title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Robert Lee Taylor, 42, Huntington, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 8, 2022, a law enforcement officer encountered Taylor asleep in the driver’s seat of his running vehicle, parked at a Milton gas station. The officer saw controlled substances in Taylor’s lap. Taylor admitted that he possessed approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine and 16 grams of fentanyl that he intended to distribute. Taylor further admitted to possessing $24,724 in drug proceeds. Taylor also admitted to conspiring with Phillip Antoine Rucker and Marshall Luther Williams to distribute heroin in the Southern District of West Virginia from around February 2021 to around September 2022. Taylor was provided heroin and fentanyl on consignment at the direction of Williams. Taylor gave the proceeds from selling the controlled substances to Williams. Rucker, also known as “Chocolate,” 43, of Proctorville, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Williams, also known as “Chuck” and “Chubs,” 41, of Chicago, Illinois, previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Rucker and Williams await sentencing. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Milton Police Department and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Finney and Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:23-cr-58 (Taylor) and 3:22-cr-34 (Rucker and Williams). ###


title: Orange County Man Sentenced to 7½ Years in Prison for Firearms Crimes and Check Fraud Scheme That Illicitly Sought $1.2 Million

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A convicted felon from Orange County who used social media to instruct his Instagram followers on how to defraud banks was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison for conspiring with a bank employee and others to commit a check fraud scheme in which they sought $1.2 million. Meshach Samuels, 26, of Placentia, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who also ordered him to pay $423,087 in restitution. Samuels pleaded guilty on May 25 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. From May 2021 to March 2022, Samuels urged his Instagram followers to join his Telegram chat groups, where – for a fee of up to thousands of dollars – he would provide instructions on how to recruit accomplices and commit check fraud to steal money from banks. Samuels and his accomplices would create fraudulent checks drawn on victim accounts, frequently using stolen information obtained from a bank teller and other sources. Samuels’ co-conspirators, with Samuels’ help, would deposit the fraudulent checks into third-party accounts. Once the check amounts were credited to the third-party accounts, Samuels’ co-conspirators, again with Samuels’ assistance, fraudulently withdrew money in amounts below $10,000 to avoid triggering bank scrutiny. The corrupt bank teller was paid a portion of the cash the conspirators obtained from negotiating fraudulent checks. This check fraud scheme attempted to obtain at least approximately $1.2 million and caused actual losses of at least $423,087. Samuels also participated in a scheme in 2021 to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD) through the submission of fraudulent applications for pandemic-related unemployment insurance that contained stolen identity information. Those fraudulent applications included information from individuals who resided outside California, were deceased, or who otherwise were not eligible for unemployment insurance. Members of the scheme provided EDD with a set of common mailing addresses they controlled for multiple applications. After EDD approved the fraudulent applications and disbursed the pandemic benefits to EDD debit accounts, Samuels and his co-schemers used the debit cards to withdraw cash at ATMs. In total, Samuels caused at least $14,250 in actual losses to EDD. In addition, Samuels, whose criminal history includes felony convictions in Florida for aggravated battery on a law enforcement official, admitted to unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition. Specifically, during an August 2021 traffic stop in Costa Mesa, police officers found a firearm and ammunition concealed on his person. In March 2022, federal agents searched Samuels’ residence and seized five firearms and ammunition. “As reflected by the voluminous actual and intended losses, [Samuels’] conduct was not the product of a short-term lapse in judgment but was calculated behavior that was mass-marketed on social media and engaged in for months, affecting scores of victims,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “The proceeds of the fraud were used to purchase luxury and high-end items and firearms.” In a related case, Sasha Lizette Jimenez, 26, Samuels’ former girlfriend, pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud for running the EDD fraud scheme in which Samuels participated. Jimenez, who was the conspiracy’s bookkeeper, caused the issuance of at least $2.8 million in fraudulent UI benefit debit cards – and at least $2.3 million was withdrawn from those debit cards. Judge Carney has scheduled a December 4 sentencing hearing for Jimenez. The investigation into this scheme was conducted by the Los Angeles El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force led by Homeland Security Investigations that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration also participated in this investigation. The Costa Mesa Police Department, the Inglewood Police Department, the Placentia Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Miami Beach Police Department provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Rachel N. Agress of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section prosecuted this case. Anyone with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Martinsburg Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing, Manufacturing, and Trafficking Firearms

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Martinsburg, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possession, manufacturing, and trafficking firearms, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Harry Miller, age 47, of Martinsburg, PA, pleaded guilty to Counts One, Two, Four, Five, Seven, Eight, and Nine of the Information before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around May 2022 and continuing thereafter until on or about April 27, 2023, Miller, knowingly and willfully conspired to engage and engaged in the business of manufacturing or dealing in firearms without a license, possessed a machinegun, trafficked firearms, and engaged in the business of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without having paid the special occupational tax required by 26 U.S.C. Sec. 5801. Further, on or about March 21, 2023, and March 22, 2023, Miller unlawfully possessed a firearm after knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowingly and unlawfully transferred firearms that were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 70 years in prison, a total fine of $1,270,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Miller. This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms. 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: New York Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges of Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of New York, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Erick Cottrell, age 54 pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Christy Wiegand. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in February 2022, Cottrell withdrew $23,000 from the bank account of an individual, using that individual’s bank account information, his personal identification information, and a counterfeit driver’s license in that individual’s name, but with the image of Cottrell. He later attempted another withdrawal from the same bank in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was arrested. A search incident to arrest revealed the counterfeit driver’s license. Cottrell was released on bond from his Baltimore arrest, and he continued to engage in access device fraud. In April 2023, he was arrested after using a counterfeit’s driver’s license and counterfeit credit cards and debit cards to rent a hotel room and a U-Haul vehicle and to make various purchases throughout the Pittsburgh area. He was arrested in connection with this activity by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and a search incident to his arrest revealed a counterfeit driver’s license. Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for February 26, 2024. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than two years in prison and not more than twelve years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court detained the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Secret Service in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cottrell.


title: Hope Man Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years in Federal Prison for  Online Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS – A Hope, Arkansas, man was sentenced on October 19, 2023, to 300 months in federal prison, with credit for time served on a related state court conviction, for using the internet to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. The Honorable Judge Susan O. Hickey, Chief United States District Judge, announced the sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, Jonathan Tyrell Haney , age 36, used the online social media service “Badoo” to entice a 12-year-old Ashley County girl to meet him for sexual intercourse. The victim disappeared from her mother’s home in April 2021, reappearing alone the next day at a Columbia County gas station. Haney’s DNA was later found on the victim’s clothing. Haney was apprehended near Sulphur Springs, Texas, the same day the victim was found, after learning that Arkansas authorities were looking for him. Upon completing his prison sentence, Haney will be supervised by the United States Probation Office for the next 20 years. He is also required to register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes, of the Western District of Arkansas, made the announcement. The Crossett, Arkansas, Police Department, Magnolia, Arkansas, Police Department, Hopkins County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case for the United States. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov.


title: Verona, PA Resident Sentenced for Violating Federal Narcotics and Firearm Laws

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Verona, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to 5 years in prison on his conviction of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Daimere Wilmer, 30, Verona, PA. According to information presented to the court, Wilmer possessed with intent to deliver 12 kilograms of marijuana and possessed firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pittsburgh Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Wilmer.


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison on Child Exploitation Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A convicted sex offender was sentenced on child exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. Chief U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Austin Jeremy Bobo, 34, of Trussville, to 180 months in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Bobo pleaded guilty to transportation of child pornography in May. According to the plea agreement, on October 30, 2020, a social media outlet submitted a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) relating to an account that uploaded images containing child sexual abuse materials. The investigation revealed that the account belonged to Bobo. Between November 2019 and October 2020, Bobo uploaded numerous images of child pornography to the account. Bobo was convicted in the Circuit Court for Lee County, Alabama, of an offense related to child pornography in March 2016. FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF), Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Edward Daniel Walker Jr., also known as “Jetty,” 38, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute heroin. According to court documents and statements made in court, from about April 2022 to about September 25, 2022, Walker participated in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in the Leon area of Mason County. Walker admitted to selling heroin to customers directly and distributing quantities of heroin to other individuals for them to sell at his direction. On September 25, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 64 in Hurricane of a vehicle in which Walker was a passenger. Officers searched the vehicle and found approximately 105 grams of suspected heroin and a firearm. Walker admitted to intending to sell the heroin. Following the traffic stop, officers executed a search warrant that same day at a Barboursville motel room where Walker was staying. Officers seized approximately 204 grams of suspected heroin, two firearms and $1,000 during that search. Walker admitted to intending to sell the heroin, and further admitted that the cash was proceeds from previous drug sales. On March 31, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at a Durham Road residence in Leon where they arrested Walker. Officers seized approximately 135 grams of suspected heroin found at the residence and $2,000 on Walker’s person. Walker admitted to intending to sell the heroin. Walker further admitted that the cash was proceeds from previous drug deals. Co-defendant Jordan Lee Jobe, 29, of Leon, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin on July 10, 2023 and awaits sentencing. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Drug and Violent Crime Task Force West. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-40. ###


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Prison for Attempted Child Enticement

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 23, 2023, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Scott J. Meyer (age: 52), formerly of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to 130 months in federal prison for attempted child enticement. Following his prison sentence, Meyer will serve a lifetime of supervised release. According to court documents, in June 2021, Meyer communicated with an undercover officer who he believed was a 15-year-old girl. Meyer requested sexually explicit photos from the girl and encouraged her to run away from home. On July 14, 2021, Meyer planned to pick the girl up and bring her back to his residence in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the purpose of having sexual intercourse. He expressed some concern about the possibility of getting caught and sent the undercover officer a message that stated, “If I show up to meet with you and you’re not who you say you are, I’m going straight to prison for 5-10 years!” Meyer was arrested that day. Meyer began communicating with the undercover officer just two months after he was released from prison for a similar offense committed in Shawano County, Wisconsin. In that case, Meyer communicated with an undercover officer who he believed was a 15-year-old girl and sent her sexually explicit photographs. 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.projectsafechildhood.gov . This case was investigated by the Fox Valley Metro Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact in Sequoia National Park

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Luis Eduardo Sanchez-Azpeitia, 46, a Mexican national who was working in Sequoia National Park on a work visa, pleaded guilty today to abusive sexual contact with a female co-worker, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on July 31, 2023, Sanchez-Azpeitia entered the victim’s cabin in Sequoia National Park and committed non-consensual acts of abusive sexual contact, including touching her breasts, inner thighs, and vagina. The victim did not consent to any of the defendant’s sexual conduct, repeatedly told the defendant no, and tried to make him stop his sexual advances. This case is the product of an investigation by the National Park Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katrina Brownson and Karen Escobar are prosecuting the case. Sanchez-Azpeitia is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Feb. 26, 2024. Sanchez-Azpeitia faces a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Defendant Admits to Attempting to Transmit National Defense Information to an Agent of a Foreign Government

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: Jareh Sebastian Dalke, 31, of Colorado Springs, pleaded guilty today to six counts of attempting to transmit classified National Defense Information (NDI) to an agent of the Russian Federation (Russia). According to court documents, from June 6, 2022, to July 1, 2022, Dalke was an employee of the National Security Agency (NSA) where he served as an Information Systems Security Designer. Dalke admitted that between August and September 2022, in order to demonstrate both his “legitimate access and willingness to share,” he used an encrypted email account to transmit excerpts of three classified documents to an individual he believed to be a Russian agent. In actuality, that person was an FBI online covert employee. All three documents from which the excerpts were taken contain NDI, are classified as Top Secret//Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and were obtained by Dalke during his employment with the NSA. On or about Aug. 26, 2022, Dalke requested $85,000 in return for all the information in his possession. Dalke claimed the information would be of value to Russia and told the FBI online covert employee that he would share more information in the future, once he returned to the Washington, D.C., area. Dalke subsequently arranged to transfer additional classified information in his possession to the purported Russian agent at Union Station in downtown Denver. Using a laptop computer and the instructions provided by the FBI online covert employee, Dalke transferred five files, four of which contain Top Secret NDI. The other file was a letter, which begins (in Russian and Cyrillic characters) “My friends!” and states, in part, “I am very happy to finally provide this information to you. . . . I look forward to our friendship and shared benefit. Please let me know if there are desired documents to find and I will try when I return to my main office.” The FBI arrested Dalke on Sept. 28, moments after he transmitted the files. As part of his plea agreement, Dalke admitted that he willfully transmitted files to the FBI online covert employee with the intent and reason to believe the information would be used to injure the United States and to benefit Russia. Dalke faces a maximum penalty of up to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 26, 2024. A U.S. district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado and Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch made the announcement. The FBI Washington and Denver Field Offices are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia K. Martinez and Jena R. Neuscheler for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorneys Christina A. Clark and Adam L. Small of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Case Number: 22-cr-313-RM


title: Placerville Man Sentenced to 15-Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jordan T. Piper, 38, of Placerville, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison to be followed by seven and a half years of supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in 2019, Piper made approximately 30 surreptitious recordings of a minor victim while living in Groveland. Piper created screenshots from surreptitious video recordings that focused on the minor victim’s genitals and pubic area. During the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement found approximately 433 nude images of the minor victim on Piper’s cellphone. This case was the product of an investigation by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Yang prosecuted the 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 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: San Bernardino County Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Leading Drug Trafficking Efforts, Including Smuggling into Jails

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – The central figure in three conspiracies in which members and associates of a San Bernardino-based street gang deliberately got themselves arrested to smuggle narcotics and syringes hidden in their body cavities into San Bernardino County jails was sentenced today to 204 months in federal prison. Carlos Antonio Aznaran, 29, of San Bernardino, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal. Aznaran, the lead defendant charged in three separate indictments in April 2019, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, five counts of international money laundering, one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Aznaran has been in federal custody since his arrest in April 2019. From at least July 2017 until April 2019, the Westside Verdugo street gang smuggled narcotics inside San Bernardino County’s jail system. Aznaran contacted drug suppliers to obtain and arrange for narcotics to be smuggled into the jails by people who were willing to be arrested and who hid the drugs inside their body cavities. The smugglers then distributed the drugs to other inmates inside the jails. During at least four smuggling attempts, law enforcement intercepted approximately 121 grams of methamphetamine, 86 grams of heroin, and at least 10 syringes, according to court documents. Aznaran also was the primary link between the Mexican source of supply for methamphetamine and heroin and the street level dealers in his neighborhood. He was responsible for routine multi-pound orders, paying the Mexico source of supply, and accepting the bulk shipments from Mexico. Using other co-conspirators, including his wife, Elisa Montes, 32, of Palm Desert, Aznaran the repackaged the methamphetamine into smaller quantities then distributed it to other drug dealers in the conspiracy in exchange for a portion of their profits. From October 2017 to January 2018, Aznaran obtained more than 10 kilograms of methamphetamine. In his plea agreement, Aznaran admitted to conspiring to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin, and to possessing in January 2018 approximately 18.5 grams of heroin and nearly 111 grams of fentanyl. He further admitted to possessing three firearms in January 2018. Aznaran knew he was not permitted to possess firearms because of his 2014 felony convictions, including a conviction in Riverside County Superior Court for assault with a deadly weapon. “For some inmates, prison is one of the few places they are separated from the destructive influences in their lives, including drugs,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[Aznaran’s] role in procuring smugglers and introducing drugs into the prison system threatened that opportunity for these inmates, all for his own personal benefit. [His] conduct showed a willingness to prey on a vulnerable group of people, many of whom were undoubtedly taking advantage of their custody time to regain sobriety.” Federal prosecutors have secured convictions against 35 defendants in these cases, with some defendants receiving sentences of up to 10 years in federal prison. Montes pleaded guilty in November 2019 to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Judge Bernal in March 2020 sentenced her to two years in federal prison. The FBI, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Bernardino Police Department investigated this matter. The Fontana Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; IRS Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; and the San Bernardino County Probation and Parole Departments provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Scott M. Lara of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted these cases.


title: Columbus man pleads guilty to crimes related to armed robberies, I-70 shootout

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to crimes related to the July 6 shooting of a Columbus police officer. Parties involved have recommended a sentence of 20 to 30 years in prison. Faisal M. Darod, 23, pleaded guilty to all nine counts charged against him in a superseding indictment that was returned in September 2023. The crimes include aiding and abetting robberies and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during the robberies. His co-defendant, Aden Abdullahi Jama, 20, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Oct. 11. The two central Ohio men were involved in the July 6 shooting of a Columbus police officer. Jama admitted in court today to participating in related crimes on July 5 and July 6. According to his plea agreement, on June 21, Darod aided in the robbery of a GameStop store on Hilliard-Rome Road in Hilliard. Darod and another man initially planned to rob a bank that day, but mistakenly thought the bank would be open until 6pm. When they realized the bank was closed, they shifted focus to the GameStop instead, and, at approximately 6:15pm, robbed the store at gunpoint using a handgun with an extended magazine. Darod helped the other man obtain the firearm, extended magazine and ammunition, and served as a lookout during the robbery. On July 3, Darod drove the other man to the Auto Gallery on Westerville Road in Minerva Park, where the man robbed the car dealership owner at gunpoint. The man stole a 2016 Corvette Stingray. Over the next two days, Darod had others record several videos of him driving the Corvette around the parking lot of the Baymont Inn and Suites at Morse Road, where he had rented a room. On July 5, Darod arranged for Jama to pick up him and another individual after they robbed at gunpoint the Fifth Third Bank on Fishinger Road in Upper Arlington. Following the bank robbery, Darod texted Jama and instructed him to meet up with them on West Sixth Avenue in Columbus and drive them to the Baymont Inn and Suites. While at the hotel, Darod and Jama recorded a video on Darod’s cell phone showing Darod lying on the bed surrounded by the recently stolen cash. In the video, Darod raps about “cheese” – i.e., money, being in the air and everywhere. The next day, on July 6, Darod aided and abetted an armed robbery at Byers Imports in Whitehall. He and Jama drove a third individual to the car dealership to commit the robbery. Shortly after the robbery, Darod and Jama met up with the car thief at townhomes on the southeast side of Columbus. The three men then drove the stolen Porsche Cayenne, sometimes exceeding 100 miles per hour, to Hilliard to commit another armed bank robbery. Darod and Jama again served as the lookout and aided and abetted the armed robbery and the use of a firearm during that robbery at Fifth Third Bank on Hilliard-Rome Road in Hilliard. Unbeknownst to the three men, Whitehall police detectives had been tracking their movements using the Porsche Cayenne’s onboard GPS system. The detectives surrounded the stolen car at Fifth Third Bank and ordered the men to stop the vehicle. The now-deceased driver drove the stolen Porsche through a gap in the detectives’ cars and fled over a grass embankment onto Hilliard-Rome Road, and, eventually, out to Roberts Road and the freeway. Columbus police officers then located the stolen vehicle on I-70 traveling eastbound. The men reached speeds more than 125 miles per hour near rush hour while attempting to flee law enforcement. The vehicle became damaged and came to an abrupt stop before Darod and Jama both fled on foot. The third man used a handgun with an extended magazine to ambush the responding officers. He opened fire from close range and struck one officer. That officer suffered life-threatening injuries. The driver of the stolen vehicle was struck several times and died of his gunshot wounds soon after. Following the gun battle on I-70, a coordinated manhunt ensued for Jama and Darod. Darod was arrested in Columbus on the evening of July 7. By then, he had conducted several internet searches for flights out of Columbus to Somalia. U.S. Marshals and Homeland Security Investigation agents arrested Jama at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on July 8, bound for Turkey, with an ultimate destination of Somalia. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; the United States Marshals in Columbus and Chicago; ICE and HSI Chicago; the Whitehall, Minerva Parka and Upper Arlington police departments; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the guilty plea entered this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney Parker honors citizen & law enforcement efforts to reduce crime, build stronger communities in second annual awards ceremony

body_text: CINCINNATI – Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, presented Law Enforcement and Community Service Awards, honoring individuals and groups for their work to reduce gun violence, provide alternatives to armed responses to mental health crises, improve school safety, volunteer to support crime prevention programs, aggressively investigate child exploitation, and help restored citizens return to the community after serving time behind bars. “Building safe communities requires a mosaic of people and groups who look out for each other and bring their own individual skills and abilities to work together for a greater good,” U.S. Attorney Parker said. “Our office wants to call attention to these dedicated agents, officers, volunteers, and citizens for their accomplishments. We work together, we stand together, and at times we may suffer together, but we make positive change together.” The awards include: Kaia Grant Badge of Bravery and Sacrifice Award Cincinnati Police Sergeant Donald Elsaesser, Cincinnati Police Officers Joshua Jordan, Rachel White, Jeremy Randolph and Lilgenia Wharton This group of Cincinnati police officials put themselves in harm’s way and risked serious injury to themselves to disarm an individual who was repeatedly stabbing himself as he was going through a mental health crisis on July 6, 2023. “The bravery, quick response, and teamwork of these officers allowed the man to receive the medical treatment he desperately needed, saving his life,” Parker said. Law Enforcement Excellence Award Cincinnati Police Officer Jeremy Burroughs Officer Burroughs is a 22-year veteran who is currently a third shift uniformed patrol officer in an area that generates some of the most calls for service in the city. “Throughout his career, Officer Burroughs has demonstrated exemplary patrol strategies that aid in achieving the mission of the Cincinnati Police department. He is consistent in his dedication to solving crimes in progress,” Parker said, noting that Officer Burroughs has also served as a field training officer, helping sculpt the next generation of law enforcement officers to operate with the same high values and sense of community that he holds. Project Safe Neighborhood’s Guardian Award Dayton Police Detectives Dustin J. Phillips , Geoffery T. Orndorff and Lucas A. Rose The Dayton police detectives received this year’s Project Safe Neighborhood’s Guardian Award for their efforts to reduce gun violence as members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. They have been directly responsible for the recovery of 93 firearms in the last 12 months, leading to federal firearms charges against 37 individuals. Detective Phillips has worked for the Dayton Police Department for 16 years and has been a Task Force Officer with the FBI for eight years. Detective Orndorff has worked for the Dayton Police Department for 10 years and has been a Task Force Officer with the FBI for one year. Detective Rose has worked for the Dayton Police Department for 10 years and has been a Task Force Officer with the FBI for one year. The Project Safe Childhood Shield of Innocence Award FBI Special Agent Andrea Kinzig Over the course of her 18-year career with the FBI, Special Agent Kinzig has set an almost impossible standard of excellence while pursuing justice for children who have been the victims of sexual abuse or exploitation. Special Agent Kinzig has built cases that have resulted in the successful prosecution of dozens of now-convicted sex offenders, investigating all manner of crimes against children, from production, distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography to coercion and enticement. “Special Agent Kinzig has chosen a particularly noble and difficult path,” Parker said. “She focuses on protecting the public from predators and on making sure that child victims are heard, vindicated and cared for.” Polaris Community Service Award Coordinator Raven Cruz-Loiaza Dayton Mediation Response Unit (MRU) The City of Dayton created the MRU in May 2022 to provide an alternative response to armed uniformed responders to calls for service when an armed response was not necessary. Since it was established, the MRU has handled more than 3,500 calls for service and received closure and positive outcomes in 74 percent of its interaction with citizens. “Thanks to the MRU, people are getting connected to health care, mental health and addiction services, mediation and other services, instead of facing negative outcomes such as incarceration or criminal charges,” Parker said. Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Dayton) Centerville Safe Shortly after the Oregon District mass shooting in 2019, seven Centerville City School students’ parents put their fears and concerns to use and organized Centerville Safe, a non-profit organization, to focus on raising funds to support implementation of safety and security best practices within the City of Centerville school district. They’ve worked with first responders and Dayton Children’s Hospital to present seminars on safety, equipped every classroom with safety kits, and helped schools upgrade their safety systems. “I join the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Centerville Police Department in commending Centerville Safe for providing invaluable crime prevention support among the community’s youth by partnering with local law enforcement and the school district,” Parker said. “They are fulfilling their worthy mission.” Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Cincinnati) Mr. Bob Weidlich Mr. Weidlich went through the first Springdale Police Citizen’s Police Academy class in 2011 and was quick to give back on the opportunity. He has volunteered more than 2,080 hours to work with the police on crime prevention and community safety programs. “In addition, Bob has been a participant in the Honor Flight Program, served honorably in active duty in Vietnam and is active within Springdale beyond his service through the police department,” Parker said. Serve Thy Neighbor Award (Columbus) U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr., Pastor Donald Fitzgerald, former Chief of U.S. Probation John Dierna, and Alfred Young Restored Citizens After speaking on several occasions during the sentencing of individuals in the federal courthouse, Pastor Fitzgerald and U.S. District Judge Sargus established The Restored Citizens program. The program involves meeting with former inmates at the Pastor’s church to discuss positive ways to transition from a life of imprisonment back into the communities they left. The group also discuss the means and resources available to assist them in overcoming systemic barriers to their transition home. The men paired up with then Chief of U.S. Probation Dierna and Mr. Young, and together, the group provided resources related to topics like housing, employment, transportation and mental health. “When an individual is calling for another chance, the Restored Citizens program is answering that call. These many men and women of the Restored Citizens program are an instrumental part of the fabric of our community. They represent resiliency and positive change,” said Parker. U.S. Attorney’s Special Commendation Ms. Hope L. Harvey Dudley Ms. Dudley “embodies the spirit of everything we would want in a fighter for law enforcement, victims and the community as a whole,” said Parker. After gun violence killed her son, Daniel Chaz Dudley, in September 2007, Dudley founded UCanSpeakForMe, a place where families suffering in anguish know they are not alone, and that there are others who are working tirelessly to solve the crimes committed against their loved one and bring accountability to the forefront. Ms. Dudley has hosted countless vigils and community events, and created playing cards that hold the information and faces of loved ones who were victims of unsolved homicides. These cards have been distributed throughout the community and placed in jails to give prisoners and others the understanding that they can come forward to provide information to law enforcement regarding the crime. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s annual law enforcement awards, please contact Law Enforcement Coordinator Mitchell Seckman at 614-469-5715. # # #


title: Justice Department awards more than $16 million to support criminal justice initiatives in the Western District Of New York

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that the Justice Department has awarded grant funding to 26 municipalities, school districts and human service organizations totaling $16,440,491 to support criminal justice initiatives across the Western District of New York. “Agencies in the Western District of New York have been granted a total of $16,440,491, including school districts, police departments, social service agencies, and local governments across the 17 counties in the district,” stated U.S. Attorney Ross. “This funding will address several issues impacting our communities, including gun violence, domestic violence, sexual assaults, and the mental health needs of children. Of significant importance, more than $7,000,000 will be spent on addressing the needs of victims of crimes, including $3,889,303, which will be used to provide services to those directly impacted by the Tops mass shooting tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 10 members of our community.” Grants have been awarded to address the following areas: Victims Services: The Community Health Center of Buffalo has been awarded $3,889,303 to provide services to those impacted by the mass shooting on May 14, 2022, in Buffalo. Monroe County has been awarded $800,000 to continue improving the county’s criminal justice system response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The YMCA of Jamestown has been awarded $600,000 to support the Justice for Families Program. The YWCA Jamestown will collaborate with the Unified Court System Eighth Judicial District, and the Salvation Army New Center, to support supervised visitation and safe exchange efforts. The Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc has been awarded $450,000 to continue improving the organization’s response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Coordinated Care Services, Inc. of Rochester has been awarded $400,000 , which will be used to support Rise Up Rochester and its efforts to ensure safe housing for victims of gun violence and their families, and provide advocacy throughout the court process. Niagara University has been awarded $400,000 to collaborate with the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier, Pinnacle Community Services, the Seven Dancers Coalition, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police in combatting domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. The Research Foundation for the State University of New York at Geneseo has been awarded $400,000 to work in collaboration with RESTORE, Chances & Changes, Inc., the Village of Geneseo Police Department, and the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. D’Youville College has been awarded $399,728 to collaborate with Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services, Inc., and the New York State Police to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. Services for Youth: The Sodus Central School District has been awarded $1,000,000 to work with the Wayne County Partnership and Ibero to better support migrant farmworkers and their families in Wayne County. The Lyons Central School District has been awarded $998,874 for its Resiliency, Equity, and Safety Initiative, which will address the daily challenges of youth face in a high needs rural region. The Wayne-Finger Lakes Board of Cooperative Educational Services has been awarded $999,987 to serve at-risk students and their educators in 25 school districts across Wayne, Seneca, and Ontario Counties, with a focus on social-emotional and mental health risks. The North Rose-Wolcott Central School District has been awarded $998,826 for the Improving School Safety through Early Intervention Initiative, a program that will focus on 9th and 10th grade students at risk of not graduating on time or dropping out of high school. The Elba Central School District has been awarded $625,000 to hire a social worker to expand mental and behavioral health services. The Frontier Central School District has been awarded $125,774 for anti-violence training programs for staff, administrators, and students at six school sites, four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Law Enforcement Initiatives: Monroe County has been awarded $526,741 and Erie County has been awarded $819,884 to address of backlog of DNA analysis cases in the Monroe County Crime Laboratory the Erie County Forensic Laboratory. Niagara County has been awarded $500,000 to address the backlog of cases in the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory. Since 2017, the Toxicology – Postmortem caseload has increased 45% and the Firearms caseload has increased 126%. Wayne County has been awarded $299,907 to hire a community resource officer in the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, who will guide the development of collaborations to reduce violence, especially intimate partner violence, drug-related violence, and youth violence. The City of Buffalo has been awarded $284,913 , which will be used to support additional police patrols at select large-scale events to protect attendees from terroristic threats and/or gun violence. The funds will also be used by Erie County to support an Assistant District Attorney for juvenile justice prosecution, the Town of Amherst to purchase technology upgrades for police vehicles, and the Town of Cheektowaga to provide extra police patrols in hot spot areas to reduce crime. The City of Rochester has been awarded $175,205 , which will be used by the City of Rochester and Monroe County to support the efforts of the Crisis Intervention Services unit. The Rochester Institute of Technology has been awarded $143,958 , which will be used to reduce gun violence in the City of Buffalo through the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which is administered by RIT. The University of Rochester has been awarded $64,003 for research efforts into AI-powered audio generation and the use of deepfakes for criminal activities, as well as the development of audio deepfake detection. The City of Niagara Falls has been awarded $38,562, which will be used to continue to support two part time police liaisons to enhance communication between the community and the police, and to replace outdated handheld radios. The City of Jamestown has been awarded $20,694 , which will be used by the Jamestown Police Department to purchase and implement an additional deployable pole camera system. Reentry and Recidivism Initiatives: PathStone of Rochester has been awarded $750,000 to develop and implement a comprehensive community-based adult reentry program to serve incarcerated individuals incarcerated eligible for release within 90 days. These individuals will be served by the transition to Tomorrow (T2T) program. The Ontario County Economic Development Corporation has been awarded $729,132 , to support the Finger Lakes Treatment Court, which is a post-plea, presentence court serving veterans and drug court participants. # # # #


title: Justice Department Participates in the 22nd Annual International Competition Network Conference in Barcelona, Spain

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division led the delegation at the International Competition Network’s (ICN) 22nd annual conference, hosted by the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission in Barcelona, Spain, on Oct. 18-20. The division received an ICN Advocacy Working Group – World Bank Competition Advocacy Contest award for its work in effectuating the Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy . Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kumar spoke on the Cartel Working Group plenary on “ Transforming Cartel Enforcement in ICN’s Third Decade: Current Trends and the Challenges Ahead ,” where he discussed the use of international cooperation to generate cases, the department’s recent resolutions in the generic drugs industry and lessons learned from recent trials. “Now in its third decade, ICN has cemented itself as a key forum for international collaboration,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kumar. “The United States and competition authorities around the world share the important mission to find antitrust crimes and bring perpetrators to justice, and we benefit when we share perspectives and expertise.” In awarding the World Bank Competition Advocacy Contest Award to the division, the ICN recognized the division's work in effectuating the Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. The award recognizes the division’s work developing relationships with agencies across the U.S. government through memoranda of understanding, case coordination and cooperation, training and education exchanges, case referrals, technical assistance and formal comments to advocate for competition. This initiative was a remarkable leap forward for a whole-of-government approach to competition enforcement and policy and it has already yielded tangible results, including more effective merger enforcement, investigation and case referrals and competition-focused rulemaking. Delegates from the ICN’s member jurisdictions included agency leadership and staff, competition experts from international organizations and the legal, business, academic and consumer communities. Nearly 100 jurisdictions participated in the conference, which showcased the achievements of the ICN’s Advocacy, Agency Effectiveness, Cartel, Merger and Unilateral Conduct Working Groups and examined a range of competition enforcement and policy issues. The division currently co-chairs the Cartel Working Group with Italy and Chile. The Cartel Working Group’s breakout sessions focused on topics such as labor market enforcement, detecting cases beyond leniency and the tools needed for cartel investigations in the digital area. The Merger Working Group’s plenary focused on digital mergers. Merger Working Group breakout sessions focused on topics such as non-horizontal mergers and investigative techniques in merger control. The Agency Effectiveness Working Group’s plenary focused on how competition agencies set priorities. Agency Effectiveness Working Group breakout sessions focused on topics such as technologies and techniques for collecting and processing information in antitrust cases and effectively using innovative detection tools. The Unilateral Conduct Working Group’s plenary focused on challenges in unilateral conduct cases. Unilateral Conduct Working Group breakout sessions focused on topics such as effective remedies in unilateral conduct cases and the interaction between antitrust and regulation in digital markets. The ICN was created in October 2001 to increase understanding of competition policy and promote convergence toward sound antitrust enforcement around the world. It was founded by 15 agencies, including the division, and now boasts a diverse membership of competition agencies from over 140 jurisdictions, supported by a wide network of non-governmental advisors from around the world.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Four Taos County, New Mexico Compound Defendants in Connection with Kidnapping and Terrorism Plot

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, his sisters Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Subhanah’s husband, Lucas Morton, following a three week jury trial. The jury convicted Siraj Wahhaj and Lucas Morton of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder an officer or employee of the United States. Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj and Lucas Morton were additionally convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death. In a plea agreement which was unsealed today, the fifth defendant, Jany Leveille, pled guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and being in possession of a firearm while unlawfully in the United States. According to evidence presented at trial and other publicly available court records, in December 2017, Siraj Wahhaj unlawfully abducted his three-year-old son, Abdul Ghani, from his wife in Georgia. Leveille and the defendants had formed the belief that Abdul Ghani was her son and was possessed by demons. The group took Abdul Ghani to New Mexico, depriving him of his anti-seizure medication and the loving care of his mother, and subjected him to an exhausting regimen of daily spiritual exorcisms. Abdul Ghani died less than two weeks after arriving in New Mexico, before investigators had any knowledge of a suspected location to search for him. Under Leveille’s direction, Siraj and the others established a community centered on the belief that Abdul Ghani would return as Jesus Christ to pass judgment on corrupt institutions, including the FBI, the military and other government and financial institutions. To this end, they established a fortified base and a firing range. Armed with 11 firearms, including an AR-15 Bushmaster assault rifle, high-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, the group conducted weapons and tactical training and required some of the children to do so as well. The group conducted the training with the intent to “face the nation” and kill those who refused to believe as they did. They spoke of waging jihad and becoming martyrs. On Aug. 3, 2018, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office Tactical SRT Unit executed warrants on the compound. Siraj Wahhaj armed himself and prepared to defend the compound before ultimately being taken into custody without shots fired. During a search of the compound, law enforcement located the remains of Abdul Ghani in an underground tunnel. In her plea agreement, Leveille admitted that she and her co-conspirators entered into an agreement to provide material support and resources to prepare for, and to carry out, the killing of federal officers or employees when they came to the compound. Leveille also admitted that she knew she was no longer legally and lawfully in the United States and that she was not allowed by law to possess the firearms or ammunition. “When a mother loses her child, we all lose a child,” said United States Attorney Alexander Uballez. “It is our collective responsibility to protect our children from danger and, when we lose a child, it is our solemn duty in law enforcement to ensure that those who are responsible receive justice. My thanks go out to the many local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to deliver that justice, and my heart goes out to the mother of Abdul Ghani.” “The FBI takes its mission of protecting the American public seriously, and we are dedicated to conducting fair and thorough investigations,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. “The nefarious activities and subsequent conviction of these four depraved criminals underscore the continued interest of some US-based violent extremists in self-initiated attack plotting, independent of any guidance or support from a foreign terrorist organization. This investigation highlighted their interest in the preparation for and possible desire to conduct attacks in the Homeland against innocent people.” “In addition to this preparation for terror, the senseless kidnapping resulting in the death of a juvenile these criminals conducted is inexcusable and have no place in our society,” Bujanda continued. "Their despicable actions shattered a community and a family who will forever be impacted by these traumatic events. The convictions rendered in this case show those who participate in these types of criminal activities will be held accountable for their actions. The FBI would like to thank the Taos County Sheriff Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico for their partnership and diligent work on this case.” All four defendants will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Siraj, Hujrah and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Lucas Morton each face up to life in prison. Per the terms of her plea agreement, Leveille faces up to 17 years in prison. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office, NM Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, and the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Brawley and Tavo Hall for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorneys Jessica Joyce and George Kraehe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-249


title: Federal Jury Convicts Four New Mexico Compound Defendants in Connection with Kidnapping and Terrorism Plot

body_text: Earlier this week, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, his sisters, Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Subhanah’s husband, Lucas Morton, following a three-week jury trial. The jury convicted Siraj Wahhaj and Lucas Morton of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder an officer or employee of the United States. Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj and Lucas Morton were additionally convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death. In a plea agreement, unsealed yesterday, the fifth defendant, Jany Leveille, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and being in possession of a firearm while unlawfully in the United States. According to evidence presented at trial and other publicly available court records, in December 2017, Siraj Wahhaj unlawfully abducted his three-year-old son from his wife in Alabama. Leveille, and the defendants had formed the belief that the child was her son and was possessed by demons. The group took the child to New Mexico, depriving him of his medication and the loving care of his mother, and subjected him to an exhausting regimen of daily spiritual exorcisms. The child died fewer than two weeks after arriving in New Mexico, before investigators had any knowledge of his suspected location. Under Leveille’s direction, Siraj and the others established a community centered on the belief that the child would return as Jesus Christ to pass judgment on corrupt institutions, including the FBI, the military and other government and financial institutions. To this end, they established a fortified base and a firing range. Armed with 11 firearms, including an AR-15 Bushmaster assault rifle, high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, the group conducted weapons and tactical training and required some of the children to do so as well. The group conducted the training with the intent to “face the nation” and kill those who refused to believe as they did. They spoke of waging jihad and becoming martyrs. On Aug. 3, 2018, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Special Response Team executed warrants on the compound. Siraj Wahhaj armed himself and prepared to defend the compound before ultimately being taken into custody without shots fired. During a search of the compound, law enforcement located the remains of the child in an underground tunnel. In her plea agreement, Leveille admitted that she and her co-conspirators entered into an agreement to provide material support and resources to prepare for, and to carry out, the killing of federal officers or employees when they came to the compound. Leveille also admitted that she knew she was no longer legally and lawfully in the United States and that she was not allowed by law to possess the firearms or ammunition. All four defendants will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Siraj, Hujrah and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Lucas Morton each face up to life in prison. Leveille faces up to 17 years in prison. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Taos County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, and 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Brawley and Tavo Hall for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorneys Jessica Joyce and George Kraehe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Shiprock Woman Charged with Child Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Jazmyne Deschinny appeared in federal court on an indictment charging her with two counts of abandonment and abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm and three counts of abandonment and abuse of a child. Deschinny, 20, of Shiprock, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending a detention hearing set for Monday, October 23, 2023. According to the indictment, on April 10, 2023, Deschinny was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and intoxicating substances, placing five minors under the age of 18 in a situation that may have endangered their life and health and that her alleged conduct resulted in great bodily harm to two of the minors. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the most serious allegation, Deschinny faces up to 18 years in prison. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-250


title: U.S. Attorney Obtains Consent Decree Compelling The Village Of Airmont Again To End Discrimination Against Its Orthodox Jewish Residents

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the entry today of a Consent Decree with the Village of Airmont (“AIRMONT”) resolving the United States’ lawsuit against AIRMONT under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”). RLUIPA authorizes the Department of Justice to commence an action against any local government that implements a land use regulation that places a substantial burden on religious exercise or discriminates on the basis of religion. The Consent Decree significantly reforms zoning code provisions enacted in 2018, which the United States alleged were enacted to discriminate against Orthodox Jewish residents. In particular, the Consent Decree increases the amount of space in private homes that can be used as Residential Places of Worship (“RPW”), removes restrictions upon whom residents are allowed to invite into their own homes to pray, and eliminates the use of an arbitrary, drawn-out application process designed to delay and effectively deny permits for even minor alterations to private houses. AIRMONT had previously consented to entry of a preliminary injunction on March 15, 2021, barring enforcement of the same zoning code provisions. The Consent Decree makes this prohibition permanent in the context of a multiyear agreement that makes extensive changes to AIRMONT’s zoning code. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “When religious intolerance poses a threat to the unity of this nation of many faiths and traditions, it is vital to stand up for the First Amendment right to freedom of worship. While we are pleased that Airmont has agreed to settle this matter, the fact that this is the third time we have sued the Village over similar concerns demonstrates that this Office will be ever vigilant in protecting the rights of religious minorities.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office first sued AIRMONT in 1991, alleging that its founders had formed the Village for the purpose of excluding Orthodox Jews from its boundaries by, among other things, adopting zoning policies that would preclude Orthodox Jews from using their homes for prayer services. Following extensive litigation, including a jury verdict finding that AIRMONT engaged in discrimination, the U.S. District Court entered a judgment in 1996 barring the Village from engaging in discrimination and requiring the Village to create a new zoning classification ― Residential Places of Worship, or RPWs. The United States was again compelled to sue AIRMONT in 2005, when the Village denied an application to build a yeshiva on the ground that its zoning code prohibited residential student housing, even while allowing other building projects with similar group residential components, such as sleep-away camps, hotels, and nursing homes. That lawsuit ended with a consent decree in 2011 requiring AIRMONT to amend its zoning code to permit educational institutions with accessory housing. Once the 2011 consent decree expired, however, a new political movement called “Preserve Airmont” won Village elections and, in February 2017, instituted a moratorium on all development pending consideration of a revision of its zoning code. When the moratorium finally ended, the Preserve Airmont administration enacted a new zoning code in 2018, which, in violation of the 1996 court judgment, removed RPWs from AIRMONT’s zoning code altogether, created a new category of “residential places of assembly” (or “RPAs”), which were “permitted by special permit” only, and imposed an onerous and restrictive review process for such permit applications. Following the filing of a lawsuit by private religious entities alleging that the 2018 zoning code was infringing upon their religious liberty ( Congregation of Ridnik, et al. v. Village of Airmont, et al. , 18 Civ. 11533 (NSR)), the U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted its own investigation, filed papers with the Court in the Ridnik case in 2019, and filed its third lawsuit against AIRMONT on December 2, 2020, obtaining a preliminary injunction on March 14, 2021. Under the terms of the Consent Decree entered today by U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román, and consistent with the March 15, 2021, injunction, AIRMONT: Must not impose any or implement any land use restriction in a manner that imposes a substantial burden on the religious exercise of any person, including a religious assembly or institution, unless the Village can demonstrate that the imposition of that burden furthers a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest; Shall neither impose nor implement any land use regulation in a manner that treats a religious assembly or institution on less than equal terms with a nonreligious assembly or institution; nor shall impose nor implement a land use regulation that discriminates against any assembly or institution on the basis of religion or religious denomination; Must restore RPWs as a recognized land use category permitted as of right in all residential districts and may not enforce contrary provisions of local law enacted in 2018 that removed RPWs as a recognized of-right use from its zoning code; Must restore in full zoning provisions protecting the right to residential worship imposed by the 1996 Court-entered final judgment, including those provisions AIRMONT removed from its code in 2018; Must ensure that all applications for RPWs that are 49% or less of the total floor area of the residence are reviewed and approved on an expedited basis without public hearing; and May not adjudicate applications for RPWs that are 49% or less of the total floor area of the residence under the terms of the burdensome site development regulations enacted in 2018. * * * The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Kennedy is in charge of the case, which was previously litigated by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Cha-Kim.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement Requiring New York Village to End Discrimination Against Orthodox Jewish Residents

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has obtained a consent decree with the village of Airmont, New York (Airmont), resolving the United States’ lawsuit under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The lawsuit alleged that Airmont had revised its zoning code in 2018 to discriminate against Orthodox Jewish residents and make it more difficult for them to worship in their own homes. The consent decree increases the amount of space in private homes that can be used for worship, removes restrictions that limited who residents are allowed to invite into their own homes to pray and eliminates the use of an arbitrary, drawn-out application process designed to delay and effectively deny permits for even minor alterations to private houses. Since 1991, this is the third lawsuit brought by the United States against Airmont for discriminating against the Orthodox Jewish community. “Zoning laws that intentionally make it more difficult to engage in religious worship and that are designed to impair the rights of obstruct religious communities violate federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement should send a message to officials across the country that we will hold them accountable when they abuse zoning restrictions to stop religious communities from freely exercising their faith. The Justice Department will tirelessly defend the right of all faiths and religions to worship in the manner consistent with their religious beliefs and traditions.” “When religious intolerance poses a threat to the unity of this nation of many faiths and traditions, it is vital to stand up for the First Amendment right to freedom of worship,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “While we are pleased that Airmont has agreed to settle this matter, the fact that this is the third time we have sued the Village over similar concerns demonstrates that this office will be ever vigilant in protecting the rights of religious minorities.” This consent decree follows the department’s announcement commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the signing of RLUIPA. The department will host a series of outreach events and has released updated informational materials about RLUIPA to provide an overview of the law and the department’s enforcement efforts, as well as information about how to identify and report violations. The department’s first RLUIPA outreach event will take place at Seton Hall Law School in Newark, New Jersey, on Oct. 30. For more information about these events, please see the department’s RLUIPA website . All events will be open to the public. In June 2018, the Justice Department announced its Place to Worship Initiative, which focuses on RLUIPA’s provisions that protect the rights of houses of worship and other religious institutions to worship on their land. RLUIPA authorizes the department to commence an action against any local government that implements a land use regulation that places a substantial burden on religious exercise, discriminates on the basis of religion, treats religious land uses worse than nonreligious assemblies or totally or unreasonable excludes religious land use. More information is available at www.justice.gov/crt/placetoworship . Individuals who believe they have been subjected to religious discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (833) 591-0291 or may submit a complaint through the complaint portal on the Place to Worship Initiative website. More information about RLUIPA, including questions and answers about the law and other documents, may be found at www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php . View the consent decree here.


title: Serial Robber Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Robbery of an Indianapolis Business

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- James Bennett, 44, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 9 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempted commercial robbery. According to court documents, on November 4, 2022, Bennett entered a PetSmart store on the East side of Indianapolis. Once inside, Bennett pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the cashier’s head and hit her with the weapon as he demanded she give him money, but she was unable to open the cash register. Bennett then unsuccessfully attempted to open the register himself by banging on it with his firearm. Bennett left the store. The entire attempted robbery was captured on video. Before attempting to rob the PetSmart, Bennet was convicted of five separate robberies and a burglary, and one prior conviction for sexual intercourse with a minor. He was sentenced to prison in 2007 and released on July 30, 2022, just 3 months before he attempted to rob the PetSmart. “This defendant assaulted and terrorized an innocent woman just doing her job,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The sentence imposed here demonstrates that robbery is not a quick way to make some money—it’s a quick way to end up in prison. Our office, the FBI and IMPD, are committed to protecting the public by taking repeat, violent criminals off our streets.” FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Bennett be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Nevada Man Sentenced to 77 Months in Prison for Firearms Conviction

body_text: ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Nevada man, Jacob Pangborn, 34, was sentenced on October 18, 2023, to 77 months of imprisonment for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, to be followed by three years of supervised release. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government stated that Pangborn, who had previously been convicted of several felony offenses in the State of Nevada, was stopped when he attempted to enter the Rock Island Arsenal military installation. Officers determined that Pangborn’s driver’s license had been revoked, and he was arrested. A search of Pangborn’s vehicle revealed that he had a loaded 9 mm pistol under his seat. The firearm did not have a serial number. 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 Rock Island Arsenal Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John K. Mehochko represented the government in the prosecution.


title: Aiken Man Convicted of Cockfighting

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Roosevelt Curry, 68, of North Augusta, S.C., was convicted of participating in an animal fighting venture following a multi-day jury trial. Evidence presented by the Government at trial in the case established that on March 12, 2022, Curry and others gathered at the property of Michael Roy Limehouse in Ridgeville, S.C. to participate in a cockfighting derby. Participants paid $400 to enter four birds into the derby. Some participants, including Curry, put multiple entries into the derby that day. Once birds were weighed, organizers used a software program to match the birds into fights. Participants then attached metal gaffes to their birds’ ankles prior to having them fight. While the cockfighting derby was taking place, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office received a tip and responded to the scene. Officers searched the property and found a barrel containing birds that had been killed in the fights that had taken place so far that day. They also seized numerous bird transport boxes, metal gaffes and spurs and other items used by participants. Seven participants in the cockfighting derby, including Curry and Limehouse, were later indicted in United States District Court for their respective roles in the derby. The other six defendants pled guilty prior to Curry’s trial. United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks presided over the trial and will sentence Curry after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report that will be prepared by the United States Probation Office. Curry faces up to five years imprisonment. He has a previous state court conviction for cockfighting in 2010. The case was investigated by agents of the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG) and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Lietzow and Nick Bianchi are prosecuting the case. ###


title: 21 People Facing Firearms, Illegal Drugs, and Conspiracy Charges Following Multi-Agency Violent Crime Reduction Effort in Memphis

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz, together with federal, county, and local law enforcement officials, today announced that 21 individuals were charged in federal court in connection with firearms-trafficking, narcotics, conspiracy, or other firearms offenses after a targeted violent crime reduction initiative in Memphis. The indictments are a result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a targeted multi-agency operation that spanned several months. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department initiated this investigation after analyzing crime and gun recovery statistics. By examining more than 5,000 data points collected from the National Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), MPD’s Real Time Crime Center, and 911 calls referencing shots fired, analysts were able to identify areas of Memphis with the highest density of firearm-related crime. Based on that analysis and other information, ATF opened an investigation into illegal activity at several locations around Memphis and Shelby County, including the Save a Stop 2 store, located at 2757 Kimball Avenue in Memphis. “The dozens of charges and arrests announced today represent what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we work hand-in-hand to take violent criminals and trigger-pullers off our streets,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “When we harness the Justice Department’s resources and technology — especially crime-gun intelligence from ATF’s NIBIN network — we are able to identify and arrest the culprits of gun violence and safeguard our communities. Across the country, our towns and cities are safer because of the dedication and bravery of federal agents and their state and local partners, and the 21 st -century crime-solving tools DOJ is able to provide.” “We have a serious gun violence problem in Memphis and strong law enforcement partnership is one of our most effective tools for addressing it,” said United States Attorney Kevin Ritz. “This was an extensive, well-coordinated, and sustained effort to identify and take down some of our community’s most dangerous repeat offenders, serial shooters, and firearms trafficking rings so that we protect citizens and ensure our city’s safety. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their hard work and reiterate this office’s commitment to working with them to make our streets safer.” “For months, ATF agents and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners have been investigating violent criminals who have terrorized Memphis,” said ATF Director Steve Dettelbach. “The results are now clear: more than 20 arrests; nearly 100 seized firearms, including guns outfitted with machine gun conversion devices; and large quantities of narcotics – including fentanyl. All done better than ever using crime gun intelligence to catch the worst of the worst. ATF commits to continue using and sharing its intelligence with partners around the country to further drive down violent crime." ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson, United States Marshal Tyreece Miller, Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clint Cannon, and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner provided additional details relating to the initiative, as well as on larger firearms enforcement and violence-prevention efforts. “ATF is committed to reducing the impact of firearm related violent crime in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. “Using technology helps us to identify the high crime areas and those who criminally possess firearms. We employ every technique available to law enforcement to dismantle criminal organizations and disrupt the illegal use of firearms for criminal activity. Working with our law enforcement partners, this enforcement initiative did just that.” Additionally, District Attorney General Steve Mulroy announced that his office obtained a court order under Tennessee law to shut down the Save a Stop 2 store as a nuisance and danger to the community. The order was based on the excessive illegal firearm and drug crimes being committed on and around the property. “This is an excellent example of effective partnerships among agencies,” said District Attorney Mulroy. “Thanks to the great work of the ATF and our local law enforcement, we were able to file a nuisance action to shut down a breeding ground of crime in the community which had long degraded neighborhood residents' safety and quality of life. Because of that and the work by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, residents can now look forward to a safer community.” Indictments and complaints were recently unsealed in federal court. They detail a lengthy investigation, led by ATF, that focused on reducing firearms-related crime in several areas of Memphis by studying data about areas with a high density of gun-crime violence, then identifying illegal firearms sellers to disrupt their trafficking. Between 2022 and 2023, law enforcement officials investigated illegal firearm and drug crimes happening in Memphis and Shelby County. Information from 911 calls involving the Save a Stop 2 property showed repeated reports of armed persons, drug overdoses, shots fired, both aggravated and simple assaults, auto thefts, fights, drug sales, and other disturbances. Many of these activities took place in the store’s public parking lot during business hours while nearby uninvolved, law-abiding citizens were engaged in their shopping or day-to-day errands. The joint investigation has led to nine indictments or complaints and 21 defendants facing federal charges. Federal agents purchased or seized 91 firearms, six of which were outfitted with machine gun conversion devices or “switches” designed to convert a firearm to a fully automatic weapon. Additionally, law enforcement purchased or seized almost 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 332 grams of powder cocaine, 210 grams of powder fentanyl, almost 65 grams of crack cocaine, 2,826 fentanyl pills, and 767 MDMA/Meth pills. Some defendants were charged together, but several others were charged individually. The following charges have been filed in United States District Court, according to court documents: Marvis Harris, 49, Christopher Butts , 41, and Antoinette Ozier , 41, were indicted together on drug distribution charges. In the same indictment: Harris and Butts were charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs as well as distribution of drugs. Butts and Ozier were charged as felons in possessions of firearms and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Harris was also charged as a felon in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of machine guns, and with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ozier was charged with using a premises for the purpose of manufacturing or distributing drugs. Ernell Paige , 45, was charged in an indictment with possessing drugs with intent to distribute and with distribution of drugs. Indicted together were Ulandus Mayes , 34, and Christopher Watts , 39, for engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license and for being felons in possession of a firearm. Mayes was additionally charged with distribution of drugs and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Enrique Cardenas-Otra , 41, was charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and for engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal firearms license. Xavier Ashford , 30, and Marquez Glover , 21, were both charged with distribution of drugs. Indicted together were Leedell Otis , 46, Ricky Brooks , 41, and Jeremiah Otis , 34. In the same indictment: Leedell Otis and Ricky Brooks were also charged with being felons in possession of firearms. In addition, Leedell Otis and Jeremiah Otis were charged with distribution of narcotics, and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Justin Bankhead , 33, was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Indicted together were Jamar Anderson , 27, Tijerol Crawford , 33, Raymond Greenwood , 39, Broderick Harper , 26, Benjamin Jones , 28, Octavius McMullen , 32, and Larry Raiford , 58. In the same indictment: Anderson , Jones , Crawford , Greenwood , and McMullen were also charged with being felons in possession of firearms. Anderson , Jones , Raiford , and Crawford were charged with distribution of narcotics. Harper and Jones were charged with possession of a machine gun conversion device. Crawford was charged with carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Adrian Seymour , 37, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, distribution of narcotics, and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. An indictment or complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. The investigation preceding the indictments was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Memphis Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. These indictments are 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, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The federal cases stemming from this investigation are being prosecuted by a team of AUSAs in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by AUSA Marques Young and AUSA Michelle Parks.