title: Lead Defendants Plead Guilty to RICO Conspiracy to Transport, Hire, and Harbor Unauthorized Workers

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Seven defendants, including an owner, president, chief financial officer, and controller of a Joplin, Mo., corporation, have pleaded guilty in federal court to their roles in a racketeering conspiracy to transport, hire, and harbor undocumented workers in several Midwestern states. “This case sends a clear and unequivocal message: employing unauthorized workers will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences,” said Mark Zito, HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge. “Our investigation uncovered a blatant and systemic disregard for our nation’s employment laws. Those who engage in such unlawful practices not only undermine the integrity of our labor market but also exploit vulnerable individuals. HSI Kansas City is relentless in our pursuit to dismantle these illegal operations and hold violators accountable to the fullest extent of the law. If you break the law, you will face the full force of our investigation and prosecution.” Jose Luis Bravo, 54, of Claremore, Oklahoma; Jose Guadalupe Razo, 54, of Carl Junction, Mo.; Anthony Edward Doll, 46, and Miguel Tarin-Martinez, 46, both of Joplin, Mo.; Alejandro Castillo-Ramirez, 43, a citizen of Mexico; Jaime Ramirez-Ceja, 46, a citizen of Mexico; and Veronica Razo de Lara, 50, of Great Bend, Kansas, have pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark. Each defendant admitted they were part of a RICO (racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations) conspiracy from Jan. 1, 2018, to Aug. 10, 2021, that transported and employed Mexican, Guatemalan, and El Salvadoran nationals who were not authorized to live or work in the United States. Conspirators also harbored and encouraged the unauthorized workers to remain and reside in the United States by providing them with housing and, in certain circumstances, fraudulent identification documentation. Bravo is the partial owner of Specialty Foods Distribution, a corporation based in Joplin. Specialty Foods Distribution is a wholesale Mexican food products and restaurant supply company. Razo is the president of Specialty Foods Distribution; Doll is the chief financial officer; Tarin-Martinez is the controller. Bravo, Razo, Doll, and Tarin-Martinez created and maintained a network of restaurants operating under multiple LLCs in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma that were serviced by Specialty Foods Distribution. The defendants conspired to staff these restaurants with unauthorized workers. Castillo-Ramirez, Ramirez-Ceja, and Razo de Lara managed three of the enterprise-affiliated restaurants that employed unauthorized workers. By utilizing unauthorized workers — a workforce not available to law-abiding business owners — the defendants obtained an unfair and illegal competitive business advantage. In addition to transporting, harboring, and hiring unauthorized workers, the racketeering activity involved evasive and fraudulent actions. Specifically, to maintain high levels of unauthorized employees at the enterprise-affiliated restaurants, the defendants kept certain unauthorized workers off official payroll records; required certain unauthorized workers to work at times when federal officials were unlikely to conduct inspections; failed to collect or maintain complete and accurate Form I-9 documentation; falsely attested to the accuracy of information on Form I-9 documentation; submitted inaccurate wage and hour reports to state officials; and facilitated fraudulent identification documentation being produced, transported, and provided to unauthorized workers. Bravo specifically admitted that, as part of the RICO conspiracy, he facilitated the production and transportation of two fraudulent U.S. permanent resident cards from Claremore to Butler, Mo., as well as personally transported three unauthorized workers from Claremore to the state of Kansas. Bavo has agreed to forfeit to the government approximately $5.7 million, comprising the forfeiture of proceeds he obtained from the RICO enterprise as well as property that afforded a source of influence over the RICO enterprise. The forfeiture agreement involves liquidation of five financial accounts; the government obtaining cash in lieu of Bravo’s interest in 12 real properties; and the government obtaining cash in lieu of Bravo’s interest in portions of 24 individual companies or corporations, including a portion of SFD, which Bravo admitted afforded a source of influence over the RICO enterprise. Razo specifically admitted that he conspired to harbor five unauthorized workers at enterprise-affiliated restaurants in Great Bend, and encouraged and induced three unauthorized workers at SFD to reside in the United States in violation of the law. Razo has agreed to forfeiture in the form of liquidation of one bank account and a money judgment in the amount of approximately $130,700, representing the proceeds he obtained from the RICO enterprise. Doll specifically admitted to encouraging unauthorized workers to reside in the United States by conspiring to create a Missouri LLC for the purpose of opening a new restaurant where certain unauthorized workers could gain employment, and conspiring to harbor unauthorized workers by taking steps to ensure unauthorized workers did not utilize established timeclock payroll systems at certain enterprise-affiliated restaurants. Doll has agreed to forfeiture in the form of liquidation of two bank accounts and a money judgment in the amount of approximately $132,300, representing the proceeds he obtained from the RICO enterprise. Tarin-Martinez specifically admitted to encouraging unauthorized workers to reside in the United States in violation of the law in Springfield, Mo., and in Pittsburg, Kan. Tarin-Martinez has agreed to forfeiture in the form of a money judgment in the amount of approximately $23,094, representing the proceeds he obtained from the RICO enterprise. Castillo-Ramirez specifically admitted to harboring two unauthorized workers at an enterprise-affiliated restaurant in Augusta, Kan. Castillo-Ramirez also admitted to encouraging the two unauthorized workers to reside in the United States in violation of the law by providing the unauthorized workers with employment, keeping them out of the established payroll system, and paying them in cash or by local check. Ramirez-Ceja specifically admitted to encouraging two unauthorized workers to reside in the United States in violation of the law by providing the workers with employment at an enterprise-affiliated restaurant in Lebanon, Mo., allowing the unauthorized workers to utilize fraudulent identification documents, and providing the unauthorized workers with housing. Additionally, Ramirez-Ceja admitted to making false attestations on two Form I-9 documents. Razo de Lara specifically admitted to conspiring to harbor four unauthorized workers at an enterprise-affiliated restaurant in Great Bend. As part of the conspiracy, Razo de Lara agreed to keep unauthorized workers out of the established payroll system, pay the unauthorized workers in cash, and have certain unauthorized workers complete work at times when federal agents were unlikely to inspect the restaurant. Under federal statutes, each of these defendants is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, Leigh Farmakidis, and Nicholas Heberle. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from IRS-Criminal Investigations, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Department of Labor, Kansas Department of Revenue, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Missouri State Highway Patrol.


title: Hot Springs Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearms Possession

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: HOT SPRINGS – An Arkansas man has been sentenced to 123 months in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearings, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs. According to court records, on March 7, 2023, Darryl Lavell Williams , age 30, of Hot Springs, was observed by Hot Springs Police Department Officers walking along East Grand Avenue carrying a black backpack. Officers recognized Williams and knew that he had an active warrant from the Arkansas Parole Board. As Officers approached Williams, he ignored their commands and attempted to dispose of the backpack by throwing it off a bridge. Williams was taken into custody and the backpack was located. A search of the backpack revealed a loaded Jimenez 9mm handgun and 47 grams of methamphetamine. On June 5, 2024, Williams pleaded guilty to Possession of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement. The Hot Springs Police Departments Special Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Three dozen defendants indicted in major south Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WAYCROSS, GA: A newly unsealed federal indictment alleges dozens of defendants, many of them in prison, participated in an extensive drug trafficking operation spanning several south Georgia communities. The indictment in USA v. Brinson , et al., names 37 individuals in the Coffee, Atkinson, and Bacon County area as conspirators, charging them with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Oxycodone, and Marijuana, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on the charge carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison for most defendants, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “This operation makes it clear that rural communities aren’t immune from the scourge of drug trafficking,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “We applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners in this investigation.” As described in the indictment, the defendants are alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to import and distribute large amounts of illegal drugs in the Douglas, Georgia, community and surrounding counties. Much of the conspiracy was directed from inside Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones. The 60-count indictment includes the seizure of 21 illegally possessed firearms and more than $17,000. Those named in the indictment include: Litarus Brinson , a/k/a “Ben Brokebefore,” 26, an inmate at the Jenkins Correctional Center; Christopher Brockington , a/k/a “Chris Brock,” 44, of Douglas; Keevon Bussey , a/k/a “Guado Gettinguap Gomez,” 26, of Douglas; Stacey Daniels , 32, of Douglas; Kenneth Davis , 62, being held in the Coffee County Jail; T’Kiya Eady , 24, of Lagrange, Georgia; Patrick Ellis , 42, of Atlanta; Anthony Gaskin Jr. , 35, of Pearson, Georgia; Dacia Gaskins , a/k/a “Sheree Gaskins,” 31, of Douglas, a former Georgia state corrections officer; Ernest Goodman , 42, an inmate of the Ware County Jail; Christopher Hawkins , a/k/a “Rayshon Hawkins,” 30, of Douglas; Qudarious Hawkins , a/k/a “Don Esclobar,” 25, of Douglas; Breanna Henderson , 34, of Douglas; Corey Hill , 34, of Ambrose, Georgia; Demarcus Holland , 32, of Douglas; Wanda Hollinger , 57, of Douglas; Zarionna Holloway , a/k/a “Channel Parker,” 23, of Douglas; Roger Jenkins , 27, a/k/a “Glee Jenkins,” a/k/a “WMG Glee,” of Alma, Georgia; Marquan Jenkins , a/k/a “Anna Brooke,” a/k/a “Mary Thompson,” 30, an inmate at Macon State Prison; Richard Jewell , 51, of Douglas; Aaron Kahn , 49, of Douglas; James Lander , 35, Douglas; Jeffrey Maxwell , a/k/a “EBK Kokaine,” 28, an inmate of Wilcox State Prison; Darien McDaniel , 35, of Waycross, Georgia; Antarious McTear , 30, of Douglas; Adrian Munford , a/k/a “Jugg King,” 41, of Waycross Ferlonzo Newton , a/k/a “Lonzie Newton,” a/k/a “Kell Newton,” 28, of Douglas; Reginald Powell , a/k/a “Yetti Glock,” 36, of Douglas; Patricia Raven , a/k/a “Ms. Pat,” 65, of Valdosta, Georgia; Marcus Reynolds , a/k/a “Marc Marc,” 44, an inmate at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison; James Robinson , 33, an inmate at Telfair State Prison; Sedarrien Smith , a/k/a “Slug Da Menace,” 24, of Douglas; Billy Toombs Jr. , 32, of Douglas; Dequatte Tucker , a/k/a “Deshawn Tucker,” a/k/a “Esco,” a/k/a “Freeband Esco,” 33, an inmate at Wheeler Correctional Facility; Travis Tucker , 33, of Douglas; Assyria Watts , a/k/a “Jefe Cain,” 29, of Douglas; and, Brian Wright , 48, of Alma, Georgia. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners were able to achieve today’s arrests and seizures because all of us never stopped working together, combining our resources, and advocating for a safer place to live for everyone in this community,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden. “And we will not rest until we bring back to our community a sense of security and law and order that is so greatly needed.” “This operation was only successful because of the collaborative effort of the various agencies,” said Coffee County Sheriff Fred T. Cole. “As the sheriff, it is my mission to eliminate the spread of illegal drugs in our community. This operation highlights the importance of community safety and the lasting effects it has on our community.” This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. The case also 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. Agencies conducting the investigation include the FBI, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeast Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Douglas Police Department, the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, the Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Waycross Police Department, the Marion County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville (Florida) County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Joshua K. Davis. us_dis_gasd_5_25cr1_indictment_brinson_et_al.pdf


title: Parrish Man Arrested For Trafficking Firearms To Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Frank Jude Petrone, Sr. (55, Parrish) with trafficking firearms to a convicted felon. If convicted, Petrone faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. According to the complaint, on October 2, 2024, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that Petrone was selling firearms to an individual he knew to be a convicted felon. Petrone sells firearms for a licensed gun dealer. On three separate occasions between October 2024 and January 2025, Petrone sold the convicted felon, acting as a confidential source, three firearms and 117 rounds of ammunition. Federal law prohibits selling firearms to a convicted felon and a convicted felon cannot pass the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. On the evening of October 17, 2024, Petrone sold a .357 Taurus International 605 Poly Protector revolver and 10 rounds of .357 ammunition to the confidential source. On November 8, 2024, Petrone sold a 9mm Sig Sauer M18 semi-automatic pistol to the confidential source. And on January 2, 2025, Petrone sold a .45 ISAS 1911A1 semi-automatic pistol to the confidential source. During that transaction, Petrone also offered to sell a machinegun with an obliterated serial number. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: St. Paul Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of a Cell Phone Store

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A man has been sentenced to 80 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for the armed robbery of a St. Paul cell phone store, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. He was also ordered to pay $4,900 in restitution. According to court documents, on April 5, 2024, Johnnie Ward, Jr., 31, walked into a cell phone store in St. Paul, with an accomplice who was carrying a torch lighter. While the accomplice pointed the weapon at the store clerk, Ward demanded access to the safe in the back storage room, telling his victim to “hurry up or else.” Ward and his accomplice ultimately fled the store with several cell phones. Ward was sentenced yesterday by Judge Susan Richard Nelson in U.S. District Court on one count of Hobbs Act Robbery. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Classen prosecuted the case.


title: Helena man sentenced to more than seven years in prison for conviction of firearm crime

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

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Helena man who admitted to a firearm crime after a welfare check led to him being arrested on a warrant while attempting to flee officers was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Scott Hamilton, 44, pleaded in October 2024 to receipt of a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that at 4 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2023, law enforcement officers stopped a man wearing dark clothing and carrying a duffel bag on Montana Highway 12 for a welfare check. The man, identified as Hamilton, told officers he had car trouble and was walking to East Helena. Officers learned there was an active warrant for Hamilton out of Broadwater County. When officers attempted to arrest Hamilton, he fled across the highway and dropped his bag as he ran. Officers pursued and arrested Hamilton and recovered the duffle bag. Inside the duffle bag were two firearms, a .22 caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Hamilton had prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years for Selling a Deadly Dose that Killed a U.S. Army Private

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jaron Johnson, 23, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in federal prison in connection with selling a fatal dose of fentanyl in May 2022 to an American soldier. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jake Cameron of the Washington Field Office, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division . Johnson pleaded guilty on August 17, 2024, to unlawful distribution of fentanyl. In addition to the five-year prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Johnson to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Johnson distributed what he knew to contain fentanyl to a U.S. Army private. Approximately 14 hours after the sale, the soldier died. The cause of death was determined to be a mixture of fentanyl, dextromethorphan (cough medicine), and chlorpheniramine (allergy medicine), with an enlarged heart as a contributing factor. However, toxicology results revealed standard doses of dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine, which are not typically fatal. When the soldier’s phone was searched, investigators found a text message conversation between the soldier and a phone number which was linked to Johnson. The messages show that the soldier discussed meeting with Johnson to purchase “blues” and “30s,” which is often slang for pills containing fentanyl. On May 23, 2022, Johnson sent a message to the soldier which included a picture of a hand holding a bag of light blue pills. The soldier died on May 26, 2022. On May 25, 2023, Johnson was arrested at an airport in Baltimore upon his return from California. A search of his checked luggage revealed he had been carrying approximately 33 pounds of suspected marijuana. This case was investigated by the DEA’s Washington Division and Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel of the Violence Reduction and Traffic Offenses Section (VRTO), with valuable assistance provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Long and Will Hart, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 23cr157


title: Ohio Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – David Lamont Hicks, age 48, of Steubenville, Ohio, was sentenced today to 81 months in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, as part of a drug investigation, officers searched an apartment on Wheeling Island. Hicks fled the apartment on foot and was arrested. Investigators seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Hicks has prior convictions for aggravated robbery, drug trafficking, and attempted burglary. Hicks will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Wheeling Police Department investigated. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Allegedly Attempting To Extort Money From Chicago Restaurateur

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for allegedly threatening and assaulting a Chicago restaurateur to collect a debt the man claimed he was owed. An indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges JAWAD FAKROUNE, also known as “Angelino Escobar” or “Anjelino Escobar,” 45, of Morocco, with extortion. Arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 5, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah. In 2023 and 2024, Fakroune privately loaned approximately $405,000 to the restaurateur to start a new restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, according to a criminal complaint previously filed in the case. The restaurateur repaid a portion of the loan, but in November 2024 Fakroune and the restaurateur engaged in a dispute regarding the amount of money still owed, the complaint states. On the evening of Nov. 25, 2024, Fakroune went to the restaurant, threatened the restaurateur over the manner and nature of the repayments, and claimed that $1.5 million was still owed, the complaint states. Fakroune then choked, kicked, and punched the restaurateur, while continuing to demand money and threatening the restaurateur’s life and the lives of his family members, the complaint states. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Hennessy and Richard M. Rothblatt. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. fakroune_complaint.pdf 0025_-_0000_-_indictment_as_to_jawad_fakroune_1_counts_1-2.pdf


title: General President of International Union of Operating Engineers Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Resign

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: WASHINGTON –James T. Callahan, the International President of the International Union of Operating Engineers, pleaded guilty to knowingly filing false annual reports with the United States Department of Labor. These reports, called LM-30s, are required by law and must be truthful and complete. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. for the District of Columbia. Callahan, of Lindenhurst, NY, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes of the U.S. District Court for the District of the District of Columbia who accepted his plea of guilty. Judge Reyes will determine any sentence for Callahan after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Judge Reyes scheduled sentencing for May 19, 2025. The Operating Engineers represents nearly 400,000 heavy machinery operators on construction and industrial sites throughout the United States and Canada. From 2011 to the present, Callahan has served as General President of the Operating Engineers at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. In pleading guilty, Callahan admitted that he filed LM-30 reports that omitted his receipt of goods and services from an advertising firm that Callahan and the Union used to place ads. From 2015 through 2023, Callahan requested from the advertising firm and received free tickets to nearly 100 sports, concert, and theater events, as well as hospitality packages associated with those events. Those tickets and amenities were worth at least $315,000 and properly belonged to the Operating Engineers. Callahan did not reveal the existence of those tickets and did not obtain authorization from the Union’s Executive Board to use them. Callahan used many of those tickets personally and provided other tickets to members of his family and persons who were not members of the Operating Engineers. As a condition of his plea, Callahan agreed to repay the Operating Engineers $315,000 for the tickets and resign as General President immediately. The United States Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Labor Management Standards and DOL-Office of Inspector General, are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Brian Kelly and Trial Attorney Vincent Falvo of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering section are prosecuting the case. ## 24cr555


title: Previously Convicted Felon Found with a ‘Ghost Gun’ Is Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: WASHINGTON — Alonte Wilkinson, 31, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 57 months in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm, a “ghost gun” that was recovered after he was stopped by police on suspicion of shoplifting from a CVS in Southwest Washington D.C. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Wilkinson pleaded guilty on October 23, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 57-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Wilkinson to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents on January 17, 2024, about 5 p.m., MPD officers were conducting a retail theft operation at the CVS on the 1100 block of 4th Street SW. At 5:18 p.m., Wilkinson and another man entered the store. At 5:22 p.m., two CVS employees took note of Wilkinson and the other man exiting the store without paying for their items. The officers stopped the pair as they walked northbound on 4 th Street SW. MPD officers searched both men. One of the officers recovered a firearm from Wilkinson’s right jacket pocket. Wilkinson claimed he had a license to carry a concealed weapon, but that he did not have the license in his possession. The firearm recovered from the Wilkinson was a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol with one live round in the chamber, and 12 more rounds in the magazine. The serial number on the pistol was obliterated and rendered unreadable. A check of the D.C. Gun Registry database revealed that Wilkinson did not have a license to carry a firearm nor was the firearm in his possession registered to him, given the obliterated serial number. A criminal history search confirmed that Wilkinson was a felon, having been previously convicted for a firearms offense in 2019 for which he was sentenced to prison for more than one year. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emory Cole. 24cr0058


title: Browning man sentenced to more than three years in prison for burning woman with hot knife on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning man who admitted to burning a woman on the hand with a hot knife in a residence on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Dale Ray Racine, 32, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to assault with a dangerous weapon. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that in the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2024, Racine was drinking at a residence in Browning. The victim, Jane Doe, also was present. At some point, Racine placed a knife in a wood stove until it was red hot. Racine removed the knife from the fire and burned Doe with it. Doe reported to law enforcement and medical providers that Racine was trying to brand her neck. Doe held up her hand to stop the branding, at which point Racine intentionally burned her hand. Doe was treated for second-degree burns to her hand. Racine committed the assault one month after having been released from federal prison and while on supervision for an assault he committed in 2021 in which he repeatedly struck a man in the head with a metal pipe. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, investigated the case. XXX


title: Taos Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Counts of Child Sexual Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Taos Pueblo man pleaded guilty in federal court today to three counts of sexual abuse of children. According to court documents, Ben John Martinez , 76, an enrolled member of Taos Pueblo, admitted to exploiting his traditional roles in Taos Pueblo to sexually assault minors during traditional ceremonies and at his home on Taos Pueblo between 2001 and 2010. Martinez used his position to gain unsupervised access to children including John Doe, Jane Doe 1, and Jane Doe 2 as well as other currently known victims as described in the plea agreement. Martinez was taken into custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Martinez faces 15-40 years imprisonment. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Brittany J. DuChaussee is prosecuting the caseas part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC. The FBI continues to investigate Martinez’s involvement in crimes against other victims. If you have reason to believe you or someone you know may be a victim, please call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or Chief Summer Mirabal of the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety at (575) 741-0764. View the Plea Agreement (Martinez).pdf # # #


title: Out-of-State Defendant Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Conspiracy with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: COEUR D’ALENE – Ayana R. Bacon, 25, of Box Elder, Montana, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, Bacon was a passenger in a car which was stopped in Shoshone County, Idaho on September 22, 2023. The individuals in the car had picked up a large quantity of fentanyl pills in Washington and were taking them to Montana to distribute them. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered that Bacon be placed on supervised release for three years following her prison sentence. Bacon pleaded guilty to the charge in August 2024. “Fentanyl is a deadly threat and, along with our dedicated federal and state law enforcement partners, we are focused on shutting it out of Idaho,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “This means prosecuting those who bring it into Idaho communities as well as those using our highways to take loads to another state. Either way, we will hold you accountable.” “Fentanyl traffickers prey on the misery of victims of substance use disorder for their own profit,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “I am gratified that DEA and our partners could hold this defendant accountable for her role in fentanyl trafficking to rural America.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Idaho State Police for their collaboration in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryce Ellsworth prosecuted the case. ###


title: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 36 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Darren Patterson, 31, a previously convicted felon from Washington D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 36 months in federal prison in connection with an April 2024 incident in which he attempted to flee from police in his car, struck several vehicles, drove his vehicle into a fence, and crashed into a tree. At his arrest, Patterson was found to be in possession of more than 70 grams of crack cocaine and in illegal possession of a stolen Glock 47 that had been outfitted to fire as a machine gun. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Patterson pleaded guilty on July 25, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 36-month prison term, U.S. District Court Loren L. AliKhan ordered Patterson to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on April 13, 2024, members of the MPD’s Fifth District Crime Suppression Team (CST) were patrolling in the 1000 block 16th Street, NE. The officers approached a sedan parked on the block and observed a black firearm in plain view in between the feet of Patterson, who was seated behind the wheel. Officers attempted to stop Patterson for further investigation, but Patterson attempted to flee. He reversed the car, causing it to strike another vehicle that was parked behind it. Officers again attempted to stop Patterson, at which point he drove forward, struck a second parked vehicle, and then drove onto the public sidewalk. Patterson then crashed the car into a private fence before driving the car into a tree, which finally stopped him. During a search of the car, MPD officers recovered a stolen Glock 47 that had one round in the chamber, and 19 rounds in the magazine. The stolen firearm was outfitted with a “giggle switch” that allowed it to be operated as a fully automatic machine gun. In a search of Patterson, officers recovered crack cocaine – 13 grams of a white rock-like substance in his pocket, 58.5 grams of a white rock-like substance on the ground where Patterson was arrested – and $2,030 from his person. Patterson previously had been convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm (prior conviction); possession with intent to distribute marijuana; and attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emory Cole, Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, and Jared English. 24cr204


title: Brooklyn Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, an indictment was unsealed charging Ramel Warner with sexual exploitation of a child. The defendant was arrested this morning and arraigned before Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. He was detained pending trial. John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charge. “As alleged, while babysitting a seven-year-old boy, the defendant horrifically abused him, filmed the acts and subsequently distributed it on the dark web,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “Our Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who abuses children.” Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department for their assistance on the case. “Ramel Warner is alleged to have used his access to a young child, while babysitting him at his own home, to film himself sexually assaulting the child. Warner's alleged actions are unconscionable, and we believe there may be more victims. We ask anyone with information regarding his actions to please come forward, so that we can further investigate and aid his victims. The FBI is committed to ensuring the safety of children and holding their abusers accountable in the criminal justice system,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. As set forth in court filings, in approximately 2022, the defendant raped the young son of a family friend in the child’s own home when he was supposed to be babysitting him. The defendant recorded six videos of his sexual abuse of the child, one of which was over four minutes long. The videos the defendant created depict him anally penetrating the child and performing oral sex on him. Those videos were subsequently distributed on the dark web. The government believes the defendant has worked at afterschool programs in Brooklyn public schools, including a dance group for minor children operating out of a Brooklyn middle school. Anyone with information about sexual exploitation by the defendant should contact the FBI at RWarnerCase@fbi.gov . This prosecution is 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, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years. The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Vincent Chiappini is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant: Ramel Warner Age: 23 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-32 25-cr-32_ramel_warner_indictment.pdf


title: Grand Jury Returns Seven Indictments

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation, and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. LAS VEGAS MAN CHARGED WITH COCAINE TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL FIREARMS POSSESSION Enrique Rodriquez possessed over 5 kilograms of cocaine Enrique Rodriguez, 41, Las Vegas, Nevada, is charged with distributing cocaine, possessing cocaine intended for distribution, possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that on June 6, 2024, Rodriguez distributed 500 grams or more of cocaine. The indictment also alleges that on January 16, 2025, Rodriquez possessed 5 kilograms or more of cocaine intended for distribution, illegally possessed a firearm as a felon, and possessed the firearm to further a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison for the count charging distribution of over 500 grams of cocaine. The count involving 5 kilograms or more of cocaine carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The felon in possession charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life. The charges against Rodriguez are the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Madison and Milwaukee, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and the Madison Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case. MARSHALL MAN CHARGED WITH DRUG AND GUN CRIMES Deontrae C. McIntosh, 21, Marshall, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl; possessing cocaine and fentanyl intended for distribution; possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon; and possessing a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that McIntosh distributed cocaine on September 23, 2024, and on September 27, 2024. The indictment alleges that McIntosh distributed cocaine and heroin on October 4, 2024. The indictment further alleges that on November 6, 2024, McIntosh distributed cocaine and fentanyl, possessed cocaine and fentanyl intended for distribution, and possessed a loaded Glock 23, 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun as a felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, McIntosh faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each drug charge. The felon in possession charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, McIntosh faces a penalty of not less than 5 years in prison with a maximum of life in prison. The charges against McIntosh are the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea is handling the case. CHIPPEWA FALLS MAN CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE AND FENTANYL Jason Barnard, 39, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl and with possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl intended for distribution. The indictment alleges that on October 6, 2024, Barnard distributed a mixture of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that Barnard distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Finally, the indictment alleges that on December 6, 2024, Barnard possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, all intended for distribution. If convicted of the charge involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine or 40 grams or more of fentanyl, Barnard faces a minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted of the charge involving 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, Barnard faces a minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The other distribution charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charges against Barnard are the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Enforcement Task Force, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson is handling the case. WAUSAU MAN CHARGED WITH COCAINE TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARMS Johntay L. Johnson, 39, Wausau, Wisconsin, is charged with maintaining a drug involved premise, distributing cocaine, and possessing firearms as a felon. The indictment alleges that between December 19, 2023, and November 21, 2024, Johnson used his residence in Wausau to store, manufacture, and distribute illegal drugs. The indictment further alleges that Johnson distributed cocaine on nine occasions in 2024 and possessed three firearms as a felon on September 10, 2024. If convicted of the drug counts, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. If convicted of the felon in possession count, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charges against Johnson were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case. SUN PRAIRIE MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARM AND AMMUNITION Cashius Carter, 20, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that Carter possessed a loaded Glock 9mm handgun and Federal 9mm ammunition between June 21, 2024, and September 26, 2024. If convicted, Carter faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case. FITCHBURG MAN CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARM Malcolm Whiteside, 29, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm as a felon. The indictment alleges that Whiteside possessed a loaded Glock Model 27 pistol on August 12, 2024. If convicted, Whiteside faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge against Whiteside is the result of an investigation conducted by the Monona Police Department, Madison Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma is handling the case. MADISON MAN CHARGED WITH DRUG CRIMES Gregory P. Robinson, 41, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine, possessing cocaine and fentanyl intended for distribution, and maintaining a drug trafficking place. The indictment alleges that Robinson distributed cocaine on four occasions in June 2024. The indictment also alleges that on June 25, 2024, Robinson possessed cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, all intended for distribution. Finally, the indictment alleges that Robinson maintained a drug trafficking place from June 13, 2024, to June 25,2024. If convicted of the charge involving 400 grams or more, Robinson faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. If convicted of the charge involving 40 grams or more, Robinson faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The distribution charges, the possession of cocaine charge, and the maintaining a drug trafficking place charge all carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. The charges against Robinson are the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, the Madison Police Department, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case. CHIPPEWA FALLS MAN CHARGED WITH TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE Leroy T. McNamara, 61, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine. The indictment alleges that McNamera distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on July 8, 2024, and July 24, 2024. If convicted, McNamara faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on each charge. The charges against McNamara are the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Drug Task Force and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes is handling the case.


title: Searcy Landlord Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison After Being Convicted of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—A Searcy man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison today. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Thomas Ray Kelso, 74, of Searcy, Arkansas, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 1, 2023. Prior to that, an investigation by the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force revealed that Kelso frequently distributed methamphetamine at an apartment complex in Searcy. Kelso, who owned the apartment complex, exploited female residents in the complex and forced them into performing sex acts in order to keep the power on in their apartment, satisfy their rent obligations, or obtain illegal narcotics. The investigation also revealed that when one woman refused Kelso’s sexual advances, he pulled her electricity meter to cut her power. Kelso also employed one woman to recruit other women for him so he could exploit them to engage in performing sexual acts on him. After a two-day trial that concluded on August 14, 2024, a federal grand jury found Kelso, guilty on all four counts for which he was indicted: three counts of sex trafficking and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Moody also sentenced Kelso to five years’ supervised release, a $50,000 fine, and $50,000 in restitution for a total of $100,000. There is no parole in the federal system. The investigation was conducted by the Searcy Police Department and Central Arkansas Drug Task Force, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and Shelby Shelton. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Billings man sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking meth, possessing gun on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A federal judge today sentenced a Billings man who admitted to armed trafficking of methamphetamine and other substances on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, David Victor Fast Horse, 36, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that on Aug. 30, 2022, tribal law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a pickup truck on Upper Road on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation because officers believed the driver had a tribal warrant for her arrest. A man jumped out of the front passenger seat and began running. A Rocky Boy’s police officer caught up with the man, later identified as Fast Horse, and found him retreating around a shed. Officers retraced Fast Horse’s path and located a green pistol and black case hidden near a woodpile where he had emerged. Fast Horse said he was given the gun and case and told to run. Officers opened the case and found 18 blue pills, which tested for a mixture of substances, two small baggies with a small amount of meth, a digital scale and a car key. Fast Horse later admitted he sold meth, but not fentanyl, and that he had come to Rocky Boy’s to buy drugs from his friend. Fast Horse is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior federal felony conviction for burglary. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Rocky Boy’s Police Department, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Union County Man Sentenced To 57 Months In Prison For Stolen Vehicles Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to receive, retitle, and “re-VIN” stolen vehicles, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. Nathaniel Bell, 27, of Linden, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to a seven-count information charging him with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen vehicles, five counts of altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and one count of transportation of stolen vehicles. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Bell was the leader of a criminal conspiracy that obtained stolen vehicles from New Jersey, New York, Florida, and other states, obtained fraudulent titles for the stolen vehicles, and altered vehicle identification numbers to conceal the fact that the vehicles were stolen. Bell and his co-conspirators then sold the stolen cars to dealerships or individual purchasers so they could make a profit. In at least two instances, the co-conspirators sold a stolen car to an individual purchaser and then stole it back so they could sell it again. Bell also knowingly altered or removed the VIN numbers on five vehicles and knowingly transported a stolen vehicle between New York and New Jersey. In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesler sentenced Bell to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution. Bell’s co-conspirators, Johnathan Tanksley, 31, of Orange; L’Hubermane Felix, 25, of Miami, Florida; and Dayanna Sarango-Hidalgo, 29, of Newark, have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen vehicles. Felix was previously sentenced to 24 months in prison. Tanksley and Sarango-Hidalgo await sentencing. Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, with the investigation that led to the sentencing. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office; the National Insurance Crime Bureau; the Jersey City Police Department; the Belleville Police Department; the Rahway Police Department; the Linden Police Department; the Roselle Police Department; the Eatontown Police Department; the Freehold Police Department; the Elizabeth Police Department; the Miami Police Department (Florida); the Florida Highway Patrol; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the Howard County Police Department (Maryland); the New York Police Department; the Nassau County Police Department (New York); the Georgia Department of Revenue; the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; the Deputy Attorney General’s Office; the FBI Miami Office; the FBI Cleveland Office; and the FBI Milwaukee Office The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Kober of the Organized Crimes/Gangs Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Jason F. Orlando


title: Rochester Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Rochester man pleaded guilty for his role in the $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally-funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, from approximately October 2020 through January 2022, Sharmake Jama, 37, knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud a federal child nutrition program designed to provide free meals to children in need. Rather than feed children, the defendants took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic—and the resulting program changes—to enrich themselves by fraudulently misappropriating millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds. According to court documents, in September 2020, Jama and Aimee Bock applied for Jama’s Brava Restaurant to be enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Bock’s non-profit, Feeding Our Future. Jama enrolled in the Federal Child Nutrition Program after he first prepared application paperwork at the direction of Salim Said, the co-owner of Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis, which was another business involved in the scheme to defraud the food program. From late 2020 through 2021, Jama and other conspirators claimed Brava Restaurant was serving approximately 2,000 to 3,000 daily breakfasts and lunches to children, for which they fraudulently claimed and received millions of dollars in federal child nutrition program funds. To accomplish his scheme, Jama and his co-conspirators submitted fake attendance rosters purporting to list the names of children who purportedly received their food at sites. These rosters were fraudulent in that the names on them were fake or did not correctly reflect the number of children that were fed. According to his plea agreement entered today, Jama claimed Brava Restaurant had served more than 1.7 million meals in Rochester as part of the Federal Child Nutrition Program in a little over one year, a number substantially higher than the actual number of meals served. Based on these fraudulent claims, Feeding Our Future paid out over $5.3 million in federal child nutrition program reimbursements for meals purportedly served to children by the defendant and his co-conspirators. Jama knew his receipt of such funds was fraudulent because he and other conspirators intentionally submitted inflated meal counts. Jama’s Brava Restaurant ultimately received $4.3 million directly from Feeding Our Future and over $900,000 from Safari Restaurant, co-owned by Salim Said. As part of their scheme, Jama and his conspirators coordinated the establishment of shell companies through which they received and dispersed funds from the federal child nutrition program. Specifically, on January 7, 2021, Salim Said paid to register six different shell companies with the state of Minnesota for Jama and others. Salim Said paid to register Mumu LLC for Jama. In 2021, Jama deposited at least $872,230—almost all of which was misappropriated Federal Child Nutrition Program funds—into his Mumu LLC bank accounts. Jama used federal child nutrition funds to pay for personal expenditures unrelated to feeding children, including at least $88,000 for a 2021 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali 4WD Crew Cab truck and over $500,000 toward real estate in Rochester, Minnesota, and Rosemount, Minnesota. Jama pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Joseph H. Thompson, and Harry M. Jacobs are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.


title: Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teen 20 years his junior. According to court documents, Thomas Lee Chaffins , 35, an enrolled member of Mescalero Apache Tribe, admitted to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on September 27, 2024, in Otero County, New Mexico, on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. Chaffins will remain detained pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Chaffins faces up to 15 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Alyson Hehr are prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement (Chaffins)_3.pdf # # #


title: Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Immigration Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Joseph Sanchez, 33, of Fairbury, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to participating in an immigration marriage fraud conspiracy. According to court documents and statements made in court, in or around August 2021, Sanchez was living in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. A foreign national who worked at a convenience store near Sanchez’s residence offered to pay Sanchez if he found a woman willing to marry the foreign national so he could obtain lawful permanent resident status, commonly known as a Green Card. Sanchez ultimately agreed to the request in exchange for $10,000 in cash. The understanding was that $5,000 would be paid upon the marriage being final, and another $5,000 would be paid once the foreign national received his Green Card. Sanchez arranged to have his sister-in-law marry the foreign national. Sanchez told his sister-in-law about the purpose of the arrangement and the financial benefits associated with it. The sister-in-law had only occasionally interacted with the foreign national, as a customer at his convenience store. The sister-in-law and Sanchez had no social connections to the foreign national beyond frequenting the convenience store. In September 2021, Sanchez’s sister-in-law and the foreign national were married in White Sulphur Springs. In March 2023, Sanchez traveled with the sister-in-law and the foreign national to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the trip was for the sister-in-law and the foreign national to attend an interview with U.S. immigration officials to trick those officials into believing the marriage was entered into in good faith and that the relationship between the sister-in-law and the foreign national was genuine. The scheme was unsuccessful, and the foreign national’s application was denied. Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-198. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Sentences for Two Santa Fe Men for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Two Santa Fe men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking operation that utilized social media to advertise and distribute drugs. According to court documents, the Santa Fe Police Department (SFPD) and the FBI began investigating a fentanyl-based drug-trafficking organization in the fall of 2020. During the investigation, officers uncovered the defendants, Mario Guizar-Anchondo and Werni Lopez-Perez , social media activity advertising the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine. In December 2021, SFPD officers encountered Guizar-Anchondo and Lopez-Perez twice. December 4, 2021: SFPD responded to a report of suspected drug activity involving Lopez-Perez in a white Ford F-150 truck. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a loaded firearm, over $18,000 in cash, 635 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of fentanyl pills, and drug paraphernalia. December 30, 2021: SFPD officers stopped the same Ford F-150 truck, this time driven by Guizar-Anchondo with Lopez-Perez as the passenger. A search of the vehicle, authorized by federal and state warrants, revealed approximately 1,730 grams of methamphetamine, 32,000 fentanyl pills, five loaded firearms, and additional drug paraphernalia. Despite the ongoing investigation, Guizar-Anchondo and Lopez-Perez continued to advertise fentanyl pills for sale on social media platforms. These posts depicted baggies of fentanyl pills similar to those recovered from the vehicle. Lopez-Perez and Guizar-Anchondo both pled guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Lopez-Perez was sentenced to 80 months in prison, while Guizar-Anchondo was sentenced to 108 months. Upon their release from prison, Lopez-Perez and Guizar-Anchondo will be subject to 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Fe Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Boone County Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Trenton Alan Cremeans, 24, of Seth, was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possession of prepubescent child pornography. Cremeans must also register as a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 17, 2024, Cremeans possessed child pornography on his cell phone. When combined with child pornography also possessed in his Snapchat accounts, Cremeans possessed a total of approximately 373 images and 31 videos of child pornography. These images and videos included depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and some of the images depicted sadistic and masochistic abuse. Cremeans further admitted that he downloaded these images and videos online, and used his cell phone to search online for child pornography and related information by using specific search terms, including terms that specifically sought child pornography depicting infants and toddlers. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-41. ###


title: Helena man admits conspiracy to distribute large quantities of meth, fentanyl

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Helena man accused of trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl he received from suppliers in California and Oregon admitted to a conspiracy charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Charles Clifford Hamlin, 61, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Hamlin faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 5. Hamlin was detained pending further proceedings. In a plea agreement filed in the case, the parties agreed that Hamlin would serve a sentence within a stipulated range of 15 years to 20 years in prison. In court documents, the government alleged that the Missouri River Drug Task Force and United States Postal Service began investigating Hamlin after they intercepted a package intended for Hamlin in August 2021. The package contained approximately three pounds of meth. Over the next several years, investigators spoke with numerous sources who identified Hamlin as a large-scale narcotics distributor. Two sources worked with Hamlin to bring meth from California to Montana, and one source went to Oregon to obtain meth for Hamlin to distribute. The sources stated the deliveries to Hamlin ranged from between one pound to three pounds. Another source told investigators about receiving ounces of meth and “rolls” of fentanyl pills regularly from Hamlin. Hamlin received deliveries every two and one-half weeks from a source in Oregon. Each delivery was approximately seven pounds of meth, 4,000 to 7,000 fentanyl pills, two ounces of cocaine and two ounces of heroin. In December 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Hamlin and his truck was searched based on a suspected probation violation. Officers located approximately 18 grams of meth in his gas tank flap. Investigators also made controlled buys of meth and fentanyl pills from Hamlin. In February 2024, law enforcement stopped an individual in Powell County, and the person had nine pounds of meth and 6,200 fentanyl pills. Approximately six pounds of the meth was destined for Hamlin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Helena Police Department, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Fayette County Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kayla Nicole Dent, 34, of Mount Hope, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 23, 2024, Dent sold approximately 1.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $140 at Dent’s residence. Dent admitted to the transaction and to arranging it with the confidential informant beforehand. Dent is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian D. Parsons and Alexander A. Redmon are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-140. ###


title: Knife assault on woman on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation sends Box Elder man to prison for more than five years

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Box Elder man who admitted to assaulting a woman by cutting her face with a knife during an argument on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to five years and seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Colten Tyrone Small, also known as Colton Swan, 22, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in the early morning hours of May 3, 2023, Small punched the victim, identified as Jane Doe, in the face while he held a butcher knife in a residence in Box Elder, on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation. A witness to the assault told law enforcement that Small sliced Doe’s face in the residence. Small and Doe argued, and the fight got more aggressive. After Small cut Doe’s face, the witness beat up Small. There was some fentanyl and alcohol use occurring at the time. Doe was treated at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre for facial injuries from the knife. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Rocky Boy’s Law Enforcement conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Orange County Man Charged in Six-Count Indictment Alleging He Distributed Fentanyl and Caused Two Fatal Drug Overdoses

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A federal grand jury today indicted an Orange County man who allegedly distributed fentanyl, which resulted in the overdose deaths of two people during the spring of 2023. Michel Joseph Abdallah, 21, a.k.a. “Mike,” of Laguna Niguel, is charged in a six-count indictment with two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Abdallah’s arraignment is expected to occur in United States District Court in Santa Ana in the coming weeks. He currently is in state custody. “The indictment alleges that this defendant continued dealing fentanyl despite two deaths resulting from his drug dealing activities,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “Although criminal charges cannot bring back a loved one, we hope today’s indictment brings some measure of solace to the families and friends of the victims.” According to the indictment, Abdallah distributed fentanyl to a victim – identified as “C.R.” – on March 25, 2023, in Mission Viejo. C.R. used the drug, which resulted in a fatal overdose. On May 15, 2023 in Aliso Viejo, Abdallah again distributed fentanyl – this time, to victim “L.F.,” who ingested the powerful synthetic opioid and died. The indictment further alleges that Abdallah possessed a total of 1.3 kilograms (2.9 pounds) of fentanyl on June 10, 2023. On this date, he allegedly also possessed two firearms, including an AR-15-style pistol bearing no serial number, which commonly is referred to as a “ghost gun.” An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of all charges, Abdallah would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and the Santa Ana Police Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Lindhorst of the Orange County Office is prosecuting this case.


title: Two Colorado Men Sentenced To Federal Prison For Fentanyl Related Death

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Paul Barris, Jr., 40, of Telluride, and Michael Anthony Manners, 40, of Montrose, were each sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of a controlled substance containing fentanyl resulting in death. Barris Jr. was sentenced to 141 months in federal prison. Manners was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison. According to the plea agreement, in September of 2021, Baris purchased fentanyl with the help of Manners in the Montrose, Colorado area. Baris then provided the fentanyl to a woman who later died of an overdose. “Stopping illicit fentanyl distribution is a priority for the Administration, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell. “Our office will relentlessly pursue drug dealers to get this scourge off our streets.” United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing. The Drug Enforcement Administration handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney R. Josh Player handled the prosecution. Case Number: 22-cr-00336-GPG-JMC


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $18,932,200 in Civil and Criminal Actions in FY 2024

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath announced today that the Southern District of California collected $18,932,200 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. Of this amount, the office collected $7,364,438 in criminal actions and $11,567,761 in civil actions . The Southern District of California also worked with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $22,465,562 in cases pursued jointly. Of this amount, the offices collected $2,714.08 in criminal actions and $22,462,848 in civil actions. “When a crime leads to financial ruin, we are committed to helping victims recover and rebuild their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Over the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborated with investigators to streamline the process for victims to recover lost funds, prioritizing swift and meaningful restitution.” The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected$69,911,795 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2024. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.


title: Delaware County Man Indicted on Social Security Fraud Charges

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brian Gill, age 59, of Andes, New York, has been indicted for Social Security fraud. The charge relates to Gill’s concealment of work activity at a tree service company he owned and operated while he was obtaining disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Office. The Social Security Fraud charge carries a maximum term of 5 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. Gill could also be ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration for the funds fraudulently collected. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Paul Tuck.


title: Repeat and Dangerous Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison After Traveling from Arkansas to Albany to Sexually Abuse 11 Year Old

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kyle Biswell, age 39, of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a life term of supervised release, after a federal judge determined that he is a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. In July 2024, Biswell pled guilty to interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transportation of child pornography. After his plea, the United States Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Probation Office, and the FBI obtained evidence that Biswell had previously sexually abused an infant, which established that Biswell is a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors – significantly enhancing his sentencing range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Faced with the evidence amassed by the government, Biswell informed the prosecution that he would waive an evidentiary hearing and his objection to being sentenced as a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors in exchange for an agreed-upon sentence of 20 years’ incarceration and a life term of supervised release. According to the plea agreement and documents submitted to the Court, Biswell admitted that between January and April 2023, he communicated with an individual he believed was the mother of an 11-year-old girl through an internet-based social networking application and using his cellular phone. Over the course of those communications, Biswell expressed his interest in engaging in sexual contact and impregnating the 11-year-old and ultimately purchased airfare to travel from his home in Arkansas to Albany, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual contact with the child on April 8, 2023. Upon his arrival in the Capital Region on April 8, 2023, Biswell was arrested by FBI agents and admitted that he had traveled from Arkansas to Albany for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with a child he believed to be 11 years old. Biswell further admitted that he brought child pornography with him on his cell phone. The cell phone was subsequently searched by the FBI and found to contain numerous videos and images depicting child pornography, including several videos depicting the sexual abuse and rape of children under the age of 5. In sentencing Biswell today, United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci found that he had previously engaged in oral-to-genital contact with an infant, making him a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors. In addition to a 20-year term of incarceration and a lifetime of supervised release, Judge Nardacci imposed restitution in the amount of $9,000 and a special assessment of $200. When Biswell is released from prison, he will be required to register as a sex offender. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Schenectady Man Charged With Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK –Jabree Jones a.k.a. “Breezy,” age 32, of Schenectady, New York, has been charged by indictment with crimes including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and to possess firearms, including a machinegun, in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division; and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The 16-count indictment charges Jones for his participation in a drug conspiracy from January to May 2023, that included 11 instances of drug distribution between January and May 2023, and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine on May 23, 2023, when the ATF and DEA searched a property on Western Avenue in Albany, and a property in Halfmoon, New York. Jones’ coconspirators, Anthony Luizzi and Brandon Bartley, were each found at the Halfmoon property and the Western Avenue property, respectively. Between the two properties, Jones, along with his coconspirators, possessed 39 firearms, including an illegal machinegun, along with large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Another suspect in the investigation, Anthony Zaremski, was fatally shot during the execution of a federal search warrant on May 23, 2023, at Zaremski’s apartment in Clifton Park, after Zaremski opened fire and wounded two officers. The following defendants have also been charged in connection with this investigation: Anthony Luizzi pled guilty to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and his possession of the guns found at the Western Avenue property and Halfmoon property. Luizzi was sentenced to 210 months in prison and a $10,000 fine on October 1, 2024 . Brandon Bartley also pled guilty to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and his possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 180 months in prison and a $5,000 fine . Devon Newsome pled guilty to transferring 29 firearms to Jones that were ultimately found at the Western Avenue property, and was sentenced to 60 months in prison . The DEA and the ATF are investigating the case, with assistance from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), the Rotterdam Police Department, and the Henry County Police Department in Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.


title: Marion Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Jeffrey Alan Bradley, age 51, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 8, 2024 guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography. Evidence in this case demonstrated that Bradley received at least 7,086 images and 1,048 videos of child sexual abuse material. These depictions of child sexual abuse material included prepubescent minors, children engaged in sexual acts with animals, sadistic and masochistic conduct, and infants or toddlers. Bradley used sophisticated software to download these images, which he then organized into folders on his computer hard drive. When Bradley was arrested, he resisted arrest by reaching for a loaded firearm he had stored in his pants, refusing to comply with law enforcement commands, and trying to pull away from officers. Bradley was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Bradley was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to make $39,000 in restitution to the victims in the case. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Bradley is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-40. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former Cincinnati resident sentenced to 2 years in prison for fraud related to pandemic relief funds

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A woman who formerly resided in Cincinnati was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison for crimes related to pandemic relief fraud. Lashawnda Alexander, 40, currently of Katy, Texas, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud following a jury trial in August 2024. According to court documents and trial testimony, in June 2020, Alexander submitted several fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications. Specifically, on June 23, 2020, Alexander applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for business “Lashawnda Alexander.” Alexander stated in the application that the business employed 10 employees and had $125,000 in gross revenue in the year prior to January 31, 2020. Minutes later using the same device another application was submitted in the name of a family member claiming that the business employed 10 employees and had $120,000 in gross revenue. The next day, on June 24, 2020, Alexander applied for an EIDL for business “TressD LLC,” a hair and nail salon that she said employed 15 employees and made gross revenue of $175,000 during the prior year. In total, Alexander attempted to obtain at least $137,500 and ultimately received $91,000 in EIDL funds, including $20,000 in grants. On June 25, 2020, Alexander electronically signed an EIDL loan authorization and agreement for business TressD LLC certifying that the representations made in the loan application were true, correct and complete. Alexander’s applications, however, contradicted her 2019 tax return. In the following months, Alexander bought a Mercedes Benz SUV and moved to Texas all while continuing to collect pandemic unemployment assistance from the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. Alexander was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Yvonne Dicristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, announced the sentence imposed on Jan. 28 by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo and Anthony Springer represented the United States in this case. The case was investigated by members of the Financial Crimes Working Group Pandemic Fraud Committee. # # #


title: Burlington Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy Charge

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to public court documents, Giovani Denario Timmons, 24, participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Burlington between December 2019 and November 2021. Timmons served as a source of supply along with Kendric Centrall Childs, 25. Timmons facilitated the transportation of methamphetamine to Iowa, including approximately 362 pounds of methamphetamine seized during a January 2020 traffic stop in Arizona. This traffic stop was the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s largest single seizure of ice methamphetamine at the time. [1] Timmons’s eight co-defendants, including Childs, were sentenced in 2022 . After completing his term of imprisonment, Timmons will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Burlington Police Department, Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, West Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson County Drug Taskforce, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Drug Taskforce, Muscatine County Drug Taskforce, Iowa State Patrol, and Arizona Department of Public Safety. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . [1] https://www.azdps.gov/news/releases/933.