title: District Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Robbing One Man and Attempting to Rob Another in Northwest Washington

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kevin Diaz, 19, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for the April 2023 robbery and assault of two men behind a Northwest Washington restaurant, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Diaz was found guilty at trial on October 5, 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of robbery, assault with intent to commit robbery, and two counts of felony threats. According to the government’s evidence at trial, on April 25, 2023, at approximately 8:00 a.m., a construction worker and a roofer arrived near the 1600 block of Lamont Street NW to begin remodeling and repair work on a local business. As the construction worker waited in the alley near Lamont Street, Diaz approached him, brandishing an ice pick. Diaz claimed to be a member of the 18 th Street gang, demanded money, and threatened to kill the worker if he did not comply. That worker did not give Diaz any money, so Diaz turned his attention to the roofer, who had arrived in his truck minutes after the construction worker. Diaz again brandished the ice pick, demanded money, claimed membership in a gang, and threatened to kill the roofer. The roofer, who was scared for his life, went to his truck, pulled out $20, and gave it to Diaz; Diaz took the money and left. The workers called police. MPD officers investigated, uncovered surveillance footage that showed Diaz wearing the distinctive haircut and outfit as described by the two victims and witness, and located Diaz within the hour. Diaz was identified and taken into custody, and has remained held since these offenses. At the December 15, 2023, sentencing hearing, consistent with the Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines, the government asked that the Court impose a total sentence of 96 months’ incarceration — 48 months’ incarceration for robbery and for assault with intent to commit robbery, to be run consecutively to each other, given that each crime of violence was committed against a different victim. The government also sought 24 months’ incarceration for each count of felony threats, to run concurrently with those sentences. The Honorable Michael Ryan sentenced the defendant to a total of 30 months’ incarceration — 30 months for robbery, 18 months for assault with intent to commit robbery, and 14 months for each count of felony threats, all to run concurrently, despite the Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines requirement that the Court impose consecutive sentences when there are multiple victims. The Court also ordered Diaz to serve three years’ supervised release following his sentence. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel White and Kraig Ahalt, Lead Paralegal Specialists Reather Prather and Tameka Garcia, and Victim/Witness Advocate Paola Molina. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline Yarbro and William Lawrence, who prosecuted the case.


title: Former Linkedin Employee Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Commit Mail Fraud

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Kent Laird pleaded guilty in federal court today to two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The plea was accepted by the Honorable Jaqueline S. Corley, U.S. District Judge. In pleading guilty, Laird, 50, of Bothell, Washington, admitted that as the Head of Content, Video & Studios for LinkedIn Media Productions (otherwise known as LMP) he became involved in two separate conspiracies and mail fraud schemes involving two independent contractors. Specifically, in June and then in October of 2018, Laird recommended that two independent contractors be hired by LinkedIn to assist him with producing various podcast projects despite knowing that neither person had any professional experience as a podcast producer. Over the course of the next eighteen months, Laird approved a total of 129 false invoices that the independent contractors submitted to LinkedIn. Laird submitted these invoices knowing that the two independent contractors had performed little to no podcast writing and producing work on behalf of LinkedIn. As a result of receiving these false invoices, LinkedIn paid a combined total of $689,210 to the two independent contractors. During the course of the conspiracy, Laird received kickbacks in the amount of $184,050 from the falsely obtained proceeds. A federal grand jury indicted Laird on February 21, 2023, charging him with two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and eighteen counts of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341. Under the plea agreement, Laird pleaded guilty to the two conspiracy counts. If he complies with the plea agreement, the remaining counts will be dismissed at sentencing. Laird faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, plus restitution, if appropriate, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Judge Corley scheduled Laird’s sentencing hearing for March 27, 2024. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. Valliere is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kathy Tat. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Firearms Possession and Conspiracy

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Josef D. Barraza, 25, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced December 18, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln for firearms conspiracy and possession of a weapon in furtherance of drug trafficking. United States Senior District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Barraza to 204 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Barraza’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Josef D. Barraza was prohibited from purchasing firearms in the State of Nebraska because of previous drug and firearms convictions. Due to his inability to purchase firearms, he made an agreement with his co-defendant Rachel Pageler to purchase firearms for him. Barraza would then illegally transfer and sell these firearms to other third parties. In November of 2020, investigators executed a series of search and arrest warrants for members of the No Names Demon gang in Lincoln, Nebraska. On that same day, Pageler reported to police that some weapons had been stolen, when in fact, at Barraza’s direction, the weapons were transferred or sold to gang members. Those weapons were used by members of the gang in robberies and rival gang shootings and threats. Upon his arrest in June 2021, investigators with the Lincoln Police Department went to the shared residence of Barraza and Pageler. Investigators seized firearms, including multiple Glock handguns and ammunition, one with an extended clip that was loaded and controlled substances, including methamphetamine and marijuana. Investigators also recovered $1,200 in United States currency from Barraza, who was unemployed. Pageler is set to be sentenced for her role in the crimes in February 2024. This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces. This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department.


title: Grand Island Man Sentenced to 50 Months for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Felix Chacon, 61, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on December 18, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for distribution of methamphetamine. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Chacon to 50 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Chacon’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. In February 2018, Chacon twice met with an informant and sold the informant methamphetamine during controlled purchases which were monitored and recorded by police. In total, Chacon sold the informant 57 grams of actual or pure methamphetamine. Chacon pleaded guilty to his offense on August 30, 2023. Chacon’s sentencing included an enhancement for obstruction of justice. After his initial arrest on the charges in this case, Chacon was released from custody pending trial. However, Chacon failed to appear for trial on July 26, 2021. He was later arrested in January 2023 in New Mexico. Because he failed to appear for trial and absconded, an enhancement under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines applied. This case was investigated by the Trident Drug Task Force. The members of that task force include the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Department, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Former Teacher Convicted of Child Exploitation

body_text: Greenville, Miss. – A former Amory High School teacher was convicted by a federal jury today for sexually exploiting at least seven students over a ten-year period. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Toshemie Wilson, 48 years old, of Wren, Mississippi, was found guilty of eight counts of using students to produce sexually explicit material while he was a teacher at Amory High School. Wilson used his position as an advisor for the student group Technology Students of America to groom students to eventually produce child sexual abuse videos and pictures in exchange for money and drugs. The investigation began when one former student reported the abuse to a counselor. That counselor reported the statement to law enforcement. From there, investigators with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered at least 10 other former students who alleged similar conduct and payment for sexually explicit videos. Eight unnamed witnesses testified that Toshemie Wilson approached them to make masturbation videos in exchange for pay between 2005 and 2014. The witnesses identified a number of places Wilson had them make the videos – the school bathroom, an office space rented specifically for this purpose, and the Amory WalMart bathroom. Several of the witnesses stated they were induced to make videos while on out-of-town school trips with the Technology Students of America, a group that Wilson served as advisor. After he was indicted, agents met with Toshemie Wilson and his attorney where Wilson admitted to having a collection of student sexual abuse materials on a hard drive that he threw away. Wilson is also under state indictment in the Circuit Court of Monroe County, where charges remain pending. “Once again, hard work and perseverance by federal, state and local investigators and prosecutors has removed from society an individual with a demonstrable sexual interest in children,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I am extremely proud of Assistant United States Attorneys Parker King and Clyde McGee for their trial work on the case, and thankful for the investigative work of the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office…we must all continue to prosecute these offenders to the fullest extent of the law.” "Preying upon vulnerable students and exploiting their trust and innocence is abhorrent," said Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "I am grateful justice is being served, and I hope my team's hard work in investigating and prosecuting this case alongside the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office demonstrates to these victims that the community values and cares for them and longs to help them on their healing journey." The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Parker S. King and Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.


title: 3 Cincinnati men sentenced to prison for stealing USPS keys

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Three Cincinnati men were sentenced in federal court today for conspiring to commit mail theft. Lawrence Sherman, 23, was sentenced to 40 months in prison. Brandon McCollum, 21, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Jeffrey Wiley, 23, was sentenced to 27 months in prison. According to court documents, between July 2022 and June 2023, the defendants conspired to steal postal arrow keys to then steal mail from blue collection boxes. The conspiracy caused a loss amount of between $250,000 and $550,000 and involved 10 or more victims. Conspirators would steal any cash contained in the mail from the receptacles. They would also steal checks and “wash” or erase the original information in an attempt to fraudulently convert the checks. The defendants would then deposit the altered checks in borrowed accounts and withdrawal cash from ATMs. There were multiple police chases connected to this particular scheme and at least one stolen vehicle driven by Sherman. During one such traffic stop in Springfield Township in January 2023, McCollum was in possession of a stolen postal arrow key. Sherman, McCollum and Wiley are three of at least a dozen defendants charged in the Southern District of Ohio in 2022 and 2023 with crimes related to postal robberies. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced the sentences imposed today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott and acknowledged the assistance of the Wyoming, Springdale and Green Hills police departments. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Virginia Man Sentenced to Over Three Years in Federal Prison for Cyberstalking of Maryland Woman

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Michael Ghali, age 35, of Fairfax, Virginia, today to 38 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for a federal cyberstalking charge, related to sexually explicit and threatening messages and emails he sent to two victims. Ghali has been detained since his arrest and remains detained. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland and Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office. According to his guilty plea, beginning in June 2020, Ghali sent an acquaintance, Victim 1, a series of sexually explicit and threatening text messages using an application which allows users to acquire phone numbers to send text messages that they don’t want to be associated with their known phone number. During that same time, Ghali sent Victim 2, who was the head of a medical department at a Baltimore-based hospital, a series of emails from email addresses he created for the purpose of sending Victim 2 threatening messages, accusing Victim 2 of sexually abusing employees in the medical department and minors, and which claimed that the sender had photos of the abuse. Ghali demanded that Victim 2 resign from his position at the hospital and threatened to send the purported photos of the abuse to the press. Victim 2 knew of Ghali, as Ghali had previously completed a short medical rotation at the hospital. As detailed in the statement of facts, after receiving the threatening messages, Victim 1 contacted the Anne Arundel County Police Department and obtained a protective order that became effective on July 7, 2020. Similarly, after Victim 2 received an email from Ghali which threatened Victim 2’s life and the lives of his grandchildren, Victim 2 hired a professional security detail and changed his surgical and other schedules. Victim 2 suspected that Ghali sent the messages and became aware that in 2019 Ghali had been charged in Fairfax, Virginia, with brandishing an AR-15 assault rifle within 1000 feet of a school. On July 21, 2020, the hospital obtained a temporary restraining order and ultimately a preliminary injunction against Ghali on behalf of Victim 2. On August 25, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ghali’s residence, seizing several electronic devices, including two Apple iPhones, as well as three boxes of .44 caliber ammunition. From a Federal Firearms Licensee in Fairfax County law enforcement also seized a .22LR caliber semi-automatic firearm, a 10-round capacity magazine, and additional ammunition. A subsequent review of Ghali’s phone revealed another social media page Ghali created in which he posted photos of individuals, including Victim 1. Several images of Victim 1 with sexually explicit captions were located on the page. According to the plea agreement, on August 28, 2020, Ghali obtained a new Apple iPhone and, in violation of the protective orders that were in place, sent Victim 1 and Victim 2 additional messages and emails. In addition, Ghali posted sexually explicit and threatening messages regarding Victim 1 to another of his social media pages. On October 9, 2020, law enforcement executed a second search warrant at Ghali’s home which authorized seizure of among other things, the new Apple iPhone used by Ghali to send the message to Victim 1. Law enforcement ultimately were unable to locate the device but did locate a receipt for its purchase and packaging material. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorney Paul A. Riley, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Holdenville Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearms Crime

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kotah Ray Armstrong, age 30, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to twelve months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of Probation and Parole. On November 10, 2022, Armstrong pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. On April 7, 2022, during a home visitation by Oklahoma DOC Probation and Parole officers, Armstrong was discovered to be in possession of a 12-gauge pump action shotgun. Armstrong admitted to possessing the shotgun despite knowing he was prohibited from possessing firearms as a convicted felon. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Armstrong will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Wister Resident Pleads Guilty To Child Neglect Charges

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Traig Pride, age 33, of Wister, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Child Neglect in Indian Country. On May 11, 2022, while responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of two children, Pride willfully failed to protect them from harm when he failed to properly secure them in child passenger restraint systems, then drove without a valid driver's license and at an excessive rate of speed. The crimes occurred in LeFlore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the City of Talihina Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.


title: Hilo Man Arrested for Child Pornography Violation

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU –Kalana Limkin, age 18, of Hilo, made his initial appearance in United States District Court today before United States Magistrate Judge Rom Trader, following his arrest for violating child pornography law. He was ordered detained pending a detention hearing on December 21. The charge against Limkin was contained in a criminal complaint filed in federal court and unsealed upon his arrest. The complaint and affidavit allege that Limkin was identified as the founder of a group, “Cultist”, which focused on specific behaviors, such as promoting child pornography, child exploitation, sexual extortion, and trafficking and self-harm of minors. Limkin allegedly uploaded multiple child pornography image files. On September 12, 2023, the FBI issued a public notice ( Violent Online Groups Extort Minors to Self-Harm and Produce Child Sexual Abuse Material ) about groups that are “deliberately targeting minor victims on publicly available messaging platforms to extort them into recording or livestreaming acts of self-harm and producing child sexual abuse material.” The FBI advises persons who believe they may be victims of a crime using these types of tactics, should retain all information regarding the incident (e.g., usernames, email addresses, websites or names of platforms used for communication, photos, videos, etc.) and immediately report it to: FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov FBI Honolulu Field Office [808-566-4300 or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324)] National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (1-800-THE LOST or www.cybertipline.org ). If indicted and convicted of the offense in the complaint, the defendant would face a mandatory minimum term of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The charges and information contained in the federal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until indicted and proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The FBI and Hawaii County Police Department conducted the investigation resulting in the arrest. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohammad Khatib.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon was sentenced today for illegally possessing ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. Chief U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Deandrea Darnelle Young to 63 months in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Young was convicted of this charge at trial in July. “We will continue to use every resource available to remove ammunition and firearms from prohibited persons.” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Partnerships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement are an integral part of our efforts to fight violent crime and keep our communities safe.” “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the men and women of ATF and the Tuscaloosa Police Department for their efforts to confront violent crime,” Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ash Lightner said. “We will continue to work together tirelessly to keep our communities safe from people who endanger our neighborhoods.” According to evidence presented at trial, on February 27, 2022, a Tuscaloosa Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on Young. Upon making contact with Young, the officer asked for his driver’s license and insurance. Young ignored the officer’s repeated requests for information and fled from the scene in the vehicle. The officer chased Young and found the vehicle abandoned in an apartment complex. During the search of the vehicle the officer found 10 rounds of Igman 9mm ammunition underneath clothing belonging to Young. The officer did not find a firearm. Young is prohibited from having ammunition because of multiple prior felony convictions. Young was convicted on January 10, 2013, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. On August 15, 2012, he was convicted in the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and of two counts of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, First Degree. On November 9, 2011, Young was convicted in the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, of Burglary, First Degree and of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana First Degree. The ATF investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney L. Plyler and Catherine Crosby prosecuted the case.


title: United Kingdom Citizen Extradited to Face Charges in $99 Million Wine Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Stephen Burton, a citizen of the United Kingdom, will be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn this morning before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl on an indictment charging him with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy in connection with a scheme perpetrated through Bordeaux Cellars, a company that he operated. Burton was extradited yesterday to the Eastern District of New York from Morocco where he was arrested in 2022 after entering the country using a false Zimbabwean passport. Burton’s co-defendant, James Wellesley, remains in extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the extradition and arraignment. “With the successful extradition of Burton to the Eastern District of New York, he will now taste justice for the fine wines scheme alleged in the indictment,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This prosecution sends a message to all perpetrators of global fraud that you can run from law enforcement, but not forever.” Mr. Peace thanked Moroccan authorities for their assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from Morocco of the defendant. The indictment alleges that from at least June 2017 and continuing through February 2019, the investors posed as executives at a company called Bordeaux Cellars. The defendants solicited investors, including residents of the Eastern District of New York, at, among other places, investor conferences held in the United States and overseas. The defendants claimed to investors that Bordeaux Cellars brokered loans between investors and high-net-worth wine collectors that would be fully collateralized by high-value collections of wine. The defendants promised that investors would receive regular interest payments from the borrowers, and that Bordeaux Cellars would keep custody of the wine securing the loans while the loans were outstanding. As alleged, these representations were lies, the “high-net-worth wine collectors” did not actually exist and Bordeaux Cellars did not maintain custody of the wine purportedly securing the loans. Instead, the defendants used incoming loan proceeds to make fraudulent interest payments to investors and for their own personal expenses. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants each face up to 20 years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Elbert and Benjamin Weintraub are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : STEPHEN BURTON Age: 58 United Kingdom JAMES WELLESLEY Age: 56 United Kingdom E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-79 (PKC)


title: Colorado Man Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine into Utah

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – A foreign national, and Colorado resident, was sentenced yesterday to 92 months imprisonment followed by four years supervised release, after he admitted to trafficking over 140 pounds of methamphetamine into the District of Utah in March 2022. “It is mind-blowing to think about the downstream effects of this amount of drugs in the community,” said U.S. Federal District Court Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby. “Substantial sentences are necessary for people to understand the risks of trafficking drugs.” According to court documents, Sergio Antonio Silva-Gonzalez, 24, of Denver, Colorado, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to illegally possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. In Silva-Gonzalez’s written statement in advance of his plea of guilty, and admissions made in court at his change of plea hearing, he admitted that the methamphetamine he possessed at the time of his arrest weighed approximately 141 pounds. According to court records, and statements made by the federal prosecutor during Silva-Gonzalez’s sentencing hearing, in addition to the methamphetamine, the defendant was in the United States illegally. He also possessed and intended to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and was in possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. “Community safety is a top priority. The amount of narcotics Mr. Silva-Gonzalez attempted to traffic into our state threatens the safety and lives of our citizens,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “Working with law enforcement, we will continue to prosecute these types of cases and seek appropriate federal sentences to protect the community.” “The amount of drugs is staggering. Adding the stolen firearm makes it downright disturbing,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brady Wilson during the sentencing hearing. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. "HSI will aggressively pursue individuals who bring poison into our communities and try to profit off the misery they leave behind," said Christopher Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney, Brady Wilson, of the District of Utah prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Multi-Agency Take Down Results in Numerous Firearms, Illegal Narcotics, and Conspiracy Charges

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs, together with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, today announced that 20 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 West Columbia. The indictments are a result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a targeted multi-agency operation that spanned several months. In June of 2022, in response to rising violent crime in the West Columbia area, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Columbia launched an advanced, intelligence-based, multi-faceted law enforcement operation. The purpose of the operation was to target criminal entities and groups in the area, specifically those engaged in the illegal use, sale, and possession of firearms and narcotics. ATF established a controlled buy location, and ATF undercover agents and confidential informants began conducting controlled purchases of firearms and narcotics from criminal targets in the area, while local agencies conducted crime suppression operations. Defendants included members of the Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciple street gangs. The joint investigation has led to 20 defendants facing federal charges. Federal agents purchased or seized 210 firearms, including several machine gun conversion devices or “switches” designed to convert a firearm to a fully automatic weapon, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Additionally, law enforcement purchased or seized approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 500 grams of powder cocaine, 500 grams of powder fentanyl, 280 grams of crack cocaine, 2,826 fentanyl pills, and over 2,100 polydrug 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: Christopher Huntington, a/k/a “Crazy,” 32, of Lugoff, was charged with multiple counts of distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms. Tyrek Carroway, a/k/a “Everything,” 24, of Columbia was charged with multiple counts of distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Marcelleus Robinson a/k/a “Drawdown,” 31, of Columbia and Howard Parker, 31, of West Columbia were charged with unlawful possession of a firearms and unlawful possession of machineguns. Joseph Wadsworth, a/k/a “J-Roc,” 39, of Gaston, and Curtis Hill, III, 33, of Lexington, were charged with multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms. Sean Smith, a/k/a “D,” 40, of Cayce, was charged with multiple counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms. Lamark Gill, a/k/a “Lamont,” 47, of Lexington, was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms. Ricky Bell, Jr., 35, of Columbia, was charged with distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of firearms. Dequincy Marquez Jordan, 37, of Florence, was charged with two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Jordan Deshawn Waden a/k/a “Yayo,” 24, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Joel Jeremiah Williams, 35, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Angela Peterson Black, 51, of Lexington, was charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Michael Wright, 45, of Greenville, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as six counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Terrance Myers, a/k/a "Terrance Toomer," 47, of Orangeburg, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kendolius Jones, a/k/a “Duke Brim,” 30, of West Columbia, was charged with felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle. Reginald Pearson, 40, of Columbia, was charged with three counts possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine, as well as felon in possession and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Everette Wanamaker, 36, of Columbia, was charged with two counts possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, as well as six counts of felon in possession. Sean Dunagan, 44, of Marietta, Georgia, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, with possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and destruction of evidence. Gregory Huggins, a/k/a “B-Lo,” 30, of Lexington was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine. Davarious Keith, 30, of West Columbia, was charged with dealing in firearms without a license, distribution of crack cocaine, as well as felon in possession and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. David Smith, 36, of West Columbia, was charged with distribution of crack cocaine. The case was investigated by the West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution of additional defendants facing state charges related to this investigation. The federal cases stemming from this investigation are being prosecuted by a team of Assistant United States Attorneys in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant United States Attorney Elle E. Klein. The case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. ### west_cola_drugs_and_gun_pics_0.pdf


title: Nanticoke Electrician Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Luksh, age 64, owner of Luksh Electric, located in Nanticoke, PA, pleaded guilty on December 13, 2023, before United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to criminal tax evasion. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the criminal information to which Luksh pleaded guilty alleges that during 2019 and 2020, Luksh operated his business in cash in order to evade payment to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of business-related taxes that he owed from previous tax years. Luksh acknowledged that the monetary loss attributable to his conduct was between $100,000.00 and $250,000.00, and he agreed to make restitution to the IRS in the amount of $237,146.98. These charges stem from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: Harrisburg Man Sentenced To One Year In Prison For Failing To Pay Employment Taxes

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sam Xen Duong, age 49, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo to one year in prison for failing to withhold and pay employment taxes. The Court also ordered a one-year term of supervised release to follow the term of imprisonment and over $1.5 million in restitution. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Duong previously admitted that between 2012 and 2018, he failed to pay employment taxes for two companies that he owned or co-owned, BCS, Inc., and ETS, Inc. Both companies were located in Harrisburg and provided temporary workers to other businesses. To perpetuate his scheme, Duong often paid employees in cash and submitted false forms to the Internal Revenue Service. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Inmate Sentenced To 51 Months’ Imprisonment For Assault With A Dangerous Weapon

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Esteban Mercado-Colon, age 32, an inmate at United States Penitentiary Canaan, Waymart, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani to 51 months’ imprisonment for assaulting another inmate with a dangerous weapon. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Mercado-Colon previously pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. On September 22, 2021, Mercado-Colon assaulted another inmate using a 6’ sharpened object wrapped in a bedsheet. The other inmate lost his eye as a result of Mercado-Colon’s conduct. The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorney James Buchanan prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Williamsport Man Sentenced To 18 Months’ Imprisonment For Violating The Conditions Of His Supervised Release

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Michael William Wright, age 30, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 13, 2023, to 18 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for violating the terms of his federal supervision for his commission of the crime of using or carrying a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking felony. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Wright was found to be in violation of his supervision based on both possession and use of controlled substances, and activity that occurred in Williamsport on October 7, 2023, resulting in his arrest for a domestic violence assault. The defendant was being supervised by the United States Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey MacArthur and Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this supervised release violation is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: Metro-Atlanta man pleads guilty to money laundering of COVID-19 unemployment funds

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Austin Martin Siampwizi, who laundered money procured from fraudulent unemployment claims filed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has pleaded guilty to a charge of money laundering conspiracy. “Criminals used the COVID-19 pandemic to financially benefit while millions of Americans were suffering,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Money launderers, like Siampwizi, assisted others in committing underlying offenses in reaping the benefits of these crimes. Our office is devoted to bringing such individuals to justice.” “Austin Martin Siampwizi engaged in a scheme with his co-conspirators to purchase and subsequently cash hundreds of money orders that were funded with fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. The UI benefits were from fraudulent online claims submitted to the Washington Employment Security Department using the identities of identity theft victims. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the UI system from those who exploit these benefit programs,” said Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “This successful effort represents the U.S. Secret Service commitment to protect citizens and businesses from fraud and identity theft,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “We, along with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners will continue to investigate, arrest, and support the successful prosecution of the criminals who choose to launder illicit proceeds or commit fraud in Georgia and across the nation.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act created a temporary federal program that provided up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits for those unemployed as a result of the pandemic and included a provision to provide temporary benefits to individuals who had exhausted their entitlement to regular benefits or were otherwise not eligible. That temporary federal program was administered by state employment agencies. Siampwizi laundered money procured from fraudulent unemployment claims submitted to the Employment Security Department of Washington State (“ESD”). These claims were filed using stolen personally identifiable information of more than 50 individuals. Siampwizi also admitted to submitting fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster loan and Paycheck Protection Program loan applications for his two businesses, Global Car Rental, LLC, and Global Group Development & Construction, LLC. Sentencing for Austin Martin Siampwizi, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, is scheduled for March 26, 2024, before U.S. District Judge William M. Ray II. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Klapman is prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Two Inmates Sentenced for Possessing Weapons at FCI Beckley

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Lawrence Anderson, 27, and Denardo Graham, 33, were each sentenced yesterday to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison, the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley, in separate incidents. According to court documents and statements made in court, each admitted to possessing a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank” at FCI Beckley, in separate incidents on the following dates: Anderson on December 10, 2022, and Graham on February 12, 2023. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the cases. 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. 5:23-cr-106 (Anderson) and 5:23-cr-107 (Graham). ###


title: Nineteen-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced To Fifteen Years For Firearm And Drug Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Terrell Robinson (37, Orlando) to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. The court also ordered Robinson to forfeit a firearm, ammunition, and cash which were used in the offense and were proceeds of the offense. Robinson had pleaded guilty on August 14, 2023. According to court documents, law enforcement officers observed Robinson’s vehicle as he engaged in a hand-to-hand drug transaction at a gas station. When they activated their lights and sirens, Robinson fled and escaped onto Route 408. While Robinson drove on Route 408, unmarked law enforcement vehicles continued to follow him and, when Robinson stopped at another gas station, they arrested Robinson. At the time of his arrest, Robinson possessed a firearm, ammunition, drug distribution materials, cash, baggies, scales, and various controlled substances such as fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine (pictured below): Robinson has been convicted 19 times in state court, including convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on March 11, 2008, delivery of cocaine on August 13, 2008, and delivery of cocaine on January 25, 2010. Therefore, he qualified as an Armed Career Criminal and a Career Offender under federal sentencing rules. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Dana E. Hill. 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: Altamonte Springs Dentist Sentenced To Two Years In Federal Prison For Tax Evasion

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Frantz Brignol to two years in federal prison for tax evasion. In addition to the prison sentence, Brignol was ordered to pay the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) $896,588.89 for his outstanding tax liabilities. A federal jury had found Brignol guilty in August 2023. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Brignol amassed more than $600,000 in tax liabilities to the IRS between 2014 and 2020. He evaded tax payments on his income by hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in his mother’s bank accounts (for which he had signatory authority), trading funds overseas in his mother’s name, and making materially false statements to the IRS on financial disclosure forms. “Dr. Brignol lied to the IRS about his assets and exploited his elderly mother as a nominee, all to evade paying his fair share of federal income tax,” said Tara K. Reed IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge. “You cannot brush off your tax obligations. Today’s sentencing reinforces the principle that everyone, regardless of status, will pay the price if they choose to violate the law.” This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah Nowalk and William S. Hamilton.


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Return Of Collection Of Antiquities From The Metropolitan Museum Of Art To Cambodia

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the return of 13 Khmer antiquities to the Kingdom of Cambodia, pursuant to an agreement between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the “Met”). The Met has voluntarily agreed to return the antiquities, and they are in the process of being turned over. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “All of the pieces being returned today were tied directly to illicit trafficking, and specifically to a man named Douglas Latchford – a collector and dealer that my Office charged in 2019 for running a vast antiquities trafficking network out of Southeast Asia. I want to thank the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where these pieces were previously housed, for their decision to cooperate and work with my Office to facilitate the return of these pieces to the Kingdom of Cambodia. We look forward to our continued dialogue with the Met on these important issues. My Office will continue to vigorously investigate the illegal trade in stolen antiquities. We urge those in this space, including cultural institutions, to be vigilant. And if you work at one of these institutions or for a private collection and have concerns that certain pieces may be tied to illicit trafficking, do the right thing: come forward and work with us on a voluntary basis to facilitate the return to the rightful owners. That is a far better outcome for you and your institution than if our investigation leads to a knock on your door. In other words, come see us before we come see you.” HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “As demonstrated with today's announcement, pieces linked to the investigation of Douglas Latchford continue to reveal themselves. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has not only recognized the significance of these 13 Khmer artifacts, which were shamelessly stolen, but has also volunteered to return them, as part of their ongoing cooperation, to their rightful owners: the People of Cambodia. I want to thank HSI New York’s Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities unit and the Southern District of New York for their unwavering commitment to reuniting nations with these unforgettable pieces of history.” All of the antiquities being returned to the Kingdom of Cambodia are linked to the art dealer and collector Douglas Latchford , who was previously indicted in the Southern District of New York in 2019 for orchestrating a multi-year scheme to sell looted Cambodian antiquities on the international art market. The Indictment was later dismissed due to Latchford’s death. Since 2012, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, in partnership with HSI, has successfully investigated, identified, and repatriated dozens of stolen and illegally imported Cambodian antiquities in the possession of individuals and institutions in the United States. Among the statutes being returned to the Kingdom of Cambodia are statutes from the Koh Ker archaeological site, including a 10 th century goddess sandstone statute, as depicted below. The history of Koh Ker and the illicit trafficking in Cambodian cultural patrimony is described in prior forfeiture actions filed in the Southern District of New York, including United States v. A Late 12 th Century Khmer Sandstone Sculpture Depicting Standing Prajnaparamita, et al. , 21 Civ. 9217; United States v. A Late 12 th Century Bayon-Style Sandstone Sculpture Depicting Eight-Armed Avalokiteshvara , 22 Civ. 229; United States v. A 10 th Century Cambodian Sandstone Sculpture , 12 Civ. 2600; and United States v. A 10 th Century Cambodian Sandstone Sculpture Depicting Skanda on a Peacock , 21 Civ. 6065. In September 2023, Koh Ker — the 10 th Century former royal capital of the Angkorian empire — was officially added to the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s World Heritage List. Other statutes being returned date from as far back as the 7 th Century, including an over-life-size head of Buddha. 10 th century goddess sandstone statue from Koh Ker 7 th century Head of Buddha * * * Mr. Williams thanked HSI for its outstanding work to facilitate the repatriation and praised its ongoing efforts to find and repatriate stolen and looted cultural property. Mr. Williams also thanked the Kingdom of Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts for its partnership and assistance. This matter is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U. S. Attorney Shiva Logarajah is in charge of the case.


title: Howell County Gang Member Sentenced for Illegal Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Koshkonong, Mo., man who was a member of the Gangster Disciples has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm. Tanner S. Huffman, 30, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Thursday, Dec. 14, to eight years and six months in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 19, 2022, Huffman pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Huffman burglarized a residence in Hardy, Arkansas, on Jan. 20, 2021, and stole numerous items, including firearms. The next day he was associated with the theft of another firearm in Howell County, Mo. Huffman was located on Jan. 23, 2022, at the West Plains Motel in West Plains, Mo., where he had rented a room. Officers, who were conducting surveillance at the motel, saw Huffman arrive on a motorcycle he had stolen during the residential burglary. They went to Huffman’s motel room and arrested him. He was in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, brass knuckles, a single round of 9mm ammunition, and a key to the stolen motorcycle. Officers found a loaded Walther 9mm firearm with a high-capacity ammunition magazine in the motel room. Officers also found seven firearms, which Huffman had stolen, at his residence, including a Savage .22-caliber rifle, a Marlin .22-caliber rifle with no serial number, a Marlin 12-gauge shotgun, a Harrington & Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Revelation .22-caliber rifle, a J. Stevens 16-gauge shotgun with no serial number, and a Remington 30-06 rifle. According to court documents, Huffman was a member of the Gangster Disciples, and as of 2020, was third in command of the local gang. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Huffman, who was under a state criminal justice sentence for possession of a controlled substance, has prior felony convictions for assault, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, unlawful use of a weapon, burglary, stealing firearms, explosive weapons, and possession of a controlled substance. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Howell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the West Plains, Mo., Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hardy, Ark., Police Department,


title: Four Individuals Indicted in Puerto Rico Department of Treasury Bribery Conspiracy Related to Vehicle Excise Taxes

body_text: SAN JUAN, P.R. – On December 14, 2023, the Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a 20-count indictment charging four individuals with Conspiracy to Commit Bribery Concerning Program Receiving Federal Funds, Paying and Receiving Bribes, and Honest Services Wire Fraud , announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (HSI) with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Hacienda), the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), and the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Throughout 2020 and 2021, defendant Ariel Pintado-Montalvo made repeated bribe payments to Hacienda employees in exchange for the approval of fraudulent vehicle excise-tax Declarations and for quick approval of non-fraudulent vehicle excise-tax Declarations. During the span of the conspiracy, Pintado-Montalvo paid thousands of dollars in bribe payments to Antonio Silva-Rodríguez, Héctor Vázquez-Barroso, and Doris Bonilla-Valle, who each utilized their position as employees of Hacienda to approve fraudulent and non-fraudulent vehicle excise-tax Declarations in exchange for bribe payments. The Sistema Unificado de Rentas Internas (SURI) was Hacienda’s digital platform which was used to administer and collect vehicle excise-taxes on imported vehicles. Entry documents notifying the vehicle’s arrival, known as the Declaration, which contained the vehicle-identification number (VIN), were required. If the Declaration was complete and it contained the motor vehicle’s correct VIN, SURI would automatically calculate the excise tax based on the current Black Book value of the motor vehicle. Once the excise-tax was approved by Hacienda employees and paid, the vehicle would be released, and it would be free to move from the port. If the VIN was inputted incorrectly into SURI, whoever was completing the Declaration would be able to input what they believed to be the fair-market value of the vehicle. This situation triggered the requirement that a PRDT employee review the Declaration to ensure the correct amount of excise tax was collected. According to court documents, defendant Ariel Pintado-Montalvo, who was in the business of importing motor vehicles into Puerto Rico as a “gestor” (someone who did the paperwork and helped managed part of the process of importing motor vehicles into PR), paid cash bribes and ATH Móvil payments to Hacienda employees. In exchange for the bribes, Antonio Silva-Rodríguez, Héctor Vázquez-Barroso, and Doris Bonilla-Valle approved fraudulent Declarations that resulted in a decrease in excise tax paid by Pintado-Montalvo and a loss of revenue for Hacienda. Additionally, in exchange for bribe payments, Silva-Rodríguez, Vázquez-Barroso, and Bonilla-Valle used their Hacienda positions to quickly approve non-fraudulent Declarations. With regards to the fraudulent Declarations, these Hacienda employees agreed that an incorrect VIN number would be imputed into SURI to trigger the review of the Declaration. Then, Pintado-Montalvo would notify one of co-defendants at Hacienda when a fraudulent Declaration was ready for approval by providing the Declaration’s number via WhatsApp. Soon after, Silva-Rodríguez, Vázquez-Barroso, or Bonilla-Valle approved the fraudulent Declaration and notified Pintado-Montalvo via WhatsApp. Likewise, Pintado-Montalvo sent the number for the non-fraudulent Declaration that needed quick approval via WhatsApp. Silva-Rodríguez, Vázquez-Barroso, or Bonilla-Valle then notified Pintado-Montalvo when it was approved. Pintado-Montalvo would then proceed to coordinate and make the bribe payments in cash or via ATH Móvil in batches. “Together with our law enforcement partners, our office will continue to aggressively pursue corrupt individuals in the government who take advantage of the system to benefit a few in exchange for bribes,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “This prosecution serves as a warning to other public employees involved in these types of schemes that they will be investigated and prosecuted, and that such violations will not be tolerated.” “Corruption is a complex problem with a variety of causes and no simple solution. This is why attacking this threat at all levels and having a zero-tolerance posture is necessary in order to have a real impact,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “The FBI has been at the frontlines in the fight against corruption in Puerto Rico and I think the message is clear - if you are a public official, using your public office for personal gain, we will come after you and you will face Justice. I thank our partners at the US Attorney’s Office, HSI, the Puerto Rico Treasury Department (Hacienda), for their continued support to the FBI mission.” “The defendants in this case used their position of trust as government employees to develop a scheme impacting Puerto Rico’s economy,” said Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Homeland Security, San Juan. “Money that goes directly to our citizens for enhancements in our island, to our public servers, our schools, and our roads, were not collected in exchange for personal gain. These employees defrauded the trust of the people of Puerto Rico. HSI will continue to investigate the financial crimes that negatively impact the infrastructure of the United States and its territories, most importantly those that abuse their position to commit these crimes.” “Today’s arrests are in part, the culmination of a collaborative effort between the FBI and the Puerto Rico Treasury Department,” said Francisco Parés-Alicea, Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Hacienda). “In 2021 I shared data identified through our new information systems regarding potential fraud in the introduction of vehicles in the island. Although this incident is very unfortunate, we reiterate our unwavering commitment in fighting these reprehensible acts regardless of where they come from.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández is prosecuting the case. The indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. # # #


title: Ponte Vedra Beach Man Pleads Guilty To Defrauding His Former Employer Out Of Over $22 Million

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Amit Patel (31, Ponte Vedra Beach) has waived indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and engaging in an illegal monetary transaction. Patel faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Patel operated a fraud scheme through which he embezzled approximately $22,221,454 from his employer, a business headquartered in Jacksonville (“Business A”). Specifically, Patel used his role as the administrator for Business A’s virtual credit card (VCC) program to make hundreds of purchases and transactions with no legitimate business purpose. Then, to hide and continue to operate the scheme, rather than accurately report his VCC transactions, Patel created accounting files that contained numerous false and fraudulent entries and emailed them to Business A’s accounting department. Patel used a variety of methods to hide his illicit transactions by omitting them from the files, while still having the total dollar amount of VCC expenditures match the balances paid by Business A for the VCC program line of credit. For example, to hide his fraudulent VCC transactions, Patel identified legitimate reoccurring VCC transactions, such as catering, airfare, and hotel charges, and then duplicated those transactions; he inflated the amounts of legitimate reoccurring VCC transactions; he entered completely fictitious transactions that might sound plausible, but that never actually occurred; and he moved legitimate VCC charges from upcoming months into the month of the accounting file that was immediately due to the accounting department. Patel began making fraudulent transactions in September 2019 and continued until he was fired by Business A in February 2023. He used the proceeds of this scheme, in whole or part, to place bets with online gambling websites, to purchase a condominium in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to pay for personal travel for himself and friends (including chartering private jets and booking luxury hotels and private rental residences), to acquire a new Tesla Model 3 sedan and Nissan pickup truck, to pay a criminal defense law firm, and to purchase cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens, electronics, sports memorabilia, a country club membership, spa treatments, concert and sporting event tickets, home furnishings, and luxury wrist watches. As part of his plea agreement, Patel has agreed to forfeit $22,221,454.40, the proceeds of the wire fraud, as well as a condominium in Ponte Vedra Beach, a 2021 Telsa Model 3 sedan, and a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch that he purchased or funded with the proceeds. He also agreed to pay full restitution to his former employer. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna Falzetta and Michael J. Coolican. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran. Download Plea Agreement


title: Cleveland Man Sentenced to More than 16 Years for Possessing Narcotics and Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms

body_text: CLEVELAND - U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko announced today that William Sims, 46, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 195 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster after a jury convicted Sims of all seven drug trafficking and firearms charges against him. According to court documents and testimony, on November 26, 2021, after completing controlled purchases of crack cocaine from William Sims during the prior week, Cleveland Police detectives executed a search warrant on Sims’ home. During the search, detectives found Sims in possession of approximately 154.5 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 124.51 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 78.59 grams of fluorofentanyl and fentanyl, as well as numerous mixtures containing other narcotics like cocaine and heroin. The majority of the drugs were found in Sims’ bedroom, in close proximity with two loaded firearms and ammunition found under Sims’ bed. Sims is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by Cleveland Police Department and the FBI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Payum Doroodian and Alejandro Abreu.


title: Jacksonville Man Indicted On Bank Fraud And Theft Of Mail Charges

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Frank Anthony Acanda (26, Jacksonville) with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, eight counts of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit theft of mail, and theft of mail. If convicted, Acanda faces up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, up to 5 years for the theft of mail and conspiracy to commit theft of mail counts, and payment of restitution to the victims he and his co-defendant, Jonathan Benavide Hidalgo, defrauded. According to the indictment, Acanda, his co-defendant, Hidalgo, and others drove around areas of Fleming Island, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine and stole large volumes of mail from residential and business mailboxes over several months. After opening the mail and stealing checks and money orders, Acanda, Hidalgo, and others acting on their behalf, deposited the items into bank accounts controlled by them and then used ATMs to immediately withdraw cash. In some instances, the co-defendants altered the stolen checks by increasing the amount of the stolen checks to maximize the amount of money they could withdraw from ATMs. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Jacksonville Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.


title: Lebanese Citizen Charged with Operating $5 Million Ponzi Scheme Through His Foreign-Exchange Platform

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Henry Abdo, 46, of Lebanon, has been charged by indictment, in the Southern District of Florida, with orchestrating a $5 million investment fraud ( Ponzi ) scheme run through his company, Titanium Capital LLC (“Titanium”). The indictment alleges that Abdo committed wire fraud, in violation of federal law. Today, Dec. 14, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Abdo and Titanium in federal court. According to the indictment, Abdo, Titanium’s founder and manager, advertised Titanium as a successful investment fund that operated a proprietary multi-currency foreign-exchange platform and invested in other profitable projects. Titanium solicited investors by guaranteeing a fixed rate of return of 15%, the indictment alleges. In fact, according to the indictment, Abdo made material misrepresentations about the nature of the intended investment, and in fact diverted investor funds by paying existing investors using new investor funds. Abdo also, the indictment alleges, misappropriated investor funds to pay his personal expenses, including food, hotels, travel, and clothing. If convicted of all charges in the indictment, Abdo faces a maximum penalty of 40 years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Abdo was ordered detained pending trial on the indictment. This matter is scheduled for trial on February 26, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Russell Weigel III, Commissioner, Florida Office of Financial Regulation (“OFR”), made the announcement. U.S. Attorney Lapointe commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and OFR in this matter. He thanked the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for their assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove is handling asset forfeiture. An indictment contains mere allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-80209-AMC. ###


title: Justice Department Announces Crackdown on Networks That Steal Money from Consumer Accounts and Use Fraudulent “Microtransactions” to Hide the Activity from Banks

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today a collection of cases against fraud networks that steal money from consumers and use deceptive tactics to conceal illicit activity from financial institutions, thereby allowing that illicit activity to continue. The cases include two civil actions unsealed in the past week seeking temporary restraining orders and the appointment of receivers to stop defendants from dissipating assets. The civil cases announced today form part of a larger crackdown by the department’s Consumer Protection Branch designed to halt networks of fraudsters that use misrepresentations or unauthorized charges to steal money from consumers’ financial accounts. Fraudsters and their accomplices often hide these unauthorized charges using so-called “microtransactions” or “microdebits,” which group the unauthorized charges with a large number of low-value, straw transactions to lower the fraudster’s chargeback rate. A chargeback is a transaction that is refused or reversed by an account holder’s bank. Because a high chargeback rate can lead to account scrutiny or closure, using microtransactions to artificially reduce the chargeback rate masks the underlying fraud scheme. “These cases mark an important step in the department’s efforts to halt schemes that prey upon individuals and small businesses across the United States,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to using all of the tools at its disposal to prevent fraudsters from reaching into victims’ bank accounts and stealing their hard-earned savings.” “The great work by postal inspectors in these investigations uncovered far-reaching fraud schemes, and millions of dollars in loss to victims across the country,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting American consumers and small businesses from falling victim to these types of fraud schemes.” United States v. Altitude Processing, Inc. , et al. In a case unsealed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Dec. 11, the Justice Department alleges that a network of fraudsters, including defendants Farhan Khan of Quebec, Canada, Jeremy Todd Briley of Tallulah, Louisiana, Christopher Foufas of Key Biscayne, Florida, Brandon Hahn of Saint Cloud, Florida, and Melinda Petit-Homme of Margate, Florida, stole millions of dollars from consumers and small businesses by making recurring unauthorized charges against their bank accounts. The fraudsters used sham companies, including Altitude Processing Inc., which does business as Clear Marketing Agency, to cover their tracks and make the unauthorized charges appear legitimate. The defendants allegedly took elaborate steps to portray the sham companies as legitimate businesses that provided online marketing services, creating bogus websites for the sham companies, fake customer authorizations for the charges and a “customer service” call center to field complaints and offer refunds. In reality, victims of the scheme never signed up for – or received – any services from the fraudsters. The complaint further alleges that some of the defendants used numerous sham microtransactions so that banks would not detect large numbers of chargebacks for unauthorized debits. After the government filed its case, the court entered a temporary restraining order enjoining the defendants from making unauthorized debits from consumers’ bank accounts. The government also successfully petitioned for the appointment of a receiver to stop defendants from dissipating assets obtained through the fraud scheme. United States v. CB Surety, LLC , et al. In a case unsealed by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on Dec. 12, the Justice Department alleges that a network of fraudsters, including defendants Thomas Eide of South Lake Tahoe, California, Travis Smith of Dallas, Aric Gastwirth of Las Vegas, Stephen Christopher of Poway, California, and Bryan Bass, a resident of India, through various business entities that they owned and operated, processed payments for clients that made unauthorized charges to consumers’ accounts and engaged in a variety of other illegal activities, including technical support scams. “This case marks a significant step in halting fraud schemes that reap financial gain by scamming consumers and making misrepresentations to financial institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “It also sends a clear signal that we have used, and will continue to use, all means at our disposal to protect citizens from such schemes to defraud.” According to the allegations in the complaint, the defendants gained access to the banking system by creating sham entities to disguise the true activities of their clients and create the appearance that they were engaged in lawful businesses like selling handbags or electric scooters. The defendants allegedly recruited straw owners for the sham entities and outfitted them with phony addresses, websites and customer service lines. The defendants also used sham microtransactions to reduce the number of chargebacks and evade scrutiny from banks. After the government filed its case, the court entered a temporary restraining order enjoining the defendants from continuing to operate the scheme. The government also successfully petitioned for the appointment of a receiver to stop defendants from dissipating assets obtained through the fraud scheme. The Consumer Protection Branch’s crackdown on cases involving unauthorized charges and microtransactions also includes several criminal cases recently announced. In a case announced two weeks ago, a California businessman was charged with access device fraud and aggravated identity theft for running thousands of unauthorized charges on the credit cards of his former customers. In another case, 14 defendants were charged in a RICO conspiracy indictment in the Central District of California alleging that defendants and associates debited consumers’ bank accounts without authorization and used shell entities and microtransactions to conceal the activity from banks. A co-conspirator pled guilty to bank fraud conspiracy in Las Vegas and was sentenced to 42 months in prison. In a related civil case, the department secured injunctive relief against and settlements totaling nearly $5 million with various persons, including several who are charged in the criminal indictment. In other cases charging similar schemes, two individuals were charged in the Northern District of Illinois for allegedly deceiving banks, including through the use of microtransactions, in order to open and maintain bank accounts and to allow for the processing of tens of millions of dollars of checks that were purportedly authorized by consumers, but in fact were not. A Nevada man has also pleaded guilty to partnering with foreign telemarketers to use fraudulent checks to steal money from victims’ bank accounts. USPIS is conducting the investigations, along with (for some matters) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General. In the Altitude Processing case, the government is represented by Trial Attorneys Carolyn Rice and Meredith Reiter and Assistant Director Rachael Doud of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Weinkle for the Southern District of Florida. In the CB Surety case, the government is represented by Trial Attorneys Andrew Crawford and Francisco Unger and Assistant Director Rachael Doud of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Amin for the Eastern District of California. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch .


title: Sarasota Man Pleads Guilty To Leaving Threatening Voicemail Targeted At Jewish Organization In New York

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Deep Alpesh Kumar Patel (21, Sarasota) today pleaded guilty to transmitting an interstate threat to injure. Patel faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, on October 21, 2023, Patel left a threatening voicemail at a Jewish organization in New York City in which he identified himself by name, screamed numerous expletives, “If I had a chance, I would kill every single one of you Israelis. Every single one of you! Cause mass genocide of every single Israeli.” Patel also admitted that he had called a synagogue in Temple Terrace, Florida the same day, and had left another expletive-laden voicemail threatening to close it down. Patel agreed to a special finding that he intentionally selected Jewish and/or Israeli individuals as the objects of his threat based on their actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, or ethnicity. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan. Download Plea Agreement


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Obtains Temporary Restraining Order to Halt Ongoing Fraud on Consumers and Banks

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The United States has successfully obtained a temporary restraining order against an alleged fraud network that steals money from consumers and uses deceptive tactics to conceal illicit activity from financial institutions, thereby allowing that illicit activity to continue, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today. The civil complaint filed by the United States, which was unsealed on Dec. 12, 2023, sought a temporary restraining order, preliminary and permanent injunctions, and other equitable relief to order five individuals and 10 associated companies from continuing to engage in bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit these offenses. “This case marks a significant step in halting fraud schemes that reap financial gain by scamming consumers and making misrepresentations to financial institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “It also sends a clear signal that we have used, and will continue to use, all means at our disposal to protect citizens from such schemes to defraud.” Invoking the Anti-Fraud Injunction Statute, the United States’ complaint alleges that defendants Thomas Eide of South Lake Tahoe, California; Travis Smith of Dallas, Texas; Aric Gastwirth of Las Vegas, Nevada; Stephen Christopher of Poway, California; and Bryan Bass, a resident of India, through various business entities that they owned and operated, processed payments for clients that made unauthorized charges to consumers’ accounts and engaged in a variety of other illegal activities, including technical support scams. The defendants are alleged to have helped their clients gain access to the banking system by creating sham entities, recruiting straw owners for these sham entities, and outfitting these sham entities with fake addresses, websites, and phone numbers. The sham entities then applied for merchant accounts to process payments for the fraud scheme’s clients, ultimately disguising the clients’ true activities. To further conceal the fraud, the defendants used sham microtransactions to reduce the number of chargebacks (transactions that are refused or reversed by the account holder’s bank) and evade detection from banks. After the government filed its case, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California entered a temporary restraining order enjoining defendants from continuing to operate the scheme and freezing assets. The District Court also granted the United States’ request for the appointment of a receiver to stop defendants from dissipating assets obtained through the alleged fraud scheme. The claims in the United States’ civil complaint are only allegations. The preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley. The case is United States v. CB Surety, LLC, et al., No. 2:23-cv-2812 TLN DB. This case is the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Amin is handling the matter. cb_surety_complaint.pdf


title: Sacramento Man Charged with Distribution of Fentanyl and Illegal Possession of a Gun

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Thursday against Tio Sessoms, 43, of Sacramento, charging him with distribution of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 28, 2023, Sessoms sold approximately a half kilogram of fentanyl to law enforcement in downtown Sacramento. In September 2023, Sessoms was in possession of two firearms while being a felon convicted of voluntary manslaughter and first-degree burglary. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Klein is prosecuting the case. If convicted of distribution of fentanyl, Sessoms faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $5 million fine. If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, Sessoms faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Twenty-Six-Year-Old California Man to Serve 42 Months for Supplying Fentanyl that Caused Wise County Teen Overdoses

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A California man, who conspired with others to supply fentanyl linked to teenage overdoses that occurred in Wise County, Virginia, was sentenced this week to 42 months in federal prison. Jorge Efrain Perez, 25, of Anaheim, California, pled guilty in January 2023 to one count of conspiring to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents, between November 2020 and June 2022, Perez, along with Alexander Ortiz and Destiny Raeann Perez, supplied thousands of pressed pills containing fentanyl to Paul Mason Perkins, Aaron Stidham, Austin Jeremiah Lane, Cheyenne Cassie Carico, and others, all drug dealers in Southwest Virginia. Every few weeks, Perkins and Stidham used Snapchat and Instagram to buy thousands of fentanyl-laced pills from Ortiz. Both Jorge Perez and Destiny Perez assisted Ortiz by mailing the illicit packages from California to Big Stone Gap and Appalachia, Virginia. The pair then re-sold the deadly pills to other individuals throughout Wise County, including multiple sales to co-conspirators Lane and Carico. According to the evidence, Jorge Perez’s debit card was used over 150 times to mail illicit packages to Virginia. On November 24, 2021, Lane and Carico sold pills to a 17-year-old female they knew from school who subsequently overdosed and was hospitalized later that night after ingesting those pills. On the same night, an 18-year-old male was also hospitalized due to a drug overdose. Further investigation revealed that pills from both overdoses were linked to Ortiz and had been shipped to Virginia by Jorge Perez. Last week, Ortiz was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Destiny Perez was previously sentenced to 9 years in prison. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Craig B. Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division, and Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Atlanta Division, made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff’s Department, and Anaheim (CA) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted the case.


title: South Lake Tahoe CEO Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: A California man pleaded guilty yesterday to willfully failing to pay employment tax withholdings to the IRS. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2016 and 2017, Robert Hienekamp was the chief executive officer of Endowance Solutions Inc., a software consulting and development company located in the South Lake Tahoe, California, area. During each of those years, Endowance Solutions withheld income, Social Security and Medicare taxes from its employees’ wages. Hienekamp did not file the legally-required quarterly employment tax returns or pay the withholdings to the IRS, despite knowing of his obligation to do so. In total, Hienekamp caused a tax loss of over $800,000. Hienekamp is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Mahana Weidler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Lagrama for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.


title: Baton Rouge Man Charged with Falsely Holding Himself as a Medical Doctor and Making False Statements

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: A federal grand jury recently returned a three-count indictment charging Samrat Mukherjee, 35, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana with falsely holding himself as a medical doctor and making false statements by calling in prescriptions without authority. According to the indictment, Mukherjee was a licensed paramedic who worked for Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc. Mukherjee did not attend or graduate from medical school. However, the indictment alleges that while employed by Acadian Ambulance, Mukherjee falsely held himself to co-workers and friends as a licensed medical doctor. From in or around May 2019 through in or around November 2022, Mukherjee allegedly called in prescriptions to various pharmacies for himself and others. The indictment alleges that when calling in those prescriptions, Mukherjee falsely and fraudulently claimed that he was instead other actual doctors and had authority to write prescriptions. This matter is being investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Lundin Craig, Trial Attorney Samantha E. Usher, and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.