title: Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Terrance August, age 48, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 70 months in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Court further sentenced August to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered him to pay $179,976.99 in restitution to financial institutions. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, August conspired and agreed with others to commit wire fraud. August and other co-conspirators defrauded financial institutions by using the personal identifying information (“PII”) of bank customers, including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth, to obtain access to account information. August and other co-conspirators then used the PII of bank customers to contact financial institutions and request changes to victim accounts. During these calls, members of the conspiracy impersonated victims and falsely represented to the financial institutions that they were the bank customer requesting the changes to the account. In some instances, members of the conspiracy changed the phone number, mailing address, and statement preferences on the customers’ accounts. In others, members of the conspiracy enrolled the victims in online banking, without the victims’ knowledge or consent. Thereafter, August and his co-conspirators accessed victims’ accounts and initiated interstate wire transfers of funds from victim accounts to accounts held by August and other co-conspirators. Once the funds were received from financial institutions located outside of the State of Louisiana, members of the conspiracy withdrew the funds as cash at multiple ATMs and bank branches located in the Middle District of Louisiana. August and other co-conspirators retained a portion of the stolen funds for their own personal enrichment and financial gain. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Lundin Craig.


title: Lancaster County Woman Sentenced To 40 Months In Prison For Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Moniqua Ramirez, age 44, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 40 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson following her conviction of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Ramirez conspired with others to smuggle kilograms of cocaine into Central Pennsylvania through the U.S. Mail. The cocaine was shipped in Puerto Rico and mailed to various drop locations in Lancaster, where the parcels were retrieved by conspirators for further distribution. They also engaged in street level drug trafficking, including selling heroin and fentanyl to customers. The conspirators transported cash back to Puerto Rico in furtherance of the trafficking. A jury convicted Ramirez of conspiracy to traffic cocaine after a three-day jury trial that concluded in November 2023. Ramirez’s coconspirators, Jonathan Lopez Arizmendi, Ricardo Soto, Ricky Sanchez, Angel Leon-Rivera, Omar Carmenaty Morales, and Lucas Doel Gonzalez-Alvarado, pleaded guilty. They were sentenced as follows: Jonathan Arizmendi was sentenced to 150 months in prison. Ricardo Soto was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Ricky Sanchez was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Lucas Doel Gonzalez-Alvarado was sentenced to 97 months in prison. Angel Leon-Rivera and Omar Carmenaty Morales are awaiting sentencing. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pennsylvania State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Lancaster County Drug Task Force and York County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Consiglio is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Nursing Home CNA Facing Federal Charges for Defrauding Elderly Patients

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A certified nursing assistant formerly employed in the Metro East is accused of using her elderly patients’ credit card and bank account information to make personal purchases without their consent. Markeisha A. Hill, 35, of Granite City, was charged via a federal grand jury with two counts of access device fraud, six counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of possession of five or more identification documents. “Financial crimes against the elderly are prevalent, but it’s especially disturbing when nursing home patients are targeted and victimized by the medical professionals who are entrusted with their care,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. Hill worked as a CNA at University Nursing and Rehabilitation in Edwardsville from October 2022 through June 2023 and Meridian Village in Glen Carbon from August through November 2023. According to the indictment, Hill is accused of stealing her patients’ identification to fraudulently use their debit and credit cards without their consent to make personal purchases greater than $1,000. “Nursing home caregivers are called to the noble profession of watching over the loved ones of many families who expect their elderly family members to be treated with care. That trust should never be violated,” said David Bolin, Acting Supervisor for the U.S. Secret Service Springfield Resident Office. “I’m proud that our local and federal partners have stood up for the alleged victims in this case and we will maintain our vigilance in the future.” An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. If convicted, access device fraud is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment, aggravated identity theft is a mandatory 2-year prison sentence and possession of five or more IDs can equate to five years’ imprisonment. Law enforcement officials with the U.S. Secret Service, Edwardsville Police Department, Glen Carbon Police Department and Granite City Police Department are contributing to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zoe Gross and David Dean are prosecuting the case.


title: Wisconsin Attorney Sentenced to Five and a Half Years in Federal Prison for $2.3 Million Fraud and Tax Evasion Schemes

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Leslie Smith, 63, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to health care fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Smith must also pay $2,341,655.08 in restitution. According to court documents, for years, Leslie Smith engaged in multiple fraud schemes against her employer, relatives, and the government. Smith was a licensed attorney in the state of Wisconsin at the time she committed these crimes. Smith was employed as the Office Manager for a podiatry practice located in Indianapolis. For years, without the knowledge or consent of her employer, Smith submitted approximately 288 fraudulent claims for reimbursement to Medicaid for oxygen monitoring devices that were never ordered. Smith caused Medicaid to pay $559,197.67 on these false claims and also caused a total of $1,194,942.07 in Medicaid payments to be deposited to her personal bank account. After being charged in federal court with health care fraud, Smith fraudulently obtained COVID-19 mortgage assistance funds for a home on Kessler Boulevard in Indianapolis. In the application documents, Smith falsely represented that she was the owner of the home. In reality, the owner was a relative of Smith who died in 2020. Smith also sold a residence in Indianapolis that she jointly owned with another individual for approximately $380,000, without the knowledge or consent of the co-owner. Because she had forged the co-owner’s signature on certain key documents, she was able to keep the entire profit of the home sale. Smith did not file federal income tax returns from 2018 through 2021, and thereby failed to report approximately $1,299,179.01 in income. She prepared false tax returns for her employer and included all of her payments from Medicaid as income for her employer, in an effort to hide the fact that she was fraudulently receiving money from Medicaid. “This criminal used her position of trust to lie, cheat, and steal from patients, her employer, and the public—fraudulently lining her pockets with over a million dollars intended to provide healthcare to disadvantaged Hoosiers,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “She continued to engage in new fraud schemes even while facing federal charges, demonstrating an utter disregard for the rule of law. Working together with our partners at Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, FBI, HHS-OIG, and the Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, our office is committed to protecting the public by unravelling complex schemes and holding fraudsters accountable. The federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that serious financial crimes will result in serious consequences.” “This case originated from our office’s data mining efforts and confirms the importance of using every technology tool available to bring fraudsters to justice - even perpetrators who hide in the plain sight of a doctor’s office,” said Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita. “A special thanks to our Investigator Dan Shragal and Fraud Analyst Sarah Simpson for putting their foot down and ending this podiatrist staff member’s practice of sending millions of dollars in Medicaid payments to their own personal bank account.” “Leslie Smith not only stole from American taxpayers, but her unbridled greed also betrayed her employer’s trust, shattering the fabric of trust that holds a workplace together,” said Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “This prison sentence should serve as a stark reminder of the profound consequences of greed and deception.” “Through the defendant’s egregious scheme to defraud the Indiana Medicaid program, she placed personal profits ahead of legitimate care and knowingly stole valuable taxpayer funds intended to provide resources for vulnerable populations in need of assistance,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG values the continued collaboration with the Indiana Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, along with other federal law enforcement partners, and believes today’s sentence sends a strong message that those convicted of defrauding federal and state healthcare programs will be held accountable.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Department of the Treasury, Office of the Inspector General, and Indiana Attorney General’s Office – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (“MFCU”) investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID‑19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice 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. 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 at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form ###


title: Jury Finds Foreign Nationals Guilty on All Counts for Multiple Drug Crimes Involving the Sale and Distribution of Oxycodone via the Dark Web

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After a two week trial, a federal jury in Salt Lake City returned a guilty verdict against two foreign nationals on all counts and returned a special verdict form requiring the forfeiture of $380,395.64 in cash. On May 20, 2024, Oluwole Adegboruwa, 54, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Enrique Isong, 49, of Los Angeles, California, were found guilty of multiple federal crimes including conspiracies to distribute oxycodone and commit money laundering. During the conspiracies, Adegboruwa and Isong used the U.S. Mail and interstate commerce to commit their crimes, which generated more than $8 million in criminal proceeds. According to evidence presented at trial, from October 2016 through May 2019, Adegboruwa, sold more than 300,000 oxycodone pills to customers on dark web marketplaces, including Hansa, Dream Market, Wall Street Market, and Alphabay (which have since been dismantled by law enforcement). Customers paid Adegboruwa, who operated his vendor pages as “King Odua” and “Alagbada726,” with cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, which he later sold for traditional currency. Adegboruwa testified at trial and admitted that he was the only one who had access to his vendor pages on the dark web markets to process orders from customers. He then directed others in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles to package and ship the pills around the United States. Jurors convicted Adegboruwa under what is commonly referred to as the “kingpin statute” for organizing a continuing criminal enterprise and directing at least five others in the drug distribution conspiracy. At trial, the jury also heard testimony from co-defendants who have already pleaded guilty. They described the ways in which Adegboruwa directed them to sort, package, and ship oxycodone pills to minimized damage and detection. The jury also heard from a Utah customer who discussed the process of ordering from Adegboruwa’s dark web vendor pages and how the ordered products arrived at his home via U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail. After the jury returned guilty verdicts against Adegboruwa and Isong on all counts, they returned a special verdict form on May 22, 2024, requiring Adegboruwa to forfeit $380,395.64 in cash, $15,500 in lieu of a 2017 Dodge Charger, and 26 money orders totaling $9,400. The jury also found that Adegboruwa had to forfeit cryptocurrency now valued at more than $15 million. Adegboruwa and Isong are scheduled for sentencing in August 2024 at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Assistant United States Attorneys Thaddeus J. May, Jennifer E. Gully, and Stewart M. Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.


title: Brevard County Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that William Alfred Harris (62, Cape Canaveral) has pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Harris faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, in January 2023, the FBI identified Harris as a target based on being a recipient or downloader of CSAM on a file-sharing platform. In May 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Harris’s residence and seized Harris’s laptop. A forensic examination of the computer revealed CSAM, three file wipers, and encryption software. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Detroit Man Arrested and Charged After Attempting to Provide Money to ISIS

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - A Detroit man was arrested and charged in an indictment with attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Charged was Jibreel Pratt, 25. According to the indictment, Pratt is charged with two counts of attempting to provide currency and monetary instruments to ISIS in March and May 2023, respectively. The FBI arrested Pratt at his home in Detroit this morning. He will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will be asking the Court to hold Pratt in pretrial detention because of his danger to the community and the risk that he will flee. “The indictment alleges that the defendant attempted to support and join ISIS, which is one of the most brutal terrorist organizations in the world. These charges reflect our commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to help terrorists,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “Mr. Pratt allegedly attempted to provide support to a foreign terrorist organization well known for committing violence and human rights violations,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The protection of the American people and our communities remains a top priority for the FBI. Through joint and coordinated efforts by our law enforcement and intelligence partners, and vigilant citizens, we will continue to disrupt plots by those who desire to harm others on behalf of a foreign terrorist organization. I would like to thank our Joint Terrorism Task Force for their work in this investigation and for their steadfast commitment to protecting our nation.” Based on the charges in the Indictment, Pratt faces up to 20 years in prison for each count if convicted. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon and Douglas Salzenstein.


title: Jefferson Parish Man Pleads  Guilty to Violating Federal Controlled Substances Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DEON SHORT (“SHORT”) , age 27, a resident of Jefferson Parish, pleaded guilty on May 21, 2024, before Chief U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, in June 2022, representatives from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiated a joint investigation into SHORT as a member of a co-conspirator’s cocaine distribution organization. As part of the investigation, agents utilized a DEA Confidential Source to make a controlled purchase of 125 grams of cocaine from SHORT . SHORT faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Former FTX Executive Ryan Salame Sentenced To 90 Months In Prison

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RYAN SALAME was sentenced today to 90 months in prison. SALAME previously pled guilty to conspiracy to make unlawful political contributions and defraud the Federal Election Commission and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Ryan Salame agreed to advance the interests of FTX, Alameda Research, and his co-conspirators through an unlawful political influence campaign and through an unlicensed money transmitting business, which helped FTX grow faster and larger by operating outside of the law. Salame’s involvement in two serious federal crimes undermined public trust in American elections and the integrity of the financial system. Today’s sentence underscores the substantial consequences for such offenses.” According to the filings and statements made during court proceedings: RYAN SALAME was a high-ranking official at Alameda Research, the quantitative cryptocurrency trading firm founded by Samuel Bankman-Fried, from 2019 to 2021. In or about October 2021, SALAME was named co-CEO of FTX’s Bahamian affiliate FTX Digital Markets Ltd. While working at Alameda Research and FTX, SALAME conspired with Bankman-Fried and other employees of FTX and Alameda Research to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, unlawfully using FTX, Alameda Research, and an entity called “North Dimension” to transmit FTX customer funds without a license. The conspirators and others at Alameda Research and FTX also made false statements to U.S. banks in order to maintain their unlawful businesses. Additionally, beginning in or around 2020, SALAME conspired with Bankman-Fried and FTX executive Nishad Singh to donate campaign contributions in a manner that obscured Bankman-Fried’s association with certain of the contributions. These donations were made to improve Bankman-Fried’s personal standing in Washington, D.C., increase FTX’s profile, and curry favor with candidates that could help pass legislation favorable to FTX, Alameda, or Bankman-Fried’s personal agenda. In total, SALAME and his co-conspirators made over 300 political contributions, totaling tens of millions of dollars, that were unlawful because they were made in the name of a straw donor or paid for with corporate funds and caused false information to be reported by campaigns and political action committees to the Federal Election Commission. * * * In addition to the prison term, SALAME, 30, of Potomac, Maryland, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $6 million in forfeiture and more than $5 million in restitution. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, with assistance from the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering and Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Units. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Kudla, Samuel Raymond, Thane Rehn, Nicolas Roos, and Danielle Sassoon are in charge of the prosecution.


title: New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty to  Cares Act Fraud, False Statements to the IRS, and Theft of Government Funds

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TAMIKA CHAPPELL (“CHAPPELL”), age 40, of New Orleans, LA, pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024 before U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier to three-counts, including making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), making false statements to the IRS, and theft of government funds. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance in connection with economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses. In Count 1, CHAPPELL was charged with making false statements to the SBA for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related relief loans funded by the federal government, including PPP funds, which she received in the amount of approximately $105,625.00. In Count 2, CHAPPELL was charged with stealing at least $1,000.00 from the Social Security Administration by receiving disability benefits to which when was not entitled from 2019 to 2022. In Count 3, CHAPPELL was charged with making false statements to the IRS by failing to report the correct amount of taxable income for the year 2020. Sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2024. CHAPPELL faces up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the false statements count. For the theft of government funds, she faces up to 10 years imprisonment, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years supervised release. For the false statement and theft from the IRS, she faces up to three years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://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 at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . This case was investigated by an agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 21 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from 15 Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of PRAC member U.A. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving Crash Causing Serious Injuries

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has pleaded guilty in federal court to assault charges stemming from a drunk driving crash on Santa Ana Pueblo in 2021 that left the other driver seriously injured. In his plea agreement, Lionel Medina , 29, an enrolled member of the Zia Pueblo, admitted that on December 1, 2021, he drove while under the influence of alcohol. Medina was driving recklessly and crashed into a vehicle driven by Jane Doe. As a result, Jane Doe suffered fractures to her spine, sternum, arm, leg, and foot. The Court ordered that Medina remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Medina faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Medina will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department and Sandoval County Sheriff’s department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement # # #


title: Miami resident convicted at trial of using a fraudulent driver’s license to access a luxury condo

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On May 15, a federal jury convicted Alfred Lenoris Davis, 50, of Miami, Florida, of use of a counterfeit access device to facilitate a South Florida identity concealment scheme. Davis, a previously convicted felon, utilized a counterfeit access device, more specifically a fraudulent Florida driver’s license as proof of identity to become an occupant of, and gain access to, a luxury condominium in Sunny Isles, Florida. Due to the concealment of his true identity, Davis’s criminal history was not made known to the condominium’s board members when they assessed his qualifications. Relying on the counterfeit access device, the building allowed Davis full access to amenities and services afforded to residents. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 11 before U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez. Davis faces up to 10 years in prison. The federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 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, made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Bailyn and Katie L. Sadlo prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture. 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 22-cr-20051. ###


title: Jury convicts woman of wire fraud for submitting altered bank statements with a business line of credit application

body_text: MIAMI – On May 22, a Fort Lauderdale federal jury convicted Elaine Escoe, 39, of Delray Beach, Florida of wire fraud after submitting altered bank statements in an attempt to fraudulently obtain a line of credit for her business. Escoe submitted altered bank statements in support of an application for a business line of credit. The altered bank statements obscured the true name of the bank account along with inflated cash balances. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14 before U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian. Escoe faces up to 20 years in prison. The federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 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, made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Bailyn and Katie L. Sadlo prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture. 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 24-CR-80010. ###


title: Lee County, Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Smuggle Turtles to Germany and Hong Kong and Falsely Labeling the Turtles on Related Paperwork

body_text: MIAMI – On May 24, a Lee County man was sentenced to prison for conspiring to illegally export thousands of turtles to Germany and Hong Kong, and falsifying documents to conceal his conduct. John Michael Kreatsoulas, 36, of Alva, Florida, was sentenced to serve a year and a day in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Kreatsoulas was also barred by the court from engaging in any commercial activity involving wildlife. He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic wildlife and nine counts of falsifying records in violation of the Lacey Act. According to court documents, from July 2015 to July 2021, Kreatsoulas was the owner and principal of Omni Reptiles Inc., an unregistered Florida business located in Alva, Florida. Omni Reptiles was in the business of domestic and international wholesale trade of wildlife, including protected species of reptiles. Kreatsoulas and Omni Reptiles shipped wildlife they sold to domestic and foreign customers, including to customers in Germany and Hong Kong, through Miami International Airport. Specifically, Kreatsoulas and his co-conspirators collected and captured various species of turtles, including three-stripe mud turtles and Florida mud turtles, from the wild in Florida and sold those turtles to interstate and foreign customers. Kreatsoulas then falsified U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Form 3-177, which accompanied the international shipments, by including a false “Source” code attesting that the turtles were captive-bred and not wild-caught. Kreatsoulas also falsified invoices related to the sale of the turtles, which purported to show that the turtles sold to co-conspirators in Florida and outside the United States were “captive-bred” hatchling three-stripe mud turtles when, in fact, they were taken from the wild by Kreatsoulas and his co-conspirators. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Special Agent in Charge Douglas Ault of the FWS, Southeast Region and Major James Barrow, Statewide Investigation Unit, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made the announcement. FWS agents in Miami investigated this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Gary N. Donner of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division prosecuted this case. ###


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for  Distributing Fentanyl

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHARVAN MORRIS (“MORRIS”) , age 27, of New Orleans, was indicted on May 23, 2024 on two counts of distributing fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). MORRIS faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee on each count. According to court documents, on or about February 16 and February 20, 2024, MORRIS allegedly distributed fentanyl in the Eastern District of Louisiana. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Woodbridge man convicted of impersonating a federal officer

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Woodbridge man on May 24 on charges of false impersonation of an officer or employee of the United States. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Russel Guye Dadzie, 50, was a third-party contractor security guard for federal buildings since at least 2013. Dadzie received training that his authority was limited to the immediate area of the building he was assigned to guard and only during his assigned shift. That training also explains that he is not a federal employee, federal agent, or federal officer, that he should not identify himself as such in any context, and that engaging in this type of misrepresentation could result in criminal charges. Dadzie received this training on multiple occasions, including in January 2023. Access to the buildings to which Dadzie was assigned required Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards. Dadzie signed agreements with both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that he would not use the PIV cards for non-employment-related purposes, that he would not display them to others outside of work, and that he would not use them to coerce, intimidate, deceive, or obtain any privilege, favor, preferential treatment, reward, or personal gain. He signed agreements acknowledging that noncompliance with these requirements might subject him to criminal penalties. On Sept. 15, 2023, officers with the Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) approached Dadzie’s vehicle in Woodbridge. Dadzie stated multiple times that he was “with DHS” and that he was a “DHS officer” and a “federal officer.” In lieu of a driver license, Dadzie presented officers with a DHS PIV card to bolster his claims that he was a federal officer. When asked about his vehicle, he challenged police, “You’re asking a federal officer if there’s anything illegal in his vehicle?” On Nov. 9, 2023, a PWCPD officer encountered Dadzie, noting that the inspection sticker on the windshield of Dadzie’s vehicle was expired. When the officer requested to see Dadzie’s driver license, Dadzie instead showed the officer multiple federal PIV cards he possessed, handed the officer a USAID PIV card, and claimed to be a “federal officer” with USAID. Dadzie faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 12. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Peter Newsham, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Lipkowitz are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-51. This release was edited on May 28, 2024, to correct the date of conviction.


title: Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Leader and Lead Assassin Extradited from Mexico to the United States on Drug Importation, Murder, Kidnapping, Firearms, and Money Laundering Charges

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader and lead sicario, or assassin, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as El Nini, 32, of Mexico, was extradited on May 25 from Mexico to the United States to face charges contained in two indictments. “Today, El Nini joins the growing list of cartel leaders and associates extradited to the United States and held accountable in an American courtroom,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege El Nini was one of the Sinaloa Cartel’s lead sicarios, or assassins, and was responsible for the murder, torture, and kidnapping of rivals and witnesses who threatened the cartel’s criminal drug trafficking enterprise. This includes killing a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confidential source and killing others in retaliation for the confidential source’s cooperation. We also allege El Nini was a part of the Sinaloa Cartel’s production and sale of fentanyl, including in the United States. I am grateful to our Mexican government counterparts for their extraordinary efforts in apprehending and extraditing El Nini. The Justice Department will always be relentless in its pursuit of the cartels responsible for flooding our communities with fentanyl and other drugs.” The first indictment, filed in the District of Columbia by the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), charges Pérez Salas with cocaine and methamphetamine importation, firearms offenses, and conspiracy to obstruct justice through murder. The second indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York (SDNY), charges Pérez Salas with leadership of a continuing criminal enterprise resulting in the deaths of numerous victims, including a confidential source for the DEA, fentanyl importation and trafficking, obstruction of justice by murdering an informant, kidnapping resulting in the deaths of eight people, including a minor boy, firearms, and money laundering offenses. Pérez Salas was arrested in Culiacan, Mexico, by Mexican authorities on Nov. 22, 2023. Pérez Salas was presented on the charges contained in the SDNY indictment today at 10:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. According to court documents, the Sinaloa Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico and is responsible for a substantial portion of the fentanyl that is manufactured and imported for distribution in the United States. Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid that is more than 50 times more potent than heroin and is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. In recent years, the cartel has been led, in part, by the sons of the cartel’s notorious former leader, Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, also known as El Chapo, and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez—known collectively as the “Chapitos.” Like their father, the Chapitos have used violence and rely on a sophisticated security apparatus to maintain control and to protect themselves and their operations as they traffic massive quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, to the United States. Pérez Salas is allegedly one of the senior leaders of the Chapitos’ security apparatus. Under Pérez Salas’ direction, armed enforcers for the Chapitos, known as sicarios, have allegedly used rampant violence to protect the Chapitos’ operations and to demolish unsupportive businesses, capture contested territory, intimidate civilians, and attack and murder law enforcement members who resist their efforts. In part under the direction of Pérez Salas, the sicarios allegedly regularly used military-grade firearms and explosives, including machineguns and rocket launchers, to kidnap, torture, and kill anyone who opposed the Chapitos. According to court documents, Pérez Salas is allegedly a leader and commander of the “Ninis,” a violent group charged with providing security for the Chapitos. From at least 2012 until February 2021, Pérez Salas allegedly conspired to distribute and manufacture cocaine and methamphetamine for unlawful importation into the United States, used a firearm in furtherance of the alleged drug-trafficking offense, and killed, attempted to kill, threatened, and caused bodily injury to another to intimidate a government witness and informant. Pérez Salas has also allegedly committed brutal acts of violence to advance the Chapitos’ trafficking operations. For example, in or about 2017, Pérez Salas, with two of the Chapitos, allegedly captured, tortured, interrogated, and killed two Mexican federal law enforcement officers. In or about May 2017, Pérez Salas, with two of the Chapitos and others, allegedly captured three members of a rival drug cartel, Los Zetas, and tortured them before interrogating and killing them. Also, in or about 2017, Pérez Salas and others allegedly conspired to kill and retaliate against a witness and informant. And in or about 2022, Pérez Salas and another sicario allegedly tested the potency of their fentanyl on individuals. In addition, Pérez Salas has allegedly participated in the negotiation and sale of fentanyl. More specifically, in or about the summer of 2022, Pérez Salas and other associates allegedly sold fentanyl (later seized by the DEA) in Los Angeles. Finally, in or about October 2023, Pérez Salas and other sicarios acting at his direction, allegedly kidnapped a confidential source and 10 other victims in Mexico—including a U.S. citizen—whom Pérez Salas believed worked for or were related to the confidential source. Pérez Salas and his sicarios allegedly killed eight of the kidnapped victims, including the confidential source, and a 13-year-old boy. Pérez Salas allegedly kidnapped and killed these victims in retaliation for the confidential source’s provision of information to law enforcement in connection with the investigation of Pérez Salas and his associates in the Southern District of New York. Pérez Salas is charged in the District of Columbia indictment with (i) conspiring to import cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; (ii) using, carrying, and possessing machineguns and destructive devices in connection with the cocaine and methamphetamine conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; and (iii) conspiracy to obstruct justice by retaliating against a witness and informant through murder, which carries a mandatory minimum of life in prison. Pérez Salas is charged in the SDNY indictment with: (i) participating in a continuing criminal enterprise resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum of life in prison; (ii) conspiring to import fentanyl into the United States, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; (iii) conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; (iv) using, carrying, and possessing machineguns and destructive devices in connection with the continuing criminal enterprise and the fentanyl importation and trafficking conspiracies, which carries a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; (v) conspiring to use, carry, and possess machineguns and destructive devices in connection with the continuing criminal enterprise and the fentanyl importation and trafficking conspiracies, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison; (vi) conspiring to launder money, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; (vii) obstruction of justice by retaliating against an informant through murder, which carries a mandatory minimum of life in prison; (viii) conspiring to obstruct justice by retaliating against an informant through murder, which carries a mandatory minimum of life in prison; (ix) kidnapping resulting in death, including of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum of life in prison; and (x) conspiring to commit kidnapping resulting in death, including of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office are investigating the case, with assistance from multiple DEA offices throughout Mexico, as well as the assistance of the U.S. Department of State Rewards for Justice Program and U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition Pérez Salas. The Justice Department also thanks Mexican authorities for their role in securing the arrest and extradition of Pérez Salas. NDDS Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich, Kate Naseef, Samantha Thompson, and Tara Arndt and SDNY Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley, Sarah L. Kushner, Alexander N. Li, David J. Robles, and Kyle A. Wirshba are prosecuting the case. The case is supported by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Indictment


title: Winnebago Man Sentenced for Strangulation

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Seth J. Lopez, 21, of Winnebago, Nebraska, was sentenced May 24, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for strangulation of an intimate or dating partner. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lopez to 30 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lopez is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On December 7, 2022, the victim, a Native American woman, arrived at the Winnebago Police Department in Winnebago, Nebraska on the Winnebago Indian Reservation to report being the victim of an assault by Lopez. The victim was accompanied by another woman who had witnessed the assault. Earlier that night, Lopez assaulted the victim when she attempted to leave Lopez’s residence. The witness was accompanying the victim to help her gather her possessions and leave the residence when Lopez assaulted the victim. Lopez threw the victim onto the bed and strangled her by placing both his hands around the victim’s neck and applying pressure. The witness was yelling at Lopez to stop and when he let up, the victim was able to get up off the bed. As the victim tried to leave, Lopez backed the victim into a closet asking her, “Where do you think you’re going?” Lopez then grabbed the victim from behind with his arm around her neck, dragging her back to the bed. When the victim tried to scream, Lopez covered her mouth and face with his free hand, which prevented the victim from screaming and breathing. Lopez’s father heard the altercation, came to the room and told Lopez to stop and let the victim go. The witness to the assault also saw Lopez pull out a knife and hold it toward the victim while the victim’s back was turned from Lopez. Lopez did not attempt to use the knife and the victim herself never saw the knife. The victim had visible bruising and red marks on her neck after the assault. This case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense occurred on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in what is known as Indian Country, and is an offense under the Major Crimes Act, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1153, giving the United States jurisdiction. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has law enforcement jurisdiction for felony offenses on the Reservations in the District of Nebraska.


title: Roslindale Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Heath Street Gang member/associate pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawfully possessing a firearm. Deondre Blanding, 27, of Roslindale, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Sept. 6, 2024. Blanding was charged and arrested in February 2024, along with over 40 alleged Heath Street Gang members/associates, who were charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms and financial fraud charges. On Oct. 8, 2023, Blanding arranged to buy three pounds of marijuana from an individual and arrived to the deal armed with a firearm. The arranged drug deal resulted in a shooting in the middle of a Randolph neighborhood involving Blanding and two other individuals. Prior to this shooting, investigators had identified Blanding as being a marijuana dealer for the Heath Street Gang who distributed pound-quantity amounts of marijuana. The charge of possession of firearm in furtherance of violent or drug trafficking crime provides for a mandatory sentence of five years up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Randolph Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Crowley and Sarah Hoefle of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Former Boston Teacher Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Quincy man has been arrested and charged for allegedly possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Carter Peaseley, 40, was charged with possession and receipt of child pornography. Peaseley was arrested on May 23, 2024 and released on conditions including a curfew, electronic location monitoring and an order not to have unsupervised contact with children. According to the charging documents, for approximately one year, Peaseley was involved in an online relationship with a 15-year-old minor, during which he allegedly discussed wanting to teach the minor how to kiss – among other sexually explicit activities – and his plan to visit the minor. Peaseley allegedly instructed the minor not to save his texts and suggested they should use a different platform. It is further alleged that Peaseley and the minor exchanged photographs which included sexually explicit photos of the minor. According to court documents, during a search of Peaseley’s residence, approximately 243 images of CSAM were found on a computer and cellphone which were seized. Peaseley was formerly a teacher at the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science and the Match Charter School, both of which are in Boston. The charge of possession and receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, 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 and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Repeat Offender Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for $1 Million Counterfeit Check Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a million-dollar bank fraud scheme in which he deposited hundreds of counterfeit checks. Hui Zhang, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first year to be served on home confinement. Zhang was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $1,035,350. In March 2024, Zhang pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. From in or around June 2020 through at least May 2022, Zhang opened fraudulent bank accounts under false identities into which he electronically deposited approximately 114 counterfeit checks – totaling more than $1 million. The counterfeit checks were drawn on the account of a Boston-based retailer. Zhang subsequently withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash from these accounts via ATMs. In 2017, Zhang was convicted of forgery of a check and other offenses and was sentenced to probation. In 2018, after being found in possession of various forged credit cards and fraudulent identity cards, Zhang was convicted of identity fraud and sentenced to two years in prison. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: McKeesport Convicted Felon Charged with Possession of Firearm

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The one-count Indictment named Jared Abraham Ogrosky, 26, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about March 12, 2024, Ogrosky possessed a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol after having been previously convicted of three felonies, including drug trafficking and firearms crimes. Ogrosky was on federal supervised release at the time of the alleged offense. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Allegheny County District Attorney’s Narcotics Enforcement Team; and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: 11 Charged with Trafficking Drugs in Southwestern Connecticut, Firearm Offenses

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that the following 11 individuals have been charged with federal offenses stemming from their alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking in southwestern Connecticut: RODNEY CANADA , aka “Supreme,” 47, of Stamford TERRELL WILLS , aka “Black Fred,” 50, of Darien RAMION BAKER , a.k.a. “Ray Ray,” 43, of Stamford WILLI BAZELAIS , 30, of Stamford CHRISTOPHER ADAMS , 57, of Norwalk GERALD COLEY , aka “G Rock,” 54, of Bridgeport BENJAMIN DOZIER , aka “Ace” and “Blanco, 42, of Bridgeport DANNY TURKVAN , aka “Smooth” 53, of Stamford GAVIN HAMMETT , aka “G” and “Silk,” 59, of Bridgeport JIMMY ARCE , aka “Boe,” “Slim,” and “Jimbo,” 40, of Bridgeport OMAR PARRA , aka “D” and “Dee,” 37, of Stamford As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Canada as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Stamford and elsewhere in southwestern Connecticut. The investigation, which has included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Wills and Baker helped Canada coordinate the street level distribution of narcotics through Coley, Dozier, Turkvan and others. Canada also sold bulk quantities of cocaine to Bazelais and Adams for further distribution. Hammett is believed to have served as a source of supply for the Canada drug trafficking organization, and Arce was a criminal associate of Canada who supplied Parra with fentanyl, cocaine, and crack. On May 14, 2024, the defendants, with the exception of Parra, were arrested on federal criminal complaints, and additional individuals were arrested on state charges. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches at locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Darien and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, nearly 400 grams of raw fentanyl, more than 500 bags of fentanyl, five firearms, a bulletproof vest, and seven vehicles. Parra has been detained in federal custody since March 19, 2024, when he was arrested on a complaint. On May 22, 2024, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned three separate indictments charging the 11 defendants. In one indictment, Canada, Wills, Baker, Bazelais, Adams, Coley, Dozier, and Turkvan are charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, an offense that a carries a maximum term of 20 years of imprisonment. The indictment also charges Adams and Baker with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; Baker and Dozier with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years; and Baker with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years. It is alleged that Baker’s criminal history includes a federal crack cocaine trafficking conviction. The second indictment charges Hammett with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. It is alleged that Hammett’s criminal history includes federal convictions in the District of South Carolina and the District of Connecticut for cocaine trafficking offenses, and he is currently on federal supervised release for the prior District of Connecticut conviction. The third indictment charges Arce and Parra with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of heroin, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. In addition, Arce is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and Parra is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. All of the defendants are currently detained. “We are committed to using federal law enforcement resources to curb the flow of deadly narcotics in southwestern Connecticut and throughout our state,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Because firearms are typically involved with illegal drug distribution, this creates a heightened concern. We enhance our efforts when individuals who have already been involved in the federal justice system choose to continue criminal activity when they reenter the community. I thank the DEA Task Force, Stamford Police Department, and all of the agencies that have assisted this investigation. Their work is making Connecticut safer.” “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities here in Connecticut,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen P. Belleau. “Let these arrests and seizures serve as an example to those who distribute poisons like fentanyl, heroin, crack-cocaine, and cocaine, that DEA will aggressively pursue and hold you accountable. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners here in Connecticut and our solid relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” “This extensive case is an example of teamwork between many federal and municipal law enforcement partners that led to the arrest of numerous suspects that supplied large amounts of illegal narcotics to the Southwestern portion of Connecticut,” said Stamford Assistant Police Chief Richard Conklin. “Many of the suspects have extensive criminal narcotics background and history, and several illegal firearms were seized. Large scale investigations working together in the team format like this will certainly make Connecticut a safer place for all.” U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Danbury, and Darien Police Departments. The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Owner of Physical Therapy Clinics Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Health Care Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – The former owner of several physical therapy clinics in Greater Boston was sentenced on May 23, 2024 for health care fraud charges. Chang Goo Yoon, 62, a South Korean national residing in Queens, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Yoon was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. In January 2024, Yoon was convicted following a seven-day jury trial on two counts of health care fraud. “Mr. Yoon took advantage of his patients and the trust-based health insurance system for years by billing for appointments that never happened. In addition, he pressured his employees to participate in his unethical and illegal activities,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “These are not victimless crimes. Health care fraud affects everyone by driving up costs for individuals and employers who pay into the health insurance system with their hard earned money. This sentence should send a strong message to others who seek to defraud the system that they will be identified, prosecuted and held accountable.” “Today, we see yet another local physician going to prison for providing physical therapy services without a license and fraudulently billing for bogus appointments,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “This long-running scheme appears fueled by sheer greed, and the FBI and our partners are committed to bringing medical professionals like Chang Goo Yoon, who choose to betray their oath and get involved in fraud, to justice.” “This sentence shows that health care fraud is not tolerated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts places a high priority on fighting this type of insurance fraud, which affects the citizens of this state. We appreciate the collaboration of our investigative partners in combatting fraud in our healthcare system,” said Anthony DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. “Physical therapy patients deserve to receive treatment from a provider that will be honest with them and their health insurance provider” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Dr. Chang Yoon lied about providing clinical services on dates he never saw patients and then had insurance payments fraudulently sent directly to him via U.S. Mail. Thanks to postal inspectors and our law enforcement partners, Dr. Yoon was sentenced today for his actions. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting the integrity of the mail stream and all customers who use it.” Yoon was the owner and operator of several physical therapy clinics in Allston, Waltham and Brookline between 2014 and 2018. Yoon billed patients for non-existent physical therapy appointments, including approximately $150,000 in claims billed on dates when Yoon was traveling in South Korea, Los Angeles and Toronto. Yoon also billed $50,000 in claims on dates when he was gambling at casinos including the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, N.J., MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Additionally, Yoon submitted approximately $30,000 in physical therapy claims for himself after three automobile accidents. Most of those claims falsely listed one of Yoon’s employees as the servicing physical therapist. The remaining claims listed Yoon as both the patient and the servicing physical therapist. In total, the Court found that the defendant submitted more than $1 million in false insurance claims and reaped more than $300,000 in fraudulent proceeds. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, IFB Executive Director DiPaolo and USPIS INC Larco-Ward made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Q. Wan and Patrick M. Callahan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Detroit Man Sentenced To 45 Years in Prison  For Sexually Exploiting a Child

body_text: DETROIT – A Detroit man was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child and distributing child pornography, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, FBI Special Agent in Charge of Detroit. Matthew Borodich, 37 of Detroit was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Linda V. Parker. In late summer 2023, a Winnebago (Wisconsin) County Sheriff’s Department officer working covertly online discovered that a user, later identified as Borodich, had shared multiple pornographic images and videos of a 7-year-old victim to an online public chat group. Law enforcement traced Borodich to Detroit, and the FBI executed a search warrant at Borodich’s residence the very next day. Over the course of two interviews, Borodich admitted to sexually abusing his victim to create child sexually abusive material and other instances of abuse. The FBI also analyzed Borodich’s cell phone and found the material he had shared online of his victim, as well as hundreds of other images and videos of child pornography, including more than 11 hours of footage. “Through swift inter-agency coordination and the commitment of our law enforcement partners, we ended a dangerous sexual predator’s abuse of this vulnerable victim. This sentence justly punishes the defendant for preying on a child of such a young age, and should serve as warning to others who also engage in this type of egregious conduct.” U.S. Attorney Ison said. "Thanks to the unwavering efforts of our partners at the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and our office, Mr. Borodich can no longer prey on children through online methods," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "We have zero tolerance for the exploitation of the innocent and will persist in working together with our law enforcement partners to apprehend these criminals who believe they can prey on our youth and get away with it." This case was investigated by the FBI and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne, Tara Hindelang, and Sean L. King.


title: Mexican National to Serve 8 Years in Prison For Meth and Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: ALPINE, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Pecos to 97 months in prison for intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to court documents, Sandra Araceli Diaz Vazquez, 37, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was suspected of delivering narcotics within the U.S. On Dec. 5, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop along Interstate 20 near Colorado City after observing Diaz Vazquez commit two moving violations. Diaz Vazquez consented to a vehicle search, which resulted in the discovery of approximately 20.2 kilograms of methamphetamine and 5.6 kilograms of fentanyl concealed within the fuel tank. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. HSI and the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Greenbaum and Scott Greenbaum prosecuted the case. ###


title: Eight Members Of Webster-Based Drug Trafficking  Organization Arrested On Federal Charges

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging seven individuals with drug trafficking offenses. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit a purple Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol and assorted ammunition. An eighth individual was charged by criminal complaint. Indictment: United States v. Clarence Ford, et al . Name (Age, Residence) Charges Maximum Penalties Clarence Ford, Jr. (46, Webster) Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine Distribution of 50 grams of methamphetamine (4 counts) Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison Willie Ford, III (35, Webster) Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison Justin Demon Lowery (41, Webster) Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a detectable amount of fentanyl Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a detectable amount of fentanyl Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison Minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison Matthew Stanley Simmons, III (25, New Port Richey) Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl Distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine Minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison Antwan D. Williams (44, Webster) Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine 20 years in federal prison William Cody Ferguson (30, Tampa) Conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl Distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl (2 counts) Felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 15 years, in federal prison Johnny Leanda Harris (56, Webster) Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine Minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison Minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison Criminal Complaint Theron Mathews (36, New Port Richey) Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison According to court filings and information presented during the detention hearings, Clarence Ford, Jr. served as a main source of supply for methamphetamine in the Webster area. His drug trafficking organization stretched into Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Sumter, and Pinellas counties. Ford supplied drugs to Willie Ford, Matthew Simmons, Justin Lowery, Antwan Williams, and Johnny Harris. These individuals are allegedly responsible for distributing more than 2,970 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 129 grams of fentanyl and conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine during the conspiracy. On May 14, 2024, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested the seven individuals charged by indictment. During a search warrant executed at Simmons’s residence, agents located fentanyl, scales, blenders, and firearms. As a result, Simmons’s roommate, Theron Mathews, was arrested and charged via a criminal complaint. In total, the agents seized 11 firearms, approximately 800 grams of fentanyl, approximately 1,400 grams of methamphetamine, 2 kilogram press machines, a pill press machine, and $40,000 in cash from members of the organization during arrest operations. An indictment and a complaint are merely formal charges 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky is handling the forfeiture.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 92 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Charles Thompson, 49 years old, of Forest Park, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Thompson was sentenced to 92 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on three occasions between January 2021, and August 2021, Thompson conspired with others to distribute cocaine. Thompson’s criminal history includes prior felony convictions for aggravated traffic and controlled substances offenses, including a prior 1995 delivery of cocaine conviction. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Toth. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.


title: Picayune, Mississippi Man Sentenced to Nearly 15 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man was sentenced to 179 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 124.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. Jeremy Cyntel Turner, 32, was sentenced on May 24, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization located largely in Picayune, MS (Pearl River County). In 2018, Turner was identified as someone who was part of the conspiracy. A 2020 arrest of other co-conspirators led agents to information that a package of narcotics was being delivered to a Picayune, MS address. The package contained methamphetamine and was retrieved by Jeremy Turner, who admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy. The total drug quantity attributed to Turner over the course of the conspiracy was 124.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. Turner pled guilty on June 21, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.


title: Two Men Admit Smuggling Drugs into Jail, Causing Inmate’s Death

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Two men have admitted involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the St. Francois County Jail that resulted in the overdose death of an inmate. Garry W. Triplett, 37, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distributing of controlled substances. Timothy L. Noll, 35, of Park Hills, Missouri, pleaded guilty on May 22, to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of controlled substances resulting in death. Both men admitted involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the St. Francois County Jail. Noll arrived at the jail on July 27, 2021, and almost immediately began to try and find someone to smuggle drugs into the jail that he could then sell. After finding an intermediary, Noll instructed the intermediary to get the drugs from Triplett. This initial distribution was captured on a video call: Noll also advised the intermediary on how to conceal the drugs in a bible. On August 1, an intermediary dropped off the bible at the jail. The next morning, Noll was being transferred to state prison. When he discovered that he couldn’t bring the bible with him, he had staff give it to his cellmate, who died August 4 of mixed drug intoxication. The victim had 19 ng/ml of fentanyl in his bloodstream. As little as 3 ng/ml can be fatal. He had also taken methamphetamine. On a shelf in his cell, investigators discovered a clear plastic baggie with methamphetamine residue and a King James Bible with a detached spine. Triplett admitted providing 3 grams of both fentanyl and meth to the intermediary, and Noll admitted providing these controlled substances to his cellmate. They also acknowledged that these controlled substances caused the cellmate’s death. Noll is scheduled to be sentenced in August, and Triplett in September. The death resulting charge carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, with a maximum penalty of life and a $10 million fine. The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case.


title: Sharon Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Heroin and to Launder Drug Proceeds

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring both to engage in drug trafficking and to launder drug trafficking proceeds, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. London Pinkins, 29, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to (1) conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and 100 grams or more of heroin between June 2020 and June 2021 and (2) conspiring to launder drug trafficking proceeds between February 2021 and June 2021. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for October 1, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pennsylvania State Police, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, Hermitage Police Department, and Farrell Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pinkins. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Justice Department Sues Oklahoma City Public Schools to Protect Servicemember Reemployment Rights

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department has sued Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) to protect rights guaranteed to an Air Force Reserve Senior Airman, Michael J. McCullough, by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, alleges that OKCPS violated USERRA when it failed to reinstate McCullough in a teacher position upon his return from a military deployment. “We owe a solemn duty to protect the rights of our servicemembers when called upon to defend our nation. This lawsuit reinforces the Justice Department’s strong commitment to protecting the rights of those who wear the uniform proudly,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “USERRA provides important reemployment protections, and we must act when any employer denies them an opportunity to earn a living because they are called to duty.” “Service members are called to leave their home and work to serve and protect us,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “It is our job to make sure their employment rights are protected once they return home. My office will continue to vigorously defend the rights justly earned by those who serve our country.” According to the complaint, McCullough was employed by OKCPS as a music teacher in January 2022. He was under contract for the remainder of the school year, and his principal told him that she wanted him to return to teach the following year. In February 2022, McCullough was ordered to perform military service. When he notified his principal, she suggested it would be easier if he just resigned his teaching position. Less than a month later, during his deployment, OKCPS advised McCullough that his contract for the 2022-2023 school year would not be renewed. Prior to and on his return from active military duty, OKCPS refused McCullough’s repeated requests for reemployment, despite available positions. The lawsuit seeks lost wages, other employment benefits and other remedies. The complaint also seeks liquidated damages because this is the second time that OKCPS’ refusal to reemploy McCullough following military service has required USERRA enforcement action. USERRA protects the rights of uniformed servicemembers to reemployment in their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at www.justice.gov/crt-military/employment-rights-userra and www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra . The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service investigated the case and referred the case to the Justice Department. Trial Attorney Robert Galbreath of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Fagan for the Western District of Oklahoma are handling the case.


title: Cranberry Township Resident Indicted for Domestic Violence and Assault of Partner During 2022 Cruise

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on assault and interstate domestic violence charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The three-count Indictment named Quintin Owens, 27, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about October 11, 2022, on a cruise ship excursion departing from Orlando, Florida, Owens strangled, assaulted, and wounded his intimate and dating partner, also a resident of Western Pennsylvania. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Cincinnati Man Sentenced in Washington D.C. to 13 Years for Distributing Child Pornography, Seeking an 8-Year-Old to Abuse

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – John Albertson, 33, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was sentenced on Friday, May 24, 2024, in U.S. District Court to 13 years in prison for sending an undercover FBI agent videos of adults sexually abusing prepubescent girls with the aim of making his own sexually exploitive videos so that he could “have fun and make xxx money.” The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Albertson entered a guilty plea on November 7, 2023, to one count of Distribution of Child Pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Albertson to serve 15 years of supervised release and to pay $18,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in the child pornography. According to court documents, on August 9, 2023, Albertson joined an encrypted private messaging group on social media where members traded images of child sexual abuse. Albertson shared images of an adult man abusing a prepubescent girl, sending them to an undercover FBI agent working with Metropolitan Police Department-Federal Bureau of Investigation (MPD-FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force. On August 10, 2023, Albertson initiated a text conversation during which he invited the undercover agent to join another social media group focused on child pornography. Albertson and the undercover then exchanged messages in which Albertson sought a meeting with the undercover and his purported 8-year-old daughter for the purpose of sexually abusing the child and filming the abuse for the purpose of later selling it. Following Albertson’s arrest in the Cincinnati suburb of Hebron, Kentucky, on August 23, 2023, he was transported to the Washington D.C. area where he was indicted by a Grand Jury. In seeking a 13-year sentence, the prosecution argued that Albertson had engaged in progressively more violent, disturbing, and dangerous conduct over the past decade including a violent interaction with police in 2017 and masturbating in front of a child in 2021, prior to engaging in the conduct in this case. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department-Federal Bureau of Investigation (MPD-FBI) Child Exploitation Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Jocelyn Bond. 23-cr-0324