title: Highs Gang Member Sentenced to 19.5 Years in Prison for RICO Conspiracy

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Montez Brown, aka “Tez Blood,” was sentenced to 235 months in prison for his criminal conduct, including attempted murder, narcotics trafficking, and possession of a machine gun, as a member of the Minneapolis Highs gang, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “We are addressing gang violence for what it is: organized criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “Minneapolis gangs have caused a staggering amount of damage to the community through retaliatory shootings, narcotics trafficking, and other illicit activity. Individuals who choose to fuel violence and destruction on behalf of a criminal enterprise such as this will be held accountable under federal law.” According to court documents, Brown, 32, was a well-respected member and high-level fentanyl trafficker for the Highs gang, a criminal enterprise engaged in a years-long pattern of racketeering activity, including murder, robbery, and trafficking and distribution of controlled substances. Operating on the north side of Minneapolis since 2004, the Highs congregate at businesses and residences located at or near the West Broadway Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North intersection. The Highs have a stranglehold on this area and members do not hesitate to flaunt their illegal activities openly. Prospective Highs members prove their loyalty to the gang by “putting in work,” i.e., committing acts of violence for the benefit of the gang or offering other benefits such as introducing a source for drugs or firearms. Members of the Highs are expected to “hunt” rival gang members: an express directive to locate and kill rivals. Highs members frequently take to social media to taunt rivals, glorify gang life, and post images of themselves with cash, drugs, and firearms. To date, thirteen members and associates of the Highs have pleaded guilty and five have been sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy E. Brasel. Montez Brown, aka “Tez Blood,” 32, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on November 6, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He was sentenced on April 10, 2024, to 235 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Chase Robertson, aka “Chase Loco,” 25, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty on September 11, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. He was sentenced on February 22, 2024, to 75 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Douglas Mobley, aka “Nut,” 36, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty on October 11, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Christopher Finch, aka “Twin,” 23, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on December 12, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Tony Jelks, aka “BD,” 30, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on November 1, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. He was sentenced on April 10, 2024, to 156 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Randy Tate, 32, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on December 4, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. He was sentenced on April 4, 2024, to 115 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Isaac Hodge, aka “Ike,” 47, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on November 2, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Trevoneia Felton, aka “Tre,” 22, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty on November 9, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. He was sentenced on April 3, 2024, to 82 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Malcolm Samuels, aka “Reggie,” 25, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on December 18, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Ronald Washington, aka Black, 37, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on November 21, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Dashaun Morris, aka “Mush,” 22, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on November 14, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Maron Bailey, aka “Boonie,” 26, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty on October 5, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Isaiah Bell, 21, of St. Paul, pleaded guilty on December 7, 2023, to one count of RICO conspiracy. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. These cases are the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, DEA, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates, Justin A. Wesley, Jordan L. Sing, and Albania Concepcion for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney Brian W. Lynch of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the cases.


title: Justice Department Publishes New Rule to Update Definition of “Engaged in the Business” as a Firearms Dealer

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department today announced it has submitted to the Federal Register the “Engaged in the Business” Final Rule, which makes clear the circumstances in which a person is “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms and thus required to obtain a federal firearms license, in order to increase compliance with the federal background check requirement for firearm sales by federal firearms licensees. “Under this regulation, it will not matter if guns are sold on the internet, at a gun show, or at a brick-and-mortar store: if you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be licensed, and you must conduct background checks,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This regulation is a historic step in the Justice Department’s fight against gun violence. It will save lives.” “The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act enhanced background checks and closed loopholes, including by redefining when a person is ‘engaged in the business’ of dealing in firearms. Today’s rule clarifying application of that definition will save lives by requiring all those in the business of selling guns to get a federal license and run background checks — thus keeping guns out of the hands of violent criminals,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “I applaud the hard work of ATF in drafting this rule and reviewing the hundreds of thousands of public comments, which overwhelmingly favored the rule announced today. Because of that work, our communities will be safer.” “This is about protecting the lives of innocent, law-abiding Americans as well as the rule of law. There is a large and growing black market of guns that are being sold by people who are in the business of dealing and are doing it without a license; and therefore, they are not running background checks the way the law requires. And it is fueling violence,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Today’s Final Rule is about ensuring compliance with an important area of the existing law where we all know, the data show, and we can clearly see that a whole group of folks are openly flouting that law. That leads to not just unfair but, in this case, dangerous consequences.” The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), enacted June 25, 2022, expanded the definition of engaging in the business of firearms dealing to cover all persons who devote time, attention, and labor to dealing in firearms as a regular course of trade or business to predominately earn a profit through the repetitive purchase and sale of firearms. On March 14, 2023, President Biden issued Executive Order 14092, which, among other things, directs the Attorney General to develop and implement a plan to clarify the definition of who is engaged in the business of dealing in firearms and thus required to obtain a federal firearms license. The Final Rule conforms the ATF regulations to the new BSCA definition and further clarifies the conduct that presumptively requires a license under that revised definition, among other things. Federally licensed firearms dealers are critical to federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement in our shared goal of promoting public safety. Licensees submit background checks on potential purchasers to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which helps to keep firearms out of the hands of prohibited persons. Further, licensees keep records of sales transactions to help ensure that when a gun is used in a crime and recovered by law enforcement it can be traced back to the first retail purchaser; they help identify and prevent straw purchasers from buying firearms on behalf of prohibited persons and criminals; and they facilitate safe storage of firearms by providing child-safety locks with every transferred handgun and offer customers other secure gun storage options. Unlicensed dealing, however, undermines these public-safety features — which is why Congress has long prohibited engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without the required license. To increase compliance with the statutes Congress has enacted, the Final Rule identifies conduct that is presumed to require a federal firearms license. And, in addition to implementing the revised statutory definition discussed above, the Final Rule clarifies the circumstances in which a license is — or is not — required by, among other things, adding a definition of “personal firearms collection” to ensure that genuine hobbyists and collectors may enhance or liquidate their collections without fear of violating the law. The Final Rule also provides clarity as to what licensees must do with their inventory when they go out of business. The Final Rule goes into effect 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. On Sept. 8, 2023, the Justice Department published a notice of proposed rulemaking , and during the 90-day open comment period, ATF received nearly 388,000 comments. The final rule, as submitted to the Federal Register, can be viewed here . Please note: This is the text of the Engaged in the Business Final Rule as signed by the Attorney General, but the official version of the Final Rule will be as it is published in the Federal Register. Learn more about the rulemaking process here .


title: Spokane Tribal Member Found Guilty of Assaulting His Partner with a Knife and Attempting to Suffocate Her

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a jury returned a verdict on April 9, 2024, following the trial of 40-year-old Marvin Samson Butterfly. Butterfly was found guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country, Assault of an Intimate Partner and Dating Partner by Suffocating and Attempting to Suffocate in Indian Country, and Attempted Witness Tampering. Evidence introduced at trial established that on September 16, 2023, officers with the Spokane Tribal Police Department were called to a home in Ford, Washington for a reported domestic assault. The victim told officers that Butterfly, who is an enrolled member of the Spokane Tribe, assaulted her. Butterfly was upset with the victim because the victim had let another woman shelter in her home because of the cold weather. Butterfly began shouting, took out a long knife and began stabbing the floors, doors, and furniture. Butterfly then assaulted the victim by holding the knife against her throat and said, “this is how you kill someone.” Butterfly pushed the victim down on the couch, placed his hand over the victim’s mouth and attempted to suffocate her. Butterfly used such force; it left a bruise. The victim was able to pry Butterfly’s fingers off her face. Butterfly then left the home in the victim’s vehicle. Officers found Butterfly the next morning asleep in the victim’s vehicle. He was arrested and taken to the Spokane County Jail. On November 2, 2023, while in jail, Butterfly placed a recorded telephone call to his neighbor. During the call, Butterfly made several statements indicating he did not want the victim to testify. Butterfly encouraged his neighbor to stress to the victim that he would be coming home if she did not speak to investigators. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice presided over the trial, which began on April 8, 2024. Sentencing in this matter is set for July 10, 2024. “Everyone deserves to live in a safe home free of violence. Native Americans experience some of the highest rates of violence in the country, a situation that is more tragic in light of the generations of trauma already suffered by Indigenous people, especially Native American women,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “By working with our tribal and federal law enforcement partners, we can continue to build trust and foster safer and stronger communities on Tribal lands and throughout Eastern Washington.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Spokane Tribal Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Ellis.


title: U.S. Attorneys For The Western, Middle, And Eastern Districts Of North Carolina And Federal Officials Host Community Conversation On Combatting Sexual Harassment In Housing

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dena J. King, Sandra Hairston, and Michael Easley, United States Attorneys for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, respectively, were joined today by officials with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) in hosting a community conversation focused on the use of the Fair Housing Act to prevent and address sexual harassment in HUD-assisted housing. “Abusing power and control over housing by committing acts of sexual harassment violates a person’s right to equal housing opportunities,” said U.S. Attorney King. “My Office remains steadfast in our commitment to enforce federal civil rights laws to combat sexual harassment in housing, protect vulnerable tenants and housing applicants, and hold accountable landlords, property managers, owners, and others who violate these statutes.” “Sexual harassment of citizens who are pursuing safe and affordable housing will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Hairston. “This reprehensible conduct is often inflicted on people who feel they do not have an avenue to seek help. We hope today’s seminar has provided our partner agencies and organizations with information that can be shared with citizens who may have fallen prey to this illegal activity.” “In our ongoing commitment to ensure justice and safety for all, we are proud to co-host a community conversation with a focus on combating sexual harassment in housing,” said U.S. Attorney Easley. “This event represents a crucial step in our collaborative efforts to create a safe living environment for all people.” “Sexual harassment and sexual assault in HUD-assisted housing are discriminatory actions that violate tenants’ rights to safe and fair housing,” said Inspector General Oliver Davis. “We are proud to work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice and will continue to enforce the Fair Housing Act by pursuing bad actors who take advantage of tenants and prospective tenants in violation of the law.” The virtual engagement signified the partnership between the federal agencies to promote the health and safety of tenants residing in HUD-assisted housing. Representatives of all agencies expressed their commitment to working together to bring justice to victims of predatory landlords and other housing providers who sexually harass or sexually assault tenants and/or prospective tenants in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. Discussion topics included information about the scope and use of the Fair Housing Act, tenant rights under the law, how to recognize and report sexual misconduct in housing, and case studies. Participants included representatives from legal aid offices, fair housing organizations, and other community organizations who assist underserved and underrepresented communities with housing. Participants were encouraged to share their experiences, concerns, and expertise to forge future partnerships and provide resource assistance to beneficiaries when reporting allegations of sexual misconduct in housing. If you or someone you know has information about or has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation – even if the events occurred years ago – report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit the website at www.hudoig.gov/hotline . You may also file a complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing/fileacomplaint You may also contact the U.S. Department of Justice at 1-844-380-6178 or visit www.civilrights.justice.gov . Individuals who believe they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other housing discrimination may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at: Western District of North Carolina: Charlotte (704) 344-6222 or Asheville (828) 271-4661 Middle District of North Carolina: (336) 333-5351 Eastern District of North Carolina: (919) 856-4530 For more information on the three North Carolina U.S. Attorney’s Offices, priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit: Western District of North Carolina: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc Middle District of North Carolina: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdnc Eastern District of North Carolina: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc


title: Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Nationwide Marijuana Trafficking and Money Laundering Conspiracies

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Lateek White, age 53, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute marijuana and money laundering. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. White admitted that he was a member of a marijuana and THC trafficking organization that shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno, California, to locations throughout the United States, including New York City and the Capital Region, between 2017 and June 2022. He also admitted to laundering marijuana proceeds for the organization. The packages of marijuana were shipped through UPS and FedEx from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, by Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie.” White received the packages of marijuana at, among other locations, his residence in Brooklyn; his sister, Onisha Smith, also received packages of marijuana at her apartment and a neighboring apartment in Brooklyn. In total, White and Smith received 71 packages containing approximately 294 kilograms, or 648 pounds, of marijuana. White also laundered marijuana proceeds for the organization by depositing cash into a bank account owned by Singletary in the name “Daddy Ds Boutique,” which was a purported clothing business. When he deposited the cash, White knew that Daddy Ds Boutique was not a real clothing business and deposited the cash to conceal the nature and source of the marijuana proceeds and to promote the marijuana trafficking conspiracy. White faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison; up to $8.5 million in fines; and term of post-release supervision of between 8 years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. White was charged in an indictment with Singletary, Coles, Smith and 20 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes. Singletary, Coles, and Smith have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. In addition to White, seven other defendants, Rosemary Coles , Latrice Mumphrey , Sammy Olague , Victor Turner , Kristle Walker , Ruby Ledesma , and Jazell Shuler , previously pled guilty and are pending sentencing. The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case. 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.


title: D.C. Man Charged with Aggravated Assault while Armed

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Michael Owusu-Sakyi, 47, of Washington, D.C., was charged today in Superior Court with aggravated assault while armed for shooting a woman on April 5, 2024, in Southeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. The defendant is held pending a preliminary hearing on Friday. According to court documents, the victim was in the 1700 block of Fairlawn Avenue SE when Owusu-Sakyi approached her from behind and shot her once in the arm. After shooting the victim, the defendant said that he thought she was someone else, and told her to call 911 before he fled the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital to treat her gunshot wound. Police subsequently obtained a warrant for Owusu-Sakyi’s arrest. These charges were brought as a result of the D.C. Council’s Secure DC Omnibus Emergency Amendment Act of 2024, that went into effect last month. The change in the law recognizes all gunshot wounds as serious bodily injury. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Roberts. Charges are merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: District Man Indicted on Two Counts of Felony Murder and Other Related Charges

body_text: WASHINGTON – Corde Fitzhugh-Clingman, 23, of Washington, D.C., was indicted today on two counts of felony murder and other related charges stemming from the July 8, 2021 slaying of 24-year-old Muntsier Sharfi and the April 25, 2022 slaying of 26-year-old Zekariya Elmi, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. Fitzhugh-Clingman was also indicted on charges involving the attempted armed robbery of Mr. Sharfi, Mr. Elmi, and another individual. Fitzhugh-Clingman was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on multiple charges of first-degree murder while armed (felony murder), with aggravating circumstances, attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. Fitzhugh-Clingman is to be arraigned on April 12, 2024, at a hearing before the Honorable Anthony Epstein. He faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted of the charges. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.


title: Southaven man sentenced to prison for lying   on the form required to purchase a firearm

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

body_text: Greenville, MS – A Southaven man was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday to 20 months in prison for lying on ATF Form 4473 during the purchase of a firearm. According to court documents, Lavoris Donte McGee, Jr., 22, traveled to a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL), in Southaven, Mississippi and purchased a Diamondback, Model AR-15, .300 blackout, semi-automatic rifle. McGee filled out the ATF Form 4473 required for the purchase of the gun and stated that he was not currently under felony indictment when, in fact, he was under indictment for assault on a law enforcement officer. On April 10, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced McGee to 20 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. “For the safety and well-being of all citizens, it is imperative that we hold accountable those individuals who illegally obtain and possess firearms,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “This office will continue to work alongside our local, state and federal partners to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who provide false information in order to possess guns when they are not legally allowed to do so.” “Getting guns out of the hands of criminals is an essential element of the fight against violent crime and securing our neighborhoods,” said ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that dishonest individuals like this will be held accountable as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe as a top priority for ATF.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force, Southaven Police Department, and with assistance from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Elkhart Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Marcus Harris, 40 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Harris was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in April 2023, Harris distributed methamphetamine on several occasions between December 2022 and May 2023. On one occasion, Harris and co-defendant Stephen Johnson sold approximately one pound of methamphetamine. At the time of their arrest in May 2023, Harris and Johnson brought more than three kilograms of methamphetamine and 250 grams of heroin to a deal planning to trade for ten kilograms of cocaine. Co-defendant Stephen Johnson was sentenced in February 2024 to 288 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration including the DEA North Central Laboratory with assistance from the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit and the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Katelan McKenzie Doyle.


title: Former Kearney Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Paul J. Gray, age 49, formerly of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 10, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for failing to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Gray to 12 months’ imprisonment. Additionally, Gray was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for violating his supervised release. The two sentences were ordered to run consecutively. There is no parole in the federal system. After Gray’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Gray, who is required to register as a sex offender as the result of a 1996 third degree sexual sssault conviction out of Lincoln County, Nebraska, as well as a federal 2008 production of child pornography conviction out of the District of Nebraska, was released from prison in 2022. After his release, he was ordered to reside at the Dismas Charities Reentry Center in Kearney. Gray registered that address with the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry. On July 17, 2023, Gray was dismissed from Dismas Charities. After dismissal from Dismas Charities, Gray failed to update his Nebraska Sex Offender Registration and did not advise his United States Probation Officer of his whereabouts. On September 14, 2023, Gray was located at an apartment in Kearney where he had been staying since being dismissed from Dismas Charities. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.


title: Mexican Man Sentenced to 10 Months for False Representation of a Social Security Number

body_text: United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that on April 10, 2024, Emmanuel Hurtado-Vargas, 36, of Mexico, was sentenced in federal court for false representation of a social security number. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Hurtado-Vargas to 10 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Hurtado-Vargas will be required to complete a 3-year term of supervised release. Hurtado-Vargas will be removed (deported) by immigration authorities after he completes his term of imprisonment. Hurtado-Vargas was working under an assumed name as a member of the workforce at Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. (PSSI). In April of 2013, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigators received information that several people working at PSSI provided fraudulent documents to secure employment. Hurtado-Vargas was one of those found to have secured employment at PSSI using a social security number belonging to a victim who had filed an identity theft complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Specifically, Hurtado-Vargas used identity documents to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, including a fraudulent social security card (displaying the victim’s true name and social security number) and an identification card falsely purporting to have been issued in Kansas. Hurtado-Vargas was released from custody and placed on pretrial supervision in 2013 after his initial court appearance. He later failed to appear at a change of plea hearing scheduled for October 8, 2013, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Hurtado-Vargas remained in fugitive status until he was arrested on November 17, 2023. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.


title: Man Sentenced for being a Drug User Possessing a Firearm

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Charees Loftin, 19, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced April 10, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possessing a firearm as an unlawful user of controlled substances. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Loftin to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Loftin’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On January 5, 2023, members of the Omaha Police Department (OPD) went to 34th & Fowler Circle, Omaha after obtaining information that Loftin, wanted for questioning in a shoplifting incident, may be at a nearby residence. Officers located Loftin at the home and took him into custody. OPD searched the southeast bedroom where Loftin had been reportedly sleeping and located a black Coach brand bag behind a dresser in the room. A Glock, Gen 4, model 29, 10 mm handgun was inside the bag. Also in the bag, was an orange container with five (5) suspected Percocet pills. In the same bedroom, OPD located eight (8) bags of THC cartridges. Loftin was subsequently transported to OPD where he waived his rights and agreed to be interviewed. He told detectives that he was aware that he had a warrant out for his arrest due to the shoplifting incident. Loftin also told detectives that the THC cartridges belonged to him and that he smokes marijuana as well as THC cartridges. Lofting then stated that the firearm located in the southeast bedroom, which he identified as being a Glock 29, 10 mm, was also his. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives examined and determined that the Glock handgun was manufactured outside of the State of Nebraska. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.


title: Former Omaha Police Officer Sentenced for Fraud Conspiracy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Johnny Palermo, 48, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 11, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Palermo to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Palermo’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Senior Judge Gerrard ordered Palermo to pay $65,014.67 in restitution. From 2017 to April 1, 2023, Johnny Palermo conspired to defraud donors of the Latino Peace Officers Association (LPOA), the LPOA Board, and Police Athletics for Community Engagement (PACE) for his own personal benefit. Johnny Palermo, a former police officer with the Omaha Police Department and LPOA Board member, without having full LPOA Board authority, conducted financial transactions for his personal benefit using LPOA funds. LPOA funds were misused by Johnny Palermo for trips, meals, and gambling. Johnny Palermo also misused LPOA funds to purchase trips for friends and co-defendant Vincent Palermo. Benefits provided to Vincent Palermo paid for by LPOA were intended to influence Vincent Palermo’s actions as an Omaha City Councilman to benefit PACE and the LPOA. FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “This former law enforcement officer violated his oath of office by using his trusted position for personal gain. Public corruption is a top criminal investigative priority for the FBI. We are committed to working with our state, local, federal, and tribal law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate, pursue, and hold accountable those who violate their oath of office to enrich themselves. The FBI encourages everyone in our community to continue to come forward and report abuses of public office.” Co-defendants Vincent J. Palermo, 50, of Omaha, and Richard Gonzalez, 55, of Papillion, Nebraska, were sentenced on January 16, 2024, for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. Vincent Palermo was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for the conspiracy charge and a consecutive 9-month term of imprisonment for a violation of supervised release. Gonzalez was to 18 months’ imprisonment for the conspiracy charge. Vincent Palermo will serve two years of supervised release and Gonzalez will serve three years of supervised release. Both were ordered to pay restitution: $10,292.28 for Vincent Palermo; and $66,749.35 for Gonzalez. Co-defendant Jack Olson’s trial is scheduled for June 24, 2024, before Senior Judge Gerrard in Lincoln. Olson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Grand jury indicts Cincinnati man who allegedly served as straw purchaser for at least 21 firearms

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A grand jury has indicted a Cincinnati man with crimes related to illegal straw purchases of at least 21 firearms. Timothy Moorman, Jr., 32, made his initial appearance in federal court in Cincinnati today. He is charged with one conspiracy count and 10 counts of making false statements on federal firearm forms. According to the indictment, which was returned on March 12 and unsealed today, Moorman bought firearms at Cincinnati-area federal firearms licensees and then provided those firearms to co-conspirators the same day or within a few days. Those co-conspirators would then traffic the firearms outside of Ohio. For example, it is alleged that at least nine firearms were recovered in connection with a crime in Canada less than two weeks after Moorman bought them. Two others were traced to crimes in Canada and Detroit within two months of purchase. The charging document details that the firearms were purchased at Bass Pro Shops, Range USA – Cincy West, Range USA – Blue Ash, Target World and North College Hill Gun Store. Moorman allegedly indicated on the required firearms forms that the firearms were for himself and no one else, despite actually acting as a straw purchaser. Making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force 2024 Report

body_text: Since its inception in May 2021, members of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force (CFETF) have used a full range of tools to hold accountable fraudsters and other criminals who sought to exploit the government’s pandemic response for their personal gain. This work has resulted in: More than 3,500 defendants charged with federal crimes. More than $1.4 billion in seizures and forfeiture orders to recover stolen CARES Act funds. More than 400 civil settlements and judgments. To achieve these results, CFETF members have built a comprehensive program to identify fraud, recover assets, and hold wrongdoers accountable. This has included: Five prosecutorial COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Forces—based in California, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida—with dedicated funding to pursue pandemic fraud. A first-of-its-kind National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force that leverages data from state workforce agencies and the Small Business Administration to identify those who exploited pandemic relief programs. A Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence that creates sophisticated data products designed to detect, deter, and stop pandemic fraud across multiple government agencies. But our work isn’t done. To continue CFETF’s essential mission—and to ensure that COVID-19 fraudsters don’t get away with it—legislation is required. This includes: Extending the statute of limitations for all COVID-19 fraud-related offenses. Extending the statutory authorization for the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), a body of 20 federal Inspectors General overseeing pandemic relief spending. Adequately resourcing COVID-19 anti-fraud efforts, including data sharing, lead development, criminal prosecutions, and asset recoveries. To learn more, download CFETF’s 2024 Annual Report, available at justice.gov .


title: Former corrections officer charged with accepting bribes

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Three Rivers resident and former Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employee is expected to appear in federal court on two counts of bribery of a public official, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Justin Matthew Gonzalez, 26, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie K. Hampton at 9:45 a.m. According to the indictment, returned April 4 and unsealed upon his arrest April 8, Gonzalez formerly served as a corrections officer at the Federal Correctional Institution Three Rivers. The charges allege he accepted cash as payment to smuggle contraband into the correctional institution. If convicted, Gonzalez faces up 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Department of Justice – Office of Inspector General South Central Region conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Collins and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force Releases 2024 Report

body_text: The Justice Department’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force (CFETF) today released its 2024 report detailing the efforts of the task force and its member agencies in response to widespread fraud involving many COVID-19 relief programs targeted by fraudsters and other criminals who sought to exploit the government’s relief efforts for their personal gain. “Since I established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force three years ago, we have charged more than 3,500 defendants, seized or forfeited over $1.4 billion in stolen COVID-19 relief funds, and filed more than 400 civil lawsuits resulting in court judgements and settlements,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Our work is not over. We will continue our efforts to investigate and prosecute pandemic relief fraud and to recover the assets that have been stolen from American taxpayers.” To date, the efforts of the task force’s member agencies has led to criminal charges against more than 3,500 defendants for losses of over $2 billion, civil enforcement actions resulting in more than 400 civil settlements and judgments of over $100 million, and over $1.4 billion seized or forfeited. “Working with law enforcement and the Inspector General community, the Department of Justice has deployed a data-driven prosecution strategy to combat COVID-19 fraud—to the tune of over 3,500 defendants charged and more than $1.4 billion seized or forfeited,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “But the time is now to ensure law enforcement has what it needs to finish the job. The statute of limitations must be extended and the necessary funding and data analytic tools secured for our prosecutors to recover hundreds of millions of dollars more in fraud proceeds, bring remaining offenders to justice, and disrupt criminal networks that continue to victimize our citizens.” “While I am incredibly proud of the work of the CFETF and the significant law enforcement accomplishments, much work remains in the fight against COVID-19 fraud,” said Director Michael C. Galdo of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force. “The CFETF and its member agencies have ongoing investigations into hundreds of identity thieves, transnational fraud and money laundering networks, large-dollar individual fraudsters, and the businesses that facilitated these crimes. CFETF member agencies have improved their data analytics capabilities and are using these new skills to investigate fraud more efficiently and effectively.” In addition to the efforts noted above, the CFETF has established five strike forces to focus on the most complex and harmful pandemic fraud—often committed by overseas, organized, or violent actors. Those strike forces, located in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country including the Districts of Maryland, New Jersey, Colorado, the Southern District of Florida, and a joint task force co-located in the Eastern and Central Districts of California, are responsible for indicting 250 defendants to date, including gang members, inveterate fraudsters, and overseas rings committing a myriad of cyber-enabled fraud against our citizens and government programs. CFETF members also established the National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force, a first-of-its-kind task force that developed a data sharing and lead development process within OCDETF’s International Organized Crime Intelligence Operation Center (IOC-2), using data from pandemic relief programs. The NUIFTF has used that process to disseminate over 100 leads and intelligence associated with over $3 billion in suspected pandemic fraud. In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, 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 CFETF members include Justice Department components, including the Criminal Division, Civil Division, U.S. Attorneys, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, FBI, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, Office of the Inspector General, National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force, and INTERPOL Washington; and key interagency partners, including Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and multiple representatives of the Office of Inspector General community, including Department of Labor, Department of Treasury, Tax Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Small Business Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Federal Reserve Board, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Relief, and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee. CFETF 2024 Report Fact Sheet


title: La Vernia Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A La Vernia man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 300 months in prison after being found guilty by a jury of four counts of receipt of child pornography. According to court documents, Jacob Wayne Peek, 44, was arrested by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office in October 2021 for charges related to aggravated sexual assault of a child. At the time of his arrest, Peek’s cell phone and an associated SIM card were collected as evidence and originally reviewed pursuant to a state search warrant. Through the forensic image review of the phone, investigators found a large amount of child sexual abuse material and contacted FBI San Antonio for investigative assistance. In January 2022, a federal search warrant was obtained and executed for the devices collected from Peek. Within one folder, approximately 16,000 image files were located, 793 of which were determined to be child sexual abuse material. Peek was transferred to federal custody March 7, 2022 and was convicted on all four counts in a jury trial, August 2022. “Peek possessed a shocking number of images of children enduring sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza. “By receiving and viewing the images he compounded the harm inflicted on those children by the predators who perpetrated and recorded the dreadful acts against them. I am grateful that the court imposed a 25-year sentence of imprisonment for these unconscionable offenses.” “Thanks to a young victim who had the courage to report abuse to trusted adults – and the subsequent actions of the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office – Jacob Peek will no longer be able to victimize children and will spend years in prison,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank our partners at the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case and their continued partnership in keeping our communities safe from child predators.” The FBI and Wilson County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracy Thompson and Bettina Richardson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing More Than $32,000 in High-End Goods

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Maryland man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to stealing thousands of items from a high-end outlet store in Wrentham, Mass. Nathaniel Owens, 33, pleaded guilty on April 4, 2024 to one count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce and one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for July 19, 2024. Owens was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2023 along with his co-defendants Linworth Hayes Crawford III and Ronald Patterson, Jr. According to the charging documents, on the evening of Sept. 16, 2021, Owens, Crawford and, allegedly, Patterson traveled from the Washington D.C. area to the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Massachusetts. In the early morning hours of Sept. 17, 2021, Owens and his co-defendants allegedly entered the Gucci store by smashing the store’s glass front door and stole $32,000 in high-end merchandise including handbags, duffle bags, backpacks and sunglasses. Owens was captured on mall security videos inside the mall visiting the Nike Store. After the robbery, the car used by the defendants crossed the George Washington Bridge going south. During a stop on their way to Washington, D.C., a store video surveillance camera filmed one of the men allegedly taking a Gucci bag out of the car to examine it. The day after the theft, Patterson allegedly posted on his Instagram account that he had Gucci bags available for sale. Images of the bags appeared to be identical to the Gucci bags stolen during the burglary earlier that day. Crawford pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy on Feb. 3, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3, 2024. Patterson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. The charge of conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 fine. The charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Wrentham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Man Arrested for Crashing into FBI Gate

body_text: ATLANTA - Erving Lee Bolling, 48, of Easley, South Carolina, had his initial appearance on April 3, 2024, on the federal charge of depredation of federal property after he attempted on April 1, 2024, to breach security at the FBI Atlanta’s Headquarters in Chamblee, Georgia by ramming his vehicle into a security barrier. “The safety of our law enforcement partners is one of the highest priorities of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Bolling’s alleged damage to federal property during his attempt to unlawfully enter a federal facility created a risk of safety to federal agents and staff that cannot be tolerated.” “The safety of our employees is of paramount concern for us at the FBI, and any attempts to breach our facility will be met with stiff penalties,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Thanks to agents’ diligence and quick-thinking, the incident was prevented from escalating into a more dangerous situation, and for that we are grateful. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure the continued safety of our employees.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charge, and other information presented in court: On April 1, 2024, Bolling, driving an orange Buick Encore, allegedly rammed into a barrier at FBI Atlanta’s headquarters while attempting to breach the perimeter. After crashing into a barrier, Bolling exited the vehicle and allegedly attempted to follow an FBI employee into the secure parking lot area by walking past the gate. Bolling was immediately taken into custody by FBI agents. Dekalb County Police Department officers and EMS then responded to the scene. Bolling was ultimately transported to the hospital for medical care and evaluation. Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charge and it will be the government’s burden to seek an indictment before a federal grand jury and to ultimately prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine I. Terry is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Trio Sentenced to Combined 43 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine from Arizona into Evansville

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Marion Duane Taylor, 71, of Illinois, Ricardo Sodari, 49, of Arizona, and Christopher Utley, 52, of Evansville, have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Marion Duane Taylor was convicted by federal jury in 2023 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release. Taylor had a previous federal conviction for drug trafficking. In 1998, he was convicted of conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. Ricardo Sodari was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Christopher Utley was sentenced to five years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents, on April 23, 2021, members of the Phoenix DEA observed Taylor meet with Sodari in the parking lot of Taylor’s hotel. Sodari placed a suitcase in the back of Taylor’s vehicle before eventually leaving the area. As Taylor passed through Kingman, Arizona, deputies with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of Taylor’s vehicle. After a K-9 unit alerted on the vehicle, officers searched the vehicle and found a duffle bag that contained approximately 24.4 pounds of methamphetamine. The officers also searched Taylor’s pockets and found $24,900 in currency. During an interview with DEA agents, Taylor identified Sodari as his methamphetamine source of supply. Taylor admitted that he had been distributing methamphetamine for approximately five or six months and paid Sodari approximately $2,000 per pound of methamphetamine when acquiring twenty or more pounds. Taylor admitted that he made numerous trips to the Arizona area to acquire methamphetamine and that he distributed that methamphetamine to one customer in Evansville identified as Christopher Utley. Taylor indicated that he usually “fronted” Utley methamphetamine for $5,000 a pound. Law enforcement officer searched Taylor’s phone and found his drug ledger for Utley. According to the drug ledger, in early April 2021, Utley owed Taylor $82,500 for previously “fronted” methamphetamine. On May 3, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a warrant to search Utley’s residence. During the search, officers located approximately 19.3 grams of methamphetamine, numerous digital scales, a pistol, a sawed-off shotgun, and $39,692 in currency. “Drug trafficking organizations who push deadly drugs like methamphetamine into our communities seek profits without regard for the deaths and lasting trauma they cause,” said United States Attorney for the Southern District for Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Dismantling these criminal networks through comprehensive investigations and prosecutions is a top priority for federal, state, and local law enforcement. The convictions and sentences imposed here demonstrate that trafficking in these deadly drugs carries very serious consequences.” The Drug Enforcement Administration, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force, Evansville Police Department, and Mohave County, Arizona Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. This case is part of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Kristian Mukoski, Lauren Wheatley, and Matthew Miller, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Meriden Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Violent Robbery Spree

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that KENNETH MICHAEL STROTHERS, 27, of Meriden, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to an effective sentence of 168 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for a violent armed robbery spree in 2021. According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation by the FBI and several local police departments into a series of armed robberies that occurred across Connecticut in early 2021. The investigation revealed that Strothers committed at least 10 robberies over an approximately two-week period in Meriden, Cromwell, West Hartford, Newington, Wethersfield and New Britain. The robberies typically involved Strothers stealing a vehicle, selecting and entering a store, threatening victims with a firearm, making demands, and, in some instances, beating victims with the gun before robbing them, causing significant injury and trauma. The robbery spree ended shortly after Strothers robbed locations in Wethersfield and New Britain. On February 9, 2021, Strothers entered the Valero gas station store at 930 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, used a firearm to pistol-whip the store clerk in the head, stole approximately $260 from two cash registers, and fled the scene in a stolen car. The store clerk was hospitalized with a serious head wound. On February 10, 2021, Strothers entered Broad Street Pawn at 210 Broad Street in New Britain, used a firearm to pistol-whip a store employee in the head, stole approximately $2,000, and fled the scene with two associates in a stolen truck. Three children of the store owner hid in a bathroom during the robbery. Strothers was arrested on February 12, 2021, and investigators seized from him the handgun he used during the robberies. He has been detained in state custody since his arrest. On February 26, 2024, Strothers pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (“Hobbs Act robbery”). The 14-year federal sentence includes the more than three years Strothers has spent in state custody since his arrest. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Britain Police Department, the Wethersfield Police Department, the Newington Police Department, the Cromwell Police Department, the West Hartford Police Department, the Meriden Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.


title: Man Arrested After Federal Law Enforcement Seizes Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Multiple Firearms From Chicago Residence

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A man has been arrested on a federal drug charge after law enforcement last week seized cocaine, fentanyl, and multiple firearms from his Chicago residence. A complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges HUGO PINZON, 34, with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. As part of an ongoing federal investigation, law enforcement last week conducted a court-authorized search of Pinzon’s residence in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago and discovered distribution quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, at least a dozen firearms, and thousands of dollars in cash, the complaint states. The complaint alleges that Pinzon had sold cocaine on three occasions earlier this year to an individual who, unbeknownst to Pinzon, was cooperating with law enforcement. Pinzon was arrested Thursday. A detention hearing in federal court in Chicago is scheduled for April 11, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole. The complaint and arrest were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. Substantial assistance was provided by the Carpentersville, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Snell. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Pinzon complaint


title: Caribou Man Sentenced to 13+ Years for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced James King , 54, to 165 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. King pleaded guilty on September 25, 2023. According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, King and others trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. King, an Aroostook County distributor, regularly obtained quantities of drugs from his source in the Bangor area. Others then would distribute the drugs to dealers who, in turn, would distribute the drugs to customers. King knowingly and intentionally joined and participated in the conspiracy. King is the tenth participant involved in the northern Maine conspiracy to be sentenced. Seven of the remaining 11 defendants have pleaded guilty: Sentenced: Andrew Adams (32, Aroostook County) – 10 years Wayne Smith (33, Bangor) – 85 months Danielle McBreairty (33, Glenburn) – 20 years Blaine Footman (37, Bangor) – 5 years Nicole Footman (41, Holden) – 3 years Dwight Gary, Jr. (53, Medway) – Time served Matthew Catalano (37, Penobscot County) – 165 months Thomas Hammond (25, Charleston) – 84 months Christopher Coty (43, Bangor) – 4 years James King (54, Caribou) – 165 months Pleaded Guilty: Sarah McBreairty (35, Dixmont) John Miller (23, Caribou) Shelby Loring (28, Bangor) Joshua Young (48, Presque Isle) Joshua Jerrell (30, Orrington) Carol Gordon (53, Bangor) Jason Cunrod (42, Caribou) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: 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. ###


title: Husband Charged With Wife's 2013 Murder In Indian Country Appears in Federal Court

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A Swain County man is facing a federal charge for allegedly killing his wife in 2013, announced Dena J. King U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Ernest D. Pheasant, Sr., 46, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), is charged with one count of first-degree murder in Indian Country. Pheasant made his initial court appearance on Monday, April 8, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf. According to allegations in the indictment, on December 29, 2013, Pheasant killed his spouse, Marie Walkingstick Pheasant, and did so willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation. The indictment alleges that the murder occurred on the Qualla Boundary within Indian Country. Pheasant remains in federal custody. His arraignment and detention hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 11:25 a.m., in Asheville. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The charges arose from an investigation by the FBI in North Carolina, the Missing and Murdered Unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of Justice Services, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Cherokee Indian Police Department, and the EBCI Office of the Tribal Prosecutor. Assistant United States Attorney Alex M. Scott of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case. The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of cases involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) and bring justice to victims and their families. For more information about the Justice Department’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the MMIP section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website at: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip .


title: Uvalde Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Uvalde man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 151 months in prison for distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, Marco Jesus Perales, 27, distributed approximately 138 videos depicting child sexual abuse material between June 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. In February 2020, Homeland Security Investigations in Eagle Pass received a report from a messaging application regarding the transmission of child pornography. The report indicated that Perales sent three hyperlinks to multiple users within a group chat on Sept. 9, 2019. Analysis of the recovered hyperlinks revealed that they contained child pornography. One of the recovered hyperlinks distributed by Perales contained a folder with 62 videos visually depicting male and female minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In approximately 60 of the videos, the minors are clearly and obviously prepubescent. The other recovered hyperlink distributed by Perales contained a folder titled "Good Stuff,” which contained 76 additional videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Perales was arrested June 30, 2020 and pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on June 24, 2021. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Minor

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday to trafficking a minor for sex and persuading and coercing multiple women to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution. Jimall Dawn Brown, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor; one count of transporting an individual in interstate commerce with the intent that they engage in prostitution; and two counts of persuading and coercing an individual to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2024. Brown was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022. “Jimall Brown is one of far too many people this office has prosecuted for human trafficking. The pattern is remarkably predictable and it is happening far too often right here in our backyard. Brown promised his victims a better life, but in reality, he exploited them for his financial gain, selling them for sex repeatedly,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “No child or person must ever be treated this in this dehumanizing manner. This Office will not cease in our efforts to prosecute individuals who engage in human trafficking.” “Jimall Dawn Brown lured this child into his clutches, with the promise of a better life, specifically to abuse and exploit her,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “It will be a gratifying day when his sentence is handed down and the cell door shuts behind him so he can’t victimize anyone else. FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force will never stop working to find and help trafficked victims, to prevent them from further abuse, and keep their traffickers from hurting anyone else.” “The scars borne by sex trafficking victims are certainly emotional, often physical, and always long-lasting. Targeting traffickers and bringing them to justice is a vitally important mission for law enforcement and a major benefit to society itself,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. In 2022, Brown trafficked a 17-year-old, identified as Victim 1, to engage in commercial sex acts. He first met the victim, who was living outside Massachusetts, on social media and convinced her to fly to Boston, with promises of a “better lifestyle.” Brown posted advertisements of Victim 1 online and arranged “dates” for Victim 1 to have sex in exchange for money. Brown set the pricing for the commercial sex acts she engaged in, for which he collected all of the money. In April 2022, Brown transported Victim 1 to Nevada, again arranging for her to engage in commercial sex and keeping all the money. In March 2019, Brown persuaded and coerced a another woman, identified as Victim 2, to travel from Connecticut to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution. He met her in Connecticut and told her that she had potential and that he could provide a better, luxurious life for her if she would come to Boston, where he lived. Victim 2 came to Massachusetts and Brown posted online advertisements containing photos of Victim 2 on commercial sex websites. Victim 2 engaged in commercial sex and was required to give all of the money she made to Brown. In May 2016, Brown persuaded and coerced a different woman, identified as Victim 3, to travel from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts to engage in prostitution. He contacted Victim 3 on social media, told her that she was beautiful, that he had a modeling agency, and that he wanted to work with her. Brown said he would pay for her plane ticket to fly to Boston and provide everything for her once she arrived. Victim 3 traveled by plane from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. After she arrived, Brown took photos of her, purportedly for modeling, but instead he posted them on websites advertising commercial sex. Brown then coerced and forced Victim 3 to engage in commercial sex in Massachusetts and required her to give him all the money. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of transporting a person for purposes of prostitution provides for a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of persuading and coercing a person to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution provides for a maximum of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Each count also provides for mandatory restitution and forfeiture. 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; FBI SAC Cohen; DA Hayden; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Arlington and Randolph Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking and Gun Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DEVON FRITH(“FRITH”) , age 25, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on April 3, 2024 before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to Carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119 and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). For the carjacking charge, FRITH faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. For the Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence charge, FRITH faces a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 5 years, up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each offense also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. Judge Africk ordered a pre-sentence report and scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2024. Court documents reveal that FRITH, while wearing a ski mask, stole a car at gunpoint from the victim as she was attempting to open the driver’s side door. The victim provided the responding New Orleans Police Officers (NOPD) with real time updates, since her vehicle was equipped with tracking capabilities. FRITH crashed this vehicle shortly after the carjacking. The weapon FRITH used in the carjacking, a loaded Glock Model 26, nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun, was recovered by NOPD officers. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Violent Crimes Task Force, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced For Federal Gun and Drug Convictions

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA- SAUL REED , age 32, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 2, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 48 months imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to court documents, on March 28, 2023, REED was arrested by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) at a residence in New Orleans East. Inside the residence, NOPD recovered a backpack containing distributable quantities of tapentadol and marijuana, a digital scale, latex gloves, and a black ski mask, that belonged to REED . Two months later, REED was pulled over by a Louisiana State Police Trooper. He had another backpack in his car containing a distributable quantity of marijuana and a loaded Sig Sauer firearm. REED has prior convictions for burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Federal judge convicts Stafford man for his role in dogfighting ring

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge convicted a Stafford man yesterday on a charge of conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from at least May 2015 through August 2020, Mark Joseph Rodriguez, aka “Slow Poke,” 45, and other conspirators from Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland used a messaging app private group, which they generally referred to as "The DMV Board" or "The Board," as a place where they and their associates could discuss training fighting dogs, exchange videos about dogfighting, and arrange and coordinate dog fights, out of view of law enforcement. Members of the DMV Board also used the app to compare methods of killing dogs that lost fights, as well as to circulate media reports about conspirators who had been caught by law enforcement and discuss methods to minimize the likelihood that they would be caught themselves. At various times throughout the conspiracy, Rodriguez actively participated in arranging dog fights. Rodriguez officiated dog fights, with one co-conspirator characterizing him as "the most recognized ref on the east coast." Rodriguez also regularly engaged in the DMV Board private group, providing results and narratives of fights, explanations of his refereeing decisions, and articles regarding the prosecutions of other defendants. Rodriguez’s conviction follows the recent pleas of six of his codefendants to conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture. Eldridge Jermaine Jackson, aka “Big Head,” “4bhead,” and “4b,” 48, of Temple Hills, Maryland, pleaded guilty on March 18. Larry Alston, aka “Big Goon,” 49, of Windsor Mill, Maryland; Bashawn Allen, aka “Bey,” “425,” and “425 Money Boy$,” 34, of Trenton, New Jersey; and Dandre Patrick Wallace, aka “Abstract,” 47, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty on March 21. Isacc Jermaine Weathersby, aka “Big Fist,” “CROUSA,” “KingCro TC,” and “Team CRO,” pleaded guilty on March 22. Charles Edward Davis Jr aka “Cat Daddy” and “Deep in the Game,” 44, of Woodbridge, Virginia, pleaded guilty on March 28. Jackson, Alston, Allen, Weathersby, and Wallace are scheduled to be sentenced on June 18. Rodriguez and Davis are scheduled to be sentenced on July 2. On Nov. 29, 2022, Derek Aaron Garcia , aka “Fatal Attraction,” 40, of Woodbridge, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture, and Ricardo Glen Thorne , aka “Rip,” 53, of Camp Springs, Maryland, pleaded guilty to advertising an animal for use in an animal fighting venture. On March 7, 2023, U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema sentenced Garcia to 10 days in prison and Thorne to one year in prison. On Nov. 9, 2022, Michael Roy Hilliard , aka “No Dayz Off,” 38, of Fort Washington, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture. On March 1, 2023, Judge Brinkema sentenced Hilliard to six months in prison. On Nov. 4, 2022, Charles Edward Williams III , aka “Never Say Never,” 50, of Capital Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture. On Feb. 21, 2023, Judge Brinkema sentenced Williams to two years in prison. On June 16, 2023, Tarry Jeron “TJ” Wilson , aka “Tejai” and “City Limits,” 39, of Warsaw, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture. On June 20, 2023, Judge Brinkema sentenced Wilson to two years in prison. On Nov. 10, 2022, Laron Mecco West, aka “Frog” and “Get Sick,” 47, of Capital Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture. West passed away on Feb, 10, 2023, prior to sentencing. Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on July 2. 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, and David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after Judge Brinkema announced the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon Kromberg and Vanessa Strobbe prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-176.


title: Two Defendants Charged With Orchestrating $2 Million Loan Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Patrick J. Freaney, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service (“USSS”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging YISROEL HEBER, a/k/a “Scott Heber,” and YECHIEL MESHI-ZAHAV with running an advance-fee loan fraud scheme through which they defrauded dozens of victims of at least approximately $2 million. HEBER and MESHI-ZAHAV were arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, to whom this case is assigned. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Yisroel Heber and Yechiel Meshi-Zahav allegedly brazenly siphoned funds from the bank accounts of dozens of victims after fraudulently inducing them to provide their bank details. Herberand Meshi-Zahav’s victims thought they were securing loans, but instead they were robbed of large sums of cash. No matter the complexity of the scheme or size of the loss amount, this Office will relentlessly investigate fraudsters who dare to illicitly line their own pockets by victimizing others.” USSS Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney said: “These individuals allegedly garnered the trust of victims by posing as lending companies, only to turn around and steal millions from them. This kind of fraudulent activity has a very real impact on people’s lives, and the Secret Service appreciates our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as we work together to deliver justice for these victims.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment: [1] From at least in or about March 2021 through at least in or about December 2021, YISROEL HEBER and YECHIEL MESHI-ZAHAV participated in an advance-fee loan fraud scheme that defrauded dozens of victims of at least approximately $2 million. HEBER and MESHI-ZAHAV operated this fraudulent scheme through purported lending companies called Blue Ribbon Funding, Tru Capital Funding, Fund Capital LLC, a/k/a “Fund Cap LLC,” and Ameriquest Capital (collectively, the “Fraudulent Lenders”). During the course of the scheme, HEBER and MESHI-ZAHAV, through their control of the Fraudulent Lenders, induced victims to provide their bank account information in order to make payments related to loans that the Fraudulent Lenders promised to issue to the victims. Instead, however, HEBER and MESHI-ZAHAV defrauded the victims by withdrawing thousands of dollars from each of the victims’ bank accounts without issuing the promised loans. * * * HEBER, 43, of Kings Point, New York, and MESHI-ZAHAV, 32, of Valley Stream, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the USSS. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra S. Messiter is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Kalamazoo Man Sentenced To Over A Decade In Prison  For Dealing Drugs While Armed With A Machinegun

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that yesterday Troy Davonn Morgan, age 23, was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison for operating as an armed drug dealer in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Jonker rejected Morgan’s plea for leniency, emphasizing that, although Morgan is young, he is also a repeat federal gun offender who carried an exceptionally dangerous weapon—a pistol fitted with a machinegun-conversion device, commonly known as a “switch.” Judge Jonker also emphasized Morgan’s self-identification as a drug-dealing shooter, citing this text message: “Federal laws banning machineguns were designed to fight organized crime in the era of Al Capone,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Now, nearly a century later, the spread of switches has made the destructive power of a tommy gun available to any street-level criminal with a few hundred dollars and a pistol. In the face of this rising threat, my office is committed to keeping these illegal weapons out our communities.” In June 2023, Morgan finished serving a federal prison sentence for a gun crime and began a term of court supervision. Within weeks he was selling fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin on the streets of Kalamazoo. In September 2023, when police tried to arrest him, Morgan fled through a residential neighborhood, leading officers on a foot chase through a crowd of innocent bystanders. After officers converged on him, they learned he had a machine-pistol—pictured below, with the machinegun switch indicated—as well as fentanyl and cocaine. “The significant sentence in this case is a testament to the investigative priorities of the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team and Kalamazoo Public Safety Crime Reduction Team,” said KVET Captain Michael Ferguson . “We will continue to focus on the most serious offenders, and especially those directly involved in illegal drug sales and violent crime in the City of Kalamazoo.” This case was investigated by the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, Crime Reduction Team, and Drug Enforcement Administration, with help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Castle. ###


title: Man Sentenced To 135 Months In Federal Prison For Trafficking Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Gilberto Pedraza Contreras will spend the next 135 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky. Judge Rudofsky sentenced Contreras to 135 months imprisonment and five years supervised release to follow his prison sentence. Contreras faced a maximum sentence of not less than life in prison, not less than five years supervised release, and a fine of not more $10,000,000. There is no parole in the federal system. On July 6, 2022, Contreras, 37, of Michoacan, Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and one count of distribution and possession of a controlled substance. On October 30, 2023, Contreras pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On June 15, 2022, agents conducted an operation targeting Contreras, who intended to distribute 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. When Contreras arrived at the location, agents blocked Contreras’s vehicle to minimize the chance of a vehicle pursuit. After Contreras struck an agent’s vehicle with his vehicle, he was taken into custody. Agents located approximately 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in Contreras’ vehicle. After the traffic stop, agents executed a search warrant at Contreras’ residence and located an additional 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance of the Arkansas State Police and Little Rock Police Department. # # # 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: Dontrell Nance Pleads Guilty To Role In Dunham’s Handgun Theft

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS , MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Dontrell Nance, 25, pled guilty to kidnapping and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Nance faces a maximum possible penalty of life in prison. The previous press releases, complaint, and press conference can be viewed here and here . “Illegal firearms flood our communities and are responsible for so much trauma and so many tears,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Without the quick and careful work of law enforcement, these guns would have done more of the same. No level of violence is acceptable, and we will remain laser focused on the few who drive violence in their communities.” Nance was charged along with his codefendant, Darnell Bishop, for the theft of 123 handguns from the Benton Harbor Dunham’s Sports. As part of his plea agreement, Nance admitted that he and Bishop kidnapped the Dunham’s manager from outside the manager’s home using a pistol, took him to a second location, and convinced the manager to provide keys and the alarm code for Dunham’s. Nance said he stayed with the manager while Bishop went to the store, returning with the handguns packed in two large coolers. Law enforcement has since recovered all 123 firearms. “This investigation represents the worst of the worst type of scenario for our industry partners and their innocent employees. Everybody needs to be able to go to work and feel safe. Armed robberies of federal firearms licensees are one of ATF’s top priorities,” said Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “The message is clear: There is no place in our community for illegal firearms traffickers and those who choose to target and victimize business owners and employees who are just trying to provide for their families. In the end, ATF’s partnerships with other state and federal law enforcement agencies resulted in the shift disruption of this firearms trafficking scheme.” “The increasing prevalence of illegal firearms poses a significant threat to the safety of our citizens,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The disruption of this scheme undoubtedly prevented numerous deaths. This case exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration and coordination, and I am thankful for the prompt actions of our law enforcement partners, particularly the members of the Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force.” This case was investigated by the Benton Charter Township Police Department, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, ATF, and FBI. Bishop pled not guilty to kidnapping, interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. The charges against him in the indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. ###