title: Former LASD Deputy Agrees to Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Violate the Civil Rights of Skateboarder Who Was Falsely Imprisoned

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to violate the civil rights of a 23-year-old man at a Compton skatepark by falsely imprisoning him and to then obstruct justice to cover up the illegal detention, the Justice Department announced today. Christopher Blair Hernandez, 37, who was a sheriff’s deputy formerly assigned to LASD’s Compton Station, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy, according to a plea agreement filed today in United States District Court. Hernandez is expected to formally plead guilty to the felony charge in the coming weeks. According to his plea agreement, on the afternoon of April 13, 2020, Hernandez and this then-partner, former LASD deputy Miguel Angel Vega, were in uniform and on patrol in an LASD sports utility vehicle in the area near Wilson Park in Compton as part of their official duties at LASD. While on patrol, Hernandez and Vega saw two young Black males, one of whom Hernandez believed was on probation, outside a skateboard park enclosed by a tall fence within Wilson Park. Vega parked the SUV on the grass near the skatepark, after which Hernandez and Vega got out of the SUV and approached the individuals, whom they ordered to lift their shirts. At this point, the victim – who is identified in court documents as “J.A.” – from inside the enclosed skatepark, began yelling at Hernandez and Vega to leave the Black males alone. J.A. did not threaten Vega or Hernandez or any of the other approximately 10 to 15 people inside the skatepark, who likewise did not pose any danger to Vega or Hernandez. Vega and J.A. then got into an argument during which Vega challenged J.A. to a fight, according to the plea agreement. Vega then grabbed and pulled J.A. through an opening in the skatepark fence and confined J.A. in the back of the SUV as Hernandez looked on, the plea agreement states. During this incident, although Hernandez and Vega had ample time to do so, J.A. was not handcuffed, his seatbelt was not secured, he never was told he was under arrest, nor was he informed of his rights at any time. According to the plea agreement, Hernandez knew that Hernandez and Vega did not have any lawful basis to detain J.A., particularly after Vega had challenged J.A. to a fight. After leaving the park, Vega, who was still driving the SUV with Hernandez in the front passenger seat and J.A. confined in the backseat, again challenged J.A. to a fight and taunted J.A. that the deputies were going to “set up” J.A., or words to that effect, and drop J.A. in gang territory, the plea agreement states. Hernandez added that Hernandez would beat up J.A. if they fought, according to the plea agreement. In addition, Vega made statements to J.A. suggesting to Hernandez that the two deputies were going to fabricate and falsely allege that J.A. exhibited symptoms of being under the influence of a stimulant as a pretext to justify their false imprisonment of J.A. Even though he did not believe that J.A. was under the influence of a stimulant, Hernandez did not take any steps to release J.A., challenge Vega’s actions, or alert a supervisor about what had occurred and was occurring. While Vega and Hernandez continued driving with J.A. still confined in the back of the SUV, Vega began pursuing a group of young males on bicycles, one of whom appeared to grab his waistband and began riding away down an alley. Hernandez got out of the SUV to attempt to capture the bicyclist on foot, and Vega drove the SUV down the alley, where Vega crashed into a wall and another vehicle, causing J.A. to hit his face and head and sustain a cut above his right eye that later required stiches, court documents state. Following the collision, Vega removed J.A. from the patrol vehicle and told him to leave, informing Hernandez, who responded on foot to the alley shortly thereafter, that he had done so. After J.A. was released by Vega following the collision, J.A. walked out of the alley and tried to get help from strangers at a nearby house. After the traffic collision, Vega reported over LASD radio that a person purportedly with a gun, whom Vega described as wearing clothes similar to J.A.’s clothing that day, had fled through an alley, which prompted numerous LASD personnel to respond to the scene to set up a containment zone. Even though Vega also reported the traffic collision over LASD radio, neither Vega during the radio calls, nor Vega or Hernandez during a subsequent conversation with their supervising sergeant at the scene, initially disclosed that they had detained J.A. at the skatepark or that J.A. had been in the SUV during the collision in the alley, Hernandez admitted in the plea agreement. It was only after Vega learned that J.A. had been independently detained on a neighboring street by another LASD deputy as the purported gun suspect that Vega informed other deputies and his supervising sergeant that J.A. had been in the SUV during the crash. While J.A. was at a hospital later in the day to receive treatment for the injuries he sustained from the collision, Hernandez spoke with another deputy who had escorted J.A. to the hospital. Consistent with the plan suggested and articulated by Vega earlier in the day, Hernandez directed the deputy at the hospital to issue J.A. a citation for being under the influence of methamphetamine, even though Hernandez knew this to be false, according to the plea agreement. The deputy followed Hernandez’s direction and issued the citation. Hernandez and Vega authored two incident reports regarding the day’s events. Hernandez and Vega intentionally included false, misleading, and ambiguous information in the reports to justify and legitimize, and ultimately cover up, their unlawful conduct, Hernandez admitted in the plea agreement. The first report falsely stated that J.A. appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant; that J.A. had threatened to harm people in the skatepark, as well as Vega and Hernandez; that a crowd of people were moving toward the LASD patrol vehicle as the defendants drove away after unlawfully detaining J.A; and that, following the crash in the alley, Vega checked J.A. for injuries and J.A. was placed in another patrol vehicle of an assisting LASD unit until paramedics arrived. The second report likewise falsely stated that Vega transferred J.A. to another patrol vehicle after the collision, which both Hernandez and Vega knew to be false, according to the plea agreement. Vega has pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment charging him with conspiracy, deprivation of rights under color of law, witness tampering, and two counts of falsification of records. His trial is scheduled for October 24. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. The FBI is conducting the investigation into this matter. The LASD’s Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau and Internal Affairs Bureau provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Jamari Buxton and Brian R. Faerstein of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Jury Convicts California Man of Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Huntington Park, California, man was found guilty at trial today of possessing approximately 2.6 pounds of cocaine, which he carried hidden in a suitcase while traveling by bus through Kansas City, Mo. Alan E. Sanchez, 29, was found guilty of one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. A detective with the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics (MOWIN) Task Force approached Sanchez at a Kansas City, Mo., bus station as he got off the bus, which originated in Denver, Co., on Nov. 15, 2021. Sanchez was carrying a soft-sided suitcase. When the detective searched the suitcase, he found a bundle that contained approximately 2.6 pounds of cocaine. Sanchez also had $2,626 in cash. Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for 90 minutes before returning a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began Tuesday, July 18. Under federal statutes, Sanchez is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 40 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford and John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Kansas City Interdiction Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Four Capital Region Men Charged with Pandemic Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Todd Ward a/k/a “Fats,” age 44, of Troy, New York; Christopher Ward a/k/a “Reek,” age 45, of Troy; Rocco Resciniti a/k/a “Rock,” age 49, of Albany; and a fourth defendant have been indicted for conspiring with a former New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) employee to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG). United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman stated: “As alleged, the defendants teamed up with a corrupt state employee to arrange for the submission of fraudulent unemployment benefits applications. The COVID-19 national emergency is over, but with our federal and state law enforcement partners, we continue to investigate and prosecute those who viewed the pandemic as an opportunity to steal from government.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Janeen DiGuiseppi stated: “The scheme alleged in this case took crucial funding designed to assist hardworking Americans away from those struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s arrests should serve as a warning to all that the FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will not allow critical benefits program funding to be exploited by criminals looking to line their own pockets.” USDOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone stated: “An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations relating to unemployment insurance fraud, particularly when they involve insider threats. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and state workforce agencies to aggressively investigate these types of allegations.” The indictment alleges that from about November 2020 to September 2021, Todd Ward, Christopher Ward, Resciniti and a fourth defendant conspired to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance applications in the names of other people by passing along personally identifiable information of at least 13 individuals to NYSDOL employee Carl J. DiVeglia III. DiVeglia then abused his NYSDOL computer systems access to submit and approve fraudulent unemployment benefits applications and to release benefits payments on those false claims. According to the indictment, the defendants each received a share of the benefits paid out by NYSDOL. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Todd Ward, Christopher Ward, and Resciniti appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and were released with conditions. A fourth defendant has yet to be arrested. The defendants are charged with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. These charges carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. 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. DiVeglia pled guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges before Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby on April 13, 2022. DiVeglia admitted responsibility for over $1.6 million in losses to NYSDOL and to personally receiving approximately $225,000 in fraud proceeds. The FBI and USDOL-OIG are investigating this case, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph S. Hartunian and Joshua R. Rosenthal are 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. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Red Lake Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Assault

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Red Lake man has been sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, Devin Anthony Sumner, 20, and the victim had been involved in a relationship. Early in the morning of March 10, 2022, Sumner became angry at the victim and began to physically assault the victim by slapping and punching her while in the car. During the assault, Sumner grabbed a 12-gauge G-Force Arms shotgun and repeatedly hit the victim on the hands and body with the shotgun. As a result of being hit with the shotgun, the victim sustained serious bodily injuries including a broken and fractured hand, multiple lacerations, and bruises, all of which necessitated emergency hospital treatment and eventual surgery. On February 9, 2023, Sumner pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He was sentenced on July 19, 2023. In handing down the sentence, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz emphasized the need to deter the “epidemic of violence against Native American women, both on and off the reservation.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Police Department and the FBI’s Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily A. Polachek and Evan B. Gilead.


title: Federal Charges Brought Against Man Accused of Shooting At Hertford County Sheriff’s Deputy

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Complaint against Talametrius Kenyon Spruill, 41, of Ahoskie. Spruill is alleged to be a felon in possession of ammunition after he allegedly fired four shots at a Hertford County Sheriff’s Deputy who responded to a suspicious person call at 3 a.m. on July 16, 2023, in Ahoskie. Spruill is alleged to have fired four rounds at the deputy who was not struck and returned fire. Spruill managed to escape on foot and was arrested on the night of July 17, 2023, on state charges and remains in custody. If convicted, Spruill faces up to 180 months in prison for the federal charges. This complaint is part of a sustained effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement to make Eastern North Carolina safer by using inter-agency coordination and federal cooperation to address violent crime and local gun violence. “We stand by and support the law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Brazen attacks on those who protect and serve will not be tolerated. We will continue to use every tool available to keep our communities safe by addressing gun violence.” Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart is prosecuting the case. A Criminal Complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Three Men Sentenced for Armed Carjacking

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Three Tennessee men were each sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison for committing an armed carjacking of two victims at a gas station in Bolivar, Tennessee. According to court documents, on Nov. 9, 2020, Delvion Beard, 22, Quadarius Greer, 21, and Bryson Townsley, 21, all of Jackson, stole an Audi A4 from two victims at gunpoint. Beard and Greer abruptly entered the back seat of the car and forced the victims to drive from the gas station at gunpoint. Townsley followed them in a second car. Along the way, Beard and Greer forced the driver into the back seat and Beard took control of the car, driving it to a residential complex. When they arrived, the three defendants used physical force and guns, including an AK-47 pistol, to take the victims out of the car, rob them, and drive away in the stolen vehicle. One victim suffered injuries during the attack. The defendants threatened to kill both victims if they reported the incident to the police. “The choice of these armed carjackers to terrorize innocent victims for personal gain was cowardly and reprehensible,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentences demonstrate the Justice Department’s commitment to vigorously prosecuting those who use weapons and violence to dominate our public spaces and deprive our citizens of safety in their own communities.” “Individuals committing gun violence are causing havoc in West Tennessee. Armed carjackings, in particular, threaten basic notions of what it means to feel safe in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “Citizens throughout our district can be assured that the Department of Justice, along with state and local law enforcement partners, tirelessly work together to protect the innocent and bring to justice those who commit violent acts.” “Carjackings are a senseless but seriously violent crime that threaten the lives of innocent victims in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office, “Law enforcement refuses to tolerate this criminal behavior, and the FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to target, identify, and bring each and every violent offender to justice.” The FBI and Bolivar Police Department investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Jackson Police Department. Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.


title: Detroit Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Jeffrey Davis, 50, of Detroit, MI, was sentenced in federal court yesterday on charges of drug trafficking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Davis was sentenced by United States District Judge Bernard Friedman to 25 years in prison. Davis has been in custody since his arrest in July 2019. Ison was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Detroit Division. According to court records, Jeffery Davis was a member of the TuffTeam drug trafficking organization. Davis and three others were responsible for trafficking firearms, fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana from Detroit, MI to Bridgeport, West Virginia and Morgantown, West Virginia. During the course of the investigation, 23 firearms were seized, including 2 machine guns, along with 69 grams of heroin, 91.99 grams of fentanyl, 215 grams of crack cocaine, and more than $10,000 in cash. “Removing individuals who inflict significant harm on our community by dealing in deadly drugs and high-powered firearms is a top priority, stated U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “This significant sentence should send a clear message to those similarly engaged in such conduct that we will be relentless in our effort to protect our community,” stated US Attorney Ison. “Jeffrey Davis sold poison in our community while armed with a firearm. This sentence should serve as a clear message to all armed drug dealers in Detroit: If you pack an illegal firearm while peddling your poison, you need to pack your bags for prison,” said James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Detroit Division. The case was investigated by ATF Special Agents Sherri Reynolds and Eric Miller. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John O’Brien and Jeanine Brunson.


title: United States Sues Owners And Operators Of Orange County Horse Training Facility For Filling Wetlands In Violation Of Federal Clean Water Act

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Lisa F. Garcia, the Regional Administrator for Region 2 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today that the United States has filed a civil lawsuit against THOMAS PUSHKAL, JENNIFER VANOVER, EDWARD PUSHKAL, FRANCES PUSHKAL, and MAPLEWOOD WARMBLOODS, LLC (collectively, the “defendants”) for allegedly filling wetlands in Orange County protected by the federal Clean Water Act. The Complaint asks the Court to award injunctive relief and civil penalties for the violations. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants violated the Clean Water Act by discharging concrete, metal, glass, and other fill material into wetlands that are part of the waters of the United States. This lawsuit will hold the defendants accountable for allegedly violating our environmental laws and require them to remedy the alleged significant damage they have caused to protected wetlands.” EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said: “Wetlands serve a vital role in decreasing water pollution, providing habitat for fish and wildlife, and reducing risks from flooding and storm surges. Unlawful and unmitigated dredging and filling activities can destroy wetlands. EPA will continue to protect these vulnerable ecosystems and fight for the health of wetlands by enforcing the law under the Clean Water Act.” As alleged in the Complaint filed today in White Plains federal court: [1] From 2015 to 2019, defendants THOMAS PUSHKAL, JENNIFER VANOVER, and their business MAPLEWOOD WARMBLOODS, LLC discharged fill material without a federal permit into approximately 3.5 acres of wetlands, in areas referred to in the Complaint as the Bart Bull Road Site and the Expansion Site. These discharges were made in the course of operating and expanding their horse breeding, boarding, and training facility in the Town of Wallkill, Orange County. Specifically, from in or about June 2015 to March 2016, these defendants directed or permitted construction and demolition material to be trucked in and deposited at the Bart Bull Road Site and directed or permitted the use of heavy machinery to spread the fill material to level and raise the grade of the property. At the end of November 2018, EPA learned of the potential development activity at the Expansion Site and, in December 2018, cautioned defendant THOMAS PUSHKAL by phone that if he was filling protected wetlands on any additional properties, he would need a federal permit. Nonetheless, beginning in or about December 2018 and continuing to April 2019, without a permit, these defendants used dump trucks and other heavy machinery to engage in extensive earthmoving, grading, and filling activities to construct private access roads through the Expansion Site. The construction of these roads caused fill to be discharged into 1.5 acres of wetlands at the Expansion Site. Some wetlands filled at the Expansion Site are on property owned by defendants EDWARD PUSHKAL and FRANCES PUSHKAL, who, at a minimum, knew or should have known of, but failed to exercise their authority to prevent, the discharges. The wetlands that are the subject of the Complaint are adjacent to the Wallkill River, a traditional navigable water. The fill material discharged into the wetlands included, among other things, dirt, rock, brick, wood, electrical wiring, ceramic, asphalt, concrete, rebar, PVC piping, metal, and glass. * * * This case is being handled by the Office’s Environmental Protection Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bannon and Alyssa O’Gallagher are in charge of the case. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitution only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. U.S. v. Pushkal et al Complaint


title: Los Lunas Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Federal Gun Charge

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Diego Fernandez was sentenced to 28 months in prison. Fernandez, 24, of Los Lunas, pled guilty in federal court on March 7, 2022, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Fernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 15, 2021. According to the plea agreement and other court records, on April 7, 2021, when the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) attempted to execute a traffic stop, Fernandez fled, driving recklessly and towards oncoming traffic. NMSP canceled the pursuit for safety reasons when Fernandez entered a residential neighborhood but continued to monitor his location from a helicopter. When Fernandez parked, officers from NMSP approached him again and were able to apprehend him after a short foot chase. At the time of his arrest, Fernandez possessed a loaded firearm. As a convicted felon, Fernandez could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Upon his release from prison, Fernandez will be subject to 3 years of supervised release. The FBI’s Albuquerque Violent Crime and Gang Task Force (VCGTF) investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case. ### 23-157


title: Navajo Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Leonard Yazzie, 41, of Pine Hill, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty in federal court today to abusive sexual contact. Yazzie will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. A federal grand jury indicted Yazzie on March 23, 2022. According to court documents, on March 28, 2016, and March 27, 2017, Yazzie engaged in a sexual act with a victim, a child who had not attained the age of 12 years. At sentencing, Yazzie faces 6 and a half years in prison. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah Navajo Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-157


title: Tifton, Georgia, Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – A south central Georgia resident is facing up to 20 years in prison resulting from a locally-initiated investigation into fentanyl and heroin distribution out of a Tifton, Georgia, motel room. Alphonso White, 43, of Tifton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on July 19 before U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands. White faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19. There is no parole in the federal system. “The defendant was in possession of roughly 4,200 deadly doses of fentanyl. I applaud Tift County Sheriff’s Office investigators for preventing an extremely dangerous drug from hitting the streets of Tifton,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This case clearly demonstrates that fentanyl is readily available in communities of every size across our District. Our office will continue to provide all necessary support to law enforcement in the effort to stop fentanyl distribution and hold dealers accountable.” “The Tift County Sheriff’s Office always stands ready to work with local, state and federal authorities to help remove the scourge that fentanyl has become across this county,” said Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough. According to court documents, the Tift County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the distribution of fentanyl, heroin and other illicit drugs in the community. As a result, investigators executed a search warrant on Jan. 18, 2022, at the Howard Johnson motel room in Tifton where White was staying. Officers confronted White after he exited his motel room; White was carrying 32 bags of a brown substance and blue pills marked “M 30.” The substances later tested positive for 8.544 grams of fentanyl. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, just two milligrams of fentanyl—an amount equivalent to 10-15 grains of table salt—is considered a lethal dose. White was in possession of approximately 4,272 lethal doses. Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder, making it extremely dangerous. To learn more about fentanyl, please visit https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl . The case was investigated by the Tift County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch is prosecuting the case for the government.


title: Truck Driver Found Guilty of Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City , Utah – A federal jury convicted a Salt Lake County man today of possession of child pornography via the internet. According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, Zachary Matthew Hansen, 40, of West Valley City, Utah, downloaded images and video files containing child sexual abuse materials from a file-sharing network. On August 11, 2017, in the District of Utah, an FBI agent, acting in an undercover capacity and using law enforcement tools identified a device with an IP address that was later identified as Hansen’s cellphone and contained downloadable child sexual abuse materials via a file-sharing network. During multiple examinations of Hansen’s cellphone, federal agents found multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse materials. Hansen’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date before U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr. at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Hirata and Carol A. Dain are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Violent Carjacking Conspiracy Targeting Uber and Lyft Drivers

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to his role in a violent carjacking ring that targeted Uber and Lyft drivers, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, between September and October 2021, Eric Harrell Knight, 20, along with others, engaged in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies, targeting Uber and Lyft drivers. As part of the scheme, members of the conspiracy lured victim-drivers to particular locations under the guise of picking up or dropping off passengers. When the victim-drivers arrived, members of the conspiracy brandished firearms and demanded the cell phones and wallets of the victim-drivers. Members of the conspiracy forced the victim-drivers at gunpoint to unlock their cell phones and provide passcodes. The conspiracy members then transferred money, via Cash App or other applications, from the accounts of the victim-drivers to the accounts of members of the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy then carjacked the victim-drivers at gunpoint. To intimidate and force compliance, members of the conspiracy struck, pistol whipped, and threatened to kill the victim-drivers. Knight pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Katherine M. Menendez to one count of conspiracy to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Police Department. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez are prosecuting the case.


title: Mount Dora Convicted Felon Sentenced To Seven Years For Illegally Possessing A Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Woodrow Milton Butler (40, Mount Dora) to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Butler had pleaded guilty on February 1, 2023. According to court records, Butler has nine prior state felony convictions, including armed burglary of a dwelling, sale of cocaine, and fleeing and eluding law enforcement. On March 21, 2019, officers from the Eustis Police Department responded to a call about a suspicious person and discovered Butler with a stolen handgun in his pants pocket. The firearm was loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition. As a convicted felon, Butler is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the City of Eustis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk and Tyrie Boyer. The 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: Pine City Man Arrested, Charged in Federal Complaint for Using Social Media to Sexually Exploit Minors

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Pine City man has been arrested and charged with soliciting, producing, receiving, and distributing images of child pornography, and enticing a child to engage in illegal sexual activity, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, since at least January 2019, Caleb Vincent McLaughlin, 26, created and used multiple social media accounts and communications applications to solicit and direct minor girls in Minnesota, approximately 11 to 16 years old, to create sexually explicit images and videos to send to him. McLaughlin used a variety of aliases and Snapchat IDs including “Jake Benson,” “Lift11” or “Tech4cm,” in his scheme, and sometimes purported to be 17 years old to prey on minor girls he met online in order to entice and coerce them to create sexually explicit images and videos. In addition to producing child sexual abuse material, McLaughlin would offer minor girls drugs, alcohol, cash, or gift cards in exchange for sex acts. McLaughlin, who was arrested yesterday, was charged in a federal criminal complaint with soliciting, producing, receiving, and distributing images of child pornography, and enticing a child to engage in illegal sexual activity. McLaughlin made his initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. He was ordered preliminarily detained pending a detention hearing. A preliminary and detention hearing is scheduled for July 25, at 9:30 a.m., before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster, in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. To date, law enforcement has identified several minor victims, and is actively attempting to confirm the identity of many others. If you believe you or your minor dependent(s) have been victimized by Caleb McLaughlin, please contact the FBI Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, with substantial assistance from the St. Paul Police Department, Pine County Sheriff's Office, and Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. McLaughlin Complaint and Affidavit


title: Needham Police Officer Convicted of Insider Trading Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Needham police officer was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of conspiring to trade on inside information about a Massachusetts company’s planned acquisition of a California semiconductor company. David Forte, 60, of Acton, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Oct. 24, 2023. Forte was charged in January 2020 along with two alleged co-conspirators. In June 2022 , one of those co-conspirators, John Younis, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to one month of home detention and two years of probation after pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy. The second alleged co-conspirator has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial. Beginning in or around June 2016, Forte, a Needham Police Department officer, obtained material non-public information from his brother, who was a senior executive at Analog Devices, Inc. (Analog), a Wilmington, Mass.-based semiconductor company, about Analog’s planned acquisition of Linear Technology Corp. (Linear), a semiconductor company based in Milpitas, Calif. Forte passed the information to Younis and, allegedly, the second-co-conspirator, who purchased Linear securities in the week leading up to the public announcement of the acquisition on July 26, 2016. After the deal was announced, Younis and, allegedly, the second co-conspirator sold their Linear securities for a profit. Younis and, allegedly, the other co-conspirator paid Forte cash kickbacks in exchange for Forte’s stock tip. “Today, a federal jury found that Mr. Forte cheated the securities markets. He engaged in a conspiracy to trade on inside information. He illegally had tomorrow’s news today. Mr. Forte thought he could use his connections to make a quick buck by tilting the scale for his close friends’ financial benefit,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Insider trading is cheating, plain and simple. It hurts honest investors and damages the public’s confidence that our markets are open and fair. This office and our law enforcement partners will maintain the integrity of our financial markets and prosecute those who seek to corrupt them for their personal gain.” “David Forte thought he was above the law when he conspired with childhood friends to trade on material, non-public information. Today’s conviction sends an unambiguous message that the temporary gains of insider trading will lead to life-long consequences, including being a felon,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Insider trading undermines faith in our financial markets and harms the everyday investors who play by the rules. The FBI takes this crime seriously. If you choose to conduct this type of illegal behavior, know that we will ensure you are held accountable.” The charge of conspiracy to commit securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI Acting SAC DiMenna made the announcement today. The Securities & Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Holcomb and Leslie A. Wright of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Minnesota Man Indicted for Assaulting a Flight Attendant, Interfering with Flight Crew

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment yesterday charging a Minnesota man with assaulting a flight attendant and interfering with a flight crew’s normal duties. According to court documents, Christian David Burch, 37, allegedly caused a disturbance on an Alaska Airline flight from Minneapolis to Anchorage in June 2023. During the disturbance, Burch became unresponsive due to an alleged drug overdose. Flight crew members and two passengers, who are medical professionals, tried to give Burch a dose of Narcan, but he started violently resisting and pushing people back, eventually grabbing a female flight attendant near her throat. A passenger, who was a medical professional, was able to administer two half doses of Narcan through his nose, and members of the flight crew and a few passengers were able to restrain Burch for the reminder of the flight. Burch’s behavior forced the flight attendants to stop performing their normal duties. Burch was indicted for one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants, in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46504, and one count of assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46506(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 113(a)(5). The defendant made his initial court appearance on June 29, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both time in prison and a fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement. The FBI’s Anchorage Field Office, with help from the Anchorage Police Department (APD), is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Schroeder is prosecuting the case. 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: Two Men Charged in Interstate Motor Vehicle Theft Scheme

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging DARYL JONES, 53, of Atlanta, Georgia, and MARKOS PAPPAS, 49, of New Haven, with offenses related to a scheme to steal vehicles in other states, transport them to Connecticut, make efforts to conceal the fact they were stolen, and then sell them to customers. The indictment was returned on June 20, 2023, and unsealed yesterday. Jones appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and pleaded not guilty. He was released on a $50,000 bond pending trial. Pappas has been detained in federal custody since March 28, 2023, when he was arrested on a narcotics charges stemming from a related investigation . As alleged in the indictment, Jones, Pappas and others conspired to obtain stolen motor vehicles from car dealerships, car rental businesses, and other sources in Georgia, Illinois, elsewhere, and transported the vehicles to Connecticut. They altered the vehicle identifying number (VIN) of the stolen motor vehicles to hide the fact that they were stolen, and disabled the vehicles’ onboard communication services, often known as the telematics systems, including GPS systems, in order to thwart attempts to locate the vehicle after it was stolen. They used the altered VIN to create stickers and other means of identification to put on the stolen motor vehicles, and attempted to remove the VIN etched on the vehicles. They also created fake vehicle titles and bills of sale using the altered VIN to present to various state’s Departments of Motor Vehicles when registering the vehicles. The vehicles were sold to customers, often in cash transactions. Among the stolen vehicles specifically referenced in the indictment are a 2021 Ford Expedition stolen from a rental car company in Oak Brook Village, Illinois, in January 2022, and two Ford F-150 Raptors that were stolen from car dealerships in Gainesville, Georgia, and Canton, Georgia, in November 2022. It is further alleged that in April 2023, while detained in federal custody as part of a separate indictment, Pappas communicated by phone with co-conspirators about the stolen vehicles. The indictment charges Jones and Pappas with one count of conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, and offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the FBI’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the DEA New Haven’s Tactical Diversion Squad, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the National Crime Insurance Bureau. The FBI Task Force includes participants from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven and Wallingford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah P. Karwan and Tara E. Levens, in coordination with the New Haven and Milford State’s Attorney’s Offices. This case is being prosecuted through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Border Crosser Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Assaulting Federal Officers

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Miguel Angel Acatzihua-Temoxtle, 26, a citizen and national of Mexico, was sentenced last Thursday, by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 30 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Acatzihua-Temoxtle pleaded guilty on March 15, 2023, to Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon and Assault on a Federal Officer Resulting in Bodily Injury. United States Border Patrol agents received information on May 31, 2022, that several groups of non-citizens were passing though the Baboquivari Mountain range near the area of Newfield, Arizona. When agents located the group, Acatzihua-Temoxtle fled up the side of a wash, kicking several large boulders towards one of the agents to slow his pursuit. When agents apprehended Acatzihua-Temoxtle, he physically assaulted one agent by using the agent’s flashlight and attempted to strangle another agent with his lanyard used to hold night vision goggles. U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Raquel Arellano, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01420-TUC-JCH RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-110_Acatzihua-Temoxtle # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news


title: Quincy Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offense

body_text: BOSTON – A Quincy man pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving child pornography. Matthew Ormon, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Oct. 18, 2023. Ormon was indicted on Jun. 7, 2022 During a search of Ormon’s residence on Apr. 5, 2022, multiple electronic devices, including two custom built computers and a network drive device were seized. At least one device was found to contain a folder with numerous videos depicting child pornography. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Dell’Anno and Meghan C. Cleary of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jamon L. Woodson, 40, of Dunbar, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of ammunition in connection with a shooting outside a Charleston business. According to court documents and statements made in court, on the afternoon of June 30, 2022, Woodson had stopped his vehicle outside Jet Life Apparel on Leon Sullivan Way in Charleston and fired a pistol in the direction of the store. Following the shooting, law enforcement officers recovered a 9mm shell casing from the street and found a bullet hole at the entrance to Jet Life Apparel. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Woodson knew he was prohibited from possessing ammunition because of his felony conviction for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and a quantity of marijuana in United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia on January 7, 2011. Following the shooting, officers obtained a search warrant for Jet Life Apparel’s video surveillance system. The video surveillance footage showed Jonathan Kennedy, 41, of St. Albans, carrying a Dickinson, model XXPA, 12-gauge shotgun at the time of the altercation with Woodson and Kevin Gerard Denson, 36, of Charleston, carrying both a Smith & Wesson, model M&P 15, 5.56-caliber rifle and the Dickinson shotgun after the shooting. Officers recovered both firearms from a vehicle in an alley near Jet Life Apparel. Each firearm was loaded with a high-capacity drum magazine. Denson and Kennedy previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and are awaiting sentencing. The United States sought an upward variance from Woodson’s original sentencing range because of his criminal history and his extremely dangerous actions in broad daylight on a downtown Charleston street. Woodson had completed his supervised release for the 2011 felony drug conviction two months before the shooting incident. The Court granted an upward variance, concluding that it was necessary to protect the public. 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 Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-183. ###


title: Wilmington Man Sentenced to 68 Months in Federal Prison for  Distribution of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Victor Rodriguez, age 39 and a Wilmington resident, was sentenced today to 68 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence. According to court documents, throughout 2022, Rodriguez received parcels mailed from California at various Wilmington addresses. These parcels contained pounds of methamphetamine, some of which were over 95% pure according to subsequent lab testing. Rodriguez then sold that methamphetamine throughout Delaware. U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “Methamphetamine remains among the deadliest drugs plaguing our streets today. Peddling this poison endangers community safety. My office will continue to seek significant prison sentences for those, like Mr. Rodriguez, who profit from illegal drug trafficking.” “Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that can produce effects such as paranoia, hallucinations, and violent and erratic behavior,” said Thomas Hodnett, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Philadelphia Field Division. “The methamphetamine that Rodriguez distributed was of extremely high purity making it all the more dangerous.” The case was investigated by the Delaware State Police and the DEA Philadelphia Field Division. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-cr-08.


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dana Michael Russell, also known as “Anthony Roberts,” 37, of Griffithsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release, for possession of prepubescent child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 20, 2021, Russell possessed two images of child pornography on his cell phone depicting prepubescent minor females subjected to sexually explicit conduct. Russell admitted that one of the images depicted a known child victim. Russell further admitted to using his cell phone on June 25, 2020, to distribute and attempt to distribute an image containing child pornography using the Snapchat social media platform. Russell also admitted to distributing images containing child pornography using multiple Snapchat and Facebook accounts in June, August and December 2020. One of the Facebook accounts that Russell used listed “Anthony Roberts” as the account username. Russell is a registered sex offender as a result of his conviction for distribution and exhibiting of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in Kanawha County Circuit Court on February 19, 2015. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-25. ###


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Khalif Marquee Coleman, 35, of Charleston, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Coleman admitted to arranging the sales of mixtures containing fentanyl to confidential informants asking to purchase heroin in Charleston in seven separate transactions between May 2, 2022, and September 23, 2022. Several of these transactions occurred at a Chesterfield Avenue residence in Charleston and the mixtures totaled approximately 92.64 grams. Coleman also admitted to arranging seven additional sales of mixtures containing fentanyl in August and September, 2022, at or near the Chesterfield Avenue residence. On September 28, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Chesterfield Avenue residence and found mixtures containing fentanyl totaling 55.97 grams, scales, drug packaging materials, and $5,926. Some of the cash recovered during the search was prerecorded buy money from the sales to the confidential informants. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the assistance provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-198. ###


title: Bangor Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $28,000 from Native American Tribal Organization

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Bangor woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to stealing from her employer, a tribal organization. According to court records, between June 2017 and April 2021, Angelia Holt , 54, stole more than $28,000 from her employer by using a credit card issued to another employee for unauthorized personal expenses and then altering the invoices to conceal the theft. Holt was employed as an accounting clerk for the organization. Holt faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case. # # #


title: Nicholas County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jolene Myers, 41, of Mount Nebo, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 19, 2022, Myers sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant outside of a Summersville-area business. Myers admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling methamphetamine to the confidential informant on three other occasions in Nicholas County. On April 9, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Myers on Mount Lookout Road in Nicholas County. Myers admitted that officers found a quantity of methamphetamine in her pants and a SCCY Model CPX-1, 9mm pistol in her purse when they searched her and the vehicle. Myers is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, 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 Central West Virginia Task Force. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin 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. 2:23-cr-53. ###


title: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Charge  Arising Out of a Shooting Incident Outside Detroit Convenience Store

body_text: DETROIT – Shawn Hickman, 24, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition related to a shooting incident in Detroit’s 8 th precinct, a targeted enforcement area, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Ison was joined in the announcement by Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Detroit. In his guilty plea, Shawn Hickman, 24, of Detroit, admitted his involvement in a shooting incident outside of a convenience store in the 8 th Precinct, one of Detroit’s most violent neighborhoods. According to court records, on August 16, 2022, Detroit Police officers responded to a 911 call that an adult male had been shot. The shooting occurred around Grand River and Lahser in the City of Detroit. Working cooperatively, investigators with Detroit Police Department and the FBI were able to identify Hickman as the shooter. They then located and apprehended Hickman following an intensive search. Hickman faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years and will be sentenced on November 20, 2023, by United States District Judge Matthew J. Leitman. “I appreciate the collaborative work done to focus on violent offenders in our community,” state U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison.” “We will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to investigate and aggressively prosecute convicted felons who illegally possess and use firearms and ammunition.” The investigation and prosecution were the result of a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Detroit Police Department, ATF, FBI, and other partner agencies. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake S. Hatlem.


title: Crow Agency woman accused in large-scale, drug investigation admits to trafficking meth

body_text: BILLINGS — A Crow Agency woman charged in a large-scale, multi-state drug investigation centered on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted today to trafficking methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Carly Joy James, 41, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. James faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Nov. 16. James was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that federal law enforcement, in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, investigated a large-scale, multi-state narcotics trafficking operation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one known as Spear Siding, were a source of supply of meth for both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. James is one of the individuals affiliated with the investigation. The government further alleged that James sold meth to individuals in August 2022 and in October 2022. In January, James was pulled over for a traffic violation, and a search of her vehicle revealed a firearm and approximately eight grams of meth. Assistant U.S. Attorneys are prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: USPS Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft of Mail

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man employed by the U.S. Postal Service pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to theft of mail by an officer or employee. According to court records, from February 2022 through May 2022, Andrew Fossett , 45, stole and destroyed mail to steal gift cards, scratch tickets and money. Video surveillance showed Fossett opening 128 envelopes, removing the contents from 12 envelopes and tearing up and throwing envelopes out of the postal vehicle 27 times. He also opened two parcels. Fossett admitted to the conduct during an interview and a search of his backpack and personal vehicle revealed two stolen gift cards and one stolen $5 scratch ticket. Fossett faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, as well as up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated this case. ###


title: Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Offense Against A Minor

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jon Pieter Vanbreemen, 41, of Low Moor, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 9, 2023, Vanbreemen traveled from Covington, Virginia, to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, with the intention of engaging in illicit sexual contact with two minor girls. He was arrested by law enforcement in White Sulphur Springs. Vanbreemen is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Vanbreemen must also register as a sex offender. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Francesca C. Rollo and Jennifer Rada Herrald are prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . 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. 5:23-cr-91. ###


title: Woman Pleads Guilty to Arson of Clinic

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

body_text: Lorna Roxanne Green , 22, pled guilty to arson of a building used in interstate commerce, specifically the Wellspring Health Access Clinic located in Casper, Wyoming. Green entered her guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on July 20, 2023. She was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the hearing. At the hearing, Green admitted that she set fire to the clinic on May 25, 2022, which was under construction at the time and planned to offer OB/GYN services, gender-affirming care, and abortion procedures. Green was arrested on March 21, 2023, and then indicted by the federal grand jury in May. Green is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Johnson on October 6, 2023. Green faces a minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release following her incarceration, a $100 special assessment, and restitution. Judge Johnson will determine Green’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This crime was investigated by the Casper Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Case No. 23-CR-00066


title: Missouri and Texas Physicians and Medical Practices Agree to Pay Over $525,000 to Settle Kickback Allegations Involving Laboratory Testing

component: Civil Division

body_text: Imran Chishti, M.D. and his medical practice, C Care LLC, both of Chesterfield, Missouri; Shamim Justin Badiyan, M.D., of Frisco, Texas, and Psych Care Consultants LLC, of St. Louis, Missouri, have agreed to pay a total of $525,610 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they received illegal kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute in return for referring patients for laboratory testing. The parties have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes. “The prohibition against paying or receiving kickbacks is an important safeguard for ensuring the objectivity of medical decisions that affect federal health care beneficiaries,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue those who knowingly violate the law and undermine the integrity of our federal health care system.” The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded health care programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that Dr. Chishti and his medical practice, Badiyan, and Psych Care Consultants received kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute in return for making referrals to laboratories in New Jersey, Texas, and Florida. Chishti and C Care. Chishti and his medical practice, C Care, have agreed to pay $125,504 to resolve two allegations. First, from July 2016 to August 2018, C Care allegedly received thousands of dollars in payments from a purported management service organization (MSO) named Infinity Nine Health Group MSO LLC (Infinity) in return for Dr. Chishti ordering laboratory tests from American Institute of Toxicology Inc. doing business as HealthTrackRx, a clinical laboratory in Denton, Texas, and InHealth Diagnostic LLC doing business as RealLab (InHealth), a clinical laboratory in Dallas. Second, from August 2018 to July 2020, C Care allegedly received thousands of dollars in payments from a purported MSO named Alari Group LLC (Alari) in return for Dr. Chishti ordering laboratory tests from Genesis Reference Laboratories LLC (Genesis), a clinical laboratory in Orlando, Florida, and RDx Bioscience Inc. (RDx), a clinical laboratory in Kenilworth, New Jersey. Badiyan. Badiyan has agreed to pay $182,676 to resolve allegations that, from November 2018 to June 2022, he received thousands of dollars in payments from a purported MSO named Avior Group LLC (Avior) in return for ordering laboratory tests from RDx and Genesis. RDx and Genesis allegedly paid commissions to an independent contractor recruiter, Corum Group LLC (Corum), which used Avior to pay kickbacks to Dr. Badiyan and other health care providers in return for their referrals. Psych Care Consultants. Psych Care Consultants has agreed to pay $217,430 to resolve allegations that, from January 2019 to March 2020, it received thousands of dollars in payments from Alari in return for ordering laboratory tests from Genesis and InHealth. Genesis and InHealth allegedly paid commissions to Corum, which used Alari to pay kickbacks to Psych Care Consultants and other health care providers in return for their referrals. “Kickbacks can undermine the integrity of our health care system,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Patients should be able to count on their doctors ordering tests and recommending treatment based on what is best for them, and not because they are receiving payments on the side. We will continue to pursue anyone responsible for unlawful actions that can put at risk the medical decision-making process.” “Those who participate in the federal health care system are required to obey the laws meant to preserve the integrity of program funds and the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agency collaborates frequently with our law enforcement partners to investigate parties alleged to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute.” The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, with assistance from HHS-OIG. The settlements announced today were handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kruti Dharia for the District of New Jersey. The United States has recovered over $33 million relating to conduct involving MSO kickbacks to health care providers, including False Claims Act settlements with three dozen physicians. The pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Essex County Man Charged with Bank Robbery

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was arrested and charged with bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Sufyan A. Abdullah, 54, of Newark, is charged by complaint with two counts of bank robbery. He appeared on July 20, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court and was detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On July 8, 2023, Abdullah entered a bank in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and handed a note to a teller claiming to have multiple firearms and threatening a “mass shooting.” Abdullah fled the bank without obtaining any money. On July 15, 2023, Abdullah entered a bank in Springfield, New Jersey, and placed an object – which he claimed to be an explosive device – on the counter in front of a teller, demanding money and threatening to blow up the bank. The teller gave Abdullah cash, and Abdullah said he would blow up the bank if anyone followed him or he heard sirens. Law enforcement subsequently determined that the purported explosive device was an imitation explosive device. The counts of bank robbery each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Springfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Cook, and the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Giacommo Sacca, for their assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Fell of the Narcotics/OCDETF Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. abdullah.complaint.pdf


title: Two Indictments Charge International Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity with Minors

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert joins with Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Tatum King, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan, and Kathleen Nicholls, Chief of the Department of Consumer Affairs Division of Investigation to announce indictments charging sexual exploitation of children, a global problem demanding a global response. The indictments are part of an initiative known as Project Safe Childhood that seeks to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and achieve justice for the victims of such crimes. “To vindicate victims of child exploitation and bring criminals to justice, our law enforcement and our communities must work together in partnership across county, state, and national borders,” U.S. Attorney Talbert said. “Our office is committed to protect our children and hold offenders accountable.” “Homeland Security Investigations San Francisco/NorCal and FBI, in partnership with the California Dept of Consumer Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are seeking information on any individuals that may have been victimized by Mr. Reger,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “Of importance, HSI and Law Enforcement partners are focused on providing victim support and holding the alleged violator accountable for his actions in a court of law. We ask the community and media to help magnify this request so that victims, regardless of their current location around the world can be aware of the latest developments in this case.” “Child predators prey upon the innocence and naivete of their victims, damaging trust and forever changing the course of their lives. The FBI Sacramento Field Office is determined to thoroughly investigate allegations like these to seek justice and connect identified victims with vital services that can help heal the trauma they have experienced,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, Lassen County District Attorney’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. Trust and collaboration are essential to ensuring the safety and security of the communities we serve. We also thank the Church of the Nazarene and California Department of Consumer Affairs for their efforts to aid this investigation.” “The California Department of Consumer Affairs is committed to protecting California consumers,” said Kathleen Nicholls, Chief of the Department of Consumer Affairs Division of Investigation. “We are grateful for our law enforcement partners who share the common goal of taking action against those who violate the law.” Danish Man Alleged to Have Traveled from Denmark to Fresno to Exploit a Minor A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Claus Svelmo Marcuslund, 58, of Denmark, charging him with distribution of child pornography and attempted coercion or enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity. According to court documents, in January 2023, Marcuslund contacted an undercover agent who had created the profile of a mother with a seven-year-old daughter, on a dark web website dedicated to persons interested in pedophilia. Marcuslund told the agent that “I’m Scandinavian, professional music producer/songwriter and lyricist and yeah, I’m also a pedophile.” He also stated that “I’m divorced and now searching [for] a nice woman/mom to get to know better, hopefully with the potential of getting together in real life one day. Obviously, she must be 100% supportive of pedophilia and incest.” During the next several months Marcuslund sent messages to the agent through the website’s messaging feature, as well as the fully encrypted Telegram application, that explained in graphic detail the sexual acts in which he hoped to engage with the mother and child. As part of those communications, he sent images of adults sexually abusing young children. He also discussed having another child with the mother and molesting the newborn. Marcuslund boarded a flight from Copenhagen to the Los Angeles International Airport and then boarded a flight to Fresno. On July 11, 2023, Marcuslund was arrested upon arrival at the Fresno International Airport and has been ordered detained as a risk of flight and danger to the community. This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa is prosecuting the case. Susanville Man Charged with Multiple Crimes Involving Sexual Abuse of Minors A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Bradley Earl Reger, 67, of Susanville, charging him with: engaging in illicit sexual activity abroad, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and coercion and enticement. According to court documents, Reger sexually abused more than a dozen patients between the ages of 12 and 22 under the guise of conducting purported medical examinations at his medical clinic in Susanville, and in hotel rooms and camp sites all over the world. Reger is a licensed Nurse Practitioner with the California Board of Registered Nursing and has been since at least 2003. Since at least 1986, Reger has been heavily involved in various Christian schools, summer camps, youth groups, and church missions. He has held positions as a teacher, camp counselor, church deacon, youth group leader, and owner of affiliated nonprofit organizations. The indictment alleges that Reger sexually abused three different minor victims, in locations such as: Susanville, Nevada, Virginia, and Poland. These offenses allegedly took place between 2006 and 2014. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Department of Consumer Affairs with assistance from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina McCall and Roger Yang are prosecuting the case. The FBI and HSI are seeking to identify potential victims of Bradley Reger. If you believe that you and/or your minor dependent(s) were victimized by Reger at any time, in the United States or abroad, or have information relevant to this investigation, please complete the online form available at: www.fbi.gov/RegerVictims . Additionally, if you know of someone else who may have been victimized by Bradley Reger, please encourage them to complete the form. If convicted, Reger faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct abroad, up to life in prison and a fine of $250,000 for transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for coercion and enticement. If convicted, Marcuslund faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. These cases are brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education. reger_indictment.pdf marcuslund_filed_copy.pdf


title: Branson Man Sentenced to 216 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl and/or Heroin

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: Springfield, Mo. – Brandon Michael Jones, 26, Branson, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough to 216 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a single count of knowingly and intentionally transferring a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and/or heroin. The charge was based upon the distribution of drugs by Jones on March 27, 2020, in Christian County, Missouri. In announcing the sentence today, Judge Bough referenced the fact that Jones had provided drugs on two separate occasions which resulted in the death of one individual and the serious physical injury of the second. Both of these instances happened within days of each other in March 2020. This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Eggert. It was investigated by the Springfield Police Department and the Christian County Sherriff’s Department.


title: Texas and Missouri Physicians and Medical Practice Agree to Pay Over $525,000 to Settle Kickback Allegations Involving Laboratory Testing

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two physicians and a medical practice in Missouri have agreed to pay more than $520,000 to resolve kickback allegations, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, announced today. Imran Chishti M.D. and his medical practice, C Care LLC, both of Chesterfield, Missouri; Shamim Justin Badiyan, of Frisco, Texas; and Psych Care Consultants LLC, of St. Louis, Missouri, have agreed to pay $525,610 to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they received illegal kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute in return for referring patients for laboratory testing, and both have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes. “Kickbacks can undermine the integrity of our healthcare system. Patients should be able to count on their doctors’ ordering tests and recommending treatment based on what is best for them, and not because they are receiving payments on the side. We will continue to pursue anyone responsible for unlawful actions that can put at risk the medical decision-making process.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “The prohibition against paying or receiving kickbacks is an important safeguard for ensuring the objectivity of medical decisions that affect federal health care beneficiaries,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Boynton said. “We will continue to pursue those who knowingly violate the law and undermine the integrity of our federal healthcare system.” The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded healthcare programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that Chishti and his medical practice, Badiyan, and Psych Care Consultants received kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute in return for making referrals to laboratories in New Jersey, Texas, and Florida. Chishti and C Care have agreed to pay $125,504 to resolve two allegations. First, from July 2016 to August 2018, C Care allegedly received thousands of dollars in payments from a purported management service organization (MSO) named Infinity Nine Health Group MSO LLC (Infinity) in return for Chishti ordering laboratory tests from American Institute of Toxicology Inc. d/b/a HealthTrackRx, a clinical laboratory in Denton, Texas, and InHealth Diagnostic LLC d/b/a RealLab (InHealth), a clinical laboratory in Dallas, Texas. Second, from August 2018 to July 2020, C Care allegedly received thousands of dollars in payments from a purported MSO named Alari Group LLC (Alari) in return for Chishti ordering laboratory tests from Genesis Reference Laboratories LLC (Genesis), a clinical laboratory in Orlando, Florida, and RDx Bioscience Inc. (RDx), a clinical laboratory in Kenilworth, New Jersey. Badiyan has agreed to pay $182,676 to resolve allegations that from November 2018 to June 2022, he received thousands of dollars in payments from a purported MSO named Avior Group LLC (Avior) in return for ordering laboratory tests from RDx and Genesis. RDx and Genesis allegedly paid commissions to an independent contractor recruiter, Corum Group LLC (Corum), which used Avior to pay kickbacks to Badiyan and other healthcare providers in return for their referrals. Psych Care Consultants has agreed to pay $217,430 to resolve allegations that from January 2019 to March 2020, it received thousands of dollars in payments from Alari in return for ordering laboratory tests from Genesis and InHealth. Genesis and InHealth allegedly paid commissions to Corum, which used Alari to pay kickbacks to Psych Care Consultants and other healthcare providers in return for their referrals. “Those who participate in the federal healthcare system are required to obey the laws meant to preserve the integrity of program funds and the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients,” Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) said. “Our agency collaborates frequently with our law enforcement partners to investigate parties alleged to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute.” The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from HHS-OIG. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kruti Dharia of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey, Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit and Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section). The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. chishti.settlement.pdf


title: California Man Sentenced for Mailing Meth to Missouri for Distribution

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Sacramento, California, man was sentenced in federal court today for mailing packages of methamphetamine to southwest Missouri as part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Jasper and Newton counties. John Gabriel Martinez, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 152 months in federal prison without parole. On April 21, 2022, Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Aug. 15, 2016, to March 18, 2017, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. On Oct. 4, 2016, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers executed a search warrant at the residence of co-defendant Daryl B. Weston, 41, of Purcell, Mo. Troopers found approximately 11 grams of pure methamphetamine and $14,822 in cash. Troopers seized a package addressed to Weston from Martinez that contained approximately three pounds of methamphetamine. Weston later told investigators that Martinez had sent him four additional packages that contained a total of nearly six pounds of methamphetamine; co-conspirators then sent drug proceeds back to Martinez. Co-conspirators admitted they deposited drug proceeds into Martinez’s account at a local branch of Joplin Metro Credit Union. Further investigation revealed that many others in the Joplin area were sending drug proceeds to Martinez in California through local branches of Joplin Metro Credit Union and through the Moneygram system at local Wal-Marts. The total amount of drug proceeds laundered in this case though a credit union and Moneygram was at least $153,014. Martinez is the final defendant to be sentenced among 19 defendants indicted in this case. Weston was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2022, to eight years in federal prison without parole. This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.