title: Jury Finds Sioux City Man Guilty of Kidnapping and Possessing Ammunition as a Felon and Drug User

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A recidivist felon was convicted by a jury on April 26, 2024, after a 5-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. Bobby Rhoden, age 49, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of kidnapping and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon and drug user. Evidence at trial showed that Rhoden used threats to get his victim, a former girlfriend, into his car to help him recover a phone she had taken. Over the next 36 hours, he brutalized her, and drove her to at least two locations in an effort to find his phone. The victim escaped Rhoden by running away from him to a neighbor’s house. As she ran, Rhoden fired his gun at or near her. A subsequent investigation of the kidnapping revealed live ammunition and a spent casing in the garage where Rhoden lived, and one of the locations where he held his victim. Rhoden was previously convicted of two counts of forgery in Scott County, Iowa, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Scott County, Iowa and conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. 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. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Rhoden remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Rhoden faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, ATF and is 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 22-04073. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: McAlester Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Offense

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lawanna Renee Pogue, age 41, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for possessing a firearm after being previously convicted of a felony offense. The charges arose from investigations by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On April 19, 2023, Pogue pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to investigators, on December 25, 2022, deputies with the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office stopped Pogue’s vehicle after observing a traffic infraction and located a .22 caliber firearm in the vehicle’s trunk compartment. Pogue later admitted to possessing the firearm despite her status as a convicted felon. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Two Men and a Woman Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison Following Convictions for Kidnapping an FBI Employee at Gunpoint

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an El Salvadoran man, a Guatemalan man, and a Kersey, Colorado, woman convicted of the following offenses: Kidnapping; Carjacking; Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; and Unlawful Reentry after Deportation. The sentencings took place on April 12 and April 26, 2024, in Rapid City, South Dakota. Deyvin Morales, age 29, of Guatemala, was sentenced on April 26, 2024, to 47 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Juan Francisco Alvarez-Sorto, age 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced on April 12, 2024, to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Karla Lopez-Gutierrez, age 29, was sentenced on April 26, 2024, to 26 ½ years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Alvarez, Morales, and Lopez were indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. Lopez-Gutierrez pleaded guilty to Kidnapping and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence on August 17, 2023. Alvarez and Morales were indicted again in December of 2023. On January 23, 2024, following a federal trial, Alvarez and Morales were found guilty of Kidnapping; Carjacking; Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; and Unlawful Reentry after Deportation. “The victim in this case was faithfully performing his duties when he found himself at the center of an absolute nightmare — fighting for survival in the back of his own car after these callous defendants carjacked, kidnapped, and held the victim at gunpoint for more than thirty minutes,” said U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell. “That men and women in law enforcement must face such profound risks to their lives while working to secure community safety is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. These lengthy sentences reflect those principles. Once again, we are grateful to the FBI and numerous other federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners for their unwavering commitment to both this investigation and to the righteous mission we all serve in this community.” “These sentences reaffirm the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting our personnel from acts of violence and intimidation,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “We extend our gratitude to the USAO-SD and law enforcement partners for their unwavering dedication. Justice has been served, and we continue to stand united against any attempt to endanger our workforce.” In her sentencing comments, Judge Schreier declared the defendants’ actions among the most horrendous crimes she had seen as a judge. According to evidence admitted at trial, on May 5, 2022, Alvarez, Morales, and Lopez traveled from Greeley, Colorado, into southwestern South Dakota for the purpose of trafficking and distributing controlled substances, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. During their trip, the defendants encountered a South Dakota Highway Patrol Officer and engaged in a high-speed chase. The defendants eluded law enforcement at that time and hid in a remote area near Red Shirt, South Dakota. Alvarez, Morales, and Lopez then decided to carjack the next vehicle to come along the area at which the defendants stopped on BIA Highway 41. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on May 6, 2022, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Victim Specialist left an unrelated crime scene investigation near Oglala, South Dakota, and began traveling back towards his duty station in Rapid City. The FBI employee was driving his assigned FBI vehicle. As the employee was heading North on BIA 41 near the Badlands overlook on Cuny Table, he passed a vehicle that was parked in the approach near the overlook. As he passed the parked vehicle, the parked vehicle’s lights turned on and the vehicle pulled out behind the employee. The employee, believing he was being pulled over by law enforcement, pulled his vehicle to the side of the road. After the employee pulled his vehicle over, he next realized there was a male at his window pointing a rifle at him and ordering him to get out of the vehicle. The employee realized that the male, identified as Alvarez, was not a law enforcement officer and also that the vehicle had blocked his own vehicle, preventing him from driving away. Morales and Alvarez ordered the FBI employee out of his vehicle at gun point. The employee was ordered to get on the ground behind his vehicle while Alvarez was holding the rifle at the back of his head. The employee was ordered to keep his head down while on the ground. The group then robbed him of his wallet, money, credit cards, car keys, watch, and personal and work mobile phones. The FBI employee was then ordered to get up and placed in the middle-rear seat of his government-issued vehicle, as the passenger side seat was blocked with items. While holding the rifle, Alvarez was seated in the front passenger seat of the employee’s vehicle and Morales, while armed with two handguns in his waistband, was seated in the rear driver’s side seat next to the employee. Lopez got into the driver’s seat of the employee’s vehicle. At this point, the defendants took control of the vehicle and took the employee hostage. As the group traveled North on BIA 41, they told the employee to cooperate and he would be safe, but if he did not, the group would come after his family and that they knew where he lived. The group traveled to Hermosa, South Dakota, stopping at a gas station at the intersection of State Highway 40 and Highway 79. Once the group arrived at the gas station, Lopez went inside to purchase gas. As she got out of the vehicle to go inside the gas station, Alvarez locked the doors to the employee’s vehicle, and the doors remained locked while Lopez was out of the vehicle. Lopez then came back to the vehicle holding a gas can and zip ties. She entered the vehicle and conducted a U-turn and then went to a gas pump. The FBI employee noticed that after Lopez came back to the vehicle, Alvarez, who was brandishing the firearm, had the zip ties in his possession and was getting them out. As Lopez got out to pump gas, the doors to the vehicle were momentarily unlocked. Seizing the opportunity, the employee opened the rear driver’s side door, fought his way out of the vehicle, slipping out of his jacket to escape Morales' attempts to detain him, and sprinted inside the front doors of the gas station to escape. The three defendants then fled from the gas station and drove to Rapid City, where they abandoned the FBI vehicle and switched to another vehicle. Alvarez and Morales were able to make it back to Greeley, Colorado, where they were ultimately arrested for their roles in the kidnapping and carjacking. During a search of the residence where Alvarez and Morales were arrested, law enforcement located firearms, including the rifle used during the kidnapping and carjacking, and controlled substances. Lopez was arrested soon afterward. This case was investigated by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Rapid City Police Department, Greeley, Colorado Police Department, and the Custer and Pennington County Sheriffs’ Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy R. Jehangiri and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. Alvarez, Morales, and Lopez were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving their sentences.


title: U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina Host National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony

component: Office of Justice Programs (OJP)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C – United States Attorneys Michael Easley from the Eastern District of North Carolina, Sandra J. Hairston from the Middle District, and Dena J. King from the Western District, together with various local and state leaders, gathered on Tuesday morning to promote community engagement in supporting crime survivors and victims. Local news reporter Debra Morgan of WRAL emceed the event, which featured music by The 100 Men in Black Ensemble, and an array of speakers delivering messages of hope to victims of crime. Students from Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School were also recognized for their participation in a poster contest featuring butterflies in honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week . Two service organizations were also featured, including Safe Child and Ship Outreach , for their role in helping survivors of crime. North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections “In the face of gun violence and an opioid epidemic claiming far too many lives, we won’t allow our communities to be defined by grief and loss,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “In National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we highlight the brave victims, survivors, and service providers seeking justice in our courts. We also recognize that true healing requires services and care, wrapping up survivors and ensuring they and their loved ones are never forgotten.” “Each year, we honor and pay tribute to the victims of crime, to those who are survivors of crime, and to the courageous families who love them,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of North Carolina. “We take this time to thank the outstanding victims’ advocates and law enforcement professionals who are dedicated to supporting survivors and seeking justice for all victims. We will continue this work throughout the year and in years to come to seek justice for the victims and to give hope to the survivors and their families.” “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week emphasizes the importance of supporting and advocating for crime victims and survivors within our justice system,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina. “This year’s theme reflects our dedication to individuals whose lives have been affected by crime and underscores our commitment to ensuring their rights are recognized and upheld every step of the way. When we put victim advocacy at the forefront of our efforts, we ensure that crime victims and survivors have access to the care, support, and resources they need throughout their journey toward healing and justice.” This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” The theme aims to ensure that everyone in a community, including friends, family members, colleagues, neighbors, service providers, or other trusted members of the community, understands their crucial role in supporting crime victims and survivors, and is prepared to offer support. The U.S. Attorneys Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina are proud to join the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and communities throughout the United States during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in raising awareness of victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and their advocates. For additional information about this year’s NCVRW and how to assist victims in your own community, please visit the United States Attorney’s Office website . For more ideas on how to support victims of crime, visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.ojp.gov .


title: DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. On Saturday, April 27th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Location information is available from the DEA, along with items that cannot be accepted. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. This April’s event is DEA’s 26 th nationwide event since its inception 14 years ago. Last spring, Americans turned in nearly 599,897 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 4,675 sites operated by the DEA and 4,383 from its state and local law enforcement partners. The DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium-ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium-ion batteries. Concerns have been raised across the United States over illnesses and deaths caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. To support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially among America’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances. The DEA’s “Take Back” day and “Get Smart About Drugs” initiatives address the vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses because of these drugs. Synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, are the primary driver of the increase in overdose deaths. For information on DEA’s “Take Back” in Spanish , click here , or for more information on the “Get Smart About Drugs” publication, click for English or Spanish . In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 11,000 authorized collectors that are available all year long. For more information, visit DEA’s year-round collection site locator . Participating in the next DEA Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27th, simply means cleaning out your medicine cabinet or anywhere you keep unused, unwanted, or expired medications and dropping them off at your nearest collection site. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 27th Take Back day event, go to DEA Drug Take Back event or by calling 800-882-9539. The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: English or Spanish . ###


title: Lackawanna County Woman Indicted For Production And Distribution Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mykayliah Hevener, age 25, of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, was indicted on April 23, 2024, for production and distribution of child pornography. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that in 2023, Hevener both produced and distributed child sexual abuse material in the form of images and videos of herself engaging in sexual contact with a toddler. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments, Complaints, and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Florida Man Sentenced To Prison For International Fraud Conspiracy That Targeted Senior Citizens

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Jorrel Tyler Jackson, 31, of Seffner, Florida, was sentenced to 6.5 years in federal prison for his role in an international fraud conspiracy that targeted senior citizens in several states, including Michigan. U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering, who imposed the sentence, found that Jackson was responsible for causing $1,584,077 in loss to 22 victims of the conspiracy, and ordered him to pay restitution in that amount. “Crimes that exploit seniors can be devastating, depriving victims of their savings, their independence, and their dignity,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My office will vigorously pursue criminals who target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens in Michigan.” According to court records, Jackson’s role in the conspiracy was to meet with victims and collect packages of money from them, which he then passed on to higher-level members of the conspiracy. He also recruited others to join the conspiracy. A victim in West Michigan lost $398,000 to the conspiracy. Jackson was one of seven defendants who were charged last year with participating in the fraud scheme. For the victims, the scheme began when they received a message on their computers warning that a virus had infected their devices. The messages urged the victims to call a number to get help. When the victims called the number provided, they got a response from someone claiming to work for a tech company, such as Microsoft or Apple. In truth, they were scammers located in India, who scared the victims into giving money to the conspiracy with a variety of different ruses. In one version of the scam, victims were told their bank accounts had been compromised and they needed to withdraw all their cash and give it to fake “federal agents” for safekeeping. In another version, victims were told a virus had infected their computers and they needed to pay for technical support. In a third version, victims were told they had been identified in a criminal investigation and needed to turn over money to clear their names. Regardless of which ruse was used, the result was the same: victims were convinced to give money to the scammers. Victims did this during in-person meetings with fake “federal agents,” by mailing boxes of cash to addresses provided by the scammers, by wire transfers to bank accounts controlled by the scammers, or through gift cards they purchased at the direction of the scammers. U.S. Attorney Totten shared the following safety tips to help prevent becoming a victim: “To protect yourself, never click on unsolicited pop-ups, links sent by text message or email, don’t download software at the request of someone you don’t know, and always remember that the government and law enforcement will never call and ask you for money.” “Fraudsters are targeting our senior community at an alarming rate nationwide. Criminals continue to take advantage of their trusting nature and generosity,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI in Michigan . “We must empower our seniors with knowledge about elder fraud and its various forms to protect them from this intolerable manipulation. If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder fraud, we ask that you report it immediately to the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) or file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. We will not allow these criminals to continue exploiting our seniors.” For more information on preventing elder fraud and help for victims, visit the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative website , which includes a list of Michigan-specific resources . The FBI Elder Fraud website also provides several resources, including the following tips to help seniors protect themselves: Recognize scam attempts and end all communication with the perpetrator. Search online for the contact information (name, email, phone number, addresses) and the proposed offer. Other people have likely posted information online about individuals and businesses trying to run scams. Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action. Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one. Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door services offers. Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses. Make sure all computer anti-virus and security software and malware protections are up to date. Use reputable anti-virus software and firewalls. Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see a pop-up message or locked screen. Pop-ups are regularly used by perpetrators to spread malicious software. Enable pop-up blockers to avoid accidentally clicking on a pop-up. Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know, and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you. Take precautions to protect your identity if a criminal gains access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts, and monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan, and the Department of Homeland Security in Louisiana. Assistant United States Attorney Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case. Five of the seven defendants charged in the case have entered guilty pleas. The charges against the remaining two defendants are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. ###


title: Oxford Man Charged With Sexually Exploiting Minor

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A federal grand jury sitting in Worcester has returned an indictment against an Oxford man for child exploitation offenses. Michael Lamountain, 41, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, one count of sex trafficking of a minor and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Lamountain is currently in state custody on related offenses and will appear in federal court in Worcester on April 30, 2024. The defendant was previously charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor on Feb. 16, 2024. According to the charging documents, on July 19, 2023, Lamountain sex trafficked a minor victim and coerced the minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. It is further alleged that Lamountain coerced three other minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Lamountain was arrested in August 2023 and subsequently charged by state authorities in Worcester Superior Court with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child, depicting minors in sexual conduct, human trafficking of a minor, possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and intimidation of a witness. The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier; and Oxford Police Chief Michael K. Daniels made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Rhode Island State Police and Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 . The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Rocky Mount Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession After High-Speed Chase with Child and Puppy in Vehicle

body_text: ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for possessing a short-barreled rifle that was not marked with a serial number. On September 26, 2023, Chi-Ali Bunn pled guilty to the charge. “This defendant fled police in a high-speed chase exceeding 111 miles per hour with guns, drugs, and a kid in the car,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “A short-barreled rifle and high-capacity drum magazine have no place around a child, especially in a car traveling at speeds over a hundred miles an hour. We will keep up our partnership with local law enforcement to get illegal guns out of dangerous hands like Bunn’s.” “We appreciate the collaboration and partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and dedicated law enforcement,” said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. “Dedicated law enforcement and prosecutors make safe communities.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, Bunn, 29, approached a Nash County Sheriff’s Office license check station in January 2023. Bunn, a felon, then turned around to avoid the station and deputies pursued. When a deputy activated his blue lights, Bunn fled, reaching speeds of up to 111 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Bunn ran multiple stop signs, traveled on the wrong side of the road, weaved in and out of traffic, and narrowly avoided colliding with other motorists, including a law enforcement vehicle. The pursuit continued into Zebulon where deputies with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office successfully deployed stop sticks, which flattened two tires of the suspect’s vehicle. Unknown to law enforcement at the time, Bunn’s young child and a small puppy were in the car during the chase. After the car was stopped, deputies searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9mm handgun capable of accepting a large capacity magazine; a .223 caliber rifle with a barrel length of 7.5 inches; a loaded drum magazine; a pill bottle containing eight Oxycodone pills; a cut straw containing cocaine residue; and a digital scale. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Nash and Wake County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-00127-BO-RJ.


title: Springfield, Illinois Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison  for Multiple Crimes Against Children

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois man, James Simons, 32, of the 2000 block of South 5 th Street in Springfield, Illinois, was sentenced to 35 years in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release on April 23, 2024. Simons, a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty on December 20, 2023, to the charges of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor, use of interstate facilities to attempt to transmit information about a minor, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and penalties for registered sex offenders. At the sentencing hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Collen R. Lawless, the government established that the defendant persuaded children to produce sexual images of themselves and send them to him for his sexual gratification. The Court further found that between August 13, 2020, and August 28, 2020, Simons communicated with an individual online he believed to be fifteen years old. Despite knowing the individual’s age, Simons discussed engaging in sexual activity with the minor, asked for the minor’s address, and sent child pornography to the child. On August 28, 2020, after confirming that the minor was alone, he asked for the child’s address and drove to the residence expecting to engage in sexual conduct; he was then arrested. “This sentence sends a strong message to every perpetrator that the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois and its law enforcement partners prioritize the protection of children and will use every resource at our disposal to ensure that the internet is not used by predators as their hunting ground.” said Assistant United States Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs. “The FBI prioritizes investigations that protect children,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “This substantial sentence resulted from the dedicated efforts of our agents and law enforcement partners who work around the clock to stop perpetrators who harm our children.” Simons was indicted in September 2020 and has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in August 2020. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office with assistance from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; the Springfield Police Department; and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Simons was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Missouri Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Chillicothe, Missouri man, Scott Young, 37, was sentenced on April 25, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless to 60 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine. Young was indicted in December 2019 and pleaded guilty in September 2023. At sentencing, the Court found that Young had distributed methamphetamine on two occasions in Adams County, Illinois in 2019. The Court further noted the terrible effects methamphetamine use has had on communities in the Central District of Illinois. The statutory penalties for distributing methamphetamine are up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police, and Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Young is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Boston Man Charged With Sexually Exploiting Minor

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Worcester for child exploitation offenses. Jalen Latimer, 25, of Roxbury, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Latimer is currently in state custody on related offenses and will appear in federal court in Worcester on April 30, 2024. The defendant was previously charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor on Feb. 16, 2024. According to the indictment, in July 2023, Latimer conspired with another individual to sex traffic a minor victim. It is further alleged that Latimer coerced two other minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Latimer was arrested in February 2024 and is facing charges by state authorities in Worcester Superior Court of rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and battery of a child, human trafficking of a minor and depicting a minor in sexual conduct. The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides of a sentence of up to life in prison, up to a lifetime supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier; and Oxford Police Chief Michael K. Daniels made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Rhode Island State Police and Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 . The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Boston Man Sentenced to Nearly Eight Years in Prison for Murder-For-Hire Plot Targeting His Former Wife and Her Boyfriend

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday for trying to hire a contract killer to murder his ex-wife and her boyfriend. Mohammed Chowdhury, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 92 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2024, Chowdhury pleaded guilty to two counts of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. “Mr. Chowdhury literally thought he could get away with murder,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Mr. Chowdhury’s disturbing conduct – in combination with the misogyny and dehumanization he expressed in trying to carry out this plot – speak volumes about how dangerous he is. This case represents the most extreme form of domestic violence and we will use all tools at our disposal to protect women in abusive relationships.” “Anyone willing to hire a hitman to kill a once beloved family member and her new boyfriend is clearly a danger to the community,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Thankfully, the FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force was able to thwart this deadly and horrific plot. Violent criminals like Mohammed Chowdhury need to be locked up, for everyone’s safety, and today’s sentence ensures he won’t be able to harm anyone for a significant period of time.” In November 2022, an individual notified law enforcement that Chowdhury was soliciting assistance in having his ex-wife murdered. The individual said that Chowdhury had paid someone to conduct the murder for hire, but that they took the money and did not follow through with Chowdhury’s request. Chowdhury subsequently told the individual that he needed the murder done as soon as possible and that he would get the money to do so, even robbing a store if necessary to obtain the funds. The individual provided Chowdhury’s phone number to law enforcement, who thereafter used an undercover agent posing as a contract killer, to communicate with Chowdhury about his murder for hire plot. On numerous occasions in December 2022 and January 2023, Chowdhury met with undercover agents posing as the contract killer and their associates, to seek help with killing his ex-wife and her new boyfriend, whom she left him for. During these meetings and communications, Chowdhury explained that his ex-wife would not let him see his children; described his frustration with his ex-wife’s westernization and independent thinking; and expressed that he wanted the undercover agents to rob and beat his ex-wife and her boyfriend so that he would not be a suspect. Chowdhury asked, “So how we gonna disappear his, uh, body?” and stated, “No evidence. No evidence. No evidence from like, you know, that, uh, I did something, you know?” Chowdhury provided the undercover agents with photographs of his ex-wife and her boyfriend, where they lived, where they worked and their work schedules. Chowdhury ultimately agreed to pay $4,000 per murder, with a deposit of $500. Chowdhury met with the undercover agents on Jan. 17, 2023, provided the $500 deposit and confirmed that he wanted the murders committed. Chowdhury was then immediately taken into federal custody. According to court records, in October 2019, Chowdhury was charged in Boston Municipal Court – Roxbury Division with violating an Abuse Prevention Order prohibiting him from abusing, contacting, or coming within a certain distance of his ex-wife. Chowdhury pleaded to sufficient facts and received a continuance without a finding. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. The Boston Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke A. Goldworm and John T. Dawley of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Former General Counsel of Large Public Company admits Tax Offenses

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man, and former general counsel for a large public corporation admitted willfully failing to file federal income tax returns, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. John Goggins, 63, of Chatham, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court on April 25, 2024, to a four-count information charging him with willfully failing to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2018 through 2021. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Goggins was a former senior vice-president and general counsel of a large publicly traded corporation. For the years 2018 through 2021, Goggins earned total gross income of $54 million from wages, restricted stock awards, the exercise of annual nonqualified stock options, interest, dividends, and gains from stock sales. Goggins failed to file federal income tax returns for those years. The willful failure to file tax returns charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Any prison sentence imposed on Counts One through Four may run consecutively to each other. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 6, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan with the investigation leading to the guitly plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae D. Gray of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark, and Trial Attorney Kenneth Vert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. goggins.information.pdf


title: Fugitive Arrested, Arraigned in Multi-State Burglary Ring

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – Yoel Andres Barrera Garrido, 20, of New York, a fugitive wanted since December 2023 for his alleged role in a sweeping, multi-state burglary ring that primarily targeted business owners of Asian descent has been arrested, arraigned, and ordered detained in federal custody, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Barrera Garrido, a Chilean national, was arrested in Grove City, OH, on March 11, 2024. He had been sought since December 13, 2023, when a federal indictment was returned against him; he was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment on April 3, 2024, charging him with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and two counts of attempt to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. It is alleged that Barrera Garrido participated in a conspiracy with three other individuals to identify and surveil business owners, typically of Asian descent, at the victims’ residences and businesses. Members of the conspiracy then allegedly executed well-planned burglaries at their victims’ homes in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Wisconsin, and Florida, typically targeting large sums of money, jewelry, credit and debit cards, and other valuable items. As alleged in charging documents, in addition to surveilling individuals, the conspirators used drones and GPS trackers placed on vehicles to monitor victim’s movement and identify times when they were away from their residences. They are also alleged to have used drones and lookouts to monitor law enforcement activity, and to have had a getaway car and driver at the ready while other conspirators broke into and burglarized the residences. Barrera Garrido was ordered detained on Thursday following his return to Rhode Island and arraignment in U.S. District Court. Other alleged members of the conspiracy, Mohammed Islam, 29, of Stamford, CT, a Bangladesh national, Basneyareth Rebollar Martinez, of Stamford, CT, a Mexican national, and Tania Valentina Espitia Cuellar, 24, a Columbian national whose local home address is unknown, have pleaded guilty in this matter and are detained while awaiting sentencing. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jorge Andres Cardenas Murillo, 30, of College Point, NY, was released on a GPS bracelet while awaiting trial on charges on charges of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and two counts of attempt to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ly T. Chin and Julianne Klein. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Warwick and Smithfield, RI Police Departments; Shrewsbury and Framingham, MA Police Departments; Gorham, NH Police Department; Stamford, Wallingford, and Westport, CT Police Departments; West Allis, WI Police Department; New Castle County, DE Police Department; Manalapan, NJ Police Department; New York City Police Department; Jacksonville and Flagler County Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; Pennsylvania State Police; Grove City OH Police Department; and the United States Postal Inspection Service. ###


title: Virginia Man Convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Virginia man was convicted for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today. Djavon Holland, 37, of Virginia, was convicted on April 15, 2024, by a federal jury of two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl following trial before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial: In August 2021, law enforcement officials received information that Holland was engaged in narcotics trafficking in or around the Virginia area and New Jersey. On Aug. 12, 2021, a confidential source working with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office contacted Holland to arrange a meeting with a confidential source working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). On several occasions, Holland drove to New Jersey and sold fentanyl to ATF’s confidential source. The narcotics offenses each carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of $5 million. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Rossin Marchetti, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, with the investigation leading to the conviction. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan N. Linares and Jenny Chung of the Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.


title: Former Post Office Employee Indicted for Mail Theft

body_text: BOSTON – A former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee has been indicted by a federal grand jury of theft of mail and theft of government funds. Michael Murray, 36, of Lynn, has been indicted on one count of theft of mail matter by an employee and one count of theft of government money. Murray was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at 11 a.m. today. According to the indictment, from around September 2022 through July 2023, Murray worked as a USPS postal clerk at the Beach Street Post Office in Revere and the Melrose Post Office. From around April 2023 through July 2023, Murray allegedly used his official position to steal the contents of hundreds of pieces of mail entrusted to him, including gift cards, cash and checks totaling approximately $3,422. It is further alleged that, during the same time period, Murray stole and fraudulently negotiated USPS money orders by generating them for postal customers for his own use totaling approximately $5,131. The charge of theft of mail by employee provides a sentence of up to five years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of theft of government funds valuing over $1,000 provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Kenton County Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – An Elsemere, Ky., woman, Nalisha Nichole Stewart, 38, was sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 126 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to her plea agreement, in May and June 2023, law enforcement coordinated two controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Stewart. The first purchase was tested to contain approximately 29.2 grams of methamphetamine. Before the second controlled purchase, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Stewart’s vehicle and recovered an additional 24.832 grams of methamphetamine. Under federal law, Stewart must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Chief Jeff Mallery, Florence Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Florence Police Department Drug Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END—


title: Orlando Man Charged With Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging George Andrew Pherai-Bogeajis (35, Orlando) with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and the seizure of numerous kilograms of methamphetamine, suspected fentanyl and cocaine, pressed pills, firearms, and drug proceeds. If convicted on all counts, Pherai-Bogeajis faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. According to court documents, a federal search warrant was executed on April 9, 2024, at two residences – one in Orlando and one in Ocoee – used by Pherai-Bogeajis. At the Orlando residence, DEA agents located approximately 150 pounds of methamphetamine and over 100,000 pressed pills in the garage. In Pherai-Bogeajis’ bedroom, agents recovered 3 kilograms of cocaine. They also found four firearms and over $700,000 in drug proceeds. At the residence in Ocoee, agents found several thousand pressed pills, 10 kilograms of marijuana, and two vehicles with hidden compartments commonly used for concealing narcotics. Pherai-Bogeajis was not present at either premises but was later apprehended and is now in federal custody. A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Orlando Police Department, the Ocoee Police Department, the Oviedo Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs Border Protection. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.


title: Quad Cities Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Quad Cities man was sentenced April 23, 2024, to seven years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. According to public court documents, Marveon Dashawn Jovan Williams, 27, in May 2022, Davenport Police responded to a call for a gunshot victim in a vehicle. Upon arrival on the scene, the victim was located in the driver seat of a vehicle, with a gunshot wound to the head. Several firearms, including one located on the passenger side, and one located on the sidewalk outside the passenger side of the vehicle were recovered. A cell phone belonging to Williams was also located on the scene. Witnesses described a shootout between two different vehicles. A male, matching Williams’ physical description was seen possessing the firearm that was dropped on the sidewalk and recovered by police and fleeing the crime scene. Video surveillance footage of the scene showed Williams fleeing the area and then changing his clothing in a nearby wooded area. The discarded clothing was recovered by law enforcement and tested for DNA. DNA belonging to Williams was located on the clothing recovered from the wooded area. After completing his term of imprisonment, Williams will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Davenport Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.


title: Leader Of $50 Million Health Care Fraud Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MANISHKUMAR PATEL pled guilty today in connection with a $50 million health care fraud and kickback scheme involving the sale of fraudulent prescriptions for durable medical equipment, among other medical supplies, to suppliers, pharmacies, and laboratories who obtained payment for those fraudulent prescriptions from Medicare. PATEL pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Behind every dollar siphoned through fraud lies a patient denied rightful care. Manishkumar Patel cost Medicare nearly $50 million in resources that could have been used to provide genuine care to those in need. His guilty plea today is a step toward restoring integrity and trust in our health care system.” According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court: Between 2019 and 2022, PATEL and a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) fraudulently sold prescriptions and doctors’ orders for durable medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and laboratory tests (collectively, “scripts”) to durable medical equipment suppliers, pharmacies, and laboratories (collectively, the “Medicare Providers”). PATEL obtained the scripts from call centers that called Medicare beneficiaries and asked them perfunctory questions designed to justify a script that would be reimbursed by Medicare. PATEL turned the information from those calls into scripts by arranging cursory telemedicine appointments with the beneficiaries — a practice called “doctor chasing,” in which the information was sent to a doctor who signed the script without seeing the patient and who was frequently unaware of what they were signing — and obtaining forged scripts. PATEL then sold the scripts to Medicare Providers, which filled the orders and billed Medicare. Because the scripts were fraudulently obtained, many beneficiaries rejected the items they were sent by the Medicare Providers, many doctors threatened to report PATEL for fraud, and Medicare frequently refused to pay for the scripts. The Medicare Providers made payments to PATEL for the scripts in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statue. PATEL and the Medicare Providers entered into sham contracts for generic marketing services at flat rates in an attempt to conceal their illegal kickback scheme. PATEL was a leader of the scheme, which resulted in losses to Medicare of nearly $50 million. * * * PATEL, 44, of Pelham Manor, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. In addition, PATEL was ordered to pay $48,150,692.49 in restitution to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and forfeit $6,839,900. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mead is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Readout of Disruptive Technology Protection Network Summit with Japan and the Republic of Korea

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: Yesterday, the Departments of Justice and Commerce launched the Disruptive Technology Protection Network with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), hosting the first high-level trilateral summit in Washington, D.C. The creation of this network follows an August 2023 Camp David summit between the leaders of the three countries, during which they committed to expanding collaboration on technology protection measures and building connections between representatives of the U.S. Disruptive Technology Strike Force and Japan and ROK counterparts. The Disruptive Technology Protection Network expands information-sharing and the exchange of best practices across the three countries’ enforcement agencies. “Keeping sensitive technology out of the wrong hands is a global problem and demands a global response,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Our partnerships with like-minded nations are critical to our ability to succeed, and we are proud to join forces with Japan and the Republic of Korea in forming the Disruptive Technology Protection Network.” The meeting was hosted by Assistant Attorney General Olsen and Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, the two co-leads of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Strike Force , established in February 2023, is an interagency law enforcement effort aimed at preventing critical technologies from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. Assistant Attorney General Olsen and Assistant Secretary Axelrod were joined by Hyeon-Wook Kim, Secretary to the President of the ROK for Economic Security; Soonjeong Kwon, Deputy Minister of Justice, Head of the Prosecution Service Bureau (ROK); Woohyuk Choi, Director General for the Bureau of Trade Controls Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) (ROK); IGARI Katsuro, Director General of the Trade Control Department at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); and TSUTSUI Hiroki, Director General of Japan’s Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Department. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco delivered opening remarks for the event, highlighting the successes of the Strike Force and the importance of international partnerships. “Preventing sensitive technologies from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states is not only a critical endeavor, but a shared one,” said Assistant Secretary Axelrod. “Today’s Summit formally launches our work with our partners in South Korea and Japan, as we join together to prevent our countries’ most sensitive items from getting into the world’s most dangerous hands.” The United States, Japan and the ROK enjoy strong trade relationships and law enforcement cooperation. Recognizing that violations of export controls or other laws prohibiting the illicit transfer of technology threaten their respective national security interests, the delegations agreed that combating illicit technology transfer is a critical national and economic security imperative and agreed to further enhance cooperation and information sharing through the signing of two memoranda of intent between the three countries. Over the course of the day, delegates shared updates on their respective technology protection efforts, presented case studies about recent enforcement actions, and provided overviews of their key enforcement authorities. The summit ended with a comprehensive discussion of practical next steps to execute the newly-signed memoranda and concurrence on the network’s near- and medium-term goals. The delegations included representatives from the following agencies: The United States The Department of Justice The Department of Commerce The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations The Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service Japan The National Police Agency The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) The Ministry of Finance, Customs and Tariff Bureau The Republic of Korea The Office of the President The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) The Ministry of Justice The Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Customs Service In August 2023, President Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and ROK President Yoon to a historic trilateral summit at Camp David, the first-ever stand-alone summit of leaders from the United States, Japan and ROK, and the first summit of foreign leaders at Camp David during the Biden-Harris Administration. The leaders jointly inaugurated a new era of trilateral partnership and reaffirmed that cooperation between the United States, Japan and ROK advances the security and prosperity of our people, the Indo-Pacific region and the world. Among other priorities, the leaders committed to building connections between the Disruptive Technology Strike Force representatives and their Japan and ROK counterparts. Additional information about the Camp David Summit is available here .


title: Former Social Security Administration Employee Facing Federal Charges for Fraudulent Telework, Emergency Childcare, and Medical Leave Schemes

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern


title: Former American Airlines Flight Attendant Indicted for Filming Minors in Aircraft Lavatory

body_text: BOSTON – A former American Airlines flight attendant, previously charged by criminal complaint, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly surreptitiously recording or attempting to record a minor female passenger using a lavatory aboard an aircraft he was working in September 2023. The defendant is also alleged to have possessed recordings of four additional minor female passengers using lavatories aboard the aircraft he had worked previously. Estes Carter Thompson III, 36, of Charlotte, N.C., was indicted on one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor. Thompson was previously charged by criminal complaint and arrested in January 2024 in Lynchburg, Va. He has been in federal custody since. According to the charging documents, on Sept. 2, 2023, while working as a flight attendant onboard an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, N.C. to Boston, Mass., Thompson video-recorded or attempted to surreptitiously video-record a 14-year-old female passenger as she used the aircraft lavatory. Specifically, approximately midway through the flight, the minor victim got up to use the main cabin lavatory nearest to where she was seated. When the minor victim arrived at the lavatory it was occupied. After the minor victim had been waiting a short time, Thompson allegedly approached her, told her that the first-class lavatory was unoccupied and escorted her toward first class. Before the minor victim entered the lavatory, Thompson allegedly told her that he needed to wash his hands and that the lavatory’s toilet seat was broken and briefly entered the lavatory. It is alleged that, after Thompson exited the lavatory, the minor victim entered and observed red stickers on the underside of the toilet seat lid, which was in the open position, that stated, “INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT” and “REMOVE FROM SERVICE,” and “SEAT BROKEN” was hand-written in black ink on one of the stickers. It is alleged that, beneath the red stickers, Thompson had concealed his iPhone to record a video. The minor victim used her phone to take a picture of the red stickers and the concealed iPhone she found in the lavatory before exiting, at which time Thompson allegedly re-entered it immediately. According to court documents, when the minor victim returned to her seat, she informed her parents of what she saw and showed them the picture. The victim’s parents reported the matter to other flight attendants onboard who notified the Captain, who in turn notified law enforcement on the ground. It is alleged that the victim’s father confronted Thompson who, shortly thereafter, locked himself in the lavatory with his iPhone for three to five minutes prior to the flight’s descent. Upon the flight’s arrival at Boston’s Logan Airport, law enforcement observed that Thompson’s iPhone may have been restored to factory settings. It is alleged that a subsequent search of Thompson’s suitcase was found to contain 11 “INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT” stickers, like those observed by the minor victim on the back of the toilet seat. A search of Thompson’s iCloud account allegedly revealed four additional instances between January and August 2023 in which Thompson recorded a minor using the lavatory on an aircraft. The minor victims allegedly depicted in the surreptitious recordings were seven, nine, 11 and 14 years old at the time. Additionally, over 50 images of a nine-year-old unaccompanied minor were allegedly found in Thompson’s iCloud. The images included photos taken while the minor victim was seated in her seat pre-flight and close-ups of her face while sleeping. All minor victims involved in this matter have been identified and their families contacted by law enforcement. It is further alleged that hundreds of images of AI-generated child pornography were also found stored on Thompson’s iCloud account. The charge of attempted sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Both charges also provide for at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Four Defendants in Firearms Trafficking Ring Sentenced

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

body_text: ATLANTA – A firearms trafficking ring has been dismantled and four people have been sentenced to years in prison for conspiring to buy guns in the metro Atlanta area that were later smuggled to the Dominican Republic. “Firearms traffickers present an immediate danger to communities within and outside our district,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We are committed to working with our federal, state, local, and international partners to disrupt the illegal flow of firearms by identifying and prosecuting those who illegally purchase and traffic these weapons.” “Among ATF’s top priorities is ensuring that firearms traffickers are aggressively investigated and swiftly brought to justice,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones, Atlanta Field Division. “This is an excellent example of such an investigation that was worked cooperatively by multiple partner agencies with outstanding results.” “These defendants took steps to disguise dozens of illegally acquired firearms using everyday household items further hidden in shipping containers. Proactive and collaborative law enforcement played a vital role in thwarting the illicit trafficking of deadly weapons both in the United States and overseas,” said HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo. “I commend HSI New York’s Border Enforcement Security Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia for their unwavering commitment to the public’s safety.” “These sentences were made possible through close coordination between our federal, local, and international law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent Edwin Lopez, Homeland Security Investigations Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Santo Domingo. “Our thanks especially goes out to the Dominican Republic’s Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) which contributed significantly to the final outcome of this investigation.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2021, Jonathan Hiraldo Abreu contacted Cornel Rashard Miley to inquire about a firearm Miley advertised for sale. Hiraldo Abreu met Miley in Georgia to purchase the gun. Miley then agreed that he and his wife, Charqweshia Sierra Miley, would acquire additional firearms for Hiraldo Abreu in exchange for a premium paid for each gun. To obtain the additional guns, the Mileys repeatedly deceived licensed firearms dealers by falsely certifying at the point of sale that they were purchasing the firearms. In fact, Hiraldo Abreu was the actual purchaser who provided the money to the Mileys and told them which guns to buy. Within less than seven months, the Mileys purchased at least 73 firearms for Hiraldo Abreu, all of which were Glock 9 mm semiautomatic pistols. Hiraldo Abreu traveled from Pennsylvania to Georgia in November 2021, December 2021, February 2022, and April 2022 to pick up guns from the Mileys. In June 2022, Hiraldo Abreu recruited his cousin, Jose Munoz, who was living in Rhode Island, to manage the gun purchases in his place. Munoz met Hiraldo Abreu in Pennsylvania, traveled to Georgia, directed the Mileys’ purchase of 22 firearms, and then returned to Hiraldo Abreu’s home. Within approximately three weeks, nine of the firearms that the Mileys purchased under Munoz’s supervision were recovered during an x-ray inspection of a shipping container in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The guns had been stashed inside the container with various household goods without having been declared or approved for export. Although the Mileys were Georgia residents when they bought guns for Hiraldo Abreu between November 2021 and April 2022, they relocated to Arizona in June 2022. Hiraldo Abreu paid the Mileys to fly back to Georgia so they could falsely claim Georgia residency and buy more guns for him in July 2022. After returning to Arizona, the Mileys were arrested when officers observed them operating a vehicle with a fictitious license plate. The Mileys were armed, and a search of their vehicle uncovered more than 3,200 rounds of ammunition, nearly three dozen handgun magazines, and body armor. After the defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer in connection with the acquisition of a firearm, U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty sentenced them as follows: Jonathan Hiraldo Abreu, 31, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to four years, two months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Charqweshia Sierra Miley, 33, of Lithonia, Georgia and Golden Valley, Arizona, was sentenced to two years, three months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Cornel Rashard Miley, 31, of Lithonia, Georgia and Golden Valley, Arizona, was sentenced to two years, three months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Jose Munoz, 21, of Cranston, Rhode Island, was sentenced to one year and one month in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the New York City Police Department, the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Dominican Republic’s customs authority, Dirección General de Aduanas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg 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. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Williams-Sonoma Ordered to Pay Record Civil Penalty for Violating an Administrative Order Prohibiting its Marketing of Imported Goods as Made in the USA

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced that Williams-Sonoma Inc. (Williams-Sonoma) has agreed to a settlement that requires it to pay more than $3 million in civil penalties and stop making false and misleading claims about the origins of its products. In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the government alleges that home products company Williams-Sonoma, doing business as Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, PBTeen, West Elm and Rejuvenation, violated an FTC administrative order that prohibits it from advertising wholly imported products and products containing significant imported content as “Made in the USA” in violation of the FTC Act and the Made in USA Rule. In the stipulated order resolving this case, Williams-Sonoma admits the truth of the complaint’s allegations and agrees to pay a $3,175,387 civil penalty. The order also enjoins Williams-Sonoma from making misleading or unsubstantiated country-of-origin claims and includes recordkeeping and reporting obligations to ensure the company’s future compliance. “The Justice Department will vigorously enforce laws to stop deceptive advertisers from making misleading and fraudulent claims to sell products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Williams-Sonoma misled consumers by touting products as made in the USA when at least one of them was made in China. We will continue to work with the FTC to stop deceptive marketing practices like this.” “Williams-Sonoma claimed its products were made in the United States even though they were made in China,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “Williams-Sonoma’s deception misled consumers and harmed honest American businesses. Today’s record-setting civil penalty makes clear that firms committing Made-in-USA fraud will not get a free pass.” Trial Attorney Mary M. Englehart and Assistant Director Zachary Dietert of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeVito for the Northern District of California and Julia Ensor of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, handled the matter. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . For more information about the FTC, visit www.FTC.gov .


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud Involving Small Business Administration Disaster Funds

body_text: BOSTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston to conspiring to use stolen identities to fraudulently obtain disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and to launder the funds. Hector Garcia, 52, of Ocala, Fla., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2024. Garcia conspired with Ramon Cruz, Darwyn Joseph, Edwin Acevedo, and others, to use stolen identity information of United States citizens to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Garcia used stolen identity information of a United States citizen to open a fraudulent bank account, which was then linked to other fraudulent bank accounts set up to receive the SBA funds. Garcia and his co-conspirators used debit cards associated with those accounts to launder the funds by purchasing iPhones for re-sale. Garcia and other co-conspirators wired a portion of the funds to the Dominican Republic. Over $452,000 in SBA funds were fraudulently obtained in connection with the scheme. Approximately $250,000 of this money was used to purchase iPhones in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Cruz and Joseph pleaded guilty and were each sentenced in August 2023 and October 2023 , respectively, to two years and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. Acevedo pleaded guilty and was sentenced in August 2023 to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, as well as restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by Homeland Security Investigations in Orlando, Fla.; Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General; Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General; Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General; Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; Department of State; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; New Hampshire State Police; and the Acton, Nashua (N.H.), Manchester (N.H.) and Ocala (Fla.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Adam W. Deitch of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Murder For Hire Convict Sentenced To Ten Years In Prison

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO –Allen Gessen was sentenced to 120 months in prison for arranging to pay an undercover FBI agent for the murder of the mother of his young children, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Jacqueline Scott Corley, U.S. District Judge. Gessen was convicted of the crime by a jury after a one-week trial before Judge Corley. The evidence at trial established that Gessen, 49, of Massachusetts, was an attorney licensed in New York when he was introduced to an undercover FBI agent by a target of a separate FBI investigation into violations of international money laundering. In the summer of 2022, Gessen met with the undercover FBI agent on two occasions, first in Boca Raton, Florida, and then again in New York City, New York. During the meetings, Gessen volunteered details of a years-long dispute with his former partner which had resulted in contentious child custody proceedings. At these meetings and through a series of encrypted electronic messages, Gessen initiated plans to commit two different crimes utilizing the undercover FBI agent’s connections. The evidence at trial established that over the course of the investigation, Gessen’s objectives quickly transformed from bribing an immigration official to deport his former partner to hiring someone to murder her. Gessen resolved to murder his former partner because it was a “cheaper way to get rid of her” and was a more permanent solution. The trial evidence established that Gessen wired a total of $23,000 to an FBI undercover bank account in San Francisco to carry out the murder. Around the same time, Gessen also sent to the undercover FBI agent a written agreement containing a promise to pay for phony “consulting services” as a method to disguise the true nature of the funds. Gessen also provided to the undercover FBI agent a target package containing details about his former partner’s whereabouts, schedule, and lifestyle habits. A federal grand jury indicted Gessen on July 26, 2022, charging him with one count of murder for hire, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1958. The jury convicted Gessen of the charge. In addition to the prison term, Judge Corley also ordered Gessen to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term. The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The case is a result of an investigation by the FBI.


title: Additional Charges Brought Against North Shore Drug Trafficking Organization

body_text: BOSTON – A federal grand jury sitting in Boston has returned a superseding indictment charging 16 individuals in Massachusetts in connection with their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking and money laundering scheme that allegedly distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. The superseding indictment includes the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances that was initially brought against the following defendants in November 2022: Lawrence Michael Nagle, a/k/a “Mikey,” 32, of Saugus; Christopher Nagle, a/k/a “Cuda,” 28, of Revere; Javier Bello, a/k/a “Javi,” 27, of Beverly; Anthony Bryson, 33, of Billerica; Frantz Adolphe, 28, of Lynn; Soyanna Lages, 33, of Somerville; David Muise, a/k/a “Pinky,” 35, of Swampscott; David Delauri, 30, of Haverhill; Alexander Villar, 33 of Danvers; Edward Ortiz, 32, of Swampscott; Yaira Ramos-Rivera, 39, of Billerica; Jose Garcia, 45, of Roslindale; Chevon Dorce, 43, of Lynn; and Gino Castillo, 33, of Salem. Additionally, the superseding indictment also adds two counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition for defendant Lawrence Michael Nagle; three additional counts of possession with the intent to distribute various controlled substances against Nagle and Castillo; as well as a money laundering conspiracy charge against Nagle and two new co-defendants Nancy Lopez, 33, of Saugus; and Samuel Saillant, 38, of Lynn. Lopez was arrested yesterday and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was released on conditions. Saillant will make an appearance at a later date. Fourteen of the 16 defendants charged in the superseding indictment were among 23 individuals arrested and charged in October 2022 in connection with a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization that distributed Adderall (both pharmaceutical-grade pills and counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine), methamphetamine, Xanax, Oxycodone (both pharmaceutical-grade and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl), cocaine and marijuana, among others. All 23 individuals were later indicted along with two additional defendants in November 2022. Eleven defendants have since pleaded guilty. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Beverly, Everett, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan D. Panich and James E. Arnold of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man, Lestat Cree Valdez , 21, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges arising from the stabbing of an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. According to court records, on May 18, 2023, Valdez assaulted Jane Doe, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache tribe by straddling her and stabbing her repeatedly in the head, face, and chest with a knife, causing Jane Doe to suffer serious bodily injury. At sentencing, Valdez faces up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. This case was investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorneys Joni Autrey Stahl and Eliot Neal are prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Colombian National Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Conspiring To Import Tons Of Cocaine Into The United States

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ÁLVARO FREDY CÓRDOBA RUÍZ was sentenced to 14 years in prison today for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. CÓRDOBA RUÍZ pled guilty on January 2, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s sentence demonstrates this Office’s commitment to prosecuting drug traffickers like Córdoba Ruíz, who seek to import tons of cocaine into the United States. Those who seek to flood our streets with narcotics will face serious consequences, especially when they partner with violent drug trafficking organizations like the FARC. I commend the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office who work tirelessly to investigate and disrupt these complex drug importation networks. Their work has a profound impact on countless lives in our communities.” According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings: [1] CÓRDOBA RUÍZ conspired with his co-defendants and other individuals associated with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (“FARC”) — a violent organization based in Colombia that was dedicated to the overthrow of the Colombian government and responsible for the production and distribution of the majority of the cocaine that eventually reached the United States — to source and distribute tons of cocaine destined for the United States. CÓRDOBA RUÍZ negotiated with individuals he believed to be narcotics traffickers from a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (the “Mexican DTO”) seeking to establish a cocaine supply line from Venezuela to the United States. These individuals, however, were actually confidential sources working at the direction of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”). In recorded communications during the investigation, CÓRDOBA RUÍZ agreed to assist the planned cocaine venture through his political and logistics connections in Colombia. With respect to the former, CÓRDOBA RUÍZ connected confidential sources purporting to be members of the Mexican DTO with a Colombian politician, conveying that, in exchange for financial and political support, the politician would help to facilitate a cocaine partnership between the defendant, his co-conspirators, and the confidential sources purportedly functioning as the Mexican DTO. CÓRDOBA RUÍZ also connected the confidential sources with individuals who offered to provide large quantities of cocaine and security for the promised cocaine loads. In December 2021, to prove their bona fides and establish the quality of their supply, CÓRDOBA RUÍZ sold the confidential sources a five-kilogram sample of cocaine containing a high level of purity — lab tests demonstrate the cocaine was between 86.6% to 89.1% pure — from a FARC-associated farm outside of Medellín. CÓRDOBA RUÍZ was arrested in Colombia in February 2022, while negotiating a much larger partnership with the Mexican DTO, which contemplated the shipment of approximately 500 kilograms of cocaine per week. * * * In addition to the prison term, CÓRDOBA RUÍZ, 65, of Medellín, Colombia, was sentenced to four years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit and Bogotá Country Office, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley, Kaylan E. Lasky, and Kevin T. Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution. [1] Communications, conversations, and statements discussed and quoted herein are described in substance and in part, and many of these conversations occurred in Spanish.


title: California-Based Nursing Home Chain and Two Executives to Pay $7M to Settle Alleged False Claims for Nursing Home Residents Who Merely Had Been Near Other People With COVID-19