title: Retired Combat Medic Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Two Children

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A retired Army combat medic was sentenced in federal court to 50 years in prison for two counts of sexual exploitation of children. According to court documents, Eric Scott McCants, 47, produced sexually explicit videos involving prepubescent children and shared them in a child exploitation group on a social networking application in July 2021. FBI agents seized his phone and discovered additional sexually explicit videos, some of which depicted a second minor female and dated back to as early as October 2018. McCants was arrested on Aug. 13, 2021 and indicted Sept. 1, 2021 for four counts related to the production, possession and distribution of child pornography. He pleaded guilty Aug. 7, 2024 to two counts of sexual exploitation of children. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for each count. He will also pay $100,000 in restitution to the two victims. “This 50-year sentence sends a clear message that the sexual exploitation of children has lasting traumatic effects on vulnerable victims and will not be tolerated in the Western District,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Thank you to our federal law enforcement partners at the FBI for their diligence in this investigation and their dedication to protecting the children of our communities.” “The details of this case and McCants’ exploitation of minors are horrific, and we hope this sentence will allow his victims some measure of comfort in knowing he will never be able to hurt another child,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio field office. “We are dedicated to stopping predators who harm our most vulnerable citizens and want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued assistance in keeping our communities safe.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Mexican man sent to prison for using fake Union Pacific trucks to smuggle migrants

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – Another individual has been sentenced for his role in a Laredo human smuggling conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jesus Aleman-Serrano, 34, Mexican citizen illegally residing in Laredo, and Laredo pleaded guilty May 8. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now imposed a 24-month term of imprisonment for Aleman-Serrano. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Saldaña noted the intricacy and level of sophistication involved and the danger the migrants faced. Two others – Laredo residents Edison Alfredo Escalante, 23, Clarissa Villarreal, 29, previously received sentences of 18 months in prison and time served, respectively. All were also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release. “Moving 11 individuals in dangerously cramped conditions inside a vehicle not only reflects the callousness of these operations but underscores the serious risk to life—where even a minor accident could have led to a tragic outcome,” said Hamdani. “Our efforts, including uncovering two stash houses used by the smuggling organization, send a clear message: we will continue to disrupt and dismantle these dangerous networks to protect lives and uphold the law.” On Feb. 26, law enforcement observed a work truck displaying Union Pacific decals attempting to bypass the Interstate Highway 35 checkpoint north of Laredo. Authorities later determined that this vehicle was not registered to Union Pacific; instead, the human smuggling organization had used decals to make it appear legitimate. Law enforcement stopped the truck and identified Escalante as the driver. Upon further inspection, authorities found eight undocumented individuals concealed under a makeshift compartment in the bed of the truck. Authorities found the compartment, hidden beneath a metal grate, which had plywood and a 102-pound generator resting on top. Law enforcement used a crow bar to free three additional females from another small, locked hidden compartment within the vehicle. In total, authorities found 11 undocumented individuals from Mexico and Honduras trapped inside the truck. Escalante initially told law enforcement he worked for Union Pacific and claimed that people in Mexico forced him to commit the crime. However, evidence from Escalante’s cell phone revealed his connections to Cartel del Noreste and showed his participation in planning the smuggling event and purchasing the Union Pacific decals. Later, Escalante admitted to smuggling another group of 10 migrants to San Antonio for the same organization. Further investigation revealed the location where the undocumented individuals were harbored prior to Escalante transporting them. Authorities obtained a search warrant for a home on the 3600 block of Cancun Loop in Laredo and began surveillance later that day. Law enforcement observed Aleman Serrano transport two individuals from the Cancun Street address to another apartment on Ligarde Street in a Ford Expedition. They approached the apartment and contacted the owner, who authorities identified as Villarreal. Villarreal admitted Aleman Serrano hired her to “take care” of the people and that she knew they were undocumented. Law enforcement later executed the search warrant at the Cancun Street address, where Aleman Serrano was identified as one of the owners. The evidence revealed this address was used as a stash house to harbor undocumented individuals. Authorities recovered handwritten ledgers documenting the dates the migrants arrived, the number of days they stayed and how much was being charged. Both Escalante and Aleman Serrano will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol and the Laredo Police Department conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage. This sentencing is also the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established JTFA in June 2021 to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The initiative was expanded to Colombia and Panama to combat human smuggling in the Darién in June 2024. JTFA comprises detailees from U.S. attorneys’ offices along the southwest border including the Southern District of California, districts of Arizona and New Mexico and the Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training; Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; Office of Enforcement Operations; Office of International Affairs; and the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in over 325 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of human smuggling, more than 270 U.S. convictions, more than 210 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets. Assistant U.S. Attorney and JTFA detailee Jennifer Day prosecuted this case.


title: U.S. Court of Appeals Affirms Justice Department’s Victory Protecting Airline Competition

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit today affirmed the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts’ ruling in favor of the Justice Department and the Attorneys General of six states and the District of Columbia in their civil antitrust lawsuit to stop the Northeast Alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue. “Today’s decision is a hard-won victory for the millions of Americans who count on competition between airlines to fly affordably, whether to visit family, to go on vacation, or to travel for business,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The airline industry — like every industry — must comply with the antitrust laws that protect consumers and prohibit anticompetitive coordination.” “Today’s decision is yet another litigation victory for the Antitrust Division and American travelers who depend on competition for lower airfare and higher quality,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “I am incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication of the Antitrust Division staff that investigated and litigated this case, and to the state law enforcement partners who brought this case with us.” The court’s opinion followed a judgment by the district court upholding the Justice Department’s challenge to American Airlines and JetBlue’s Northeast Alliance in May 2023. The Northeast Alliance was a series of agreements between American Airlines and JetBlue through which the two airlines consolidated their operations in Boston and New York City. The district court ruled that JetBlue and American Airlines’ decision to stop competing in Boston and New York, where they are major players, violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act because it eliminated competition for American travelers in many domestic markets for scheduled air passenger service, and the court of appeals affirmed that decision.


title: Idabel Resident Sentenced For Murder And Federal Firearms Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Zachary Carlton Ty Capps, age 29, of Idabel, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country, and 120 months in prison for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence. The sentences are set to be served consecutively for a total of 330 months in prison. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police. On September 12, 2023, Capps pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on the evening of November 15, 2022, Capps fatally shot the victim in the head with a .44 caliber revolver. The crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Kenneth J. Gonzales, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Capps 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 Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.


title: Orleans Parish Resident Guilty of Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts Violations

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that DIONTAE DORSEY , (“DORSEY”) , age 43, of New Orleans, pled guilty on November 7, 2024 to Counts 1, 4, and 8 of an indictment before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier. Sentencing is scheduled for February 27, 2025. DORSEY was charged in Count 1 with Conspiracy to Distribute, and Possess with Intent to Distribute, Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. At sentencing, he faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release. DORSEY was charged in Count 4 with possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). At sentencing, he faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release following imprisonment. Any sentence on Count 4 must run consecutive to any other sentence. DORSEY was charged in Count 8 with maintaining a drug-involved premises, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 856(a) and Title 18 U.S.C. § 2. Count 8 carries up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $500,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment. All three counts also carry a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to the indictment, beginning on a time unknown but continuing until at least May 8, 2024, DORSEY and other individuals, maintained three residences in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans for the purpose of packaging and distributing narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Several of these individuals furthered this drug trafficking conspiracy by possessing firearms. 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. United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: El Salvadorian National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LORENZO ALEXANDER BENITEZ (“BENITEZ”) , age 40, a citizen of El Salvador, was sentenced by United States District Judge Susie Morgan on November 7, 2024 to two years of probation, after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court documents, BENITEZ admitted to reentering the United States illegally after previously being deported on July 27, 2018. BENITEZ was encountered by law enforcement on April 29, 2024, while driving on Interstate 610 in New Orleans. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of United States Customs and Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Hartford Substance Abuse Counselor Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that THELMA “WENDY” EPPS, 59, of Hartford, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to health care fraud. According to court documents and statements made in court, Epps was a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADC) with an office located at 330 Main Street in Hartford. In April 2013, she enrolled as a participating provider in the Connecticut Medicaid program along with an entity affiliated with Epps called Miracles to Destiny LLC . In July 2018, the Medicaid program suspended Epps from participating as a provider in the program based on a finding of a credible allegation of fraud. Medicaid told Epps that any attempt to circumvent her suspension by submitting claims for services performed by Epps or Miracles to Destiny LLC through other agencies or other billing numbers would result in termination of her provider agreement. In 2019, Epps entered into an agreement with Dennis Tomczak, a Connecticut LADC who was a participating provider in Medicaid. Epps and Tomczak agreed that Tomczak would bill Medicaid using his Medicaid provider number for psychotherapy counseling services purportedly provided by Epps. These claims falsely represented that Tomczak had personally provided the services. In return for Tomczak billing the services, Epps agreed to pay Tomczak 25 percent of the amount Medicaid paid Tomczak. Between approximately April 2019 and November 2022, Medicaid paid Tomczak $330,547.71 for fraudulent claims for services purportedly provided by Epps that were billed under Tomczak’s provider number. At some point during their scheme, Tomczak expressed concerns to Epps about the number and frequency of services that Epps told Tomczak she was providing. At about this time, Epps entered into a similar agreement with Shawn Tyson, a LADC in Connecticut, whereby Tyson would use his Medicaid provider number to submit claims to Medicaid for services Epps purportedly provided to Medicaid clients. In November 2019, Epps assisted Tyson with the process of enrolling Tyson as a participating provider in Medicaid. Tyson’s provider application listed the location at which Tyson would provide services as 330 Main Street, Third Floor, in Hartford, the location of the Epps’s and Miracles to Destiny LLC ’s office. Once Tyson was enrolled as a Medicaid provider, Tyson provided Epps with his login information to the online portal for submitting claims to Medicaid, which Epps then used to submit claims. For a brief period before Tyson was enrolled as a Medicaid provider, unbeknownst to Tomczak, Epps submitted claims through Tomczak’s provider number for services purportedly provided by Tyson, by representing to Tomczak that she had performed these services. Medicaid paid Tomczak a total of $7,879.40 for these services. During the scheme involving Epps and Tyson, Tyson would provide Epps the names of Medicaid patients and dates that Tyson purportedly provided psychotherapy counseling services to the patients, and Epps would then bill Medicaid for these services using Tyson’s provider number. Epps would also submit claims using Tyson’s provider number for services she purportedly provided to Medicaid patients. These claims falsely represented that Tyson had personally provided the services to the patients. Epps and Tyson submitted and caused to be submitted claims for hundreds of thousands of dollars of psychotherapy services that neither Epps nor Tyson had actually provided to Medicaid clients. When Epps warned Tyson that he should not bill Medicaid for having provided psychotherapy to patients on holidays, such as July 4 and Thanksgiving, Tyson would typically change the dates of services and resubmit the list of services to Epps. Medicaid paid Tyson $663,081.32 for claims that falsely represented that Tyson had personally provided services, or falsely represented that services had been provided when, in fact, they were not provided at all. Epps has agreed to pay $1,001,058.43 in restitution to the Connecticut Medicaid program. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for January 31, at which time Epps faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. She is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing. Tomczak and Tyson have pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Sheldon and Auditor Susan Spiegel. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, and Connecticut Attorney General’s Office meet regularly as part of The Medicaid Fraud Working Group. The Working Group also includes representatives from the Connecticut Department of Social Services; the Connecticut Department of Public Health; the Drug Control Division of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection; the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the FBI. The Working Group reviews pending issues and cases, identifies trends that might indicate fraudulent activity, and coordinates efforts for maximum results. People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.


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

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Federal Land Offenses Joseph Aita, 62, of Colorado Springs, CO, was sentenced to 7 days in jail for walking off a designated trail or boardwalk in a thermal area within Yellowstone National Park. According to court documents, he entered the protected area of Canary Spring in Mammoth Hot Springs in the north area of the park with co-defendant Celia Aita and 2 minor children. He also pleaded guilty to destroying a mineral resource and for that violation, he was sentenced to five years of probation, with a ban from Yellowstone National Park during that time and a fine of $3,000. He will also pay $60 in mandatory court costs and fees in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted this case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Oct. 31, in Mammoth, Wyoming. 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: Antlers Resident Sentenced For Aggravated Sexual Abuse

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Eric Wadkins, age 43, of Antlers, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months in prison and a life term of supervision upon his release for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Department, and the Pushmataha County Sheriff’s Office. On January 12, 2023, Wadkins pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 5, 2017, Wadkins physically assaulted and sexually assaulted the victim. The crime occurred in Choctaw and Pushmataha Counties, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wadkins 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 Sarah McAmis represented the United States.


title: Latimer County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Charge

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Teresa Louise Lightfoot, age 51, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Indictment alleged that on September 28, 2023, Lightfoot knowingly possessed a semiautomatic pistol after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The charges arose from an investigation by the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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. Lightfoot will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Danvers Man Convicted of Money Laundering and Operating Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Danvers man has been convicted, following a five-day trial, of money laundering and operating an unlicensed, “no questions asked” money transmitting business that converted more than $1 million in cash to the digital currency Bitcoin, including on behalf of scammers and a drug dealer. Trung Nguyen, a/k/a “DCS420”, 48, was convicted of one count of conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business and one count of concealment money laundering. The jury also found Nguyen not guilty of a separate count of money laundering. United States District Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Feb. 12, 2025. Nguyen was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 30, 2023. “Money laundering is the lifeblood of a wide swath of criminal conduct,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This defendant’s ‘no questions asked’ money laundering operation allowed a known drug dealer to turn their dirty cash into more deadly meth to pump onto our streets and it allowed scammers to swindle vulnerable victims out of their hard-earned savings. Money launderers may think that Bitcoin is some new frontier for cleaning dirty money anonymously, it is not. Together with our law enforcement partners, we are carefully monitoring these markets and will continue to investigate and prosecute the money launderers who are essential cogs in the illicit drug and fraud trades.” “Nguyen deliberately set up his money service business to evade banking regulations and to circumvent financial safeguards that prevent illicit proceeds from entering legitimate commerce. Our investigation proved that Nguyen knew he was working with criminals by accepting money from victims of scams and a drug dealer. HSI is a global leader in investigating illicit finance and bringing money launderers like Nguyen to justice,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “The guilty verdict of Trung Nguyen demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to the prosecution of all who choose to not only break the law themselves but also those who assist criminals in facilitating their criminal activities,” said Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Nguyen operated an unlicensed money service businesses and concealed his financial activity in a nominee business bank account in an effort to conceal his bitcoin conversion activity. Through Nguyen’s actions, he allowed criminals to conceal their activity by converting bulk cash into bitcoin, allowing them to easily and covertly integrate their ill-gotten gains into the mainstream financial system.” Between September 2017 and October 2020, Nguyen owned and operated National Vending, LLC. Through National Vending, Nguyen accepted cash from customers and, in exchange for a fee, sent them Bitcoin in return. Exchangers of virtual currency, including Bitcoin exchangers, are money transmitters under federal law and are subject to federal anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The regulations required them to register as money service businesses with the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and to maintain effective AML programs, including by filing Suspicious Activity Reports with FinCEN, and by filing Currency Transaction Reports for Bitcoin-for-cash exchanges of more than $10,000. Nguyen purposely failed to register National Vending with FinCEN, despite being required to do so. In 10 transactions in 2018, Nguyen accepted a total of $250,000 in cash from an individual who identified himself to Nguyen as a methamphetamine dealer. In 2019 and 2020, Nguyen also accepted approximately $325,000 from a romance scam victim from Kansas City, Mo.; $60,000 from a romance scam victim from Glastonbury, Ct., and $60,000 from a romance scam victim from central Massachusetts—each of whom had been tricked into converting cash into Bitcoin and sending it to con artists overseas. Nguyen failed to file Suspicious Activity Reports or Currency Transaction Reports on any of these transactions, including cash transactions of more than $10,000. Nguyen concealed his money transmitting business by, among other ways, holding National Vending out to banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and state authorities as a vending machine business, using encrypted messaging apps to communicate with customers, using technologies that made it more difficult to trace Bitcoin transactions and breaking cash deposits of more than $10,000 into smaller cash deposits over consecutive days or at different branches of the same bank. Nguyen also enrolled in a paid course on concealing his business that recommended Nguyen purport to operate “a business for which cash deposits from around the country make sense” and that he “develop [his] cover story,” “create a list or your suppliers Fictitious of course,” and “Don’t say the word ‘Bitcoin.” The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction. The charge of conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; HSI SAC Krol; IRS SAC Chavis; and Ketty Larco Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth B. Kosto and Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Alleged Serial Armed Robber Arrested at His D.C. Home

body_text: WASHINGTON – Antonio Kingsbury, 36, of Washington, D.C., was arrested today and charged by criminal complaint with interference with interstate commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Kingsbury is suspected of involvement in at least seventeen armed robberies between January 9, 2024 and November 7, 2024, in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office. According to the complaint, the same masked gunman is believed responsible for 17 armed robberies at various businesses including: multiple Subway restaurants, Starbucks, multiple local DMV restaurants, a Virginia ABC store, a local cell phone store, Chipotle, multiple Popeye’s restaurants, multiple 7-Eleven stores, and a tobacco store. During a search of the suspect’s home, a gun was recovered along with multiple pieces of clothing used during Kingsbury’s nearly year-long robbery spree. Kingsbury was arrested and will have an initial appearance in District Court on November 12, 2024. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office's Violent Crimes Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Arlington County Police Department, Bladensburg Police Department, and Prince George’s County Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin F. Song A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Slidell Man Sentenced for Unlicensed Manufacturing and Dealing in Explosive Materials

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – DEVIN JUNEAU (“JUNEAU”), age 38, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced on November 7, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, to time served, after previously pleading guilty to engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials without a license, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 842(a)(1) and 844(a)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, on or about February 6, 2024, JUNEAU manufactured and sold M-Type explosive devices that contained explosive materials to undercover agents, without possessing a license to engage in the business of manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (A.T.F.). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Monroe City, Missouri, Man Sentenced to Twenty Years’ Imprisonment for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Department of Justice

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –Phillip C. Mayfield, 35, who lived in both Monroe City, Missouri, and Quincy, Illinois, was sentenced on November 7, 2024, to twenty years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Mayfield was indicted in June 2023 and convicted after a jury trial in June 2024. Over three days of trial testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that Mayfield sold over fifty grams of methamphetamine to another individual in a grocery store parking lot in Quincy in February 2023 and then made a second sale of over fifty grams of methamphetamine in an apartment parking lot in Quincy in March 2023. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government established that Mayfield was on bond in five separate state felony cases at the time he made the drug sales. During the hearing, Judge Lawless noted that Mayfield had a very significant criminal history which included two prior drug trafficking convictions. Judge Lawless also commented that Mayfield was motivated to commit his crimes because he liked the lifestyle of being a drug dealer and the financial means it provided him. Mayfield remains in the custody of the United States Marshal Service where he has been since his arrest on June 20, 2023. The statutory penalties for distribution of methamphetamine are not less than ten years’ and up to a life term of imprisonment; at least five years and up to a life term of supervised release; and up to a $10,000,000 fine. The Illinois State Police West Central Illinois Task Force investigated the case, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Springfield Resident Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah E. Seberger and Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Mayfield is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Houstonian found guilty of committing armed robberies of Houston-area fast-food restaurants

body_text: HOUSTON – A federal jury has convicted a 25-year-old man for interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Hamdani. The jury deliberated for two hours and 45 minutes before finding Caleb Pickens guilty following a four-day trial. Law enforcement began investigating a series of armed robberies at fast-food restaurants, primarily McDonald’s, and convenience stores, which drew attention to Pickens. Pickens came to the attention of law enforcement between after they began an investigation into a series of armed robberies of fast-food restaurants, mainly McDonald’s, and convenience stores. HOUSTON – A federal jury has convicted a 25-year-old man for interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Hamdani. The jury deliberated for two hours and 45 minutes before finding Caleb Pickens guilty following a four-day trial. Law enforcement began investigating a series of armed robberies at fast-food restaurants, primarily McDonald’s, and convenience stores which drew attention to Pickens. In January, Pickens wore either a red Nike sweatshirt or a black hooded jacket while committing a series of armed robberies at McDonald’s locations and brandishing a pistol. Occasionally, Pickens held the gun to victims’ heads, backs or stomachs, demanding money from the safe. In one incident, he eventually fired his pistol into a microwave oven at a McDonald’s location. During the robberies, Pickens ordered the manager to hand over the money from the safe before exiting through the restaurant’s back door. He fled the locations in a stolen black Chevrolet Tahoe that had a broken left rear window, used scissors to start the ignition and drove away. Law enforcement located the vehicle and started conducting surveillance. On Jan. 23, the Chevy Tahoe arrived at a McDonald’s in Houston where Pickens again committed another armed robbery. Authorities arrested him on scene. At that time, he was wearing the same Nike sweatshirt and hooded jacket and was in possession of a pistol. “Going to McDonald’s has become a quintessential part of American life, offering a familiar, convenient spot for families to come together for a meal, where kids feast on Happy Meals searching for hidden toys,” said Hamdani. “Pickens turned that idyllic scene into a violent nightmare when he robbed several locations and pointed his gun at his victims. This verdict will insure that he is taken off Houston’s streets and away from its families for many years to come.” He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided over the trial and set sentencing for Feb. 13, 2025. At that time, Pickens faces up to life imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. The Houston Police Department’s Violent Crime Task Force and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Stotts and Brian Hrach are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Police Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A former police officer from Pendleton, Oregon was sentenced to federal prison today for possessing child pornography on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Cameron Jacob Sheoships, 57, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. Sheoships’ sentencing follows a prior guilty plea that included a pattern enhancement for his repeated sexual abuse of a minor beginning in the 1990s. According to court documents, in August 2022, the FBI received a tip that suspected child pornography had been traced to the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Eastern Oregon. By mid-September 2022, investigators received additional tips associated with Google and Twitter accounts later linked to Sheoships, a former tribal police officer. In May 2023, the FBI executed federal search warrants on Sheoships’ residence and person, and located numerous photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse on Sheoships’ cellphone. On June 13, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Sheoships with possessing child pornography and, on April 24, 2024, he pleaded guilty to the single charge. This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Cassady A. Adams, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Bitcoin Fog Operator Sentenced for Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A dual Russian-Swedish national was sentenced today to 12 years and six months in prison for his operation of the longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 2011 through 2021, Roman Sterlingov, 36, was involved in operating Bitcoin Fog, the darknet’s longest-running cryptocurrency “mixer.” Over the course of its decade-long operation, Bitcoin Fog gained notoriety as a go-to money laundering service for criminals seeking to hide their illicit proceeds from law enforcement and processed transactions involving over 1.2 million bitcoin, valued at approximately $400 million at the time the transactions occurred. The bulk of this cryptocurrency came from darknet marketplaces and was tied to illegal narcotics, computer crimes, identity theft, and child sexual abuse material. In March 2024, after a one-month trial, a jury found Sterlingov guilty of money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and money transmission without a license in the District of Columbia. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Sterlingov was sentenced to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $395,563,025.39, and forfeiture of seized cryptocurrencies and monetary assets valued at approximately $1.76 million. In addition, Sterlingov was ordered to forfeit his interest in the Bitcoin Fog wallet, totaling approximately 1,345 bitcoin and currently valued at more than $103 million. “Roman Sterlingov ran the longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet, and today he paid the price,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “In the deepest corners of the internet, he provided a home for criminals of all stripes, from drug traffickers to identity thieves, to store hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds. Today’s sentence reflects the Department’s determination to dismantle the criminal networks that enable criminal actors to flourish and ensure consequences for the criminals operating them.” “Roman Sterlingov laundered over $400 million in criminal proceeds through Bitcoin Fog, his cryptocurrency ‘mixing’ service that was open for business to criminals looking to hide dirty money,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Through his illicit money laundering operation, Sterlingov helped criminals launder proceeds of drug trafficking, computer crime, identity theft, and the sexual exploitation of children. Today’s sentencing underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to holding those who facilitate criminal activity fully accountable for their crimes. I am especially proud of the dedicated investigators and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to unmask and prosecute the Bitcoin Fog scheme.” “As proven at trial, Roman Sterlingov created and used an online tool to process hundreds of millions in illegal transactions, enabling darknet drug dealers and those who sell child sexual abuse material, to operate,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Today’s sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who help criminals with online payments for their illegal activities will face serious penalties. This prosecution also provides more proof that we have the skilled investigators and talented prosecutors needed to hold those who operate these darknet sites accountable.” “Clearly, Sterlingov’s attempt to shroud his illicit activities in a cloak of anonymity ultimately failed against the sophisticated collaborative work of our Criminal Investigation special agents and partners,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Today’s significant prison term and hundreds of millions in financial sanctions against the defendant emphasizes the seriousness of this conviction and should serve as a stark notice that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated.” “The prosecution of Roman Sterlingov and the sentence imposed today should serve as a warning to cybercriminals,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI. “The FBI will not hesitate to use all tools at its disposal and will leverage our extensive partnerships to disrupt the cybercriminal ecosystem and the individuals who provide the key services that facilitate criminal activity.” The IRS-CI District of Columbia Cyber Crime Unit and FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit provided invaluable assistance. Additional assistance was provided by Japanese, Swedish, Danish, Romanian, and UK authorities, as well as Europol. Trial Attorneys Jeff Pearlman and C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Brown for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. Pelker is a member, and Brown is a former member, of CCIPS’ National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team. Former CCIPS Paralegal Specialist Dr. Divya Ramjee and Paralegal Specialist Angela De Falco for the District of Columbia provided valuable assistance.


title: Operator of ‘Bitcoin Fog’ Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Running Notorious Darknet Cryptocurrency Mixer

body_text: WASHINGTON – Roman Sterlingov, 36, a citizen of Russia and Sweden, was sentenced today to more than 12 years – or 150 months – in prison for operating a cryptocurrency mixer that laundered tens of millions of dollars for Darknet narcotics dealers and facilitated illegal conduct by other individuals who participated in a Darknet site for trafficking child sexual abuse material. A cryptocurrency mixer is a service that mixes potentially illegally derived cryptocurrency with others to obscure the trail back to the cryptocurrency’s original source. The sentence, handed down in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Chief Guy Fico of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Sterlingov was sentenced to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $395,563,025.39, and forfeiture of seized cryptocurrencies and monetary assets valued at approximately $1.76 million. In addition, Sterlingov was ordered to forfeit his interest in the Bitcoin Fog wallet, totaling approximately 1,345 bitcoin and currently valued at more than $103 million. “As proven at trial, Roman Sterlingov created and used an online tool to process hundreds of millions in illegal transactions, enabling darknet drug dealers and those who sell child sexual abuse material, to operate,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Today’s sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who help criminals with online payments for their illegal activities will face serious penalties. This prosecution also provides more proof that we have the skilled investigators and talented prosecutors needed to hold those who operate these darknet sites accountable.” “Roman Sterlingov ran the longest-running bitcoin money laundering service on the darknet, and today he paid the price,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “In the deepest corners of the internet, he provided a home for criminals of all stripes, from drug traffickers to identity thieves, to store hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds. Today’s sentence reflects the Department’s determination to dismantle the criminal networks that enable criminal actors to flourish and ensure consequences for the criminals operating them.” “Roman Sterlingov laundered over $400 million in criminal proceeds through Bitcoin Fog, his cryptocurrency ‘mixing’ service that was open for business to criminals looking to hide dirty money,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Through his illicit money laundering operation, Sterlingov helped criminals launder proceeds of drug trafficking, computer crime, identity theft, and the sexual exploitation of children. Today’s sentencing underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to holding those who facilitate criminal activity fully accountable for their crimes. I am especially proud of the dedicated investigators and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to unmask and prosecute the Bitcoin Fog scheme.” “Clearly, Sterlingov’s attempt to shroud his illicit activities in a cloak of anonymity ultimately failed against the sophisticated collaborative work of our Criminal Investigation (CI) special agents and partners,” said Chief Guy Ficco of IRS-CI. “Today’s significant prison term and hundreds of millions in financial sanctions against the defendant emphasizes the seriousness of this conviction and should serve as a stark notice that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated.” “The prosecution of Roman Sterlingov and the sentence imposed today should serve as a warning to cybercriminals,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg. “The FBI will not hesitate to use all tools at its disposal and will leverage our extensive partnerships to disrupt the cybercriminal ecosystem and the individuals who provide the key services that facilitate criminal activity.” Sterlingov was found guilty on March 12, 2024, of conspiracy, sting money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, and violations of the D.C. Money Transmitters Act following a month-long jury trial. The jury also granted forfeiture to the government of several specific assets that law enforcement had previously seized, including over about 1,354 Bitcoin (BTC) held in a Bitcoin Fog wallet, as well as $349,625 and various cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, and Stellar) held in seized Kraken cryptocurrency exchange accounts. According to the government’s evidence, Sterlingov operated Bitcoin Fog from October 2011 to April 2021. Bitcoin Fog was a cryptocurrency “mixer,” or “tumbler,” and had gained notoriety as a money laundering service for criminals seeking to hide their illicit proceeds from law enforcement. Over the course of its decade-long operation, which stopped only when Sterlingov was arrested and detained, Bitcoin Fog moved well over 1.2 million Bitcoin (BTC) – valued at approximately nearly $400 million at the time of the transactions. The bulk of that cryptocurrency came from darknet marketplaces and was tied to illegal narcotics, computer fraud and abuse activities, and identity theft. Sterlingov’s service also served purveyors of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through the notorious site Welcome to Video. Sterlingov -- who used the monikers Akemashite Omedetou and Killdozer and Meth!, among others -- was fully aware that Bitcoin Fog would be used to launder Bitcoin from illegal vendors on the Darknet. As he noted succinctly about a month before creating Bitcoin Fog, Bitcoin and narcotics went hand in hand. “Also, like Silk Road, go ahead and accept payments in bitcoins; then, you will not be intimidated by even the U.S.” The defendant advertised the site as “for people who have real problems for the law and we provide them the best possible service, and highest possible anonymity.” Those who had “real problems for the law” would mix “your bitcoins in our own pool with other users’ Bitcoins, and get paid back to other accounts from our mixed pool.” At its launch, Sterlingov publicized Bitcoin Fog as a tool for anonymizing bitcoin transactions and evading law enforcement. His site charged customers a fee for the service. Historically, the largest users of Bitcoin Fog were darknet markets such as Agora, Silk Road, Silk Road 2.0, Evolution, and AlphaBay. As the jury found, Sterlingov’s mixing and tumbling activity was an illegal money transmitting and money laundering service under federal law. While the identity of a BTC address owner is generally anonymous (unless the owner opts to make the information publicly available), the evidence at trial demonstrated that law enforcement can identify the owner of a particular Bitcoin address by analyzing the blockchain. The analysis can also reveal additional addresses controlled by the same individual or entity. IRS-CI’s analysis determined Bitcoin Fog received approximately 486,861.69 BTC, valued at about $54,897,316 at the time of the transactions, directly from darknet markets. Bitcoin Fog sent approximately 164,931.13 BTC (about $23,690,956 at the time of the transactions) directly to darknet markets. In sum, the anonymizer sent or received more than $78 million in transactions involving known darknet markets, counting only direct transactions. Based on Bitcoin Fog’s transaction activity over time, Sterlingov made millions in commissions from Bitcoin Fog transactions. Investigators obtained records of Sterlingov’s true-name accounts at several cryptocurrency exchanges. Analysis of those accounts revealed the vast majority of cryptocurrency deposited into Sterlingov’s accounts was originally sourced and traced back to Bitcoin clusters associated with Bitcoin Fog. Under U.S. law, it is a crime to conspire to commit money laundering, that is, to conduct financial transactions with proceeds from unlawful activity designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of such proceeds. It is also a crime to conduct or attempt to conduct a financial transaction involving property represented to be the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, with the intent to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of such property. It is also a crime to operate a money transmitting businesses without obtaining an appropriate money transmitting license in the state in which the service operates, or with FinCEN. The District of Columbia also criminalizes similar unlicensed activity. Sterlingov was arrested April 27, 2021, at Los Angeles International Airport and has remained detained since that time. This case is being investigated by the IRS-CI District of Columbia Cyber Crime Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and FBI’s Virtual Asset Unit provided invaluable assistance. Additional assistance was provided by Japanese, Swedish, Danish, Romanian, and UK authorities, as well as Europol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Brown for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Jeff Pearlman and C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). Pelker and Brown are members of CCIPS’ National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET). Paralegal Specialists Angela De Falco and Divya Ramjee provided valuable assistance.


title: Justice Department Sues Mississippi State Senate for Race Discrimination

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: WASHINGTON — The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the Mississippi State Senate for discriminating against a Black former staff attorney in its Legislative Services Office (LSO). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that the Senate paid her about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits racial discrimination in compensation and other forms of employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion. “Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their white colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Black employee at issue in this lawsuit was paid about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of federal law. This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy. Our work to eliminate race-based pay disparities is about promoting compliance with the law and promoting equity and fairness for all workers.” The department alleges in the complaint that the Senate discriminated against Kristie Metcalfe by paying her significantly less than every other LSO attorney, all of whom were white. The complaint further alleges that Ms. Metcalfe and these other attorneys had substantially the same job responsibilities and yet she was paid less than these attorneys throughout her eight-year tenure. The LSO is a non-partisan office that provides legal services, such as drafting bills, for all members of the Senate. In the 34 years prior to Ms. Metcalfe’s hire, the LSO employed only white attorneys. The complaint alleges the pay gap between Ms. Metcalfe and her white colleagues began when she was hired and was perpetuated in several additional discriminatory pay actions. In 2011, Ms. Metcalfe was paid a starting salary significantly lower than any LSO attorney in over 30 years. Just one month after her hire, every attorney but Ms. Metcalfe was given a substantial raise, further widening the pay gap and leaving her with a salary less than half of what her white colleagues were earning. In the following years, the Senate consistently paid Ms. Metcalfe many times less than her white colleagues. Finally, near the end of Ms. Metcalfe’s tenure, the Senate hired a white attorney with no previous legislative experience and a similar number of years of legal experience as Ms. Metcalfe at a salary significantly higher than Ms. Metcalfe’s. At a meeting with Senate officials responsible for setting LSO salaries, Ms. Metcalfe complained about the pay disparity with the new hire, but the Senate denied her request for comparable pay. Through this lawsuit, the department is seeking back pay and compensatory damages for Ms. Metcalfe, in addition to injunctive and other appropriate relief. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Jackson Area Office investigated and attempted to resolve Ms. Metcalfe’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Justice Department for litigation. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov . The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division and the Employment Litigation Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/ and www.justice.gov/crt/employment-litigation-section . Trial Attorneys Louis Whitsett and Young Choi of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Graves III for the Southern District of Mississippi are handling the case.


title: Ringleader of Wire Fraud Conspiracy Sentenced

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Abas Ali, age 22, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced November 8, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Ali to 27 months’ imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months’ imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 51 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ali’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release on both charges. A task force of Sarpy County, Douglas County, and Pottawattamie County agencies was assembled to investigate a significant spike in the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro areas in burglarized vehicles. The modus operandi of the thefts was that one member of the conspiracy would drive a vehicle slowly through a residential neighborhood while other members of the conspiracy, called “runners,” would enter vehicles parked in driveways or parked on the street outside of the residence and steal property like credit cards, identification, computers, money, and other valuables. The members of the conspiracy would then take the stolen cards from the vehicles to area stores like Wal-Mart and other retailers and buy drinks, food, and prepaid cards that they would load up with money from the stolen cards. They would also purchase money orders to further conceal the source of the proceeds and the money orders would be deposited back to bank accounts or bitcoin accounts belonging to the members of the conspiracy. Law enforcement was able to identify and arrest all five members of the conspiracy. Co-conspirator Hassan Mohamed was sentenced on June 12, 2024, to 20 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 44 months. Co-conspirator Hazem Sarmin was sentenced on June 14, 2024, to 18 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 42 months. Co-conspirators Ian Betkie will be sentenced December 5, 2024, and Bead Chan will be sentenced January 3, 2025. Both pled guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. This case was investigated by the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Kansas Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine and Gun Charges

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Brandon L. Hutchinson, age 39, of Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Hutchinson to 240 months’ imprisonment. Hutchinson also forfeited $ $2,033.37 seized in the investigation. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hutchinson’s release he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On July 16, 2023, law enforcement received an anonymous tip that a fugitive was staying with Hutchinson at a Columbus motel and that he was in possession of controlled substances. Columbus police officers went to the motel where they confirmed that Hutchinson was currently renting a room. After a drug detecting canine indicated to the odor of narcotics coming from within the room rented by Hutchinson, officers knocked on the door which was opened by Hutchinson who indicated the fugitive was within. The fugitive was removed and Hutchinson was secured until a search warrant was obtained. After a warrant was obtained, a search of the room revealed approximately 1700 grams of meth in a bag with men’s clothing, approximately 200 “M 30” fentanyl pill along with suspected fentanyl powder, scales, baggies, a 9 mm Taurus handgun within arm’s reach of the drugs, and approximately $2033.37 in cash, most of which was found on Hutchinson’s person. Lab testing found Hutchinson’s DNA on the gun. This case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department.


title: Guam Resident Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Extortion

body_text: Hagatña – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Brenda Kinian, age 43, from Weno, Chuuk and a permanent resident of Guam, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court of Guam to serve 84 months in federal prison for committing Extortion by Wrongful Use of Threatened Force, Violence or Fear in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). She also received 36 months for Aiding and Abetting Extortion Under Pretense of Office and Employment, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 872, to run concurrently with the other sentence imposed. The Court also ordered a total of three years of supervised release, $450,000 in restitution to the victims, a forfeiture money judgment of $371,896, and a $200 mandatory assessment fee. From April 2017 to May 2018, Brenda Kinian, took advantage of an elderly couple of Korean descent who owned an Agat convenience store. Kinian did this after unidentified individuals robbed and injured the wife. Kinian, who lived behind the store, told the couple that she knew someone from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) who could protect them from further crimes. Since the owners were traumatized by the robbery and violence, Kinian extorted cash from them as protection money. She also convinced them that FBI agents were protecting the store and the family, including their daughter who was a college student residing off-island. Kinian told them that some FBI agents and their family members were killed while protecting them, inducing the family to believe their own lives were in grave danger if they failed to pay her. During late 2017, Kinian persuaded the couple that their daughter should return home and would be better protected in Guam. Towards late May 2018, Kinian operated the store herself after she convinced the family that they were no longer safe in Agat. Kinian extorted $450,000 from the store owners. All claims regarding the FBI were false. “Kinian took advantage of this family in the most unconscionable way,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “She preyed on their valid concerns for safety and personal income, under the guise of protection by a federal law enforcement agency. May the Court’s sentencing order bring a measure of justice for these people.” “Ms. Kinian impersonated an FBI Special Agent and spent years terrorizing an entire innocent family out of their life savings,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill, “this sentencing demonstrates that extortion will not be tolerated, and those involved in defrauding and intimidating others will be brought to justice.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Marivic P. David, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 12+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Derrick Dewayne Swafford , 30, of Pineville, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 152 months (12 years, 8 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. On July 18, 2021, an officer with the Alexandria Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle Swafford was driving after the officer observed him driving recklessly. When the officer ordered Swafford from the vehicle, he fled from the traffic stop but was ultimately taken into custody. Once officers were able to take Swafford into custody, they smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and obtained a warrant to search it. Inside the vehicle, officers found a loaded Smith and Wesson 40 caliber pistol, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. A review of his record revealed that Swafford was a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history, including aggravated assault with a firearm in 2019, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2018, possession of controlled substances and obstruction of justice in 2013. Swafford was charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to the charges on September 28, 2022. The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn . # # #


title: Western District of Kentucky Men Sentenced for Murder Through  the Use of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – Freddy Manuel Gonzalez and Xavior Caine Posey were sentenced this week to 40 years and 35 years, respectively, for murder through the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement. “I commend the ATF, the local law enforcement agencies who assisted in the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sewell and Weiser for their outstanding work during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “As a result of the strong working relationships that exist between our law enforcement partners, these violent defendants will now spend decades in federal prison. The fight against violent crime is a top priority of this office and we will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute it wherever it occurs.” “This senseless act of violence took a man from his family,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Morrow. “I commend ATF Bowling Green Field Office, our partners with the Franklin, KY Police Department, and the prosecution team for working tirelessly to bring these killers to justice. Our thoughts are with Mr. Russell’s loved ones, and we hope this sentence brings some sense of closure to his family and that it sends a very clear message that ATF and our law enforcement partners will always seek justice for violent crimes in Kentucky.” According to court documents, Freddy Manuel Gonzalez , 40, of Bowling Green, Kentucky was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for murder through use of firearm during crime of violence. Xavior Caine Posey , 26, of Logan County, Kentucky, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for the same offense. On December 29 and 30, 2020, Gonzalez and Posey communicated by cell phone to arrange for the murder-for-hire of the victim. Gonzalez provided Posey with a firearm for the murder. On December 30, 2020, in Franklin, Kentucky, Posey shot the victim three times with that firearm and then returned to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Gonzalez later paid Posey for committing the murder. In a related case, Andy Martin Schmucker , 37, of Beaver Dam, Kentucky, has pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to the crime of murder for hire, and is scheduled for sentencing on December 2, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system. The ATF and the Franklin Police Department investigated the case. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, the Muhlenberg County Sheriff’s Office, the South- Central Kentucky Drug Task Force, the Warren County Drug Task Force, the Kentucky State Police, the Russellville Police Department, the Bowling Green Police Department, and the Simpson County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Madison Sewell and David Weiser. ###


title: High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel Indicted on Drug Conspiracy Charge

body_text: A federal grand jury in Chicago indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States. According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, 44, served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, along with his three brothers, allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment alleges Canobbio Inzunza conspired with the brothers — who are known as the “Chapitos” — and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. The indictment states that Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as “Los Chimales,” which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States. The Chapitos have been charged in other indictments in the United States within the last year. Canobbio Inzunza is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States and to import controlled substances into the United States. If convicted, he 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. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be currently residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath for the Southern District of California, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona made the announcement. The FBI and HSI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum for the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Stoneham Police Officer and Electrical Contractor Plead Guilty to Bribery Charges

body_text: BOSTON – A former Stoneham Police Officer and his brother, an owner of an electrical contracting company, pleaded guilty to a bribery and kickback scheme that netted them millions of dollars in Mass Save contracts. Joseph Ponzo, 51, of Stoneham and Christopher Ponzo, 50, of North Reading, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and 24 counts of honest services wire fraud, and one count of making false statements to government officials. Joseph Ponzo also pleaded guilty to four counts of causing false tax returns to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service from 2016 to 2019. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencings for February 2025. Massachusetts law requires utility companies to collect an energy efficiency surcharge on all Massachusetts energy consumers. These funds, which amount to hundreds of millions of dollars each year, are to be disbursed by the utility companies to fund energy efficiency programs and initiatives in Massachusetts. Mass Save is a Massachusetts public-private partnership sponsored by various gas and electric utility companies that disburses these energy efficiency funds through funding energy conservation projects for consumers. Under the Mass Save program, the utility companies select lead vendors, like Company A, to approve and select contractors to perform energy improvement work for residential customers. This contracting work – performed by contractors at no-cost or reduced cost to the customer – is then paid for by Company A with Mass Save funds. Joseph Ponzo and Christopher Ponzo conspired to pay, and did pay, tens of thousands of dollars in cash bribes, kickbacks, and other in-kind benefits, including a John Deere tractor, a computer, home bathroom fixtures, and free electrical work, among other things, to Company A employees (Associates 1 and 2) in exchange for the Associates’ assistance in getting the defendants millions of dollars in Mass Save contracts. On a weekly basis, from 2013 to 2017, Christopher Ponzo paid Associate 1 $1,000 in cash. At times, Christopher Ponzo paid Associate 1 $5,000 to $10,000 in cash, telling Associate 1 that the extra money was from Joseph Ponzo for his part in the bribery scheme. In return for these payments, Associate 1, among other things, helped Joseph Ponzo set up a shell company, Air Tight, to do insulation work and get approved as a Company A contractor under the Mass Save program. Joseph Ponzo put his spouse’s name on Air Tight incorporation documents and contracting licenses in order to conceal his involvement in his corrupt side business. Despite having no professional experience in residential insulation work, Joseph Ponzo collected over $7 million under the Mass Save program. After Associate 1 left Company A in 2017, Christopher Ponzo and Joseph Ponzo recruited Associate 2 to the bribery-kickback scheme from approximately 2018 to 2022, paying Associate 2 thousands of dollars in cash and hiring a relative of Associate 2 as part of the ongoing scheme. During the course of the bribery-kickback scheme, Joseph Ponzo aided in the filing of false tax returns from 2016 to 2019 by claiming hundreds of thousands of dollars in false business deductions. To disguise personal expenses as business deductions, Joseph Ponzo used his company credit card to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in purchases at The Home Depot, Lowes, and Staples, claiming to his tax preparers that charges at those establishments were business-related. In reality, Joseph Ponzo used the company credit card at those stores to purchase gift cards that he and his spouse then used to make thousands of dollars in personal expenditures. In April 2022, both Joseph Ponzo and Christopher Ponzo falsely denied making bribe payments to any Company A employees when interviewed by federal agents. The charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Charges of false statements provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Charges of aiding in filing false tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston; and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Dustin Chao of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel on Drug Conspiracy Charge

component: Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel on a drug conspiracy charge for allegedly manufacturing cocaine, fentanyl, and other drugs in Mexico and importing them into the United States. According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, JOSE ANGEL CANOBBIO INZUNZA served as a principal advisor, lieutenant, and security chief for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, who along with his three brothers allegedly led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and imprisonment of their father, Joaquin Guzman Loera. The indictment accuses Canobbio Inzunza of conspiring with the brothers – who are known as the “Chapitos” – and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for further distribution. Canobbio Inzunza financed and led an armed security group known as Los Chimales, which provided security for the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and engaged in armed conflict to assist the Chapitos in importing drugs into the United States, the indictment states. The Chapitos were charged last year in other U.S. indictments. The indictment against Canobbio Inzunza, 44, charges him with drug conspiracy. The charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Canobbio Inzunza is believed to be residing in Mexico and a U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Tara K. McGrath, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, David Sundberg, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, Stacey Moy, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Field Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum of the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton of the Southern District of California, and Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. canobbio_inzunza_indictment.pdf


title: Nashville Man on Bond for Domestic Violence Charged for Violent Robbery and Arson of a South Nashville Store

body_text: NASHVILLE – Pardrae Gooch, 38, of Nashville, Tennessee, was charged by a federal grand jury yesterday with robbery affecting interstate commerce, using a fire to commit a felony and damaging a building by fire, announced Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee. According to court documents and other publicly available information, on May 29, 2024, Gooch entered S. Fashion Clothing Store in South Nashville and brutally assaulted the lone female employee, Victim 1, choking her until she lost consciousness, hitting her, and then pushing her into a bathroom in the back of the store. Once in the bathroom, the defendant struggled with Victim 1 over her cell phone, hitting her again. Gooch then stole the employee’s phone and car keys and fled in her vehicle. Before leaving the store, he lit a pile of clothes in the bathroom on fire, attempting to burn the store down with the unconscious victim trapped inside. Metro Nashville police officers and fire fighters responded to the store after witnesses called 911. They located the victim, who was then transported by ambulance to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a cranial fracture and other injuries. The Nashville Fire Department successfully extinguished the fire, but the store remained closed for multiple days due to the damage caused to the building and the store’s property. At the time of this incident, Gooch was on bond for domestic violence related arrests involving two women. Before allegedly committing these crimes, he was arrested 8 days earlier for violating an order of protection. If convicted on all counts, Gooch faces a mandatory minimum of sentence of 15 years and up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Nashville Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn D. Risinger and Emily Petro are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. #####


title: Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Seniors through Manipulation, Romance Scams

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A U.S. District judge sentenced a Nigerian national to seven years in federal prison for conducting a romance scam that stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from at least a dozen identified victims from across the United States. The victims were primarily comprised of elderly or disabled women who thought they were sending money at the request of romantic partner that they had met online. Ogheneofejiro Godswill Uzokpa, 28, of Warri, Nigeria, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. In addition to imprisonment, the judge ordered Uzokpa to pay $329,470 in restitution to his victims. According to court documents, Uzokpa and uncharged co-conspirators conducted a scheme to obtain money and other assets belonging to his victims between March 2020 and February 2021. Uzokpa and his co-conspirators took advantage of vulnerable women by developing personal, romantic relationships under false pretenses to gain their trust. Uzokpa then used other U.S.-based women, including a woman from Effingham, Illinois, as “money mules” to collect funds from the victims and transfer them to him in Nigeria. “Targeting vulnerable people to exploit through romance scams is cruel, as the perpetrators not only steal the victim’s money, but they also manipulate their emotions and rob them of a genuine relationship,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The defendant’s callous conduct is worthy of this significant sentence, and I applaud the FBI’s efforts to pursue justice for the victims.” “Overseas scammers can be difficult to identify and investigate but this case is an example of the strength of FBI’s global footprint. The FBI is determined to prevent victimization of the elderly and will not hesitate to reach across geographical boundaries to do so,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “We can’t stress enough how important it is to be aware of the red flags associated with these types of scams. Be cautious when someone you’ve never met in person, begins asking for money or personal information, and don’t hesitate to call us if you suspect you’re being victimized.” Uzokpa and his co-conspirators used aliases when communicating with the victims and often told victims they were Americans working abroad in a high-paying profession, such as a doctor or surgeon. Once the victims felt a romantic attachment to the scammers, Uzokpa and others often concocted false stories about why they needed money—such as telling the victims that they could not access their bank accounts and needed funds for “processing fees.” Uzokpa and his co-defendants instructed victims to send funds using personal checks, cashier checks, electronic fund transfers or gift cards. Every year, thousands of Americans fall victim to romance scams. The Federal Trade Commission reports that Americans reported over 64,000 romance scams in 2023 with losses totaling $1.14 billion. If you believe you or a loved one has been victimized by a romance scam, please report the crime to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov . The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.


title: Two Accused Drug Dealers Indicted After Allegedly Possessing 40,000 Fentanyl Pills in Salt Lake City

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging two Arizona residents with a federal drug crime after they allegedly possessed 40,000 fentanyl pills at a hotel in Salt Lake City. Dominic Jared Arias Aceves, 22, of Arizona, and Cristo Alexander Urias Salazar 32, a foreign national living in Arizona, were initially charged by complaint on October 23, 2024, in the District of Utah. According to court documents, in October 2024, the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force, began a criminal investigation of Aceves and Salazar, and other members of a drug trafficking organization suspected of distributing large quantities of narcotics in the District of Utah. On October 21, 2024, agents obtained and executed a search warrant for a hotel room in Salt Lake City where Salazar and Aceves were believed to be staying. During the investigation, agents seized 3,952 grams of field-tested positive fentanyl, 3.19 grams of field-tested positive methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. Agents estimated the amount of fentanyl at approximately 40,000 fentanyl pills. Aceves and Salazar were taken into custody. Aceves and Salazar are charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Their initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for November 8, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf . An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to more than Fifty-Four Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Toddler

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS—Joshua Sims, 38, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to fifty-four and a half years in federal prison, followed by supervised release for the rest of his life, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, possession of child sexual abuse material, and committing a sex offense while required to register as a sex offender. Sims was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim. On May 1, 2006, Sims was convicted of Child Molesting in Dekalb County, Indiana, and was sentenced to seven years in prison. As a result of his conviction, Sims was required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. After he was first released from prison, Sims repeatedly failed to register as a sex offender over the next twelve years. He was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender and sentenced to additional time in prison three separate times. He was convicted of several other felonies as well, including strangulation, battery, and criminal confinement. According to court documents, between February 23 and March 7, 2023, Sims was responsible for a child under the age of two years old. Sims forced the toddler to engage in sexually explicit conduct recorded himself sexually abusing the child. Sims also forced a relative who was under his care, custody, and control watch Sims sexually abuse the toddler. Sims sent videos and images of himself sexually abusing the toddler to others over the internet. When investigators arrested Sims, they recovered and were able to access the data stored on his smartphone. Investigators recovered more than 5,000 images and 300 videos of children being sexually abused and raped, some depicting children as young as toddlers as well as depictions of children being subjected to bestiality and sadomasochistic conduct. “Undeterred by multiple prison sentences, this pedophile subjected a toddler to horrific sexual abuse, and trafficked in recordings of children being sexually traumatized for his own sick gratification,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We must do all we can to protect our children from sexual predators, including aggressive federal prosecution and imprisonment. Children are safer today, thanks to our partners at the U.S. Secret Service, IMPD, the outstanding Indiana ICAC Task Force, and our federal prosecutor, because this dangerous criminal will almost certainly spend the rest of his days behind federal prison walls.” The U.S. Secret Service, IMPD, and the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case. The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. Visit internetcrimesagainstkids.com to learn more about their efforts. 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. ###