title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Healthcare Facility Services Provider to Resolve Citizenship Status Discrimination Claims

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it secured an agreement with Pennsylvania-based HCSG East LLC and its parent company, Healthcare Services Group Inc. (HCSG), a nationwide provider of housekeeping, laundry and food services for healthcare and nursing facilities. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that HCSG discriminated against non-U.S. citizens with permission to work in the United States when hiring at its Siler City, North Carolina, location, and engaged in unfair practices concerning work authorization documents because of a worker’s status as a non-U.S. citizen. “Employers cannot erect unlawful discriminatory barriers to work that exclude entire categories of workers with permission to work in the United States, based on citizenship status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold employers accountable when they violate our nation’s federal civil rights laws.” After conducting an investigation based on a worker’s complaint, the Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) concluded that HCSG discriminated against a worker by refusing to honor her valid document showing her permission to work because of her citizenship status. IER’s investigation also determined that HCSG had a policy of unlawfully refusing to hire certain workers who had permission to work but were not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents — such as persons granted asylum or refugee status by the federal government — at its Siler City location from at least February 2022 to at least December 2022. Under the settlement, HCSG will pay a civil penalty to the United States, and provide backpay to an affected worker. The agreement also requires HCSG to train its personnel on the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)’s requirements, revise its employment policies, broadly recruit workers, avoid unnecessary English-language requirements in its job ads and be subject to departmental monitoring. The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from asking for specific or unnecessary documents because of a worker’s citizenship, immigration status or national origin when checking permission to work. IER is responsible for enforcing the INA’s anti-discrimination provision. This law prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices ; and retaliation and intimidation . Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination in recruitment, hiring and employment eligibility verification on IER’s website. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video . Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge . The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email IER@usdoj.gov ; sign up for a live webinar; watch an on-demand presentation ; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. ###


title: Eufaula Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Charge

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Shaun Davis, age 57, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. The charges arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On February 26, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. According to investigators, on June 15, 2023, Pittsburg County Sheriff’s deputies recovered a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a 12 gauge shotgun, and ammunition from Davis’s residence after executing a search warrant. Davis possessed the firearms and ammunition despite knowing that he had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Davis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Multiple Federal Grants Awarded to Central Illinois Communities to Enhance Public Safety

component: Bureau of Justice Assistance (OJP)

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Department of Justice has announced Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grants to several agencies and communities in Central Illinois. The Department awarded a $1,000,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program grant to Marshall, Putnam, and Stark counties to support a multi-county program: Reaching Rural: Rural Roads to Recovery Program . The program is designed to develop a collaborative, research based, and multi-care level community-based program for individuals affected by substance-use disorder. Subrecipients include Maitri Path to Wellness, the Henry and Stark County Health Department, and The Society of Growth Inc. The Department awarded over $400,000 in Justice Assistance Grants (JAGs) to fund multiple law enforcement agencies in Central Illinois, including $86,228 to the Champaign Police Department, Urbana Police Department, and Champaign County Sheriffs Office; $53,178 to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Office and Danville Police Department; $58,510 to the Decatur Police Department; $49,719 to the Moline and Rock Island Police Departments; $11,482 to the Pekin Police Department; $33,963 to the Bloomington and Normal Police Departments and McLean County Sheriff’s Office; and $121,391 to the Springfield Police Department and Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. The grants will fund a wide variety of projects and initiatives designed to combat violent crime. “These funds allow area agencies to expand on the excellent services they provide to their communities.” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “We commend the U.S. Department of Justice for its continued support of the Central District of Illinois.” BJA is a leading source of federal funding to state, local and tribal governments, offering the critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement; prosecution; indigent defense; courts; crime prevention and education; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment and enforcement; planning; evaluation; technology improvement; crime victim and witness initiatives; mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams; and implementation of state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives including but not limited to mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts, and extreme risk protection order programs.


title: Dayton man pleads guilty to meth & cocaine crimes, faces 15 to 25 years in prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – The leader of a local methamphetamine and cocaine drug trafficking organization pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today. Adrian White, 40, of Dayton, admitted to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute the drugs. The plea agreement includes a recommended sentence of 15 to 25 years in prison. According to court documents, between at least February 2023 and January 2024, White was responsible for 15 kilograms of methamphetamine and 500 grams of cocaine via his drug trafficking organization. White was observed transporting shoe boxes to and from a known stash house on Crestmore Avenue in Dayton. During traffic stops of White and others, narcotics were found in orange Nike shoe boxes. For example, in January 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of White for window tint violation and found him to be in possession of more than two kilograms of methamphetamine in one of the shoe boxes and 60 grams of cocaine in his vehicle. While executing a subsequent federal search warrant at the stash house and at White’s residence on Valerie Arms Drive, agents discovered more than three kilograms of methamphetamine and an additional 72 grams of cocaine located throughout the house in a safe, the kitchen counter, a kitchen cabinet and a vent of the HVAC system. White kept an AK 47 style rifle near the front door. White also had approximately $20,500 in cash in his home. A federal grand jury indicted White and two others in January 2024. Co-defendants Sonequa McGraw, 37, of Huber Heights, and William Bates, 36, of Trotwood, have also pleaded guilty in this case and await sentencing. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Division; Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal; Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott and Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and gangs that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. # # #


title: North Providence Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison on Drug and Firearm Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A North Providence man who sold more than seven thousand fentanyl-laced pills and a firearm while under surveillance by members of the Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task Force has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Keurys Pena, 35, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 72 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. Pena pleaded guilty on August 1, 2024, to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime. According to information presented to the court, on eight occasions between June and October 2022, while under law enforcement surveillance, Pena sold and delivered 7,080 fentanyl-laced pills weighing a combined total of approximately 876 grams, or roughly two pounds. During a transaction on September 7, 2022, Pena also sold an individual a firearm in exchange for a cash payment. The drugs and the firearm were quickly seized by members of law enforcement following each transaction. Pena was arrested at his North Providence residence on October 18, 2022, and was found to be in possession of 5.38 grams of cocaine, 11.89 grams of a powder mixture containing fentanyl, and 22.84 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. On that same date, a court-authorized search warrant was executed at a stash house/rental property maintained by Pena in Pawtucket where law enforcement seized a powder substance containing 484.12 grams of fentanyl and a mixture containing 108.6 grams of methamphetamine. Court records illustrate that Pena was previously convicted multiple times and sentenced on drug, conspiracy, forgery and breaking and entering charges. At the time of his arrest in this most recent matter, Pena was serving a term of Rhode Island state probation, having been convicted in Rhode Island Superior Court in 2015 on charges of assault and escape by an inmate. He was sentenced to 12 years – with 15 months to serve, 165 months suspended with probation. This Project Safe Neighborhoods case was prosecuted in U.S. District Court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson. The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island FBI Safe Street Task Force and the Pawtucket Police Department. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, and the U.S. Marshals Service. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, 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. In 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: Texas Man Who Falsely Claimed to be Delta Force Veteran to Defraud Dozens of Victims Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A Manor man was sentenced in a federal court in Austin Wednesday to 480 months in prison for four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. According to court documents, Saint Jovite Youngblood, aka Kota Youngblood, 52, committed wire fraud against his victims by claiming Mexican drug cartel members were planning to commit violence against them. Youngblood falsely claimed to have been part of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force special operations unit and offered protection to his victims from the cartels in exchange for money. Youngblood also represented that funds obtained from his victim “investors” would be paid back with a significant return on the money. Instead, Youngblood used most of the money on junkets to Las Vegas to gamble in casinos. Over the course of his scheme, Youngblood defrauded 32 victims for more than $12 million. He was arrested July 31, 2023 and convicted by a federal jury April 23, 2024. In addition to the 40 years of imprisonment, Youngblood was ordered to pay the full restitution of $12,766,384. “This fraudster developed close relationships with dozens of individuals, building an immense amount of trust seemingly just to destroy their lives financially through elaborate, deceitful misrepresentations,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “The 40-year sentence that Youngblood will now serve in federal prison, along with the full restitution paid back to the victims, demonstrates the gravity of these crimes, and it is my hope that the individuals and families impacted by his schemes are able to repair any loss they have suffered. Thanks to our partners at the FBI for their investigative efforts that assisted greatly with this successful outcome of justice.” “Many of Youngblood’s victims were terrorized thinking their families were in danger; others lost their livelihoods to his schemes. This sentence reflects the despicable nature of Mr. Youngblood's lies and criminal actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. "The FBI is committed to identifying scams such as this - and ensuring anyone who endeavors to financially fleece innocent Americans is held to account. We want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work on this case - and their continued assistance in gaining justice for victims of financial crimes.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Guess and Matt Harding prosecuted the case. ###


title: Columbia Police Officer Recognized with Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, including Lance Corporal Justin Boyd of the Columbia Police Department. This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety. “Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.” The best of community policing is demonstrated throughout the work of Lance Corporal Boyd – from the partnerships he forms, to the community outreach that’s a regular part of his work, to the investigations he successfully conducts to make his community safer. And that involves all segments of the community -- including those disenfranchised residents who often go unseen and unheard. Thanks to his efforts, their voices are now part of the conversation, and the community is safer for it. “Lance Corporal Boyd represents the best of South Carolina law enforcement. Our community is stronger and safer thanks to his dedicated service,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Now, more than ever, we need officers like him, dedicated to community policing. Congratulations, LCpl Boyd.” “This prestigious award is proof that law enforcement officers care about the people who live, work, and play in the various communities in which they serve. And that is exactly the gift that Lance Corporal Boyd offers City of Columbia citizens,” said Columbia Police Chief W.H. ‘Skip’ Holbrook. “He has a genuine way of connecting with people in a relatable, caring level. For him, community policing goes beyond a daily assignment -- he embraces it wholeheartedly.” The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing. The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities. The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov . ###


title: Eleven-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Possessing Ammunition

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Bryan Jermaine Davis (37, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Davis faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to court documents, on July 5, 2024, an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of Davis for failing to wear a seatbelt. During questioning, Davis admitted to having marijuana in his possession. The officer conducted a search of Davis’s vehicle and recovered a bag containing assorted rounds of ammunition and a ghost gun under the driver’s seat. Ghost guns have no serial number and are therefore untraceable. When the officer found the ammunition and ghost gun, Davis attempted to flee on foot but was caught and detained by officers who had responded to the scene. At the time of the offense, Davis had multiple prior felony convictions including robbery, selling heroin, possession of cocaine, dealing in stolen property, and possession of a weapon by a state prisoner. As a convicted felon, Davis is prohibited from possessing ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Rock Hill Man Sentenced as Career Offender for Drug Trafficking

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Freddie Antwon Thompson, 34, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and crack cocaine. Evidence presented to the court revealed that on Nov. 2, 2022, officers with the Rock Hill Police Department discovered Thompson, in possession of a loaded firearm, ammunition, marijuana, crack cocaine, and oxycodone following a routine traffic stop. During his arrest on federal charges, Thompson was found with another loaded firearm, additional marijuana, and a digital scale. As a result of prior felony convictions, Thompson was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. His criminal history includes convictions for offenses such as distribution of imitation controlled substances, distribution of marijuana, distribution of ecstasy, trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine base, unlawful carrying of weapons, unlawful possession of stolen firearms, and resisting arrest. Due to his prior drug convictions, Thompson was sentenced as a career offender. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Thompson to 170 months imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case. ###


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison Following Federal Drug and Gun Convictions

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man following his convictions on federal drug and gun charges. On December 3, 2024, 38-year-old David Lee Johnson III, received a sentence of 192 months in prison. Following his prison sentence, Johnson will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. According to his plea agreement and other court records, on April 27, 2022, officers with the Montgomery Police Department observed Johnson walking near Zelda Road. When Johnson spotted the officers, he ran to a trash enclosure behind a local restaurant, then exited a short time later. Inside the enclosure, officers found a firearm and an assortment of drugs, including methamphetamine. Officers spotted Johnson attempting to leave the scene in a vehicle and made a traffic stop. Johnson admitted to possessing the gun and methamphetamine. Johnson has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. On September 4, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. During the sentencing hearing, the judge noted Johnson’s lengthy and varied criminal history along with the specific harm methamphetamine causes the community. The Montgomery Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Justin L. Jones prosecuted.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Dantrell T. Stevenson, 31, Matteson, Illinois, was sentenced on December 2, 2024, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 2 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Stevenson pleaded guilty to this charge on September 9, 2024. The government’s investigation revealed a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for bringing over 4 kilograms of fentanyl pills into Madison from Arizona. Law enforcement began investigating the organization in January 2022, following the seizure of two mail packages that each contained a kilogram of fentanyl pills (almost 20,000 pills in total). Both packages were mailed by an individual in Arizona to addresses in Madison. Between March and October 2022, undercover officers purchased fentanyl pills from members of the organization on twenty-three occasions in the Madison area. Stevenson was involved in ten of those drug sales. In October 2022, another mail package destined for members of the Madison drug organization was seized and contained 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl pills. During Stevenson’s involvement in the case, he was on parole through the state of Illinois, following a firearms conviction. At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that while the quantities of fentanyl that Stevenson was selling were smaller than his co-defendants, he was an active dealer and his conduct was harmful to the community. Five other defendants involved in this fentanyl trafficking operation were charged in a separate indictment and have already been sentenced. Dejon C. Glover was sentenced on May 16, 2024, to 4 ½ years in federal prison for attempting to possess fentanyl intended for distribution. Lloyd M. McKire-Bennett was sentenced on May 17, 2024, to more than 13 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. Deshawn P. Davis was sentenced on May 22, 2024, to 5 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Yoshi R. Walker was sentenced on July 24, 2024, to 6 years in federal prison for attempting to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Christopher S. Wilson was sentenced on July 29, 2024, to 5 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The charges against Stevenson and the other individuals were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigations, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Dane County Narcotics Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the investigation. The task force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.


title: Previously Convicted Felon from Duquesne Pleads Guilty to Narcotics and Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on December 4, 2024, to charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Taiwan Donje Rodgers, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about May 18, 2020, Rodgers unlawfully possessed with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Additionally, Rodgers possessed firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits a convicted felon from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for April 3, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Duquesne Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case.


title: Guatemala Resident Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry into U.S.

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Guatemala has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The one-count Indictment named Josue Raul Ascon-Morales, 36, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about March 18, 2008, Ascon-Morales was removed from the United States. On or about September 1, 2024, Ascon-Morales was charged by the Moon Township Police Department for driving under the influence and driving without a license. He was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on October 22, 2024. Ascon-Morales appeared in federal court on December 4, 2024, and was ordered detained pending trial. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Moon Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Honduras Man Charged with Illegal Re-Entry into U.S.

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Honduras resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The one-count Indictment named Saul Enrique Padilla-Mejia, 38, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about August 13, 2019, Padilla-Mejia was removed from the United States. On or about February 4, 2024, Padilla-Mejia was arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police for driving under the influence, driving without a license, reckless driving, careless driving, and failing to obey traffic control devices. Padilla-Mejia was arrested on September 1, 2024, by the Moon Township Police Department related to the illegal re-entry charge, and was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on October 30, 2024. Padilla-Mejia appeared in federal court on December 4, 2024, and was ordered detained pending trial. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Shiprock Woman Charged with Assault as U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Investigate Stabbing Incident

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock woman has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon following an incident that left another woman hospitalized with multiple stab wounds. Angelia Garcia , 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the criminal complaint, on November 21, 2024, the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to a call at the Northern Navajo Medical Center regarding a patient with multiple stab wounds. The victim was found with stab wounds to her face, neck, arm, and abdomen. The victim identified Garcia as the attacker, and Garcia was later located and detained. Garcia initially denied involvement, but eventually admitted to stabbing the victim, claiming self-defense due to the victim “talking shit.” If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum of 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Garcia).pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Minneapolis Man Indicted for Two Violent Robberies

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been charged with four crimes related to two separate armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on June 7, 2024, Korey Maurese Hale, 25, brandished a Mossberg 715T .22 caliber rifle while robbing a drug store. The next day, on June 8, 2024, Hale brandished the same firearm while robbing a bank. For his conduct, Hale is charged with one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of armed bank robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a bank robbery. He made his initial appearance on December 3, 2024, in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, and the St. Paul Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Forbes is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Edina Financial Adviser Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Stealing $2.1 Million from Clients

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Edina financial adviser has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,104,395, in a wire fraud scheme where millions in client investment funds were misappropriated, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, Kristi Margaret Berge, 48, was the founder and CEO of Keep Safe Investments, LLC, or “KSI Financial,” a financial planning and investment services firm. Berge also co-owned and operated J&K Connect LLC, a company that invested in real estate through buying, renovating, and re-selling properties. Berge maintained offices for her companies in Edina, Minnesota. Berge is registered as an investment adviser with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and licensed as an investment adviser with the State of Minnesota. According to court documents, from June 2020 through February 2023, Berge fraudulently misappropriated approximately $2.1 million from some of her clients’ accounts by falsely representing to clients that she would maintain their money in safe and secure investment accounts, such as individual retirement accounts and 401(k) retirement savings plans. Instead, Berge fraudulently misappropriated the money by repeatedly withdrawing client funds in varying amounts between $5,000 and $220,000 and depositing the funds into bank accounts she controlled. Berge then used the clients’ funds to purchase multiple properties in Edina for her real estate business. Berge tried to conceal her fraud by falsely labeling her illicit withdrawals as “management” or “administrative” fees and by creating fabricated records to give the false impression that she had authorization to withdraw clients’ investment funds. Berge pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud earlier this year, and was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Eric C. Tostrud. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs, and Craig Baune prosecuted the case.


title: Overland Park Officers Recognized with Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, including Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn, of the Overland Park, Kansas, Police Department. This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety. “Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.” Officers Koehn and Griffith have elevated community policing to new heights through their community education and awareness building of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, (or CTPTED). From giving presentations to hundreds of residents and businesses, to conducting physical security assessments and launching impactful programs, their work has both deeply engaged the community while at the same time strengthening crime prevention efforts. Their efforts stand as a model of how all facets of community policing can be seamlessly integrated for lasting impact. “Whether they are patrolling neighborhoods, investigating criminal cases, or holding community events to build bridges between law enforcement and residents, police officers are invaluable to public safety and our justice system. The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Kansas congratulates Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn for their exceptional work,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing. The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities. The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov . ###


title: Baldwin County Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced To More Than 24 Years In Prison

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Baldwin County man, Teddy Rivers, 57, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on his conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Rivers pled guilty to the charge in August of 2024. Court documents show that Rivers is a long-time Baldwin County drug dealer. In August 2022, law enforcement executed a traffic stop on Rivers. Rivers was found to be in possession of 48.8 grams of pure methamphetamine. Rivers admitted that he regularly sold methamphetamine to a number of individuals and had been doing so for some time. Rivers has a prior federal conviction for Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine in 2007, and a prior state conviction for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute in 2021. United States District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade sentenced Rivers to 292 months in custody. When Rivers is released from custody, he will serve an eight-year term of supervised release. Rivers will be subject to search upon reasonable suspicion that he has violated the conditions of supervision, and he will also be subject to drug testing and treatment. No fine was imposed in the case, but the judge ordered that Rivers pay $100 in special assessments. The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Lock Haven Resident Charged With Conspiring With Physician For Kickback Payments At Local Nursing Home

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Paul D. Polen, age 71, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania was charged by criminal information with one count of conspiracy to engage in theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds between 2002 and 2022. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the information alleges that Polen, while working at a nursing home in Lock Haven, PA, agreed with an unnamed physician to be paid kickback payments. The nursing home was a recipient of Medicare benefits in excess of $10,000 per year. Under Federal law, it is an offense to embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud, or misapply property worth at least $5,000 from an organization receiving Federal funds in excess of $10,000 in a year. The physician reported to Polen, who ran the workers’ compensation program for the nursing home. Polen hired the physician for this role on the condition that the physician would have to pay half of his salary from the nursing home to Polen each month, through a company that Polen set up called Paul D. Polen, Inc. Polen made his own wife the president of this company in name only. The physician agreed to this arrangement, which required, at most, a few hours of work per month from the physician. The physician’s responsibilities also included evaluating Polen’s own workers’ compensation claims, which resulted in Polen working a reduced schedule for the same compensation from the nursing home. The physician then proceeded to pay Polen between approximately $1,700 and $2,500 per month for a period of about twenty years. In order to conceal these payments, Polen and the physician regularly exchanged payment at the physician’s home rather than at the workplace. In total, it is alleged that Polen and the physician conspired to embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud, and misapply approximately $528,450 from the nursing home. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for conspiracy is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: McKinsey & Company Africa To Pay Over $120 Million In Connection With Bribery Of South African Government Officials

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”); Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Los Angeles Field Office; and Eric Shen, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”) Criminal Investigations Group, announced today that MCKINSEY AND COMPANY AFRICA (PTY) LTD (“MCKINSEY AFRICA”), a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of McKinsey & Company, Inc. (“McKinsey”), a multinational strategy and management consulting firm headquartered in the U.S., will pay over $120 million to resolve an investigation by the DOJ into a scheme to bribe government officials in South Africa in exchange for lucrative consulting contracts at multiple state-owned and state-controlled entities. MCKINSEY AFRICA entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (“DPA”) in connection with a criminal information filed today in the Southern District of New York charging the company with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"). The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. Also unsealed today is the guilty plea of VIKAS SAGAR, a former Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, who pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act before U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain on December 16, 2022. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “McKinsey Africa participated in a yearslong scheme to bribe government officials in South Africa and unlawfully obtained a series of highly lucrative consulting engagements that netted McKinsey Africa and its parent entity McKinsey & Company approximately $85 million in profits. The scheme was carried out by a senior partner at McKinsey and allowed McKinsey Africa to repeatedly get awarded consulting contracts through corruption and bribes at two different state-owned entities in South Africa. This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue our fight against companies that seek to gain an unfair business advantage by supporting corrupt political officials overseas, no matter the industry, no matter the country, and no matter how prominent or profitable those companies may be.” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri said: “McKinsey Africa bribed South African officials in order to obtain lucrative consulting business that generated tens of millions of dollars in profits. As a consequence, McKinsey Africa has agreed to pay a criminal penalty of more than $122 million. The resolution announced today — the department’s third coordinated resolution with South African authorities in only two years — is evidence that our International Corporate Anti-Bribery ("ICAB") initiative, which we announced in November 2023, is bearing fruit. Through the ICAB, the Criminal Division remains committed to strengthening its international partnerships, including in South Africa, to combat corruption.” USPIS Inspector in Charge Eric Shen said: “McKinsey Africa will pay over $122 million, a clear indication that corruption comes at a significant cost. The resolution of this case underscores that justice has no borders, and those who engage in bribery and conspire to commit crimes will be held accountable. The Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring that government resources and international partnerships serve the public good and are never exploited for personal or corporate gain.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis said: “McKinsey Africa’s corruption seemed to pay off for a time, yielding millions in government contracts. Those actions have now cost the company dearly. Individuals and companies who collude to thwart free market competition have a direct and negative impact on communities and the American consumer. This agreement demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate anti-competitive behavior, and we will continue to work with foreign governments, including South Africa, to hold accountable those who try to cheat the system for their own benefit and profit.” According to court documents and admissions: Between at least 2012 and 2016, MCKINSEY AFRICA, acting through McKinsey Senior Partner SAGAR, agreed to pay bribes to then-officials at Transnet SOC Ltd ("Transnet"), South Africa’s state-owned and state-controlled custodian of ports, rails, and pipelines, and at Eskom Holdings Limited ("Eskom"), South Africa’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company. As part of the scheme, MCKINSEY AFRICA obtained sensitive confidential and non-public information from Transnet and Eskom regarding the award of lucrative consulting contracts and submitted proposals for multimillion-dollar consulting engagements, while knowing that South African consulting firms with which MCKINSEY AFRICA had partnered would pay a portion of their fees as bribes to officials at Transnet and Eskom. As a result of the bribery scheme, McKinsey and MCKINSEY AFRICA earned profits of approximately $85,000,000. As part of the DPA, MCKINSEY AFRICA has agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $122,850,000. The Department has agreed to credit up to one-half of the criminal penalty against amounts McKinsey pays to authorities in South Africa in related proceedings. In addition, both McKinsey and MCKINSEY AFRICA have agreed, among other things, to continue cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and in any ongoing or future criminal investigation arising during the term of the DPA. In addition, McKinsey and MCKINSEY AFRICA have agreed to enhance their compliance program where necessary and appropriate, and to report to the government regarding remediation and implementation of their enhanced compliance program. The Department reached this resolution with MCKINSEY AFRICA based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. MCKINSEY AFRICA received credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which included immediately and proactively cooperating from the inception of the Offices’ investigation; making numerous factual presentations to the Offices over the course of their investigation, derived from information obtained through the Company’s internal investigation; collecting, reviewing, and producing voluminous records, including those located abroad, in response to requests from the Offices; promptly reporting the discovery of document-deletion efforts by the McKinsey partner involved in the conduct found during its internal investigation, taking additional investigative steps to uncover information and evidence regarding those efforts, and producing such information and evidence to the Offices; reporting, in real time, newly discovered information and documents which allowed the Offices to preserve and obtain evidence as part of their independent investigation; tracing complex internal accounting money-flows and currency exchange-information in response to requests from the Offices; preserving, collecting, and producing to the Offices documents located abroad, and engaging a third-party forensics consultant to analyze key electronic devices and providing to the Offices the results of that analysis; collecting and producing to the Offices personal email and bank account information of the McKinsey partner involved in the conduct relevant to the Offices’ investigation; engaging with the Offices in response to a deconfliction request to preserve the integrity of the Offices’ investigation; and making Company officers and employees available for interviews. McKinsey and MCKINSEY AFRICA also engaged in timely remedial measures, including: putting the McKinsey partner involved in the criminal scheme on leave when it learned of the partner’s role in the scheme, subsequently separating that partner from McKinsey after discovering his deletion activity, and requiring that partner’s continued cooperation post-separation; conducting additional anti-corruption training for employees in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa, and ceasing work with all SOEs for a period of time while it conducted its internal investigation; enhancing due diligence processes for third-party partners, including instituting controls to ensure that due diligence is completed before work begins on an engagement and imposing a more rigorous risk-review for public sector clients; carrying out an enhanced review process for all sole-source work that requires advance-approval before the engagement can begin; and voluntarily repaying, in 2018 and 2021, all revenues that McKinsey and MCKINSEY AFRICA received from potentially tainted contracts to the SOEs in South Africa from which it received contracts as a result of the criminal scheme. In light of these considerations as well as McKinsey’s prior history, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 35% reduction off the fifth percentile of the otherwise applicable guidelines fine range. * * * The FBI’s International Corruption Unit and the USPIS are investigating the case as part of the IRS Global Illicit Financial Team in Washington, D.C. SAGAR, 56, of Johannesburg, South Africa, pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and USPIS. Mr. Williams also thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in South Africa for their assistance in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan and Nicholas Chiuchiolo of the Southern District of New York; and Trial Attorneys William E. Schurmann and Alexandra P. Swain of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.


title: Home Health Care Company and Its Owners Pay More Than $360K to Settle False Claims Allegations

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, today announced that HOME CARE VNA LLC and its current and former owners, SHAKIRA LUBEGA and CONSTANT OGUTT, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments in which they will pay $361,520 to settle allegations that they were paid for home health care services that violated Medicaid regulations relating to plans of care. Home Care VNA is a home health agency with offices located at 330 Main Street in Hartford. Lubega is the current owner of Home Care VNA and Ogutt is a former, part owner. Lubega and Ogutt are married. The Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies expressly require, as a condition of payment for home health care services, that each patient has a plan of care, the plan of care is signed by a licensed practitioner, the plan of care is signed within 21 days after the episode of care begins, and a new or modified plan of care is reviewed, revised, and signed every 60 days. The United States and the State of Connecticut contend that Home Care VNA, Lubega, and Ogutt submitted or caused to be submitted claims for reimbursement to Connecticut Medicaid for home health care services for patients who had unsigned plans of care or had no plans of care at all. To resolve the governments’ False Claims Act allegations, Home Care VNA, Lubega, and Ogutt have agreed to pay $361,520, which covers the time-period from August 1, 2018, through March 26, 2020. This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Molot and by Assistant Attorney General Joshua Jackson of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. In 2022, Home Care VNA, Lubega, and Ogutt paid $630,000 to resolve Medicaid fraud allegations in Massachusetts . People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.


title: McKinsey & Company Africa to Pay Over $122M in Connection with Bribery of South African Government Officials

component: Criminal Division

body_text: McKinsey and Company Africa (Pty) Ltd (McKinsey Africa), which operates in South Africa as a wholly owned and controlled subsidiary of international consulting firm McKinsey & Company Inc. (McKinsey), will pay over $122 million to resolve an investigation by the Justice Department into a scheme to pay bribes to government officials in South Africa between 2012 and 2016. The guilty plea of a former McKinsey senior partner who participated in the bribery scheme was also unsealed. The Justice Department’s resolution is coordinated with prosecutorial authorities in South Africa. McKinsey Africa entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the department in connection with a criminal information filed in the Southern District of New York charging the company with one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Vikas Sagar, a former senior partner of McKinsey who worked in McKinsey Africa’s South Africa office, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA. According to court documents and admissions, McKinsey Africa, acting through a senior partner and for the benefit of McKinsey, agreed to pay bribes to then-officials at Transnet SOC Ltd. (Transnet), South Africa’s state-owned and state-controlled custodian of ports, rails, and pipelines, and at Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. (Eskom), South Africa’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company. Between at least 2012 and 2016, McKinsey Africa obtained sensitive confidential and non-public information from Transnet and Eskom regarding the award of lucrative consulting contracts and submitted proposals for multimillion-dollar consulting engagements, while knowing that South African consulting firms with which McKinsey Africa had partnered would pay a portion of their fees as bribes to officials at Transnet and Eskom. As a result of the bribery scheme, McKinsey and McKinsey Africa earned profits of approximately $85,000,000. “McKinsey Africa bribed South African officials in order to obtain lucrative consulting business that generated tens of millions of dollars in profits,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As a consequence, McKinsey Africa has agreed to pay a criminal penalty of more than $122 million. The resolution announced today — the department’s third coordinated resolution with South African authorities in only two years — is evidence that our International Corporate Anti-Bribery (ICAB) initiative, which we announced in November 2023, is bearing fruit. Through the ICAB, the Criminal Division remains committed to strengthening its international partnerships, including in South Africa, to combat corruption.” “McKinsey Africa participated in a yearslong scheme to bribe government officials in South Africa and unlawfully obtained a series of highly lucrative consulting engagements that netted McKinsey Africa and its parent entity McKinsey & Company approximately $85 million in profits,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “The scheme was carried out by a senior partner at McKinsey and allowed McKinsey Africa to repeatedly get awarded consulting contracts through corruption and bribes at two different state-owned entities in South Africa. This office and our law enforcement partners will continue our fight against American companies that seek to gain an unfair business advantage by supporting corrupt political officials overseas, no matter the industry, no matter the country, and no matter how prominent or profitable those companies may be.” “This settlement underscores our unwavering commitment to holding companies accountable that willfully engage in corrupt activities around the world,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “McKinsey Africa engaged in a serious and long-running bribery scheme to secure contracts by corrupting government officials. This misconduct is a blatant violation of law and a breach of public trust. No matter what country the crime occurs in, the FBI will always work closely with our international partners to root out corruption.” “McKinsey Africa will pay over $122 million, a clear indication that corruption comes at a significant cost,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “The resolution of this case underscores that justice has no borders, and those who engage in bribery and conspire to commit crimes will be held accountable. The Postal Inspection Service is committed to ensuring that government resources and international partnerships serve the public good and are never exploited for personal or corporate gain.” Pursuant to the DPA, McKinsey Africa has agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $122,850,000. The Justice Department has agreed to credit up to one-half of the criminal penalty against amounts McKinsey pays to authorities in South Africa in related proceedings. In addition, both McKinsey and McKinsey Africa have agreed to, among other things, continue cooperating with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in any ongoing or future criminal investigation arising during the term of the DPA. McKinsey and McKinsey Africa have also agreed to enhance their compliance program where necessary and appropriate and to report to the government regarding remediation and implementation of their enhanced compliance program. The Justice Department reached this resolution with McKinsey Africa based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. McKinsey Africa received credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation, which included (i) immediately and proactively cooperating from the inception of the department’s investigation; (ii) making numerous factual presentations to the department over the course of its investigation, derived from information obtained through the company’s internal investigation; (iii) collecting, reviewing, and producing voluminous records, including those located abroad, in response to requests from the department; (iv) promptly reporting the discovery of document-deletion efforts by the McKinsey partner involved in the conduct found during its internal investigation, taking additional investigative steps to uncover information and evidence regarding those efforts, and producing such information and evidence to the department; (v) reporting, in real time, newly discovered information and documents that allowed the department to preserve and obtain evidence as part of its independent investigation; (vi) tracing complex internal accounting money-flows and currency exchange-information in response to requests from the department; (vii) preserving, collecting, and producing to the department documents located abroad, and engaging a third-party forensics consultant to analyze key electronic devices and providing to the department the results of that analysis; (viii) collecting and producing to the department personal email and bank account information of the McKinsey partner involved in the conduct relevant to the department’s investigation; (ix) engaging with the department in response to a deconfliction request to preserve the integrity of the department’s investigation; and (x) making company officers and employees available for interviews. McKinsey and McKinsey Africa also engaged in timely remedial measures, including: (i) putting the McKinsey partner involved in the criminal scheme on leave when it learned of the partner’s role in the scheme, subsequently separating that partner from McKinsey after discovering his deletion activity, and requiring that partner’s continued cooperation post-separation; (ii) conducting additional anti-corruption training for employees in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa, and ceasing work with all state-owned enterprises (SOEs) for a period of time while it conducted its internal investigation; (iii) enhancing due diligence processes for third-party partners, including instituting controls to ensure that due diligence is completed before work begins on an engagement and imposing a more rigorous risk-review for public sector clients; (iv) carrying out an enhanced review process for all sole-source work that requires advance-approval before the engagement can begin; and (v) voluntarily repaying, in 2018 and 2021, all revenues that McKinsey and McKinsey Africa received from potentially tainted contracts to the SOEs in South Africa from which they received contracts as a result of the criminal scheme. In light of these considerations as well as McKinsey’s prior history, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 35% reduction off the fifth percentile of the otherwise applicable guidelines fine range. FBI’s Los Angeles International Corruption squad and USPIS are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys William E. Schurmann and Alexandra P. Swain of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew K. Chan and Nicholas Chiuchiolo for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in South Africa provided assistance in this matter. The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa . View the Deferred Prosecution Agreement. View the Information.


title: Townsend man admits illegal possession of gun after shooting, killing dog

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Townsend man accused of illegally possessing guns after he fatally shot his girlfriend’s dog following an argument admitted to a firearms crime on Dec. 4, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Gabriel Martin Puga, 33, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition. Puga faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 16, 2025. Puga was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that Puga was convicted of felony criminal endangerment in January in Broadwater County and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. On March 21, Puga got into an argument with his girlfriend regarding her dogs. The girlfriend told law enforcement that Puga threatened her numerous times, including to use a gun. The same day, Puga took possession of his girlfriend’s .380-caliber pistol and her one-year-old white labrador. Puga asked a friend to go with him to the mountains to help him kill the dog. The government further alleged that the friend met Puga with the dog in the mountains that day. Puga took possession of the friend’s .45-caliber pistol and shot the dog twice. Puga gave the .45-caliber pistol back to his friend and returned to his girlfriend’s house. The girlfriend said Puga told her he shot the dog twice and showed her a photo of the dog’s pawprint in the snow from where he had shot him. Multiple photos of the deceased dog and messages where Puga referenced shooting the dog were found on the same phone as the photo of the dog’s pawprint. Law enforcement located the deceased dog in the mountains and recovered fur and .45-caliber cartridge casings that were confirmed to have been fired from the friend’s pistol. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office and Helena Police Department 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: West Bridgewater Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A West Bridgewater man pleaded guilty yesterday to receiving and possessing child pornography from an online communication application. Juan Levano, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2025. An investigation into an internet-based communications application used for the trafficking of child pornography identified Levano as a likely user of the platform who participated in groups where child pornography was disseminated. Levano rented a room at a residence that is registered as a residential daycare. Both Levano and the owner of the residence and daycare denied that Levano worked at the residential daycare and denied that Levano had any contact with the children who attend it. During a search of the residence, various electronic devices belonging to Levano were seized. During the search, Levano admitted to being a member of several groups on the chat application and obtaining child pornography from those groups. A review of Levano’s phone revealed that Levano was a member of several active groups on the platform that included the exchange of child pornography, including children ranging from infancy to 13 years old. Additionally, investigators identified more than 100 video and image files, most of which appear to depict child pornography, stored in a photo application on Levano’s phone. 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 up to $ 250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $ 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. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the West Bridgewater Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Office’s Major Crimes Unit is 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 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: Former EMT Sentenced for Drug Tampering

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A Cordova, Tennessee woman has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for tampering with a vial of Benadryl while on duty as an Emergency Medical Technician. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. According to information presented in court, Cleola Hogan , 40 , was working her shift as an EMT on March 20, 2022, when she removed Benadryl from a vial using a syringe and injected the Benadryl into her arm. Hogan then replaced the missing Benadryl with saline solution and glued the cap back onto the Benadryl vial. Benadryl is commonly used to treat patients with severe allergic reactions, and replacing Benadryl with saline would place patients who needed Benadryl at risk of death or serious bodily injury. Hogan entered a guilty plea on September 3, 2024, to tampering with a consumer product with reckless disregard that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury. On December 4, 2024, Chief United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Hogan to 12 months and one day of incarceration with a three-year period of supervised release to follow. Hogan was also ordered to undergo drug and mental health treatment and counseling. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, working with the Priority Ambulance Diversion Task Force. Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III and former Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Lewis who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: President And CEO Of Las Vegas-Based Company Sentenced For Role In Investment Fraud Scheme Where He Stole Millions In Victim Investor Funds

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS — A Nevada man was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in prison and was ordered to pay $6.1 million in restitution stemming from his role in a years-long fraud scheme. According to court documents, Mykalai Kontilai, formerly Michael Contile, 55, of Las Vegas, facilitated an investment fraud scheme involving his company, Collector’s Coffee Inc., doing business as Collector’s Café (Collector’s Coffee), a company incorporated in California and headquartered in Las Vegas. From 2012 to 2018, Kontilai made or caused to be made numerous materially false and misleading representations to induce victims to invest in Collector’s Coffee — a company he claimed was on the verge of launching an online auction house for third-party owned collectibles, such as Hollywood and sport memorabilia. As a result of Kontilai’s numerous false and misleading statements, including that investor funds would be used for legitimate business purposes, that Kontilai had personally invested millions of his own money in the company, and that he did not take a salary, Kontilai successfully raised approximately $23 million from Collector’s Coffee investors. However, rather than using the proceeds as represented, Kontilai stole approximately $6.1 million for his own personal use, including for the purchase of luxury goods, apartments, and vehicles. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began investigating Kontilai for misappropriating investor funds in or around 2017. Kontilai obstructed the investigation by forging documents that he caused to be transmitted to the SEC and lied under oath to the SEC. Kontilai was charged in connection with this conduct both in the present case on June 3, 2020, and in a separate case in the District of Colorado on March 10, 2020. While under investigation but prior to charging, Kontilai fled to Russia and was ultimately arrested on an Interpol Red Notice in Germany in 2023. He was extradited back to the United States to face the pending charges in May. On Nov. 21, Kontilai pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. As part of the plea agreement in this case, the government has moved to dismiss the Colorado case. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement. FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the extradition from Germany of Kontilai. Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada prosecuted this case. Former Fraud Section Trial Attorney Emily Scruggs provided valuable assistance. ###


title: Bookkeeper and Sister Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling $1.5M from Florence County Business

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — Margaret Ward Heilman, 66, of Darlington County and Katherine Ward Gray, 60, of Florence County, were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Evidence presented to the court showed that Heilman was the bookkeeper for a business in Florence County. As bookkeeper, she had access to the business’s bank accounts and had signature authority. Beginning in 2014, Heilman began to write checks to herself and others, to include her sister, Gray, for personal expenses. When Heilman wrote the checks to herself, and others, she made them look like legitimate business expenses on the business’s general ledger. Through the course of the scheme, Heilman defrauded the company out of $1.5 million. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Heilman to 20 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Heilman was also ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution. Gray was sentenced to seven months in imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Gray was ordered to pay $234,131.82 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Vermilion County Resident Convicted of Counterfeiting For Second Time

component: Department of Justice

body_text: URBANA, Ill. – A federal jury returned five guilty verdicts on December 4, 2024, against Jacob R Kirkley, 48, of Bismarck, Illinois, for counterfeiting U.S. currency and selling and possessing counterfeit U.S. currency. Sentencing for Kirkley has been scheduled for May 2, 2025, at the federal courthouse in Urbana, Illinois. During two days of testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that, on December 7, 2023, Kirkley sold an undercover officer with the Illinois State Police $1000 of counterfeited U.S. currency that he had made for $250. On December 13, 2023, and January 8, 2024, Kirkley sold the same undercover officer another $1000 and $5000 in counterfeit U.S. currency that he had made, respectively. On January 11, 2024, agents of the United States Secret Service and Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group executed a federal search warrant at Kirkley’s residence in Bismarck and recovered additional counterfeit currency, as well as various items used to create counterfeit currency. In 2022, Kirkley was convicted of one count of manufacturing U.S. currency and two counts of passing U.S. currency after a 2020 incident where a Vermilion County Sheriff’s Deputy found over $20,000 of counterfeit U.S. currency in his truck and then learned Kirkley had passed counterfeit currency at Carnaghi’s Towing and McDonald’s in Danville, Illinois, and Dollar General in Tilton, Illinois. At the time, the deputy also found over $20,000 counterfeit U.S. currency, plus four printers, a paper cutter, and numerous counterfeit-making implements in Kirkley’s hotel room in the Budget Inn in Danville. Kirkley served 27 months in federal prison for those offenses and was serving a three-year term of federal supervised release at the time that he committed his latest counterfeiting offenses. Kirkley remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. At sentencing, Kirkley faces statutory penalties of up to twenty years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each of the five counts of conviction. The case investigation was conducted by the Springfield Division of the United States Secret Service, Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, and Illinois State Police. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government at trial.


title: President and CEO of Las Vegas-Based Company Sentenced for Role in Investment Fraud Scheme Where He Stole Millions in Victim Investor Funds

body_text: A Nevada man was sentenced yesterday to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $6.1 million in restitution stemming from his role in a years-long fraud scheme. According to court documents, Mykalai Kontilai, formerly Michael Contile, 55, of Las Vegas, facilitated an investment fraud scheme involving his company, Collector’s Coffee Inc., doing business as Collector’s Café (Collector’s Coffee), a company incorporated in California and headquartered in Las Vegas. From 2012 to 2018, Kontilai made or caused to be made numerous materially false and misleading representations to induce victims to invest in Collector’s Coffee — a company he claimed was on the verge of launching an online auction house for third-party owned collectibles, such as Hollywood and sport memorabilia. As a result of Kontilai’s numerous false and misleading statements, including that investor funds would be used for legitimate business purposes, that Kontilai had personally invested millions of his own money in the company, and that he did not take a salary, Kontilai successfully raised approximately $23 million from Collector’s Coffee investors. However, rather than using the proceeds as represented, Kontilai stole approximately $6.1 million for his own personal use, including for the purchase of luxury goods, apartments, and vehicles. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began investigating Kontilai for misappropriating investor funds in or around 2017. Kontilai obstructed the investigation by forging documents that he caused to be transmitted to the SEC and lied under oath to the SEC. Kontilai was charged in connection with this conduct both in the present case on June 3, 2020, and in a separate case in the District of Colorado on March 10, 2020. While under investigation but prior to charging, Kontilai fled to Russia and was ultimately arrested on an Interpol Red Notice in Germany in 2023. He was extradited back to the United States to face the pending charges in May. On Nov. 21, Kontilai pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. As part of the plea agreement in this case, the government has moved to dismiss the Colorado case. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada; Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Phoenix Field Office made the announcement. FBI and IRS-CI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the extradition from Germany of Kontilai. Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada prosecuted this case. Former Fraud Section Trial Attorney Emily Scruggs provided valuable assistance.


title: Tulsan Found Guilty of Shooting with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A federal jury convicted Bruce Mitchell Cass, 50, of Tulsa and citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, was convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. In July 2024, Tulsa Police Officers were dispatched to a shooting. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the victim, shot once in the abdomen. Medical personnel rendered aid and transported the victim to a local hospital for emergency surgery. Before surgery, the victim identified Cass as the shooter. Witnesses testified that there was a heated dispute at the home earlier in the evening that led to someone being sprayed with wasp spray. Police officers were called, and a report of the incident was made. Witnesses further stated that later in the evening, Cass walked into the home wearing a mask and pointed a gun at several people, including a toddler, before he shot the victim once. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Jolly and Ammon Brisolara 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. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Justice Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Reinforce Federal Protections for Servicemembers in Letter to Financial Services Providers

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a joint letter today reiterating financial services providers of their responsibility to recognize interest rate protections that exist for servicemembers, recent veterans and their spouses under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Under the SCRA, servicemembers have additional rights and protections because of the unique financial challenges that often emerge as a result of their service. One provision of the SCRA limits the amount of interest that banks, credit cards and other financial services providers may charge on certain financial obligations that the servicemember incurred before military service to no more than 6% per year, including most fees. “Servicemembers make great sacrifices to serve our nation and protect our democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Financial services providers must ensure that servicemembers are afforded their rights and benefits under the law.” “Many military families have been hit hard by high interest rates on credit cards, mortgages and auto loans, even though they are entitled to an interest rate cap,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Financial firms shouldn’t be price gouging those who serve in uniform.” Recently, the CFPB has published reports on the rising interest rates in both the credit card and mortgage markets. The CFPB’s 2022 analysis estimated that less than 10% of eligible auto loans and 6% of personal loans to activated members of the National Guard and Reserves were receiving interest rate reductions, resulting in nearly $10 million a year in estimated lost savings. With current interest rates on car loans and even mortgages well above 6% for many borrowers, more servicemembers would now benefit from a reduction than in prior years. Today’s letter ensures that financial services providers are aware of the provision within the SCRA that protects servicemembers against violations of interest rate benefits. If servicemembers make a proper request, a creditor must forgive and not defer any interest greater than 6%. The letter also includes recommendations for financial services providers to further help servicemembers, such as automatically applying the interest rate cap to all eligible accounts held at that institution if a servicemember invokes protections for a single account. The Justice Department’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative coordinates federal resources to build a comprehensive legal support and protection network focused on serving servicemembers, veterans and their families. Since 2011, the department has obtained over $481 million in monetary relief for over 147,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/servicemembers . Servicemembers who are covered by this law are likely eligible for military legal assistance and can contact their local legal assistance office for help. See legalassistance.law.af.mil/ for a list of office locations. If servicemembers are not eligible for military legal assistance services, they may request that the Justice Department review their claim by submitting a complaint at civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . The CFPB provides educational resources to military families, monitors complaints and coordinates with federal partners on matters related to consumer protection for the military community. Additionally, the CFPB has authority to enforce the Military Lending Act, as well as the ability to take legal action to address unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices related to consumer financial products or services for all members of the public, including servicemembers, under the Consumer Financial Protection Act. Consumers encountering problems with interest rates can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372). The CFPB encourages employees who believe their companies have violated federal consumer financial protection laws to send information about what they know to whistleblower@cfpb.gov .


title: Chesapeake man who used company credit card for over $100,000 in personal expenses pleads guilty to wire fraud

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man pled guilty today to wire fraud after using his position to charge unauthorized personal expenses totaling over $100,000 to a company credit card. From June 2015 to February 2023, Brandon Thompson, 44, was an administrator with a Virginia joint venture among physicians in conjunction with Sentara Hospital. Thompson’s responsibilities included purchasing equipment, implementing capital and operating budgets, and promoting cost containment and efficient use of facility resources. From at least January 2018 through February 2023, Thompson used a company card for, among other things, his rent, wedding reception, divorce attorney, and groceries. He also used the card for such luxury items as diamonds, airline tickets, and an initiation fee for a country club membership. Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton D. LaForge is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-128.


title: Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking, Possession of Child Pornography, and Escaping From Custody

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to 35 years in prison for sex trafficking seven women in the Chicago area, escaping from custody while awaiting trial on those charges, and possessing child pornography. BRIAN JOHNSON, 59, of Evergreen Park, Ill., used multiple aliases to pose as the male owner or female employee of an art gallery and film production company with purported connections to major magazines, overseas distributors, and film producers. He sought amateurs seeking to start a career in artistic nude modeling and film, enticing his victims with false promises of full-time employment at a lucrative salary, professional connections, and foreign travel. In preparation for what he told the women would be an “audition,” Johnson provided alcohol and encouraged the women to drink it. During the “audition,” he took explicit photos and videos of the victims and had sex with them. Afterward, Johnson claimed that his distributor found the photos and videos unsatisfactory and that the women would need to pose and have sex with him again in a “re-shoot” in order to get paid. In reality, there was no gallery, film company, or distributor. When victims expressed reluctance to re-shoot the video, Johnson threatened to distribute their images, and did, in fact, distribute their images online. Johnson continued to harass his victims, even years later, by sending them the explicit photos and reminding them of their encounters with him. None of the victims ever received any money from Johnson. A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago earlier this year heard testimony from seven of Johnson’s victims before convicting him of sex trafficking and other offenses. Johnson also pleaded guilty prior to trial to an escape charge for failing to return to a federal jail in Chicago after being granted a three-hour furlough to attend his mother’s visitation. After briefly attending the visitation, Johnson returned to his home, packed a suitcase, and fled. Among the possessions he took with him were numerous images of the sex trafficking victims, including images which he knew were child pornography. After a three-day search, the FBI found and arrested Johnson at a restaurant near Midway Airport in Chicago. U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer imposed the 35-year prison sentence on Monday in federal court in Chicago. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Phillip Arnold, Chief of the Shorewood, Ill. Police Department, and Michael Saunders, Chief of the Evergreen Park, Ill. Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elly Moheb and Maureen M. Merin. If you or someone you know may have been a victim of human trafficking, you are encouraged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline by logging on to https://humantraffickinghotline.org or by calling 1-888-373-7888. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


title: Missouri Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced a man to 15 years in prison for producing child pornography. Steven Popple, now 39, of Park Hills, Missouri, met an underage girl in May of 2021, according to his plea agreement. He began a flirtatious relationship with her and exchanged text messages with sexual content. He began asking her for nude photos and videos and instructed her how to pose and what sexual acts to perform. At Popple’s request, the victim sent him about 300 photos and videos and the pair met and engaged in sex acts, his plea agreement says. Popple pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in June to one count of production of child pornography. “If it hadn’t been for the victim’s mother, this crime wouldn’t have come to light. After discovering concerning images on her daughter’s phone, the mother contacted the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley T. Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. "Contacting law enforcement immediately reduces the risk of a perpetrator disposing of critical evidence." The FBI and the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards prosecuted 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 the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 .