title: Ex-Energy Trader for Vitol Convicted of Foreign Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Javier Aguilar, a former trader at Vitol, Inc. (Vitol), was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all counts of a superseding indictment relating to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by paying bribes to officials of Petroecuador, the Ecuadorian state-owned oil company. Aguilar was also convicted of laundering money used to bribe Ecuadorian officials and officials at PEMEX Procurement International (PPI), a wholly owned affiliate of the Mexican state-owned oil company, PEMEX. The verdict followed an eight-week trial before Senior United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano. When sentenced, Aguilar faces up to 30 years in prison. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Nicole M. Argentieri, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict. “Today’s verdict represents another victory in this Office’s commitment to rooting out corruption in the international marketplace,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The defendant and his co-conspirators sought to enrich themselves through criminal backroom deals. The people of Ecuador and Mexico deserved better and companies that play by the rules should know that the process is not rigged. The Department of Justice and my Office will continue to prioritize holding to account individuals who enrich themselves through bribery.” “Javier Aguilar bribed officials at state-owned oil and gas companies in Ecuador and Mexico using shell companies and sham invoices to obtain business for Vitol, Inc., where he worked as an oil and gas trader. With today’s verdict, the jury has held him accountable for his role in a sophisticated bribery and money laundering scheme that netted Vitol hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Foreign bribery erodes the rule of law, disadvantages honest companies, and emboldens corrupt government officials. The Criminal Division will continue to vigorously pursue wrongdoers who bribe foreign officials and bring them to justice.” “As demonstrated by this case, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has a long reach,” stated FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Veltri. “Aguilar’s egregious attempt to bribe officials in Ecuador and Mexico failed and he will now face tough penalties. I want to commend our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and at the Department of Justice for their close cooperation on this case.” As proven at trial, Aguilar paid more than $1 million in bribes to Petroecuador and PPI officials to obtain lucrative contracts for Vitol. Between 2015 and 2020, Aguilar was a trader in Vitol’s Houston office. As a part of the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators agreed to bribe senior Ecuadorian officials to obtain a $300 million contract to purchase fuel oil for Vitol. Aguilar and his co-conspirators used another Middle Eastern state-owned entity to circumvent Petroecuador’s restrictions on contracts with private companies. In return for the promise and payments of bribes, the Ecuadorian officials then ensured that the Middle Eastern state-owned entity and Vitol were awarded the contract. Following the 2017 Ecuadorean presidential election, the officials who received bribes were replaced by new senior officials. To ensure continuity under the then-existing fuel oil contract and to obtain additional business, Aguilar and his co-conspirators agreed to bribe them as well. To conceal the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators used a series of fake contracts, sham invoices and shell entities incorporated in Curacao, Panama, and Cayman Islands. The defendant also used alias email accounts rather than his Vitol email to communicate with his co-conspirators. The evidence at trial also demonstrated that Aguilar used the same system of shell entities and sham invoices to launder bribe payments to two officials at PEMEX Procurement International. In total, Aguilar paid approximately $600,000 in bribes to these officials to obtain numerous contracts for Vitol to supply hundreds of millions of dollars of ethane gas to PEMEX. The evidence at trial included testimony from 10 witnesses, including three of the former Mexican and Ecuadorian officials who received bribes from the defendant, as well as consultants who facilitated the bribes, and an intermediary who laundered the bribes for the defendant; bribe payments ledgers; emails, including from the defendant’s alias email accounts; recorded calls and meetings; travel records; and bank records showing how the defendant and his co-conspirators moved money to bribe officials through offshore shell companies. In one of the recorded phone calls played at trial, the defendant told a co-conspirator that his money launderer in Curacao “has to make up some fake contracts.” Aguilar faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of the FCPA counts and 20 years in prison on the money laundering count. Seven of the defendant’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to their role in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing. These individuals have agreed to forfeit more than $63 million. In December 2020, Vitol admitted to bribing officials in Ecuador, Mexico, and Brazil in violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Vitol entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York. As a part of the resolution, Vitol agreed to pay a combined $135 million in penalties as part of a coordinated resolution with the Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and authorities in Brazil. The investigation was conducted by FBI Miami’s International Corruption Squad. The government’s case is being handled by the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and MLARS. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax, Matthew R. Galeotti, and Nick M. Axelrod of the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case with Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell and Trial Attorney Clayton P. Solomon of the Fraud Section, Deputy Chief Adam J. Schwartz and Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith of MLARS, and Paralegal Specialist Peyton Jefferson. The MLARS Special Financial Investigations Unit and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in this case. The Defendant : JAVIER AGUILAR Age: 49 Houston, Texas E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-390 (ENV)


title: Las Cruces Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Federal Firearms Charges Relating to the Killing of Woman in 2023

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

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Jeffrey C. Boshek II, Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, announced that David Anthony Aguilar was sentenced to 53 months in prison. Aguilar, 27, of Las Cruces, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm on Sept. 25, 2023. According to publicly available court records, on Jan. 25, 2023, officers from the Las Cruces Police Department responded to a report of a gunshot victim at an apartment in Las Cruces. Upon arrival, officers located a deceased victim with a single gunshot to the head. A 12-gauge short barrel shotgun was located on the floor next to the victim. The victim’s neighbor reported to officers that they went to the victim’s apartment after hearing an argument followed by a loud bang. When the neighbor knocked on the front door, Aguilar answered holding the short barrel shotgun and told the neighbor to call 911 because the victim had shot herself. When the neighbor returned to their apartment, they witnessed Aguilar and another man identified as Margarito Serena fleeing the scene. Aguilar and Serena were apprehended by officers that same day. During an interview, Aguilar claimed that he and the victim had physically fought over the shotgun and that he had accidentally discharged the firearm. Aguilar claimed that Serena had brought the shotgun to the apartment earlier that day and they had fled the scene because they were both convicted felons. Serena, 30, of Las Cruces, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm on April 27, 2023. Serena was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Upon his release from prison, Aguilar will be subject to three years of supervised release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting the case. Anyone experiencing domestic violence or who knows someone experiencing domestic violence can reach an advocate at the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). In New Mexico, the Domestic Violence Resource Center is available by telephone at (505) 843-9123 or online at https://dvrcnm.org/ . # # # 24-80


title: Former Puerto Rico Legislative Assistant Sentenced for Bribery and Kickback Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former legislative assistant to a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for engaging in a scheme to accept a fraudulently inflated government salary in exchange for providing kickbacks to a legislator and the legislator’s family members. According to court documents, from early 2013 until July 2020, Frances Acevedo-Ceballos, 35, of Carolina, served as a legislative assistant for María Milagros Charbonier-Laureano, also known as Tata, a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. In early 2017, Charbonier-Laureano inflated Acevedo-Ceballos’ salary from $800 on a bi-weekly, after-tax basis to over $2,100. Acevedo-Ceballos’ bi-weekly, net government salary further increased to between $2,700 and $2,900 from the middle of 2017 until June 2020. Out of every inflated paycheck, it was agreed that Acevedo-Ceballos would keep a portion and pay kickbacks ranging between $1,000 and $1,500 to Charbonier-Laureano, Charbonier-Laureano’s husband, Orlando Montes-Rivera, and Charbonier-Laureano’s son, throughout the course of the scheme. Acevedo-Ceballos pleaded guilty in November 2023 to bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. In January, a federal jury convicted Charbonier-Laureano and Montes-Rivera of one count of conspiracy; two counts of theft, bribery, and kickbacks concerning programs receiving federal funds; six counts of honest services wire fraud; and two counts of money laundering. The jury also convicted Charbonier-Laureano of obstruction of justice for destroying data on her cell phone. Charbonier-Laureano and Montes-Rivera are scheduled to be sentenced on April 10. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Jonathan E. Jacobson and Kathryn E. Fifield of the Criminal Divion’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney María L. Montañez Concepción for the District of Puerto Rico prosecuted the case.


title: Alleged Mastermind of $5 Million Unemployment Fraud Scheme Extradited from Romania

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – February 23, 2024 SAN DIEGO – David Constantin, alleged mastermind of a scheme to steal more than $5 million in California unemployment benefits intended to help workers affected by the pandemic, appeared in federal court today following his extradition Monday to the United States from Romania. At today’s hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael S. Berg ordered Constantin detained pending trial. The next hearing is scheduled for April 1, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns. Constantin was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023 along with 13 others. In addition to the four counts of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud charges, the indictment also alleges that Constantin transmitted more than $128,000 in fraud proceeds to associates in Romania. Constantin was apprehended by Romanian authorities at the request of the United States on November 14, 2023. The United States also seized valuable assets connected to Constantin, and co-Defendants in this case, Eduard Buse (D6), and Florentina Sima (D7). The following agencies provided critical assistance in securing Constantin’s arrest and extradition: Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DCCO) - Service for Countering of Organized Criminal Groups; Pitești Brigade for Combating Organized Crime (BCCO Pitesti); Teleorman County Service for Countering Organized Crime; Romanian Gendarmerie Battalion; Romanian Ministry of Justice; and Romanian Criminal Investigative Directorate - Fugitive Unit. “We thank Romanian authorities for their assistance in securing Mr. Constantin’s arrest and for their continued efforts in support of this case.”, said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Adeline Schulberg and Valerie Chu. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance to secure the arrest and extradition from Romania of Constantin. DEFENDANT Case Number 23CR2090-LAB David Constantin Age: 28 Arges County, Romania aka Vlad Alexandru SUMMARY OF CHARGES Title 18, U.S.C. § 1349 — Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Title 18, U.S.C. § 1343 — Wire Fraud Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison, $1 million fine Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) — Laundering of Monetary Instruments Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transportation, transmission, or transfer, whichever is greater INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Police Department Economic Crimes Unit IRS Criminal Investigation California Employment Development Department Investigative Division U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Homeland Security *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Jury Finds Remaining Co-Defendants Guilty Of Multi-State Drug Trafficking Conspiracy And Other Related Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Alfred Lamar Shavers (49, Bunnell) and Tyrone James Jones (56, Palm Coast) guilty of conspiring to distribute controlled substances. Jones was also convicted of distributing methamphetamine on two separate occasions, and Shavers was convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Their sentencing hearings have been scheduled for May 28, 2024. Shavers, Jones, and seven co-conspirators were charged in a superseding indictment resulting from a joint, multi-state investigation Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. According to the evidence presented at trial, Jones and Shavers were local drug dealers who operated in Volusia and Flagler counties. They were part of a drug trafficking organization that imported large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico into California and Arizona, and then transported it in commercial trucks across the country into the Middle District of Florida. Jones distributed several pounds of methamphetamine on multiple occasions during the investigation. During the investigation, Shavers purchased and sold distribution quantities of cocaine on several occasions from his Bunnell residence. On October 31, 2022, search warrants were executed at six locations in Palm Coast, Bunnell, and Daytona Beach—including Shavers’s residence. During the search of Shavers’s residence, law enforcement seized nine firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunitions, cocaine, a digital scale, and small baggies. Shavers is a previously convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. Shavers stipulated to the forfeiture of all the firearms in the superseding indictment. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Volusia Bureau of Investigation which includes the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the DeLand Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.


title: Two Men Indicted for Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment on Feb. 15, 2024, against Alex Altoh, 64, of Roseville, and Oumar Sidibe, 30, formerly of Reno, Nevada, charging them with conspiracy to commit money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed on Feb. 21 after Altoh’s arrest. Sidibe is yet to be apprehended. According to court documents, between January 2021 and November 2021, Altoh and Sidibe were involved in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds from two large business email compromise schemes, in which two corporate victims were tricked into making payments to bank accounts controlled by Altoh and another person, rather than to the intended beneficiaries of the payments. Altoh and Sidibe then quickly withdrew a large portion of the funds by way of check deposits, which effectively transferred the funds, concealed their unlawful nature, and prevented them from being clawed back. Law enforcement has traced Altoh and Sidibe to about $3.9 million in laundered fraud proceeds. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise N. Yasinow and Matthew Thuesen are prosecuting the case. If convicted, Altoh and Sidibe each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the money laundering conspiracy. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. altoh_and_sidibe_indictment.pdf


title: Marrero Woman Sentenced to Probation for Misprision of a Felony

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – ROSE B. DEMERS , age 68, of Marrero, La., was sentenced on February 22, 2024 by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier to 18 months of probation after previously pleading guilty to misprision of a felony related to funds received from a fraud victim, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, DEMERS received $8,600 from an out of state fraud victim on or about July 9, 2021. Rather than contact the authorities, DEMERS converted some of the funds to her own use and attempted to wire the funds to a person posing as an Internal Revenue Agent. DEMERS acted as a middleman for a fraudster who directed financial fraud victims to send DEMERS money, which she would then convert to MoneyGrams, etc., and forward to the fraudster. In addition to the sentence, DEMERS was sentenced to pay restitution in the amount of $200 and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 1-877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime at www.ovc.gov . Additional elder justice resources, training, and outreach materials can be found at the Elder Justice Website at www.elderjustice.gov . If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am - 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm EST. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, Economic Crimes Section, in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Mason City Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Tirrell Harlan Hopkins, Jr., age 23, from Mason City, Iowa, has been charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The charges are contained in an Indictment filed on February 14, 2024, in United States District Court in Sioux City. The Indictment alleges that, on or about November 18, 2023, Hopkins, knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowing he was then an unlawful user of a controlled substance as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 802, namely marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine, and knowing he had previously been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, possessed a firearm and ammunition, and the firearm and ammunition were in and affecting commerce. Hopkins is also charged with knowingly and intentionally possessing, with intent to distribute, less than 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), having previously been convicted of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver marijuana, a felony drug offense on December 10, 2018, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. If convicted on all charges, Hopkins faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $2 Million fine, and 6 years up to life of supervised release following any imprisonment. Hopkins appeared today in federal court in Sioux City and was held without bond. Hopkin’s next appearance for a detention hearing is set for February 28, 2024. As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the United States Marshal’s Service. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-03008. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Manly, Iowa, Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Drug User

body_text: Cory Allen More, age, 33 from Manly, Iowa, has been charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user. The charges are contained in an Indictment filed on February 14, 2024, in United States District Court in Sioux City. The Indictment alleges that, on or about October 23, 2023, More, knowing that he was then an unlawful user of a controlled substance as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 802, namely marijuana, knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition, and the firearm and ammunition were in and affecting commerce. If convicted, More faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. More appeared today in federal court in Sioux City and was held without bond. More’s next appearance for a detention hearing is set for February 28, 2024. As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Clear Lake Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Manly Police Department, Worth County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and United States Marshal’s Service. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-03006. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: District Man Indicted on Enhanced Second-Degree Theft  Following Theft from Residential Front Porch in Northwest

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON –Ernest Persha, 62, of Washington, D.C., was indicted on February 21, 2024, by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on February 12, 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. Persha is to be arraigned on March 5, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge. According to the government’s evidence, on February 12, 2023, Persha took a package from the front porch of a residence in Northeast, Washington, D.C. Persha was immediately stopped and arrested by officers in the crime suppression unit of the Metropolitan Police Department, who were surveilling the property at the time of the crime. Persha has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted. Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 27 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erika Norman. 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: Kodiak man sentenced to 17 years for drug, firearm crimes

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Kodiak man was sentenced to over 17 years in prison for possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possessing multiple firearms as a felon. According to court documents, agents executed search warrants on Mark Nason’s vehicle and residence in September 2022. Agents found a total of roughly 1.6 kilos of meth, 1.5 kilos of fentanyl and 70 grams of heroin, and five firearms in his vehicle and in his bedroom. Law enforcement also recovered over $56,800 in cash proceeds from the defendant’s distribution of controlled substances. After his arrest, Nason reached out to associates and asked them to retrieve drugs from his storage units in Anchorage and sell the drugs to make money for his bail. Law enforcement located roughly 4.9 kilos of meth, 1.2 kilos of fentanyl, 150 grams of heroin and five firearms. In total, law enforcement seized over 6.5 kilos of meth and 2.7 kilos of fentanyl that the defendant possessed with intent to sell. The sentencing memorandum alleges, in total, the defendant possessed over 1.3 million potentially lethal doses. At the time of this conduct, the defendant was previously convicted of multiple felonies starting at the age of 20. These felonies included theft, larceny, assault and misconduct involving firearms. The court cited the defendant’s extensive criminal history, the impact of fentanyl on small communities and a priority to protect the community from potential future crimes when delivering the sentence. U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred stated, “the distinction here is, though I appreciate his attempts to show how he has changed … at some point in time, someone’s criminal history becomes so voluminous that you can’t overlook it.” The defendant is also required to serve 10 years’ supervised release as part of his sentence. “The defendant has been incarcerated almost continuously since he was 20 years old and is a habitual violent offender,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “My office will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute perpetrators who choose to commit illegal acts and pose a great public safety threat to Alaskans.” “The Alaska State Troopers are committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold anyone that distributes dangerous drugs accountable for their actions,” said Captain Cornelius Sims, Commander of the Alaska State Trooper’s Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit. “Drug overdose claims the lives of hundreds of Alaskans each year, and law enforcement will continue to do our part to disrupt the tidal wave of illegal narcotics flowing into Alaska.” “The Coast Guard Investigative Service in concert with our federal, state, and local partners are committed to protecting the citizens of Alaska and will continue to be aggressive in our fight to keep these dangerous drugs off the streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Shultz of the Coast Guard Investigative Service Northwest Field Office. The Coast Guard Investigative Service Northwest Field Office and Alaska State Troopers, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana Weber prosecuted the case. ###


title: Clothing Wholesaler Executive Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Customs Fraud Scheme to Avoid Paying Millions of Dollars in Duties

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Paramount-based clothing wholesale company executive was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison for undervaluing imported garments in a scheme to avoid paying millions of dollars in customs duties. Mohamed Daoud Ghacham, 40, of Bell, was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who also ordered him to pay $6,390,781 in restitution. Ghacham pleaded guilty in December 2022 to one count of conspiracy to pass false and fraudulent papers through a customhouse. Ghacham’s company, Ghacham Inc., which does business under the “Platini” brand name, imported clothing from China and submitted fraudulent invoices to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that undervalued the shipments, allowing the company to avoid paying the full amounts of tariffs owed on the imports. At Mohamed Ghacham’s direction, Chinese suppliers would prepare two invoices for the clothing ordered by Ghacham Inc. – a true invoice, which reflected the actual price paid for the goods, and a fraudulent “customs invoice,” which reflected an understated price. Ghacham Inc. submitted the customs invoices to CBP and customs brokers to fraudulently reduce the tariffs owed on the imports, while it maintained the true invoices in its accounting records. From July 2011 to February 2021, Ghacham Inc. and Mohamed Ghacham undervalued imported garments by more than $32 million and failed to pay approximately $6,390,792 in customs duties. Ghacham Inc. pleaded guilty in December 2022 to one count of conspiracy to pass false and fraudulent papers through a customhouse and one count of conspiracy to engage in any transaction or dealing in properties of a specially designated narcotics trafficker under a statute known as the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for doing business with María Tiburcia Cazarez Pérez. Cazarez Pérez previously was listed as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker under the Kingpin Act for her involvement in the financial network of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García and Victor Emilio Cazares Salazar, two leaders of the Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel. Cazares Salazar was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking activities in federal cases out of San Diego and New York City. In December 2023, Judge Frimpong fined Ghacham Inc. $4 million, ordered it to pay $6,390,781 in restitution, and placed it on probation for five years. Mohamed Ghacham was not charged in connection with the Kingpin Act violation. Homeland Security Investigations and CBP investigated this matter. The U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and IRS Criminal Investigation provided significant assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Schwab of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force prosecuted this case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Fort Worth Meth Trafficker Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A methamphetamine trafficker who pleaded guilty on the eve of trial was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Christian Allen Meers, 45, was charged via criminal complaint in June 2023 and indicted the following month. On Sept. 25, 2023, the morning his trial was set to begin, Mr. Meers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor. According to court documents, Mr. Meers operated his narcotics trafficking business out of a string of hotels, moving from hotel to hotel every few days to avoid detection by law enforcement. On June 14, 2023, law enforcement officers in Fort Worth detained Mr. Meers and a female associate following a traffic violation. Inside Mr. Meers’ satchel, they found the key card to a nearby La Quinta Inn. His associate told officers there was methamphetamine stashed inside a bag in the hotel room. During a search of the room, officers found a Louis Vuitton bag stuffed with plastic baggies filled with more than 4,500 grams of meth, along with two firearms that had previously been reported stolen. Homeland Security Investigations and the Fort Worth Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Smith and Frank Gatto prosecuted the case.


title: New Orleans Man Who Encouraged Three-Year Old to Hold a Handgun Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On February 21, 2024, United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance sentenced AARON HENDERSON , age 28, a resident of New Orleans, for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, HENDERSON pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony. HENDERSON came to the attention of law enforcement after the New Orleans Police Child Abuse Unit received a video depicting HENDERSON in a residential room with a three-year-old male juvenile. HENDERSON was armed with a Draco 7.62 mm rifle, rapping lyrics to an unknown song. He encouraged the three-year-old to pick up a handgun located under some clothing on the bed, and the three-year-old picked up the handgun and began to waive it around. During all this time, HENDERSON was a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms. Judge Vance sentenced HENDERSON to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. 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, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Senior Litigation Counsel David Haller.


title: McLean Man Pleads Guilty in COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A McLean man pleaded guilty today to defrauding the Small Business Administration by fraudulently obtaining approximately $455,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. According to court documents, Mehdi Pazouki, 65, was the owner and sole employee of Systems Integration Services Inc., an IT consulting company that Pazouki ran from his home in McLean. Between August 2020 and August 2021, Pazouki applied for and received approximately $455,000 in PPP loans and EIDL funds, which he falsely certified would be used for business-related purposes, but which he actually intended to, and did, use to fund his gambling at area casinos, pay down personal debt, and purchase real estate. Within days of receiving his first EIDL disbursement, Pazouki spent over $27,000 in EIDL money at Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, West Virginia. Pazouki also used the PPP and EIDL money for down payments on two different real estate properties, to pay off his personal credit card debt, and to fund his personal investment account. Pazouki also falsely represented to the SBA in loan forgiveness applications that the PPP money had been used for legitimate business expenses, which resulted in the complete discharge of the loans. Pazouki is scheduled to be sentenced on May 24. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 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; David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Duane E. Townsend, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-29.


title: Oil and Gas Trader Convicted for Role in Foreign Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted an oil and gas trader today for his role in a scheme to bribe Ecuadorean and Mexican government officials and to launder money to secure contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars for his then-employer, Vitol Inc. (Vitol), the U.S. affiliate of the largest independent energy trading firm in the world. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Javier Aguilar, 49, of Houston, paid more than $1 million in bribes to officials of Petroecuador, the Ecuadorean state-owned oil and gas company, and PEMEX Procurement International (PPI), a subsidiary of PEMEX, the Mexican state-owned oil and gas company, to obtain lucrative contracts for Vitol. “Javier Aguilar bribed officials at state-owned oil and gas companies in Ecuador and Mexico using shell companies and sham invoices to obtain business for Vitol Inc., where he worked as an oil and gas trader,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “With today’s verdict, the jury has held him accountable for his role in a sophisticated bribery and money laundering scheme that netted Vitol hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts. Foreign bribery erodes the rule of law, disadvantages honest companies, and emboldens corrupt government officials. The Criminal Division will continue to vigorously pursue wrongdoers who bribe foreign officials and bring them to justice.” “Today’s verdict represents another victory in this office’s commitment to rooting out corruption in the international marketplace,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “The defendant and his co-conspirators sought to enrich themselves through criminal backroom deals. The people of Ecuador and Mexico deserved better and companies that play by the rules should know that the process is not rigged. The Justice Department and my office will continue to prioritize holding to account individuals who enrich themselves through bribery.” “As demonstrated by this case, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has a long reach,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. “Aguilar’s egregious attempt to get away with bribing officials in Ecuador and Mexico failed, and he will now face tough penalties. I want to commend our partners in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their close cooperation on this case.” The trial evidence showed that, between 2015 and 2020, Aguilar was a trader in Vitol’s Houston office. As a part of the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators agreed to bribe senior Ecuadorian officials to obtain a $300 million contract to purchase fuel oil for Vitol. Aguilar and his co-conspirators used another Middle Eastern state-owned entity to circumvent Petroecuador’s restrictions on contracts with private companies. In return for the promise and payments of bribes, the Ecuadorian officials then ensured that the Middle Eastern state-owned entity and Vitol were awarded the contract. Following the 2017 Ecuadorean presidential election, the officials who received bribes were replaced by new senior officials. To ensure continuity under the then-existing fuel oil contract and to obtain additional business, Aguilar and his co-conspirators agreed to bribe them as well. To conceal the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators used a series of fake contracts, sham invoices, and shell entities incorporated in Curacao, Panama, and Cayman Islands. Aguilar also used alias email accounts to communicate with his co-conspirators rather than his Vitol email. The evidence at trial also demonstrated that Aguilar used the same system of shell entities and sham invoices to launder bribe payments to two officials at PPI. In total, Aguilar paid approximately $600,000 in bribes to these officials to obtain numerous contracts for Vitol to supply hundreds of millions of dollars of ethane gas to PEMEX. The jury convicted Aguilar of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), violating the FCPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of the FCPA counts and 20 years in prison on the money laundering count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Seven of Aguilar’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing. These individuals have agreed to forfeit more than $63 million. In December 2020, Vitol admitted to bribing officials in Ecuador, Mexico, and Brazil in violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Vitol entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. As a part of the resolution, Vitol agreed to pay a combined $135 million in penalties as part of a coordinated resolution with the Justice Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and authorities in Brazil. FBI Miami’s International Corruption Squad investigated the case. Trial Attorney Clayton P. Solomon and Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell of the Fraud Section, Deputy Chief Adam J. Schwartz and Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith of MLARS, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax, Matthew R. Galeotti, and Nick M. Axelrod for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. The MLARS Special Financial Investigations Unit and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance. The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa .


title: Bellingham man sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempted enticement of a minor and possession of images of child sexual abuse

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 28-year-old Bellingham, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 12 years in prison for possession of child pornography and attempted enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Clayton Harker was arrested in December 2022, when he arrived at a Bellingham hotel believing he was going to sexually assault an 8-year-old girl. The ‘girl’ in this case was fictitious and Harker had been communicating with undercover Homeland Security Investigation agents. At today’s sentencing hearing Judge Richard jones said, “The court finds these cases extremely troubling. Fictitious individual or not, you had a clear thought in your mind to act on your desires.” According to records in the case, Harker came to the attention of law enforcement as they were investigating a different snapchat user who was pressuring young people for explicit images, claiming he wanted to pay them as “models.” Based on the communication between that subject and the person later identified as Harker, law enforcement began investigating his online activity. In November 2022, Harker began communicating with an undercover agent who claimed to have an 8-year-old niece Harker could molest. Harker not only communicated with that undercover agent, he also communicated with another agent who posed as the 8-year-old girl. Harker arrived at the hotel with materials to molest the child and video the assault. Harker was arrested before he even entered the hotel. In asking the court to sentence Harker to 30 years in prison, Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton noted that Harker told agents that he regularly solicited minors to send him sexually explicit imagery over the internet and would use threats and extortion when necessary to induce these children to send him that imagery. “Simply put, Harker has cut a swath of destruction across the lives of vulnerable minors whose only mistake was to cross paths with a predator. The threat he poses is real. And neutralizing that threat will require incapacitation through lengthy confinement followed by close supervision for the remainder of Harker’s life.” Harker will be on 15 years of supervised release following prison and will be required to register as a sex offender. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force based at the Seattle Police Department. The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office also assisted. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton.


title: Clear Lake Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

body_text: Michael Ryan Mikkelson, age 37, from Clear Lake, Iowa, has been charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and person convicted of domestic violence. The charges are contained in an Indictment filed on February 14, 2024, in United States District Court in Sioux City. The Indictment alleges that from March 1, 2023, through October 3, 2023, Mikkelson knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition having been previously convicted on four occasions of crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and also convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. If convicted, Mikkelson faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Mikkelson appeared today in federal court in Sioux City and was held without bond. Mikkelson’s next appearance for a detention hearing is set for February 28, 2024. As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and was investigated by the Clear Lake Police Department, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office, Manly Police Department, Worth County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Cerro Gordo County Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and United States Marshal’s Service. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-03009. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Middleman Sentenced to 110 Months for Facilitating Bribes Between Nightclub and Bar Owners and a District Tax Official

body_text: WASHINGTON – Anthony Merritt, 48, was sentenced today to 110 months in prison for facilitating bribes to a District tax official from business owners who wanted to evade tax obligations, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, D.C. Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas, and the D.C. Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee. Merritt, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, played key roles in at least two sophisticated and long-term bribery conspiracies. For Vincent Slater, who formerly served in the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue, Merritt handled communications with business owners and allowed Slater to maintain apparent distance from them as he fraudulently reduced their liabilities or intervened on their behalf within OTR. For business owners, Merritt ferried cash bribe payments to Slater. And for himself, Merritt took a cut—or sometimes times, all—of the bribe payments that drove the scheme. Through his actions, Merritt deprived the District of Columbia of at least $2.3 million. Merritt was charged in two separate indictments, one for each of the separate conspiracies. In June 2023, a jury convicted Merritt of the bribery, conspiracy, and wire-fraud charges from the first indictment. In September 2023, Merritt pleaded guilty to the bribery, conspiracy, and wire-fraud offenses charged in the second indictment. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Merritt to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $736,536.52 (of at least $200 per month), and to forfeit $581,378.77. Slater pleaded guilty on bribery counts in June 2020 and admitted to causing a total loss of more than $3 million to the District. In addition, Slater admitted that typically, he and Merritt agreed to solicit bribe payments equaling approximately half of the amount the taxpayer sought to evade paying, and then to split the bribe proceeds between themselves. Slater resigned from OTR in December 2017, concluding both schemes, each of which had lasted over five years. A former employee of the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Merritt held himself out as a permit and licensing expediter and introduced the business owners to the scheme. Judge Walton sentenced two business owners on January 25, 2024, for their respective roles in the separate but concurrent multiyear schemes. Andre De Moya, 51, of Temple Hills, Maryland, received 30 months in prison. Davoud Jafari, 72, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. The businesses that benefited from De Moya’s participation in the scheme included concert venue Echostage as well as downtown bars and nightclubs such as Eyebar (later renamed Eden), Ultrabar, L8 Lounge, and Barcode. Evidence at trial showed that De Moya also introduced additional business owners to Merritt, leading to parallel schemes involving restaurants Café Asia and Umaya and nightclub Muse Lounge. Jafari owned and operated Zeba Bar in Columbia Heights through a company called Gevani, Inc. In announcing Merritt’s sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of the agencies who investigated the case, including the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General, with substantial assistance by the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Integrity and Oversight. U.S. Attorney Graves also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Liliana Villamizar, Amanda Rhode, and Mariela Andrade, and former paralegal specialists Aisha Keys and Michon Tart. Finally, Graves acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Macey, Emily Miller, and Timothy Visser, who prosecuted these cases through trial, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gaston and former AUSA Amanda Vaughn, who participated in the underlying investigations and earlier court proceedings.


title: Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally  Reentering the United States After Being Deported

body_text: A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced today to almost three months in federal prison. Ramon Garcia-Cruz, age 41, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 18, 2023, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported. At the guilty plea, Garcia-Cruz admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Garcia-Cruz was first removed from the United States in October 2014. Garcia-Cruz was also deported in March 2015 following his February 2015 conviction in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas for illegal entry into the United States. On November 14, 2023, immigration officials learned Garcia-Cruz had illegally returned to the United States and found Garcia-Cruz at the Linn County Jail following his arrest on state charges. Garcia-Cruz was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Garcia-Cruz was sentenced to 86 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Garcia-Cruz is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-85. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: MPD Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violation  For Fatal Shooting of D.C. Motorist

body_text: WASHINGTON – Enis Jevric, 42, a Sergeant with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), pleaded guilty today in federal court to violating the constitutional rights of 27-year old An’Twan Gilmore by using excessive force, on August 25, 2021, in a police shooting that killed Mr. Gilmore. Jevric also pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter under D.C. law. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg, of the Washington Field Office. U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 1, 2024. According to documents filed with the court, the defendant willfully used unconstitutionally excessive and unreasonable force by shooting Mr. Gilmore. Specifically, shortly before 3:00 am on August 25, 2021, the defendant and other MPD officers were dispatched to respond to a call for an armed man—later identified as Mr. Gilmore—who was either asleep or unconscious in the driver’s seat of a car that was stopped at the intersection of New York Avenue and Florida Avenue, N.E. The defendant approached the car and directed another officer to knock on its windows to rouse Mr. Gilmore. When Mr. Gilmore awoke, the car moved forward several feet, stopped briefly, and then moved forward again. As it did so, the defendant fired his MPD-issued firearm at the car four times. The car rolled down New York Avenue, and the defendant fired at it six more times. Three of the defendant’s shots struck Mr. Gilmore, who died a short time later from his wounds. No other officer fired at Mr. Gilmore. “Police officers are sworn to uphold the law and ensure the safety of the community, and we are grateful for the overwhelming majority of Metropolitan Police Department officers who do their difficult and dangerous jobs honorably,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “But Officer Jevric violated the Constitution and abused his position by recklessly using deadly force where none was necessary, resulting in the tragic and unjustified loss of Mr. Gilmore’s life—a tragedy that has permanently changed the lives of Mr. Gilmore’s family and friends. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the civil rights of everyone within the District and to holding accountable all who violate those rights.” “As a sworn police officer, Jevric knew the acceptable boundaries in which he was authorized to use deadly force,” said Assistant Director in Charge Sundberg. “His willful disregard of these rules resulted in Mr. Gilmore’s tragic and untimely death. While no judicial process will adequately address the loss that the Gilmore family has suffered in this situation, we are committed to ensuring the fullest administration of justice on behalf of the victim and his family.” As part of his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that his conduct constituted unconstitutional, unreasonable force, and that he acted willfully, in reckless disregard of Mr. Gilmore’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from excessive force by police. He also admitted that his conduct created an extreme risk of death to Mr. Gilmore and was a gross deviation from a reasonable standard of care. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with extensive assistance from the FBI Laboratory including the Laboratory Shooting Reconstruction Team. It is being prosecuted by the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: U.S. Army Reserve Colonel Accused of Stealing Thousands in Unearned Military Pay Entitlements

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah, returned an indictment Feb. 21, 2024, charging a U.S. Army Reserve Colonel, formerly of Utah’s 76th Operational Response Command, for his role in defrauding the United States out of more than $60,000 in unearned military pay entitlements. The announcement comes as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing efforts with the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division to address military pay fraud that occurred during the coronavirus pandemic. According to court documents, Reece Dennis Roberts, 53, of Herriman, Utah, misrepresented his and his family’s primary residence in Utah, fabricated lease and listing documents, and submitted over a dozen false vouchers to military officials from June 2020 through July 2021. Though Roberts and his family lived in Herriman, Utah from 2020–2021, the indictment alleges that, upon receiving orders calling him to active duty at Fort Douglas, Utah, Roberts changed his primary residence to an out-of-state address that neither he nor his family occupied. In doing so, Roberts claimed entitlement to a family separation allowance, reimbursement for personal lodging expenses, and other entitlements that were not available to local servicemembers. As further alleged in the indictment, the defendant duped military officials into paying him $3,700 per month in lodging reimbursements for a house he did not rent or own. The indictment alleges he accomplished this by fabricating a lease agreement and online listing for the fictitious rental, orchestrating sham rent payments, and repeatedly submitting false vouchers to military officials. Additionally, Roberts allegedly worked with an unindicted co-conspirator, recruited a third person to receive sham rent payments and return the payments to Roberts’ bank account using Venmo. This allowed Roberts to create fake rent receipts that were submitted to military officials every month for reimbursement. “This type of deceit and misconduct is unacceptable for servicemembers at any rank, but it is particularly disheartening when committed by a field grade officer during a national emergency,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “The vast majority of servicemembers in Utah are law-abiding and deserve the utmost appreciation for keeping the people of Utah safe. My office remains committed to working with military officials and other law enforcement partners to prosecute military fraud and corruption.” Roberts is charged with various federal crimes, including filing a fraudulent claim against the United States, conspiring to defraud the United States, theft of government property, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Roberts’ initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for March. 13, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Zumwalt of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two Indian Nationals Charged in Elder Fraud Gold Bar Courier Scam

body_text: Cleveland – Anil Mangukia, 39, of Edison, New Jersey, and Yash Navadia, 25 of Secaucus, New Jersey, who were Indian Nationals, were both indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with money laundering conspiracy for their roles in an elder fraud gold bar courier scam (“Courier Scam”) targeting older Americans. They allegedly stole more than $127,000 and attempted to steal an additional $650,000 from a victim in Warrren, Ohio. According to court documents, coconspirators posed as a customer service employee at a company or bank. They contacted a victim—typically an elder person—and falsely claimed that the victim’s account was at risk or had been compromised by a hacking event or similar computer intrusion. The purported customer service employee then referred the victim to another perpetrator who posed as a government agent, claiming that the fake government agent would assist the victim in avoiding or mitigating the effects of the account compromise. The fake government agent would discuss the incident with the victim, validate the false story told by the purported customer service or bank employee, and instruct the victim to either (1) move the victim’s money to another account that the perpetrators controlled, or (2) purchase gold or other valuable items and move them to the perpetrators’ account, claiming that the new account was secure and safe from the purported hackers. The perpetrators then used the stolen funds for their own benefit, without the victim’s knowledge or consent. According to court documents, the defendants caused their victims to engage in several different types of transfers, such as the following: (i) withdrawing currency, converting it to cryptocurrency, and transferring the cryptocurrency to the coconspirators, who claimed they would deposit it into secure accounts; (ii) initiating bank transfers directly from victim’s accounts to acquire things of value that were handed over or otherwise transferred to coconspirators, who claimed that they would then convert those items into funds and deposit them in a secure account for the victim. According to court documents, the defendants and their coconspirators also obtained proceeds from the Courier Scam directly from victims, traveling to meet victims either at their homes or nearby designated locations. There, the victims would give the defendants and their coconspirators U.S. currency, gold bars, or gold coins under false pretenses, persuaded that the perpetrators would secure the victims’ property. “Our Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who commit financial scams that defraud our elderly citizens of their hard-earned savings,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko. “Financial fraud schemes of any variety cause serious financial harm to our community members, but those that target the elderly are particularly reprehensible. We encourage all members of the public to remain vigilant against such hoaxes and report suspected scams to law enforcement.” “The FBI is focused on finding and investigating criminals preying on the trust of older Americans,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “Scams are becoming more complex, with several layers of deceit in their ploy and bad actors working in groups to give the illusion of legitimacy. The FBI will not yield in its pursuit to identify these criminals and dismantle scam and fraud-based networks.” An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum. This investigation was conducted by the Cleveland Division of the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmine Makridis and Brian M. McDonough. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.


title: Northern Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Selling Fentanyl That Caused Six Overdoses, Including Two Deaths

body_text: TOLEDO – Gerald Isom, age 49, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced to 300 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp, II, after earlier pleading guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Isom was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay a $200 special assessment and $1,026 in restitution. According to court documents, during the evening of December 26, 2019, Isom sold fentanyl to a group of five young men who believed they were receiving cocaine. The young men snorted the fentanyl, and all five overdosed. Three of the young men later woke up to find out that two members of group had died as a result of ingesting the fentanyl. That same evening, Isom sold fentanyl to another man who believed he was receiving cocaine. That man also overdosed, but survived after he was revived with Narcan. The investigation was conducted by the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching, Alissa Sterling, and Michael Freeman.


title: Undocumented Venezuelan Man Charged with Possessing Fake Green Card

body_text: ATHENS, Ga. – An undocumented man residing in Athens—who is the brother of the suspect charged with murdering a woman on University of Georgia’s campus—was charged tonight by federal criminal complaint with possessing a fraudulent green card and is currently being held in state custody. Diego Ibarra, 28, of Venezuela, is charged by criminal complaint with possession of a fraudulent document. Ibarra’s initial appearance has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Ibarra faces a maximum of ten years in prison. Diego Ibarra is the brother of Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, of Venezuela, who is facing state charges for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another in the death of Laken Hope Riley. According to the criminal complaint and sworn affidavit, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was made aware of Ibarra’s undocumented presence in the United States on Feb. 23, 2024. An Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officer approached Ibarra earlier today because he matched the description of a suspect in the homicide investigation. Ibarra presented the officer with a U.S. permanent resident card (also called a green card) as identification. The card was determined to be fraudulent. Ibarra is a citizen of Venezuela and was processed for expedited removal but claimed a credible fear of return to Venezuela. He was consequently released from immigration custody pending adjudication of his claim for asylum on April 30, 2023. According to the criminal complaint and sworn affidavit, since entering the country, Ibarra has been arrested three times by Athens law enforcement: on or about Sept. 25, 2023, Ibarra was arrested by ACCPD for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a license; on or about Oct. 27, 2023, Ibarra was arrested by ACCPD for theft by shoplifting; and on or about Dec. 8, 2023, Ibarra was arrested by ACCPD for failure to appear for a fingerprintable offense. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with critical assistance from FBI, GBI, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, University of Georgia Police Department and Clarke County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case. A complaint is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: New York man charged with sexually exploiting Clinton County minor

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A New York man was arrested on federal charges alleging he traveled to Ohio to sexually exploit a minor victim. Noah Knight, 30, of Yonkers, New York, is charged by criminal complaint with aggravated sexual abuse and production of child pornography. He was arrested in Yonkers yesterday. According to the charging documents, Knight met the 11-year-old victim on Snapchat and came from New York to visit her. Knight allegedly had sex with the victim multiple times that day. Knight allegedly took the victim to Wilmington Cinemas and Walmart, and his CashApp account shows purchases made at both locations. It is alleged that Knight, who is also known as Noah Matos, made video recordings of his sexual abuse of the child. Knight appeared in federal court in New York today and will ultimately be transported to the Southern District of Ohio to face his charges. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Wilmington Police Chief Ron Fithen announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Gaffney Painter and Kyle J. Healey are representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Louise Gina Polyansky, 33, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Lincoln for her involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Polyansky to 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. Starting around November 2020, Polyansky agreed and worked with several others to obtain and distribute meth in the Lincoln area. As part of the conspiracy, from about December 2020 until about May 2021, co-conspirators received packages by mail containing pound to multi-pound quantities of meth to addresses located in Lincoln. Part of this meth was then supplied to Polyansky to distribute. Polyansky had obtained approximately seven pounds total from co-conspirators between November 2020 and April 2021. Polyansky was also identified as someone that was distributing ¼ pound to ½ pound quantities of meth from August 2021 to September 2021. Finally, Polyansky was identified as someone that would wire drug proceeds to individuals in Arizona. Other conspirators included Scott Berndt, who was sentenced on December 20, 2023, to a term of imprisonment of 168 months. Rebecca Frankenstein was sentenced on December 7, 2023, to a term of imprisonment of 90 months. Tommy Meyer was sentenced on December 7, 2022, to a term of imprisonment of 244 months. This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.


title: Tahlequah Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug And Gun Crimes

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tyler Aaron Meigs, age 32, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and 63 months in prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, with the terms of imprisonment to run consecutively. The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. On June 6, 2023, Meigs pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to others in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison. According to court documents, on October 4, 2022, Cherokee County Sheriff deputies arrived at the scene of a single car accident. Meigs, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was found in possession of a handgun and approximately 41 grams of methamphetamine. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Meigs was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States.


title: Henryetta Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearms Offense

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jaylon Christopher Heneha, age 26, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for a federal firearms offense. The charges arose from investigations by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On May 2, 2023, Heneha pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to investigators, on January 22, 2023, officers with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police discovered Heneha in possession of a firearm during the course of another investigation. At the time he possessed the gun, Heneha knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Heneha was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Richard A. Lorenz represented the United States at sentencing.


title: Hulbert Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearms Offenses

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cairl Glenn Hayes, Jr., age 48, of Hulbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison on two separate cases for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On October 5, 2022, Hayes pleaded guilty to a single count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and remained on bond pending sentencing. According to investigators, on April 26, 2022, law enforcement officers conducting a traffic stop in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, discovered Hayes in possession of a firearm. Hayes was sentenced to 18 months in prison for this offense. On August 9, 2023, Hayes was indicted for a second incident of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hayes entered a guilty plea to one count of felon in possession of a firearm on September 11, 2023. According to investigators, on July 10, 2023, law enforcement officers conducting a traffic stop in Cherokee County again discovered Hayes in possession of a firearm. Hayes was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the second offense. At the time of both traffic stops, Hayes knew he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. The Court ordered the sentences in each case to run concurrently. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Hayes was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: LeFlore County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Joe Knight, age 42, of Spiro, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Indictment alleged that on December 26, 2022, Knight, having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, and knowing of that conviction, possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Sequoyah County Sherriff’s Office. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Knight will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Tahlequah Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Christopher Andrew Loveall, age 30, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment for illegally possessing a firearm. The charge arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tahlequah Police Department. On May 15, 2023, Loveall pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. According to investigators, on January 16, 2023, officers observed Loveall fire a gun from the front passenger seat of a vehicle before the vehicle drove away at a high rate of speed. Officers pulled the vehicle over and found a firearm magazine on the floorboard. During a search of the nearby roadside along the vehicle's path, officers found a 380 semi-automatic handgun. Loveall knew when he possessed the firearm that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Loveall will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty To Felony Assault Charge

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Tristan Hunter Finch, age 27, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian country. The Indictment alleged that on September 5, 2023, Finch assaulted the victim with a knife. The crime occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.


title: Sequoyah County Resident Sentenced For Assault, Child Abuse And Neglect, And Federal Firearm Charges

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Elbert Andrew Fuller, Jr., age 25, of Roland, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 308 months imprisonment for assaulting two police officers and a female victim with a gun and knife, while putting a minor child in harm’s way during the assault. Fuller was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment for one count of Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country, one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country, and one count of Child Neglect in Indian Country. He was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment on three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. These six counts were ordered to run concurrent with each other. The defendant also was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment on one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, or Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence which was ordered to run consecutive to his other counts for a total sentence of 308 months imprisonment. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Roland Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. On June 22, 2023, Fuller entered a plea of guilty to all counts. According to investigators, on October 8, 2022, law enforcement responding to a 911 call encountered Fuller leaving a Roland residence carrying an infant. Fuller fired a pistol multiple times at the officers. Fuller dropped the pistol, pulled a large knife, and attempted to stab one of the officers. During the altercation, a family member was able to take the child from Fuller. Fuller was eventually subdued and taken into custody. The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “The defendant’s violent acts endangered multiple people, including a child, and the sentence imposed is certainly fitting punishment,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Fuller was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Ardmore Resident Sentenced For Cyberstalking, Assault With A Dangerous Weapon, Receipt And Possession Of Child Sexual Exploitation Material, And Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Geovanta Ty’Kearon Lee, age 23, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a total of 255 months in prison for one count of Cyberstalking, one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, one count of Discharging of a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence, one count of Receipt of Material involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and one count of Possession of Material involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the City of Ardmore Police Department. On March 1, 2023, a federal jury found Lee guilty at trial on all counts. According to investigators, on February 21, 2022, Lee assaulted the victim with a firearm, fired a round into the victim’s vehicle, then fled the scene. In the weeks after the assault, Lee used social media and phone calls to intimidate the victim. Phones recovered from Lee's home during the course of the investigation showed that Lee received and possessed a video depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The crimes occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Lee was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Flanigan represented the United States.


title: Garden City Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Vincent Porter, 32, of Garden City, Idaho, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, the investigation began when a citizen reported to the Garden City Police Department (GCPD) that she had located concerning videos on a cellphone Porter had been accessing. The witness reported that the videos showed Porter setting up a camera and surreptitiously recording the 10-year-old victim. GCPD obtained a search warrant for Porter’s cloud storage. Within the account, GCPD located two videos that Porter had recorded of the victim. The videos showed Porter setting up a camera in the bathroom to record the victim undressing and showering. GCPD also examined Porter’s cellphone pursuant to a search warrant. On the cellphone, GCPD located an additional explicit video Porter had recorded of the victim. Porter was previously convicted in Ada County of sexual battery of a minor 16 or 17 years of age. “The defendant in this case is a sex offender who was paroled from a state sentence only to begin victimizing a 10-year-old girl within a couple years,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “This case shows the effectiveness of federal prosecution as this defendant will now serve decades behind bars with no possibility of parole. I am grateful for the prosecutors in my office and our law enforcement colleagues who dedicate their careers to keeping Idaho’s children safe by removing child predators from our communities.” “The Garden City Police Department is happy to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to take predators like this off the street,” said Garden City Police Chief Cory Stambaugh. “We appreciate the partnership in keeping our community safer. I applaud the hard work of the investigators and prosecutors on this case.” “It is through cooperation like this among area law enforcement and our federal partners that makes the Treasure Valley such a safe place to raise a family,” said Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also sentenced Porter to a lifetime of supervised release. Porter will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Garden City Police Department, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Meridian Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this 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. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal 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: Three Members of Traveling Vice Lords/Junk Yard Dogs Street Gang Convicted of Racketeering Offenses

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal jury in Memphis recently delivered guilty verdicts in a case involving three members of the Traveling Vice Lords/Junk Yard Dogs (TVL/JYD) street gang. Tomarcus (“TC”) Baskerville , 35, Thomas (“TJ”) Smith , 24, and Courtland (“Hotbox”) Springfield , 32, all of Fayette County, Tennessee, were convicted under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the guilty verdicts today. According to information presented in court, the TVL/JYD is a violent criminal street gang that operates throughout the Western District of Tennessee. A subset of Chicago’s Almighty Vice Lord Nation, the gang participated in a series of attempted murders and murders of rival gang members during a gang war in the summer of 2020. The shootings spanned five different crime scenes across Fayette and Hardeman counties. A superseding indictment involving fifteen TVL/JYD members was filed in February 2023. The defendants were charged with conspiring to participate in racketeering and several incidents of attempted murder, using a firearm while committing a violent crime, murder in aid of racketeering, and using a firearm to cause death during an act of violence. Eleven defendants pled guilty in the case. After a month-long trial, on February 9th, 2024, Baskerville, Smith, and Springfield were convicted of multiple charges under the superseding indictment: Gang leader Tomarcus Baskerville was convicted of 21 counts, including attempted Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) murder, VICAR murder, the use of a firearm during attempted VICAR murders, and RICO conspiracy. Baskerville will face a mandatory sentence of two life terms. Thomas Smith was convicted of attempted VICAR murder, use of a firearm during an attempted VICAR murder, and RICO conspiracy. Smith will face up to life in prison. Courtland Springfield was found guilty of four counts of attempted VICAR murder, four counts of using a firearm during attempted VICAR murders, VICAR murder, using a firearm during the VICAR murder, and RICO conspiracy. Springfield faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Sentencing in this case is set for June 7, 2024. This case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office; Whiteville Police Department; and Somerville Police Department. United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Neal Oldham, William Bateman, Beth Boswell, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Raven Icaza who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case. Additionally, he thanked District Attorney General Mark Davidson and the 25th Judicial District for their assistance in the prosecution.


title: Two Men Indicted for Narcotics and Firearms Offenses After More Than Four Pounds of Fentanyl and Nearly Thirty-five Pounds of Cocaine Found in Downtown Nashville High-Rise Apartment

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Nashville – Two Nashville, Tennessee, men are facing federal charges after agents executed multiple search warrants, including a search warrant on a downtown Nashville high-rise apartment, and discovered evidence of large-scale narcotics distribution — including more than four pounds of fentanyl, nearly thirty-five pounds of cocaine, approximately $350,000 in cash, and firearms — announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. The indictment returned by the grand jury charges Brandon Ostein, a/k/a “Snake,” 37, and Anthony Gloss, 40, with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Both men are also charged with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, as well as weapons counts based on firearms recovered during searches of their Nashville apartments. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation in which the government seeks to forfeit any property derived from the proceeds of the crimes, including the approximately $350,000 in cash and three firearms. If convicted, both men face no less than 30 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Murfreesboro Police Department, and Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Goldin is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. #####