title: Former Inland Empire Nonprofit CEO Arrested on Indictment Alleging She Embezzled Federal Grant Funds for Wedding and Crypto

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – The former CEO and executive director of two San Bernardino County nonprofit organizations was arrested today on an indictment alleging she embezzled federal grant money intended for the nonprofits, using more than $225,000 of it for unauthorized expenditures such as wedding and travel expenses and cryptocurrency. Donise Warren, 51, a.k.a. “Donise Warren-Jackson,” “Donise Jackson,” and “Donise Conerly,” of Canyon Lake, is charged with 15 counts of embezzlement from organizations receiving federal funds and 15 counts of embezzlement of government property. Each charge is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. Warren was arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside. She pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. A federal magistrate judge ordered her released on $75,000 bond. Warren’s trial is scheduled for July 1. Warren was the president, CEO, and executive director of the Citadel Community Development Corporation (CCDC), whose stated mission was to assist at-risk individuals with accessing affordable housing, career services, and education services. Warren was also the president, CEO, and executive director of the Citadel Community Care Facility (CCCF), another nonprofit operating at the same location as CCDC. According to the indictment, which a grand jury returned on May 1, Warren controlled CCDC from no later than March 2016 until at least October 2023. During that time, on CCDC’s behalf, Warren applied for three grants from the United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL-ETA). DOL-ETA awarded CCDC each of these grants, which required that the money be used on authorized expenditures. Warren allegedly embezzled approximately $101,000 of CCDC’s grant money and caused it to be used on wedding and travel expenses, including a $25,000 payment to her spouse’s personal credit card. Warren controlled CCCF from at least March 2020 to approximately February 2023. During that time, on CCCF’s behalf, Warren applied for a United States Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant. After CCCF was awarded the SAMHSA grant, Warren embezzled approximately $127,500 of the grant money to her personal Coinbase account, where she purchased various cryptocurrencies. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Cory L. Burleson of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: South African man arrested for stabbing on cruise ship

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: JUNEAU, Alaska – A South African man was arrested by the FBI today on criminal charges after disembarking a cruise ship in Juneau for allegedly stabbing multiple people with medical scissors while aboard the ship. According to court documents, on May 6, 2024, Ntando Sogoni, 35, was working on the cruise ship when other ship employees observed the defendant attempting to deploy a lifeboat. Sogoni was contacted by ship security and escorted to the ship’s medical center for an assessment. Upon arrival, Sogoni physically attacked a security guard and a male nurse inside an examination room and proceeded to enter another examination room where a woman, who is a U.S. citizen, was being examined. He grabbed a pair of scissors and stabbed the woman multiple times in the arm, hand and face. He also stabbed two security guards who intervened—one in the head and one in the back and shoulders. Sogoni was detained and held in the ship’s jail prior to his arrest. Sogoni is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon within maritime and territorial jurisdiction in violation of 18 U.S.C. §113(a)(3). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office and FBI Juneau Resident Agency, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Greene County Felon Sentenced to 84 Months for Possessing Cocaine and Cocaine Base for Distribution, and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Atniel Pagan, age 24, of Catskill, New York, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, and for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins. When he pled guilty in this case, Pagan admitted to possessing, at an apartment in Albany, 225 grams of cocaine and 22 grams of cocaine base that he intended to sell. Pagan, a previously convicted felon, further admitted to possessing a loaded, privately manufactured, semi-automatic, AR-style rifle, and a loaded privately manufactured, semi-automatic pistol (a/k/a “ghost guns”), in order to guard against the potential theft of his drugs and drug money. Pagan was arrested at his apartment by the Deputy U.S. Marshals executing a state arrest warrant. United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered that Pagan forfeit the guns and $738 seized from his apartment, pay a $5,000 fine, and serve a 4-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Albany Police with assistance provided by ATF and the Greene County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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: Troy Man Charged with Abusive Sexual Contact at the Albany Veterans Affairs Medical Center

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Robert J. Seifert, Jr., age 65, of Troy, New York, was indicted today on a charge that he grabbed the breast and groin of a paramedic at the Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, made the announcement. The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charge filed against Seifert carries a maximum term of 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release up to 1 year. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Seifert appeared in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel on April 9, 2024, upon being charged by criminal complaint. Seifert has conditionally waived his right to a detention hearing and is detained pending further proceedings. This case is being investigated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Veterans Affairs Police Service at the Albany VAMC. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the case.


title: Brooklyn Woman Pleads Guilty to Nationwide Marijuana Trafficking and Money Laundering Conspiracies

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Onisha Smith, age 41, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to distribute marijuana and money laundering. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf; and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. Smith admitted that she was a member of a marijuana and THC trafficking organization that shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno, California, to locations throughout the United States, including New York City and the Capital Region, between 2017 and June 2022. She also admitted to laundering marijuana proceeds for the organization. The packages of marijuana were shipped through UPS and FedEx from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, by Dwight A. Singletary II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie.” Smith received the packages of marijuana at, among other locations, her apartment and a neighboring apartment in Brooklyn; her brother, Lateek White, also received packages of marijuana at his residence in Brooklyn. In total, Smith and White received 71 packages containing approximately 294 kilograms, or 648 pounds, of marijuana. Smith also laundered marijuana proceeds for the organization by purchasing cashier’s checks with cash marijuana proceeds for Singletary; depositing cash marijuana proceeds into her bank accounts and transferring the money to Singletary; and receiving payment for marijuana and transferring it to Singletary. Smith faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the two counts to which she pled guilty, conspiring to distribute marijuana and conspiring to commit money laundering; fines of up to $1 million and $500,000, respectively, on each count; and a term of supervised release of between 3years and life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Smith was charged in an indictment with Singletary, Coles, White and 20 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes. Singletary and Coles have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. In addition to Smith, White and seven other defendants, Rosemary Coles , Latrice Mumphrey , Sammy Olague , Victor Turner , Kristle Walker , Ruby Ledesma , and Jazell Shuler , previously pled guilty and are pending sentencing. The ATF, DEA, Troy Police Department and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Dustin C. Segovia are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Bakersfield Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif . — Jesus Antonio Munoz, 26, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty yesterday to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 10, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a federal drug search warrant at a stash house in Bakersfield following an undercover purchase of 4 pounds of methamphetamine from co-defendant Ramon Maldonado, 32, of Bakersfield. During the execution of the search warrant, Munoz was found in the living room in possession of firearm. Maldonado was found in one of the bedrooms of the residence where officers also located a large quantity of controlled substances and another firearm. Munoz is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a loaded firearm without registration. Maldonado is scheduled for a status conference on May 29, 2024. The charges against Maldonado are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Munoz is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on July 29, 2024. Munoz faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Madera Felon Sentenced to 34 Months for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm

body_text: FRESNO , Calif . — Evan Moore, 40, of Chowchilla, was sentenced yesterday to 34 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Dec. 18, 2022, Madera Police officers stopped Moore after observing several traffic violations. Moore was found to be in possession of 1.24 pounds of marijuana, a digital scale, and zip-loc baggies. Hidden underneath the steering column, officers located a Glock 19 handgun. Because of his criminal record, including two prior convictions for illegally possessing firearms, Moore may not lawfully possess firearms or ammunition. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Madera Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Antonio J. Pataca prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Fresno Man Sentenced to 56 Months for Burglarizing Two Firearms Stores

body_text: FRESNO , Calif . — Justin Ernest Breitwieser, 56, of Fresno, was sentenced yesterday to 56 months in prison and ordered to pay over $2,700 in restitution for burglary of a federally licensed firearms dealer, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Sept. 3, 2022, Breitwieser broke into firearms dealer #1 and stole six firearms, ammunition, and other items. Then, on Oct. 29, 2022, Breitwieser broke into firearms dealer #2 and stole an AR-15 upper assembly, a Glock conversion kit, and a tactical bullet proof vest. A search of Breitwieser’s residence recovered evidence from the burglaries. Additionally, agents located two firearms and approximately 900 rounds of ammunition. This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Antonio J. Pataca prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Mobile Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Machinegun

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a machinegun. According to court documents, Naquarius Isaiah Braxton, 23, was arrested in March 2023 after he led Mobile police on a high-speed car chase. Braxton refused to stop for police after running a stop sign and failing to signal a turn. During the chase, Braxton exceeded 80 miles per hour through a residential neighborhood, lost control of his car, and struck a brick mailbox. Braxton then bailed out of the car and fled on foot with a Glock pistol in his right hand. Officers caught Braxton in the backyard of a house and took him into custody. Officers found Braxton’s .40 caliber Glock pistol lying in the grass nearby. The pistol was illegally modified with a machinegun-conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” which rendered the pistol a fully automatic weapon. After arresting Braxton, officers searched the car that he had abandoned. On the driver’s seat where Braxton had been sitting, officers found a 60-round drum magazine containing 38 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition and a full-faced ski mask. On the front floorboard, officers found two plastic baggies containing marijuana. Federal agents executed search warrants for Braxton’s Instagram accounts, which contained evidence of his possession of illegally modified weapons. Specifically, Braxton’s accounts contained numerous pictures and videos of Braxton holding Glock pistols equipped with machinegun-conversion devices and drum magazines, including the pistol that officers seized from him on March 4, 2023. In addition to the 37-month prison sentence, Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Braxton to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Braxton to pay $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: PRESS RELEASE: Convicted Felon Who Assaulted Officer Sentenced to Over 7 Years

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man to more than 7 years in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. According to information presented in court, on November 2, 2022, officers approached a black Infiniti G37 backed into a parking space in front of a BP gas station in the Whitehaven community. Because of a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, the officers told the driver, Tracey Shaw , 27, to roll down his window. Shaw refused; instead, he started the Infiniti and accelerated out of the parking lot, striking one of the officers with the car. Shaw then led officers on a car chase eastbound on Shelby Drive reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. After Shaw crashed the Infiniti on Tchulahoma Road, he fled on foot and hid in the backyard of a nearby residence. Officers arrested Shaw and recovered a Glock .40 caliber pistol with a 22-round extended magazine that Shaw had concealed behind the residence. On August 16, 2023, Shaw pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Shaw on May 2, 2024, to 92 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The PSN Gun Task Force investigated this case for federal prosecution with assistance from the Memphis Police Department. United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Regina Thompson, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.


title: Memphis Man Sentenced for Possession of Goods Stolen from Semi-Trailer

body_text: Memphis, TN - A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man to 46 months in federal prison for possessing goods that had been stolen from a semi-trailer traveling from Ontario, Canada, which was parked in Memphis overnight. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today. According to information presented in court, on May 5, 2022, after 3:00 A.M., Memphis Police officers were flagged down by a truck driver and his wife who reported that their parked semi-trailer had been burglarized. The victims told officers that they felt movement in the back of the trailer, and while they were investigating, a shot was fired. The victims reported that at least six DuroMax Dual Fuel generators had been stolen out of the trailer. Investigators tracked the generators to the residence of Andre Treadwell, 32 , where they discovered five of the stolen DuroMax generators, a pair of bolt cutters, a Palmetto State Armory AR-15 rifle, various live rounds of ammunition, and several bottles of Jimador Tequila that were reported stolen from an earlier shipment. On January 30, 2024, Treadwell pled guilty to possession of the stolen generators as well as possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. On May 3, 2024, United States District Thomas L. Parker sentenced Treadwell to 46 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the Memphis Cargo Theft Task Force, a multi-agency task force formed in 2008 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to focus on cargo and major theft in Shelby County. The Memphis Police Department provided additional assistance in this case. United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case. # # # For more information, please contact Tjuana Holmes at (901) 544-4231 or Tjuana.Holmes@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on Twitter at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Operation Overdrive in Tampa Leads to Dozens of Arrests and Significant Drug Seizures

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – Today, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-led joint task force, designed to bring justice to Tampa’s most violent drug traffickers, announced the results of a 5-month, concentrated law enforcement effort. Roger Handberg, United States Attorney (USA) for the Middle District of Florida (MDFL) and Deanne Reuter, the DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge (SAC), joined Tampa Police Department (PD) Chief Lee Bercaw, and representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Tampa Field Division, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Tampa Field Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Tampa Regional Operations Center (TBROC), and the State Attorney’s Office (SAO) - 13th Judicial Circuit, to make the announcement this morning in Tampa, Florida. In 2022, DEA initiated Operation Overdrive, a data-driven, intelligence-led approach using national crime statistics and CDC data to identify hot spots of drug-related violence and overdose deaths across the country, in order to devote its law enforcement resources to where they will have the most impact: the communities where criminal drug networks are causing the most harm. Starting in October 2022 the DEA Tampa District Office-led team of local, state, and federal partners mapped, identified, arrested, and prosecuted more than a dozen drug-traffickers in three investigations under Operation Overdrive Tampa. Beginning in October 2022 through March 2023, investigators seized 2.1 kilograms of cocaine, 4.07 kilograms of fentanyl, 3.82 kilograms of methamphetamine, .05 kilograms of oxycodone, .65 kilograms of marijuana, and .82 grams of heroin. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to reducing violent crime and overdose deaths in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. “That goal cannot be accomplished without the hard work and dedication of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts to make the Tampa Bay area safer for its citizens.” “Inherently, drug trafficking is linked to crime and violence, and no community, including Tampa, is immune. Operation Overdrive is an example of the important work we do together to keep our communities safe,” said Miami DEA Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter. “These results are a testament to the dangerous and important work of law enforcement, and the critical role our local, state and federal partner play in supporting their communities.” "The success of ’Operation Overdrive’ is another example of the power of partnerships," said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. "By working together with our federal partners at the DEA, we were able to target the root causes of drug-related violence and overdoses in our community. The results of this joint initiative demonstrate our shared dedication to data-driven policing and our commitment to making Tampa safer, together." FDLE Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said, “Fentanyl continues to be one of the top threats facing Florida and our nation and FDLE continues to tackle the issue head-on. We are committed to taking down entire drug rings and doing all we can to protect our Florida families.” “I commend our statewide and local law enforcement partners for working collaboratively to tackle the fentanyl crisis that is impacting so many of our communities,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez. “My office will vigorously prosecute drug dealers that are inflicting pain and suffering on families who have lost loved ones due to drug overdose. Together, we will continue to make meaningful strides toward reducing the number of fentanyl deaths and violent crime on the streets of Hillsborough County.” The DEA Tampa DO and Tampa PD led the Operation Overdrive Tampa investigations with substantial assistance from ATF Tampa, USPIS Tampa, and FDLE – Tampa Bay ROC. The USAO MDFL and SAO – 13th Judicial Circuit handled the prosecutions. If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community, please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA online Tip Line at Submit a Tip | DEA.gov . Concerns about prescription drug abuse or diversion can be reported to the DEA through this link: RX Abuse Online Reporting (usdoj.gov) .


title: Petersburg, Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Thirty-Four Felony Counts Involving Crimes Against Children

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Petersburg, Illinois, man, Adam L. Power, 30, of the 500 block of 8 th Street in Petersburg, Illinois, pleaded guilty to seven counts of production of child pornography, eight counts of distribution of child pornography, eighteen counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography on May 3, 2024, for his criminal actions between July 2022 and February 2023. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for September 5, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Illinois. According to the facts in support of his plea, Power, while using online chatting applications such as Snapchat and Kik, identified himself as a minor female to get minor males to produce child pornographic images and videos of themselves. Additionally, Power distributed as well as received visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Power was originally arrested in Petersburg, Illinois, on March 21, 2023, and charged for possession of child pornography by the Menard County State’s Attorney’s Office. On June 30, 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois in Springfield charged the defendant with production, distribution, and receipt of child pornography. A Grand Jury returned a ten-count indictment on July 6, 2023. Subsequently, on January 3, 2024, the Grand Jury returned a superseding indictment charging him with a total of thirty-four counts involving crimes against children. Power has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since June 30, 2023. Each count of production of child pornography carries a statutory penalty of at least fifteen years with a maximum of thirty years’ imprisonment. The charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography carry a penalty of at least five years to a maximum of twenty years’ imprisonment; and for possession of child pornography, he can be penalized up to twenty years imprisonment. Agencies participating in the investigation include the Department of Homeland Security, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Athens Police Department, Illinois State Police, Petersburg Police Department, and the Menard County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs is representing the government in the prosecution. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Sardis man sentenced to more than fifteen years in prison for illegal gun possession

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

body_text: Oxford, MS – A Sardis man was sentenced today to more than 15 years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Jamaal Ellison, age 40, was stopped by an Oxford Police Department officer for speeding in January of 2022, but fled the scene in his car. Ellison crashed the car into a pole and attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by the officer. Officers found a Glock.40 caliber pistol and ammunition in Ellison’s vehicle along with illegal narcotics, and Ellison admitted possessing the gun. Ellison, who had previously been convicted of multiple felonies involving the sale of narcotics, was sentenced pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Act, which provides for a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment. During a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Ellison to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release. “Our communities should be able to expect that repeat felony offenders will face real consequences, and that those consequences will be heightened when that offender illegally possesses a firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “This office will continue to work with partners like the Oxford Police Department, the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit, and ATF to ensure that those consequences exist for criminals in the Northern District of Mississippi.” “The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that career criminals will be held accountable as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe as a top priority for ATF,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “Sending a violent individual like this to prison is another example of our commitment to work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case in partnership with the Oxford Police Department and Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Hampton prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: GRENADA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO COCAINE CONSPIRACY

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Croix, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Rodney de Roche, 39, of Grenada, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States. For his conviction, de Roche faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2024. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to court documents, on November 15, 2023, the United States Coast Guard intercepted a vessel approximately 116 nautical miles west of Fort de France, Martinique, a known drug trafficking area. On board the vessel, officers observed multiple packages tied to sandbags being thrown overboard. One of the packages recovered from the ocean contained 32 kilograms of cocaine. De Roche was one of six individuals found on the vessel. The master of the vessel claimed Grenadian nationality for the vessel and the Government of Grenada granted a waiver of jurisdiction for the case and waived objection to the enforcement of United States laws. This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Huston. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: THREE PLEAD GUILTY IN COCAINE SMUGGLING OPERATION

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Eleuterio Gomez Murillo, 53, of Colombia, and Randall Vasquez, 47, and Mainor Salazar Montero, 34, both of Costa Rica, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller to possession with intent to distribute cocaine onboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. According to court documents, on November 26, 2020, the United States Coast Guard intercepted a vessel in international waters approximately 115 nautical miles from Isla Malpelo, Colombia. On board the vessel were the three defendants, multiple cannisters of fuel and 383 kilograms of cocaine. For their convictions, Murillo, Vasquez and Salazar Montero face a sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment. The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter.


title: Omaha Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Adrionna Leeper, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced May 3, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Chief United State District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Leeper to 75 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After she is released from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,463.67. On February 24, 2022, at 10:46 pm, Omaha Police Department (“OPD”) officers responded to a robbery and assault at the Midwest Smoke Shop at 7010 Dodge Street #105 in Omaha. The store employee stated that four parties were in the store, and the employee initially thought they were customers. One of the suspects demanded money and a cell phone from the employee. The employee declined and grabbed a baseball bat in order to defend himself. One of the suspects attempted to physically assault the employee. The suspects left the store without any money from the store, but one of the suspects did take money from a tip jar. Investigators believed, based on the video, that Ms. Leeper personally participated in this robbery with Quincy Louis. On February 25, 2022, at 6:31 pm, OPD Officers responded to a robbery at the Family Dollar at 6618 North 30th Street in Omaha. Witnesses and store employees advised a male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black shoes, and a black ski mask came into the store with a handgun and demanded cash from the register and safes. The suspect pointed the handgun at several people and even put it to the back of the store manager's head. The suspect then demanded the clerk put the money into a plastic bag from the store and then fled from the store northbound on foot. The suspect also demanded the employee remove the "tracked money" from the bag prior to taking the money and fleeing. The suspect obtained $1,342 from this robbery. Faye Lynn Hardesty worked at this store leading up to the robbery. On February 25, 2022, at 7:05 pm, OPD Officers responded to a robbery at the Family Dollar at 2601 North 16th Street in Omaha. Witnesses advised a male wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black shoes, and a black ski mask came into the store with a handgun and demanded cash from the register. The suspect then had the clerk put the money into a bag from the store and fled southbound on foot. A short time later, on February 25, 2022, at approximately 9:26 pm, OPD officers responded to a robbery at the Bucky's/ Casey's Gas Station at 2223 South 24th Street in Omaha. The clerk advised a male wearing a brown hoodie jacket and a black ski mask came into the store with a handgun and demanded cash from the register. The suspect then demanded the clerk put the money into a bag and ran from the store. Less than an hour later, on February 25, 2022, at 10:01 pm, officers responded to a robbery at the MegaSaver Gas Station at 10707 Blondo Street in Omaha. The clerk advised a male, wearing a black hoodie, black pants and ski mask, entered the store and demanded money from the register. The suspect then had the clerk put the money into a bag from the store and fled southbound on foot. During this robbery, the suspect racked the gun and told a victim, “I’m not joking!” Within approximately half an hour of the MegaSaver robbery, OPD officers responded to a robbery at the Casey's/ Bucky's Gas Station at 107 South 40th Street in Omaha. The clerk advised a male entered the store, showing a handgun, demanded money from the register and struck her in the head with the base plate of the firearm. The clerk was injured from the assault and received medical treatment for a cut to the right side of her head. Individuals on scene described the clerk as acting disoriented or confused. The suspect demanded the money be put into a plastic store bag and ran from the store. The suspect was described as a thinner male, wearing all black, a black ski mask, and a surgical mask over his mouth. On February 26, 2022, at 11:58 pm, OPD Officers responded to a robbery at the Valero Select Mart Gas Station located at 2604 S 13th Street in Omaha. The clerk advised a male, wearing a black hoodie, pants and ski mask, armed with a black handgun, entered the store and threatened to shoot the employee. The suspect then demanded the clerk put the money from the cash register and safe into a plastic bag from the store along with Nebraska lottery scratch tickets. The cash taken during this robbery was approximately $4,000. Also on February 26, 2022, the suspect robbed a Kwik Shop in Ralston, Nebraska and took $135.68 from the register, $510 from the safe, Newport brand cigarettes and lottery tickets. On February 27, 2022, at 1:04 am, Council Bluffs Police Officers were dispatched to a robbery at the Romantix store at 3216 151 Avenue, Council Bluffs, Iowa. The suspect was described as a male, wearing all dark clothing and a dark mask, armed with a handgun. The suspect demanded money from the business, and upon receiving money the suspect fled the business. On February 27, 2022, at 3:21 am, Bellevue Police officers were dispatched to a robbery at the QuikTrip Gas Station at 1311 Fort Crook Road, Bellevue, Nebraska. Upon arrival officers spoke to the clerk who advised a male wearing all black clothing and a ski mask robbed the store at gunpoint, then fled southbound on foot. Approximately 90 minutes later, still on February 27, 2022, OPD officers responded to a robbery at a different QuikTrip gas station on 1704 South 72nd Street in Omaha. The clerk advised a male wearing a black hoodie and ski mask entered the store, pointed a black handgun at her and demanded money from the register. The suspect had the clerk put the money into a store plastic bag and ran from the store. The next day, February 28, 2022, at approximately 10:32 pm, Omaha police officers responded to an attempted robbery call at a Smoke and Vape shop located at 4102 South 24th Street in Omaha. The employee reported a suspect in all dark clothing came to the door of the business, attempted to open it while it was locked, and then pointed a handgun at the employee when the suspect could not get in the business. The suspect said to the employee, “Open the door, and I won’t kill you.” The employee denied admittance, and the suspect fled the area. Three robberies occurred in Lincoln, Nebraska on March 1, 2022. During the three business robberies, it was learned the suspect description was similar to the description of the suspect in the QuikTrip robbery and also that during one of the robberies, a clerk from one of the businesses had been "pistol whipped" by the suspect. Another customer was kicked in the head during one of the Lincoln robberies. The locations of the robberies in Lincoln were 2710 W Street; 4400 Cornhusker Highway ($500 was taken during this Kwik Shop robbery); and 3500 North 48th Street. Investigators on scene described the pistol-whipped employee as disoriented from the injury and visibly hurt and bleeding on her face. The suspect with the gun told one customer who was not injured like the other customers, “I’m not going to hurt you because you’re black.” Following those three robberies in Lincoln, another robbery occurred in Omaha on March 1, 2022, and during this robbery, officers were flagged down while the robbery was in progress. During this robbery, a female customer was ordered to the ground, and the suspect put a gun to her back and asked how much money was in her purse, and she said, “$100,” and the suspect said, “That’s it?” and moved on from her. This allowed officers to identify a suspect vehicle in relation to that robbery (identified a gray 2021 Nissan Versa with Florida plates). Officers were able to track down the getaway vehicle as it fled the scene of this fourth robbery on March 1, 2022. The driver of the vehicle proceeded to lead police officers on a high-speed pursuit. During the pursuit, one of suspects fired shots at the police cruiser and one of those shots struck the cruiser with police officers inside of it. The pursuit continued from Douglas County into Sarpy County, Nebraska to South 138th Street, Springfield, Nebraska where the pursuit ended. At the conclusion of the pursuit, four suspects were taken into custody out of the getaway vehicle and transported to OPD Headquarters for interviews. The suspects were identified as Quincy Louis, D’Juan Beverly, Jr, Adrionna Leeper, and Faye Lynne Hardesty. A black Glock43X firearm was recovered in the area that Quincy Louis was located and taken into custody. All four defendants gave statements to police officers about the robbery spree, and multiple defendants identified Quincy Louis as the suspect going into the businesses with a handgun to rob them. Louis was voluntarily interviewed and admitted to committing the robberies in the series. Louis provided details of the robberies in Bellevue, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Lincoln, Omaha, and Ralston. Louis also admitted to firing shots at the pursuing officers. The corroborating details that Louis provided details that matched the robberies to include location, proceeds and method. Investigators reviewed video surveillance of the robberies and noted that it appeared to them that the same hoodie, black with white drawstrings, was worn in all of the robberies and there were similarities in how the robberies were committed. There was consistency in the types of businesses that were targeted as well. All of the businesses obtained goods from outside the State of Nebraska at the time of the robberies, and the businesses had to close during the investigation of the scenes and lost customers during those timeframes or were unable to serve customers during the on-scene investigations. Investigators in follow-up searches recovered not only the Glock handgun but also items that appeared to be taken during business robberies that were recovered in a personal handbag of Adrionna Leeper. One of the defendants indicated that all of the defendants shared in the proceeds of the robberies. Interviews amongst the defendants confirmed that Beverly, Jr. served as the getaway driver and that the female defendants assisted with casing businesses. Leeper was also identified as assisting Quincy Louis on video in the first robbery at the Midwest Smoke Shop on February 24, 2022. Co-defendant Quincy Louis pled guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised released. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,463.67. Co-defendant D'Juan Beverly, Jr. pled guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised released. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,463.67. Co-defendant Faye Hardesty pled guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. She was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised released. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,463.67. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Two Florida men sentenced to prison for exporting stolen outboard engines to Mexico

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On April 29, Antonio Perez Toledo, 40, of Ft. Myers, Florida, and Brian Perez, 43, of Homestead, Florida, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a transnational conspiracy to export stolen outboard engines to Mexico through two Miami-based freight forwarding companies. Antonio Perez Toledo was sentenced to 48 months in prison, and Brian Perez was sentenced to 40 months in prison. The sentencing hearings were held before U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams. Judge Williams also ordered the defendants to forfeit the proceeds they each received from the scheme, and to pay restitution to the identifiable victims. Antonio Perez Toledo and Brian Perez participated in a conspiracy that spanned from 2015 and 2019. The co-conspirators used two Miami freight forwarding companies, and together exported over 600 stolen engines with a replacement value of more than $12 million dollars. Over several years, Antonio Perez Toledo and Brian Perez each personally arranged to export approximately $1 million worth of stolen engines. Before exporting the engines, the co-conspirators affixed false serial number stickers on the engines. Other co-conspirators, charged in related indictments, have also been convicted and sentenced for their roles in this transnational conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region, announced the sentences imposed. HSI Miami and CGIS investigated the case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana Maria Martinez prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove is handling asset forfeiture. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-20344. ###


title: Rochester man going to prison on child pornography charge involving cameras hidden in a church bathroom

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Stephen Nicot, 61, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Rossi and Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that between 2012 and 2014, Nicot hid a camera in the bathroom of a church located in the Western District of New York. Nicot positioned the camera so that it would capture video and images of naked individuals using the shower in the church bathroom. He did this knowing some of the individuals would be under the age of 18 and he planned to display the video of the minors. On July 21, 2022, law enforcement executed a warrant at the Nicot’s residence and recovered a memory card and USB drive, which contained videos and images of at least five minor victims using the church bathroom and shower. Two cell phones were also seized, which contained naked images of a minor victim that were recorded by a camera hidden in a bathroom of Nicot’s residence. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. # # # #


title: Okmulgee Resident Sentenced To 50 Years For Double Murder In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Austin Dean McMahan, age 24, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 600 months in prison on each of two counts of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. The terms will be served concurrently. The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office. On February 16, 2023, McMahan pleaded guilty to an Information of two counts of Murder in Indian Country-Second Degree. According to investigators, on April 7, 2020, McMahan killed two people at an Okmulgee residence. McMahan shot and killed the first victim during an argument. He then fired on a second victim who had attempted to come to the first victim’s aid. After the gun jammed, McMahan procured another firearm and shot the second victim multiple times. The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ada E. Brown, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. McMahan will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime and Gang Section Trial Attorney Cesar Rivera-Giraud and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura represented the United States at sentencing.


title: Former Korean Air Lines Guam Office Manager Sentenced to 41 Months Imprisonment for Bank Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Sung Peel Hwang a.k.a. Don Sung Peel Hwang, age 39, from the Republic of Korea and naturalized citizen of the United States, was sentenced to serve 41 months imprisonment. He was charged with Bank Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(1) and Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957. The Court also ordered 5 years of supervised release, restitution of $615, 271.51 and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. Beginning in September 2015 and continuing until December of 2018, Defendant Hwang engaged in a scheme to defraud his employer and to embezzle over $600,000.00. Hwang was an administrator in the Korean Air Lines (KAL) Guam office at the Guam International Airport. KAL operated commercial passenger flights between Guam and South Korea. All airlines operating out of GIAA are required to report the number of passengers on their flights and to pay a corresponding Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) to GIAA. As an administrator at the Guam KAL office, Hwang’s duties included reporting the number of passengers and paying the corresponding PFC, procuring, and paying for other office supplies and services, and acting as one of two co-signatories on KAL Guam’s business checking account at the Bank of Guam. As one part of his scheme, Defendant Hwang underreported the PFC owed to GIAA and kept the difference between the actual PFC owed and the PFC paid for himself. Over the course of the three-year scheme Defendant Hwang deposited over $3.5 million in KAL funds into his personal bank account and diverted over $600,000.00 in KAL funds to his own personal use. “Hwang cheated his employer and GIAA out of a substantial sum of money,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Fortunately, GIAA’s auditing procedures eventually revealed this scheme. The sentence imposed by the Court is a strong message of accountability and deterrence. I applaud our federal law enforcement partners for their hard work in bringing Hwang to justice.” “The FBI is focused on addressing financial crimes that have an impact on our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “This sentence should give pause to others who consider engaging in similar criminal conduct.” “Mr. Hwang’s greed may have netted him a temporary windfall, but at great cost to those he stole from and to the detriment of his community,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes. “Today’s sentencing shows that CI is committed to fighting financial crime, and making sure that fraudsters pay the just cost for those crimes.” The investigation was conducted by the FBI Guam Resident Agency and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. This case was prosecuted by Benjamin K. Petersburg, Assistant United States Attorney, District of Guam.


title: Waukee Man Sentenced to 25 years in Prison for Production and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Waukee man was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison for production and possession of child pornography. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Michael Alan Jagim, 52, created and produced child pornography, using secreted video recording devices. On December 14, 2021, after receiving a cyber-tip, law enforcement officers conducted a search of Jagim’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic analysis of these devices found multiple videos of child sex abuse material, including videos created by Jagim, for a total of 3,620 images. Jagim was also ordered to pay $28,123 in victim restitution. After completion of his prison term, Jagim will be required to serve ten years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Jagim was also ordered to pay $10,200 in special assessments. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Waukee Police Department, the Urbandale Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.


title: Serial Fraudster Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Multiple Fraud Schemes  Totaling Over $2 Million

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Hampton man was sentenced today in federal court for multiple fraud schemes, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Anthony Silva, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 84 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On February 15, 2024, Silva pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Silva was ordered to pay restitution, and forfeit funds held at Citizens Bank, Stride Bank, Fidelity, Green Dot, PNC Bank, Bancorp, and TD Bank totaling approximately $830,000. “The defendant is a serial fraudster who used dozens of stolen identities to enrich himself,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “He did not merely steal funds from state and federal governments. Rather, he fleeced pools of funds which were designed specifically to serve as a lifeline to millions of Americans during the worst public health crisis in a century. I thank our law enforcement partners for their diligent work in unraveling the defendant’s sophisticated fraud schemes.” “Anthony Silva collected over a million dollars to which he knew he wasn’t entitled. This repeat fraudster stole the identities of dozens of victims and blatantly defrauded government programs meant to keep small businesses and workers afloat,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Today’s sentence makes it clear that defrauding the government is a bad idea, and the FBI and our partners will continue to pursue anyone bold enough, and foolish enough, to do so.” “Today’s sentencing should give fair warning that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will aggressively investigate and seek prosecution of individuals like Anthony Silva, who swindled over a million dollars from funds that were designated to support fellow Americans and small businesses during the pandemic,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Postal Inspectors, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, uncovered the elaborate fraud schemes employed by Silva to conceal his activities and line his pockets. We will continue to support and collaborate with our federal law enforcement partners to stop those who are engaged in these types of schemes.” “Anthony Silva defrauded the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and the Vermont Department of Labor by using stolen identities to obtain unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Today’s sentencing affirms the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard Department of Labor programs designed to help those who struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Silva orchestrated four separate fraud schemes using stolen identities. Specifically, Silva used stolen names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, and other identifiers to fraudulently obtain (1) unemployment insurance benefits from Vermont, (2) unemployment insurance benefits from Massachusetts, (3) American Express credit cards, and (4) CARES Act funds. The fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and CARES Act funds were deposited either by check or direct deposit into dozens of accounts Silva controlled at multiple banks. Many of these accounts were in the names of individual victims or fictional organizations, such as the “Peaceful Protesters Bail Fund,” “BLM New England Trust,” and “Anti-Drumpf League.” Silva obtained more than $450,000 from Vermont, over $175,000 from Massachusetts, and $600,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. In addition, the fraudulently-obtained credit cards were used to make over $50,000 in purchases from retailers such as Victoria’s Secret, Home Depot, and Walmart. Silva also unsuccessfully attempted to obtain additional CARES Act funds. The total intended loss was approximately $2.1 million, and the actual loss was approximately $1.2 million. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Secret Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and John J. Kennedy prosecuted the case. During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Private lenders could participate in the PPP. The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government. If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness. The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . ###


title: Dover Man Sentenced to Two Decades in Federal Prison in Connection with “Catfishing” Scheme Targeting Minor Victims

body_text: CONCORD – A Dover man was sentenced today in federal court for child exploitation offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Evan Gadarowski, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Samantha Elliott to 240 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. On October 23, 2023, Gadarowski pleaded guilty to one count each of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, or CSAM. “The defendant caused numerous minor survivors unimaginable trauma and pain. He manipulated high-school aged girls into thinking he was someone he was not and used this fictitious persona to gain their trust to obtain explicit images and videos from them. In some instances, when these survivors resisted his demands for more images, he threatened to disseminate the compromising images already in his possession to others,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendant’s criminal conduct was calculated and horrifically cruel. He preyed on the survivors’ deepest fears, causing them prolonged anguish. While the sentenced imposed today will never restore what the defendant stole from the survivors, it is a step in their healing process and will also ensure the public is safe from the defendant for the next two decades.” “NH ICAC is honored and privileged to work with so many dedicated law enforcement officers and prosecuting attorneys. Cases in which child victims fall prey to the actions of sexual predators who choose to take advantage of their innocence and threaten their physical and emotional well-being have risen at an alarming rate,” said Lt. Eric Kinsman, Commander of the NH ICAC Task Force. “NH ICAC will continue to remain vigilant when it comes to protecting the children of NH and preserving the happiness they deserve. Resources for parents and children can be found at https://icactaskforce.org .” According to court documents and statements made in court, Gadarowski solicited, received, and disseminated sexually explicit images and videos depicting numerous minor victims between 2018 and 2021. Gadarowski “catfished” his victims by posing as a teenage girl using sexually explicit images and videos of one minor victim and adopting them as part of a fictious online persona. Using this fictious persona, Gadarowski posed as a bisexual female and pursued online relationships with high-school aged girls. Gadarowski sent sexually explicit images and videos depicting one minor victim to others and induced unsuspecting minor victims to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves in return. The investigation also revealed that Gadarowski sold sexually explicit images depicting some of his minor victims to others online. Homeland Security Investigations led the federal investigation. The Nashua Police Department and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task force provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Court Permanently Bars Missouri CPA from Promoting Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust Tax Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: On May 3, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri permanently barred Aric Elliot Schreiner and his company, Columbia CPA Group LLC, from organizing, promoting, selling or marketing tax schemes involving the use of charitable remainder annuity trusts (CRATs). In addition, the court ordered Schreiner to disgorge ill-gotten gains from the scheme totaling $400,000. Schreiner and Columbia CPA Group agreed to the court orders. In February 2022, the United States sued Schreiner, Columbia CPA Group and five other defendants to stop them from promoting the CRAT scheme. The court previously entered permanent injunctions against the other five defendants by their consent. According to the United States’ amended complaint, Schreiner and Columbia CPA Group allegedly promoted the CRAT scheme in concert with other defendants. The government alleges that Schreiner falsely claimed to customers following the CRAT scheme that they could avoid reporting to the IRS and paying federal income tax on the sale of property by: (1) transferring it to a CRAT; (2) unlawfully inflating (stepping-up) the cost basis in the property on tax documents; (3) selling the property and using the sale proceeds to purchase an annuity; and (4) receiving payments from the annuity, but failing to report the annuity payments as income on tax forms. According to the amended complaint, Schreiner also prepared tax forms to implement the CRAT scheme. Charitable remainder trusts are irrevocable trusts that let you donate assets to charity and draw annual income for life or a specific period. When all applicable laws, regulations and rules are followed, charitable remainder trusts can offer many benefits, but they must not be misused to evade taxes or illegally benefit their beneficiaries. The Justice Department is committed to supporting the IRS as appropriate in its efforts examine charitable remainder trusts to ensure they correctly report trust income and distributions to beneficiaries, file all required tax documents and follow all applicable tax laws and rules. In addition to being enjoined from promoting their CRAT scheme, Schreiner and Columbia CPA Group agreed to be barred from organizing, promoting, marking or selling other tax schemes including conservation easements and monetized installment sales. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Abusive arrangements using CRATs and monetized installment sales , as well as syndicated conservation easements , remain a concern of the IRS, which recently warned taxpayers about them as part of the IRS’s 2024 Dirty Dozen series. The IRS has more information on charitable remainder trusts available on its website. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of tax return preparer and tax fraud promoters. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. Injunction Order and Judgment - Schreiner.pdf


title: Five Federal Departments Join Justice Department in Reaffirming Shared Commitment to Uphold Civil Rights Laws and Advance Environmental Justice

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and officials from the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights; Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Departmental Office of Civil Rights; Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of External Civil Rights Compliance; Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties; and Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity jointly reaffirmed today their shared commitment to uphold civil rights laws and advance environmental justice in communities across the United States. “The Justice Department is committed to fully enforcing federal civil rights laws to address our nation’s legacy of environmental racism and underinvestment in communities of color,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Since 2021, we have stepped up our efforts to coordinate these critical enforcement efforts across the federal government and will continue to do so as recipients utilize billions of dollars in new infrastructure grants. We will continue to drive a whole-of-government approach in the ongoing struggle for environmental justice in our country.” “The Environmental Protection Agency continues to center our mission on the integration of justice, equity and civil rights for communities across the country that have not received the full benefits from EPA’s decades of progress. We are committed to the enforcement of civil rights to address environmental injustice,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator for Program Implementation Marianne Engelman-Lado of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. “From integrating civil rights into the fabric of our Strategic Plan and daily operations, to increased funding and staffing for this critical work, EPA will continue to strengthen our civil rights enforcement program.” “Environmental justice is a public health issue, and our civil rights laws should ensure that all communities—no matter your race or zip code—are safe and free from environmental hazards,” said Director Melanie Fontes Rainer of the HHS Office for Civil Rights. “Unfortunately, communities of color have historically been subject to environmental injustice and deserve the full attention of the federal government through the enforcement of our laws to be free from discrimination.” “Beyond moving people and goods, transportation plays a key role in our personal and environmental health,” said Director Irene Marion of the DOT Departmental Office of Civil Rights. “Although our nation’s transportation infrastructure is a shared asset, historically not all communities have enjoyed its full advantages and benefits. DOT is committed to correcting this course by leveraging its authority and resources to ensure transportation systems that are safe, efficient and accessible for all.” “Advancing environmental justice can occur through education, technical assistance and robust enforcement of long-standing civil rights laws,” said Officer Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia of the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. “We are committed to working with recipients and communities toward achieving environmental justice.” “The Department of Housing and Urban Development is committed to enforcing fair housing and civil rights laws that advance environmental justice so all neighborhoods and communities are healthy, safe and resilient places where residents can thrive,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Demetria McCain of HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “Protected classes must not bear the disproportionate burden of environmental hazards, though they have for too long.” In the statement , the agencies reaffirmed their commitment to vigorously using all applicable civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to advance environmental justice and to actively work with state, territorial and local governments and all other entities that receive federal funding to ensure compliance with these important laws. The joint statement also reminds recipients that civil rights obligations are separate and distinct from recipients’ other obligations, including obligations to comply with federal, state, territorial and local environmental laws. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work to uphold and protect civil rights is available online at justice.gov/crt . Complaints about discriminatory practices may be reported to the Civil Rights Division through its internet reporting portal at civilrights.justice.gov .


title: Cinco departamentos federales se unen al Departamento de Justicia para reafirmar el compromiso compartido de defender las leyes de derechos civiles y promover la justicia medioambiental

body_text: La División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia y funcionarios de la Oficina de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS, por sus siglas en inglés); la Oficina Departamental de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Transporte (DOT, por sus siglas en inglés); la Oficina de Cumplimiento de Derechos Civiles Externos de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés); la Oficina de Derechos Civiles y Libertades Civiles del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Oficina de Vivienda Justa e Igualdad de Oportunidades del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD, por sus siglas en inglés) reafirmaron conjuntamente hoy su compromiso compartido de defender las leyes de derechos civiles y promover la justicia medioambiental en comunidades por todo Estados Unidos. «El Departamento de Justicia se compromete a hacer cumplir plenamente las leyes federales de derechos civiles para abordar el legado de racismo ambiental de nuestra nación y la infrainversión en comunidades de color», declaró Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Desde el año 2021, hemos intensificado nuestros esfuerzos para coordinar estos esfuerzos críticos de aplicación de la ley en todo el gobierno federal y continuaremos haciéndolo a medida que los destinatarios utilicen miles de millones de dólares en subvenciones para nuevas infraestructuras. Seguiremos impulsando un enfoque que involucre al gobierno entero en la lucha continua por la justicia medioambiental en nuestro país». «La Agencia de Protección Ambiental continúa centrando nuestra misión en la integración de la justicia, la equidad y los derechos civiles para comunidades por todo el país que no se han beneficiado plenamente de las décadas de progreso de la EPA. Estamos comprometidos con la aplicación de los derechos civiles para abordar la injusticia medioambiental», afirmó la Administradora Auxiliar Adjunta de Implementación de Programas, Marianne Engelman-Lado, de la Oficina de Justicia Medioambiental y Derechos Civiles Externos de la EPA. «Desde la integración de los derechos civiles en la estructura de nuestro plan estratégico y las operaciones diarias hasta el aumento de la financiación y la dotación de personal para este trabajo tan crítico, la EPA continuará fortaleciendo nuestro programa de cumplimiento de derechos civiles». «La justicia medioambiental es un asunto de salud pública, y nuestras leyes de derechos civiles deben garantizar que todas las comunidades, independientemente de su raza o código postal, estén seguras y libres de peligros medioambientales», dijo Melanie Fontes Rainer, la Directora de la Oficina de Derechos Civiles del HHS. «Desafortunadamente, a nivel histórico, las comunidades de color han sometido a injusticia medioambiental y merecen la atención completa del gobierno federal a través de la aplicación de nuestras leyes para estar libres de discriminación». «Más allá de trasladar a personas y bienes, el transporte desempeña un papel clave en nuestra salud personal y medioambiental», comentó Irene Marion, la Directora de la Oficina Departamental de Derechos Civiles del DOT. «Aunque la infraestructura de transporte de nuestra nación es un bien compartido, históricamente, no todas las comunidades han disfrutado de todos sus beneficios y ventajas. El DOT se compromete a corregir este curso aprovechando su autoridad y recursos para garantizar sistemas de transporte seguros, eficientes y accesibles para todos». «El fomento de la justicia medioambiental puede producirse a través de la educación, la asistencia técnica o la aplicación firme de las leyes de derechos civiles de larga duración», declaró la Oficial Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, de la Oficina para Derechos Civiles y Libertades Civiles, que pertenece al DHS. «Estamos comprometidos a trabajar con beneficiarios y comunidades para lograr la justicia medioambiental». «El Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano se compromete a hacer cumplir leyes de vivienda justa y derechos civiles que promuevan la justicia medioambiental para que todos los barrios y comunidades sean lugares saludables, seguros y resilientes donde los residentes puedan prosperar», dijo Demetria McCain, la Secretaria Auxiliar Adjunta Principal de la Oficina de Vivienda Justa e Igualdad de Oportunidades del HUD. «Las clases protegidas no deben soportar la carga desproporcionada de los peligros ambientales, aunque lo han hecho durante demasiado tiempo». En su declaración , las agencias reafirmaron su compromiso de utilizar decididamente todas las leyes de derechos civiles aplicables, incluido el Título VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, para promover la justicia medioambiental y trabajar activamente con los gobiernos estatales, territoriales y locales y todas las demás entidades que reciben fondos federales para garantizar el cumplimiento de estas importantes leyes. La declaración conjunta también recuerda a los destinatarios que las obligaciones de derechos civiles son independientes y distintas de las demás obligaciones de los destinatarios, incluidas las obligaciones de cumplir con las leyes medioambientales federales, estatales, territoriales y locales. Puede encontrar información adicional sobre el trabajo de la División de Derechos Civiles para defender y proteger los derechos civiles en línea en justice.gov/crt . Las quejas sobre prácticas discriminatorias pueden notificarse a la División de Derechos Civiles a través de su portal de notificación en Internet en civilrights.justice.gov .


title: 5개 연방 부처가 법무부에 합류하여 시민권법 수호 및 환경 정의 증진을 위한 공동의 약속을 재확인합니다

body_text: 법무부 시민권 부서와 보건복지부(HHS) 민권국, 교통부(DOT) 민권국, 환경보호청(EPA) 대외시민권준수국, 국토안보부(DHS) 시민권 및 시민자유국, 주택도시개발부(HUD) 공정주택 및 기회균등국은 오늘 미국 전역 공동체에서 시민권법을 준수하고 환경 정의를 증진하기 위한 공동의 의지를 재확인했습니다. 법무부 시민권국의 크리스틴 클라크(Kristen Clarke) 법무부 차관보가 전하는 말입니다. "법무부는 미국의 환경 인종차별과 유색인종 공동체에 대한 투자 부족 같은 과거의 행동을 해결하고자 연방 시민권법의 온전한 집행에 최선을 다하고 있습니다." "2021년부터 우리는 연방 정부 전반에 걸쳐 이러한 중요한 집행 노력을 조정하기 위해 더욱 노력해 왔으며, 수혜자들이 수십억 달러의 새로운 인프라 보조금을 활용할 수 있게 된 것과 같이 앞으로도 계속 노력을 기울일 것입니다. 우리는 우리나라의 환경 정의를 위한 지속적인 투쟁에서 범정부적인 접근 방식을 계속 추진할 것입니다." "환경 보호국은 수십 년 동안 EPA의 발전으로 인한 혜택을 충분히 받지 못한 전국의 공동체를 위해 정의, 형평성, 시민권을 통합하는 데 사명을 집중하고 있습니다. EPA의 환경 정의 및 외부 시민권 사무소의 프로그램 이행 담당 부차관보 마리안 엥겔만-라도(Marianne Engelman-Lado)가 전하는 말입니다. "우리는 환경 불의를 해결하기 위해 시민권을 집행하는 데 전념하고 있습니다." "시민권을 전략 계획과 일상 업무의 구조에 통합하는 것부터, 이 중요한 업무를 위한 자금과 인력을 늘리는 것까지, EPA는 계속해서 시민권 집행 프로그램을 강화할 것입니다." HHS 민권국의 멜라니 폰테스 레이너(Melanie Fontes Rainer) 국장이 전하는 말입니다. "환경 정의는 공중 보건 문제이며, 우리의 민권법은 인종이나 사는 곳과 관계없이 모든 공동체의 환경 위험으로부터의 안전 및 자유를 보장해야 합니다." "안타깝게도 유색인종 커뮤니티는 역사적으로 환경적 불의의 대상이 되어 왔으며, 차별이 없도록 법을 집행하는 연방 정부의 전폭적인 관심을 받을 자격이 있습니다." 교통부 민권국의 아이린 매리언(Irene Marion) 국장이 전하는 말입니다. "교통은 사람과 물품을 이동하는 것 외에도 개인 및 환경 보건에 중요한 역할을 합니다." "우리나라의 교통 인프라는 공유 자산이지만, 역사적으로 모든 공동체가 그 장점과 혜택을 충분히 누리지 못했습니다. 교통부는 안전하고 효율적이며 모두가 이용할 수 있는 교통 시스템을 보장하기 위해 권한과 자원을 활용하여 이 과정을 바로잡기 위해 최선을 다하고 있습니다." DHS 민권 및 시민 자유 사무소의 쇼바 시바프라사드 와디아(Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia) 담당관이 전하는 말입니다. "환경 정의의 진전은 교육, 기술 지원, 오랜 민권법의 강력한 집행을 통해 이루어질 수 있습니다." "우리는 환경 정의를 실현하기 위해 수혜자 및 공동체와 협력하기 위해 최선을 다하고 있습니다." HUD의 공정 주택 및 기회 균등 사무국의 수석 차관보 데메트리아 맥케인(Demetria McCain)이 전하는 말입니다. "주택도시개발부는 환경 정의를 증진하는 공정 주택 및 민권법을 시행하여 모든 이웃과 공동체가 건강하고 안전하며 주민들이 번영할 수 있는 회복력이 좋은 곳이 되도록 최선을 다하고 있습니다." "보호받는 계층이 불균형적으로 환경적 위험 부담을 너무 오랫동안 짊어져서는 안 됩니다." 이 성명서 에서 기관들은 1964년 시민권법 제6조를 포함한 모든 관련 시민권법을 적극적으로 활용하여 환경 정의를 증진하고 주, 영토, 지방 정부 및 연방 기금을 받는 기타 모든 기관과 적극적으로 협력하여 이러한 중요한 법률을 준수하겠다는 약속을 재확인했습니다. 또한 공동 성명서는 시민권 의무가 연방, 주, 자치지역 및 지역 환경법 준수 의무를 포함하여 수혜자의 다른 의무와는 별도이며 분명하게 구분되는 의무라는 점을 상기시킵니다. 시민권을 유지하고 보호하기 위한 시민권 부서의 업무에 대한 자세한 정보는 다음 링크에서 확인할 수 있습니다: justice.gov/crt . 차별적 관행에 대한 불만은 다음 인터넷 신고 포털을 통해 시민권 부서에 신고할 수 있습니다: civilrights.justice.gov .


title: Sumali ang Limang Kagawaran ng Pederal sa Kagawaran ng Katarungan sa Muling Pagtitibay ng Ibinahaging Pangako para Itaguyod ang Mga Batas sa Mga Karapatang Sibil at Isulong ang Hustisyang Pangkapaligiran

body_text: Ang Dibisyon ng Mga Karapatang Sibil ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan at mga opisyal mula sa Opisina ng Karapatang Sibil ng Kagawaran ng Health and Human Services (HHS); Opisina ng Kagawaran sa Mga Karapatang Sibil ng Department of Transportation (DOT); Opisina ng Pagsunod sa Mga Eksternal na Karapatang Sibil ng Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Opisina ng Department of Homeland Security (DHS) para sa Mga Karapatang Sibil at Kalayaang Sibil; at Opisina ng Patas na Pabahay at Pantay na Oportunidad ng Kagawaran ng Housing and Urban Development (HUD) ay magkasamang muling pinagtibay ngayong araw ang kanilang ibinahaging pangako na itaguyod ang mga batas sa karapatang sibil at isulong ang hustisyang pangkapaligiran sa mga komunidad sa buong Estados Unidos. “Nakatuon ang Kagawaran ng Katarungan na ganap na ipatupad ang mga pederal na batas sa karapatang sibil para tugunan ang legasiya ng ating bansa sa rasismo sa kapaligiran at kakulangan sa pamumuhunan sa mga komunidad ng kulay,” sabi ni Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke ng Dibisyon ng Karapatang Sibil ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan. “Mula 2021, pinaigting pa namin ang aming mga pagsisikap na i-coordinate ang mga kritikal na pagsisikap sa pagpapatupad na ito sa buong pederal na pamahalaan at patuloy itong gagawin habang gumagamit ng bilyun-bilyong dolyar ang mga recipient sa mga bagong gawad sa imprastraktura. Patuloy naming itutulak ang isang buong-pwersa ng-gobyerno na diskarte sa patuloy na pakikibaka para sa hustisyang pangkapaligiran sa ating bansa.” “Patuloy na isinisentro ng Environmental Protection Agency ang aming misyon sa pag-integrate ng hustisya, pagkakapantay-pantay at mga karapatang sibil para sa mga komunidad sa buong bansa na hindi pa nakatanggap ng buong benepisyo mula sa mga dekada ng pag-usad ng EPA. Nakatuon kami sa pagpapatupad ng mga karapatang sibil para tugunan ang kawalan ng hustisya sa kapaligiran,” sabi ng Deputy Assistant Administrator para sa Pagpapatupad ng Programa na si Marianne Engelman-Lado ng Opisina ng Hustisyang Pangkapaligiran at Mga Eksternal na Karapatang Sibil ng EPA. “Mula sa pag-integrate ng mga karapatang sibil sa aming Estratehikong Plano at pang-araw-araw na operasyon, hanggang sa pagtaas ng pondo at kawani para sa kritikal na trabahong ito, patuloy na papalakasin ng EPA ang aming programa sa pagpapatupad ng mga karapatang sibil.” “Ang hustisyang pangkapaligiran ay isang isyu sa kalusugan ng publiko, at dapat tiyakin ng ating mga batas sa karapatang sibil na ang lahat ng komunidad—anuman ang iyong lahi o zip code—ay ligtas at malaya mula sa mga panganib sa kapaligiran,” sabi ni Direktor Melanie Fontes Rainer ng Opisina para sa Mga Karapatang Sibil ng HHS. “Sa kasamaang-palad, ang mga komunidad ng kulay ay dating napapailalim sa kawalan ng hustisya sa kapaligiran at karapat-dapat sa buong atensyon ng pederal na pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatupad ng ating mga batas para maging malaya sa diskriminasyon.” “Higit pa sa paggalaw ng mga tao at kalakal, may mahalagang papel ang transportasyon sa ating personal at pangkapaligiran na kalusugan,” sabi ni Direktor Irene Marion ng Opisina ng Kagawaran ng Mga Karapatang Sibil ng DOT. “Bagaman isang shared asset ang imprastraktura ng transportasyon ng ating bansa, hindi na-enjoy ng lahat ng komunidad ang buong pakinabang at benepisyo nito ayon sa kasaysayan. Nakatuon ang DOT sa pagwawasto sa kursong ito sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng awtoridad at resources nito para matiyak na ang mga sistema ng transportasyon ay ligtas, episyente at naa-access ng lahat." “Pwedeng mangyari ang pagsusulong ng hustisyang pangkapaligiran sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon, teknikal na tulong at mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng mga matagal nang batas sa karapatang sibil,” sabi ni Officer Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia ng Opisina para sa Mga Karapatang Sibil at Kalayaang Sibil ng DHS. “Nakatuon kami sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga recipient at komunidad tungo sa pagkamit ng hustisyang pangkapaligiran.” “Nakatuon ang Kagawaran ng Housing and Urban Development sa pagpapatupad ng patas na pabahay at mga batas sa karapatang sibil na nagsusulong ng hustisyang pangkapaligiran para ang lahat ng kapitbahayan at komunidad ay malusog, ligtas at matatag na mga lugar kung saan pwedeng lumagaw ang mga residente," sabi ng Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary na si Demetria McCain ng Opisina ng Patas na Pabahay at Pantay na Oportunidad ng HUD.. “Hindi dapat pasanin ng mga pinoprotektahang klase ang hindi magkatimbang na pasanin sa mga panganib sa kapaligiran, kahit na napakatagal na nilang mayroon nito.” Sa pahayag , muling pinagtibay ng mga ahensya ang kanilang pangako na mahigpit na gagamitin ang lahat ng naaangkop na batas sa karapatang sibil, kabilang ang Title VI ng Civil Rights Act of 1964, para isulong ang hustisyang pangkapaligiran at aktibong makipagtulungan sa estado, teritoryo at lokal na pamahalaan at lahat ng iba pang entidad na tumatanggap ng pederal na pagpopondo para matiyak ang pagsunod sa mahahalagang batas na ito. Nagpapaalala rin sa mga recipient ang pinagsamang pahayag na ang mga obligasyon sa karapatang sibil ay hiwalay at naiiba sa iba pang obligasyon ng mga recipient, kabilang ang mga obligasyon na sumunod sa mga batas pangkapaligiran ng pederal, estado, teritoryo at lokal. Ang karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa trabaho ng Dibisyon ng Mga Karapatang Sibil para itaguyod at protektahan ang mga karapatang sibil ay available online sa justice.gov/crt . Maaaring iulat ang mga reklamo tungkol sa mga gawaing may diskriminasyon sa Dibisyon ng Mga Karapatang Sibil sa pamamagitan ng internet reporting portal nito sa civilrights.justice.gov .


title: Năm Bộ Liên Bang Cùng Bộ Tư Pháp Tái Khẳng Định Cam Kết Chung để Duy Trì Luật Dân Quyền và Thúc Đẩy Công Lý Môi Trường

body_text: Phòng Dân Quyền của Bộ Tư Pháp và các viên chức từ Văn Phòng Dân Quyền của Bộ Y Tế và Dịch Vụ Nhân Sinh (Department of Health and Human Services, HHS); Văn Phòng Dân Quyền của Bộ Giao Thông Vận Tải (Department of Transportation, DOT); Văn Phòng Tuân Thủ Dân Quyền Bên Ngoài của Cơ Quan Bảo Vệ Môi Trường (Environmental Protection Agency, EPA); Văn Phòng Dân Quyền và Tự Do Dân Sự của Bộ An Ninh Nội Địa (Department of Homeland Security, DHS); và Văn Phòng Nhà Ở Công Bằng và Cơ Hội Bình Đẳng của Bộ Gia Cư và Phát Triển Đô Thị (Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD) ngày hôm nay đã cùng nhau tái khẳng định cam kết chung để duy trì luật dân quyền và thúc đẩy công lý môi trường tại các cộng đồng trên khắp Hoa Kỳ. “Bộ Tư Pháp cam kết thực thi đầy đủ luật dân quyền liên bang để giải quyết vấn nạn quốc gia về phân biệt chủng tộc trong môi trường và thiếu đầu tư vào cộng đồng da màu,” Trợ Lý Bộ Trưởng Tư Pháp thuộc Phòng Dân Quyền của Bộ Tư Pháp, bà Kristen Clarke cho biết. ”Kể từ năm 2021, chúng tôi đã tăng cường nỗ lực điều phối các nỗ lực thực thi chủ chốt này trong toàn chính quyền liên bang và sẽ tiếp tục nỗ lực khi bên nhận sử dụng hàng tỷ đô la vào khoản tài trợ cơ sở hạ tầng mới. Chúng tôi sẽ tiếp tục thúc đẩy giải pháp trên toàn chính phủ trong cuộc đấu tranh đang diễn ra vì công lý môi trường trong cả nước.” “Cơ Quan Bảo Vệ Môi Trường tiếp tục đặt trọng tâm sứ mệnh của chúng tôi vào việc mở rộng thực thi công lý, bình đẳng và dân quyền cho các cộng đồng trên khắp đất nước, những cộng đồng chưa được hưởng đầy đủ lợi ích từ những tiến bộ trong nhiều thập kỷ của EPA. Chúng tôi cam kết thực thi dân quyền để giải quyết tình trạng bất công về môi trường," bà Marianne Engelman-Lado, Phó Trợ lý Giám Đốc Triển Khai Chương Trình thuộc Văn Phòng Công Lý Môi Trường và Dân Quyền Bên Ngoài của EPA cho biết. “Từ việc mở rộng thực thi dân quyền trong cơ cấu Kế Hoạch Chiến Lược và các hoạt động hàng ngày của chúng tôi, đến việc gia tăng ngân quỹ và nhân sự cho công việc chính yếu này, EPA sẽ tiếp tục thúc đẩy chương trình thực thi dân quyền.” “Công lý môi trường là một vấn đề sức khỏe công cộng và luật dân quyền của chúng ta phải đảm bảo rằng tất cả các cộng đồng – không phân biệt chủng tộc hay mã bưu chính của quý vị – đều được an toàn và không gặp phải các mối nguy hiểm về môi trường," bà Melanie Fontes Rainer, Giám đốc Văn phòng Dân Quyền của HHS chia sẻ. “Điều đáng tiếc là các cộng đồng da màu trong quá khứ đã phải chịu sự bất công về môi trường và đáng được chính phủ liên bang quan tâm đầy đủ thông qua việc thực thi pháp luật để không bị phân biệt đối xử.” “Ngoài việc vận chuyển người và hàng hóa, vận tải còn đóng một vai trò quan trọng đối với sức khỏe của con người và môi trường”, bà Irene Marion, Giám đốc Văn phòng Dân Quyền của DOT cho biết. “Mặc dù cơ sở hạ tầng giao thông vận tải của quốc gia là tài sản chung, nhưng trong lịch sử, không phải mọi cộng đồng đều được hưởng đầy đủ lợi thế và lợi ích từ đó. DOT cam kết điều chỉnh hướng đi này bằng cách tận dụng thẩm quyền và nguồn lực của bộ để đảm bảo cung cấp hệ thống giao thông an toàn, hiệu quả và dễ tiếp cận cho tất cả người dân.” Bà Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, Cán Bộ Văn Phòng Dân Quyền và Tự Do Dân Sự của DHS cho biết: “Việc thúc đẩy công lý môi trường có thể diễn ra thông qua giáo dục, hỗ trợ kỹ thuật và thực thi mạnh mẽ các luật dân quyền đã có từ lâu. “Chúng tôi cam kết làm việc với bên nhận và các cộng đồng để đạt được công lý môi trường.” Bà Demetria McCain, Phó Trợ Lý Bộ Trưởng thuộc Văn phòng Nhà Ở Công Bằng và Cơ Hội Bình Đẳng của HUD chia sẻ: “Bộ Gia Cư và Phát Triển Đô Thị cam kết thực thi luật dân quyền và nhà ở công bằng nhằm thúc đẩy công lý môi trường để tất cả các khu dân cư và cộng đồng đều là nơi lành mạnh, an toàn và có khả năng phục hồi, nơi người dân có thể phát triển. "Các tầng lớp được bảo vệ không phải chịu gánh nặng quá mức trước các mối nguy hiểm về môi trường, mặc dù họ đã phải chịu trong thời gian dài.” Trong tuyên bố , các cơ quan tái khẳng định cam kết của họ trong việc áp dụng mạnh mẽ tất cả các luật dân quyền hiện hành, bao gồm Tiêu Đề VI của Đạo Luật Dân Quyền (Civil Rights Act) năm 1964, để thúc đẩy công lý môi trường và tích cực làm việc với chính quyền tiểu bang, khu vực và địa phương cũng như tất cả các tổ chức khác được nhận tài trợ của liên bang để đảm bảo tuân thủ các luật quan trọng này. Tuyên bố chung cũng nhắc nhở bên nhận rằng nghĩa vụ về dân quyền là riêng biệt và khác biệt với các nghĩa vụ khác của bên nhận, bao gồm nghĩa vụ tuân thủ luật môi trường của liên bang, tiểu bang, khu vực và địa phương. Thông tin bổ sung về công tác duy trì và bảo vệ dân quyền của Phòng Dân Quyền được đăng tải trực tuyến trên justice.gov/crt . Quý vị có thể báo cáo các khiếu nại về hành vi phân biệt đối xử với Phòng Dân Quyền thông qua cổng thông tin báo cáo trên Internet tại địa chỉ civilrights.justice.gov .


title: 五大联邦部门携手司法部重申，维护民权法律并推进环境正义

body_text: 司法部民权司、卫生与公众服务部 (HHS) 民权办公室、交通部 (DOT) 部级民权办公室、环境保护局 (EPA) 外部民权合规办公室、国土安全部 (DHS) 民权和公民自由办公室以及住房与城市发展部 (HUD) 公平住房和平等机会办公室的官员今日共同重申，将共同维护民权法律，推进美国各社区的环境正义。 司法部民权司首席检察官助理 Kristen Clarke 表示，“司法部致力于全面落实联邦民权法，解决美国环境种族歧视和对有色人种社区投资不足的遗留问题。自 2021 年以来，我们已加大力度协调联邦政府各部门的关键执法工作，并将在受援方使用数十亿美元的新基础设施拨款时继续协调。我们将努力让政府各部门参与其中，继续推进美国的环境正义。” 环境保护局环境正义和外部民权办公室负责项目实施的副助理署长 Marianne Engelman-Lado 表示，“环境保护局继续以公正、公平和民权融合为使命，为未能从其数十年来的各种环境保护措施、政策中受益的社区提供支持，并将落实民权法，解决环境不公的问题。环境保护局将继续支持民权执行计划，将民权融入战略计划和日常运营，增加这一关键工作的资金和人员配备。” 卫生与公众服务部民权办公室主任 Melanie Fontes Rainer 表示，“环境正义是公共卫生问题，我们的民权法律应确保所有社区（无论种族和所在地区）都受到公平对待，不受环境危害的影响。遗憾的是，有色人种社区在历史上一直遭受环境不公的对待，联邦政府应通过执行相应法律来给予充分关注，使其免受歧视。” 交通部部级民权办公室主任 Irene Marion 表示，“除了运送人员和货物外，交通还对个人和环境健康起着关键作用。尽管美国的交通基础设施是共享资产，但从历史上看，并非所有社区都能完全从中受益。交通部致力于利用其权力和物力来改善这一情况，确保所有人都能够使用安全、高效、便捷的交通系统。” 国土安全部民权和公民自由办公室官员 Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia 表示，“通过教育、技术援助以及严格执行长久存在的民权法律，可以推进环境正义。我们致力于与受援方和社区合作，实现环境正义。” 住房与城市发展部 (HUD) 公平住房和平等机会办公室首席副助理部长 Demetria McCain 表示，“住房与城市发展部致力于执行公平住房和民权法律，推进环境正义，使所有社区成为健康、安全、有活力的地方，让居民能够成长。受保护阶层已经承受了太长时间环境危害带来的过重负担，必须改变这种现状。” 这些机构在 声明 中重申，将积极落实所有适用的民权法律（包括《1964 年民权法》第六章），推进环境正义，并积极与州、地区和地方政府以及所有享受联邦基金的其他实体合作，确保遵守这些重要法律。联合声明还提醒受援方，民权义务与受援方的其他义务（包括遵守联邦、州、地区和地方环境法律的义务）是分开的。有关民权司民权维护工作的更多信息，请访问 justice.gov/crt 。如发现歧视行为，可登录民权司互联网报告门户网站 civilrights.justice.gov 进行投诉 。


title: 五個聯邦部門加入司法部，重申支持民權法律和促進環境正義的共同承諾

body_text: 司法部民權司和衛生與公眾服務部 (HHS) 民權辦公室、交通部 (DOT) 民權部門辦公室、環境保護局 (EPA) 外部民權合規辦公室、國土安全部 (DHS) 民權和公民自由辦公室，以及住房和城市發展部 (HUD) 公平住房和平等機會辦公室的官員今天共同重申，他們將一起致力於支持民權法律和促進美國各社區的環境正義。 「司法部致力於全面執行聯邦民權法律，以解決我國長期存在的環境種族主義和對有色人種社區投資不足的問題。」司法部民權司助理檢察長 Kristen Clarke 說道。「自 2021 年以來，我們已加緊努力，在整個聯邦政府中協調這些重要的措施，我們已撥款數十億美元進行新的基礎建設，讓許多人受惠，並且會持續這樣做。我們將努力讓各政府部同心協力，持續為國內的環境正義永不止息地奮鬥。」 「環境保護局將繼續推行我們的核心任務，為全國各地的社區爭取正義、公平和民權，讓環境保護局數十年來的進步可以整合到各社區中，使大家都能充分受益。我們致力於實施民權，以解決環境不公的問題。」環保局環境正義和外部民權辦公室負責計畫實施的副助理首長 Marianne Engelman-Lado 說道。「環保局將繼續加強我們的民權實施計畫，例如：將民權納入我們的策略計畫和日常運作，以及為這項重要工作增加資金和人員。」 「環境正義是一個公共衛生問題，無論種族或住處，我們的民權法律應確保所有社區都安全無虞，不受環境危害。」 HHS 民權辦公室主任 Melanie Fontes Rainer 說道。「遺憾的是，有色人種社區在過去以來一直受到環境不公的對待，聯邦政府應該透過實施法律給予充分關注，避免他們遭受歧視。」 「除了人員和貨物的運輸，在個人部分和環境衛生方面，交通也扮演了重要的角色。」 交通部民權辦公室主任 Irene Marion 說道。「儘管我們國家的交通基礎建設是一項共享資產，但從歷史上來看，並非所有社區都能充分享受它的優點和好處。交通部承諾透過利用其職權和資源來糾正這個偏差，以確保交通系統的安全、效率和便利。」 「透過教育、技術的協助和加強實施存在已久的民權法律，可以促進環境正義。」國土安全部民權與公民自由辦公室官員 Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia 表示。「我們致力於與受援者和社區合作，以實現環境正義。」 「住房和城市發展部致力於執行促進環境正義的公平住房和民權法律，好讓所有街區和社區成為健康、安全和適應力強的地方，讓居民能夠茁壯成長。」住房和城市發展部公平住房和平等機會辦公室副助理秘書長 Demetria McCain 說道。「因為環境危害帶來的過重負擔，那些受保護的階層已經承受了太久的時間，這種情況必須改變。」 在 聲明 中，這些機構重申了他們的承諾，亦即積極利用所有適用的民權法律（包括 1964 年的《民權法案》第六章）來促進環境正義，並主動與各州、地區和地方政府以及所有其他接受聯邦資助的實體合作，以確保遵守這些重要法律。聯合聲明中也提醒受援者，民權義務與受援者的其他義務（包括遵守聯邦、州、地區和地方環境法律的義務）是分開、不相同的。有關民權司支持和保護公民權利的業務的更多資訊，請前往 justice.gov/crt 網站。若要投訴歧視行為，可透過民權司的網路檢舉入口網站 civilrights.justice.gov 進行檢舉。