title: Coventry Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Relief Funds

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN MATAVA, 59, of Coventry, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to offenses related to his receipt of COVID-19 relief funds. In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive unsecured loans at an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds were to be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent the proceeds on these expenses within a certain period of time of receipt and used at least a certain percentage of the amount to be forgiven for payroll. The PPP was overseen by the Small Business Administration, which has authority over all PPP loans. Individual PPP loans, however, were issued by private approved lenders, such as Celtic Bank, which received and processed PPP applications and supporting documentation, and then made loans using the lenders’ own funds, which were guaranteed by the SBA. According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2020, Matava applied to Celtic Bank for a $100,000 PPP loan for J.M. Builders LLC. The application submission included several false representations, including that J.M. Builders LLC had eight employees and an average monthly payroll of $40,000; that the monies would be used for payroll, lease, mortgage, interest and utilities; and that the business owner was not subject to pending formal criminal charges. At the time of the PPP loan application, there were no records of payroll or employees with the Connecticut Department of Labor for J.M. Builders LLC, and Matava was subject to criminal charges in two pending cases related to arrests in 2017 and 2018. On April 22, 2020, Celtic Bank disbursed $100,000 to a bank account for J.M. Builders LLC on which Matava was the signatory. The account was opened on April 21, 2020, and had a balance of $0 immediately prior to the loan funds being disbursed. Between April 2020 and January 2021, Matava used the funds primarily for personal expenditures, including $3,498 to pay a dog breeder, $4,777 for payments to an RV superstore in Connecticut, and legal fees, including a $2,000 retainer, for four court cases in Rockville, Connecticut. In January 2021, Matava sought $100,000 in additional PPP funds from Celtic Bank, and included with the application several additional false statements and fraudulent tax documents. Celtic Bank denied the application. Matava was arrested on January 7, 2023. He pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and to one count of making an illegal monetary transaction, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for March 29. Matava is released on a $60,000 bond, in home detention, pending sentencing. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher W. Schmeisser and Sean P. Mahard. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Jemez Pueblo Man Charged with Assault of a Federal Officer

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Dylon Scott Sandia appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with assault upon a federal officer involving physical contact. Sandia, 32, of Jemez Pueblo, and an enrolled member of the Jemez Pueblo, will remain in custody pending trial, which is currently scheduled for February 12, 2024. According to the indictment, on May 29, 2023, Sandia intentionally assaulted an officer with the Jemez Pueblo Police Department, who, by virtue of a special law enforcement commission, is considered a federal officer, while the officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Sandia faces 8 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Jemez Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment # # # 24-5


title: Nigerian National Arrested In Ghana Facing Federal Charges For An Alleged $7.5 Million Business Email Compromise Scheme Involving Two Charitable Organizations

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – An eight-count federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging Olusegun Samson Adejorin, of Nigeria, for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorized access to a protected computer related to a $7.5 million scheme to defraud two charitable organizations by impersonating employees, and gaining access to the employees’ email accounts. Adejorin was arrested in Ghana on December 29, 2023 and is detained pending his initial appearance in Ghana. The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office. According to the eight-count indictment, between June and August 2020, Adejorin perpetrated a scheme to defraud Victim 1, a charitable organization located in North Bethesda, Maryland and Victim 2, a charitable organization located in New York, New York by gaining access to employee email accounts and impersonating employees to induce financial transactions. The indictment alleges that Adejorin posed as an employee of Victim 2 to request withdrawals of Victim 2’s funds from Victim 1, a charitable organization that provided investment services to Victim 2. Withdrawals over $10,000 required approval from at least one of several individuals authorized by Victim 1. According to the indictment, Adejorin fraudulently obtained the credentials of employees at Victim 1 and Victim 2 and posed as those employees to send emails from their accounts, including emails making fraudulent requests for the withdrawal of investment funds. As part of the scheme, Adejorin also allegedly purchased a credential harvesting tool designed to steal email login credentials, registered spoofed domain names, and concealed the fraudulent emails from a legitimate employee by causing the fraudulent emails to be moved to an inconspicuous location within Employee 1’s mailbox. The indictment alleges that, as part of the scheme, Adejorin caused more than $7.5 million of Victim 2’s funds to be sent, pursuant to fraudulent withdrawal requests, from Victim 1 to bank accounts that were not Victim 2’s bank accounts. If convicted, Adejorin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each of five counts of wire fraud; a maximum of five years in federal prison for unauthorized access to a protected computer; and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for each of the two counts of aggravated identity theft. The maximum penalty for two of the wire fraud counts could be increased by seven years for knowingly falsely registering and using a domain name. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceeding. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, Baltimore Field Office, for its work in the investigation and thanked the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana, and the Republic of Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, and the Ghana Immigration Service, for their valuable assistance in this case. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Coreen Mao, who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Federal jury convicts father and son for killing a Niagara Falls man in furtherance of a drug conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that a federal jury has convicted Lavon Parks, a/k/a Dutch, 32, and his father, James C. Parks, 58, both of Niagara Falls, NY, of narcotics conspiracy, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and discharge of firearm causing death. In addition, Lavon Parks was also convicted of attempt to possess, with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P. Richard Antoine, Caitlin M. Higgins, and Joel L. Violanti, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that between May 2017, and March 2019, the defendants were part of a conspiracy to sell cocaine in the Niagara Falls and Buffalo, NY areas. On the afternoon of January 21, 2018, Kevin Turner was murdered in a shooting in front of a Niagara Street residence in Niagara Falls. Turner was an alleged crack cocaine dealer who had recently moved from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, where, the night before the shooting, he was staying just a few blocks from the scene of the shooting. The afternoon of the shooting, Turner went to the Niagara Street residence to sell crack cocaine. After exiting the residence, Turner was shot and killed. Evidence was presented by the Government that Lavon Parks and James Parks were driving around the area in a truck immediately before the shooting, apparently looking for someone. Video evidence placed a truck registered to Lavon Parks’ then-girlfriend in the immediate area of the shooting both before and after the murder. Ballistics recovered from the scene of the shooting matched a firearm that was recovered approximately two weeks later from an individual in Niagara Falls who was not near the scene at the time of Turner’s death. The firearm, however, was one of several firearms that were illegally trafficked from Pittsburgh, PA, by an individual who testified that he sold this type of firearm, along with at least seven others, to Lavon Parks in exchange for drugs. The investigation included a series of controlled buys and payments involving defendant Lavon Parks. Investigators seized approximately 8.5 kilograms of cocaine and $52,000 in U.S. currency from postal parcels shipped from Puerto Rico to various locations in the Western District of New York, Florida, Alaska, Georgia, and Pennsylvania using the United States Postal Service. The shipments were made to co-conspirators. Additionally, the investigation identified $55,700 in U.S. currency and/or money orders shipped in parcels from co-conspirators to Puerto Rico as payment to the source of supply for the cocaine. The jury verdict is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III, New York Field Division; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the Boston Division. Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2024, for Lavon Parks and June 27, 2024, for James Parks, both before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, who presided over the trial of the case. # # # #


title: Former federal officer receives more charges for alien smuggling

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer previously charged with bribery and drug trafficking has now also been indicted for illegally smuggling four undocumented aliens into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Emanuel Celedon remains in custody and is set to make his initial appearance on the new charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 10 a.m., at which time the court will also hold his detention hearing. Two others - Homero Romero-Hernandez, 30, and Jose Osvaldo Zapata Vasquez, 24, both Mexican nationals illegally residing in the United States, are also expected to make appearances. The final person charged - Beatris Martinez, 20, Cotulla, is set for her initial appearance Jan. 4, 2024 at 9:40 a.m. before Judge dos Santos. Celedon had previously worked at the Port of Entry (POE) in Laredo at the time of the offenses. The superseding indictment, returned Dec. 27, charges Celedon and Martinez with four counts of bringing an undocumented alien to the United States on two separate dates in September and November. Zapata and Romero are charged similarly in three counts. Celedon was previously indicted Nov. 28 for two counts of bribery and two counts of attempted importation of cocaine. Those charges allege that, on separate two occasions in October, Celedon accepted U.S. currency in exchange for allowing an individual to transport a substance he believed to be several kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico through the Laredo POE without inspection. If convicted of the new human smuggling charges, he faces up 40 years in federal prison. The previous bribery charges carry up to 15 years in prison each and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. A conviction on the cocaine importation charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 40 years and a possible maximum $5 million fine. The Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and CBP- Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Border Patrol, Webb County Constable Precinct 2 and CBP Laredo Joint Forensic Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Bennett and Jennifer Day are prosecuting the case. This investigation is related to an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) case. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . This case is also supported by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). Attorney General Merrick B. Garland created JTFA in June 2021 in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen the Justice Department’s overall efforts to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities. JTFA is comprised of detailees from southwest border U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, including the Southern and Western Districts of Texas, District of New Mexico, District of Arizona and Southern District of California. Numerous components of the Criminal Division are part of JTFA and provide dedicated support for the program which the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section leads. The Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training; Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; Office of International Affairs and Violent Crime and Racketeering Section also provide support. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 260 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of human smuggling; more than 170 convictions; significant jail sentences imposed; and substantial asset forfeiture. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Pottsville Man Sentenced To 45 Months’ Imprisonment For Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Antwain Sharrell Davender, age 38, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 28, 2023, by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to 45 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 4-year period of supervised release, for methamphetamine trafficking. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from approximately January 2022 until April 29, 2022, in Schuylkill County, PA, Davender possessed with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. A felon convicted of a prior drug trafficking offense and therefore not permitted to possess firearms, Davender also unlawfully possessed an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pottsville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John 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: Fraudster Sentenced to More than Four Years in Federal Prison After Stealing Over $800,000 in COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Temitope S. Adeboye, 32, of Indianapolis has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and other false identity documents offenses. In 2020, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). The CARES Act provided for the funding of unemployment benefits that were to be paid out by the states. A prospective claimant could apply for benefits and request their unemployment benefits be placed onto a prepaid debit card. According to court documents, beginning on a date unknown and continuing until at least August 6, 2020, Adeboye obtained and used unemployment debit cards from the State of Nevada in the names of identity theft victims. These individuals had not applied for unemployment benefits. In some instances, when the identity theft victim applied for benefits themselves, they learned that someone has already applied using their identity information. Adeboye used these fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits debit cards to purchase money orders and other items of value. When asked to verify his identity by cashiers, Adeboye used fake IDs in the names of the identity theft victims. He later used money orders that were purchased with stolen unemployment benefits to buy a Lexus. On August 6, 2023, Adeboye was arrested by IMPD officers for driving with a suspended driver’s license. During a search of the vehicle, officers found the following items: 96 unemployment debit cards issued by the State of Nevada, each under a different name, a Kroger receipt for $1,501.76, multiple money orders issued by Western Union, U.S. Postal Service, and MoneyGram, and U.S. currency totaling $76,680. At the time of his arrest, Adeboye possessed approximately 32 fake driver’s licenses from Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, including some that were under the same stolen identities as the unemployment debit cards. The 96 unemployment debit cards recovered from Adeboye were used in over 5,000 transactions at various retailers and financial institutions. “As the pandemic raged across the country in 2020, fraudsters embraced the motto, ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste.’ While countless individuals experienced tremendous grief as loved ones passed away and the strain of isolation grew, this defendant saw an opportunity to steal money and identities,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The Department of Justice and our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement are committed to identifying and prosecuting the criminals who took advantage of the global crisis to scheme and steal. This prison sentence demonstrates that these thieves will have a price to pay in federal court.” The FBI, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Adeboye be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and pay $804,460.54 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID‑19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID‑19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form ###


title: Two New York City Men Charged with Visa Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Two New York men have been arrested on charges related to visa fraud. Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, were charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Patel was arrested in Seattle on Dec. 13, 2023 and, following an initial appearance in the Western District of Washington, was ordered detained pending trial. Singh was arrested in Queens, N.Y. on Dec. 13, 2023 and had his initial appearance in the Eastern District of New York. Singh appeared in federal court in Boston yesterday afternoon. Patel is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, starting in March 2023, Patel and his co-conspirators, including at times Singh, set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least eight convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants across the United States, including at least four in Massachusetts. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U nonimmigration status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery. The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York and the Western District of Washington; FBI’s New York and Seattle Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and the Hingham, Marshfield, Randolph, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Dec. 28 was: Sharon Ann Spang, 30, of Billings, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Spang faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Spang was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-150. Llima Orser Cameron, 42, of Belgrade, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cameron faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Cameron was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Billings Police Department and Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-118. Appearing on Dec. 27 was: Michael Vaughn Henderson II, 45, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Henderson faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Henderson was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Billings Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-46. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: New Jersey Man Charged With Attempting To Provide Material Support To Al Shabaab

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging KARREM NASR, a/k/a “Ghareeb Al-Muhajir,” with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization. NASR, a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody in Nairobi, Kenya, on December 14, 2023, and was transported to the United States yesterday, December 28, 2023. NASR will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses in Manhattan federal court later today. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Karrem Nasr, motivated by the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, devoted himself to waging violent jihad against America and its allies. Nasr, a citizen of this country, traveled from Egypt to Kenya bent on joining and training with al Shabaab so that he could execute his jihadist mission of death and destruction. Nasr was prepared to kill and be killed to support the jihadist cause, and in his own words, he described America as ‘evil’ and the ‘head of the snake.’ Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the career prosecutors in my Office and our law enforcement partners who led the investigation, Nasr’s plan to train with a terrorist organization and wage violent jihad has been disrupted. Make no mistake: My Office is committed to investigating, disrupting, and prosecuting anyone who is inspired by Hamas’s October 7 attack and seeks to harm Americans, whether here or abroad.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Karrem Nasr traveled across the globe in an alleged attempt to join the ranks of a foreign terrorist organization – an organization that has repeatedly expressed its desire to harm Americans around the world. This investigation highlights the ongoing efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and our domestic and international law enforcement partners to protect the U.S. against any form of terrorism and ensuring the safety of our community.” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “Instead of embracing all that the United States had to offer him, Mr. Nasr allegedly moved abroad and committed himself to supporting a foreign terrorist organization. The provision of support to such a group – particularly by an American citizen – is a heinous threat to our entire country and way of life. In the face of this, NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners on the FBI-led New York Joint Terrorism Task Force will remain relentless in our efforts to identify and investigate anyone who so clearly considers our nation their sworn enemy.” As alleged in the Complaint: [1] NASR is a 23-year-old U.S. citizen who moved from New Jersey to Egypt in or about July 2023. NASR is a supporter of al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization that has attacked Americans and American allies. Since at least in or about November 2023, NASR has repeatedly expressed his desire and plans to join al Shabaab and wage jihad, including in communications with an FBI confidential source (the “CS”), who was posing as a facilitator for terrorist organizations. [2] In communications exchanged with the CS and postings online, NASR stated that he had been thinking about engaging in jihad for a long time, and he was particularly motivated to become a jihadi by the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. For example, in communications with the CS, NASR stated that the number one enemy was “evil America,” which he called the “head of the snake.” In recent public social media posts, NASR warned that “Jihad” was “coming soon to a US location near you,” posting airplane, bomb, and fire emojis: In further communications with the CS, NASR expressed his intent to join al Shabaab to receive military training and engage in jihad, that he was prepared to kill and be killed, and that he specifically aspired to be a martyr for the jihadist cause. Other examples of NASR’s online posts supportive of jihad and terrorist ideology are shown below: NASR took specific steps to join and receive military training from al Shabaab, including making flight and lodging reservations for travel to Kenya, where he planned to meet members of al Shabaab for further travel to Somalia to join and train with the group. NASR booked a flight for December 14, 2023, from Egypt to Kenya for purposes of ultimately joining and training with al Shabaab. In addition, approximately thze day before his flight, NASR told the CS that he planned to delete data from his cellphone and computer to ensure that if he were detained, law enforcement would not be able to recover evidence of his jihadist activities from those devices. On December 14, 2023, NASR flew from Egypt to Kenya, where he planned to transit into Somalia and join and train with al Shabaab. Later that day, NASR was taken into custody by Kenyan authorities. * * * NASR, 23, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD. Mr. Williams also thanked the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Nairobi, Kenya, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations, including the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and the Joint Terrorism Task Force-Kenya, for their assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher and Kimberly J. Ravener are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Jennifer Burke and Lesley Woods of the Counterterrorism Section. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. [2] Communications referenced herein are described in substance and in part.


title: Jefferson Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Gun Control and Controlled Substances Acts

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RONNIE WILLIAMS , age 22, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, pleaded guilty as charged on December 20, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Jane T. Milazzo to five counts of federal drug and weapons violations. WILLIAMS pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). According to court documents, on January 6, 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance in the 500 block of N. Elm Street in Metairie, Louisiana. WILLIAMS arrived in the area and received a backpack from his co-defendant which contained marijuana, cocaine base, and fentanyl. Over the next hour, WILLIAMS made several drug sales to customers arriving in vehicles, including transactions with other co-defendants. When law enforcement arrived, WILLIAMS fled and threw a handgun loaded with an extended magazine containing 24 rounds of ammunition. WILLIAMS is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior Louisiana felony conviction for distribution of heroin. With respect to his convictions for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a minimum of three years of supervised release on each count. With respect to his conviction for conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. With respect to his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. With respect to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, WILLIAMS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison, which is to run consecutively to all other sentences, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Two Defendants Plead Guilty to Violating the Federal Gun Control Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARNELL MELTON , age 27, and SAUL REED , age 32, both residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on December 19, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to charges in a 15-count second superseding indictment. MELTON and REED both pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). REED additionally pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and tapentadol in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D). According to court documents, MELTON has prior Louisiana felony convictions for simple robbery, simple burglary, and attempted possession of a firearm by a felon. In March of 2023, MELTON lived in a New Orleans East house which the FBI identified as the residence of members of a gang known as the “10x”, a reference to the St. Thomas Housing Development in the 10 th Ward. On March 28, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) executed a search warrant at the residence. When law enforcement announced their presence to execute the search, the occupants refused to exit the house and repeatedly ignored subsequent commands to come outside. While the officers and agents were outside, multiple gunshots were fired nearby. Moments after the gunshots, 911 dispatch received a call falsely claiming that a five-year old child was shot the next block over. The call came from inside the residence. More than an hour after law enforcement arrived, MELTON , REED , and two juveniles exited the house. FBI found two AR-15 pistols and three handguns inside the house. One of the handguns belonged to MELTON . FBI also recovered a backpack belonging to REED . Inside REED’s backpack there was tapentadol, marijuana, a digital scale, latex gloves, and a black ski mask. REED was pulled over two months later by Louisiana State Police. He had another backpack in his car containing marijuana and a loaded Sig Sauer handgun. REED is prohibited from possessing a gun because of prior Louisiana felony convictions for simple burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. For their felon in possession of firearm convictions, MELTON and REED each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. For his conviction for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, REED faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and a minimum of three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Mission Woman Sentenced for Assault

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on December 18, 2023. Selena Pretty Bird, age 26, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Pretty Bird was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. She pleaded guilty on September 25, 2023. In the morning of November 24, 2022, Pretty Bird, her sister, her mother, and two juveniles responded to a call from Pretty Bird’s brother. Pretty Bird’s brother mistakenly reported that a female had assaulted him and vandalized his vehicle. When Pretty Bird arrived at her brother’s location, an argument began between her and the female. The argument escalated to Pretty Bird and others assaulting the victim. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered a broken left arm that required surgery and a scalp laceration that required staples. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case. Pretty Bird was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Indy Man Sentenced to Thirty Years in Federal Prison for Raping a Toddler and Recording it on his Phone

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Devon Shane Mitchell, 37, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexually exploiting a child. According to court documents, in February of 2023, law enforcement officers began investigating Mitchell for criminal activity unrelated to child sexual abuse. During the course of that investigation, officers discovered multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse on Mitchell’s cell phone. The videos showed Mitchell raping a child under four years old, who is crying during the attack. At times, the child was in his care, custody, or control. In April of 2023, Mitchell was arrested at his home. During a thorough search of his electronic devices, FBI agents found over 800 images and videos of other child sexual abuse material Mitchell collected online, in addition to the videos he created using the toddler victim. “Our hearts break for the violence and trauma the defendant inflicted on such a young and vulnerable child. We are deeply committed to finding the offenders who sexually exploit our children and ensuring that they are taken out of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Thanks to the dedicated investigators at the FBI, IMPD, and our federal prosecutor, this victim and every other child will be protected from the defendant’s crimes for decades to come.” FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Mitchell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years following his release from federal prison and pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case. 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. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. ###


title: Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to 109 Months

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Vivian A. Earle, 42, of Phoenix, was sentenced yesterday to 109 months in prison by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow. Earle was convicted on five counts of Bank Robbery by a jury on June 30, 2023. Between April and August of 2019, while in Phoenix, Earle robbed five banks, including Wells Fargo, Chase, and Bank of America, taking over $34,000. After the last robbery, a bank customer followed Earle’s vehicle from the parking lot and called 911. Phoenix Police responded and followed Earle until they apprehended him. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Phoenix Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Gayle Helart and Anthony Church, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-19-01121-PHX-GMS RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-207_Earle # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former Assistant United States Attorney Russell E. Smoot Retires from the Department of Justice After More Than Twenty Years of Federal Service

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, WA – Today marks the final day of service for one of Eastern Washington’s longest-tenured federal prosecutors. Over the past twenty-one years, Assistant United States Attorney Russell E. Smoot has served with distinction as a trial attorney and leader within the United States Attorney’s Office. From 2016 through 2021, Smoot served as the Criminal Chief for the Eastern District of Washington, and, for much of that time, as the First Assistant United States Attorney. As First Assistant, Smoot served as the primary deputy and legal advisor to the U.S. Attorney. During his two decades of service, Smoot also served many other roles within the office, including Deputy Criminal Chief, Criminal Appellate Coordinator, and Anti-Terrorism / National Security Coordinator. In addition to his leadership roles, Smoot honed his skills as a capable and talented trial attorney. Throughout his twenty-one years as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA), Smoot handled numerous criminal trials and argued dozens of appellate cases. The many cases Smoot prosecuted include the pseudoephedrine trials, which helped reduce the proliferation of local meth-labs, and numerous large-scale drug-trafficking organization cases. Among the many drug-trafficking conspiracy cases prosecuted by Smoot, the “pill hustle” case stands out as significant for the scope of the oxycodone-trafficking, the multi-jurisdictional investigation, and the prosecution. In 2015, the lead defendant, a member of the Eight Trey Gangster Crips, a Los Angeles-based street gang, was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for leading a continuing criminal enterprise involving dozens of gang members and associates in the unlawful distribution oxycodone pills in the Spokane area. The case also involved 50 search warrants that were executed simultaneously in Los Angeles, Spokane, and Seattle. Of the 62 defendants charged in the scheme, 4 went to trial, including the lead defendant, who was convicted after a five-week jury trial in November 2014. The trial was handled by Smoot and AUSA Stephanie Van Marter. Following the oxycodone case, Smoot was part of the trial team that prosecuted a Tri-Cities area man with cartel ties, who was sentenced to life in federal prison for murder in connection with a drug-trafficking conspiracy. At trial, Smoot, again with Van Marter, presented evidence that the victim was lured to a Spokane residence under the guise of resolving a drug debt. Upon arriving at the residence, the victim was beaten with baseball bats, tied up, and driven to a remote location in Stevens County. At that location, the victim was doused with gasoline, shot multiple times, and set on fire. During an investigation, law enforcement connected the murder to a methamphetamine-trafficking organization with ties to Eastern Washington, Mexico, North Dakota, and Idaho. Smoot also prosecuted the first material support to terrorists cases in the District. In one such case, a local Eastern Washington man with experience in chemical explosives sought to provide his bomb-making expertise online to a person he believed intended to conduct an act of terrorism in the United States. He was sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison and a lifetime term of federal supervision. Just last year, Smoot was part of a Department of Justice prosecution team, that handled one of the largest-ever fraud schemes in Eastern Washington history – the $244 million scheme involving an Eastern Washington rancher, who was sentenced in October 2022 to eleven years in federal prison after charging Tyson’s Foods Inc. and another company hundreds of millions of dollars for approximately 265,000 head of cattle that did not exist. Ultimately, the rancher was ordered to pay $244 million in restitution for his “ghost cattle” scheme. This restitution award is the largest-ever in Eastern Washington history. “Serving as an Assistant United States Attorney has been the highlight of my professional career,” AUSA Smoot stated. “It has been an honor to serve alongside many dedicated, hard-working colleagues within this office and across the Department of Justice. There is no equivalent to standing in federal court ‘on behalf of the United States.’” Smoot continued, “Serving the United States and the Eastern District of Washington as an Assistant United States Attorney has been a truly exciting adventure.” United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref thanked AUSA Smoot for his leadership and sacrifices on behalf of the people of Eastern Washington: “Russ’s public service has been nothing short of incredible – from the cases he has tried to the leadership positions he held. Since beginning his career as an AUSA in May of 2002, Russ has prosecuted a wide range of cases, including several jury trials of drug trafficking cases, homicides, and everything in between.” U.S. Attorney Waldref added, “Russ is one of the hardest working AUSAs in our District’s history. He will be sorely missed.” Assistant United States Attorney Tim M. Durkin, who served as the office’s Civil Chief during the time Smoot served as the First Assistant and Criminal Chief, stated, "Russ Smoot dedicated his career to public service, participating in and overseeing complex criminal investigations and prosecutions of drug organizations, gangs and fraudsters in the Eastern District of Washington. He was an outstanding trial and appellate attorney, handling some of the most challenging cases the U.S. Attorney’s Office brings. He served with distinction and honor, and his skills will be terribly missed. Congratulations to Russ and his family!" “Russ and I started our careers as Assistant United States Attorneys in early 2002, and we have worked closely together ever since,” stated Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter, who serves as the office’s Special Litigation Counsel and, as noted earlier, tried several landmark cases with Smoot. “It is hard to imagine the U.S. Attorney’s Office without Russ Smoot in it. We are excited for Russ as he begins his next adventure, but we will miss him. His dedication to justice is unparalleled.” Smoot graduated with honors from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a degree in political science in 1995. Before attending college, Smoot worked as a commercial fisherman, aircraft mechanic, and Alaskan bush pilot. Smoot received his J.D. from Gonzaga University in 1999, graduating Magna Cum Laude and serving as a Notes and Comments Editor for the Gonzaga Law Review. During law school, Smoot became a law clerk at the United States Attorney’s Office. Then, after graduating from law school, Smoot worked for three years in private practice in Maine, before returning to Spokane and rejoining the United States Attorney’s Office shortly after 9/11.


title: North Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty To Multiple Child Sex Trafficking Charges And Witness Tampering

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A North Las Vegas resident who recruited his victims over social media pleaded guilty Thursday to 10 federal charges related to child sex trafficking and exploitation. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in April 2017 through December 2017, Jacques Anton Lanier, also known as “John Dupree,” coerced and solicited nine girls under the age of 18 years old to engage in sexual activities with him for money and drugs. Lanier engaged in commercial sex acts with at least four of the girls. He also requested and received sexual images from some of the victims and took a sexually explicit image of at least one victim constituting child pornography. Lanier traveled to California and engaged in sex acts with a victim. In 2018, while Lanier was in custody pending related criminal charges, he tampered with one of the victims through intimidation and threats, and persuaded that victim to evade legal process, refrain from testifying, and prevent communication between the victim and law enforcement regarding federal offenses. Lanier pleaded guilty to four counts of coercion and enticement; four counts of sex trafficking of children; one count of sexual exploitation of children; and one count of tampering with a witness, victim or informant. United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro scheduled sentencing for March 27, 2024. Lanier faces the maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Bianca R. Pucci and David Kiebler are prosecuting the case. The 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. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or https://report.cybertip.org . ###


title: Brother and Sister Sent to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A brother and sister from Dubuque, Iowa, who conspired with each other to distribute methamphetamine were sentenced this week to federal prison. Jacob Patrick Demaio, age 42, and Codi Lyn Demaio, age 35, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after both pled guilty on July 6, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance near a protected location. From August 2019 through January 2022, both Demaios were involved in a conspiracy to distribute hundreds of pounds of “ice” methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school. There were several residences used by the brother and sister to store and traffic the “ice” methamphetamine in Dubuque and elsewhere. Evidence at a prior hearing showed that Jacob Demaio sold hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine to multiple people between 2019 and 2022. Drug customers dropped off hundreds of thousands of dollars at the various “stash” houses. That money was intended to be given to Jacob Demaio. Evidence also showed that Codi Demaio sold pounds of methamphetamine to several people in Dubuque between 2019 and 2022. On occasions when her brother was incarcerated, she took over his drug operation and sold pounds of methamphetamine. She was once instructed to go to California with $25,000 to buy drugs, though she instead traveled to Las Vegas and lost all the money. Jacob and Codi were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Jacob Demaio was sentenced to 306 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Codi Demaio was sentenced to 172 months and 27 days of imprisonment and must serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Jacob and Codi are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Nicole L. Nagin and investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-1039. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Middle District Of Florida Prosecutes 1,500 Individuals For Child Exploitation Offenses As Part Of Project Safe Childhood

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that the Middle District of Florida has prosecuted more than 1,500 individuals as part of Project Safe Childhood. In May 2006, the Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. “From the beginning of Project Safe Childhood in 2006 through the present day, the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida has been a national leader in aggressively prosecuting those sexual predators who seek to use the internet to harm and exploit children,” said United States Attorney Handberg. “This year is a great example. In 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged over 100 defendants for child exploitation offenses, our third highest total ever. These cases have involved defendants who have victimized, and attempted to victimize, children by coercing them to produce child sexual abuse material, by enticing them to engage in sexual conduct, and by distributing, receiving, transporting, and possessing material containing images of children being sexually abused.” United States Attorney Handberg continued, “I want to commend our law enforcement partners for their extraordinary work on these cases. Through their outstanding efforts, our law enforcement partners have rescued children, dismantled conspiracies that have victimized children, and built cases that have led to successful prosecutions of prolific and dangerous offenders. Their work on these federal prosecutions has served to protect children in the Middle District of Florida and across the United States.” Some significant cases prosecuted in 2023 include: In Fort Myers in April 2023, Jeffrey Holcombe (51, Naples) was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of a child. According to court documents, as part of a separate investigation, law enforcement stopped Holcombe in his vehicle in Naples and observed a cellphone on the passenger seat. The FBI searched the phone pursuant to a search warrant and found images and videos of a minor being sexually abused. Agents went to Holcombe’s home and discovered the minor from the images and videos on Holcombe’s phone residing there. Further investigation revealed that Holcombe had been sexually abusing the minor, and that he often photographed, or video recorded his sexual abuse of the minor at his home and at various hotels. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava. In Jacksonville in September 2023, Paul Edward Lee, Jr. (44, Jacksonville) was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a 14-year-old child to produce and send him videos and images depicting the victim’s sexual abuse. According to evidence at trial, Lee, who had previously been convicted of crimes related to his sexual abuse of a minor and had already been designated as a sexual predator, sent sexually explicit messages to a 14-year-old child through a gaming application designed for use by children. An FBI agent took over control of the child’s account and communicated with Lee. Lee told the “child” in graphic terms how he wanted to have sex with the “child” and sent several explicit images and videos of himself to the “child.” Lee also solicited the “child” to produce and send him graphic images and videos of “herself.” When FBI agents executed a search warrant at Lee’s residence, Lee tried to damage his cellphone to destroy evidence of his criminal activity and was arrested. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. In Ocala in March 2023, Eddie Joe Oglesby (52, Fort McCoy) was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison for producing and receiving child sex abuse material. According to evidence presented at trial, Oglesby created an elaborate false identity which he used to impersonate a federal agent. He then used this false identity to coerce underaged girls to produce and send him child sex abuse images over the internet. Posing as the false agent, Oglesby threatened to have the victims arrested, imprisoned, institutionalized, or killed if they did not comply with his demands. When the FBI searched Oglesby’s residence, they found him with an underaged female runaway. Agents ultimately found 473 pages of electronic communications between Oglesby and one of his victims on his cellphone. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Weatherford (Texas) Police Department, and the Cobb County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William S. Hamilton and Hannah J. Nowalk. In Orlando in October 2023, Michael Remaley (22, Winter Garden) was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for the producing and receiving child sex abuse material. According to court documents, over the course of a two-week span, Remaley used a social media app to entice a 14-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit videos of herself. Remaley also shared child sex abuse material with another user, including a video of a female child between the ages of five and eight years old being sexually abused. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff. In Tampa in May 2023, Brooke Sparks (38, St. Petersburg) was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for producing child sex abuse material. According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a tip from the Australian Federal Police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Sparks was sharing child sexual abuse material via Facebook. Pursuant to a search warrant at Sparks’s home, investigators discovered that Sparks had produced videos of child sexual abuse material of a nine-year-old child and shared them with an Australian man. Sparks also used multiple platforms to send and receive images and videos of child sexual abuse material. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with substantial assistance from St. Petersburg Police Department and the Australian Federal Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit. “Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue those who prey on children” said Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Tampa Special Agent in Charge John Condon. “We are committed to identifying and arresting these egregious criminals, who produce and share horrible images of children being sexually exploited.” In 2023, child exploitation cases prosecuted in the Middle District of Florida were investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Apopka Police Department, the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Fort Myers Police Department, the Glades County Sheriff’s Office, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the North Port Police Department, the Ocala Police Department, the Ocoee Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Palmetto Police Department, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Secret Service, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Sarasota Police Department, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and other state and local partners. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyrie Boyer, D. Rodney Brown, John Cannizzaro, Belkis Crockett, Amanda Daniels, Courtney Derry, Noah Dorman, Erin Favorit, John Gardella, William Hamilton, Stacie Harris, Abigail King, Shannon Laurie, Stephanie McNeff, David Mesrobian, Kirwinn Mike, Mark Morgan, Adam Nate, Hannah Nowalk, Courtney Richardson-Jones, Ross Roberts, Michael Sartoian, Ilyssa Spergel, Sarah Swartzberg, Laura Cofer Taylor, Megan Testerman, Karyna Valdez, Yolande Viacava, Ashley Washington, and Kara Wick and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons. For more information about other child exploitation cases prosecuted by the Middle District of Florida, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr . For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Arsonist Sentenced for Throwing Molotov Cocktail at Donut Shop

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: An arsonist was sentenced yesterday for malicious use of explosive material, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Coby Dale Green, 25, of Tulsa to 60 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. His sentence included a hate crime motivation enhancement. According to court documents, Green was seen on security camera footage outside the Donut Hole donut shop in the early morning hours of Oct. 31, 2022. Green placed a flyer with anti-LGBTQ slogans on the business next door prior to using a baseball bat to break the glass door of the donut shop. He then lit an improvised incendiary device, commonly referred to as a “Molotov Cocktail,” and threw it into the restaurant. The incendiary device did not fully detonate but still caused fire damage to the business. Investigators later searched Green’s residence and found several copies of newspaper articles about the donut shop being vandalized. The ATF Certified Fire Investigator stated that persons who commit arson will often keep mementos or “trophies.” During the search of the residence, investigators also found flyers similar to those left at the Donut Hole, as well as clothing and the lighter seen in the security footage. Court documents state that Green had been previously arrested in Tulsa County for arson at a separate restaurant in 2021. That case was dismissed because the prosecuting witness failed to appear. Investigators also received additional reports of Green causing disturbances and leaving anti-LGBTQ flyers at other LGBTQ friendly businesses around the Tulsa area. Green will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Tulsa Fire Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel and Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case. This case was 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.


title: Remarks Of U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger At The 2023 Newark Year-End Crime Stats Press Conference

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: Thank you Mayor Baraka and Public Safety Director Fragé for including us in today’s event and for your partnership and commitment to combatting and eradicating gun violence in Newark. Keeping our communities safe is the most fundamental mission of law enforcement. We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office are truly honored to collaborate with the Newark Police Department and all of our other law enforcement partners up here today in support of this critical cause. We believe that this partnership, created through our Newark Violent Crime Initiative, which just entered its sixth year, has helped drive the historically low rates of homicides and shootings in Newark that the Mayor and Police Director mentioned. While every homicide and senseless shooting is tragic and is one too many, we believe this hard-earned, steady decline is a direct result of our VCI’s collaborative efforts. Together, the Newark Police Department, my office, and our other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in our VCI have spent years identifying and gathering intelligence about those who drive the violence in and around Newark. For our part, we’ve dedicated prosecutors to target those street gangs whose members and associates are responsible for the shootings that continue to harm this community, and we have prosecuted violent offenders associated with each and every one of them. In the course of our partnership, we’ve charged hundreds of Newark offenders for shootings, gun trafficking and possession, and gang-related activities. We currently have two alleged Newark gang members facing mandatory life sentences for murder. We have at least two more facing potential life sentences for non-fatal violent crimes in furtherance of gang activity. In October, we charged two alleged members of the Sex Money Murder (“SMM”) subset of the Bloods Street gang operating in the Bradley Court Housing Complex with the November 2022 murder of a rival. In November, we charged five additional alleged SMM members and associates for trafficking fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in Newark, two of whom we also charged with firearms possession. Following a series of retaliatory shootings between rival neighborhoods in Newark, we charged a member of a street gang operating in the area of Clinton Place and Weequahic Avenue for possessing a machinegun that was used in April to fire 28 rounds, hitting three victims at the Oscar Miles Housing Complex. He pleaded guilty in October. Over the course of the year, 12 members and associates of the Grape Street Crips street gang operating in and around Oscar Miles pleaded guilty to running a drug trafficking organization distributing large amounts of fentanyl and crack cocaine. These are but a few examples of the results of our VCI partnership with all of our law enforcement partners up here today. Thank you.


title: Fact Sheet: Justice Department Improvements to the Clemency Process

component: Office of the Pardon Attorney

body_text: The Justice Department is entrusted with the important responsibility of receiving and reviewing applications for executive clemency and making recommendations to the President in support of his exercise of the constitutional clemency power. In fulfilling this responsibility, the department is committed to improving the clemency application process to make it more transparent, accessible and user-friendly. The department is taking a series of actions to reform and streamline the clemency application process. Transparency & Accessibility Form Simplification : The Justice Department is updating all of its clemency forms, including web forms, to make them more user-friendly, streamlined and accessible to diverse populations. The improved and simplified application for commutation of sentence is now available here . The revised pardon application form is currently open for public comment . Language Access : The Justice Department has translated its revised application forms and informational materials into Spanish and is in the process of making its forms available in other languages as well. Partnering with Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) : The Office of the Pardon Attorney is working closely with the FBOP to assist incarcerated individuals with the clemency process, including by launching a series of educational seminars for staff and individuals in custody. In 2023, the Office met with over 1,800 people in FBOP facilities to provide information about applying for clemency. Additional sessions are scheduled in 2024. Efficiency Reducing Processing Times : The Justice Department is taking steps, including providing additional staffing and technical support for the Office of the Pardon Attorney, to reduce the processing times to ensure that clemency petitioners receive answers in a timely fashion. Closing Long-Pending Petitions : The current Administration inherited an unprecedented backlog of clemency petitions. Soon, the Justice Department will begin issuing letters to petitioners that have not been granted clemency in order to deliver closure to those waiting for answers they deserve. Those receiving letters are welcome to submit new petitions . Public Engagement Education and Outreach : The department is working to educate the public about how to submit a clemency application in order to demystify the process and help ensure broader and more equitable access. Listening Sessions : The department continues to engage with diverse external stakeholders to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of clemency petitioners and the public.


title: U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces the Confirmation of Jerry Edwards, Jr. as Federal Judge for the Western District of Louisiana

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jerry Edwards, Jr. has resigned from the Department of Justice after having been confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as United States District Court Judge. “There is a reason I selected Jerry Edwards as my First Assistant after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Attorney,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Judge Edwards is a well-respected litigator, the consummate professional, garners great respect among our local, state and federal judges and over the years has constantly displayed strong leadership abilities amongst his peers in this office. I could not dream of a better district judge selection. We are quite saddened to lose him as a colleague in this office, but great things lie ahead for this district due to this historical confirmation.” During his tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Edwards served as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Louisiana, which includes 42 of the State’s 64 parishes and geographically encompasses two-thirds of the State of Louisiana. Edwards has served as the First Assistant United States Attorney since 2022 and prior to that, served as the district’s Civil Chief from 2020 through 2022. Edwards is the first person of color ever to have sat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. As First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Edwards oversaw the investigation and prosecution of all federal criminal violations in the Western District of Louisiana and represented the United States in all civil litigation occurring in the District. Prior to serving at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Edwards was a Shareholder and Director at Blanchard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts in Shreveport where he was employed from 2006-2019, with a diverse litigation practice focused primarily on tort defense, consumer bankruptcy work for creditors, and collection work. In addition, he handled municipal work with a focus on zoning and land use. Edwards received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia State University in 2002 and his Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School in 2005. After graduating law school, Edwards clerked for Judges Jeanette G. Garrett and Scott J. Crichton of the First Judicial District Court of Louisiana. After being sworn in by Chief U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty, Edwards began his service on the bench on December 23, 2023. Edwards, 44, was nominated by President Biden on June 7, 2023. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on December 14, 2023. # # #


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Felon for Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on November 21, 2023, charging a local man with 2 counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, on June 3,2023, Daiquan Walker, 28, possessed a Springfield, Model XD-9, 9-millimeter caliber pistol and ammunition, and on October 19, 2023, he possessed a Glock, Model 19GEN5, 9-millimeter pistol, an Anderson, Model AM-15, multi-caliber pistol, and ammunition. Walker was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses: On January 3, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Walker was convicted of robbery in the second degree (2 counts), tampering with physical evidence, and criminal mischief in the first degree. On December 27, 2023, Walker made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Walker remains detained pending trial. If convicted, Walker faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by HSI and LMPD with the assistance ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting 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. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Leader of Belle Glade Based Bank Fraud Conspiracy Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI - The leader of a bank fraud conspiracy pleaded guilty on Dec. 21. Ja’kevious Ri’shaad Vickers, Gregory Bernard Ashley Jr., and Naim W. Kahook were involved in a bank fraud conspiracy involving stolen checks, theft of personal identifying information, and the production of fraudulent or fake checks. On Dec. 21, Vickers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Matthewman. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 14, 2024. Vickers faces a mandatory minimum term of two years in prison, to run consecutively to a statutory term of up to 30 years in prison. Ashley and Kahook each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, respectively. Ashley and Kahook are also scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2024. Ashley and Kahook each face up to 30 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) announced the guilty pleas. The FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency and PBSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marton Gyires is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Roberto Delgado is handling asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-80185. ###


title: Second New York Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Over $200,000 in Products from Home Depot and Lowe’s

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A New York man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for transporting stolen goods from Home Depot and Lowe’s across state lines, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Deshun Jackson, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 13 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Jackson was also ordered to pay $204,969.02 in restitution, of which $179,606.25 is payable to Lowe’s and $25,362.77 is payable to Home Depot. On September 15, 2023, Jackson pleaded guilty to Transportation of Stolen Goods. Jackson’s co-defendant, Jalil McIntyre, pled guilty on July 31, 2023, and was sentenced to 24 months in prison on November 6, 2023. “Organized retail thefts have a significant impact on consumers by causing both financial loss and safety risks,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that federal law enforcement will continue to protect retail industry and consumers from this increasingly widespread problem by investigating, prosecuting and incarcerating offenders like the defendants.” “What DeShun Jackson did –in stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-end merchandise from home improvement retailers all over New England - drives up costs for consumers and businesses everywhere,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence should be a warning to others that if you engage in organized retail theft and transport stolen goods across state lines like Mr. Jackson did, you too will face serious consequences for your criminal conduct.” Jackson and McIntyre traveled to Lowe’s and Home Depots across the northeastern United States, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. They stole high-value commercial items, such as circuit breakers. They were seen on surveillance footage grabbing products off shelves, placing them into large plastic bags, and walking out of the stores. In total, they stole $204,969.02 worth of products across 24 separate thefts. They also attempted to steal another $46,619.07 worth of products during 11 additional unsuccessful thefts. The stolen products were brought back to New York, where both defendants lived. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office, the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in New York, the Seabrook Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, the Windham Police Department, and the Derry Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case. ###


title: Hampton Man Indicted on Additional Fraud Schemes

body_text: CONCORD – A grand jury returned a superseding indictment against a Hampton man in connection with four fraud schemes, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Anthony M. Silva, 39, was indicted on a total of 10 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of mail fraud, and 8 counts of aggravated identity theft. Silva is scheduled to appear in federal court in Concord on January 8, 2024. Previously, on March 21, 2022, Silva was indicted on 3 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of misuse of a Social Security number, and 3 counts of aggravated identity theft. According to the charging documents and statements made in court, Silva orchestrated four separate fraud schemes using stolen identities. Specifically, Silva used stolen names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, and other identifiers to fraudulently obtain (1) unemployment insurance benefits from Vermont, (2) unemployment insurance benefits from Massachusetts, (3) American Express credit cards, and (4) CARES Act funds. The fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and CARES Act funds were deposited either by check or direct deposit into dozens of accounts Silva controlled at multiple banks. Many of these accounts were in the names of individual victims or fictional organizations, with Silva listed as the trustee. Silva obtained more than $400,000 from Vermont, over $150,000 from Massachusetts, and $600,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Silva was also able to use the credit cards to make a variety of purchases from retailers such as Victoria’s Secret. Silva also tried unsuccessfully to obtain additional CARES Act funding. The charge of wire fraud and mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is higher. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of 2 years to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General and United States Secret Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and John J. Kennedy are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: NuDay Charity Sentenced for Illegal Exports to Syria

body_text: CONCORD – The New Hampshire charity NuDay, a/k/a NuDay Syria, was sentenced today in federal court for export offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. NuDay was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to five years of probation, the maximum penalty for an organizational defendant. NuDay was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. On September 8, 2023, NuDay pleaded guilty to three counts of Failure to File Export Information. “Our national security depends on exporters truthfully disclosing where goods are being shipped to ensure that hostile foreign actors do not get their hands on potentially dangerous items,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E Young. “This prosecution shows that willful violations of export law, even by a non-profit charity, will result in criminal consequences.” “This charity blatantly violated U.S. export control laws when it sent over 100 shipments of humanitarian goods to Syria, a country that is a designated state sponsor of terrorism, and in many instances, lied about where those shipments were going,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case highlights the FBI’s ongoing commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to prevent the erosion of public trust in charitable organizations by ensuring that anyone who engages in criminal activity in order to evade our laws and regulations is held accountable.” “Customs and export laws exist to protect the integrity of our systems of commerce and to protect our national security. The individuals involved with NuDay knew they were breaking the law but did so anyway, sending shipments whose contents were falsely undervalued to Syria, a country subject to export restrictions and sanctions. As today’s sentence shows, these actions have consequences,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Despite the availability of a limited waiver of the restrictions allowing for the export and re-export of a wide range of items necessary to provide humanitarian support to the Syrian people, NuDay devalued $8.3 million of goods to avoid reporting requirements and transshipped the items through a third country without disclosing their ultimate destination. The end did not justify the means in this case,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of the Office of Export Enforcement’s Boston Field Office. NuDay was founded by Nadia Alawa as a non-profit charity in 2013 and is headquartered in Windham, New Hampshire. Alawa served as NuDay’s President, and several family members served as board members and employees. Between 2013 and 2019, NuDay claimed significant growth of in-kind donations, starting from approximately $231,000 in 2013 and reaching almost $71 million in 2019. By way of comparison, in 2019 OXFAM America reported approximately $73.5 million in donations, and the Syrian American Medical Society Foundation reported approximately $41.4 million in donations. Between 2018 and 2021, NuDay made over 100 shipments to Syria, a country that was subject to sanctions and export restrictions. NuDay claimed that these shipments were worth over $100 million. NuDay had the items shipped to Mersin, Turkey, where another company would transship them into Syria. U.S. Department of Commerce regulations require exporters, such as NuDay, to report true and accurate information about the items being exported, including the shipment’s description, end user, and monetary value. However, NuDay falsely reported that the end destination of the shipments was Turkey and not Syria, and artificially deflated the value of the goods to be below the $2,500 reporting threshold. Alawa’s Facebook messages indicated that she and NuDay were aware of export restrictions, including the need to obtain export licenses, but ignored them. As a condition of the plea, Nadia Alawa and her family members have ceased involvement with NuDay. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case. ###


title: Assault on Border Patrol Agents Results in Lengthy Sentence

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Jorge Zazueta-Miranda, 51, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 90 months in prison. The sentence is to run consecutive to a previous Illegal Re-Entry of a Removed Alien conviction and sentence from New Mexico. Zazueta-Miranda pleaded guilty to Assault on a Federal Officer with a Dangerous Weapon on June 23, 2023. On April 1, 2020, U.S. Border Patrol agents near Douglas observed two yellow, cloned “construction” trucks with construction company logos on the sides. Agents stopped one truck, which contained 19 undocumented non-citizens. The second truck, driven by Zazueta-Miranda, failed to stop and sped up. Zazueta-Miranda drove at high speeds through the city of Douglas to the airport area, then continued along the border road into the rugged desert area. A Border Patrol agent attempted to intercept the truck, but Zazueta-Miranda deliberately turned towards the agent’s vehicle and collided with it striking the rear quarter panel. Zazueta-Miranda backed up and then drove towards a break in the U.S. border wall, striking a second agent’s vehicle. Zazueta-Miranda and several undocumented non-citizens jumped out of the truck and fled through the break in the border wall, successfully fleeing into Mexico. Agents recovered a latent print from the driver’s side door belonging to Zazueta-Miranda. A witness, who had been abandoned in the second cloned construction truck, identified Zazueta-Miranda, by a photo, as the driver, and an arrest warrant was issued. Almost two years later, on February 9, 2022, Zazueta-Miranda was arrested in New Mexico after being caught near the New Mexico – Mexico border. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sierra Vista field office, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Serra M. Tsethlikai and Evan N. Wesley, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00681-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-206_Zazueta-Miranda # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.