title: U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan Announces Upcoming Resignation

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan has announced his resignation, effective January 19, 2025, as the chief law enforcement officer for the Northern District of Georgia. After he was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, U.S. Attorney Buchanan was sworn in as the District’s 26th Presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed United States Attorney on May 2, 2022. During his tenure, U.S. Attorney Buchanan led an office of approximately 250 prosecutors, civil litigators, and administrative and support personnel in its mission to enforce federal civil and criminal laws, advocate for crime victims, and represent the United States’ interests in federal court. In his role, he oversaw prosecutions involving violent crimes, firearm offenses, drug trafficking organizations, child exploitation, cybercrimes, health care fraud, public corruption, organized crime rings and gang activities, hate crimes, and civil rights violations, while also achieving significant judgments and penalties in multiple civil matters. Beyond the Northern District, U.S. Attorney Buchanan contributed to the Department of Justice’s national legal policy as a member of Attorney General Merrick Garland’s Advisory Committee (the “AGAC”), a select group of United States Attorneys who advise the Attorney General on policy matters. He served as Vice-Chair of the AGAC’s Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee, leader of the Malign Foreign Influence Working Group, and a member of the Office of Management and Budget Subcommittee. In addition to Department of Justice leadership, U.S. Attorney Buchanan was a member of the interagency Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee. In a message to the members of his office, U.S. Attorney Buchanan said: “Earlier today, I tendered my resignation as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia to President Biden and Attorney General Garland. It is nearly impossible for me to reduce to writing my admiration and gratitude for you. You embody the high ideals of the Department of Justice, and you live out our mission daily. The Northern District, the State of Georgia, and the United States are safer because of your efforts. During my tenure as United States Attorney, the work of this office has reached six continents. At the same time, the office has remained a steadfast and engaged leader in communities from southwest Atlanta to the Appalachian foothills. That global legal work and local community impact are hallmarks of this office. Daily, we have worked collaboratively and forged lasting partnerships with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders, leading to innovative, thoughtful, and effective approaches to advancing safety, upholding the rule of law, and protecting civil rights for nearly eight million people in the Northern District. The talent, excellence, and integrity of this office are unparalleled. It has been the privilege of my life to serve with you as colleagues, and I am forever grateful and honored to call you my friends.” Under Mr. Buchanan’s leadership, the Northern District of Georgia achieved noteworthy successes outlined below in criminal and civil cases. U.S. Attorney Buchanan created a new dedicated section, the Public Integrity & Civil Rights Section, to formalize and expand the office’s civil and criminal civil rights work. And as described further below, Mr. Buchanan initiated and spearheaded many innovative collaborations with law enforcement and community stakeholders. Notable Violent Crime and National Security Achievements A five-member minor sex trafficking group was prosecuted and sentenced, following a report that a minor victim had gone missing in Miami, Florida. The victim’s parents realized she failed to board a flight to Honduras. The minor was transported by two defendants to Georgia and forced to commit commercial sex acts and participate in “sex parties” hosted by other members of the group. The court imposed sentences ranging from seven to 30 years in prison. A jury convicted Jalal Hajavi for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, smuggling goods from the U.S., unlawfully exporting and reexporting goods from the U.S. to Iran without a license, and unlawfully engaging in transactions and dealings based on his participation in a scheme to unlawfully export heavy equipment from the U.S. to Iran by routing the shipments through the United Arab Emirates. He was convicted by a jury, and subsequently sentenced to two years in prison. Kenny Wells made headlines when he recklessly discharged a firearm at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport on the busy weekend before Thanksgiving in 2021. His unlawful actions created enormous panic throughout the airport and forced a lockdown of the facility and surrounding area for hours after he discharged a firearm detected inside a bag he had carried into an airport security screening area. Wells was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses. A jury convicted Mezemr Abebe Belayneh for fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship by concealing his involvement in the “Red Terror,” a campaign of oppression and mass killings committed in Ethiopia that began in 1976. The Red Terror was a campaign of brutal violence in which Ethiopia’s ruling military council and its supporters detained, interrogated, tortured, and executed thousands of perceived opponents, many of whom were teenagers, based on their political opinions. Belayneh was convicted of fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship by lying about his role in the Red Terror persecutions and was sentenced to three years in prison. Fraud Convictions Operation Five Fingers, a Priority Transnational Organized Crime case, resulted in the convictions of 40 defendants. Thirty-one of the defendants were convicted of conspiring to launder the proceeds of romance fraud schemes, bank account takeover schemes, and business email compromise schemes, which caused more than $30 million in losses to hundreds of individuals, banks, and other companies. Nine of the defendants committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft offenses when they posed as bank customers and fraudulently withdrew funds directly from victims’ bank accounts. Two of the defendants were bank employees who facilitated laundering of fraud proceeds. Accomplishments in Civil Cases A federal jury found that Charles Adams M.D. and his medical practice violated the False Claims Act (FCA). The jury concluded that the defendants violated the FCA by submitting false claims to Medicare for reimbursements of chelation therapy, which involves the use of drugs to remove heavy metals from the body. The jury found that Medicare reimbursed the defendants more than $1.1 million for these unnecessary treatments. In a post-trial ruling, the federal district judge added penalties to the jury’s verdict, bringing defendants’ total liability to more than $27 million. UBS AG and several of its U.S.-based affiliates (together, “UBS”) agreed to pay $1.435 billion in penalties to settle a civil action alleging misconduct related to UBS’ underwriting and issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities in 2006 and 2007. Narcotics Convictions Gilberto Lopez-Giraldo, Raul Lopez-Giraldo, Guillermo Escobar, and Alexander Duque-Casanova were convicted for engaging in a more than $1.4 million drug money laundering conspiracy involving major cities from across the United States, including Atlanta, Chicago, and New York to Cali, Colombia. The defendants received sentences of incarceration ranging from three to six years. Money Laundering & Asset Recovery The District’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section secured more than $90 million in collections for victims of crimes and to satisfy debts owed to the United States; shared in the collection of an additional $1 billion related to financial wrongdoing; and forfeited over $55 million in property seized from criminal defendants and in civil forfeiture matters. Public Integrity and Civil Rights Work Former Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill was convicted of intentionally violating the civil rights of six pre-trial detainees by ordering them strapped into restraint chairs at the Clayton County Jail for hours without legal justification. Hill was sentenced to one year, six months in prison, which he later appealed. The Court of Appeals affirmed his convictions with an opinion that opened with U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt’s declaration: “No man is above the law and no man is below it.” A multi-year investigation of corruption throughout the upper echelon of the City of Atlanta’s government led to the prosecutions of 11 high-ranking city officials and contractors resulting in two convictions at trial and nine by guilty pleas. The charged conduct included bribery, theft, tax fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering offenses, but also machine gun possession, obstruction of justice, and the delivery of envelopes of cash to one of the defendants in a men’s room at a local restaurant. This investigation ultimately included convictions of the City’s Chief Financial Officer, Chief Procurement Officer, Watershed Commissioner, Director of Human Services, and Director of Contract Compliance, as well as the former Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff and multiple primary contractors. A settlement agreement was reached with Smarter Kids Child Care (“Smarter Kids”) in Smyrna, Georgia, to resolve allegations that Smarter Kids violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by denying a child an opportunity to participate in its daycare program on the basis of his autism. Under the agreement, Smarter Kids agreed to adopt a non-discrimination policy to ensure ADA compliance and to provide mandatory training for all employees who consider requests for reasonable accommodations or make enrollment decisions. Additionally, Smarter Kids will pay $7,000 in compensation to the complainant and $1,000 to the United States as a civil penalty. A Civil Rights investigation into Fulton County, Georgia and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office uncovered multiple violations of the constitutional and statutory rights of persons incarcerated at the Fulton County Jail on a routine basis and failures to adequately protect incarcerated persons from substantial risk of serious harm. A multi-year investigation of the Georgia Department of Corrections concluded that the incarcerated persons’ constitutional rights are being violated by failing to protect them from widespread physical violence and harm, including exposing incarcerated persons to unreasonable risk of harm from sexual abuse. Law Enforcement and Community Outreach U.S. Attorney Buchanan’s tenure reflects a steadfast and robust commitment to building relationships and partnerships with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders within the District. Mr. Buchanan partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District to host a community gathering designed to increase awareness of and connect residents to local resources available to help prevent opioid use, overdoses, and deaths. This collaboration resulted from a data-driven District initiative to address concerns related to Bartow County’s opioid deaths and the county’s age-adjusted opioid death rate. Local public health officials who participated in the initiative also noted the alarming nationwide increases in illicit fentanyl exposures in children younger than six years old as cause for critical concern. Mr. Buchanan served as a member of the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion and Education (“GRACE”) Commission which was created to combat human trafficking in the State of Georgia. He partnered with the Department of Justice to host the inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities Regional Forum at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. He led the training effort with the Georgia Alliance for School Resource Officers and Educators, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, and the Georgia Gang Investigators Association to provide an intensive law enforcement training, “G.R.E.A.T.” (Gang Resistance Education and Training), for more than 40 police officers from school systems in the District. These officers, specifically chosen by their respective agencies, serve at over 70 local schools that enroll more than 26,000 students. Mr. Buchanan continued to partner with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office as part of an annual Project Safe Neighborhoods Credible Messenger Youth Summer Violence Program, which provides intensive and positive youth and young adult mentorship, with a goal to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and improve family and community engagement. He hosted a safety briefing for houses of worship, gathering faith leaders and those involved with security at houses of worship, to provide training, education, and discussion in the areas of safety, security, security planning, hate crimes, and the growth and management of threats. Mr. Buchanan led the creation of the Northern Georgia Fentanyl Prosecution Working Group, an innovative data-driven effort aimed at the counties in the Northern District that have been hit hardest by the opioid epidemic. The effort included a coordinated multi-agency, parcel interdiction operation that resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs and firearms being shipped through the district. He oversaw a safety briefing for school administrators and safety officials to provide education and resources for planning, assessment, and mitigation of safety threats. And he also organized a housing summit that focused on health and safety in HUD-assisted housing with Housing and Urban Development leadership. “I thank President Biden for nominating me, Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff for their recommendation and support, and Attorney General Garland for his leadership during my tenure,” said U.S. Attorney Buchanan. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the American people and the Northern District of Georgia.” Pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. will succeed Mr. Buchanan as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia until a successor is nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. 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: Statement on Bourbon Street Attack in New Orleans From United States Attorney Duane A. Evans

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS - On behalf of the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, I would like to express and extend my heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the victims of yesterday’s violent, heinous and calculated acts. These same sentiments we likewise extend to the valiant law enforcement officers who risked their lives to protect the public. The United States Department of Justice and our office, standing alongside our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, have also been hard at work protecting the public. Our current role in this situation is to provide counsel and guidance and legal resources to our fellow law enforcement agencies as part of the ongoing investigation. In that regard, we have assembled Assistant U.S. Attorneys, at all levels, from our office in addition to a Department of Justice National Security Division prosecutor, as force multipliers during this difficult period. Since yesterday morning, this team worked diligently at command stations situated within our office and FBI New Orleans. Since this situation remains fluid, we remind everyone to be aware, and most importantly, to be safe. Anyone with information, photos, or video should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit www.fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack .


title: Former teacher going to prison for possession of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Anthony V. Giambrone, 41, of Kenmore, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Giambrone was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $16,000 to victims in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that in April 2020, Giambrone, a former teacher with Erie One BOCES working at Maryvale Intermediate School, possessed images of child pornography on two separate laptop computers. Giambrone possessed approximately 1,052 images and 381 videos of child pornography, some of which included prepubescent minors. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger. # # # #


title: COLOMBIAN NATIONAL FACES DEPORTATION AFTER ILLEGAL SMUGGLING CONVICTION

component: USAO - Virgin Islands


title: U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young Announces Resignation

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today that she is resigning on January 17, 2025. She has served in the position since May 2, 2022. U.S. Attorney Young was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on January 26, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 27, 2022. Prior to her confirmation as United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney Young served as the New Hampshire Deputy Attorney General. In addition to her duties as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in the District of New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Young served on the United States Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s Subcommittees on (1) Civil Rights, (2) White Collar Fraud, and (3) Law Enforcement Coordination, Victim Assistance and Community Relations (LEVC). “As a born and raised Granite Stater, I am honored to have served the people of New Hampshire as the United States Attorney. After more than thirty years as a prosecutor in New Hampshire, I continue to be awed by the unwavering dedication and commitment to justice exhibited by law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and staff who support the tireless work of keeping our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Over the past two and a half years, law enforcement in the Granite State prioritized investigating those who illegally possessed firearms, made threats to government officials and schools, exploited our most vulnerable citizens, as well as defrauded pandemic-relief and other federal programs. I am particularly proud of the education we provided community members and the private sector on emerging frauds and scams, the expansion of the United States Attorney’s Office to include two additional prosecutors focused on civil rights and violent crimes, and the restitution orders obtained to make fraud victims whole. I also want to especially thank United State Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan for placing their trust in me when recommending me for this role.” During U.S. Attorney Young’s tenure, the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted a variety of complex federal crimes, including drug trafficking, financial fraud, elder and child exploitation, and violent crime. Among these cases include: Financial Fraud U.S. v. Ian Freeman , a Keene man was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for laundering over ten million dollars in proceeds of romance scams and other internet fraud by exchanging U.S. dollars for Bitcoin. The defendant was ordered to pay restitution totaling $3,502,708.62 to 29 victims of his offense. U.S. v. Pierre Rogers and Joshua Leavitt, two finance professionals were sentenced to more than 3 years and more than 2 years in federal prison, respectively, for committing wire fraud and bank fraud in connection with $6 million in attempted CARES Act loans. Rogers went on a lavish spending spree with the funds, buying a Porsche and Rolls Royce, and luxury items from retailers such as Cartier, Bulgari, and Bottega Veneta. Bringing in or Harboring Certain Aliens U.S. v. Abraham Hernandez, a New York man was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison in connection with transporting nine illegal immigrants in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. This was the first successful prosecution of alien smuggling in the District of New Hampshire within the past twenty years, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Project Safe Childhood U.S. v. Michael Chick, a former school bus driver was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for cyberstalking an eight-year-old child on his bus route. U.S. v. Chad Lawlor, a repeat sex offender was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in connection with administering an online chat group devoted to the sexual exploitation of children and the exchange of child sexual abuse material. U.S. v. John E. Murray III, a manager at West Alton Marina on Alton Bay was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for soliciting minor employees of the marina for sexually explicit images and videos of themselves, often in exchange for money. He also subjected minor employees to unwanted sexual contact and sexual acts. Violent Crime In 2023, U.S. Attorney Young advocated for and was awarded an additional Assistant United States Attorney position dedicated to prosecuting violent crimes. U.S. v. Justin Gebo , a former Belmont man was sentenced to nearly 3 years in federal prison for possession of firearms as a prohibited person. The defendant was prohibited from possessing a firearm by being in possession of a firearm while under indictment and being a felon in possession of a firearm. One of the firearms that the defendant unlawfully possessed was subsequently recovered during a homicide investigation in Franklin, New Hampshire. U.S. v. Kyle Hendrickson , a Maine man was sentenced to more than 3 years in federal prison for threatening the Portsmouth High School. He posted a video on SnapChat, in which he brandished a handgun while in a vehicle outside of the high school. The video included a text overlay that read “imma shoot up the school.” The defendant was also ordered to pay $21,946 in restitution to Portsmouth School District. U.S. v. Robert Reidy, a Nashua man was sentenced to more than 7 years in federal prison for the illegal possession of ghost guns and ammunition and possessing unregistered firearms. At the time of his arrest, the defendant refused multiple commands to exit his residence, and ultimately surrendered after chemical munitions were deployed into his residence. Additionally, the United States Attorney’s Office focused on civil rights violations and enforcement actions. Among these cases include: Controlled Substances Act U.S. v. Cheshire Medical Center, Cheshire Medical Center in Keene agreed to pay $2 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to keep accurate records of controlled substances, including opioids, after a nurse stole twenty-three intravenous bags of fentanyl solution from an automatic medication dispensing machine. This was one of the largest settlements of drug diversion claims against a hospital in the country. U.S. v. Catholic Medical Center , Catholic Medical Center in Manchester agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act by failing to keep accurate records of controlled substances, including opioids, after a certified registered nurse anesthetist had tampered with and diverted liquid fentanyl. Civil Rights In 2023, U.S. Attorney Young advocated for and was awarded an additional Assistant United States Attorney position dedicated to enforcing civil rights. Since then, the United States Attorney’s Office has focused on educating community members on law enforcement’s approach to investigating and enforcing violations of civil rights. The office has reached several settlement agreements related to civil rights violations including allegations that Smitty’s Cinema in Maine and New Hampshire violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not offering audio description devices and closed captioning devices for customers who have vision or hearing disabilities. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office settled allegations that Manchester landlords violated the Fair Housing Act when they refused to consider their tenant’s reasonable accommodation request to have a Yorkshire terrier mix, as an Emotional Support Animal, reside with her. In addition to case work, under United States Attorney Young’s leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office strengthened and expanded law enforcement partnerships, community outreach efforts, and accessibility to public information. Since May 2022, among other actions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office utilized federal programs and national expertise to offer 18 law enforcement trainings at no-cost to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Hampshire or police departments. These trainings focused on strengthening New Hampshire law enforcement’s understanding of legal, investigative, and effective community policing topics, including trainings on Miranda warnings, dark web investigations, pre-indicators of violent assault, suicide prevention for all layers of law enforcement, and best practices for engaging with faith-based communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also become a leader in addressing emerging public safety concerns, such as elder fraud and scams, bank fraud, and hate crimes, by participating in more than 30 community awareness events. ###


title: Sioux City Woman Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Amy Parks, 57, from Sioux City, Iowa pled guilty in federal court in Sioux City, on June 27, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Parks was sentenced January 2, 2025, to 102 months’ imprisonment. At the plea and sentencing hearings evidence showed that Parks was involved in a conspiracy from January 2021 through June 2023, that distributed ten pounds of methamphetamine. Evidence showed that on seven occasions in 2023 Parks participated in the distribution of ¼ to ½ pound of methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. On June 19, 2023, upon arrest of Parks, law enforcement searched her residence and seized approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine, digital scales, drug use/distribution paraphernalia, cash, and a loaded 9mm firearm. Parks further admitted possessing the handgun in furtherance of her drug trafficking conduct. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Parks was sentenced to 102 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Parks remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transferred to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-4042. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on New Orleans Attack

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following the attack in New Orleans: “The country woke up this morning to news of a terrible tragedy in New Orleans that killed at least 10 people and injured many more. My heart is broken for those who began their year by learning people they love were killed in this horrific attack, and my prayers are with the dozens who were injured, including the New Orleans Police Department Officers who risked their lives to save others. The FBI is investigating this matter as an act of terrorism. The FBI, the ATF, the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and will deploy every available resource to conduct this investigation.”


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Investigates Suspected Child Sexual Abuse

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – The FBI is investigating allegations of child sexual abuse involving a minor against a man in Vanderwagen, New Mexico. Nolin Leupp , 26, appeared before a federal judge and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled, on charges of receiving child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, on December 8, 2024, a witness reported a suspected sexual assault involving Leupp and a minor victim. The witness further disclosed concerning communications between Leupp and the victim, including Snapchat messages of a sexual nature and plans to meet late at night. During a subsequent interview on December 19, 2024, Leupp admitted to a romantic relationship with the minor. A search of Leupp ’s phone revealed four videos of suspected child sexual abuse material, downloaded from Discord and Snapchat. If convicted of the current charges, Leupp faces a mandatory minimum of 5 and up to 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case as part of as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC. View the Criminal Complaint (Leupp).pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Shawano Man Indicted for Drug Offense on Menominee Indian Reservation

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging a man with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances following an incident on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Jerome D. Crowe, a 37-year-old enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin who was residing in the Shawano area. The indictment charged Crowe with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted of this offense, Crowe faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine. Crowe also faces a term of supervised release and a special assessment of $100 if convicted. According to filed court documents, on or about November 19, 2024, while at a location on the Menominee Indian Reservation, Crowe possessed cocaine in a quantity indicating an intent to distribute. The Menominee Tribal Police Department, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute the case in the United States District Court in Green Bay. Agencies investigated the case under the auspices of the FBI Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) and Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation Native American Drug and Gang Initiative (NADGI). NADGI and STTF partner federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement to combat drug trafficking and violent crime on the Menominee Indian Reservation. STTF members are deputized federal officers who identify and target for prosecution individuals who are involved in distribution of dangerous drugs on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Coordination of state resources through NADGI permits efficient communication and evidence processing, which are essential to swift but fair prosecution of offenders. An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Shawano Woman Indicted for Drug Offense on Menominee Indian Reservation

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging a woman with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances following an incident on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Dianna L. Chevalier, a 40-year-old enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin who was residing in the Shawano area. The indictment charged Chevalier with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted of this offense Chevalier faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine. Chevalier also faces a term of supervised release and a special assessment of $100 if convicted. According to filed court documents, on or about September 10, 2024, while at a location on the Menominee Indian Reservation, Chevalier possessed methamphetamine in a quantity indicating an intent to distribute. The Menominee Tribal Police Department, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute the case in the United States District Court in Green Bay. Agencies investigated the case under the auspices of the FBI Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) and Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation Native American Drug and Gang Initiative (NADGI). NADGI and STTF partner federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement to combat drug trafficking and violent crime on the Menominee Indian Reservation. STTF members are deputized federal officers who identify and target for prosecution individuals who are involved in distribution of dangerous drugs on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Coordination of state resources through NADGI permits efficient communication and evidence processing, which are essential to swift but fair prosecution of offenders. An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Menominee Man Indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter and Fleeing Resulting in Death after Vehicle Crash on Menominee Indian Reservation

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging a man with involuntary manslaughter and fleeing an officer resulting in death following a vehicle crash on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The indictment named Desmond L. Waukau, Jr., a 21-year-old enrolled member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin who was residing in the Green Bay area. The indictment charged Waukau as follows: COUNT DATE CHARGE PENALTY One May 19, 2024 Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1112 and 1153(a) Up to 8 years in prison; up to $250,000 fine Two May 19, 2024 Fleeing an Officer Resulting in Death. 18 U.S.C. § 13(a) and Wis. Stat. §§ 346.04(3) and 346.17(3)(d) 30-month mandatory minimum, up to 25 years in prison; up to $250,000 fine Waukau also faces terms of supervised release and special assessments of $100 per count if convicted. According to filed court documents, on or about September 20, 2024, while at a location on the Menominee Indian Reservation, Waukau attempted to elude a marked police vehicle. Waukau accelerated the vehicle he was operating and, while under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance, thereof crashed the vehicle. This is alleged to have caused the death of a passenger. The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute the case in the United States District Court in Green Bay. An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Martinsville Doctor Convicted on 467 Federal Counts of Drug Distribution

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – Joel Smithers, a Martinsville-based doctor, was found guilty of multiple drug charges at the conclusion of a three-week jury trial last week in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, Acting United States Attorney Zachary T Lee announced. The jury convicted Smithers, 42, after sixteen hours of deliberation, on one count of maintaining a place for the purpose of illegally distributing controlled substances and 466 counts of illegally prescribing Schedule II controlled substances. “Patients trust doctors to make decisions based on their healthcare needs, not a perversion of their own greed,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “For many years, this defendant betrayed the trust placed in him by his patients, his community, and the medical profession as a whole through his illegal distribution of thousands of medically unnecessary opioids. I am grateful to the entire prosecution team for bringing this case to justice.” “Physicians have critical roles in addressing the opioid epidemic and ensuring appropriate care for patients with pain and other illness,” mentioned DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Shane Todd. “Healthcare providers have a vital responsibility when it comes to properly prescribing and dispensing medications and must be vigilant to prevent diversion. Today’s conviction demonstrates Smithers’s criminal indifference to the lives of others, and to the families who loved them. His reckless and fraudulent practices placed profits over the lives of his patients. We’re working hard with our partners to keep our communities and families safe from such tragic outcomes.” “The existence of these 'pill mills' flooding southwest Virginia with controlled substances violates one of the first principles of the Hippocratic Oath: to do no harm,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares. “Joel Smithers did not seek to treat patients but rather sought to destroy lives for profit. I am grateful to both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for their resilience and professionalism in this and many other instances. My special thanks goes out to Virginia's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their exemplary work in keeping our citizens safe.” Evidence presented at trial showed Smithers opened an office in Martinsville in August 2015 and prescribed controlled substances to every patient in his practice, resulting in over 500,000 Schedule II controlled substances being distributed. The drugs involved included oxymorphone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and fentanyl. A majority of those receiving prescriptions from Smithers traveled hundreds of miles, one-way, to receive the drugs. Smithers did not accept insurance and took in over $700,000 in cash and credit card payments prior to a search warrant being executed at his office on March 7, 2017. Smithers was previously convicted in 2019 of these charges. However, after his conviction, the United States Supreme Court changed the law concerning jury instructions in cases involving illegal distribution of controlled substances by health care providers. Accordingly, a new trial was ordered. Smithers has remained in custody since his original conviction in 2019. Sentencing is scheduled for March 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in Abingdon. For each distribution count, Smithers faces a maximum sentence of imprisonment for a term of 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000. The conviction for maintaining a place for the illegal distribution of controlled substances carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment for a term of 20 years and a fine of $500,000. The case was investigated by the Roanoke offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad and the Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. Task force officers with the police departments of Bristol, Martinsville, Buena Vista, Roanoke, and Roanoke County; the Sheriff’s Offices of Henry County and Pittsylvania County; the Virginia State Police; and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Randy Ramseyer and Corey Hall, and Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, prosecuted the case in this most-recent trial for the United States.


title: USAO White Collar Crimes Unit Ends 2024 with Notable Achievements

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – The White Collar Crimes Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Northern District of Ohio prosecutes those who violate federal law through fraud or corruption in any of the 40 northern counties in the state of Ohio that the district serves. White collar crimes are usually non-violent and typically involve schemes such as tax evasion, embezzlement, money laundering, insider trading, multiple variations of fraud, bribery, and investment scams. They also include public corruption and abuse of government benefits meant for unemployment, health, or small businesses. These crimes increasingly target victims on their computers or other electronic devices and are becoming more technologically sophisticated. Victims of such crimes can be individuals, large or small businesses, organizations, and government entities. “White collar offenders frequently hatch elaborate plans to obtain money by deceitful means. They plot and scheme their way to taking advantage of circumstances and human nature, causing financial harm to people, businesses, and governments, and undermining public trust,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Our office has prioritized investigating and prosecuting those who attempt to deceive others—whether individuals, businesses, or government entities and the public at large—by committing crimes to line their own pockets at the expense of victims. We will continue to seek justice and hold wrongdoers responsible for the financial havoc they wreak.” Notable white collar crime cases for 2024 include: U.S. v. Basheer Jones – Jones was a former Cleveland city councilman who pled guilty to bribery and wire fraud. He obtained more than $130,000 from local nonprofits through fraud, and then attempted to obtain additional funds through a bribery scheme involving the use of city funds to pay for a nonprofit to purchase a dilapidated property owned by his romantic partner and co-conspirator. He pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud on Dec. 19, 2024. His sentencing is scheduled for April 1, 2025. U.S. v. Gregory Gerber – Gerber pled guilty to illegal prescribing of opioids and other substances while ignoring the signs of addiction and abuse in his patients. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison and one year of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay $850,000 in restitution for making fraudulent claims for healthcare reimbursement. A civil complaint was also filed against Gerber, and he agreed to a consent judgment to settle the allegations. The order entered by the court permanently prohibits Gerber from prescribing opioids or other controlled substances, permanently prohibits him from managing, owning, or controlling any entity that dispenses controlled substances, and requires Gerber to pay approximately $4.7 million under the False Claims Act. U.S. v. Yue Cao – Cao was a bank IT security professional indicted for using his position to find accounts of elderly victims, set up online access to those accounts, and steal funds from them. According to court documents, Cao allegedly transferred approximately $2 million from customers’ real accounts to other accounts he had set up in their names, but that he controlled. Dates for future proceedings are to be determined. U.S. v. Terrence Pounds – From March 2020 through December 2020, Pounds and his co-defendants devised a scheme to obtain Small Business Administration (SBA)-financed loans from the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under false pretenses. Under the guise of operating faith-based, nonprofit organizations, the SBA approved many of their loan applications. Pounds often received a share of the loan proceeds as payment for obtaining the loan. He was sentenced to 94 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. He was also ordered to pay $4,239,940.43 in restitution to the SBA. U.S. v. Clarissa Cheney et al. – Six defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced to a total of 355 months for a COVID-19 fraud conspiracy. From March 2020 to August 2021, they obtained nearly $3,000,000 in federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits using other people’s identities. They submitted fraudulent applications for PUA benefits to California and other states around the country. The defendants, all residents of Northeast Ohio, were sentenced to prison as follows: Clarissa Cheney, 81 months; Kevin Gilmore, 78 months; Tiara Henderson, 70 months; Ladessa Battle, 24 months; Lynard Mitchell, 78 months; and Marcelys Jones, 24 months. Dates for future proceedings for a seventh defendant, Silas Moultrie, are yet to be determined, as Moultrie was a fugitive for approximately one year before being arrested in West Virginia in September 2024. To report suspected white collar crimes, visit https://tips.fbi.gov/home .


title: Ohio Meat Processing Company “Fresh Mark, Inc.” Enters into Non-prosecution Agreement for Scheme to Use Stolen Identities of U.S. Citizens for Workers

body_text: AKRON, Ohio – Fresh Mark, Inc, has entered into a Non-prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio in connection with its hiring manager’s involvement in an identity theft scheme and subsequent obstruction of justice. The company was founded in 1920 and is a nationwide producer of processed meats under the Sugardale and Superior Brand Meats brands, along with several private labels. Between 2013 and 2018, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested multiple Fresh Mark employees who used stolen identities to gain employment with the company. According to court documents, a hiring manager at Fresh Mark’s Salem facility, Yelwin Omar Munoz-Solis, 43, of Salem, Ohio, conspired with others to steal identities of U.S. Citizens and give them to job applicants at Fresh Mark’s meat processing plants. He then certified I-9 documents, which are used to verify identity and employment eligibility in the United States. Munoz-Solis was charged and subsequently plead guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements on immigration forms submitted to HSI. HSI served search warrants at Fresh Mark’s processing facilities in Salem, Massillon, and Canton on June 19, 2018, where investigators detained 146 aliens working at the facility who were in the United States without legal status. Approximately 30 of those individuals were later charged with various immigration violations in federal court. “Stealing identities to transfer to others not eligible to work is not an acceptable business practice,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Employers must ensure that their hiring practices comply with all federal laws, and businesses caught providing false statements to the government will be held to account.” “This settlement is a testament to HSI’s commitment to the American people and our Ohio communities,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “I’m extremely proud of the agents and prosecutors, who over many years saw this case through until the end. We should remain vigilant and ensure that all companies abide by the law when it comes labor practices.” Under the terms of the agreement, Fresh Mark paid a $3,719,997 penalty and will abide by compliance reporting requirements for a period of two years. Pursuant to the Victims of Crime Act Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021, the money will go to the federal Crime Victims Fund. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Toepfer .


title: Three Foley Defendants Sentenced for Drug, Fraud, and Identity Theft Crimes

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Three defendants from Foley were sentenced for their roles in various drug, fraud, and identity theft crimes. According to court documents, Zachary Heaton Thaggard, 32, Randall Lee Cahoon, 45, and Cheryl Ann Morgan, 73, pleaded guilty to various crimes including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, bank fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. Between February 2022 and November 2023, Thaggard, Cahoon, and Morgan conspired with each other and other people to steal checks and personal identifying information from the mail. Thereafter, the defendants used the stolen materials to commit numerous fraudulent bank transactions. For example, in February 2022, Morgan cashed a counterfeit and forged check stolen from the mail at a check-cashing business in Robertsdale. In January 2023, police recovered counterfeit checks made payable to Thaggard, which Thaggard had left behind in a gas station in Loxley. In October 2023, Cahoon conducted fraudulent check transactions at a credit union in Foley. Agents thereafter arrested Cahoon in possession counterfeit checks, stolen debit and credit cards, blank check stock, counterfeit money, drugs, and drug paraphernalia. Investigators seized and searched Cahoon’s cell phone, which contained text messages and other evidence of the defendants’ fraud scheme. In November 2023, narcotics agents arrested Thaggard and a coconspirator in Atmore. Agents located and seized half a kilogram of fentanyl in Thaggard’s vehicle. Thaggard confessed to his role in the drug-trafficking and fraud conspiracies to which he pleaded guilty. Agents also seized and searched Thaggard’s cell phone, which contained text messages and other evidence of his crimes. United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Thaggard to serve 30 months in prison and a five-year term of supervised release, during which time Thaggard will be subject to drug testing and treatment, and will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Thaggard to pay $300 in special assessments. Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Cahoon to serve 75 months in prison and a five-year term of supervised release, during which time Cahoon will be subject to drug testing and treatment, and credit restrictions. Chief Judge Beaverstock sentenced Morgan to time served and a three-year term of supervised release, during which time Morgan will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose fines, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Cahoon to pay $2,468.80 in victim restitution and $200 in special assessments, and Morgan to pay $350 in victim restitution and $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Foley Police Department, the Summerdale Police Department, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the fraud case. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the drug case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States.


title: Justice Department’s Tenth Distribution Provides Over $4 Billion In Nearly Full Recovery To Over 40,000 Victims In Madoff Ponzi Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Brent S. Wible, the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the United States and head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that the Madoff Victim Fund (“MVF”) began its tenth and final distribution to victims of the Bernard L. Madoff fraud scheme of over $131.4 million. These funds were forfeited by the U.S. government in connection with the Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (“BLMIS”) fraud scheme. In this distribution, payments will be sent to more than 23,000 victims across the globe, bringing their total recoveries to 93.71% of their fraud losses. Most of these victims were small investors who lost less than $500,000 in the fraud. Through its ten distributions, MVF has paid over $4.3 billion to 40,930 victims in 127 countries as compensation for losses they suffered from the collapse of BLMIS. This distribution represents the culmination of a decade of work identifying thousands of victims around the world and unwinding layers of complex financial transactions to provide compensation to eligible victims. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “This Office has never stopped pursuing justice for victims of history’s largest Ponzi scheme. With this tenth and final distribution, we have succeeded in compensating 40,930 victims with close to 94% of their losses. As this extraordinary effort demonstrates, this Office and the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are committed to protecting and assisting victims of crime, no matter how long it takes and no matter how complicated the endeavor.” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible said: “The Criminal Division, through its Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (“MLARS”), is proud to administer the department’s remission program to compensate victims using forfeited assets. The unprecedented scope and complexity of the Madoff remission process shows the power of forfeiture to recover assets and to compensate victims — a primary goal of the department’s Asset Forfeiture Program. This tenth and final distribution, led by MLARS’s dedicated victim compensation team, achieves the department’s goal of compensating victims by returning over $4 billion in forfeited assets to more than 40,000 victims of Madoff’s crimes and achieving nearly full recovery for these victims.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Today’s distribution represents an unprecedented conclusion of victim compensation from civil forfeiture actions related to the Madoff scheme with more than $4 billion repaid to over 40,000 victims. These victims implicitly trusted Madoff with their investments only to ultimately lose significant monies to his selfish plan. With the steadfast support from the Justice Department, the FBI will continue its tireless seizure of assets from criminals who steal from others and seek to recover those assets for victim losses.” According to court documents and information presented in related proceedings, for decades, Bernard L. Madoff used his position as chairman of BLMIS, the investment advisory business he founded in 1960, to steal billions from his clients. On March 12, 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 federal felonies, admitting that he had turned his wealth management business into the world’s largest Ponzi scheme, benefitting himself, his family and select members of his inner circle. On June 29, 2009, then-U.S. District Judge (now senior U.S. Circuit Judge), Denny Chin sentenced Madoff to serve 150 years in prison for running the largest fraudulent scheme in history. Of the over $4 billion that has been made available to victims, approximately $2.2 billion was collected as part of the historic civil forfeiture recovery from the estate of deceased Madoff investor Jeffry Picower. An additional $1.7 billion was collected as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and civilly forfeited in a parallel action. The remaining funds were collected through a civil forfeiture action against investor Carl Shapiro and his family and from civil and criminal forfeiture actions against Bernard L. Madoff, Peter B. Madoff and their co-conspirators. The MVF’s payouts would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and the FBI in the prosecution of Madoff’s crimes and the recovery of assets supporting the forfeiture in this case. The MVF is overseen by Richard Breeden, former Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, who serves as Special Master appointed by the Department of Justice to assist in connection with the victim remission proceedings. Mr. Breeden and his team at MVF have been essential in working with the Department to evaluate over 66,000 remission petitions involving billions in cash flows, and to compute each victim’s fraud losses to enable payments to be made. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. La Morte is in charge of the prosecution. The remission of these forfeited funds is being handled by the Office and the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. More information about MVF and its compensation to victims of BLMIS is available on the MVF website at www.madoffvictimfund.com , such as eligibility criteria, process updates, and frequently asked questions. Further questions may be directed to the MVF at 866-624-3670 or info@madoffvictimfund.com.


title: United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves to Step Down January 16, 2025

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Matthew M. Graves announced today that he is resigning as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, effective January 16, 2025, after serving in the role for more than three years. “Serving as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia has been the honor of a lifetime,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “I am deeply thankful to Congresswoman Holmes Norton for recommending me; to President Biden for nominating me; and to Attorney General Garland for placing his trust in me.” Bridget M. Fitzpatrick, who has served as Principal Assistant United States Attorney—the highest-ranking career prosecutor in the Office—will become Acting U.S. Attorney when Mr. Graves leaves the Office. Ms. Fitzpatrick has over 15 years of federal law enforcement experience, including serving in the Principal Assistant role for three years. She has been intimately involved in all significant matters the Office has handled during her tenure, working closely with the Office’s law enforcement partners that have been critical to a wide range of successful prosecutions and violence prevention efforts over the past three years. Mr. Graves was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 28, 2021, and was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia on November 5, 2021. Mr. Graves first joined the Office as a career prosecutor in 2007, serving with distinction in both the Superior Court and Criminal Divisions of the Office, where he prosecuted a wide range of criminal matters, including violent crime, drug trafficking, illegal firearms possession, and fraud cases. In 2010, he was named a senior Assistant United States Attorney within the Office’s Fraud and Public Corruption Section—a Section he ultimately helped lead, first serving as an Acting Deputy Chief and eventually as the Acting Chief of the Section. Mr. Graves led the Office in overcoming a series of unprecedented challenges, including addressing a nationwide rise in violent crime. As a result of the Office’s efforts and the efforts of others involved in administering the criminal justice system, the District of Columbia will have, in 2024, the least amount of total violent crime it has had in over 50 years. While working to address the violent crime challenges that were plaguing the District when he joined the Office, Mr. Graves also led the largest investigation the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has ever conducted to address the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021; oversaw the largest successful seizure in DOJ history, when law enforcement authorities recovered $3.6 billion in cryptocurrency from the hack of the Bitfinex global cryptocurrency exchange ; and directed a number of other successful efforts, including prosecuting British American Tobacco and its subsidiary, resulting in $629 million in penalties and fines for illicit tobacco sales to North Korea; indicting members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with a hack-and-leak operation against the U.S. Presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump; and charging a murder-for-hire plot targeting, among others, former National Security Advisor John Bolton; the trial conviction of the individual who operated the longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet, which had laundered $400 million in cryptocurrency; and obtaining a roughly $377 million resolution against a government contractor, which is believed to be the largest procurement fraud settlement ever. Targeting Violent Offenders and Reducing Gun and Drug-Related Violence Under Mr. Graves’ leadership, the Office and its law enforcement partners have implemented and institutionalized processes for systematically reviewing relevant data to target violent offenders. This data driven approach focuses federal prosecutions on the relatively small group of people in our community who are the primary drivers of gun and drug-related violence. A key component of this approach was implementing in early 2022, a daily review of every gun arrest in the District of Columbia to determine which cases should be targeted for federal prosecution or prosecuted in D.C. Superior Court. This data-driven approach analyzes objective criteria about the offender and the recovered firearm, including the offender’s criminal record and intelligence collected about the person or the recovered firearm, to determine whether the person is a driver of gun violence and a heightened danger to the community. The Office has also used data to proactively target areas in our city where the majority of gun and drug-related violence occurs and to systematically dismantle criminal networks. As a result of these efforts, we have prosecuted several large-scale, multi-defendant conspiracies, with ties to drug and gun violence to help make the communities in which they operated safer. Specifically, the Office has indicted violent street crews operating in and around MLK/Mellon, SE ; Kennedy Street, NW ; Greenleaf Gardens ; Potomac Gardens ; 7 th & O, NW ; Raum Street, NE ; 21 st and Maryland, NE ; and 37 th Place, SE . This data-driven approach has reduced the amount of violence these communities experienced. The Office has also targeted those responsible for shipping large amounts of fentanyl into the District, holding accountable those responsible for fatal overdoses and supplying the drug markets that serve as a magnet for violence. As an example, the Office held not just the dealer who caused a tragic overdose accountable for the death, but brought charges against the broader network of which the dealer was a part, indicting nearly 30 co-conspirators , including local re-distributors, intermediaries in California, and sources of supply in Mexico. At the same time, the Office continued to prosecute local violent crime aggressively in D.C. Superior Court. Under Mr. Graves’ leadership, the Office indicted more homicide cases each year during his tenure than it did in any year during the prior decade. The Office has also tried dozens of homicide cases to verdict during this period, obtaining justice for victims in a number of challenging cases. For example, during Mr. Graves’ tenure, the Office conducted two successful multi-month trials against members of a crew , who opened fire in a courtyard in 2018, discharging more than 50 rounds of ammunition and killing a ten-year-old girl; convicted two defendants who were sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for a nine-day shooting spree that culminated in the 2020 death of a thirteen-year-old boy walking to a basketball game; and convicted an individual who was sentenced to 68 years in prison after a jury found that he murdered his girlfriend and her mother in 2021, before shooting his girlfriend’s sister and trying to kill his own infant by setting the apartment on fire. The Office also continued its long-standing commitment to prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual abuse against children and adults, child exploitation and human trafficking. Throughout Mr. Graves’ tenure, the Office worked with its federal law enforcement partners to rescue more than 50 children who were being abused or sexually trafficked online. Additionally, the Office obtained convictions and significant sentences against numerous sexual predators for first degree sexual abuse, including convictions obtained at trial for kidnapping and raping a stranger at knifepoint ; sexually abusing children who lived in the same home as the perpetrator; and in cold cases involving serial rapists, including two life sentences imposed for a man who raped strangers in their homes in 2007 and 2010. The Office also prosecuted several individuals who abused positions of trust, including obtaining a 30-year sentence against a government employee stationed in Mexico City who drugged and sexually abused dozens of women over 14 years. These law enforcement efforts contributed to the 35% year-over-year decrease in total violent crime in 2024, the least amount of overall violent crime in the District in over half a century. Addressing Challenges with the Criminal Justice Ecosystem In November 2021, there was a backlog of more than a thousand felony cases that needed to be presented to a grand jury and hundreds of cases that needed to be tried as a result of the global pandemic, which was choking the criminal justice system’s pipeline. Moreover, the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences (“DFS”) had lost its accreditation in spring 2021, so the Office lacked the DNA, fingerprint, firearms, and drug testing it needed to process and prove many of these cases. In addition to the pending case backlog and the forensic science issues, prosecutors faced a record number of motions filed by convicted defendants seeking early release from prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic or pursuant to changes in D.C. law that allowed many violent offenders to seek early release after serving 15 years. Mr. Graves realigned resources within the Office and worked with the Court and other external stakeholders to re-stabilize the system and address these issues. As a result of these efforts, the backlog of felony cases pending before the grand jury was resolved by early 2023 for all cases; the backlog of pending trials for all misdemeanors and most felony cases was resolved by mid-2023; and, by late 2023, enough new experts had been identified and retained to handle the volume of forensic work historically performed by DFS. As a result of these efforts, the criminal justice system is in an even stronger position than it was before the pandemic, with a greater percentage of arrests resulting in conviction or some other type of just result, such as successfully completing a diversion program in Drug or Mental Health court. Protecting National Security Under Mr. Graves’ leadership, the Office has been at the forefront of our nation’s efforts to guard against illegal acts by malign foreign actors directed at the United States and to hold accountable those who target Americans when they are abroad. These prosecutions include charging: members of the IRGC with a hack-and-leak operation against the U.S. Presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump and, separately, a murder-for-hire plot targeting, among others, former National Security Advisor John Bolton; U.S. and foreign defendants with a wide-ranging scheme , targeting over 300 U.S. companies, orchestrated by North Korea to place overseas IT workers, posing as U.S. citizens, at U.S. companies; multiple individuals spying or acting illegally on behalf of foreign powers; the person who is alleged to have constructed the bomb that downed Pan Am Flight 103 , killing 270 passengers, crew members, and residents of Lockerbie, Scotland; and Haitian gang leaders who are alleged to have kidnapped Americans and illegally smuggled U.S. weapons into Haiti. The Office also brought a series of ground-breaking actions targeting those who sought to violate the sanctions and export control laws that protect our national security interests, including: seizures of hundreds of millions of dollars of illegally trafficked Iranian oil; a criminal resolution with $629 million in penalties against a corporation involved in the illegal sale of tobacco by North Korea; the seizure of a super yacht owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch; the forfeiture of a Boeing 747 that was owned by an airline affiliated with the IRGC; the first criminal resolution against a company for the illicit sale of Iranian oil; and the indictment of Chinese nationals for illegally exporting U.S.-origin electronic components to Iran and Iranian military affiliates. Defending Democracy On January 6, 2021, a violent mob of several thousand individuals stormed the Capitol and the United States briefly lost control of the grounds around the Capitol and much of the Capitol, itself. More than 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the siege of the Capitol, making it the largest single-day mass assault of law enforcement officers in our nation’s history. These events triggered the largest investigation in DOJ history. To date, roughly 1,600 people have been charged in connection with the attack with almost 1,100 having already been sentenced for their conduct. There have been over 170 contested trials with the United States prevailing in more than 99% of them. These convictions include the first seditious conspiracy convictions since the trials stemming from the first bombing of the World Trade Center in the 1990s. Because politically motivated violence and destruction rip at the fabric of our society, Mr. Graves made federally prosecuting such crimes a priority. Under his leadership, the Office also federally prosecuted self-professed climate activists who targeted priceless artwork and an original copy of the Constitution, and has charged those who assaulted officers and destroyed federal property after attending a protest related to the conflict in Gaza. These prosecutions reflect the fact that people who engage in politically motivated violence and destruction will be prosecuted for their conduct, regardless of their political ideologies or beliefs. Prosecuting Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Violations Under Mr. Graves’ leadership, the Office prosecuted a number of cybercrimes and crimes involving cryptocurrency, such as the successful prosecution of the individuals responsible for the Bitfinex hack , where the government was able to recover roughly $4 billion in cryptocurrency stolen in the hack—the largest cryptocurrency seizure to date; charging individuals with engaging in a conspiracy to steal and launder over $230 million in cryptocurrency; the trial conviction of the individual who had operated the longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet, which had laundered $400 million in cryptocurrency; charging an individual with the hack of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s X account that was subsequently used to spike the value of Bitcoin; and recovering millions taken from victims in crypto-confidence schemes. Other fraud prosecutions that occurred under Mr. Graves’ leadership include frauds on both the government and private parties, including indicting a former defense contractor and his wife for evading taxes on over $350 million in income earned through contracting; prosecuting individuals who collectively attempted to steal tens of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds; convicting individuals who illegally traded on inside information; and convicting an individual who preyed upon thousands of distressed homeowners, bilking them of over $15 million while failing to provide any of the promised relief. The public corruption prosecutions include numerous successful prosecutions of D.C. government employees and their co-conspirators for bribery; the first successful prosecutions of individuals for contempt of Congress in decades; and the prosecution of a former high-ranking FBI official for false statements he made in connection with payments he had received from individuals with ties to foreign governments. The civil rights prosecutions include the first two convictions of Metropolitan Police Department officers for murders while on-duty ; multiple prosecutions of officers for unlawfully assaulting and depriving their fellow citizens of their civil rights; and a ground-breaking prosecution of individuals who conspired to deprive people of access to lawful reproductive healthcare. Protecting the Public Fisc Caseloads in the Office’s Civil Division tripled from 2016 to 2020, as a result of an increase in lawsuits filed against the government during that period. Under Mr. Graves’ leadership, the Office’s Civil Division met this challenge and defended federal agencies in more than 7,000 lawsuits, remaining the Nation’s experts on civil actions brought by requesters for records under the Freedom of Information Act and by medical providers seeking to challenge Medicare reimbursement decisions. Resolving these suits in a just and equitable fashion protects the public fisc by ensuring that the United States expends funds in connection with these suits only when the facts and the law support that payment is warranted. In addition to these defensive cases, the Office also successfully litigated a number of cases it had affirmatively brought against entities and individuals who had fraudulently billed the government, including a roughly $377 million resolution against a government contractor, which is believed to be the largest purely-civil procurement fraud settlement ever, and multiple resolutions involving software providers for defective pricing and fraudulent overcharges, including a trial matter where the court ordered combined damages in excess of $50 million . The Office’s Civil Division also pursue actions against medical providers who fraudulently overcharged government healthcare programs and improper recipients of COVID-19 relief, who falsely certified their eligibility for that relief. Providing Data Transparency Mr. Graves has led an unprecedented expansion of the data the Office releases about the important work it is doing to keep the community safe. In late 2022, Mr. Graves hired the Office’s first ever data scientist. Shortly after the data scientist onboarded in early 2023, Mr. Graves oversaw the launch of monthly Superior Court Reports that provide key prosecutorial metrics related to the Office’s prosecution activities in Superior Court. After launching these monthly reports, Mr. Graves negotiated an agreement with the D.C. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council where it shares data the Office provides on a quarterly basis related to prosecution metrics for those crimes that have the greatest impact on community safety, including violent crimes committed with firearms and illegal firearms possession. This effort provides unprecedented detail about the Office’s charging decisions for these offenses and how prosecutions for these offenses were resolved during the reporting period. Mr. Graves also ensured that the Office invested in new technology to make the Office’s data transparency more robust and efficient when the technology goes live later this year.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Drug Trafficking Shane Michael Moser , 29, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 140 months’ imprisonment with four years’ supervised release to follow, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on May 17, the Casper Police Department responded to an unconscious male behind the steering wheel of a running vehicle. Upon approaching the car, officers saw a scale with white residue next to Moser. They searched the vehicle and located 223 grams of methamphetamine in the center console. After interviewing the defendant, he admitted to distributing approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine over two months. Moser was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 30, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 20, in Cheyenne. Wyoming. Division of Criminal Investigation Central Enforcement Team and the Casper Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00117 Firearm Offenses Justin Keith Noland, 38, of Riverton, Wyoming was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment, with three years’ supervised release to follow, for being a felon in possession of firearms. According to court documents, on June 25, the Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO), executed a State of Wyoming search warrant for Noland’s residence based on probable cause of drug trafficking. The search warrant also authorized law enforcement to search for and seize firearms. In addition, Noland had extraditable arrest warrants out of Natrona and Converse counties. Law enforcement located a total of three pistols, two of them loaded, and additional ammunition in a backpack. Noland is a previously convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Noland was indicted on July 18, pleaded guilty on Sept. 25 and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Dec. 18, in Casper. DCI and the FCSO investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00123 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Inocente Rios-Lopez aka Villaverde-Sotelo, 48, of Sinaloa Mexico, was sentenced to time served (62 days) and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on Oct. 5, Villaverde-Sotelo was arrested by the Rock Spring Police Department for driving while under the influence. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified when Sweetwater County Jail emailed Villaverde-Sotelo ’s arrest information, including a Mexico Voter identification card named Inocente Rios-Lopez to the agency. On Oct. 7, ICE agents obtained fingerprints that matched an existing immigration record for Villaverde-Sotello who was removed from the U.S. in 2001 and had not applied for permission to reenter. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 17, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00158 About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Environmental Justice The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Project Safe Neighborhoods Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. Victim Witness Assistance The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: Participants in “Tech Support” Scheme Charged with Conspiracy to Launder Fraudulent Proceeds

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – On December 11, 2024, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an elder fraud indictment against Ahmed Maqbul Syed, 57, and Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi, 27, both citizens of India, for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Syed was also charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. The indictment alleges that Syed, Chintakindi, and others conspired to launder fraudulent proceeds derived from schemes targeting elderly victims around the United States, including Arizona. Generally, victims were lured into the schemes when they observed a “pop-up” display on their computer, indicating their computer had been hacked or there was another issue. Victims were directed to contact “tech support” or “government representatives” to resolve the issue. In fact, victims were directed to other conspirators in the scheme who further convinced the victims that their accounts had been hacked and their information had been compromised, which was not true. The conspirators then instructed the victims to withdraw or transfer money by telling them, for example, that they needed to protect their money and accounts. Victims were directed to purchase gold from various gold dealers and to withdraw cash. They were then told that individuals purporting to be representatives of the government would retrieve the gold and cash from the victims. Victims were also directed to purchase gift cards from various private businesses and transfer the gift card numbers to individuals they were led to believe would help them. At least one victim was also directed to make cash deposits into a bitcoin ATM. Convictions for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Syed has been arrested on the charges, and the Court has ordered him detained pending trial. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Indianapolis and Phoenix Divisions) and the Marana (Arizona) Police Department conducted the investigation. Other local law enforcement agencies from Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas, and Indiana also assisted with the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08825-TUC-JCH RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-181_Syed # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Justice Department’s 10th Distribution Brings Total Provided to Over $4.3B in Nearly Full Recovery to Over 40,000 Victims in Madoff Ponzi Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that the Madoff Victim Fund (MVF) began its 10th and final distribution of over $131.4 million to victims of the Bernard L. Madoff fraud scheme. These funds were forfeited by the U.S. government in connection with the Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (BLMIS) fraud scheme. In this distribution, payments will be sent to more than 23,000 victims across the globe. With this 10th distribution, over 40,000 victims in the Madoff scheme will have recovered 93.71% of their fraud losses. Most of these victims were small investors who lost less than $500,000 in the fraud. Through its 10 distributions, MVF has paid over $4.3 billion from forfeited funds to 40,930 victims in 127 countries for losses they suffered from the collapse of BLMIS. “The Criminal Division, through its Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), is proud to administer the department’s remission program to compensate victims using forfeited assets,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The unprecedented scope and complexity of the Madoff remission process shows the power of forfeiture to recover assets and to compensate victims — a primary goal of the department’s Asset Forfeiture Program. This 10th and final distribution, led by MLARS’ dedicated victim compensation team, achieves the department’s goal of compensating victims by returning over $4 billion in forfeited assets to more than 40,000 victims of Madoff’s crimes and achieving nearly full recovery for these victims.” “This office has never stopped at pursuing justice for victims of history’s largest Ponzi scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim for the Southern District of New York. “With this 10th and final distribution, we have succeeded in compensating 40,930 victims with close to 94% of their losses. As this extraordinary effort demonstrates, this office and MLARS are committed to protecting and assisting victims of crime, no matter how long it takes and no matter how complicated the endeavor.” “Today’s distribution represents an unprecedented conclusion of victim compensation from civil forfeiture actions related to the Madoff scheme with more than $4 billion repaid to over 40,000 victims,” said Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy of the FBI New York Field Office. “These victims implicitly trusted Madoff with their investments only to ultimately lose significant monies to his selfish plan. With the Justice Department’s steadfast support, the FBI will continue its tireless seizure of assets from criminals who steal from others and seek to recover those assets for victim losses.” This 10th and final distribution represents the culmination of a decade of work identifying thousands of victims around the world and unwinding layers of complex financial transactions to provide compensation to eligible victims. According to court documents and information presented in related proceedings, for decades, Bernard L. Madoff used his position as chairman of BLMIS, the investment advisory business he founded in 1960, to steal billions from his clients. On March 12, 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 federal felonies, admitting that he had turned his wealth management business into the world’s largest Ponzi scheme, benefitting himself, his family, and select members of his inner circle. On June 29, 2009, Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for running the largest fraudulent scheme in history. Of the over $4 billion that has been made available to victims, approximately $2.2 billion was collected as part of the historic civil forfeiture recovery from the estate of deceased Madoff investor Jeffry Picower. An additional $1.7 billion was collected as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and civilly forfeited in a parallel action. The remaining funds were collected through a civil forfeiture action against investor Carl Shapiro and his family and from civil and criminal forfeiture actions against Bernard L. Madoff, Peter B. Madoff, and their co-conspirators. Compensation from the MVF is possible due to the extraordinary efforts of MLARS, which administers the forfeiture victim compensation program; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; and the FBI, which led the prosecution of Madoff’s crimes and the recovery of assets supporting the forfeiture in this case. The MVF is overseen by Richard Breeden, former Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, who serves as Special Master appointed by the Justice Department to assist in connection with the victim remission proceedings. Mr. Breeden and his team at MVF have been essential in working with the department to evaluate over 66,000 remission petitions involving billions in cash flows, and to compute each victim’s fraud losses to enable payments to be made. More information about MVF and its compensation to victims of BLMIS is available at www.madoffvictimfund.com , such as eligibility criteria, process updates, and frequently asked questions. Further questions may be directed to the MVF at 866-624-3670 or info@madoffvictimfund.com . Returning assets to victims of crime is a primary goal of the department’s Asset Forfeiture Program. Since 2000, the victim compensation program has returned more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims. MLARS, through its Program Management and Training Unit, coordinates with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies, and private parties to ensure consistent and efficient return of forfeited assets to victims.


title: Former jailer admits to sexually assaulting women

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and violating the civil rights of two women, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Department during the commission of the offenses. On two separate occasions, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he forcibly sexually assaulted two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County Jail. In each instance in January 2022, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats of force and coercion to forcibly sexually assault them both. Both victims later came forward and identified Rodriguez as the guard that sexually assaulted them. “A separate room devoid of witnesses became the setting where trust turned into terror, as Rodriguez, wielding the power bestowed upon him as a jailer, used force and coercion to commit heinous acts. Rodriguez is the worst kind of predator, one who abused his authority, praying upon some of the most vulnerable women in our community,” said Hamdani. “These were women that were in his care, women that he was supposed to look after and protect. Instead, he took advantage of their vulnerability and violated their civil rights for his own sick pleasures.” U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. Rodriguez faces up to life in prison as well as potential fines of $250,000 for each of the two counts of conviction. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez are prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Sues And Settles With Katz’s Deli To Ensure Americans With Disabilities Act Compliance

body_text: Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the filing and settlement of a lawsuit against the owner and operator of KATZ’S DELICATESSEN OF HOUSTON ST. INC. (“KATZ’S DELI”) for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The settlement, in the form of a consent decree, was entered today by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “The corrections and modifications agreed to by Katz’s Deli will give individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy one of New York City’s most popular restaurants, as is required by the ADA.” The lawsuit and consent decree brings to a close the Office’s Manhattan Restaurants ADA Compliance Initiative, first announced in September 2011. As part of the initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reviewed and evaluated the ADA compliance of the 50 “most popular” restaurants in Manhattan as designated by the 2011 Zagat Guide. Many restaurants required only minor accessibility improvements to comply with the law, and over the next few years, the Office resolved its concerns by letter to approximately two dozen restaurants. In approximately two dozen cases where more extensive accessibility improvements were necessary, the Office entered into voluntary compliance agreements. In two cases, where there were multiple locations of restaurants with significant barriers to accessibility, the Office filed suit: the Office filed a complaint against the owners and operators of three Rosa Mexicano restaurants on October 15, 2012, and the Court approved the Consent Decree with the owners of Rosa Mexicano on January 30, 2013. The Office filed a complaint on October 30, 2013, against the owners and operators of two Carmine’s locations (Upper West Side and Theater District locations), and the Court approved the Consent Decree resolving that matter on November 12, 2013. A handful of restaurants closed before the accessibility review could be completed. According to the Complaint and Consent Decree filed in Manhattan federal court: The U.S. Attorney’s Office identified numerous violations of the ADA at KATZ’S DELI, located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Most significantly, the main entrance of KATZ’S DELI is not accessible, the restaurant does not provide sufficient dining surfaces for persons with disabilities, and despite having been renovated in 2018, its restrooms fail to comply with the ADA. Today’s consent decree requires KATZ’S DELI to improve the accessibility of their entrances, dining areas, and restrooms. Notably, the consent decree provides for staff to assist individuals with disabilities in using the main public entrance, ensures that the required number of accessible dining surfaces are provided, and requires renovations to the men’s and women’s restrooms at KATZ’S DELI. In addition, KATZ’S DELI will pay a $20,000 civil penalty to the U.S. Mr. Kim thanked the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice, in particular its architectural staff, for their assistance in this matter. To file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation within the Southern District of New York is not accessible to persons with disabilities, use the Civil Rights Complaint Form available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/civil-rights . Complaints should be emailed or sent by mail to: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York 86 Chambers Street, 3rd Floor New York, New York, 10007 Attention: Chief, Civil Rights Unit USANYS-CivilRights@usdoj.gov The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Farber is in charge of the case.