title: Former Kentucky Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A former Manchester Police Department officer, Shawn Curry, 36, was sentenced on Wednesday, to 18 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for deprivation of rights under color of law. According to his plea agreement, on September 3, 2021, Curry was on duty and acting as a police officer with the Manchester Police Department. He and other officers were made aware of a 911 call from a pool hall outside the Manchester city limits, indicating that someone was fighting the owner of the pool hall and would not leave. Curry and two other officers arrived at the pool hall and encountered the owner, who was holding a pool stick, and the victim, who was fighting with the owner. The owner ran away from Curry, who then tased him in the back and used force on him. After his use of force on the owner, Curry went into an adjoining room, where other officers were attempting to arrest the victim. Instead of attempting to place handcuffs on the victim, Curry grabbed the victim’s hair and delivered five blows to his head and face. Curry admitted to knowing from his training and experience that this use of force was unreasonable and unlawful, but he used the unlawful force anyway. When interviewed later, Curry knowingly lied to law enforcement, falsely telling them that he hit the victim in the shoulder and claiming he only made incidental contact with the victim’s face once, by accident. Curry also omitted any mention of his use of force on the owner of the pool hall or the victim in his incident report and use of force memorandum, even though he knew he was required to report them. Under federal law, Curry must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for two years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo and Trial Attorney Tara Allison from the Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Findings Of Civil Rights Violations By The Mount Vernon Police Department

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, announced today that the Department of Justice, following a comprehensive investigation, has concluded that the Mount Vernon Police Department (“MVPD”) engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights secured by the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Specifically, the Department of Justice finds that MVPD: Uses excessive force in numerous ways, including by unnecessarily escalating minor encounters, and by excessive use of tasers and closed-fist strikes, particularly against individuals who have already been taken to the ground, are controlled by many officers, or are already fully or partially restrained; Conducted unlawful strip searches and body cavity searches of individuals until at least 2023; and Makes arrests without probable cause. The Department also identified serious concerns with MVPD’s vehicle stop and evidence collection practices, as well as serious concerns about discriminatory policing in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Deficiencies in policies, training, supervision, and accountability systems contribute to MVPD’s unlawful practices. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Our investigation has found reasonable cause to believe that MVPD engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the constitutional rights of the citizens it has sworn to protect. The systemic deficiencies we identified have resulted in a pattern of MVPD officers using excessive force; making illegal arrests; and, for many years, regularly conducting unlawful strip searches and body cavity searches. We are encouraged by the recent steps the City of Mount Vernon and the MVPD have taken that evince a commitment to constitutional policing, and we look forward to continued cooperation to ensure that MVPD keeps its community safe from crime while respecting its citizens’ constitutional rights.” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said: “Our investigation into the Mount Vernon Police Department reveals a pattern and practice of unlawful conduct that can and must be addressed. While officials have undertaken preliminary actions to address some areas of concern, the city and police department must institute comprehensive measures that will fully and finally bring an end to these unconstitutional practices. It will require commitment and hard work by the leadership of the city and the police department as well as by rank-and-file officers. We stand ready to work with Mount Vernon officials to achieve constitutional policing and to strengthen community trust. Police reform will not happen overnight. Across the country, the department’s investigations, findings reports and resulting reform measures help law enforcement agencies become the departments that their citizens need and deserve.” The Department of Justice opened this investigation on December 3, 2021. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section. The Department interviewed MVPD command staff and supervisors, patrol officers, police union representatives, Mount Vernon residents, prosecutors from the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, defense attorneys, and local civic associations. The Department also reviewed MVPD’s arrest reports, use-of-force reports, stops, search, and arrest data, policies, training materials, and internal affairs files. The Department met regularly throughout the investigation with City of Mount Vernon and MVPD officials to provide feedback on the observations of the Department and the Department’s policing experts. The Department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The Department will be conducting outreach to members of the Mount Vernon community for input on remedies to address the investigation’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at community.mvpd@usdoj.gov or by phone at 1-866-985-1378. This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Department of Justice under Section 12601 since April 2021. The Department has issued Section 12601 findings reports regarding seven of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department; Minneapolis, Minnesota, Police Department; the Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department; the Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department; the Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department; the Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department; and the Worcester, Massachusetts, Police Department. The four other investigations cover the Louisiana State Police; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Police Department; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York specifically has handled four investigations since the passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, now known as Section 12601. The Southern District of New York successfully concluded its investigation with police practice reforms to the Beacon Police Department in 2010 and to the Yonkers Police Department in 2024. In addition to announcing its findings with regard to the MVPD, the Southern District is continuing its investigation into the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division announced on June 30, 2022. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny . Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at https://www.justice.gov/crt . Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download . The Justice Department will hold a virtual community meeting on December 16, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. E.T. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings. Please register to join the meeting at: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_jxTvdftFR_KZtUwFvH1ADQ . The case is being handled by the Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division, in Washington, D.C. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Issacharoff and Jacob Lillywhite and Trial Attorney Nicole Porter are in charge of the case.


title: Kentucky Nurse Pleads Guilty to Opioid Diversion Scheme

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jacqueline Brewster, 54, of Belfry, Kentucky, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. According to court documents and statements made in court, Brewster admitted that she unlawfully accessed and used individually identifiable health information of patients at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley to divert hydromorphone, an opioid, for her personal use. Brewster was employed as a travel nurse at Raleigh General Hospital from September 2021 until February 2022. To carry out her diversion scheme, Brewster accessed automated controlled substance dispensing machines at Raleigh General Hospital using her personal biometrics and began the process for checking out hydromorphone purportedly for a patient. Once the machine’s drawer opened, Brewster siphoned off a portion of hydromorphone from its vial, diluted the remaining hydromorphone with another substance so the vial would appear full, reattached the cap and returned the vial to the machine drawer. She subsequently canceled the transaction. Brewster admitted that on one occasion she unlawfully accessed individually identifiable health information and obtained a hydromorphone by fraud occurred on or about February 1, 2022, at Raleigh General Hospital. Brewster further admitted that she carried out her scheme and diverted hydromorphone many times over the course of her employment at Raleigh General Hospital, and that she siphoned the hydromorphone not for any legitimate use. Brewster is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration–Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI) Metro Washington Field Office, and the valuable assistance provided by detectives from the West Virginia State Police and the Kentucky State Police. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Owen Reynolds is prosecuting the case. This case is part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and controlled substance abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the enforcement action, seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-104. ###


title: Cranston Man Admits to Possessing and Selling Tens-of-Thousands of Fentanyl-Laced Fake Oxycodone Pills

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Cranston man admitted to a federal judge that he led a conspiracy that sold and delivered tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced fake Oxycodone pills, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Jorge Pimentel, a/k/a “Big Head,” 35, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a federal indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to information presented to court, on multiple occasions between May 31, 2023, and September 29, 2023, Pimentel brokered sales of fentanyl-laced pills and arranged for their delivery. In total, Pimentel was paid $37,000 in exchange for approximately 34,000 fentanyl-laced pills in these monitored transactions alone. The deliveries of pills were monitored by members of the FBI’s Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force, which they quickly seized. Pimentel was arrested on September 29, 2023; a court-authorized search of a storage unit he rented in Pawtucket resulted in the seizure of approximately 8,968 grams of fentanyl in powder form; 3405.1 grams of fentanyl in pill form (19,315 pills); and a high-speed pill press, among other items. The pills sold by Pimentel and those located inside the storage unit were counterfeit Oxycodone containing fentanyl and were marketed as such to resemble a legitimately manufactured drug. Pimentel is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2024. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. No plea agreement has been filed in this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson. The matter was investigated by the FBI’s Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force, with the assistance of the Pawtucket Police Department. The Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Jackson Man Sentenced to over 2 years in Prison for  Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 2 years and a month in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on October 11, 2021, Joshua Hart, 42, was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition by the Jackson Police Department when an officer approached his vehicle after observing it being driven erratically and suspiciously. Hart, a passenger in the vehicle, had a previous felony conviction for aggravated robbery out of the state of Texas and an outstanding warrant at the time of this stop. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Hart to possess ammunition or any firearm. Hart was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 16, 2021. He pled guilty on September 9, 2024. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The case was investigated by the FBI and Jackson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to More than 10 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Chidi Anthony Okafor, 26, of Charleston, was sentenced on Wednesday, December 12, 2024, to 10 years and one month in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 31, 2022, Okafor sold approximately 338.3 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Charleston. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Redmon and Ryan A. Keefe prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-75. ###


title: Administrator Of Online Criminal Marketplace Arrested In Kosovo

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the indictment and arrest of Liridon Masurica (33, Gjilan, Kosovo), a Kosovo national also known as “@blackdb.” Masurica was taken into custody today by authorities in Kosovo. U.S. authorities are pursuing Masurica’s extradition to the United States, pursuant to the extradition treaty between the United States and the Republic of Kosovo. On December 3, 2024, a grand jury in the Middle District of Florida returned an indictment charging Masurica with one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and five substantive counts of fraudulent use of 15 or more unauthorized access devices. If convicted on all counts, Masurica faces a maximum penalty of 55 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, Masurica was the lead administrator of BlackDB.cc—an online criminal marketplace in operation from 2018 until present. BlackDB.cc illegally offered for sale compromised account and server credentials, credit card information, and other personally identifiable information of individuals primarily located in the United States, including those located within the Middle District of Florida. Once purchased, cybercriminals used the items purchased on BlackDB.cc to facilitate a wide range of illegal activity, including tax fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation and in cooperation with Kosovo Police’s Cybercrime Investigation Directorate. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons. Substantial assistance was provided by the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Sofia, Bulgaria and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. Additionally, Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosova and Kosovo Police’s Cybercrime Investigation Directorate provided substantial assistance in the arrest of Masurica.


title: Owner of Milford Chiropractic Clinic Pleads Guilty to Federal Health Care Fraud Offense

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Pierre Charles Moise, age 57, of Apopka, Florida, pleaded guilty on December 10, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware to concealing from insurance companies the fact that he paid patients to attend his chiropractic clinic. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall accepted the plea. According to court documents, Moise owned and operated the Wellness Health Center (“WHC”), a chiropractic clinic, in Milford, Delaware. Between at least January 2019 and March 2022, Moise, himself and through others, paid patients who had been in recent car accidents to attend treatment sessions at the WHC irrespective of whether that treatment was needed. At his instruction, WHC employees then submitted claims for reimbursement to insurance companies, who, under Delaware’s no-fault Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”) law, were obligated to pay WHC for that treatment. Moise and WHC received over $630,000 from insurance companies as a result of that fraud scheme. Moise pleaded guilty to making a false statement relating to health care matters and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Moise defrauded insurance companies out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by taking advantage of Delaware’s PIP laws. Those laws are designed to help put injured individuals back on their feet, not to enrich criminal actors. My office is committed to prosecuting individuals who engage in such criminal schemes that hurt all Delawareans by increasing insurance costs for everyone.” “Moise’s business model revolved around defrauding automobile insurers. Instead of operating a legitimate chiropractic clinic, he actively sought patients who did not need treatment, paying them to visit his office unnecessarily and then filing fraudulent claims,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. It costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year. The FBI will continue to collaborate with our partners to ensure those who engage in such deceptive actions are held accountable.” This case was investigated by the FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency with assistance from investigators with the Delaware Department of Insurance Fraud Prevention Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse S. Wenger, Meredith C. Ruggles, and Shamoor Anis are prosecuting the case.


title: Washington, Indiana Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling Over $1 Million Dollars and Dodging Over $300,000 in Taxes

body_text: EVANSVILLE— Brandon Alford, 47, of Washington, Indiana, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and five counts of tax evasion. Alford has also been ordered to pay $1,006,500 in restitution to the victim, and $319,793.02 in restitution to the IRS. According to court documents, between 2017 and 2023, Alford was employed as a service writer for a heavy equipment supplier located in Indiana. In this role, he acted as a liaison between customers and service providers, one of which was a machine parts retailer located in Indiana that occasionally sold parts to Alford’s employer. In 2017, Alford devised a scheme to defraud his employer by creating a fake company, A&D Distributing LLC. He convinced a manager at the retailer to sell machine parts to his employer through A&D Distributing, positioning the retailer as a middleman. Alford claimed he would handle all logistics, including shipping the parts to his employer, while the retailer would simply invoice the employer for the parts, plus a profit margin. Between December 2017 and January 2023, Alford submitted 25 fraudulent invoices to the retailer for parts that were never ordered or delivered. The retailer paid Alford $939,500 through 22 wire transfers to A&D Distributing’s account. The retailer then invoiced Alford’s employer based on these false invoices, resulting in the employer paying a total of $1,006,500 for non-existent parts. Alford exploited his position at the company where he worked to ensure the fraudulent invoices were approved and paid, despite no parts ever being delivered. Additionally, Alford attempted to cover his tracks by willfully failing to report the income derived from the fraud scheme for tax years 2017 through 2022, thereby causing a tax loss of $253,459.00. For each tax year, Alford took affirmative actions to evade the government, including preparing, signing, and filing false federal income tax returns, using a business bank account in the name of A&D Distributing to receive the fraud proceeds, and structuring transactions to avoid the filing of certain transaction reports. “This defendant abused his position of trust and professional relationships to steal a million dollars from his unsuspecting employer, cheat on his taxes, and cover up his crimes,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Trusted insiders can cause tremendous damage to businesses large and small when they choose to lie and steal. Combatting economic crimes on behalf of Hoosier businesses and individuals is a top priority of federal law enforcement, and the serious prison sentence imposed here demonstrates the commitment of IRS-CI, FBI, and our federal prosecutors to aggressively prosecute financial offenses and hold fraudsters and tax cheats accountable.” “Tax evasion and financial fraud undermine trust and hurt real people,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Brandon Alford’s fraudulent scheme caused significant harm to his employer and evaded taxes owed to the government. IRS-CI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold criminals accountable for their actions.” “These are not victimless crimes. The defendant chose to intentionally create a false business and abuse his position of trust with his employer for his own personal gain and this sentence should serve as a deterrent to others,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to defraud others and ensure they are held accountable.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: 44 Defendants Charged in First Year of "Project Switch Off" as Part of Crackdown on Illegal Machinegun Conversion Devices

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Law Enforcement Seize 185 Machinegun Conversion Devices and 298 Illegally Possessed Firearms OKLAHOMA CITY – Launched just over a year ago, “Project Switch Off” continues to serve as an effective strategy to combat violent crime and targets illegal—and lethal—machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma launched “Project Switch Off” on November 29, 2023. “The clear and immediate danger of machinegun conversion devices is real, and their proliferation is ever-increasing,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “We simply cannot standby and ignore the deadly consequences these devices present to the public and law enforcement. Under federal law, manufacturing, selling, transporting, or possessing MCDs is illegal. My office will continue to work with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to address this emerging threat.” “It was nearly a year ago that we stood in unison and promised to do whatever we could to keep these dangerous devices from affecting you and your neighborhoods. As the statistics show, we held true to our word. Just because our first year was successful, we cannot, and will not, rest on our investigative laurels,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “Together, with the United States Attorney’s Office and all our law enforcement partners, we will continue to work tirelessly to eradicate these devices from our communities. When we say we will not sleep until we do, we mean, will not sleep.” PROJECT SWITCH OFF – STRATEGY “Project Switch Off” targets MCDs, which turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns and present an elevated threat to the public and to law enforcement. Regardless of whether they are attached to a firearm, MCDs constitute machineguns under federal law, and the manufacture, sale, transport, or possession of MCDs is illegal under federal law, except in very limited circumstances. “Project Switch Off” aims to educate the public on the danger and illegality of MCDs, train law enforcement on how to identify MCDs, remove MCDs from our streets, and hold accountable those who manufacture, sell, or possess these illegal and deadly devices. PROJECT SWITCH OFF - BY THE NUMBERS Since “Project Switch Off” was launched , the following results have been achieved within the Western District of Oklahoma: 44 defendants were charged with federal offenses; 29 defendants have pled guilty or been convicted at trial; 18 defendants have been sentenced, with an average sentence of more than 80 months in federal prison; and law enforcement has seized and removed from the streets: 185 MCDs; two 3-D printers used to manufacture MCDs; 298 firearms; and 102,285 rounds of ammunition. PROJECT SWITCH OFF - IN ACTION Recent case examples of “Project Switch Off” include the following: Sentencings Sheldon Lemont Battles , 20, was sentenced on November 5, 2024, to serve 33 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a machinegun in case number 23-CR-529. According to public record, Battles led Oklahoma City Police Department officers on a high-speed chase in November 2023 before he collided with another vehicle, which resulted in injuries to two passengers in that vehicle. Battles was arrested after a short foot pursuit, during which he discarded a firearm that police recovered and found fitted with an MCD. He pled guilty on February 21, 2024. Charles Lamar Scott , 36, was sentenced on May 10, 2024, to serve 25 years in federal prison for robbery of an Oklahoma City pharmacy, discharging a firearm during the robbery, and possession of a machinegun in case number 23-CR-191. According to public record, on December 26, 2022, Scott committed an armed robbery of a CVS Pharmacy, during which he violently assaulted a CVS employee, forcibly took a handgun from a retired police officer, and discharged it during the robbery. He then fired a handgun equipped with an MCD at law enforcement during his attempted escape. Scott pled guilty on September 22, 2023. Convictions/Pleas Ronald Deshell Steele , Jr. , 22, pled guilty on December 11, 2024, to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and unlawful possession of a machinegun in case number 24-CR-376. At sentencing, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison. Jaylen Terrell Benford, 27, pled guilty on November 26, 2024, to unlawful transfer of a machinegun in case number 24-CR-376. At sentencing, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Emanuel Lopez , 24, pled guilty on November 25, 2024, to transporting machineguns without a license in case number 24-CR-263. According to public record, in May and June 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Los Angeles, California, intercepted four packages shipped from China. These packages were destined for Lopez at his home in Oklahoma and contained MCDs. The packages were mislabeled as “auto parts,” “hardware accessories,” and “decorative ornaments” on the shipping manifest. At sentencing, he faces up to five years in federal prison. Anthony Lawrence Grizzard , 42, pled guilty on November 25, 2024, to illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction in case number 24-CR-197. According to the federal Indictment, the firearm was modified with an MCD. At sentencing, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Brandon Dominique Taylor , 38, pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a machinegun on November 13, 2024, in case number 24-CR-361. At sentencing, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison. Charges/Indictments* Bruce Gordon , * 21, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury on September 5, 2024, on two counts of unlawful transfer of a machinegun, one count of unlawful transfer of multiple machineguns, and one count of distribution of methamphetamine in case number 24-CR-364. If convicted, he faces up to 70 years in federal prison. * The public is reminded that charges are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. For more information about MCDs, please see the fact sheet hyperlinked below. ATF Fact Sheet


title: Dillon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — Kenyatta Defondrael McLaughlin, 45, of Dillon, was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Evidence presented to the court showed that, on the evening of Sept.16, 2022, an officer with Dillon Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven and solely occupied by McLaughlin. As McLaughlin exited the car, a loaded 9mm handgun fell from his lap. As the officer approached the car, he saw what appeared to be a marijuana joint in plain view in the car center console. Law enforcement searched the vehicle, finding approximately 25 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of crack cocaine, and 219 grams of suspected marijuana. At the time of the traffic stop, McLaughlin was a convicted felon who could not legally possess either the firearm or the ammunition with which it was loaded. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III, sentenced McLaughlin to 35 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dillon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Brian K. Trent, 29, of Bradley, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 12, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Stanaford area of Raleigh County and found Trent and another individual in the reported vehicle. Officers determined that the vehicle was reported stolen in South Carolina, and that Trent was wanted on an active misdemeanor warrant and a parole violation. Officers also saw a firearm between the driver’s seat and the center console of the vehicle. Officers searched Trent and the vehicle and seized a Taurus model G2 9mm pistol, a North American .22-caliber magnum revolver, a Marlin model 60 .22-caliber rifle, a Noble model 60H 12-gauge shotgun, and a Taurus .32-caliber revolver. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Trent knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for destruction of property in Raleigh County Circuit Court on November 29, 2016. Trent is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-58. ###


title: Quincy Man Sentenced to More Than One Year in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced today in federal district court in Boston for filing false corporate tax returns to hide over $10 million in corporate revenue and to evade over $2 million in taxes. Su Nguyen, 60, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 18 months in prison, followed by 12 months of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $2,090,192.77 in restitution. In May 2024, Su pleaded guilty to three counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns. In October 2023, Nguyen was indicted by a federal grand jury. Between 2016 and 2020, Nguyen owned and operated General Employment Services (GES), a temporary employment agency operating in Massachusetts. Clients paid GES by check for the work performed by GES employees. Nguyen deposited a small number of client checks in a bank account that Nguyen used for GES business and reported that income to the IRS. However, Nguyen cashed the majority of client checks at a check casher located in Worcester and used that cash on himself and to pay employees’ wages off-the-books. In total, Nguyen cashed over $10 million in client checks and did not report that revenue or the wages paid in cash to the IRS. By doing so, Nguyen and GES failed to pay over $2 million in taxes. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: California Hospital to Pay $10.25M to Resolve False Claims Allegations

component: Civil Division

body_text: Oroville Hospital, located in Oroville, California, has agreed to pay $10,250,000, to the United States and the State of California to resolve allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare and Medicaid arising from medically unnecessary inpatient hospital admissions, a kickback and physician self-referral scheme and the use of erroneous diagnosis codes. Oroville Hospital will pay $9,518,954 to the federal government and $731,046 to the State of California. The United States alleged that Oroville Hospital admitted patients and billed Medicare and Medicaid for more expensive inpatient hospital stays when inpatient care was not medically necessary and observation status or outpatient care was appropriate. The United States also alleged that Oroville Hospital illegally incentivized inpatient admissions by paying financial bonuses to doctors who worked full time at the hospital and were in a position to influence whether or not patients were admitted to the hospital. The bonuses paid by Oroville Hospital took into account the volume or value of admissions by these physicians. Oroville Hospital further allegedly submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid that included false diagnosis codes for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), resulting in excessive reimbursement to the Hospital. “Improperly billing federal health care programs depletes valuable government resources used to provide medical care to millions of Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to protect these critical programs by pursuing those who knowingly claim reimbursement to which they are not entitled.” “Physicians should make decisions based on the best interests of their patients, not their own personal financial interests,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Hospitals engaging in kickback schemes betray the trust placed in them by their communities and distort care decisions that should be untainted by illegal kickbacks. This settlement demonstrates my office’s commitment to preserving the integrity of public healthcare programs and ensuring that the well-being of patients remains paramount.” In connection with the settlement, Oroville Hospital entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) that requires, among other conditions, the implementation of a risk assessment and internal review process designed to identify and address evolving compliance risks. The CIA also requires an independent review organization to annually assess both the medical necessity and appropriateness of select claims billed to Medicare and policies and systems to track arrangements with some referral sources. “Health care providers that improperly bill Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary services to boost profits divert taxpayer funding meant to pay for services that enrollees actually need,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan of HHS-OIG. “And when providers engage in improper financial arrangements, they undermine the integrity of medical decision-making. HHS-OIG, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will continue to identify and investigate such allegations in order to protect federal health care programs and the Americans who rely on them.” The settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Cecilia Guardiola. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Cecilia Guardiola v. Oroville Hosp. , Case No. 2:20-CV-1558 (EDCA). As part of the resolution, Guardiola will receive approximately $1.7 million from the federal settlement amount. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, with assistance from HHS, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and Office of Investigations and the California Department of Justice, Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). Attorneys Daniel A. Spiro and James Nealon of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Tennyson for the Eastern District of California handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Albany Woman Pleads Guilty to Marijuana Trafficking

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Toqwanda Ketchmore, aka “Quannie,” age 30, of Albany, pled guilty today to marijuana trafficking. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf; and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. Ketchmore admitted to being a member of a marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) trafficking organization that cultivated marijuana on a commercial scale in Fresno, California, and shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region of New York. Ketchmore admitted to receiving packages of marijuana shipped by Dwight A. Singletary, II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, at her then-home in Troy. Ketchmore was notified of the packages by Dwight Singletary and David Singletary, aka “DB,” and notified David Singletary, who retrieved the packages when they arrived. Ketchmore also admitted that Dwight Singletary sold marijuana branded as “Nutty Packs” and had an Instagram account in the name “nutty_packz,” which Ketchmore followed. The profile picture for the account depicted a peanut above marijuana leaves smoking a marijuana cigarette and holding cash, and the posts to the account included videos of marijuana plants, harvested marijuana buds, and packaging for marijuana, including “Nutty Pack” packaging. Between November 2020 and May 2022, Ketchmore received 44 packages containing approximately 201 kilograms (443 pounds) of marijuana at her home in Troy. Ketchmore faces up to 20 years in prison; a fine of up to $1 million; and a term of supervised release of between 3 years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Ketchmore was charged in an indictment with Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, Coles, and 20 other people alleging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes. Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, and Coles have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. In addition to Ketchmore, 16 other defendants, Rosemary Coles , Latrice Mumphrey , Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” Sammy Olague , Victor Turner , Kristle Walker , Niara Banks, aka “Nie,” Ruby Ledesma , Lateek White , Onisha Smith , Jazell Shuler , Earnest Flood, aka “Pop,” Consanga Harris, aka “Sondy,” James Tyrell Daniels, aka “Red” and “Ghost,” LaFay Pearson, aka “Lala,” and Alyssa June White previously pled guilty. The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Wareham Resident Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in Overdose Death

body_text: BOSTON – A Wareham resident was sentenced yesterday for selling fentanyl to a 42-year-old man who died of an overdose. Troy Jones, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 92 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $7,868 in restitution to the family of the victim for funeral expenses. In August 2024, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distributing fentanyl resulting in death. In October 2020 , Jones and his co-conspirator, Kayla Nightingale were indicted by a federal grand jury. Jones and Nightingale worked together from January 2019 through at least April 3, 2019 to distribute fentanyl in Wareham, including to a 42-year-old Wareham resident. On April 2, 2019, that resident died of a fentanyl overdose. Nightingale pleaded guilty in August 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8, 2025. U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Wareham Police Chief Walter Correia made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Louisville Metro Government to Reform Louisville Metro’s and Louisville Metro Police Department’s Unconstitutional and Unlawful Practices

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Remote video URL The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into a court enforceable agreement with Louisville Metro Government (Louisville Metro) to resolve the Department’s findings that Louisville Metro and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) engage in a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution and federal law. The consent decree, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, sets forth a blueprint for reform by Louisville Metro and LMPD. The decree sets out specific policies, trainings, and programs that Louisville Metro and LMPD will implement to protect the rights of Louisville residents and promote public safety. The decree requires Louisville Metro and LMPD to collect and analyze data to improve as an agency and to hold officers and Louisville Metro employees accountable. The decree also requires Louisville Metro and LMPD to report on their progress publicly and to involve the community throughout the implementation process. Under the decree, the parties will jointly recommend that the court appoint an independent monitor to assess Louisville Metro and LMPD’s implementation of the agreement. The independent monitor will regularly report to the public and the court on their progress. “Nearly five years after Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her own home in the middle of the night by Louisville Metro Police Department officers, the Justice Department has secured an agreement to enact significant, systemic reforms to policing in Louisville,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This agreement addresses the serious violations of federal law that we uncovered during our pattern or practice investigation and puts the city of Louisville and its police department on a path to lasting reform. We are committed to honoring Breonna Taylor through our work to implement the agreement and to make Louisville a better and safer place for all of its residents.” “In the wake of Breonna Taylor’s tragic killing, the people of Louisville fiercely advocated for racial justice, policing reform and accountability,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “City residents demanded that they receive the constitutional policing that they rightly deserve. Through this consent decree, Louisville and its police department have committed to addressing the violations of the Constitution and federal law we found during our investigation and to making Louisville a place where the police respect everyone’s rights. We look forward to working with city officials, the police department, and the people of Louisville to establish meaningful and lasting reform.” The Justice Department and Louisville Metro have jointly requested that the court enter the consent decree as an order of the court. The reforms required by the decree will ensure that: LMPD officers use appropriate de-escalation techniques and attempt to resolve incidents without force when possible, and use force in a manner that is reasonable, necessary, and proportional to the threat presented; LMPD’s applications for residential search warrants articulate specific, individualized, and accurate facts that establish probable cause for everything to be searched and seized, and LMPD officers execute residential search warrants using safe and lawful tactics; LMPD officers conduct street enforcement activities, including stops, frisks, searches, and arrests, in a manner that protects people’s rights; LMPD enforces the law fairly and impartially, providing equal protection of the law for all people in Louisville and taking steps to reduce unlawful racial disparities in enforcement; LMPD officers respect the First Amendment rights of all persons, including the right to criticize and protest police conduct and to observe and record police officers in the public discharge of their duties; Louisville Metro and LMPD deploy non-law enforcement deflection teams to situations involving people in behavioral health crisis where police involvement is not necessary, and when it is necessary, LMPD sends specially trained officers to respond; LMPD responds to and investigates sexual assault, domestic violence, and sexual misconduct in a thorough, timely, trauma-informed, and bias-free manner; Louisville Metro operates a non-police outreach team to respond to situations involving unhoused individuals that do not warrant a law enforcement or behavioral health crisis response; LMPD enhances community engagement and solicits input to ensure its policing practices are responsive to community needs; Louisville Metro and LMPD put in place effective supervision practices and robust training for officers; LMPD officers receive the support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively; LMPD develops a recruitment and hiring program designed to attract a diverse, well-qualified array of individuals; and LMPD investigates allegations of officer misconduct fully, fairly, and efficiently, and holds all officers who commit misconduct accountable through fair and consistent discipline. Along with the consent decree, Louisville Metro and the Department have entered into a new agreement in principle committing to create evaluation tools, called Performance Review methodologies, for each section of the consent decree. These tools will identify in detail the specific metrics that the independent monitor will use to determine whether Louisville Metro and LMPD have complied with the terms of the consent decree. The Justice Department announced its findings in March 2023, following a thorough investigation into Louisville Metro and LMPD, which began in April 2021. The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky conducted the investigation, with the assistance of law enforcement professionals. The Department conducted the investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601, which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The Department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting to discuss the consent decree on Monday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 pm ET. Register for the event at www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_O8uZMp10QZaMqSLP1bix2Q#/registration . Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the decree. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt . Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s police reform work can be found at www.justice.gov/crt/conduct-law-enforcement-agencies . Read the consent decree here . Read the consent decree fact sheet here . Read the findings report here .


title: Former Cruise Line Employee Guilty of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on December 10, 2024, PANKAJ SINGH BOHRA (“BOHRA”) , age 35, a foreign national of the Republic of India, pled guilty on December 10, 2024 to Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). BOHRA faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release of up to life, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. According to court documents, BOHRA was previously employed by Carnival Cruise Lines and was arrested in July 2024 after special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, found BOHRA in possession of child pornography at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal in New Orleans. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for March 11, 2025 before United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Joseph Traver, 35 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to bank fraud and possession of stolen mail, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Traver was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, between September 2023 and January 2024, Traver stole mail out of official collection boxes that were located outside the United States Post Office in Osceola, Indiana. He intercepted checks that had been mailed at that location from at least three identified victims and interrupted postal delivery of the mail. He also altered one check from the stolen mail matter and fraudulently deposited the check at a financial institution. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the St. Joseph County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T. Jones.


title: Federal and Local Law Enforcement Agencies Conduct Round-Up of Defendants from Concordia Parish Indicted on Drug Trafficking Charges

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, along with Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Percy Giles, III, and Concordia Parish Sheriff David Hedrick, held a press conference today to announce that 13 individuals have been arrested on federal charges following an investigation into drug trafficking activities in the Concordia and Rapides Parish area. This investigation was conducted by the FBI and local law enforcement officers with the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office. The indictment alleges that these 13 individuals conspired together to distribute and possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The defendants named in the indictment and their charges are as follows: Defendant Name Charges Henry M. Jefferson, Sr. Age 47 Katy, Texas Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Jefferson, Sr., who has a prior federal drug trafficking conviction, is also charged with a sentencing enhancement based on his criminal history Henry M. Jefferson, Jr. Age 30 Katy, Texas Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Distribution of methamphetamine – one count Michael Thompson Age 26 Ferriday, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Tommy L. Piercefield Age 45 Ferriday, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Tony L. Bethley Age 28 Ferriday, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Terrell Harbor Age 43 Ferriday, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Zamarion Rosenthal Age 30 Ferriday, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Ramon Martin Age 30 Ferriday, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Donteale Carter Age 27 Ferriday, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Carter, who has a prior state manslaughter conviction, is also charged with a sentencing enhancement based on his criminal history Selena Walker Age 48 Vidalia, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Gerald White Age 50 Ridgecrest, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Bradley Welch Age 38 Ridgecrest, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count Jamari Randall Age 25 Vidalia, LA Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine – one count These defendants have all been arrested and will be arraigned in federal court, with the exception of Zamarion Demon Rosenthal who remains a fugitive. If you know the whereabouts of Rosenthal, notify the FBI, Louisiana State Police, or Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office. “Our local communities suffer greatly when the trafficking of drugs takes place there, wreaking havoc on individuals who live and work in those communities,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “It is our duty as law enforcement agencies to work diligently together to try and put a stop to these drugs entering our communities. The indictment of these 13 individuals is the result of a long-term investigation that could not have happened without the cooperation and support of local, state and federal law enforcement. This is an ongoing investigation, and we are committed to continuing our joint efforts to keep these drugs off of our streets.” “In this case, thirteen is a very lucky number for the communities impacted by the individuals named in this indictment," said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "The FBI will continue to work with its strong partners in Concordia Parish and the U.S. Attorney's Office to drive those who deal in illicit drugs and their associated violence out of our neighborhoods.” “ We will continue to work diligently to remove those dealing drugs from our parish. Their actions negatively impact our youth, our families and our communities and we will not look the other way and allow this activity to occur,” said Concordia Parish Sheriff David Hedrick. “I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, Louisiana State Police, and the CPSO Narcotics Unit for their relentless efforts during this two-year endeavor.” If convicted, Henry M. Jefferson, Sr. and Donteale Carter each face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. The remaining 11 defendants each face a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, if convicted. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case is being investigated by the FBI, Louisiana State Police, and Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog. # # #


title: President of Florida-Based Investment Firm Sentenced for Role in Unregistered Broker Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – The President of a now-defunct investment firm targeting retail investors was sentenced yesterday for assisting an unregistered broker who sold securities in exchange for an undisclosed commission of approximately 40 percent. Clinton Greyling, 50, of Tamarac, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to one year of probation. He was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to forfeit $229,576. In August 2024, Greyling pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting an unregistered broker. Greyling was charged in July 30, 2024. Greyling was the President of Trends Investments, Inc., a now-shuttered Florida-based company that sold securities of fledgling public companies that were engaged in mergers. Between February 2017 and June 2019, Trends sold shares of several companies to retail investors throughout the United States. Greyling touted the companies as promising because they were supposedly about to enter new and exciting business lines, including therapeutic cannabinoids and blockchain technology. To sell the securities, Trends engaged a former registered broker, who solicited prospective customers to buy shares by falsely holding himself out as a broker and wealth manager and telling customers that the securities were promising investments. At Greyling’s direction, Trends paid the individual—who was no longer registered as a broker with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, as required—an undisclosed commission of approximately 40 percent, totaling more than $800,000 on over $1.9 million in sales. Greyling also assisted the individual by providing positive information about the companies, including information about when the companies’ securities would purportedly begin active trading on the over-the-counter market. Trends, however, ultimately did not timely deliver shares to customers and the promised investment returns did not materialize. The shares sold to investors were ultimately worthless as a practical matter, as the customers were generally unable to deposit or trade them in a timely manner. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James R. Drabick of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Oroville Hospital to Pay $10.25 Million to Resolve Allegations of Kickbacks and False Billing

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, California — Oroville Hospital has agreed to pay $10.25 million to the United States and the State of California to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today. The settlement resolves allegations that Oroville Hospital engaged in an illegal kickback and physician self-referral scheme by paying kickbacks to physicians for patients they admitted to the hospital, and that it knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal for medically unnecessary hospital admissions and claims that included false diagnosis codes. Oroville Hospital will pay $9,518,954 to the federal government and $731,046 to the State of California. “Physicians should make decisions based the best interests of their patients, not their own personal financial interests,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Hospitals engaging in kickback schemes betray the trust placed in them by their communities and distort care decisions that should be untainted by illegal kickbacks. This settlement demonstrates my office’s commitment to preserving the integrity of public healthcare programs and ensuring that the well-being of patients remains paramount.” “Improperly billing federal health care programs depletes valuable government resources used to provide medical care to millions of Americans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to advocate for the appropriate use of Medicare and Medicaid funds, and we will pursue health care providers who defraud taxpayers by knowingly submitting false claims.” The settlement resolves allegations that, to increase hospital admissions, Oroville Hospital illegally paid kickbacks to its physicians who were responsible for deciding whether individuals should be admitted as inpatients. These physicians allegedly received a bonus based on how many patients they admitted, according to the settlement agreement. The settlement also resolves allegations that Oroville Hospital admitted patients as inpatients when it knew inpatient care was not medically necessary. Oroville Hospital then submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for inpatient care, which is more expensive. Oroville Hospital further allegedly submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid that included false diagnosis codes for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), resulting in excessive reimbursement to the Hospital. In connection with the settlement, Oroville Hospital entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) that requires, among other requirements, the implementation of a risk assessment and internal review process designed to identify and address evolving compliance risks. The Corporate Integrity Agreement also requires an independent review organization to, among other requirements, annually assess both the medical necessity and appropriateness of select claims billed to Medicare and policies and systems to track arrangements with some referral sources. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Cecilia Guardiola. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Cecilia Guardiola v. Oroville Hosp. , Case No. 2:20-CV-1558 (E.D. Cal.). As part of the settlement announced today, Ms. Guardiola will receive approximately $1.8 million. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Tennyson handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the California Department of Justice, Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Note: View the settlement here.


title: North Andover Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Over 30 Firearms and Explosives as a Convicted Felon

body_text: BOSTON – A North Andover, Mass. man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to possessing over 30 firearms and explosives as a convicted felon. Daniel Medina, 64, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosives and as a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for April 3, 2025. In October 2024, Medina was charged by criminal complaint. On July 1, 2024, law enforcement was dispatched to the area of Medina’s North Andover residence after receiving a report of an explosion. Upon arrival, damage to two vehicles was observed as well as a piece of mail addressed to Medina beneath the damaged rear passenger door of one vehicle. The damages to the vehicles and materials left behind were consistent with common items used in manufacturing homemade explosive devices, specifically ball bearings or shrapnel. Witnesses observed Medina running from the damaged vehicles toward his residence following the explosion. During a search of Medina’s residence the following day, the following items were seized:v32 firearms, including 12 rifles, 15 pistols, three shotguns and two antique firearms; 9,000 rounds of various calibers of modern ammunition manufactured outside of Massachusetts; 75 magazines for various caliber firearms; various firearm parts; a Glock switch device; books pertaining to the building of firearms and manufacturing of explosives and drugs; shrapnel accessories such as BB’s and ball bearings; multiple firework containers; and various containers of powders produced and shipped in interstate commerce. Potassium chlorate and aluminum powder – the same flash powder found in the suspected explosive material used for the prior day’s explosion – were found in the containers. Medina is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition and explosive material due to a 2002 state conviction of assault and battery in Lawrence District Court, for which he was sentenced to two and a half years in jail. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of illegal possession of a machine gun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of illegal possession of an explosive material provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the North Andover Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United States

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Guatemalan national was sentenced to 5 years in prison for illegally re-entering the United States after being convicted and deported for a felony. According to court documents, Marcos Perez-Hernandez, 25, was found illegally present in Rankin County, Mississippi on May 23, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a felony and deported from the United States in 2018. Perez-Hernandez was stopped by a Rankin County Sheriff’s officer for careless driving, driving under the influence and no driver’s license. Perez-Hernandez pled guilty on September 5, 2024, to illegal reentry after being deported following a state felony conviction for kidnapping in Tennessee. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Field Office Director Mellisa B. Harper of Immigration and Customs (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New Orleans, made the announcement. The case was investigated by ICE ERO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted the case.


title: Norfolk fentanyl trafficker sentenced to over 14 years in prison

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

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk woman was sentenced today to 14 years and six months in prison for fentanyl trafficking. According to court documents, in December 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) intercepted a parcel containing one pound of cocaine that was sent from a UPS store in Chula Vista, California, to an address in Norfolk. On Dec. 13, 2023, a controlled delivery was conducted at the intended address. A coconspirator collected the package and started driving in the direction of the residence of Felisha Alexander, aka Fe, 48. Upon realizing law enforcement was following, the co-conspirator threw the parcel from the car. During the roadside detention and investigation of the coconspirator after the car was stopped, investigators observed Alexander watching and video recording the detention and arrest of the co-conspirator. A short time later, Investigators saw Alexander and a second coconspirator leaving Alexander’s residence. The second coconspirator placed a backpack in the trunk of a vehicle parked directly in front of the residence. With consent and based on a canine alert, investigators searched the vehicle and Alexander’s residence. Investigators recovered the backpack, which contained 1,779 grams of a mixture of para-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl as well as 2,815 fentanyl pills pressed to appear like legitimate medicine. From Alexander's residence, investigators recovered numerous tracking receipts for shipped parcels, a loaded handgun, and approximately $82,000. A search of cellphones recovered during the investigation contained communications between Alexander and a third co-conspirator coordinating the shipping and distribution of controlled substances as well as multiple photos of large quantities of suspected methamphetamine, heroin, and other controlled substances and large quantities of money. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kai Wah Chan, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Washington, D.C.; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division; Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony C. Marek prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-61.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Weapons Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –CYRIL HOFFMAN, JR. (“HOFFMAN”) , age 26, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on December 10, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Darrel J. Papillion to two counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and receipt of a firearm while under indictment, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(n) and 924(a)(1)(D). According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at HOFFMAN ’s residence on August 20, 2021. FBI personnel recovered marijuana that HOFFMAN intended to sell and six firearms from HOFFMAN ’s bedroom. Specifically, the FBI recovered a Brothers LA Arms .300 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with a 60 round magazine; a Palmetto State Armory Model PA-15, .223/5.56 millimeter caliber semi-automatic rifle, loaded with a 30 round magazine; an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15, 5.56 millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with a high-capacity magazine containing live rounds; a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 20 live rounds; a Glock Model 19, 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 14 live rounds; and a Glock Model 17, 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 17 live rounds. A few weeks before the execution of the search warrant, HOFFMAN was indicted in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for six felony offenses, including four counts of attempted second degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit second degree murder. Following the search warrant, HOFFMAN was arrested on those charges but bonded out of jail in June 2022. On October 25, 2022, while still under indictment and awaiting trial in Orleans Parish, deputies with the United States Marshals Service encountered HOFFMAN inside a motel room in New Orleans East. There was a Glock Model 22, .40 caliber firearm inside the room, which HOFFMAN denied was his. However, the FBI later found messages that HOFFMAN sent to a third-party admitting he was in possession of the gun. HOFFMAN continued to sell marijuana while on bond and on May 17, 2023, FBI personnel executed another search warrant at HOFFMAN ’s new residence and recovered marijuana, digital scales, and packaging supplies for distribution. As to each of his convictions for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, HOFFMAN faces up to five years in prison and a minimum of two years of supervised release. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, and up to three years of supervised release. As to his conviction for receipt of a firearm while under indictment, he faces up to 5 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Department of Justice Wins Forfeiture of $12 Million Connected to Iran’s Illicit Petroleum Industry

body_text: WASHINGTON – The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on November 21, 2024, ordered the forfeiture of $11,996,818.82 connected with Triliance Petrochemical Company Limited (Triliance), a well-known Iranian front company supporting the Iranian regime’s petrochemical industry which has financially supported the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and foreign terrorist organizations including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) and the IRGC-Quds Forces (IRGC-QF). The forfeiture was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves of the District of Columbia, Special Agent in Charge John Condon of Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Bay Office, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin Winston of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. The Court’s action came in response to the Motion for Default Judgment filed by the United States. The Court’s written opinion granting the motion found that the United States established that the funds afforded the potential claimants - all front companies organized by Triliance for the Iranian regime – a “source of influence over the IRGC and IRGC-QF.” The Court also found that, as required, the government provided appropriate notice of the action to the potential claimants so that they had the opportunity to advocate for their interest in U.S. District Court. None of the potential claimants or any other party claimed an interest in the seized funds. The court’s Order places all right, title, and interest in the forfeited funds with the United States of America. On January 23, 2020, the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) sanctioned Triliance for transferring funds on behalf of the National Iranian Oil Company (NOIC) in connection with the sale of Iranian petroleum products. On October 26, 2020, OFAC sanctioned NIOC and the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum under their counterterrorism authority, for their financial support of the IRGC and IRGC-QF, both designated foreign terrorist organizations. After Triliance was designated, multiple entities were formed as Iranian front companies, including Petrochem South East Limited, Dynapex Energy Limited, Binrin Limited, Sibshur Limited, and Dinrin Limited, to facilitate the continued illicit sale of Iranian petroleum products using the U.S. financial system in violation of U.S. sanctions. Each of these specifically named entities have been sanctioned by OFAC. For example, on August 27, 2020, a Singapore company sent two wires totaling $5,467,958.94 to Dynapex through a U.S. bank to facilitate the purchase of Iranian petroleum. At the time of the transfers, OFAC found Triliance used Dynapex to facilitate the sale of tens of thousands of metric tons of Iranian petrochemical products. Shortly before and after the August 27, 2020, wire transfers, multiple oil tankers owned and/or operated by Dynapex were, on various occasions, found to be in Iranian waters and presumed have Iranian petroleum cargo on board. Between approximately March 27, 2020, through approximately October 1, 2020, each of the above-mentioned entities either sent or received funds, using the U.S. financial system, in order to support and facilitate the sale and transportation of Iranian petroleum in violation of U.S. sanctions. This matter was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigation’s Tampa Bay Field Office and the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajbir Datta of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section handled the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers, Paralegal Latina Sanders, and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick. Former Assistant United States Attorney Michael Grady and National Security Division Trial Attorney David Recker provided significant assistance in this investigation.


title: Centre County Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 24 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on John Cyphert, 64. According to information presented to the Court, from November 2019 to March 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Cyphert conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Cyphert was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of methamphetamine that he distributed to others. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. U.S. Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Cyphert. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Jury Convicts Man for Anti-LGBTQ Assault Against Two Men and Threats to a Female Club Employee in NW DC

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Franklin Siate, 42, of Washington, D.C., was convicted today of assaulting two local men near U Street, NW, because of their perceived LGBTQ-status, and making violent threats against the woman in charge of security at the 9:30 Club while she was protecting patrons in line for a Taylor Swift dance party, announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The two assault charges carry a bias-related hate crime enhancement. The verdict followed a jury trial in Superior Court of the District of Columbia before Judge Jennifer Di Toro. Sentencing will take place on February 10, 2025. On the night of August 3, 2024, Siate verbally and then physically accosted multiple people outside of the 9:30 Club. First, he approached a line of patrons waiting to enter the concert venue for a Taylor Swift Dance Party and started yelling at them. He then turned his attention to a 9:30 Club employee and threatened to rape and murder her. He then saw two men walking by, holding hands, and acting affectionately towards one another. Siate followed them down the block saying, “Gays cannot hold hands in my city,” “You’re in my living room,” and yelling a slur at them. He then picked up a sign outside of another establishment, lifted it over his head, and charged the two men. An MPD police officer arrived just in time to stop Siate from attacking the men. Siate was arrested on Augst 3, 2024, and released on personal reconnaissance. Siate was then arrested on new, unrelated charges on August 31, 2024, and has been in custody since September 9, 2024. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari B. Rubin and Douglas Maggs.


title: Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for enticing numerous children to produce and record sexually explicit conduct. Using the screennames “coreyjohnsonnn” and “jayyyjansen,” GLENN CLIFFORD MESSMER communicated with children on the social media platforms Telegram and Snapchat and paid them to produce sexually explicit material in accordance with his instructions. Messmer maintained detailed notes about his victims, identifying their names, ages, friends, years in school, physical features, and willingness to engage with him. A law enforcement search of Messmer’s electronic devices after his arrest in 2023 showed that he possessed more than 350,000 images and nearly 18,000 videos depicting child sexual abuse. Many of the images and videos depicted sexual abuse of prepubescent children, including some as young as four years old. Messmer, 48, of Darien, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal child pornography charge. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama sentenced Messmer to 19 years and seven months in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Homeland Security Investigations. The Darien, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sushma Raju and Adam L. Rosenbloom. If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


title: Final men convicted in brutal human smuggling scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Efrain Rodriguez-Mendoza is last of six to be convicted as part of the scheme that resulted in the death of two people. Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez, 52, a citizen of El Salvador illegally residing in Houston entered his plea Dec. 9. “These defendants violated the trust of victims when they agreed to transport them to a safe place in the United States,” said Hamdani. “Instead, they brutalized them and beat them to death, all because they could not pay to be released. These violent criminals will no longer be able to prey on victims and their families.” “In my 29 years working in law enforcement, I’ve unfortunately had to witness some unspeakable horrors, but what these men did to these migrants is pure evil and among the most reprehensible and vile criminal actions I’ve ever encountered,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Thanks to the dedicated special agents and law enforcement officers who tirelessly worked to uncover their identities and connect them to these crimes, they will be held accountable for their actions, but I plead with anyone thinking of relying on human smugglers to illegally enter the U.S. to stop and think about the potential consequences. Not only are you jeopardizing your ability to ever obtain legal status in the country, you’re putting your life in the hands of merciless transnational criminal organizations that routinely assault, kidnap and even murder the people they are paid to supposedly help.” Between Nov. 6-17, 2006, Rodriguez-Mendoza and Wilmar Rene Duran-Gomez engaged in a scheme together and with others to harbor illegal aliens in Houston. They would then transport them to locations within Texas and throughout the United States for the purpose of financial gain. Duran-Gomez operated a warehouse business in Houston where conspirators held illegal aliens until they paid their smuggling fees or had transportation arranged. While held there, they were placed in two groups - paid and unpaid. Those in the unpaid group were beaten and accused of trying to escape the warehouse. They were also not given food or water or even allowed to use the restroom. Some were naked and had their hands bound. Conspirators would call their families to demand payment of smuggling fees. They said the aliens were being beaten and would be killed if their fees were not paid. Two of those in the unpaid group were subjected to the most brutal of the beatings and died as a result of days of assaults. Following the deaths, Rodriguez Mendoza, Duran Gomez and Jose Bolanos wrapped the two victims with blankets, loaded them onto a truck and dosed the bodies with gasoline. They drove to a field in Fort Bend County and attempted to set the truck on fire, but failed. They left the truck in the field with the victims’ bodies inside the vehicle. Authorities located the victims approximately Nov. 16, 2006. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the pleas and set sentencing for March 2025. At that time, they face up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Both men have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Jenkins Stotts and Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.