title: Online Cryptocurrency Exchanger Pleads Guilty to Operating Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, David Scotese pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. As part of his plea agreement, Scotese agreed to forfeit cryptocurrency, cash, and precious metals worth in excess of $1.3 million at current valuation. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. When sentenced, Scotese faces up to five years in prison. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Erin Keegan, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Daniel B. Brubaker, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced the guilty plea. “With his guilty plea today, Scotese is taking responsibility for operating a money exchanging and transmitting business in defiance of the critical legal requirements that are intended to secure our financial system from corruption by drug traffickers and other criminals,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This prosecution should serve as a warning to other ask-no-questions, black-market money transmitting businesses that FinCEN registration and regulatory compliance are not mere technicalities, but a necessary part of our collective efforts against crime, and that we will prosecute unlicensed money transmitters who flout these rules.” “While operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, Scotese moved money for his clients with no questions asked. Without ‘knowing the customer,’ crypto was bought and sold through his exchange with no regard of whether or not the initial funds were legitimate. This business practice can set a dangerous precedent, and with today’s guilty plea, Scotese will soon learn the consequences of his actions,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Fattorusso. “David Scotese defied vital financial regulations in posing as a legitimate cryptocurrency dealer despite having received no such accreditation. Such legal requirements were established to not only ensure fairness, but also oversight in what is undoubtedly a new and emerging market,” said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan. “I thank HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force Darkweb and Cryptocurrency investigators, HSI San Diego, and HSI Riverside, in addition to our remarkable law enforcement partners, for ensuring the public remains protected from those attempting to skirt the rules at their expense.” “Today’s admission of guilt makes abundantly clear that individuals who facilitate the illegal transfer of money will be held accountable; the security of our banking system depends on it,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “The NYPD will continue to work hand in hand with all of our law enforcement partners to identify and stop these criminals. Our message is clear: Using new technology to put profits over compliance is not a path to riches; it is a path to federal prosecution.” “At the core of our mission as Postal Inspectors is our duty to ensure a secure mail system for the American public. Scotese allegedly used the U.S. Mail to violate federal banking regulations by running an illegal cash for crypto scheme. His plea today should serve as a clear example to anyone who will attempt to evade the law and use the mail to commit a crime. Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners will see to it that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Daniel B. Brubaker, Postal Inspector in Charge of the New York Division. As alleged in public filings and statements made in court, since at least 2016, Scotese worked and advertised himself online as a cryptocurrency exchanger and transmitter but never registered with the Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) or obtained a state license, as required by law in order to ensure effective financial reporting and anti-money laundering compliance. At the time of his arrest in California, Scotese had over $130,000 in cash in his home and vehicle, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in coins and precious metals obtained through the operation of his unlicensed money transmitting business. Scotese has agreed to forfeit these assets in addition to hundreds of thousands of dollars of various cryptocurrency assets. The investigation was conducted in coordination with HSI San Diego’s Costa Pacifico Money Laundering Task Force and HSI Riverside’s Inland Commercial Enforcement and Financial Interdiction Team. Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Pollack is in charge of the prosecution, and Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha R. Payne of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Defendant : DAVID SCOTESE Age: 54 Murietta, California E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-231 (JMA)


title: Three Georgians Sentenced for Roles in Americus Meth Trafficking Ring

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – Three Southwest Georgia residents were sentenced this week for their criminal involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking ring distributing controlled substances in Americus, Georgia. Kasie Lawarron Monson, 43, of Americus, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on March 12 after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base. Co-defendant Eran Devon Sims, 30, of Americus, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on March 12 after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine. Co-defendant Briana Latrice Lawson, 26, of Americus, was sentenced to serve five years of probation today after she pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The following co-defendants pleaded guilty and have been sentenced: Chasmon Deon Smith, 36, of Americus, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison on Oct. 20, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of cocaine base; Randy Allen Cole, 31, of Americus, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison on Oct. 20, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine; and Logan James Tookes, 35, of Americus, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner handed down the sentences. The defendants are not eligible for parole. “This case is a strong example of how federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are collaborating in Americus and similar communities across the Middle District of Georgia to prevent the distribution of dangerous illegal substances like methamphetamine, which harm people and exacerbate other criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Our office will continue to support their efforts by working with them to hold repeat criminals accountable for their crimes.” “Drug traffickers drive addiction and destroy communities,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA efforts ensure these criminals will be removed from our streets.” “The GBI takes drug investigations very seriously and understands the significant negative effects that dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine have on Georgia communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “We are committed to working with our local, state and federal partners to combat drug distribution and keep our communities safe.” According to court documents, DEA and GBI agents initiated an undercover drug distribution investigation in Americus beginning in 2021. Between Oct. 2021 and Jan. 2022, an undercover GBI agent conducted numerous purchases of cocaine base and methamphetamine through Sims from his various sources of supply, including Monson, Cole and Tookes. In total, law enforcement purchased approximately 367 grams of methamphetamine and 28 grams of cocaine base during the conspiracy investigation. A search warrant was executed at Monson’s residence on Brookdale Drive in Americus on Jan. 25, 2022. Inside a closet in Monson’s bedroom, agents found a bag containing 11 individually packaged plastic baggies containing methamphetamine, along with crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Agents seized 422 grams of actual methamphetamine and distributable quantities of cocaine and cocaine base. Five defendants have criminal histories in the community: Smith was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior convictions for the sale of cocaine, conspiracy to sell cocaine and obstruction of a law enforcement officer; Monson has a lengthy criminal history in the region, including prior convictions for possessing controlled substances, theft by receiving stolen property, obstruction of law enforcement officers and battery; Sims has prior convictions, including theft by taking and burglary; Cole has prior convictions for entering an automobile and obstruction of law enforcement officers; and Tookes has a prior conviction for obstruction of law enforcement officers. This case was investigated by DEA and GBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Gang Member Who Threatened to Burn Down a Yakima Bar Sentenced to 57 Months for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Alexis Nunez, 23, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 57 months imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on March 29, 2022, in the Yakima County Superior Court, Nunez was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment (concurrent) for two separate felony offenses. On July 25, 2022, Nunez was released from state prison. Six months after his release from prison, on January 25, 2023, officers with the Yakima Police Department responded to the Little Dutch Inn bar. Nunez had been drinking alcohol and became agitated when he was told he would no longer be served. Witnesses said they heard Nunez make threatening statements, including that “he would have his homies shoot up the bar and burn it down.” Nunez also bragged that he recently had been released from prison. YPD Officers observed Nunez and another person walking a short distance from the bar. As officers approached, they saw Nunez throw a black handgun. Officers then arrested Nunez. The firearm was a Taurus, Model G3 semi-automatic pistol. The magazine was loaded with more than 15 rounds of ammunition. Officers also discovered marijuana that was possessed for the purposes of sale. On March 29, 2022, Nunez had been convicted of Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, a felony, in Yakima County Superior Court. Because of this conviction, Nunez could not legally possess a firearm. “Alcohol, firearms, and felons can be a deadly combination. Mr. Nunez made violent threats to employees and was armed with an illegal firearm. I’m grateful no one was hurt,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “My office prioritizes cases that involve dangerous felons who illegally possess firearms. Along with our law enforcement partners, we will continue our collaborative, focused efforts to target violent offenders and make our communities safer and stronger.” “As U.S. Attorney Waldref said, felons and firearms don’t mix, especially when alcohol is added into the mix,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “We’re thankful that Yakima Police Department was able to apprehend Mr. Nunez quickly and remove him from the streets. Hopefully this sentence will give him time to think about his life choices and change them going forward.” "Ensuring our community’s safety is our highest priority. The successful conviction of Mr. Nunez highlights the indispensable collaboration between the Yakima Police Department and our federal partners. These joint efforts underscore the commitment to safeguarding our community from violent offenders,” said Yakima Police Chief Matthew Murray. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Yakima Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas J. Hanlon.


title: Former Law Firm Office Manager Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison For Embezzling More Than $1.1 Million From San Francisco Law Firm

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Jairo Tomas Santos was sentenced to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,191,638.64 in restitution for bank fraud in connection with a scheme to embezzle funds from his former employer, a San Francisco-based law firm, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. William H. Alsup, United States District Judge. Santos, 42, formerly of San Mateo, California, pleaded guilty to the charge on November 20, 2023. According to his plea agreement, Santos admitted he embezzled more than $1.1 million from a San Francisco-based law firm where he had been employed as the office manager. According to his plea agreement, Santos began his embezzlement scheme no later than March 2016 and continued it through February 2023. As part of the scheme, Santos obtained checks from the victim law firm, filled out the payee line of those checks, addressing them to “Jairo Santos,” and signed each check with the signature of the law firm’s senior partner even though Santos was not authorized to do so. Santos then deposited these checks into his personal checking accounts at Wells Fargo Bank. Santos admitted he deposited approximately 806 fraudulent and unauthorized checks from the victim law firm made payable to Santos into his personal checking accounts. The total value of these unauthorized deposits was approximately $1,191,683. Santos deposited these checks from the victim law firm knowing that the payments were not authorized by the firm or its senior partner. A federal grand jury indicted Santos on July 25, 2023, charging him with three counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344. Santos pleaded guilty to one count. As part of his sentencing, Judge Alsup dismissed the remaining counts. In imposing the sentence, Judge Alsup remarked that this is “an egregious case” with “hundreds and hundreds of checks written and stolen” by the defendant. Judge Alsup emphasized that Santos “took advantage” of the victim law firm and that Santos’s conduct was “unforgivable.” In addition to the prison term and restitution, Judge Alsup also sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release to begin after the defendant is released from prison. Judge Alsup ordered the defendant to begin serving his prison term on April 23, 2024. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christiaan Highsmith is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Aarian Beiti. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.


title: Three KC Men Charged with Illegal Firearms Trafficking, Straw Purchases Related to Investigation of Mass Shooting at Super Bowl Rally

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: A video statement from U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore is available on the district's YouTube channel This press release has been updated in accordance with Justice Department policy. KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three Kansas City, Mo., men have been charged in federal court for illegal firearms trafficking and straw purchases of firearms as a result of the investigation into the mass shooting at Union Station during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory on Feb. 14, 2024. “These cases underscore the importance of enforcing federal firearms laws,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “Stopping straw buyers and preventing illegal firearms trafficking is our first line of defense against gun violence. At least two of the firearms recovered from the scene of the mass shooting at Union Station were illegally purchased or trafficked. We work diligently with our law enforcement partners to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals by investigating and prosecuting those who illegally buy and sell dangerous weapons.” “The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has given ATF additional tools needed to go after straw purchasers and firearms traffickers who flood our streets with weapons that pose a threat to every single person in Kansas City,” said ATF Kansas City Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “These arrests serve as a notice to those who think they can illegally traffic guns into our communities or straw purchase firearms. The men and women of ATF will never waiver on our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers. The proliferation of illegal guns represents a grave danger to the public, but law enforcement is united and strong. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all our law enforcement partners for their diligent work and tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.” “While the events of February 14th will forever weigh heavy on our hearts, the effort of our federal partners and KCPD detectives is a testament to their service to Kansas City,” said Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves. “We will continue to hold those responsible for violence in our city accountable.” One person was killed and more than 20 people were injured in the mass shooting at Union Station. According to court documents, 12 individuals brandished firearms and at least six individuals fired their weapons. The Kansas City, Mo., Police Department recovered several firearms, spent shell casings, and other items of evidentiary value from the scene. Two Firearms Recovered from Scene of Mass Shooting Two firearms recovered from the scene of the mass shooting are cited in two separate federal criminal complaints filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Monday, March 11. Those complaints were unsealed and made public today following the arrests of the defendants. Fedo Antonia Manning, 22, was charged in a 12-count criminal complaint. Ronnel Dewayne Williams, Jr., 21, and Chaelyn Hendrick Groves, 19, were charged in a four-count federal criminal complaint. One of the firearms recovered from the scene of the shooting was an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 .223-caliber pistol. The loaded pistol was found along the wall with a backpack next to two AR-15-style firearms and backpacks. Because the pistol was in “fire” position and there were 26 live rounds in the magazine, which is capable of holding 30 rounds, it may have fired several rounds before it was discarded. According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, the AM-15 pistol was purchased by Manning from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Lee’s Summit, Mo., on Aug. 7, 2022. The affidavit alleges that Manning illegally trafficked dozens of firearms, including many Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 firearms. The second firearm recovered from the scene of the mass shooting was a Stag Arms 300-caliber pistol. According to an affidavit filed in the second federal criminal complaint, the pistol was purchased by Williams during a gun show on Nov. 25, 2023. Williams allegedly purchased the firearm for Groves, who accompanied him to the gun show but was too young to legally purchase the firearm himself. The federal criminal complaints do not make any allegations that Manning, Williams, or Groves were among the shooters at Union Station on Feb. 14, 2024. Rather, the federal charges involve the illegal straw purchases and trafficking of firearms. Manning and Williams are alleged to have purchased firearm receivers, or frames, which house the firing mechanism and other internal parts of a firearm. The receiver can be loaded and fired, or built into a complete firearm by adding components that may not be regulated under federal law. By federal definition, a receiver is a firearm and is the only controlled component of a firearm. USA v. Manning Manning, who is not a licensed federal firearms dealer, allegedly purchased dozens of firearms. Fifteen of the firearms originally purchased by Manning were recovered by law enforcement officers in the possession of individuals other than Manning, including several individuals who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms. The firearm recovered from the scene of the mass shooting at Union Station is one of seven firearms originally purchased by Manning that have been recovered during investigations of crimes. According to the affidavit, Manning purchased two Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 pistols from a federally licensed firearms dealer on Aug. 7, 2022. In addition to the firearm recovered at Union Station, the second firearm purchased by Manning that day was later recovered from a stolen vehicle during the investigation of an armed robbery. Firearms also were recovered during investigations into a murder in Columbia, Mo., and the armed robbery of a local convenience store. Three firearms originally purchased by Manning were recovered by law enforcement from individuals who were prohibited from legally possessing firearms. Manning also allegedly was the straw purchaser of seven firearms that were later sold to a confidential informant during a separate federal criminal investigation. The confidential informant, who was known to be a felon and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms, purchased a total of 27 firearms from two of Manning’s family members and their co-conspirators, who have been indicted in a separate federal case. In addition to those seven firearms, says the affidavit, federal investigators traced Manning’s purchase of 40 firearms over a nine-month period, including 33 Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 firearms, all of which were purchased as receivers. The federal criminal complaint charges Manning with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms, one count of engaging in firearm sales without a license, and 10 counts of making a false statement on a federal form. In each of these 10 purchases, Manning represented that he was the actual buyer of the firearm, but in fact these firearms were transferred to other persons shortly after he purchased them. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. USA v. Williams, et al The federal criminal complaint charges Williams and Groves together in one count of conspiracy to make false statements in the acquisition of firearms and in one count of aiding and abetting making false statements in the acquisition of firearms. Williams and Groves are each charged separately in one count each of making a false statement to a federal agent. According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Williams and Groves attended a gun show on Nov. 25, 2023, looking for receivers to buy. Groves, who was under the age of 21 and therefore too young to legally purchase a firearm receiver, allegedly gave money to Williams. Williams allegedly purchased the Stag Arms receiver for Groves. Groves told investigators he purchased a 300-blackout upper to complete the firearm at another gun show about a month later. Groves also claimed the Stag Arms firearm was stolen during a “shootout.” Rather than report the firearm stolen, Groves said he just went to a gun show with a different friend who bought him another one. Groves showed investigators a video on his cell phone that included the firearm. According to the affidavit, the cell phone video showed an AR pistol lying on a flat surface, then panned out to show five other handguns. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The charges contained in these complaints are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Federal Jury Finds Tampa Man And Woman Guilty Of Possessing Cocaine, Fentanyl, And Machine Gun During Drug Trafficking Crimes

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Elias Xavier Rosario Torres (26, Tampa) and Veronica Estefania Rodriguez Pinuela (23, Tampa) guilty of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of cocaine and possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition, Rosario Torres was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and over 500 grams of cocaine and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Both defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 35 years, up to life, in federal prison. Rosario Torres and Rodriguez Pinuela were indicted by federal grand jury on October 25, 2022. According to evidence presented at trial, Rosario Torres and Rodriguez Pinuela were stopped on March 8, 2022, by Tampa Police Department officers after a traffic infraction. During the traffic stop, officers located two backpacks in the defendants’ possession containing nearly a kilogram of cocaine, 16 grams of fentanyl, a Glock 23 handgun, two loaded magazines, and additional ammunition. The Glock 23 was modified with a chip that converted the handgun into a machine gun. At the time of the offense, Rosario Torres was a convicted felon, having been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Chang, James C. Preston, and Samantha E. Beckman. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Two Texas men indicted for bank robbery in Kansas

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging two men in connection with a bank robbery. According to court documents, Demond M. Johnson, 18, and Ryan D. Smith, 25, both of Houston, Texas, are charged with one count of bank robbery. The defendants are accused of robbing Credit Union of America on South Ridge Road in Wichita, Kansas, on October 17, 2023. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Wichita Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Timothy Daniel Luker, 35, of Wichita was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Bronx Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Distributing Fentanyl In Exchange For Sex With A Minor And Causing The Death Of A 19-Year-Old Victim

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that VIRGIL WARDLOW was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for paying for commercial sex with a minor using fentanyl-laced pills that caused the death of a 19-year-old victim. WARDLOW previously pled guilty to one count of distribution of narcotics before by U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The consequences of the defendant’s conduct are heart-wrenching: The defendant paid for sex with a 16-year-old victim using fentanyl-laced pills, which the victim’s 19-year-old friend then ingested, poisoning her and causing her death. Today’s sentence sends a powerful message to those who traffic deadly drugs to vulnerable victims and demonstrates that this Office will seek justice for families facing the horrific tragedy of losing a loved one to fentanyl poisoning and for victims of child sexual exploitation.” According to court filings and statements made in court proceedings: WARDLOW engaged in a pattern of paying for commercial sex with black market pills that contained fentanyl. On or about March 25, 2023, at a hotel room in the Bronx, New York, WARDLOW provided two of those pills to a 16-year-old female (“Victim-1”) in exchange for sex with Victim-1. After WARDLOW had sex with Victim-1 and WARDLOW left the hotel room, Victim-1 and her 19-year-old female friend (“Victim-2”) ingested the pills provided by WARDLOW. Thereafter, Victim-1 became ill, and Victim-2 became unconscious and died of a drug poisoning. Between at least on or about February 8, 2023, and on or about April 24, 2023, WARDLOW exchanged several messages with other individuals in which WARDLOW offered to provide pills in exchange for sex or money. WARDLOW sent these messages using an anonymized cellphone number that masked his identity from his intended victims. * * * In addition to the prison term, WARDLOW, 31, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,000 in connection with the funeral expenses of Victim-2. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York State Police, the New York City Police Department, and Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit and Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey W. Coyle is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Windsor Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL LEE, 26, of Windsor, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, a DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and the seizure of drugs that had been shipped through the U.S. Mail, revealed that Michael Lee, his brother Alexander Lee, and others, received thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and other controlled substances, from a source of supply on the west coast of the U.S., and then distributed the drugs to various street-level distributors and numerous drug customers in Connecticut. In February 2022, Michael and Alexander Lee traveled to California and shipped a package back to Alexander Lee’s Windsor residence. The package, which was intercepted and searched pursuant to a federal search warrant, contained approximately 18,000 fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. In May 2022, the Lees again traveled to California and shipped a package to an associate in Bloomfield. A search of the package revealed 1,800 tablets of Alprazolam (Xanax) that appeared to be manufactured in Mexico. During the investigation, investigators also seized approximately 25 pounds of marijuana, seven firearms, and thousands of dollars in cash. Michael and Alexander Lee were arrested on June 29, 2022. On that date, a search of Michael Lee’s residence revealed more than 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, a small quantity of prescription Xanax tablets, and a loaded .45 caliber pistol with an extended magazine. On November 6, 2023, Michael Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Currently released on a $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on April 24. Alexander Lee pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on September 6, 2023, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment. This matter was investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Connecticut State Police; East Central Narcotics Task Force; and the Windsor and Enfield Police Departments. The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA and the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, West Haven, Newington, Manchester, Glastonbury, and Watertown Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Stephanie T. Levick through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Army Hotel Manager in South Korea Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Government Property and Commit Bribery

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A U.S. citizen who served as U.S. Army hotel manager in South Korea pleaded guilty yesterday to a conspiracy involving the theft of government property and influencing the award of hotel contracts in exchange for bribes from a South Korean company. According to court documents, Bon Ku, 52, was employed by the Dragon Hill Lodge (DHL), which is owned by a U.S. Army base in Seoul, South Korea. DHL is one of five resorts operated by the Department of Defense under the Armed Forces Recreation Centers program. Between 2014 and 2020, Ku conspired with Donald Gower, a U.S. citizen who was also a manager at DHL, to engage in two schemes to convert payments for DHL’s recyclable goods to their own use. To carry out these schemes, Ku directed DHL employees to engage in tasks outside the scope of their normal employment duties, resulting in the United States paying them to perform tasks that benefited Ku and Gower. Between 2014 and 2021, Ku was also involved in four additional schemes in which he influenced the award of contracts valued at over $9 million in exchange for bribes from four South Korean companies, one of which was part of the conspiracy to which Ku pleaded guilty. As part of the bribe scheme to which Ku pleaded guilty, DHL awarded a contract to a South Korean company to, among other things, clean its loading dock. Prior to awarding this contract, Ku had an agreement with the company under which he would receive approximately 10-20% of the value of the contracts that were awarded by DHL. After entering into this agreement, Ku made a positive recommendation to DHL officials regarding the company’s ability to perform on the contract to influence its award to the company. Ku received payments related to this agreement from the company in his South Korean bank account, after which Ku split the payments with Gower. Ku pleaded guilty to a dual-object conspiracy to commit theft of government property and bribery of a public official. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of a global resolution, the government will move to dismiss an indictment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in which Ku is charged with conduct related to one of the additional schemes. On Sept. 15, 2022, Gower pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of government property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Acting Assistant Director in Charge Amir Ehsaei of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (Army-CID) Fraud Field Office made the announcement. The FBI and Army-CID are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Matt Kahn and Brandon Burkart of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Three Fayetteville Men Charged in Conspiracy Involving Checks Stolen from Wake County Collection Boxes

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment charging three men for their alleged role in a conspiracy and scheme involving the theft of checks from United States Postal Service collection boxes located in Wake County. According to the allegations in the indictment, one or more co-conspirators stole checks from the collection boxes, after which the checks were altered to change the payee information to the name of individuals enlisted to provide access to their bank accounts for use in the scheme. The co-conspirators allegedly then deposited the fraudulent checks into the bank accounts and withdrew, and attempted to withdraw, the funds from ATMs. “We’ve made our partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service a cornerstone of our antifraud strategy and are seeking additional postal resources to grow even stronger in this critical area,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are prioritizing cases where anyone tries to undermine the integrity of our federal mail system. Anyone sending checks through the mail should notify the bank immediately of any unauthorized activity.” “This case is yet another example of the unending dedication of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its law enforcement partners to halt the devastating effects of fraud. Those who steal the mail and engage in this type of criminal activity must learn they cannot escape detection and will be brought to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke of the Atlanta Division, which oversees Raleigh. The indictment charges Darrell Alan Thompson, Antonio Rasheed Hair, and Michael James Pasea with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Thompson, Hair, and Pasea are also charged with multiple counts of bank fraud and aiding and abetting. The defendants face up to 30 years’ imprisonment for each count of conviction on these charges. Additionally, Thompson is charged with theft of mail and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. If convicted, Thompson faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the theft charge and up to 15 years’ imprisonment for the gun charge. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Raleigh Police Department are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hulbig is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-00042-M-RN An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Former South Carolina Police Chief to be Sentenced in Sextortion Scheme

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — William Bruce Parker, former police chief, is scheduled be sentenced in federal court tomorrow, Thursday, March 14. Parker is being sentenced after being pleading guilty to cyberstalking resulting in serious bodily injury and communicating threats with the intent to extort victims for the production of pornography and coerced sex acts. Read the previous release here . United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie accepted Parker’s guilty plea in October of 2023 and will impose the sentence. WHEN: Thursday, March 14, 2024, 11 a.m. WHERE: Matthew J. Perry, Jr. Federal Courthouse Courtroom 1 901 Richland Street Columbia, South Carolina ### NOTE: The prosecuting attorneys will be available for interviews following the sentencing. The sentencing hearing could last more than one hour. No cameras or cell phones are allowed in federal court.


title: Jury Convicts Charlotte Man Of Illegal Firearm Possession

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, a federal jury convicted Daniel Wood, 47, of Charlotte, of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to trial evidence, witness testimony, and filed court documents, on May 1, 2022, Wood attempted to enter a Charlotte nightclub with a loaded firearm in his pants pocket. The security of the nightclub located the firearm when they patted down the defendant prior to entering the club. Security removed the firearm and turned it over to an off-duty CMPD officer. Trial evidence established that while the CMPD officer was in his patrol vehicle examining the firearm, Wood spoke to the officer and explained that he received the gun from someone else and that he had forgotten it was in the pocket of his pants. Wood is in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set. The ATF and CMPD investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Three Indicted for Straw Purchase of Gun Allegedly Used in Raleigh Homicide on Poole Road

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging three Raleigh residents with straw purchasing a firearm that was used in a homicide last month on Poole Road in Raleigh. “The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is the first major gun violence reduction bill passed in years and has quickly become a powerful crime-fighting tool for law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “The gun purchased in this case was allegedly used in a homicide just two weeks later. Our Violent Crime Action Plan prioritizes prosecuting trigger pullers and straw buyers who buy weapons for those that shouldn’t have them. “Not only are these individuals charged with conspiring to put guns in the hands of people not legally allowed to buy one, but sadly, someone lost their life as a result. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to end gun violence in our communities," said Robert M. DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina. According to charging documents, on January 20, 2024, at a gun show in Raleigh, Ever Arroyo Gasga, age 24, allegedly purchased two firearms for Anselmo Arroyo Gonzalez, age 49, and Jimmy Arroyo Maldonado, age 18, who were each legally prohibited from purchasing firearms themselves. Approximately two weeks later, on February 5, 2024, one of these guns, a Glock 23, .40 caliber pistol, was allegedly used by another individual to commit a homicide at 1308 Poole Road, Raleigh. As alleged in the indictment, Gonzalez is prohibited from legally purchasing firearms because he is a Mexican citizen who does not have legal status in the United States. Gonzalez was previously deported from the United States to Mexico in November 2016. Maldonado is prohibited from legally purchasing firearms because he is under indictment by state authorities for felony offenses, including felony fleeing to elude arrest. Each defendant faces charges of aiding and abetting, conspiracy, and straw purchasing firearms. Gasga, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Arroyo Gonzalez faces additional charges of illegal reentry and possession of a firearm by an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties totaling 32 years in prison and deportation from the United States. Maldonado faces additional charges of possession of a firearm by a person under felony indictment and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties totaling 40 years in prison. This case is being prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms. For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473 . This indictment is a result of the ongoing VCAP initiative which is collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Raleigh Police Department (RPD) are investigating the case, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Nokes and Charles E. Loeser are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Felon Sentenced to Serve 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sex Trafficking

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this week, MARCARIO EMMITT MARTIN , 36, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 240 months in federal prison for child sex trafficking, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. On November 15, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a three-count Indictment against Martin, charging him with child sex trafficking, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and being a felon in possession of firearms. According to public record, in February 2021 law enforcement received information regarding Martin sex trafficking a minor victim. Court documents allege that Martin sexually abused the victim, provided the victim with disorienting and painful amounts of controlled substances, and engaged in sex trafficking of the minor for at least a month. On August 31, 2023, Martin pleaded guilty to Count 1, and admitted he recruited, harbored, transported, and provided a person under 18 knowing the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act. At the sentencing hearing on Monday, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Martin to serve 240 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life. In announcing his sentence, the Court noted the seriousness of the offense and Martin’s extensive criminal history. The Court will determine restitution at a later hearing. Public record reflects that Martin holds several previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court, including two counts of possession of methamphetamine in case numbers CF-2016-6100 and CF-2016-7275, possession of a stolen vehicle in case number CF-2017-5130, felon in possession of a firearm in case number CF-2017-6285, escape from a penitentiary in case number CF-2018-1229, and endangering others while eluding and trafficking in methamphetamine in case number CF-2021-641. This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Second Texas Man Sentenced to Ten Years' Imprisonment for Cocaine Trafficking in Lackawanna County

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jose Torres, age 28, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced on March 12, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to ten years’ imprisonment on the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Torres previously pleaded guilty and admitted to possessing between 15 kilograms and 50 kilograms of cocaine for further distribution in the Lackawanna County area in September 2022. Torres and another individual, Luis Gonzalez, age 28, also of El Paso, Texas, were indicted by a grand jury in Scranton for cocaine trafficking in October 2022. The charges stem from an incident on September 29, 2022, in which members of the Pennsylvania State Police made a traffic stop of a vehicle in Lackawanna County. Torres and Gonzalez were the occupants of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of sixteen individually wrapped kilograms of cocaine, having a street-value of approximately $500,000. Co-defendant Luis Gonzalez was previously sentenced by Judge Mariani to serve ten years’ imprisonment. The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pennsylvania State Police and the Scranton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Orlando Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Preparing And Filing False Tax Returns

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza has sentenced Marc Arthur Eliassaint to 21 months in federal prison for filing false tax returns and aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Eliassaint entered a guilty plea on November 16, 2023. According to court documents, Eliassaint prepared and filed false tax returns for himself for tax years 2016 through 2019 by claiming false fuel tax credits, itemized deductions, business losses, and misstating his income and federal income tax withholding amounts. Eliassaint also owned and operated a tax preparation business named 360 Tax Services, LLC, and filed 35 false tax returns on behalf of other individuals for tax years 2016 through 2020. These tax returns similarly claimed false fuel tax credits, itemized deductions, business losses and profits, and misstated income and federal income tax withholding amounts, which fraudulently inflated the amounts of the individuals’ tax refunds. “Today’s sentencing highlights the determination IRS-CI Special Agents have when they pursue tax preparers who exploit the tax system,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Lani Rosado-Espinal. “The dishonesty and complete disregard exhibited by individuals like Eliassaint not only undermines the trust in our tax system but also violates the expectations that all Americans are supposed to adhere to. IRS-CI is leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to combat fraudulent return preparers and will persist in safeguarding taxpayer funds.” This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diane Hu, Jennifer Harrington, and Ranganath Manthripragada.


title: United States Files Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Traceable to Pig Butchering Romance Scam

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover cryptocurrency alleged to include proceeds of a “pig butchering” fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident as part of a romance scam. Specifically, the government seeks to forfeit 299,457.4 USD Coin (USDC), 1,455,305.997648 Tether (USDT), 102,278.515015 Tron (TRX), 3,032.1689461 Solana (SOL), 67.79400436 Binance Coin (BNB), 13,703.955431 Cardano (ADA) and 0.54151495 Ether (ETH) seized from two accounts located at Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian. Collectively, this cryptocurrency has a current estimated value of approximately $2,300,000. In the spring of 2023, an investigation began into a “pig butchering” fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. In a pig-butchering scheme, scammers obtain funds from victims using manipulative tactics. The scammer establishes a level of trust with a victim in online communications and then entices the victim into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. Often the victim is enticed to make additional payments before realizing they are a victim of fraud. The “butchering” or “slaughtering” of the victim occurs once the victim’s assets, or funds, are stolen by the criminal, or criminals, ultimately causing the victim financial and emotional harm. Perpetrators behind “pig butchering” fraud schemes are often located overseas. As alleged in court documents, a Massachusetts resident was a victim of a romance scam and was tricked into wiring over $400,000 into a cryptocurrency wallet hosted by a legitimate cryptocurrency exchange. Some of those funds were subsequently transferred to other wallets and ultimately to Binance. Some of the funds were traced to two Binance accounts and the cryptocurrency was seized in January 2024. The investigation revealed that the accounts from which the cryptocurrency was seized had been associated with funds from 36 other victims of fraud located across the United States. It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. It is also a violation of federal law to conduct, or attempt to conduct, a financial transaction involving property which is known to represent the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, knowing that such transaction is designed to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of those proceeds of unlawful activity. The complaint alleges that the cryptocurrency is traceable to proceeds of wire fraud and was involved in money laundering and is subject to forfeiture. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims. This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims. Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and “pig butchering” fraud scams – should contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov . Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The civil forfeiture action is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Lyons of the Asset Recovery Unit. The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations. The United States Attorney’s Office has not filed a corresponding criminal action on the matter.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to Ten Years' Imprisonment for Cocaine Trafficking in Lackawanna County

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Luis Gonzalez, age 28, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced on March 12, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to ten years’ imprisonment on the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Gonzalez previously pleaded guilty and admitted to possessing between 15 kilograms and 50 kilograms of cocaine for further distribution in the Lackawanna County area in September 2022. Gonzalez and another individual, Jose Torres, age 27, also of El Paso, Texas, were indicted by a grand jury in Scranton for cocaine trafficking in October 2022. The charges stem from an incident on September 29, 2022, in which members of the Pennsylvania State Police made a traffic stop of a vehicle in Lackawanna County. Gonzalez and Torres were the occupants of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of sixteen individually wrapped kilograms of cocaine, having a street-value of approximately $500,000. Co-defendant Jose Torres is still awaiting sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pennsylvania State Police and the Scranton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Columbus, Ohio, Resident Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking of Cocaine into Western Pennsylvania

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Columbus, Ohio, has been sentenced in federal court to 135 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Norberto Castillo-Lopez, 34, who was found guilty of the charge during a three-day jury trial in November 2023. The evidence introduced during that trial established that Castillo-Lopez was the organizer and leader of an organization that was trafficking kilogram-quantities of cocaine from Columbus, Ohio, into the Western District of Pennsylvania. Beginning in December of 2019 and continuing through August of 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into that organization, and Castillo-Lopez was intercepted agreeing to supply kilograms of cocaine to his co-conspirator, whose role was to redistribute Castillo-Lopez’s cocaine to lower-level distributors for resale in the cities of New Castle and Farrell. In September 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at Castillo-Lopez’s residence and recovered cocaine, bulk United States currency, and a kilogram wrapper. In imposing the sentence, Judge Ranjan referenced the severity of the offense. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark V. Gurzo and Katherine C. Jordan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration in Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Homeland Security Investigations in Pittsburgh and Orlando, Florida; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; United States Postal Service in Columbus; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; Lawrence County Drug Task Force–Special Investigations Unit; and New Castle Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Castillo-Lopez. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Ohio and Florida Residents Each Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Cocaine Distribution Violations

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Co-conspirators from Ohio and Florida each have been sentenced in federal court to 60 months of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on their convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentences on Luis Mattei-Albizu, 42, of Columbus, Ohio, and Jossian Ayala-Ruberte, 43, of Kissimmee, Florida. According to information presented to the Court, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating a cocaine and fentanyl trafficking organization that operated throughout the United States, including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico. Beginning in December 2019 and continuing through August 2020, the DEA received authorization to conduct a Title III wiretap investigation into the organization, during which both Mattei-Albizu and Ayala-Ruberte were intercepted orchestrating and directing the movement of cocaine through the mail for redistribution. In addition to the intercepted communications, agents seized cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, firearms, and bulk United States currency from members of the organization. In imposing the sentences, Judge Ranjan emphasized the severity of the offenses. Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration in Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Homeland Security Investigations in Pittsburgh and Orlando, Florida; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations; United States Postal Service in Columbus; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; Lawrence County Drug Task Force–Special Investigations Unit; and New Castle Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecutions of Mattei-Albizu and Ayala-Ruberte. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Casper man sentenced for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Tobias Anthony Smith, 42, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in June of 2023, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) learned that Smith was selling methamphetamine. Agents then completed a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Smith. On Aug. 24, 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant on Smith’s Riverton residence. When interviewed, Smith told agents they would find methamphetamine in the house. Agents searched the property and found 386 grams of methamphetamine along with a scale and packaging material consistent with drug distribution. Smith was indicted in Sept. 2023 and pleaded guilty on Dec 1, 2023. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Mar. 8. This case was investigated by DCI and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore. Case No. 23-CR-00138


title: Former U.S. Air Force member in Great Falls sentenced to 10 years in prison for scheme to obtain, sell child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A former member of the U.S. Air Force at the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for obtaining and selling child sexual abuse material, U.S Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Brandon Earl Bankston, 23, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to possession with intent to sell child pornography. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $60,000 restitution to victims. To date, the investigation has identified more than 20 victims of Bankston’s scheme, but only 20 victims requested restitution. In court documents, the government alleged that Bankston obtained child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from various places on the internet and stored the material in an off-shore, cloud-based storage account. Bankston then used mobile messaging applications and fake online profiles to advertise the sale of the material to strangers online. When he found someone interested in the CSAM he possessed, Bankston received payment through electronic wire transfers and would then link the buyer, allowing access to the material stored in his offshore storage account. The government further alleged that Bankston possessed and traded thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse, some of which depicted the abuse of toddlers. In the summer of 2021, the Great Falls Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was alerted that a suspect in Montana had uploaded videos containing known CSAM to an account on “X” and further learned that a Snapchat user with a Montana address had posted an image of CSAM. The investigation determined that the internet provider address belonged to Bankston, who was an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force assigned to the 341 st Missile Security Forces Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base. Bankston has since been discharged and is no longer affiliated with the U.S. Air Force. Bankston received approximately $6,750 for the sale of CSAM from 42 separate transactions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The Great Falls Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations conducted the investigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. XXX


title: Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney to Leave Office after Stellar 14-Year Career

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today that Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee M. Cortes Jr. is leaving the office for private practice after a 14-year career in the District of New Jersey, during which he served in a variety of key roles and made immense contributions to the cause of justice. Cortes, who came to the office in 2010, oversaw the office’s Health Care Fraud Unit and was deputy chief of the Special Prosecutions Division before taking over as Executive U.S. Attorney. He also worked as a line attorney in the office, trying several federal criminal trials, as well as investigating and taking guilty pleas in some of the office’s most significant matters. “Lee Cortes is one of the finest attorneys to have worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He has worked on and supervised some of our most complex and important matters and has always conducted himself in the highest traditions of the office. As Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, Lee has been part of my core management team, overseeing a staff of more than 300 as we work together every day to keep New Jersey safe. In his 14 years with the office, Lee has set a standard of excellence that serves as a model for all of our Assistant U.S. Attorneys.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger While serving as chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit, Cortes supervised a dozen Assistant U.S. Attorneys and directed criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions of corporations, executives, doctors, pharmacies, and others for health care-related offenses. These included health care fraud and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He also directed the unit’s qui tam practice and supervised health care-related False Claims Act actions. As deputy chief of the Special Prosecutions Division, Cortes supervised a dozen federal prosecutors handing public corruption matters, including prosecutions for civil rights violations. “As a prosecutor, Lee has always acted with integrity, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fairness, and worked extraordinarily hard to ensure just outcomes,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “His achievements will be remembered, and his presence will be missed.”


title: Former FBI Agent Trainee Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Insider Trading Scheme

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SETH MARKIN was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos to 15 months in prison for his participation in a scheme to trade in stock of Pandion Therapeutics (“Pandion”) based on material, non-public information that he misappropriated from his then-girlfriend and stole from her employer, a major law firm where his then-girlfriend was an attorney assigned to work on the acquisition of Pandion by Merck & Co. (“Merck”). MARKIN was arrested in July 2022 and pled guilty to securities fraud based on insider trading on December 4, 2023. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Seth Markin betrayed the trust of his then-girlfriend when he misappropriated confidential information, traded based on that information, and tipped several friends and family members. Markin knew his actions were wrong and lied, repeatedly, to try to cover up his scheme. Markin, who had been accepted into the FBI as a new agent trainee at the time of his conduct, finds himself in a complete reversal of fortune — instead of investigating crimes, he’ll now spend time in prison. Today’s sentence should serve as a stark reminder that, no matter who you are, if you try to cheat the system by stealing and trading based on material, non-public information, you will be punished.” As alleged in the Indictment, other public court documents, and statements made during court proceedings: In early 2021, SETH MARKIN and BRANDON WONG together made more than $1.4 million dollars in illegal profits by trading in stock based on inside information that MARKIN stole from his then-girlfriend, who was at the time an attorney at a major law firm in Washington D.C. (the “Law Firm Associate”). At the time, MARKIN had been accepted into the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) as a new agent trainee, and WONG was a systems analyst at an education company. In February 2021, MARKIN secretly looked through the Law Firm Associate’s confidential work documents, without her permission, and learned that, in a matter of weeks, Merck, a publicly traded pharmaceutical company, was going to acquire Pandion, a publicly traded biotechnology company, for approximately three times the value of Pandion’s share price. MARKIN immediately purchased Pandion stock on the basis of this material, non-public information and also told several family members and friends to purchase Pandion’s stock, causing WONG, another friend, and several family members to do so, including Family Member-1, Family Member-2, Family Member-3, Family Member-4, and Friend-1. In text messages, MARKIN assured WONG that he was “not uncertain” that when the “news drop[ped]” about Pandion, the price would “EXPLODE,” and they would earn “triple gains.” WONG purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of Pandion shares based on the material, non-public information he received from MARKIN. In addition to his purchases of Pandion stock, WONG told at least seven other people to purchase Pandion shares, causing some of the people he tipped to purchase tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of Pandion stock, including Family Member-5, Friend-2, Friend-3, Friend-4, Friend-5, Friend-6, and Friend-7. In total, MARKIN and WONG together caused at least 20 people to trade in Pandion stock based on the material, non-public information that MARKIN misappropriated from his girlfriend, resulting in millions of dollars of illegally obtained trading profits. To conceal their illegal insider trading scheme, MARKIN and WONG used an encrypted messaging application and deleted many of their text messages with each other. They also agreed on a cover story that they could provide to law enforcement, namely, that if they were asked how they anticipated Pandion’s stock price increase, they could say they “read it on Stocktwit,” in reference to a social media platform for sharing stock ideas, and falsely say that the news was “publicly being announced there.” After Merck’s acquisition of Pandion was announced publicly, and the Pandion stockholdings of MARKIN and WONG, and those whom they tipped, significantly increased in value, the defendants sold their shares of Pandion for significant profits. With their illegal profits, the defendants and their tippees purchased luxury items and bought gifts for each other. For example, WONG purchased for MARKIN a Rolex watch valued at approximately $40,000, a trip to Hawaii, and a meal at a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in New York that cost more than $1,000. WONG also purchased a home in Florida. Thereafter, MARKIN lied in order to hide his illegal insider trading. In or about June 2021, after MARKIN and the Law Firm Associate had ended their relationship and as MARKIN was preparing to begin training as a new agent at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, the Law Firm Associate called MARKIN to ask why MARKIN’s name had come up in an inquiry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority into trading in Pandion stock. In response, MARKIN lied to the Law Firm Associate and falsely claimed that he did not trade in Pandion stock. MARKIN subsequently took steps to further conceal his criminal activity. On November 18, 2021, MARKIN lied to FBI agents when he was interviewed about his Pandion trading. That day, Special Agents from the FBI interviewed MARKIN in connection with an investigation they told him was being conducted by law enforcement in the Southern District of New York relating to insider trading in Pandion stock. During the interview, MARKIN adhered to the fake cover story he and WONG had concocted and falsely told the agents that he learned about Pandion on StockTwits, that he purchased the stock because of a recent earnings report and a new board member addition, and that he did not know that his former girlfriend worked on the Pandion transaction. * * * In addition to the prison sentence, MARKIN, 32, of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $82,366. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed parallel civil actions. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Roos and Negar Tekeei are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Federal Trial Jury Finds Prospect Man Guilty of Bank Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – Yesterday a federal jury convicted a Prospect man of seven felony offenses to include two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, two counts of bank fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering after a seven-day jury trial. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Vince Zehme of the FDIC Office of Inspector General, and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 2013 to 2014, Jeffrey Robert Owen, age 59, conspired with his wife, Kimberly Dawn Owen , age 56, to apply for four commercial real estate loans from three financial institutions using personal financial statements that omitted liabilities and judgments. After the loans at one of the banks went into default, Jeffrey Owen and his wife took steps to block the collection through fraud, including filing a fraudulent bankruptcy petition to stay foreclosure proceedings on one of the properties. To obtain escrowed insurance proceeds, Jeffrey Owen also provided the bank with invoices from a fake business and identified an acquaintance who had been dead for several years as one of the people who worked at the business. To thwart the bank and other creditors, Jeffrey Owen and his wife filed a lawsuit on behalf of one of their entities against Jeffrey Owen’s wife in her individual capacity. Jeffrey Owen used the lawsuit to garnish his wife’s wages, so another creditor would be unable to garnish them. They then spent the money from the garnishment on their household expenses such as the mortgage on their $750,000 home and tuition for their two children at a local private school. Jeffrey Owen is scheduled for sentencing on July 17, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered Jeffrey Owen detained pending sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of 180 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Kimberly Owen previously pled guilty to misprision of a felony for her conduct. Kimberly Owen is scheduled for sentencing on May 21, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. She faces a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. The FDIC Office of Inspection General and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Gregory and Nicole Elver are prosecuting the case with assistance from paralegal James Aaron Cooper. ###


title: Convicted Felon from Pittsburgh Indicted on Narcotics and Firearms Charges

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The three-count Superseding Indictment named Kendall McKoy, 21, as the sole defendant. According to the Superseding Indictment, on or about June 7, 2021, McKoy possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base. In addition, on that same day, McKoy possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. Finally, on or about June 27, 2022, McKoy possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr W. Moulton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Pittsburgh Resident Indicted on Drug and Firearms Violations

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal drug trafficking and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The six-count Superseding Indictment named Lester Burrell Jackson III, 32, as the sole defendant in this case. According to the Superseding Indictment, Jackson distributed multiple quantities of methamphetamine on or about November 14, 2023; December 7, 2023; and January 2, 2024. Additionally, Jackson possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, possessed a firearm and ammunition after being convicted of a felony, and carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime on or about January 27, 2024. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The law provides for a maximum possible sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney DeMarr W. Moulton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm Charge

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Paul James, III, 35, of Columbia, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Evidence presented to the court showed that on Aug. 19, 2020, James shot a man outside of a Percival Road gas station after the man and James’ girlfriend had an argument. The shooting was captured on the gas station’s video surveillance system. Both James and his girlfriend left the scene. After reviewing the surveillance video, Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigators obtained a search warrant for James’ girlfriend’s address. When investigators executed the search warrant, they found a 9mm handgun inside of a child’s toybox. James claimed ownership of the gun. James was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based on previous convictions in 2008 for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and three convictions in 2018 for distributing heroin and crack cocaine. James was also convicted in 2008 and 2016 for unlawfully carrying a pistol. James was on probation when the shooting incident occurred. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced James to 15 years in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Crab grab nets federal conviction

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Tangier man pleaded guilty today to overharvesting Chesapeake Blue Crabs in Virginia waters and selling them in Maryland in violation of the Lacey Act. According to court documents, between March 20, 2023, to April 20, 2023, James Warren Eskridge, 45, exceeded the maximum harvest and sale of blue crabs to a seafood buyer on 16 occasions. Chesapeake Blue Crabs are the most valuable fishery in the Chesapeake Bay and, as such, those fishing blue crabs are subject to strict limits by law. At the time of Eskridge’s violations, Virginia permitted licensed commercial crabbers to harvest up to 27 bushels of blue crab per day, regardless of the number of licenses crabbers present on a single vessel. Eskridge operated the fishing vessel Rebecca Jean II with two mates out of Tangier Island, Virginia. On April 11, 2023, law enforcement observed Eskridge and his mates offload 60 bushels – more than double the Virginia limit – in Crisfield, Maryland. On April 11, 2023, Eskridge and his mates returned to Crisfield and offloaded 56 bushels. On April 13, 2023, they returned again and offloaded 58 bushels more. When confronted by investigators, Eskridge originally claimed to have purchased the additional crabs from a “buy boat” to sell on shore. After being challenged, Eskridge admitted that all the crabs were his and that he was over the Virginia harvesting limit for blue crabs. Records from the seafood buyer in Crisfield showed that between March 20, 2023, and April 20, 2023, Eskridge sold in excess of 27 bushels to the seafood buyer on 16 occasions on which Eskridge’s over harvesting ranged from 32 bushels to 58.75 bushels of blue crab. Eskridge pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly transporting and selling blue crab in interstate commerce between Virginia and Maryland in violation of Virginia law and one count of knowingly making and submitting a false record. Eskridge is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Edward Grace, Assistant Director for the Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea. The Maryland Natural Resources Police provided significant assistance in the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Kosky is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-141.


title: Former Worth County Tax Commissioner Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Return

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – The former long-time Worth County, Georgia, Tax Commissioner has admitted to not reporting earnings from work she did for four cities on her tax return. Tabetha DuPriest, 57, of Poulan, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of making and subscribing a false tax return before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner today. The maximum sentence is three years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, a $100,000 fine and restitution. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. The defendant is not eligible for parole. “There is no excuse for a long-time Tax Commissioner to fail to report earnings on personal income taxes, just like other citizens must do,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “These kinds of schemes undermine the public’s trust and simply won’t be tolerated by our office or our law enforcement partners.” “Tax evasion undermines the integrity of our tax system and harms honest taxpayers,” said Rich Bilson, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Albany office. “The FBI remains committed to upholding tax compliance and pursuing those who attempt to evade their tax responsibilities.” “As a tax commissioner, Tabetha DuPriest breached the public trust by willfully failing to report all of her income as required by law,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS special agents are committed to ensuring everyone pays their fair share of taxes to protect the integrity of the tax system.” According to court documents, DuPriest was the Worth County Tax Commissioner since 2001; she also served as the President of the Georgia Association of Tax Officials from 2019-2021. In her role as Tax Commissioner, DuPriest oversaw the collection of motor vehicle taxes and property taxes for the Worth County cities of Sylvester, Poulan, Warwick and Sumner. For that work, she earned approximately $80,000 in wages a year and received a Form W-2 from the Worth County Board of Commissioners. In addition to her salary, each of these municipalities separately contracted with DuPriest to collect city taxes, and she was paid separately by each city for that work. An FBI and IRS investigation revealed that DuPriest failed to declare any of the additional income she had received from her independent contracts with the four municipalities in Worth County on her federal tax returns since she became Tax Commissioner. It was not until after she was interviewed by the FBI in 2022 that she began to declare the additional income. During the first FBI interview, DuPriest initially claimed she reported the additional income on her tax returns, however, during a subsequent interview she admitted she did not. DuPriest knew she was required to report these fees as self-employment income on her yearly tax returns. DuPriest received $99,293.65 from the four cities between 2016 and 2021 and did not report it as income, as required, on her tax returns. DuPriest is responsible for causing at least a $27,924.22 tax loss to the IRS and required to pay $22,482.22 in restitution. This case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison

body_text: FORT WAYNE –Jalen Drake, 27 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Drake was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Drake possessed a firearm in March of 2023 after previously being convicted of a felony offense. In 2018, Drake was convicted in Allen County of dealing in marijuana, and as such, was prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which consists of the FBI, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Police Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony W. Geller. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: MOBILE MAN SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON  FOR CONSPIRING TO DISTRIBUTE FENTANYL

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, McCants, 37, admitted that between August 2021 and February 2022, he conspired with other people to distribute hundreds of fentanyl pills. On several occasions, narcotics agents used confidential informants to conduct controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from McCants. In February 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at McCants’s apartment, seizing, among other things, fentanyl pills, cocaine, a firearm, and ammunition. In addition to the 60-month prison term, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered McCants to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered McCants to pay $100 in special assessments. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin D. Kopf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.