title: Charlotte Man Is Sentenced And Fined For Violating The Clean Air Act

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Rodolfo Rodriguez, 43, of Charlotte, was sentenced to ten months in prison followed by three years of supervised release today for violating the Clean Air Act, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Rodriguez was also ordered to pay a $302,320 fine and $24,404.60 in restitution to the State of North Carolina. U.S. Attorney King is joined in making the announcement by Michael Sparks, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of the Inspector General (EPA-OIG), Charles Carfagno, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), and Colonel Michael Oates of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) License and Theft Bureau. “Vehicle emission standards and testing are in place to protect the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Environmental violations will not be tolerated and polluters will be held accountable for their actions.” “Mr. Rodriguez was sentenced today for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act for fraudulent vehicle emissions testing,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Carfagno of EPA’s criminal enforcement program. “The defendant’s criminal activity intentionally increased air pollution in communities where these vehicles operate, further exacerbating respiratory illnesses and environmental degradation. Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that EPA and our partners are steadfast in our commitment to protect human health and the environment.” According to court records and today’s court proceedings, from July 2019 to November 2022, Rodriguez fraudulently coded 3,779 vehicles that would have otherwise failed the required State emissions inspection. Rodriguez committed the violations while he was employed at Friendly Auto Repair, and later as the owner and operator of Auto Spa Auto Inspections and More and Tiger Auto Inspections and More, Inc. Court documents show that Rodriguez executed the scheme by falsely changing the information of vehicles that would have otherwise failed the required State emissions testing, so that they were no longer required by the State’s registration system to have a passing emissions test. According to court documents, in some instances Rodriguez executed the scheme through “county swaps,” by swapping in the system the county of registration for vehicles from a county that required an emissions test to a county where no emissions testing was required. In other instances, Rodriguez did “duty swaps,” by changing the characterization of trucks in the system from light duty trucks, which require emissions inspections, to heavy duty trucks, which do not require such testing. Finally, Rodriguez did “fuel swaps,” by changing the type of fuel used from gas or diesel to electric, thus allowing such vehicles to evade the vehicle emissions testing requirement. In exchange for falsifying vehicle information, Rodriguez received cash payments from customers that far exceeded what customers would have paid to have an emissions inspection. In addition, Rodriguez paid the State of North Carolina only $0.85 per non-emissions/safety inspection, instead of the $6.25 per vehicle charge he should have paid for an inspection. On June 15, 2023, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, and one count of violating the Clean Air Act. Rodriguez will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the EPA-OIG, EPA-CID, and NC DOT License and Theft Bureau for their coordination and investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.


title: Bulk Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Georgia man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, Howard Labadie Grant, 54, of Snellville, Georgia, was arrested in March 2022 while trafficking bulk fentanyl and marijuana. Specifically, on March 30, 2022, sheriff’s deputies stopped a pickup truck that Grant was driving with an attached U-Haul trailer for a traffic violation on Interstate 65 in north Baldwin County. During the traffic stop, Grant gave inconsistent statements about his travel itinerary and admitted that he was on federal probation for a prior drug trafficking conviction. Grant then admitted to deputies that he was hauling drugs in the trailer, which he had obtained from sources in California. Deputies searched the trailer and found four vacuum-sealed bundles containing more than four kilograms of fentanyl, as well as several boxes containing more than 70 pounds of vacuum sealed marijuana. Inside the cabin of the pickup truck, deputies found, among other things, documents from Grant’s two prior federal drug-trafficking convictions, paperwork that Grant had submitted to his probation officer requesting permission to travel from Georgia to California for purported business purposes, and handwritten drug ledgers. Narcotics agents interviewed Grant, who admitted that he had made multiple trips to California to obtain marijuana and fentanyl beginning in the summer of 2021. Agents also searched Grant’s cell phones, which contained numerous text messages and other data detailing Grant’s numerous drug-trafficking trips. In addition to the 25-year prison sentence, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Grant to serve a 10-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Grant to pay $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Davenport, Iowa Man Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Firearms Conviction

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

body_text: ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Davenport, Iowa, man, Charles H. Perdue II, 25, of the 1300 block of West Third Street, Davenport, was sentenced on February 14, 2024, to 48 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years supervised release, for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. At the sentencing hearing before Chief United States District Judge Sara L. Darrow, the government established that on May 10, 2023, Perdue, who had previously been convicted of felony offenses in Cook County, Illinois and Scott County, Iowa, was stopped in the vicinity of 12th Street, Rock Island, by City of Rock Island Police. Officers were aware that Perdue had an outstanding warrant from Scott County, Iowa, for a probation violation for an additional weapons offense. A search of Perdue’s backpack yielded a Glock 23 Gen5 firearm with an attached laser/flashlight. The firearm was loaded with an extended magazine containing 27 rounds of live ammunition. Perdue has remained in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in July 2023. Perdue pleaded guilty on October 11, 2023, to Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The statutory penalty for this offense is up to 15 years imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of not more than $250,000. The case against Perdue is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rock Island Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Aguilar represented the government in the prosecution.


title: Owner of Cuyahoga Falls Tax Prep Business Sentenced for Filing a False Tax Return

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: Lateesha Black, 52, of Hudson, Ohio, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison by United States District Judge Benita Y. Pearson and ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $114,022 after previously pleading guilty to aiding or assisting in filing a false tax return and corrupt endeavor to obstruct and impede the administration of the internal revenue laws. Black was also fined $15,000. According to court documents, Black owned and operated Ideal Accounting Solutions L.L.C. (“Ideal”), an accounting and tax preparation business in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Over the course of several years, Black knowingly prepared several false tax returns for her clients by claiming false Schedule C net losses, income, and expenses in order to inflate the size of her clients’ tax refund. Black then electronically filed these false tax returns in her clients’ names. In 2019, Special Agents with IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) interviewed Black regarding Ideal’s tax preparation activities and served Black with an IRS summons for Ideal’s business records. After being served the summons, and in an attempt to conceal her fraud from IRS-CI, Black requested to meet with multiple clients and had them sign false and, in some instances back-dated, tax preparation working papers in order to substantiate the false Schedule C net losses, income, and expenses previously filed. The false tax preparation working papers were then provided to Special Agents. The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward D. Brydle.


title: Elizabeth City Man With Gun Linked to Two Shootings Sentenced to Eight Years

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Manuel Gonzalez, of Elizabeth City, was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. Gonzalez, 29, pled guilty to the charge on November 2, 2023. “Last month, we launched a partnership with local law enforcement for a Violent Crime Action Plan in the Albemarle Region. This case is a prime example of the senseless drug-related gun violence that partnership targets,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant fired a rain of bullets in a drug dispute, including into a home where a woman was sleeping. His eight-year sentence should stand as a warning. Violent felons driving gun violence should put down their guns or face federal prison.” “The Elizabeth City Police Department is grateful to all who had a hand in the conviction and sentencing of Mr. Gonzalez. His sentencing is a testament to the power of partnerships as a force multiplier in keeping our communities safe. We are committed to arresting those individuals who chose to use firearms to commit violent acts and will always work with our partners to ensure violent felons receive federal time,” said Elizabeth City Police Chief J. Phillip Webster. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on February 15, 2021, officers with the Elizabeth City Police Department, responded to a call regarding a shooting at a residence in Elizabeth City. Two victims identified the defendant as the shooter and described how Gonzalez had begun shooting a handgun toward them after a drug dispute. The victims had to run and hide inside the house and behind a truck to escape his gunfire. Officers found multiple bullet holes in the side of the truck, as well as one that went through a wall of the home into a bedroom where a woman was sleeping. One victim may have been grazed but no one was seriously injured. On the afternoon of February 19, 2021, law enforcement received information that Gonzalez was staying at the Days Inn on S. Hughes Boulevard in Elizabeth City. Officers responded to the hotel to serve an arrest warrant related to the shooting. They knocked several times, and Gonzalez eventually opened the door and surrendered without incident. During a search of the room pursuant to a search warrant, officers found a fully loaded Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun under the bed mattress. In the top drawer of a dresser, they found a box of .40 caliber ammunition and a loaded extended magazine wrapped in a red bandana. They also found a small amount of cocaine. A debit card and other paperwork in the room were in Gonzalez’s name. Ballistics testing of the Glock handgun confirmed that it was used to fire shells discovered at the February 15, 2021, shooting. This testing also connected the firearm to an earlier incident on January 30, 2021, in which a victim was shot multiple times. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Elizabeth City Police Department, Pasquotank County Sherriff’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-0014-D. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office hosts United Against Hate meeting in Great Falls

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BILLINGS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office held a United Against Hate meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Great Falls Public Library with community members, along with federal and local law enforcement representatives, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. United Against Hate is an initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice focused on improving the prevention of hate crimes and hate incidents by building relationships at the local level. Through this initiative, the Justice Department seeks to create and strengthen partnerships among law enforcement, community leaders and residents. “The United States Department of Justice knows we have an obligation, both legally and morally, to hold individuals accountable for crimes driven by all forms of hatred. Indeed, we are united against hate and this essential and sobering work requires all of us pulling in the same direction. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our federal and local partners to combat hate crimes in Montana,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. “The latest FBI statistics show that hate-fueled violence is on the rise,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “It's imperative we take a collective approach to address this issue head on. We hope this event spurred conversations, strengthened relationships, and empowered the community with the knowledge and tools to combat hate crimes together.” The meeting with the Great Falls community is one in a series of meetings the U.S. Attorney’s Office is holding throughout Montana and provided an opportunity for community members to have a better understanding of hate crimes and hate incidents, how to report them to law enforcement and to learn about available resources. Approximately 60 people attended the event, which was hosted by the Great Falls Public Library. Additional Justice Department information and resources about hate crimes are available at https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes . Speakers at the event included U.S. Attorney Laslovich and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon, from the Missoula Division Office. In addition, the event featured a Hate Crimes Panel Discussion and question and comment session that included U.S. Attorney Laslovich; FBI Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha, from the Salt Lake City Field Office; Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki; and Great Falls Police Department Captain Rob Moccasin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will be holding additional United Against Hate events in coming months in communities across the state. XXX


title: Anchorage man sentenced to 10 years for drug distribution, firearm offenses

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing controlled substances and possessing multiple firearms as a felon. According to court documents, in December 2020, Jack Horsley, 64, sold four ounces of meth and five ounces of heroin to an individual working with law enforcement. When law enforcement executed a search warrant on the defendant’s home, they found more controlled substances and 11 firearms. Horsley possessed an additional 800 grams of heroin in his vehicle and $17,850 in cash. Horsley was previously convicted by the State of Alaska in 2009 for misconduct involving controlled substances. Horsley pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of distribution of controlled substances and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Horsley was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division, the Alaska State Troopers (AST) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey prosecuted the case. ###


title: Charlotte Business Owner Is Sentenced To Prison For $720,000 COVID-19 Relief Fraud

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Evan Agustin Perez, 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for obtaining approximately $720,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Relief Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Perez was ordered to pay $720,079.82 in restitution to the SBA. According to court documents and court proceedings, from April 2020 to September 2021, Perez conspired with Edward Whitaker and others in a scheme to defraud the SBA and SBA-backed lenders by obtaining fraudulent COVID-19 disaster relief funds for businesses he controlled or was affiliated with, including Augie’s Wish Foundation; EMP Haircare, LLC; E.M.P. Enterprises, LLC; T.O.P. Salon Suites Inc.; Touch of Precision School of Barbering, Inc.; Touch of Precision Barber Lounge, LLC; and Roads to Success Early Learning Center, LLC. Court documents show that, at the time, Whitaker operated a sham business in Texas known as “Loan Starters,” that assisted people with committing fraud through the creation of fraudulent PPP loan applications and fake supporting documents. According to court records, Whitaker assisted Perez in preparing and submitting numerous fraudulent applications for coronavirus aid relief loans that contained fabricated information. For example, when he applied for PPP loans, Perez routinely fabricated the number of employees working for his businesses and inflated associated payroll costs, which allowed him to obtain larger PPP loans. Also, with Whitaker’s help, Perez supported the sham PPP applications by submitting fabricated tax documents that contained fraudulent information, including IRS Form 940, Form 941, and Form 1040 Schedule C, that falsely corroborated the inflated monthly payroll disbursements. As a result of the scheme, Perez received approximately $720,000 in disaster relief funds. Instead of using the money to support his businesses, Perez used the funds for unauthorized purposes and to pay Whitaker for his services. According to court records, after Perez received the relief funds, he then submitted fraudulent loan forgiveness applications for certain PPP loans that also contained fabricated information. On September 27, 2023, Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In January 2023, Whitaker pleaded guilty in federal court in the Eastern District of North Carolina to money laundering conspiracy for his role in assisting individuals with obtaining fraudulent coronavirus disaster relief funds. The SBA’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric A. Frick and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan prosecuted the case. * * * To date, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina has prosecuted 28 individuals for defrauding government funding programs, such as the Unemployment Insurance benefit program, the PPP program, and the EIDL program, that were created or expanded during the pandemic to provide economic relief. These prosecutions have resulted in active prison sentences and the imposition of court-ordered restitution, fees, and fines. “As the COVID-19 outbreak gripped our nation, the federal government provided emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans and businesses suffering the economic effects of COVID-19,” said U.S. Attorney King. “My Office will continue to partner with agencies across the federal government to combat pandemic-related fraud and bring to justice criminal actors who took advantage of a national emergency to line their own pockets.” 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 www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . # # #


title: First Defendant Ever Charged With Violating Anti-Doping Act Sentenced To Prison

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ERIC LIRA was sentenced to three months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield for his role in providing banned performance-enhancing drugs (“PEDs”) to Olympic athletes in advance of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games held in Tokyo in 2021. LIRA is the first defendant to be charged and convicted, following his guilty plea in May 2023, under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, which criminalizes the operation of doping schemes for the purpose of influencing international sports competitions, such as the Olympic Games. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: violating the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act comes with serious consequences up to and including incarceration. That message is especially important this year with the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Paris. It is imperative that those tempted to supply performance-enhancing drugs to Olympians understand the severity of their actions. Doping not only distorts fair play but also erodes the essence of sportsmanship, tarnishing the sanctity of international sporting events and betraying the trust of athletes and spectators alike. It has no place in any community, and this Office is committed to rooting out efforts to compromise the integrity of sports and other affected events.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint, the Indictment, other filings in this case, and statements during court proceedings: The charges in this case arise from an investigation of a scheme to provide Olympic athletes with PEDs, including drugs widely banned throughout competitive sports, such as human growth hormone and the “blood building” drug erythropoietin, in advance of and for the purpose of corrupting the 2020 Olympic Games, which convened in Tokyo in the summer of 2021. LIRA, who claims to be a “kinesiologist and naturopathic” doctor operating principally in and around El Paso, Texas, obtained unapproved versions of these and other prescription drugs from sources in Central and South America before bringing those drugs into the U.S. and distributing them to, among others, the two athletes referred to in the Indictment. Throughout the scheme, LIRA and an athlete competing for Nigeria communicated via encrypted electronic communications regarding the sale, shipment, and use of LIRA’s illegal drugs and specifically discussed the “testability” of those drugs by anti-doping authorities. LIRA separately communicated with an athlete competing for Switzerland via encrypted electronic communications on the use of human growth hormone and erythropoietin. Both athletes tested positive for prohibited substances, and in both cases, LIRA directly and indirectly advised that the athletes should blame the positive drug test on contaminated meat, knowing full well that the drug tests had accurately detected the presence of banned, performance-enhancing drugs. * * * In addition to the prison term, LIRA, 44, of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $16,410. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the FBI’s Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for their support of this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance & Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Mortazavi, Josiah Pertz, and Benjamin A. Gianforti are in charge of the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Nuclear Materials Trafficking Charges Against Japanese Yakuza Leader

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Anne Milgram, the Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced the issuance today of a Superseding Indictment charging TAKESHI EBISAWA with conspiring with a network of associates to traffic nuclear materials from Burma to other countries. In the course of this conspiracy, EBISAWA and his confederates showed samples of nuclear materials in Thailand to a DEA undercover agent (“UC-1”), who was posing as a narcotics and weapons trafficker. With the assistance of Thai authorities, the nuclear samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory later analyzed the samples and confirmed that the samples contain uranium and weapons-grade plutonium. EBISAWA and co-defendant SOMPHOP SINGHASIRI were previously charged in April 2022 with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses, and both have been ordered detained. EBISAWA and SINGHASIRI will be arraigned on the Superseding Indictment before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon tomorrow at noon. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of the conduct alleged in today’s Indictment. As alleged, Takeshi Ebisawa brazenly trafficked material containing uranium and weapons-grade plutonium from Burma to other countries. He allegedly did so while believing that the material was going to be used in the development of a nuclear weapons program, and the weapons-grade plutonium he trafficked, if produced in sufficient quantities, could have been used for that purpose. Even as he allegedly attempted to sell nuclear materials, Ebisawa also negotiated for the purchase of deadly weapons, including surface-to-air missiles. I want to thank the career prosecutors of my Office and our law enforcement partners for their unwavering commitment to protecting our national security by ensuring that the defendant will now face justice in an American court.” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said: “The defendant stands accused of conspiring to sell weapons grade nuclear material and lethal narcotics from Burma, and to purchase military weaponry on behalf of an armed insurgent group. It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded, and the Justice Department will hold accountable those who traffic in these materials and threaten U.S. national security and international stability.” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said: “As alleged, the defendants in this case trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material — going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons. This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life. I commend the men and women of DEA and this prosecution team for their tireless work to protect us from such evil.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, which was unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: [1] Beginning in early 2020, EBISAWA informed UC-1 and a DEA confidential source (“CS-1”) that EBISAWA had access to a large quantity of nuclear materials that he wanted to sell. Later that year, EBISAWA sent UC-1 a series of photographs depicting rocky substances with Geiger counters measuring radiation, as well as pages of what EBISAWA represented to be lab analyses indicating the presence of thorium and uranium in the depicted substances. In response to EBISAWA’s repeated inquiries, UC-1 agreed, as part of the DEA’s investigation, to help EBISAWA broker the sale of his nuclear materials to UC-1’s associate, who was posing as an Iranian general (the “General”), for use in a nuclear weapons program. EBISAWA then offered to supply the General with “plutonium” that would be even “better” and more “powerful” than uranium for this purpose. Examples of the photographs sent by EBISAWA are shown below: During their discussions regarding EBISAWA’s access to nuclear materials, EBISAWA also engaged with UC-1 concerning EBISAWA’s desire to purchase military-grade weapons. To that end, in May 2021, EBISAWA sent UC-1 a list of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, that EBISAWA wished to purchase from UC-1 on behalf of the leader of an ethnic insurgent group in Burma (“CC-1”). Together with two other co-conspirators (“CC-2” and “CC-3”), EBISAWA proposed to UC-1 that CC-1 sell uranium to the General, through EBISAWA, to fund CC-1’s weapons purchase. On a February 4, 2022 videoconference, CC-2 told UC-1 that CC-1 had available more than 2,000 kilograms of Thorium-232 and more than 100 kilograms of uranium in the compound U3O8 — referring to a compound of uranium commonly found in the uranium concentrate powder known as “yellowcake” — and that CC-1 could produce as much as five tons of nuclear materials in Burma. CC-2 also advised that CC-1 had provided samples of the uranium and thorium, which CC-2 was prepared to show to UC-1’s purported buyers. CC-2 noted that the samples should be packed “to contain . . . the radiation.” About one week later, EBISAWA, CC-2, and CC-3 participated in a series of meetings with UC-1 and CS-1 in Southeast Asia, to discuss their ongoing weapons, narcotics, and nuclear materials transactions. During one of these meetings, CC-2 asked UC-1 to meet in CC-2’s hotel room. Inside the room, CC-2 showed UC-1 two plastic containers each holding a powdery yellow substance (the “Nuclear Samples”), which CC-2 described as “yellowcake.” CC-2 advised that one container held a sample of uranium in the compound U3O8, and the other container held Thorium-232. UC-1 photographed and video-recorded the Nuclear Samples, images of which are shown below: With the assistance of Thai authorities, the Nuclear Samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement authorities. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory examined the Nuclear Samples and determined that both samples contain detectable quantities of uranium, thorium, and plutonium. In particular, the laboratory determined that the isotope composition of the plutonium found in the Nuclear Samples is weapons-grade, meaning that the plutonium, if produced in sufficient quantities, would be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon. * * * A table containing the charges and minimum and maximum penalties for EBISAWA, 60, of Japan, and SINGHASIRI, 61, of Thailand, is set forth below. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by Judge McMahon. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit. Mr. Williams also thanked the DEA Tokyo Country Office, DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Chiang Mai Resident Office, DEA Jakarta Country Office, DEA Copenhagen Country Office, DEA New York Field Office, DEA New Delhi Country Office, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and our law enforcement partners in Indonesia, Japan, and the Kingdom of Thailand for their assistance. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Li, Kaylan E. Lasky, and Kevin T. Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Dmitriy Slavin of the Counterterrorism Section. The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. COUNT DEFENDANT(S) MIN. AND MAX. PRISON TERM Count One: Conspiracy to commit international trafficking of nuclear materials EBISAWA Maximum of 10 years in prison Count Two: International trafficking of nuclear materials EBISAWA Maximum of 20 years in prison Count Three: Narcotics importation conspiracy EBISAWA and SINGHASIRI Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison; maximum of life in prison Count Four: Conspiracy to possess firearms, including machineguns and destructive devices SINGHASIRI Maximum of life in prison Count Five: Conspiracy to acquire, transfer, and possess surface-to-air missiles EBISAWA Mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison; maximum of life in prison Count Six: Narcotics importation conspiracy EBISAWA Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison; maximum of life in prison Count Seven: Conspiracy to possess firearms, including machineguns and destructive devices EBISAWA Maximum of life in prison Count Eight: Money laundering EBISAWA Maximum of 20 years in prison [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Prominent Ghanaian “Influencer” Pleads Guilty To Receiving Fraud Proceeds From Romance Scams

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea today of MONA FAIZ MONTRAGE for her role in laundering the proceeds of a series of romance scams. MONTRAGE pled guilty today to conspiracy to receive stolen money before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Mona Faiz Montrage knowingly received money stolen from older Americans through romance scams and was arrested abroad and now faces serious consequences for her actions. Romance scams such as Montrage’s harmed her vulnerable, elderly victims not only in the cruel betrayal of trust in the realization that their online romantic connection was fiction, but by also callously stealing their money. This Office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in bringing fraudsters who target Americans to justice, no matter where they are.” As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings: From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, MONTRAGE was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in West Africa that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the U.S., including romance scams. Many of the Enterprise’s romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone. The Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships with a person who was, in fact, a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise. Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise. MONTRAGE is a Ghanaian public figure who rose to fame as an influencer through her Instagram profile under the username “Hajia4Reall,” which at one point had approximately 3.4 million Instagram followers and was among the top 10 profiles with the most followers in Ghana. MONTRAGE received money from several victims of romance frauds who members of the Enterprise tricked into sending money. Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to MONTRAGE were payments to transport gold to the U.S. from overseas payments to resolve a fake FBI investigation, and payments to assist a fake U.S. Army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan. In total, MONTRAGE controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise. * * * MONTRAGE, 31, of Accra, Ghana, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. MONTRAGE also agreed to pay forfeiture in the amount of $2,164,758.41 and make restitution in the same amount. MONTRAGE is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty. 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 the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Coeburn Man Facing Mandatory 20-Year Sentence Following Jury Conviction

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Coeburn, Virginia man today for conspiring with others to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in addition to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Last week, a jury convicted Rodney Allen Pickett, 51, of one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of a felony, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of firearm silencers. At sentencing, Pickett faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia and Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. The Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force, the Coeburn Police Department, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Stone and Lena Busscher are prosecuting the case.


title: Browning man admits assaulting, strangling woman on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning man accused of strangling and beating a dating partner, causing serious injury, admitted to assault charges on Feb. 20, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Emerson John No Runner, Jr., 47, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault of a dating partner by strangulation and suffocation. No Runner faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 20. No Runner was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in March 2022 in Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, No Runner and his then-girlfriend, identified as Jane Doe, had been drinking together and had slept at a relative’s trailer. The pair were alone when No Runner started arguing with Jane Doe about perceived infidelity. No Runner straddled Jane Doe on a mattress, placed his hands around her neck and applied pressure. Jane Doe lost consciousness and woke up after sunset. Jane Doe felt her head, realized she was bleeding and that there were pieces of wood in her hair. Officers seized a piece of wood with apparent blood and hair. Jane Doe suffered a brain injury and bruising on her neck. In a Facebook message to Jane Doe in December 2023, No Runner referenced the assault, stating, “the plan was to kill you that day should of, so bye bitch.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Federal Indictment Charges Registered Sex Offender With Production Of Child Pornography

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte has returned a criminal indictment charging Christopher Porter, 30, a registered sex offender, with production of child pornography and committing a qualifying felony offense involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender, announced Dena J. King U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief J. Bryan Gilliard of the Monroe Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to allegations in the four-count indictment, between May 28, 2023, and September 6, 2023, Porter produced child pornography by using, inducing, enticing, and coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating a visual depiction of that conduct. The indictment also alleges that Porter committed a felony criminal offense involving a minor while he was required by law to register as a sex offender. Porter is currently in state custody in Missouri and will be transported to the Western District of North Carolina to appear in court on the federal charges. Each of the three counts of production of child pornography carries a minimum prison sentence of not less than 15 years and a maximum of 30 years. However, if the defendant has a prior conviction under the laws of any State relating to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, or abusive sexual contact involving a minor, the minimum prison sentence is 30 years and the maximum is 50 years. The charge of commission of a qualifying felony while being required to register as a sex offender carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison consecutive to any other prison term imposed. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI in Charlotte and the Monroe Police Department for their investigation of the case and thanked the Kirkwood Missouri Police Department, the FBI in St. Louis, and the FBI in Knoxville for their invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani Ford of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Extradition of Polad Omarov from Czechia to the United States

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the extradition of Polad Omarov from Czechia to the United States: “Last year, I announced charges against three defendants for their roles in a conspiracy to murder a U.S. citizen who has long been targeted by the Government of Iran. At the time of the announcement, two of the defendants were in U.S. custody, and we said that the long arm of the law would find and bring to justice those who seek to threaten, silence, or harm American citizens. Today, we have done just that. The third defendant, Polad Omarov, was extradited to the United States to face charges for attempting to murder on U.S. soil, a journalist, author, and human rights activist who is a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin. “We are grateful to our Czech government counterparts for this extradition. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to undermine the rights to which every American citizen is entitled.”


title: Justice Department Announces Nuclear Materials Trafficking Charges Against Japanese Yakuza Leader

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: A superseding indictment was unsealed in Manhattan today charging a Japanese national with conspiring with a network of associates to traffic nuclear materials from Burma to other countries. According to court documents, Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, and co-defendant Somphop Singhasiri, 61, were previously charged in April 2022 with international narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses, and both have been ordered detained. “The defendant stands accused of conspiring to sell weapons grade nuclear material and lethal narcotics from Burma, and to purchase military weaponry on behalf of an armed insurgent group,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “It is chilling to imagine the consequences had these efforts succeeded and the Justice Department will hold accountable those who traffic in these materials and threaten U.S. national security and international stability.” “As alleged, the defendant brazenly trafficked material containing uranium and weapons-grade plutonium from Burma to other countries,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “He did so while believing that the material was going to be used in the development of a nuclear weapons program, and while also negotiating for the purchase of deadly weapons. It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of this conduct. I want to thank the career prosecutors of my office and our law enforcement partners for ensuring that the defendant will now face justice in an American court.” “As alleged, the defendants in this case trafficked in drugs, weapons, and nuclear material – going so far as to offer uranium and weapons-grade plutonium fully expecting that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “This is an extraordinary example of the depravity of drug traffickers who operate with total disregard for human life. I commend the men and women of DEA and this prosecution team for their tireless work to protect us from such evil.” According to the allegations contained in the indictment, beginning in early 2020, Ebisawa informed UC-1 and a DEA confidential source (CS-1) that Ebisawa had access to a large quantity of nuclear materials that he wanted to sell. Later that year, Ebisawa sent UC-1 a series of photographs depicting rocky substances with Geiger counters measuring radiation, as well as pages of what Ebisawa represented to be lab analyses indicating the presence of thorium and uranium in the depicted substances. In response to Ebisawa’s repeated inquiries, UC-1 agreed, as part of the DEA’s investigation, to help Ebisawa broker the sale of his nuclear materials to UC-1’s associate, who was posing as an Iranian general (the General), for use in a nuclear weapons program. Ebisawa then offered to supply the General with “plutonium” that would be even “better” and more “powerful” than uranium for this purpose. An example of a photograph sent by Ebisawa is shown below: Source: Superseding Indictment, filed publicly in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, case S3:22-cr-2566. Photo sent by the defendant depicting rock substances with Geiger counters measuring radiation. During their discussions regarding Ebisawa’s access to nuclear materials, Ebisawa also engaged with UC-1 concerning Ebisawa’s desire to purchase military-grade weapons. To that end, in May 2021, Ebisawa sent UC-1 a list of weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, that Ebisawa wished to purchase from UC-1 on behalf of the leader of an ethnic insurgent group in Burma (CC-1). Together with two other co-conspirators (CC-2 and CC-3), Ebisawa proposed to UC-1 that CC-1 sell uranium to the General, through Ebisawa, to fund CC-1’s weapons purchase. On a Feb.4, 2022 videoconference, CC-2 told UC-1 that CC-1 had available more than 2,000 kilograms of Thorium-232 and more than 100 kilograms of uranium in the compound U3O8 — referring to a compound of uranium commonly found in the uranium concentrate powder known as “yellowcake” — and that CC-1 could produce as much as five tons of nuclear materials in Burma. CC-2 also advised that CC-1 had provided samples of the uranium and thorium, which CC-2 was prepared to show to UC-1’s purported buyers. CC-2 noted that the samples should be packed “to contain . . . the radiation.” About one week later, Ebisawa, CC-2 and CC-3 participated in a series of meetings with UC-1 and CS-1 in Southeast Asia to discuss their ongoing weapons, narcotics, and nuclear materials transactions. During one of these meetings, CC-2 asked UC-1 to meet in CC-2’s hotel room. Inside the room, CC-2 showed UC-1 two plastic containers, each holding a powdery yellow substance (the Nuclear Samples), which CC-2 described as “yellowcake.” CC-2 advised that one container held a sample of uranium in the compound U3O8, and the other container held Thorium-232. UC-1 photographed and video-recorded the Nuclear Samples, an example image of which is shown below: Source: Superseding Indictment, filed publicly in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, case S3:22-cr-2566. Photo of the Nuclear Samples With the assistance of Thai authorities, the Nuclear Samples were seized and subsequently transferred to the custody of U.S. law enforcement authorities. A U.S. nuclear forensic laboratory examined the Nuclear Samples and determined that both samples contain detectable quantities of uranium, thorium and plutonium. In particular, the laboratory determined that the isotope composition of the plutonium found in the Nuclear Samples is weapons-grade, meaning that the plutonium, if produced in sufficient quantities, would be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon. A table containing the charges and maximum penalties for Ebisawa and Singhasiri is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Count Defendant(s) Maximum Penalty Count One: conspiracy to commit international trafficking of nuclear materials Ebisawa 20 years in prison Count Two: international trafficking of nuclear materials Ebisawa 10 years in prison Count Three: narcotics importation conspiracy Ebisawa and Singhasiri Life in prison; mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison Count Four: conspiracy to possess firearms, including machineguns and destructive devices Singhasiri Life in prison Count Five: conspiracy to acquire, transfer, and possess surface-to-air missiles. Ebisawa Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison Count Six: narcotics importation conspiracy Ebisawa Life in prison; mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison Count Seven: conspiracy to possess firearms, including machine guns and destructive devices Ebisawa Life in prison Count Eight: money laundering Ebisawa 20 years in prison The DEA Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the DEA Tokyo Country Office, DEA Bangkok Country Office, DEA Chiang Mai Resident Office, DEA Jakarta Country Office, DEA Copenhagen Country Office, DEA New York Field Office, DEA New Delhi Country Office, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and law enforcement partners in Indonesia, Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand. Trial Attorney Dmitry Slavin of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Li, Kaylan E. Lasky and Kevin T. Sullivan for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Ebisawa superseding indictment.


title: Former Nurse Pleads Guilty to Adulteration of Fentanyl

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former nurse pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to adulteration of fentanyl at a local hospital. Caroline Sheehan, 39, of Lowell, Mass. pleaded guilty to one count of adulteration of a prescription drug with intent to defraud and mislead. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for June 12, 2024. Sheehan was charged by Information in November 2023. While working at a Massachusetts hospital, Sheehan removed a bag of intravenous fentanyl solution from an automated dispensing machine. Sheehan used a syringe to remove fentanyl from the IV bag, injected saline into the bag to replace the fentanyl she had removed and returned the bag to its drawer in the machine. A hospital employee removed the IV bag, which laboratory testing confirmed contained less than the declared concentration of fentanyl, from the machine before any of the adulterated fentanyl solution was administered to a patient. Sheehan later admitted that she had withdrawn fentanyl from the IV bag and replaced it with saline to avoid getting caught. The charge of adulteration of a prescription drug provides a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. 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; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Robert Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Begg Lawrence, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Brighton high school teacher going to prison for possession of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Louis Carusone, 45, of Webster, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, was sentenced to serve 42 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who handled the case, stated that on October 10, 2022, Carusone, who was a high school physics teacher in the Brighton Central School District at the time, shared a video and images containing child pornography in an online peer-to-peer file-sharing network, which were downloaded by an undercover law enforcement officer. The officer then downloaded more files containing child pornography that were shared from Carusone’s IP address over the next few days. On October 21, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Carusone’s Webster residence and seized multiple devices including a cell phone and computer. A forensic analysis recovered more than 2,000 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted children as young as five-years-old, and children being subjected to violence and sexual abuse. The forensic analysis further revealed that Carusone surreptitiously recorded and photographed children in public, to include minor female students in his Brighton classroom, and a water park, where he recorded children in bathing suits. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Rochester Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. # # # #


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Teacher for Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on February 21, 2024, charging a former Louisville school teacher with distribution and possession of child pornography. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement. According to the indictment, Jordan A. Fautz, 39, was charged with distribution of child pornography, distribution of obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, and possession of child pornography between March 31, 2022, and February 2, 2024. The defendant is scheduled to appear for an arraignment on February 26, 2024, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The defendant was previously arrested on a criminal complaint and was ordered detained on February 6, 2024. He remains in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 120 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 the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness is prosecuting 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Florida Return Preparer

component: Tax Division

body_text: The Justice Department filed a civil injunction suit to permanently bar Julius T. Price and his tax return preparation business, Price’s Accounting Firm Inc., from preparing federal income tax returns for others. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleges that Price prepared thousands of federal income tax returns from 2018 through 2023 that understate his customers’ tax liabilities and overstate the refunds to which they were entitled through a variety of schemes. The complaint describes how Price knowingly made up businesses on returns he prepared to generate bogus losses, included fraudulent claims for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), claimed fictitious deductions and credits for tuition and fees and fabricated itemized deductions for medical expenses, mortgage interest and gifts to charity. According to the complaint, Price’s pattern of fraudulently understating his customers’ tax liabilities and overstating their refunds has resulted in the loss of significant federal tax revenue, estimated to exceed $1.5 million. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. Price Complaint.pdf


title: Immokalee Felon Pleads Guilty To Drug And Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Javier Joel Perez (45, Immokalee) today pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Perez faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Perez has also agreed to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used to facilitate the offenses. According to court documents, deputies from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Perez’s residence and located marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine packaged for distribution. They also located a loaded firearm. Perez told deputies that the items located in his residence belonged to him. Perez is a nine-time convicted felon, as such he prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. 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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Meth Distributor Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Esteban Terrazas, 56, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 87 months in prison. Terrazas pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on October 27, 2023. On August 10, 2021, law enforcement officers stopped Terrazas for a traffic violation and found approximately one pound of methamphetamine and a loaded handgun in his possession. Terrazas admitted that he intended to sell the methamphetamine and that he was prohibited from possessing a gun. Terrazas has multiple prior felony convictions, the most recent being for manslaughter, that prohibit him from possessing firearms. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 21-2360-TUC-JGZ RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-019_Terrazas # # # 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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Charlotte Man Sentenced To 20 Years For Transportation Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jose Emilio Alvarado Ochoa, 45, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 30 years of supervised release today for transportation of child pornography, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alvarado Ochoa was also ordered to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, from 2018 to 2021, Alvarado Ochoa repeatedly uploaded child pornography to his Dropbox account. Investigators determined that Alvarado Ochoa made some of the child pornography images and videos that he uploaded and that this child pornography depicted Alvarado Ochoa sexually abusing a minor. Alvarado Ochoa also possessed more than 600 child pornography images and videos. At today’s sentencing hearing, the Court granted the government’s request for the maximum 20 year sentence due to the nature and circumstances of Alvarado Ochoa’s offense. Alvarado Ochoa is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kimlani Ford of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Two Individuals Charged With Non-Fungible Token “Rug Pull” And Laundering Proceeds Through The Solana And Ethereum Blockchains

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Devin Alan Rhoden (24, Pinellas Park), a/k/a “Denny” and “Deviinz,” and Berman Jerry Nowlin, Jr. (20, Huntsville, AL), a/k/a “Repulse” and “Zayous,” with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted, Rhoden and Nowlin each face a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to court documents, in March 2022, Rhoden and Nowlin minted two non-fungible token (NFT) collections on the Solana blockchain named “UndeadApes” and “Undead Lady Apes.” In the weeks following the mint, the average sale price of both NFT collections (pictured below) increased significantly. UndeadApes Collection Undead Lady Apes Collection In April 2022, Rhoden and Nowlin announced their intention to mint a third NFT collection named “Undead Tombstone.” In the announcement and subsequent advertisements, Rhoden and Nowlin made a number of material misrepresentations to attract victim-investors. On April 19, 2022, Rhoden and Nowlin minted 632 Undead Tombstone NFTs, resulting in approximately $135,000 USD in cryptocurrency being sent to wallets under the Rhoden and Nowlin’s control. Rhoden and Nowlin then abandoned the mint without satisfying several of the representations made to victim-investors, commonly known as a “rug pull.” Rhoden and Nowlin transferred the fraud proceeds from the Solana blockchain to the Ethereum blockchain, also known as “chain-hopping.” This obfuscation technique is used by cybercriminals and money launderers to make identifying and tracing illicit funds more difficult. Rhoden and Nowlin then used the cryptocurrency to purchase U.S. dollars and transferred the currency into their respective bank accounts. In a matter of weeks, the three NFT collections resulted in Rhoden and Nowlin receiving more than $300,000 USD in cryptocurrency from hundreds of victim-investors all over the world. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Pasco Sheriff's Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons. Download Indictment


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition Of Organized Crime Leader Charged With A Murder Plot Directed From Iran Targeting A Journalist

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States; and Christopher A. Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the extradition of POLAD OMAROV , a/k/a “Araz Aliyev,” a/k/a “Polad Qaqa,” a/k/a “Haci Qaqa,” from the Czech Republic on murder-for-hire and money laundering charges contained in a Superseding Indictment. The case is pending before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. OMAROV was arrested in the Czech Republic on January 4, 2023, at the request of the United States, arrived in the Southern District of New York on February 21, 2024, and will be arraigned on the charges in the Superseding Indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave later today. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Polad Omarov is alleged to have brazenly attempted to murder an outspoken critic of Iran’s human rights abuses – right here on American soil. The audacious alleged plot to kidnap and murder the victim are indicative of Iran’s policies of aggressive suppression and violence against anyone who speaks against them. Today’s extradition makes clear our unwavering resolve to charge and bring to justice any individuals attempting to stifle free speech in the U.S., especially at the behest of a malign foreign regime.” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “Last year, I announced charges against three defendants for their roles in a conspiracy to murder a U.S. citizen who has long been targeted by the Government of Iran. At the time of the announcement, two of the defendants were in U.S. custody, and we said that the long arm of the law would find and bring to justice those who seek to threaten, silence, or harm American citizens. Today, we have done just that. The third defendant, Polad Omarov, was extradited to the United States to face charges for attempting to murder on U.S. soil a journalist, author, and human rights activist who is a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin. We are grateful to our Czech government counterparts for this extradition. The Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to undermine the rights to which every American citizen is entitled.” FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said: “With today’s extradition of Omarov, we have taken a significant step forward to hold Iranian actors accountable for their brazen plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen on American soil. I am honored to be here in Prague today to thank our Czech law enforcement, intelligence, and prosecutor partners for their collaboration and commitment to upholding the rule of law.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings: [1] OMAROV, a leader within an Eastern European organized crime group (the “Organization”), worked with other members of the Organization to attempt to murder a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin (the “Victim”) on instructions from individuals in Iran. The Victim previously has been the target of plots by the Government of Iran to intimidate, harass, and kidnap the Victim. The Victim is a journalist, author, and human rights activist who has publicized the Government of Iran’s human rights abuses and suppression of political expression, including in connection with continuing protests against the regime across Iran. As recently as 2020 and 2021, Iranian intelligence officials and assets plotted to kidnap the Victim from within the United States for rendition to Iran in an effort to silence the Victim’s criticism of the regime. Beginning in approximately mid-July 2022, OMAROV’s co-defendant, RAFAT AMIROV, a leader within the Organization residing in Iran, sent targeting information – which AMIROV had received from other individuals in Iran – about the Victim and the Victim’s residence to OMAROV. OMAROV, in turn, communicated the targeting information to co-defendant KHALID MEHDIYEV, a leader within the Organization residing in Yonkers, New York, in order to begin conducting surveillance of the Victim and reconnaissance of the Victim’s residence and surrounding neighborhood. MEHDIYEV sent photographs and videos of the Victim’s residence to OMAROV for further sharing with AMIROV and the plot’s orchestrators in Iran. After MEHDIYEV’s initial surveillance of the Victim’s residence, AMIROV and OMAROV arranged for the delivery of a $30,000 cash payment to MEHDIYEV in New York City in furtherance of the plot. MEHDIYEV used a portion of this cash payment to buy an AK-47-style assault rifle manufactured in China, along with two magazines for ammunition and at least 66 rounds. MEHDIYEV bragged in electronic communications that he had procured for himself a “war machine.” Between July 20 and 28, 2022, MEHDIYEV repeatedly travelled to the Victim’s neighborhood to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance, sending reports of the Victim’s activities, photographs, and videos to OMAROV for further distribution to AMIROV. On July 24, 2022, after arriving at the Victim’s residence, MEHDIYEV reported to OMAROV that MEHDIYEV was “at the crime scene.” OMAROV encouraged MEHDIYEV, “You are a man!” MEHDIYEV described to OMAROV that “we blocked it from both sides, it will be a show once she steps out of the house.” OMAROV forwarded this report to AMIROV, who responded, “God willing.” MEHDIYEV was unable to carry out the assassination that day and returned on several subsequent days to seek out opportunities to complete the murder mission. AMIROV, OMAROV, and MEHDIYEV schemed different strategies to attempt to draw the Victim out, including by attempting to ask the Victim for flowers from the Victim’s garden. On July 28, 2022, MEHDIYEV sent OMAROV a video taken from inside the car MEHDIYEV was driving showing the assault rifle, along with the message that “we are ready.” The Victim, after observing suspicious activity outside the residence, left the area, and MEHDIYEV drove away shortly afterwards. After MEHDIYEV drove away from the Victim’s residence, he was stopped after a traffic violation, and during a subsequent search of the car, police officers found the assault rifle, 66 rounds of ammunition, approximately $1,100 in cash, and a black ski mask. * * * OMAROV, 39, of Georgia, has been charged with: (i) murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; (ii) conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and (iii) conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by Judge McMahon. AMIROV, 45, of Iran, and MEHDIYEV, 25, of Yonkers, New York, were previously arrested on the charges contained in the Superseding Indictment. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office Counterintelligence Division and the New York FBI Iran Threat Task Force. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York Field Office Criminal Division, the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) and the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division for their assistance. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in securing OMAROV’s arrest and extradition. Mr. Williams also appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by authorities in the Czech Republic. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob H. Gutwillig, Matthew J.C. Hellman, and Michael D. Lockard are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher Rigali of the National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The charges in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Ridgefield Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that NICHOLAS SKIRKANICH, 44, of Ridgefield, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to a charge related to possessing and accessing images and videos depicting child sex abuse material. According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2022, an online service provider submitted a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) indicating that a TikTok video containing child sex abuse imagery was sent from Skirkanich’s email account to another email account. Subsequent investigation revealed that Skirkanich possessed and accessed additional material containing child sex abuse imagery between approximately August 2021 and December 2022. Skirkanich was arrested on December 15, 2022. Skirkanich pleaded guilty to accessing with intent to view and possessing child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for May 15. Skirkanich is released on a $150,000 bond pending sentencing. This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Ridgefield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel, with the assistance of the Danbury State’s Attorney’s Office. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: 23rd Annual Project Safe Neighborhoods Logo Contest

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — The United States Attorney's Office is sponsoring the 23rd Annual Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) Logo Contest. The statewide contest invites students to use their creativity to spark conversations on how to prevent gun violence in our schools by designing a logo for use on upcoming SC PSN publications. The theme is “Preventing Gun Violence in Our Schools – Know the Signs.” The contest is open to all South Carolina grade school students, including homeschooled students, and entries will be categorized into four grade divisions. A winner will be selected from each of the four divisions, and each division winner will receive $50. An overall winning logo will be chosen from the four division winners and will receive an additional $50 prize for a total of $100. Click here to see last year’s winners. The winning entries will be chosen by “The Insiders,” a select group of students from the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, who travel throughout the state encouraging children and promoting community awareness of the consequences of juvenile crime. In addition to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office is proud to partner with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association for this year’s contest. Entries should be consistent with the theme “Preventing Gun Violence in Our Schools – Know the Signs.” The deadline for submissions is April 13, 2026. If your student is interested in participating, contact your local school as contest information has been sent to all South Carolina schools. Applications and contest rules may also be found on our website . The centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The contest is an important prevention initiative that has proven to be an effective way to engage our students in meaningful conversation about preventing gun crimes among our young people and ensuring a safe learning atmosphere for our schoolchildren. ### 2026_23rd_psn_logo_contest_entry_form_and_instructions.pdf


title: Campbell County Man Sentenced for Fraud Using Counterfeit Money

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Melbourne, Ky., man, Timothy Noble, 35, was sentenced on Wednesday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, to a total of 40 months incarceration, for passing counterfeit money with the intent to defraud. According to court documents, on April 17, 2022, an individual claiming to be “James Michaels” responded to a post on Facebook Marketplace, which was offering a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche for sale. The owner of the vehicle and “James Michaels” agreed on a sale price of $4,700, pending a test drive. After the test drive, “James Michaels” paid for the vehicle with 47 $100 dollar bills. The victim later discovered that 41 of the notes were not real, but rather movie prop notes. “James Michaels” was later identified by law enforcement as Noble. An investigation into Noble continued and showed that, on at least three additional occasions in May 2022, Noble attempted to buy items on Facebook Marketplace using counterfeit money. When law enforcement apprehended Noble, they found over 400 counterfeit notes, an open Amazon package with a receipt for fake $20 bills inside, as well as several items still in boxes that were believed to be purchased with counterfeit money. Under federal law, Noble must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service; and Chief Tom Grau, Florence Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Secret Service and Florence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Missouri Man Sentenced to 20 Years in prison for Recording Child Sexual Abuse

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced a man who recorded his sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl and recorded other children in the shower to 20 years in prison. Matthew A. Prewett, 43, of Kennett, in Dunklin County, engaged in sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl beginning in April of 2022, and recorded his crimes on video. He also placed hidden cameras in his home, including in the bathroom, and recorded children between ages 12 and 17 while they were nude and showering. The investigation began after the victim’s mother found sexually suggestive text messages from Prewett on her daughter’s phone. Prewett pleaded guilty in November to a felony charge of sexual exploitation of a minor. The case was investigated by the Kennett Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Federal Jury Finds Career Offender Guilty of Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict recently in the case of a career offender accused of firearm and drug offenses. Charlie Gibson, 25 , of Memphis is facing more than twenty years in federal prison for marijuana possession with intent to distribute, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and having a firearm during commission of a crime. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the verdict today. According to court documents, in December 2021, security guards at an area apartment complex stopped Gibson for loitering. Upon detaining Gibson and searching his belongings, the guards found a Glock .40 caliber pistol, approximately 250 grams of marijuana, and three digital scales. The guards called Memphis police, who came and arrested Gibson. In a second incident, Shelby County deputies responded to an assault call in July 2022 at Durhamshire Cove and were told that the suspect was driving a gray Nissan. Deputies found the vehicle and saw a man, later identified as Gibson, quickly get into the vehicle. A deputy stood in front of the car and ordered Gibson to stop, but the suspect refused and drove forward, hitting the deputy, who rolled onto the hood of the vehicle. The deputy drew his service weapon and again ordered the suspect to stop, but Gibson instead revved the engine. The deputy fired several rounds through the windshield, striking Gibson, who crashed shortly thereafter. Deputies at the scene rendered lifesaving aid to Gibson. Law enforcement later found a Glock .40 caliber pistol on the driver’s side floorboard of Gibson’s vehicle. Charges from both incidents were combined into a superseding indictment in November 2023. After a two-day trial, on February 13, federal jurors found Charlie Gibson guilty of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, one count of marijuana possession with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony. As a result of his felony convictions, Gibson will face sentencing as an career criminal. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) , a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Jermal Blanchard and Greg Wagner, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 132 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Lincoln Glass, 30 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Glass was sentenced to 132 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in 2021, Glass sold different types of controlled substances on three separate occasions: September one pound of methamphetamine; November and December fentanyl pills. Thereafter, in March 2022, law enforcement recovered a loaded handgun stored with dealer amounts of marijuana from Glass’ residence. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the DEA North Central Laboratory, the Indiana State Police, and the Mishawaka Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Cape Girardeau Man Sentenced to Serve 10 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced Bernardo D. Pulido, 33, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to serve 120 months (10 years) in federal prison for the offense of distribution of fentanyl. At his guilty plea hearing last year, Pulido admitted that he sold pills containing fentanyl to an individual in Cape Girardeau on two separate occasions in May 2023. Unbeknownst to Pulido at the time, the individual purchasing the pills was working as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). According to court documents, Pulido has multiple felony drug convictions from state courts. At the time he sold fentanyl to the DEA informant, Pulido was under parole supervision through the State of Missouri for a methamphetamine-trafficking offense. After serving the 10-year sentence, Pulido will be placed on supervised release for six years. This case was investigated by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the government.


title: Columbus man pleads guilty to sex trafficking women through force, fraud & coercion

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to sex trafficking and racketeering. The parties involved in this case have recommended a sentence of more than 19 years up to 25 years in prison for Terrael A. Alls, 29. According to court documents, in February 2022, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force received a tip from a Columbus Division of Police emergency operator. According to the tip, an individual had contacted authorities after receiving a business card from a man advertising a modeling agency. The caller received the card at the Red Roof Inn on Renner Road in Columbus. The business card was for a company called Elite Diamond Studios and the advertised phone number were ultimately linked to Alls’s as well as various online sex escort advertisements. Alls, who is also known as “Rell” and “Ace,” recruited women under the guise of modeling for him as a photographer. He served as a pimp for his victims, advertising them for sexual escort services on various websites. Alls transported his victims to and from hotels while giving them drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, then later using their drug dependency against them to continue profiting from their commercial sex acts. Alls was frequently physically abusive to his victims as well. For example, he fired a gun near a victim’s head and threatened to pistol-whip her. He also punched the victims and slammed them onto tables. Alls kept the proceeds of the victims’ sexual encounters. A forensic examination of Alls’s digital devices revealed location data or WiFi logins at several hotels, including Scarlet Inn in Worthington, Motel 6 in Grove City and Red Roof Inn in Columbus. The defendant’s laptop had more than 42,000 sexually explicit images, videos and advertisements to include images and videos of the victims identified in this case. Alls was arrested in March 2023. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case. The case was investigated by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which was formed under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and includes resources from the Columbus Division of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, The Ohio State University Police Department, Marysville Division of Police, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office. # # #


title: Drug User and Felon who Illegally Possessed 3 Firearms to Serve Time in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm as a felon and a drug user was sentenced today to 37 months in federal prison. Sean Hamilton Pruden, age 44, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, received the prison term after a September 8, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Pruden, who was visiting Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for work, was a felon, a drug user, and on probation in another state, at the time he possessed a loaded firearm. Pruden also had a firearm in his hotel room and a stolen firearm in his vehicle. Pruden was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Pruden was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Pruden is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-42. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.