betting Website

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOSEPH GARRISON was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to hack user accounts on a fantasy sports and betting website (the “Betting Website”) and sell access to those accounts, resulting in losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the users. GARRISON was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. On November 15, 2023, GARRISON pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit computer intrusion. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joseph Garrison and his co-conspirators orchestrated a bold credential stuffing attack – collecting stolen usernames and password pairs from other large-scale data breaches – by exploiting vulnerabilities to siphon approximately $600,000 from unsuspecting victims. Such attacks not only breach personal security but erode trust in online platforms. Today’s sentencing underscores the urgent need for vigilance and the critical importance of our collective efforts in combatting cyber threats and safeguarding digital integrity.” According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court: On or about November 18, 2022, GARRISON launched a “credential stuffing attack” on the Betting Website. During a credential stuffing attack, a cyber threat actor collects stolen credentials, or username and password pairs, obtained from other large-scale data breaches, which can be purchased on the dark web. The threat actor then systematically attempts to use those stolen credentials to obtain unauthorized access to accounts held by the same user with other companies and providers in order to compromise accounts where the user has maintained the same password. Here, in connection with the attack on the Betting Website, there was a series of attempts to log into the Betting Website accounts using a large list of stolen credentials. GARRISON and others successfully accessed approximately 60,000 accounts on the Betting Website (the “Victim Accounts”) through the credential stuffing attack. In some instances, the individuals who unlawfully accessed the Victim Accounts were able to add a new payment method on the account, deposit $5 into that account through the new payment method to verify that method, and then withdraw all the existing funds in the Victim Account through the new payment method ( i.e ., to a newly added financial account belonging to the hacker), thus stealing the funds in the Victim Accounts. Using this method, GARRISON and others stole approximately $600,000 from approximately 1,600 Victim Accounts on the Betting Website. Law enforcement executed a search on GARRISON’s home in February 2023. In that search, they located programs typically used for credential stuffing attacks. Those programs require individualized “config” files for a target website to launch credential stuffing attacks, and law enforcement located approximately 700 such config files for dozens of different corporate websites on GARRISON’s computer. Law enforcement also located files containing nearly 40 million username and password pairs on GARRISON’s computer, which are also used in credential stuffing attacks. On GARRISON’s cellphone, law enforcement also located conversations between GARRISON and his co-conspirators, including discussions about how to hack the Betting Website and how to profit from the hack of the Betting Website by extracting funds from the Victim Accounts directly or by selling access to the Victim Accounts. In one particular conversation, GARRISON discussed, in substance and in part, how successful he was at credential stuffing attacks, how much he enjoyed credential stuffing attacks, and how GARRISON believed that law enforcement would not catch or prosecute him. Specifically, GARRISON messaged the following, in substance and in part: “fraud is fun . . . im addicted to see money in my account . . . im like obsessed with bypassing shit.” * * * In addition to the prison term, GARRISON, 19, of Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $175,019.11 in forfeiture and $1,327,061 in restitution. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York City Police Department for its assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Micah Fergenson are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Las Vegas Resident Sentenced To Prison For COVID-19 Relief Loan Scheme Committed While On Supervised Release

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to two years and six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for devising a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $42,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to court documents, in June 2020, Shavonte Hill (36) — while serving a term of federal supervised release for a 2017 felony conviction — devised a scheme to defraud the SBA. As part of the scheme, Hill submitted on behalf of businesses that did not exist loan applications that contained false information, including false revenue amounts for non-existent companies and false certifications that Hill would spend the loan money on business expenses, such as payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. He also provided fraudulent documentation in support of his loan applications. The loss caused by Hill’s scheme was about $42,082. In November 2023, Hill pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. In addition to imprisonment, Hill was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $42,082. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI; Special Agent in Charge Jon W. Ellwanger for the Western Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-CFPB OIG); Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG); and IRS CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick for the IRS Criminal Investigation made the announcement. The FBI, FRB-CFPB OIG, SBA OIG, IRS CI, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly Frayn and Jessica Oliva prosecuted the case. In May 2021 the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . ###


title: Driving Instructor Who Allegedly Bribed RMV Road Test Examiner for Driver's Licenses Agrees to Plead Guilty

body_text: BOSTON – A driving instructor has been charged, and has agreed to plead guilty, to allegedly conspiring to defraud the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) into issuing driver’s licenses to applicants who did not pass the road test. Ngan Dinh, 48, of Boston, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. According to the charging document, Dinh allegedly paid a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV service center to misrepresent to the RMV that certain driver’s license applicants had passed their road test when in fact they had not. According to court documents, some of the applicants did not even show up to take the test. As a result of the fraud, the RMV mailed driver’s licenses to unqualified applicants. The charge of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. 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; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Little Rock Man Sentenced to Maximum 20 Years in Prison for Arson

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—A Little Rock man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for arson. United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky sentenced Trent Tyrone Smith, age 50, late Monday to the maximum sentence allowable under the federal statute based upon both his crimes in this case and his history of violence. Smith was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release. “A maximum sentence was sought in this case because both the victim and the public deserve to be safe from this defendant for as long as the law would allow,” said Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Given this defendant’s depraved crimes in the present case and his violent criminal history, we are grateful that the Court agreed with our request for the maximum sentence and sentenced this defendant to 20 years in federal prison. Protecting victims and the public from violent criminals is our office’s number one priority, and so our office will not hesitate to continue to seek maximum prison sentences against criminals who use violence to destroy lives, businesses, and our fundamental right to safety.” On March 3, 2022, the Little Rock Fire Department (“LRFD”) responded to several calls for service at two separate locations of The Grind Coffee Bistro: Pleasant Ridge Town Center, Cantrell Road, and East 21 st Street, both in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the Pleasant Ridge Town Center location, the LRFD responded to a water flow alarm but were unable to locate the source. A water flow alarm is indicative a fire suppression sprinkler system is activated. Shortly thereafter, a fire was reported at the intersection of East 21 st and Commerce Streets. Upon arrival of the LRFD, they found the front door locked but observed The Grind Coffee Bistro on fire and smoke in the windows of the business. The LRFD responded a second time to The Grind Coffee Bistro’s location in the Pleasant Ridge Town Center later in the evening. Upon arrival, they could see smoke emitting from the business. The firefighters were able to enter through the unlocked front door of the business and observed two fires in the kitchen and one in the storage room. While extinguishing the fire, they located an overturned can of gas in the bathroom, which was similar to the two 2-gallon Scepter-brand gas cans Smith purchased from Walmart’s East McCain Boulevard location. An investigation revealed that the owner (victim) of The Grind Coffee Bistro had recently ended her relationship with Smith. On February 26, 2022, Smith physically assaulted the victim. The following day, the victim changed the locks and Smith removed his personal belongings from the residence. On the same day as the fires, Smith attempted to contact the victim several times in the afternoon, and later that day, the juvenile son of the victim called his mother to advise her that their residence had been shot at, although it was later determined that an unknown object was used to strike the window. The victim returned to her residence at that time. Through the investigation, it was learned that spare keys to the business were missing. It was also learned that Smith, who is on parole, drove a gold Buick Lacrosse that is registered to his mother. In a review of surveillance footage from the business’s Cantrell location, Smith is observed at the location from 9:21 p.m. until 9:43 p.m. and approximately one minute later, the LRFD was notified of a water flow activation alarm. The Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at the East 21 st Street location, approximately 19 minutes after Smith departed the Cantrell location. Smith has a substantial and violent criminal history. He was convicted in 2016 in Saline County for aggravated assault on a family or household member and terroristic threatening in the first degree after he attacked a victim, threatened to kill her, and drove a car into the residence attempting to strike her. Smith fled to Kentucky where he fled from law enforcement at speeds of 110 miles per hour and ultimately almost struck multiple officers with his vehicle, for which he was convicted of first-degree wanton endangerment. Smith also had prior convictions for aggravated assault and second-degree battery for an incident where multiple officers were injured, battery in the third degree involving domestic violence, and unlawfully possessing a firearm. During the sentencing, the victim told the Court how hard she worked to build these businesses as a single mother and spoke about the violence inflicted by Smith against her. The victim indicated that she hoped to protect others from Smith by coming forward to speak. Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 5, 2022, in a two-count indictment charging him with use of a fire/explosive to damage or destroy property with injury to persons. He pleaded guilty to one count on July 25, 2023, and the remaining count was dismissed. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @EDARNEWS


title: Jackson Man Sentenced to Over Ten Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking and Brandishing a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence

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

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for carjacking and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. According to court documents and statements made in court, Russell Emmett Gibbs, 46, carjacked a male victim at gunpoint on Edgewood Terrace in Jackson, Mississippi in November 2020. Gibbs was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2023, and entered a guilty plea on October 26, 2023. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Jackson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Chinese National Sentenced for Role in International Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A Chinese national who overstayed a student visa was sentenced by a federal judge in Providence today to time served –effectively a period of seven months-- for participating in an international fraud ring that targeted individuals in several states, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Fangzhou Qian, 29, pleaded guilty on November 15, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States. Qian was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to time served and one year of federal supervised release. Qian has been detained in federal custody since making an initial appearance in U.S. District Court on June 30, 2023. According to information presented to the court, operating at the direction of others, including individuals in China, Qian acted as a courier to collect cash from fraud victims. Members of the conspiracy targeted individuals in several states, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. At the time of Qian’s arrest by Portsmouth, RI, police, Qian was found to be in possession of more than 2,000 gift cards from various stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman. The matter was investigated by the Portsmouth Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.