title: Agoura Hills Property Developer Sentenced to Nearly 3½ Years in Prison for Lying on Bankruptcy Petition and Filing False Federal Tax Returns

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Agoura Hills real estate developer was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for failing to disclose on a bankruptcy petition that he had earned nearly $2.3 million in income and for failing to report almost $6.9 million in income on his tax returns. Mark Handel, 69, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also fined Handel $20,000 and ordered him to forfeit approximately $3,545,712, which represents the proceeds of the sale of real estate in Alameda County. Judge Wright also ordered Handel to pay the IRS approximately $1,618,836 in outstanding tax liabilities, including penalties and interest. Handel pleaded guilty on February 23 to one count of making a false statement in bankruptcy and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. Prior to today’s hearing and pursuant to his plea agreement, Handel paid the IRS approximately $1,618,836 in outstanding tax liabilities, including penalties and interest. In April 2015, Handel filed a bankruptcy petition in Los Angeles in which he claimed under penalty of perjury he had no income from 2013 until April 2015. In fact, he earned approximately $2,263,221 in income through DTMM Construction Inc., his West Los Angeles-based real estate development company, which, according to court documents, stood for “Don’t Touch My Money.” To further conceal his income from the bankruptcy court and creditors, Handel arranged for DTMM to be registered in his wife’s name but used the company to deposit the profits from his own work as a real estate developer and to pay for his and his family’s living expenses. Handel concealed his income from his creditors by depositing it into DTMM’s accounts. Among the assets Handel hid from creditors included his interest in real estate in Livermore, California, which later was sold for approximately $3,545,712, the proceeds of which he agreed to forfeit. In October 2016, Handel signed and filed a false federal income tax return for the tax year 2015 that failed to disclose approximately $1,096,175 in additional income. For the tax years 2010 to 2017, Handel failed to report a total of approximately $6,886,877 of income on his federal tax returns. Handel also falsely reported a net operating loss of $7,259,119 on his 2017 federal income tax return as well as underreported his income on his 2018 tax return by $1,411,050 and admitted to failing to pay $460,408 in additional tax. “[Handel’s] crimes were not born out of desperation, nor done on a whim without much thought,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “His crimes required planning, calculation, and an almost insatiable drive to break the law time and time again. Indeed, given the brazenness of his conduct, including bragging to others that his company stood for ‘Don’t Touch My Money,’ [Handel] believed he was above the law.” IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated this matter with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.


title: Former San Jose State University Director Of Sports Medicine Sentenced For Groping Female Student Athletes

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – Scott Shaw, a former San Jose State University (SJSU) Director of Sports Medicine, was sentenced today to serve 24 months in prison for unlawfully touching female student-athletes under the guise of providing medical treatment. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that public school officials who exploit their positions of authority to sexually abuse and harass students will face serious consequences for their actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate violations of civil rights committed under the guise of legitimate medical treatment by those in positions of power and trust.” “Scott Shaw was entrusted to care for athletes in the California State University system. Instead, he used his power over female athletes to violate their civil rights by sexually groping them without their consent and without any medical justification,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Robbins for the Northern District of California. “Such criminal assaults on college athletes will be investigated and prosecuted; anyone abusing their power over student athletes in this way should expect to spend time in prison for doing so.” “A patient necessarily places enormous trust in a healthcare provider; that relationship is privileged and inviolable for good reason,” said FBI Special Agent In Charge Robert Tripp. “Shaw’s violation of that relationship is reprehensible, as was reflected in his sentence. I commend the student athletes for their moral courage in coming forward to challenge Shaw. Their bravery prevented Shaw from committing further harm to others, and civil rights violations will continue to be a top priority for the FBI.” Shaw pleaded guilty to the charges on August 15, 2023. As part of the plea agreement, Shaw admitted that, between 2017 and 2020, he violated the civil rights of four students who played on women’s athletics teams by touching their breasts and buttocks without their consent and without a legitimate medical purpose. According to court documents, from 2008 until August 2020, Shaw served as the Director of Sports Medicine and head athletic trainer at SJSU, a public university that is part of the California State University system, and was an employee of the State of California. His duties included treating injuries sustained by student-athletes at SJSU. Shaw admitted that he engaged in all the conduct described above on SJSU’s campus, and in his capacity as an SJSU athletic trainer. Shaw admitted that female student-athletes allowed him to have physical contact with them only because of his status as an SJSU athletic trainer. Shaw further acknowledged that female student-athletes sought treatment from him because they were in pain, seeking relief, and wanted to continue participating in SJSU Athletics. Further, the student-athletes trusted him because he was an experienced athletic trainer. Shaw also admitted that he inappropriately touched each of the student-athletes as described above without any legitimate diagnostic or treatment purpose and without seeking or securing their consent in advance. Shaw further admitted that his conduct was not the result of mistake, carelessness, or accident. In sum, Shaw pleaded guilty to two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 242. In addition to the prison term, Judge Freeman ordered Shaw to serve one year of supervised release, to begin after he has served his prison term, and to pay a $15,000 fine. Judge Freeman also scheduled a hearing to take place on February 6, 2024, to determine issues related to restitution. Judge Freeman ordered Shaw to surrender on or before March 6, 2024, to begin serving his prison term. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pitman for the Northern District of California and Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan and Attorney Advisor Sarah Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. This case was investigated by the FBI.


title: San Jose Man Sentenced To Serve Over Six Years In Prison For Distributing Fentanyl

body_text: OAKLAND – Ian Edward Parrish was sentenced to serve 80 months in prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose an Ohio resident, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Araceli Martínez-Olguín, United States District Judge. Parrish, 28, of San Jose, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on August 28, 2023. In his plea agreement, Parrish admitted that on August 16, 2022, he sold four loose pills to an individual in a bar in Fremont, Calif. Two of the pills were counterfeit “M30” pills that were blue and had the appearance of “Perc30,” a common prescription pain killer that contains Percocet, a federally controlled substance. Parrish admitted that when the victim asked if the pills were real, he told him that they were. But, contrary to the assurance he gave the victim, Parrish admitted that he did not actually know whether the pills were genuine Percocet. According to the plea agreement, Parrish admitted that the government could prove the pills he sold contained fentanyl. After buying the pills, the victim left the bar and consumed one. Approximately 17 minutes later, the victim began to sway and lose balance, and then lost consciousness. According to the plea agreement, emergency personnel arrived and tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate the victim; the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. In the plea agreement, Parrish admitted that the cause of the victim’s death was the pill the victim consumed and that Parrish sold to him. According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, the victim left behind a spouse, as well as 6 children and 11 grandchildren. On August 22, 2023, Parrish was charged by Information with distributing the fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C). He pleaded guilty to the charge. In addition to the 80-month federal prison sentence, Judge Martínez-Olguín ordered Parrish to serve three years of supervision following his release from federal prison. Parrish was remanded to federal custody after the sentencing hearing and began serving his prison sentence immediately. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan M. Mateer with the assistance of Isabel Trevizo and Jessie Chelsea. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by FBI and the Fremont Police Department. One Pill Can Kill: Beware of pills bought on the street: One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, is a highly potent opiate that can be diluted with cutting agents to create counterfeit pills that purport to mimic the effects of Oxycodone, Percocet, and other drugs, but can be obtained at a lower cost. However, very small variations in the amount or quality of fentanyl create huge effects on the potency of the counterfeit pills and can easily cause death. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills are usually shaped and colored to resemble pills that are sold legitimately at pharmacies.


title: Selling ghost guns to Mexican cartel sends felon to prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 37-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and conspiracy to possess intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jaime Jesus Esquivel pleaded guilty June 6, admitting, in part, to producing and illegally exporting fully automatic firearms to Mexico for the use of drug cartels. U.S. District Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now handed Esquivel a total 120-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard that Esquivel bragged to an undercover officer that he manufactured and trafficked hundreds of firearms into Mexico. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that in trafficking both narcotics and firearms that Esquivel was trafficking in death. As part of the undercover investigation, authorities conducted four controlled purchases of cocaine and multiple AR-type fully automatic rifles. The weapons were ghost guns, a common term for privately made firearms that are absent any manufacture marks of identification. Esquivel assembled and manufactured these weapons for distribution. Esquivel also made the firearms from various components of combat weapons including Colt model M4 parts and a 3D-printed polymer AR-type drop in auto sear or machine gun conversion device (MGCD). An MGCD is any part designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun. Law enforcement executed two search warrants and seized completed and privately manufactured AR-type lower receivers, various firearm parts, firearm manufacturing tools as well as 950 rounds of assorted ammunition, a 7.62mm rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a privately manufactured short-barrel fully automatic rifle without serial numbers or industry markings. They also found meth, cocaine and a 3D printer. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. Esquivel will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation.


title: Prisoner Sentenced to Additional 30 Years for Drug Trafficking in Multiple North Carolina Counties Using Contraband Prison Cellphones

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – ENIS DAUTI was sentenced today to 360 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). According to court records, DAUTI, age 38, was serving a 108-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2016 in the MDNC and was scheduled to be released from federal prison in August 2023. At the time of the offense, DAUTI was incarcerated at Northlake Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Michigan. Over the course of several months in 2021 and 2022, DAUTI organized multiple sales of methamphetamine that involved codefendants SCOTT ALAN SHORES, ASHLEY NICOLE MORROW, AMY ELLISSA HAMMER, and DANIEL WAYNE MIZE in Davidson and Chatham counties. Each sale involved DAUTI managing the sale of drugs using a contraband prison cellphone to communicate with his codefendants and organize the shipment of methamphetamine through the mail. SHORES, MORROW, HAMMER, and MIZE were indicted alongside DAUTI on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine. DAUTI was sentenced today to a 360-month term of imprisonment and seven years of supervised release by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. “This case is a perfect example of the danger contraband cellphones present in our prison facilities,” said United States Attorney Sandra Hairston. “With a contraband cellphone, inmates can continue to run their drug enterprises or commit other crimes from their prison cells. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that such flagrant disrespect for the rule of law will not be tolerated.” The case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service, the Davidson County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsey Freeman and Kyle Pousson. ###


title: Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Beating  Ex-Girlfriend with 15-Pound Dumbbell

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Nicholas Batts, 33, of Georgetown, Texas, was sentenced on November 9, 2023 to a ten-year prison term for beating his ex-girlfriend in the face and head with a 15-pound dumbbell, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Batts pleaded guilty in September 2023, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of Aggravated Assault While Armed. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence between 7.5 years and 10 years of incarceration. The Honorable Rainey Brandt accepted the plea and sentenced the defendant to 10 years of incarceration, followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on December 9, 2022, at approximately 5:00 AM, Batts bludgeoned his ex-girlfriend in the face with a 15-pound metal dumbbell. When officers arrived on scene, the defendant stated that he “snapped” and hit her with the weight. The victim was found in the defendant’s bedroom, lying unconscious on the floor suffering from multiple blunt force trauma wounds. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmin Emrani and Brian Yang, of the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.


title: Convicted Fraudster Sentenced To More Than 17 Years In Prison For Hiring Hitman To Murder Witnesses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr. has sentenced Alexander Leszczynski to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for murder for hire and obstruction of justice. Leszczynski had pleaded guilty on June 6, 2023. Judge Moody ordered that Leszczynski’s sentence of 17 years and 6 months be served consecutive to the 17 years and 6 months’ sentence he received in a related fraud case. According to court documents, in October 2020, Leszczynski, using the name of a fake charity, filed a fraudulent warranty deed for a transfer of a property in Redington Shores, Florida. When the owners of that residence, Victim 1 and Victim 2, sued Leszczynski to correct the deed, Leszczynski sent a series of harassing letters, emails, and faxes to the victims and the lawyer representing them in the lawsuit. In April 2022, Leszczynski was charged with the deed fraud related to the property belonging to Victim 1 and Victim 2, various other frauds, as well as multiple counts of money laundering in case United States v. Alexander Leszczynski , 8:22-cr-155-MSS-SPF. He was arraigned on May 17, 2022, and ordered detained. In August 2022, the FBI became aware that while incarcerated at the Pinellas County Jail, Leszczynski sought out a hitman to kill Victim 1 and Victim 2. Leszczynski reported to a confidential informant that he had $45,000, hidden at his residence, available to pay someone to kill the victims. Leszczynski relayed to the confidential informant that he would be able to get the victims’ property and that his pending criminal case (the fraud case) would have to be dropped if the victims were dead. The confidential informant agreed to put Leszczynski in contact with a purported hitman, who was actually an undercover agent. On September 8 and 9, 2022, Leszczynski had calls with the undercover agent. Among other details, Leszczynski shared Victim 1 and Victim 2’s names, address, physical descriptions, approximate ages, and provided additional details that would allow the “hitman” to find photographs of Victim 1 and Victim 2 online. Leszczynski also negotiated the price for the murder at $30,000, and repeatedly ensured that he wanted Victim 1 and Victim 2 dead. In November 2022, Leszczynski pleaded guilty in both cases. He later withdrew his plea in the murder-for-hire case, but again pleaded guilty in June 2023. Since he pleaded guilty in both cases, Leszczynski has written numerous letters—intercepted by the United States—attempting to solicit and threaten others to come forward and fraudulently take responsibility for his crimes. The fraud case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Largo Police Department, the Indian Shores Police Department, and the Palm Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones. The murder-for-hire case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shauna S. Hale and Samantha J. Newman.


title: Jamaican National Sentenced For Role In Fraudulent Sweepstakes Scheme That Targeted Elderly Victims

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Jamaican national was sentenced on November 9, 2023, in federal court in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to 192 months in prison for his role in a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme that targeted elderly victims in the United States. Damone Oakley, 41, of St. James Parish, Jamaica, was extradited to the United States in 2022 and pleaded guilty in July 2023 to two counts of mail and two counts of wire fraud. From at least 2010 through 2019, Oakley participated in a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims. Oakley’s victims received mailings, text messages or phone calls in which they were falsely told that they had won millions of dollars and luxury vehicles in a sweepstakes, but first needed to pay taxes and fees in order to claim their winnings. Oakley used phony names during the scheme, including “Officer Alex Logan” and “Officer Stan Valentine,” and instructed his victims on how to send their money (and to whom the funds should be sent). His victims were located throughout the United States, and used wire transfers, direct bank deposits, the U.S. Postal Service and private commercial mail carriers to send money directly to Oakley as well as to individuals in the United States and elsewhere who served as intermediaries and transmitted the money to Oakley. In addition to sending cash or wire transfers, Oakley’s victims were directed to purchase electronics, jewelry and clothing, which were sent to mail forwarding services in Florida, and then on to Oakley in Jamaica. The victims never received any “winnings.” Oakley’s victims lost hundreds of thousands of dollars during the course of the scheme. “This sentence reflects our office’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and punishing those who engage in this type of behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Middle District of Pennsylvania. “Working together with our skilled and dedicated law enforcement partners, Oakley was held accountable for his crimes.” “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through fraudulent schemes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Through our National Elder Fraud Hotline, we identify perpetrators of these schemes and prioritize the pursuit of those who deliberately target vulnerable consumers, who often can least afford to sustain financial losses.” “There was a time when scammers operating beyond our borders felt they could operate with impunity. Those days are gone,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Services (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “Postal inspectors track down these scammers no matter where they are. And with our Department of Justice partners’ extradition powers, scammers are brought to the United States to face the music. In this case, it’s to the tune of 192 months in prison.” Senior Litigation Counsel Linda I. Marks of the Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Haugsby for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case. USPIS investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Jamaica to secure the arrest and extradition of Oakley. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa. Information about the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. # # #


title: Florida business owners plead guilty for their role in durable medical equipment fraud scheme

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Brett Weiner and Valerie Desalvo have pled guilty to federal conspiracy charges for their role in buying and selling fake doctors’ orders used to obtain over $1.5 million in fraudulent payments from Medicare. “Durable Medical Equipment fraud schemes involve much more than simply bilking the Medicare system,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “These schemes exploit our most vulnerable citizens in the name of personal greed, and our office is committed to finding and prosecuting those involved.” “Health care fraud is all about the money,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully this case and the work of our special agents with their financial expertise will be a deterrent to anyone thinking about abusing federal healthcare programs to line their own pockets.” “Kickbacks can corrupt medical decision-making, resulting in medically unnecessary durable medical equipment and services. Such schemes can affect the availability of medically needed services and drive up the cost of health care for everyone,” stated Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Individuals and entities that participate in the federal health care system are required to obey the laws meant to preserve the integrity of program funds and the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Brett Weiner and Valerie Desalvo owned and operated Laboratory Marketing Services, LLC (“LMS”), a business in Boca Raton, Florida. LMS was in the business of, among other things, receiving kickback payments in exchange for patient “leads,” consisting of billable Medicare beneficiaries’ personal identifying information. Defendants Weiner and Desalvo received bribes from DME companies such as Medihealth Medical Solutions, LLC, located in Amory, Mississippi, and Liberty Medical DME, LLC, in Atlanta, Georgia, in exchange for the leads. These “leads” included, among other information, each Medicare beneficiary’s name, Medicare number, diagnoses, pain level, and primary care physician. Through LMS, Weiner and Desalvo also bought and sold signed doctors’ orders from Nagaindra Srivastav and his company B2B Apps Solutions, LLC in Tampa, Florida, which they sold to DME companies. A substantial portion of the doctors’ orders that Weiner and Desalvo purchased from Srivastav and B2B contained forged signatures or purported approvals of physicians or other health care providers whose names and professional identifying information were used without their authorization or knowledge. In total, Weiner and Desalvo, through LMS, caused the submission of more than $.15 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, which generated approximately $715,000 in payments, for braces that were procured through the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes and were ineligible for Medicare reimbursement. Brett Weiner, 61, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Valerie Desalvo, 58, of Boca Raton, Florida, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks. Sentencing is scheduled for February 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O'Neal is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Weapon and Drug Violations

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on November 8, 2023, JUSTIN MORGAN , age 26, a resident of Orleans Parish, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lance M. Africk to 97 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to as to three counts of a superseding indictment. Count 1 charged MORGAN with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(d). Count 2 charged MORGAN with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count 3 charged MORGAN with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). According to court documents, on February 10, 2022, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (“JPSO”) conducted a narcotics investigation in the Metairie Heights Apartment complex in Metairie, LA. Based on their observations, officers stopped a black Acura in which MORGAN and a co-defendant were riding. Subsequently, the JPSO obtained arrest warrants for both MORGAN and a co-defendant due to the discovery of narcotics and firearms that were located inside of MORGAN ’s vehicle. On March 25, 2022, JPSO officers arrested MORGAN and located a gun case in the trunk of his vehicle. The serial number on the gun case matched the serial number of the gun found in the rear seat of MORGAN’s vehicle on February 10, 2022. The firearm was also swabbed for DNA. The analysis concluded that MORGAN’s DNA was present on the firearm. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Gary Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison

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

body_text: HAMMOND- Larry D. Carter III, 30 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to possessing an unregistered machinegun, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Carter was sentenced to 51 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on October 18, 2022, law enforcement responded to a call of a domestic battery and determined Carter had an outstanding arrest warrant. From Carter’s possession, law enforcement recovered a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device attached to it. The machinegun conversion device made the pistol capable of firing multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger. The machinegun was not registered to him in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer record, making his possession of the firearm illegal. Additionally, Carter’s criminal history revealed he had three felony convictions, including a 2018 conviction for trafficking in stolen weapons, and as such, he was prohibited from possessing the firearm. This case is the result of the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force and the Gary Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eamonn P. Sheehan. 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: Tallahassee Man Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For  Possessing Methamphetamine With The Intent To Distribute It

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Brian Keith Coleman (34, Tallahassee) to 12 years in federal prison for possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Coleman had pleaded guilty on August 3, 2023. According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) found Coleman’s vehicle broken down on the shoulder of Interstate 75 with Coleman standing nearby. After developing probable cause to search the vehicle, a trooper found methamphetamine, fentanyl, marijuana, and ammunition inside. Where Coleman had been standing, the trooper also located over a pound of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm. All these items belonged to Coleman. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Belkis H. Crockett and Tyrie K. Boyer.


title: St. Michael, ND, Man Convicted of Second-Degree Murder and Arson

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that Cody James Belgarde , age 36, from St. Michael, ND, was found guilty of the charges of Second-Degree Murder and Arson. In January of 2021, Belgarde shot and killed a boy who was two weeks past his seventeenth birthday. Belgarde then set fire to the house where the murder took place. After eight days of trial and over thirty witnesses, the jury reached a verdict and found Belgrade guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Arson within Indian country. The jury acquitted Belgarde on a charge of First-Degree Murder. Belgarde faces a sentence of up to life in prison at his sentencing hearing set for March 6, 2024, at 02:30 PM in Fargo Courtroom 1 before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to combating violent crime in Indian country,” Schneider said. “This verdict is a credit to our career prosecutors and law enforcement partners at the FBI, BIA, and ATF who relentlessly pursued justice in this tragic case.” “During this investigation, ATF certified fire investigators conducted fire scene examinations, made the origin and cause determination, and provided technical analysis of the fire scene during trial testimony,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Engelbert, of the St. Paul Field Division. “Collaboration between law enforcement partners was tremendously effective and lead to the successful conclusion of this case. Hopefully, with this verdict, the family and loved ones of the victim can have some closure.” “The FBI will not tolerate someone committing such abhorrent violence,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Jr. “Mr. Belgrade proved he has no regard for the law or for human life when he brutally murdered an innocent victim. I’m proud of the collective efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to ensure this dangerous individual is held accountable.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prosecutors for this case were Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Conroy and U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota. ######


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation Into Suicide Committed by Person Evading Police

body_text: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who were present for the February 2023 death of S.P., a 40-year-old District resident who died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian eyewitness accounts, security camera footage, BWC footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, the autopsy report, and reports from MPD. According to the evidence, at about 12:18 a.m. on Feb. 28, 2023, officers with the MPD were called to the 1400 block of Park Road, N.W. for a report of sounds of gunshots. As the police were conducting their initial investigation, including a review of security camera footage depicting an altercation between S.P. and another person, S.P. returned to the scene. Because S.P. matched the image in the footage, officers attempted to make contact with S.P. S.P. initially ran from the police. At one point, S.P. turned around, brandished a handgun and fired multiple shots at the police. The police returned fire. However, all of the shots by S.P. and the police missed their intended targets. S.P. then ran into an alley located in the 1400 block of Meridian Place, N.W. As two officers waited for assistance at the entrance to the alley, S.P. committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any officer on the scene used excessive force under the circumstances or otherwise willfully violated S.P.’s rights. Use-of-force investigations generally The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.


title: Berkeley Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Impersonation and Firearm Charges

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jeremy Allen Hughes, 39, of Goose Creek, was sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to impersonating a federal law enforcement officer and possessing a weapon after a domestic violence conviction. Evidence presented to the Court showed that Jeremy Hughes told witnesses his name was Brian Williams and falsely claimed he was with the U.S. Marshals searching for a fugitive. Hughes carried a pistol and shotgun and wore tactical clothing with a “Police U.S. Marshals” shirt. Investigators arrested Hughes on Dec. 1, 2021. During the arrest, Hughes unlawfully possessed multiple firearms and ammunition. During a search warrant at his residence, investigators located several additional firearms and ammunition. Hughes is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to a previous domestic violence conviction. United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Hughes to four years imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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. The case was investigated by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case. ###


title: Three Construction Planning Firm Executives Charged With Bribing San Francisco Dept. Of Building Inspection Employees

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Three former executives of a San Francisco based construction planning and design firm were charged today paying bribes to employees of the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (”DBI”), announced the Chief of the Criminal Division of the Office for the U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Colthurst and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. Siavash “Sia” Tahbazof, 72, was charged in an Information filed today with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud for paying bribes to DBI employees in return for their agreement to expedite and issue building plan permits and approve building inspections, beginning in 2003. According to the Information, Tahbazof conspired to bribe city employees including former DBI plan checkers Cyril Yu and Rodolfo “Rudy” Pada, and DBI building inspector Bernard Curran. In a separate information also filed today, Reza Khoshnevisan, 54, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud for paying bribes to Pada and Yu in return for their agreement to expedite and issue building plan permits. The conspiracy allegedly began in 2012. In addition, Bahman Ghassemzadeh, 38, was charged in a third Information filed today. Ghassemzadeh is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud for paying bribes to Pada, Yu, and Curran, beginning in 2014, in return for their agreement to expedite and issue building plan permits and approve building inspections. DBI is a regulatory city agency in San Francisco responsible for overseeing enforcement of building, electrical, plumbing, and housing codes for the City of San Francisco’s more than 200,000 commercial and residential buildings. Contractors and builders submit construction plans to DBI for approval and permitting; the plans are required to be reviewed and approved by DBI to insure that the proposed construction and building meets city codes and regulations. An Information merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendants were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Pada, 68, and Yu, 41, have both already been charged in separate Informations with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. The Informations, filed on November 3, 2023, allege Pada accepted bribes in return for expediting and approving permits for building and construction plans and allege that Yu accepted bribes in return for approving permits for construction and building plans. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Ward and Casey Boome are prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Repeat Felon Sentenced to Over Thirteen Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Illegal Possession of Firearms and Glock Switches

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Phillip Bonds, 39, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 160 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on three separate occasions between April 17 and May 10, 2023, Phillip Bonds sold a total of approximately 364 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine to another individual. On May 19, 2023, Drug Enforcement Administration agents executed a federal search warrant at Bonds’ home and found approximately 115 grams of methamphetamine and 70 grams of cocaine; 620 grams of marijuana; 10 firearms; ammunition; Glock switches and various drug cutting agents. In pleading guilty, Bonds admitted that he intended to sell the drugs he possessed. Bonds is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm due to his three previous felony convictions for crimes related to illegally possessing guns and ammunition. At the time of his arrest on May 19, Bonds was on probation for the felony offense of Carrying a Handgun without a License in Marion County. “Deadly weapons and deadly drugs lead to far too many tragedies for our families and in our neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers. “This defendant continued to illegally arm himself to the teeth, while pushing deadly poisons into our community with no regard for the people they harmed. Thanks to the hard work of the DEA, IMPD, and our federal prosecutor, he has been held accountable for his crimes. The federal prison sentence imposed here should serve as a warning to any who choose to menace our streets—serious crimes warrant serious consequences.” The DEA and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Bonds be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick G. Gibson, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Four Bay Area Real Estate Professionals Charged In Years-Long Mortgage Fraud Scheme

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO - A federal grand jury has indicted Tjoman Buditaslim (a/k/a “Joe Lim”), Travis Holasek, Jose Alfonso Tellez, and Jose De Jesus Martinez, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with a years-long mortgage fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Ismael J. Ramsey and Special Agent in Charge Herminia Neblina of the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General. According to the indictment, filed November 7, 2023, and unsealed yesterday, between May 2019 and August 23, 2023, Buditaslim, 51; Holasek, 51; Tellez, 26; and Martinez, 58, obtained more than $55 million in residential mortgage loans for home buyers in northern California by creating fraudulent documents that they submitted to residential mortgage origination companies. The fraudulent documents were used to qualify buyers for residential mortgage loans in connection with the fraud scheme. The defendants profited from the alleged mortgage fraud scheme by taking loan origination commissions, real estate broker commission payments from escrow, and direct payments from potential buyers who wrote checks directly to the defendants for submitting loan applications to mortgage origination companies on their behalf. The indictment describes numerous details of the alleged scheme. For example, the indictment alleges that the defendants carried out their mortgage fraud scheme by assisting potential buyers with locating residential properties to purchase, creating false divorce decree documents and child support checks purportedly payable to the potential buyer from an individual the buyer had never been married to or even met, creating false and fabricated bank statements showing falsely inflated bank account balances for potential buyers, submitting loan applications containing materially false information about buyers’ income to a mortgage origination company, and collecting proceeds of home sales by directing payments from escrow to defendants and their associates. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants did not inform the potential buyers that the fraudulent documents—including divorce papers, child support checks, and bank statements— were being fabricated. The defendants knew that based on the buyers’ true income and bank statement balances, the potential buyers would not have qualified for the mortgages for which the defendants applied. The indictment also describes how defendants also allegedly prepared and assisted in preparing false Uniform Residential Loan Applications (URLAs) for potential buyers. The URLAs contained false information about the loan applicants’ income and assets. Further, the loan application packages the defendants submitted also allegedly contained false and fabricated supporting documentation, including altered bank statements, fabricated divorce documents, and fabricated child support checks. As a result of the alleged fraud scheme, a mortgage origination company (identified in the indictment as Mortgage Origination Company 1) was required to repurchase loans originated as a result of fraud that had been sold to a federally-chartered home mortgage purchaser, causing losses to the company of approximately $8,162,515.82. Buditaslim was arrested on August 23, 2023, in Daly City, California, pursuant to a criminal complaint. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on August 24, 2023. Martinez was arrested on November 7, 2023, and made his initial appearance in federal court on November 8, 2023. Tellez made his initial appearance in federal court on November 8, 2023. An initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco has not yet been scheduled for Holasek. In sum, the Indictment charges each defendant with the following offenses: Count(s) Defendants Charge 1 Tjoman Buditaslim (a/k/a “Joe Lim”) Travis Holasek Jose Alfonso Tellez Jose De Jesus Martinez 18 U.S.C. § 1349 – Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud 2-3 Tjoman Buditaslim (a/k/a “Joe Lim”) Travis Holasek Jose Alfonso Tellez Jose De Jesus Martinez 18 U.S.C. § 1343 – Wire Fraud 4-5 Tjoman Buditaslim (a/k/a “Joe Lim”) Travis Holasek Jose Alfonso Tellez 18 U.S.C. § 1343 – Wire Fraud 6 Tjoman Buditaslim (a/k/a “Joe Lim”) Jose Alfonso Tellez Jose De Jesus Martinez 18 U.S.C. § 1343 – Wire Fraud 7 Tjoman Buditaslim (a/k/a “Joe Lim”) 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(1) – Aggravated Identity Theft 8 Travis Holasek 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(1) – Aggravated Identity Theft 9 Jose De Jesus Martinez 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(1) – Aggravated Identity Theft An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349, as well as a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Emily Dahlke with the assistance of Aarian Beiti. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and the California Department of Justice.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Settles Disability Discrimination Complaint with Skilled Nursing Facility

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights reached an agreement today with North End Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (North End), a skilled nursing facility in Boston, to resolve allegations that the facility denied admission to individuals being treated with medications for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “Patients suffering from opioid use disorder are too often faced with the agonizing decision between accessing life-saving medication to treat their addiction, or accessing other critical health care. Patients’ health and rehabilitation are negatively impacted when nursing facilities deny admissions simply because someone is engaged in recovery,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “We thank North End Rehabilitation for its cooperation and its commitment in working with us to ensure access to addiction treatment for those who may also need long term care.” “It is against the law to deny an individual placement in a facility because they are undergoing treatment for an opioid use disorder. This kind of action is not only illegal but leads to further stigma and is contra to efforts to support recovery which is critical,” said Melanie Fontes Rainer, Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. “Today’s announcement supports this Administration’s national strategy to prevent, treat, and provide long term recovery supports for individuals with behavioral health needs or substance use disorders, as well as the HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration, which implements the National Strategy by promoting equity in access to affordable, high quality, culturally appropriate care.” Following a review, several instances were found between December 2020 and April 2022 where patients were denied admissions because they were taking Suboxone or methadone to treat their OUD. Individuals receiving treatment for OUD are generally considered disabled under federal civil rights laws, which prohibits private healthcare providers from discriminating on the basis of disability. Under the terms of the agreement, North End will, among other things, adopt a non-discrimination policy, revise its admissions policy and provide training to admissions staff. North End will also pay the United States a $111,614 civil penalty. All but $10,000 will be forgiven if North End complies with the terms of the agreement for a two-year period. Since May 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has settled with 13 healthcare providers to resolve ADA violations related to OUD treatment. These agreements have addressed compliance at 53 skilled nursing facilities. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HHS OCR Director Fontes Rainer made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Dorchak of the Office’s Civil Rights Unit handled the matter.


title: Seann Pietila Pleads Guilty For Making Violent, Antisemitic Threats

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: U.S. Attorney Mark Totten renews commitment to prevent, disrupt, and prosecute illegal acts of hate fueled by antisemitism, Islamophobia, or anti-Arab bias GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Seann Pietila, 19, of Pickford, Michigan, pleaded guilty to a federal charge for violent threats he made online. Pietila admitted sending multiple messages on Instagram about planning to commit a mass shooting targeting Jewish people. Sentencing will occur at 10 a.m. on March 4, 2024. “No one should face violent threats because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or any other status” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “At this moment of increased threats across the nation, we renew our commitment to prevent, disrupt, and prosecute illegal acts of hate fueled by antisemitism, Islamophobia, or anti-Arab bias.” U.S. Attorney Totten and the FBI provided brief comments after today’s plea hearing, available on the U.S. Attorney’s Facebook Page . Pietila pleaded guilty to transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce. The maximum penalty under that statute is five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Additionally, as a convicted felon, he may no longer possess any firearms. As outlined in the initial criminal complaint, Pietila is alleged to have communicated with others on Instagram where he discussed his plans to commit acts of violence to kill other people and specifically referenced Jewish people. His communications demonstrated sympathy with neo-Nazi ideology, antisemitism, and past mass shooters. Law enforcement searched Pietila’s residence and seized various items, including ammunition, magazines, a shotgun, a rifle, a pistol, various knives, firearms accessories, tactical vests, mask, a Nazi flag, a ghillie suit, gas masks, and military sniper/survival manuals. A note found on Pietila’s phone identified a particular synagogue in East Lansing, a date, and a list of equipment. A copy of the indictment can be viewed here. The criminal complaint and plea agreement are attached. “When free speech crosses a line and becomes a threat of violence against another, the full investigative resources of the FBI will be deployed,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our state and local law enforcement partners, we were able to disrupt the defendant before he could put his plans into action. The FBI continues to urge the public to report suspicious or threatening behavior to their local law enforcement or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov .” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris O’Connor and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI was assisted by the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, TRI-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET), and Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team. Given the heightened threat environment, over the past several weeks U.S. Attorney Totten has met with leaders of the Jewish and Muslim communities throughout the Western District of Michigan. The purpose of these meetings is to better understand what is happening on the ground and how the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with its law enforcement partners, can better support the affected communities. This outreach is ongoing. In addition, to help combat hate-fueled violence, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten recently announced the formation of a Civil Rights Team focused on enforcing federal civil rights laws across the Western District of Michigan, as well as conducting regular community outreach regarding civil rights and hate crimes. The Civil Rights Team includes federal prosecutors and staff from the Office’s Criminal and Civil Divisions who will focus on criminal matters such as hate crimes and unlawful threats, as well as civil matters such as enforcing federal civil rights laws regarding discrimination, disability access, environmental justice, sexual harassment, voting rights, and other matters. The team will work closely with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and coordinate with other Department components and local, state, federal, and tribal agencies as needed. U.S. Attorney Totten also announced the Department’s United Against Hate Initiative , part of a nationwide effort by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at combatting unlawful acts of hate. The program consists of ongoing local forums that connect community groups to federal, state, and local law enforcement to increase community understanding and reporting of hate crimes; build trust between law enforcement and communities; and create and strengthen alliances between law enforcement and other government partners and community groups to combat unlawful acts of hate. Anyone wishing to report a civil rights violation related to voting, housing, employment, education, the workplace, business, healthcare, or other public spaces can call the Office’s Civil Rights Hotline at 616-808-2195 or email usamiw.civilrights@usdoj.gov. Individuals reporting a hate crime or criminal threat can call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Anyone facing imminent harm should call 911. ### seann_pietila_-_complaint.pdf seann_pietila_indictment.pdf seann_pietila_-_plea_agreement.pdf MEDIA NOTE : Previous releases concerning this case are listed below. Man Who Threatened Violent, Anti-Semitic Action Indicted by Grand Jury Defendant Threatened Violent, Antisemitic Action


title: Sikeston Man Sentenced to Serve 123 Months in Prison for Firearm Charge

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Monday sentenced a man from Sikeston, Missouri to 123 months in federal prison for a firearm offense. Michael Ray Turner, 39, pleaded guilty in July at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Jan. 22, 2023, an officer with the Sikeston Police Department was attempting a traffic stop of a black Dodge Durango for failing to signal and having invalid vehicle plates. The vehicle traveled a short distance before the driver pulled over and fled on foot toward the rear of an apartment complex. After a brief chase, the officer apprehended the suspect and identified him as Michael Turner. A search of Turner's person revealed no contraband. Suspecting Turner may have concealed something, officers begin searching the area. Within minutes, an officer located a black Taurus pistol on a balcony or rooftop surface of the apartment building. Although it was lightly raining, the pistol was dry to the touch. The firearm was loaded with an extended capacity magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition, with an additional round in the chamber. Turner's Dodge Durango was searched and an identical extended capacity magazine, also loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition, was seized form the cup-holder on the driver side of the vehicle. Turner has a previous felony conviction for second-degree robbery in New Madrid County, Missouri, and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. This case was investigated by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution for the government.


title: Fort Collins Woman Sentenced to Six Years for Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER—The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Catyria Lopez-Gomez, 43, of Fort Collins, Colorado, was sentenced to 6 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for drug trafficking and money laundering. According to the plea agreement, the defendant helped launder money for a drug trafficking organization in the Western Colorado. She also recruited others to help send drug proceeds to Mexico. Additionally, she picked up large quantities of methamphetamine from Phoenix, Arizona and drove it to Montrose, Colorado. Once in Montrose, the drugs would be distributed. “Drug trafficking, and the money-laundering that finances it, are crimes against the community,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their efforts to curb these criminal activities.” “IRS Special Agents are experts in disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations by targeting their illegal profits used to finance their operations,” said Andy Tsui, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. “IRS-CI, our law enforcement partners, and the United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work together to eliminate this threat to our communities.” IRS-CI, the DEA, the Montrose Police Department, the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, the Seventh Judicial District Drug Task Force, and the United States Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Duncan, Susan (Zeke) Knox, and Zachary Phillips handled the prosecution. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information on the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Case Number: 19-cr-535


title: St. Louis County Man Admits Fentanyl Dealing, Fatal Shooting of Teen

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Monday admitted dealing fentanyl and shooting a 16-year-old with a fully automatic pistol in downtown St. Louis in 2022. John M. Whitney Jr., 21, of Bridgeton, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As part of his plea agreement, Whitney admitted that after someone working for the Drug Enforcement Administration bought fentanyl twice from him in April of 2022, a court-approved search of his apartment found drugs and guns. Whitney had a Glock pistol with an aftermarket “switch” or conversion device that made it fully automatic. He also possessed three AR-15-style rifles, a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, raw fentanyl in a plastic bag and capsules containing fentanyl. Courtesy of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Whitney also admitted in his plea that in March of 2022, he had been conducting drug sales outside a loft building on Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis. After entering the lobby and heading to the elevators, he used a switch-equipped Glock handgun to fatally shoot a 16-year-old. He admitted shooting the teen but claimed the teen drew his weapon first and he acted in self-defense, the plea agreement says. Surveillance video from March 11, 2022 shows Whitney and the teen simultaneously drawing firearms and Whitney opening fire with the Glock as the teen turned towards Whitney with his pistol raised. Whitney then exchanged fire with the teen’s associate before both fled the building. Whitney is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 13, 2024. The fentanyl distribution charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The firearm charge is punishable by five years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoff Ogden is prosecuting the case.


title: Long Island Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl That Contributed to Two Overdose Deaths

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Charles Carter, also known as “Chase,” pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. As part of his plea, Carter admitted that fentanyl that he sold contributed to the drug overdose deaths of two victims (“Victim-1” and “Victim-2”) in 2020 and 2021. Carter also admitted that in, 2021, he sold more than 43 grams of fentanyl to an undercover officer. The plea proceeding was held before United States District Gary R. Brown. As part of his plea agreement, Carter forfeited approximately $3,200 in seized narcotics sales proceeds and a 2009 Jeep Patriot that he used to facilitate narcotics sales. When sentenced, Carter faces five to 40 years’ imprisonment. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), and, William Whitton, Chief of Police, Glen Cove Police Department (GCPD), announced the guilty plea. “Carter’s fentanyl sales contributed to the overdose deaths of a man and a woman, which only added to pain and anguish caused by an opioid epidemic that has harmed so many on Long Island,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The defendant’s guilty plea today is the result of the relentless efforts by this Office and our law enforcement partners to prosecute traffickers dealing lethal drugs for profit and bring justice for the victims and families devastated by the scourge of fentanyl.” “During the COVID pandemic, when the world was focused on saving lives and the public’s health, Carter was making plans to sell ‘the good stuff’ which ended lives and fueled the fentanyl crisis. This plea exemplifies law enforcement’s efforts to bring to justice those causing the most harm to our communities,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Tarentino. “Defendant Carter knowingly sold narcotics laced with fentanyl for months which contributed to the premature deaths of a man and woman. With this plea, the defendant will receive a sentence that fits this crime. All of this would not be possible without the exemplary work from numerous law enforcement agencies and their investigators,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder. “With drug overdoses rising at an alarming rate the Glen Cove Police Department will continue to make it a priority to identify and arrest those selling drugs in our community,” stated GCPD Chief of Police Whitton. Between August 2020 and February 2021, Carter sold more than 40 grams of fentanyl to two overdose victims and an undercover GCPD detective. The investigation revealed that on August 6, 2020, a 23-year-old individual (Victim-1) died of a drug-related overdose at her residence in Glen Cove, Long Island. Cellular telephone analysis and additional investigation, showed that the fentanyl that Victim-1 used was purchased from Carter about two days before Victim-1’s death and that Victim-1 had drug-sale-related communications with Carter. On February 5, 2021, a 40-year-old individual (Victim-2) died of a drug-related overdose at his residence in Farmingdale, Long Island. A search of Victim-2’s phone revealed text messages between Carter and Victim-2, which related to Victim-2’s purchase of fentanyl, shortly before and in the months preceding his overdose death. For example, on January 21, 2021, Carter wrote text messages to Victim-2, stating “im.(sic) around and I got the good stuff[.] Do u (sic) need to see me..??” Autopsies performed on both victims revealed traces of fentanyl in their bodies. Additionally, Carter repeatedly sold fentanyl to the undercover GCPD detective in doses that could have been lethal if consumed, including approximately 43 grams of fentanyl in January 2021. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Justice, in 2019, nearly 71,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. The increase in overdose deaths has been driven in large part by fentanyl, a drug that has been described as 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. In 2019, over 14,000 people died in the United States from a drug overdose involving heroin. From 2013 to 2019, the synthetic opioid death rate increased by more than 1,000 percent. Of those deaths, over 70% involved a prescription or illicit opioid. Among New York State residents, the number of overdose deaths involving any opioid increased each year between 2010 and 2017, with an overall increase of 200.2 percent from 1,074 in 2010 to 3,224 in 2017, according to the New York State Health Department. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley T. King and Madeline O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder and Legal Assistant Janelle Robinson. The Defendant : CHARLES CARTER (also known as “Chase”) Age: 34 Amityville, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-88 (S-1) (GRB)


title: Duplin County Man Facing Federal Charges in Fentanyl Overdose Death Case

body_text: RALEIGH, NC – A Mount Olive man was federally indicted and arrested for allegedly trafficking drugs and distributing fentanyl to a victim who later died as a result of an overdose. Dylan Jones, age 23, is currently facing five federal charges including one count of distribution resulting in death, three counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Jones is facing a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison. “North Carolina reported a 22% increase in overdose deaths in 2021 with more than 4000 people losing their life in a single year, and more than 77% of the deaths likely involving fentanyl,” said Michael Easley. “We are partnering with local law enforcement to train and educate on the dangers of fentanyl and prioritizing the prosecution of it.” “The Sheriff’s Office and the United States Attorney will continue to work diligently to dismantle drug trafficking operations in our community and ensure those responsible for the deaths of our loved ones are held accountable,” said Duplin County Sheriff Stratton Stokes. “I am thankful for their partnership as our county faces the fentanyl crisis that touches every corner of our nation.” According to the indictment, Jones is alleged to have supplied counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to a victim who died in 2022. He is also alleged to have sold fentanyl on three different dates and during at least one of those sales, was carrying a firearm. Jones was arrested on state charges on November 2, 2022, and was recently arrested on federal charges on November 7, 2023. Jones is currently in custody and has a detention hearing set for November 16 where the Government will seek pre-trial detention. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:23-cr-00114-FL-BM-1. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Manhattan Fentanyl And Methamphetamine Trafficker Convicted Of Drug Trafficking, Conspiracy, And Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a jury returned a guilty verdict on November 9, 2023, against MOUNIR MRABET on four counts in a Superseding Indictment, including charges of narcotics conspiracy, narcotics trafficking, and a firearms offense. MRABET will be sentenced at a later date by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who presided over the trial. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendant was a prolific methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficker who received these dangerous drugs in the mail and sold them in wholesale quantities to other drug dealers in the heart of Manhattan. He also used a gun to protect his drug enterprise. His conviction should serve as a message to anyone who profits from fueling the methamphetamine and opioid crisis that continues to devastate our city and country: this Office is committed to prosecuting those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.” According to the evidence presented at trial: From about July 2022 to about January 5, 2023, MOUNIR MRABET coordinated with suppliers in Mexico and California to receive boxes of crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl in the mail. He then worked with co-conspirators to distribute wholesale quantities of these drugs to other drug dealers in New York City. On January 5, 2023, a search warrant was executed on the defendant’s Manhattan apartment after he was recorded selling drugs to an undercover detective, including fake oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. The search recovered approximately 24 pounds of methamphetamine, most of it pure, and half a pound of fentanyl powder. At trial, text messages, photographs, and video evidence established that the defendant regularly supplied numerous drug dealers with bags of drugs, often in pound quantities, and that he also used a firearm and threats to protect and promote his drug operations. * * * MRABET, 40, of New York, New York, was convicted of (i) one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl; (ii) two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl; and (iii) one count of use, carrying, and possession of a firearm in connection with, and in furtherance of, the narcotics conspiracy. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department; Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California for their assistance in this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane Y. Chong, Edward C. Robinson, Jr., and Jun Xiang, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Alex Frenchman, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Local Drug Distributor Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Organizing The Sale of Cocaine

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Elias Sambrano, 33, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 60 months in prison, followed by 48 months supervised release. Sambrano pleaded guilty on April 26, 2023, to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. Sambrano organized and attempted to organize sales of cocaine and methamphetamine. Sambrano confirmed with interested parties that he had high-quality cocaine for sale, discussed pricing and purity levels of drugs with others, and knowingly and intentionally coordinated the sale of approximately one kilogram of cocaine for $32,500 to an out-of-state purchaser on November 2, 2020. The Drug Enforcement Administration in Sierra Vista, Arizona conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 21-CR-02281-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-175_Sambrano # # # 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: Therapist’s ex-wife sent to prison for defrauding Medicaid and stealing patient information

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 48-year-old Katy resident has been sentenced to prison for defrauding Medicaid of more than $600,000, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Kay Le Farmer pleaded guilty March 22. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Farmer to serve 56 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Farmer fraudulently obtained information of over 300 patients, her attempts to lie and cover-up her crimes and that she appeared to be searching for more employment opportunities to steal more information. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Farmer’s “cunning and calculated” actions. She emphasized Farmer’s “greed and selfishness” and said she manipulated everyone around her. Farmer is the former office manager for her ex-husband - a therapist and Medicaid provider in the Houston area. Following their separation, Farmer admitted to using her ex-husband’s provider number to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid, unbeknownst to him, for counseling services that were never provided. In 2017, Farmer admitted to using her employment at a pediatrician’s office to obtain patient information. She then submitted more fraudulent claims to Medicaid under her ex-husband’s provider number. In total, from 2013 until 2018, Farmer submitted, or caused the submission of, approximately $617,983.86 in claims for psychotherapy services that were not provided. Farmer admitted she was paid approximately $432,924.69 on those claims. Farmer was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Texas Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (OIG), Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - OIG conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson prosecuted the case.


title: South Florida Man Indicted For Trying To Smuggle Fentanyl And Other Contraband Into Prison

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jose Santos Pardo (23, Homestead) with one count of possession with the intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and one count of possession of contraband by an inmate in prison. If convicted, Santos Pardo faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison for the fentanyl offense and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the possession of contraband offense. According to the court records, Santos Pardo was an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, assigned to a low security section of the prison. On November 19, 2022, a correctional officer observed Santos Pardo running along the side of the road towards an inmate housing unit carrying three bags. When confronted, officers determined that Santos Pardo’s bags contained 92.8 grams of fentanyl, over 300 grams of marijuana, tobacco, several bottles of alcohol, 14 cellphones, and multiple other prohibited items. 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. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.


title: Twenty-three gang members and associates indicted on racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearm charges

body_text: ATLANTA – A 12-count indictment was unsealed last week in the Northern District of Georgia, charging 23 defendants, all alleged Sex Money Murder (SMM) gang members and associates, with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, and firearms violations. “Gang activity poses a grave risk of harm to our communities as well as to many of our institutions,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The defendants charged in this case allegedly perpetrated numerous violent and other criminal offenses, including multiple murders, brutal assaults, and drug trafficking crimes, on behalf of the gang Sex Money Murder. For more than a decade, these gang members and their associates allegedly orchestrated a criminal enterprise within and outside of multiple prisons to earn money for, boost their status in, and impose discipline required by, the gang. This indictment is the culmination of a lengthy and carefully coordinated federal and state law enforcement investigation aimed at dismantling this violent group.” “The defendants and their criminal associates are alleged to have committed murder, engaged in stabbings and attempted murder, and distributed thousands of dollars’ worth of illicit drugs inside and outside the Georgia prison system, all to enhance the power and prestige of their gang, the Sex Money Murder set of The Bloods,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “With this RICO indictment, the Criminal Division, along with our federal, state, and local partners, again shows its commitment to hold accountable and bring to justice violent gang members who terrorize our communities and attempt to control our country’s prison systems.” “For too long, criminal gangs have wreaked havoc on our streets, destroying families, neighborhoods, and communities. Georgia residents deserve to exist without fear and intimidation inflicted by violent gangs,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “To alleged gang members and others infecting our streets—the FBI and our law enforcement partners will find and prosecute you no matter how long it takes or where you are living.” “This extremely labor-intensive investigation would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment demonstrated by the investigating Agents, Task Force Officers, and Prosecutors. These indictments are a culmination of the collaborative efforts by all agencies involved; our communities are safer because of this investigation,” said Dan Salter, the Director of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. “It’s alarming to think that these criminals were brazen enough to distribute dangerous drugs and commit heinous crimes while behind bars,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “They must now face the consequences.” “Gang activity inside correctional facilities throughout our state continues to be a challenge, and we are using every resource at our disposal to combat this issue,” said Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. “As one of Governor Kemp’s initiatives is to fight gang activity, our agents work non-stop with our law enforcement partners statewide, and this is yet another example of that vital collaboration,” continued Oliver. “We appreciate the support of our local, state, and federal partners in ensuring that justice is served on these individuals.” “With the creation of Georgia’s first statewide Gang Prosecution Unit, we’re working with all levels of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute criminal gang activity wherever it occurs,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “Alongside our partners at the Georgia Department of Corrections, we will continue to hold accountable those who use a contraband cellphone to direct further violence from behind bars. Our top priority is to protect our fellow Georgians, and that’s exactly what we’re fighting to do each day.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: SMM is a national gang and subset of The Bloods gang, which originated in the early 1970s in Los Angeles, California. The SMM subset spread from the Bronx, New York area across the East Coast, including Georgia, where it operates inside and outside prisons and jails. The indictment alleges an extensive criminal enterprise in which inmates within the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC), often using contraband cellphones, orchestrated numerous crimes, including murders, attempted murders, attempted arson, drug trafficking – within and outside the GDOC, and fraud. Eleven of the defendants were in prison when they allegedly committed or ordered the charged offenses. The indictment alleges that SMM is organized into subgroups, called “sets” or “lines,” which are responsible for carrying out the affairs of the gang within their individual territories. Typically, each set or line is responsible for representing SMM through the commission of criminal activities, the generation of financial proceeds, the resolution of internal and external conflicts, and the enforcement of strict adherence to SMM rules and protocols. Each set or line has its own “line-up,” or hierarchy of ranked gang members from each territory. A set or line and its leaders fall under higher-ranking national leaders, including the “Royal Flush,” and are ultimately subject to the overall command of “Royal Flush” members. Certain SMM members hold a specific rank within the gang or within a specific set or line. Specific duties and responsibilities are associated with each rank. The SMM rank structure often includes a delineation between incarcerated members (“behind the wall”) and non-incarcerated members (“on the streets”). In many instances, leadership “behind the wall” also exerts control over membership “on the streets.” The indictment alleges that the defendants committed multiple acts of violence in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, including that: On or about May 10, 2014, following the directive of an SMM leader, four SMM members and associates stormed a home in DeKalb County, Georgia and shot multiple rounds of ammunition into a bathroom, killing a nine-month-old boy. On or about March 13, 2017, at Autry State Prison in Pelham, Georgia, defendant Cedric Pierre and another SMM member repeatedly stabbed another inmate on orders from defendant Chase Pinckney. On or about October 11, 2017, defendant Demarco Draughn murdered an inmate at Hancock State Prison on orders from defendant Anthony Jernigan because the inmate had allegedly violated one of SMM’s rules. On or about March 20, 2019, defendant Rontavious Fowler murdered an inmate at Smith State Prison in Glennville, Georgia. On or about May 10, 2020, at Hancock State Prison in Sparta, Georgia, SMM members isolated another SMM member in a prison cell, tied him up, and repeatedly stabbed him on suspicion that the SMM member had allegedly violated one of the gang’s rules. On or about May 11, 2020, at GDOC’s Special Management Unit, defendants Demarco Draughn and Rontavious Fowler repeatedly stabbed another inmate, as directed by SMM leadership. On or about November 5, 2020, defendant Chase Pinckney authorized the beating of an inmate at Ware State Prison in Waycross, Georgia on suspicion that the inmate had allegedly violated one of SMM’s rules. On or about December 9, 2020, an SMM member shot and killed another gang member in Griffin, Georgia, on belief that the member had cooperated with law enforcement. Between on or about January 31 through on or about February 4, 2021, defendant Cedric Pierre directed SMM members to set fire to a drug customer’s home in Colbert, Georgia. The following defendants have been charged in the indictment for conduct related to their alleged roles in the RICO conspiracy and related crimes: Ryan Brandt, a/k/a Street Life and Robert Kraft, 44, of Hays State Prison in Trion, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring, aiding and abetting, and possessing a controlled substance and a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute; Kyle Oree, a/k/a Nasty Nu, 52, of Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance and a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute; Chase Pinckney, a/k/a Chase Pickney, Three Shots, Noriega, and Sinatra, 38, of Ware State Prison in Waycross, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Elton Jackson, a/k/a 2gz and John Madden, 41, of Telfair State Prison in Helena, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Sean Carr, a/k/a Nut and Nutkase, 51, of FCI Talladega in Talladega, Alabama, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Lavorsia Jones, a/k/a Shitbag, 23, of Dacula, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring, attempting, and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute; Danielle Ford, 49, of Ellenwood, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute; Charlton King, a/k/a Hell’s Militant Camp, 23 of Valdosta, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Demarco Draughn, a/k/a Shoota B, 28, of Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Richard Smith, a/k/a Alleyway and Brett Favre, 36, of Ware State Prison in Waycross, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Rontavious Fowler, a/k/a Lil Hot, 26, of Hancock State Prison in Sparta, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Shavon Thomas, a/k/a Shavon Edwards, 55, of Decatur, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Lionel Edwards, a/k/a Tony, Tyson, and Python, 41, of USP Florence in Florence, Colorado, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Anthony Jernigan, a/k/a Hell Raiser, 36, of Hays State Prison in Trion, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy; Cedric Pierre, a/k/a Flip, 23, of Robert A. Deyton Correctional Facility in Lovejoy, Georgia, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Ricardo Sanchez, 40, of Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Troy McCraine, 57, of Tennessee, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Qawwee Mitchell, 36, of Gainesville, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Sherri Gandy-Torres, 56, of Lakeland, Florida, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Nyla Blacknell, 43, of Duluth, state, is charged with conspiring to possess and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and carrying a firearm during and in relation to of a drug trafficking crime; Tracey Wise, 46, Milledgeville, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; Shounnette Wooten, 50, of Gray, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute; and Kierra Williams, 31, of Haddock, Georgia, is charged with conspiring to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possessing a controlled substance analogue with the intent to distribute. Nine of the defendants were arrested on November 8, 2023 and appeared in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, Georgia and Albany, Georgia the same day. Eight additional defendants were arraigned in Atlanta on November 9, 2023. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and Drug Enforcement Administration, and Georgia Department of Corrections, with valuable assistance from the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals Service, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Georgia State Patrol, Brookhaven Police Department, Butts County Sheriff’s Office, DeKalb County Police Department, Douglasville Police Department, East Point Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Marietta Police Department, Riverdale Police Department, Sandy Springs Police Department, and South Fulton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg of the Northern District of Georgia, and Trial Attorney Lisa M. Thelwell of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering (VICAR) Section are prosecuting the case, and former VICAR Trial Attorney Rebecca R. Dunnan previously prosecuted the case. The indictment is a result of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigations. The OCDETF mission is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task force approach. OCDETF synchronizes and incentivizes prosecutors and agents to lead smart, creative investigations targeting the command-and-control networks of organized criminal groups and the illicit financiers that support them. Additional information about the OCDETF Program may be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .