title: Boston Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Prison for Trafficking a Minor Victim in Three States

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court for transporting a minor to New York and Connecticut to engage in commercial sex. Leon Blount III, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 136 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The court also ordered Blount to pay restitution to victims totaling $214,500. In January 2024, Blount pleaded guilty to three counts of transportation of minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He has been in custody since September 2022. “Human trafficking is not just a horrific crime; it is a profound violation of human dignity. The unimaginable harm inflicted upon the minor victim here is far too prevalent in our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Our Civil Rights Unit & Human Trafficking Unit, established less than two years ago, remains committed to bringing traffickers to justice, providing unwavering support to survivors and relentlessly pursuing those who exploit the most vulnerable.” “Blount found a young woman in a vulnerable situation and lured her far from home into a dangerous and exploitative lifestyle for his financial benefit. Today’s sentence means Blount is now facing over a decade in federal prison and he’ll be off the streets and out of the community where he caused so much harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “We hope this significant sentence brings a measure of justice to those he victimized. Human traffickers use isolation, threats, and financial exploitation to control their victims, making it incredibly difficult to leave – but there is hope and there is help available. We are grateful to the law enforcement and victim support services who worked together to bring this case to a close.” Between July and August 2022, Blount transported a 17-year-old victim, Jane Doe 2, from Massachusetts to New York and Connecticut to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit. Blount met Jane Doe 2 while she was living at a Massachusetts group home for transitional age adolescents. He gave her alcohol and marijuana, and quickly recruited Jane Doe 2 to travel out-of-state to engage in commercial sex. While in New York, Blount directed Jane Doe 2 to solicit sex buyers in an area that is known for commercial sex. Throughout this period, Blount stayed in close contact with Jane Doe 2, using text messages to ensure that she continued to perform sex acts when he was not physically present. To attract more sex buyers, Blount caused Jane Doe 2’s photo to be posted on websites that advertise commercial sex. He then put Jane Doe 2 in hotel rooms in Woburn, Mass. and Hartford, Conn. where he directed her to perform sex acts with buyers to earn even more money for him. During this period, Jane Doe 2 was afraid of Blount, having seen him laugh at another trafficker who used violence against one of that trafficker’s victims. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking please visit https://polarisproject.org/ for information and resources. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Former Tampa Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Tampa, Florida pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Thomas Edward Grossman, 49, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Grossman transported a minor female from Pennsylvania to West Virginia with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Grossman also persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct and enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. The Court was also advised that the parties agreed as part of the plea agreement that the appropriate sentence in this case is a twenty-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. 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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for December 17, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than ten years and not more than life, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the West Virginia State Police and the Summersville, West Virginia Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Grossman.


title: Maryland Woman Sentenced To 30 Months For A Series Of Fraud Schemes, Including Passport Fraud, Wire Fraud, And Bankruptcy Fraud

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Charmaine Miesha Brown, age 45, of Lusby, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracies to commit passport fraud and wire fraud, as well as bankruptcy fraud, and making a false statement in bankruptcy proceeding. Brown was also ordered to pay $128,201.22 in restitution. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Karen L. Brown Cleveland of the U.S. Department of the State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Washington Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Colleen Lawlor of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division; and Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security. As detailed in trial testimony, in January 2014, Charmaine Miesha Brown, a United States citizen, married Andrews Oduro Brown, a/k/a “Andrews Oduro,” a Ghanaian national who entered the United States in May 2013. In 2021, Oduro obtained legal permanent resident status in the United States through his marriage to Brown. According to trial testimony, including testimony from Brown, and court documents, from December 2014 through April 2021, Brown and Oduro conspired to obtain United States passports for Oduro’s children, who were non-United States citizens, through false statements and fraudulent identity documents. For example, the evidence established that on December 1, 2014, Brown submitted an application for a passport in the name of Brown’s child, Child C, who is a U.S. citizen, but bearing the photograph of Oduro’s child, Child A, who was born in Ghana and is not a U.S. citizen. After the application was approved, Child A traveled from Ghana into the United States using the fraudulently obtained U.S. passport. On March 16, 2015, Brown and Oduro applied for a passport in Child A’s own name and submitted a fraudulent Ghanaian birth certificate in support of the application, falsely stating that Brown was Child A’s birth mother. As detailed at trial, on March 17, 2020, Brown and Oduro applied for a passport in the name of Child B, Oduro’s non-U.S. citizen child, and again submitted a fraudulent Ghanaian birth certificate in support of the application, falsely stating that Brown was Child B’s birth mother. After the application was approved, Child B used the fraudulently obtained U.S. passport to travel into the United States. Further, the evidence proved that from August 2016 through April 2021, Brown and Oduro conspired to receive payments from the state of Maryland’s Child Care Scholarship Program to which they were not entitled. The Child Care Scholarship Program, formerly known as the Child Care Subsidy Program, provides direct payments for childcare services to providers of childcare to low-income families. Brown falsely reported to the state of Maryland that a friend, Individual 1, was watching her children. Brown also falsely represented that Oduro was an “absent parent,” when in fact Oduro lived in the same home. The trial evidence, however, established that Individual 1 visited the United States in 2011 to 2012 before returning to Ghana and could not have provided the childcare services. Instead, Oduro posed as Individual 1 and obtained payments from the state of Maryland between 2016 and 2021 to provide childcare to his and Brown’s own children. Finally, according to trial testimony and court documents, in 2018, Brown and Oduro defrauded creditors and the bankruptcy trustee by filing a fraudulent Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. Brown and Oduro filed the petition using the name and partial social security number of Individual 1, seeking the discharge of tens of thousands of dollars in debts and tax obligations to the state of Maryland that Oduro incurred using the name and PII of Individual 1. Court records show that Brown filled out the petition documents. In addition, Oduro appeared at the discharge hearing in the bankruptcy court and identified himself as Individual 1, presenting a Pennsylvania identification that Brown and Oduro had fraudulently obtained in the name of Individual 1. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, as a result of the fraudulent bankruptcy petition in the name of Individual 1, Brown and Oduro caused the entry of an order in June 2018 discharging debt that Oduro incurred in the name of Individual 1. Andrews Oduro Brown previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, and bankruptcy fraud. Judge Chuang sentenced Oduro to 28 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and further ordered Oduro to pay restitution of $127,951.22. U.S. Attorney Barron commended the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked the Office of the U.S. Trustee for the District of Maryland, the Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, and the Dauphin County Staff for their significant assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Coreen Mao and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gustavo Ruiz, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Indian National Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - An Indian national has been sentenced in federal court to 12 years in jail and 10 years supervised release on his conviction of attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Upendra Aduru, 32. According to information presented to the court, from September 20, 2022, to October 6, 2022, Aduru, an Indian national in the United States on a student visa, communicated via social media with a detective posing as a thirteen-year-old girl. During the communication, Aduru repeatedly expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with the purported thirteen-year-old and even sent the undercover detective several images of adult pornography. Aduru also repeatedly sought to meet with the girl and eventually traveled to a park in Millcreek Township after setting up a meeting with the girl. He was arrested after his arrival and a search of his phone revealed the social media communications between Aduru and the undercover detective. 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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Erie Police Department, the Millcreek Police Department, the Erie County Detectives, the Shaler Township Police Department and the Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Aduru.


title: Former Franklin Resident Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Receipt and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Franklin, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 7 years in jail, 5 years supervised release and ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution on his conviction of receipt and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Aaron Ray McClelland, 29. According to information presented to the court, in and around October 2020 and July 2021, McClelland received images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. 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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, and Indiana County District Attorney’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of McClelland.


title: Alleged Car Thief Indicted On Federal Charges Appears In Court

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An alleged car thief facing federal charges appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today for his initial court appearance, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. A criminal indictment charges Terrick D. Lumpkin, 38, of Charlotte, with one count of conspiracy to transport, possess, and sell a stolen vehicle and to remove, obliterate, tamper with, and alter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN); two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle; and two counts of altering or removing a VIN. The indictment was filed on July 16, 2024, and was unsealed today following Lumpkin’s arrest and court appearance. The indictment alleges that, between November 2023 and January 2024, Lumpkin engaged in a conspiracy to steal and possess high-end motor vehicles worth more than one million dollars. As alleged in the indictment, Lumpkin and his co-conspirators obtained stolen vehicles from various locations throughout United States, including in Charlotte, North Carolina, Illinois, and New York. It is further alleged that several of the vehicles possessed by Lumpkin were stolen from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Lumpkin and others sought to obtain high-end vehicles made by Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lamborghini and Mercedes, as well as sports utility vehicles, and other expensive models from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, and Jeep. According to allegations in the indictment, once in possession of the stolen vehicles, Lumpkin and his co-conspirators regularly altered or tampered with the stolen vehicles’ original VINs to avoid detection by law enforcement. Lumpkin was released on bond following today’s court hearing. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years. Each charge of possession of a stolen vehicle carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The charge of altering or removing a VIN carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. This is the fourth indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Charlotte related to trafficking in stolen vehicles. In March 2023, two individuals were charged for a scheme that involved buying and selling stolen vehicles. In August 2023, five individuals were indicted for stealing luxury vehicles from dealerships throughout the United States, and two additional individuals were indicted in November 2023, for orchestrating high-end auto thefts from businesses in South Carolina. U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.


title: Rosebud Man Sentenced for Assault on Federal Officer

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Robert A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on July 22, 2024. Robert Kills Plenty, age 27, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by six months of home confinement, and 30 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Kills Plenty was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 6, 2024. On November 24, 2022, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services operated a sobriety checkpoint near St. Francis, South Dakota, and Kills Plenty drove a vehicle through the inspection area. Kills Plenty was directed to pull over for a further DWI investigation. Instead, he failed to comply and fled the checkpoint in his vehicle, leading officers on a high-speed chase. Later, he stopped his vehicle and was apprehended. As he was being transported to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Corrections Facility (RSTACF), he became argumentative and combative. Once at the jail, he argued with jail staff and spat upon a correctional officer, striking the officer in the face with saliva. At the time of the assault, the officer was employed by the RSTACF pursuant to a contract between the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case. Kills Plenty was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to serve his sentence.


title: Four Individuals Indicted for Violating Federal Firearms and Narcotics Laws

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKeesport, PA, a resident of Monroeville, PA, a resident of Penn Hills, PA, and a resident of Murrysville, PA have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms laws, and federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The eight-count Indictment names the following four individuals as defendants: - Derrick Lyman, 58, of McKeesport, PA. - Kenneth Hamlin, Jr., 59, of Murrysville, PA. - Daniel Jackson, 47, of Penn Hills, PA. - Devlin Clifford, 46, of Monroeville, PA. According to the Indictment, on or about June 27, 2024, Lyman is alleged to have unlawfully possessed with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and 100 grams or more of heroin. Further, on June 27, 2024, Lyman, Hamlin, Jackson, and Clifford are alleged to have unlawfully possessed a firearm as convicted felons. Hamlin and Jackson are further alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and Clifford possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine on the same date. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $20,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. The conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Santa Paula Doctor Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud for Role in Hospice Scam that Bilked Medicare Out of $3.2 Million

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County physician who worked for two Pasadena hospices pleaded guilty today to defrauding Medicare out of more than $3 million by billing the public health insurance program for medically unnecessary hospice services. Dr. Victor Contreras, 68, of Santa Paula, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud. According to his plea agreement, from July 2016 to February 2019, Contreras and co-defendant Juanita Antenor, 61, formerly of Pasadena, schemed to defraud Medicare by submitting nearly $4 million in false and fraudulent claims for hospice services submitted by two hospice companies: Arcadia Hospice Provider Inc., and Saint Mariam Hospice Inc. Antenor controlled both companies. Medicare only covers hospice services for patients who are terminally ill, meaning that they have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illness ran its normal course. Contreras falsely stated on claims forms that patients had terminal illnesses to make them eligible for hospice services covered by Medicare, typically adopting diagnoses provided to him by hospice employees whether or not they were true. Contreras did so even though he was not the patients’ primary care physician and had not spoken to those primary care physicians about the patients’ conditions. Medicare paid on the claims supported by Contreras’ false evaluations and certifications and recertifications of patients. In total, approximately $3,917,946 in fraudulently claims were submitted to Medicare, of which a total of approximately $3,289,889 was paid. According to Medical Board of California records, Contreras is a licensed physician in California, but has been on probation with the Board since 2015 and is subject to limitations on his practice. United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. scheduled an October 25 sentencing hearing, at which time Contreras will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Antenor remains at large. Co-defendant Callie Black, 65, of Lancaster, who allegedly recruited patients for the hospice companies in exchange for illegal kickbacks, has pleaded not guilty and is currently scheduled to go on trial on October 15. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the California Department of Justice investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristen A. Williams of the Major Frauds Section and Aylin Kuzucan of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: New York Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Production of Child Pornography

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Buffalo, New York, man convicted of Production of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 22, 2024. Timothy Raymond Myers, a/k/a C.J. Mikowski, a/k/a Colin James, age 39, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. This federal sentence is to be served concurrently to a 20-year federal sentence from New York he received in 2020. Myers was indicted by a federal grand jury in South Dakota in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 30, 2024. The conviction stemmed from incidents between July 4, 2016, and July 2, 2017, when Myers impersonated a teenage male on Facebook and contacted a teenage minor female in South Dakota. After Myers persuaded the teenage girl to send him sexually explicit photos, he threatened to publicly post the photos unless she sent more of them. Law enforcement officers investigating the case found multiple teenage girls throughout the United States that Myers had victimized with the same methods. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case. Myers was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Readout of the Pardon Attorney’s FCI Thomson Visit

component: Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

body_text: On July 23, Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer and members of her team visited Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Thomson, a low security Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) facility for male inmates with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp, located in Thomson, Illinois. The Pardon Attorney and her team hosted a series of educational sessions about the federal clemency process and answered questions from FBOP staff and incarcerated individuals. During their visit, the Pardon Attorney and her team worked with FCI Thomson staff to make the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s commutation instructions and form available on TruLincs, a secure email service for inmates and their contacts. The visit to FCI Thomson is the ninth in a series of educational events conducted by the Pardon Attorney for incarcerated individuals and staff at various FBOP locations. These educational sessions within the FBOP are part of the initiative by the Office of the Pardon Attorney to increase the accessibility and transparency of the clemency process through education and community engagement.


title: Sisseton Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Amanda Joy Quinn, age 42, of Sisseton, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on June 24, 2024, and pleaded guilty to an Indictment that charged her with Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. From about June of 2017 through July of 2020, Ms. Quinn, who had been elected Treasurer of the Long Hollow District (“the District”) of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe, embezzled approximately $107,295. While working in the capacity of Treasurer, Ms. Quinn processed checks from the District’s bank account, she then authorized checks from that bank account for overpayments to herself and others. She negotiated the checks in her name and kept the cash. At her change of plea hearing, Ms. Quinn admitted to the scheme; she acknowledged that she was not entitled to that money and that her receipt of it was unlawful. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for September 16, 2024. The defendant remains on pretrial release pending sentencing. This case was brought pursuant to the Guardians Project, a federal law enforcement initiative to coordinate efforts between participating agencies, to promote citizen disclosure of public corruption, fraud, and embezzlement involving federal program funds, contracts, and grants, and to hold accountable those who are responsible for adversely affecting those living in South Dakota’s Indian country communities. The Guardians Project is another step of federal law enforcement’s on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and positive action on behalf of tribal communities. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the participating agencies include: the FBI; the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Interior, Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Justice, and Housing and Urban Development; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. For additional information about the Guardians Project, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (605) 330-4400. To report a suspected crime, please contact law enforcement at the federal agency’s locally listed telephone number.


title: Ohio Resident Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Peter Williams was convicted of cocaine trafficking, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Williams, age 57 of Northfield, Ohio, pled guilty before United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti. He pled guilty to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base on January 5, 2021. Judge Conti scheduled sentencing to occur on December 4, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the conviction in this case.


title: Mission Man Sentenced for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on July 22, 2024. Mikel Swift Hawk, a/k/a Mikal Swift Hawk, age 25, was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Swift Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 4, 2024. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on November 26, 2022, in Mission, South Dakota, within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Swift Hawk was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a traffic stop. Law enforcement officers located a short shotgun in the vehicle, which Swift Hawk admitted to possessing. The short shotgun had a barrel of less than eighteen inches in length and was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Swift Hawk will forfeit ownership of the firearm to the United States. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Swift Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Orlando Man Pleads Guilty To Fentanyl Distribution

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Dontrell Deshawn McCaskill (33, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to three counts of fentanyl distribution and one count of possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute it. McCaskill faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing hearing is set for October 15, 2024. According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office used an undercover agent to conduct multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from McCaskill throughout 2023. During three controlled purchases, McCaskill sold the undercover agent a total of about 250 grams of fentanyl. In December 2023, the undercover agent arranged for another fentanyl transaction with McCaskill in connection with his arrest on an unrelated state case. At the time of that arrest, McCaskill was in possession of more than 290 grams of fentanyl that he intended to sell the undercover agent. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Rosebud Man Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on July 22, 2024. Jiles Whipple, age 20, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Whipple was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $17,173. Additional restitution may apply. Whipple was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty on March 18, 2024. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on May 28, 2022, in Rosebud, South Dakota, within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Whipple was drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking marijuana at his residence in Rosebud. He subsequently departed the residence in a vehicle that he knew had faulty brakes. As he was driving, Whipple ran a stop sign at a three-way intersection and struck a passing pickup truck. A five-year-old child was riding in the bed of the pickup truck and suffered fatal injuries as a result of the wreck. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Whipple was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Dozens charged in fraud schemes linked to Harris County bail bonds

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 53 Houston-area residents have been indicted for participating in wire fraud schemes related to the use of falsified documents to obtain bail bonds for individuals charged with criminal offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Of those charged, 50 are now in custody, some of whom will make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. July 25. The remaining three are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests – Tawana Jones, 44, Houston; Pamela Yoder, 60, Detroit, Michigan; and Amir Khan, 60, Pakistan. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the Houston FBI at 713-693-5000. According to the indictment, returned July 16 and unsealed upon the arrests, employees of AABLE Bonds, a bail bonds company located in Houston, conspired with others to falsify and obtain falsified co-signer financial reports. This was allegedly done to qualify individuals charged with criminal offenses who would not otherwise qualify for what was necessary to meet the terms of their bond. “An integral part of the criminal justice system, as old as the system itself, is the bail bond - a device that allows defendants temporary release while awaiting trial by guaranteeing future court appearances,” said Hamdani. “Honesty in the underwriting of those bail bonds is essential to ensuring compliance and protecting the community. However, this indictment alleges employees of AABLE Bonds and many others conspired to violate that trust. Today’s arrests and charges are the culmination of a multi-year, multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional effort to help protect the integrity of the bail bond system in Harris County.” “This investigation exposing alleged fraud within the bail bond industry is the first of its kind and the result of a 24-month long FBI Houston-led operation into a colossal bail bond scheme operating out of Harris County,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “By allegedly falsifying financial reports related to bail bonds, the accused individuals secured their release back onto the streets of our community through an illicit revolving door within the bond system.” “Utilizing the bail bond system in a fraudulent manner to allow the release of criminals is unacceptable. We are proud to have joined with our local, state and federal partners in getting these individuals off the streets,” said Acting Houston Police Chief Larry J. Satterwhite. “Our crime analysts proactively launched this investigation to target violent offenders and those that exploit our system. These actions undermine the legal process and pose a threat to public safety. We are committed to working diligently with our partners to root out corruption and ensure that those who engage in such fraudulent activities are held accountable,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “Our priority remains the safety and security of Harris County residents, and we will continue to take action against those who seek to be involved in criminal activity.” The indictment alleges 11 individuals are charged in Harris County with criminal offenses who subsequently obtained bonds based on falsified documents. Employees of AABLE Bonds, including Mary Brown, 29, and Oscar Wattell, 34, both of Houston, allegedly recruited straw co-signers to represent they were working at companies or had earned incomes. The co-conspirators allegedly falsified this information on financial reports since the co-signers did not work at the companies or earn represented incomes. Co-conspirators allegedly emailed or submitted the falsified co-signer financial reports via electronic communications. According to the indictment, the government and insurance agencies rely on these financial reports to enter into third-party agreements, known as surety bonds. Out of 53 co-conspirators, all but one face charges in connection to alleged conspiracies to commit wire fraud. The CEO of AABLE Bonds and an agent of Financial Casualty & Surety - Sheba Muharib, 58, Missouri City, is charged with allegedly affecting persons engaged in the business of insurance. Muharib allegedly knew Wattell had a criminal felony conviction involving dishonesty while engaging in the business of insurance. If convicted, each face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for the wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges. Muharib could receive up to five years in prison and a $250,000 possible fine upon his conviction. The FBI, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Day and Colton Turner are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Grantham Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Almost $240,000 From a Charity and Gambling the Money Away

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A former Grantham man and current resident of Holly Springs, North Carolina, was sentenced today in Concord for embezzling almost $240,000 from LISTEN Community Services (LISTEN), an Upper Valley charity that offers multiple services for vulnerable individuals, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Kyle Fisher, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 21 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. The defendant was ordered to pay $239,297.09 in restitution. On February 17, 2024, Fisher pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. “The defendant stole almost a quarter million dollars from a charity that provides services for vulnerable people,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Every dollar the defendant stole was a dollar denied to those in need of food, shelter, or education. The defendant’s gambling away the money he so brazenly stole at a casino only compounded his reprehensible conduct. I hope today’s sentence helps LISTEN and the community it serves begin the first step in their healing process.” “Kyle Fisher not only cheated the charity he worked for by stealing almost a quarter-million dollars, but he also tried to conceal his criminal cash flow before gambling it away. There’s no question what Mr. Fisher did deprived our neighbors in the Upper Valley of much needed assistance with food, housing, heating, and education,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Embezzlement schemes like this can be simply devastating for the victims which is why the FBI is committed to bringing financial fraud to light and perpetrators like Mr. Fisher to justice.” Fisher was the Executive Director of LISTEN from approximately August 2016 - October 2022. As Executive Director, Fisher had full access to LISTEN’s finances, including its bank account and PayPal account, which it used to collect donations. Fisher made unauthorized transfers from LISTEN’s bank accounts and PayPal to accounts he controlled. He also wrote eight unauthorized checks payable to himself. Fisher then spent the stolen funds on personal expenses, primarily gambling at a casino in Springfield, Massachusetts. For example, on January 24, 2022, Fisher withdrew $4,787 from LISTEN’s PayPal account and transferred the funds to his personal bank account. Later that same day, Fisher made multiple withdrawals from his bank account, including at ATMs at the casino. He then deposited a substantial amount of cash into his personal casino account that day. The casino records showed that Fisher continuously gambled on January 24, 2022 and January 25, 2022, and lost a combined $6,719 over those two days. Fisher also took steps to conceal his embezzlement from LISTEN. For example, he created a fake PayPal statement that showed over $94,000 in payments to Dell. Fisher also provided fraudulent invoices to LISTEN. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lebanon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case. ###


title: Rochester Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: CONCORD – A man distributing methamphetamine in Rochester was sentenced today in federal court to 7 years imprisonment, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Felix Urrutia, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 84 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 28, 2024, Mr. Urrutia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine. The defendant’s co-conspirator, Haley Cahill, pled guilty on May 31, 2024. She is scheduled for sentencing on September 10, 2024. “The defendant was a large-volume methamphetamine dealer in the Rochester area. His disregard for the welfare of others by pumping poison into the community was exacerbated by his possession of a firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to drug dealers that conduct like the defendant’s will result in significant incarceration.” “Like other drug traffickers, Felix Urrutia had no regard for the harm he caused in his community,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Getting dangerous drugs like methamphetamine off the street, and illegal firearms out of criminals’ hands, is a step toward making New Hampshire safer. The FBI’s Major Offender Task Force will continue to work on behalf of all the good, law-abiding folks who live here.” On four occasions between July and October 2023, Ms. Cahill supplied methamphetamine to Mr. Urrutia, who then sold the methamphetamine to a confidential source. The total amount of the methamphetamine sold by the defendant was approximately 238 grams. Investigators uncovered the conspiracy through surveillance of Ms. Cahill, who left her home and met with Mr. Urrutia prior to drug transactions between Mr. Urrutia and the confidential source. In November 2023, investigators executed a search warrant of Mr. Urrutia’s motel room and recovered a firearm. Mr. Urrutia sold the methamphetamine from that motel room during the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. The Major Offender Task Force is comprised of federal agents partnered with law enforcement officers from police departments state-wide. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover and Rochester Police Departments, the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske prosecuted the case. ###


title: South Texas man sentenced for selling fentanyl-laced pills causing death

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 22-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to federal prison for delivery of fentanyl resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ricardo Julyan Kross Rios aka Kross pleaded guilty July 26, 2023. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Kross to serve 180 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing the death of the 20-year-old male victim, found deceased on a living room sofa. He had fallen asleep there next to his girlfriend after a party. When she awoke the next morning, he was cold to the touch and not breathing. She immediately called 911 but paramedics were unable to resuscitate him. In handing down the sentence, Judge Morales noted that the circumstances of the case were tragic and that the loss of a life deserves a significant sentence. “Falling asleep on a living room sofa should not become a death sentence, especially for a 20-year old beginning his journey into adulthood,” said Hamdani. “Fentanyl-laced pills disguised as something else are killing our kids, and it’s the mission of my office to hold everyone accountable - from the companies that supply the raw materials to the cartels that make the pills to the dealers that place them in the hands of America’s youth. Those like Rios should take note, if your pill kills, we will not rest until justice is done.” On Dec. 10, 2022, authorities responded to a reported drug overdose in Corpus Christi and discovered a non-responsive individual pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later determined the cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity. The investigation led to the discovery that the victim had purchased pills from Rios who delivered them Dec. 9, 2022, to the parking lot adjacent to an apartment where a party was occurring. The victim consumed them during that event. Witnesses described the pills as “press made” hydrocodone pills which may have contained fentanyl. On Jan. 17, 2023, law enforcement encountered Rios at a residence in Corpus Christi in possession of a plastic bag containing “pressed” pills as well as some additional loose powder and partial pills. Laboratory analysis later confirmed the pills and powder in the plastic bag did contain fentanyl. Rios will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the cooperative law enforcement effort targeting fentanyl with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass and Mathis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. prosecuted the case.


title: Alabama Woman Sentenced To 18 Months’ Imprisonment For COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - On July 24, 2024, Meghan Pittman, 29, of Stevenson, Alabama, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following her imprisonment, she will be on supervised release for five years. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Pittman pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 for her involvement in a scheme to defraud COVID-19 unemployment programs in several states. In addition, Pittman was ordered to pay $85,011 in restitution to the Pennsylvania and California Departments of Labor, and to forfeit to the United States $85,011 as part of a money judgment. According to court documents, from June 2020 through June 2021, Pittman conspired with others to devise a scheme in which she defrauded the United States government and the governments of Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and California to obtain money from the states’ COVID relief programs in the form of unemployment insurance proceeds funded by the United States government. Specifically, Pittman acquired personal information from others and used it to fraudulently make mass online applications for money earmarked by the states to provide unemployment insurance relief for those affected by the national pandemic. She falsely claimed in the applications that the individuals whose personal information was reflected on the applications worked in those states. The states then mailed debit cards to addresses in the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Pittman would receive a percentage of the payout of the fraudulent claim. The defendant was personally responsible for the fraudulent distribution of over $85,000 of unemployment protection insurance funds. The scheme itself involved the fraudulent distribution of over $550,000 in unemployment protection insurance funds. United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Neff represented the United States. The conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the FBI as part of the Smoky Mountains Financial Crimes Task Force. 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 the 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: Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment in Connection with Shooting at Gas Station Near Walmart in Monroe

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

body_text: MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Monroe man with firearm charges in connection with a shooting that took place earlier this year in Monroe, Louisiana. Tristan Barber , 20, of Monroe, Louisiana , has been indicted and charged with two counts of possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and two counts of illegal possession of a machine gun. The indictment alleges that on or about March 29, 2024, and again on April 16, 2024, Barber knowingly possessed a Glock Model 22 Gen 3, .40 caliber pistol and ammunition, knowing he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. It is further alleged in the indictment that on or about March 29, 2024, and again on April 16, 2024, Barber knowingly possessed a machine gun equipped with a conversion device. “Our investigation has determined that this defendant, a convicted felon, is a very dangerous individual and has no respect for the law,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “As I have stated previously, we will aggressively charge and prosecute individuals that possess these firearms that are modified with switches and conversion devices. Thanks to our state and local partners for a thorough investigation and apprehending this defendant.” An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Barber faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison for possession of firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, and up to 10 years for illegal possession of a machine gun, as well as up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Monroe Police Department and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine Semmes and Trial Attorney Christopher Usher of the Department of Justice, Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. # # #


title: Colorado Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND – Kyle L. Miotke, 22 years old, of Englewood, Colorado, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Miotke was sentenced to 240 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on multiple occasions between October 18, 2021, and June 15, 2022, Miotke produced sexually explicit images of a minor by employing, using, and inducing the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indianapolis Field Office/Lafayette Resident Agency, with assistance from the Lafayette Police Department, the Tippecanoe County High Tech Crime Unit, and the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Drug Dealers Who Mailed Fentanyl from Phoenix to Sioux City Sentenced to More Than 15 years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Aki Awou, age 33, from Omaha, Nebraska, was found guilty by a jury on March 1, 2024, of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. His brother, Karom Bol, age 20, of Sioux City, pled guilty on February 21, 2024, to five related counts: conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of firearms by a drug user, and possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence in the case revealed that the two were gang members and between January 2022 and May 2022, Awou, traveled to the Phoenix, Arizona area, where he would mail packages containing thousands of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone to Bol’s address’ in Sioux City, Iowa. The Omaha Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit utilized a GPS tracker on Awou’s vehicle to pinpoint Awou’s travels and package mailing activities, including his shipment of fentanyl to addresses in Sioux City from post offices in Arizona. Postal Inspectors were able to intercept a package and conduct a controlled delivery with assistance from the DEA and the Sioux City Police Department, at one of the Sioux City addresses. Afterwards, law enforcement executed a search warrant. During the search warrant, Bol was observed throwing firearms out a second story bedroom window. Agents identified a second Sioux City location tied to Bol and Awou, and obtained a second search warrant for that residence. Additional evidence, including illegal pills, was found at that location. Postal Inspectors later received notice of another package being sent from Arizona to the address in Sioux City and were able to intercept and search that package, revealing that it also contained thousands of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. Awou’s fingerprints were on three packages used as evidence in the case and Bol’s palm print was located on the package used during the controlled delivery. In total, Bol and Awou were responsible for nearly two pounds of fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone. Awou was sentenced on July 24, 2024, in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 192 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Bol was sentenced July 10, 2024, in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Timothy Duax stated, “Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous illegal drug, and when people like Awou and Bol bring fentanyl to our community, they place our citizens at risk of serious harm and death. Accordingly, we are grateful for the hard work and cooperation of federal and state law enforcement agencies in stopping these individuals and sending a clear message that fentanyl traffickers will be caught and severely punished in the Northern District of Iowa.” Awou and Bol are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison. This case was investigated by the Omaha, Nebraska Police Department, Sioux City, Iowa Police Department, United States Postal Inspector, DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force, Lancaster County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Department, and the ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons, Shawn Wehde, and Patrick Greenwood. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-4051. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

body_text: Public Land Offenses Robert Sherman, 55, of Holladay, Utah, was sentenced on July 23, for two separate cases of disorderly conduct. In the first case he was sentenced to 14 days of incarceration, with credit for the 14 days already served for making threatening statements in the Roosevelt employee dining room inside Yellowstone National Park (YNP). According to court document, on July 5, Sherman was heard by multiple witnesses saying, “the next mass shooting will occur here.” Sherman made this statement just one day after gunman Samson Lucas Bariah Fussner was shot and killed by U.S. Park Rangers after he attempted to shoot at people inside the Canyon Lodge employee dining room. In the second disorderly conduct charge, Sherman was sentenced to five years of unsupervised probation for making additional threatening statements. According to court documents, on July 7, witnesses said Sherman made several comments along the lines that he would be, “killing people around here.” As part of the terms of his probation, he will have to comply with all federal, state, and local laws; keep contact information current with the court; pay court costs as ordered by the court; and not be permitted to enter YNP during the probation term. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on July 23. This crime was investigated by the National Park Service and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes. Child Pornography Alan Dean Houghton , 63, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison with 15 years of supervised release for possession of child pornography, subsequent offense. According to court documents, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) initiated a sexual exploitation of children investigation in October 2022. Heather Clark and April Burns were subsequently arrested in May of 2023 for production of child pornography, amongst other charges. Forensic analysis of Clark’s phone revealed that she was selling child pornography to various men around the country. The defendant was identified as having paid Clark $4,700 in multiple payments, over months, for what is believed to be Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) that Clark produced of her children. Houghton was indicted on March 13 and pleaded guilty on April 24. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on July 22. This crime was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Sexual Abuse of a Minor Brian Reyes Rhodes, Jr. , 24, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment with 15 years of supervised release for sexual abuse of a minor. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on July 22. According to court documents, between November 2018 and June 2022, the defendant sexually abused a minor multiple times at his grandfather’s residence. The minor victim eventually disclosed the abuse to a medical provider. Rhodes was indicted in November 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 17. This crime was investigated by the FBI, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook. About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Environmental Justice The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Project Safe Neighborhoods Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. Victim Witness Assistance The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking


title: Indiana Man Sentenced To 288 Months In Prison For Multiple Sex Offenses

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Lebanon, Indiana, man was sentenced today to 288 months in prison for his conviction on four counts of sex offenses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Randal Wise, 45, was previously convicted of attempted online enticement of a minor, transportation of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and attempted transfer of obscenity to a minor following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp, who imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court. According to documents in this case, and the evidence at trial: On Oct. 24, 2019, Wise traveled into New Jersey, approached an individual he believed was a 14-year-old boy on an internet dating application, and started a sexual dialogue. The individual was actually an undercover officer posing as a minor. Wise sent the undercover officer multiple photographs of his genitalia and requested similar photographs from him. The following day, Wise approached another individual that he believed was a minor boy on the same application. Unbeknownst to Wise, this individual was a second undercover officer posing as a minor. Wise engaged the second undercover officer in a highly sexual dialogue over the ensuing 24-hour period, sending sexually explicit photographs, questioning the second undercover officer about his sexual preferences and interests, and inviting the individual to his hotel for sex. On Oct. 26, 2019, Wise traveled to the second undercover officer’s location to engage in sexual activity with a minor, at which time he was arrested. Law enforcement seized Wise’s phone and subsequently discovered multiple items of child pornography embedded in a sexually graphic conversation. In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Wise to 10 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task force special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Thomas J. Chirichella, detectives with the Bayonne Police Department, and detectives with the Indianapolis Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Mateo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division in Newark.


title: New Jersey man charged with terrorism offenses relating to his attempted murder of Salman Rushdie

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, NY – A grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Hadi Matar, 26, of Fairview, New Jersey, with attempting to provide material support to Hizbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization, engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries and providing material support to terrorists. “We allege that in attempting to murder Salman Rushdie in New York in 2022, Hadi Matar committed an act of terrorism in the name of Hizbollah, a designated terrorist organization aligned with the Iranian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will prosecute those who perpetrate violence in the name of terrorist groups and undermine the basic freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.” “This defendant put time and effort into traveling to the Western District of New York with the intent of taking the life of another,” stated U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross. “Only because of the brave efforts of those who were present that day, the defendant was prevented from completing his murderous intention. This indictment is a result of the collaborative efforts of our investigative partners in law enforcement, which is one step towards ensuring that the defendant be held accountable for his actions.” “Today’s indictment demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast commitment to investigate and seek justice against individuals who jeopardize American lives and freedoms,” said FBI Buffalo Field Office Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. “This case reflects the dangerous spread of violent radicalization which threatens our communities. It’s a challenge; but one the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and law enforcement partners will never stop working.” According to the court documents and statements made by the government in court, between September 2020 and August 2022, Matar, attempted to provide material support and resources to Hizbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Matar did this by attempting to carry out a fatwa calling for the execution of Salman Rushdie, which Matar understood was endorsed by Hizbollah. The indictment further alleges that Matar attempted to kill and did in fact assault Rushdie. Matar was motivated, in part, by a 2006 speech given by Hizbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, in which Nasrallah endorsed the fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death, which was originally issued in 1989. Matar was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on August 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. If convicted, Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Charles M. Kruly for the Western District of New York and Trial Attorney Frank Russo of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the District of New Jersey. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # # #


title: THREE MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO COCAINE DISTRIBUTION FOLLOWING UNDERCOVER OPERATION

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Niah Henry, 35, Peter Francis, 33, and Kenson Plasimond, 42, all of St. Thomas, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine. Their sentencing dates will be set by the court. According to court documents, between December 5, 2023, and December 7, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department utilized an undercover agent to conduct purchases of cocaine and oxycodone in the Red Hook area of St. Thomas. During that time, Henry, Francis and Plasimond negotiated cocaine sales with the undercover agent and thereafter sold quantities of cocaine to the agent. For their convictions, Henry, Francis and Plasimond all face maximum sentences of 20 years in prison. These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Virgin Islands Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cherrisse R. Woods as part of a collaborative operation under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force Initiative.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Charge

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that German Aguilar Beltran, age 46, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced on July 24, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska after having pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Brian C. Buescher sentenced Aguilar Beltran to 216 months’ imprisonment. After completing his term of imprisonment Aguilar Beltran will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen. On June 22, 2021, a cooperating defendant was arrested after agents executed a search warrant on his Omaha residence revealing 28 one-pound packages of crystal meth, and $18,754 in narcotics proceeds. In a post-arrest interview, the cooperator admitted to his involvement in distributing meth and identified co-defendant Emeterio Sepulveda-Moreno as the person who delivered the meth found in his residence. The cooperator said Sepulveda-Moreno was responsible for delivering hundreds of pounds of meth, and twice delivered meth to him in Omaha, including the 28 pounds he was caught with. The investigation revealed that another co-defendant, Victor Gabriel Gonzalez-Garcia, would drive vehicles loaded with meth along with and Emeterio Sepulveda-Moreno, who were both working for German Aguilar Beltran since October of 2017. Agents confirmed that Aguilar Beltran’s phone was present during multiple documented drug transactions, and a vehicle known to have transported multiple loads of meth was registered in Aguilar Beltran’s name. During the course of the conspiracy, Aguilar Beltran was stopped and identified as the driver of the drug load vehicle. United States District Court Brian C. Buescher sentenced Sepulveda-Moreno to 135 months’ imprisonment on May 8, 2024, and sentenced Gonzalez-Garcia to 168 months’ imprisonment on July 27, 2023. The $18,754 seized on June 22, 2021, was previously forfeited to the United States as proceeds from narcotics trafficking, and the cooperator defendant was previously sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment. This case was the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.


title: Bayard Man Sentenced for Falsification of Union Financial Reports

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Donald Fox, 55, of Bayard, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 24, 2024 in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for four counts of falsification of annual financial reports filed by a labor union. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Fox to four years of probation. Fox will also have to serve five weekends in jail. Fox has also been ordered to pay $14,874.05 in restitution to the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1836. Prior to sentencing, Fox paid $9,746.07 in restitution back to the union. Fox served as the secretary and treasurer for the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1836 union out of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, from 2001 until he resigned in June 2021. Federal law requires that a labor union secretary annually file an accounting statement with the Department of Labor documenting annual losses, assets, liabilities, receipts, and disbursements. Between 2016 and 2020, Fox used union funds for personal expenses totaling $24,620.12. The embezzlement came to light in 2021 when other union members noticed union funds being used for expenses that were not approved by the union, and that were not union-related purchases. Fox admitted that he used union funds for personal expenses, and admitted that he hid his embezzlement in part by filing false annual accounting statements that did not account for his unauthorized use of union funds. He admitted to not filing the annual accounting statement in 2020 to continue concealing his misappropriation of union funds. “There are consequences for individuals who breach the trust placed in them to be good stewards of union funds. Don Fox embezzled $24,620 from National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1836 that should have been used for its members’ benefit,” said Christiane Abendroth, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. “OLMS is committed to hold accountable anyone who unlawfully exploits their position for financial gain at the expense of their fellow union members.” This case was investigated by U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 16 Months for Offutt AFB Incursion with a Firearm

body_text: United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Jason E. Shadden, age 42, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on July 24, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Shadden to 16 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Shadden will be required to complete a 2-year term of supervised release. On November 19, 2022, Shadden drove to the Kenney Gate at Offutt Air Force Base in his pickup truck. Though he initially stopped at the gate, Shadden drove without authorization on to the base at a high rate of speed and almost struck an U.S. Air Force Security Forces patrol vehicle. Shadden drove in circles in a parking lot and continued to drive recklessly at high speed to other locations on the installation. He was diverted onto the grass and was challenged by Security Forces members with firearms drawn when he made it as far as a vehicle fueling location on base. Shadden stopped, got out of the truck, and surrendered there. Shadden was detained and his pickup truck was searched. Officers found a Ruger .40c caliber handgun, marijuana, and paraphernalia including a marijuana pipe, a vaping device, and a vape cartridge. Shadden was interviewed and said he smoked marijuana before driving to Offutt from Springfield, Nebraska. Laboratory testing of suspected marijuana from a glass pipe seized from defendant’s truck confirmed the substance as marijuana and liquid obtained from vape cartridges was confirmed to contain Delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol. Shadden’s urine was also tested, and marijuana metabolite was identified in the sample. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, U.S. Air Force Security Forces, and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Kailua Man Found Guilty of Racketeering Conspiracy, Murder, and 11 Related Charges

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – After a 99-day jury trial before Chief United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson, a federal jury found Michael J. Miske, Jr., 50, of Kailua, Oahu, guilty of racketeering conspiracy, murder, and 11 other felony charges on July 18, 2024, and today determined that as a result of his conviction of the racketeering conspiracy, he should forfeit a variety of assets to the federal government. Sentencing is scheduled for November 26, 2024. Ten other defendants originally charged with Miske and several others charged in other cases related to this one previously pled guilty to various offenses. According to the evidence presented at trial, during at least the late 1990s and through June 2020, Miske and other codefendants conspired to conduct and participate in the conduct of the affairs of a racketeering enterprise, the “Miske Enterprise,” through a pattern of racketeering activity. The racketeering activity included acts involving murder, kidnapping, and robbery. It also included acts relating to murder-for-hire, chemical weapons, interference with commerce through robbery and extortion, wire fraud, fraud in connection with identification documents, financial institution fraud, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, and obstruction of justice. During the trial, evidence was produced that from about March 2016 and continuing to about July 30, 2016, Miske conspired with others to kidnap and murder 21-year-old Johnathan Fraser in the belief that Fraser was responsible for Miske’s son’s death as a result of an automobile crash. In March 2016, Miske instructed a co-conspirator to develop a plan for kidnapping and murdering Fraser and told that co-conspirator that he/she could name the price for carrying out the murder. On or about July 30, 2016, Fraser was kidnapped and killed. On that same day, another of Miske’s co-conspirators took Fraser’s significant other on a “spa day,” thereby ensuring that Fraser and his significant other would be separated from each other when Fraser was kidnapped. In or about March 2017, Miske and others conspired to release a chemical weapon, namely, chloropicrin, into nightclubs in Honolulu, Hawaii. As part of this conspiracy, chloropicrin was released into two different nightclubs. Miske was also convicted of obstructing justice for the submission of false character letters to the court in support of Miske’s request for pretrial release while this case was pending. The maximum penalties for the charges on which Miske was found guilty are set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress. The actual sentence imposed will be determined by the judge. COUNT CHARGE MAXIMUM PRISON TERM 1 Racketeering Conspiracy Life (mandatory minimum) 2 Murder in Aid of Racketeering Life (mandatory minimum) 3 Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering 10 years 5 Kidnapping Resulting in Death Life (mandatory minimum) 6 Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Life 7 Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy 10 years 10 Conspiracy to Commit Assaults in Aid of Racketeering Three years 11 Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping Life 12 Conspiracy to Use a Chemical Weapon Life 13 Use of a Chemical Weapon Life 14 Use of a Chemical Weapon Life 21 Obstruction of Justice 20 years 22 Obstruction of Justice 20 years After approximately one-and-a-half days of proceedings, the same jury determined that as a result of the conviction of racketeering conspiracy, Miske must forfeit specifically identified property, which included two pieces of real property and $611,123.60 in proceeds from the sale of real property, a Boston Whaler vessel, a fishing vessel, a 2017 Ferrari, $2,521.784.32 in cash from various financial institution accounts, and a cashier’s check for $1,162,826.76. This conviction is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Honolulu Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the Cybercrime Lab of the Department of Justice Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, the Honolulu Fire Department, the Hawaii National Guard, 93rd Civil Support Team, the Office of Investigations–Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Inciong, Michael Nammar, KeAupuni Akina, and Aislinn Affinito prosecuted the case and presented it in court.


title: Johnstown Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Heroin Charges

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Joshua Edmonds, 31, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before United States Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson on July 23, 2024. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around February 2021 to in and around April 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Edmonds conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. Edmonds was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin that he distributed to others. Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for November 26, 2024. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Edmonds. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Serial Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Gage Lyle Forsberg, age 30, was sentenced after pleading guilty to Distribution of 40 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Fentanyl. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 175 months and 6 days imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. In imposing this lengthy sentence, Judge Rice considered Forsberg’s extensive criminal history as well as the string of crimes Forsberg engaged in that ultimately resulted in this federal indictment. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on October 21, 2021, the Spokane Police Department (SPD) conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Forsberg for reckless driving. Forsberg was arrested. During a search, SPD located $1,120 on Forsberg, as well as drug paraphernalia and 9 fentanyl pills in the vehicle. Forsberg was booked into jail and ultimately released. While that case was pending, on February 4, 2022, SPD spotted Forsberg driving a stolen vehicle with a smashed-out window. SPD arrested Forsberg and during a search, SPD located a baggie of fentanyl pills, cash, and a loaded magazine for a handgun. Inside the vehicle, SPD located a loaded 9mm firearm with the serial number ground off, a 10mm firearm that had been reported stolen, several boxes of ammunition as well as loose rounds of ammunition, multiple knives, more than $22,000, five baseball-sized bags of fentanyl pills, and a bag containing heroin. SPD also located a glass punch, which is used to break vehicle windows. Forsberg was booked into jail and ultimately released t. A few days later, on February 20, 2022, a 911 caller reported Forsberg had a weapon and was trying to start a fight at a location in Spokane. A witness saw Forsberg was armed and yelled “gun” to alert others. Forsberg took a gun out of his pants and threw it into the street. A bystander retrieved the gun and rendered it safe. When SPD arrived, Forsberg was contacted and arrested. During a search incident to arrest, SPD located $2,980, suboxone strips, a baggie containing fentanyl, and a 9mm magazine. The firearm Forsberg tossed into the street was a 9mm pistol. Forsberg was booked into jail and ultimately released. On October 26, 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), arranged a controlled buy of approximately 700 fentanyl pills from Forsberg using an undercover agent. Forsberg had two other individuals with him, co-defendants Jonah Chapin and Brady Towner. While the undercover agent was negotiating the sale with Forsberg, Towner brandished a gun and moved to a position of advantage behind the undercover agent. Seeing this, surveillance units gave the signal to call off the deal and the undercover agent walked away. Forsberg then followed the agent and insisted on the sale, which they completed. Following the sale, Forsberg left the area driving a green Ford Explorer. Given the presence of a firearm and menacing conduct, law enforcement activated their emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop Forsberg’s vehicle in Airway Heights. Forsberg failed to yield and ultimately fled, driving recklessly to escape. Forsberg was subsequently federally indicted, and a warrant issued for his arrest. On November 15, 2022, ATF saw Forsberg driving a vehicle in the Spokane area. ATF attempted to contact the vehicle; however, the vehicle attempted to flee. The vehicle was boxed in by ATF vehicles and stopped. The occupants of the vehicle were not compliant with commands and the vehicle’s windows were heavily tinted, which prevented ATF from initially seeing what was happening in the vehicle and raised safety concerns given the conduct during the October encounter. Forsberg, Chapin, and Forsberg’s then girlfriend EvaMarie Miller were ultimately removed from the vehicle and detained. During a search of the vehicle, agents seized bags containing large quantities of fentanyl pills and approximately $20,000 in Forsberg’s backpack, two loaded handguns (to include one readily accessible in the driver’s door panel), boxed ammunition, several cell phones, drug ledgers, and a small amount of methamphetamine. There were also many loose fentanyl pills strewn throughout the vehicle as if a large bag of fentanyl pills was carelessly ripped open. Chapin was found to have approximately 100 fentanyl pills in a fake battery on his person as well as brass knuckles. Forsberg’s co-defendants were previously sentenced for their respective roles in Forsberg’s activities. Chapin was sentenced to 40 months in prison, Towner was sentenced to 84 months in prison, and Miller was sentenced to 36 months in prison. “Mr. Forsberg showed a willful disregard for the law and the safety of our communities by repeatedly engaging in drug trafficking, recklessly attempting to elude law enforcement, illegally possessing stolen firearms, and vehicle theft,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Members of my Office come to work every day to make Eastern Washington safe for everyone. We accomplish that by working hand in hand with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable who engage in dangerous conduct and repeatedly flout the rule of law.” “Guns and drugs are a losing combination, particularly when used together in the commission of a crime,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Mr. Forsberg knew what he was doing was wrong, then exacerbated it by fleeing from law enforcement twice. He certainly earned this justified sentence.” This case was investigated by the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Moses Lake Police Department, and the Spokane Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin Baunsgard.


title: Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty To Distribution Of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Damon Lee West, age 45, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine. The Indictment alleged that on September 20, 2023, West knowingly and intentionally distributed 27.92 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. West was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Peggs Resident Sentenced For Voluntary Manslaughter In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Wanda Kay Friday, age 53, of Peggs, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. The charges arose from an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On December 15, 2023, Friday pleaded guilty to one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. According to investigators, on November 25, 2022, Friday and the victim argued. During the argument, Friday retrieved a 9mm handgun and fatally shot the victim. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Friday will report to a designated Bureau of Prisons facility on August 23, 2024, to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Cherokee County Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug Charge

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Andrea Dawn Winsett, age 34, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. On February 6, 2024, Winsett pleaded guilty to the drug distribution charge. According to investigators, on March 7, 2023, Winsett was arrested for driving under the influence and booked into the Cherokee County Jail. During the booking process, Winsett was found in possession of 14.75 grams of actual methamphetamine that she intended to distribute. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing. Winsett will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.