title: Two More Dublin Federal Correctional Officers Plead Guilty to Sexually Abusing Multiple Female Inmates

body_text: As part of its ongoing investigation into Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officials at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin, two more federal prison correctional officers were charged for sexually abusing multiple female inmates. Nakie Nunley, 48, of Fairfield, California, and Andrew Jones, 35, of Pleasanton, California, were each charged by information with multiple counts of sexually abusing female inmates and then lying about the abuse to federal investigators. Both Nunley and Jones were employed as federal correctional officers at the time of the abuse. Both have agreed to plead guilty in written plea agreements, which were filed concurrently with the charging documents. “The sexual abuse charges and guilty pleas announced today are the result of the Department of Justice’s sustained commitment to rooting out sexual misconduct at the Bureau of Prisons,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “As these guilty pleas reflect, we will continue to hold accountable correctional officers who abuse their positions of trust and fail to humanely care for those in their custody.” “The FBI is unrelenting in its protection of the civil rights of all individuals, including those who are incarcerated,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “No matter where these crimes occur, violence of any type destroys the safety and protection that every person deserves. We will continue to pursue investigations into any Bureau of Prisons official who abuses their position and assaults those in their care.” “This office’s ongoing investigation into the conditions at FCI Dublin has revealed significant wrongdoing by multiple correctional officers at that facility,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate misconduct in the care of incarcerated persons. Correctional officers have an obligation to ensure the safety of incarcerated persons, and all Bureau of Prisons employees should view these latest two prosecutions as confirmation that the Department of Justice will do its part to ensure that those who stray from these obligations are held accountable.” “Nunley and Jones are the seventh and eighth individuals charged with sexually abusing inmates at FCI Dublin. Five individuals, including the Warden and Chaplain, have been convicted of sexual abuse of inmates,” said Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz. “The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) is continuing to investigate these heinous allegations at FCI Dublin and is aggressively pursuing justice for victims of sexual abuse at the hands of rogue BOP employees.” “Incarcerated individuals should be able to serve their sentences without fear of being sexually assaulted by correctional institution staff,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp of FBI San Francisco Field Office. “Nakie Nunley and Andrew Jones abused their positions and will be held accountable. Protecting civil rights stands among the FBI’s highest priorities, and we will continue to investigate such claims as they come to light.” Nunley was charged with engaging in sexual acts and sexual contacts with five women who were serving prison sentences at FCI Dublin at the time of the abuse. He was also charged with lying to federal investigators about the sexual abuse and writing sexually explicit notes with one of his victims. Jones was charged with engaging in sexual acts with three women who were serving prison sentences at FCI Dublin, as well as lying to federal investigators about sexually abusing one of these victims. Nakie Nunley Nunley was employed as a correctional officer at FCI Dublin where he supervised prisoners who worked in UNICOR, a trade name for the federal prison industries. All of Nunley’s victims worked at the UNICOR call center at the time of his abuse. According to his plea agreement, Nunley admits that between March 2020 and November 2021, he engaged in sexual acts with two prisoners, including having oral and vaginal sex with one victim and digitally penetrating another victim on multiple occasions. He also admitted that he engaged in illegal sexual contacts with three other prisoners and that he lied to federal investigators about sexually abusing his victims and about sending one of his victims sexually explicit notes. In addition to the five victims, Nunley also admitted in his plea agreement that he sexually abused two other prisoners who worked at UNICOR. Nunley admitted that he digitally penetrated one victim’s vagina and caused her to touch his penis under his pants, resulting in him ejaculating in her hand. Nunley admitted that he caused another victim to perform oral sex on him. Nunley also admitted that he engaged in other inappropriate behavior. For example, Nunley agreed that he wrote sexual notes to one of his victims and made sexual comments to multiple victims. Moreover, when one of his victims approached him about his conduct towards another victim, Nunley threatened her by raising with her the potential that she could be transferred to another facility and that she could lose her job. Similarly, Nunley admitted that he told another victim that if she wanted to keep her job at UNICOR, she needed to pull down her underwear and bend over. When she complied, Nunley slapped her buttocks several times. Andrew Jones Jones was employed as a correctional officer at FCI Dublin where he supervised prisoners who worked in the Food Services Department. According to his plea agreement, between July 2020 and June 2021, Jones admitted that he received oral sex from, or had sexual intercourse with, three female prisoners who worked for him in the FCI Dublin kitchen. Jones admitted that he sexually abused these prisoners in multiple places near the FCI Dublin kitchen, including a staff bathroom, a warehouse, and a room where kitchen utensils were kept. In addition, like Nunley, Jones admitted in his plea agreement that he engaged in improper conduct in addition to the conduct for which he was charged in the Information. Specifically, Jones admitted that he also had sexual intercourse and received oral sex from an additional victim on multiple other occasions between July and December 2020, and that he had sexual intercourse with yet another victim multiple times between March and June 2021. FCI Dublin Investigation As part of the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into FCI Dublin, eight FCI Dublin correctional officers, including the former Warden, have been charged with crimes related to the sexual abuse of the female prisoners at the facility. In December 2022, former Warden Ray J. Garcia was convicted by a jury of sexually abusive conduct against three female victims and was sentenced to 70 months in prison for his crimes. To date, the tally of correctional officers charged with misconduct as part of the Justice Department’s investigation are as follows: NAME CASE NUMBER STATUS Warden Ray J. Garcia 4:21-cr-00429-YGR Convicted on all counts by jury on Dec. 8, 2022; sentenced to 70 months in prison CO John Bellhouse 4:22-cr-00066-YGR Convicted on all counts by jury on June 5; sentencing scheduled for Oct. 27 Chaplain James Highhouse 4:22-cr-00016-HSG Pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2022; sentenced to 84 months in prison CO Enrique Chavez 4:22-cr-00104-YGR Pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2022; sentenced to 20 months in prison CO Ross Klinger 4:22-cr-00031-YGR Pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2022; sentencing scheduled for Dec. 13 CO Darrel Smith (aka “Dirty Dick Smith”) 4:22-cr-00110-YGR Indicted on April 13; status conference scheduled for Aug. 3 CO Nakie Nunley 4:23-cr-00213-HSG Information and Plea Agreement filed on July 13 CO Andrew Jones 4:23-cr-00212-HSG Information and Plea Agreement filed on July 13 DOJ-OIG and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Molly K. Priedeman and Andrew Paulson for the Northern District of California, with the assistance of Madeline Wachs, Sara Slattery, Christine Tian, Claudia Hyslop, Leeya Kekona, and Kay Konopaske, are prosecuting the case.


title: Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Dogfighting Conspiracy - Six Other Defendants Involved in the Animal Fighting Venture Have Already Been Convicted

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: A Louisiana man – Antonio Damon Atkins, 35, of Baton Rouge – pleaded guilty today for his part in a conspiracy to sponsor, exhibit, possess and transport animals in an interstate animal fighting venture, and to possessing an animal in such a venture, all in violation of the Animal Welfare Act. To date, six other defendants have been convicted for their participation in the interstate dogfighting ring. The ring was originally uncovered through an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. Five of the defendants have already been sentenced, receiving the following for their dogfighting convictions: Eric “EZ” Williams, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 60 months’ imprisonment Corey Brown, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 50 months’ imprisonment Clay Turner, Loranger, Louisiana: 36 months’ imprisonment Dangelo Dontae Cornish, Greensburg, Louisiana: 16 months’ imprisonment Aquintas Kantrell Singleton, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 12 months and one day’s imprisonment A sixth, David Guidry III, of Independence, Louisiana, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6, 2023. “Dog fighting is a crime that cruelly forces animals into a cycle of violence and death for personal gratification or profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We are committed to aggressively pursuing and prosecuting anyone who engages in such blood sport.” “No one has the right to torture any creature on this earth,” said Douglas A. Williams, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in New Orleans. “The FBI thanks its partners in this case for their steadfast work to hold Mr. Atkins accountable. The FBI is dedicated to protecting the American people, and in this case, victims who could not defend themselves against abject cruelty.” “Individuals who support and facilitate the cold-hearted practice of dog fighting will face serious consequences for their actions,” said Dax Roberson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General. “We appreciate the commitment of our law enforcement partners to investigate and assist in the criminal prosecution of those who support the appalling abuse of these animals.” According to court documents, in 2017, Atkins conspired with others to keep, breed, train and fight pitbull dogs. On telephone calls obtained via court-authorized wiretaps, Atkins and his co-conspirators discussed many facets of their plans. They discussed preparation (“When I get back, I’m going to . . . look at her [ i.e. , put her in a practice fight] one more time and then I’m going to match her.”) and the kinds of dogs they wanted to acquire (“We need one of them bitches that eats the face off.”). Other recorded conversations addressed using “rape boxes” to restrain female dogs for breeding, drowning unsellable puppies, performances by prized dogs that fought even after suffering fatal injuries, and bets of thousands of dollars on fight results. Several times, Atkins and his co-conspirators met to gamble on the outcome of dog fights, including at a co-conspirator’s property in Independence, Louisiana. When dogs suffered injuries during training or fights, Atkins and his co-conspirators performed do-it-yourself veterinary care to avoid the attention that professional veterinary care might bring. The conspirators maintained several properties in furtherance of their dogfighting operation. In August and October 2017, agents from the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and other federal and local law enforcement partners executed search warrants at seven properties. The agents found pitbull dogs and dogfighting paraphernalia at each. In total, 89 pitbulls – including puppies – were seized and received appropriate medical care for their injuries and medical issues. Many of these dogs were rehabilitated and adopted. At Atkins’s property, agents found and seized fourteen pitbull dogs and puppies, many of which bore scars and wounds consistent with dogfighting. They also found dogfighting paraphernalia, including veterinary medications and supplements, dog collars, heavy chains, a training device known as a “flirt pole,” dogfighting magazines and dog pedigree records bearing Aktins’s name and the names of others. Atkins’s documents showed that he had been breeding, selling and purchasing dogfighting dogs since 2002. Atkins pleaded guilty to two counts: (1) conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act to sponsor and exhibit animals in an animal fighting venture and to possess and transport animals for purposes of participation in an animal fighting venture; and (2) violating the Animal Welfare Act by possessing an animal in an animal fighting venture. Atkins faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $500,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Trial Attorney Matthew D. Evans of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lyman E. Thornton III and Jeremy Johnson of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case. The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.


title: Man Sentenced to 15 years for Organizing Smuggling Event that Resulted in 13 Deaths

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – July 13, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Jose Cruz Noguez, the coordinator of a fatal smuggling event near Calexico, California, on March 2, 2021, was sentenced today in federal court to 15 years in prison. During the event, 13 undocumented migrants were killed when the vehicle in which they were concealed collided with a tractor trailer near Holtville, California. As detailed in pleadings filed prior to the sentencing hearing, Cruz Noguez was a coordinator of the event in which two SUVs – a GMC Yukon and a Ford Expedition – were modified by removing the seats in the passenger compartments so that undocumented migrants literally could be stacked on top of one another. Based on admissions made by Cruz Noguez to a cooperating source of information whom he tried to recruit to drive one of the load vehicles, he was responsible for organizing the event and collecting payment from the smuggled individuals. Cruz Noguez successfully recruited at least one of the drivers for the smuggling event, and on the morning of the incursion, he himself drove the smuggling route to scout for law enforcement activity. Meanwhile, his co-conspirators in Mexico crammed undocumented migrants into the load vehicles – at least 19 in the GMC Yukon and 24 in the Ford Expedition – and cut the international boundary fence, removing a section large enough for the vehicles to drive through. Once in the United States, the vehicles proceeded eastbound on Interstate 8 towards a predetermined location. However, the cabin of the GMC Yukon eventually began filling with smoke, and the vehicle caught fire. The driver stopped the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving the smuggled individuals to fend for themselves. Nineteen of them were subsequently found hiding nearby, although it is believed that others were able to avoid apprehension. Meanwhile, the Ford Expedition and its 24 occupants continued driving eastbound towards Holtville, California. At the intersection of Norrish Road and Highway 115, the Ford Expedition collided with a tractor-trailer in a horrific accident, killing 13 of the undocumented migrants and seriously injuring many of the survivors. Further demonstrating his callousness, the defendant told the source of information in the days following the smuggling event that he was attempting to collect payment from the smuggled aliens who survived the incident and were not apprehended by law enforcement. The sentencing hearing was held before U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo. Two of the survivors of the collision spoke and explained the terrible impact the tragedy has had on their lives. Before handing down the 15-year sentence, Judge Bencivengo determined that Cruz Noguez played an aggravated role in the smuggling event and noted that in her more than a decade of experience sentencing people for human trafficking offenses, this case was particularly “tragic and heartbreaking” and “among the worst of cases I have seen.” Judge Bencivengo went on to state, “People who engage in human trafficking of this nature are monstrous and cruel…These people were treated like human cargo…jammed into two cars to maximize the profit margin that the traffickers could make by putting as many people as possible into vehicles…with no concern about their health and safety.” Judge Bencivengo expressed her hope that the statutory maximum sentence would “be a message to the trafficking community that, when you engage in this kind of gross behavior, there are serious consequences.” “Cruz Noguez organized one of the most callous and inhumane smuggling attempts that law enforcement has responded to in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “He and his co-conspirators treated these individuals like a worthless commodity. They were crammed into vehicles like sardines in a can, stacked one on top of another without seats or any form of safety restraints. Our office and our agency partners will not tolerate such heinous conduct and were determined to seek justice for these offenses.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case. “Today’s sentencing serves as our promise to use every tool in HSI’s arsenal, in every corner of the globe, to investigate and dismantle human smuggling networks,” said Chad Plantz, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “Human smuggling is dangerous but as this case demonstrates, it’s also deadly. HSI will not stop investigating and bringing smugglers to court to face justice. There can be no safe haven for smugglers who evade our nations laws, are senselessly greedy and recklessly dangerous resulting in deaths.” “This horrific tragedy was senseless and horrible beyond belief,” said El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino. “The United States Attorney’s Office brought the defendant to justice, and the efforts of the prosecution team, plus those of Homeland Security Investigations, the California Highway Patrol, and others, signify that smugglers and traffickers of humans will face maximum consequences.” DEFENDANTS Case Number 21CR1277-CAB Jose Cruz Noguez Age: 49 Mexicali, Mexico Froylan Cortez Avalos (fugitive) Age: 49 Mexicali, Mexico SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Bring in Undocumented Migrants Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(i) and (v)(I) Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine Bringing in Undocumented Migrants for Financial Gain and Aiding and Abetting Title 8, U.S.C., Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii) and Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2 Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations United States Border Patrol California Highway Patrol Imperial County Sheriff’s Office


title: Laguna Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Unsafely Operating Drone Near Several Aircraft, Including a Coast Guard Helicopter in Mid-Flight

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for unsafely operating a drone aircraft on several occasions, including once flying it near a United States Coast Guard helicopter in mid-flight off the coast of Laguna Beach. Alexander Milinovic, 62, of Laguna Beach, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. According to his plea agreement, Milinovic unsafely operated a drone on three occasions from June 2022 to March 2023. On June 19, 2022, Milinovic launched his drone at a father and son who were flying an open-cockpit gyrocopter on Father’s Day. Milinovic flew the unmanned aircraft to within 10 to 20 feet of the gyrocopter, which was off the coast of Crescent Bay Beach in Laguna Beach, which caused the son, who was operating the gyrocopter, to make an emergency course correction to avoid striking the drone and crashing into the Pacific Ocean. On July 26, 2022, Milinovic launched a drone at and flew it next to a Discovery Channel “Shark Week” blimp flying at an altitude between 500 and 1,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean in the Laguna Beach area. The blimp’s pilot estimated the drone to be in line with hitting the blimp and causing him to navigate a life-threatening emergency crash landing. On March 19, 2023, four members of a Coast Guard flight crew were flying a rescue helicopter about 200 to 300 feet above sea level in Laguna Beach. Milinovic launched a drone and flew it directly at the Coast Guard helicopter, coming to within 200 feet of it. The crew maneuvered the helicopter away from the drone, fearing it would hit their tail rotor and cause the helicopter to crash into the Pacific Ocean. Law enforcement was notified in November 2022 of videos posted on the TikTok social media application that showed Milinovic’s drone flying dangerously close to aircraft. United States District Judge Fred W. Slaughter scheduled a November 28 sentencing hearing, at which time Milinovic will face a statutory maximum sentence of one year in federal prison for each count. The FBI and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Coast Guard. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: Former Social Security Administration Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced Justin Skiff, age 36, of Castle Pines, was sentenced to six months in prison for wire fraud, social security fraud, and money laundering. According to the plea agreement, beginning around August 2019 and continuing through September 2021, Skiff used his position as a claims specialist with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to fraudulently obtain money from the SSA. Skiff used his knowledge and access to establish Social Security Numbers for ten fictitious children. He then established fictitious records of entitlements for surviving child benefits which he connected to the record of a real deceased individual. These benefits were deposited into a bank account accessible to Skiff through debit cards he directed to be mailed to a P.O. Box to which he had access. Skiff withdrew money and made purchases from this account from October 2019 through September 2021 for a total amount of $324,201.44. “Mr. Skiff blatantly violated the public’s trust, abusing his position within the SSA by stealing $324,201 in benefits,” said Christian Assad, Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Division, of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. “We take every violation of the public trust very seriously, and we will continue to work with SSA to identify and root out suspected employee fraud. I want to thank Sonia J. Dave, Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, and our counterparts at the IRS for its support of this investigation.” “Maintaining the public’s trust in government institutions is vital to our democracy,” said Andy Tsui, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. “When government employees abuse their position of trust to enrich themselves, IRS-CI will partner with other agencies to ensure these criminals are held accountable for their actions.” “Federal employees owe a special duty to the taxpayers we serve,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “Instead of serving, this defendant stole money, and our trust. We commend our law enforcement partners for pursuing justice in this matter.” Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing on July 13, 2023. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). This prosecution is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonia J. Dave. CASE NUMBER: 22-cr-00360


title: Leader of Marijuana Grow in Shasta-Trinity National Forest Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fidel Sanchez-Cruz, 42, of Mexico, was sentenced today to 11 years and three months in prison and ordered to pay $19,354 in restitution to the United States, for conspiracy to grow marijuana in the National Forest and depredation of public lands and resources, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Sanchez-Cruz was the leader and organizer of a marijuana grow operation in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Highway 36 in Trinity County. In August 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search of the grow site and eradicated 6,575 marijuana plants, a marijuana processing area, and harvested marijuana. Sanchez-Cruz oversaw the operation from a distance, while co-defendants Abraham De Los Santos-Sanchez and Agustin Cruz-Sanchez lived at the grow site from April to August 2018. Sanchez-Cruz made brief visits to the grow site at strategic times, including during planting season and at harvest time to inspect the marijuana crop, drop off supplies, and provide instructions to the workers during the grow season. A .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun with an obliterated serial number, pellet rifles, a loaded Smith & Wesson magazine, and a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson ammunition cartridge were found at the site. The environmental damage to the forest was analyzed and documented by Integral Ecology Research Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems that has examined over 100 public land marijuana grow sites. According to the environmental assessment report, environmental scientists found and documented extensive environmental damage, including the use and disposal of bottles of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. The hazardous wastes found at the grow site included carbofuran, a toxic pesticide that is banned in the United States. The environmental assessment concluded that the carbofuran and other pesticides and fertilizer at the grow site likely posed a significant direct risk to a number of endangered and threatened species, including the northern spotted owl, the foothill-yellow-legged frog, and coho salmon. Makeshift reservoirs and a large network of plastic irrigation lines were also found and eradicated. The environmental assessment concluded that more than 14.25 million gallons of water were illegally diverted at the grow site. Law enforcement also searched Sanchez-Cruz’s residence in Corning, on Aug. 17, 2018, and found two baggies with about 24 grams of cocaine, five bags of processed marijuana weighing a total of about 3.96 pounds, a digital scale, packaging materials, three bags of marijuana seeds, cultivation tools, and a Winchester 20-gauge shotgun. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Justice – North State Marijuana Investigation Team, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, the Corning Police Department, and the Red Bluff Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case. Santos-Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and on June 18, 2020, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Cruz-Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and depredation of public lands and resources and on March 9, 2023, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.


title: New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty to Transmitting Threatening Communications

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ZANDRA ELLIS, age 34, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty today to transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, in June 2022, ZANDRA ELLIS submitted a request to a website to have a romantic rival killed. The website was, in fact, a parody website complete with its own web-based intake form for would-be solicitors to fill out, in their own words, the who, what, when, where, and why for requested services. The site boasts its own fictitious privacy statement known as HIPPA (Hitman Information Privacy & Protection Act of 1964) and is linked directly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov). On July 5, 2022, ELLIS , communicated with an FBI undercover agent who was posing as a hitman. In those text message exchanges, ELLIS confirmed the ongoing feud with a romantic rival, reiterated her request to have that person killed, and agreed to pay the “hitman” $1,000. When ELLIS met the undercover agent on July 6, 2022, she provided a $100 down payment after which she was arrested. At the time of her arrest, ELLIS possessed a loaded Ruger .380 pistol. ELLIS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. She will be sentenced on October 17, 2023. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Kennedy of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Colorado Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Denver, Colorado, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (heroin). The sentencing took place on July 10, 2023. Arthur Manning, 56, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Manning was indicted for two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (heroin and fentanyl) and Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 31, 2023. Between October of 2020 and October of 2021, Manning supplied heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl to people located in South Dakota. He knew that people in South Dakota were going to further distribute the substances. Overall, Manning was responsible for distributing approximately two pounds of methamphetamine, 1,000 grams of fentanyl, and three pounds of heroin. Manning received payment in cash and through online money transfer services. This case was investigated by Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the Drug Enforcement Agency. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Manning was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Orange County Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Stalking and Harassment Campaign Against Online Gamer

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Orange County man was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for stalking a professional online gamer during a long-running harassment campaign. Evan Baltierra, 30, of Trabuco Canyon, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin, who also ordered him to pay $2,544 in restitution. Baltierra pleaded guilty in July 2022 to one count of stalking. He has been in federal custody since his arrest in September 2022 for violating the terms of his pretrial release by continuing to harass the victim. Baltierra met the victim, a prominent professional gamer, at a gaming convention in Anaheim in November 2019. After this meeting, Baltierra asked to meet the victim in her hometown in Canada, which made her feel uncomfortable. After the victim blocked Baltierra on various social media accounts, Baltierra created hundreds of social media accounts to send the victim threatening messages. One message sent to the victim via Twitter in January 2021 read in part, “[t]imes ticking…waiting for the right opportunity.” In October 2020, Baltierra hired an unknown third party to create multiple images of the victim that placed her face onto pornographic images. From November 2020 to March 2022, Baltierra posted the photoshopped images to multiple pornographic websites and internet forums. He also sent the images to the victim’s friends and family. Baltierra also posted links to the images on various social media websites and told others online to search for the victim’s name to see naked pictures of her. The victim obtained a temporary restraining order against Baltierra in January 2021. After the protective order was served on him, Baltierra began posting the victim’s personal information – including her real name and city of residence, which were listed on the protective order – to social media websites and during her live video game streams. Baltierra also posted the victim’s Twitter handle to pornographic websites along with the photoshopped nude images he had created. During the victim’s live streams of video games, Baltierra used multiple accounts to continually post harassing messages. Baltierra’s spamming of the victim forced her to stop streaming in February 2021. In June 2021, two months after Baltierra and the victim reached a settlement in which he agreed to not contact her or her associates in exchange for the victim dissolving the temporary restraining order, Baltierra called the victim’s local police department. In that phone call, Baltierra requested the police conduct a welfare check of the victim by lying to the police that the victim had made online threats to commit suicide. Baltierra also attempted to obtain the victim’s home address during that phone call. The police responded to the victim’s home in response to Baltierra’s call. From January 2022 to March 2022, Baltierra sent threatening messages to the victim via various social media accounts, including one messages that read, “get a casket ready.” In March 2022, Baltierra wrote a letter to the parents of the victim’s boyfriend, which stated, in part, that the situation was going to end badly for her. Baltierra continued to harass the victim after the FBI searched his residence, after he was criminally charged in this case, and after he pleaded guilty to a felony offense and was free on bond pending sentencing. “Baltierra continued to post fake nude photographs of [the victim] and appeared to attempt to contact her online, leading to his arrest in September of 2022,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. The FBI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jake D. Nare of the Santa Ana Branch Office prosecuted this case.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 11, 2023. Ramon Morales-Padilla, 42, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Morales-Padilla was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in July of 2021. He pleaded guilty on January 27, 2023. Between July of 2020 and July of 2021, Morales-Padilla obtained methamphetamine from co-conspirators. He further distributed it to others for use and distribution in Rapid City. During the conspiracy, he possessed dangerous weapons. It was reasonably foreseeable to Morales-Padilla that at least four kilograms of methamphetamine would be distributed during the course of the conspiracy. This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the Drug Enforcement Agency. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gina S. Nelson and Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Morales-Padilla was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Weapons Charge

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On July 12, 2023, ALVIE ROLLINS a/k/a ALVIN ROLLINS , age 26, plead guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. His sentencing is scheduled for October 18, 2023. ROLLINS faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years imprisonment, a fine up of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. 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. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Trummel and Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Anchorage Felon Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Firearms, and Possessing Fentanyl and Heroin While in Prison

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced on July 10, 2023, to six years in prison for possessing stolen firearms in September 2020, while being a twice-convicted felon for separate burglaries. He was also sentenced, the same day, to an additional 1.5 consecutive years in prison for possessing fentanyl and heroin while in prison in February 2023. After his release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. According to court documents, Max Reder, 37, was hired by an elderly victim to help her clean her garage in September 2020 after her late husband, a retired military officer, had passed away. Reder used this opportunity to burglarize the victim’s home. He stole over 40 firearms, her engagement ring, her late husband’s Rolex watch, which was a gift from his squadron, and other irreplaceable items. After stealing these items, Reder quickly sold 41 firearms to a second victim, a firearms collector, for $12,000 before any firearms were reported stolen by the first victim. The second victim did not know about the theft and fully cooperated with investigators. Only the stolen firearms were recovered. The United States Attorney’s Office indicted Reder for the firearms crime in August 2022, following a referral from the State of Alaska under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Court documents further show that Reder was in custody as a federal inmate at the Anchorage Correctional Complex, for the above firearm matter, and that on or around Feb. 12, 2023, Reder possessed over eight grams of heroin and about 69 fentanyl pills in his jail cell. He was indicted on contraband charges in March 2023. “Crimes against elderly victims are an egregious threat and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The defendant was held accountable for crimes committed against this elderly grieving victim and the pain he further inflicted upon her by taking exceptionally sentimental items. Additionally, the trafficking of stolen firearms—especially by convicted felons—is a threat to the safety of all Alaskans, and we will continue to work closely with all law enforcement partners to keep or communities safe. The defendant further showed his blatant disregard for rules by possessing significant quantities of heroin and fentanyl—both extremely deadly drugs—in our custodial institutions. Drugs in prison endangers the safety of all those working and housed in these facilities.” “Weapon and drug crimes are not only serious offenses on their own, but routinely lead to other criminal activities,” stated Anchorage Police Chief Michael Kerle. “These types of cases are often solved due to the close working relationships we have with other law enforcement entities in the state. It’s also common for successful prosecution of suspects to be aided by citizens who choose to come forward with information they have regarding crimes. Without all these partnerships in play, closing out investigations would be so much more difficult.” The Anchorage Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the firearms case. The United States Marshals Service (USMS) investigated the prison contraband case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Tran prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. ###


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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On July 12, 2023, JUSTIN MORGAN , age 25, a resident of Orleans Parish, pled guilty to three counts of a seven-count superseding indictment for drug and weapons violations, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. In Count 1 of the superseding indictment, MORGAN was charged with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(d). MORGAN faces a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and a period of at least 3 years of supervised release. In Count 2 , MORGAN is charged with possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). MORGAN faces a minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of up to 5 years of supervised release. Additionally, this sentence must run consecutive to all other sentences imposed. In Count 3 , MORGAN is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). MORGAN faces a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of up to 3 years of supervised release. For Counts 1,2 and 3, MORGAN also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Anchorage Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Stealing 22 Guns

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in federal prison for stealing 22 firearms from an Anchorage gun store in 2019. According to court documents, Muna Junior Rhode, 24, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to stealing 22 firearms from Granny’s Guns, a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Anchorage, on June 6, 2019, along with three co-conspirators. Rhode and his co-conspirators drove a stolen Chevy Trailblazer to Wrightway Auto Carriers in Anchorage where they broke into the building and stole license plates, filing cabinets and a GMC Sierra pickup. Rhode and the three co-conspirators then stole another vehicle, drove it through the front window of Granny’s Guns, loaded 22 firearms into the back of the GMC truck and drove away. They later lit the stolen GMC Sierra pickup on fire in an effort to destroy evidence and escaped in a black SUV. Later the same day, officers with the Anchorage Police Department tried to stop Rhode, who was driving the black SUV, and his co-defendants driving another pickup, but they fired shots into the air and fled at high speeds across Anchorage. On June 20, 2019, Rhode and two others were caught on video attempting to jump the fence of a tow yard to recover one of the stolen guns left in an impounded vehicle. All four co-conspirators were indicted in October 2020 and subsequently arrested. Rhode is also facing charges in state court. “The blatant disregard for public safety and law enforcement, both during and after this series of violent crimes, by Rhode and his co-conspirators show they are a danger to our community and all Alaskans,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “We will continue to work closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to fight violent crime and keep our communities safe from people who endanger our neighborhoods.” “All of the involved defendants demonstrated a complete indifference to the safety of others through their actions in their violent crime spree,” stated Police Chief Michael Kerle. “From the theft of multiple vehicles, to firing shots in public, driving erratically on our streets, and stealing multiple firearms; it is imperative they are held accountable for their behavior. Rhode’s sentencing is a big part of that. We are grateful for the efforts of all our law enforcement partners who were involved in seeing this case through.” Co-conspirators in this case include:  Gian Carlo Pangilinan, aka “G,” 27, pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a licensed dealer and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.  Kao Chiang Saelee, aka “Robbie,” 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms from a licensed dealer and was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment.  Hans Mikaele Wells, aka “Mika,” 26, pleaded guilty to stealing firearms and was sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment. The Anchorage Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. ###


title: Man Sentenced to 84 Months for Mailing Threat Letters to Federal Judge and Members of Congress

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dennis J. Nelson, age 51, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for mailing threat letters in 2018 and 2019 to a federal judge and two members of Congress while incarcerated in State of New York correctional facilities. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. On March 24, 2023, Nelson pled guilty to three counts of mailing threat letters and admitted that on August 1, 2018, while incarcerated at a New York State correctional facility, he mailed a threat letter to the chambers of Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy in Binghamton, New York, threatening to kill Judge McAvoy and those at the federal courthouse with a bomb. Nelson admitted that on July 15, 2019, while incarcerated at a New York State correctional facility, he mailed a threat letter to an office of Congressman Anthony Brindisi, containing a threat to kill Representative Brindisi, and mailed a threat letter to an office of United States Senator Charles Schumer, containing a threat to kill Senator Schumer. Senior United States District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., of the Western District of New York, also sentenced Nelson to serve a term of supervised release of 3 years to follow incarceration. The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Office of Special Investigations (NYS DOCCS OSI), and the United States Capitol Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl G. Eurenius prosecuted the case.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Drug and Weapons Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – DERRICK ESTES , age 43, of New Orleans, was sentenced on July 11, 2023 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 360 months imprisonment, 4 years of supervised release, and a $400 mandatory special assessment fee, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans . ESTES was previously found guilty as charged, after a trial by a jury, of all counts in a four-count superseding indictment. The superseding indictment charged ESTES in Count 1 with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and cocaine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Count 2 charged ESTES with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense in violation of Title 18, United Sates Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). Count 3 charged ESTES with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). Finally, Count 4 charged ESTES with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and over 40 grams of fentanyl in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi), and (b)(1)(C). The FBI’s New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force worked with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) during 2020-21 in Algiers due to a significant increase in shootings and homicides. On January 17, 2021, NOPD responded to the shooting of ESTES in Algiers. During their investigation, police located video footage of the shooting and saw ESTES exit his vehicle after the shooting, remove several items from within and go to his residence. NOPD officers executed a search warrant at the residence and located several items linked to ESTES , including cocaine and fentanyl, drug selling paraphernalia, and three firearms, including an AK- 47 rifle. Investigators previously observed ESTES on a crime camera with a similar AK-47 rifle one month earlier. After ESTES’s , subsequent arrest, at another residence, NOPD searched that residence and his vehicle, locating a cocaine, over 40 grams of fentanyl, drug selling paraphernalia, and approximately $2800. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Inga Petrovich and Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: District Man Indicted for Assaulting Senior Citizen with Intent to Kill Him While Armed and Other Charges

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Herbert Young, 40, of Washington, D.C., was indicted for assaulting a senior citizen with the intent to kill him while armed with a knife and related charges stemming from a stabbing that occurred on February 4, 2023. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Ashan M. Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Young was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of assault with intent to kill of a senior citizen while armed, aggravated assault of a senior citizen while armed, assault of a senior citizen with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon. According to the government’s evidence, Young’s 74-year-old victim lived in the apartment above him. On February 4, 2023, Young went to the victim’s apartment at approximately 1:30 p.m., and knocked. The victim opened his door, and, after a brief interaction, Young stabbed the victim nine times in the torso and neck, using a knife with an approximately eight-inch blade. Young then left the building and went to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sixth District substation. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital. Young brought the knife he used to stab the victim to police and reported that the victim had attacked him and that he acted in self-defense. Young had a cut on his hand. The victim received emergency life-saving medical treatment and survived. Young was arrested and has been in custody ever since. 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. In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Benedict commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy, who is investigating and prosecuting the case.


title: District Men Indicted on Murder and Other Charges In the June 2020 Murder of Aspiring Rap Artist

body_text: Defendants Accused of Daylight Shooting in the Congress Park Area WASHINGTON – Johnny Wilkins, 34, of Temple Hills, Maryland, Marcel Gavin, 31, Kharee Jackson, 30, Earl Robinson, 31, and Darryl Little, 29, all of Washington D.C. are named in a 20 count indictment charging them with conspiracy, three counts of first degree murder while armed – felony murder, one count of premeditated first degree murder while armed, one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of robbery while armed, one count of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, one count of possession of a firearm with a prior conviction (Wilkins), and nine counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The defendants were arraigned on July 10, 2023, before D.C. Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to the indictment, on June 13, 2020, decedent Albert Smith, who was an up-and-coming rap artist from the Tennessee/Georgia area, travelled up to the District with seven friends to meet up with the defendants and other individuals from the Congress Park area in Southeast, Washington, DC. After settling into their hotel, the victim and his friends (the “Georgia Group”) took an Uber to Congress Park. Once there, the Georgia Group joined the defendants and other members of the Congress Park group, where they socialized and gambled tens of thousands of dollars through the night into the next morning. Around 7:15 a.m., the Georgia Group decided they were going to leave. The five defendants and seven other members of the Congress Park Group followed the Georgia Group onto 13th Place where they split up and attacked and robbed three members of the Georgia Group. Defendant Wilkins chased Smith and four other members of the Georgia Group down Congress Street while shooting at them. Smith was killed, another member of his group was also shot, and two more victims were pistol whipped and robbed by the four other defendants and other members of the Congress Park Group, robbing each of them of approximately $20,000. The defendants are currently held without bond pending trial. A status hearing is scheduled for September 8, 2023, before Judge Michael O’Keefe. In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Metropolitan Homicide Detective Jeffrey Clay; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Lauren Douglas. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Miles Janssen, who are investigating and prosecuting the case. 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: LONG-TIME SURENO GANG MEMBER IS SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR SHOOTING AN UNDERCOVER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: https://youtu.be/W71sanlvZZQ Spokane, WA – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Randy Coy James Holmes, age 25, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced today to more than 20 years in federal prison for Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Federal Law Enforcement Officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1), (b) as well as Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). The charges stem from Holmes’s attempted robbery of an undercover law enforcement officer in November 2021. United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice pronounced sentence. According to court documents and information disclosed at court proceedings, in early November 2021, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) Confidential Informant reported that Holmes, who is a documented Sureno gang member and uses the alias “Whispers,” was looking to obtain a firearm to conduct future strong-arm robberies. The informant arranged for Holmes to contact an undercover ATF agent so Holmes could purchase a firearm from the agent. ATF intended to sell Holmes an inoperable firearm and then arrest him. The same day, a second ATF confidential informant advised ATF that Holmes contacted a second informant to obtain a firearm. On November 5, 2021, Holmes agreed to meet the undercover ATF agent at the Motel 6 parking lot in Spokane to purchase the firearm. Holmes had offered to pay the undercover agent approximately one ounce of methamphetamine in exchange for the firearm, instead of U.S. Currency. Holmes arrived at the Motel 6 as planned, driving a Dodge Charger. Holmes’s co-defendants, Vincent Petrushkin and William Huntington Burns, who are also Sureno gang members, were inside the Dodge Charger with Holmes. Before Holmes’s got out of the car, Burns provided Holmes with a firearm, which later was identified as a 9mm semi-automatic Glock handgun, as so called “protection” for the transaction with the undercover agent. Holmes then exited the Charger and got into the front passenger seat of the undercover ATF agent’s car. During the transaction, the undercover agent expressed concerns to Holmes about conducting the transaction at that location given that Holmes arrived with two additional individuals in his car. The undercover agent then asked to move the transaction to a nearby parking lot, away from the two men in the Dodge Charger. Holmes then responded that he would “tell the homies” and started to get out of the undercover agent’s car. Holmes, however, stopped short of fully exiting the car. Instead, Holmes re-entered the car, pulled out the 9mm semi-automatic handgun, pointed the gun at the undercover agent’s head, and demanded the firearm the undercover agent was going to sell him. Among other things, Holmes screamed at the undercover agent, while pointing a gun at the agent’s head: “give it to me now… I’m gonna shoot you in the f’ing head ese … I ain’t f’ing playing with you.” The undercover agent, who was in reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm, raised his hands above his head, and advised Holmes that the firearm was in the back of the car. Holmes then fully exited the undercover agent’s vehicle and ran around to the back of the car to obtain the firearm. This interaction between Holmes and the undercover ATF agent inside the car was captured on a video recording device from inside the undercover agent’s vehicle. After Holmes got out of the car, the undercover agent exited the vehicle and directed Holmes to drop the gun. Rather than drop his firearm, Holmes repeatedly fired the 9mm semi-automatic Glock at the undercover agent, striking the agent multiple times, and causing the agent serious and permanent bodily injury. The undercover agent returned fire, striking Holmes. Audio from the shooting was captured by the video recorder inside the undercover agent’s car. ATF surveillance agents quickly arrived at the scene and rendered life-saving aid to Holmes before he and the undercover agent were transported to the hospital. At the hospital, emergency room personnel located approximately 1 ounce of methamphetamine in Holmes’s jacket pocket. At the time of this offense, Holmes was on federal supervised release stemming from a 2019 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). Holmes also was on Washington State Department of Corrections community custody supervision from an unrelated state felony conviction. Codefendants Petrushkin and Burns have both previously pled guilty to federal offenses related to this incident. Additionally, Kenneth Rankin Gazzaway was identified as having purchased the that Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee in the Spokane area. The ATF learned Gazzaway was a methamphetamine user, which precluded him from purchasing a firearm. Nonetheless, Gazzawaylied on federal paperwork in order to purchase this and other firearms. During the case, Gazzaway admitted to traded some of the firearms he illegally purchased for drugs. One of those individuals to whom Gazzaway traded firearms was Adam Layton, who is another documented Sureno — i.e., the same criminal street gang as Holmes. During today’s sentencing hearing, the undercover ATF agent, his wife, and his mother, provided powerful victim impact statements discussing the impact Holmes’s actions had on their family’s life. Excerpts of the undercover agents statements are included as an attachment. During the sentencing process, Holmes attempted to shift blame for the offense, blaming a multitude of other individuals for his actions. However, Judge Rice was not persuaded, and sentenced Holmes to more than two decades in federal prison. “This tragic case demonstrates the danger and violence that too frequently occurs when convicted felons possess firearms and engage in illegal drug trafficking,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful for the exceptional courage and bravery of law enforcement officers, who put their personal safety at risk to protect our community, and I commend the ATF agents involved for their exceptional professionalism in rendering life-saving aid to Mr. Holmes before he could be treated at a hospital. Our community is stronger as a result of these agents’ tremendous service. My heart goes out to the the undercover ATF agent and his family. They have made tremendous sacrifices to ensure the safety of the community. I commend him for his service and thank all of the brave men and women who led the investigation and prosecution in this case.” “Thanks to the bravery, quick thinking, and professionalism of this agent and the nearby team, Mr. Holmes survived an incident of his own making and will have the next two decades in prison to consider the consequences of his repeated offenses,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “I commend the law enforcement officers in Washington state and across the country who protect their communities, knowing every day could take a dangerous turn in just a moment and might never be the same for themselves and their families.” Assistant United States Attorney, Caitlin Baunsgard, who led the United States’ prosecution in this case, stated, “In this case, a multiple-time convicted felon — who was being supervised by two separate courts, and who was living in a halfway house after having been released from federal prison — was looking for a gun to commit home-invasion robberies.” AUSA Baunsgard continued, “In response to this clear threat to the community, the ATF fearlessly, and without hesitation, did their job. These agents stepped up to protect and serve the community. I am so proud to work with this amazing group of professionals.” This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Spokane Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin Baunsgard and Patrick Cashman. Case No.: 2:21-CR-164-TOR us_v_holmes_victim_statement.pdf


title: Former LeFlore County Undersheriff Sentenced For Using Excessive Force And Violating Civil Rights

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kendall Bryan Morgan, age 45, of Shady Point, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 22 months imprisonment and 36 months of supervised release for violating the civil rights of a handcuffed detainee without legal justification. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On November 8, 2022, Morgan pleaded guilty to one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law. At the plea hearing, Morgan, the former Undersheriff in the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Department, admitted that on January 25, 2017, he repeatedly struck a person under arrest and in handcuffs, causing the victim bodily injury. At the time of the assault, the individual was not resisting arrest and posed no threat to officers or the public. Morgan’s excessive force furthered no legitimate law enforcement purpose and violated the victim’s constitutional right to be free from unreasonable force by law enforcement. “The reputation of the entire law enforcement profession is tarnished when an officer betrays the oath to protect and serve,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The sentencing of Mr. Morgan sends a clear message that the FBI will not tolerate anyone who dishonors the badge by using excessive force.” “Law enforcement officers are bound by oath to serve and protect all citizens equally—this requires consistency, compassion, and respect for the dignity of all,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The defendant violated that oath, and justice demands he pay the price for blatantly disregarding the law and the civil rights of others.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Morgan will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.


title: Seven More Individuals Charged in Connection with Illegal Gambling Businesses in Ohio

component: Tax Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Cleveland, Ohio, returned five indictments, unsealed today, charging a total of ten individuals, three of whom were previously charged, with illegal gambling, tax and/or other related offenses. According to the indictments, nine defendants owned or operated illegal gambling businesses (“IGBs”) in Canton, Ohio, including Skilled Shamrock, Redemption, Plaza 777, Gametastic, Gametastik, Belden Connection 777, Café 62, Got Skillz, and Skillz 777. Stephanie Condric One indictment charges that Stephanie Condric of Canton, Ohio, allegedly co-owned and operated Gametastic. Condric and others allegedly concealed their ownership of Gametastic by putting the business in the name of a nominee and reported some of its payroll under the name of a nominee business. According to the indictment, Condric and her co-conspirators failed to report all of Gametastic’s payroll on employment tax returns filed with the IRS. Condric also allegedly failed to report her share of Gametastic’s profits on her individual income tax returns for 2016 and 2017. Christos Karasarides, Christopher Karasarides, Ronald DiPietro, Thomas Helmick In May 2021, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Ronald DiPietro (a Certified Public Accountant), Thomas Helmick, and Jason and Rebecca Kachner with tax and gambling offenses. In 2022, a second superseding indictment charged DiPietro with tax evasion and added Christos Karasarides who worked with DiPietro to provide false information to the IRS. Jason and Rebecca Kachner, who are married, pleaded guilty in July 2022. A third superseding indictment now adds Christopher Karasarides. Christopher Karasarides and his father, Christos Karasarides, both of Canton, Ohio are charged with, among other violations, conspiring to defraud the United States. The indictment alleges that Christos Karasarides fraudulently attempted to compromise and settle his more than $3.1 million tax debt with the IRS by (1) submitting false information to the IRS about his interest in and income from IGBs, (2) filing false income tax returns, and (3) hiding his income and assets, including his ownership and income from Skilled Shamrock, Redemption, and Plaza 777. Christos Karasarides allegedly spent millions in cash between 2013 and 2019 for cars, golf and other expenses at a country club, credit card charges, and purported loans for businesses with which he was associated The indictment alleges that Christopher helped conceal his father’s assets from the IRS by serving as a nominee owner of some of his father’s businesses In addition, Christopher allegedly filed false individual tax returns for 2017 through 2020 reporting that he was the shareholder in a particular business when, in fact, Christos Karasarides was the true shareholder. Melissa Bragg Melissa Bragg of Canton, Ohio, is charged in a separate indictment with conducting Belden Connection 777, an illegal gambling business, from approximately 2013 to July 11, 2018. Michael Moneypenny Michael Moneypenny of Norton, Ohio, is charged in a separate indictment with four counts of conducting illegal gambling businesses, arising from his involvement in Skilled Shamrock, Redemption, Gametastic, and Gametastik. Moneypenny allegedly operated a business repairing and selling slot machines, and also leased slot machines to gambling businesses in Ohio and Florida. Isaiah Worlow, Steven Fluharty, and Tiffany Kerekes Isaiah Worlow, Steven Fluharty, and Tiffany Kerekes are charged in a fifth indictment with conducting illegal gambling businesses related to Got Skillz, Skillz 777, and Café 62. Stephanie Condric made her initial court appearance today before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Amanda M. Knapp of the Northern District of Ohio. If convicted, Condric faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to impede and impair the functions of the IRS, five years for conspiring to own and operate an illegal gambling business, five years for conducting an illegal gambling business, and three years for subscribing a false return. Christopher Karasarides made his initial court appearance today before U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent of the Northern District of Ohio. If convicted, Christopher Karasarides faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count and three years in prison for each false tax return count. Melissa Bragg made her initial appearance today before U.S. District Court Judge John R. Adams of the Northern District of Ohio. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for owning and operating an illegal gambling business. Michael Moneypenny made his initial appearance today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Amanda M. Knapp of the Northern District of Ohio. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of owning and operating an illegal gambling business. Christos Karasarides, Tiffany Kerekes, Isaiah Worlow, and Steven Fluharty will make their initial appearances at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Stark County, Ohio, Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission – Major Crimes Task Force are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Richard M. Rolwing of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Howell of the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Covington Man to Serve Nine Years for Possession of Child Sex Abuse Material

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – A Covington, Virginia, man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in federal prison for using the peer-to-peer filesharing software Freenet to download images and videos of child sex abuse. Jerald Gray, 51, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to one count of knowingly possessing one or more matters containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including prepubescent minors and minors who had not attained 12 years of age. According to court documents, in July 2021, Gray began downloading child sex abuse videos depicting prepubescent girls, some under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Based on information obtained through the course of their investigation, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained and executed a search warrant at Gray’s residence on December 8, 2021, and seized his computer and cell phone, among other items. Analysis of his computer revealed at least 65 movie or image files that contained child sex abuse material. In addition, Gray’s cellphone contained at least 11 images that depicted child sexual abuse material. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller, Rachel Barish Swartz, and Jason Scheff prosecuted the case.


title: Bedford County Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

body_text: LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Forest, Virginia man, who falsely obtained a $25,000 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2021, pleaded guilty last week in federal court to wire fraud. Emmett Rudell Staton waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging him with wire fraud. At sentencing, Staton faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. According to court documents, on January 21, 2021, Staton submitted an application for a $25,000 loan through the PPP for a lawncare business he purported to own. On the application, Staton falsely certified that the business had not permanently closed when in actuality he had never operated such a business. In his application, Staton also falsely claimed the business had four employees and an average monthly payroll of $10,000. Although he stated that the loan would be used only for authorized purposes, Staton instead used the loan proceeds for personal expenses, including significant online gambling expenditures. In addition, Staton caused a second PPP loan application to be submitted in January 2021 using the name of another individual who was purported to be the owner of a daycare business. The application sought $14,000 in PPP funds to cover its three employees and average monthly payroll of $5,600 when, in fact, no such daycare business existed. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case, and the Office of the United States Bankruptcy Trustee referred the case to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Baudinet is prosecuting the case


title: Middle District Of Florida Task Force Continues To Combat COVID-19 Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved by the Middle District of Florida’s efforts to combat fraud related to COVID-19. Those efforts have included complementary actions by the United States Attorney’s Office’s (USAO-MDFL) Criminal, Asset Recovery, Appellate, and Civil Divisions, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. “The Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office continues to pursue, investigate, prosecute, and recover money from those who were engaged in major or sophisticated fraud schemes designed to steal benefits intended for Americans coping with the myriad impacts of the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. On the criminal enforcement front, the USAO-MDFL and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combined resources in March 2020 to form the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the Task Force has prosecuted 67 defendants for fraud schemes designed to exploit federal programs including the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”), Unemployment Insurance (“UI”), the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”), the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”), as well as government Healthcare programs such as Medicare (“HCF”). Collectively, these defendants sought to defraud the United States of over $78 million. Forty-seven of those defendants have been found guilty, while prosecution remains pending against 20 defendants. ( See chart below for criminal case details .) For example, in April 2023, former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer Deconna Burke was charged with wire fraud relating to an alleged scheme to obtain a PPP loan for a nonexistent babysitting business. And in June 2023, Timothy and Lisa Jolloff were charged in a scheme relating to EIDL and PPP applications submitted by Timothy Jolloff between April and May 2020. Timothy Jolloff’s false and fraudulent representations caused the SBA and a PPP lender to approve and fund 11 EIDLs and 6 PPP loans, totaling approximately $2.14 million. Timothy Jolloff and his wife, Lisa Jolloff, allegedly used the funds to purchase three pontoon boats, real estate in Indiana, home furnishings, outdoor kitchens for their homes, a 2020 Polaris UTV, as well as jewelry, and two dogs. The couple also fraudulently used more than $600,000 in EIDL funds to purchase a furniture business in Indiana and a landscaping business in Sarasota, which had no connection to the businesses for which the couple had obtained COVID relief funds. As a result of the USAO-MDFL’s Appellate Division’s advocacy, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the convictions and sentence of Casey David Crowther, who had been found guilty in Ft. Myers of bank fraud, making a false statement to a lending institution, and two counts of money laundering in connection with his PPP loan scheme. Crowther had obtained a $2.1 million PPP loan by stating that he intended to use the money for payroll, rent, and utilities for his company, Target Roofing and Sheet Metal, but, according to the evidence at trial, he instead had his bank deposit the money into a secret account separate from his company’s main operating account. He quickly used the account for personal use, spending nearly $700,000 on a 40-foot pleasure boat and $55,000 on a horse. When Crowther’s bank warned him that he was likely to be audited, he attempted to conceal his fraud by falsely “hiring” family members and dozens of fictitious employees to inflate his company’s apparent payroll. The U.S. Attorney General has established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Through the PPP, the federal government authorized over $600 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The EIDL program provides economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The MSLP provided support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. UI programs provided unemployment benefits to eligible workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own. The criminal cases charged by the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force have been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, the Department of Labor—Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Service, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Small Business Administration, the Small Business Administration—Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation—Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Reserve Board—Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Winter Park Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys throughout the Middle District of Florida. The Department of Justice needs the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud (“NCDF”) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . Complaints filed will be reviewed at the NCDF and referred to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation. United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida COVID Fraud Criminal Cases Charged Cases Defendant(s) (Age) Charge(s) Max. Imprisonment Type of Fraud* Intended Loss Amount Tampa Division Alexander Alli Wire fraud conspiracy Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years EIDL $80k Ellyn Pinkney Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years EIDL $40k Kieanna Garrett Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years EIDL $40k Nicole Bramble-King Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years PPP $40k Mehdi Tazi Conspiracy Maximum Prison Term: 5 years Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Aggravated identity theft Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive UI $1.5M Modupe Ogundele Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years PPP $20k Jalissa McDuffy Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years PPP $41k Devontaie Deravil Aggravated identity theft Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive Access device fraud Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years UI $480k These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Tiffany Fields, Greg Pizzo, Candace Rich, and Jennifer Peresie Orlando Division Evan Edwards Joshua Edwards Conspiracy to commit bank fraud (E. Edwards) Maximum Prison Term: 30 years Bank fraud (J. Edwards) Maximum Prison Term: 30 years Visa fraud (J. Edwards) Maximum Prison Term: 10 years False statements (J. Edwards) Maximum Prison Term: 30 years PPP $8M Emmet Bowens Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Illegal monetary transactions Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years PPP $740k Latresia Wilson False Statements Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years HCF $2.6M These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Kara Wick and Amanda Daniels Jacksonville Division Deconna Burke Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years PPP $20k Christopher Daragjati Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Theft of government funds Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years Aggravated identity theft Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive UI $150k These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA Kevin Frein Fort Myers Division Venera Price Mail fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years ERAP $82k Ismaelle Manuel Bank Fraud Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years Wire Fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years PPP $280k Denis Casseus Bank Fraud Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years Wire Fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years PPP $298k Timothy Jolloff Wire Fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Money laundering Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Illegal monetary transactions Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years PPP/EIDL $2.1M Lisa Jolloff Money laundering Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Illegal monetary transactions Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years PPP/EIDL $2.1M These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSA Yolande Viacava and Trent Reichling Ocala Division Henry Wade Wire Fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years EIDL $500k This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division is being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk Adjudicated Cases Tampa Division Joseph Abdo Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Illegal monetary transactions Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years PPP $500k Alexander Leszczynski Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Bank fraud Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years Illegal monetary transactions Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years PPP $200k Keaujay Hornsby Racketeering conspiracy Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Aggravated identity theft Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive Access device fraud Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years UI $3M Kareem Spann Racketeering conspiracy Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Aggravated identity theft Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive Access device fraud Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years UI $3M Marqus Willard Johnson Bank fraud Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years Money laundering Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years PPP $500k Charles Cunningham Bank fraud Maximum Prison Term: 30 years PPP $800k These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Diego Novaes, Tiffany Fields, Jennifer Peresie, and Greg Pizzo, and DOJ Trial Attorney John Scanlon Orlando Division Brian Blake Possession of device-making equipment Maximum Prison Term: 15 Years Access device fraud Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years Aggravated identity theft Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive PPP/UI $832k This COVID Fraud case from the Orlando Division is being handled by AUSAs Chauncey Bratt Jacksonville Division Desmond Williams Wire fraud conspiracy Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Wire fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years PPP $40k Kenneth Landers Wire Fraud Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years Money Laundering Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years PPP $1.4M These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA Kevin Frein and Michael Coolican Sentenced Cases Tampa Division Louis Thornton, III Wire Fraud Sentence Imposed: 42 months in federal prison EIDL/PPP $815k Kary Stevenson Corey Quinn Conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft Sentence Imposed: 5 years, 10 months in federal prison (Stevenson) Sentence Imposed:7 years in federal prison (Quinn) UI $1M Bridgitte Keim Bank fraud Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison PPP $588k Wayne Ganaway Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Sentence Imposed: 4 years in federal prison EIDL $300k Eriaius Bentley Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud Sentence Imposed: One year in federal prison UI $3M Rolanda Wingfield Access device fraud, Aggravated identity theft Sentenced Imposed: 3 years in federal prison UI $135k Tywon Spann Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud Sentence Imposed: 6 years and 9 months in federal prison UI $3M Randy Jones Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft Sentence Imposed: 5 years and 1 month in federal prison EIDL/UI $250k Julio Lugo Conspiracy to commit money laundering Sentence Imposed: 7 years and 6 months in federal prison EIDL/PPP $4.4M Keith Nicoletta Conspiracy to commit money laundering Sentence Imposed: 24 months in federal prison PPP $1.9M Rosenide Venant Conspiracy to commit money laundering Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison EIDL/PPP $413k Melinda Hernandez Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Wire fraud and aggravated identity theft Sentence imposed: Three years and six months in federal prison UI $1.5M Bri’antina Mills Wire fraud and theft of government funds Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison $10K Jorge Gutierrez Echeverria Wire fraud Sentence imposed: Two years and six months in federal prison EIDL $150k Omar Esquivel Bello Wire fraud Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison EIDL $242k Steve Moodie Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft Sentence imposed: 5 years and 10 months in federal prison UI $1.5M Richard Simpkins Conspiracy to commit money laundering Sentence imposed: 5 years and 10 months in federal prison PPP $1.9M These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo, Tiffany Fields, Diego Novaes, Jennifer Peresie, and SAUSA Chris Poor Orlando Division Daniel Johnson Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, unlawful transfer of firearm Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 6 months in federal prison UI $2.3M Jacquavius Smith Possession of short-barreled rifle; felon in possession of firearm; and aggravated identity theft Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 1 month in federal prison PPP $10k Johnson Eustache Wire fraud Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison EIDL/PPP $2.2M Joseph Harrison Conspiracy to commit wire fraud Sentence Imposed: 12 months in federal prison UI $2.1M Tomas Ziupsnys Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; bank fraud; aggravated identity theft Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison PPP $2M Holly Urban Conspiracy to commit bank fraud Sentence Imposed: 30 months in federal prison PPP $1.5M Joel Greenberg Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses while on pretrial release Sentence Imposed: 11 years in federal prison EIDL $430k Don Cisternino Wire fraud, illegal monetary transactions, and aggravated identity theft Sentence Imposed: 8 years and 6 months in federal prison PPP $7.2M Keith Ingersoll Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft Sentence imposed: 9 years, 1 month in federal prison. EIDL $66k Jaheim Davis Access device fraud and aggravated identity theft Sentence imposed: 3 years, 6 months in federal prison. UI $219k Teresa McIntyre Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation EIDL $730k These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division were handled by AUSAs John Gardella, Amanda Daniels, Chauncey Bratt, Emily Chang, Shannon Laurie, and Jennifer Harrington, and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg Jacksonville Division Jacob Byrd Wire fraud Sentence Imposed: probation PPP $10k This COVID Fraud case from the Jacksonville Division was handled by AUSA Kevin Frein Fort Myers Division Casey Crowther Bank fraud, false statement to a financial institution, illegal monetary transaction Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1 month in federal prison PPP $2.7M Anthony Bruey Amber Bruey Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, illegal monetary transactions Sentence Imposed : Anthony Bruey : 4 years, 3 months in federal prison Amber Bruey : 4 years in federal prison PPP/EIDL $881k Edrica Leann Watson False statement to a lending institution Sentence Imposed: 15 months in federal prison PPP $392k Daniel Joseph Tisone Wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person Sentence Imposed: 7 years in federal prison PPP/EIDL/MSLP $10.7M Liliana Gonzalez Wire fraud Sentence Imposed: 5 years of probation with 18 months of home confinement PPP $169k Al Clint LaRoche Bank fraud Sentence Imposed: Two years in federal prison PPP $1M These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSAs Trent Reichling, Michael Leeman, and Jesus M. Casas Ocala Division Lavelle Harris Wire Fraud Sentence Imposed: Two years and three months in federal prison PPP $1.2M This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division was handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk Types of Fraud* Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Unemployment Insurance (UI) Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Health Care Fraud (HCF)