title: Justice Department, Department of Labor, Federal Trade Commission and National Labor Relations Board Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Support Merger Review

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department, Department of Labor (DOL), Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) have signed an interagency memorandum of understanding (MOU) to further communication and coordination between the agencies to protect American workers and promote fair competition in labor markets. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, FTC Chair Lina Khan and NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo all signed the MOU as part of the agencies’ coordinated efforts to ensure that mergers between employers do not threaten harm to competition for workers. “Workers are the backbone of our economy, and it’s critical that the impact on workers and the labor market are given due consideration when analyzing mergers and acquisitions,” said Acting Secretary Su. “The Department of Labor is committed to providing information and data to strengthen the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission’s understanding of labor markets and we look forward to deepening our work to protect workers by promoting fair competition in the labor markets.” “Competition in labor markets means higher wages, better working conditions and more opportunities for workers and their families,” said Assistant Attorney General Kanter. “Our partnership with the FTC, NLRB and DOL will help us identify and take action against mergers that threaten to harm competition for workers. The Antitrust Division did just that when we successfully challenged a merger between book publishers that would have decreased compensation for authors. Promoting workers’ right to earn a fair wage is central to the mission of each of our agencies, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration together.” “Congress passed the antitrust laws to ensure that all Americans benefit from free and fair competition. When businesses vigorously compete for workers, workers enjoy better wages and working conditions as well as greater opportunity and freedom,” said FTC Chair Khan. “By deepening partnerships with the National Labor Relations Board, Department of Labor and Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, the FTC will keep building on our whole-of-government efforts to ensure that all Americans can get a fair shot in our economy, free from unlawful coercion.” “Taking a whole-of-government approach to enforcing workers’ rights is critically important, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with the antitrust agencies to enhance their ability to obtain important information on the potential effects of mergers on workers,” said NLRB General Counsel Abruzzo. This MOU supplements existing bilateral agreements between the Antitrust Division and DOL and the Antitrust Division and NLRB . Key provisions of the MOU support the Antitrust Division and FTC’s (together, the Antitrust Agencies) work to review mergers that may threaten harm to competition. Those resources include the DOL and NLRB’s (together, the Labor Agencies) organizational contacts and experts, data on labor markets and jobs and enforcement information. In addition, the MOU supports further training, meetings and coordination among all four signatories. Through this MOU, the Antitrust Agencies and Labor Agencies commit to working together to ensure the Antitrust Agencies have access to all relevant and appropriate information when they evaluate the potential impacts on labor markets from mergers and acquisitions between businesses.


title: Spokane Resident Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining More than $360,000 in COVID- 19 Relief Funding

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Marisa Beck, age 41, of Spokane, was sentenced for fraudulently obtaining more than $360,000 in COVID-19 relief funding intended for endangered small businesses and employees at risk of losing their jobs. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 12 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, as well as restitution of $402,020.32, representing the total loss to the public as a result of the fraud. On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to retain jobs and maintain payroll during the pandemic. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low-interest bridge funding for small businesses placed at risk during the pandemic. According to court documents and information presented at trial and the sentencing hearing, Ms. Beck admitted to fraudulently obtaining $368,829 in PPP and EIDL funding for three purported businesses: Cyra Solar LLC, Beck N’ Call Landscape, LLC, and Value in People Consulting, LLC. Ms. Beck admitted that these entities were not eligible for CARES Act funding because Beck N’ Call Landscape and Cyra Solar were not active businesses as of February 2020, and because she submitted false and fraudulent payroll, revenue, and other information associated with the three purported businesses in order to fraudulently obtain CARES Act funding. “Many small businesses struggled during the COVID-19 shutdowns and were eligible for pandemic relief funds to keep their doors open and to ensure that their employees could keep their jobs. Fraudulent schemes diverted critical money set aside to help those businesses and instead were used to enrich individuals such as Ms. Beck,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I’m grateful for the investigators and prosecutors of our COVID Fraud Strike Force. Their teamwork and focus on uncovering fraud strengthens our community and protects small and local businesses.” “Today’s sentencing underscores the VA Office of Inspector General’s commitment to rooting out fraudsters and safeguarding taxpayer funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners as part of the COVID-19 Strike Force to investigate fraud against relief programs intended to support bona fide recipients.” “Profiteering off federal government relief programs intended to support American small businesses is inexcusable,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “This sentencing is further evidence that greed has no place in SBA programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.” The case was investigated by the Eastern Washington COVID Fraud Strike Force, and in particular by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Spokane Resident Office, with investigative assistance and support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spokane Resident Agency, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, Western Regional Office, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigative Division, Seattle Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Fruchter prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.


title: 31st Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference Focuses On Partnership And Justice

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: IGNACIO – Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch hosted the 31 st Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference in Ignacio, Colorado this week. The three-day event, held at the Sky Ute Casino Resort, focused on collaboration, commitment, and relationship building between the Department of Justice, Offices of the United States Attorneys in the region, and tribal communities. “Our office and the Department of Justice have a long-held commitment to tribal communities here in Colorado and across the west,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “I am proud of the work we do to support our Indian Country partners and appreciate our ability to come together to better our working relationships.” Started in 1992, The Four Corners Indian Country Conference focuses on prosecution, justice, and victims’ issues in Indian Country, specifically in the “four corners” states of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The District of Colorado was proud to highlight additional efforts put in place this year to support the law enforcement on tribal lands including the hiring of additional federal prosecutors, law enforcement trainings, and successful prosecutions which sought justice for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Colorado is home to two federally recognized tribes, the Southern Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute. In addition to critical meetings focused on law enforcement and legal issues, the conference featured speakers, cultural presentations, and a local tribal artist to help attendees celebrate the rich cultural legacy of these tribes. Next year’s Four Corners Indian Country Conference will be held in New Mexico.


title: Ionia County Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Ethan Eversman, 24, of Ionia, was indicted on criminal charges related to alleged sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution and possession of child pornography. “Children should not have to endure the trauma of being a victim of child exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My office is committed to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect our most defenseless citizens from egregious sex crimes.” The indictment alleges that from 2021 until June 2024, Eversman convinced a minor victim in New York to create explicit pictures and videos of herself and send them to him online. Eversman is also charged with sending child pornographic videos to others and possessing child pornography on his cell phone. If convicted, Eversman faces up to 30 years in prison. Eversman previously worked as a corrections officer for the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office. “Those individuals who commit crimes against our children or possess child pornography will be investigated and arrested by members of the FBI and/or our law enforcement partners,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan. “This joint investigation between the Michigan State Police, members from FBI in the Lansing area, and the combined efforts from federal, state and local law enforcement partners embedded within the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, contributed to the indictment of an alleged sexual predator.” “The Michigan State Police and the detectives of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are committed to investigating and arresting those who exploit children,” stated Col. James F. Grady II . “We appreciate the support and assistance of our federal partners in the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office in this important work.” This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials. This case was investigated by the FBI and Michigan State Police. The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. # # #


title: Man Charged With Robbing Suburban Chicago Bank

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A man has been charged in federal court with robbing a bank in Evanston, Ill. and attempting to rob a bank in Chicago on back-to-back days this month. JEFFREY SULASKI robbed an Associated Bank branch in Evanston on Aug. 3, 2024, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. A day earlier, Sulaski attempted to rob a Huntington Bank branch in Chicago, the indictment states. Sulaski committed the alleged offenses while on court-supervised release following his imprisonment for a prior bank robbery conviction. The indictment charges Sulaski, 64, of Chicago, with one count of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday at 2:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Minje Shin. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count in the indictment is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. Sulaski indictment


title: Buffalo man arrested on meth charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Terell Gwyn, 30, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution of methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in June 2024, Homeland Security Investigations and Amherst Police began investigating Gwyn for his involvement in narcotics trafficking. In July 2024, investigators conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine and methamphetamine from Gwyn. On August 15, 2024, a search warrant was executed at a Koons Avenue residence and on a vehicle associated with Gwyn. During the search, law enforcement recovered a rifle, magazine, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, pills, powder, and two cell phones. The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 years in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses, Failure to Register

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Christopher Daniels, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Juan R. Sánchez to 15 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release for repeated child pornography and related offenses. Daniels was charged with those violations in an August 2023 superseding indictment, and in March of this year, a federal jury convicted the defendant of all six counts against him, including receiving child pornography as a second time offender, possession of child pornography as a second time offender, access with intent to view child pornography as a second time offender, and failure to register as a sex offender, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Daniels previously was convicted of possession of child pornography in federal court in 2015 and served 70 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. His term of supervised release commenced on January 15, 2021. Under SORNA, he was required to keep his sex offender registration information, including his registered residential address, current. In July 2022, Daniels failed to verify his sex offender registration with Pennsylvania State Police as required and went into non-compliant status. Daniels was also found to be non-compliant with the terms of his federal supervised release and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. On November 3, 2022, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Daniels and the FBI conducted a court-authorized search of his residence, seizing several electronic devices belonging to the defendant. Subsequent forensic examination of those devices found thousands of videos and images depicting child pornography and browser searches for such material. “When he got out of prison, Christopher Daniels was given a non-negotiable to-do list,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Right at the top: stay away from material depicting the horrific sexual abuse of children, and keep his sex offender registry details current. He failed at both, proving himself a continued risk to the community. My office and our partners at the FBI will never stop working to protecting vulnerable children from sexual exploitation.” “Having already served one sentence for exploiting innocent victims, the defendant then continued his heinous criminal behavior,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “This sentencing is a testament to the diligent and unceasing work of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to combat violent crimes against children.” The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.


title: Country Club To Pay Over $440,000 To Resolve Allegations It Received Paycheck Protection Program Loan As An Ineligible Nonprofit Organization

body_text: Resolution Builds on a Steady Stream of Civil and Criminal Cases to Protect Taxpayer Dollars Spent as Pandemic-Related Assistance GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Gull Lake Country Club of Richland, Michigan, has agreed to pay $440,312.50 to resolve allegations in a civil case that it falsely obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2020 when it was an ineligible nonprofit organization. “The Paycheck Protection Program provided important financial relief to eligible small businesses and other entities,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Today’s resolution demonstrates our continued commitment to protect taxpayer dollars and investigate allegations of fraud on critical government programs.” SBA’s General Counsel Therese Meers stated, “The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, other federal law enforcement agencies, as well as private individuals who uncover fraudulent conduct to recover the product of this fraud as well as penalties.” When Congress enacted the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, it authorized forgivable PPP loans to eligible small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The PPP loan program was administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Under the rules applicable at the time of the loan covered by today’s settlement, certain nonprofit organizations were not eligible to receive a PPP loan. The United States alleges that Gull Lake Country Club was an ineligible nonprofit 501(c)(7) organization at the time it applied for the PPP loan. This settlement resolves the allegations brought in a lawsuit against Gull Lake Country Club filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Relator Wade Riner and is captioned United States ex rel. Riner v. Bay Harbor Yacht Club, et al. , No. 1:24-cv-284 (W.D. Mich.). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan has demonstrated a steady commitment to hold accountable individuals and organizations that received pandemic-related funds, but did not comply with eligibility requirements or other rules. For example, the Office has announced the following cases since 2022: March 4, 2022 – Two Men Sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program Loan Fraud . March 13, 2023 - Michigan Nonprofit Organizations Agree to Pay $225,887 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Improper Receipt of Paycheck Protection Program Loans June 22, 2022 – Owners of Grand Rapids Trucking Company Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy, Pay $1,000,000 In Related Civil Case, In Connection With COVID-10 Relief Fraud . November 18, 2022 – Former State Employee and Three Others Indicted for $1 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme . December 15, 2022 – Grand Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Covid-19 Relief Fraud . December 21, 2022 – Judge Sends Cocaine Dealer to Prison for Covid-Relief Fraud . February 23, 2023 – Former Police Officer Sentenced for Money Laundering ($500,000 in fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief funds). December 5, 2023 – Roshell Beaty Sentenced to 124 Months in Prison for Over $1 Million in COVID Fraud . June 18, 2024 – Northern Michigan Physician Assistant Charged with Covid-19 Pandemic Assistance Fraud . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Hull and Whitney M. Schnurr investigated this matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Ontario truck driver arrested on drug charges at the border

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Bashir Kasozi, 41, of Ontario, Canada, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with importation of morphine and possession with intent to distribute a morphine, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on the evening of August 23, 2024, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Lewiston Bridge Port of Entry encountered a commercial truck with Ontario plates being driven by Kasozi. During the outbound inspection, Kasozi told a CBP Officer that he was in the United States for three days, coming from Massachusetts with a load of paper. Asked if he had anything to declare, to include prescription or nonprescription narcotics, currency over $10,000, weapons of any kind, or if anyone else was in the vehicle with him, Kasozi stated no. Kasozi was then referred for secondary inspection. A scan of the truck detected an anomaly in the nose of the trailer by the front wall. A subsequent search of that area revealed a skid of 62 brown taped packages. One of the boxes was searched and found to contain a smaller gold box with a glass vial inside. The glass vials were found to contain morphine. Kasozi made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Romer and was held pending a detention hearing on September 4, 2024. The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Conspiring with Michael Mann to Defraud Lenders

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Derek R. Schwartz, age 55, of Coppell, Texas, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for conspiring with former ValueWise CEO Michael T. Mann to defraud companies that loaned millions of dollars to ValueWise subsidiaries. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Schwartz pled guilty in September 2023 to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. He admitted to helping Mann fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in loans from financing companies. Mann obtained millions of dollars in loans from two financing companies, located in New York and Colorado, by falsifying his companies’ receivables. Mann falsely told the financing companies that Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (“UHG”) and its subsidiary OptumInsight Inc. (“Optum”), owed millions of dollars to his Clifton Park-based companies. Mann routinely created fake invoices reflecting the fictitious debt and assigned them to the financing companies as collateral for loans. Schwartz was a high-level executive at Optum, and then began working for ValueWise in October 2013. Until about August 2016, he operated TrueHR, LLC, a ValueWise subsidiary based in Dallas, Texas. Schwartz admitted that in October 2013, he and Mann asked Luke Steiner, a UHG/Optum employee whom Schwartz used to supervise, to represent to the financing companies that the fake invoices created by Mann were valid and payable by Optum. With Schwartz’s encouragement, Steiner regularly made these false verifications for six years, ending in August 2019. Schwartz also admitted he took these other actions in furtherance of the fraudulent scheme: In 2014 and 2015, he asked two other UHG/Optum employees to verify false invoices that Mann submitted to one of the financing companies, identified in court papers as “Financing Company-1.” He instructed these employees to respond to Financing Company-1’s inquiries in the same manner as Steiner. From 2014 through 2018, Schwartz lied directly to one of Mann’s lenders, “Financing Company-2.” Mann falsely represented to Financing Company-2 that one of his companies, Weitz & Associates, needed loans in order to pay its vendors. As part of its due diligence process, Financing Company-2 verified, with Weitz’ purported vendors, that they were receiving payments from Weitz. One such purported vendor was TrueHR, a ValueWise company operated by Schwartz. In fact, TrueHR was not a Weitz vendor, and Schwartz regularly lied to Financing Company-2 about TrueHR receiving payments from Weitz – and continued to do so even after TrueHR ceased to exist as a company. Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also ordered Schwartz to serve 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release and to pay a total of $12,968,505.20 in restitution to Financing Company-1 and Financing Company-2; Judge Kahn ordered Schwartz to pay $2,000 in restitution per month, including while incarcerated. In addition, Schwartz has already made a $1 million restitution payment to the Court for distribution to his victims. Mann, formerly of Saratoga County, New York, pled guilty to various crimes in connection with his fraudulent scheme, and was sentenced in August 2021 to 144 months in prison . Steiner pled guilty in February 2020 to conspiring with Mann and was sentenced to probation . The FBI investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Barnett and Cyrus P.W. Rieck prosecuted this case.


title: Albany Felon Sentenced to 27 Months for Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearm

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Alexander Wilson, age 31, of Albany, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for illegally possessing a pistol as a convicted felon. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; United States Marshal David L. McNulty; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement. As part of his previously entered guilty plea , Wilson, who has two prior felony convictions, admitted that on March 16, 2023, he threw a loaded pistol from a vehicle while being pursued by a New York State Trooper on Interstate 90 in Albany. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, to begin after Wilson is released from prison. Judge D’Agostino also ordered Wilson to forfeit the firearm. The United States Marshals Service, ATF, and NYSP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Fiscalía Federal anuncia cargos contra un grupo que facilitó y organizó el turismo criminal de Sudamérica

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ÁNGELES – El día de hoy, las fuerzas del orden público aprehendieron a seis acusados que un gran jurado federal imputó mediante una acusación formal de 46 cargos que alega que un hombre del Valle de Santa Clarita facilitó un grupo de turismo criminal consistente de sudamericanos y otras personas que participaron en robos con allanamiento de morada, hurtos y otros delitos por todos los Estados Unidos y luego lavaron millones de dólares estadounidenses en ganancias ilícitas. La acusación formal, dictada el 1 de agosto y publicada el día de hoy, imputa a siete acusados de varios delitos graves, entre ellos fraude electrónico, lavado de dinero, asociación delictuosa y la estructuración de transacciones a modo de evadir los requisitos federales de presentación de informes financieros. Los grupos de turismo criminal para robo consisten en personas, a menudo oriundas de Sudamérica y otros lugares fuera de los Estados Unidos, que participan en robos con allanamiento de morada, hurtos y otros delitos por todos los EE. UU. Como parte del modo de operación de los grupos de turismo criminal para robo, las personas ingresan a los Estados Unidos y participan en oleadas de delitos de robo. Con frecuencia, los frutos de los robos se comparten con los facilitadores y coconspiradores, quienes ayudan a los turistas delictivos a cometer sus delitos, así como con otras personas tanto dentro como fuera de los Estados Unidos. “El turismo criminal es un problema importante que afecta no sólo al sur de California, sino a toda nuestra nación,” dijo el fiscal federal Martín Estrada. “Estos acusados facilitaron y dirigieron el crimen a turistas que cometieron cientos de robos en todo el país – en esencia, actuaron como mariscales de campo de un equipo de ladrones. Continuaremos trabajando con nuestros socios locales para hacer responsables a quienes vengan a nuestro país y aprovechen nuestras libertades para robarle al pueblo estadounidense.” “Hoy desmantelamos un facilitador no tradicional del crimen organizado y ahora tenemos un plan para futuras investigaciones,” dijo Akil Davis, subdirector a cargo de la oficina local del FBI en Los Ángeles. "Esperamos que estos arrestos disuadan a futuras empresas de realizar operaciones similares, reduciendo así el número de robos y hurtos en nuestras comunidades." "Esta investigación requirió años de mucho esfuerzo y dedicación por parte del Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles y nuestros socios," dijo el jefe de LAPD, Dominic Choi. “Me complace que nuestros esfuerzos colectivos hayan dado como resultado la detención de estos delincuentes profesionales que se han dedicado a victimizar a nuestros residentes y facilitar el movimiento de delincuentes extranjeros. Estoy convencido de que sacarlos de las calles hace que nuestras comunidades sean más seguras.” Según la acusación formal, Juan Carlos Thola-Durán, de 57 años, alias "Parcero", de Canyon Country, y su pareja conviviente Ana María Arriagada, de 41 años, alias "Parcera", controlaban y operaban la empresa acusada Driver Power Rentals (DPR), un negocio de arrendamiento o venta de autos con sede en Van Nuys. Arriagada era la dueña registrada de DPR. Desde al menos enero de 2018 hasta julio de 2024, Thola-Durán dirigió a socios, con frecuencia miembros de grupos de turismo criminal para robo que viajaban desde Sudamérica, para que viajaran a varias partes de los Estados Unidos para cometer robos, incluso los robos de artículos en tiendas, robos con allanamiento de moradas y negocios, y robos de tarjetas de crédito y débito de víctimas. Thola-Durán, Arriagada y DPR suministraban vehículos de DPR para que los coconspiradores viajaran por los Estados Unidos para cometer hurtos y robos con allanamiento de morada, y para que los arrendamientos de autos parecieran legítimos y así mantener el anonimato, requerían que sus coconspiradores suministraran tarjetas de identificación falsas al arrendar un vehículo para fines de los registros de DPR. Thola-Durán y Arriagada les daban instrucciones a los ladrones coconspiradores que se robaban tarjetas de crédito o débito para que fueran inmediatamente a tiendas como Target, Best Buy, The Home Depot y otras, y gastaran el máximo crédito disponible en la compra de dispositivos electrónicos, tarjetas de regalo, bolsos de diseñador y otros bienes de alto lujo antes de que las tarjetas robadas pudieran ser restringidas o canceladas. Luego, Thola-Durán hacía arreglos para que los ladrones entregaran los artículos robados u obtenidos fraudulentamente a socios en DPR, o bien los enviaran por correo a otros coconspiradores, entre ellos el acusado Miguel Ángel Barajas, de 57 años, de Northridge, u otros coconspiradores en una tienda FedEx en Sherman Oaks. Por instrucción de Thola-Durán, los acusados Barajas, John Carlo Thola, de 33 años, de Canoga Park, y otros recogían los paquetes y luego se los entregaban a Thola-Durán y otros coconspiradores. Luego Thola-Durán se desempeñaba como "comerciante de artículos robados" y compraba los artículos, a una fracción de su valor en el mercado minorista, y les pagaba a los ladrones un porcentaje del valor de los artículos. Luego, en el transcurso de la asociación delictuosa, procedió a venderles a otros compradores los artículos robados por un total aproximado de $5.5 millones de dólares estadounidenses, incluidos aproximadamente $5.1 millones de dólares estadounidenses enviados a diversas cuentas bancarias controladas por los coconspiradores. Presuntamente, los acusados usaron sus ganancias mal habidas para comprar y mantener activos, entre ellos inmuebles y caballos, y estructuraron retiros de dinero en efectivo de manera que evitaran activar el requisito de que los bancos presenten informes al Departamento del Tesoro de los EE. UU. sobre transacciones que exceden de $10,000 dólares estadounidenses. La acusación formal alega además que desde mayo de 2020 hasta junio de 2021 Thola-Durán, Arriagada y otros se asociaron delictuosamente para obtener de manera fraudulenta $274,998 dólares estadounidenses en préstamos de socorro financiero para negocios por COVID-19. Una acusación formal es meramente una alegación. Se presume que todos los acusados son inocentes hasta tanto se pruebe su culpabilidad más allá de una duda razonable en un tribunal de ley. “Desde 2019, hemos arrestado a más de 130 sospechosos responsables de perpetrar estos delitos, y la gran mayoría utilizó automóviles suministrados por Driver Power Rentals,” dijo el sheriff del condado de Ventura, James Fryhoff. “Nuestros esfuerzos no terminan ahí. Nos asociamos formalmente con el FBI y creamos el Grupo de Trabajo contra Robos Mayores del Condado de Ventura. "Este grupo de trabajo ha sido fundamental para presentar cargos federales contra Thola-Duran y otros miembros de su organización criminal." “Driver Power Rentals proporcionó automóviles que supuestamente se utilizaron para llevarse mercancías y joyas de alta gama de los propietarios del condado de Ventura,” dijo el fiscal de distrito del condado de Ventura, Erik Nasarenko. "Derribar a un operador clave que impulsó el turismo criminal es esencial para la seguridad de la comunidad, y agradezco al fiscal federal Estrada y su equipo por procesar agresivamente esta red." "Estos delincuentes estaban llevando a cabo una operación de robo con una sofisticación que rivaliza con la de Amazon y, en lugar de enviar conductores de reparto, estaban enviando ladrones entrenados por todo el sur de California para robar en lo que debería ser el lugar donde estamos más seguros: nuestros hogares," dijo el fiscal de distrito del condado de Orange, Todd. Spitzer. "El crimen no paga en el Condado de Orange y las personas que participan en el turismo criminal están conscientes de que mi oficina trabajará con nuestros socios locales y federales para continuar exigiendo responsabilidad y llevando ante la justicia a quienes victimizan a nuestra comunidad." Una acusación es simplemente una acusación. Se presume que todos los acusados son inocentes hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable en un tribunal de justicia . De recibir condenas, los acusados enfrentarían una sentencia estatutaria máxima de 20 años en una prisión federal por cada cargo relacionado con transferencias electrónicas y lavado de dinero, hasta 10 años en una prisión federal por cada cargo de estructuración y hasta cinco años en una prisión federal por el cargo de asociación delictuosa para transportar bienes robados entre estados. El FBI, la Fiscalía de Distrito del Condado de Orange, la Fiscalía de Distrito del Condado de Ventura, la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ventura y el Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles investigan esta causa. El Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos, la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Meriwether (Georgia) y el Departamento de Policía de Scottsdale (Arizona) prestaron asistencia. Las Fiscales Auxiliares de los Estados Unidos Jennifer Chou y Lindsay M. Bailey de la Sección de Delincuencia Organizada y Violenta y el Fiscal Auxiliar de los Estados Unidos Ryan J. Waters de la Sección de Decomiso y Recuperación de Activos procesan esta causa.


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to fentanyl charge

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Hector Anaya, 51, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that in April 2024, Buffalo Police detectives received information that Anaya was in possession of a large quantity of narcotics. Detectives surveilled Anaya’s residence and observed him making three hand-to-hand transactions of suspected heroin and cocaine during controlled purchases. On April 25, 2024, a search warrant was executed at his residence during which investigators seized a firearm, ammunition, and a quantity of suspected fentanyl. Anaya was arrested at the scene. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia. Sentencing is scheduled for January 3, 2025, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Mastermind of $5 Million Unemployment Fraud Scheme and Accomplices Sentenced to Prison

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 28, 2024 SAN DIEGO – David Constantin, mastermind of a scheme to steal more than $5 million in California unemployment benefits intended to help workers affected by the pandemic, was sentenced in federal court today to five years in prison and was ordered to pay $ $5,178,276 in restitution to the state. The co-mastermind of the scheme, Constantin Bobi Sandu, charged separately, was sentenced in 2023 to 40 months in prison. According to Constantin’s plea agreement, between July 2020 and August 2022, Constantin and Sandu conspired with 213 co-conspirators to fraudulently obtain at least $5,178,276 in California unemployment insurance benefits. Thirteen other defendants were charged on the same indictment as Constantin with wire fraud and money laundering related to the unemployment fraud scheme. Four of the defendants were sentenced on July 31, 2024, and ordered to pay restitution to the state of California. They are: Eduard Buse, 34 months and $244,050; Constantin Iosif Constantin, 32 months and $281,000; Leonard Miclescu, 15 months and $34,650; and Filip Nicolae, 13 months and $26,250. Additional defendants include: Florentina Sima, wife of Buse, who was sentenced on May 29, 2024 to 15 months in custody and $28,350 in restitution; and Florin Nicolae, who pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2024, at 9 a.m. According to admissions in their plea agreements, these defendants submitted fraudulent applications to the California Economic Development Department, falsely claiming to be United States citizens who had been employed full time prior to the pandemic, and who had earned substantial income. To substantiate these claims, the defendants submitted false documents, including fake Forms W-2 purporting to be from their prior employers, phony health insurance cards, and fake utility bills to support their claimed residence in California. These defendants caused the California Employment Development Department to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent benefits to individuals who were not entitled to those benefits. Many of them laundered their fraudulent proceeds by transferring funds to Romania. In some cases, while claiming that they needed the funds to take care of their families, the defendants used the proceeds of the fraud to purchase luxury items. Buse, for example, purchased a 2020 BMW for more than $100,000 and shipped it to Romania. Other defendants are being sought by the United States so that they can be held accountable. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Adeline Schulberg and Valerie H. Chu. DEFENDANTS Case Number 23CR2090-RBM David Constantin, Aka Vlad Alexandru Age: 28 Transient, Romanian Eduard Buse Age: 31 Transient, Romanian Leonard Miclescu Age: 49 Transient, Romanian Constantin Iosif Constantin Age: 31 Transient, Romanian Florentina Sima Age: 30 Transient, Romanian Filip Nicolae Age: 31 Transient, Romanian Florin Nicolae Age: 34 Transient, Romania *Additional defendants are not in custody and their names are redacted SUMMARY OF CHARGES Title 18, U.S.C. § 1349 and 1343 - Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison, a fine of $1 million or both; Title 18 U.S.C. § 1943 – Wire Fraud Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison, a fine of $1 million or both; Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) — Laundering 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; Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(B)(i) – Laundering 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; Title 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(a)(1)(C) and 982(a)(1), and Title 28, U.S.C. § 2461(c) - Criminal Forfeitures INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Police Department Economic Crimes Unit IRS Criminal Investigation California Employment Development Department Investigative Division Department of Labor Office of Investigator General U.S. Department of Homeland Security


title: Former Army Private Found Guilty of Child Exploitation Charges, Including Production of Sexually Explicit Material of Minor

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal jury today found a former Army private based at Fort Irwin guilty of producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting a 14-year-old girl, using Snapchat to receive CSAM of her when she was 13 years old, and possessing CSAM featuring her on his iPhone. In addition, White was found guilty of receiving CSAM of a 15-year-old girl via Snapchat. Parker William White, 23, of Johnsonville, New York, was found guilty of one count of production of child pornography, three counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. According to evidence presented during a five-day trial, in January 2022, the Department of Children and Families in Bay County, Florida received a tip that White was engaging in an online, sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Later, investigators found CSAM of her on White’s iPhone as well as CSAM that White had received via Snapchat featuring her and another minor. White used Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media platforms to find minor “girlfriends” as young as 13 years old, according to court documents. White groomed these minor girls by boasting about his military service, telling them that they were “beautiful” and “queens,” and pretending to be in love with them. In some instances, White deceptively portrayed himself as teenager to earn their trust. White’s behavior would then escalate to a practice that he called “teasing.” He would send these children sexually explicit videos and photographs of himself via social media and encourage them to “tease” him back by doing the same. United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. scheduled a February 7, 2025 sentencing hearing, at which time White will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a statutory maximum sentence of 100 years in federal prison. White has been in custody since his arrest. Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi C. Allsop of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Laura A. Alexander of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section are prosecuting this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Claremore Man Sentenced After Shooting at Victim

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Justin Mark Boyce, 43, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime in Violence and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Boyce was ordered to serve 180 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. In August 2022, Boyce confronted the victim about an unpaid debt. During the argument, Boyce fired several rounds towards the victim and fled. While investigating the shooting, Rogers County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search warrant on Boyce’s home. Deputies found several firearms, ammunition, and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Boyce admitted that he possessed the methamphetamine with intent to sell and distribute. Boyce is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and he will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rogers County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: 52 Members of a Violent Drug Trafficking Gang in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Charged in a Superseding Indictment

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment on August 21, 2024, charging 52 violent gang members from the municipality of Caguas with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, firearms violations, murder, and money laundering, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The initial federal indictment charged 38 individuals with drug trafficking, firearms violations, and one murder. The superseding indictment supplants the initial indictment, charges 14 additional defendants, and charges money laundering offenses and four more shootings involving 8 victims -- including the December 7, 2021, shooting in Cidra where five victims were killed. “A year ago, we announced the arrests of some of the members of this violent gang, but our investigation did not end with those arrests. Today, we announce that through the efforts of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, additional defendants have been arrested and charged with additional murders,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “We will continue to hold violent gang members accountable for their crimes. Although the leader of this violent gang remains a fugitive from justice, we will continue to pursue him and his criminal associates, no matter where they hide or how long it takes.” “Our communities are being torn apart by the devastating impact of drug trafficking. It’s crucial to understand that everyone involved, from the kingpins to those who support their criminal operations, share responsibility for the destruction and violence that follows in their wake. We will not rest until those responsible for perpetuating this cycle of suffering are brought to justice,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “In the FBI, we are committed to pursuing every avenue to dismantle this criminal network, which includes seizing and forfeiting all ill-gotten gains and assets acquired through drug trafficking. This will encompass everything from boats and cars to houses and businesses, and even the arrest of those who are making it possible for fugitives of this organization to remain at large. There will be no safe haven for those who profit from this illegal activity.” The superseding indictment alleges that from 2017 through the present, the drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, marihuana, Fentanyl, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) within 1,000 feet of the Brisas del Turabo, the Raúl Castellón, the Turabo Heights, and the Juan Jiménez García Public Housing Projects; and at the Barriada Morales, Barriada La Pajilla, and Bunker Wards in Caguas, and other areas throughout Puerto Rico, all for significant financial gain and profit. Defendant [1] Nelson Torres-Delgado, the alleged leader of the violent drug trafficking organization charged in this Superseding Indictment, has held power over drug trafficking in the Caguas area since the early 2010s. He has been a federal fugitive since 2017 and has maintained control over the organization as a fugitive through deadly violence and intimidation, and by engaging in violent turf wars against rival drug trafficking organizations. His methods of avoiding capture while controlling his gang include limiting face-to-face contact to only the highest and most trusted leaders in his organization. The defendants allegedly acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, to include: leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, facilitators, and lookouts. The members of the gang allegedly used force, violence, and intimidation to maintain control of the areas in which they operated. The defendants charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy are: [1] Nelson Torres-Delgado, a.k.a. “El Burro/Burro/ Father/Nelsito/Cuatro Patas/El Animal/El Animal de Cuatro Patas [2] Edwin Padilla-López, a.k.a. “Play/NBA/Pliki/Biscochito/Bizcochito/Juga” [3] Ronald Aponte-Marquez, a.k.a. “El Enano/Enano/Sepe” [4] Eroz Rodríguez-Hernández, a.k.a. “Eros/Wason/El Joker” [5] José Jiménez-Ramos, a.k.a. “El Mono/Mono/Joel El Mono” [6] Lenne Carrasquillo-Serrano, a.k.a. “Taz/Leny/Lenny/Lenee/La J” [7] Giovanny Solis-Carrasco, a.k.a. “Blanquito/Jova El Blanco/Joba El Blanco/Jova” [8] Evaristo González-Vega, a.k.a. “Sonic/Viejo/Eva” [9] Jariel Figueroa-Maymi, a.k.a. “Moni” [10] José Torres-Pagán, a.k.a. “Abelino/Ave/Abe” [11] Carlos De Jesús-García, a.k.a. “Oreja/Orejas” [12] Gabriel Vázquez-Roldán, a.k.a. “Gordo/Gabby Gordo/Goldo/ Goldito/Goldo Vázquez” [13] José Martinez-Galvez, a.k.a. “El Chef/El Che/Chef” [14] Armando L. Rivera-Rodríguez [15] Jan Borges De Jesús, a.k.a. “El Man/Jan el Man/Jan El Chulo” [16] Lester Vélez-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “El Eco/El Feo/Coco” [17] Vanessa Santiago-Cotto [18] Diana Mimoso-Figueroa, a.k.a. “La D/Di” [19] José de la Vega, a.k.a. “Chupi/Pablo/Pablito” [20] Michael Rodríguez-Flores, a.k.a. “Pinki” [21] José Gautier-Medina, a.k.a. “Tempo” [22] Miguel González-Sánchez, a.k.a. “Miky/Mikyy/El Code” [23] Brian Sierra-Feliciano, a.k.a. “Kobe” [24] Eric Camacho-Castro, a.k.a. “Pali” [25] Héctor Torres-Pagán, a.k.a. “Pepo” [26] Christian Martines-Franco, a.k.a. “El Menor/Menor/El Mynor/ Mynor/Christian Menor” [27] Edward Vázquez-Concepción, a.k.a. “Draculín/Drácula/Draco/Bestia Demon” [28] Juan Acevedo-Ramos, a.k.a. “Tono/Tonito/Pelotero Kuker” [29] Jean Villanueva-Figueroa, a.k.a. “Mueca/Mueka/Jan Mueca/Jean Mueca” [30] Waldemar Pedraza-Díaz, a.k.a. “Walde” [31] Melquiades Santana-Martínez, a.k.a. “Melki/Melqi” [32] Juan Orellano-Díaz, a.k.a. “El Indio/Indio” [33] Cesar Acevedo-Adorno [34] Elimelec García-Escoda, a.k.a. “Flaco/Eli/Elimelek” [35] Christopher Contreras-Baez, a.k.a. “Chimuelo” [36] Luis Burgos-Ofarril, a.k.a. “Pájaro” [37] Francisco López-Sánchez [39] José E. Ortiz-Colón, a.k.a. “Enki/Enky” [40] Jean Carlos Baez-Algarín, a.k.a. “Taxista/Jan El Jincho/Lindo/Jan Buko/Jan” [41] Juan Manuel González-Cotto, a.k.a. “Juanma” [42] Carlos Rolón-Pérez [43] Joel Omar Jiménez-Díaz, a.k.a. “Quiteo/Kuiteo” [44] Edgard E. González-Vázquez, a.k.a. “Tomate” [45] Rafael Acosta-Vega, a.k.a. “Gordo Rafa” [46] Joey Divan Del Valle-Delgado, a.k.a. “Besito/Jowy” [47] Minerys Burgos-Caez [48] Glenda Irizarry-Campos [49] Sebasthian García-Agostini, a.k.a. “Seba” [50] Jeremy Johan Pérez-Bonilla, a.k.a. “Jere” [51] Steven Omar Padilla-López, [52] Wesley Abel Pedraza-Díaz Thirty-six defendants are charged in Count Seven with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Count Eight charges 10 defendants with possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Count Nine charges defendants [15] Jan Borges De Jesús, [20] Michael Rodríguez-Flores, [21] José Gautier-Medina, [22] Miguel González-Sánchez, and [23] Brian Sierra-Feliciano for the murder of M.R.M. on May 15, 2022, in Caguas, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(j). The superseding indictment now also charges those same defendants in Count Sixteen with the same murder in violation of another federal offense -- the drive-by shooting statute (18 U.S.C. § 36). Count Ten charges [38] Sheila Luyando-Fuentes with wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. According to the indictment, Luyando-Fuentes, who was employed in the health care industry and had access to protected health information, acted as a facilitator and shared protected health information with gang members, including information about rival gang members hospitalized with injuries resulting from gun fights between the gangs, to assist in the gang’s efforts to locate and kill their enemies. Count Eleven charges [2] Edwin Padilla-López, [37] Francisco López-Sánchez, and [42] Carlos Rolón-Pérez for the murder of R.B.M., using firearms, on June 6, 2020. Count Twelve charges [1] Nelson Torres-Delgado, [2] Edwin Padilla-López, [4] Eroz Rodríguez-Hernández, and [37] Francisco López-Sánchez for the murder of R.M.O. on July 18, 2021. Counts Thirteen and Fourteen charge [2] Edwin Padilla-López, [3] Ronald Aponte-Marquez, [4] Eroz Rodríguez-Hernández, and [39] José E. Ortiz-Colón for a massacre that occurred on December 7, 2021, in Cidra, Puerto Rico. These defendants murdered J.O.C., S.F.C., A.B.R., J.D.R., and B.A.C. in a drive-by shooting. Count Fifteen charges [1] Nelson Torres-Delgado, [3] Ronald Aponte-Marquez, [4] Eroz Rodríguez-Hernández, and [41] Juan Manuel González-Cotto for the murder of G.A.H. on March 19, 2022. Count 17 charges [49] Sebasthian Agostini-García and Count 18 charges [48] Glenda Irizarry-Campos for harboring and concealing E.P.L., a fugitive. Count 19 charges [2] Edwin Padilla-López, [5] Jose Jiménez-Ramos, [36] Luis Burgos-Ofarril, [37] Francisco López-Sánchez, [47] Minerys Burgos-Caez, [48] Glenda Irizarry-Campos, [49] Sebasthian Agostini-García, and [51] Steven Omar Padilla-López with conspiracy to commit money laundering. These defendants obtained proceeds from drug trafficking in the continental United States and in Puerto Rico and used businesses like M.O. Service LLC and Gnails Marketplace to launder the proceeds. The defendants opened personal and business bank accounts to invest the proceeds into real estate properties, rental properties, motor vehicles and improvements to residential and commercial real estate. This investigation was led by the FBI San Juan Violent Gang Safe Streets Task Force, which is comprised of Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the FBI, Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), San Juan Municipal Police, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Puerto Rico Treasury Department (Hacienda), United States Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of the Inspector General (HUD-OIG), Carolina Municipal Police Department, Bayamón Municipal Police Department and the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The FBI thanks the United States Marshals Service (USMS) for their partnership in this investigation. The FBI also thanks the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, especially the Caguas Drug Unit, Caguas Intelligence Unit, Caguas Homicide Unit, Guayama Homicide Unit, Special Arrests Unit, and Caguas Strike Force, for their assistance in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort, Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares, and AUSAs Héctor Siaca Flores, and R. Vance Eaton are prosecuting the case. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in Count Seven, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. The defendants charged in Count Eight with possession of machineguns in furtherance of drug trafficking face a mandatory consecutive sentence of thirty years in prison. The defendants charged in Counts Nine and Eleven through Sixteen with the firearms-related murders face a potential sentence of life imprisonment and, if authorized by the Attorney General of the United States, the death penalty. The defendant charged in Count Ten faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. Defendants charged in Counts Seventeen and Eighteen face up to five years in prison. The defendants charged for the money laundering counts face up to 20 years in prison. All defendants charged in the drug conspiracy are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $132 million and the United States is seeking forfeiture of the following property: Cond. Costamar Beach Village West, Loíza, PR Urb. La Campiña, Las Piedras, PR Urb. Lake View State, Caguas, PR Jardines Palmarejo, Canóvanas, PR Urb. Estancias de Cambalache, Vistas de Río Grande, Canóvanas, PR Yagrumos St. Monteverde Cupey 1, Sand Juan, PR 2024 Lexus TX 2017 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited $33,470 in cash Fourteen black cell phones cloud Mobile C7 (12 in boxes, 2 without boxes), and eighteen T-Mobile Sim cards. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. 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: Delaware County Woman Pleads Guilty to January Armed Carjacking in South Philadelphia, Two Gun Charges

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

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Nateirah Ortiz, 25, of Darby, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney to one count of carjacking, one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the commission of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Ortiz was charged by indictment with these offenses in April of this year, in connection with a January carjacking in South Philadelphia. As described in the indictment, on January 31, 2024, at approximately 7 p.m., the victim reported being carjacked on the 1100 block of Washington Avenue. He relayed that, while walking to his vehicle, a silver 2018 Toyota RAV4, the defendant, Nateirah Ortiz, demanded his car keys and pointed a gun at him. The victim complied, giving the defendant his key, and ran to a nearby business for assistance calling 911. The defendant entered the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene. Information about the incident was soon broadcast via police radio citywide. At approximately 9:17 p.m., 24th District police officers on patrol observed the carjacked vehicle traveling on the 3100 block of Kensington Avenue and attempted to conduct a vehicle investigation. The officers stopped their vehicle in front of the RAV4 and another police unit stopped behind it. After waiting for the officers to get out of their car and approach her, Ortiz fled at a high rate of speed, nearly striking their police vehicle in the process. The officers immediately went over the air requesting assistance, and units in the area began searching for the carjacked vehicle. As police officers drove down Richmond Street, they observed that a RAV4 fitting that description had crashed into several cars parked on the 3700 block of Richmond. The officers saw the defendant walking away from the scene and apprehended her, with police recovering a loaded handgun from underneath a parked van a few feet away. “Carjackings are crimes that can terrorize victims and rattle entire communities,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “That’s exactly why my office is committed to prosecuting these cases, working in lockstep with the Philadelphia Police Department and our federal partners to take violent criminals off the street. By holding carjackers like Nateirah Ortiz responsible for their actions, we’re having a direct effect on public safety in Philadelphia.” “This case again shows that carjacking is dangerous and a serious federal crime, requiring many years in federal prison at a minimum,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office. “The perpetrator’s reckless actions caused extensive property damage and put the victim and bystanders in grave danger. ATF Philadelphia Field Division applies our unique forensic and investigative tools with the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force to solve crimes and to make our communities safer.” “The quick apprehension of Nateirah Ortiz is a testament to the dedication and coordination of our officers and federal partners,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “This incident also highlights the importance of our continued collaboration and commitment to removing violent offenders and illegal firearms from our streets. The safety of our communities is our top priority, and we will not tolerate those who choose to threaten the peace and security of our city.” Ortiz is set to be sentenced on December 18 and faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of seven years’ imprisonment. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony J. Carissimi and Robert E. Eckert.


title: Cumberland County Man Admits Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Cumberland County, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced. Raymond Stickelman, 51, of Vineland, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court to an information with one count of possession of child pornography. He was released on $100,000 unsecured bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In November 2021, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Stickelman’s residence. Law enforcement located an electronic file storage device that contained over 500 files containing images of child sexual abuse. Stickelman admitted possessing that device and the child pornography files it contained. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Harteis and Elisa Wiygul of the Camden office. stickelman.information.pdf


title: 12 Arrested in San Antonio for Alleged Possession and Trafficking of Stolen Firearms, Machinegun Conversion Devices

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – 12 individuals were arrested Tuesday in San Antonio on criminal charges related to their alleged involvement in trafficking firearms stolen from vehicles in and around San Antonio. The following defendants were indicted in a federal court in San Antonio for various charges that include firearm trafficking, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a machine gun. Jonathan Adrian Briseno aka “SaTone Slick,” 20 One count of firearm trafficking One count of possession of a stolen firearm One count of possession of a machine gun One count of possession of unregistered machine gun Ruben Gonzalez Jr., aka “Roman Hernandez,” 29 Two counts of possession of a machine gun Joel Alejandro Martinez aka “Bo Jackson,” 25 Three counts of firearm trafficking Three counts of possession of a stolen firearm Margarita Hernandez Martinez, 43 Two counts of firearm trafficking One count of possession of a stolen firearm Julio Alejandro Sanchez, 27 One count of firearms trafficking One count of dealing in firearms without a license One count of possession of a stolen firearm Arnulfo Javier Maldonado, 21 One count of firearm trafficking conspiracy One count of possession of a machine gun One count of dealing in firearms without a license Darius Springs aka “Dee STN,” 21 One count of firearm trafficking conspiracy Two counts of possession of a machine gun Two counts of firearms trafficking One count of possession of a stolen firearm One count of dealing in firearms without a license Giovanni Martinez Larios, 18 One count of firearm trafficking One count of dealing in firearms without a license Two counts of possession of a stolen firearm Two counts of possession of a machine gun Two counts of unregistered machine gun Jesus Hernandez Jr. aka “Chuy,” 22 One count of possession of a machine gun, aiding and abetting One count of possession of unregistered firearm Bernardo Melendez Jr., 25 One count of possession of a machine gun, aiding and abetting Joe Randy Cano, 34 One count of felon in possession of a firearm Patrick Michael Cuellar, 23 One count of possession of unregistered firearm One count of possession of a machine gun Defendants indicted on charges related to machine gun possession allegedly possessed machinegun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches” or “auto sears,” which are designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in converting a semi-automatic weapon into a weapon that can be fired as a fully automatic weapon by a single function of the trigger. Penalties in the indictments range from up to five years in prison for dealing in firearms without a license, to a maximum of 10 years in prison for the possession charges, and up to 15 years in prison for the firearm trafficking and felon in possession charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the case with valuable support from the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Wannarka and Zachary Parsons are 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: Former Nicholas County Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jarrod Steven Bennett, 38, of Mt. Nebo, a former Nicholas County deputy sheriff, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 30 years of supervised release, for the production of child pornography. Bennett must also register as a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 2, 2023, while employed as a deputy with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department, Bennett recorded two videos using his cell phone of a minor female sleeping on a couch. Bennett admitted that he knew the girl to be under the age of 12 when he recorded the videos. In both videos, the girl is face down on the couch with a blanket covering her torso and her bare legs exposed. In the first video, Bennett filmed the girl as he walked toward her and zoomed the camera to focus on her buttocks. Bennett admitted that he continued to walk toward her as he recorded the second video and filmed his exposed penis and him masturbating near the sleeping girl. Bennett distributed an image he produced of the minor female, and other child pornography, to multiple users on the Snapchat social media instant messaging app. When Snapchat shut down his account for such conduct, Bennett created a new Snapchat account to continue to distribute child pornography. Law enforcement investigated the cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the Snapchat activity, and traced it to Bennett. Investigators found child pornography on Bennett’s cell phone and evidence that a large amount of data had been deleted from the phone, including when Snapchat informed him it had reported his account. Investigators also found that the laptop issued to Bennett by the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department had been used to access Snapchat, and that large amounts of data had been deleted from the laptop remotely. “Jarrod Steven Bennett violated his position of trust as a law enforcement officer and victimized a child he was meant to protect and care for. He also perpetuated that trauma for her and the other children in the images he distributed, because those images cannot be contained or removed from the hands of pedophiles throughout the world,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the West Virginia State Police-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), and the Beckley Police Department. “The Wheels of Justice have prevailed. Evil can try to hide in the shadows, however it will be brought to light,” said Nicholas County Sheriff William F. Nunley. “I would like to thank the investigators and the U.S. Attorney's Office for a complete investigation and swift prosecution. We Nicholas County Citizens are sickened by Bennett’s actions. Those sworn to uphold the laws of this Country and State will never stand idle to it. This is why we have the best justice system in the world.” United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-144. ###


title: Griffith Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – Edin Galvez, 25 years old, of Griffith, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to Soliciting and Enticing the Sex Trafficking of a Minor and Soliciting and Enticing the Production of Child Pornography announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Galvez was sentenced to 210 months on his Sex Trafficking conviction and 210 Months on his Production of Child Pornography conviction. The Court ordered these sentences to be served concurrently. According to documents in the case, between November 2021 and May 2022, Galvez utilized a social media application to solicit a minor to engage in a sexual act for money; $2,000.00. Galvez also sought to entice and to persuade the minor to send him sexually explicit images and videos through the social media application. “This successful prosecution shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement partners with the public to combat human trafficking and child exploitation,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “This crime would not have been uncovered without members of the public taking a stand and alerting law enforcement to harm they are seeing in their community. We thank those community members for their courageous actions and encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences such crimes to contact law enforcement authorities directly or through the National Human Trafficking Hotline.” “The defendant’s choice to leverage his position of trust as a coach, not to safeguard the minors for whom he was responsible, but to exploit them is nothing short of reprehensible,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “HSI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting our youth and aggressively pursuing offenders who perpetrate such heinous crimes against them.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Hammond Police Department and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. McGrath.


title: Springfield Business Owner Indicted for Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., business owner was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing eight firearms and for lying about his criminal record when he purchased two of those firearms. Marco Lorimer Denis, 49, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Denis on July 26, 2024, and includes two additional charges related to firearms purchases. Denis is the owner of Springfield Property LLC, a company providing retail and commercial rental space, including at Plaza Towers in Springfield. Today’s indictment alleges that Denis was in possession of a Standard Manufacturing shotgun, a Maverick by Mossberg shotgun, a Ruger pistol, a Smith & Wesson pistol, a Canik pistol, a Sig Sauer pistol, a Bersa pistol, and a Charter Arms revolver between Dec. 17, 2020, and July 16, 2024. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence to be in possession of a firearm. Denis has a prior misdemeanor conviction for domestic assault committed against a person with whom he shared a child in common. Denis is also charged with two counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer in connection with the acquisition of the Canik pistol on Dec. 10, 2020, and the Sig Sauer pistol on Jan. 14, 2021. In each instance, the indictment says, Denis reported that he had never been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, which he knew to be false. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Dorian Baker, 57 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Baker was sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in February 2024, investigators recovered six firearms, large capacity magazines, over 40 grams of marijuana, and a digital scale from Baker’s bedroom. Baker has prior felony convictions, including a federal conviction for using a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. Any one of these felonies make it unlawful for him to possess the firearms in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T. Jones. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Texas Men Indicted for Stealing from ATMs at Springfield, Ozark Banks

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A third Texas man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for his role in bank burglary and bank theft conspiracies following thefts from two automated teller machines (ATMs) at Ozark, Mo., and Springfield, Mo., banks. Nigel Dwane Luchin, 27, and Leo Smith, 21, both of Houston, Texas, and Christopher E. Merchant, 24, of Beaumont, Texas, were charged in a six-count indictment returned today by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. Luchin was originally charged in a Dec. 19, 2023, indictment and Smith was charged in a Jan. 23, 2024, superseding indictment. Merchant was added as a defendant in today’s second superseding indictment. The federal indictment alleges that Luchin, Smith, and Merchant participated in a conspiracy to commit bank burglary and a conspiracy to commit bank theft from Oct. 3 to Nov. 8, 2023. According to the indictment, Smith stole a heavy-duty Dodge Ram truck from a parking lot in Springfield on Oct. 20, 2023. Smith drove the truck to Wood & Huston Bank in Springfield, the indictment says, where the truck was used on the same day to break open and steal money from the ATM. In addition to the two conspiracies, Smith is charged with one count of bank burglary and one count of bank theft in relation to Wood & Huston Bank. On Oct. 29 or 30, 2023, Smith allegedly assisted in the theft of a heavy-duty Ford F-250 truck from a parking lot in Nixa, Mo. On Oct. 29, 2023, the indictment says, Luchin and/or Merchant purchased a tow chain. The truck and chain allegedly were used by Luchin, Smith and Merchant to break open and steal money from the ATM at Southern Bank in Ozark, Mo., on Oct. 30, 2023. In addition to the two conspiracies, Luchin, Smith, and Merchant are charged together in one count of bank burglary and one count of bank theft in relation to Southern Bank. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint that was filed on Nov. 6, 2023, conspirators used a chain and two large hooks to dismantle the door to the ATM at Southern Bank by attaching the chains to the ATM and pulling the chain and hooks with the stolen Ford F-250. They stole $30,700 from the ATM and left the bank, abandoning the pickup truck a short distance away. Investigators reviewed surveillance videos from businesses in the area where the Ford F-250 was stolen. The videos allegedly showed conspirators arriving at the area in two vehicles – a Chrysler Voyager minivan and a Toyota Highlander – and leaving the area with the stolen pickup. Both the Voyager and the Highlander were identified on a license plate reader and traced to two car rental agencies in Houston. Later the same day, a license plate reader in Houston captured both of those vehicles traveling in the same direction. Ozark police officers searched the stolen pickup truck, the affidavit says, and found Luchin’s Texas identification card on the driver’s seat. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Ozark, Mo., Police Department, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.


title: Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jessica Nutter, 39, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to receipt of stolen money. Nutter admitted to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $20,830 in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, from March 27, 2021 through on or about April 20, 2021, Nutter fraudulently obtained two PPP loans, each for $10,415, from an approved PPP lender in Texas and the SBA. Nutter falsely represented on one loan application that she had a business, Nut House Wood, and that it had received $50,000 in gross income during 2019. Nutter applied for the other fraudulent loan on behalf of her husband. Nutter falsely represented that her husband received $50,000 in gross income during 2019 as an independent contractor for an online food ordering and delivery service. Businesses applying for PPP loans had to certify that the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, and were required to provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Nutter admitted that Nut House Wood was not a registered business entity in the State of West Virginia and had never engaged in legitimate business activity when she applied for that loan. Nutter further admitted that her husband was not engaged as an independent contractor for the online delivery service at that time. The Texas lender approved both of Nutter’s loan applications. On April 9, 2021, $10,415 was transferred to Nutter’s personal bank account from a Texas bank. Nutter admitted that she transferred $1,5573.12 of those stolen funds to a North Carolina business on April 12, 2021, to cover expenses for a family vacation later that year. On April 20, 2021, $10,415 in proceeds from the second loan was transferred from a Texas bank to the personal bank account of Nutter’s husband. Nutter admitted that she and her husband used those stolen funds for general family expenses. Nutter is scheduled to be sentenced on November 21, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,00 fine. Nutter also owes at least $25,830 in restitution. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney J. Parker Bazzle II is prosecuting the case. The CARES Act, enacted in March 2020, offered emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-81. ###


title: Honduran National Indicted for Child Sexual Exploitation

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Honduran national was indicted by a federal grand jury today for the sexual exploitation of a child. Celso Noe Chacon-Arriaga, 22, who was residing in Springfield at the time of the offense, was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Chacon-Arriaga on Aug. 8, 2024. Today’s indictment alleges that Chacon-Arriaga used a minor victim to produce child pornography from Nov. 21 to Dec. 30, 2020. Chacon-Arriaga is also charged with receiving and distributing child pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Chacon-Arriaga engaged in sexually explicit conversations over Facebook Messenger with an 11-year-old victim. The child victim sent several sexually explicit images and videos to Chacon-Arriaga. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: California woman sentenced to year of federal supervision for mid-air assault on toddler

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 33-year-old resident of Davis, California pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to time served and a year of federal supervision for a misdemeanor charge of Assault by beating, wounding, or striking, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Breanna R. Mistler was arrested at Sea-Tac Airport when the Delta flight from Puerta Vallarta, Mexico arrived on May 1, 2024. Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida imposed the sentence today, noting that in September Mistler will begin serving a four-month sentence in California for an arson conviction. Mistler’s federal supervision will begin after that state sentence. Judge Tsuchida noted that Mistler will be supervised not only by the federal probation office, but by Child Protective Services, and California probation officers as well. “You are taking steps …. I hope you start over with a more stable life – you have a very young child, and she deserves that,” Judge Tsuchida said. According to the criminal complaint, multiple passengers on the flight observed Mistler abuse the child. The child was in the window seat and Mistler in the aisle seat. The child woke-up Mistler, and then according to witnesses, Mistler turned and kicked the child. In her plea agreement, Mistler denies that she kicked the child but admits hitting and shaking the 2-year-old. Witnesses reported Mistler struck the child multiple times with her hand, and one witness reported Mistler shook the child “like a rag doll.” Despite interventions from passengers, Mistler persisted in the abuse. She told the passengers to “mind their own (expletive) business.” Customs and Border Protection officers detained Mistler at the airport. The Port of Seattle Police and the FBI took over the investigation. Mistler was held at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac for about three weeks. Mistler is currently taking parenting and anger management classes. Prosecutors noted the extreme vulnerability of the victim in this case writing to the court, the victim “was two years old, and trapped in the window seat on an airplane. Given her young age and her physical confinement, she had no recourse to resist or avoid being hit, kicked, or shaken by her mother.” At today’s sentencing hearing, Mistler’s attorney Dennis Carroll told the court that the assault came when Mistler hit her “lowest point.” She is now “sober, reflective and remorseful and currently has supervised visits with her daughter,” Carroll said. For her part, Mistler told the judge “I hit rock bottom. I am a better person now. I want to continue to be better.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein.


title: Dominican Republic National Pleads Guilty for His Role in a Human Smuggling Event that Resulted in a Child’s Death

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A national of the Dominican Republic pleaded guilty yesterday to his involvement in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy in Puerto Rico. Alcibades De Paz, 34, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of bringing certain aliens into the United States, resulting in death. According to court documents, the defendant was identified as one of the captains of a vessel illegally carrying individuals, including a three-year-old child, from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. The defendant admitted to operating the vessel during the human smuggling venture. While the co-conspirators were evading Puerto Rican law enforcement attempting to intercept the vessel safely, the vessel stopped functioning; De Paz admitted that he aided in starting the engine and throttling the boat’s engine towards the Puerto Rican shoreline. The vessel capsized as it reached the shoreline, leading to the child’s death. “While smuggling migrants by boat to the United States, Alcibades De Paz attempted to evade law enforcement and sped toward the beach — a decision that resulted in the death of a three-year-old child after the vessel capsized,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This tragedy demonstrates human smugglers’ callous disregard for human life. The Criminal Division is committed to combating human smugglers who prey upon vulnerable migrants.” A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. De Paz faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Puerto Rico investigated this case, with assistance from Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD)’s Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA) and U.S. Border Patrol, Ramey Sector. Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.