title: Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Vaccine Card Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A New York woman pleaded guilty today to fraudulently destroying over 2,600 COVID-19 vaccines and issuing a corresponding number of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination record cards. According to court documents, Kathleen Breault, 66, of Cambridge, a midwife at Sage-Femme Midwifery PLLC (Safe-Femme), an authorized COVID-19 vaccine administration site in Albany, New York, conspired to obstruct the government’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines by providing COVID-19 vaccination record cards to individuals who were not vaccinated, including to minors who were at the time ineligible to be vaccinated and to Canadian citizens who were not present in the United States when they were purportedly vaccinated. In addition to destroying COVID-19 vaccines and issuing fraudulent vaccination record cards, Breault and her co-conspirators made over 2,600 false entries into a New York State database that tracked COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Breault agreed to pay more than $37,000 in restitution for the destroyed vaccines. Breault pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and its departments and agencies. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 18 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Assistant Director in Charge James H. Smith III of the FBI New York Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the New York State Department of Health. Trial Attorneys Patrick J. Campbell and Hyungjoo Han of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Fredericksburg man pleads guilty to defrauding COVID-19 relief program

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fredericksburg man pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in defrauding a federal COVID-19 relief program. According to court documents, in September 2017, Sherman Green Jr., 34, incorporated the business entity Green Information Solutions LLC (“GIS”) and later opened business banking accounts for GIS at Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU). In May 2020, a co-conspirator told Green about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a COVID-19 relief program intended to provide loans backed by the Small Business Administration to certain businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other entities to help them retain their employees or stay afloat during the pandemic. Green and his co-conspirator prepared and submitted a PPP loan application to Atlantic Union Bank on behalf of GIS with the assistance of a senior bank officer at Atlantic Union Bank. In the loan application, Green represented that he was the President/CEO of the company, and falsely claimed that GIS employed seven employees with an average monthly payroll of $78,215.41. Based on these false representations, Atlantic Union Bank awarded GIS a first-draw PPP loan in the amount of $195,500, which was deposited into an Atlantic Union Bank account in the name of GIS on May 11, 2020. Green then purchased a series of cashier’s checks drawn on the money from the fraudulently obtained PPP loan and deposited them into GIS’s NFCU business checking account. Although the memo lines on two of the cashier’s checks referred to “payroll” or other business expenses, GIS did not have any employees or any legitimate business expenses. Between May 2020 and March 2021, Green transferred $81,131.60 from GIS’s NFCU business checking account to his personal bank accounts. In March 2021, Green and his co-conspirator collaborated again to electronically submit a second-draw PPP loan application to Atlantic Union Bank on behalf of GIS. In this application, Green fraudulently claimed that GIS had five employees with an average monthly payroll of approximately $57,486, and had gross receipts of approximately $1,000,500 in 2019 and $700,000 in 2020. Based on these misrepresentations, Atlantic Union Bank awarded GIS a second-draw PPP loan in the amount of $143,715. Green set up payroll and expense accounts for GIS at Atlantic Union Bank and transferred the second-draw funds into them. Green then used those funds for other purposes, such as payment to Ford Motor Credit, and transferred funds into his personal accounts. To conceal his misuse of the PPP loans, Green set up a Quickbooks account in which transfers falsely appeared as “payroll” in bank statements. From June 15 to July 15 in 2021, Green made seven such transactions knowing they involved criminally derived property and were not being used for payroll. Green is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 3 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stephen Ravas, Acting Inspector General for AmeriCorp; David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; John Perez, Special Agent in Charge, Headquarters Operations, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Michael J. Missal, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine E. Rumbaugh and Heidi B. Gesch are prosecuting the case. 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. 1:24-cr-122.


title: Real Estate Investor Pleads Guilty to $54.7M Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to engaging in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain over $54.7 million in loans and to fraudulently acquire multifamily and commercial properties. According to court documents, between 2016 and 2022, Aron Puretz, 53, conspired with others to deceive lenders into issuing multifamily and commercial mortgage loans. Puretz and his co-conspirators provided the lenders with fictitious documents, including purchase contracts with inflated purchase prices, fake financial statements, and other fraudulent documents. Puretz was an employee of Apex Equity Group, a real estate investment and advisory firm, and one of the owners of Maple Lawn in Eureka, Illinois, and Big Country Chateau in Little Rock, Arkansas, both multifamily properties, and Troy Technology Park in Troy, Michigan, a commercial property. In February 2017, Maple Lawn was acquired for $4.1 million. However, Puretz and his co-conspirators from Apex Equity Group utilized the identity of a co-conspirator to present a lender and Freddie Mac with a purchase and sale contract for $5.8 million and other fraudulent documents. On Feb. 17, 2017, a title and settlement company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two closings, one for the true $4.1 million sales price and another for the fraudulent $5.8 million sales price presented to the lender. Furthermore, part of the conspiracy was to create a nonprofit entity, JPC Charities, for the purpose of receiving tax-exempt status for the properties owned by Puretz and co-conspirators. Puretz and co-conspirators provided false statements to the city of Eureka, Illinois, to receive a property tax exception. In July 2019, Puretz and his co-conspirators acquired Big Country Chateau. However, Puretz knew the lender and Freddie Mac would not approve him as an owner, and used the identity of an associate instead of his own. Furthermore, Puretz hid his ownership and involvement with the property management company from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal and state agencies. In September 2020, Troy Technology Park was acquired for $42.7 million. However, Puretz and his co-conspirators presented the lender with a fraudulent purchase and sale contract for $70 million. Additionally, to support the inflated purchase price, Puretz and his co-conspirators submitted to the lender and appraiser a fraudulent letter of intent to purchase the property from another party for $68 million and other fraudulent documents. To conceal the fraudulent nature of the transaction, Puretz and his co-conspirators arranged for a short-term $30 million loan, which was used to make it appear that they had the funds needed to close on the loan. On Sept. 25, 2020, a title and settlement company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two closings, one for the true $42.7 million sales price and another for the fraudulent $70 million sales price presented to the lender. Puretz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 30 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey; Inspector General Brian M. Tomney of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG); and Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement. FHFA-OIG and USPIS are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Nye for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case.


title: Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kevin Lemar Legrand, 23, of Beaver, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 16, 2023, Legrand sold approximately 7.2 grams of fentanyl for $600 to a confidential informant. The transaction took place at Legrand’s Beaver residence. Legrand admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling a total of approximately 6.2 grams of fentanyl for a total of $1,200 to a confidential informant at his residence on two other occasions in February 2023. Legrand is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting 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. 5:24-cr-13. ###


title: Over 12,900 pounds of Methamphetamine Seized and 22 Traffickers Charged

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Twenty-two participants in a drug-trafficking ring have been charged with conspiring to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl imported from Mexico into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. According to court documents, Operation Toxic Waste, an investigation into a sophisticated drug trafficking ring, has resulted in the seizure of more than 12,900 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 50 pounds of fentanyl mixture, 39 pounds of cocaine, and 22 pounds of heroin. As evidenced by tens of thousands of recorded communications, the organization smuggled methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl (powder and pills) in portable projectors and batteries, under the guise of a legitimate transportation business. The organization also secreted thousands of pounds of methamphetamine inside semi-trucks and hundreds of pounds of liquid methamphetamine in the gas tanks of cars and brought it across the border. The Mexican-based organization monitored the narcotics with the use of GPS tracking devices hidden with the smuggled drugs. “Criminal organizations that bring drugs here like methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin in large quantities for profit pose a direct threat to the residents of the Eastern District of California,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to joining with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.” “Protecting our communities is a team effort; the FBI works in collaboration with its local, state, federal, and international partners to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our country ensuring a safer future for all Americans,” said Special Agent Sid Patel, who leads the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “This operation exemplifies the FBI’s commitment to collaborative investigations aimed at disrupting drug trafficking organizations who import dangerous drugs including fentanyl into our communities. Together, with the support of the public, we can make a difference.” According to court documents, the following were indicted by a federal grand jury in Fresno and were subsequently arrested based on the allegations below: Adolfo Montiel, 45, of Lancaster, was charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy as well as with distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Between January and March 2023, Montiel used his residence as a “stash house” to store, package, and distribute the organization’s drugs to dealers throughout California and other states. He also illegally possessed and sold firearms. Jose Nunez, 42, of Lancaster, was charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Between April 2023 and May 2024, Nunez used residences in Los Angeles County to store, package, and distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. He also operated a methamphetamine laboratory in Los Angeles County. Jesus Perez Garcia Jr., 24, of Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He was responsible for coordinating the receipt of drugs that the organization smuggled across the border and stored, packaged, and distributed the drugs to resellers. Andres Silva-Corona Perez, 42, of San Bernardino, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He operated a “stash house” with more than 500 pounds of methamphetamine for the drug-trafficking ring. Ruben Saenz, 36, of Los Angeles, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He transported over 4,700 pounds of methamphetamine that had been smuggled across the border in a semi-truck. Elvis David Vasquez, 32, of Northridge, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He operated a methamphetamine stash house for the organization where he stored and repackaged over 170 pounds of methamphetamine. Sergio Pena, 30, of Hacienda Heights, was charged with conspiring to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl and distribution of methamphetamine. Pena stored and distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and firearms. Mirella Castillo, 41, of Lancaster, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Kiara Sinaii Valdivia, 29, of Pittsburg, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Calvin Guntetong, 26, of North Hollywood, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Jacklyn Saenz, 33, of Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Luz Maria Cobrera Salazar, 41, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Jose Galan Lopez, 22, of Chula Vista, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Allen Khamtrashyan, 26, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Emily Vela, 23, of North Hills, was charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Los Angeles Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case. If convicted, the defendants face a range of sentences, including maximum penalties of 20 years, 40 years, and life in prison. Several defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 5 and 10 years. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.


title: Texas Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Nolan Eugene McCray, age 39, of Bay City, Texas, was sentenced today to 87 months for aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, McCray was selling methamphetamine in Wetzel County. A search of the place in which McCray was staying yielded methamphetamine and nearly $15,000 cash. McCray will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s office investigated. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to engaging in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain over $54.7 million in loans and to fraudulently acquire multifamily and commercial properties. According to court documents, between 2016 and 2022, Aron Puretz, 53, conspired with others to deceive lenders into issuing multifamily and commercial mortgage loans. Puretz and his conspirators provided the lenders with fictitious documents, including purchase contracts with inflated purchase prices, fake financial statements, and other fraudulent documents. Puretz was an employee of Apex Equity Group, a real estate investment and advisory firm, and one of the owners of Maple Lawn in Eureka, Illinois, and Big Country Chateau in Little Rock, Arkansas, both multifamily properties, and Troy Technology Park in Troy, Michigan, a commercial property. In February 2017, Maple Lawn was acquired for $4.1 million. However, Puretz and his conspirators from Apex Equity Group utilized the identity of a conspirator to present a lender and Freddie Mac with a purchase and sale contract for $5.8 million and other fraudulent documents. On Feb. 17, 2017, a title and settlement company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two closings, one for the true $4.1 million sales price and another for the fraudulent $5.8 million sales price presented to the lender. Part of the conspiracy was to create a nonprofit entity, JPC Charities, for the purpose of receiving tax-exempt status for the properties owned by Puretz and co-conspirators. Puretz and his conspirators provided false statements to the city of Eureka, Illinois, to receive a property tax exception. In July 2019, Puretz and his conspirators acquired Big Country Chateau. However, Puretz knew the lender and Freddie Mac would not approve him as an owner, and used the identity of an associate instead of his own. Puretz hid his ownership and involvement with the property management company from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal and state agencies. In September 2020, Troy Technology Park was acquired for $42.7 million. However, Puretz and his co-conspirators presented the lender with a fraudulent purchase and sale contract for $70 million. To support the inflated purchase price, Puretz and his conspirators submitted to the lender and appraiser a fraudulent letter of intent to purchase the property from another party for $68 million and other fraudulent documents. To conceal the fraudulent nature of the transaction, Puretz and his conspirators arranged for a short-term $30 million loan, which was used to make it appear that they had the funds needed to close on the loan. On Sept. 25, 2020, a title and settlement company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two closings, one for the true $42.7 million sales price and another for the fraudulent $70 million sales price presented to the lender. Puretz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 30, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Inspector General Brian M. Tomney of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG); and Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement. FHFA-OIG and USPIS are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Nye for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Dallas Residents Plead Guilty to Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – HECTOR OMAR SEGURA-LARA (“SEGURA-LARA”) age 35, and JOSE ANTONIO ORTEGA-SILVA (“ ORTEGA-SILVA”) , age 32, both residents of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty on June 13, 2024 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, on August 25, 2021, near milepost 56 on Interstate 12, Louisiana State Troopers conducted a traffic stop of a Chrysler 200 occupied by SEGURA-LARA and ORTEGA-SILVA . When the vehicle occupants provided contradictory answers to the troopers regarding their itinerary, the troopers conducted a consensual search of the vehicle. During the search, the troopers noticed that a twelve-volt battery was attached to the car battery and that the twelve-bolt battery was powering the car. Inside the actual car battery, were four kilograms of cocaine discovered by the troopers. Both SEGURA-LARA and ORTEGA-SILVA acknowledged they were driving to Virginia to deliver drugs. ORTEGA-SILVA admitted that at the request of another individual, he obtained the vehicle in Dallas and drove it to Houston where another individual loaded the vehicle with drugs. The plan was for ORTEGA-SILVA and SEGURA-LARA to then drive to Virginia where individuals would unload the drugs and place the proceeds ($152,000.00) in the car battery. ORTEGA-SILVA and SEGURA-LARA were instructed to then return to Texas with the proceeds. For the conspiracy count charged, ORTEGA-SILVA and SEGURA-LARA each face a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, a mandatory minimum term of supervised release of three years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. This case was investigated by the Louisiana State Police and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.


title: New York Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Vaccine Card Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Kathleen Breault pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States by fraudulently destroying over 2,600 COVID-19 vaccines and issuing a corresponding number of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination record cards. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner. United States Attorney Breon Peace of the Eastern District of New York, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea. According to court documents, Kathleen Breault, a midwife at Sage-Femme Midwifery PLLC (Sage-Femme), an authorized COVID-19 vaccine administration site in Albany, New York, conspired to obstruct the government’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines by providing COVID-19 vaccination record cards to individuals who were not vaccinated, including to minors who were at the time ineligible to be vaccinated and Canadian citizens who were not present in the United States when they were purportedly vaccinated. In addition to destroying COVID-19 vaccines and issuing fraudulent vaccination record cards, Breault and her co-conspirators made over 2,600 false entries into a New York State database that tracked COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Breault agreed to repay more than $37,000 in restitution for the destroyed vaccines. Breault pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and its departments and agencies. When sentenced, Breault faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The FBI is investigating the case. The New York State Department of Health assisted with the investigation. Trial Attorneys Patrick J. Campbell and Hyungjoo Han of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . The Defendant: KATHLEEN BREAULT Age: 66 Cambridge, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 23-CR-158 (RPK)


title: Huntington Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Christina Lynn Perkins, also known as “Christina Lynn Jack-Davis,” “Cece,” “Christi Jack,” “Ice Queen,” and “CJ,” 52, of Huntington, was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 24, 2020, Perkins sold approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $800. The transaction occurred at Perkins’ apartment. Perkins admitted to the transaction and to arranging it with the confidential informant beforehand. Perkins further admitted to arranging for another individual to sell approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on July 23, 2020, and to selling approximately 13.71 grams of methamphetamine for $350 to a confidential informant in Huntington on December 3, 2020. Following the December 3, 2020, transaction, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Perkins was driving. Officers seized approximately 314 grams of methamphetamine, 27 grams of cocaine, 6 grams of fentanyl and digital scales. Perkins admitted that she intended to sell the seized controlled substances in exchange for money. On December 4, 2020, officers searched a residence in Huntington where Perkins stayed as a guest. Officers seized approximately 123 grams of fentanyl, 449 grams of methamphetamine, 139 grams of cocaine and four firearms. Perkins admitted to possessing the firearms and to intending to sell the seized controlled substances. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Ona Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West, and the West Virginia State Police. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-178. ###


title: Former College Football Player Pleads Guilty to a Fraud Scheme Involving More than $1 Million in COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former college football player and Orange County man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a scheme that fraudulently sought more than $1 million and obtained more than $280,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits. Abdul-Malik McClain, 24, most recently of Coto de Caza, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. “Instead of using his time at a major university to advance his athletic and academic life, this defendant took advantage of a public health emergency to fraudulently obtain government benefits,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “My office will continue to vigorously prosecute individuals who used the recent pandemic for their own unlawful ends.” “Mr. McLain squandered his gifts and opportunities only to defraud taxpayers whose hard-earned money was appropriated for deserving victims during the Covid era,” said Krysti Hawkins, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to identify those who leveraged the Covid pandemic to commit fraud and hold them accountable.” According to his plea agreement, while a member of his university’s football team, McClain filed fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits and organized and assisted a group of other football players in filing fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits, including under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program established by Congress in response to COVID-19’s economic fallout. McClain and others filed the claims with the California Employment Development Department (EDD), the administrator of the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) benefit program. The claims contained false information about the claimants’ supposed prior employment, pandemic-related job loss, and job-seeking efforts in California. The false statements in the UI applications led EDD to authorize Bank of America to mail debit cards addressed to the named claimants, often to addresses that McClain controlled, such that McClain (and not the named claimants) received the debit cards. Those debit cards were loaded with various amounts in fraudulently obtained benefits, ranging from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits, which the recipients of the debit cards, including in many instances McClain himself, used to make cash withdrawals at ATMs and to fund personal expenses. In some cases, McClain sought and obtained a cut of the fraudulently obtained benefits for helping others file fraudulent UI applications. McClain’s and his co-schemers’ fraudulent applications sought at least $1,056,092 in UI benefits from EDD and led to receiving at least $283,063 in fraudulently obtained benefits. United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald scheduled a September 16 sentencing hearing, at which McClain will face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. “Abdul-Malik McClain defrauded our nation’s unemployment insurance (UI) system by filing for UI benefits in the names of identity theft victims, while so many deserving people were suffering from pandemic-related economic challenges,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent in Charge, Western Region, United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. “The benefits were intended for those who truly needed it, not for greedy individuals who chose to exploit the system. The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General remains dedicated to its mission to combat UI fraud. Our efforts to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes is unwavering. I would also like to thank our state and federal law enforcement partners in Los Angeles in this collaborative investigative effort.” The FBI; the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Office of Inspector General; the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General; and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this matter. The university, called “University 1” in the indictment, cooperated in this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kerry L. Quinn of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. More information on the Justice Department’s response to the pandemic may be found here . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF online complaint form .


title: Guilty Plea in the July 2021 Death of an Innocent Bystander Caught in the Crossfire of a NW Gun Battle

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jonathan Brown, 31, pleaded guilty today to participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed crack cocaine in Northwest Washington D.C. and for his involvement in the July 31, 2021, slaying of Kervin Sanches, an innocent bystander, caught in a shootout on a street corner controlled by members of Brown’s drug trafficking conspiracy. The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Brown, aka “Tsunami,” of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty to a two-count criminal Information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine base and voluntary manslaughter while armed. U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2024. According to court documents, in late 2021, the MPD and FBI began investigating violent crime and drug trafficking activities near 7 th Street and O Street, NW. During the investigation, Brown visited a stash house at 1221 M Street on a regular basis. Brown sold controlled substances with co-conspirators on various occasions and text messages recovered from his phone indicated that he was selling fentanyl and cocaine base. Law enforcement used undercover officers to purchase hundreds of grams of cocaine base and fentanyl from members of the drug trafficking conspiracy. During the investigation, law enforcement determined the group was working together to control the drug trafficking activity in their territory. Their territory was primarily located at the corner of 7 th and O Street, NW, the site of the July 31, 2021 shootout that resulted in Kervin Sanches’ death. On July 31, 2021, at about 11:20 p.m., Brown traveled by car to the area of 7 th and O Streets NW with a loaded firearm. An unidentified male in a grey Pontiac followed Brown and parked nearby. Brown exited his car and then walked across the street to meet with a group of associates and others. As Brown approached the group, the unidentified male approached with a gun in his hand. Brown pulled a firearm from his waistband and began shooting at the unidentified gunman, who returned fire. The group scattered. Brown and the gunman continued to shoot at each other while taking cover behind trees and cars. As the gun battle continued, occupants of a white automobile parked near Brown’s car also began shooting at the unidentified gunman. Police later recovered more than 25 shell casings at the scene. Sanches, who had been part of the group standing on the corner of 7 th and O Streets, was struck by a bullet as he attempted to flee the gunfire. Sanches, 31, died of his wound at a nearby hospital. This case was investigated by the MPD and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rosenberg, Solomon Eppel, and Erin DeRiso of the U.S, Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 23cr79


title: Rio Grande City resident sent to prison after attempt to transport over $370,000 of marijuana

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 41-year-old man has been sentenced following his conviction of possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jeremiah Hawthorne pleaded guilty May 5, 2021. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Hawthorne to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. On Sept. 9, 2020, law enforcement observed a suspicious GMC Yukon approaching the Rio Grande River at an area known for drug trafficking. Shortly thereafter, they noticed the vehicle returning from the river, then heading north. At that time, the vehicle appeared to be riding low as if it was carrying a heavy load. Authorities attempted to conduct a traffic stop. However, the vehicle rolled over after trying to reverse in uneven terrain. The vehicle’s operator - Hawthorne - then attempted to flee on foot. Authorities successfully apprehended him after he had physically resisted. Inside of the vehicle, law enforcement discovered multiple bundles of marijuana weighing approximately 214 kilograms. Hawthorne will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps prosecuted the case.


title: Baytown man admits to making bomb threats

body_text: HOUSTON – A 37-year-old local man has entered a guilty plea to three counts of sending threatening communications through interstate commerce, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Joshua Guadalupe Magana admitted to sending bomb threats on multiple occasions to the White House, FBI and other organizations over the course of several years. Law enforcement had previously warned him that making such threats is a crime and could subject him to imprisonment. Specifically, Magana pleaded guilty to the charge related to a threat made June 4, 2019, when he called the FBI and said he would blow up the White House. “There is a bomb. I’m going to blow up the White House,” he stated and then hung up. Magana admitted to making the call and claimed he picked the White House because it was the most important building he could think of and wanted a “big, serious” response. Magana contacted the White House directly Dec. 15, 2021, and sent an email with the subject line reading “Contact the President” and a message stating “Bomb the White House.” On Feb. 27, 2022, Magana contacted the White House again and sent a similar threatening email. “We take all threats seriously,” said Hamdani. “People cannot convey their political or social disagreements through threats or violence.” U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal will impose sentencing Oct. 2. At that time, Magana faces up to five years in federal prison. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. Secret Service and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter is prosecuting the case.


title: Fresno Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Caregiver Fraud Against Vulnerable Malibu Physician

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Fresno man was sentenced today to 188 months in federal prison for defrauding a vulnerable physician out of more than $2.7 million before his death and then attempting to defraud his estate out of an additional amount exceeding $20 million. Anthony David Flores, 47, a.k.a. “Anton David,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who also ordered Flores to pay $1 million in restitution. “This defendant heartlessly lined his own pockets while his victim mentally and physically declined, and ultimately died,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Financial fraudsters can prey on anyone, even the most financially successful among us. We hope that our efforts to convict and now sentence this defendant bring some solace to the victim’s family.” “Mr. Flores and his co-defendant lived large on the victim's massive wealth while they relentlessly robbed and exploited his vulnerabilities until he succumbed to an early death,” said Krysti Hawkins, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendant deprived the victim's family access to their loved one and then dragged them through years of litigation. This case is a reminder that grifters who prey on vulnerable and unsuspecting victims cannot be tolerated by society or the law.” Flores pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, two counts of money laundering, and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Flores’ co-defendant and former girlfriend, Anna Rene Moore, 40, who resided in Monterrey, Mexico at the time of her January 2023 arrest at a Houston airport, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to seven felonies in this case: one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, two counts of money laundering, and one count of engaging in monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 28. Flores and Moore have been in federal custody since January 2023. “Mr. Flores’ exploitation of a mentally ill person to steal his wealth is despicable, and he will now reap the consequences of his actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Protecting vulnerable people from scammers will always be one of CI’s top priorities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these horrible crimes.” Beginning in June 2017, Flores used false promises and representations to befriend the victim — a physician and successful investor worth more than $60 million, but who suffered from a mental illness and lost the ability to care for himself after multiple hospitalizations. Within days of meeting the victim, Flores and Moore moved into the victim’s beachfront Malibu home – rent free – and slowly took control of his life by pretending to be his new “best friends” and caregivers. In September 2017, after the victim suffered a severe mental breakdown resulting in his arrest and detention in a Los Angeles County jail, Flores fraudulently induced the victim to sign powers of attorney granting Flores control over the victim’s finances. Flores represented that he would only use these powers to access the victim’s finances to post bail for release, and that the victim could immediately rescind them once the victim was free from jail. But after the victim was released from custody, the powers of attorney were never rescinded. Within days, Flores used these powers to open bank accounts in the victim’s name with Flores listed as the power of attorney, giving himself and Moore access to the victim’s wealth. From September 2017 to May 2018, Flores and Moore lived with the victim, diverted the victim’s funds to their own bank accounts, isolated the victim from his family and longtime friends, and provided the victim with drugs, including marijuana and LSD. Ultimately, in May 2018, the victim died in his Malibu home at the age of 57 years old. Following the victim’s death, Flores and Moore moved back into the victim’s Malibu beachfront home and withdrew large sums of money from his accounts. They also concealed information about the victim’s finances from his mother and sister, both of whom resided in Florida. This prompted the victim’s family to file a lawsuit, which resulted in the fraud being uncovered. In the ensuing lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, Flores and Moore violated multiple court orders ordering them to return the funds stolen from the victim. They attempted to launder the fraudulent proceeds by funneling the money through multiple different accounts to thwart the victim’s estate and court-appointed receiver from recouping the money. After extensive litigation with the victim’s estate, the lawsuit was settled with Flores and Moore withdrawing their false creditor’s claims and agreeing to repay the victim’s estate $1 million, which they have so far failed to do. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew M. Roach of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this matter.


title: Oceanside Drug Dealer Sentenced to 10 Years

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 17, 2024 SAN DIEGO – Sean Keenan O’Connor of Oceanside was sentenced in federal court to 10 years in prison for money laundering, and firearms and drug trafficking offenses, including distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and alprazolam. According to O’Connor’s plea agreement, deputies with the San Diego Sherriff’s Department executed court-authorized search warrants on the defendant’s residence and car on February 28, 2023. Deputies seized a semi-automatic pistol; 2,617 fentanyl tablets; 209 methamphetamine tablets; 24.19 grams of cocaine; 4,384 alprazolam tablets; and 1,549 grams of marijuana. Deputies also seized about $150,000 in U.S. currency and 0.27 in Bitcoin – which he has admitted were proceeds from drug trafficking. According to the United States’ sentencing memorandum, the defendant demonstrated callousness and extreme disregard for human life. In one text exchange, he called people who overdose on fentanyl “dummies” and bragged on social media about the product he was selling and the amount of money he was making through drug dealing. He also posted photographs of himself on Instagram with cash and drugs. “This significant sentence of a prolific North County drug dealer is a meaningful victory for public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “By removing dangerous criminals, weapons, and drugs from our streets, we are ensuring a safer community for all.” “This convicted criminal will spend a decade in prison allowing him the opportunity to think of his reckless actions uncovered by special agents with HSI and our partner agencies,” said Christopher Davis, acting special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “HSI prioritizes protecting communities against illicit drugs and activity that cause irreparable damage to those involved. HSI is determined to apply all the tools in our investigative arsenal to counter the fight against drugs.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Akhtar. This prosecution was a result of the efforts of the Fentanyl Abatement Suppression Team (FAST). Formed in September 2022, the group known as FAST is a multi-agency task force led by Homeland Security Investigations working in conjunction with state and local agencies to target significant fentanyl distributors in San Diego County. FAST is an initiative under the San Diego Imperial Valley HIDTA, whose mission is to identify and disrupt fentanyl smuggling and distribution networks in San Diego County. DEFENDANT Case Number: 23-cr-1034-TWR Sean Kennan O’Connor 22 Oceanside, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) Mandatory Minimum: Five years in prison and Maximum penalty: Life in prison Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Alprazolam, Marijuana (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)); Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)); Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations U.S. Customs and Border Protection San Diego Sherriff’s Department San Diego District Attorney’s Office


title: Two Washington County Residents Indicted after Allegedly Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business

body_text: St. George, Utah – A defendant in a financial crimes case appeared in federal court today following the return of an indictment by a federal grand jury in St. George after he and another defendant allegedly ran an unlicensed money transmitting business where bulk cash was converted into crypto currency. Last week, Brian Garry Sewell, 52 of Washington County, Utah and Puerto Rico, was arrested in Salt Lake City. Keen Lee Ellsworth, 57, of Toquerville, Utah, is scheduled to appear in court for his initial appearance on the indictment June 24, 2024. According to court documents, Sewell and Ellsworth participated in a scheme from March 2020 to September 2020 where they managed an unlicensed money transmitting business without registering it as required by law. Ellsworth used his entity, Ellsworth & Associates, to send more than $2.5 million to Sewell in dozens of transactions. Sewell then used his entity, Rockwell Capital Management, to convert the funds into cryptocurrency. Neither Ellsworth & Associates nor Rockwell Capital Management obtained a license to operate a money transmitting business. In addition, from June 2020 to May 2021, Sewell used Rockwell Capital Management to transfer over $2.6 million on behalf of a separate entity. Sewell received the funds via wire transfer and then converted the funds into cryptocurrency. In a separate case, Sewell also appeared in court today after he was indicted last week by a federal grand jury charging him with multiple federal crimes, including wire fraud, false statement in connection with loans, and money laundering (case # 4:24-cr-00055). According to court documents, from December 2017 to April 2024, Sewell engaged in a scheme to obtain money from investors by lying about his experience, education, and ability to generate large returns. As a result, Sewell’s fraudulent behavior led to him obtaining at least $2.5 million. For example, Sewell falsely claimed to investors that he ran previous cryptocurrency funds that generated significant returns; that he received a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree from Stanford University; that he generated high returns with little risk of loss; and concealed from investors that he used Rockwell Capital Management as an unlicensed money transmitting business. As alleged in the indictment, in July 2020, Sewell fraudulently submitted a mortgage application to a mortgage lending company in connection with a federally insured home mortgage. He did so, for example, by submitting a fabricated W-2 that stated his 2019 wages were $180,000; submitting a fabricated earnings statement from Rockwell Capital Management that stated his 2020 wages were $15,000 per month; and stated he had 22 years of schooling, when in fact he had obtained a GED and did not complete college. Sewell is also accused of making false statement to Chartway Federal Credit Union to influence their approval on a loan application. For example, Sewell submitted a fabricated W-2 stating his 2019 and 2020 wages were $350,000 each year, and he stated in this application that his 2021 wages from Rockwell Capital Management were $175,000 through June 2021. Sewell and Ellsworth are both charged with conspiracy to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business. Sewell is also charged with unlicensed money transmitting business, and theft of government property. Additionally, in case 4:24-cr-00055, Sewell is charged with wire fraud, false statements designed to influence the Federal Housing Administration or a mortgage lending business, false statements designed to influence a federally insured credit union, and money laundering – spending. United States Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Jennifer Muyskens of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. The case is being investigated jointly the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf . An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Bronx Resident Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy Targeting Credit Unions

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jerjuan Joyner, age 49, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty today for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy that targeted credit unions all over the country since at least December 2021. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Joyner admitted that between at least December 2021 and April 2023, he was a member of a nationwide bank fraud conspiracy that targeted credit unions insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. Many of the credit unions were members of a shared branching network, which allowed customers of member credit unions to withdraw funds from their accounts at other member credit unions by presenting an identification with their photograph, their account number, and the last four digits of their Social Security number. The network was designed to allow customers of localized credit unions easier access to their accounts when traveling throughout the country. However, according to the plea agreement, the conspirators exploited this network by creating fake identifications in the names of real credit union customers, but with photographs of other individuals, who conducted fraudulent transactions at shared branch member credit unions all over the country in exchange for drugs or a small portion of the stolen funds. Joyner pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He admitted that he was recruited by senior members of the conspiracy to drive individuals to credit unions in the Northern District of New York and elsewhere to fraudulently withdraw cash from customers’ accounts. Joyner admitted that the trips he drove resulted in fraudulent withdrawals of $120,998, with an additional nearly $15,000 in attempted fraudulent withdrawals. When Joyner is sentenced by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, in Albany on October 22, 2024, he faces up to 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to 5 years, and a fine of up to $1 million. Joyner will also be ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $120,998 to the victims of his crimes. Joyner’s plea resolves the charges against him in a federal indictment returned last December. The indictment charges an additional 7 individuals with their roles in the bank fraud conspiracy , which allegedly involves more than $1 million in total losses. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations as to the remaining defendants. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. FBI Albany is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in New York and Newark, and Resident Agencies in Westchester, New York; Garrett Mountain, New Jersey; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Additional assistance was provided by other law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement & Removal Operations (New York Field Office & Albany sub-office); U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (Buffalo Field Office & St. Albans Resident Office); U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, the New York State Police; Cohoes Police Department; Colonie Police Department; Elmira Police Department; Corning Police Department; Plattsburgh Police Department; Florida law enforcement agencies including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire, including the Rochester Police Department, Manchester Police Department, Amherst Police Department; the Norwich, CT Police Department; law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts, including the Springfield, MA Police Department; the Pennsylvania State Police; the Delaware State Police; and law enforcement agencies in Maryland, including the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case.


title: Fourth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Bank Fraud Conspiracy Targeting Capital Region Credit Union

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Allahson Allah, formerly known as Gwyn Cancer, age 53, of Albany, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. In a plea before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Allah admitted that between February and October 2022, he organized a conspiracy to defraud SEFCU by, among other things, applying for loans using stolen identities of real people, and withdrawing the money in cash. Allah admitted that lower-level members of the conspiracy applied for loans in other people’s names using fake New York driver’s licenses with their photographs but bearing the names and dates of birth of other people, and the proceeds were given to Allah. Allah further admitted that the conspiracy netted $113,800 in fraudulent cash withdrawals. Allah was previously charged by an indictment, along with Evan Cutler, of Queensbury, New York, Davon Parson, of Albany, and Dnauticah Taylor-Sterman, of Albany . According to the indictment and statements made by prosecutors in court, the conspirators obtained customer account information from Caeshara Cannon, of Albany, a former Member Service Manager at SEFCU, and used that information to create counterfeit checks, which were presented for negotiation at SEFCU branches in the Northern District of New York. The conspirators also obtained personal identifying information of others, which they used to fraudulently obtain loans from SEFCU and then withdraw the proceeds in cash. Allah will be sentenced on October 21, 2024. The charges to which Allah pled guilty carry a minimum term of 2 years in prison and a maximum term of 32 years, a fine of up to $1.25 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years. He has also agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $113,800, and to entry of a forfeiture money judgment in the same amount. Allah is the fourth defendant in the conspiracy to plead guilty, following previous pleas by Cannon, Parson, and Taylor-Sterman. Cutler is charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Those charges remain pending. The charges in the indictment against Cutler are merely accusations. Cutler is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. HSI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Bethlehem Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case.


title: Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm Crimes

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Anthony Beverly, age 34, most recently of Syracuse, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Joseph L. Cecile, Chief of the Syracuse Police Department (SPD), made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Beverly admitted that on October 26, 2023, he knowingly possessed in his Onondaga County apartment three pistols, extended ammunition magazines, and approximately 615 rounds of ammunition of various calibers. Beverly further admitted that when he possessed the firearms and ammunition, he knew that he had previously been convicted of a felony. Specifically, in 2015 he was sentenced in Onondaga County Court to 2 to 6 years’ imprisonment as a result of his conviction of possession of a forged instrument in the first degree. Beverly further admitted that in his apartment, he possessed various controlled substances which he intended to distribute to others, including cocaine base, powder cocaine, N,N-Dimethylpentylone (sold as “molly”), fentanyl, and methamphetamine. At sentencing, Beverly faces a total of up to 35 years in federal prison, a total maximum fine of $1,250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to 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. FBI and the Syracuse Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case. This case was charged as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Fort Myers Felon Sentenced For Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Willie Hunter, Jr. (22, Fort Myers) to three years in federal prison for possession a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Hunter to forfeit the firearm used in the offense. Hunter entered a guilty plea on February 28, 2024. According to court documents, on November 30, 2023, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department were on patrol in the area of Palm Avenue and Douglas Street. An officer observed a vehicle with illegal dark window tint in violation of Florida law. An officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle with his lights and sirens, but the vehicle accelerated into the parking lot of a convenience store. After reaching the parking lot, the front passenger, later identified as Hunter, got out of the vehicle, and proceeded into the convenience store. The vehicle then fled, as Hunter walked into the store. Officers located Hunter in the convenience store while additional officers pursued the vehicle. The vehicle was later found abandoned and officers located two firearms inside the vehicle. Fingerprint analysis linked Hunter to possessing one of those firearms. At the time, Hunter had multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of firearm by a delinquent and aggravated assault with deadly weapon. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. 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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Jacksonville Felon With Active Injunction For Protection Against Domestic Violence Sentenced To Prison For Trying To Buy A Pistol

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Thomas Oliver Morrison (64, Jacksonville) to 21 months in federal prison for making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. Morrison entered a guilty plea on February 21, 2024. According to court records, Morrison attempted to purchase a 9mm pistol from a firearms store in Jacksonville on April 20, 2022. At the time, Morrison was subject to a permanent injunction for protection against domestic violence that was issued in 2017. Morrison also had multiple felony convictions, including battery and false imprisonment. Morrison had also been involuntarily committed to a mental institution in 2020, which also prohibits him from lawfully possessing or purchasing a firearm. Morrison made multiple false statements on an ATF Form 4473 related to the injunction, his felony status, and his mental health condition. This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with special assistance from the State Attorney’s Office (Fourth Judicial Circuit). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. 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: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Illegally Trying To Buy A Firearm

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jamie Thompson (50, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Thompson faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Thompson completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Thompson indicated on the required paperwork that he was not a convicted felon. Thompson admitted this was a false statement, and that he was previously convicted of six felony offenses. This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. 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: Texarkana Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: TEXARKANA – A Texarkana, Arkansas, man was sentenced today to 121 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing, which was held in the United States District Court in Texarkana. According to court records, on November 9, 2021, investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, Bi-State Narcotics Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations served a federal search warrant at the residence of A’jene Rashodd Cornelius , age 29. Cornelius and two family members, including a small child, were present when the search warrant was executed. Inside the residence, investigators found and seized over 1.3 pounds of pure methamphetamine, multiple loaded firearms, and over $13,000 in drug trafficking proceeds. Cornelius pleaded guilty in August 2023. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case for the United States. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: St. Pete Resident Sentenced For Heroin And Methamphetamine Offenses

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Tequan Ramsey (29, St. Petersburg) to 5 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The court also ordered Ramsey to forfeit $4,705, an amount traceable to proceeds of the offense. Ramsey entered a guilty plea on January 25, 2024. According to court documents, law enforcement received information that individuals were distributing narcotics in Clearwater, Florida. During an investigation conducted by federal and local law enforcement officers, Ramsey and his co-defendant, Ciera Anderson, distributed heroin on December 8, 2022. On January 13, 2023, Ramsey and Anderson distributed heroin and methamphetamine. On March 3, 2023, Ramsey and Anderson were found in a vehicle with heroin and methamphetamine and arrested. Anderson previously pleaded guilty for her role in this case. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 2, 2024. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Clearwater Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman. Assistant United States Attorney James Muench handled the forfeiture proceedings.


title: United States Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Dawn N. Ison, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, joined Chief Issa Shahin, Dearborn Police Department, Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins, United States Postal Inspection Service today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Ison emphasized the importance of awareness and education. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, in partnership with Dearborn Police, City of Dearborn Senior Services, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI, will hold a Town hall meeting to raise awareness about elder abuse, specifically frauds that target our older citizens, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Henry Ford Centennial Library located at 16301 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn. Highlighted speakers will include U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison and Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin. The Town hall is open to the public and media. “We want to empower our seniors to recognize fraud,” United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison said. “We hope that this town hall will arm our seniors with the information they need to protect themselves.” “Every day, consumers of all ages are bombarded by offers and representations over the phone, across the internet, and through the mail – some of which are legitimate and some of which are not. The Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting the con artists making these illegitimate representations, raising awareness of their schemes, and ultimately protecting our most vulnerable populations.” Inspector in Charge Rodney M. Hopkins, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Detroit Division. Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . The Eastern District of Michigan continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. Our office recently settled a first of its kind civil action in the Eastern District of Michigan which was part of a broader trend in recent years by the Department of Justice to disrupt international fraud rings that target United States citizens through fake social media profiles. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.


title: Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – In observation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy touted the District of Massachusetts’ ongoing commitment to protect older Americans in the fight against elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, Acting U.S. Attorney Levy emphasized the importance of awareness and education. “Millions of adults aged 60 and older become victims of abuse every year – with nearly one in 10 annually experiencing some form of elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Levy. “Protecting seniors from abuse and exploitation is one of our top priorities. Our office has successfully prosecuted a number of individuals in recent years who have preyed on this vulnerable population through financial scams. We remain relentless in this fight for elder justice, and we will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement and community partners to hold people accountable for such misconduct and recover stolen funds whenever possible.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. Earlier this year, Chukwunonso “Douglas” Umegbo , a/k/a James Abbott, a/k/a Michael Philips, a/k/a Richard Armani, 39, formerly of New Bedford, Mass. was sentenced to more than three years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering charges involving funds obtained from “romance scam” victims. From 2018 through 2019, Umegbo used fake identity documents to open bank accounts in the greater Boston area, which he used to receive more than $568,000 from at least 45 romance scam victims. Among them was a senior who fell victim to the scheme following the loss of her husband of 57 years and lost her car, house and retirement savings to the fraud scam. In honor of this year’s WEAAD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has developed an Elder Justice Outreach Prevention Program aimed at bringing awareness, education and resources to older adults across Massachusetts in partnership with local police departments and older adult centers. A team made up of members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the IRS and USPIS who travel across the state, educating older adults about heightened awareness in the areas of online scams; romance scams; contractor scams; and telemarketing scams, to name a few. Yesterday, Acting U.S. Attorney Levy spoke to over 500 hundred older adults alongside Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn at the Bristol County Celebration of Seniors about important information they need to protect themselves from financial exploitation and how to report elder fraud. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. For more information and resources from the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice . If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am – 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm EST.


title: SDTX recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

body_text: HOUSTON – June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), and the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) continues its aggressive prosecution and community relations efforts to address the issue, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Since 2006, people have commemorated WEAAD to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, Hamdani emphasized the importance of awareness, education and prosecution. “The eldest generation includes, for many of us, our grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles,” said Hamdani. “They were our teachers, coaches, mentors and bosses. And now they are too often targets of opportunistic criminals who try to advantage of their trust or their physical or mental sunset. Protecting and standing up for the most vulnerable of our citizens is why we come to work each day. That mission has particular resonance when the cases we work on involve elderly victims.” Hamdani also provided additional information and guidance in a public service announcement . Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual or psychological. The SDTX continues to work with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. Just last month, the office charged several members of a religious-based company who allegedly took nearly the entire retirement savings of a WWII veteran in his 90s. A mother and son were also charged for purportedly tricking an elderly couple out of $1M as were romance scammers who allegedly targeted the elderly in $3M fraud . Meanwhile, recent convictions include two in McAllen in a multimillion-dollar daycare fraud scheme , while the leader of a nationwide fraud scheme targeting elderly victims is now serving a 188-month sentence and another was sentenced to the max for his role in laundering scam proceeds . The SDTX also continues its community relations efforts to promote understanding of the important issue of elder fraud. In April, SDTX personnel joined the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for an elder fraud prevention seminar a local church had hosted. Participants heard about common fraud scripts and tell-tale signs of a scam as well as the types of cases SDTX prosecutes, the limits of prosecution and the importance of sharing information about fraud schemes to try to prevent victimization. Several church members who had been victimized by telemarketing scams also shared their stories. Another similar seminar is expected in the future. In addition, on July 16, SDTX personnel will join the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for a joint presentation at another local church. Again, the focus of the presentation will be common fraud scripts and tell-tale signs of a scam as well as what to do if you or a loved one has fallen victim to a scam. The SDTX is part of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force which marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against the most common schemes, like tech support fraud and romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely report suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In tech support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer to “confirm” the non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.


title: The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Tennessee, Middle

body_text: NASHVILLE – United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Leventis emphasized the importance of awareness and education. Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. The United States Attorney’s Office continues to work with its federal, state and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. In April 2023, a federal jury convicted a defendant of twelve felony counts related to a scheme to defraud an elderly widow of over one million dollars. The defendant tricked the victim into believing that he would care for her personally and financially. He held himself out as the victim’s “personal representative,” her “son” or her “godson,” and pretended that he was acting on her behalf. In total, the defendant defrauded the victim of approximately $1.2 million. He used her money to purchase luxury items and often spent over $1,000 per day on lottery tickets. The defendant’s lavish spending using the victim’s money included purchasing a Lexus GX460, a 4.3-karat diamond ring, and a $170,000 interest in a pest control business. Fraud related to nursing homes and worthless services remains a priority for the office. The office leads the District’s Elder Justice Task Force to ensure coordination across law enforcement agencies on the most recent scams targeting seniors, including AI-generated scams. To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page . To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov. # # # # #


title: Kyle Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen Schrier, has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. The sentencing took place on June 7, 2024. Evan Brown Bull, age 38, was sentenced to 33 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Brown Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. The defendant was convicted following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on March 8, 2024. Evidence at trial established that between 2016 and 2023, Brown Bull conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and throughout Rapid City. Brown Bull was seen on video participating in four controlled buys, where he was selling methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Chat records obtained also detailed multiple methamphetamine deals and demonstrated the conspiracy in which Brown Bull was involved. This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case. Brown Bull was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.