title: Roy Erno Sentenced to 30 Months for Violation of Gun Control Act

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 2, 2024, Roy-Anthony Erno, 36, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 30 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Erno previously pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm because of a prior felony conviction. According to court records, On May 3, 2022, members of the South Burlington Police Department responded to a hotel following a report that an individual refused to leave a room. Law enforcement then encountered Erno who agreed to leave the room and admitted to investigators that he possessed a firearm in his backpack. Erno consented to a search of the bag and officers located a 9mm Smith & Wesson firearm in the backpack. Erno was placed under arrest and subsequently charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the South Burlington Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Zachary Stendig. Erno was represented by Natasha Sen, Esq. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Wire Fraud Charges for Swindling More Than $300,000 From Her Grandmother

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Florida woman admitted to federal charges Wednesday for scamming her grandmother living in Cahokia Heights out of more than $300,000. Tanya M. Aboseada, 38, of Pompano Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud. “The Department’s Elder Justice Initiative dedicates federal resources to combat abuse and financial crimes targeted at senior citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I’m thankful for our partnership with the FBI to hold offenders accountable, and in this case, a criminal who stole from and victimized her elderly family member.” According to court documents, Aboseada convinced her grandmother to wire money into her bank account under false pretenses on at least 12 occasions between November 2021 and August 2022. Aboseada lied to her grandmother about needing money to transfer a truck title into her name, owing money to the IRS, paying attorney fees and fines for a vehicular accident she was in, and paying the family of an alleged child she killed in a vehicular accident to avoid going to jail. “Older Americans are too often the target of scammers who hide behind computer screens while stealing money. But criminals who steal the hard-earned life savings of their own family members demonstrate an even greater disregard for this vulnerable population,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “The FBI is committed to investigating and holding to account those intent on harming seniors.” In total, Aboseada admitted to stealing $317,049 from her grandmother. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment per count. Aboseada’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 13. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative . The FBI Springfield Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Verseman and Kathleen Howard are prosecuting the case.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Operating an Illegal Gambling Business and Tax Fraud

component: Tax Division

body_text: An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, operating an illegal gambling business and two counts of money laundering associated with his ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through 2022, Steven Saris, 49, of Canton, Ohio, owned and operated multiple illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio including Café 62, Lucky’s, Winner’s World and Spin City. He also owned and operated such businesses in Springfield, Ohio, and throughout Florida. Saris concealed his involvement in these businesses by arranging for others to serve as nominee owners. For tax year 2015, Saris filed a false tax return that did not report more than $1.4 million in income he received from his gambling businesses. For tax years 2016 through 2021, Saris did not file tax returns or pay all the tax that he owed despite earning more than $8.5 million in income from his gambling businesses. During that time, Saris made only two nominal payments in 2018 when he filed an application for an extension of time to file his 2017 return. Saris used his proceeds from the illegal gambling businesses to gamble millions at legal casinos and to acquire and renovate at least two residential properties located in Canton, Ohio. Saris’ conduct caused a tax loss to the IRS of $2,823,391. In July 2018, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple illegal gambling businesses and associated locations in Northeast Ohio. Following those search warrants, Saris made false statements to law enforcement. At the same time he was making false statements to law enforcement, Saris continued operating the illegal gambling businesses in Ohio and did not disclose these operations to law enforcement. In August 2022, law enforcement executed a court authorized search warrant at Saris’ residence and for his cell phone. Upon being told of the search warrant for his phone, Saris told law enforcement that he did not know the location of his cell phone. Law enforcement recovered Saris’ cell phone from the water tank of a bathroom toilet in Saris’ residence. Sentencing for Saris is scheduled for Aug. 8. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the counts of money laundering and five years in prison for both tax evasion and for operating an illegal gambling business. Saris also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission-Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.


title: State Of Franklin Healthcare Associates Agrees To Resolve Potential Controlled Substances Act Claims

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On May 2, 2024, United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III announced that State of Franklin Healthcare Associates, PLLC (SOFHA), which operates a multi-specialty physician-led medical group consisting of more than 30 clinics in Tennessee and Virginia, has agreed to pay civil monetary penalties to resolve allegations that the company violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by failing to make, keep, and furnish essential documents and records pertaining to the acquisition, transfer, and disposition of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, SOFHA agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that from October 2020 to January 2023, SOFHA violated 21 U.S.C. ' 842(a)(5) by failing to create or retain and could not furnish required documentation and information. The United States contends that during this time SOFHA did not make and could not produce records pertaining to: the transfers of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances from SOFHA physicians to an unregistered SOFHA supply warehouse; the transfers of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances from SOFHA physicians to other SOFHA physicians; the transfers of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances from the SOFHA supply warehouse to unregistered SOFHA clinics for dispensing by registered SOFHA physicians; and the loss or theft of a Schedule III controlled substance. The CSA requires that DEA registrants make and retain documents and records detailing the acquisition, dispensing, and disposition of controlled substances. The investigation revealed that SOFHA failed to implement procedures for making and preserving crucial records itemizing controlled substances acquired by SOFHA physicians and transferred to and from unregistered SOFHA clinics and a warehouse and could not provide required information to DEA when requested. “When medical providers fail to follow the record-keeping requirements of the CSA, it significantly contributes to the risk of diversion of controlled substances from legitimate purposes to improper usage, causing harm to our citizens and communities,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “This settlement agreement demonstrates that the United States Attorney’s Office, the DEA, federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, are using all tools available to enforce the requirements of the CSA and degrade the diversion of controlled substances.” “DEA registrants have an obligation to adhere to the strict recordkeeping rules in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act in order to reduce the potential for the diversion of licit drugs with a high potential for abuse,” said Erek Davodowich, acting special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “State of Franklin Health Care failed to meet their obligation, resulting in a substantial financial penalty in this case.” The DEA conducted the investigation of this matter. SOFHA cooperated with the DEA inquiry. Assistant United States Attorney Alan G. McGonigal and Ben D. Cunningham represented the United States. The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Two District Men Sentenced to Decades in Prison for January 2021 Murder in Southeast Washington

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Delonta Stevenson, 29, and Vorreze Thomas Jr., 26, both of Washington, D.C., were sentenced today for the murder of Terrance Allen, 32, in Southeast Washington, D.C. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Delonta Stevenson was sentenced to 85 years in prison by D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo after being found guilty on February 1, 2024 of conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and related firearms offenses. Vorreze Thomas Jr. was sentenced to 53 years in prison by D.C. Superior Court Judge Marisa J. Demeo after being found guilty on February 1, 2024 of conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and related firearms offenses. Thomas was found guilty under an aiding and abetting theory. According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, on the morning of January 18, 2021, Stevenson and Thomas’ vehicle intercepted a vehicle driven by Mr. Allen as it was leaving the Stanton Glen Apartments. Stevenson fired thirty-four shots with a rifle, while sitting in the front passenger’s seat, into the back of Mr. Allen’s vehicle. As a result, the victim was killed and two other passengers in Mr. Allen’s car were wounded. Mr. Allen was not the intended target; rather, Stevenson and Thomas were attempting to kill one of the other men in the car with Mr. Allen with whom they had a dispute. Following the shooting, Stevenson and Thomas attempted to flee the scene in Thomas’ vehicle. A nearby MPD officer heard the shooting, observed the men fleeing the scene and was given authorization to pursue. Stevenson and Thomas eventually crashed their vehicle at the intersection of 29 th and Erie Street SE and successfully fled on foot. Both men were arrested on February 17, 2021. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Branch. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris, Lead Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity, Paralegal Specialists Mabry Johnson, Lashone Samuels, and Stephanie Gilbert, Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin, Supervisory IT Specialist Leif Hickling, IT Specialist Charlie Bruce, Supervisory Victim-Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington, Victim/Witness Services Coordinators Shanika McCullough and Maenylie Watson, Victim Assistance Specialist Christina Bloodworth, Supervisory Security Specialist Lesley Slade, and Security Specialist Robert Cephas. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Korba who investigated and indicted the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miles Janssen and Zach Horton who prosecuted the case.


title: Dobbs Ferry Man Charged With Illegal Possession Of Numerous Firearms And Ammunition, Including “Ghost Guns,” And Discovered Possessing Suspected Explosive Materials And Readily Assembled Explosive Devices

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the arrest of JAMES NEFF. The defendant is charged with the possession of a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction in connection with the discovery by law enforcement of the defendant’s trove of firearms, including multiple personally manufactured firearms, or “ghost guns,” and ammunition. In addition, members of law enforcement discovered, and continue to investigate, suspected explosives, paraphernalia related to improvised explosive devices, and suspected readily assembled explosive devices. NEFF was arrested yesterday and presented earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, James Neff, some 23 years after having been convicted on similar state charges for criminal possession of a weapon, has again illegally stockpiled numerous firearms, including what appear to be assault rifles and personally manufactured firearms, or ‘ghost guns,’ a significant amount of ammunition, and suspected materials and paraphernalia consistent with suspected homemade and improvised explosive devices. Our investigation remains ongoing, and I thank the dedication and expertise of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office who are diligently investigating this case and working tirelessly to keep ‘ghost guns’ and homemade explosives out of our communities.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “James Neff allegedly amassed and stored an alarming collection of suspected explosives, materials for improvised explosive devices, and more than 30 firearms – some of which were assault rifles and unregistered ‘ghost guns.’ There is no reasonable explanation to justify the arsenal law enforcement discovered, and convicted felons with access to such armaments pose an incredible threat to public safety. The FBI will continue to confiscate weapons from criminals and ensure these devices are not used to inflict harm against our citizens.” As alleged in the Complaint filed today in White Plains federal court and statements made in court proceedings: [1] On May 1, 2024, following an investigation, members of law enforcement executed search warrants on the residence of JAMES NEFF and two storage units known to be possessed and rented by him. After executing these searches, members of law enforcement discovered over 30 firearms, including firearms that appear to be personally manufactured and assault rifle-style firearms; a significant amount of ammunition; and suspected explosives-related materials, including multiple books on how to make homemade or improvised explosives, such as “The Anarchist Arsenal, Improvised Incendiary and Explosives Techniques,” “How to Bury Your Goods,” and multiple volumes of the “Improvised Munitions Black Book.” In addition, members of law enforcement also found suspected precursors to explosives, suspected low explosives or smokeless powders, and other items consistent with the preparation of homemade explosive devices, including what appears to be fuse that can be used to initiate a low explosive, cardboard containers with endcaps, a pipe with two endcaps, and grenade bodies, items which could be used to create readily assembled explosive devices. Photographs taken from the storage unit containing these items are below: After these searches, NEFF admitted to owning these firearms and suspected explosives chemicals and related materials and to storing them at his house in Dobbs Ferry, New York, before moving them to storage units. If you have any information about this case, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov . * * * NEFF, 61, of Dobbs Ferry, New York, is charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction, having previously been convicted on New York state charges of a crime punishable for a term longer than one year, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Westchester County Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force; the Dobbs Ferry Police Department; the FBI’s Philadelphia Division; the New York State Police; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Brooke and Margaret N. Vasu are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Jury Convicts Pinellas Trafficker Of Distributing Fentanyl Resulting In Death

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Bobby Peterson (41, St. Petersburg) guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, and distribution of fentanyl. Peterson faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 19, 2024. Peterson was arrested on February 18, 2022, and detained. According to testimony, evidence presented at trial, and court records Peterson was a supplier of fentanyl and other controlled substances in Pinellas County. On May 12, 2020, Peterson distributed fentanyl to Jacqueline Schnieder who in turn distributed some of the fentanyl to a friend, M.G. A few hours later, M.G. died of fentanyl toxicity. On the same day, Peterson communicated with another individual, L.O., about the sale of fentanyl. Hours later, L.O. also died of fentanyl toxicity. When Peterson was told about M.G.’s death, he expressed no remorse and instead responded, “they know what they’re doing.” After Peterson became aware that M.G. had died from the fentanyl he distributed, Peterson continued to sell fentanyl. On February 5, 2021, Peterson sold fentanyl to an undercover detective. Jacqueline Schnieder previously pleaded guilty for her role in this case and is pending sentencing. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pinellas Park Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Stoia.


title: Woman Accused of Bilking St. Louis-Area Company Extradited from Scotland

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A woman has been extradited from Scotland to face an indictment that accuses her of embezzling $165,000 from a St. Louis-area company. Sarah Lynn Tweedie, now 49, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on June 21, 2018, with three counts of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment says Tweedie worked as a controller of a St. Louis area publishing company and was responsible for payroll processing, expense reimbursements and paying all company bills, including company credit cards. The indictment says that from July through January of 2018, Tweedie stole from her employer in multiple ways. She used her company credit card and a card belonging to a former employee to make $138,137 in purchases, a Scottish kilt and a $1,239 premium seat upgrade on her flight from Chicago to Glasgow. She used the corporate account to purchase $6,400 in Amazon gift cards, the indictment says. The indictment says Tweedie also fraudulently increased her annual salary from $80,000 to $110,000 and triggered $16,086 in expense reimbursements to which she was not entitled. Tweedie began a long-distance relationship with a Scottish man in 2015, according to extradition documents, and they became engaged in March of 2017, the month before she began working for the publishing company. A motion seeking to have Tweedie held in jail until trial says she told her employer in December of 2017 that her fiancée had been injured in a car accident and that she needed to leave to be with him. In reality, Tweedie had applied for and received a visa to live in Scotland and did not plan to return. She was arrested on July 9, 2019, but fought extradition. In March her final appeal was denied and United States Marshals escorted her to St. Louis. Tweedie, formerly known as Sarah Jauregui, appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Florissant Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Scottish authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Tweedie. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.


title: Fruitland Man Sentenced for Brutal Assault on Neighbor

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge handed down a 12-month plus one day prison sentence to a Fruitland man for assaulting his neighbor after a long-simmering tension boiled over. According to publicly available court records, June 27, 2021, Elijah Cudei Etsitty , 27, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and his family got into a fistfight with their neighbor, Jane Doe’s husband. During the fight, the group pinned Jane Doe’s husband to the ground, where they continued to beat and choke him. Seeing this, Jane Doe intervened to protect her husband. Etsitty slammed Jane Doe to the ground and struck her until she lost consciousness, causing head and facial injuries, including a skull fracture and resulting seizure activity. There is no parole in the federal system. Upon his release from prison, Etsitty will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Shiprock Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Bell is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Sex Offender Previously Convicted of Raping Two Children Sentenced to Decade in Prison for Possessing Thousands of Child Pornography Files

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A lifetime Level 2 sex offender previously convicted of child rape was sentenced today for possessing more than 5,000 files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Eric Robert Johnson, 51, of Billerica, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Johnson was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture in the amount of $38,000. On Jan. 29, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest in February 2022. “Mr. Johnson is an extremely dangerous individual who has repeatedly demonstrated his predatory interest in children. He belongs in prison for a long time,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The victims of child pornography are not abstractions or objects – they are real kids who experienced sexual exploitation in order for these pictures or images to be distributed and possessed. Although today’s sentence cannot erase the ongoing pain endured by the victims from their traumatic abuse, the message about the severe consequences of possessing child pornography should be crystal clear.” “This lifetime sex offender admitted to amassing thousands of images of babies, toddlers, and children suffering horrific sexual abuse, and today’s sentence reflects the severity and depravity of his crime,” said Jodi Cohen Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Those photos and videos represent unimaginable pain forced upon utterly vulnerable victims, some too young to walk or talk. It’s cases like this that drive the FBI and our partners, as we work to protect the children in our communities from predators like Eric Johnson.” In early 2022, Johnson was identified as a user of an internet-based peer-to-peer network downloading CSAM. Searches of Johnson’s person and residence in February and March of 2022 resulted in the recovery of 25 electronic devices including a laptop, hard drives and other electronic devices. Multiple hard drives were found hidden next to Johnson’s bed as well as hidden inside Johnson’s basement ceiling, shelves, cabinets and in an ammunition can located in a crawl space at the residence. At the time of the search, the laptop was running a program to wipe, delete or remove files from an attached hard drive and was approximately 56% complete before being disabled by an on-scene forensic examiner. Also found at Johnson’s residence were two children’s backpacks from under his bed that contained various children’s clothing including bathing suits and a nightgown; a bag of children’s costumes; children’s diapers throughout; and at least three child-sized dolls each with the vaginal region sliced to make a hole. What appeared to be bodily fluids were found in at least two of the dolls. A subsequent forensic examination revealed over 5,000 files depicting CSAM on seven of the seized devices, including images and video files depicting the sexual abuse and rape of minor victims as young as infants and toddlers. Many other disturbing items were also located on the devices, including images and videos of bestiality, photos of women’s deceased bodies, as well as videos of Johnson engaging in sexual acts with dolls. Further forensic examination determined that 15 of the seized devices were encrypted or had hardware and could not be searched. Johnson was previously convicted in 1992 on state charges in New Hampshire of two counts of Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault of a Child Under 13 Years of Age for his sexual abuse and rape of two minor victims who, at the time, were seven and eight-years-old. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus, Luke A. Goldworm and J. Mackenzie Duane of the Criminal Division 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Three Men Plead Guilty to Drug Distribution Charges

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: UTICA, NEW YORK – Joseph Lastrina, age 38, of Norwalk, Connecticut, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. As part of the same investigation, Thaddeus Price, age 47, of Albany, and Robert Sanger, age 59, of Rensselaer, New York, previously pled guilty to distributing methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, respectively. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. The charges to which the three men pled guilty carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison; a fine of up to $1 million; and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Lastrina admitted to directing both Sanger and Price to complete drug deals that he arranged in November 2022 in the Capital Region. Those transactions collectively involved 177 grams of pure methamphetamine. A search warrant executed at Sanger’s home led to the recovery of an additional 217 grams of pure methamphetamine in May 2023. The DEA is investigating the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Reiner and Ashlyn Miranda are prosecuting.


title: Pain Management Physician Sentenced for Unlawfully Distributing Opioids

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Ohio physician was sentenced today to seven years in prison for unlawfully distributing opioids from his clinic. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Thomas Romano, 74, of Wheeling, West Virginia, owned and operated a self-named pain management clinic in Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, to which individuals traveled hundreds of miles to obtain prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. The prescriptions Romano issued for opioids and other controlled substances greatly exceeded recommended dosages and were in dangerous, life-threatening combinations that fueled the addiction of the individuals to whom he prescribed. Between October 2014 and September 2019, Romano prescribed over 137,000 pills, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants, to nine individuals. A federal jury convicted Romano in September 2023 of 24 counts of unlawfully distributing controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Principal Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio; Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Field Division; Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, and Ohio Board of Pharmacy investigated this case. Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Danielle Sakowski and Counsel Alexis Gregorian of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: South Carolina Man Sentenced for Obstructing Justice in the Murder of a Black Transgender Woman

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A South Carolina man was sentenced today for obstructing an investigation into the December 2019 murder of a transgender woman. Xavier Pinckney, 24, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for providing false and misleading information to state authorities investigating the murder of Dime Doe. He previously pleaded guilty on Oct 26, 2023. “The defendant’s sentence is part of our effort to fully seek justice and accountability following the tragic murder of a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The message should be clear: The Justice Department will fully investigate and prosecute those who target the Black transgender community and that includes those who unlawfully obstruct investigations into these heinous crimes. We want the Black trans community to know that we stand with the LGBTQI+ community, we reject transphobic-fueled violence, and that we will seek justice for victims and their families.” “Pinckney’s obstruction delayed our investigation and delayed justice for Dime Doe,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Fortunately, Pinckney confessed his lies and his role in the coverup of her murder. This sentence underscores that no one who stands in the way of justice will go unpunished.” “Pinckney’s obstructive actions delayed justice for Dime Doe and accountability for his co-defendant,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “No matter the obstacle, the FBI and our law enforcement partners are poised to defend the rights and protections of all citizens, and those who engage in criminal activity will be met with the full weight of our investigative and prosecutorial power.” According to court documents, Pinckney admitted that he concealed from the state authorities the use of his phone to call and text Doe the day of her murder, and he lied to state investigators about seeing his co-defendant, Daqua Ritter, on the morning of Doe’s murder. Ritter was convicted of a hate crime, firearms charge and obstruction of justice in a jury trial arising out of the Ritter’s murder of Doe. Ritter was the first defendant to be found guilty by trial verdict for a hate crime motivated by gender identity under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Allendale County Sheriff’s Office and Allendale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brook Andrews, Ben Garner and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: New Jersey Woman Charged with Stealing Over $1 Million in Federal Retirement Benefits Intended for Deceased Aunt

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey woman was indicted today for stealing over $1 million of federal benefits meant for her deceased aunt over a 25-year period, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Janis Miller, 77, of South Orange, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with one count of wire fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In 1998, Miller’s aunt died. Unaware of her death, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) paid approximately $1.01 million in retirement and survivor benefits to the bank account of Miller’s deceased aunt. By debit card, cash withdrawals, and forged checks made out to a company Miller controlled, Miller unlawfully disbursed virtually all of those embezzled funds. In 2022, to continue her unlawful receipt of the benefits, Miller, in a telephone conversation with an SSA employee, impersonated her deceased aunt and provided her aunt’s approximate birthdate. OPM and SSA discovered the fraud and discontinued the benefits in 2023, around 25 years after Miller began stealing those benefits. The count of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of the greatest of either $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker; and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Paul Kimball, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Thypin-Bermeo of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. miller.indictment.pdf


title: Purported Member Of The Cartier Family And Five Colombian Nationals Charged For Their Roles In International Money Laundering And Narcotics Conspiracies

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); and Kareem A. Carter, the Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Washington, D.C. Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging MAXIMILIEN DE HOOP CARTIER, LEONARDO DE JESUS ZULUAGA DUQUE, a/k/a “Rey,” ERICA MILENA LOPEZ ORTIZ, and FELIPE ESTRADA ECHEVERRY, a/k/a “Pepe,” with conspiring to commit money laundering based on their alleged participation in a network that laundered millions in Tether (a stablecoin connected to the U.S. dollar), which constituted the proceeds of drug trafficking, through the U.S. to Colombia. CARTIER is also charged with money laundering, bank fraud, engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from bank fraud, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business based on CARTIER’s system of U.S.-based shell companies and bank accounts that he used to operate an unlicensed over-the-counter cryptocurrency exchange. In addition, the Superseding Indictment charges ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, ALEXANDER EGIDIO AREIZA CEBALLOS, and ADRIAN FERNANDO AREIZA CEBALLOS with conspiring to import more than 100 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. CARTIER, who purports to be a direct descendant of the Cartier family known for luxury jewelry, was arrested on February 22, 2024, in Miami, Florida, and presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Florida. ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, ESTRADA ECHEVERRY, ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS, and ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS, all Colombian nationals, were taken into custody by Colombian authorities on April 30, 2024. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The charges brought today demonstrate this Office’s commitment to prosecuting international drug traffickers and piercing complicated money laundering networks seeking to exploit the U.S financial system. As alleged, Maximilien de Hoop Cartier, Leonardo de Jesus Zuluage Duque, Erica Milena Lopez Ortiz, and Felipe Estrada Echeverry were members of a network that laundered millions of dollars’ worth of drug trafficking proceeds using cryptocurrency and the U.S. financial system. Cartier is additionally alleged to have committed a series of financial offenses while working with this money laundering network that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of unlawful transactions. I commend the efforts of our law enforcements partners and the career prosecutors from this Office who work tirelessly to investigate and disrupt these money laundering and drug trafficking networks. We will continue to relentlessly protect the U.S. financial system from exploitation.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Maximilien de Hoop Cartier and five Colombian nationals allegedly attempted to import more than 100 kilograms of cocaine and laundered hundreds of millions of dollars – including revenue from drug trafficking operations – through an unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange to transfer illicit funds from the United States to Colombia. This alleged scheme illustrates advancements in criminals’ use of complex financial methods to conceal their profits and other nefarious activity from law enforcement. The FBI is committed to dismantling international criminal enterprises by disrupting the flow of illegal money and narcotics across our borders.” HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “Today’s announcement serves as a reminder that criminals do not fit a certain mold. While Maximilien de Hoop Cartier represents himself as a member of a family associated with wealth and luxury, he stands accused of executing a bank fraud scheme where hundreds of millions in criminal funds were laundered. Both here and in Colombia, he and his co-conspirators allegedly laundered drug-trafficking proceeds to the tune of over $14 million. I commend HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force and our law enforcement partners for relentlessly pursuing suspected criminals regardless of their names or whereabouts.” IRS-CI Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter said: “IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to have provided its financial expertise in this investigation. CI and our law enforcement partners are committed to aggressively investigating individuals who engage in money laundering, tax fraud, and other financial crimes.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings: [1] CARTIER, ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, and ESTRADA ECHEVERRY are members of a money laundering network that operates in the U.S. and Colombia, among other countries (the “Network”). The Network utilizes a system of money laundering brokers and shell companies in the U.S., Colombia, and elsewhere to, among other things, launder crime proceeds through the U.S. to Colombia. Between in or about May 2023 and November 2023, CARTIER, ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, ESTRADA ECHEVERRY, and others used the Network to launder a total of approximately $14.5 million Tether derived directly from the proceeds of drug trafficking. In particular, ZULUAGA DUQUE, with the assistance of LOPEZ ORTIZ, coordinated and communicated with other members of the Network to convert drug proceeds into Tether to be sent to the U.S. where it was converted into fiat currency by CARTIER and delivered by wire transfers from the U.S. to shell companies in Colombia that were operated or maintained by ESTRADA ECHEVERRY and others. CARTIER has been a member of the Network since at least about January 2020. As part of his role in the Network, CARTIER operated an unlicensed over-the-counter cryptocurrency exchange. Specifically, CARTIER operated and/or controlled several U.S.-based shell companies, including Bullpix Solutions LLC, Vintech Capital LLC, VC Innovated Technologies LLC, AZ Technologies LLC, Softmill LLC, and Sun Technologies LLC (the “Cartier Shell Companies”), and maintained multiple accounts for the Cartier Shell Companies at several U.S. financial institutions. In opening these bank accounts, CARTIER misrepresented the true nature of the business of the Cartier Shell Companies — i.e. , CARTIER claimed to the banks that the Cartier Shell Companies were in the business of software or technology when, in fact, CARTIER was using the companies to operate as an unlicensed money remitting business related to the operation of a cryptocurrency exchange. From January 2020 to the present, CARTIER’s unlicensed money transmitting business executed hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of unlawful transactions and laundered hundreds of millions in criminal proceeds, including drug trafficking proceeds with ZULUAGA DUQUE, LOPEZ ORTIZ, and ESTRADA ECHEVERRY between about May and November 2023. Finally, ZULUAGA DUQUE and LOPEZ ORTIZ conspired with ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS and ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS to import more than 100 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. Specifically, in about November 2023, confidential sources, at the direction of law enforcement, coordinated with LOPEZ ORTIZ and ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS for the purchase of approximately nine kilograms of cocaine paste, which was to be manufactured into cocaine before being delivered to New York. For that purchase, ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS delivered the narcotics to an undercover officer and ZULUAGA DUQUE received a commission for helping to set up the deal. Additionally, in about February 2024, a confidential source, at the direction of law enforcement, arranged for the purchase of approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine paste from ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS and ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS. In anticipation of this deal, the Colombian National Police executed two search warrants and recovered approximately 111 kilograms of cocaine paste from ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS and ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS. * * * CARTIER, 57, an Argentinian citizen who has resided France, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of money laundering, which a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of bank fraud, which a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of operating of an unlicensed money remitting business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. ZULUAGA DUQUE, 61, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. LOPEZ ORTIZ, 42, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. ESTRADA ECHEVERRY, 38, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. ALEXANDER AREIZA CEBALLOS, 45, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. ADRIAN AREIZA CEBALLOS, 44, a Colombian citizen, is charged with one count of conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties 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. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Field Office, HSI’s New York El Dorado Task Force, and IRS-CI, Global Illicit Financial Team. Mr. Williams also thanked the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Colombia; the Colombian National Police; the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs; the U.S. Embassy Colombia; and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer N. Ong is in charge of the prosecution. The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Jackson Man Sentenced to 61 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 61 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Ronald Gardner, 51, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Jackson. According to court documents and statements made in court, Gardner and his co-conspirator, Anthony Craig Myrick, opened an account at a Jackson bank in another person’s name in September 2022. Gardner and Myrick deposited several counterfeit U.S. Treasury checks in the account at various bank branches in the Jackson metro area and withdrew the cash before the checks were determined to be counterfeit. Gardner admitted to manufacturing the counterfeit Treasury checks and creating a false identification card using another person’s name and identity. The Court found that, as part of the scheme, 10 or more victims had their personal identifying information used unlawfully or without authority. Gardner and Myrick were indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2023. Myrick pleaded guilty on October 17, 2023, and Gardner pleaded guilty on February 2, 2024. Myrick was sentenced on March 11, 2024, to 26 months in prison. Both defendants were ordered to pay restitution to the bank as part of their sentences. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis made the announcement. The U.S. Secret Service and Rankin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.


title: Slidell Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHRISTOPHER YARBROUGH (“YARBROUGH”) , age 43, of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 1, 2024, for receipt of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1). According to court documents, the case against YARBROUGH stemmed from an online Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”) investigation by the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was referred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”). On June 26, 2023, HSI special agents, along with members of the Slidell Police Department and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, executed a federal search warrant at YARBROUGH’s Slidell home. HSI agents arrested YARBROUGH during the search and charged him with receipt of CSAM. HSI’s investigation revealed YARBROUGH received images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced YARBROUGH to one hundred eight (108) months imprisonment, followed by a five (5) year term of supervised release, $6,000.00 in restitution, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. 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 United States Attorney’s 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office; the Slidell Police Department; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of Financial Crimes Unit.


title: U.S. Attorney Warns of Increasing Threat from  Machinegun Conversion Devices as  Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Machinegun

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

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – U.S. Attorney Todd Gee announced today that his office has seen an increase in cases involving illegal machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds. MCDs present a significant danger in our community to both the public and law enforcement. An individual found in possession of an MCD will face up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported a 570% increase in the number of MCDs collected by police departments between 2017 and 2021, the most recent data available. Today in the Southern District of Mississippi, defendant Kylin Demond Russell of Jackson, 22, pled guilty to illegal possession of a machinegun by possessing a Glock pistol with an attached MCD. According to court documents, on Friday, February 9, 2024, Russell led Capitol Police officers on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of up to 120 mph, after failing to yield for a traffic stop. When his vehicle ultimately came to a stop, he attempted to flee on foot, was detained, and two Glock pistols with attached MCDs were found in the vehicle. Capitol Police contacted the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The vehicle driven by Russell appears to match the description of a vehicle seen in a video, taken by a citizen in Jackson and widely distributed on-line, showing a person firing a weapon from the vehicle. Russell was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2024. He will be sentenced on August 2, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case. The case is being investigated by the ATF and Capitol Police and is a result of Operation Unified and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), both of which are coordinated efforts between state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. Agencies participating in Operation Unified include the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Narcotics, Capitol Police and Office of Homeland Security; the Jackson Police Department; the Hinds County District Attorney and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office; the Mississippi Department of Corrections; and the FBI, DEA, and ATF, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The PSN Program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Using Art Appraisal to Conceal Fraud

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Nevada resident, MICHAEL JON SCHOFIELD , age 76, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony. SCHOFIELD admitted that he concealed wire fraud by emailing an art appraisal that misrepresented his honest assessment of the appraised art’s value. U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance scheduled sentencing for August 14, 2024. Misprision is punishable by up to three years imprisonment followed by up to one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Possessing Car Stolen from Norfolk Southern Railyard

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA- DERRIN RILEY (“RILEY”) , age 29, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 23, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $200 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possessing a car stolen from the Norfolk Southern Railyard, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 659, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D). According to court documents, RILEY was captured on surveillance video occupying a Ford Explorer Timberline that had been stolen from the railyard a week earlier. On April 3, 2023, RILEY exited the stolen car with a large bag of marijuana, which he intended to distribute. Two other individuals riding in the stolen car with RILEY possessed firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: United States Attorney’s Office Warns of Reported Financial Litigation Scam

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is alerting the public about a reported scammer making phone calls claiming to be with our office and requesting restitution payments. This week, the office received multiple phone calls from concerned citizens regarding an individual who identifies himself as a member of the Financial Litigation Unit (FLU) of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, requesting restitution payments. The caller further claims the individual failed to appear in court regarding COVID-19 relief funds. All callers are then given a phone number to make a payment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will never call requesting a payment of restitution over the phone. Past due restitution payment letters are sent from our office, but criminal restitution payments are made to the federal court. Civil debts are paid through the Nationwide Central Intake Facility or through Pay.gov. If you receive a phone call from this individual or anyone claiming to be with the U.S. Attorney’s Office asking for restitution payments, this is a scam. If you think you are a victim of a scam or know someone who is, report it to the FBI at IC3.gov or the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office .


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Firearms Offense

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA- DARNELL MELTON (‘MELTON”) , age 27, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 23, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, MELTON has prior felony convictions for simple robbery, simple burglary, and attempted possession of a firearm by a felon. On March 28, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at MELTON’s shared residence. MELTON and three others were in the house but did not surrender for over an hour. When the house was searched, FBI found two AR-15 pistols and three handguns in the attic. MELTON possessed one of the handguns, a Glock Model 27 Gen4, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Defendant Sentenced To Nine Years In Prison For Orchestrating 11 Armed Robberies Across New York City

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOSEPH SANDERS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla to nine years in prison in connection with committing 11 armed robberies of bodegas, smoke shops, and other retail businesses across the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joseph Sanders terrorized hardworking New Yorkers across the City, committing 11 armed robberies. On multiple occasions, he brutally pistol whipped his victims. This Office’s career prosecutors continue their exhaustive commitment to keeping those who commit violent robberies off of our streets.” According to the Indictment, public filings, and statements made in court: In the spring and fall of 2022, SANDERS committed 11 armed robberies throughout New York City. Between March and April 2022, he committed four armed robberies of bodegas and smoke shops located in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Wearing a mask, SANDERS would enter the businesses, brandishing a silver gun and demanding money. At times, he would point the gun directly at the terrified cashier. For three of the robberies, SANDERS was accompanied by co-conspirators, but in all cases, it was SANDERS carrying the firearm. In November 2022, SANDERS continued his robbery spree. Between November and December 2022, he committed seven armed robberies of a tax preparation business, bodegas, and smoke shops located in the Bronx and Brooklyn. SANDERS would enter the businesses brandishing a firearm and demanding money. During one of those robberies, he kicked open a door, holding a firearm in his hand, then grabbed the sole employee by the arm and led her to a back room. After the victim told SANDERS that the business had no cash on hand, he took her phone and $200 from her wallet. On two occasions, SANDERS violently pistol-whipped cashiers of the stores that he was robbing, before taking thousands of dollars from the cash registers. Even when not assaulting the victims with a firearm, SANDERS threatened violence, pointing his firearm directly at the victims. One such example is below, from the November 26, 2022, robbery of a deli: In total, SANDERS stole $22,374. At the time of his arrest, a .40 caliber Iberia pistol, which was loaded with ammunition, was found in his apartment. * * * In addition to his prison term, SANDERS, 46, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,374 and to forfeit the same amount. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (“ATF”) and the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), in particular, the Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers of the ATF and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Sowlati is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – JONATHAN JOSE CASTILLO-JANEZ , age 24, pleaded guilty on April 30, 2024, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. His sentencing is set for June 25, 2024. According to the indictment, JONATHAN JOSE CASTILLO-JANEZ , (“ CASTILLO-JANEZ ”) reentered the United States after being previously deported on June 14, 2017. CASTILLO-JANEZ , a Honduran national with no legal right to be in the United States, was arrested in Orleans Parish in January of 2024 for Battery and Possession of Stolen Property. Department of Homeland Security research revealed that he was deported on June 14, 2017 after being convicted in Salt Lake City, Utah, of Attempted Distribution of Cocaine. He served 120 days in jail in Utah. CASTILLO-JANEZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. He faces a sentencing enhancement of up to 10 years imprisonment because of a prior felony conviction. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: United States Attorney’s Office For The District Of Maryland Secures Agreement With Hotel Owner In White Marsh, Maryland, To Ensure Access For People With Disabilities

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – The Department of Justice announced today it has reached a settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Hilton Garden Inn at White Marsh, located in White Marsh, Maryland, to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Department reached the agreement with AHIP MD Baltimore 5015 Enterprises LLC, who owns and, together with its agents, operates the hotel. Under the agreement, the hotel will provide training to its staff about the ADA’s requirements to ensure that customers enjoy equal access to its services. Without admitting it violated the ADA, the hotel owner also agreed to a monetary payment to fully resolve the matter. The settlement resolves an ADA complaint alleging that, after reserving an accessible room, when an individual with a disability and his mother attempted to check-in, the Hilton Garden Inn provided a room that was not accessible as it lacked a bathroom with a roll-in shower. According to the complaint, the individual with a disability and his mother were forced to accept a different room that did not have a roll-in shower as they had reserved. As a result, the individual with a disability used a shower chair that was not affixed to the wall and slid backwards when he attempted to transfer, causing serious bodily injury. The complaint prompted an investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. The ADA requires that hotels provide access to individuals with disabilities, including honoring reservations, providing fully accessible rooms, and making accommodations. “People with disabilities deserve equal access to life’s most basic necessities, such as safe access to bathrooms and showers,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “The law protects people with disabilities who are traveling and requires that hotels provide equal access to their rooms and facilities. We appreciate the hotel’s remedial action and I encourage all hotels in the District of Maryland to review their policies and facilities to ensure they are accessible to all.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly S. Phillips represented the government during the investigation and settlement process. For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint. # # #


title: Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ALLAN ENRIQUE GOMEZ VILLEDA , age 41, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty on April 30, 2024, to illegal reentry of a deported alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a). According to the court documents, GOMEZ VILLEDA admitted to reentering the United States illegally after being previously deported on May 9, 2019. GOMEZ VILLEDA faces a sentence of up to 2 years imprisonment, up to 1 years of supervised release, up to a $100,00 fine, and a $100 special assessment fee. U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey has set the sentencing for June 18, 2024. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Hahn Air Lines Agrees to Pay $26.8 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability for Its Alleged Failure to Pay Travel Fees Collected from Passengers

component: Civil Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – Hahn Air Lines GmbH, a privately owned company based in Germany, and its Minneapolis-based subsidiary Hahn Air USA, Inc. (collectively, “Hahn Air”) have agreed to pay $26.8 million to resolve allegations that Hahn Air violated the False Claims Act by knowingly failing to remit to the United States certain travel fees that Hahn Air collected from commercial airline passengers flying into or within the United States. The settlement was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari for the Department of Homeland Security, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker for USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Hahn Air Lines GmbH operates as a commercial travel company whose primary business includes offering an electronic ticketing database that allows travel agencies worldwide to issue airline passenger tickets for travel on airlines based on agreements that Hahn Air Lines GmbH has with numerous commercial airlines located around the world. Pursuant to its business model, Hahn Air Lines GmbH collects certain mandatory travel fees, including certain passenger fees that are owed to the United States. The settlement resolves allegations that, from 2012 to 2018, Hahn Air allegedly knowingly and improperly avoided paying to the United States certain travel fees that Hahn Air had collected from airline passengers purchasing Hahn Air tickets. These included Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection User Fees owed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Customs User Fees and Immigration User Fees owed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fees owed to the Transportation Security Administration. “Companies cannot pocket, for their own benefit, government taxes and fees that they collect from their customers,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves. “This settlement shows that companies that intentionally do so will face stiff penalties.” “Companies that benefit from air travel in the United States must pay their fair share of the costs associated with that such travel,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that we will protect the taxpayers by ensuring that those who are obligated to pay money to the United States, whether in the form of travel fees or other types of payments, are held accountable for what they owe." “I appreciate the continued partnership with the Justice Department’s Civil Division and our other law enforcement partners,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari for the Department of Homeland Security. “Today’s multimillion dollar settlement is a result of our collective efforts and demonstrates that the United States holds corporations accountable when they fail to comply with the law.” “Participation in Government travel business programs is a privilege and should not involve actors who seek to circumvent paying travel costs to the U.S. Government,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker for USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG). “Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of the investigative team, the interests and integrity of the United States and the business process throughout Government continue to be protected. The USDA Office of Inspector General appreciates the commitment of the Department of Justice and the cooperative efforts of our law enforcement partners. Our resources are well utilized when we work together to investigate those who intend to defraud the U.S. Government. This resolution demonstrates that we are committed to holding businesses accountable when they choose to abuse the integrity of vital government programs.” The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. MGSNOVA Advisory, LLC v. Hahn Air, Inc. et al, No. 1:15‐cv‐02184 (D.D.C.). As part of today’s resolution, the whistleblower will receive a total of approximately $4.8 million. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Offices of Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Agriculture. The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Richard W. Hagner of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez for the District of Columbia. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Weapon Violation

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Elisha Shaleel Patterson, 21, of Charleston, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Evidence presented to the court showed that Patterson gathered with a large group of individuals to gamble on Allway Street in downtown Charleston on April 24, 2022. Investigators were paying close attention to the area after a shooting occurred there the previous day. Investigators observed Patterson remove a firearm from his pants and place it in a vehicle. Once investigators arrived, they located the firearm, which was reported stolen, a digital scale, and marijuana. Patterson is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because of his previous felony conviction. United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Patterson to 57 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.


title: Hahn Air Lines Agrees to Pay $26.8M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability for Its Alleged Failure to Pay Travel Fees Collected from Passengers

body_text: Hahn Air Lines GmbH, a privately owned company based in Germany, and its Minneapolis-based subsidiary Hahn Air USA Inc. (collectively Hahn Air) have agreed to pay $26.8 million to resolve allegations that Hahn Air violated the False Claims Act by knowingly failing to remit to the United States certain travel fees that Hahn Air collected from commercial airline passengers flying into or within the United States. Hahn Air Lines GmbH operates as a commercial travel company whose primary business includes offering an electronic ticketing database that allows travel agencies worldwide to issue airline passenger tickets for travel on airlines based on agreements that Hahn Air Lines GmbH has with numerous commercial airlines located around the world. Pursuant to its business model, Hahn Air Lines GmbH collects certain mandatory travel fees, including certain passenger fees that are owed to the United States. The settlement resolves allegations that, from 2012 to 2018, Hahn Air allegedly knowingly and improperly avoided paying to the United States certain travel fees that Hahn Air had collected from airline passengers purchasing Hahn Air tickets. These included Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection User Fees owed to the Department of Agriculture (USDA); Customs User Fees and Immigration User Fees owed to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fees owed to the Transportation Security Administration. “Companies that benefit from air travel in the United States must pay their fair share of the costs associated with that such travel,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that we will protect the taxpayers by ensuring that those who are obligated to pay money to the United States, whether in the form of travel fees or other types of payments, are held accountable for what they owe.” “Companies cannot pocket, for their own benefit, government taxes and fees that they collect from their customers,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “This settlement shows that companies that intentionally do so will face stiff penalties.” “I appreciate the continued partnership with the Justice Department’s Civil Division and our other law enforcement partners,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Today’s multimillion dollar settlement is a result of our collective efforts and demonstrates that the United States holds corporations accountable when they fail to comply with the law.” “Participation in Government travel business programs is a privilege and should not involve actors who seek to circumvent paying travel costs to the U.S. Government,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG). “Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of the investigative team, the interests and integrity of the United States and the business process throughout Government continue to be protected. The USDA Office of Inspector General appreciates the commitment of the Department of Justice and the cooperative efforts of our law enforcement partners. Our resources are well utilized when we work together to investigate those who intend to defraud the U.S. Government. This resolution demonstrates that we are committed to holding businesses accountable when they choose to abuse the integrity of vital government programs.” The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. MGSNOVA Advisory, LLC v. Hahn Air, Inc. et al, No. 1:15‐cv‐02184 (D.D.C.). As part of today’s resolution, the whistleblower will receive a total of approximately $4.8 million. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Offices of Inspector General for the DHS and USDA. Trial Attorney Richard W. Hagner of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez for the District of Columbia handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Williston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on May 2, 2024, Eric Obregon, Jr., age 32, from Williston, North Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor and was sentenced to serve 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. On December 9, 2022, a Williston Police Officer approached the driver of a vehicle that was parked at the intersection of 2nd Avenue West and 42nd Street West in Williston, ND, because the vehicle was partially blocking the intersection. A second officer arrived on scene and recognized the driver of the vehicle to be Eric Obregon and knew Obregon to have warrants for his arrest. When Obregon was asked to step out of the vehicle, he pushed one of the officers and fled on foot. As the officers pursued Obregon, they repeatedly advised him to get his hands out of his pants. Obregon presented a firearm and discharged the firearm toward the officers while running. The officers returned fire and Obregon again fired at the officers and continued to flee around the east side of a building. One of the officers fired and struck Obregon in the leg. After additional officers arrived on scene and Obregon was secured, a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield 9mm handgun was located on the ground next to Obregon, and one firearm magazine containing two rounds of ammunition was recovered from his pocket. The defendant was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to a previous conviction for Prohibited Possession of a Firearm, on or about September 24, 2020, in Williams County (ND) District Court. The defendant was on state probation for this conviction when he committed the instant offense. “This is a just sentence for someone who violently put law enforcement lives at risk,” Schneider said. “Thanks to the courage and skill of the Williston Police Department, this individual was neutralized and brought to federal court to face justice. I want to thank our law enforcement partners in Williston as well as the Williams County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in obtaining this result. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively use the felon in possession statute to take violent offenders out of our communities and fairly put them in federal prison.” “I would like to express sincere appreciation for the relationship between the Williston Police Department, the Williams County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Federal Prosecutors,” said Chief of Police David A. Peterson of the Williston Police Department. “The Williston Police Department believes in the partnerships we have created with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The work completed by the men and women of the WPD, BCI, FBI and other agencies. Their work brought resolution to the Obregon case, holding the Defendant responsible for his actions. Ultimately, I am extremely thankful our Officers were able to go home to their families on the night in question and have the ability to continue to serve the Williston Community.” "Obregon's choice to fire upon law enforcement officers was an egregious assault on their lives," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "With unwavering commitment, we support our partners, holding individuals like Obregon accountable for their actions, and upholding the rule of law." This case was investigated by the Williston Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorney David Hagler assigned to the case. ######


title: Sixth Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to International Fraud Scheme  that Defrauded Elderly U.S. Victims

body_text: A sixth Nigerian national pleaded guilty to operating a transnational inheritance fraud scheme that defrauded elderly and vulnerable consumers across the United States. According to court documents, Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, 50, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Ezemma and his co-conspirators told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Ezemma and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Ezemma admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. “The Justice Department's Consumer Protection Branch will pursue, prosecute and secure the convictions of transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located. I thank our law enforcement partners at the Postal Inspection Service, at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and abroad for their tireless efforts to find and arrest those responsible for these crimes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to bring to justice criminals who attempt to defraud U.S. victims.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a long tradition of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice,” said Postal Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division. “This guilty plea is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, HSI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, to protect our citizens from these scams.” “Fraudsters like this individual proved to be unethical by ruthlessly targeting the elderly in the name of greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of HSI Arizona. “This case like many others, demonstrates the power of agencies working together to protect senior citizens from thieves like this defendant. On May 2, Ezemma pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Ezemma is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams on July 22. Ezemma faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. With Ezemma’s guilty plea today, all six defendants charged in the indictment have now been convicted for participating in this scheme. Five other defendants have already been convicted and sentenced by Judge Williams in connection with this scheme. On Nov. 1, 2023, the court sentenced Ezennia Peter Neboh, who was extradited from Spain, to 128 months in prison. On Oct. 20, 2023, Kennedy Ikponmwosa was sentenced to 97 months in prison. Three other defendants who were extradited from the United Kingdom also received prison sentences. Emmanuel Samuel, Jerry Chucks Ozor and Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham were sentenced to 82 months, 87 months and 90 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the scheme. USPIS, HSI and the Consumer Protection Branch are investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and authorities from the UK, Spain and Portugal all provided critical assistance. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov .


title: Laurel Man Sentenced to Almost 6 Years in Prison  for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

body_text: Hattiesburg, MS – A Laurel man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. According to court records, Danny Ray Cole, 46, was caught distributing pills to a buyer that contained 12.46 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that defendant had additional amounts of drugs in his possession. Cole was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2023, and pled guilty on December 12, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Picayune Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 27 Grams of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 27 grams of methamphetamine. Conel Lamont Holloway, 40, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court records, on November 2, 2018, Holloway sold 27 grams of methamphetamine to an individual for $700 in Picayune, Mississippi. Holloway was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 7, 2022. He pled guilty on November 29, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.