title: Nineteen Defendants from Western Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio Charged with Participating in Interstate Drug Trafficking Operation Involving Large Quantities of Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, and Oxycodone

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Nineteen individuals from the New Castle, Pennsylvania, and Detroit, Michigan, areas have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for their participation in a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating throughout and between those regions, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The one-count Indictment charges the defendants with conspiring to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 100 grams or more of heroin, and a quantity of oxycodone from August 2023 to July 2024. The Indictment and a related search warrant were unsealed today. A complete list of the defendants is included at the bottom of this release. According to the Indictment and information provided to the Court, the defendants operated a drug trafficking organization (DTO) based in Detroit and New Castle that was responsible for the acquisition of kilograms of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, including in the form of crack, as well as other controlled substances such as oxycodone, via interstate sources of supply. The DTO distributed those drugs to other dealers throughout and beyond Western Pennsylvania, and several members of the DTO regularly travelled back and forth between New Castle and Detroit in furtherance of the illegal drug activities. A number of the defendants have extensive criminal records, some stretching back more than three decades, including prior felony drug-trafficking and firearms convictions. The search warrant affidavit alleges that, in March 2024, one of the leaders of this DTO, Christian Frierson, was arrested following a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in the vicinity of Omaha, Nebraska. Frierson, who was driving eastbound from California, was found in possession of a safe containing over 1,000 grams of fentanyl and nearly 250 grams of heroin. Frierson was charged with drug crimes in Nebraska state court and released on bond. The affidavit asserts that he promptly resumed his large-scale drug trafficking activities in furtherance of the Detroit/New Castle DTO. According to the search warrant affidavit, agents utilized confidential sources and informants, extensive surveillance and analysis of phone records, controlled purchases of drugs, search warrants, and eventually court-authorized wiretaps from May 2024 to the present (among other investigative tools) to gather evidence in an effort to ascertain the scope of the illegal drug activities. Intercepted wiretap calls and text messages revealed that several members of the DTO in Detroit recruited individuals to work at “trap houses” (i.e., drug processing and distribution locations) in New Castle. The DTO, on an ongoing basis, distributed large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl/oxycodone pills. “This conspiracy involved a tight-knit network of family and friends—many of whom previously have been convicted of felony drug and firearms crimes—who allegedly trafficked large quantities of lethal narcotics, like fentanyl and heroin, between Detroit and Western Pennsylvania, supplying them to other dealers along the way,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Dismantling large-scale drug-trafficking organizations in order to keep our communities safe is at the center of what our office does, and we could not accomplish this critical mission without the support of the public and the strength of our partnerships at all levels of law enforcement here in Pennsylvania and across the country.” “Multi-state and multi-jurisdictional operations like what took place today show that the FBI and our partners stand shoulder to shoulder when it comes to keeping this poison out of communities everywhere,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The message to those who want to peddle illegal drugs and guns is clear: we will not stand idle while our neighborhoods are held hostage by crime.” The law provides for a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal histories, if any, of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig W. Haller and Vincent Joseph Sonson are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Mercer County Drug Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment unsealed today. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. List of Defendants Name Age Place of Residence Christian Frierson 33 Detroit, MI Devail Adams 54 Oak Park, MI Christopher Barton 24 New Castle, PA Patrick Brown 32 Detroit, MI Roy Brown 55 Westland, MI Frank Christian 51 Youngstown, OH Tyrone Davis 35 Detroit, MI Edward Dietrich 59 New Castle, PA Alexis Donnell 29 New Castle, PA Dedric Higginbotham 55 Detroit, MI Kiara Jones 24 New Castle, PA Quinten Jones 38 Detroit, MI Kenneth King 37 New Castle, PA Jermaine Lett 52 Detroit, MI Marcus Mason 32 New Castle, PA Daniel Rasnick 27 New Castle, PA Kendra Sager 32 New Castle, PA Jauan Searcy 42 New Castle, PA George Wyatt 61 New Castle, PA


title: Corporate President Sentenced to Prison for Multimillion Dollar California Excise Tax Scheme

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Rahman Lakhani, of Naperville, Illinois, was sentenced today to four years in prison for a tobacco-related excise tax fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta sentenced Lakhani and his two corporations, N. Ali Enterprises Inc. and 21 st Century Distribution Inc., for a total of 20 counts of mail and wire fraud. In addition to Lakhani’s prison term, his companies were each sentenced to three years of probation and all defendants were ordered to pay over $5.9 million in restitution. According to court documents, Lakhani and the corporate defendants used warehouses in Illinois, Nevada, and California, to move over $25 million worth of other tobacco products (OTP) across the United States and into California. OTP are tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as cigars and chewing tobacco. As the defendants moved the OTP from state to state, they submitted false excise tax returns to different state regulators that were designed to hide the size and value of the shipments. Ultimately, the OTP was sold into California on false invoices with the misrepresentation that tax had been paid. In fact, Lakhani and the corporate defendants submitted or caused to be submitted false tax returns to the California Board of Equalization (BOE) and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). As a result of the fraud, Lakhani and the corporate defendants defrauded the State of California of over $5.9 million. This fraud allowed Lakhani and the corporate defendants to earn additional profit and to undercut competitors who lawfully paid the excise tax. A large percentage of the proceeds of the California OTP excise tax are used to fund California’s early childhood development program, First 5 California. This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the former California State Board of Equalization, sections of which are now the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosanne L. Rust and Michael D. Anderson prosecuted the case.


title: 17.5-Year Sentence in Spree of Dozens of Gunpoint ‘Hobbs Act’ Robberies and Attempted Robberies in the District and Maryland

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Stephon Harrigan, 31, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison for a 2022 spree of approximately three dozen armed robberies and attempted robberies of various commercial business. The robbed establishments included gas stations, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, check cashers, and liquor stores in the District and suburban Maryland. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Harrigan pleaded guilty on March 25, 2024, to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (also known as Hobbs Act robbery) and possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence before U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington D.C. Harrigan’s co-defendant and brother, Aaron Harrigan, 28, pleaded guilty on October 3, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery for his participation in four of the robberies. Aaron Harrigan was sentenced to 87 months in prison on September 25, 2023. Co-defendant Tavarus Thompson pleaded guilty on March 29, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing. According to court documents, the spree began on January 12, 2022, with the gunpoint robbery of a gas station on 18 th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. It ended on March 6, 2022, when law enforcement stopped a stolen car at the intersection of 1 st Street and Gallatin Street, NW, and its occupants fled on foot. Stephon Harrigan forced his way into a woman’s vehicle and ordered her to drive him away, but the car collided with an unmarked MPD vehicle. Law enforcement then arrested him. During the first three months of 2022, Stephon Harrigan and/or Tavarus Thompson, along with, at times, other individuals, entered an additional approximately 34 establishments while armed with at least one firearm. In general, they brandished at least one gun and demanded money. They generally obtained cash or other property of the establishments, as well as, at times, property belonging to individuals in the establishments. On March 6, 2022, law enforcement captured Stephon Harrigan. Tavarus Thompson was arrested in South Carolina on March 18, 2022, and Aaron Harrigan was arrested on March 29, 2022. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Columbia, South Carolina Field Office, and the Mount Rainier, Md., Prince George’s County, Md., and Montgomery County, Md. Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Kinskey and Andrea Duvall, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Fletcher. 22cr104


title: Ohio Man Currently Imprisoned for Assault with Firearm Sentenced to Additional 17.5 Years of Prison for Series of Armed Pharmacy Robberies

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced on July 31, 2024, to 210 months of incarceration on his conviction for a series of pharmacy robberies throughout Western Pennsylvania and distribution of the narcotics from those robberies, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. In March, following a four-day trial before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab, a Pittsburgh jury found Abdulrahman Abdelaziz Jamea, 26, guilty of seven crimes: one count each of conspiracy to commit armed pharmacy robbery and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, three counts of armed pharmacy robbery, and two counts of pharmacy robbery. Evidence introduced during the trial established that Jamea participated in a conspiracy to rob pharmacies of Schedule II controlled substances—that is, highly addictive opioids and stimulants—between September 2018 and July 2019. This conspiracy included the robberies of pharmacies in Beaver, Bridgeville, Edinboro, Erie, and the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. During three of the robberies, Jamea and his co-conspirators brandished a firearm to threaten the lives of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and to intimidate them into opening the locked safes where the controlled substances were kept. Evidence also established that Jamea returned to the Columbus area to sell these stolen drugs to both prescription drug abusers and other traffickers. “Jamea’s armed robbery spree across western Pennsylvania risked the lives of pharmacy employees and ordinary civilians who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time—all so he and his co-conspirators could steal dangerous drugs and later sell them on the street,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “This sentencing reflects both the serious and violent nature of these robberies, which have no place in this district or anywhere. Our office is grateful as always for the exceptional work of our law enforcement partners and for the resolve of the victims during the course of this important prosecution.” In imposing sentence, Judge Schwab specifically noted Jamea’s use of a silver handgun to threaten employees at a pharmacy in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, while a co-conspirator stole thousands of Schedule II controlled substances such as opioids and amphetamines from the store’s safe. Jamea is currently serving a separate sentence of more than 40 years following a conviction in Ohio for eight counts of felonious assault with a firearm. Judge Schwab ordered that the 210-month sentence in this case be served consecutively to Jamea’s term of imprisonment in Ohio. Assistant United States Attorneys Barbara K. Doolittle and Michael R. Ball prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Erie Police Department, Edinboro Police Department, Beaver Police Department, Bridgeville Police Department, and Ohio Highway Patrol for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Jamea.


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for unlawful possession of a machinegun. Angel Vargas, Jr., 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2024, Vargas pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun. On Jan. 27, 2023, during a search of Vargas’s Springfield residence, a ghost gun with an attached Glock switch, laser sight and extended magazine containing 23 rounds of ammunition, along with three firearms: a semi-automatic rifle with another extended magazine containing 22 rounds; a 12-gauge shotgun with five rounds; and a semi-automatic pistol with a third extended magazine containing 15 rounds were seized. Vargas’s mobile phone was also seized which contained evidence that he had been trafficking other firearms, including Glock switches, after a state felony conviction and while on pretrial release for a state firearms case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance provided by the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert Jared Smith, 45, of Charleston, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 16, 2023, law enforcement officers attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Smith on the 1000 block of Virginia Street East in Charleston. The vehicle was traveling at night with its headlights off. Smith refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit before crashing at the intersection of Kanawha Boulevard and Brooks Street. While attempting to flee on foot following the crash, Smith tripped and threw a loaded Glock Model 45 9mm pistol under a nearby porch before continuing to flee. Officers recovered the firearm and captured Smith after he fell to the ground. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Smith knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia for aiding and abetting robbery affecting interstate commerce on May 13, 2015, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on November 17, 2000. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-111.


title: Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission Host First Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing Meeting

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) virtually cohosted the first public meeting of the Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing (Strike Force) to discuss Strike Force enforcement actions taken to lower prices for Americans. DOJ Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Antitrust Division, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Civil Division, and FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, along with other agencies on the Strike Force, assembled to highlight the following Strike Force enforcement actions: FTC Chair Khan highlighted the FTC’s recent work to stop corporate lawbreaking that raises prices for Americans, including uncovering evidence of corporate conduct that may raise the price of gas, working to lower the cost of many asthma inhalers to just $35 out-of-pocket, and making it easier for Americans to cancel online subscriptions they don’t want. Chair Khan announced that she will ask the Commission to launch an inquiry into grocery prices in order to probe the tactics that big grocery chains use to hike prices and extract profits from everyday Americans at the checkout counter. DOJ Acting Associate Attorney General Mizer described DOJ’s efforts to tackle unlawful behavior that affects the prices Americans pay for their groceries, transportation, and health care. Assistant Attorney General Kanter highlighted the historic and concrete actions Antitrust Division staff are undertaking to enforce the law and lower prices in higher education, housing, transportation, food, agriculture, live music, healthcare, and other vital industries. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Boynton highlighted the Civil Division’s work to combat fraudulent pricing schemes involving government agencies and financial institutions, as well as schemes designed to defraud consumers through unfair and deceptive marketing or billing practices. Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlighted the all-of-USDA approach to tackling food and agricultural pricing challenges for farmers and consumers alike, including an ongoing investigative study on retail concentration and market practices as well as landmark efforts to modernize the Packers & Stockyards Act rulebook and build a competition partnership with state attorneys general. Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spoke on HHS’ work to make health care affordable, transparent, and fair for everyone. Increasing competition and transparency, lowering prescription drug prices, and expanding access to health care are key ways to make sure our health care system is working for all Americans. Acting General Counsel Subash Iyer of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) spoke about DOT’s work to protect airline passengers from unfair practices that can make it more expensive to fly, including by proposing a ban on family seating junk fees and investigating Delta’s refund, reimbursement, and customer service problems during the recent IT meltdown. Chair Gary Gensler of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) spoke about the SEC’s work to address unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive business practices. The SEC is the cop on the beat for the securities markets. The agency’s rulemaking projects promote transparency, access, and fair dealing in the markets. And through market oversight, including examining registrants and reviewing tens of thousands of filings each year, the SEC guards against fraud and deceptive practices and promotes competition. Chair Jessica Rosenworcel of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spoke about the FCC’s work to tackle unfair and deceptive pricing tactics in the communications sector, including by implementing new rules that will slash the exorbitant rates that incarcerated people and their families pay to stay connected. Director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) spoke about the CFPB’s work on junk fees, highlighting a report on school lunch fees, and a recently launched inquiry into junk fees in mortgage closing costs. The CFPB continues its work on all aspects of the credit card market, including looking into bait-and-switch rewards tactics, curbing excessive fees, and ensuring competition, all against the backdrop of interest rate margins hitting an all-time high. Additionally, the agency announced further scrutiny on the role of private equity investors in price gouging. In March, at the sixth meeting of the White House Competition Council, President Biden announced the launch of the Strike Force to strengthen interagency efforts to root out and stop illegal corporate behavior that hikes prices on American families through anti-competitive, unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent business practices.


title: Mead Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud  for Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Antonio Feliciano Crawford, age 54, of Mead Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of Bank Fraud. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice accepted Crawford’s guilty plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 30, 2024, in Spokane, Washington. On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) program, offered forgivable loans to eligible small businesses in order to retain or rehire employees who lost their jobs, or were in danger of doing so, due to the pandemic. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The PPP and EIDL programs have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington. In the plea agreement accepted by the court, and in information disclosed during court proceedings, Crawford, age 54, of Mead, Washington, filed false and fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications during 2020 and 2021 on behalf of four companies purportedly owned and operated by Crawford: Tann LLC, Crawford Entertainment, A&M Personal Training LLC, and a sole proprietorship doing business as “Antonio Crawford.” Crawford submitted false and fraudulent information and documentation, including fraudulent and fictitious purported tax returns for the companies, in order to obtain at least $186,971 in PPP and EIDL funding for which he was not eligible. U.S Attorney Waldref highlighted the dedication of prosecutors and investigators that make up the COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force. “This guilty plea is the result of many hours of tireless work by members of the COVID-19 Fraud Task Force, which is dedicated to the mission of fighting COVID fraud in Eastern Washington. Mr. Crawford repeatedly took advantage of federal programs designed to provide a financial lifeline to small and local businesses during an unprecedented global pandemic. I am grateful for the close law enforcement partnerships we enjoy in the Eastern District of Washington that allow federal prosecutors in my office to target fraudsters and hold them accountable for their actions.” “Though HSI encounters many different types of crooks and fraudsters, there is something particularly vile about those that would take advantage of crucial government aid programs when they are needed the most,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Our agents will continue to support the law enforcement partnerships that are investigating COVID-19 related fraud, maintaining fairness in the programs that are important to the resiliency of our nation.” "This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of COVID-19 relief programs,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “Fraudulent activities undermine the purpose of these essential programs, designed to support legitimate small businesses struggling during the pandemic. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for remaining vigilant in identifying and pursuing those who exploit federal relief efforts for personal gain." In February 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref and the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) began working with federal law enforcement agencies to create and launch a COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force that would leverage partnerships between different agencies to aggressively investigate and prosecute fraud against COVID-19 relief programs in Eastern Washington. The Strike Force consists of agency representatives from the USAO, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, General Services Administration OIG, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) OIG, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Energy OIG, and others. This case was investigated by the HSI Spokane Field Office, TIGTA, SBA OIG, and the Department of Homeland Security OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter, Jeremy J. Kelley, and Devin C. Curda. 2:24-CR-00010-TOR


title: Armed Robber Sentenced to 22 Years for Carjacking and Robberies

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jameson McNeil, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced yesterday by Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz to 22 years in prison for a series of crimes he committed between August 2022 and February 2023. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). McNeil pleaded guilty on May 6, 2024, to one count of armed carjacking and four counts of robbery. According to court documents, on February 7, 2023, McNeil was armed with what appeared to be a handgun when he ordered a woman out of her car while she was inside a parking garage in the 800 block of P Street NW. The robberies stemmed from McNeil’s targeting of female victims who were walking alone. On August 1, 2022, McNeil approached a woman walking alone in the 600 block of 21 st Street SE and robbed her of her purse. Between February 13, 2023 and February 15, 2023, McNeil robbed three other women of their property – one in the 400 block of 7 th Street NE, one in the 400 block of G Street NE, and one in the 1700 block of A Street SE. McNeil committed an armed carjacking on Capitol Hill in April 2023. He was running from the victims’ car when MPD officers found him hiding under a different car. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Dinan, Ronald Chester, Shauna Payyappilly and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Forgie, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Mt. Juliet Woman Sentenced for Long-Running Theft from Federal Health Care and Disability Programs

component: USAO - Tennessee, Middle

body_text: NASHVILLE – Cathleen Caraballo, 48, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, was sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison and to pay $575,855.09 in restitution earlier today, announced Henry C. Leventis, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Caraballo previously pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud, health care fraud, and false statement charges. Her crimes stemmed from a long-running identity theft scheme through which Caraballo used a stolen identity to apply for and to obtain government benefits from two government programs, Social Security and Medicare. “This sentence holds the defendant accountable for stealing money from taxpayers and lining her pockets with funds intended for those who rely on Medicare and Social Security,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “I commend our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to end the defendant’s scheme and to bring her to justice.” Court documents show that Caraballo fraudulently obtained a state-issued driver’s license using a victim’s name and information, but with Caraballo’s picture. Caraballo then held herself out as the victim. In 2009, Caraballo submitted forms to the Social Security Administration purporting to be the victim and began receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments in the victim’s name. After receiving SSDI benefits for a year, Caraballo was approved to receive Medicare benefits, and Medicare began paying Caraballo’s health care expenses based on Caraballo’s false claims. For more than a decade, Caraballo received SSDI payments and Medicare paid health care expenses to which she was not entitled. Caraballo’s identity theft scheme began to come to light in 2019, when the victim attempted to apply for government benefits under her own name. When she was approached by law enforcement investigators, Caraballo lied about her true identity, presented the investigators with fraudulent documents in an attempt to mask the stolen identity, and signed a statement affirming that she was the victim. Following further investigation by law enforcement, Caraballo was confronted by agents and admitted to carrying out the fraud scheme for over a decade. As a result of the scheme, Caraballo obtained $152,913.20 in SSDI payments from the Social Security Administration, and Medicare made payments for Caraballo’s health care in the amount of $422,941.89. As part of her plea agreement, Caraballo agreed to pay restitution of these amounts. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Suedekum prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: Former Primis Bank manager sentenced to federal prison $2.4M embezzlement scheme

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Weems man was sentenced today to four years and three months in prison for designing and executing a scheme over the course of 15 years to defraud his employer, a local financial institution, by issuing fraudulent loans to other individuals and using the loan proceeds for himself. According to court documents, James Stevens, 47, was employed at Primis Bank (formerly known as Sonabank, Eastern VA Bank, and Southside Bank) from 2000 to June 2023 as a Commercial Lender, Branch Manager, and Assistant Branch Manager. As a Commercial Lender for Primis, Stevens had the authority to issue loans on behalf of the bank, as well as the ability to open and access customer accounts and transfer funds into and out of customer accounts. Beginning in 2008, and continuing through June 2023, Stevens exploited his position of trust at Primis Bank to issue numerous fraudulent loans—on behalf of his unwitting bank employer—in the names and using the identities of numerous other individuals. Stevens would often create fraudulent documentation to support these loan applications, using the personal information of multiple Primis Bank customers in the process. Stevens would then use proceeds of these fraudulently issued loans to make payments on other previously-issued fraudulent loans, to pay himself, or to pay others. Through this loan scheme, Stevens caused a loss to Primis Bank of more than $2.3 million. Stevens also exploited his personal relationship with one Primis Bank customer to access the customer’s personal savings and checking accounts and to withdraw funds from the customer’s accounts. Stevens used his access to the customer’s accounts to change the mailing address on the accounts so that the bank customer remained unaware of the thefts, which eventually totaled more than $97,000. Altogether, the frauds and thefts perpetrated by Stevens resulted in a total loss to Primis Bank of $2,477,643. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas A. Garnett and Robert Day prosecuted 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. 3:24-cr-10.


title: Court Permanently Stops Mississippi Professionals and Business from Organizing and Selling “Tax Plans”

component: Tax Division

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi entered permanent injunctions yesterday against Thomas Walt Dallas, Jason Todd Mardis and Capital Preservation Services LLC to bar them from making statements about tax benefits for compensation, among other relief. The defendants consented to entry of the injunctions. According to the complaint, Dallas, Mardis and Capital Preservation Services marketed a tax scheme at numerous professional conferences and media appearances targeting medical professionals and small business owners. They allegedly, falsely claimed that customers following their “Tax Plans” could claim multiple deductions to which they were not actually entitled. This included false claims that (1) customers’ businesses could take deductions for paying large, unnecessary “marketing fees” to newly-created, sham marketing companies; (2) the marketing companies could employ family members, including minor children, and take deductions for family meals, vehicle expenses and tuition, among other items; and (3) customers could “rent” their homes to their businesses on a short-term basis at exorbitant rates and avoid paying taxes on the rental income. The complaint further alleges that Dallas, Mardis and Capital Preservation Services knew or had reason to know that their statements to customers about the supposed tax benefits of the tax plans were false. The alleged the harm from the scheme could be as much as $130 million in lost tax revenue since 2014. Deputy Assistant General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Each year the IRS highlights some of the tax scams that put taxpayers at risk of losing money, personal information, data and more. In the IRS’ most recent list , it specifically warned taxpayers “to beware of promoters peddling bogus tax schemes aimed at reducing taxes or avoiding them altogether.” Working with the IRS, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers and tax scheme promoters over the past decade. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. CPS Consent Injunction.pdf Dallas Consent Injunction.pdf Mardis Consent Injunction.pdf


title: Three Real Estate Investors Plead Guilty to $119M Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Three real estate investors have pleaded guilty to engaging in an extensive, multi-year conspiracy to fraudulently obtain a $74 million loan and a $45 million loan and fraudulently acquire multifamily properties. Fredrick Schulman, 72, of New York, and Chaim “Eli” Puretz, 29, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Moshe “Mark” Silber, 34, of New York, pleaded guilty on July 9 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution. According to court documents, between 2018 and 2020, Silber, Schulman, and Puretz conspired with others to deceive lenders into issuing a mortgage loan for a multifamily property and Fannie Mae into funding or purchasing the mortgage loan. Silber and Schulman were managing members of Rhodium Capital Advisors, an entity that was involved in the acquisition and management of Williamsburg of Cincinnati, an apartment complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. Puretz was one of the owners of commercial property Troy Technology Park in Troy, Michigan. Silber, Schulman, Puretz, and their co-conspirators provided the lenders and Fannie Mae with falsified documents, including a purchase contract with an inflated purchase price and other fraudulent documents. In March 2019, Williamsburg of Cincinnati was acquired for $70 million. However, Silber, Schulman, and other co-conspirators utilized a stolen identity to present a lender and Fannie Mae with a purchase and sale contract for $95.85 million and other fraudulent documents. On March 8, 2019, two closings were performed, one for the true $70 million sales price and another for the fraudulent $95.85 million sales price presented to the lenders. Based on the co-conspirators’ false statements, the lender and Fannie Mae funded a loan in the amount of $74.25 million for the purchase of Williamsburg of Cincinnati. In September 2020, Troy Technology Park was acquired by Puretz and co-conspirators for $42.7 million. However, to support an inflated purchase price of $70 million, Puretz and his co-conspirators submitted to the lender and appraiser a fraudulent letter of intent to purchase the property from another party for $68.8 million and other fraudulent documents. Based on the fraudulent documents, the lender funded a loan for $45 million. To conceal the fraudulent nature of the transaction, Puretz and his co-conspirators arranged for a short-term $30 million loan, which was used to make it appear that they had the funds needed to close on the sale. On Sept. 25, 2020, a title company based in Lakewood, New Jersey, performed two closings, one for the true $42.7 million sales price and another for the fraudulent $70 million sales price presented to the lender. Silber, Schulman, and Puretz are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 3 and each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey; Inspector General Brian M. Tomney of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG); and Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement. The FHFA-OIG and USPIS are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Martha Nye for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case. Anyone with information concerning similar multifamily or commercial mortgage fraud can report it by contacting the FHFA-OIG Hotline at 800-793-7724 or via the web at www.fhfaoig.gov/ReportFraud#hotlineform .


title: Justice Department Reaches Settlement with City of El Paso, Texas, and Its Contractors for Auctioning Over 170 Vehicles Owned by Servicemembers

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced that it has reached settlements with the City of El Paso, Texas (the City); United Road Towing Inc., doing business as UR Vehicle Management Solutions (URT); and Rod Robertson Enterprises Inc (RRE) to resolve allegations that they violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The United States’ complaint, which was filed on Feb. 2, 2023, alleges that the City and its contractors auctioned or otherwise disposed of over 170 vehicles owned by protected servicemembers without first obtaining court orders allowing them to do so. “Members of our armed forces should not have to worry about their cars being auctioned off while they are on the front lines defending our freedoms, liberties and rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These settlements should send a strong message to other cities that they should not take advantage of the rights of our servicemembers while they are defending us from harm." “My office is committed to safeguarding the rights of servicemembers who call the Western District of Texas home,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I am proud of our partnership with the Civil Rights Division and our work fighting for the men and women in this district who have been deployed overseas.” Under the agreements, which are subject to court approval, the City must develop new policies and procedures to ensure that contractors who are responsible for auctioning or otherwise disposing of impounded vehicles comply with the SCRA in the future. The City is also responsible for the payment of a $20,000 civil penalty. RRE, which was the City’s contractor from January 2015 until April 2019, must establish a $140,000 settlement fund to compensate the affected servicemembers and pay a $20,000 civil penalty. URT, which has been the City’s contractor since June 2019, must establish a $57,395 settlement fund to compensate servicemembers, pay a $24,980 civil penalty, provide SCRA training to its employees, adopt policies and procedures to investigate the military status of any registered owner prior to auctioning a vehicle and obtain a court order or a valid SCRA waiver prior to auctioning a vehicle owned by a protected servicemember. The department launched its investigation after receiving a complaint from U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Dechent. While she was deployed to Afghanistan, the City had her 2016 White Chevrolet Silverado truck towed to the impound lot. URT sold it at auction for $6,200, without obtaining the court order required by the SCRA. At the time of the auction, Lieutenant Colonel Dechent still owed approximately $13,000 on the loan she had used to finance the purchase of the truck. The department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. 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 about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil/ . View the consent order here. View the order approving settlement here.


title: Milwaukee Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Machine Gun Conversion Devices and Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 24, 2024, Demario Robinson (age 22) pled guilty to smuggling machinegun conversion devices, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 545, and possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Based on the criminal complaint and the plea agreement filed in this case, between July 11, 2022, and June 5, 2023, Robinson bought and caused to be imported over 200 machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly referred to as “switches.” Robinson then sold these MCDs to others in the greater Milwaukee area. MCDs convert ordinary pistols into fully automatic weapons. According to court records, Robinson was arrested on June 20, 2023, after U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents intercepted a package sent from China containing 47 MCDs that Robinson arranged to have delivered to his residence in Milwaukee. A search warrant was then executed on his residence, resulting in the recovery of a firearm containing a MCD, which made it illegal to possess, even for someone otherwise not prohibited from possessing a firearm. Additionally, Robinson has a prior felony conviction prohibiting his possession of any firearm. Based upon the counts of conviction, Robinson faces a statutory maximum of 35 years’ imprisonment. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 24, 2024, before United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force, and the Milwaukee Police Department – Special Investigations Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bill Roach and Mike Schindhelm. ### For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: KC Woman Pleads Guilty to $900,000 Covid Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to her role in two separate conspiracies that resulted in more than $900,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Renetta Golden-Larimore, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, contained in two separate federal indictments. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments. By pleading guilty today, Golden-Larimore admitted that from February 2021 to May 2022 she conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent applications for PPP loans. The scheme caused over $900,000 in fraudulent PPP loans to be issued to ineligible borrowers, some of which were forgiven even though the funds were not used for the purposes specified in the PPP. Golden-Larimore admitted she prepared and filed fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of other persons. Generally, she charged fees between $2,000 and $7,000 for her assistance in filing false and fraudulent PPP loans, earning a total of at least $75,833 from the scheme. Golden-Larimore created counterfeit IRS forms for nonexistent businesses and with inflated income for existing businesses in order to qualify the borrower for a PPP loan. Golden-Larimore prepared approximately 43 false PPP loan applications that were funded and numerous other false applications that were rejected. The total loss to the Small Business Administration was $908,278. Twenty other persons have been charged and convicted in the Golden-Larimore fraud scheme in these two cases and five additional cases. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Golden-Larimore must forfeit to the government at least $75,833, which represents the proceeds she personally obtained from the scheme, and pay $908,278 in restitution to the Small Business Administration, representing the total fraud loss associated with the wire fraud scheme. Under federal statutes, Golden-Larimore is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.


title: Three Defendants with Felony Convictions Sentenced to a Total of 22+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms

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

body_text: MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of three separate illegal firearms cases in the Western District of Louisiana today. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the following three defendants: Mark Abercrombie , 45, of Monroe, was sentenced to 132 months (11 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On October 22, 2022, Abercrombie was the driver and sole occupant involved in a one-vehicle crash in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. He fled the scene prior to the arrival of Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies. Inside Abercrombie’s vehicle, deputies found a Ruger Model LC9 9x19 pistol and ammunition and .22 caliber ammunition. Abercrombie was a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history, including nine felony convictions, and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was subsequently arrested and charged with illegally possessing the firearm and ammunition. He pleaded guilty and admitted to the charge on April 19, 2024. Kerry D. Gayfield , 40, of Oak Grove, was sentenced to 78 months (6 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gayfield went into a pawn shop in West Monroe on October 4, 2023, with a New England Firearms Pardner SB1 .20 gauge shotgun. In the pawn shop, Gayfield provided his identification and signed documents to pawn the firearm. As a convicted felon, Gayfield knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition but did so anyway. He was previously convicted on September 3, 2014, in the Western District of Louisiana of felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced at that time to 90 months in prison and had been released from prison at the time of this offense. Gayfield pleaded guilty on April 19, 2024. The 78-month sentence handed down today includes an 18-month sentence for Gayfield’s violation of the terms of his supervised release. Freddie L. Nash , 52, of Monroe, was sentenced to 64 months (5 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On August 22, 2023, Monroe Police Department officers responded to a domestic complaint at a residence in Monroe. Upon arrival at the residence, officers were made aware that Nash was in a vehicle passing by the residence. Officers stopped the vehicle, made contact with Nash, and found an RG Model 26 .25 caliber pistol located between the passenger door and seat where Nash had been sitting. Nash knew that as a person having prior felony convictions, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was arrested and charged with illegally possessing the firearm. Nash pleaded guilty to the charge on May 6, 2024. “Keeping firearms out of the wrong hands is a priority of the United States Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “These investigations are in line with our commitment of partnering with our local district attorneys and law enforcement agencies to curb gun violence in Ouachita Parish and all of northeast Louisiana. These defendants have no regard for the law and given their conduct and criminal histories, these sentences are fair. Justice has been served.” These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Monroe Police Department, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth D. Reeg and Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine L. Semmes. # # #


title: Sacramento Man Charged with Production, Distribution, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Jordan Hughes, 24, of Sacramento, charging him with production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between February and September 2022, Hughes convinced at least two underage victims to send him images and videos depicting themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Hughes also distributed images of child sexual abuse conduct, and, in November 2022, possessed child sexual abuse material, including images of at least four underage victims engaging in sexually explicit conduct. This case is the product of an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, which includes the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department as well as Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea J. Kenny is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Hughes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of production of child sexual abuse material. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.


title: Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Importing Internationally Protected Reptiles from Australia

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Texas man made his initial appearance in court and pleaded guilty today to violating the Endangered Species Act by importing protected Australian reptiles into the United States on behalf of a fake zoo which he represented as legitimate. According to court documents, Don Church imported 165 native Australian reptiles by providing false information to Australian and U.S. authorities. The imported reptiles included three Rusty Monitor ( Varanus Semiremex ) lizards, which are protected internationally by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Church imported the reptiles on behalf of the “Austin Reptile Center,” a non-existent facility. He submitted documents to Australian authorities containing misrepresentations about the facility, including photographs of reptile exhibits, employee names and positions, floor plans, location and financial information. But Church knew no facility suitable for reptile care existed. To gain purported legal authority to import the reptiles, Church submitted documentation containing misleading and erroneous information about the fictious Austin Reptile Center to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). He then imported the reptiles on behalf of the Austin Reptile Center, knowing that import was unlawful. To protect species against over-exploitation, CITES regulates trade in endangered and threatened species through permit and quota requirements. The U.S. and 183 countries are signatories to the CITES treaty. The United States implements CITES through the Endangered Species Act, and the USFWS enforces it. Church pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging violation of the Endangered Species Act. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $50,000. Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Assistant Director Edward Grace of the USFWS’ Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement. The USFWS is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Sarah M. Brown of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case.


title: Lynn Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for Counterfeit Pill Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Lawrence Nagle Sr. (Nagle Sr.), 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 151 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April 2024, Nagle pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Nagle Sr.’s two sons, Christopher Nagle and Lawrence Michael Nagle, were allegedly identified as leaders of a DTO distributing various controlled substances throughout the North Shore region of Massachusetts. The Nagle DTO distributed significant quantities of various controlled substances, including, Adderall (both pharmaceutical-grade pills and counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine), methamphetamine, Xanax, oxycodone (both pharmaceutical-grade and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl), cocaine and marijuana, among others. Lawrence Michael Nagle allegedly distributed controlled substances to a small network of individuals who would then redistribute the drugs to other traffickers. The investigation revealed that Nagle Sr. was a member of the DTO, allegedly distributing controlled substances on his sons’ behalf and storing substantial quantities of controlled substances at his residence. On Oct. 25, 2024, investigators searched Nagle Sr.’s residence and recovered 5.9 kilograms of fentanyl, including counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl; 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, including counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine; and one kilogram of cocaine. Investigators also recovered three firearms, including the long-barreled firearm depicted below. Christopher Nagle pleaded guilty to his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy in April 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 13, 2024. Lawrence Michael Nagle has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, and the Beverly, Everett, Lynn, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan D. Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Settlement agreement reached with Community Bank involving alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement with Community Bank, N.A. (CBNA) to resolve two allegations that customers at CBNA’s Orchard Park, NY, branch location were denied American Sign Language interpreters for complex banking services, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complainants, who are deaf and use ASL as a primary means of communication, were both customers at CBNA in connection with residential real estate purchases. Each complainant separately requested an ASL interpreter to assist with the closing of their transaction. The first request was made in January 2021; the second request was made in October 2023. In response to the January 2021 request, CBNA offered to pay one-half of the cost for an ASL interpreter. In response to the October 2023 request, CBNA refused to pay any of the cost for an ASL interpreter. Both complainants, who obtained interpreter services without assistance from CBNA, were frustrated and stressed by the efforts to obtain communication access in ASL. Under the settlement, CBNA will not discriminate against or deny services to any individual on the basis of disability, including individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. CBNA has also agreed to develop and prominently post an ADA Effective Communications Policy at each branch location and on its website so that it can be easily read by members of the public. CBNA will also train all customer-facing employees on the Effective Communications Policy and pay each complainant $1,000 as compensation for harm. CBNA also agreed that: CBNA will not retaliate against any person involved in this matter; CBNA will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services, free of charge, when necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities; CBNA will provide timely responses to requests for auxiliary aids and services; and CBNA will not require an individual with a disability to bring another individual to interpret for him or her. The Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts under the ADA seek equal opportunity and dignity in all aspects of life, including access to effective communications for people with disabilities. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (716) 843-5700 or file a complaint with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division at: https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov , or by calling the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 and (800) 514-0383 (TDD). The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. B. Bobseine, Civil Rights Coordinator in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Buffalo, New York. # # # #


title: New Haven Gang Member Admits Role in 2022 Murder

body_text: DONELL ALLICK, JR., also known as “D-Nice,” 25, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a racketeering offense related to his participation in a violent New Haven street gang and the murder of an individual in September 2022. Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson. According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating a gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city. The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020. The investigation revealed that Allick and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside of the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence. Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. Allick pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, including acts of violence, narcotics trafficking, and gun sales, and specifically admitted that, on September 16, 2022, he and others shot Kenneth Cloud, 46, who was sitting on the porch of an Atwater Street residence in New Haven. The victim was paralyzed as a result of the shooting and died approximately three months later. Forty-three shell casings were found at the scene of the shooting. Ballistics analysis revealed that 19 had been fired from a handgun later found in Allick’s vehicle, and 24 had been fired from a handgun later found inside Allick’s residence. At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Allick faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Allick has been detained since his arrest on November 10, 2022. On July 15, 2024, he was sentenced to 115 months of imprisonment in a separate federal case. This investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the New Haven Police Department, the Hamden Police Department, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn . Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Fifth Defendant Pleads Guilty in North Austin Mail Robbery Case, Sixth Defendant Arrested Out of State

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – An Austin man pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to conspiracy and mail robbery. According to court documents, Cody Smith, 19, conspired with five codefendants in 2023 to target U.S. Postal Service letter carriers and steal their Arrow Keys in order to unlawfully open mail boxes in the local area. In one instance, on Dec. 4, 2023, Smith and codefendant Samuel Williams, 19, wearing dark hooded sweatshirts and masks, approached a letter carrier and demanded he give them his assigned USPS Arrow Key. Smith and Williams ripped the key from the letter carrier’s belt and ran to a getaway vehicle. Codefendants Christian Mosquera, 21, and Nicholas Williams, 21, assisted in the robbery as driver and look-out, respectively. Two other codefendants, Camren Hamilton, 22, and Jonathan Rangel, 27, also had roles in the conspiracy . Smith pleaded guilty to one count of robbery of mail matter or other property and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery of mail matter or other property. He faces a up to ten years in prison for the robbery charge and up to five years in prison for the conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Codefendant Samuel Williams was located and arrested in St. Louis July 30. Mosquera, Nicholas Williams, Hamilton and Rangel have all pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentence hearings in September. Smith does not yet have a sentencing date. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Austin Police Department, Round Rock Police Department, and Georgetown Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Guess is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Opioid Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Curon Cameron Cordon, 24, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of protonitazene and isotonitazene. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 31, 2023, Cordon sold 13 pills to a confidential informant in Charleston. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed that the pills contained protonitazene and isotonitazene, synthetic opioids potentially more dangerous and deadly than fentanyl. Cordon is scheduled to be sentenced on October 31, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-50.


title: Indictment Returned under Title 16 on More than 80 Charges for Spring 2023 Crime Spree

body_text: WASHINGTON – Hanif Brown, 18, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with 81 charges for his role in a criminal conspiracy to commit armed carjackings, armed robberies, identity theft, credit card fraud, and vehicle theft during the Spring of 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. A grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia returned an indictment yesterday charging Hanif Brown with conspiracy, two counts of armed carjacking, carjacking of a senior citizen, thirteen counts of armed robbery, sixteen counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, first-degree and second-degree identity theft of senior citizens, credit card fraud of a senior citizen, three counts of first-degree theft, three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, eight counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence, and 31 firearm related charges. Brown was arraigned on August 1, 2024, at a hearing before the Honorable Michael O’Keefe. If convicted, Brown faces mandatory minimum sentences of fifteen years for each armed carjacking, seven years for unarmed carjacking, and five years for each firearm-related offense. According to the government’s evidence, in 2021, Brown and other suspects created a Cash App account using a senior citizen’s stolen personal identifying information. Two years later, beginning in March 2023, Brown and his associates commenced a months-long crime spree in which he and his associates stole vehicles and used those vehicles to commit carjackings and gunpoint robberies. During those robberies, Brown and his associates stole currency and jewelry and forced their victims to surrender the passcodes for their phones, which Brown and his associates then accessed to initiate unauthorized monetary transfers via Cash App. Over a two-week period during the months of March 2023 and April 2023, Brown and his associates committed three armed carjackings – one of which was a brazen attack in the Third Street Tunnel and another in which a senior citizen was the victim. Over this same time period, Brown and his associates committed five armed robberies in D.C. and one in Hyattsville, Maryland, with a total of more than 10 victims. Brown and his associates then used phones stolen from the robbery victims to illegally transfer funds from their Cash App accounts to Brown. In May 2023, Brown and his associates continued their violent crime spree and committed several more armed robberies – one in which the victim was robbed at gunpoint on H Street NE of the victim’s phone, which was subsequently used to illegally transfer funds from the victim to Brown’s Cash App account and another in which two victims were robbed of their high-end jewelry at gunpoint. Brown then shared social media posts depicting himself wearing the proceeds from the robbery. Brown was ultimately arrested on May 15, 2023. He has been in custody since his arrest. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.


title: Defendants in two different cases sentenced to prison for abusive sexual contact on aircraft flying to Seattle

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – Two men were sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle in separate instances of sexually assaulting passengers seated near them on aircraft flying to Seattle, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Indian citizen Abhinav Kumar, 39, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for his May 2024 conviction at trial of abusive sexual contact. Desmond D. Bostick was sentenced to nine months in prison for assault with intent to commit a felony. Bostick pleaded guilty in April 2024. Both sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead. “The Western District of Washington continues to see an increase in cases involving sexual assault aboard aircraft, and we have a zero-tolerance policy,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “These cases demonstrate that there are real consequences for this predatory behavior. Those who prey on passengers on flights coming to Seattle face prosecution and loss of their freedom.” According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Abhinav Kumar was arrested at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday, February 18, 2024, after groping the breast of a juvenile sitting near him on an Emirates flight from Dubai to Seattle. The victim was traveling with family members who were sitting in the seats in front of the victim and across the aisle from the victim. Kumar was seated in a window seat with an open center seat between him and the victim. Kumar engaged the 17-year-old in conversation and asked her to meet him for coffee. She politely declined the invitation. Later, while the victim was trying to sleep under a blanket, Kumar spread his blanket over himself and over the middle seat. The on-board video shows the movement of his arm under the blanket reaching toward the victim. The sleeping victim awoke to feel a hand under her blanket, and she pulled away. The hand returned, moving up her arm, then inside her shirt, and eventually reaching her breast. The victim froze at first but then got up and asked her mother to come to the bathroom with her. The Emirates crew was notified, and they alerted law enforcement to meet the plane. Kumar was arrested and convicted following a three-day jury trial. In asking for a 21-month prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court, “Kumar took advantage of a vulnerable 17-year-old girl by assaulting her while she was asleep. He reached inside her shirt to stroke her bare breast and stopped his assault only when a flight attendant was approaching. Not only did he demonstrate gross disregard for others’ bodily privacy and cause lasting trauma for the victim, but he has never acknowledged his crime nor demonstrated any understanding that he may not use girls for his personal gratification.” In a statement to the court the victim wrote the assault, “has become a persistent, haunting presence in my life…. The experience has changed me. It has tainted my perceptions of others and made me fearful of strangers.” In the second case sentenced today, 25-year-old Desmond D. Bostick of Federal Way, Washington, pleaded guilty last April, admitting the sexual motivation for his assault on the 24-year-old stranger sitting next to him on a June 2023 Alaska Airlines flight from San Diego to Seattle. Bostick was seated in the last row of the plane in the aisle seat and the victim, was seated in the middle seat. Bostick repeatedly touched the victim on the thigh and grabbed her buttocks when she stood to allow the passenger in the window seat to exit the row. Bostick touched her buttocks a second time when the victim stood for the window seat passenger to return to his seat. Bostick admits he touched the victim to arouse his sexual desire. After the plane landed, the victim reported the conduct to the flight crew and law enforcement began its investigation. Bostick had left the airport, and his location was unknown. The federal grand jury returned an indictment in the case on September 27, 2023. Bostick was located and arrested by the FBI on February 9, 2024. He pleaded guilty April 11, 2024. Writing to the court, prosecutors emphasized the importance of deterrence, “Bostick assaulted a young woman while she sat isolated on a plane in flight. He repeatedly groped her while she was stuck in the middle seat of the back of an airplane with nowhere to go… Sexual offenses on airplanes are a serious problem. General deterrence is important so that potential offenders consider the risk of consequences if they are caught. This court should order a sentence that communicates to both Bostick and other potential offenders that abusive sexual contact is a serious crime that will be met with meaningful consequences.” At the sentencing hearing Judge Whitehead told Bostick, “To characterize your conduct as a ‘lapse of judgement’ would be to divorce your conduct from its true ugliness.” Bostick will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Both cases were investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Port of Seattle Police. U.S. Customs and Border Protection assisted with U.S. v Kumar. Assistant United States Attorneys Miriam Hinman and Sanaa Nagi prosecuted U.S. v. Kumar (24-00041JNW). Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Sean Waite prosecuted U.S. v. Bostick (23-155JNW)


title: Illinois Financial Advisor Sentenced to 2 Years for Investment Fraud and Filing a False Tax Return

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that David Swartz, 59, Highland Park, Illinois, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 2 years in federal prison for wire fraud and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Swartz pleaded guilty to these charges on April 11, 2024. As part of his sentence, Swartz was ordered to pay $181,915 in restitution to Victim-1. Swartz, who worked as an unregistered investment advisor and fund manager, had a close personal relationship with Victim-1, who was a resident of Madison, Wisconsin. Beginning in January of 2009, Victim-1 made regular and periodic investments into Swartz’s investment fund with the understanding that Swartz was conservatively investing the money. Beginning in 2018, Swartz began misrepresenting the performance of the fund to Victim-1. For example, the fund lost approximately 23% of its value in 2018, but Swartz sent Victim-1 an email on December 31, 2018, stating that the fund had its “best year yet” and returned “NET almost 9% through November and only a 1.5% loss during December.” Despite the heavy losses to the fund, on January 29, 2019, Swartz emailed Victim-1 stating that the fund “had an incredibly great 2018” and was “solidly profitable for the year.” When the fund lost a significant amount of its value in February 2020 due to a series of risky trades, Swartz again lied to Victim-1 about the fund’s performance and induced Victim-1 to invest an additional $150,000. On March 18, 2020, Swartz emailed Victim-1 a purported copy of a Charles Schwab account statement for the fund. Swartz had altered the statement to show that the total value of the fund on December 31, 2019, was $1,017,191, however, the actual value of the fund was $58. On March 7, 2020, Swartz provided a false Schedule K-1 for tax year 2019 to Victim-1 that showed that Victim-1’s net short-term capital gains from his investment in the fund exceeded $500,000. In fact, Swartz knew that Victim-1 did not have capital gains from the fund in 2019, because the fund incurred significant losses. Relying on the falsified document, on October 12, 2020, Victim-1 filed a U.S. Individual Income Tax Return Form 1040 for the 2019 tax year that substantially overreported Victim-1’s capital gains on Schedule D, Line 5. This caused Victim-1 to report owing an unjustified amount of federal income tax. The charges against Swartz were a result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to selling meth

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that John R. Bollinger, 24, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pierre Richard Antoine, who is handling the case, stated that in April 2023, law enforcement began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Bollinger, who was suspected of manufacturing and selling quantities of counterfeit Adderall containing methamphetamine in the Buffalo area. Between June 13 and July 16, 2023, investigators made four controlled purchases of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine. The plea sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Stanley Edwards, III. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Readout of OVW Director Rosemarie Hidalgo’s Trip to Unveil Comprehensive Initiatives to Address the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Firearms

component: Office on Violence Against Women

body_text: Director Rosemarie Hidalgo of the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) met with representatives yesterday from 12 pilot sites across the country that receive funding and support through the Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) and announced a comprehensive strategy to address the lethal intersection of domestic violence and firearms. Meeting with FTAP grantees, Director Hidalgo emphasized the urgent need to enhance efforts to prevent and address this dangerous issue, which increases the likelihood of death for victims of domestic violence. FTAP, an OVW grant program funded by appropriations through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), provides communities with the tools and support needed to develop and implement effective strategies for preventing the use of firearms in domestic violence incidents and for strengthening a coordinated community response to increase access to safety and support for victims. OVW has awarded a total of $5.99 million to 12 FTAP sites across the nation, including one Tribal nation. These initiatives are part of the Justice Department’s broader strategy to reduce violent crime and enhance community safety. The convening, coordinated by the Battered Women’s Justice Project, which runs the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms, brought together grantees from the following sites: Tucson, Arizona; Georgia Department of Community Supervision; Detroit; Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; Yakima, Washington; Birmingham, Alabama; Muscogee (Creek) Nation; Columbus, Ohio; Brooklyn, New York; State of Vermont; and Spokane, Washington. In her opening remarks, Director Hidalgo highlighted a startling statistic: over half of the women murdered in the United States are killed by a current or former intimate partner, and the presence of firearms increases the risk of homicide by 500%. This heightened threat to individuals and public safety necessitates a coordinated community response involving law enforcement, prosecutors, civil and criminal courts, victim service providers, and community-based organizations. Effective intervention and support can mean the difference between life and death for victims, as well as for law enforcement officers responding to domestic violence incidents. In addition to increased lethality and serious injuries, firearms are used by abusive partners to inflict fear, intimidation, and coercive control. Director Hidalgo noted the statement by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following the Supreme Court’s 8-1 decision in United States v. Rahimi , in which he stated that the decision, “upholds Congress’s longstanding prohibition on the possession of firearms by people subject to domestic violence restraining orders. That law protects victims by keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals who pose a threat to their intimate partners and children.” The Attorney General also said, “The Justice Department will continue to enforce this important statute, which for nearly 30 years has helped to protect victims and survivors of domestic violence from their abusers. And we will continue to deploy all available resources to support law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and victim advocates to address the pervasive problem of domestic violence.” Director Hidalgo delivers remarks while meeting with representatives from 12 FTAP pilot sites. To support community efforts, Director Hidalgo unveiled OVW initiatives that are part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at raising awareness of federal laws that prohibit firearm possession by domestic abusers and bolstering partnerships across federal, state, Tribal, and local levels. She highlighted the increased collaboration among key Justice Department components, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (FBI/NICS), Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), OVW, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and other Justice Department components. The Justice Department is dedicated to forging strong collaborations between federal partners with state and local prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and victim advocates to enhance our collective response to this critical issue. DOJ recently released the Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence Resource Card . This resource explains the tools available under existing federal law to prevent the purchase of firearms and prosecute DV offenders who illegally possess them — including through implementation of the new dating-relationship provisions recently enacted through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) that narrow the so-called “boyfriend loophole.” This resource is designed to ensure that law enforcement, courts, and the public understand the domestic violence firearm prohibitions to increase effective implementation. Justice Department representatives recently conducted a training at the Conference on Crimes Against Women, held in Dallas in May, and shared information on the role played by different Department components in firearms relinquishment, and ways to strengthen implementation by law enforcement and courts at the local level. Next month, DOJ will launch new roll call videos for law enforcement to ensure accurate documentation of relationships in FBI/NICs records to properly implement the dating violence prohibitions that were recently enacted through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. To support communities in accessing federal resources and strengthening a coordinated community response, OVW and OJP have developed the Resource Guide for Addressing the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Firearms . This guide details the Justice Department’s funding, training and partnership opportunities aimed at enforcing firearms laws and strengthening efforts at the local, state, Tribal and federal levels to keep guns out of the hands of adjudicated abusers. To complement department resources and training, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Firearms (NRCDVF), an OVW-funded national training and technical assistance provider, will conduct additional virtual trainings. These trainings will focus on best practices for law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim service providers, ensuring communities receive the latest and most effective tools when implementing surrender or relinquishment protocols. Efforts also include expanding outreach to raise awareness about OVW grant funding that can support community initiatives to remove firearms from adjudicated abusers. This included recently sending a letter to grant administrators in every state and territory informing them about opportunities to use Services, Training, Officers and Prosecutors (STOP) formula grant program funds to prevent homicides by addressing the intersection of domestic violence and firearms, as well as providing information about additional training and support to STOP administrators to enhance state implementation plans to address these issues. Additionally, OVW is notifying state domestic violence coalitions about ways communities can leverage both OVW formula and discretionary grant funds to prevent domestic violence abusers from purchasing or possessing firearms. Later in the day, Director Hidalgo conducted a listening session with representatives from the 12 FTAP pilot sites to explore each site's best practices and challenges in implementing their programs. The discussions provided valuable insights into effective strategies nationwide to address the intersection of domestic violence and firearms. Key topics included fostering trauma-informed approaches that center around survivors; best practices for enhancing partnerships between law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services providers, community-based organizations, courts and other system and community partners; identifying areas of support needed to increase the effectiveness of their programs; and ways OVW could further support partnerships at the local level with federal partners, such as U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and ATF. Director Hidalgo speaks with representatives from the 12 FTAP pilot sites. In particular, representatives of the FTAP pilot sites highlighted the progress they have made in their jurisdictions by forming multi-disciplinary teams to identify barriers and challenges to implementation and then developing collaborative strategies to address these barriers. This included: developing protocols and updating court forms in the civil and criminal courts for the relinquishment of firearms by adjudicated abusers; addressing issues with high rates of civil protection orders that were not being served; providing timely information to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System; improving training for law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and community partners; identifying storage facilities for relinquished firearms, which can be a particular challenge in rural areas; improving language access and partnerships with culturally-specific community-based organizations; developing co-responder models for advocates to respond to the scene and provide support for victims of domestic violence; and increasing access to advocates for victims to navigate complex systems and obtain trauma-informed services. Director Hidalgo emphasized that these resources and efforts highlight the crucial role of a coordinated community response, a cornerstone of the Violence Against Women Act. By fostering effective partnerships, these initiatives seek to remove firearms from dangerous situations, ensure community safety, support survivors and their children, reduce community violence, and prevent the use of firearms to cause injury or instill fear and coercive control in domestic violence situations.