component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: WASHINGTON – A former North Dakota State Senator pleaded guilty today to traveling to Prague, Czech Republic, to have commercial sex with minor boys. According to court documents and facts established in public proceedings, Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, took approximately 14 trips to Prague between 2011 and 2021 to engage in commercial sex acts with minor boys. During some of these trips, Holmberg used the alias “Sean Evans” while staying at a brothel where young boys provided commercial sexual services. Holmberg also went to a public park in front of the main train station in Prague to procure sex from minor boys. Holmberg also used the “Sean Evans” alias to communicate with friends about the trips. In those communications, Holmberg discussed “his twink,” and commented that “no one is ever too young . . . remember Prague.” He emailed another friend a link to a known brothel in Prague named the “Villa Mansland,” and wrote “[l]et’s go, this summer . . . The boys rent at around $60 (sex is extra).” Later in the communications, Holmberg wrote “it will be decadent but oh so much fun bro. What happens in Prague—Stays in Prague.” In other emails, he requested at least one of the employees at the brothel to find him a “kid.” Holmberg pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl for the District of North Dakota; and Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul made the announcement. HSI and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Puhl for the District of North Dakota are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Serial South Miami Bank Robber Unmasked:  Defendant Convicted of Two Armed Bank Robberies

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On August 5, a federal jury found Luis Ramirez Gonzalez, 37, of Miami, guilty of two counts of armed bank robbery. The evidence during the six-day trial revealed that Ramirez Gonzalez committed two armed bank robberies within ten days — one at Interamerican Bank’s Kendall branch on Nov. 29, 2023 and a second at a Palmetto Bay TD Bank on Dec. 9, 2023. According to the evidence admitted at trial, Ramirez Gonzalez entered Interamerican Bank wearing an Amazon vest and a Halloween-style mask, with an aged face, on Nov. 29, 2023. He marched straight to the nearest teller, pointing a gun at the teller and taking cash from the teller’s drawer before turning his attention to access the bank’s vault. When bank employees told him they could not access it, he moved to the next teller drawer and took the cash from there before leaving in a vehicle. The evidence admitted at trial further showed Ramirez Gonzalez’s face on surveillance footage in the early hours of Dec. 9, 2023, peering through the glass door of the TD Bank. Just a few hours later, Ramirez Gonzalez returned to the same TD Bank, but this time wore a porcelain doll Halloween-style mask with the word “God” written on the forehead. He then drew a dark gun from a black bag and pointed it at the nearest teller’s pregnant midsection before taking the cash from the first teller drawer. When he wanted to access the vault, bank employees told him they were unable to provide him access and he again proceeded to the second teller drawer, emptying it of cash before departing the bank. The evidence admitted at trial revealed that the Ramirez Gonzalez had also stolen two stacks of cash containing GPS trackers from the teller drawers, which law enforcement followed before he led them on a brief high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood ending with Ramirez Gonzalez crashing the car. He then bailed from the wreckage and fled on foot through residential backyards for almost two hours before being arrested by law enforcement. From the canal that lined the backyards and approximately where a homeowner saw an individual jumping into the canal following the crash, law enforcement recovered a black bag containing the “God” mask, the dark gun, and the exact amount of stolen cash—including the GPS trackers—all used during the TD Bank robbery. The dark gun recovered from the canal was revealed to be a BB gun that Ramirez Gonzalez had purchased as a rush order two days prior to the TD Bank robbery, according to the evidence admitted at trial. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom is scheduled to sentence Ramirez Gonzalez on Oct. 25. He is facing a total statutory maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment as to each count of armed bank robbery. Judge Bloom will determine Ramirez Garcia’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the convictions. FBI investigated this case with substantial assistance from the Miami-Dade Police Department. Coral Gables Police Department’s Underwater Recovery Unit also assisted in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra D. Comolli and Sterling M. Paulson are prosecuting the case. 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- 20490. ###


title: Former Syrian Prison Official Charged with Immigration Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former Syrian government official was indicted today in Los Angeles on criminal charges for lying to U.S. immigration authorities about his time running a Syrian prison where prisoners, including political dissidents, were physically mistreated. According to court documents, Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, of Lexington, South Carolina, was a Syrian government official who held a variety of positions in the Syrian police and the Syrian state security apparatus, and was associated with the Syrian Ba’ath Party, the totalitarian party that ruled Syria. He allegedly served as the head of Damascus Central Prison (colloquially known as “Adra Prison”) from approximately 2005 to 2010. As described in the indictment, political dissidents and other prisoners were severely physically abused at Adra Prison during Alsheikh’s tenure there. The indictment further alleges that Alsheikh was subsequently appointed governor of the province of Deir Ez-Zour by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Alsheikh allegedly concealed his employment at the prison, persecution of any person because of political opinion, and involvement in harming others when he applied for U.S. citizenship in 2023. He allegedly made similar false statements when applying for a visa that enabled him to enter the United States in 2020, become a lawful permanent resident, and obtain a green card. Alsheikh is charged with one count of obtaining, using, and possessing a green card that was procured through false statements and one count of attempted naturalization fraud. If convicted, Alsheikh faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. HSI and the FBI are investigating the case, with support from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the HSI-led Human Rights Violators and War Criminals Center (HRVWCC). Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California; Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of HSI Los Angeles; and Executive Assistant Director Michael A. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch made the announcement. Trial Attorneys Patrick Jasperse and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua O. Mausner for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance. Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form .


title: Angelina County felon sentenced to federal prison for drug and gun violations

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

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Lufkin man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. John Richard Burch, Jr., 40, was found guilty by a jury on August 16, 2023, of four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and intent to distribute on a premises where children are present. Burch was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 8, 2024. According to information presented in court, in early 2022, law enforcement conducted an investigation into methamphetamine sales occurring at Burch’s Lufkin residence. During the execution of a search warrant, investigators seized a large amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, multiple digital scales used to weigh narcotics, small plastic baggies used to package methamphetamine, a methamphetamine bong, and a total of nine firearms. The firearms included a semi-automatic rifle and a gun reported stolen in Livingston as well as a fully loaded thirty round magazine. Small children, who resided at the residence, where present during the search. Further investigation revealed Burch has a previous felony conviction for theft and a conviction for assault family violence and as a convicted felon, is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald S. Carter and Lauren Gaston.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Lamar Tyrell Coles, 32, of Charleston, was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 23, 2022, a law enforcement officer arrested Coles on an outstanding warrant. Coles advised the officer that he had a firearm in his pocket. The officer recovered a loaded SCCY CPX-2 9mm pistol from Coles’ right sweatpants pocket which was zipped closed, concealing the firearm. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Coles knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for felonious assault on March 31, 2017, burglary on March 17, 2014, and illegal possession of firearm in open air arena on December 12, 2011, all in Columbiana County, Ohio. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Francesca C. Rollo and Samuel D. Marsh 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-96. ###


title: Five Point Enterprises Agrees to Pay the United States Over $2M for Submitting False Claims to VA for Post-9/11 GI Bill Education Benefits

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that Five Point Enterprises LLC (5PE) has agreed to pay the United States $2,049,159 to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 GI Bill). Until 2021, 5PE was a for-profit company based in Austin, Texas, that operated vocational schools across the country offering non-college degree programs to students, including veteran students, under a franchise agreement with New Horizons Inc. “The Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance benefits are part of our promise to the brave women and men who have served our country,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of this important program.” “My office is committed to protecting the integrity of our federal programs and the education benefits military veterans and their families have earned by serving this country,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “We and our partners stand ready to hold accountable those who take advantage of them through fraudulent practices.” The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides educational assistance benefits for eligible veterans and members of the armed services who enroll in qualified education or training programs. The VA restricts the number of veterans that schools may enroll in their courses, requiring that no more than 85% of students enrolled in a course have all or part of their tuition, fees, or other charges paid for them by the school or the VA. This is known as the “85/15 Rule.” The 85/15 rule ensures that educational institutions offer quality programs with a substantial number of non-supported students enrolled, which weeds out any institutions that survive only by the influx of federal benefits. For veteran students properly enrolled in a course, the VA pays the actual net cost for tuition and fees charged by the school after it has applied any scholarships, waivers, grants or other assistance designed to defray the cost of tuition and fees, which is known as the “Last Payer Rule.” The government contends that, between 2015 and 2020, 5PE knowingly enrolled Post-9/11 GI Bill funded veterans in courses at 20 New Horizons franchises across the country where 85% or more of the students were already veterans or supported students, in violation of the 85/15 Rule, and failed to report to the VA the tuition reductions it provided to veterans, in violation of the Last Payer Rule. As a result, the government contends that 5PE submitted false claims for educational assistance benefits to the VA and false certifications of compliance with the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s requirements material to those false claims. “This settlement demonstrates that violations of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits regulations will not be tolerated,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Molly King of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of VA’s education benefits program.” The Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas handled the matter. VA OIG provided substantial assistance in the investigation. Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Wilson of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Parnham Jr. for the Western District of Texas handled the matter. The claims asserted against defendants are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Former Finance Minister of Mozambique Convicted of $2B Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: A federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, convicted the former Finance Minister of Mozambique for his role in a $2 billion fraud, bribery, and money laundering scheme that victimized investors in the United States and elsewhere. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Manuel Chang, 68, of Mozambique, received $7 million in bribes in exchange for signing guarantees on behalf of the Republic of Mozambique to secure funding for three loans for maritime projects. As part of the scheme, Chang and his co-conspirators falsely told banks and investors that the loan proceeds would be used for the projects and not to pay bribes to government officials. In fact, however, Chang and his co-conspirators diverted more than $200 million of the loan proceeds that were used, among other things, to pay bribes and kickbacks to Chang and others. “While serving as Finance Minister of Mozambique, Manuel Chang obtained $7 million in bribe payments in exchange for signing guarantees to secure more than $2 billion in loans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Not only did Chang’s abuse of authority betray the trust of the Mozambican people, but his corrupt bargain also caused investors—including U.S. investors—to suffer substantial losses on those loans. Chang’s conviction today demonstrates that the Criminal Division is committed to combatting foreign corruption in violation of U.S. law, no matter where these schemes occur or whom they involve.” The trial evidence showed that, between approximately 2013 and 2015, Chang, together with his co-conspirators—including executives of Privinvest Group, a United Arab Emirates-based shipbuilding company—ensured that a United Kingdom subsidiary of Credit Suisse AG and another foreign investment bank arranged for more than $2 billion to be extended to companies owned and controlled by the Mozambican government: Proindicus S.A. (Proindicus), Empresa Moçambicana de Atum, S.A. (EMATUM), and Mozambique Asset Management (MAM). The proceeds of the loans were intended to fund three maritime projects for which Privinvest was to provide the equipment and services. “Today’s verdict is an inspiring victory for justice and the people of Mozambique who were betrayed by the defendant, a corrupt, high-ranking government official whose greed and self-interest sold out one of the poorest countries in the world,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “Chang now stands convicted of pocketing millions in bribes to approve projects that ultimately failed, laundering the money, and leaving investors and Mozambique stuck with the bill.” “The FBI and its partners will not tolerate corrupt officials lining their pockets with kickbacks at the cost of the citizens they are supposed to look out for,” said Executive Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. “If you illegally divert funds intended for public investment for personal profit, you will end up paying the price as shown by today’s conviction.” Chang and his co-conspirators illegally facilitated Privinvest’s diversion of more than $200 million of the loan proceeds to bribes and kickbacks. These funds included more than $150 million that Privinvest used to bribe Chang and other Mozambican government officials to ensure that companies owned and controlled by the Mozambican government entered into the loan arrangements, and that the government of Mozambique guaranteed those loans. The loans were subsequently sold in whole or in part to investors worldwide, including in the United States. In so doing, the participants defrauded these investors by misrepresenting how the loan proceeds would be used. Ultimately, Proindicus, EMATUM, and MAM each defaulted on their loans and proceeded to miss more than $700 million in loan payments, causing substantial losses to investors. The jury convicted Chang of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In October 2021, Credit Suisse AG and CSSEL (together, Credit Suisse) admitted to defrauding U.S. and international investors in the financing of an $850 million loan for the EMATUM project. CSSEL pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Credit Suisse AG entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. As a part of the resolution, Credit Suisse paid approximately $475 million in penalties, fines, and disgorgement as part of coordinated resolutions with criminal and civil authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom. The FBI New York Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Peter Cooch of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, MLARS Trial Attorney Morgan Cohen, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hiral D. Mehta, Genny Ngai, and Jonathan Siegel for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department also appreciates the assistance of South African authorities, particularly those in the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as authorities in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal. MLARS’ Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa .


title: Two Men Separately Indicted for Crimes Related to Domestic Violence

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury indicted two men for separate crimes related to domestic violence, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. A two-count indictment charges Philip Henry Houk, 33, of Charlotte, North Carolina, with attempted kidnapping and interstate violation of a protective order. According to the indictment, Houk travelled from North Carolina to Jefferson County, Alabama, in June 2024 to break into the victims’ residence and kidnap them. This happened after the Circuit Court of Jefferson County issued a protection order against Houk in March 2024, to protect one of the victims from violence, threats, and harassment by Houk. A separate two-count indictment charges David Holcomb, 49, of Albertville, with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. ATF investigated each case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney L. Plyler and Davis Barlow are prosecuting the cases. An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Former Finance Minister of Mozambique Convicted of Fraud and Money Laundering in $2 Billion Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Manuel Chang, the former Finance Minister of Mozambique, was convicted earlier today by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with his role in a $2 billion fraud, bribery, and money laundering scheme that victimized investors in the United States and elsewhere. The verdict followed a 4-week trial before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. When sentenced, Chang faces up to 20 years in prison. Chang was arrested in December 2018 in South Africa, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued at the request of the United States, and extradited to the Eastern District of New York in July 2023. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict. “Today’s verdict is an inspiring victory for justice and the people of Mozambique who were betrayed by the defendant, a corrupt, high-ranking government official whose greed and self-interest sold out one of the poorest countries in the world,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Chang now stands convicted of pocketing millions in bribes to approve projects that ultimately failed, laundering the money, and leaving investors and Mozambique stuck with the bill.” “While serving as Finance Minister of Mozambique, Manuel Chang obtained $7 million in bribe payments in exchange for signing guarantees to secure more than $2 billion in loans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Not only did Chang’s abuse of authority betray the trust of the Mozambican people, but his corrupt bargain also caused investors—including U.S. investors—to suffer substantial losses on those loans. Chang’s conviction today demonstrates that the Criminal Division is committed to combatting foreign corruption in violation of U.S. law, no matter where these schemes occur or whom they involve.” As proven at trial, Chang received $7 million in bribes in exchange for signing guarantees on behalf of the Republic of Mozambique to secure funding for loans for three maritime projects. As part of the scheme, Chang and his co-conspirators falsely stated to banks and investors that the loan proceeds would be used for the projects and that the borrower would not pay bribes to Mozambican government officials. In fact, however, Chang and his co-conspirators facilitated the criminal diversion of more than $200 million of the loan proceeds that were used to pay bribes and kickbacks to Chang and others. Between approximately 2013 and 2015, in his capacity as Mozambique’s Minister of Finance, Chang, together with his co-conspirators – including executives of Privinvest Group, a United Arab Emirates-based shipbuilding company – ensured that Credit Suisse AG, (through its subsidiary in the United Kingdom, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited (CSSEL), and another foreign investment bank would arrange for more than $2 billion to be extended to companies owned and controlled by the Mozambican government: Proindicus S.A. (Proindicus), Empresa Moçambicana de Atum, S.A. (EMATUM), and Mozambique Asset Management (MAM). The proceeds of the loans were intended to fund three maritime projects for which Privinvest was to provide the equipment and services. Specifically, Proindicus was to perform coastal surveillance, EMATUM was to engage in tuna fishing, and MAM was to build and maintain shipyards. Instead, Chang and his co-conspirators illegally facilitated Privinvest’s diversion of more than $200 million of the loan proceeds to bribes and kickbacks. These funds included more than $150 million that Privinvest used to bribe Chang and other Mozambican government officials to ensure that companies owned and controlled by the Mozambican government would enter into the loan arrangements, and that the Mozambique government would guarantee those loans. The loans were subsequently sold in whole or in part to investors worldwide, including in the United States. In doing so, the participants in the scheme conspired to defraud these investors by misrepresenting how the loan proceeds would be used. Ultimately, Proindicus, EMATUM, and MAM each defaulted on their loans and proceeded to miss more than $700 million in loan payments, causing substantial losses to investors. In October 2021, Credit Suisse AG and CSSEL admitted to defrauding U.S. and international investors in the financing of an $850 million loan for the EMATUM project. CSSEL pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Credit Suisse AG entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (Fraud Section) and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS). As a part of the resolution, Credit Suisse AG and CSSEL paid approximately $475 million in penalties, fines, and disgorgement as part of coordinated resolutions with criminal and civil authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom. The Office’s Business & Securities Fraud Section is handling the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hiral D. Mehta, Genny Ngai and Jonathan Siegel of the Eastern District of New York, and Trial Attorneys Peter Cooch of the Fraud Section and Morgan Cohen of MLARS, are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Timothy Migliaro and Elica Semnani. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department also appreciates the assistance of authorities in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and South Africa. The Defendant: MANUEL CHANG Age: 68 Mozambique E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-681 (NGG)


component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former Syrian government official was indicted today for allegedly lying to United States immigration authorities about his time running a Syrian prison where prisoners, including political dissidents, were physically mistreated. Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, of Lexington, South Carolina, is charged with one count of obtaining, using, and possessing a green card that was procured through false statements and one count of attempted naturalization fraud. Alsheikh was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 10 at Los Angeles International Airport and remains in federal custody. His arraignment is scheduled for August 16 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. “Samir Alsheikh attempted to settle in Southern California after allegedly participating in grave abuses while part of the Assad regime in Syria,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “His indictment sends a clear message that those who seek immigration benefits in our country after having previously committed human rights violations will find no shelter here.” According to court documents, Alsheikh was a Syrian government official who held a variety of positions in the Syrian police and the Syrian state security apparatus, and was associated with the Syrian Ba’ath Party, the totalitarian party that ruled Syria. He allegedly served as the head of Damascus Central Prison (colloquially known as “Adra Prison”) from approximately 2005 to 2010. As described in the indictment, political dissidents and other prisoners were severely physically abused at Adra Prison during Alsheikh’s tenure there. The indictment further alleges that Alsheikh was subsequently appointed governor of the province of Deir Ez-Zour by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Alsheikh allegedly concealed his employment at the prison, persecution of any person because of political opinion, and involvement in harming others when he applied for U.S. citizenship in 2023. He allegedly made similar false statements when applying for a visa that enabled him to enter the United States in 2020, become a lawful permanent resident, and obtain a green card. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Alsheikh faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. HSI and the FBI are investigating the case, with support from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the HSI-led Human Rights Violators and War Criminals Center (HRVWCC). Assistant United States Attorney Joshua O. Mausner of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Patrick Jasperse and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance. Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or complete the FBI online tip form or the ICE online tip form .


title: Alert to Rhode Islanders: Callers Alleging Failure to Respond to Federal Court Subpoenas are Scammers

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – The United States District Court and the United States Attorney’s Office are aware of an ongoing scam where individuals claiming to be representatives of law enforcement are calling Rhode Islanders attempting to acquire personal information (Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, etc.) or payment of fines or fees over the phone for failure to respond to a subpoena. In the course of these phone calls, the caller may claim that an order has been issued by a federal Judge, in some cases using the names of an actual Rhode Island federal Judge specifically. The calls are scam and recipients should not provide personal or financial information to the callers. Rhode Islanders are urged not respond to these callers in any way. U.S. District Court orders are sent by U.S. Mail, and are not communicated to the recipient over the phone; the court will not contact you by phone to collect personal information. Individuals who have questions about the authenticity of a court order or who receive a Court-related communication that you believe to be fraudulent or questionable should contact the United States District Court at (401) 752-7200. ###


title: New York Man Admits Laundering Proceeds of Elder Fraud and Computer Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Queens, New York, man today admitted that he illegally laundered the proceeds of elder fraud and computer fraud schemes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Hector Claveria, 51, of Elmhurst, New York pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to Count Two of the indictment charging him with international money laundering. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In early 2020, Claveria acted as a money mule for a fraudulent scheme by picking up numerous packages that contained cash that he knew were proceeds of illegal activity. He then laundered some of this money in June 2020 by wiring $20,000 from his U.S. bank account to a foreign bank account. These funds were the proceeds of two fraudulent schemes: The first was an elder-fraud scheme in which the perpetrators tricked elder victims into believing that they owed money to various government agencies and companies, and then into sending payments to locations identified by the perpetrators. The second was a computer-fraud scheme in which perpetrators tricked victims into believing that they owed money to a computer services company, and then into sending payments to locations identified by the perpetrators, purportedly at the direction of the computer company. At the time Claveria wired the funds to a foreign account, he knew that the transfer was designed to conceal and disguise the nature of the funds. The charge of international money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transportation, transmission, or transfer. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Social Security Administration Office, of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chana Zuckier of the OCDETF Unit and Jennifer Kozar of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. claveria.indictment.pdf


title: Three Nashville Men Forfeit $180,886 in Drug Proceeds Seized After Traffic Stop

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FORT SMITH — On August 6, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas ordered $180,886 in cash seized from three Nashville men to be forfeited to the United States, upholding a civil complaint by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The complaint, filed on Jan. 31, 2024, alleged that the funds, seized in an Arkansas State Police traffic stop, should be forfeited because they were the proceeds of or were involved in drug crimes. According to court documents, this case began the afternoon of Jan. 17, 2023, when an Arkansas State Police trooper stopped a gray Nissan Armada for a traffic violation as it traveled westbound on I-40 in Crawford County, close to the Oklahoma state line. During the stop, the Nissan’s three occupants were visibly nervous and made inconsistent and contradictory statements about where they were going and what they planned to do. All three denied having any drugs or large amounts of cash in the vehicle. However, 13 minutes after the initial stop certified police canine “Beau” arrived on the scene, and in an “open air sniff” alerted on the vehicle—indicating the odor of illegal drugs. During the subsequent probable cause search, Arkansas troopers found two semi-automatic handguns, one of which had been reported stolen, personal-use quantities of illegal drugs and $180,886 in cash—most of it bundled for ease of counting. The driver, Shapour Saberi , and his two passengers, Redeer Ali Haji and Aryan Rasul Ibrahim , were arrested by the troopers and interviewed by agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The guns, drugs and cash, along with seven cell phones, were seized from them as evidence. Further investigation by the DEA revealed that Saberi, Haji and Ibrahim operated a thriving mail-order drug business in which they solicited customers to order high-grade marijuana and marijuana “edibles” through Snapchat, Instagram, and other social media platforms. Customers placed their orders and paid for the orders in advance. Once a customer’s payment was received, often another co-conspirator in California would send that customer’s order by way of a common carrier such as UPS or FedEx, or via the U.S. Postal Service. On other occasions, the three transported the high-grade marijuana and edibles from California to Tennessee using common carriers and, on at least one occasion, a rented cargo van filled with trash bags full of marijuana. The three individuals also memorialized many aspects of their illegal enterprise on their cell phones which contained pictures of internet advertisements for known strains of high-grade marijuana, close-ups displaying the marijuana, pictures of price lists for known strains of high-grade marijuana and marijuana edibles, photos of packages and mailing labels, records of conversations with customers and suppliers, photos of drug ledgers, text exchanges with co-conspirators that included arguments over business matters and selfies taken by all three subjects. Significantly, one of Ibrahim’s phones had photos of drug ledgers that included one dated “1/15.” In this photograph, the total profit shown on the drug ledger was $178,450—only $2,436 less than the amount seized from Saberi, Haji and Ibrahim on their Jan. 17, 2023, road trip. According to court papers, Saberi, Haji and Ibrahim filed administrative claims with the DEA seeking the return of their seized funds, alleging “ownership of the assets were obtained legally without felonious conduct,” and claiming most of the cash came from car sales rather than drug distribution. However, once the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a formal complaint for civil forfeiture of the funds, complete with pictures of evidence gathered in the investigation, none of the subjects chose to challenge the forfeiture in court. Under the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program, the funds—now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service—will be used to compensate crime victims, support law enforcement efforts, and support communities. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Arkansas State Police investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service manages the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Mohlhenrich civilly prosecuted the case for the United States. The Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Program The Asset Forfeiture Program was created in 1984 when Congress passed the Comprehensive Crime Control Act, which provided federal prosecutors and agents the legal and regulatory tools necessary to keep up with, and ahead of, those who commit crime for economic benefit. The U.S. Marshals Service plays a critical role in identifying and evaluating assets that represent the proceeds of crime as well as efficiently managing and selling assets seized and forfeited by Department of Justice. The Marshals manage a wide array of assets including real estate, commercial businesses, cash, financial instruments, vehicles, jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, vessels and aircraft. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to operate the program, compensate victims and support various law enforcement efforts. The Marshals manage the distribution of proceeds and payments to victims of crime and other innocent third parties, all of which helps to mitigate the financial damage inflicted by criminal activity. The agency employs best practices from private industry to ensure that assets are managed and sold in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The Asset Forfeiture Program also supports communities by transferring certain types of forfeited assets to state, local and nonprofit organizations. Through the Operation Goodwill program, forfeited real or personal property of marginal value can be transferred to state or local governments in support of drug abuse treatment, drug crime prevention and education, housing, job skills and other community-based public health and safety programs. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Two Rochester men sentenced for their roles in illegal sports betting ring

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Louis P. Ferrari, II, 42, and Dominic Sprague, 40, both of Rochester, NY, who were convicted of conspiracy to transmit wagering information in interstate commerce and conduct an illegal gambling business, were sentenced to serve three years’ probation, to include 10 months home detention, by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. In addition, Ferrari forfeited $150,000 and Sprague forfeited approximately $92,000 from their gambling proceeds. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan K. McGuire and Melissa M. Marangola, who handled the case, stated that between April 25, 2019, and April 17, 2021, Ferrari and Sprague conspired with Anthony Amato, Tomasso Sessa, Joseph Lombardo, Jeffrey Boscarino, James Civiletti, and others, to finance, manage, and own all or part of an illegal bookmaking business, which had a gross daily revenue of approximately $2,000.00. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Ferrari, and co-defendant Amato, created accounts for Sprague, Boscarino, and Lombardo on “sport700.com”, a website for placing and tracking bets on sports events. Sprague, Boscarino, and Lombardo would call and text Ferrari to place, edit, and remove bets on sporting events for individual bettors on sport700.com. Ferrari also called and texted messages to Amato asking him to create accounts, change passwords, and place, edit, and remove bets for Sprague, Boscarino, Lombardo, and individual bettors on sport700.com. Ferrari, Sprague, and Lombardo collected money owed by individual bettors and money owed to individual bettors in cash and through online payment applications, including CashApp, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. After Sprague and Lombardo collected from individual bettors, they kept a portion and paid the remainder to Ferrari. Sessa and Civiletti also collected from individual bettors in cash and through online payment applications, and then paid Sprague and Ferrari. The sentencings are the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Miklos Szoczei II, the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith. Additional assistance was provided by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. # # # #


title: District Man Indicted on 28 Federal Counts for String of Armed Carjackings and Robberies at Convenience Stores and Gas Stations

body_text: WASHINGTON – A 28-count superseding indictment, unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, charges Shamell Naquan Joyner, 36, of the District of Columbia, with offenses arising out of ten armed robberies of commercial establishments and two armed carjackings that he allegedly committed between April 12 and May 2, 2023, in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The charges build on a previous indictment in which Joyner was charged with six armed commercial robberies and one armed carjacking. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). According to the superseding indictment, on April 12, 2023, Joyner is alleged to have robbed the Falcon Fuel gas station and convenience store, located at 1301 13th Street Northwest, stealing money and personal property from the business and two employees while holding them at gunpoint. Joyner also is alleged to have discharged his firearm at two store employees during this robbery, neither of whom was wounded. One day after the Falcon Fuel robbery, on April 13, 2023, Joyner is alleged to have carjacked a man at gunpoint in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood. Joyner allegedly stole the man’s Honda HR-V and drove it across state lines into Virginia. The government’s evidence shows that Joyner used that car to commit subsequent armed robbery offenses, including an April 15, 2023, armed robbery of the 7-Eleven store at 1100 Vermont Avenue Northwest, in which an employee was held at gunpoint. On April 17, 2023, Joyner is alleged to have robbed the 7-Eleven store at 3023 Duke Street in Alexandria, Virginia, and an employee at gunpoint. Joyner allegedly discharged his firearm during this robbery, causing a store employee to sustain a non–life threatening gunshot wound to his leg. The government’s evidence connects this armed robbery to the April 12, 2023, robbery of Falcon Fuel, in which Joyner is also alleged to have discharged his firearm. On April 30, 2023, Joyner is alleged to have robbed the 7-Eleven store at 7401 Georgia Avenue Northwest and an employee, again at gunpoint. Joyner allegedly robbed another two stores at gunpoint the next day, May 1, 2023, including the 7‑Eleven store at 1325 2nd Street Northeast and the 721 Shop & Run and an employee at 721 H Street Northeast. Finally, on May 2, 2023, Joyner is alleged to have robbed the 7-Eleven store at 1645 Connecticut Avenue Northwest and an employee; the 7-Eleven store at 8484 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland; the 7-Eleven store at 1101 Annapolis Road in Odenton, Maryland; and the Exxon Auto Service Center at 7898 Ridge Road in Hanover, Maryland. All the May 2, 2023, robberies were also committed at gunpoint. During the Exxon robbery, Joyner additionally is alleged to have carjacked an employee by holding him at gunpoint and robbing him of the keys to his nearby Toyota RAV4, which Joyner then stole and drove across state lines into the District of Columbia. Later that day, in the 400 block of Condon Terrace Southeast, the Metropolitan Police Department found Joyner in the carjacked RAV4’s driver’s seat and arrested him without incident. At the time of his arrest, Joyner was in possession of the firearm used in the armed robberies committed between April 30, 2023, and May 2, 2023, as well as unique clothing and other evidence that tied him to numerous offenses. Joyner has been detained since his May 2, 2023, arrest. The case is assigned to the Honorable Rudolph Contreras. The superseding indictment charges Joyner with 28 counts: ten counts of interference with commerce by robbery (also known as Hobbs Act robbery), which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison; two counts of carjacking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; 12 related counts of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; two counts of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Under the superseding indictment, Joyner faces a mandatory minimum of 90 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering applicable sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Task Force. Valuable assistance has been provided by the Office of the State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland; the Office of the State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland; the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Alexandria, Virginia; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Alexandria City, Anne Arundel County, Fairfax County, and Prince George’s County Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Justin F. Song of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The investigation into these offenses and potentially related armed robberies of commercial establishments located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov . An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE DE JESUS VEGA-CERVANTES, 45, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 48 months of imprisonment trafficking fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Norwalk Police Department made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Vega-Cervantes. Vega-Cervantes was arrested on August 22, 2023, after he attempted to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to an individual working with law enforcement. Vega-Cervantes has been detained since his arrest. He pleaded guilty on May 7, 2024. Vega-Cervantes faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Norwalk Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.


title: Previously Deported Man Indicted for Transfer of Fraudulent Social Security Cards and Counterfeit Driver’s Licenses

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment today against Javier Aguilera Rosas, 42, residing in Los Angeles, charging him with transfer of false identity documents, misuse of Social Security numbers, and being a previously deported alien found in the United States, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Rosas transferred to others fraudulent Social Security cards and driver’s licenses that used the identifying information of multiple individuals, including their Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. Rosas was previously deported from the United States in December 2009 after committing an aggravated felony of forgery. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Rosas faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would 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 charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Virginia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Aldie, Virginia, man for Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on August 2, 2024. Tyler Grimes, 26, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Grimes will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. A federal grand jury indicted Grimes in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 3, 2024. Grimes used the internet-based application Omegle and his cellular phone to entice a minor to engage in sexually explicit activity. The minor was born in February of 2014, making her seven years old at all relevant times. During his communications with the minor, who lived in Rapid City, South Dakota, he repeatedly asked her for nude photos and videos of herself. She complied. After Grimes’ communications were discovered by the minor’s father, the minor was forensically interviewed. Many images and videos of child pornography between Grimes and the victim were located on the victim’s iPad. 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 . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. Grimes was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Billings man admits to stealing guns in pawnshop burglary

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of breaking into a Billings pawnshop and stealing firearms admitted today to a firearms charge, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Jesse Ambrose Deaguero, 42, pleaded guilty to theft from a federal firearms licensee. Deaguero faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Deaguero was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on Sept. 11, 2023, Pawnbrokers West, a federal firearms licensee, was burglarized shortly before 3 a.m. Ten firearms were stolen. A law enforcement investigation learned that Deaguero was involved in the burglary and five of the stolen firearms were recovered the next day from a residence. In an interview, Deaguero stated that he and a co-defendant, Lucious Machiavelli, went into the pawn shop and stole the firearms. Deaguero told investigators that he cut the lock off the firearms, and the guns were loaded into a car. Machiavelli pleaded guilty last month to charges in the case and is pending sentencing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Billings Police Department, with assistance from the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Company, Executive and Employee Indicted for $100M Price-Fixing Conspiracy Involving Publicly Funded Infrastructure Projects

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Oklahoma City returned an indictment, which was unsealed today, charging Sioux Erosion Control, Inc. (Sioux), its vice president and another employee with a price-fixing conspiracy targeting over $100 million in publicly-funded transportation construction contracts across Oklahoma. According to court documents, it is alleged that Vice President BG Dale Biscoe, Randall David Shelton and Sioux conspired with their competitors in the erosion control industry to raise and maintain prices for products and services from approximately September 2017 through April 2023. Erosion control products and services, including sod, are used to control runoff of soil or rock on highway construction and repair projects. In addition to conspiring to raise prices for sod, it is alleged that the defendants and their co‑conspirators agreed to divide up contracts across different areas of Oklahoma and rigged bids for particular projects by submitting intentionally high-priced bids or outright refusing to bid. “Protecting competition for taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects remains a priority for the Antitrust Division,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This indictment shows the Justice Department and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force partners’ commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars throughout Oklahoma and across the country from brazen collusion.” “My office is committed to root out price-fixing, collusion and fraud in taxpayer-funded projects,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “We are proud to work with our law enforcement partners in this effort to protect integrity in publicly-funded ventures and preserve the public trust.” “Today’s announcement represents the FBI’s commitment to protecting competitive markets from those who try to cheat the system,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph Skarda of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to uncover these harmful schemes and hold the perpetrators responsible.” “Violations of the nation’s antitrust laws will be taken seriously and those who circumvent federal bidding and contract regulations will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Harris of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Southern Region. “This investigation demonstrates our commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to uproot and expose brazen fraud schemes devised purely for personal gain.” Four individuals — including a former Sioux employee — previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the charged conspiracy. Those individuals have not yet been sentenced. Biscoe, Shelton and Sioux are charged with a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The maximum penalty for individuals is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DOT-OIG and FBI Oklahoma City Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Bethany Lipman, Matthew Grisier and Marc Hedrich of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown for the Western District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case. Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint. The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: South Dakota Man Found Guilty of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Lance Quintin Longie, age 40, of South Dakota of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender following a one-day jury trial in federal district court in Aberdeen. The verdict was returned on August 5, 2024. The charges carry a penalty of a maximum of 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Longie was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2024. Longie is required to register a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act because he was convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the First Degree in 2004 in the District Court of Minnesota, Clay County. In the summer of 2022, Longie was residing in Moorhead, Minnesota, and last registered with the Moorhead Police Department on June 29, 2022. Later that summer, Longie travelled to South Dakota and took up residence in New Effington. Longie remained at the New Effington address and did not update the sex offender registry in South Dakota until he was arrested at the residence by officers with the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office on March 22, 2024. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Beau J. Blouin and Connie Larson prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered. A sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Minnesota Man Sentenced to Over 19 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Production of Child Pornography

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Elmore, Minnesota, man convicted of Attempted Production of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 8, 2024. Mason Mensing, age 23, was sentenced to 19 years and five months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Upon his release, Mensing must register as a sex offender. Mensing was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2022. He pleaded guilty on May 21, 2024. The conviction stemmed from incidents between August 17, 2022, and August 19, 2022, when Mensing pretended to be a high schooler in Minnesota and attempted to persuade a minor female in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to send him nude images of herself. The minor female refused and told her parents, who then went to the police. After an undercover agent took over the minor’s Snapchat account, Mensing had several sexual conversations with the undercover agent. An examination of Mensing’s Snapchat account revealed that he had requested nude photos from multiple teenage girls in South Dakota and Minnesota. 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 . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Brookings Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case. Mensing was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Compton Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for  Leading Ring that Trafficked Cocaine from California to Alaska

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Compton man was sentenced today to 127 months in federal prison for leading a Southern California-based drug trafficking organization that shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine to Alaska via commercial flights and U.S. mail. Raul Cisneros Jr., 46, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin. Cisneros pleaded guilty May 9 to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He has been in federal custody since October 2020 and was the final defendant to plead guilty to criminal charges in this case. From at least July 2014 to August 2016, Cisneros managed the operations of a drug trafficking outfit that sold cocaine and methamphetamine to customers. In October 2015, law enforcement stopped Cisneros in his car while he was en route to an accomplice’s home to pick up money. In his car, Cisneros possessed approximately $5,003 in cash, which were drug proceeds. He also possessed approximately 10 kilograms (22.1 pounds) of cocaine packaged in five separate bundles, which he intended to sell to customers. After obtaining a search warrant for Cisneros’ home, law enforcement seized from Cisneros’ kitchen cabinets approximately 30.7 kilograms (66.1 pounds) of cocaine, approximately 167.7 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately 3.6 kilograms (1.1 pounds) of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also found hundreds of used empty green cellophane wrappers and a money counter, which Cisneros used to facilitate his drug distribution operation. Law enforcement also seized from Cisneros’ kitchen four firearms and 72 rounds of ammunition during this search. In total, agents recovered $568,357 in cash proceeds from drug deals and – in the trunk of Cisneros’ white Honda Accord vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of his residence – approximately 7.02 kilograms (15.5 pounds) of cocaine wrapped in seven packages of green cellophane stashed inside a bag. Cisneros intended to distribute the cocaine to others as part of his drug trafficking operation. Federal prosecutors secured eight convictions in this matter. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF) consisting of the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this matter. Substantial assistance was provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. This investigation was conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy Yu, Chief of Ethics and Post-Conviction Review, and Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine and Firearms Offenses

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gary Wayne Stuckey, 58, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in June 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Stuckey’s vehicle and observed several pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle. A search revealed over 500 grams of methamphetamine and several items indicative of drug sales, including digital scales, plastic baggies, and hundreds of dollars of U.S. currency in small denominations. Wedged between the driver’s seat and center console of the vehicle was a Polymer 80 handgun, a privately made firearm or “ghost gun” lacking a serial number, that was loaded with a live round of ammunition in the chamber and five additional rounds in the magazine. Stuckey is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to multiple state felony convictions, including a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of ammunition. This case was the product of an investigation by the Stockton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alstyn Bennett and Whitnee Goins, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura are prosecuting the case. Stuckey is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. Stuckey faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. 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. 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: Ventura Men Receive Prison Terms for Crime Spree in Which Taco Truck Vendor Extorted, Small Businesses Robbed Last Year

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Two Ventura County men were sentenced today to federal prison terms for their roles in a crime spree late last year in which a taco truck vendor was extorted, two small businesses were robbed, and for fraudulently using debit and credit cards from a victim robbed at gunpoint. Oscar Aguirre Silva, 31, of Ventura, was sentenced to 72 months (six years) in federal prison by United States District Judge Hernán D. Vera, who also ordered him to pay $2,941 in restitution. Silva pleaded guilty on April 25 to one count of interference with commerce by extortion (Hobbs Act), two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), three counts of bank fraud, two counts of attempted bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. At a separate hearing today, Judge Vera sentenced Edward Donaldo Ramirez Martinez, 28, of Ventura, a co-defendant, to 54 months (4½ years) in federal prison. Ramirez was ordered to pay $1,597 in restitution. Ramirez pleaded guilty on April 25 to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. “The victims in this case were people just trying to make a living by operating a food truck when they were allegedly robbed at gunpoint,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Violent gun crime tears at the fabric of our society. Punishing those who engage in violent gun offenses is and will continue to be a priority for my office. Our community deserves no less.” On November 6, 2023, Silva threatened violence to extort a taco truck vendor in Oxnard. Four days later, Silva robbed a woman at gunpoint and stole her iPhone, and her purse, which contained a credit card and a debit card in the victim’s name as well as a debit card in the name of another victim. Ramirez served as the getaway driver during this armed robbery. Both men then traveled to a Walmart store in Ventura, where they used the stolen cards to purchase $524 worth of merchandise. Later, Silva and another co-defendant, David Ray Reyes, 30, of Ventura, then used and attempted to use the stolen cards to purchase other items at an Oxnard smoke shop. On November 25 and 26, 2023, Silva robbed two Oxnard businesses – a smoke shop and a grocery outlet. Finally, on December 2, 2023, Ramirez, while under the influence of methamphetamine, possessed an assault rifle that did not bear a serial number – commonly known as a “ghost gun.” The firearm carried four rounds of ammunition. Ramirez was not legally permitted to possess the ghost gun or the ammunition because of his February 2020 felony conviction in Ventura County Superior Court for carrying a loaded firearm. Reyes pleaded guilty on March 6 to one count of attempted bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. On June 6, Judge Vera sentenced Reyes to 26 months in federal prison. All three defendants remain in federal custody. Operation Safe Cities establishes strategic enforcement priorities with an emphasis on prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. Across this region, the most damaging and horrific crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic enforcement approach is expected to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of recidivists engaged in the most dangerous conduct. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, or robbery crews that cause havoc and extensive losses to retail establishments. The Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ventura Police Department, conducted this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lyndsi C. Allsop of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.


title: Felon Caught with Gun in Bloomfield Sentenced to 54 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIMOTHY TURMAN, also known as “Murder,” 37, of Manchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 54 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 9, 2022, Turman was arrested by Bloomfield Police after he was found in possession of a loaded Taurus, Millennium PT-145, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number. Turman’s criminal history includes state felony convictions in 2005, for possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and, in 2006, for robbery in the first degree. In June 2011, Turman was charged with murder, firearm, and robbery offenses stemming from the shooting death of a 21-year-old man in Hartford. The case against him was dismissed after a state trial, but he was found in violation of his probation and was sentenced to 10 and one-half years of incarceration. He was released from state prison in February 2021. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Turman has been detained since his arrest. On April 4, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bloomfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda S. Oakes through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced To Seven Years  In Federal Prison For Receipt Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell. III, sentenced defendant Jacob Joseph Muir, 26, of Pasadena, Maryland, to seven years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release for one count of receipt of child pornography. Judge Russell also ordered Muir after his release from prison, to register as a sex offender, have no contact with children under 18, without permission, and undergo computer monitoring. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office. According to the plea agreement, from July to August 2019, Muir pretended to be a teenage boy to entice minors to produce and send him sexually explicit photographs on social media site Instagram. A subsequent investigation revealed that Muir used aliases to communicate with minors, directing and enticing them to send him sexually graphic images of themselves. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI Baltimore Field Office, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon and Assistant United States Attorney Michael F. Aubin, who prosecuted this case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach .


title: Jamaican National Indicted For An Alleged Lottery Scheme That Defrauded Victims Of More Than $9.5 Million

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Today Nickoy Campbell, age 29, of Jamaica, had an initial appearance on a superseding indictment for conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with a lottery scheme. The second superseding indictment was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department. According to the indictment, from October 2020 until February 2024, the defendants and their co-conspirators contacted the victims by mail or over the phone and convinced them that they had won millions of dollars in a lottery or sweepstakes but were required to send payment in advance for taxes and other fees before they could receive their winnings. The defendants and other conspirators caused the victims to send payments for the purported taxes and other fees through wire transfer, by gift card, by sending cash and by other payment methods. According to the indictment, as a result of the scheme, the victims sent at least $9.5 million to the defendants and other conspirators. Wayne Henry and Dwayne Henry of Landover Hills, Maryland were charged previously with conspiracy to commit mail fraud as part of the same lottery scheme. If convicted, Campbell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the mail fraud conspiracy. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. At today’s initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles D. Austin ordered that Campbell be detained. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. This case 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. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov . Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324. U.S. Attorney Barron commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, United States Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland State Police, Baltimore County Police, and Anne Arundel County Police for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evelyn Lombardo Cusson and Christine Goo, who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help seniors, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/elder-justice-initiative . # # #


title: Liberian Citizen Admits to Unlawfully Possessing Two Firearms as a Felon

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Mana Sambola a/k/a “Coffee,” age 41, a Liberian citizen residing in Saratoga Springs, New York, pled guilty today to illegally possessing two firearms. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office, made the announcement. A search warrant executed at Sambola’s apartment on May 22, 2023, led to the recovery of a Glock 43 pistol; an Anderson Manufacturing AM15 assault rifle; and four boxes of ammunition. Sambola has prior felony convictions that prevent him from lawfully possessing those firearms and ammunition. Sambola faces a maximum term of 15 years in prison; a fine of up to $250,000; and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. 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. HSI investigated the case with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); the Warren County District Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices; the New York State Police; and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case.


title: Two Plead Guilty in Nationwide Marijuana Trafficking and Money Laundering Conspiracies

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – LaFay Pearson, aka “Lala,” age 23, and Alyssa June White, age 31, both of Troy, New York, pled guilty to offenses related to their involvement in nationwide marijuana trafficking and money laundering conspiracies. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, 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. In pleading guilty, Pearson admitted to being a member of a marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) trafficking organization that cultivated marijuana on a commercial scale in Fresno, California, and shipped thousands of kilograms of marijuana and THC from Fresno to locations throughout the United States, including the Capital Region of New York. Pearson admitted to receiving packages of marijuana shipped by Dwight A. Singletary, II, aka “Nutt” and “Mike Jones,” and McKenzie Merrialice Coles, aka “Kenzie,” from a shipping store in Fresno, Fast Pack & Ship, at her home in Troy. Pearson was notified of the packages of marijuana by Coles and David Singletary, aka “DB,” and was paid between $300 and $400 in cash per package of marijuana received. Pearson worked with her brother, Isiah Ti-Quan Clements, aka “Zay,” to receive the packages of marijuana, and between May 2020 and January 2021, received 11 packages containing approximately 72 kilograms, or 159 pounds, of marijuana. Pearson also admitting to packaging marijuana for sale and to texting with Coles, Clements, and David Singletary about doing so. White admitted to conspiring with Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, and Lawrence Mumphrey, aka “L,” to launder the proceeds of marijuana and THC sales by purchasing cashier’s checks with cash drug proceeds. Federal law requires financial institutions to complete a currency transaction report for cash transactions over $10,000. To avoid the reporting requirement and otherwise conceal the cash drug proceeds, White purchased six cashier’s checks in amounts slightly below the reporting threshold for cash transactions with $57,240 in cash drug proceeds. The cashier’s checks were payable to Dwight Singletary; Dwight Singletary’s real estate lawyers; and Dwight Singletary’s company, DAS Empire, Inc. Pearson faces up to 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release of between three years and life, and a fine of up to $1 million for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. White faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, and may also be required to serve up to three years of supervised release for conspiring to commit money laundering. 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. Pearson and White were charged in an indictment with Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, Coles, Clements, Mumphrey, and 17 other people charging marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, firearms offenses, and other crimes. Dwight Singletary, David Singletary, Coles, Clements, and Mumphrey have pled not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. In addition to Pearson and White, 12 other defendants, Rosemary Coles , Latrice Mumphrey , Sammy Olague , Victor Turner , Kristle Walker , Ruby Ledesma , Lateek White , Onisha Smith , Jazell Shuler , Earnest Flood, aka “Pop,” Consanga Harris, aka “Sondy,” and James Tyrell Daniels, aka “Red” and “Ghost,” 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: Hancock County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of More than 25 Stolen Firearms and a Pipe Bomb

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who was found with more than 25 stolen firearms and explosives was sentenced July 31, 2023, to 2 years in federal prison. Tommy Gretillat, age 44, from Corwith, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 5, 2024, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. Evidence in the case revealed that when Hancock County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at Gretillat’s residence related to an investigation into multiple burglaries in the Humboldt County area, he was found to have more than 25 stolen firearms, explosives or destructive devices, a pipe-bomb, as well as other stolen property. Gretillat’s criminal history includes several burglary convictions and a previous conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon, all of which precluded his lawful possession of firearms. Gretillat was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 24 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Gretillat is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3004. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Marion Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: A man who received child pornography pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Jeffrey Alan Bradley, age 50, from Marion, Iowa, was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography. In a plea agreement, Bradley admitted that between May 2020 and February 2022, he received at least 600 visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The depictions included material portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, as well as the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler. Law enforcement searched Bradley’s residence in February 2022, and recovered the child pornography. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Bradley remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Bradley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, $40,100 in special assessments, a $250,000 fine, and a life of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-40. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.