title: La Oficina de Envigado Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Tied to Medellín Cartel

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Colombian man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking, money laundering and extortion conspiracy connected to organized crime in the Republic of Colombia. Fabio Yepes Sanchez, 57, of Medellín, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In June 2023, Zapata pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of extortion conspiracy, one count of interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Yepes Sanchez was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2020 along with co-conspirators Mario Zapata Velez, Miguel Colindres and Juan Pablo Ariasgil. Yepes Sanchez and Zapata Velez were members of La Oficina de Envigado (La Oficina), a criminal organization based in Medellín, Colombia. La Oficina originated in the 1980s when its members provided enforcement and collection services for the Medellín Cartel, including deceased Medellín Cartel leader Pablo Escobar. Today, La Oficina is involved in international narcotics trafficking, drug debt collection, money laundering, extortion and murder for hire. Yepes Sanchez and Zapata Velez conspired to use threats to extort approximately $750,000 in drug debt from two cocaine traffickers based in Massachusetts. Yepes Sanchez and Zapata Velez also conspired with Colindres and Pablo Ariasgil to obtain and sell five kilograms of cocaine from the Massachusetts traffickers and then repatriate the drug proceeds to Colombia, in partial satisfaction of the outstanding drug debt. In May 2022, Ariasgil was sentenced to four years in prison and four years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the cocaine conspiracy. In April, 2023, Colindres was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the cocaine conspiracy. In September 2023, Zapata Velez was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the international narcotrafficking and extortion conspiracies. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department; the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and the Government of Colombia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Jared C. Dolan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Repeat Sex Offender in Raleigh Sentenced to 15 Years for Receiving Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A repeat sex offender was sentenced yesterday to 180 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for Receipt of Child Pornography. According to court documents and other information presented in court, in May 2021, Robert John Richards, 38, of Raleigh, was investigated by the Raleigh Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for child exploitation offenses. On July 14, 2015, Robert John Richards pled guilty to Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and two counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child in State Court. He was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation for five years. While on probation, he was charged with and pled guilty to Failure to Notify of Change of Address and received another suspended sentence, which extended his probation. A part of his probation was that he was not to possess any sexually stimulating or sexually oriented materials as deemed inappropriate by the probation officer. On May 25, 2021, North Carolina state probation officers met with Richards and asked for consent to search his devices. Richards agreed and provided passwords for his devices. His phone showed visits to a site sometimes used to disseminate child pornography. In a Discord text application, officers found conversations discussing child sexual abuse. Richards also had a laptop containing multiple images of child pornography. He was arrested for a probation violation, and law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his digital devices. A search of his digital devices revealed 234 images and 10 videos of child sexual abuse material. Some of the images and videos depicted infants/toddlers and sadistic and masochistic conduct. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Raleigh Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-55-M.


title: California Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend and Transporting Her to Idaho

body_text: BOISE – Emiliano Jaime Ramos, 41, of Lompoc, California, was sentenced to federal prison today for kidnapping his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint and then transporting her to Idaho where she was eventually rescued by police. According to court records, on December 21, 2022, Ramos approached the victim in the parking lot of the clinic where she worked as a medical assistant in Pismo Beach, California. The victim and Ramos had previously dated, and following their breakup, the victim refused to meet with Ramos and blocked him from her social media accounts and had blocked his phone number. When the victim entered her vehicle to leave, Ramos opened the back passenger door and jumped into the seat behind her. He then reached around the driver’s seat and pressed a handgun into her right side, leading her to believe she was going to be shot. Ramos then ordered her to drive north, and she complied. Ramos, who was in possession of a large knife in addition to the firearm, compelled the victim to drive from California to Nevada, Oregon, and eventually to Nampa, Idaho, where Ramos checked them into a hotel. Later, when Ramos was fully asleep, the victim grabbed her cell phone, which had been sitting on a nightstand, and turned it on. She quickly sent a text message to 911, before turning the phone off and placing it back on the nightstand. Once the 911 message was received, Nampa police officers were dispatched to the hotel, where they quickly worked to assemble a team of officers to conduct a rescue. During the morning of December 23, 2022, Ramos was arrested by police as he exited the hotel room. During the kidnapping, Ramos sexually assaulted the victim and told her that he intended to kill her in Idaho. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Ramos to 15 years in a federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. Ramos pleaded guilty to the crime on August 17, 2023. “The bravery of the victim in this case is powerful and I salute the law enforcement officers who rescued her and brought the defendant to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am also grateful to the victim specialists at the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office and my office who have supported and will continue to support the courageous victim in this case.” In addition to the Nampa Police Department, U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Idaho State Police Forensic Services, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Lab, Idaho Department of Correction, the Pismo Beach Police Department, and the Santa Maria Police Department, which led to the charges.


title: Former Jail Corrections Officer, Wife Plead Guilty to Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A former corrections officer at the Jefferson City Correctional Center and his wife pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to video recording their sexual assault of a child victim. Paul Emerson Schofield, 35, and his wife, Sara Ellen Schofield, 30, both of Jefferson City, each pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and one count of producing child pornography. The Schofields have been in federal custody without bond since their arrest on July 13, 2022. By pleading guilty today, Paul and Sara Schofield each admitted they participated in a conspiracy to produce child pornography over a nearly three-year period from July 29, 2019, to June 7, 2022. A child victim under the age of 12 was used to produce child pornography. The investigation began when law enforcement received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on April 25, 2022. Kik, a free online social media platform, reported that a user later identified as Paul Schofield had uploaded multiple videos of child sexual exploitation material. Paul Schofield was active in the child pornography trading community. Multiple Kik chats were located in which he was distributing and receiving child pornography and discussing child molestation. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Schofields’ residence on June 7, 2022. A forensic examiner conducted a preview of Paul Schofield’s cell phone and located several videos of child pornography, including infants engaged in sexual contact with adults. Examiners later found videos on the phone of both Paul and Sara Schofield sexually assaulting an unconscious 4-year-old victim. On June 9, 2022, law enforcement officers executed another search warrant at the Schofields’ residence. Officers seized Sara Schofield’s cell phone, which contained another sexually explicit video of the same 4-year-old victim in which the voices of Paul and Sara Schofield can be heard. At the time of the offense, Paul Schofield was employed as a corrections officer at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City. Under the terms of today’s plea agreements, the government and the defendants agree to recommend a sentencing range between 30 years and 40 years in federal prison without parole. The sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Task Force and the FBI. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Former U.S. Government Employee Pleads Guilty to Sex Offenses

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former U.S. government employee pleaded guilty today to drugging and sexually abusing numerous women in multiple countries, including photographing and video recording more than two dozen nude and partially nude women without their consent while they were unconscious or incapable of consenting. According to court documents, Brian Jeffrey Raymond, 47, of La Mesa, California, was employed by the U.S. government at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. Raymond admitted to drugging and sexually assaulting several women in his embassy-leased housing and elsewhere between 2006 and 2020. Additionally, Raymond admitted that, over 14 years, he photographed or video recorded 28 victims while they were nude or partially nude. Many of the recordings show Raymond touching and manipulating the victim’s bodies while they were unconscious and incapable of consent. Raymond attempted to delete the explicit photographs and videos depicting the victims after learning about the criminal investigation. Under the plea agreement, Raymond will face between 24 and 30 years in prison and supervised release for life. He will also have to pay mandatory restitution to the victims of his criminal offenses. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for Sept. 18 and 19, 2024. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia; Deputy Assistant Director William Ferrari of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Office of Special Investigations; and Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division made the announcement. The DSS Office of Special Investigations and FBI Washington Field Office are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and National Security Division provided valuable assistance. The FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Mexico City also provided especially valuable assistance. Trial Attorneys Angela Buckner and Katharine Wagner of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department gratefully acknowledges the government of Mexico, including the Fiscalía General de la República, Fiscalía General de Justicia de la Ciudad de México, and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, for their extraordinary efforts, support, and cooperation during the investigation.


title: Missouri Man Admits Recording Sex Acts with Minors

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Wayne County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted making recordings of his sex acts with minors. Tony Ray Waites, 46, of Piedmont, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. He admitted that in March of 2022, an 11-year-old boy reported that Waites had sexually abused him on several occasions and that he believed that Waites had filmed the abuse. A court-approved search of Waites’ home discovered electronic devices that contained videos of Waites abusing that victim, Waites’ plea says. There were also videos depicting nine other boys. Some were abused by Waites, others were filmed naked. Waites is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 6, 2024. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: RICO Conspirator Convicted At Trial

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Dickenson Elan (40, Clearwater) guilty of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy. Elan faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 7, 2024. Elan had been indicted on September 7, 2022. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, between January 2016 and April 2017, Elan participated in the RICO conspiracy with coconspirators Andi Jacques (42, Greenacres) and Louisant Jolteus (37, West Palm Beach), and a now deceased conspirator who was referenced in the indictment as RICH4EVER4430. Elan and Jacques created and operated at least six fraudulent tax businesses together to file false tax returns in the names of thousands of victims. They also registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) preparer tax identification numbers using the names and information of identity theft victims, to make it appear that those victims were the individuals who were filing false returns in bulk. Some of the personal identifiable information (PII) used to file these returns was stolen from victims who had come into the tax businesses to file their taxes. Other PII was obtained by using a dark web marketplace to purchase server credentials for the computer servers of Certified Public Accounting (CPA) and tax preparation firms across the country. The server credentials were then used to remotely and covertly commit computer intrusions and exfiltrate the tax returns of thousands of taxpayers who were clients of those CPA and tax preparation firms. The PII from those taxpayers was traced back to returns filed through the false businesses that Elan and Jacques had created. The conspirators directed the resulting tax refunds to debit cards and bank accounts that they controlled. During the 2016 and 2017 tax seasons, the conspirators attempted to obtain more than $16 million in false tax returns and preparers’ fees from the IRS. The photo below was found in Elan’s email account and was sent after the 2016 tax season. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Gardella and William S. Hamilton.


title: Osceola County Convicted Felon Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison For Firearm And Drug Offenses

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Christian Arroyo-Rivera (30, Kissimmee) to six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine. The court also ordered Arroyo-Rivera to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Arroyo-Rivera had pleaded guilty on August 23, 2023. According to court documents, on May 25, 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information from the United States Postal Inspection Service that a parcel addressed to “Carlos Arroyo,” with an address in Kissimmee, was shipped from Puerto Rico and scheduled for a delivery the next day. A controlled delivery of the parcel to Arroyo-Rivera’s mailbox was coordinated for the next day. After Arroyo-Rivera retrieved the package, he was stopped and taken into custody. The parcel contained nearly 2 kilograms of cocaine. Agents also located a loaded Polymer80, 9mm pistol and extended magazine in Arroyo-Rivera’s vehicle. As a previously convicted felon, Arroyo-Rivera is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Testerman and Shannon Laurie. 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.


title: Sarasota Drug Dealer Sentenced To More Than Six Years For Possessing AR-Style Rifle, Handguns, Hundreds Of Rounds Of Ammunition, And Distribution Quantities Of Methamphetamine

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. today sentenced Clinton Justesen (49, Sebring) to six years and two months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Justesen had pleaded guilty on March 6, 2023. According to the plea agreement, on September 9, 2022, deputies from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office stopped a truck driven by Justesen near the intersection of Williamsburg Street and North Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota. Justesen was towing a motorcycle which had been reported stolen on August 23, 2022. A search of Justesen’s truck and the trailer carrying the motorcycle revealed multiple firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition of different calibers, approximately 12.6 grams of methamphetamine, a vacuum sealer, a digital scale, assorted pills and tablets of various colors, and approximately $12,000 in cash. The firearms recovered from Justesen’s truck included: (1) a HS Produkt XD9 9mm pistol; (2) a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield 9mm pistol; and (3) an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 .223/5.56mm caliber rifle with a vertical foregrip installed thereon. At the time, Justesen had prior felony convictions including: (1) vehicular homicide; (2) leaving the scene of a crash with death; (3) armed robbery; and (4) felon in possession of a firearm, all on or about January 31, 1997. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Justesen later admitted to ATF to selling narcotics, possessing the firearms, and that he needed the firearms for his protection during his drug dealing activities. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee. 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.


title: Leader and Members of Moscow-Based Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy Charged in International Telemedicine Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: A third superseding indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Brian Michael Sutton, Brycen Kay Millett, Anthony Santamaria, Joshua Manuel Alegria, Hershel Tsikman and Hafizullah Ebady with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud and money laundering conspiracy. As alleged, the defendants participated in an international scheme to acquire pharmacies across the United States with pre-existing relationships with private health insurance companies. Using those pharmacies, in conjunction with call centers to induce individuals to accept unnecessary medications and a network of recruited physicians, the defendants generated more than $500 million in fraudulent prescriptions purportedly filled by the scheme pharmacies. Santamaria, Alegria and Tsikman were arrested today in California and will be arraigned this afternoon in federal court in Los Angeles. Millett and Ebady were previously indicted and arrested on health care fraud charges, and will be arraigned at a later date. Sutton remains at large and is believed to reside in Moscow. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the arrests and charges. “As alleged, the defendants orchestrated a massive international scheme to defraud American businesses out of hundreds of millions of dollars and attempted to hide behind multiple aliases, shell companies and straw owners,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Fraudulent healthcare billing drives up the cost of medical services for all those who need it. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who take advantage of health care plans.” Mr. Peace thanked the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Office of Inspector General, for their invaluable assistance in the investigation. “The defendants allegedly carried out a complex international health care fraud scheme that led to over half billion dollars in fraudulent prescriptions. Health care fraud schemes like this affect those directly targeted, but ultimately the general public who face increased medical costs as a result. The FBI will see to it that anyone attempting to benefit from health care fraud will face punishment in the criminal justice system,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. As alleged, between 2017 and 2022, Sutton, a U.S. citizen residing in Russia, led his co-defendants in carrying out an international scheme to bill private insurers for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of fraudulent prescriptions. At Sutton’s direction, the conspirators oversaw call centers initially based in Utah, but later operated from Russia and other foreign nations. Call center employees telephoned beneficiaries enrolled in private insurers’ health care plans and offered prescription medications at little to no cost to the beneficiaries and without any medical exam to determine the medical necessity for those medications. The defendants also recruited doctors purportedly to review prescriptions by nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants after telemedicine visits. Contrary to what the recruited doctors were told, in many cases there were no telemedicine visits between the beneficiaries and any medical professionals. The conspirators generated fraudulent prescriptions under the physicians’ names and National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers. Despite the prescriptions, many beneficiaries never received the medications. To conceal their involvement, the defendants operated under multiple aliases, funneled millions of dollars through pass-through shell companies and straw owners, used end-to-end encrypted communications and moved operations overseas. Specifically, the defendants purchased and operated dozens of existing brick-and-mortar pharmacies through straw owners including in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan and Alabama. The conspirators also laundered millions of dollars in fraudulent proceeds from overseas through pass-through shell companies that they used to purchase the scheme pharmacies and conceal the defendants’ involvement. After acquiring the brick-and-mortar pharmacies, the conspirators oversaw the installation of pharmacy management software that allowed for the remote submission of reimbursement requests by the scheme pharmacies to private insurers; they also trained and supervised a team of “billers” that remotely submitted hundreds of thousands of reimbursement requests totaling over $500 million for over 50 pharmacies. Ultimately, private insurers paid over $280 million as a result of the fraudulent billing. Co-conspirators Dela Saidazim pleaded guilty in February 2023 and David Gary Bishoff pleaded guilty in March 2023 to health care fraud conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent and unless and until proven guilty. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys John Vagelatos, Jessica Weigel and Jonathan P. Lax are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist William Daniels. Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. The New Defendants : BRIAN MICHAEL SUTTON (also known as “Mike Summers,” “Mike Miller” and “Ryan White”) Age: 31 Moscow, Russia ANTHONY SANTAMARIA (also known as “Big Boy,” “Wade Watts,” “Pablo Rodriguez,” “Ryan Rusty” and “Bruce Peter”) Age: 31 North Hollywood, California JOSHUA MANUEL ALEGRIA (also known as “Jboy,” “Jaxon Asher” and “Turk Malloy”) Age: 32 Woodland Hills, California HERSHEL TSIKMAN (also known as “Andrew Milner,” “Andrew M.,” “Linus Caldwell,” “Adam Schneider,” “Jonathan Martin,” and “H”) Age: 30 Studio City, California Previously Charged Defendants : BRYCEN KAY MILLETT (also known as “Brett Johnson” and “Tommy Wilkinson”) Age: 33 Saint George, Utah HAFIZULLAH EBADY (also known as “Hafiz Ebady”) Age: 45 Parsippany, New Jersey Co-Conspirators Who Previously Pleaded Guilty : DAVID GARY BISHOFF (also known as “Bobby Fischer”) Age: 39 Saint George, Utah DELA SAIDAZIM (also known as “Delila,” “Gina Payne,” and “Olivia Rothstein”) Age: 34 Moscow, Russia E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-564 (S-3) (WFK)


title: Marion County Convicted Felon Federally Indicted For Illegal Possession Of A Firearm

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Marcus Cleaver Morgan, Jr. (23, Ocala) with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted, Morgan faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, on January 14, 2023, Morgan possessed a Glock firearm. At that time, Morgan had a previous state felony conviction for carrying a concealed firearm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Engineer Indicted for Bombing Energy Facilities in California

body_text: Peter Karasev, 36, a U.S. citizen residing in San Jose, was arraigned in the Northern District of California today on an indictment charging him with destroying energy facilities and using fire or explosives to commit a federal crime. According to court documents, Karasev was indicted on Oct. 19. As alleged in counts one and two of the indictment, Karasev knowingly and willfully damaged the property of two energy facilities – specifically, two PG&E transformers in San Jose, California on Dec. 8, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, respectively – and attempted to cause and caused significant interruption and impairment of those energy facilities. The indictment also alleges, in count three, that the defendant used fire and an explosive to commit a felony, specifically, the destruction of an energy facility on Jan. 5, 2023. “These charges make clear that those who attack our country’s critical infrastructure will be met with the full force of the Justice Department,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We have charged Peter Karasev with bombing two energy transformers in Northern California, leaving more than 1,500 households and businesses in the San Jose community without power. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern District of California and the FBI for their work to bring the defendant to justice and prevent further harm to the San Jose community.” "The indictment alleges that Karasev built explosive devices and used them to damage energy facilities, knocking out power to over 1,500 homes and businesses in the San Jose area,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is laser focused on protecting the essential infrastructure that Americans rely on every day, and we and our partners like the San Jose Police Department will use every lawful means to hold anyone who targets that infrastructure accountable.” “The defendant in this case allegedly used explosives to try to cut off electricity to more than 1,500 San Jose businesses and residences,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “Damaging our region’s critical infrastructure endangers innocent victims – including our most vulnerable citizens such as the elderly and the sick – and we will not tolerate it. We will vigorously prosecute any malicious attempts to disrupt the power grid.” As described in a government memorandum seeking Karasev’s pretrial detention, Karasev constructed, planted and ignited the explosive devices that caused each of the transformer explosions. Both attacks occurred during the early morning hours in commercial areas occupied by stores and businesses, and collectively terminated power to over 1,500 households and businesses in the San Jose community. The government’s memorandum also detailed that in the months leading up to the attacks, Karasev was building and experimenting with homemade explosives, as well as manufacturing methamphetamine, in his own home. At the time of his arrest, Karasev was allegedly in possession of a range of improvised explosive devices in varying stages of completion, as well as multiple firearms, additional weapons, over 300 pounds of explosive precursor materials, and other hazardous substances. Karasev was arrested in March 2023 by local authorities and remained in custody on related state charges prior to his transfer to federal custody for this case. He is charged with two counts of destruction of an energy facility and one count of use of fire or an explosive to commit a federal felony. If convicted, Karasev faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison on count three to be served consecutively to any imprisonment imposed for either of the other counts. Karasev faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and the San Jose Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne C. Hsieh for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism 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.


title: Former San Antonio Health Services Employee Sentenced for Receiving Kickbacks

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman was sentenced in a federal court today to 10 years of probation and fined $200,000 for two charges related to healthcare kickbacks. According to court documents, from June 2014 to April 2019, Amber Ashley Price, 40, engaged in a conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks in return for sending prescriptions to specific pharmacies. Some prescriptions were paid for by federal insurance programs including Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, and TRICARE. Price, an employee of Kindred Home Health, would also refer patients to other home health agencies in the San Antonio area for a kickback payment. At least some of the patients referred were Medicare beneficiaries. “Illegal kickbacks are a hidden drain on our healthcare system. They raise costs and prevent patient choice,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “This case reinforces our ongoing commitment to policing this all too common practice and ensuring the integrity of our public health insurance programs.” “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are working hard every day to protect patients and federal health care programs from fraud and abuse,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. for the FBI San Antonio Division. “Healthcare fraud affects patient safety, quality of healthcare, and healthcare costs. Amber Price knew what she was doing was unethical and illegal. Today’s sentence sends a message to those who would use kickbacks and fraudulent schemes to take advantage of the health care system, that these types of crimes will not be tolerated.” Codefendant Christopher Patrick Cruz, 49, of San Antonio, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 21. Cruz owned a medical marketing business and conspired with Price to increase the volumes of prescriptions of specific pharmacies. The FBI; Texas Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; and the Defense Criminal Investigation Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung prosecuted the case. ###


title: Whitefish interior designer admits defrauding customers of approximately $900,000

body_text: MISSOULA — The owner of an interior design company in Whitefish today admitted charges in a scheme in which she defrauded customers of approximately $900,000 and used the money for personal expenses, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Jennifer Michele Helm, aka Jennifer Michele, 45, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and to aggravated identity theft. Helm faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the fraud charge and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release for aggravated identity theft. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Sentencing was set for March 14, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Helm was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged that Helm, while doing business as Sage Interior Designs, LLC, Interior Design Services, and Jennifer Michele LLC, defrauded at least 12 customers of approximately $900,000 from 2016 through 2023. To execute the scheme, Helm entered into agreements with customers to provide goods and services, usually by promising to order furnishing and fixtures as part of construction and remodeling projects. In some instances, Helm presented her clients with invoices for items she knew she had not ordered and that clients never received. In addition, Helm convinced two clients, a married couple, to give her their credit card number, which she was authorized to make purchases on the couple’s behalf. Rather than make those purchases, Helm used the credit card and directed the proceeds of the transactions into her bank account. When interviewed by the FBI, Helm said she was responsible for any misspent funds. She also admitted she knew the money she obtained using the couple’s credit card was deposited into her personal bank account, but she did not remember how many unauthorized transactions she made with the card. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Former U.S. Government Employee Pleads Guilty to Sexual Offenses

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: WASHINGTON – Brian Jeffrey Raymond, 47, a former U.S. Government employee, pleaded guilty today to drugging and sexually abusing numerous women in multiple countries, including photographing and video recording dozens of nude and partially nude women without their consent while they were unconscious and incapable of consenting. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Director Carlos F. Matus, of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division. According to court documents, Raymond, of La Mesa, California, was most recently employed by the U.S. government at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico. Raymond admitted to drugging and sexually assaulting several women in his embassy-leased housing and elsewhere between 2006 and 2020. Additionally, Raymond admitted other offenses that occurred over this 14-year period and involved a total of 28 women he photographed or video recorded nude or partially nude. Many of the recordings show Raymond touching the women’s bodies while they were unconscious and incapable of consent. Raymond attempted to delete the explicit photographs and videos depicting the victims after learning about the criminal investigation. Raymond will be sentenced on Sept. 19, 2024. Under the plea agreement, Raymond will face between 24 and 30 years in prison, supervised release for life, and mandatory restitution to the victims of his criminal offenses. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is being investigated by the DSS Office of Special Investigations and the FBI Washington Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and National Security Division provided valuable assistance, along with the FBI’s Legal Attache office in Mexico City. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorneys Angela Buckner and Katharine Wagner, of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. The Department of Justice gratefully acknowledges the Government of Mexico, to include the Fiscalía General de la República and the Fiscalía General de Justicia de la Ciudad de México, for their extraordinary efforts, support and cooperation during the investigation.


title: Wolcott Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Manufacturing and Dealing AR-15-Style Assault Rifles

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GREGORY LEARY, 35, of Wolcott, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for manufacturing and dealing AR-15-style firearms without a license. Judge Underhill also ordered Leary to pay a $2,000 fine. According to court documents and statements made in court, between January and March 2022, Leary received Polymer80 firearms kits from another individual and assembled them in the basement of his Wolcott residence. On three occasions during that period, Leary provided to that individual eight AR-15-style assault rifles with collapsible stocks and 30-round magazines; a “P80” 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a fully loaded, 10-round magazine; 190 rounds of .223 ammunition; one “Magtec” box containing 50 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition; and one “Independence” box containing 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The assault rifles and 9mm handgun contained no serial numbers. Leary pleaded guilty on June 13, 2023, and admitted that he manufactured and dealt a total of more than 25 firearms to the same individual knowing that the individual was selling the firearms to others. This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Connecticut State Police Statewide Firearms Trafficking Task Force (SFTTF) and Statewide Urban Violence Cooperative Crime Control Task Force (SUVCCCTF/Gangs Unit), assisted by the Statewide Narcotics Task Force (SNTF) Southwest and North Central Offices, and the Bridgeport, Shelton, Orange, Waterbury, and Hartford Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens and Rahul Kale through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Marion County Woman Indicted For Fraud Relating To Theft From Alternative School

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Danielle Jane Liles (41, Summerfield) with eight counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Liles faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. The United States is also seeking an order of forfeiture for at least $616,793.43, which represents the unlawful proceeds of the offenses charged in the indictment. According to the court records, between January 11, 2016, and April 10, 2023, Liles devised a scheme to defraud Silver River Mentoring and Instruction (SRMI), an alternative school for middle and high school students. During this time, Liles handled the payroll at SRMI and gave herself 137 unauthorized paychecks by logging false information into SRMI’s accounting software. Liles received her paychecks through Automated Clearinghouse Services (ACH) wire transfers. An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.


title: Upshur County man charged with interstate threats and firearms charges

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Bobby Cobb, age 53, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, has been charged with interstate threats and firearms charges. Cobb was indicted today on four counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Cobb allegedly sent threatening emails and text messages to his victim over several weeks. The communications threatened to injure and kill the victim, her family members, and friends. Officers conducted a search warrant on Cobb’s home and found a shotgun. Cobb has a previous conviction of domestic violence, prohibiting him from having firearms. Cobb is facing up to 5 years for each of the threat counts and faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the firearms charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Utt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mountain Region Drug Task Force investigated. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Monongalia County man charged for child pornography offenses

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Harp, age 38, of Morgantown, West Virginia, has been charged with possession and receipt of child pornography. According to court documents, Harp allegedly possessed and received child pornographic images online. Some of the images involved children under the age of 12. Harp is facing up to 20 years for the possession of child pornography charge and faces at least five years and up to 20 years in federal prison for each of three counts of receipt of child pornography. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Hardy County men sentenced for federal drug trafficking crimes

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Moorefield, West Virginia, men were sentenced today for methamphetamine trafficking. Steven Ray Davy, Jr., age 37, was sentenced today to 14 years in federal prison for 10 counts involving methamphetamine trafficking and firearms. Eric Wayne Baker, age 41, was sentenced to 52 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Davy and Baker were working with others to sell methamphetamine in Hardy County. A search warrant at Davy’s home uncovered methamphetamine, pills containing fentanyl, cocaine, drug paraphernalia, several firearms, and a video surveillance system. During a traffic stop, officers found methamphetamine inside Baker’s vehicle. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Federal Jury Finds Three Defendants Guilty in $300 Million Nationwide Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting the Elderly

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A federal jury has found three defendants guilty in a $300 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to evidence presented at trial, Amondo Antoine Miller, 47, of Littleton, Colorado, Tashena Laverna Crump, 39, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Ballam Hazeakiah Dudley, 37, of Plymouth, Minnesota, knowingly conspired with at least 40 other defendants to carry out a telemarketing scheme that began in at least 2000 and victimized numerous individuals across the United States, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable. “This was one of the largest elder fraud schemes in our nation, with over 150,000 elderly victims across the country,” said United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “We are pleased with the verdict. Combating elder fraud and abuse is one of the Justice Department’s top priorities, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to combat systemic fraud of our most vulnerable citizens.” Miller, Crump, and Dudley accomplished their scheme by calling victim-consumers who had one or more existing magazine subscriptions and offering to "renew" the existing magazine subscriptions, often at a reduced cost. In reality, the defendants tricked the victim-consumers into signing up for entirely new magazine subscriptions, which they did not want and often could not afford. Some victim-consumers were fraudulently billed by as many as ten companies at a time and received more than $1,000 in monthly magazine subscription charges. Over the course of the scheme, the co-conspirators defrauded more than $300 million from over 150,000 victims nationwide. Following a month-long trial before Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Dudley, Crump, and Miller, were found guilty of multiple counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. Their sentencing hearings will be scheduled at a later date. “The perpetrators of this reprehensible scam exhibited a ruthless level of deception and manipulation by targeting vulnerable victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. “This verdict sends a strong message that those who seek to exploit vulnerable Americans will be brought to justice.” “Yesterday’s verdict reaffirms how critical a role the U.S. Postal Inspection Service plays in protecting the American consumer from these types of fraudulent schemes and in ensuring that the nation’s U.S. Mail stream is not used by criminals to prey upon our citizens,” said Denver Division Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove. “The bold egregious nature in which these fraudsters victimized our elders and stripped them of their hard-earned money illustrates their callous disregard for human decency and overall greed. This investigation is a tremendous example of how the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our FBI law enforcement partners can work side by side in an effort to bring these fraudsters to justice.” The case was the first in Minnesota charged under the Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams Act of 1994, which ensures enhanced penalties for persons convicted of mail or wire fraud in connection with the conduct of telemarketing. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Based on the evidence obtained in this investigation, authorities believe there may be additional victims of the alleged conduct. Report suspected fraudulent activity to MagazineVictims@FBI.GOV. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, Garrett S. Fields, and Melinda A. Williams tried the case.


title: New York Man Arrested for Bank Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Identities of Three Massachusetts Residents

body_text: BOSTON – A New York man has been arrested for allegedly using counterfeit United States passports in the name of three Massachusetts residents to withdraw money from their bank accounts. Jean Andre Bontiffe, 40, was charged with one count of making or using a forged passport, one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Bontiffe was arrested in New York on Nov. 6, 2023 and will appear in federal court in Boston at 1:15 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2023. According to the charging documents, on Aug. 9, 2022, Bontiffe was arrested by law enforcement in New York for attempting to pass through TSA screening at LaGuardia Airport using a counterfeit California driver’s license in the same name as one of the Massachusetts victims. A subsequent investigation allegedly revealed that, between July 20 and July 22, 2022, Bontiffe traveled to Massachusetts from the Bronx, N.Y., and made nine attempts to withdraw money from three different Massachusetts residents’ bank accounts – stealing a total of $13,800. On July 20, 2022, Bontiffe allegedly entered a TD Bank branch in North Andover and presented a United States passport and a Discover credit card, both in the name of a Massachusetts resident who had an account at the bank, as proof of identity and attempted to withdraw $4,500 from that account. Due to unmatched signatures, the bank denied the transaction and confiscated the passport and credit card prior to Bontiffe fleeing the scene. The charge of making or using a forged passport provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; and Paul Creazzo, Chief of the Mamaroneck (N.Y.) Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Firearm Charges

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on October 31, 2023, HARRY BANKS , age 21, of New Orleans, plead guilty to Counts 1, 2, and 3 of a superseding indictment. Count 1 charged BANKS with conspiring to distribute Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(b)(1)(C) and Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. Count 2 charged BANKS with conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o). Count 3 charged BANKS with 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). For Count 1, BANKS faces up to (20) twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least (3) three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For Count 2, BANKS faces up to (20) twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to (3) three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For Count 3, BANKS faces a minimum of (5) five years in prison up to life in prison, to be run consecutive to all other counts, a fine of up to $250,000, up to (3) three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. According to public records, on December 6, 2022, Bureau of Alcohol. Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Agents were conducting surveillance of the 1900 block of Frenchmen Street in New Orleans, in an unrelated investigation and saw an individual, later identified as Jerome Shaquille Wilson. Wilson was driving a white Dodge Challenger with one passenger, who was later identified as Gerroy Toca. Agents subsequently saw Toca Wilson, and BANKS engaged in apparent illegal narcotics transactions, while in possession of firearms. Agents later saw BANKS enter the white Dodge Challenger and exit with a pistol in his left hand. BANKS then appeared to conceal the firearm in his waistband. ATF Agents notified the New Orleans Police Department who detained Toca and BANKS . BANKS was found in possession of approximately 6.7 grams of suspected fentanyl and a Smith & Wesson Model M&P 40 2.0M, .40 caliber pistol, both of which were concealed in his waistband. By pleading guilty, BANKS admitted that he and his co-defendants were selling illegal drugs, which later tested positive for fentanyl and were armed with firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun track 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 investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit and Mike Trummel of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Tewksbury Woman Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Embezzlement, Unemployment Fraud and Tax Crimes

body_text: BOSTON – A Tewksbury woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for embezzling more than $1.8 million from her employer, collecting unemployment assistance while employed fulltime and related tax charges. Joanne Dinoto a/k/a Joanne Mara, 49, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 62 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Dinoto was also ordered to pay restitution of $2,195,592. In March 2023, Dinoto pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of filing a false tax return. Beginning no later than October 2008 and continuing through April 2020, Dinoto stole more than $1.8 million from her employer, a flooring company based in Acton, by falsely inflating her compensation, using her employer’s corporate credit card for personal expenses, and forging at least two checks to herself drawn on her employer’s checking account. To hide her scheme, Dinoto modified her employer’s accounting records. Dinoto later collected unemployment benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance under her true Social Security number, even though she was then working full time for a different employer, a lighting company based in Wilmington, under a fake Social Security number. Between 2015 and 2020, Dinoto did not report more than $1 million that she embezzled from the Acton company or received from the Wilmington company on her federal income tax returns. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations made the announcement today. The Acton Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office also provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Two Yorkshire men charged with narcotics conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Cody R. Bemish, 30, and Zakary A. Bemish, 22, both of Yorkshire, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with narcotics conspiracy and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in February 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and New York State Police began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Cody and Zakarya Bemish in the Town of Yorkshire. Between March 8 and March 30, 2023, investigators conducted five controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from either Cody or Zakary Bemish. Cody and Zakary Bemish made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and are detained. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Former Brighton High School teacher pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Louis Carusone, 45, of Webster, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a lifetime period of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that on October 10, 2022, Carusone, who was a high school physics teacher in the Brighton Central School District at the time, shared a video and images containing child pornography in an online peer-to-peer file-sharing network, which were downloaded by an undercover law enforcement officer. The officer then downloaded more files containing child pornography that were shared from Carusone’s IP address over the next few days. On October 21, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Carusone’s Webster residence and seized multiple devices including a cell phone and computer. A forensic analysis recovered more than 2,000 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted children as young as five-years-old, and children being subjected to violence and sexual abuse. The forensic analysis further revealed that Carusone surreptitiously recorded and photographed children in public, to include minor female students in his Brighton classroom, and a water park, where he recorded children in bathing suits. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Rochester Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. Sentencing is scheduled for February 21, 2024, before Judge Wolford. # # # #


title: Brockport man pleads guilty to his role in multi-million dollar investment scam

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Halford W. Johnson, 60, of Brockport, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who is handling the case, stated that between September 2013, and April 2018, Johnson conspired with co-defendant Darin R. Pastor to defraud multiple investors through a publicly traded company named Creative App Solutions, Inc., whose stock was registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. On September 6, 2013, Pastor paid approximately $1,774.10 to purchase approximately 3,548,200 shares of Creative App Solutions’ stock. Pastor became the CEO and changed the company’s name to Capstone Financial Group, Inc. Johnson was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Capstone. From September 2013, through March 2017, approximately 95 investors purchased Capstone stock for $19,807,303. Johnson and Pastor fraudulently represented to investors and potential investors that Pastor had substantial personal wealth. For instance, they created a Wikipedia page for Pastor claiming that he had a net worth of hundreds of millions of dollars. They also mislead investors and potential investors to believe that their money would be used by Capstone to fund business deals that would generate substantial profits and increase the value of Capstone stock. These business deals included the building of a gas-to-liquid fuel production facility, the selling of gold to Hong Kong and Australian based companies, the selling of livestock, and multi-million-dollar investments by other companies in Capstone, all of which projected revenues of hundreds of millions of dollars. Defendant Pastor used millions of dollars of investors’ money to pay his personal expenses and fund a lavish lifestyle for himself and his wife, including: repaying his personal debt to a securities firm; purchasing a house in Clarence, NY, for $1.5 million; purchasing a house in Florida for a relative; purchasing jewelry worth $294,640; and paying for his destination wedding in the Caribbean. In December 2016, Capstone filed a Form 15 with the SEC terminating Capstone’s duty to file periodic and current reports with the SEC. Johnson and Pastor told investors that this meant Capstone was “going dark.” In April 2017, Capstone offered to buy back shares of Capstone stock from its investors and pay them at least four times the amount they initially paid for the stock. Johnson and Pastor knew that Capstone did not have sufficient money to pay the investors who had accepted the stock buyback offer. In order to further lull investors into believing that Capstone would fulfill its buyback agreements, Capstone made partial payments to investors totaling $6,728,500. The total loss to investors is $19,807,303. Defendant Pastor was also charged but died in March 2023. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso, and the Federal bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2024, before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Webster woman going to prison for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Wegmans

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Alicia Torres, 48, of Webster, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve one year in prison by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer. Torres was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $578,943.86. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Resnick, who handled the case, stated that Torres was employed at Wegmans Food Market, Inc. for approximately 27 years. Between 2014 and February 2023, she utilized the Enterprise System, which is used to fill customers’ prescriptions, to fraudulently process approximately 350 credit card refund requests in customers’ names with fictitious amounts. The fraudulent refund amounts were based on what Torres observed customers receiving in previous transactions. She then tricked the pharmacist on duty to sign off on and authorize the fraudulent refund requests. Once refund requests were approved, Torres paid the refund amounts to herself by swiping her bank debit card in Wegmans’ point of sale system. Between 2014 and February 2023, Torres received $568,021.69 in fraudulent refunds. In addition, between 2020 and February 2023, Torres fraudulently used Wegmans gift cards to steal $10,922.17 from Wegmans. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. # # # #


title: Toledo Man Found Guilty of Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: TOLEDO – Christopher Frater, 46, of Toledo, Ohio, was found guilty of one count of receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct after a four-day trial by jury before U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Helmick. According to court documents and testimony, in 2017, an undercover investigator downloaded files of child pornography from an IP address assigned to the defendant at his then residence in Lima, Ohio. In January 2018, the FBI executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized his computer and cell phone. A forensic review of the electronics revealed that the defendant was utilizing peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs to receive and distribute child pornography to include 150 images of children under the age of 12 and at least three videos. Frater, a former Allen County, Ohio Corrections Officer, will be sentenced on March 12, 2024 when he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, although his sentence will be determined by many factors and may be higher than the mandatory minimum. The judge will determine the appropriate sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other factors. This case was investigated by the FBI, Toledo and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghali and Tracey Tangeman.


title: Former Pontiac Man Convicted in Multistate Heroin and Meth Shipping Conspiracy

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A federal jury convicted Anthony Roy Milligan, Jr., on drug conspiracy charges, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. This conviction concluded a four-day trial held in Detroit before U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. Ison was joined in the announcement by Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Division, and Rodney Hopkins, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Detroit Division. Anthony Milligan, 37, formerly of Pontiac, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Milligan was also convicted of possession of more than 100 grams of heroin with intent to distribute. Evidence at trial showed that Milligan sent packages of heroin and methamphetamine through the U.S. mail to his network of distributors across the county. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration intercepted several of those packages, and traced them back to Milligan, a previously convicted drug dealer. “Our office will vigorously pursue drug traffickers who traffic in dangerous drugs like heroin and methamphetamine.” stated United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “This verdict is a result of outstanding teamwork between the U.S. Postal Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.” “This verdict should also serve as a reminder to those who abuse our community by peddling dangerous narcotics – law enforcement will find you and bring you to justice,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Greene. “The conviction of Mr. Milligan, Jr., is another example of the commitment the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our law enforcement partners have in identifying, disrupting, and arresting those individuals who attempt to distribute illicit drugs through the U.S. Mail," said Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S Postal Inspection Service's Detroit Division. "We will continue to pursue those drug traffickers who attempt to exploit the distribution channels of the Postal Service and bring harm to our employees and the community. I would like to thank the Detroit Drug Enforcement Agency Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for their persistence and dedication in this investigation.” Given the type and quantity of drugs involved and because he is a repeat drug-trafficking offender, Milligan is facing a mandatory 15-year prison sentence, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert White and Thomas Franzinger. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to Over 9 Years in Prison  for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Jackson, Mississippi – A Houston, Texas man was sentenced to 109 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Juan Angel Gonzalez, 50, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on November 1, 2023. According to court documents, in August 2019, Gonzalez conspired with others, including Kendrick Kenyon Davis, 45, of Amite, Louisiana, and Jimario Juvonca Holmes, 35, of Louisville, Mississippi, to distribute cocaine. During the investigation, agents learned that Gonzalez and Davis negotiated the delivery of kilogram quantities of cocaine, and that Davis had elicited the assistance of Holmes to pick up narcotics from Gonzalez in Houston, Texas and bring them back to Mississippi for distribution. Ultimately, agents observed Davis meet with Holmes in Mississippi, then travel to Houston, where he met Gonzalez in a parking lot. Davis was later stopped in Beaumont, Texas for a traffic violation. Officers searched Davis’s vehicle, finding over 2 kilograms of cocaine, 172 pounds of marijuana, and a Taurus handgun with 10 rounds and one chambered. Codefendants Davis and Holmes entered a plea of guilty and will be sentenced on December 14, 2023. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Jackson and Houston, Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Kemper County Sheriff’s Office, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Mississippi National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and the Beaumont (Texas) Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton. The case is the result of an extensive investigation targeting illegal drug trafficking in Philadelphia, Neshoba County, Mississippi, and surrounding areas. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Tempe Man Arrested for Antisemitic Email Threat to Execute Local Rabbi and "every other JEW I can find"

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jeffrey Mindock, 50, of Tempe, was arrested Saturday morning on a federal complaint and arrest warrant by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for making a threat to execute a local Rabbi and “every other JEW [sic] I can find tonight at midnight of your Sabbath.” The complaint alleges that Mindock sent an email on the morning of Friday November 3, 2023, to a Rabbi at a local synagogue in Scottsdale, asking the Rabbi to “try to convince” a judge in Utah to “drop the charges against” Mindock in a state district court case in Utah. The email stated: “If you do not use your influence to right this wrong I will execute you and every other JEW [sic] I can find tonight at midnight of your Sabbath.” The email went on: “If you wish to communicate with me further, I will only meet in person,” listed an address for the sender in Tempe, and was signed “Shalom, Viktor Sitkevicz.” The complaint alleges that Mindock’s address was listed in motor vehicle records as the same Tempe address listed in the email. The complaint further alleges that Mindock’s threatening behavior extended to another prior email threat to “hang” a judge sent from email addresses containing “sitkevicz” or “mindock,” and another threat made during a previous court appearance in 2021 to “execute” others. “Civic engagement and civil dialogue help bind us together as a Nation,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “We have no tolerance for those who send threatening communications to Jewish faith leaders or to any other people in America. We will continue to exercise our prosecutorial discretion and deploy our resources to charge threats cases here in Arizona.” “The FBI takes all threats of violence seriously,” said Chad Alvarado, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix field office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners must take people who make threats at their word and intervene, because protecting human life is our absolute priority.” A complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The United States will have up to 30 days from arrest to seek an indictment of Mindock. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Tempe Police Department and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 23-05579MJ RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-171_Mindock # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty to Assault and Federal Firearms Offense

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Deon Joe Bidtah pled guilty to all three counts of the indictment charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault on a federal officer with a deadly and dangerous weapon. Bidtah, 24, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to court records, on Oct. 11, 2022, Bidtah approached a vehicle near his residence in Shiprock and fired two rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun into the vehicle. The driver, Jane Doe, was struck and injured by the gunfire. Three of Jane Doe’s family members were in the vehicle at the time. Jane Doe suffered great bodily harm and was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center for treatment. Navajo Nation police officers responded to the incident location, including one officer who, by virtue of a special law enforcement commission, is considered a federal officer. Bidtah approached the officers carrying the 12-gauge shotgun and fired toward the officers. Officers took cover behind their patrol units and commanded Bidtah to stop and drop his weapon, however Bidtah ignored the commands, reloaded the shotgun, and continued to walk towards the officers. In response, officers fired two rounds at Bidtah. Bidtah was struck and was later transported to Northern Navajo Medical Center for treatment. At sentencing, Bidtah faces at least ten years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McGinley is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-261


title: Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Timothy Allen Loudermilk, 64, of Charleston, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Loudermilk admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area. According to court documents and statements made in court, between January and March 2023, Loudermilk was living in the Charleston area and obtaining methamphetamine from a local supplier. Loudermilk’s supplier knew that he was re-distributing at least a portion of the methamphetamine. Loudermilk typically would receive one-half ounce of methamphetamine at a time, but sometimes he would obtain more. Loudermilk admitted that he was responsible for between 200 and 350 grams of methamphetamine in connection with the conspiracy. Loudermilk is among 32 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash. Loudermilk and 21 other defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31. ###


title: Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Serve 24 Months in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Four Defendants Sentenced Collectively to Serve 11 Years in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay more than $135,000 in Restitution for Metro Postal Theft, Forged Security, and Identity Theft Offenses OKLAHOMA CITY – Last Friday, BRANDON NASH , 43, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison and pay $20,646.62 in restitution for aggravated identity theft, announced U. S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On June 21, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a 21-count Indictment against Nash and three co-defendants, Dexter Smith, Jr. , 36, Trista Ferguson , 39, and Gloria Taylor , 32, for their roles in a conspiracy to steal money from banks and individuals by cashing checks, money orders, and other financial documents stolen from metro United States Postal Service (USPS) collection boxes. The Indictment further alleges the group altered stolen checks, manufactured counterfeit checks using information found on stolen checks, and manufactured fraudulent identification documents to cash stolen and fraudulent checks. On July 28, 2022, Nash pleaded guilty to Count 21 of the Indictment, aggravated identity theft. As part of his plea, Nash admitted to knowingly using a means of identification for another person. At the sentencing hearing on November 3, 2023, U. S. District Judge Jodi D. Dishman sentenced Nash to serve 24 months in prison. Smith, Jr., Ferguson, and Taylor were sentenced in October to serve 108 months collectively in federal prison. Those three defendants pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment, charging conspiracy to make, utter, and possess forged securities. Smith, Jr. was sentenced to serve 30 months, Ferguson was sentenced to serve 60 months, and Taylor was sentenced to serve 18 months. The four defendants were ordered to pay $135,616.96 joint and several in restitution. This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U. S. Attorney Charles Brown prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Justice Department Takes Action to Ensure Compliance with Federal Voting Rights Laws in Virginia and Several Jurisdictions

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Justice Department announced today plans to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws in Virginia and several jurisdictions for the Nov. 7 general election. For this election, the Civil Rights Division will monitor for compliance with the federal voting rights laws on Election Day in jurisdictions across the country, including Prince William County, Virginia. The Department has assigned federal observers to monitor the election there to specifically observe the county’s compliance with Section 203 and 208 of the Voting Rights Act regarding the availability of election assistance and materials in Spanish for Spanish-speaking voters with limited English proficiency. Other counties to be monitored are Pawtucket and Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Union County, New Jersey; and Madison County and Panola County, Mississippi. United States Attorney Jessica D. Aber additionally announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Harvey, Avi Panth, and Anthony Mozzi will lead the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming election. Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Northern Virginia region, Assistant U.S. Attorney Panth for the Central Capitol region, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mozzi for the Tidewater region. In this capacity, they are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of Election Day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. The Department of Justice and EDVA have an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations. Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud on November 7, the DEOs will be on duty while the polls are open. From 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., any calls should be directed to 703-299-3700. From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., calls should be directed to the below phone numbers: Northern Virginia - Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey, 703-299-3700 Tidewater region - Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mozzi, 757-441-6331 Central Capitol region - Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth, 804-819-5400 In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can also be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ The Civil Rights Division enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The division regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with the federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the division also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order. The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, the Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Visit www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section for more information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting rights laws. More information about the federal civil rights laws is available at the Civil Rights Division’s website at justice.gov/crt . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Isaiah Harley Daniels, 24, of Sissonville, was ordered today to serve 10 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and pay $6,000 in restitution for attempted enticement of a minor. Daniels must also register as a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2021 Daniels began communicating online with a 13-year-old girl using the Kik instant messaging app. Daniels admitted to sending the minor female pornographic images while explaining sexual intercourse to her and asking her to “get naked.” Daniels further admitted to initiating several video calls with the minor female in an attempt to watch her masturbate. He took screenshots of some of his conversations with the minor female that he saved on his cell phone. Daniels also admitted to engaging in online conversation that were sexual in nature with other individuals he believed to be children. Daniels pretended to be 17 years old at times so he would appear younger. Several of the individuals that Daniels believed were children sent him images of themselves naked and masturbating. Daniels admitted that he knowingly possessed 22 images and 297 videos on his cell phone and in his Kik account depicting known minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence today, confirming the prison and supervised release terms he imposed at an October 16, 2023 hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie M. White and Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-23. ###