title: U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts Launches Official Instagram Account

body_text: BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has launched an Instagram account, @usao_ma, as another tool to inform and communicate with members of the public. “Social media is essential for connecting with communities and sharing information. Embracing these platforms allows our Office to amplify our commitment to public safety, justice and transparency. U.S. Attorneys serve as the nation’s principal litigators and our mission is to enforce federal law, ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice, and to conduct our work with as much transparency as possible. We believe it is critical that the people of the District of Massachusetts understand that we fulfill our mission and that we will hold individuals who commit crimes accountable. We want victims to know we have their back, and people who are thinking of violating the law to understand the severe consequences that will result,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office uses social media to disseminate breaking news, official statements, safety messages, community outreach efforts, DOJ sponsored events, and more. With the launch of this account, the Office now utilizes five social media platforms to provide information to the public: Instagram: @usao_ma ( https://www.instagram.com/usao_ma/ ) X (formerly known as Twitter): @DMAnews1 ( https://twitter.com/DMAnews1 ) YouTube: @USAO_MA ( https://www.youtube.com/@USAO_MA ) LinkedIn: USAO-MA ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/usao-ma ) Facebook: USAOMA ( https://www.facebook.com/usaoma/ ) The U.S. Attorney’s website, https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma , will remain its primary channel of communication. Selected announcements are shared on Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn after they are first posted on the website. YouTube and Facebook are primarily used to disseminate taped and live video streaming, respectively.


title: Waterbury Woman Receives Prison Time for Role in Drug Ring

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHELLE CRUZ, 38, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her role in a narcotics trafficking ring. According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a DEA New Haven Task Force and Waterbury Police Department-led investigation into drug trafficking in and around the city of Waterbury. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, and motor vehicle stops that resulted in the seizure of drugs and cash proceeds, revealed that Jose Duprey, also known as “Red” and “Colorado,” trafficked kilogram-quantities of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Duprey used his place of employment to supply narcotics to other drug distributors, and he used his girlfriend’s business, located on Straits Turnpike in Middlebury, to store narcotics and other items. In April and May 2022, Cruz was intercepted on a wiretap ordering heroin and fentanyl from Duprey, which she then distributed to her drug customers. Cruz, Duprey, and 12 other individuals identified during this investigation were arrested on May 25, 2022. On that date, a search of Duprey’s Waterbury residence and his Middlebury stash location revealed approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of heroin, two kilograms of fentanyl, and more than $107,000 in cash. On August 9, 2023, Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Cruz, who is released on a $50,000 bond and living in New York, is required to report to prison on May 21. Duprey has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of DEA offices in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Connecticut State Police; Connecticut Department of Correction; Connecticut State Parole; and the Naugatuck, Ansonia, West Haven, Meriden and East Haven Police Departments. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan J. Keefe and Nathaniel J. Gentile through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Twenty-Year Fugitive Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Export Defense Articles to Iran

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced En-Wei Eric Chang, age 48, a citizen of the United States and the Republic of Taiwan, residing in Taiwan, today to two years in federal prison, followed by supervised release of six months of home detention, for a conspiracy related to the export of defense materials to Iran. Such materials were embargoed under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (“ITSR”). Judge Bennett also ordered Chang to pay a $10,000 fine. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “As this case demonstrates, federal prosecutors have long memories. If you choose to flee rather than face your federal charges, you will be found and prosecuted,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. As detailed in Chang’s plea agreement, the export from the United States of arms, munitions, military aircraft parts, and related components and technology, is strictly controlled. The Munitions List is a catalog of designated “defense articles” which are subject to export and certain import restrictions. Any person who intends to export defense articles on the Munitions List from the United States is required to first obtain a license and must identify in the required license application the ultimate and final destination of the goods. At the time of the conspiracy, it was the policy of the United States to deny licenses, other approvals, and exports of defense articles destined for Iran. According to his guilty plea, from January 2002 to March 2003, Chang conspired with David Chu to ship items on the Munitions List to Iran without obtaining the proper licensing. Chu had a business relationship with an Iranian businessman and was the sole individual in contact with the Iranian businessman during the time of the conspiracy. In 2001 Chu became acquainted with Chang through Chang’s work as an electrical component supplier. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, in January 2002, Chu asked Chang to facilitate an Iranian businessman’s request to research satellite imagery dealers, and Chang agreed to do so. Shortly thereafter, Chang emailed a Maryland corporation to acquire high-definition satellite space images of Tehran, Iran for export from the United States to Iran. An undercover government agent based in Maryland ultimately responded to Chang, pretending to be a businessman who could help him acquire the satellite images from a defense contractor. Chang and the undercover agent communicated over serval months regarding the status of the satellite images order. Chu’s Iranian contact subsequently asked Chu to research and source antennas, and on March 12, 2002, Chang contacted the undercover agent asking for quotes on cavity-backed spiral antennas with military applications, including the detection and surveillance of ground-based radar. These antennas were designated as defense articles on the United States Munitions List. The undercover agent agreed to attempt to source the antennas. Chang admitted that he knew that the acquisition of the antennas from the United States for export either directly or indirectly to Iran without proper licensing, was a violation of United States law. Chang also knew that he did not have the proper license or authorization. As detailed in the plea agreement, the undercover agent ultimately quoted prices for various models of antennas and noted that the U.S.- based manufacturer “won’t even accept order without approved export license up front.” Chang repeatedly urged the undercover agent to act faster and on July 19, 2002, Chang wrote: “The Iran guy promises [my co-conspirator, Chu] a 10 million USD business [per] year if we can really do this.” On July 31, 2002, Chang provided banking information from the undercover agent to Chu to facilitate a $6,400 transfer to the undercover agent in Maryland as a 50% down payment on the cavity-backed antennas, which would take approximately five months to produce. From March 2002 through January 2003, Chang kept in regular contact with the undercover agent regarding the antennas and asked the undercover agent for pricing information that he indicated was requested by his “buyer” in Iran for items that Chang indicated his “buyer” was interested in purchasing. The items included: an anti-submarine and surveillance radar system for installation on helicopters and airplanes; military-grade night-vision goggles for use by pilots; helicopters and helicopter engines; ten handheld laser range-finders; and other military items. By January 2003, the cavity-backed spiral antennas had been produced in the United States. Chang, his co-conspirator, David Chu, and the undercover agent agreed to transfer the cavity-backed spiral antennas in Guam, where Chu could take possession of them and transfer them to Iran. In February 2003, Chu travelled to Guam and took possession of the cavity-backed spiral antennas from the undercover agent. Chu was arrested and his luggage seized by U.S. authorities before he could board the flight to Taiwan. On March 4, 2003, the undercover agent, via email, informed Chang of his true identity and told Chang that he had been indicted in the District of Maryland with conspiracy to export U.S. Munitions List items to Iran, and that his co-conspirator Chu was in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The undercover agent encouraged Chang to turn himself in. On March 12, 2003, Chang met with U.S. officials in Taiwan who told Chang that he should consider surrendering to the United States on the current charges, but Chang declined. Chang remained a fugitive until his arrest on April 10, 2023 at Rome-Fiumcino International Airport in Italy and subsequent extradition to the United States. Co-defendant David Chu, age 48, of Monterey Park, California, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced on February 23, 2004, to two years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI and DCIS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron S.J. Zelinsky and Robert I. Goldaris, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Final Defendant in St. Louis Area Methamphetamine Ring Sentenced to 235 Months in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS– U.S. District Judge District Court Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced the final defendant in a methamphetamine distribution ring to 235 months in prison. Dedrick Deshon Jordan, who was sentenced Tuesday, is one of 15 defendants who pleaded guilty in the case. Jordan, 35, and his co-defendants Terry James Williams, 37, Clifford Dwight Davis Jr., 43, and Maria D. Flores-Cervantes, 36, were connected to the source of supply in the Los Angeles area, plea agreements say. Jordan and Joseph Robert Holliman, 49, were primarily responsible for arranging the supply of meth, which was sent through the mail or brought to the St. Louis area by couriers. Brendon Darnell Thomas, 47, at times supplied the drug to street-level dealers, plea agreements say. Thomas, Holliman and Jordan each had a residence that they used to receive and store drugs and cash proceeds from drug sales. The investigation was primarily conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Jefferson County Municipal Enforcement Group. More than 15 kilograms of meth were seized during an investigation that began in January 2019. A total of about 1.3 kilograms of nearly pure meth and 8.9 kilograms of marijuana was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on two occasions in 2020. On April 18, 2020, Davis and Flores-Cervantes were stopped in Phelps County, Missouri in an SUV equipped with a hidden compartment containing a loaded handgun, nearly 12 kilograms of meth and 47.8 grams of heroin. On June 18, 2020, investigators conducted court-approved searches of the homes of Thomas, Jordan and Holliman. They found $129,776 in cash, 190 grams of meth and a digital scale at Jordan’s residence. At Holliman's residence, they found vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, electronic scales, ammunition, three firearms and 4.3 grams of meth. At Thomas' residence, they found three firearms, clear plastic bags containing marijuana, a money counter and $17,520 cash. Thomas was sentenced to 210 months in prison. Holliman received 84 months. Williams was sentenced to 120 months and Davis received 45 months. The DEA, HSI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the St. Charles City and County Police, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, the Arnold Police Department and the Normandy Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa prosecuted the case.


title: Bahamian National Charged and Arrested for Role in Fatal Human Smuggling Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – An indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of Florida today charging a Bahamian national for his alleged role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in multiple migrant deaths. As a result of extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Bahamian authorities, Vandrick Nelson Smith, also known as Muggy and Vans, 33, was arrested on March 6 in the Bahamas pursuant to a request by the United States involving charges filed under seal in the Southern District of Florida in November 2023. According to court documents, Smith was allegedly involved in a human smuggling organization that attempted to bring migrants illegally from The Bahamas to the United States by boat. The migrants were nationals of Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, among other countries. The migrants (or their families and friends) allegedly paid the organization money to be smuggled to the United States. As described below, the indictment alleges that Smith was personally involved in three maritime human smuggling incidents — including one that resulted in five deaths. “Human smuggling ventures put people’s lives at risk for the sake of profit,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Human smugglers prey on the migrants’ hopes for a better life. Tragically, the smugglers’ exploits pose a grave danger to migrants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who carry out illicit human smuggling operations to protect vulnerable migrants and save lives.” “Vandrick Smith has been charged with organizing dangerous human smuggling operations, sending migrants from The Bahamas to Florida by boat. As alleged in the indictment, the human smuggling organization’s efforts turned deadly, when a boat carrying migrants capsized in January 2022,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human smugglers exploit desperate people for money, and the consequences can be tragic. The Criminal Division is committed to combating human smuggling organizations that prey on and endanger vulnerable migrants, wherever they operate.” Smith allegedly was involved in three maritime human smuggling events that occurred on or about March 6, 2021; Jan. 22, 2022; and Aug. 8, 2022. On the evening of Jan. 22, 2022, the indictment alleges that numerous migrants boarded a vessel in The Bahamas destined for Florida. Shortly after the vessel’s departure, the engines allegedly stopped functioning and the vessel capsized. On Jan. 25, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the sole surviving migrant, who was found clinging to the top of the overturned vessel. “Homeland Security Investigations remains dedicated to working with our domestic and international partners to bring to justice reckless criminals who prioritize financial gain over people’s lives and safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “The risks associated with maritime human smuggling ventures are extreme. We urge the public to avoid embarking on these journeys with dangerous criminal organizations, which often result in tragedy.” Smith is charged with five counts of attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death stemming from the January 2022 venture. He is also charged with conspiring to bring noncitizens to the United States for profit, placing in jeopardy the life of noncitizens and resulting in death; attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States for profit; and attempting to aid and assist certain noncitizens to enter the United States. If convicted of attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. HSI Fort Pierce and the HSI Assistant Attaché in Nassau, The Bahamas, investigated the case, with assistance from HSI Miami, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests and securing the arrest. The Justice Department thanks the Royal Bahamas Police Force, The Bahamas’ Office of the Attorney General, The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Bahamas Immigration Department, and The Bahamas Department of Public Prosecutions for their assistance in the case. The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov . ###


title: Ciudadano de las Bahamas imputado y aprehendido por su papel en una asociación delictiva mortal de contrabandeo de personas

body_text: MIAMI – Hoy se dio a conocer una acusación formal en el Distrito Sur de Florida en la que se imputa a un ciudadano de las Bahamas por su presunto papel en una asociación delictiva de contrabandeo de personas que resultó en la muerte de numerosos migrantes. Gracias a una labor de amplia coordinación y cooperación entre las autoridades estadounidenses y bahameñas, Vandrick Nelson Smith, también conocido como Muggy y Vans, de 33 años, fue aprehendido en las Bahamas el 6 de marzo último en virtud de una solicitud de los Estados Unidos que involucraba cargos presentados bajo sello en el Distrito Sur de Florida en noviembre de 2023. Según documentos judiciales, Smith presuntamente estaba involucrado en una organización de contrabandeo de personas que hacía la tentativa de traer migrantes ilegalmente de las Bahamas a los Estados Unidos en barco. Los migrantes eran ciudadanos de Colombia, Jamaica, República Dominicana y Haití, entre otros países. Presuntamente, los migrantes (o sus familiares y amigos) pagaron dinero a la organización para que los ingresase de contrabando a los Estados Unidos. Como se describe a continuación, la acusación formal alega que Smith estuvo involucrado personalmente en tres incidentes de contrabandeo de personas por vía marítima, incluido uno que resultó en cinco muertes. “Las operaciones de contrabandeo de personas ponen en riesgo la vida de las personas por obtener ganancias económicas”, indicó el fiscal federal Markenzy Lapointe del Distrito Sur de Florida. “Los contrabandistas de personas toman ventaja de las esperanzas de tener una vida mejor de los migrantes. Trágicamente, las hazañas de los contrabandistas representan un grave peligro para los migrantes. La Fiscalía de los Estados Unidos continuará trabajando con nuestros socios para enjuiciar a quienes llevan a cabo operaciones ilícitas de contrabandeo de personas para proteger a los migrantes vulnerables y salvar vidas”. “Vandrick Smith ha sido imputado de organizar peligrosas operaciones de contrabandeo de personas, enviando migrantes por barco de las Bahamas a Florida. Como se alega en la acusación formal, las operaciones de la organización de contrabandeo de personas se volvieron mortales cuando un bote que transportaba migrantes zozobró en enero de 2022”, señaló la fiscal auxiliar principal Nicole M. Argentieri, jefa de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia. “Los contrabandistas de personas explotan por dinero a la gente desesperada, y las consecuencias pueden ser trágicas. La División Penal está comprometida a combatir a las organizaciones de contrabandeo de personas que se aprovechan y ponen en peligro a los migrantes vulnerables, dondequiera que operen”. Presuntamente, Smith estuvo involucrado en tres operaciones de contrabandeo de personas por vía marítima que ocurrieron alrededor del 6 de marzo de 2021, el 22 de enero de 2022 y el 8 de agosto de 2022. La acusación formal imputa que la noche del 22 de enero de 2022, numerosos migrantes abordaron una embarcación en las Bahamas con destino a Florida. Poco después del zarpe de la embarcación, supuestamente, los motores dejaron de funcionar y la embarcación zozobró. El 25 de enero de 2022, los Guardacostas de EE. UU. rescataron al único migrante sobreviviente, que se encontraba aferrado a la parte superior de la embarcación volcada. “La Oficina de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI, por sus siglas en inglés) sigue dedicada a colaborar con nuestros socios nacionales e internacionales para llevar ante la justicia a delincuentes temerarios que priorizan las ganancias económicas sobre la vida y la seguridad de las personas”, dijo el agente especial a cargo Anthony Salisbury de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI) Miami. “Los riesgos asociados con las operaciones de contrabandeo marítimo de personas son extremos. Instamos al público a evitar aventurarse en estos viajes con organizaciones criminales peligrosas, que a menudo resultan en tragedias”. A Smith se le imputan cinco cargos de tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos causando su muerte como resultado de la operación de enero de 2022. También se le imputa de asociación delictiva para traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos con fines de lucro, poniendo en peligro la vida de los extranjeros y causando su muerte; tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos con fines de lucro; y de ayudar e instigar a ciertos extranjeros a ingresar a los Estados Unidos. Si se le declara culpable de tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos causando su muerte, Smith se enfrenta a una pena máxima de cadena perpetua. HSI Fort Pierce y el Agregado Auxiliar de HSI en Nassau, Bahamas, investigaron el caso, con la asistencia de HSI Miami, los Guardacostas de EE. UU., la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Brevard y la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Brevard. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia ofreció apoyo significativo con las solicitudes de asistencia jurídica extranjera y el logro de la aprehensión. El Departamento de Justicia agradece a la Real Fuerza de Policía de Bahamas, la Fiscalía de Bahamas, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Bahamas, el Departamento de Inmigración de Bahamas y el Departamento de Procesamientos Judiciales Públicos de Bahamas por su asistencia en el caso. La investigación se está llevando a cabo conforme al programa de Fuerza de Ataque de Viajes Delictivos Extraterritoriales (ECT, por sus siglas en inglés), una asociación conjunta entre la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia y HSI. El programa ECT se centra en las redes de contrabandeo de personas que pueden presentar riesgos especiales para la seguridad nacional o la seguridad pública, o que representan serias preocupaciones humanitarias. El ECT tiene recursos dedicados a la investigación, inteligencia y procesamiento judiciales. El ECT coordina y recibe asistencia de otras agencias del gobierno de los EE. UU. y de autoridades del orden público extranjeras. La abogada litigante Marie Zisa de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Procesamientos Judiciales Especiales de la División Penal y el fiscal auxiliar Justin Hoover del Distrito Sur de Florida están procesando el caso. Una acusación formal es meramente una alegación. Se presume que todos los acusados son inocentes hasta que ante un tribunal de justicia se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable. ###


title: Ressortissant bahaméen inculpé et arrêté pour son rôle dans le complot de traite meurtrière d’êtres humains

body_text: MIAMI – Aujourd’hui, dans le District sud de Floride, la confidentialité a été levée de la mise en accusation concernant un ressortissant bahaméen pour son rôle présumé dans un complot ayant entrainé de nombreuses pertes de vie. À la suite d’une vaste coordination et coopération entre les autorités des États-Unis et des Bahamas, Vandrick Nelson Smith, alias Muggy et Vans, âgé de 33 ans, a été arrêté aux Bahamas le 6 mars en réponse à une demande des États-Unis portant sur des accusations déposées en novembre 2023 sous pli scellé dans le District sud de Floride. Selon les pièces de la procédure, Smith aurait été impliqué dans une organisation de trafic d’êtres humains cherchant à faire venir des migrants par bateau depuis les Bahamas vers les États-Unis. Les migrants étaient des ressortissants de la Colombie, de la Jamaïque, de la République dominicaine, d’Haiti et d’autres pays. Les migrants (ou leurs familles et amis) auraient versé de l’argent à l’organisation pour être introduits en contrebande aux États-Unis. Comme décrit ici, la mise en accusation allègue que Smith avait été personnellement impliqué dans trois incidents de passage de clandestins par voie maritime, dont un ayant couté la vie à cinq personnes. « Les entreprises de passage de clandestins mettent les vies en danger au nom du profit » a déclaré Markenzy Lapointe, procureur fédéral pour le District sud de Floride. « Les passeurs exploitent les espoirs pour une vie meilleure des migrants. Tragiquement, les agissements des passeurs mettent sérieusement en péril les migrants. Aux fins de protéger les migrants vulnérables et de sauver des vies, le parquet fédéral continuera à travailler avec ses partenaires pour poursuivre ceux qui font du trafic illicite d’êtres humains ». « Vandrick Smith est accusé d’avoir organisé des opérations dangereuses de traite d’êtres humains, en envoyant des migrants par bateau depuis les Bahamas vers la Floride. Comme l’allègue la mise en accusation, les efforts de l’organisation de traite d’êtres humains se sont révélés meurtriers lorsqu’en janvier 2022 un bateau avec des migrants a chaviré » a déclaré Nicole Argentieri, la principale sous-procureure générale adjointe et la cheffe de la Division pénale du département de la Justice. « Les trafiquants d’êtres humains exploitent les gens désespérés pour l’argent et les conséquences peuvent être tragiques. La Division pénale est vouée au combat contre les organisations de traite d’êtres humains qui s’en prennent à et mettent en danger les migrants vulnérables où qu’elles opèrent ». Smith aurait été impliqué dans trois instances de traite d’êtres humains par voie maritime vers le 6 mars 2021, le 22 janvier 2022 et le 8 aout 2022. La mise en accusation allègue que dans la soirée du 22 janvier 2022, aux Bahamas, de nombreux migrants sont montés à bord d’un vaisseau à destination de la Floride. Peu après le départ du vaisseau, les moteurs se seraient arrêtés et le vaisseau a chaviré. Le 25 janvier 2022, la Garde côtière des États-Unis a sauvé le seul survivant, accroché à la coque du vaisseau chaviré. « La section des enquêtes de la sécurité intérieure est déterminée à travailler avec nos partenaires nationaux et internationaux pour traduire en justice les criminels imprudents qui accordent la priorité au gain financier sur les vies et la sécurité des personnes » a déclaré Anthony Salisbury, agent spécial responsable des enquêtes de la sécurité intérieure (HSI) à Miami. « Les risques associés aux opérations de traite des humains par voie maritime sont extrêmes. Nous exhortons le public à éviter de se lancer dans ces voyages avec des organisations criminelles dangereuses, lesquelles se soldent parfois par une tragédie ». Suite à l’opération de janvier 2022 ayant entrainé des pertes de vies, cinq chefs d’accusation de tentative de faire passer des étrangers aux États-Unis ont été retenus contre Smith. Il est aussi accusé d’entente en vue de faire passer des étrangers aux États-Unis contre profit ; de mise en danger des vies d’étrangers ayant entrainé la mort ; de tentative de faire passer des étrangers aux États-Unis contre profit et de tentative d’aider et assister certains étrangers à entrer aux États-Unis. S’il est trouvé coupable de tentative de faire passer des étrangers aux États-Unis ayant entrainé la mort, Smith est passible d’une peine maximale de prison à vie. HSI Fort Pierce et l’attaché adjoint de HSI à Nassau, aux Bahamas, ont enquêté sur le dossier avec l’aide de la Garde côtière des États-Unis, du bureau du sheriff du comté de Brevard et du service du médecin légiste du comté de Brevard. Le bureau des Affaires internationales du département de la Justice a apporté un appui important en matière des demandes d’entraide juridique internationale et les efforts menant à l’arrestation. Le département de la Justice remercie la Police royale des Bahamas, le ministère des Affaires étrangères des Bahamas, le Département de l’Immigration des Bahamas ainsi que le département des Poursuites pénales des Bahamas pour leur aide dans cette affaire. L’enquête est menée dans le cadre du programme de la force de frappe extraterritoriale dite Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT), un partenariat entre la Division pénale du département de la Justice et le HSI. Le programme ECT se concentre sur les réseaux de traite d’êtres humains pouvant présenter un risque spécial pour la sécurité nationale ou à la sécurité du public ou qui sont une sérieuse source de préoccupation humanitaire. ECT dispose de ressources d’enquête, de renseignement et de poursuite dédiées. ECT coordonne et est assistée par d’autres organismes gouvernementaux américains et les services de détection et de répression étrangers. La substitute du procureur Marie Zisa de la section des Droits de l’homme et de poursuites spéciales de la Division pénale ainsi que le procureur fédéral adjoint Justin Hoover du District sud de Floride poursuivent le dossier. Une mise en accusation n’est qu’une allégation. Tous les accusés sont présumés innocents jusqu’à ce que leur culpabilité soit prouvée au-delà de tout doute raisonnable devant un tribunal. ###


title: Yo Akize ak Arete yon Resòtisan Bahamas pou Wòl li nan Konplo Fatal Kontrebann Moun

body_text: MIAMI – Yon akizasyon te pibliye nan Distri Sid Eta Florid jodi a ki akize yon sitwayen Bahamas pou swadizan wòl li nan yon konplo kontrebann moun ki te lakòz plizyè lanmò imigran yo. Kòm rezilta anpil kowòdinasyon ak koperasyon ant otorite Etazini ak Bahamas yo, Vandrick Nelson Smith, ke yo rele tou Muggy ak Vans, 33, te arete 6 mas nan Bahamas dapre yon demann Etazini ki enplike akizasyon ki te depoze anba sele nan Distri Sid Eta Florid la nan mwa novanm 2023. Dapre dokiman tribinal yo, Smith te swadizan patisipe nan yon òganizasyon kontrebann moun ki te eseye mennen imigran ilegalman soti nan Bahamas nan peyi Etazini pa bato. Imigran yo te sitwayen Kolonbi, Jamayik, Repiblik Dominikèn, ak Ayiti, pami lòt peyi. Imigran yo (oswa fanmi yo ak zanmi yo) swadizan te peye òganizasyon an lajan pou yo te ka rantre yo klandestinman Ozetazini. Jan sa dekri pi ba a, akizasyon an akize ke Smith te patisipe pèsonèlman nan twa ensidan kontrebann maritim moun - ki gen ladan youn ki te lakòz lanmò senk moun. Avoka Ameriken Markenzy Lapointe pou Distrik Sid Florid di: “Antrepriz kontrebann moun mete lavi moun a risk pou yo fè yon pwofi.” “Kontrabandye moun yo ap pwofite sou espwa imigran yo pou yon lavi miyò. Malerezman. eksplwatasyon kontrebandye yo poze yon gwo danje pou imigran yo. Biwo Avoka Ameriken an pral kontinye travay ak patnè nou yo pou pouswiv moun ki fè operasyon kontrebann ilegal moun pou pwoteje imigran vilnerab yo epi sove lavi yo.” “Yo akize Vandrick Smith ak òganizasyon operasyon danjere kontrebann moun, voye imigran soti Bahamas nan Florid pa bato. Jan yo pretann nan akizasyon an, efò òganizasyon kontrebann moun nan vin mòtèl, lè yon bato ki t ap pote imigran te chavire an janvye 2022,” Asistan Pwokirè Jeneral Adjwen Prensipal Nicole M. Argentieri, ki se chèf Divizyon Kriminèl Depatman Jistis la te di. "Kontrabandye imen eksplwate moun dezespere pou lajan, e konsekans yo ka trajik. Divizyon Kriminèl la angaje l pou l konbat òganizasyon kontrebann moun ki eksplwate imigran vilnerab yo epi mete yo an danje, kèlkeswa kote yo opere.” Smith swadizan te enplike nan twa evènman maritim kontrebann moun ki te fèt nan oswa anviwon 6 mas 2021; 22 janvye 2022; ak 8 out 2022. Nan aswè nan jou ki te 22 janvye 2022 a, akizasyon an pretann ke anpil imigran te monte nan yon bato nan Bahamas ki te destine pou Florid. Yon ti tan apre depa bato a, motè yo swadizan sispann fonksyone epi bato a chavire. Nan dat 25 janvye 2022, Gad Kòt Ameriken an te sove sèl imigran ki te siviv la, yo te jwenn li kwoke sou tèt bato ki te chgavire a. “Envestigasyon Homeland Security yo rete devwe a travay ak patnè domestik ak entènasyonal nou yo pou mennen devan lajistis kriminèl ensousyan ki bay benefis finansye priyorite sou lavi ak sekirite moun,” te di Ajan Espesyal an chaj Anthony Salisbury nan Envestigasyon Homeland Security yo (HSI) Miami. “Risk ki asosye ak antrepriz kontrebann maritim moun yo ekstrèm. Nou ankouraje piblik la pou evite anbake nan vwayaj ak òganizasyon kriminèl danjere sa yo, ki souvan abouti nan trajedi.” Yo akize Smith ak senk akizasyon pou eseye mennen moun ki pa sitwayen ameriken Ozetazini ki lakòz lanmò ki soti nan antrepriz janvye 2022 la. Yo akize l tou li konplote pou mennen moun ki pa sitwayen ameriken yo pou pwofi, mete lavi moun ki pa sitwayen yo an danje epi sa ki lakòz lanmò; eseye mennen moun ki pa sitwayen ameriken pou pwofi; epi eseye ede ak ede sèten moun ki pa sitwayen yo antre Ozetazini. Si yo kondane li poutèt li te eseye mennen moun ki pa sitwayen ameriken Ozetazini sa ki lakòz lanmò, Smith ap fè fas ak yon penalite maksimòm lavi nan prizon. HSI Fort Pierce ak HSI Asistan Atache nan Nassau, Bahamas, te mennen ankèt sou ka a, avèk asistans HSI Miami, Gad Kòt Etazini, Biwo Sheriff Konte Brevard, ak Biwo Egzaminatè Medikal Brevard County. Biwo Afè Entènasyonal Depatman Jistis la te bay yon sipò enpòtan nan demann asistans legal etranje yo epi pou yo te asire arestasyon an. Depatman Jistis la remèsye Fòs Polis Royal Bahamas, Biwo Pwokirè Jeneral Bahamas, Ministè Afè Etranjè Bahamas, Depatman Imigrasyon Bahamas, ak Depatman Lajistis Piblik Bahamas pou asistans yo nan ka a. Envestigasyon an ap fèt nan kad pwogram Ekstraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT), yon patenarya ansanm ant Divizyon Kriminèl Depatman Jistis la ak HSI. Pwogram ECT a konsantre sou rezo kontrebann moun ki ka prezante risk sekirite nasyonal an patikilye oswa sekirite piblik, oswa prezante gwo enkyetid imanitè. ECT a konsakre resous pou envestigasyon, entèlijans ak pouswit jidisyè. ECT kowòdone ak resevwa asistans nan men lòt ajans gouvènman Ameriken yo ak otorite ki fè respekte lalwa etranje yo. Avoka Tribinal la Nonmen a Marie Zisa nan Seksyon Divizyon Kriminèl Dwa Moun ak Seksyon Pwosekisyon Espesyal yo ak Asistan Avoka Ameriken an Justin Hoover pou Distri Sid Florid la ap pouswiv ka a. Yon akizasyon se jis yon akizasyon. Tout akize yo sipoze inosan jiskaske yo pwouve yo koupab san okenn dout rezonab nan yon tribunal. ###


title: Chicago Man Caught with Stolen Firearm and Marijuana Sent to Prison for Possessing Firearm as a Prohibited Person

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm as a prohibited person was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison. Johnny Martell Brown, age 31, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an October 20, 2023 guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a felon and drug user. In a plea agreement, Brown admitted that, on December 16, 2022, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, law enforcement officers stopped a car that he was driving. Two minor children were also in the car. Officers searched the car and found a loaded stolen firearm and marijuana. In Brown’s underwear, officers discovered a Cheetos bag that contained marijuana. Brown admitted that he regularly smoked marijuana. He also has felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute heroin and possessing a controlled substance. Brown was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Brown was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Brown is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-34. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: St. Louis Carjacker Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a man who was caught on camera carjacking a truck in 2020 to 27 years in prison. James Blakemore, now 37, was convicted by a jury at a November trial of three felonies: carjacking, possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Trial evidence and testimony showed that on Sept. 16, 2020, the victim was napping in his company’s 2016 Dodge Ram at the Convention Center MetroLink Station in downtown St. Louis when Blakemore opened his door and demanded the victim’s cash, phone and the truck at gunpoint. Blakemore’s picture was captured by an in-car camera video recording and the truck’s location was trackable with a GPS device. When police arrived, a man jumped out of the stolen truck and ran away, but left a backpack behind with a pistol and both a debit card and EBT card in Blakemore’s name. Blakemore’s DNA was found in the truck and on the gun and the victim identified him in a photo lineup. Trial exhibit. A sentencing memo filed by the government says Blakemore has a violent criminal history and continued to be violent while in jail awaiting trial. He has destroyed jail property and attacked a corrections officer and another inmate. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Torrie Schneider and Donald Boyce are prosecuting the case.


title: Parker Man Indicted for Economic Injury and Disaster Loan and Payroll Protection Program Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Tarek Kassem, 63, of Parker, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury for wire fraud and money laundering. According to the indictment, from March 2020 and through at least March 2023, the defendant applied for and received more than $1.4 million dollars in Small Business Association (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and more than $300,000 in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds under three business names. These applications contained a number of false and fraudulent certifications and representations, including representations that funds would be used to pay eligible business expenses, when, in fact, the bulk of the proceeds were used for the defendant’s personal benefit. The defendant also applied for, and obtained, unemployment benefits in the State of Colorado during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act created the PPP, a program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses to retain workers, maintain payroll, and certain other expenses consistent with PPP rules. Additionally, the CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendant made his initial appearance on March 26, 2024, before Chief Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cassidy. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Current and Former Minor League Baseball Players Indicted for Insider Trading in Del Taco Stocks

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 26, 2024 SAN DIEGO – An indictment was unsealed today charging current and former minor league baseball players Jordan Qsar, Grant Witherspoon and Austin Bernard with insider trading in Del Taco, Inc. stocks after they received advanced notice of the acquisition of Del Taco by Jack in the Box, Inc. on December 6, 2021. According to the indictment, Qsar learned from a close friend who worked at Jack in the Box that the company was acquiring Del Taco. The friend was a senior associate in Jack in the Box’s strategic finance department who personally worked on the acquisition project. The disclosure was a violation of duties to Jack in the Box and its shareholders. The indictment states that Qsar fraudulently shared the inside information with Witherspoon and Bernard, who were connected to Qsar through collegiate and minor league baseball teams at Pepperdine University and the Tampa Bay Rays. In the following months, after learning the inside information, Qsar, Witherspoon, and Bernard purchased Del Taco stocks, discussed when and how many shares they were purchasing, and tipped others with the inside information. According to the indictment, after Jack in the Box and Del Taco went public with the acquisition on December 6, 2021, Del Taco stocks jumped in price from $7.53 to $12.51 per share—representing a 66 percent increase from the prior trading day’s closing price. In the days following, Qsar, Witherspoon, and Bernard sold all their Del Taco stocks, earning them illegal profits of approximately $56,000, $41,800, and $64,600, respectively. “The system has to be fair for everyone, or the market fails,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Those who seek to undermine this system for personal gain will face consequences.” “Insider trading directly affects the integrity of our economy,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “We will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure people who intentionally undermine and threaten our economy will be brought to justice.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Sou. DEFENDANTS Case Number: 24-CR-0385-DMS Jordan Joseph Qsar Age: 28 Grant Lee Witherspoon Age: 27 Austin Lane Bernard Age: 28 SUMMARY OF CHARGES Title 18 U.S.C. 371 – Conspiracy Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine Title 15 U.S.C. 78j(b), 78ff & Title 17 C.F.R. 240.10b-5 and 240.10b5-1 – Securities Fraud Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison; $5 million fine Title 18 USC 1343 – Wire Fraud & Title 18 USC 2 – Aiding and Abetting Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine Title 18 USC 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28 USC 2461(c) – Criminal Forfeiture INVESTIGATING AGENCY Federal Bureau Investigation *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Arkansas Residents Indicted For Conspiring To Distribute Methamphetamine In Eastern Oklahoma

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rito Alvarado-Gomez , age 36, of Hope, Arkansas; Jose Alberto Alvarado-Gomez , age 33, of Hope, Arkansas; Ricardo Villeda , age 25, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Iris Yoselin Luna-Herrera , age 26, of Hope, Arkansas; and Ana Isabel Frayre Barboza , age 37, of Hope, Arkansas; were each indicted for Drug Conspiracy, In addition to the Drug Conspiracy charges, Rito Alvarado-Gomez , Jose Alberto Alvarado-Gomez , Ricardo Villeda , and Iris Yoselin Luna-Herrera are charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine. If convicted, defendants each face mandatory minimum sentences of not less than 10 years imprisonment, and up to a $10,000,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The Indictment alleges that beginning in 2018, and continuing until March 2024, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the 8th North Drug Task Force out of Hope, Arkansas, and the 9th West Drug Task Force out of Nashville, Arkansas. Additionally, several law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation, including the Arkansas State Police, the Hope Police Department, and the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office. 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 by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Cornell and Jordan Howanitz are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.


title: Ardmore Resident Sentenced To 12 Years For Multiple Counts Of Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Earl Wilson, age 38, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 151 months in prison for five counts of distributing methamphetamine. The sentences are set to be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. On July 6, 2023, Wilson pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine. According to investigators, in late 2021 and early 2022, Wilson distributed methamphetamine on five separate occasions from two houses located in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wilson was remanded into 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 Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Offense

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nakiah Twobear Eagle, age 27, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. The Indictment alleged that on August 30, 2022, Eagle knowingly possessed a .22 LR caliber pistol in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, namely, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sherriff’s Office and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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. Eagle was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Geizura represented the United States.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced To 160 Months in Prison for Attempted Sale of More Than A Pound of Crystal Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that a Philadelphia man was sentenced on March 21, 2024, to 160 months in federal prison for possessing more than a pound of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence. According to court documents, in October 2022, Raymond Talley arrived at a Delaware hotel with more than a pound of crystal methamphetamine that he intended to sell to another drug dealer. When Mr. Talley entered the hotel lobby, however, he found law enforcement waiting for him. After a brief flight, Mr. Talley was arrested, and the crystal methamphetamine was recovered. U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “As the Court recognized at sentencing, this amount of methamphetamine could have harmed or killed many Delawareans. My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to prevent those harms from befalling our State.” “HSI Wilmington’s First State Border Enforcement Security Task Force, along with the Newport Police Department worked diligently to bring Mr. Talley to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “It is critically important that law enforcement continue to fight against the scourge of methamphetamine being trafficked in our communities. Through seamless cooperation and quick action, investigators and prosecutors worked together to bring this case to a successful conclusion.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith C. Ruggles and Benjamin L. Wallace prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-00121.


title: Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Tax Evasion

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge sentenced an Albuquerque man to two years in federal prison for tax evasion. Arturo Archuleta , 50, of Albuquerque, paid approximately $140,000 in in outstanding tax obligations to the IRS prior to his sentencing hearing on March 22, 2024. At the hearing, Archuleta was also ordered to pay approximately $90,000 in restitution to Medicaid for expenses covered by Medicaid during the period in which he was evading income tax. The judge also imposed a fine of $75,000 to offset the cost to the government of incarcerating and supervising Archuleta as a result of his criminal conviction. Finally, the judge ordered Archuleta to perform 100 hours of community service after he is released from prison and to enroll in the New Mexico Gaming Control Board’s “self-exclusion” program, which will prohibit Archuleta from entering any gambling establishment in the state. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, between 2014 and 2018, Archuleta worked as the office manager for ABQ Injury Clinic, a chiropractic medicine practice in Albuquerque. During that time, Archuleta failed to report more than $200,000.00 in income to the IRS. In addition to his legitimate income, Archuleta diverted over $500,000.00 in payments made to ABQ Injury Clinic to a nominee bank account he controlled and did not report the additional income to the IRS. On May 16, 2023, Archuleta pled guilty to tax evasion. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Carissa Messick, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office, made the announcement today. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Taylor F. Hartstein prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Connecticut Man Charged as Part of Drug Conspiracy in Northeast Kingdom

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Marvin Byrd, 29, of Hartford, Connecticut, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring with others to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, between March and August of 2023. Byrd was arraigned on March 11, 2024 and is detained pending further proceedings. According to a criminal complaint filed in this case in August 2022, Byrd—who used the name “TJ” while in Vermont—conspired with Britny Parris and others to distribute fentanyl in and around Orleans County. During a period of the charged conspiracy, Parris was “hosting” Byrd at her residence in Barton, Vermont, and they used the property to store, prepare, and distribute controlled substances. Byrd coordinated multiple drug transactions with customers, and he often used others such as Parris to conduct the final distribution. In November 2023, Parris pleaded to a criminal information charging her with maintaining a drug-involved premises, and she is awaiting sentencing. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Byrd is presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime. Byrd faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. This case is part of an ongoing collaboration of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies focusing on drug and gun-trafficking cases in the Northeast Kingdom. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the combined investigatory efforts of the Northeast Vermont Drug Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department; and the Newport Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher represents the United States in the prosecution. Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls and A.J. Ruben, Esq. represents Byrd.


title: Five Arrested in South Texas for Allegedly Trafficking Military Grade Firearms to Mexican Drug Cartel

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

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Five individuals were arrested in Laredo, Hebbronville and Falls City Wednesday for allegedly trafficking military grade firearms to a drug cartel in Mexico. According to court documents, Gerardo Rafael Perez Jr. aka “Jerry,” 23, of Laredo, allegedly coordinated the acquisition of more than 100 firearms throughout Texas to be smuggled across the international border and delivered to a drug trafficking cartel in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Perez’s organization allegedly used straw purchasers, including co-defendants Francisco Alejandro Benavides aka “Frankie,” 23, and Mark Anthony Trevino Jr., 24, to procure the firearms from a variety of sources in the Western, Southern, and Northern Districts of Texas. Court documents allege that the organization would acquire guns from unlicensed dealers of firearms, or from federal firearm licensees, where straw purchasers would make false representations to secure the firearms. Luis Matias Leal aka “Wicho” aka “Poncho” aka “El Tio,” 30, is alleged to have provided cash and instructions to facilitate the conspiracy, while Antonio Osiel Casarez, 26, would smuggle the firearms into Mexico and return to the United States with bulk cash. The high-powered firearms allegedly acquired by Perez’s organization included FNH SCAR rifles, Barrett .50 caliber rifles, FNH M294S rifles, and M1919 rifles. Perez, Casarez, Leal, Benavides, and Trevino were all named in a superseding indictment filed March 6. They were arrested March 20. The five new defendants are all charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to straw purchase firearms with a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment. Perez, Casarez, Leal, and Benavides are further charged with one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States for up to five years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime for up to 20 years imprisonment. Perez faces two additional firearms trafficking charges. Leal, Benavides, and Trevino are also charged with falsifying information when buying a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment; and an additional count of straw purchasing. All of the charges also carry a fine up to $250,000. Co-defendants Jose Emigdio Q. Mendoza, Gerardo Antonio Ibarra Jr. and Gerardo Corona, Jr. were initially named in an earlier indictment. Mendoza was allegedly engaged in the business of dealing firearms without a license, selling military-grade weapons to members of the Perez conspiracy. Ibarra and Corona were allegedly straw purchasers for the organization. Several of the defendants are alleged to have contacted Mendoza to purchase the firearms, including SCAR rifles, Barrett .50 caliber rifles, and M249 rifles. Mendoza is alleged to have sold at least 22 such firearms to his co-conspirators from December 2022 to March 2023 and received approximately $169,900.00, at a markup from the retail price of the guns so he could derive a profit for himself. Mendoza was arrested in San Antonio on March 11, 2023. Ibarra and Corona were arrested in September and October 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve is prosecuting the case. 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: Justice Department Announces Opening of Nominations for the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the Justice Department is now accepting nominations for the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. These awards represent part of the Justice Department’s ongoing commitment to support the nation’s law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn, rank- and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded officers, deputies, and troopers will have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in policing. Within each category, an award will be given to law enforcement agencies serving small, medium, and large jurisdictions. Those agency sizes are defined as: Small: agencies serving populations of fewer than 50,000; Medium: agencies serving populations of 50,000 to 250,000; and Large: agencies serving populations of more than 250,000. By acknowledging and rewarding these efforts, the Department strives to promote and sustain its national commitment to community policing and to advance proactive policing practices that are fair and effective. With the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, the Office of the Attorney General recognizes that the nation’s law enforcement agencies, officers, deputies, and troopers continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe places to live and work. The deadline for nominations is May 6 at 8 p.m. ET. More information and the application for nominees can be found at www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award .


title: Harvey Man Indicted for Being  Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – MIGUEL KEELEN , age 35, of Harvey, La., was indicted on March 8, 2024 for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, KEELEN possessed a firearm on the night of December 11, 2023. While at a Valero Gas Station on South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans, KEELEN displayed and drew a pistol from his waistband before concealing the pistol and fleeing from police. KEELEN was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions. If convicted, KEELEN faces up to fifteen (15) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Former Colorado Police Department Officer Indicted for Sexual Assault of Minor

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former police officer with the Loveland, Colorado, Police Department was charged in an indictment unsealed on Friday for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty. According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 4, 2023, Dylan Miller, 28, while on duty as a Loveland Police Department officer, sexually assaulted a minor. If convicted, Miller faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado and Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency and Larimer County, Colorado, Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department. Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Maura White of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Connaughty for the District of Colorado are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.


title: Westbank Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Gun Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TYRIQUE RICHARDS , age 27, of Violet, La., was indicted on March 8, 2024, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). The indictment alleges that on February 27, 2024, RICHARDS , possessed cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute, a handgun in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense, and a weight scale. If convicted of possession with intent to distribute, RICHARDS faces a maximum of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, and at least three (3) years of supervised release. If convicted of possession a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, he faces a minimum of five (5) years and a maximum of life imprisonment, which must be served consecutively with any other count, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five (5) years of supervised release. RICHARDS also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.00. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.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 Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Seven Hackers Associated with Chinese Government Charged with Computer Intrusions Targeting Perceived Critics of China and U.S. Businesses and Politicians

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – An indictment was unsealed today charging seven nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in a PRC-based hacking group that spent approximately 14 years targeting U.S. and foreign critics, businesses and political officials in furtherance of the PRC’s economic espionage and foreign intelligence objectives. The defendants are Ni Gaobin (倪高彬), Weng Ming (翁明), Cheng Feng (程锋), Peng Yaowen (彭耀文), Sun Xiaohui (孙小辉), Xiong Wang (熊旺), and Zhao Guangzong (赵光宗). Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General; Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Lisa O. Monaco, United States Deputy Attorney General; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge, FBI, Chicago Field Office (FBI), announced the indictment. “The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public, silence the dissidents who are protected by American laws, or steal from American businesses,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case serves as a reminder of the ends to which the Chinese government is willing to go to target and intimidate its critics, including launching malicious cyber operations aimed at threatening the national security of the United States and our allies.” “These allegations pull back the curtain on China’s vast illegal hacking operation that targeted sensitive data from U.S. elected and government officials, journalists and academics; valuable information from American companies; and political dissidents in America and abroad. Their sinister scheme victimized thousands of people and entities across the world, and lasted for well over a decade,” stated U.S. Attorney Peace. “America’s sovereignty extends to its cyberspace. Today’s charges demonstrate my Office’s commitment to upholding and protecting that jurisdiction, and to putting an end to malicious nation state cyber activity.” “Over 10,000 malicious emails, impacting thousands of victims, across multiple continents. As alleged in today’s indictment, this prolific global hacking operation – backed by the PRC government – targeted journalists, political officials, and companies to repress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal trade secrets,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue, expose, and hold accountable cyber criminals who would undermine democracies and threaten our national security.” “The indictment unsealed today, together with statements from our foreign partners regarding related activity, shed further light on the PRC Ministry of State Security’s aggressive cyber espionage and transnational repression activities worldwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s announcements underscore the need to remain vigilant to cybersecurity threats and the potential for cyber-enabled foreign malign influence efforts, especially as we approach the 2024 election cycle. The Department of Justice will continue to leverage all tools to disrupt malicious cyber actors who threaten our national security and aim to repress fundamental freedoms worldwide.” “These defendants were part of a Chinese government sponsored hacking group, targeting U.S. businesses and U.S. political officials for intrusion for over a decade as part of a larger, malicious global campaign. These charges are yet another example of hostile actions taken by the PRC to attack not only American businesses and infrastructure, but the security of our nation. FBI New York is united with our partners - internationally, federally, and the private sector – to protect our common goals and ideals from antagonistic nation state actors,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. “APT31 Group’s practices further demonstrate the size and scope of the PRC’s state-sponsored hacking apparatus,” said Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “FBI Chicago worked tirelessly to uncover this complex web of alleged foreign intelligence and economic espionage crimes. Thanks to these efforts, as well as our partnerships with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and fellow Field Offices, the FBI continues to be successful in holding groups accountable and protecting national security.” Overview As alleged in the indictment and court filings, the defendants, along with dozens of identified PRC Ministry of State Security (MSS) intelligence officers, contractor hackers, and support personnel, were members of a hacking group operating in the PRC and known within the cyber security community as Advanced Persistent Threat 31 (the APT31 Group). The APT31 Group was part of a cyberespionage program run by the MSS’s Hubei State Security Department, located in the city of Wuhan. Through their involvement with the APT31 Group, since at least 2010, the defendants conducted global campaigns of computer hacking targeting political dissidents and perceived supporters located inside and outside of China, government and political officials, candidates and campaign personnel in the United States and elsewhere, and American companies. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group targeted thousands of U.S. and foreign individuals and companies. Some of this activity resulted in successful compromises of the targets’ networks, email accounts, cloud storage accounts, and telephone call records, with some surveillance of compromised email accounts lasting many years. Hacking Scheme The more than 10,000 malicious emails that the defendants and others in the APT31 Group sent to these targets often appeared to be from prominent news outlets or journalists and appeared to contain legitimate news articles. The malicious emails contained hidden tracking links, such that if the recipient simply opened the email, information about the recipient, including the recipient’s location, internet protocol (IP) addresses, network schematics, and specific devices used to access the pertinent email accounts, was transmitted to a server controlled by the defendants and those working with them. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group then used this information to enable more direct and sophisticated targeted hacking, such as compromising the recipients’ home routers and other electronic devices. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group also sent malicious tracking-link emails to government officials across the world who expressed criticism of the PRC government. For example, in or about 2021, the Conspirators targeted the email accounts of various foreign government individuals world who were part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group founded in 2020 on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests whose stated purpose was to counter the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to the international order and democratic principles. The targets included every European Union member of IPAC, and 43 United Kingdom parliamentary accounts, most of whom were members of IPAC or had been outspoken on topics relating to the PRC government. To gain and maintain access to the victim computer networks, the defendants and others in the APT31 Group employed sophisticated hacking techniques including zero-day exploits, which are exploits that the hackers became aware of before the manufacturer or the victim were able to patch or fix the vulnerability. These activities resulted in the confirmed and potential compromise of economic plans, intellectual property, and trade secrets belonging to American businesses, and contributed to the estimated billions of dollars lost every year as a result of the PRC’s state-sponsored apparatus to transfer U.S. technology to the PRC. Targeting of U.S. Government Officials and U.S. and Foreign Politicians and Campaigns The targeted U.S. government officials included individuals working in the White House, at the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Treasury, and State, and U.S. Senators and Representatives of both political parties. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group targeted these individuals at both professional and personal email addresses. Additionally in some cases, the defendants also targeted victims’ spouses, including the spouses of a high-ranking Department of Justice official, high-ranking White House officials, and multiple United States Senators. Targets also included election campaign staff from both major U.S. political parties in advance of the 2020 election. The allegations in the indictment regarding the malicious cyber activity targeting political officials, candidates, and campaign personnel are consistent with the March 2021 Joint Report of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security on Foreign Interference Targeting Election Infrastructure or Political Organization, Campaign, or Candidate Infrastructure Related to the 2020 US Federal Elections . That report cited incidents when Chinese government-affiliated actors “materially impacted the security of networks associated with or pertaining to US political organizations, candidates, and campaigns during the 2020 federal elections.” That report also concluded that “such actors gathered at least some information they could have released in influence operations,” but which the Chinese actors did not ultimately deploy in such a manner. Consistent with that conclusion, the indictment does not allege that the hacking furthered any Chinese government influence operations against the U.S. T he indictment’s allegations nonetheless serve to underscore the need for U.S. and allied political organizations, candidates, and campaigns to remain vigilant in their cybersecurity posture and in otherwise protecting their sensitive information from foreign intelligence services, particularly in light of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s recent assessment that “[t]he PRC may attempt to influence the U.S. elections in 2024 at some level because of its desire to sideline critics of China and magnify U.S. societal divisions.” Targeting of U.S. Companies The defendants and others in the APT31 Group also targeted individuals and dozens of companies operating in areas of national economic importance, including the defense, information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing and trade, finance, consulting, legal, and research industries. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group hacked and attempted to hack dozens of companies or entities operating in these industries, including multiple cleared defense contractors who provide products and services to the U.S. military, multiple managed service providers who managed the computer networks and security for other companies, a leading provider of 5G network equipment, and a leading global provider of wireless technology, among many others. Targeting for Transnational Repression of Dissidents The defendants and the APT31 Group also targeted individual dissidents around the world and other individuals who were perceived as supporting such dissidents. For example, in 2018, after several activists who spearheaded Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the defendants and the APT31 Group targeted Norwegian government officials and a Norwegian managed service provider. The conspirators also successfully compromised Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and their associates located in Hong Kong, the United States, and other foreign locations with identical malware. The charged defendants’ roles in the conspiracy consisted of testing and exploiting the malware used to conduct these intrusions, managing infrastructure associated with these intrusions, and conducting surveillance and intrusions against specific U.S. entities. For example, defendants Cheng Feng, Sun Xiaohui, Weng Ming, Xiong Wang, and Zhao Guangzong were involved in testing and exploiting malware, including malware used in some of these intrusions. Cheng and Ni Gaobin managed infrastructure associated with some of these intrusions, including the domain name for a command-and-control server that accessed at least 59 unique victim computers, including a telecommunications company that was a leading provider of 5G network equipment in the United States, an Alabama-based research corporation in the aerospace and defense industries, and a Maryland-based professional support services company. Sun and Weng operated the infrastructure used in an intrusion into a U.S. company known for its public opinion polls. Sun and Peng Yaowen conducted research and reconnaissance on several additional U.S. entities that were later the victims of the APT31 Group’s intrusion campaigns. Ni and Zhao sent emails with links to files containing malware to PRC dissidents, specifically Hong Kong legislators and democracy advocates, as well as targeting U.S. entities focusing on PRC-related issues. The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas M. Pravda, Saritha Komatireddy, and Jessica Weigel are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Matthew Anzaldi and Matthew Chang of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section and from the Office’s Litigation Analyst Mary Clare McMahon. The Defendants : Ni Gaobin (倪高彬) Age: 38 People’s Republic of China Weng Ming (翁明) Age: 37 People’s Republic of China Cheng Feng (程锋) Age: 34 People’s Republic of China Peng Yaowen (彭耀文) Age: 38 People’s Republic of China Sun Xiaohui (孙小辉) Age: 38 People’s Republic of China Xiong Wang (熊旺) Age: 35 People’s Republic of China Zhao Guangzong (赵光宗) Age: 38 People’s Republic of China E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-42 (RER)


body_text: Note: Concurrent with this announcement, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against two of the defendants, and the U.S. Department of State announced a Reward for Justice up to $10 million for information on these individuals, their organization, and associated entities. See also the UK Government attribution statement ; the National Cyber Security Centre statement ; and the U.S. State Department's diplomatic statement from the Office of the Spokesperson. View the indictment here. An indictment was unsealed today charging seven nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in a PRC-based hacking group that spent approximately 14 years targeting U.S. and foreign critics, businesses, and political officials in furtherance of the PRC’s economic espionage and foreign intelligence objectives. The defendants are Ni Gaobin (倪高彬), 38; Weng Ming (翁明), 37; Cheng Feng (程锋), 34; Peng Yaowen (彭耀文), 38; Sun Xiaohui (孙小辉), 38; Xiong Wang (熊旺), 35; and Zhao Guangzong (赵光宗), 38. All are believed to reside in the PRC. “The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public, silence the dissidents who are protected by American laws, or steal from American businesses,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case serves as a reminder of the ends to which the Chinese government is willing to go to target and intimidate its critics, including launching malicious cyber operations aimed at threatening the national security of the United States and our allies.” “Over 10,000 malicious emails, impacting thousands of victims, across multiple continents. As alleged in today’s indictment, this prolific global hacking operation – backed by the PRC government – targeted journalists, political officials, and companies to repress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal trade secrets,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue, expose, and hold accountable cyber criminals who would undermine democracies and threaten our national security.” "Today's announcement exposes China's continuous and brash efforts to undermine our nation's cybersecurity and target Americans and our innovation,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "As long as China continues to target the US and our partners, the FBI will continue to send a clear message that cyber espionage will not be tolerated, and we will tirelessly pursue those who threaten our nation’s security and prosperity. This indictment underscores our unwavering commitment to disrupt and deter malicious cyber activity, and safeguard our citizens, businesses, and critical infrastructure from threats in cyberspace." “The indictment unsealed today, together with statements from our foreign partners regarding related activity, shed further light on the PRC Ministry of State Security’s aggressive cyber espionage and transnational repression activities worldwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s announcements underscore the need to remain vigilant to cybersecurity threats and the potential for cyber-enabled foreign malign influence efforts, especially as we approach the 2024 election cycle. The Department of Justice will continue to leverage all tools to disrupt malicious cyber actors who threaten our national security and aim to repress fundamental freedoms worldwide.” “These allegations pull back the curtain on China’s vast illegal hacking operation that targeted sensitive data from U.S. elected and government officials, journalists, and academics; valuable information from American companies; and political dissidents in America and abroad. Their sinister scheme victimized thousands of people and entities across the world, and lasted for well over a decade,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “America’s sovereignty extends to its cyberspace. Today’s charges demonstrate my office’s commitment to upholding and protecting that jurisdiction, and to putting an end to malicious nation state cyber activity.” “The recent indictments against the Chinese actors reaffirm the FBI’s relentless dedication to combating cyber threats,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI Cyber Division. “They serve as a reminder that cyber adversaries who seek to compromise our nation’s systems and target US officials cannot rely on the cloak of anonymity and will face consequences for their actions.” “APT31 Group’s practices further demonstrate the size and scope of the PRC’s state-sponsored hacking apparatus,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler Jr. of the FBI Chicago Field Office. “FBI Chicago worked tirelessly to uncover this complex web of alleged foreign intelligence and economic espionage crimes. Thanks to these efforts, as well as our partnerships with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and fellow Field Offices, the FBI continues to be successful in holding groups accountable and protecting national security.” Overview As alleged in the indictment and court filings, the defendants, along with dozens of identified PRC Ministry of State Security (MSS) intelligence officers, contractor hackers, and support personnel, were members of a hacking group operating in the PRC and known within the cybersecurity community as Advanced Persistent Threat 31 (the APT31 Group). The APT31 Group was part of a cyberespionage program run by the MSS’s Hubei State Security Department, located in the city of Wuhan. Through their involvement with the APT31 Group, since at least 2010, the defendants conducted global campaigns of computer hacking targeting political dissidents and perceived supporters located inside and outside of China, government and political officials, candidates, and campaign personnel in the United States and elsewhere and American companies. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group targeted thousands of U.S. and foreign individuals and companies. Some of this activity resulted in successful compromises of the targets’ networks, email accounts, cloud storage accounts, and telephone call records, with some surveillance of compromised email accounts lasting many years. Hacking Scheme The more than 10,000 malicious emails that the defendants and others in the APT31 Group sent to these targets often appeared to be from prominent news outlets or journalists and appeared to contain legitimate news articles. The malicious emails contained hidden tracking links, such that if the recipient simply opened the email, information about the recipient, including the recipient’s location, internet protocol (IP) addresses, network schematics, and specific devices used to access the pertinent email accounts, was transmitted to a server controlled by the defendants and those working with them. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group then used this information to enable more direct and sophisticated targeted hacking, such as compromising the recipients’ home routers and other electronic devices. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group also sent malicious tracking-link emails to government officials across the world who expressed criticism of the PRC government. For example, in or about 2021, the conspirators targeted the email accounts of various foreign government individuals who were part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group founded in 2020 on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests whose stated purpose was to counter the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party to the international order and democratic principles. The targets included every European Union member of IPAC, and 43 United Kingdom parliamentary accounts, most of whom were members of IPAC or had been outspoken on topics relating to the PRC government. To gain and maintain access to the victim computer networks, the defendants and others in the APT31 Group employed sophisticated hacking techniques including zero-day exploits, which are exploits that the hackers became aware of before the manufacturer, or the victim were able to patch or fix the vulnerability. These activities resulted in the confirmed and potential compromise of economic plans, intellectual property, and trade secrets belonging to American businesses, and contributed to the estimated billions of dollars lost every year as a result of the PRC’s state-sponsored apparatus to transfer U.S. technology to the PRC. Targeting of U.S. Government Officials and U.S. and Foreign Politicians and Campaigns The targeted U.S. government officials included individuals working in the White House, at the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Treasury, and State, and U.S. Senators and Representatives of both political parties. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group targeted these individuals at both professional and personal email addresses. Additionally in some cases, the defendants also targeted victims’ spouses, including the spouses of a high-ranking Department of Justice official, high-ranking White House officials, and multiple U.S. Senators. Targets also included election campaign staff from both major U.S. political parties in advance of the 2020 election. The allegations in the indictment regarding the malicious cyber activity targeting political officials, candidates, and campaign personnel are consistent with the March 2021 Joint Report of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security on Foreign Interference Targeting Election Infrastructure or Political Organization, Campaign, or Candidate Infrastructure Related to the 2020 US Federal Elections. That report cited incidents when Chinese government-affiliated actors “materially impacted the security of networks associated with or pertaining to U.S. political organizations, candidates, and campaigns during the 2020 federal elections.” That report also concluded that “such actors gathered at least some information they could have released in influence operations,” but which the Chinese actors did not ultimately deploy in such a manner. Consistent with that conclusion, the indictment does not allege that the hacking furthered any Chinese government influence operations against the United States. The indictment’s allegations nonetheless serve to underscore the need for U.S. (and allied) political organizations, candidates, and campaigns to remain vigilant in their cybersecurity posture and in otherwise protecting their sensitive information from foreign intelligence services, particularly in light of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s recent assessment that “[t]he PRC may attempt to influence the U.S. elections in 2024 at some level because of its desire to sideline critics of China and magnify U.S. societal divisions.” Targeting of U.S. Companies The defendants and others in the APT31 Group also targeted individuals and dozens of companies operating in areas of national economic importance, including the defense, information technology, telecommunications, manufacturing and trade, finance, consulting, legal, and research industries. The defendants and others in the APT31 Group hacked and attempted to hack dozens of companies or entities operating in these industries, including multiple cleared defense contractors who provide products and services to the U.S. military, multiple managed service providers who managed the computer networks and security for other companies, a leading provider of 5G network equipment, and a leading global provider of wireless technology, among many others. Targeting for Transnational Repression of Dissidents The defendants and the APT31 Group also targeted individual dissidents around the world and other individuals who were perceived as supporting such dissidents. For example, in 2018, after several activists who spearheaded Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the defendants and the APT31 Group targeted Norwegian government officials and a Norwegian managed service provider. The conspirators also successfully compromised Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and their associates located in Hong Kong, the United States, and other foreign locations with identical malware. The charged defendants’ roles in the conspiracy consisted of testing and exploiting the malware used to conduct these intrusions, managing infrastructure associated with these intrusions, and conducting surveillance and intrusions against specific U.S. entities. For example: Cheng Feng, Sun Xiaohui, Weng Ming, Xiong Wang, and Zhao Guangzong were involved in testing and exploiting malware, including malware used in some of these intrusions. Cheng and Ni Gaobin managed infrastructure associated with some of these intrusions, including the domain name for a command-and-control server that accessed at least 59 unique victim computers, including a telecommunications company that was a leading provider of 5G network equipment in the United States, an Alabama-based research corporation in the aerospace and defense industries, and a Maryland-based professional support services company. Sun and Weng operated the infrastructure used in an intrusion into a U.S. company known for its public opinion polls. Sun and Peng Yaowen conducted research and reconnaissance on several additional U.S. entities that were later the victims of the APT31 Group’s intrusion campaigns. Ni and Zhao sent emails with links to files containing malware to PRC dissidents, specifically Hong Kong legislators and democracy advocates, as well as targeting U.S. entities focusing on PRC-related issues. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas M. Pravda, Saritha Komatireddy, and Jessica Weigel for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from Matthew Anzaldi and Matthew Chang of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.