title: Former Honolulu Resident Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

component: Tax Division

body_text: A former resident of Honolulu pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the IRS by fraudulently obtaining a tax refund and then thwarting efforts to recoup it. According to court documents and statements made in court, Sook Young Jung conspired with others to file a false 2015 individual income tax return in her name. As part of the conspiracy, Jung’s co-conspirators created a fake tax form purportedly issued by a mortgage lender to Jung, which Jung attached to her return. The form falsely reported that Jung withheld over $1.7 million in taxes. As a result of this fraudulent submission, the IRS paid Jung a refund of $1,147,036. After filing the false tax return and submitting the fake tax form, Jung took steps to try and ensure that the IRS could not recover the fraudulently obtained refund. For example, she deposited the refund check into a newly opened bank account and immediately withdrew most of the funds in cashier’s checks. She also paid, through nominees, one of her co-conspirators $500,000 for the co-conspirator’s assistance in obtaining the fraudulent refund. Jung is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors for the District of Hawaii made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and FBI are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Sarah Kiewlicz and Sara Henderson of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Crimes in Virginia and West Virginia

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Bowie, Maryland, man pleaded guilty yesterday to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents, on Aug. 18, 2022, William Phillip McDowell, Jr, aka “Mike,” 44, was driving a rental car through Harrison County, West Virginia, with two passengers when an officer from the Clarksburg Police Department stopped the vehicle for speeding. At the time, McDowell’s driver's license was suspended, and McDowell was on probation for a felony murder conviction. During a search of the vehicle, police found a pack containing a brick-sized package of 997.7 grams of fentanyl, 43 baggies containing a total of 16.46 grams of fentanyl, a bag containing 8.89 grams of cocaine, and a stolen, loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun. McDowell pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl in this case. On July 7, 2023, detectives with the Prince William County Police Department observed McDowell conducting what appeared to be a drug transaction in a parking lot in Woodbridge, Virginia. When McDowell returned to the passenger seat of his vehicle, the detectives detained and searched the vehicle. In the passenger seat where McDowell had been sitting, the detectives found a backpack containing a .380 caliber handgun, .380 caliber ammunition, 388 fentanyl pills, 22 grams of cocaine, a digital scale with cocaine residue, $617.85 in cash, and a wallet with McDowell’s photo identification card. McDowell pleaded guilty to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. McDowell is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for the drug trafficking charge from the Northern District of West Virginia and a mandatory minimum of five years to be served consecutively with any other prison term and up to life in prison for the firearms charge from the Eastern District of Virginia. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; William Ihlenfeld, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Peter Newsham, Chief of Prince William County Police; and Mark Kiddy, Clarksburg Chief of Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Edwards and Raizza K. Ty are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower prosecuted the Northern District of West Virginia case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) and the District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (NDWV) or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:23-cr-196 and 1:24-cr-59 for EDVA and Case No. 1:23-cr-42 for NDWV.


title: Essex County Man Admits Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Firearms Charges

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man today admitted his role in a narcotics conspiracy involving approximately one kilogram of cocaine and 100 grams of fentanyl, possessing with intent to distribute approximately 482 grams of cocaine, and possessing three firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Carlos Ovidio Gonzalez, 36, of Newark, pleaded guilty before U.S. district Judge Cecchi in Newark federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Dec. 19, 2022, Gonzalez and another individual conspired to distribute approximately one kilogram of cocaine and 100 grams of fentanyl and were arrested shortly after arriving at an agreed-upon location in Kearny to complete the sale. After their arrests, a search of Gonzalez’s home and an apartment uncovered two loaded firearms, an unloaded firearm, ammunition, drug packaging materials, and drugs, including approximately 482 grams of heroin. Gonzalez had previously been convicted, in New Jersey Superior Court, Morris County, of first-degree drug distribution, second degree weapons possession during a controlled substance offense, and second degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and was sentenced in 2009 to 30 years in prison. The counts of fentanyl and cocaine conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine carry maximum penalties of 30 years in prison and a $2 million fine. The felon in possession count carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 6, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and officers with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked Newark Police Department for its assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Jacobs of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. gonzalez.information.pdf


title: Mexican National Charged With Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mario Ruiz-Ruiz, age 35, of Mexico, was indicted on March 20, 2024, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Ruiz-Ruiz was previously removed from the United States on March 24, 2021, through El Paso, Texas, and it is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. The indictment also alleges that on March 13, 2024, Ruiz-Ruiz was encountered in Adams County, Pennsylvania. This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Former Worcester Resident Indicted for Firearms Dealing, Possession of a Machinegun and Cocaine Distribution

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former Worcester resident has been indicted for firearms offenses and distributing cocaine. Juan Otero, 22, of Franklin, was indicted on one count of dealing in firearms without a license; one count of receiving a firearm while under indictment; one count of possession of a machinegun; and one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine. Otero was previously charged by criminal complaint on March 4, 2024 with dealing in firearms without a license and receipt of a firearm while under indictment. Between Nov. 27, 2023 and Jan. 23, 2024, Otero allegedly sold five firearms on four different occasions. It is alleged that one of the firearms was a Glock pistol with a machinegun conversion device, also known as a “Glock switch,” attached. Otero also allegedly sold large capacity magazines and multiple rounds of ammunition. It is further alleged that Otero distributed or possessed with intent to distribute cocaine on or about Dec. 6, 2023, According to court documents, in 2022, Otero was indicted in Worcester Superior Court for multiple state crimes, including the unlawful possession of a large capacity weapon, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of a large capacity firearm and ammunition and attempted assault and battery. Otero was on release pending trial on the state court charges at the time of his firearm sales in this matter. The charges of dealing in firearms without a license and receipt of a firearm while under indictment both provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of cocaine carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Paul Saucier, Interim Police Chief of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Franklin, Mansfield and Auburn Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Foundation Director Sentenced For Bank And Tax Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Roslyn Melodie Haile, age 64, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for one count of Bank Fraud and one count of Tax Fraud, to be served concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, Haile was ordered to pay $428,271.26 in restitution to The MORE Foundation, and to pay an additional $120,777.02 in restitution to the IRS. The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigations. On February 28, 2023, Haile entered a plea of guilty to an information of one count of bank fraud and one count of tax fraud. According to investigators, from 2017 until mid-2021, while employed as Executive Director of The MORE Foundation, a nonprofit that funds continuing education scholarships to Carter County high school graduates, Haile embezzled over $428,271.26 from the foundation’s bank accounts for personal use. During that time, Haile embezzled funds through multiple different means, including bank transfers to pay off her personal credit card, ATM withdrawals, and the issuance of fraudulent payroll checks to herself. Haile also falsified a 2018 U.S. Individual Tax Return by underreporting personal income, resulting in a total loss of $120,777.02 to the U.S. Treasury. Based on these crimes, the court assessed Haile a total restitution of $591,761.28. “As Executive Director of The MORE Foundation, Ms. Haile had the fundamental responsibility of managing scholarship funds efficiently, ethically, and with the upmost integrity. The students of Carter County and the generous donors deserve nothing less,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who unlawfully enrich themselves at the expense of others.” “The financial expertise of IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents was critical in detecting the illegal activity of Ms. Haile,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., IRS:CI special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Office. “She willfully stole money from an organization devoted to helping people obtain higher education and knowingly falsified her taxes to hide her ill-gotten gains. I’m proud of the diligent work done by members of CI along with the FBI to uncover her illegal actions and hold her accountable. Between what she embezzled from the non-profit and withheld from the IRS, she stole more than half a million dollars. In addition to time in jail, she is also required to pay restitution as part of her sentencing.” “Fraud is not a victimless crime: Ms. Haile abused her position and plundered a fund she knew was intended to benefit Carter County’s students and greater community,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This office stands firm in its commitment to prosecute those who engage in predatory schemes, and I commend the work of FBI and IRS-CI agents whose investigations uncovered Ms. Haile’s years-long theft.” The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Haile will self-report on May 1, 2024, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Kyra Jenner represented the United States.


title: Browning man admits strangling dating partner on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning man accused of strangling his dating partner on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted to an assault charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Alphonse Trevon Bird IV, 19, pleaded guilty to assault of a dating partner by strangulation and suffocation. Bird faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three 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 July 31. Bird was detained pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that Bird and the victim, Jane Doe, were in a dating relationship. On Dec. 27, 2023, Bird, Doe and two others were in a vehicle when Bird and Doe got into an argument and pulled over to the side of the road. Doe got out of the vehicle and Bird tried to pull her back. Doe tried to run away, but Bird chased her down, got on top of her stomach and put her in a chokehold. Bird assaulted and strangled Doe. At the time of the assault, Bird had been ordered by a court to have no contact with Doe. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case. XXX


title: Three Area Men Arrested in Postal Robbery Case

body_text: CLEVELAND – Rebecca C. Lutzko, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Cleveland returned a five count indictment charging Devin Sims, Michael Williams, and Teontaey Thomas with aiding and abetting each other in Robbery of Mail or Property of the United States and Stealing Keys Adopted by the Post Office. Two of the men, Sims and Williams, are also charged with Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence and Theft of Mail. Sims alone is charged with Possession of Stolen Mail. A joint investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, FBI and South Euclid Police Department led to the arrest of Devin Sims, 19, of Cleveland Heights, on December 8, 2023, Michael Williams, 19, of University Heights, and Teontaey Thomas, 20, of Cleveland, on March 20, 2023. The three individuals were charged for their roles in a robbery that involved the use of a firearm of a postal carrier on November 7, 2023. It is alleged that during the robbery the carrier’s key, which opens blue mailboxes belonging to the United States Postal Service, was stolen. On or about November 11, 2023, Sims and Williams accessed a blue mailbox in South Euclid, Ohio using the key and stole checks that were previously deposited in the mail. The United States Postal Inspection Service is aggressively investigating cases involving theft from postal carriers and the U.S. Mails. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum. The investigation was conducted by United States Postal Inspection Service, FBI and the South Euclid Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki. The Postal Inspection Service is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating crimes against postal carriers and crimes involving the U.S. Mail. Anyone having information about blue collection box thefts or thefts or attempted thefts of mail carriers or mail should contact USPIS at 1-877-876-2455. All information will be kept confidential.


title: Leader Of Dark Web Drug Trafficking Ring Pleads Guilty To  Conspiring To Distribute Illicit And Counterfeit Drugs From A Clandestine Drug Lab In A Detroit Residence

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Victor Hernandez pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute millions of illicit and counterfeit pills, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Ison was joined in the announcement by acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit field office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. Victor Hernandez, 30, of Detroit, admitted his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute illicit substances, a conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, his distribution of counterfeit pills, and the use of firearms in furtherance of the crime. During the course of the months-long investigation, agents were able to identify that a dark web vendor site was being operated out of the Detroit, Michigan, area. The dark web marketplace vendor went by the moniker of “opiateconnect.” Agents worked to determine the location being used as the distribution hub for illicit scheduled drugs to include cocaine, and various counterfeit drugs. The counterfeit drugs, made to looks like alprazolam, commonly referred to as Xanax, were in fact uncontrolled research chemicals not scheduled for human consumption. Agents also learned that “opiateconnect” was being operated from a residence in Detroit, Michigan. A subsequent search warrant revealed a clandestine drug lab. The search resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,000,000 dollars in cryptocurrency, in excess of 300,000 U.S. Dollars, multiple firearms, an industrial size pill press, industrial mixer, controlled substances including cocaine, and counterfeit drugs. Hernandez pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to four counts: (1) conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, which carries a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years; (2) conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; (3) dispensing a counterfeit drug, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years; and (4) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of five years. In total, Hernandez is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. United States Attorney Dawn Ison said, “This guilty plea is the culmination of months of collaboration between state and federal law enforcement agencies. Counterfeit pills pose a unique danger to this community, especially ones that have the appearance of a drug that is so regularly prescribed. We will continue to investigate and prosecute instances where those counterfeit pills are being manufactured illegally in our district to keep our community safe.” “This plea is not just a win for law enforcement, but a win for our Detroit community,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson. “Whether on the dark web or on a street corner, drug traffickers seek to poison our communities. We will remain steadfast in our law enforcement partnerships to dismantle these networks wherever we find them.” “The DEA, in collaboration with HSI, continues our commitment to safeguard communities from individuals who sell fake pills and other illicit substances,” said DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene. “This case proves that there is no place to hide in the dark web when it comes to law enforcement’s efforts to protect the people we serve.” This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The investigation was conducted by the Detroit Dark Web Task Force, which consists of HSI, Postal Inspection Service Office of the Inspector General (USPIS-OIG), Secret Service (USSS), IRS-CID, Michigan State Police (MSP), and CBP. The purpose of the task force is to investigate criminal organizations, to include drug vendors, that operate within dark web marketplaces. The task force has disrupted and dismantled numerous drug trafficking organizations through criminal arrests, and the seizure of the proceeds from criminal activity. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Jerome White.


title: Flint Man Sentenced To More Than 11 Years In Federal Prison For Multi-Million Dollar Pandemic Loan Fraud

body_text: FLINT — Antonio Lynn Fluker, Jr., 36, of Flint, Michigan was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison following his conviction for wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a multi-million-dollar pandemic loan fraud scheme, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Fluker was also ordered to pay $3.8 million in restitution. Ison was joined in the announcement by Douglas Zloto, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Detroit Field Office. U.S. District Court Judge F. Kay Behm imposed sentence on Fluker following his guilty plea to wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents, Fluker defrauded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. These programs were intended to provide critical financial assistance to small businesses suffering economic harm because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of his scheme, Fluker prepared and submitted false applications in the names of multiple individuals and companies to obtain approximately 23 loans and loan advances, resulting in more than $3.6 million in fraud. Fluker then used this money for his own personal expenses, including sending $75,000 in loan proceeds to a luxury car dealer to obtain a Lamborghini. As part of his plea agreement, Fluker also admitted to obtaining more than half a million dollars through bank fraud and another approximately $170,000 from credit cards obtained through identity theft. Fluker was on federal supervised release for prior fraud-related and escape from custody convictions at the time of the offense. U.S. District Court Judge Behm also sentenced Fluker to 24 months in prison for his supervised release violations, to be served concurrently to his 135-month sentence. “Those who defraud federal programs like the PPP and EIDL programs cause real harm to communities by taking away critical emergency relief funds from the hard-working small business owners and employees who need them,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “My office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of fraud schemes relating to the pandemic.” “Antonio Fluker was able to defraud the EIDL and PPP loan programs designed to assist the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The monies Fluker stole were intended to help honest businesses and hard-working individuals living in Flint, MI. Postal Inspectors from the USPIS and agents from OIG-SBA and USSS, with the assistance of the US Attorney’s Office, were able to investigate, arrest, and convict Antonio Fluker as well as seize funds he illegally obtained through his fraud scheme. We are glad to see that justice prevailed in this case and continue to investigate individuals who took advantage of the global pandemic to enrich themselves with COVID Relief Disaster Funds,” said Special Agent Zloto. This investigation was conducted by special agents of the U.S. Secret Service Saginaw Resident Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ann Nee, Blaine Longsworth, and Jules DePorre.


title: Summer Camps Reminded of Requirement to Accommodate Children with Disabilities

component: USAO - Tennessee, Middle

body_text: NASHVILLE – United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis announced today that his office has contacted summer camps throughout Middle Tennessee to remind them of their obligation under federal law to make reasonable accommodations to accept children with disabilities. With summer approaching, parents are beginning to think about summer camps. To help ensure that children with disabilities receive the opportunity to attend summer camp, the U.S. Attorney’s Office recently sent a letter and a flyer to scores of summer camps located within the Middle District of Tennessee reminding them of their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). Under the ADA, both private summer camps and those run by municipalities must make reasonable modifications to enable campers with disabilities to participate fully in all camp programs and activities. This generally means that children with disabilities are entitled to attend any camp or activity that non-disabled children attend, that camps must evaluate each child on an individual basis, and that camps must train their staff in the requirements of the ADA. Camps are obligated to pay for the cost of any reasonable modifications necessary for disabled children to participate in camp activities, and parents should not be charged any additional fee beyond standard camp enrollment costs. “Summer camps present tremendous growth opportunities for children to learn independence, try new things and gain self-confidence,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “Middle Tennessee summer camps should afford those same opportunities to disabled children whose needs can be reasonably accommodated. It is the right thing to do, and it is required by federal law.” Additional information about the ADA is available at www.ada.gov . summer_camp_ada_flyer_mdtn.pdf #####


title: Owner of New Jersey Company Admits to Evading U.S. Customs Duties and His Company Agrees to $3.1 Million Settlement Agreement

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – The owner of a New Jersey company today admitted mislabeling hazardous chemicals entering the United States and evading customs duties, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. George Volpe, 60, of Roseland, New Jersey, owner of Penta International Inc. (Penta), pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an information charging him with wire fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 13, 2024. The company also agreed to a civil settlement to resolve allegations that Penta evaded customs duties and caused the mislabeling of chemicals imported into the United States from China. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Penta is a New Jersey-based company run by Volpe and his family. Volpe admitted that, from January 2016 through August 2021, as the manager and owner of Penta, he participated, in a scheme to defraud, through which he caused mislabeled chemicals, including hazardous chemicals, to enter the United States from China. The fraudulent scheme resulted in an underpayment of U.S. Customs duties in the amount of $1.4 million. As part of the civil settlement with the United States to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act, Penta has agreed to pay $3.1 million plus interest. The civil claims alleged that Penta representatives conspired with a Chinese vendor to mislabel chemicals entering the United States and to use falsified documents submitted to Penta’s customs brokers. As part of the settlement, Penta admitted that it mislabeled substances in connection with their importation to the United States. The civil settlement with Penta resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties, called relators, to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The relator, Angel Figueroa, will receive $600,000 of the $3.1 million civil settlement amount recovered by the United States pursuant to the False Claims Act. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers under the direction of port director TenaVel Thomas; auditors with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade Regulatory Audit under the direction of Field Director Roderick “Rick” Lawlor; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the New Jersey Field Office, with the investigation. The government is represented in the criminal case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark, and in the civil case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Orlowski of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark. volpe.information.pdf


title: Former Grass Seed Company Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Schemes to Defraud Simplot

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— An Idaho man who formerly supervised order-fulfillment and warehousing operations for the Jacklin Seed Company, a Liberty Lake, Washington producer and marketer of grass seed and turfgrass, was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in multiple schemes to defraud the J.R. Simplot Company and Jacklin, its former subsidiary. Richard Dunham, 66, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Dunham was also ordered to pay $348,065 in restitution to Simplot. According to court documents, from 1997 until its sale in 2020, the J.R. Simplot Company, a major privately held supplier of agricultural products headquartered in Boise, Idaho, owned and operated Jacklin. During this time, much of Jacklin’s business operations, including a seed-blending and warehousing facility, were located in and around Albany, Oregon. Dunham, who supervised Jacklin’s Albany operations, had the authority to purchase grass seed from certain Oregon growers over others. At some point between 2013 and 2015, Dunham, Jacklin general manager Christopher Claypool, of Spokane, Washington, and others realized that growers’ preference for higher-yield grasses was creating substantial shortages of lower-yield varieties Jacklin had contracted to deliver to its customers. Dunham and Claypool recognized that these shortages would either cause Jacklin to fail to deliver on its existing contracts or require Jacklin to pay a premium to growers to acquire necessary inventory, substantially eroding company profits. The pair anticipated that either result would negatively affect their careers. From January 2015 and continuing until at least the summer of 2019, Dunham and Claypool directed Jacklin employees, at the Albany facility and elsewhere, to fulfill customer orders with different varieties of grass seed than the customers had ordered, to conceal such substitutions from the customers, and to invoice the customers as though no substitutions had taken place. Together, they referred to this scheme as “getting creative.” To conceal the unauthorized substitutions, Dunham and Claypool directed Jacklin employees to package the substitute seed varieties with false and misleading labels. They also directed employees to invoice the customers under the original terms of their contracts, notwithstanding the unauthorized substitutions. As a result of this scheme, Simplot refunded or credited more than $1.5 million to defrauded buyers. During the same time, Dunham and Claypool also agreed to import mislabeled seeds from Moore Seeds, a Jacklin supplier based in Debolt, Alberta, Canada, to offset the shortage of one of Jacklin’s best-selling grass seed blends. In doing so, Dunham conspired with the owner of Cankiwi Ventures, Ltd., Moore’s managing entity, to purchase a less expensive seed blend at above-market rates in exchange for Moore’s falsely labeling the seed as Jacklin’s premier blend and shipping it, under that false pretense, to Jacklin in Oregon. In additional to the undisclosed seed substitutions, Dunham engaged in another scheme while employed with Jacklin. Beginning no later than April 2015, Dunham conspired to obtain kickback payments from grass seed growers and brokers that regularly did business with Jacklin, including Ground Zero Seeds, International, of Yamhill, Oregon, and ProSeeds Marketing, Inc., of Jefferson, Oregon. Between April 2015 and September 2019, Dunham successfully solicited more than $191,789 in kickbacks from Ground Zero and $156,275 from ProSeeds. On July 7, 2021, Claypool was sentenced to three years in federal prison and three years’ supervised release after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wired fraud and money laundering. On April 29, 2022, Dunham was charged by federal criminal information with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and, on July 7, 2022, pleaded guilty to both counts. In two separate cases, Ground Zero Seeds International and ProSeeds Marketing, Inc., pleaded guilty to knowingly concealing schemes to defraud Jacklin. Both companies were sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay criminal fines of $40,000 and $5,000, respectively. In addition, Ground Zero was ordered to pay Simplot $516,000 in restitution, and ProSeeds was ordered to pay Simplot more than $78,000. In a third separate case, CanKiwi Ventures, Ltd., the manager of the Canadian grower Moore Seed, pleaded guilty on March 7, 2024, to smuggling mislabeled seed into the United States using false documents and was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $100,000. This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Ryan W. Bounds, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: Three Plead Guilty To Conspiring To Distribute Cocaine Using The United States Mail

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Omar Josue Morales-Rodriguez, 44, of Freeport, Florida, Marcos Aguilar Gonzalez, 39, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Edmar Agustin Gonzalez, 33, of Crestview, Florida, each entered guilty pleas to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Morales-Rodriguez and Aguilar Gonzalez also pled guilty to an additional count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Morales-Rodriguez also pled guilty to an additional count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The pleas were announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Evidence introduced at the plea hearings established that between October 2019, and June 13, 2023, the three conspired together and with others to ship cocaine via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to the Northern District of Florida. During the investigation, law enforcement seized four (4) packages that were shipped via the United States Mail, of which, three contained one (1) kilogram of cocaine each and one contained 125 grams of cocaine. The investigation further revealed that twenty (20) United States Mail packages, believed to contain cocaine, were shipped as part of the conspiracy from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Okaloosa and Walton County. Those packages were similar in weight and size to the packages seized that contained one (1) kilogram of cocaine each. Evidence introduced at the plea hearings further established that a search of a storage unit in Walton County led to the seizure of four (4) firearms and various rounds of ammunition that were unlawfully possessed by Morales-Rodriguez. Evidence introduced at the time of the plea hearings established that Morales-Rodriguez is a convicted felon had been previously convicted in federal court in Puerto Rico for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Evidence introduced at the plea hearings established that Morales-Rodriguez conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, and Aguilar Gonzalez and Agustin Gonzalez each conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Sentencing hearings have been scheduled for May 23, 2024, and June 6, 2024. Morales-Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment with a maximum term of life, and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment. Aguilar Gonzalez and Agustin Gonzalez each could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment with a maximum term of 40 years’ imprisonment, and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Sex Offender Convicted at Trial on Child Pornography and Failure to Register Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Christopher Daniels, 33, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted at trial of receiving child pornography as a second time offender, possession of child pornography as a second time offender, access with intent to view child pornography as a second time offender, and failure to register as a sex offender, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Daniels was first charged with child pornography offenses on March 12, 2015, and in July of that year, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Wendy Beetlestone sentenced Daniels to 70 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. The defendant’s term of supervised release commenced on January 15, 2021. Under SORNA, he was required to keep his sex offender registration information, including his registered residential address, current. In July of 2022, Daniels failed to verify his sex offender registration with Pennsylvania State Police as required and went into non-compliant status. Daniels was also found to be non-compliant with the terms of his federal supervised release and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. On November 3, 2022, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Daniels and the FBI conducted a court-authorized search of his residence, seizing several electronic devices belonging to the defendant. Subsequent forensic examination of those devices found thousands of videos and images depicting child pornography and browser searches for such material. Daniels was charged by indictment on January 19, 2023, and by superseding indictment on August 29, 2023, with child pornography offenses and failure to register. “After leaving prison in 2021, Mr. Daniels understood his legal responsibilities: comply with the requirements of his supervised release, keep his sex offender registration up to date, and stay away from material depicting the horrific sexual exploitation of children,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Well, he did none of those things, and this verdict ensures he’ll answer for it. The safety of our community and its children is the top priority of my office and our law enforcement partners.” “Protecting children against exploitation remains a priority for the FBI,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “FBI Philadelphia and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those who seek to victimize our most vulnerable.” “The propensity for underlying crimes of a most heinous nature cannot be discounted when investigating SORNA violations,” said U.S. Marshal Eric Gartner. “As such, the U.S. Marshals Service, together with the USAO and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue any and all such matters.” Daniels faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a statutory maximum of 130 years in prison, and from five years up to a lifetime of supervised release. He also faces a consecutive sentence of two years in prison on his violation of supervised release. The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.


title: Arizona Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois district judge sentenced a man from Arizona to spend 20 years in federal prison after he admitted to distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Benjamin D. Rumbo, 46, of Benson, Arizona, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. “We know child predators use the internet to exchange CSAM, which is why it’s critical for law enforcement officials to work in undercover capacities to detect and identify individuals scheming to abuse minors,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I’m grateful for our partnership with the FBI to apprehend and prosecute these criminals to improve public safety.” According to court documents, an undercover agent working for the FBI created a social media account purporting to be the parent of a sexually active 10-year-old child. Rumbo had sexually explicit conversations with the undercover agent from January through April 2021 and sent several videos of CSAM. Once law enforcement identified Rumbo as the account holder, agents obtained a search warrant on the contents of his account and uncovered 17 images and videos of child pornography. “Protecting children is a priority for the FBI," said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. "This substantial sentence not only holds the subject accountable, but also serves as a deterrent to others." This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Bloodworth and David Sanders prosecuted the case.


title: Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Girlfriend on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Warm Springs, Oregon man with seven prior domestic violence convictions was sentenced to federal prison today for assaulting his then-girlfriend on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in December 2020. Alfred Dee Kaulaity, 47, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Kaulaity’s federal sentence will run consecutive to a 78-month state prison sentence previously imposed following a domestic violence conviction in Jefferson County, Oregon. “The victim in this case courageously turned in her abuser to stop his dangerous pattern of violence” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Our Special Victims Unit is intently focused on holding domestic abusers accountable and stopping this violence in our communities.” “Everyone has the human right to live in safety, free from violence and abuse. The FBI has a duty to recognize and defend this right,” said Aubree M. Schwartz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office. “Domestic violence is rarely an isolated incident; the cycle of abuse frequently spans years, oftentimes with several victims as in the case with Alfred Kaulaity. The FBI fully investigates domestic violence with intense commitment to the safety and confidentiality of victims and encourages reporting of these heinous crimes to bring offenders to justice and protect others from harm.” According to court documents, on December 3, 2020, Kaulaity was dining with his girlfriend at the Indian Head Casino on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Kaulaity became angry with his girlfriend for speaking to a male friend and, while driving away from the casino, struck her with the back of his hand, injuring her and leaving a scar on the bridge of her nose. Kaulaity then threatened to kill his girlfriend while driving her from Oregon to northern California. After several days, Kaulaity’s girlfriend purchased flights to different destinations for Kaulaity and herself. When deboarding her flight to Portland, airline employees observed the women’s injuries and reported them to Port of Portland police. The woman told officers she had been assaulted by her boyfriend but did not identify him out of fear. Six months later, in June 2021, Jefferson County Sheriff deputies responded to a reported assault of the same woman. The woman identified Kaulaity as her assailant and reported his prior December 2020 assault. On May 3, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Kaulaity with kidnapping, domestic assault by a habitual offender, assault resulting in substantial bodily injury, and interstate domestic assault. On December 1, 2023, he pleaded guilty to domestic assault by a habitual offender. In June 2022, Kaulaity was convicted at trial of coercion and assault constituting domestic violence in Jefferson County Circuit Court for an assault involving the same victim as in his federal case and, following trial, was sentenced to a total of 78 months in Oregon state prison. Kaulaity’s federal sentence imposed today will run consecutive to his state prison sentence. Prior to his two Oregon domestic violence convictions, Kaulaity had six prior domestic violence convictions in Oklahoma spanning seventeen years and involving three different victims. Kaulaity was ordered today to pay $1,432 in restitution to his victim and $3,494 to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Pamela Paaso, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Domestic violence is a serious crime that can include both physical and emotional abuse, and it is frequently hidden from public view. Many survivors suffer in silence, afraid to seek help or not knowing where to turn. The traumatic effects of domestic violence also extend beyond the abused person, impacting family members, friends, and communities. If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you need assistance or know someone who needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Many communities throughout the country have also created support networks to assist survivors in the process of recovery. The StrongHearts Native Helpline offers culturally specific support and advocacy for American Indian and Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence. Please call 1-844-762-8483 or visit www.strongheartshelpline.org for more information.


title: Readout of Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke’s Trip to Atlanta

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division traveled to Atlanta on March 20 to continue the Civil Rights Division’s tour to engage with stakeholders in underserved communities and reaffirm the department’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans. In the morning, Assistant Attorney General Clarke participated in a fireside chat with Dr. Adrienne Jones, Ph.D. at Morehouse College, part of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Consortium, a collaboration between four historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the heart of metropolitan Atlanta – Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College. Assistant Attorney General Clarke spoke with AUC students about her journey to becoming the first woman and first Black woman confirmed by the Senate to be the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. She also discussed the Justice Department’s efforts to address some of the most pressing civil rights issues, including threats to voting rights, a rise in hate crimes, the racial wealth gaps, and encouraged students to reconsider careers in public service. After her visit to Morehouse College, Assistant Attorney General Clarke joined a community stakeholder meeting convened with U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. During the meeting, they listened to and addressed concerns raised by local advocates from Black, Latino, Asian, Muslim, Jewish and LGBTQI+ communities. She also met with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. She thanked U.S. Attorney Buchanan and his staff for their service and commitment to protecting civil rights. To conclude the trip, Assistant Attorney General Clarke delivered keynote remarks at a special meeting hosted by the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, a 102-year-old institution. She underscored the department’s commitment to protecting civil rights and discussed current and past efforts to combat hate crimes. She said, “We are working diligently to prosecute and prevent hate crimes, which have soared to some of their highest levels in decades. Since January 2021, the Civil Rights Division has charged more than 115 defendants in over 100 cases – a statistic that both illustrates the rising threat of hate-fueled violence and illustrates the work of our attorneys to pursue these notoriously complex cases.” She also highlighted the recent work of the Civil Rights Division, including holding law enforcement officials accountable for misconduct, investigating unconstitutional prison conditions, protecting the right to vote, and ending modern-day redlining by banks and financial institutions. As a part of this tour, Assistant Attorney General Clarke has traveled to underserved communities in Louisiana , Tennessee , Mississippi , Alabama , Florida , Arkansas and South Carolina to discuss the department’s efforts to protect the civil rights of all Americans. Assistant Attorney General Clarke speaks at fireside chat at Morehouse College. Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Buchanan host a listening session with community stakeholders.


title: Serial Violent Robber Found Guilty of Robbing Multiple Spas at Gunpoint; Duct-Taped Victims

body_text: BOSTON – A Burlington, Mass. man was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston for his role in the armed robberies of multiple businesses in which he and two others beat, dragged and duct-taped victims. Alfeu Barbosa, 26, was convicted of two counts of robbery affecting commerce. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for July 17. Barbosa was arrested and charged in June 2022. His co-defendants, Li Wen Tang and Jonas Nunez, were later arrested and charged in August and September 2022. All three defendants were each subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury. Nunez pleaded guilty in January 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2024. Tang is pending trial and is presumed innocent. “Barbosa did not simply rob businesses, he terrorized employees by duct taping them, dragging them by their hair, assaulting them and holding them at gunpoint. Barbosa cruelly inflicted lifelong trauma on multiple victims, all for a few hundred dollars,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “We hope that this verdict holding Mr. Barbosa accountable will bring some solace to the victims.” “Alfeu Barbosa was a crime wave unto himself, storming into these spas, robbing everyone at gun point, and physically assaulting and duct taping them. What he did to the victims in this case was horrific,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Removing dangerous armed robbers like this from the street is a priority for FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force, and we thank the jury for making sure this prolific criminal won’t be able to terrorize anyone else for quite some time.” On June 12, 2022 at approximately 8:51 p.m., Tang allegedly entered the Balance Reflexology Spa in Brookline pretending to be a customer seeking a massage. Because the victim was the only employee in the spa that night, she locked the door before taking Tang into the back room to begin the massage. It is alleged that Tang asked the victim if there was anyone else in the spa and that if there was, he would like to see them. Almost immediately after the massage had begun, Tang claimed that he no longer wanted a massage because his stomach was upset and demanded a refund. The victim employee stated she had to call her boss to approve the refund. While the victim employee was on the phone in the lobby, it is alleged that Tang unlocked the front door and two masked men – later identified as Barbosa and Nunez – entered the business carrying firearms. One of the men hit the victim employee in the face, knocking her to the floor and put a gun to her head. Barbosa and Nunez then pulled the victim by her hair into the back hallway where they instructed her to be quiet. There, the men proceeded to bind the victim’s wrists and ankles with duct tape and gag her. As they were doing this, Barbosa and Nunez repeatedly yelled at the victim asking, “Where is the money?” The men ransacked the spa for roughly three minutes before locating and stealing approximately $500 along with the victim employee’s cell phone and then exiting. Surveillance footage revealed that all three men had arrived in the same vehicle parked nearby, which they drove away in together following the robbery. Later that evening, at approximately 10:19 p.m. on June 12, 2022, Barbosa, Nunez and an associate of Barbosa committed a similar robbery of May’s Spa Massage in Stoneham. Specifically, they entered the business wearing masks and firearms and duct-taped several victims who were in the spa at the time. In addition to stealing approximately $600 in cash from the business and victims, Barbosa, Nunez and Barbosa's associate took three cell phones belonging to three of the female victims present during the robbery, as well as a victim’s license, gift cards and credit and debit cards before leaving in the same vehicle. At the time of the robberies, Barbosa was wearing a court-ordered ankle bracelet with GPS monitoring due to a suspended sentence for multiple prior convictions out of Middlesex Superior Court of armed robbery and assault and battery for robbing the De Onzen Spa in Waltham in July 2021. During that robbery, Barbosa threatened employees and patrons at knifepoint, stole their phones and punched one victim in the face causing an orbital fracture. Barbosa was subsequently charged in the state for assault and battery and sentenced in April 2022 to two and a half years in prison. That sentence was later suspended for three years. Also at the time of the offenses, Barbosa was on pretrial release out of Suffolk Superior Court for charges of breaking and entering in the daytime with the intent to commit a felony and larceny from a building. Barbosa has multiple prior state convictions including resisting arrest; breaking and entering in the daytime with the intent to commit a felony; larceny over $250; and breaking and entering in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony. The charges of robbery each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York; the Massachusetts State Police; as well as the Brookline, Stoneham, Boston, Wakefield and New York City Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke A. Goldworm and Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Dearborn Man sentenced to 17 Years In Prison  for Sexually Exploiting a Child

body_text: DETROIT – A Dearborn resident was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Division. Haitham Sami Bazzi, 28, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terrence Berg. According to court documents, Bazzi met the 16-year-old victim in an online dating application in the summer of 2021. Bazzi engaged in sex acts with the victim, provided the child methamphetamine, and recorded the sexual exploitation. A concerned adult reported Bazzi to the Dearborn Police after Bazzi showed him child sexually abusive material on Bazzi’s phone. The Dearborn Police executed a search warrant and recovered multiple devices from Bazzi’s residence, which police then turned over to the FBI for further investigation. The FBI analyzed the devices and found numerous images and videos of child sexually abusive material, including a video of the minor victim. “Protecting our most vulnerable residents is one of my office’s top priorities – we must do everything in our power to protect our children from those who seek to cause them enduring harm. By seeking just punishment, we acknowledge this victim’s trauma and hope that this sentence helps the child’s journey toward a full recovery,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. "Our top priority is to protect our communities' youngest members from individuals who mean to take advantage of them. This sentencing and path to accountability would not be possible without the men and women of the Dearborn Police Department and the United States Attorney's Office,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Michigan. “I would also like to thank the concerned citizen who dared to stand up to Mr. Bazzi and speak for our victim by reporting his heinous crimes to law enforcement. As a member of the law enforcement community, we can achieve tremendous success in partnership with our concerned citizens. If you know of someone victimizing our youth, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or you may submit an online tip at TIPS.FBI.GOV." This case was investigated by the FBI and the Dearborn Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Rawsthorne and Tara Hindelang.


title: Two Indicted in Scheme to Use Stolen Identities to Obtain Nearly $1 Million in Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief

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

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment charging two men with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit money laundering concerning obtaining fraudulent proceeds of Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) COVID-19 loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. “The pandemic is long over, but we won’t quit in our mission to run down stolen taxpayer money and ensure the integrity of federal relief programs,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Those who committed COVID-19 fraud should know - we’re well-resourced and we’re still coming.” “Schemes to fraudulently obtain federal funds meant to provide assistance to small businesses is unacceptable,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge. “Our field office continues to follow the evidence of crimes committed to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans and other COVID-19 funds intended for struggling businesses needing assistance during the pandemic and bring them to justice.” According to the indictment, Tyreek Rasheed Exum, age 25, of Snow Hill, North Carolina, and Anthony Wandland, Jr., age 30, of Chicago, Illinois allegedly conspired to use over 20 stolen identities and the identities of co-conspirators to apply for EIDL and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits. The indictment alleges that Wandland provided Exum with the stolen identities, and, in exchange, Exum gave Wandland a percentage of the proceeds. Each loan application submitted by Exum allegedly contain false statements, misrepresentations, and omissions related to income, employment, and claimed business entities. Exum is alleged to have signed various financial documents, including loan and security agreements, in the names of those stolen identities and then had the loan proceeds deposited into his personal bank account, nominee bank accounts, bank accounts of family and friends, and into accounts in the names of stolen identities. Exum is alleged to have exercised control over these accounts by obtaining bank debit cards and by causing nominees to transfer the fraud proceeds to other accounts controlled by him via various digital mediums such as PayPal and CashApp. Exum allegedly withdrew the cash at multiple ATMs. In total, the indictment alleges Exum received nearly $1 million in fraudulent loan proceeds. If found guilty, Wandland and Exum face a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and Explosives, and the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa K. Labresh is prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the United States Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. The Eastern District of North Carolina’s COVID Task Force is a part of this effort to coordinate fraud-related investigations and prosecutions in Eastern North Carolina. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-00104-UA-RJ. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Member of MS-13 Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A member of an MS-13 clique operating in Hudson County, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his role in a gang-related murder plot, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Jose Gimenez-Lobos, aka “Infernal,” aka “Terrible,” 33, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to his role in a failed May 2015 plot to kill a member of a rival gang. Judge Cecchi ordered that the sentence imposed today run concurrently to the 40-year sentence Gimenez-Lobos received in the Eastern District of Virginia for his role in a November 2014 murder that he committed on behalf of MS-13. “This defendant has already amassed a history of death and mayhem on behalf of MS-13, a gang well-known for its appetite for violence. There is no place in our communities for this wanton disregard of life. Gimenez-Lobos will remain behind bars for most of the remainder of his life, which is the punishment he has brought down on his own head.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “Many violent street gangs focus on crimes to make money and use violence as a way to defend their so-called turf,” FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “For MS-13, they use their criminal behavior as a means to perpetuate violence simply for the sake of violence. Gimenez-Lobos sent his minions after a rival gang member, but having failed to carry out his plan, he then had them savagely beaten. The brutality and total disregard for human life is the point. I would like to commend the agents and investigators on this case. Pursuing and bringing to justice members of MS-13 can be a harrowing job, but they do it to protect our communities.” “This is another clear example of the strong partnership that exists amongst federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in New Jersey,” Newark ICE Enforcement and Removal Field Office Director John Tsoukaris said. “This cooperation was critical in the arrest, prosecution and sentencing of an MS-13 gang member, a group notorious for its violent crimes. ICE ERO remains committed to our public safety mission as we enforce our immigration laws.” “Jose Gimenez-Lobos is a convicted felon and MS-13 gang member, whose violent behavior has earned him a second prison sentence,” said HSI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “Thanks to the collaboration with our law enforcement partners in New Jersey and neighboring states, this MS-13 criminal will be put away for decades. HSI Newark remains determined to keep our communities safe from dangerous gang members who show no regard for human life.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Gimenez-Lobos and others previously pleaded guilty to their involvement in a failed May 2015 plot to kill a member of a rival gang. Gimenez-Lobos admitted his membership in the violent transnational street gang, MS-13, and admitted his involvement in acts of violence and drug distribution on behalf of the gang. Gimenez-Lobos and fellow MS-13 gang members conspired to kill a member of the rival 18th Street gang from the Maryland/Virginia area. The plot involved a female associate of MS-13 who befriended the victim and then lured him to New Jersey so that MS-13 members could execute him. The victim arrived in Hudson County on May 25, 2015. A high-ranking MS-13 member ordered three other MS-13 members, including Gimenez-Lobos, to carry out the murder. When their initial attempts to contact the victim did not go as planned, the MS-13 members decided to secure a room for the victim at a local motel and offered to transport him back to the Maryland/Virginia area the following day. At their clique leader’s direction, the MS-13 members agreed to stab the victim to death at some point during the trip, and then dispose of the body. The murder was foiled the following day when the victim – sensing that the MS-13 members planned to harm him – jumped from the vehicle outside a tollbooth on the way to the Maryland/Virginia area. The MS-13 members later received beatings for failing to kill the rival 18th Street gang member. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; officers of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark Field Office, under the direction of Field Office Director Tsoukaris; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; special agents of HIS Washington, D.C., under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon; investigators of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez; and investigators of the West New York Police Department under the direction of Director of Public Safety Alejandro DeRojas. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark, and Trial Attorney Matthew K. Hoff of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.


title: Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Related to Soliciting Sexually Explicit Images of Children

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Eugene Edward Golden, age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child and to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child in order to produce and transmit a visual depiction of the sexually explicit conduct. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (“MSP”); Chief Gregory Der of the Howard County Police Department; and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. According to his guilty plea, beginning in at least 2019, Golden located several females, specifically six co-defendants, using dating or prostitution websites, and communicated with each of them individually using texts, messaging applications and social media. Golden requested that each of the women produce sexually explicit videos and images of children, citing his a fetish, and then to send those files to Golden in exchange for financial compensation. Golden’s co-defendants agreed to his requests and produced and distributed sexually explicit images and videos of at least 12 minor victims, using their cellphones. The victims ranged in age from approximately one year old to 13 years old. Images and videos documenting the sexual abuse were found in Golden’s online accounts. Golden produced and received well over 100 images and videos documenting the sexual abuse of children at his request. Golden faces a maximum sentence of 90 years in federal prison—a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for each of the three counts. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox has not set a date for sentencing. As detailed in Golden’s plea agreement, upon his release from prison, Golden will be required to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the MSP-led Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Howard County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn, who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Felon Who Possessed Ammunition Sentenced to 30 Years In Federal Prison

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Quincy Martez Chambers, multi-convicted felon, will spend the next 30 years in federal prison for illegally possessing ammunition. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. A federal jury found Chambers, 32, of Cedar Hill, Texas, guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition on October 18, 2023. That conviction was based on Chambers shooting a former girlfriend outside of an apartment she visited, brandishing a firearm at a witness, and shooting multiple rounds of ammunition into an apartment unit where the victim and her young son sought refuge following her shooting. “The sentence handed down by the judge underscores our goal to remove violent people who continuously terrorize the community and have no respect for the life of others,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Arkansas. “The collaboration of federal, state, and local partners is an integral partnership in the comprehensive strategy to make communities safer through an aggressive pursuit and prosecution of violent offenders.” At Chambers’ sentencing hearing, Judge Moody heard arguments regarding Chambers’ history of violent felony and domestic battery convictions. At the hearing, Judge Moody determined that Chambers qualified as an Armed Career Criminal, which carries a sentence of not less than 15 years’ imprisonment, and not more than life imprisonment, a term of up to five years of supervised release, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a $100 special assessment. Judge Moody sentenced Chambers to 30 years imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. Chambers was not assessed a fine, but ordered to pay a special assessment of $100. “Firearms possessed by violent felons, especially when involved in domestic abuse, frequently lead to an increase of violent crime within our communities,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that violent individuals will be held accountable as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe as a top priority for ATF.” “Through collaboration and dedication, we stand united in our pursuit of justice. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those involved in the criminal justice process, as we work together to serve and support the victims and their families,” said Chief Heath Helton, Little Rock Police Department. “The unwavering commitment of our partners as well as the men and women of the Little Rock Police Department is truly commendable.” “Quincy Chambers’ sentence of 30 years in federal prison is a direct result of a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pine Bluff Police Department,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jarad O. Harper with the DEA Little Rock District Office. “Since January 2022, the DEA and Pine Bluff Police have been working together under Operation Overdrive, a nationwide DEA-led initiative to reduce violent crime in areas most deeply affected, like Pine Bluff. Chambers’ status as their top violent offender demonstrates the severity of his acts. This significant sentence is a testament to law enforcement’s unwavering commitment to protecting the public and reducing gun violence in our communities.” “The appreciation for the U.S. Attorney’s Office cannot be stated enough. Local law enforcement leaders know that we are limited in many ways when it comes to prosecutions and sentencing. The connection to our federal partners to help us make our communities safer is an important and necessary component of what we do,” said Chief Denise Richardson, Pine Bluff Police Department. “The sheer determination of the AUSA in this case is to be commended. What they have truly done is made Pine Bluff safer and that is the ultimate goal for us.” The investigation was conducted by the Little Rock Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Fields and Bart Dickinson. # # # 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: Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Strongarm Extortion Scheme

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Brooklyn man was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for his role in for conspiring with others in a week-long strongarm extortion scheme in 2019, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today. Endrit Kllogjeri, 30, of Brooklyn, New York, was previously convicted of one count each of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and attempt to commit Hobbs Act extortion following a one-week jury trial in June 2023 before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi. Judge Quraishi imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court. Kllogjeri’s codefendant, Francis Garzon previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 121 months in prison by Judge Quraishi in January 2024. According to documents filed in this case, statements made in court, and the evidence at trial: From Dec. 1, 2019, through Dec. 9, 2019, Kllogjeri and Garzon conspired and attempted to extort a resident of Monmouth County, New Jersey and the resident’s son, who lived in Brooklyn, New York. The victim was allegedly threatened with physical harm if the victim did not recover a bag containing property allegedly valued at $100,000 from the victim’s son. Garzon and Kllogjeri further demanded an additional payment of $100,000 as “interest” for the son’s possession of the bag. Over the ensuing week, Garzon and Kllogjeri communicated regularly with the victim’s telephone, continuing to threaten the victim and the victim’s family. Garzon and Kllogjeri were arrested together in a vehicle on Dec. 9, 2019 in Brooklyn. Moments before the arrest, Garzon had attempted to send the victim a text message confirming the victim’s plan to pay the demand. In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Kllogjeri to three years of supervised release following Kllogjeri’s release from prison. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s conviction. He also credited the Marlboro Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Pezzullo; and the New York City Police Department for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric A. Boden, Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian D. Brater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.


title: Dorchester Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

body_text: BOSTON – A Dorchester man pleaded guilty today to receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) obtained via Zoom chat rooms. Beau Christopher Benson, 35, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2024. Benson was charged by criminal complaint in November 2023. In April 2023, law enforcement was notified that Benson participated in Zoom video chat rooms used to share and view CSAM. Benson recorded his participation in the chat rooms and saved the recordings – which featured videos of CSAM and conversations between Benson and others about the CSAM – to his social media account. Approximately 15 video files depicting CSAM were found saved in his Dropbox. In addition, Benson was identified as an online user who had uploaded two files containing CSAM to a Dropbox account. Specifically, the files depicted children who appear to be approximately two to four years old. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . UPDATE: This press release was amended on March 22, 2024 to reflect that the defendant is no longer employed by Northeastern University.


title: Maine Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Maine man was sentenced today for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that operated in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Northern California. Jacob Parlin, 44, of Lebanon, Maine, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2023, Parlin was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Parlin was indicted along with nine others in December 2021 for their roles in a drug trafficking organization led by co-defendant Harry Tam, a/k/a “Legendary H.” The investigation identified Parlin as one of Tam’s trusted business partners with whom he worked together to distribute methamphetamine in Maine. In their business arrangement, Tam would procure methamphetamine from California or elsewhere via mailed shipments to his business in Brookline. The methamphetamine would then be transferred to Parlin for distribution in his community in Maine. Parlin was arrested early in the morning of March 31, 2021 in New Hampshire, as he drove home to Maine from the Boston-area after meeting with Tam. A plastic bag containing approximately 880 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine was found beneath the driver’s seat of Parlin’s car. More than three kilograms of methamphetamine, about a dozen firearms and approximately $95,000 in cash was seized over the course of the investigation. Parlin is the ninth defendant to be convicted in the case. Tam pleaded guilty in July 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2024. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nadine Pellegrini and Amanda Beck of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Six Former Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Sentenced for Torturing and Abusing Two Black Men

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers were sentenced this week for torturing and abusing two Black men in Rankin County, Mississippi. Senior District Judge Tom Lee sentenced the defendants to terms in prison ranging from 10 to 40 years. Christian Dedmon, 29, former Narcotics Investigator of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Brett McAlpin, 53, former RCSO Chief Investigator, was sentenced to 27.25 years in prison. Hunter Elward, 31, former RCSO Deputy, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Jeffrey Middleton, 46, former RCSO Lieutenant, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison. Daniel Opdyke, 28, former RCSO Deputy, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison. Joshua Hartfield, 32, former Narcotics Investigator for the Richland Police Department, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. “The depravity of the crimes committed by these defendants cannot be overstated, and they will now spend between 10 and 40 years in prison for their heinous attack on citizens they had sworn to protect,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These defendants kicked in the door of a home where two Black men were residing, handcuffed and arrested them without probable cause, called them racial slurs, and punched, kicked, tased, and assaulted them. After one of the defendants fired his gun in the mouth of one of the victims, breaking his jaw, the defendants gathered outside to come up with a cover story as the victim lay bleeding on the floor. Officers who violate constitutional rights will be held accountable by the Justice Department for their crimes that harm individual victims and betray the trust of entire communities. I am grateful to the Department’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, the FBI Jackson Field Office, and our state partners for their outstanding work bringing these defendants to justice.” “It is hard to imagine a more atrocious set of civil rights violations than those carried out by the defendants in this case,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “But it is also hard to imagine more important work than investigating those crimes and seeking justice for the victims. As the result of the bureau’s color-of-law investigation, which we worked in collaboration with our federal and state partners, all six pleaded guilty last August and will serve lengthy sentences for their crimes.” “By holding these officers accountable, we are sending a clear message that law enforcement abuse of Black people, or any American, will not be tolerated in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These six white law enforcement officers sought to dehumanize two innocent Black men through cruel, violent, and lawless abuse. The defendants didn’t count on the victims’ courage to come forward and tell the truth or the justice system to hold them accountable. The court imposed severe sentences reflecting the defendants’ savagery, including the longest federal sentence in recent years for a civil rights police misconduct case. Justice demands accountability, especially when the defendants’ actions not only scarred the victims physically and emotionally, but also harmed the entire community, stripping away their sense of security, corroding trust and respect for the police.” “We expect our law enforcement officers to take seriously their oath to be our protectors, but these defendants instead chose to be predators on a hate-fueled power trip,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “Rather than serving Mississippi, the defendants treated it as a place where they could assault, intimidate, torture, and frame their victims at will. These violations of civil rights should serve as a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do in Mississippi and this nation to ensure that law enforcement officers are properly hired, trained, equipped, supervised, and held accountable for their actions.” “We hold positions of trust and serve as stewards of authority for the community. Color of law violations are harmful to the victims, to the American people, and to the law enforcement community across the globe,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie of the FBI Jackson Field Office. “These six individuals violated their oaths and disgraced other law enforcement officers that carry their duties with pride and honor. We will continue to execute our duties to the highest level of ethical and moral values. We will continue to work with our community partners to rebuild and strengthen the partnership and trust in law enforcement. The FBI remains steadfast in aggressively investigating and bringing those who misuse their authority to justice.” “The six officers who committed these heinous acts caused more than physical harm to these two individual victims; they severed the vital trust between law enforcement and the people they pledge to protect,” said Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “This abuse of power will not be tolerated. I am proud of this joint effort and shared commitment across agencies to pursue truth and justice for these victims. It is my hope and prayer that we can help these victims on their healing journey, and we can restore confidence in our criminal justice system.” “The sentencing of the six former officers who violated their oath of office proves the effectiveness of collaboration between state and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors,” said Commissioner Sean Tindell of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. “As we move forward, we should all work together creating new policies and oversights to help prevent these types of incidents in the future. Thank you to all parties involved for their diligent work in ensuring that justice was served for the victims.” Last year, the six defendants pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging them with a total of 13 felony offenses, including civil rights conspiracy, deprivation of rights under color of law, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice. According to court documents and the plea hearings, the defendants admitted that on Jan. 24, 2023, Dedmon sent a group message to Middleton, Elward, and Opdyke, three members of the “Goon Squad,” orchestrating a “mission” to forcibly enter a home in Braxton, Rankin County, Mississippi, where two Black men, M.J. and E.P., were residing. “The Goon Squad” is a group of RCSO officers who were known for using excessive force and not reporting it. Dedmon warned the officers that there might be surveillance cameras at the house, and told them “no bad mugshots”, meaning that the officers should use excessive force, but they should make sure not to leave any marks that would be captured in a mugshot. Upon arrival at the home, the defendants kicked in the door and entered the home without a warrant or any exigent circumstances. The defendants handcuffed and arrested the men without probable cause to believe they had committed any crime, called them racial slurs, and warned them to stay out of Rankin County. Dedmon fired his gun twice to intimidate the men. Further, the defendants punched and kicked the men; tased them 17 times; held them down and poured liquids on their faces, forcing them to involuntarily ingest these liquids; threw eggs at them and assaulted them with a dildo. McAlpin, the senior officer on the scene, failed to intervene to stop the torture or abuse and stole property while the incident occurred. At the conclusion of the incident, Elward surreptitiously removed a bullet from the chamber of his gun, forced the gun into M.J.’s mouth, and pulled the trigger. The unloaded gun clicked but did not fire. Elward racked the slide, intending to dry-fire a second time. When Elward pulled the trigger, the gun discharged. The bullet lacerated M.J.’s tongue, broke his jaw, and exited out of his neck. As M.J. was bleeding on the floor, the defendants did not provide medical aid, but instead gathered outside the home to devise a false cover story and took steps to corroborate it by planting a BB gun on M.J.; destroying surveillance video, a spent shell casing, and taser cartridges; submitting fraudulent drug evidence to the crime lab; filing false reports; charging M.J. with crimes he did not commit; making false statements to investigators; and pressuring witnesses to stick to the cover story. For several of the defendants, the incident with M.J. and E.P. was not their first-time abusing Rankin County residents. During a separate incident on Dec. 4, 2022, Dedmon beat and tased a white man and fired a gun near his head to coerce a confession, while Elward and Opdyke failed to intervene. Dedmon then sexually assaulted the man. In connection with that incident, Dedmon, Elward, and Opdyke each also pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging them with three additional federal felony offenses, including deprivation of rights under color of law and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The FBI Jackson Field Office investigated the federal case. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigated the state case. Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; Criminal Chief Erin O. Chalk and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi; and Mississippi Deputy Attorney General Mary Helen Wall, who was deputized as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi for the federal matter, prosecuted the case.