title: Mobile Resident Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced today to 231 months in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements to the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and Social Security Administration (“SSA”). According to court documents and evidence presented at a three-day trial in April 2023, Kartarius Dewan Johnson, also known as Tareeq Akhil Anad, 42, engaged in widespread financial fraud and identity theft. Between March 2020 and January 2021, Johnson sought to defraud others of property and money worth more than $8 million using false documents containing language commonly used by sovereign citizens, a group of people who generally believe that the U.S. government is illegitimate and that they are exempt from federal, state, or local laws. Johnson contracted with third parties, including car dealerships in Mobile, Beverly Hills, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona, to purchase Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. He also signed a purchase agreement for a $4 million bayfront home in Daphne. To further his fraud scheme, Johnson mailed packages and sent emails to financial institutions and other individuals, in violation of the federal wire fraud statute. Johnson did not have the money to legitimately buy the items he sought. Johnson also tried to fraudulently obtain SBA funds for COVID–19 relief and lied to the SSA about his U.S. citizenship when applying for a new social security card, citing membership in a fictitious tribe that is not federally recognized. In furtherance of his fraud schemes, Johnson illegally used social security numbers belonging to two deceased individuals. Records showed that between 2015 and 2018, Johnson improperly received federal tax credits totaling more than $800,000 for purported biodiesel fuel usage, which he spent on personal expenses, including a private jet membership, clothing, jewelry, cars, vacations, and child support payments. In addition to the 231-month prison term, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Johnson to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will undergo drug testing and treatment, will receive mental health evaluation and treatment, and will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Johnson to pay $310 in victim restitution and $1,600 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the SSA Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller of the Southern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Sinan Kalayoglu and Shai Bronshtein of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Criminal Division prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to One Year in Federal Prison for Fraud Relating to Coronavirus Funds

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — Antonio Brown-Sanders, 26, of Charleston, was sentenced to one year and a day in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraudulently applying for an Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020 designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the Coronavirus. Two primary sources of relief provided by the CARES Act were the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. PPP loans consisted of more than $640 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for payroll, mortgage interest, rent, and utilities. The EIDL program provided low-interest loans to business owners to pay for items like accounts payable and other bills that could not be paid as a result of COVID-19. Evidence presented to the court showed that that Brown-Sanders applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) to receive an EIDL loan that fraudulently represented he owned a lawn care business. The application submitted by Brown-Sanders also falsely represented the number of employees and gross income. Brown-Sanders received $81,600 from the SBA. “The defendant in this case stole from American taxpayers and prevented pandemic-relief funds from reaching those who needed them most,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “The District of South Carolina is committed to pursuing and investigating those who defraud government programs. We encourage any member of the public with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 to report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline.” “The Secret Service is diligent in our investigation and pursuit of those who engage in fraudulent criminal activity. We appreciate the commitment from our law enforcement partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of Inspector General - Small Business Administration to see that justice is served,” said Resident Agent in Charge Ben Stafford of the Secret Service’s Charleston Resident Office. “This sentencing reflects the seriousness with which the government handles fraudulent crimes and should act as a warning to those who aspire to exploit government relief programs that are put in place to help those in need.” “Those that use fraudulent documents to gain access to SBA programs funds will be met with justice,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “I want to thank the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.” United States District Judge Richard Gergel sentenced Brown-Sanders to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered him to pay the restitution still due in the amount of $65,246.48. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Office of Inspector General – Small Business Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Amy F. Bower prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Huntington Man of Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – After two days of trial, a federal jury convicted Thomas Ray III, 54, of Huntington, of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence at trial showed that on October 23, 2020, Ray possessed a firearm that he discharged at law enforcement officers after they responded to a domestic disturbance call in the area of 17th Street and Artisan Avenue in Huntington. The first officer to respond to the call encountered a woman who advised the officer that she and her daughter had been in an altercation with a man who had approached them on the sidewalk. The woman said the man pulled out a firearm, pointed it at her and threatened to use it on her. The woman said the man then fired two rounds in the air and fled south on 17th Street. Officers observed and then encountered Ray, who matched the description provided by the woman, in an alley between 10th and 11th Avenues. Ray pointed a firearm at the officers and fired one shot. Ray continued to flee and fired several more shots at officers before they returned fire and he fell to the ground. Ray was still holding the firearm while on the ground and resisted being placed into custody. Officers recovered the firearm, a loaded Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield .40-caliber pistol, after Ray threw it away from his body. Officers also found a Harrington and Richardson revolver in Ray’s back right pants pocket. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Ray knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for Forcible Detention/Armed and Give False Bomb/Gas Alarm in Will County, Illinois, Circuit Court on February 28, 2012, and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 9, 2013. Ray is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. “My office is working in partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement to reduce violent crime and hold dangerous offenders accountable,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend the work of the Huntington Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor, and the entire trial team for securing this guilty verdict.” United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the jury trial. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-57. ###


title: Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crimes

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Keara Kilpatrick, 21, of Charleston, pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing firearms from two Kanawha County businesses. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 9, 2022, Kilpatrick drove a co-defendant to a business in Dunbar and stole a Diamondback Firearms DB15 5.56 caliber rifle and a Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22 .22 caliber rifle. On November 10, 2022, Kilpatrick drove her co-defendant to a Charleston business and stole a Custom Arms & Accessories LD-15 5.56 caliber rifle and a DPMS Panther Arms A-15 5.56 caliber rifle. Kilpatrick admitted to law enforcement that she stole the firearms. Three of the four stolen firearms have been recovered by law enforcement. Kilpatrick is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, and the Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Keefe and Brian Parsons are prosecuting 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-28. ###


title: Companies that employed labor whistleblower and his killers reach criminal, civil resolution with United States

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: final_executed_npa_and_civil_settlement_letter_and_agreement.pdf SAVANNAH, GA: An Ohio company and its Tennessee subsidiary have agreed to pay nearly $4 million to resolve criminal and civil claims related to illegal labor practices reported by a whistleblower who was murdered for revealing the scheme. Davey Tree Expert Company , of Ohio, and its subsidiary, Wolf Tree, Inc., entered into a non-prosecution and settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to resolve criminal and civil claims stemming from immigration and employment violations. “Eliud Montoya attempted to expose a scheme where his employer and supervisors profited from the use of unauthorized laborers,” said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg. “His killers have been convicted and sentenced for their crimes, and this settlement holds the corporate entities financially accountable.” The terms of the settlement with Davey Tree and Wolf Tree require a payment of $3,984,325.44 to the U.S. government to resolve all criminal and civil claims against the companies, which includes restitution to the victim’s estate for lost future income and to another employee for back wages. The settlement amount also includes forfeiture of $1,136,521.19 in payments from the companies’ contracts with Georgia Power, and a civil penalty of $1,500,000. Pablo Rangel-Rubio and his brother, Juan Rangel-Rubio , along with Higinio Perez-Bravo , are citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States. Pablo and Juan Rangel-Rubio were illegally employed at Wolf Tree, a company under contract to Georgia Power to trim trees along power line rights-of-way in the Savannah, Ga., area. As determined at trial in October 2022, Pablo Rangel-Rubio, a supervisor at Wolf Tree, led a conspiracy to employ illegal aliens to work for the company, and provided those illegal aliens with assumed identities. The conspirators routed the workers’ paychecks to their own bank accounts where they skimmed a portion of the pay for themselves and paid the illegal aliens in cash to avoid detection. They also created fake employee accounts and directed that pay to themselves. Eliud Montoya, also an employee of Wolf Tree, reported the illegal activity to the company and to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the conspirators shot and killed him near his home. The conspirators are serving federal prison sentences for their roles in Montoya’s murder The companies allegedly conducted an audit of their employee files and determined that a percentage of their employees did not or could not provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate their authorization to be employed in the United States. The agreement resolves the government’s allegations that the companies unlawfully employed unauthorized workers and failed to verify their authorization status. The settled civil claims are allegations only and do not constitute admissions of liability by the settling parties. “This labor exploitation scheme not only exploited our nation’s labor laws, but also led to the death of a whistleblower. Hopefully, the settlement sends a message to anyone involved in such activity that they will not go unpunished and that there is hope for anyone experiencing this horrible situation,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Protecting the integrity of the nation’s immigration and labor laws from those looking to circumvent them is of vital importance and HSI prioritizes this mission.” The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations. The United States was represented by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including AUSAs Tania D. Groover and Bradford C. Patrick.


title: Justice Department Reinforces Federal Protections for Servicemembers and their Spouses in Letter to State Officials

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has issued a letter to all state licensing authorities about new employment-related federal protections for military families. The letter informs state licensing authorities about Congress’s recent amendment to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) that allows servicemembers and their spouses to use their professional licenses or certificates in new jurisdictions if they are relocating because of military orders and meet certain other requirements. “Servicemembers and their families should not face unnecessary barriers to employment because of the sacrifices they make in service to our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The guidance we are issuing today reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to honoring our nation’s servicemembers and their families not just with words, but also with action.” “Servicemembers bear great burdens to protect and advance our democracy, and families of these dedicated military professionals often make sacrifices on our behalf, including frequent moves, child-care challenges, and interruptions or barriers to employment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The resources that we are making available should empower many servicemembers and military spouses with professional licenses to better navigate the burdens that can result from frequently moving around the country.” In January 2023, Congress added a new provision to the SCRA — a law that provides servicemembers and their families with a wide variety of financial and housing protections — to make it easier for servicemembers and military spouses to have their professional licenses recognized when they relocate to another state due to military orders. The new SCRA license portability provision provides that servicemembers and military spouses can have their out-of-state licenses recognized as valid in the new state while they are stationed there as long as they meet certain requirements. The letter to state licensing authorities explains how the SCRA’s license portability provision reduces the administrative hurdles that servicemembers and their spouses face when they move across state lines. The documents explain the requirements servicemembers or their spouses must meet to have their license or certificate recognized as valid under this new law. The Department is also releasing a fact sheet about the SCRA’s license portability provision. Statement of Interest The Justice Department also filed a statement of interest in Portée v. Morath , a lawsuit filed by a military spouse in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas alleging the state of Texas denied her request to have her out-of-state school counseling licenses recognized as valid as required under the new SCRA’s license portability provision. According to the complaint, the military spouse has school counseling licenses issued by Ohio and Missouri and recently moved to Del Rio, Texas, due to her husband’s military orders. She alleges that the Texas state licensing authorities told her that the new SCRA law “would not apply to Texas.” The Department’s statement of interest argues that the requirement that the license have been “actively used during the two years immediately preceding the relocation” to the new jurisdiction should be interpreted to require only that the license have been used at some point during the prior two years. It also discusses the significant public interest that is served by reducing barriers to licensure and increasing career opportunities for servicemembers and their spouses. “This federal law is in place to help military spouses maintain their careers and financial security while enduring already stressful life changes,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Ultimately, the SCRA strengthens America’s military families and our overall national security, and that is not something any agency should interfere with.” Servicemembers and their spouses who are covered by this new law are likely eligible for military legal assistance and can contact their local legal assistance office for help. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil . If servicemembers or their spouses are not eligible for military legal assistance services, they may request that the Justice Department review their claim by submitting a complaint through civilrights.justice.gov/link/4025A . The Servicemember and Veterans Initiative, housed in the Department’s Civil Rights Division, works to ensure that the rights of the brave men and women of our nation’s armed forces, and the veterans who have served in the past, are safeguarded from discrimination and unfair treatment. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $481 million in monetary relief for over 146,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. You can learn more about the Servicemember and Veterans Initiative at servicemembers.gov . The letter to state licensing authorities can be found here . A fact sheet explaining the new SCRA provision can be found here . The statement of interest can be found here . Statement of Interest SCRA License Portability Fact Sheet SCRA License Portability Letter


title: Richland County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for  Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Raphiel Coleman, 35, of Columbia, was sentenced to over four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence presented to the court showed that Richland County deputies were called to a store on Broad River Road concerning a man with a gun. When they arrived, the deputies saw Coleman wearing the same clothing as described by the 911 caller. The deputies ordered him to the ground, but he fled behind the store. One deputy gave chase on foot and the other followed in the police car. Eventually, they caught Coleman and during a search of him, they found one .357 caliber round of ammunition in his pocket. With the help of a police dog, they retraced their steps and found a .357 caliber pistol on the ground in a bush. Coleman subsequently admitted possessing the gun. The police also found approximately 2 grams of marijuana in Coleman’s pocket. Federal law prohibits Coleman from possessing a firearm and ammunition based upon prior convictions for burglary, possession of stolen vehicle, failure to stop for a blue light, intimidation of a juror or witness, possession of less than 1 gram of methamphetamine, and pointing and presenting a weapon. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Coleman to 51 months (4 years and 3 months) in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Participating In The Murder Of Three People Including A Federal Witness

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kenyatta Corbett, age 41, of Hagerstown and Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the June 25, 2016 murders of three individuals in Mercersburg, Franklin County, one of whom was cooperating with state and federal drug investigators. The sentence was imposed by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, who also sentenced Corbett to a consecutive 20-year term of imprisonment on a companion robbery charge. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Corbett's conviction was the result of a seven-year investigation into three murders that occurred on June 25, 2016, on a property along Welsh Run Road in Mercersburg, Franklin County. When Pennsylvania State Police officers were called to the scene, they found the bodies of Wendy Ann Chaney, 39, Hagerstown, Md, Brandon Cole, 47, Fayetteville, PA, and Phillip Matthew Jackson, 36, Mercersburg, PA, in a barn on victim Jackson’s property. All were shot. The three victims had their hands zipped-tied behind their backs and had been set on fire. Jackson and Cole were shot once in the head. Chaney was shot twice, once in the back and once in the back of her neck. Wendy Chaney and Brandon Cole were already dead when the police responded to the scene. Phillip Jackson was transported to York Hospital where he died shortly after arrival. The evidence previously presented at the guilty plea proceeding in June of 2022 established that Wendy Chaney was in a relationship with co-defendants Kevin Coles and Torey White and had been previously assisting both with their drug distribution operation. Corbett was likewise a heroin trafficker in Hagerstown and areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Corbett, Coles, White and co-defendant Devin Dickerson learned that Chaney was cooperating with federal authorities and contracted for her to be murdered. Corbett, and co-defendant Jerell Adgebesan who worked for Corbett recruited members of a Baltimore based gang known as the Black Guerilla Family and others from Baltimore to travel to the Jackson property to kill Wendy Chaney. Adgebesan knew these individuals from Baltimore. The killers were promised that they could take as payment $20,000 that was to be in a safe in the barn and any drugs and firearms that they could locate on the Jackson property. Once there, the killers encountered not only Wendy Chaney but also Brandon Cole and Phillip Jackson. The victims had their hands bound behind their backs with zip-ties, all were shot execution style and their bodies set on fire. Chaney was killed to protect the drug trafficking activities of Corbett, Coles, White, Dickerson, and others. Jackson and Cole were murdered to prevent them from being witnesses to the crimes of violence that were committed at the Jackson property. The killers never found any money on the property but stole some drugs and firearms. The following individuals were charged along with Corbett as a result of the investigation: Jerell Adgebesan, age 35, of Baltimore and Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced to life imprisonment for participating in the murder of three people including a federal witness; Devin Dickerson, age 31, Hagerstown, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and crack cocaine and is awaiting sentencing; Torey White, age 32, Waynesboro, PA, was convicted by a federal jury in May of three counts of first-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing; Michael Buck, age 30, Hagerstown, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing; Nicholas Preddy, age 29, Baltimore, pleaded guilty to attempting to kill a witness and was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment; Johnnie Jenkins-Armstrong, age 22, Baltimore, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and to being an accomplice to the use of a firearm during Hobbs Act robbery and is awaiting sentencing; Terrance Lawson, age 31, Baltimore, sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness; Tyrone Armstrong, age 30, Baltimore, sentenced to time served for attempting to intimidate a witness; and Christopher Johnson, age 31, Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to multiple counts including murder for hire and is awaiting sentencing; Mark Johnson, 35, Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to obstructing the grand jury’s investigation and was sentenced to 110 months’ imprisonment; Llesenia Woodard, 46, Hagerstown, Maryland, pled guilty to providing false testimony to the grand jury investigating the murders and is awaiting sentencing Kevin Coles, Kevin Coles, age 36, of New York, NY and Hagerstown, Maryland, was found guilty in April of multiple crimes, including murder for hire, robbery, and drug trafficking, and was sentenced to multiple consecutive life sentences; Yolanda Diaz, 31, Hagerstown, Md, indicted on multiple counts of perjury and obstruction of justice based upon her testimony at the Coles trial. Her trial is currently scheduled for October 2023. Joshua Davis, age 30, previously pled guilty to participating in the conspiracy to locate and kill an individual believed to be cooperating with federal authorities in the investigation of the triple murders. Davis was sentenced to serve 100 months’ imprisonment. The following federal, state and local law enforcement agencies participated in the investigation: Drug Enforcement Administration Harrisburg Resident Office; Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg; Pennsylvania State Police, Troop H; Franklin County Drug Task Force; Franklin County Adult Probation; Pennsylvania State Probation and Parole; Hagerstown Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division; Drug Enforcement Administration, Hagerstown Resident Office; Washington County Narcotics Task Force; Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office, Strike Force Group 1; Maryland State Police Homicide Unit; Baltimore Police Department Narcotics, Fugitive And Homicide Units; Baltimore County Police Department Narcotics and Gang Unit; Federal Bureau of Investigation Evidence Management Unit, Quantico, VA; US Marshal’s Service Harrisburg, PA and Phoenix, AZ; Franklin County District Attorney’s Office; United States Attorney’s Office, District Of Maryland; and the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office. Judy Fernandez, Manager of Analytic Services at LexisNexis Special Services, Inc., (LNSSI) provided expert assistance to investigators and the prosecutors in the areas of analysis, support, and the rendering of her expert opinion. Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael Consiglio are prosecuting 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. This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses. This prosecution is also part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) identified as “Retribution for Welsh Run”. OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Mesa Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud Targeting AHCCCS

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Diana Marie Moore, 42, of Mesa, Arizona, pleaded guilty on Monday to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2023, before United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich. Moore admitted that she owned two behavioral health counseling services, Harmony Family Services (HFS) and Harmony Family Services II (HFS II) and that she had also submitted an application for a third behavioral health counseling service, Logan Family Health, LLC (LFH). All three then applied to be medical providers for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid agency - HFS applied in 2019, HFS II applied in 2020, and LFH applied in 2022. AHCCCS approved all three applications. At the times that HFS and HFS II applied to AHCCCS, Moore admitted that she failed to disclose her ownership interest in the other entity. Moore also failed to disclose her prior felony conviction, which was required to be disclosed on the AHCCCS application form. Moore further admitted that she engaged in fraudulent billing practices targeting AHCCCS. Starting in January 2020, Moore began obtaining AHCCCS identification numbers for AHCCCS enrollees by paying other providers to transport AHCCCS enrollees to the HFS or HFS II facility for a single day, and then obtaining the enrollees’ identification numbers once they arrived. After these AHCCCS enrollees left the HFS or HFS II facility, Moore would submit bills to AHCCCS, which falsely claimed that HFS and HFS II continued providing services to those same enrollees for up to 90 days. Moore regularly claimed that HFS or HFS II provided counseling services to a given AHCCCS enrollee for eight or more hours each day, five days a week, for months in a row, even though Moore knew such services were not provided. In addition, Moore submitted claims to AHCCCS which falsely claimed that HFS or HFS II provided services to certain AHCCCS enrollees who were, in fact, deceased or imprisoned at the time Moore claimed to have provided services. Moore later established LFH to knowingly engage in the same pattern of fraudulent billing. Between January 2020 and December 2021, HFS, HFS II, and LFH collectively received over $22 million in payments from AHCCCS. In her plea agreement, Moore agreed to forfeit four residences, seven luxury vehicles, and over 100 other items, including jewelry, artwork, and designer clothing, all of which Moore purchased using fraudulent proceeds. A conviction for Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. A conviction for Money Laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aron Ketchel, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00040-PHX-SMB RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-106_Moore # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Boise Man Sentenced on Federal Gun Crime

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

body_text: BOISE – Jeffrey Eldridge, 57, of Boise, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Eldridge to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. According to court records, Eldridge was involuntarily committed to an Idaho State hospital in 2016. In that proceeding, a state magistrate judge found Eldridge "gravely" disabled due to mental illness. Because of this involuntary commitment, Eldridge could not lawfully possess firearms under federal law and was subsequently notified of this firearms disability. Eldridge has a history of mental illness and delusions where he believes others are attempting to harm him. On January 11, 2023, two officers responded to Eldridge’s residence in Boise to take him into custody for a mental evaluation. During the contact, officers located ten firearms in the home and approximately 1,300 rounds of ammunition. “The unlawful possession of firearms by those with mental illnesses present a public safety risk that cannot be ignored,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “This case exemplifies the collaborative work of our Project Safe Neighborhoods program, where local police cooperatively worked with federal counterparts.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Boise Police Department for their collective efforts on the case. This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN 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: Browning man admits manslaughter charge in death of woman struck by vehicle on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning man today admitted to a manslaughter charge for striking a woman with his vehicle and killing her in 2021 on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Jordan Joseph Morgan, 31, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Morgan faces a maximum of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. In a plea agreement in the case, the parties agreed that a specific recommendation of 12 months and one day imprisonment is appropriate. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Dec. 6. Morgan was detained pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that on the evening of Nov. 8, 2021, Morgan encountered the victim, identified as Jane Doe, who was known to him, in Browning. The two argued and Morgan got into his vehicle, while Jane Doe stayed by the open window at Morgan’s door. Morgan pulled forward with Jane Doe still at his door and holding onto the open window. After a short distance, the vehicle pulled to the right, throwing Jane Doe under the vehicle. Morgan continued driving and ran over Jane Doe. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Harper Suek and Kalah A. Paisley are prosecuting the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. XXX


title: St. Bernard Man Sentenced to  10 Years in Prison for Violating  the Federal Gun Control Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On July 12, 2023, United States District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced DAWAYNE BOUTAIN , age 29, a resident of Violet, to a statutory maximum of 120 months in prison for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, BOUTAIN arrived at an apartment in Violet as St. Bernard Parish officers were about to execute a search warrant. BOUTAIN was found in possession of a Ruger magazine with 10 live rounds. He had previously been convicted of four separate felonies and was federally prohibited from possessing guns or ammunition. Judge Africk also ordered that BOUTAIN serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison and pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Bernard Parish Sherriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update:  Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Nicole Leigh Fierbaugh, 44, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Fierbaugh admitted to her role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area. According to court documents and statements made in court, between October 2022 and March 22, 2023, Fierbaugh conspired with other individuals to sell quantities of methamphetamine. Fierbaugh admitted to collecting money from customers and using that money to purchase methamphetamine from a co-defendant. Fierbaugh further admitted to delivering methamphetamine to the customers while usually keeping some of the methamphetamine she purchased with their money for her personal use. On January 30, 2023, Fierbaugh arranged by phone to purchase methamphetamine from a co-defendant, who directed her to a woman who lived at his Charleston residence. Fierbaugh admitted to providing the woman with $160 in exchange for approximately 10.5 grams of methamphetamine. Fierbaugh is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Fierbaugh is among 30 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement has seized well over 200 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 28 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of fentanyl, 18 firearms and $747,000 in cash. More than a dozen of the defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31. ###


title: Former Birmingham Art Dealer Pleads Guilty to $1.5 Million Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - A former Birmingham, Michigan art dealer pleaded guilty to defrauding more than 10 customers who had entrusted her with the sale of their art of over $1.5 million, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Joining in the announcement was Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Scott Grewe, Chief of the Birmingham Police Department. Wendy Halstead Beard, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before United States District Judge Judith E. Levy. The crime arose from a multi-year scheme in which Beard received fine art photography prints on consignment, sold the artwork without the knowledge of the owners, kept the profits for her own personal gain, and continually deceived the owners about the status of their photographs. According to the plea agreement, beginning in approximately March 2019 and continuing through October 2022, Beard executed a scheme to defraud a number of her customers. The purpose of the scheme was for Beard to embezzle the proceeds from the sale of multiple fine art photographs that had been provided to her by her customers on a consignment basis. Throughout the scheme, Beard attempted to lull her victims into a false sense of security by offering excuses for her unwillingness or inability to promptly return the victims’ photographs after the expiration of the operative consignment agreements. These excuses consisted of, among other things, exaggerating the severity of her own health problems, including claiming (1) to have recently been in a coma and (2) to have received a double-lung transplant. In other instances, Beard told her victims that there was a lack of interest among potential purchasers—despite having already sold the photographs in question. Beard also created fake “employee” identities which she used to correspond with her victims in a further effort to deceive them. In the plea agreement, Beard acknowledged defrauding more than ten victims over the course of her scheme. She further admitted that at least one victim was vulnerable due to the victim’s advanced age. According to court records, the government asserts that the losses associated with the scheme are at least $1.5 million. Sentencing is set for December 12, 2023 before Judge Levy. “This defendant swindled numerous families out of valuable artwork and lied to them repeatedly in order to keep her fraud scheme afloat,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “She did this for no reason other than to line her own pockets at the expense of her victims. There is no place for this kind of criminal deceit in our community, and today’s conviction holds this defendant accountable for her conduct.” “With today’s plea, Ms. Beard has taken a first step towards accepting responsibility for her criminal behavior,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to investigating art fraud and to seeking justice for those affected by this type of scheme.” The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Particka and Adriana Dydell. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Birmingham Police Department


title: Fentanyl Traffickers in East Idaho Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho Josh Hurwit announced the result of two separate fentanyl trafficking cases in Eastern Idaho today. An Arizona man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Additionally, a Pocatello man was sentenced to three years in federal prison for assisting in the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. On July 11, 2023, Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced Marco Antonio Osuna, 28, of Tuscon, Arizona, to nine years in in federal prison with five years of supervised release to follow. According to court records, Osuna was initially arrested on August 7, 2022, after officers with the Pocatello Police Department contacted Osuna and found nearly 6,000 pills containing fentanyl in his possession, as well as two firearms. Osuna was also linked to a canister containing 3,000 fentanyl pills that was found on the popular Lower City Creek Trail recreation area. Osuna pleaded guilty to the charge on January 19, 2023. In a separate case, Derek Ross, 41, of Pocatello, was initially arrested on March 20, 2022, after detectives with the Pocatello Police Department, along with other members of the BADGES Task Force, initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Ross was a passenger. Levi McGraw, 32, of American Falls, was the driver. Task force officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle and located three pounds of methamphetamine, 4,000 fentanyl pills, and two firearms. On July 11, 2023, Judge Winmill sentenced Ross to three years in federal prison with five years of supervised release to follow for his role in assisting in the offense. Ross pleaded guilty to the charge on April 10, 2023. On May 22, 2023, McGraw was sentenced by Judge Winmill to ten years in federal prison with five years of supervised release to follow. McGraw pleaded guilty to the charge on January 9, 2023. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Pocatello Police Department and Idaho State Police, both of whom are members of the BADGES Task Force, which led to the charges. The BADGES Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. BADGES Task Force is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) which is composed of members from the Idaho State Police, Pocatello Police Department, Bannock County Sheriff’s Department, Chubbuck Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. These cases were handled by the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction. The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts. This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 200 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 146 have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 10,109 months (approximately 842.41 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 56 months (4.66 years). Defendants indicted for drug trafficking offenses serve, on average, approximately 62 months (5.16 years) in federal prison. ###


title: Raceland Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance  of a Drug Trafficking Crime

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – DAMER SMITH , age 46, of Raceland, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 11, 2023 for Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 924(c)(1)(A)(i), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, on November 17, 2018, deputies with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to SMITH’s residence after he threatened to kill his minor children. When deputies arrived, SMITH opened the door of his residence and fired a shot into the yard. Subsequently, SMITH surrendered, and deputies escorted the children from the residence safely. Thereafter, deputies executed search warrants on the residence, locating three firearms, ammunition, and approximately 3,898 grams of prepackaged marijuana. U.S. District Court Judge Greg Guidry sentenced SMITH to 84 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. SMITH was also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office in this investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Summer Law Camp Introduces High School Students To A Career In The Law

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – This week, 22 high school students attended the U.S. Attorney’s Office Summer Law Camp, for an introduction to the American Criminal Justice System and to learn more about what it takes to pursue a career in the law. The three-day program wrapped up on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, with the students participating in mock trials at the federal courthouse in Charlotte. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. presided over the mock trials. “Our Summer Law Camp is a great way to introduce young people to our criminal justice system and the diverse career paths available to them within the legal field,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The mock trials also give students an opportunity to better understand legal proceedings and trial advocacy, and experience first-hand what it’s like to be a lawyer in an interesting, fun, and interactive format.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office Summer Law Camp is free of charge, and it is available to students in 9 th through 12 th grades who are interested in learning more about the legal profession. The program is taught by career federal prosecutors and it is designed to help students explore the justice system, learn about the Federal Rules of Evidence, gain basic advocacy skills, and encourage students to think as lawyers. In addition, participating students receive instruction on evidence collection, and have an opportunity to hear from guest speakers representing law enforcement agencies and the defense bar. During the mock trials, students actively participate in the court proceedings, with assigned roles as prosecutors, defense attorneys, and witnesses, tasked with delivering opening and closing statements, providing testimony, and conducting cross examinations. “Our law camp provides students of all socio-economic backgrounds with an opportunity to be exposed to the legal profession, understand the legal process, and learn more about career options in the legal field,” said U.S. Attorney King. “But ultimately, the law camp is more than a lesson in civics or career preparation. The goal is to help young people gain a greater understanding of the power and responsibility they hold as citizens and the important role they play in ensuring that the criminal justice system is a place where they can make a difference for themselves, for their community, and, ultimately, for justice,” King added. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office Summer Law Camp can be found here .


title: Wheeling man admits to sale of fentanyl pills

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wheeling, West Virginia, man has admitted to the distribution of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Rashun Rafael Suncar, also known as “Blackie,” 36, pled guilty today to the distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, Suncar sold pills stamped as the prescription medication Percocet that contained fentanyl near the Elks Playground in East Wheeling. Agents obtained a search warrant for Suncar’s residence where they recovered additional drugs along with a 9mm Taurus pistol. Suncar faces a up to 20 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is seeking a sentencing enhancement against Suncar because of the firearm found in his home. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Nogay is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.


title: Man Admits Theft from Newington Gun Store

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TROY HARRIS, 28, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to a firearm offense stemming from a Newington gun store theft in September 2021. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 7, 2021, Harris drove a car through the entrance of Hoffman’s “Guns for the Good Guys,” a federal firearms licensee located in Newington, and stole two Kimber Micro 9 9mm semiautomatic pistols, two Kimber Pro Carry .45 ACP semiautomatic pistols, and one Kimber Super Match .45 ACP semiautomatic pistol. Harris pleaded guilty to theft of firearms from a licensee, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5. Harris has been detained since his arrest on September 7, 2021. This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Newington and Bristol Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings through the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, 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. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New Britain for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.


title: Burleson Would-Be Bomber Pleads Guilty to Firearms, Child Porn Charges

body_text: A Burleson man who apparently idolized the Columbine High School shooters pleaded guilty today to possessing a homemade bomb, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Noah Robert Calderon, 22, was charged via criminal complaint in April and indicted in May. He pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of receipt of child pornography. “This defendant’s obsession with mass shooters put him squarely on the Justice Department’s radar. When he violated the law, we took immediate action, potentially thwarting an act of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The discovery of one crime, possession of an unregistered firearm, led to the discovery of another, possession of child pornography. We are proud to hold him accountable for both. ” “The collaborative work by the FBI and our law enforcement partners led to today’s outcome which holds Mr. Calderon accountable for creating and possessing a homemade bomb and for possessing explicit videos of a child,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “The FBI is committed to protecting the communities we serve from violent acts and the exploitation of innocent children. We ask the public to remain alert and to continue reporting suspicious or threatening behavior to law enforcement.” The investigation began in October 2022, when the FBI received a tip about Mr. Calderon’s social media activity. Court documents indicate that online, Mr. Calderon professed a fascination with high-profile mass shootings, particularly the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School. He posted numerous images of himself in tactical-style vests posing with AR-15-style rifles and shared Columbine-themed memes along with images of homemade explosives. In March 2023, the FBI received another tip that Mr. Calderon had detonated a homemade bomb in his residential neighborhood. In plea papers, he admitted that he had purchased explosive precursors online. He also admitted that he stored 659.2 grams of explosive powder, along with a lighter, cannon fuse, cardboard tubing, a glass jar marked “frag” that contained metal ball bearings, lead, a funnel, and measuring spoons, in his garage. A subsequent search of his Google account revealed queries related to the Columbine killers, the Charleston church shooter, “pipe bomb how to make,” “how to make propane bombs,” and “wear [sic] were the propane bombs in Columbine,” as well as searches of the names of several local public schools. In plea papers, Mr. Caldron specifically admitted to searching for bomb-making information. A search of his phone revealed sexually explicit videos taken from a video chat between Mr. Calderon and a 13-year-old girl. Also in plea papers, he admitted he was aware of the child’s age when he saved the videos. Mr. Calderon now faces up to 30 years in federal prison – up to 10 years on the firearm count plus between five and 20 years on the child pornography count. His sentencing is set for Friday, Nov. 3 at 9 a.m. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the Burleson Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Weimer is prosecuting the case with National Security Division Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Jacob Warren.


title: Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Dogfighting Conspiracy

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

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


title: Two People Convicted of Conspiring to Sell Methamphetamine in East Alabama

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On July 11, 2023, a federal jury in Opelika, Alabama convicted Andre Tremayne Franklin, 38, from Columbus, Georgia, and Kahlia Nichelle Washington, 27, from Phenix City, Alabama, for their roles in an east Alabama drug trafficking operation, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, the DEA began an investigation of a suspected drug trafficking operation in 2020. The investigation eventually revealed that a Columbus, Georgia man, Justin Garrett, 30, was supplying methamphetamine and cocaine to Franklin and others to be resold. The jury heard evidence that Franklin would commonly store and sell the illegal drugs in a “stash house” in Phenix City. Washington helped Franklin run the stash house and would contact Franklin when customers would arrive. Garrett pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute on June 22, 2023, and his sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 5, 2023. A sentencing date for Franklin and Washington will be set in the coming months. At sentencing, Franklin and Garrett each face a sentence of up to life in prison. Washington could receive a sentence of anywhere from 5 to 40 years. The following provides more detail on the statuses of five additional defendants involved in the operation: On June 22, 2023, Xavier Toombs, 35, a resident of Phenix City, Alabama, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. Also on June 22, 2023, Ryan Brown, 33, another resident of Phenix City, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. On June 23, 2023, Torrez Jenkins, 28, a resident of Jonesboro, Georgia, was sentenced to 64 months in prison for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He pleaded guilty to the charge on March 6, 2023. On June 27, 2023, Lorenzo Miles, 34, a resident of Columbus, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. On June 28, 2023, Khourtney Jakeith Brown, 34, another resident of Phenix City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. United States Attorney Stewart thanks all of the agencies involved in this investigation, including the DEA; the FBI; the United States Marshals Service; the Auburn Police Division; the Eufaula Police Department; the Phenix City Police Department; the Henry County Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County Sheriff’s Office; the Columbus, Georgia Police Department; and the Muscogee County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin P. Davidson and Brett J. Talley are prosecuting the case.


title: Sexual abuse of boy on Crow Indian Reservation sends Crow Agency man to prison for 30 months

body_text: BILLINGS — A Crow Agency man who admitted to sexually abusing a boy in Lodge Grass, on the Crow Indian Reservation, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Nathaniel Bartell Plainbull, 34, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with sexual abuse of a minor. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that in June 2021, Plainbull and others were drinking and socializing on the Crow Indian Reservation and eventually went to a Lodge Grass residence where some continued to drink. Later, a woman opened a bedroom door and saw Plainbull, naked, on the bed with the victim, identified as John Doe, who was under the age of 16 at the time. The woman reported to law enforcement in March 2022 what she had seen in June 2021 while being interviewed on another matter. FBI agents interviewed John Doe, who described sexual abuse by Plainbull. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Panama City Man Convicted of Carjacking and Discharging a Firearm in Dothan, Alabama

body_text: MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Today, a federal jury in Dothan, Alabama, convicted Steven John Smalley, 50, from Panama City, Florida, of carjacking and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on September 14, 2021, Smalley drove to a gas station on Ross Clark Circle in Dothan and pulled behind another vehicle parked at a gas pump. There was no one in the parked vehicle at the time. Smalley got out of his car and looked into the parked vehicle, then walked toward the gas station’s front door. Video footage from the station showed that Smalley engaged in a conversation with the driver of the parked vehicle and eventually pulled a handgun out of his pocket and demanded the driver give him the keys to the car. The driver refused and Smalley unsuccessfully attempted to grab the keys from the driver’s hand several times. Smalley then pointed the firearm at the driver and asked him, “Do you want to die today?” Eventually, Smalley fired a round from the firearm in the direction of the driver, narrowly missing him. The driver then placed the keys on a trash can, Smalley took them, and drove away in the stolen car. The Dothan Police Department quickly responded and arrested Smalley within walking distance of the gas station. Following the guilty verdict, Smalley faces a sentence of ten years to life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Smalley in the coming months. The Dothan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin L. Jones and Joel Feil are prosecuting the case.


title: Owner of Health Care Company Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge for Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Mboutchock Kabiwa a/k/a Eugenie Bakari or Eugenie Kabiwa, age 45, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with a scheme to pay bribes and kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries to induce the beneficiaries to visit her company Holy Health Care Services, LLC (“Holy Health”), a mental health services provider with locations in Washington, D.C. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, Emily Odom; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS OIG”); and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia. According to her plea agreement, Kabiwa and a co-conspirator owned and operated Holy Health. Holy Health entered into Medicaid Provider Agreements with the District of Columbia’s Department of Health Care Finance (“DHCF”), to provide healthcare services to D.C. Medicaid recipients. Holy Health was certified by the District of Columbia’s Department of Behavioral Health (“DBH”) to provide mental health services as a freestanding clinic and as a Mental Health and Rehabilitation Services (“MHRS”) provider. As a certified MHRS provider, Holy Health had authority to provide and bill for a variety of mental health services including “community support” – a service for which community support workers (“CSWs”) provide rehabilitative and educational support to mental health patients both in clinical settings and in the community. Holy Health documented the services provided to patients utilizing an electronic healthcare system called the Integrated Care Management System (“ICAMS”), then submitted invoices for those services to DHCF, which processed the invoices and paid Holy Health. As detailed in the plea agreement, Kabiwa and her co-conspirators paid bribes and kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries to induce the beneficiaries to visit Holy Health, and paid bribes and kickbacks to others in exchange for referring Medicaid beneficiaries to Holy Health for mental health services. The co-conspirators caused Medicaid beneficiaries to be transported, often by van, to Holy Health’s North Capitol location. Medicaid beneficiaries who visited Holy Health were required to sign in and received a cash bribe – generally $5 or $10 – in exchange for visiting Holy Health. To conceal the nature of these payments, Kabiwa directed Holy Health employees to falsely describe these payments as a transportation stipend, even when Holy Health transported the beneficiaries or when beneficiaries were not incurring transportation expenses. At other times during the conspiracy, Kabiwa and her co-conspirators attempted to conceal the illegal bribe payments to beneficiaries as payments from the Agatha Foundation, a nonprofit that Kabiwa founded. Kabiwa provided front-desk employees of Holy Health with sign-in sheets containing Agatha Foundation letterhead to create the false appearance that Agatha was making the payments. Kabiwa admitted that she and a co-conspirator provided funds to Holy Health employees to fund the kickback and bribe payments. According to the plea agreement, Kabiwa and her co-conspirators caused claims to be submitted by Holy Health to Medicaid for services, including community support services, purportedly provided to Medicaid beneficiaries procured through bribes and kickbacks. Medicaid would not have paid the claims had it known they were procured through bribes and kickbacks. Kabiwa also became aware that co-conspirators entered false notes into ICAMS for CSW services that were not rendered and were not provided as billed to Medicaid, but took no action to stop or correct the fraudulent claims. Based on the amount that Medicaid paid to Holy Health for community support services that were not delivered or procured through bribes and kickbacks, the actual loss to Medicaid was at least approximately $3,343,781. Finally, Kabiwa admitted that she fraudulently obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) of $150,000 for Holy Health. The EIDL program was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) and was intended to help small businesses meet necessary financial obligations that could have been met had the COVID-19 pandemic not occurred. After a $1,000 handling charge, EIDL loan proceeds of $149,900 were transferred into a Holy Health bank account on May 26, 2020. Within a few days, Kabiwa transferred $120,000 of the EIDL proceeds from the Holy Health bank account to her personal bank account. Kabiwa used the EIDL funds for personal purposes including to purchase two vehicles—one of which was a Porsche Cayenne. Kabiwa titled both vehicles in the name of her non-profit, the Agatha Foundation. Kabiwa also transferred more than $40,000 in EIDL funds overseas, including $37,821 to Cameroon, even though Holy Health had no operations outside of the United States. Kabiwa faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for the health care fraud conspiracy. As part of her plea agreement, Kabiwa will be required to forfeit and pay restitution in the full amount of the loss, which the parties agree is at least $3,493,681. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for November 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of three strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the HHS OIG, and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica C. Collins, Christopher M. Sarma, and Megan S. McKoy, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md . # # #


title: Arizona Resident Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution in Tulsa

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: Tulsa, Okla. – An Arizona resident was sentenced to 20 years and 8 months in prison for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary sentenced Hatcher Raymond Day, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona to 188 months imprisonment for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and 60 months for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Zouhary further ordered the sentences to run consecutively followed by 5 years of supervised release. “Hatcher came to Tulsa from Arizona for the express purpose of flooding our area with fentanyl. We are committed to bringing down operations that peddle drugs and endanger our community,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. “I want to thank the Tulsa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for working together to bring this case for prosecution.” According to court documents, in September 2022, an officer with the Tulsa Police Department’s Human Trafficking and Vice Unit, received a tip that Day was selling fentanyl pills from a Tulsa Airbnb rental property. Officers were able to establish Day was the individual who rented the property through Airbnb and Day was present when a search warrant was executed on Sept. 19, 2022. During the search, they discovered more than 8,000 fentanyl pills weighing 888 grams, five firearms, and numerous rounds of ammunition. Day was a convicted felon and, therefore, prohibited from possessing firearms. Officers further discovered four of the five firearms were stolen when they checked the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. The Tulsa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Nathan Michel and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.


title: Great Falls meth trafficker sentenced to prison

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine at a casino in the community was sentenced today to five years and eight months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. James Joseph Sangrey, 39, pleaded guilty in March to possession with intent to distribute meth. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in August 2022, the Russell Country Drug Task Force learned that Sangrey was dealing drugs at a casino in Great Falls. Law enforcement observed Sangrey meet for a few minutes in the parking lot with occupants of vehicles and believed that he was selling drugs. On Aug. 31, 2022, after a suspected drug deal, state probation officers arrested Sangrey as he tried to run out the back door of the casino. Officers served a state search warrant on Sangrey’s car and seized a backpack that contained baggies, a blow torch, a mirror with white residue and a scale. In the car, officers found two plastic baggies containing meth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, Great Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


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

component: Tax Division

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