title: Malas Manas Transnational Criminal Organization Leadership Indicted on Charges of Human Smuggling and Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Arizona

number: 2023-200_Roman-Figueroa, et al.

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – On November 29, 2023, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an 11-count indictment against Jorge Damian Roman-Figueroa, Luis Eduardo Roman-Flores, Manuel Jose Bernal, Joel Salazar-Ballesteros, and Jesus Armando Gonzalez-Villela, citizens of Mexico, for Conspiracy to Transport Aliens; Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments; Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Cocaine; Distribution of Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Cocaine; and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. “These actions are the latest in a long line of the Justice Department’s efforts to dismantle, piece-by-piece, violent cartels like Malasa Manas and Sinaloa,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to target and prosecute the leaders and associates of the criminal groups responsible for poisoning the American people with fentanyl and endangering vulnerable migrants for profit.” The indictment alleges that defendants Jorge Damian Roman-Figueroa, also known as Soldado, Luis Eduardo Roman-Flores, Manuel Jose Bernal, also known as Peque, and Joel Salazar-Ballesteros, also known as Catorce, are members of the Malas Manas Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), operating in the Santa Cruz and Mascarenas areas of Mexico, with the permission of the Sinaloa Cartel. The indictment alleges that these defendants operated a human smuggling organization as part of the Malas Manas TCO, trafficked drugs, and laundered the proceeds of both criminal activities. More specifically, the indictment alleges that beginning at an unknown time but including December 2020 and continuing through November 12, 2021, defendants Roman-Figueroa, Roman-Flores, Bernal, and Salazar-Ballesteros conspired to transport aliens within the United States as part of the Malas Manas Transnational Criminal Organization. The indictment alleges that between January 2019 and August 2023, defendants Roman-Figueroa, Roman-Flores, and Salazar-Ballesteros conspired to launder the profits of alien smuggling and drug smuggling through the movement of monetary instruments from the United States to the Republic of Mexico. The indictment further alleges that from 2019 until 2023 Roman-Figueroa, Bernal, Salazar-Ballesteros, and Gonzalez-Villela conspired to distribute and did distribute various quantities of fentanyl, marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Finally, the indictment alleges that Bernal brandished a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime involving methamphetamine on February 3, 2021. The most serious of these crimes carries a minimum mandatory term of 10 years and up to a maximum term of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000. “DEA’s top operational priority is to defeat the two criminal organizations responsible for the influx of fentanyl into the United States— the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels. As alleged in the indictment, these defendants worked with the Sinaloa Cartel to send fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the United States,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Today’s actions demonstrate that DEA will relentlessly pursue every member and associate of these global criminal organizations, which threaten the public health, safety, and national security of the American people.” “The facts alleged here illustrate the breadth and diversity of the harmful actions by transnational criminal organizations,” said United States Attorney Gary Restaino. “This case isn’t about just guns, or drugs, or aliens. In our continuing efforts to safeguard and bolster border communities, we look forward to establishing the interconnectedness of these three related crimes.” An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. This case also involves the OCDETF Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Homeland Security Investigations – Nogales Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration – Tucson Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation OCDETF Strike Force in Tucson conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Rui Wang, Arturo Aguilar, and David Petermann worked on the investigation. AUSA David Petermann is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01975-TUC-JCH (AMM) RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-200_Roman-Figueroa, et al. # # # 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: Former Security Engineer For International Technology Company Pleads Guilty To Hacking Two Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea today of SHAKEEB AHMED in connection with his hack of two separate decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges, one of which was the July 2022 hack of Nirvana Finance. AHMED pled guilty to computer fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. AHMED also agreed to forfeit over $12.3 million, including forfeiture of approximately $5.6 million in fraudulently obtained cryptocurrency. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Five months ago, my Office announced the first ever arrest involving an attack on a smart contract. Today, senior security engineer Shakeeb Ahmed pled guilty and agreed to return all of the stolen crypto to his victims. That arrest is now the first ever conviction for such a hack. Ahmed’s plea has also resulted in him further admitting that he carried out a previously unsolved second multi-million-dollar hack, this time of decentralized finance protocol Nirvana Finance. In total, Ahmed used his technical knowhow to steal over $12 million and tried to cover his tracks by swapping stolen crypto for Monero, using cryptocurrency mixers, hopping across blockchains, and utilizing overseas crypto exchanges. Today’s conviction shows that no matter how sophisticated the methods used, fraud is fraud, and we will swiftly catch and convict you.” According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court: In July 2022, AHMED executed hacks on two separate decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges, an exchange referred to herein as the “Crypto Exchange” and Nirvana Finance (“Nirvana”). In July 2023, AHMED was publicly charged with the hack of the Crypto Exchange. Today’s guilty plea is the first public filing acknowledging AHMED’s responsibility for a second sophisticated, multi-million dollar hack he executed in July 2022 of Nirvana. At the time of both attacks, AHMED, a U.S. citizen, was a senior security engineer for an international technology company whose resume reflected skills in, among other things, reverse engineering smart contracts and blockchain audits, which are some of the specialized skills AHMED used to execute the hacks. The Crypto Exchange allowed users to exchange different kinds of cryptocurrencies, and paid fees to users who deposited cryptocurrency to provide liquidity on the Crypto Exchange. On or about July 2 and 3, 2022, AHMED carried out an attack on the Crypto Exchange by exploiting a vulnerability in one of the Crypto Exchange’s smart contracts and inserting fake pricing data to fraudulently cause that smart contract to generate approximately $9 million dollars’ worth of inflated fees that AHMED did not legitimately earn. AHMED was able to withdraw said fees from the Crypto Exchange in the form of cryptocurrency. This conduct defrauded the Crypto Exchange and its users whose cryptocurrency AHMED had fraudulently obtained. After he stole the fees he never legitimately earned, AHMED had communications with the Crypto Exchange in which he agreed to return all of the stolen funds except for $1.5 million if the Crypto Exchange agreed not to refer the attack to law enforcement. Nirvana was a second decentralized finance protocol. Nirvana bought and sold its cryptocurrency token, ANA. Nirvana was designed so that when a user purchased a substantial quantity of ANA, the price of ANA increased, and when a user sold a substantial quantity of ANA, the price of ANA decreased. On or about July 28, 2022, a few weeks after the hack of the Crypto Exchange, AHMED carried out an attack on Nirvana in which he took out a flash loan for approximately $10 million, used those funds to purchase ANA from Nirvana, and used an exploit he discovered in Nirvana’s smart contracts to purchase the ANA at its initial, low price, rather than at the higher price that Nirvana was designed to charge him in light of the size of his purchase. When the price of ANA updated to reflect his large purchase, AHMED resold the ANA he had purchased to Nirvana at the new, higher price, resulting in a profit to him of approximately $3.6 million. Nirvana offered AHMED a “bug bounty” of as much as $600,000 to return the stolen funds, but AHMED instead demanded $1.4 million, did not reach agreement with Nirvana, and kept all the stolen funds. The $3.6 million AHMED stole represented approximately all the funds possessed by Nirvana, which as a result shut down shortly after AHMED’s attack. AHMED laundered the millions that he stole from the Crypto Exchange and from Nirvana to conceal their source and ownership, using sophisticated techniques including token-swap transactions, “bridging” fraud proceeds from the Solana blockchain over to the Ethereum blockchain, exchanging fraud proceeds into Monero, an anonymized and particularly difficult cryptocurrency to trace, using overseas cryptocurrency exchanges, and using cryptocurrency mixers such as Samourai Whirlpool. After the attacks, AHMED searched online for information about the hacks, his own criminal liability, criminal defense attorneys with expertise in similar cases, law enforcement’s ability to successfully investigate the attacks, and fleeing the U.S. to avoid criminal charges. For example, approximately two days after the hack of the Crypto Exchange, AHMED conducted an internet search for the term “defi hack,” read several news articles about the hack of the Crypto Exchange, and visited several pages on the Crypto Exchange’s website. In the days after the hack of Nirvana, AHMED conducted internet searches for the term “defi hacks prosecution” and searches related to the charges in the Indictment, including the terms “wire fraud” and “evidence laundering.” Finally, AHMED conducted internet searches or visited websites related to his ability to flee the U.S., avoid extradition, and keep his stolen cryptocurrency. He searched for the terms “can I cross border with crypto,” “how to stop federal government from seizing assets,” and “buying citizenship.” He also visited a website titled “16 Countries Where Your Investments Can Buy Citizenship . . .” * * * AHMED, 34, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of computer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. AHMED also agreed to pay restitution to his victims totaling $5,071,074.23. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. AHMED is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Victor Marrero on March 13, 2024. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of Homeland Security Investigations and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California for its assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Money Laundering & Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit and Complex Frauds & Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David R. Felton and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Woman Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Endangered Sea Cucumbers through South Florida Airport

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Dec. 11, Xiao Pingping, 38, pled guilty to smuggling shark fins, sea horses, and sea cucumbers and attempted smuggling of American Ginseng. The Court sentenced her the same day to one month in federal prison. The three-count indictment charged Xiao with two counts of smuggling shark fins, sea horses, and sea cucumbers into the United States and one count of smuggling American ginseng out of the United States. American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius ) is a plant species that is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). According to the agreed upon factual proffer in support of Xiao’s plea to the three-count indictment, on January 14, 2022, Xiao sent a package from Brazil to an individual in Florida and Xiao intentionally misidentified the contents of the package. Xiao wrote on the shipping label that the package contained “fish belly,” when, instead, she had concealed 33 sea horses, 435 sea cucumbers, and 16 shark fins, which are wildlife and required to be declared to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”), pursuant to federal regulations. On Nov. 19, Xiao travelled from Managua, Nicaragua to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (“FLL”), Florida. When border officers reviewed Xiao’s luggage in an X-ray scan, they observed various anomalies. Xiao lied to the border agents and told them that she was not carrying any plants, food, seeds, fruits, vegetables, endangered species and/or meat on her person or in her luggage and had nothing to declare. Border officers searched Xiao’s luggage by hand and identified 11 sea cucumbers concealed in the clothing packed in her bag. After the border officers discovered the sea cucumbers, Xiao intentionally misidentified the wildlife by telling the border officers that the sea cucumbers were “fish belly,” however, she later admitted they were sea cucumbers, which are required to be declared to USFWS pursuant to federal regulations. Border officers seized the sea cucumbers and explained to Xiao that federal regulations and laws required her to declare plants and wildlife. On Nov. 24, Xiao checked a cardboard box at FLL for a flight from FLL to Managua, Nicaragua. Border officers again observed various anomalies that resembled organic material inside the box when the box passed through an x-ray scan. Border officers stopped Xiao on the jet bridge as she attempted to board the aircraft with a piece of carry-on luggage. Xiao denied that she had anything in her bags or checked box to declare. Border officers searched Xiao’s checked box and carryon luggage by hand and discovered 9 bags and four boxes of American Ginseng contained therein. Pursuant to federal regulations, CITES requires an export permit for protected plant species such as American Ginseng. Xiao intentionally failed to disclose the American Ginseng, knowing she had a declaration duty after being informed of such agricultural regulations just five days prior when border officers searched her luggage and seized the eleven sea cucumbers. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Stephen Clark for USFWS Office of Law Enforcement, Southeast Region, made the announcement. USFWS Office of Law Enforcement in Miami, Florida and Portland, Oregon conducted the investigation, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Stone. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-CR- 60231-WPD. ###


title: Toadlena Man Charged with Failing to Update Sex Offender Registration

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Anthony Brian Manuelito appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with failure to update sex offender registration in violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Manuelito, 46, of Toadlena, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending an arraignment and detention hearing scheduled for December 15, 2023. According to the indictment, from on or about May 5, 2019, continuing to on or about December 5, 2023, Manuelito, a person required to register under the sex offender registration and notification act, by reason of a conviction under federal law, knowingly failed to update a registration. SORNA, also known as the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act, requires that a convicted sex offender register in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, where the offender is employed, or where the offender is a student, and that the sex offender maintain current registrations. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Manuelito faces up to 10 years in prison. The United States Marshal Service investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-285


title: New York City Police Officer Charged with Sex Offenses Relating to Minors

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: A four-count indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Christopher Terranova, a New York City police officer, with attempting to exploit children and coercion and enticement of a minor. In at least one instance, Terranova is alleged to have used his position as a police officer to gain access to a victim who had previously been the victim of a crime. Terranova was arrested this morning and will be arraigned later today before United States Magistrate Judge Marcia M. Henry. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges. “The defendant allegedly preyed upon vulnerable youth in the same community he was sworn to protect,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Protecting minors from those who violate their position of trust will always be a priority of this Office. I urge parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers and individuals who seek to exploit them.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau and the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office for its significant cooperation and assistance during the investigation. “The FBI takes crimes against children seriously—even more so when it involves someone who took an oath to serve and protect, and whom the public holds to a higher standard,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. “The damage done by Terranova’s alleged depravity will likely outlast any punishment he ultimately receives. The FBI is dedicated to doing the work to restore public faith in law enforcement when individuals attempt to use the badge to hide their illegal behavior. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this case.” As set forth in the indictment and other court documents, Terranova is charged with using social media to engage in sexually explicit conversations with underage boys and attempting to entice those victims into taking sexually explicit photographs of themselves and sharing them with the defendant. Terranova used popular social media applications, such as Snapchat, to message with underage boys whom he encountered socially or through his job as a police officer. After establishing a relationship with the boys, Terranova solicited them for nude photographs. On at least one occasion, in the guise of giving a boy a ride home from a party, Terranova brought the boy to a secluded location where he directed the victim to engage in sex acts with him. Between March 2023 and May 2023, the defendant targeted a 15-year-old boy (John Doe 3) who was the victim of a robbery. After viewing John Doe 3’s personal information in an NYPD database, Terranova messaged the victim’s personal phone under the pretense of checking on him after the robbery. The defendant wrote, “it’s Chris Terranova the cop you met at the 121 [Precinct] that day with mom, i just wanted to reach out to see if you were doing ok after the incident, I hate seeing these things happen to good Guys like yourself.” Terranova then connected with John Doe 3 via social media and attempted to engage him in conversation about sexual activity and pornography. After sending John Doe 3 a sexually explicit photograph of himself, Terranova messaged the victim: “See it’s nothing[.] Your turn[.]” Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 212-384-1000. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Terranova faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Howard Elbert and Rachel A. Bennek are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : Christopher Terranova Age: 33 Staten Island, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-516 (KAM)


title: Illegally Armed Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced To 27 Years In Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, Brandon Alan Purvis, 44, of Waynesville, N.C., was sentenced to 27 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine and illegal possession of a firearm, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Sheriff William Wilke of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to documents filed with the court, in October 2021, an investigation into Purvis’s drug trafficking activities was initiated, after law enforcement learned that the defendant was acquiring methamphetamine and redistributing it to others in and around Haywood County. On November 2, 2021, law enforcement conducting surveillance observed Purvis drive away from his residence in Waynesville. Shortly thereafter, Haywood County deputies attempted to pull over Purvis’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Purvis failed to stop and continued to speed away with the deputies in pursuit of the vehicle. As Purvis was driving over a bridge, deputies observed Purvis toss a backpack from his passenger window into the river and he continued to speed away. According to court records, Purvis eventually stopped his vehicle and was arrested at the scene. Haywood County officers recovered nearly $9,000 in cash, narcotics, and an air power rifle from Purvis and his vehicle. Law enforcement then located the backpack Purvis had tossed into the river and found more than 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine at the bottom of the bag. Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at Purvis’s residence. During the search, law enforcement seized a loaded firearm and more than $17,000 in cash. Purvis has a lengthy criminal history and he is prohibited under federal law of possessing a firearm or ammunition. Court records also show that over the course of the investigation law enforcement determined that Purvis was responsible for trafficking over $2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. On May 17, 2023, Purvis pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King credited the investigative work of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, which are part of an investigation led by the Western District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). U.S. Attorney King also thanked the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, the Waynesville Police Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Canton Police Department, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the Maggie Valley Police Department, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their investigative efforts in the broader OCDETF investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf . Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.


component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: On Nov. 29, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an 11-count indictment against Jorge Damian Roman-Figueroa, Luis Eduardo Roman-Flores, Manuel Jose Bernal, Joel Salazar-Ballesteros, and Jesus Armando Gonzalez-Villela, all of Mexico, for conspiracy to transport aliens; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; conspiracy to distribute marijuana, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine; distribution of marijuana, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine; and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. “These actions are the latest in a long line of the Justice Department’s efforts to dismantle, piece-by-piece, violent cartels like Malasa Manas and Sinaloa,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to target and prosecute the leaders and associates of the criminal groups responsible for poisoning the American people with fentanyl and endangering vulnerable migrants for profit.” The indictment alleges that defendants Jorge Damian Roman-Figueroa, also known as Soldado, Luis Eduardo Roman-Flores, Manuel Jose Bernal, also known as Peque, and Joel Salazar-Ballesteros, also known as Catorce, are members of the Malas Manas Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), operating in the Santa Cruz and Mascarenas areas of Mexico, with the permission of the Sinaloa Cartel. The indictment alleges that these defendants operated a human smuggling organization as part of the Malas Manas TCO, trafficked drugs, and laundered the proceeds of both criminal activities. More specifically, the indictment alleges that beginning at an unknown time but including December 2020 and continuing through Nov. 12, 2021, defendants Roman-Figueroa, Roman-Flores, Bernal, and Salazar-Ballesteros conspired to transport aliens within the United States as part of the Malas Manas Transnational Criminal Organization. The indictment alleges that between January 2019 and August 2023, Roman-Figueroa, Roman-Flores, and Salazar-Ballesteros conspired to launder the profits of alien smuggling and drug smuggling through the movement of monetary instruments from the United States to the Republic of Mexico. The indictment further alleges that from 2019 until 2023 Roman-Figueroa, Bernal, Salazar-Ballesteros, and Gonzalez-Villela conspired to distribute and did distribute various quantities of fentanyl, marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Finally, the indictment alleges that Bernal brandished a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime involving methamphetamine on Feb. 3, 2021. The most serious of these crimes carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000. “DEA’s top operational priority is to defeat the two criminal organizations responsible for the influx of fentanyl into the United States — the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels. As alleged in the indictment, these defendants worked with the Sinaloa Cartel to send fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the United States,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Today’s actions demonstrate that DEA will relentlessly pursue every member and associate of these global criminal organizations, which threaten the public health, safety, and national security of the American people.” “The facts alleged here illustrate the breadth and diversity of the harmful actions by transnational criminal organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “This case isn’t about just guns, or drugs, or aliens. In our continuing efforts to safeguard and bolster border communities, we look forward to establishing the interconnectedness of these three related crimes.” This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. This case also involves the OCDETF Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Homeland Security Investigations Nogales, DEA Tucson Division, and the FBI OCDETF Strike Force in Tucson conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rui Wang, Arturo Aguilar, and David Petermann for the District of Arizona worked on the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann for the District of Arizona is prosecuted the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Fentanyl Dealer Is Sentenced To Prison

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Antonio Markel Hewitt, 33, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced today to 96 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed documents and today’s court proceedings, in April 2022, investigators became aware that Hewitt was involved in the distribution of fentanyl in the Catawba County area. Court records show that law enforcement conducted an investigation into Hewitt, that included multiple controlled fentanyl purchases from the defendant at or near his home. On June 21, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hewitt’s residence. During the search, law enforcement seized four firearms, one of which was affixed with a high capacity magazine, ammunition, and digital scales. On March 8, 2023, Hewitt pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of fentanyl. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The ATF and the Hickory Police Department conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26 th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 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: Owner of Maryland Paving and Construction Company Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Maryland man was sentenced today to 13 months in prison for evading his federal income taxes. According to court documents and statements made in court, Jerry Lee Redman, of Severn, siphoned money from his own paving and construction business, Redman Services Inc. (RSI), in the form of weekly cash withdrawals that he then used to pay for personal expenses, including alcohol and gambling. Redman did not report these cash withdrawals as income on his personal tax returns for the years 2014 through 2018. He also caused some of these cash withdrawals to be falsely deducted as business expenses on RSI’s corporate tax returns. During these same years, Redman directed some of RSI’s clients to write checks payable directly to Redman instead of RSI and deposited the checks into his personal bank account. As a result, these checks were not reported as income on RSI’s corporate returns. In total, Redman’s scheme caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $660,000. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Julie Rubin for the District of Maryland ordered Redman to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $894,338.04 in restitution to the United States. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Christina M. Grimes of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.


title: Postal Service Employee Is Sentenced For Stealing A Firearm From Mailed Package

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A United States Postal Service employee was sentenced today for mail theft after stealing a firearm from a mailed package, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell ordered Demarkis Deon Houston, 31, of Charlotte, to serve 15 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Jeff Krafels, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), which oversees Charlotte, and Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to information contained in court filings, Houston worked as a mail handling equipment operator at a USPS processing and distribution center in Charlotte. Between August and September 2022, Houston unlawfully opened and destroyed mail entrusted to him and removed firearms, to include a 9mm firearm, which was intended to be delivered by a carrier of the Postal Service. On October 10, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Houston’s vehicle for a license plate violation. Over the course of the stop, law enforcement removed a firearm from Houston’s vehicle. Upon further investigation, law enforcement determined that the firearm recovered from Houston’s vehicle was one of the firearms reported stolen from a mailed shipment. On August 24, 2023, Houston pleaded guilty to destruction of theft of mail by a postal employee. In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked USPS-OIG and ATF for their investigation of the case and thanked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina H. Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Woman Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Role in Large-Scale Fentanyl Trafficking Organization with Ties to Sinaloa, Mexico

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican woman has been sentenced for possessing seven kilograms of fentanyl as well as one kilogram of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue intended for distribution. Ana Checo, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani on Dec. 7, 2023 to 135 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On Sept. 6, 2023, Checo pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of valeryl fentanyl and one count of money laundering conspiracy. “The devastating impact fentanyl continues to have on our communities cannot be overstated,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This sentence underscores our unwavering determination to identify and bring to justice those responsible for putting deadly fentanyl on our streets. Our office will continue to use every resource at our disposal to dismantle criminal enterprises that seek to profit off of addiction and misery.” “Fentanyl is causing tremendous damage to the state of Massachusetts,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division. “Let this sentence be a warning to those traffickers who are distributing this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes this deadly drug.” In June 2019, Checo was identified as a member of a large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering organization working with drug suppliers based in Sinaloa, Mexico. Specifically, Checo was responsible for receiving narcotics – namely fentanyl – from the drug suppliers for distribution in Massachusetts, as well as delivering drug proceeds in bulk cash to money launderers who laundered the proceeds back to the suppliers in Mexico. In June 2019, Checo delivered $58,510 in drug proceeds to an undercover officer for laundering. In July 2019, a search of Checo’s residence resulted in the recovery of over 12 kilograms of narcotics – including approximately seven kilograms of fentanyl, four kilograms of tramadol, one kilogram of a fentanyl and fentanyl analogue mixture and one kilogram of a hallucinogen. The drugs were found stored in bags inside Checo’s bedroom closet as well as her daughter’s bedroom closet. Also seized was $18,325 in cash as well as several notebooks that detailed drug transactions dating back to 2017. In April 2020, Checo arranged to deliver $250,000 in bulk cash to an undercover agent posing as a money launderer who had accepted a contract to launder the money from a money broker. Similarly, in April and May 2021, Checo arranged to deliver $100,000 to undercover agents posing as money launderers who had accepted contracts to launder the money from money brokers. In April 2020, nearly $250,000 in bundled cash was seized from Checo as she was traveling to deliver the money to an undercover officer for laundering. Similarly, over two separate occasions in April and May 2021, Checo delivered a total of $200,000 to undercover agents for laundering. On May 26, 2021, in Peabody, Mass., Checo met with a tractor trailer driver and received a suitcase that contained 55 kilograms of fentanyl – worth over $1 million. The fentanyl was ultimately seized later that day. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and DEA SAC Boyle made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Greenville Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Making Fraudulent Statements to Medicaid

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nina Bourret, 41, of Greenville, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to making fraudulent statements to Medicaid in connection with the delivery of autism spectrum disorder services. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Bourret was an owner of Agapi Behavior Consultants, Inc. (“Agapi), which was a business that provided Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). From Feb. 2021 to Dec. 2022, Bourret submitted electronic claims to Medicaid on behalf of Agapi that falsely and fraudulently certified that services had been rendered and/or certified that services had been rendered in excess of what was actually provided to the beneficiary. The investigation revealed Bourret and Agapi submitted claims to Medicaid that contained false and fraudulent statements in the amount of $984,239.30. Senior United States District Judge Henry Michael Herlong, Jr. sentenced Bourret to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Bourret was also ordered to pay $1,760,547.94 in restitution. The restitution ordered represents the amount of fraudulent claims Bourret submitted to Medicaid while operating Agapi and an additional $776,308.64, which represents fraudulent claims Bourret submitted to Medicaid between May 2022 and May 2023 through a company called Navis Pad. “When the programs that are intended to help those in most need of medical care are exploited, it takes away valuable resources from our neighbors,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat healthcare fraud in all its forms.” “The defendant’s actions compromised the integrity of our healthcare systems,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The message is clear; the FBI and its law enforcement partners remain steadfast in delivering justice for victims and bringing accountability to those who take advantage of our country’s healthcare programs.” "Individuals who submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid undermine a valuable health care program intended to care for some of the most vulnerable populations in our communities,” said Tamala Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those alleged of defrauding federal health care programs are held accountable.” “The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office condemns businesses that defraud the government to line their own pockets at the expense of South Carolina’s less fortunate and vulnerable individuals,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. “This is not a victimless crime, and we will continue to investigate these matters to combat provider fraud that ultimately affects everyone in South Carolina.” The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower prosecuted the case. ###


title: Owner And Senior Executive Of New York Contracting Company Charged For Paying Bribes To Obtain Construction Contracts From A Fortune 500 Company

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of charges against TROY CARUSO, the owner and chief executive officer of a commercial construction and contracting company headquartered in New York, New York (the “Contracting Company”), and JOHN NOLAN, a senior executive at the Contracting Company, for their participation in a scheme to bribe a senior project manager at a Fortune 500 real estate services firm in order to obtain contracting work. CARUSO was arrested this morning in Melville, New York, and NOLAN was arrested this morning in Brooklyn, New York. Both CARUSO and NOLAN are expected to be presented in federal court in Manhattan later today. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Troy Caruso and John Nolan bribed a senior-level individual at a Fortune 500 company to award their company favorable contracts, resulting in the parties involved fraudulently obtaining millions. In the construction world, fair bidding is crucial to the success or downfall of a business, and kickback schemes like the one we allege in this case can undermine that process. Those attempting to corrupt the bidding process by gaining an unfair advantage over their law-abiding counterparts will face criminal prosecution.” According to the allegations in the Indictment: [1] From at least in or about February 2021, up to and including in or about September 2023, CARUSO and NOLAN agreed to pay and did pay kickbacks to an employee of a global and publicly traded commercial real estate services company (the “Real Estate Firm”) in exchange for assistance and preferential treatment so that the Contracting Company would be awarded projects managed by the Real Estate Firm (the “Kickback Scheme”). In or about March 2021, CARUSO and NOLAN were introduced by an individual (“CC-1”) to a senior project manager at the Real Estate Firm (“CC-2”). CC-2 managed the process by which contracting companies bid for and were awarded contracts to work on construction projects for various of the Real Estate Firm’s clients. Beginning in or about March 2021 because of the Kickback Scheme, CC-2 took a series of actions CC-2 otherwise would not have taken to ensure that the Contracting Company was awarded a pre-construction contract and a construction contract relating to a certain project (“Project-1”), which was managed by the Real Estate Firm on behalf of its client, a health services business that provides hospital, medical, and other health services to patients. For example, CC-2 ensured that the Contracting Company was on the Real Estate Firm’s “bid list” so that it could submit bids relating to Project-1 that it otherwise could not have submitted. CC-2 also provided non-public information to CARUSO and NOLAN about the bidding process and recommended the Contracting Company for both the pre-construction contract and the construction contract relating to Project-1. As a result of the Kickback Scheme and CC-2’s actions, the Contracting Company was awarded the pre-construction and construction contracts for Project-1, the latter of which was valued at approximately $3.55 million (to be paid to the Contracting Company). In exchange for CC-2’s assistance and preferential treatment, CARUSO and NOLAN agreed to pay kickbacks to CC-2 in the amount of approximately one percent of the construction value of any project managed by the Real Estate Firm that resulted in a contract award to the Contracting Company. Accordingly, CARUSO and NOLAN agreed to pay CC-2 approximately $35,500 for Project-1 and ultimately paid CC-2 approximately $33,000 in kickbacks for CC-2’s assistance on Project-1. Most of these payments were made in cash at locations around New York City. CARUSO and NOLAN also paid CC-1 approximately $15,000 for CC-1’s assistance in the Kickback Scheme, which included connecting CC-2 with CARUSO and NOLAN. CARUSO and NOLAN attempted to obtain additional contracts from the Real Estate Firm with CC-2’s assistance as part of the Kickback Scheme. Between in or about 2022 and in or about 2023, in exchange for CARUSO and NOLAN’s promise of payment for any contract awarded to the Contracting Company, CC-2 provided CARUSO and NOLAN with assistance relating to two additional construction projects managed by the Real Estate Firm that did not result in contract awards to the Contracting Company. * * * CARUSO, 56, of Smithtown, New York, and Ludlow, Vermont, and NOLAN, 42, of Brooklyn, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud, which each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents and the Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Williams also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance in the investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane Kim and Nicholas Folly are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder While Armed for the Deadly Shooting of a 19-Year Old

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – David Botchway, 20, of Gwynn Oak, MD, pleaded guilty, on December 13, 2023, to second degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Andre Baker, of Washington, D.C. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 8, 2024. Botchway faces a sentencing range of 16 to 20 years in prison. According to the government’s evidence, the night of August 5, 2023, Mr. Baker and two friends were hanging out in front of a bus stop in the 1200 block of U Street Northwest after enjoying a night out in the U Street neighborhood. At around 5:01 a.m., Botchway approached the group and without warning or any provocation, pointed the gun at Mr. Baker and shot him multiple times in the head and torso. Mr. Baker died a short time later. One of the bullets also grazed one of the victim’s friends. Botchway fled on foot until officers, who were on routine patrol and heard the gunshots, observed the defendant fleeing on foot. After a short foot chase, officers apprehended Botchway at the corner of 12 th and T Streets, Northwest. A .40 caliber Glock 22 handgun with an extended magazine was found on the defendant at the time of his arrest. The murder was also captured on several surveillance cameras in the area. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke of the Homicide section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Sanford Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Sanford man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for producing and distributing child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Joseph Daniel Zoll , 63, to 25 years imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release. According to court documents, Zoll shared child sexual abuse material with a child sex trafficker in the Philippines and paid the trafficker to sexually abuse a prepubescent minor over a livestreaming videochat platform. For around two years, Zoll communicated with the trafficker and repeatedly instructed them how to abuse the child, watching over video calls. Zoll engaged in similar conduct with other child sex traffickers over the same platform for years. Zoll frequently recorded the livestreaming video calls, which he would then show to other traffickers when instructing them on how to sexually abuse children during their own calls. Trial Attorney William G. Clayman of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig M. Wolff for the District of Maine prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations in New England investigated the case. “It is difficult to put into words the horror and pain experienced by the children abused at Zoll’s behest. Not only did he direct the sexual abuse of several children, he used the videos of that abuse to teach others how to do the same, equipping more predators with the tools to hurt children,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Today’s sentence puts Zoll behind bars and away from the means to abuse more children. We will continue to work alongside our partners in Maine and around the world to detect and end this type of sex trafficking.” “Joseph Zoll paid for and directed the sexual abuse of children overseas from the comfort of his home in Maine, destroying lives half a world away,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee . “That Zoll caused the abuse of young children to occur and observed and shared it with others, which led to the sexual abuse of additional victims, is beyond sickening and heartbreaking. Today’s sentence ensures that he will no longer be able to victimize another child. I commend the extraordinary work of HSI in this operation.” Reports of child sexual exploitation are increasing: In 2022, The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline received 32 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation. That included more than 80,000 reports of online enticement of children for sexual acts, an increase of 82% from 2021 to 2022, and more than 31 million reports of child sexual abuse materials. Victimization can take place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc. To make a CyberTipline Report, visit https://report.cybertip.org /. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Former Sailor Sentenced to 24 Months for Cyberstalking and Threats

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for sending threatening messages to fellow sailors. According to court documents, Justin Leung, 23, engaged in a course of conduct against at least five women, including threatening to kidnap, violently rape, and humiliate them or their female relatives through the degradation of their bodies. Leung targeted some of these victims after they had rejected his romantic advances. Many of the victims were active duty sailors or veterans of the United States Navy. Over the course of several months in 2023, Leung used the Internet to send unwanted and threatening messages to the victims, including obscene messages depicting his genitalia and himself masturbating. At least one victim felt fearful enough to take protective measures as a direct result of Leung’s threats. Leung’s phone records reveal misogynistic statements like “women bring nothing to the table except what there[sic] bodies have to offer” and women “shouldn’t be allowed to choose [their partners].” Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-55.


title: Monmouth County Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Laundering Money for Black Axe in South Africa

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for laundering money on behalf of the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Andrew Suarez, 30, of Middletown, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to an indictment charging him with money laundering conspiracy. Judge Shipp imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From August 2017 through December 2017, Suarez worked with conspirators to launder money to entities in the Cape Town, South Africa, area, including to an account in the name of Abravoo Trading Company, an entity controlled by a founding member of the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe. Black Axe members were responsible for widespread internet-based fraud schemes. Suarez opened up bank accounts in the United States, which were then used to conceal money obtained through business email compromises and other fraud schemes. Suarez transferred the proceeds of the fraud schemes to other U.S. bank accounts and wired proceeds to bank accounts in Cape Town, South Africa. To avoid detection, Suarez changed the information on some of his bank accounts, so the accounts listed the name and address of a victim. The total loss amount attributed to Suarez’s conduct is approximately $525,000. In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Suarez to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Red Bank Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, and the U.S. Secret Service’s Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron Hatley. He also thanked the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for its assistance in the case. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard G. Shephard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.


title: Asheville Man Convicted Of Bank Fraud Involving The Purchase Of Short-Term Rental Properties And Illegal Firearms Possession Is Sentenced To More Than Seven Years In Prison

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Shawn Thomas Johnson, 38, of Asheville, was sentenced today to 92 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for bank fraud and possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger imposed a $2.77 million asset forfeiture judgement against Johnson. According to information contained in filed court documents and court proceedings, from 2012 to 2019, Johnson executed a bank fraud scheme involving the purchase of short term rental properties in Buncombe County. Court records show that Johnson acquired the loans to purchase the properties by submitting applications that contained false and fraudulent information, including falsely claiming that the homes would be used as primary residences, providing false statements related to his income and employment, and omitting important information about pending lawsuits and the source of funds used as down-payments. Contrary to claims Johnson made on the loan applications, once he purchased the properties, Johnson used them as short-term rentals and listed them on online platforms such as Airbnb, Homeaway, and VRBO. Johnson rented the properties knowing that local laws, ordinances, and zoning regulations in Buncombe County prohibited the use of many of these homes as short-term rentals. According to court documents, Johnson also recruited other individuals to obtain mortgage loans based on false and fraudulent information to purchase homes that Johnson would then list as short-term rentals and share the proceeds. During the course of the scheme, Johnson and his co-conspirators closed on at least 16 loans from financial institutions totaling over $3.5 million to purchase real estate. According to court records, in November 2021, Johnson traveled from Western North Carolina to Utah. While there, Johnson visited a gun club where Johnson rented a firearm and shot several boxes of ammunition he purchased from the club’s store. Johnson has two prior convictions for manufacturing and uttering counterfeit United States currency and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. In order to rent the gun, court documents indicate that Johnson lied on the gun club’s rental agreement, falsely certifying that he was not prohibited from possessing a firearm. Johnson pleaded guilty to bank fraud and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charges. He will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence upon designation of a federal facility. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service in the Western District of North Carolina for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.


title: Commodities Trading Company Agrees to Pay Over $98M to Resolve Foreign Bribery Case

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Freepoint Commodities LLC (Freepoint), a commodities trading company based in Stamford, Connecticut, has agreed to pay over $98 million to resolve an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) stemming from the company’s involvement in a corrupt scheme to pay bribes to Brazilian government officials. Freepoint has also agreed to disgorge more than $7.6 million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in a related matter. “As today’s resolution demonstrates, the Criminal Division remains resolute in our fight against bribery and corruption,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Our dedicated prosecutors are working tirelessly to hold both corporations and culpable individuals to account. Let this case also send a reminder that our policies offer the greatest benefits to companies that are proactive and act with urgency.” According to court documents, Freepoint entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the department in connection with a criminal information filed in the District of Connecticut. The information charges the company with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provision of the FCPA for its scheme to pay bribes to Brazilian government officials to secure business with Brazil’s state-owned and state-controlled oil company, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras (Petrobras). “This office and our federal law enforcement partners are keeping a watchful eye on those not only involved in the financial industry, but all U.S. businesses that operate overseas, to ensure that they are complying with our nation’s laws,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. “This hefty financial sanction and deferred prosecution agreement should both serve as a deterrent to illegal conduct in the U.S. and abroad, and as a reminder that the Justice Department incentivizes those who report illegal conduct and work with us to correct wrongdoing.” Between approximately 2012 and 2018, Freepoint and its co-conspirators paid bribes to Petrobras officials in exchange for confidential information about pricing and bids submitted by Freepoint’s competitors. Freepoint and its co-conspirators concealed the scheme by communicating using code words and encrypted messaging applications, engaging in sham negotiations, and funneling the bribes through an intermediary who used offshore bank accounts and shell companies. Freepoint earned over $30 million in profits in connection with the scheme. “This case exemplifies the FBI’s relentless fight against corruption and our commitment to holding companies accountable for criminal business practices,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI, along with our domestic and international partners, will continue to aggressively combat these crimes and work to level the playing field of the global marketplace.” “This resolution and the indictment of three individuals demonstrate the commitment by the FBI and the Justice Department to holding accountable both corrupt companies and actors — wherever they are — for their illicit business activity,” said Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “Our tireless work with partners around the globe ensures that businesses earn their contracts and that consumers are protected from inflated prices.” Pursuant to the DPA, Freepoint has agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $68 million and administrative forfeiture in the amount of $30,551,150. Freepoint has also agreed to continue cooperating with the department in any ongoing or future criminal investigation relating to this conduct. The department will credit up to one-third of the criminal penalty against amounts that Freepoint pays to resolve an investigation by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for related conduct. The department will also credit up to 25% of the forfeiture amount against disgorgement that Freepoint pays the CFTC in a related matter. The department reached this resolution with Freepoint based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. Freepoint received credit for its cooperation with the department’s investigation, which included (i) promptly and thoroughly responding to requests by the department by producing and summarizing relevant documents and other information; (ii) engaging in significant efforts to aggregate and analyze complex financial information and trade data for more than 4,000 transactions; (iii) making company officers and employees available for interviews, and arranging separate counsel where appropriate; (iv) providing all relevant facts known to it, including information about the individuals involved in the conduct. However, in the initial phases, Freepoint’s cooperation was limited in degree and impact, and largely reactive. Freepoint also engaged in remedial measures, including: (i) conducting an analysis of the causes of the underlying conduct and undertaking appropriate remediation to address those root causes and taking additional steps to improve its compliance program, including by retaining an advisory firm to evaluate its third-party compliance program; (ii) overhauling its third-party compliance and risk management program, including through the implementation of enhanced risk-based due diligence, screening, ongoing monitoring and oversight procedures, and the implementation of FCPA training for third-party agents; (iii) reducing the use of third-party intermediaries; (iv) implementing a global agent onboarding and tracking procedure; (v) strengthening its corporate governance and risk management structures, including through the utilization of data and metrics to evaluate risk, enhancing the independence and stature of its compliance function, and hiring additional, experienced compliance personnel; (vi) updating the company’s global anti-bribery and corruption policy to include FCPA red flags; (vii) implementing a process for reporting and investigating allegations of misconduct; and (viii) conducting testing of its third-party compliance program. In light of these considerations, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 15% reduction off the bottom of the applicable guidelines fine range. The department has recently charged three individuals in relation to Freepoint’s bribery scheme, including: Glenn Oztemel, who allegedly worked as a senior oil trader at Freepoint and caused Freepoint to make corrupt payments to an intermediary, which were disguised as purported consulting fees and commissions, and which were used to pay bribes to Petrobras officials. Gary Oztemel, the brother of Glenn Oztemel, who allegedly used his company Oil Trade & Transport S.A. to corruptly assist Freepoint in obtaining or retaining business in Brazil. Eduardo Innecco, who worked as an agent for Freepoint and received purported consulting fees and commissions that he allegedly used to pay bribes to Petrobras officials on behalf of Freepoint. The case against Glenn Oztemel, Gary Oztemel, and Eduardo Innecco is pending. The FBI Los Angeles Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI’s International Corruption Unit. Trial Attorneys Allison L. McGuire and Clayton P. Solomon and Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McGarry for the District of Connecticut are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York also provided significant assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Brazil, Latvia, Switzerland, and Uruguay provided assistance in the matter. The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. DPA Information


title: Orthopedic Surgeon Convicted of Health Care Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A Canton orthopedic surgeon has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston for his role in a health care fraud scheme. Dr. Olarewaju James Oladipo, 60, of Canton, was convicted on Dec. 12, 2023 of 10 counts of health care fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2024 at 1 pm. Oladipo was arrested and charged in March 2022. “In the midst of an opioid epidemic that is claiming thousands of lives, Dr. Oladipo deliberately exploited the medical system for financial gain, becoming one of the state’s most prolific prescribers of opioids,” said Amanda Strachan, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division. “Our office remains steadfast in its commitment to aggressively pursue those who compromise the sanctity of our health care system – especially those who use opioids to fuel their schemes.” “Dr. Oladipo is no longer just one of the top prescribers of highly addictive opioids in Massachusetts—he is now a convicted felon—for cheating federally funded health care programs, taxpayers, and patients, for work he did not do,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The unscrupulous tactics used in this scheme are what drive our investigators on a daily basis to combat healthcare fraud.” “By submitting fraudulent medical claims and falsifying patient records, Dr. Oladipo put greed and personal gain above his professional responsibilities,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This conviction underscores the commitment of HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners to protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded federal health care programs and holding criminals accountable for their actions.” “The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is dedicated to protecting the public’s safety and the U.S. Postal Service. The special agents of the USPS OIG will tirelessly investigate those who choose to defraud federal benefit programs and put profits above the safety of their patients. This verdict is a clear message that the USPS OIG is dedicated to rooting out corruption and bringing those responsible for these crimes to justice. The USPS OIG is thankful for the great longstanding relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat healthcare frauds,” said Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Northeast Area Field Office. From approximately January 2016 through December 2019, Oladipo devised and executed a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs by falsely billing for patient visits. Specifically, Oladipo used billing codes for more complex—and thus more expensive—services that were not provided (a practice that is sometimes referred to as “upcoding”). Oladipo falsified medical records of patient visits to reflect examinations and services that were not performed. During the four-year period, Oladipo frequently billed for more than 60 patients per day and sometimes more than 90 patients per day. The result was that many, if not most, of Oladipo’s patient visits on such days could have only lasted five minutes or less. However, Oladipo used billing codes that typically corresponded to visits of 15, 25, 30, or even 45 minutes. Additionally, Oladipo ensured this high flow of patients to his practice by prescribing powerful, highly addictive opioids at a rate that made him one of the top prescribers of such drugs in Massachusetts. The charges of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, FBI SAC Cohen, HHS-OIG SAC Coviello and USPS-OIG SAC Modafferi made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the National Insurance Crime Bureau; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan D. Panich and William B. Brady are prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow Statement on the Passing of Judge Nydia M. Cotto Vives

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow released the following statement regarding the passing of The Honorable Nydia M. Cotto Vives, President of the Independent Prosecutor Panel, on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office. We are saddened by the passing of former Judge of the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals Nydia M. Cotto Vives. She was a tireless public servant, distinguished jurist and a great woman who served the Court of Appeals, the Puerto Rico Superior Court, and the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections, and served them all with righteousness and distinction. We honor her many years of dedicated public service. On behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office, I extend our deepest condolences to her family, her colleagues on the Panel, and all who knew and admired her. May her memory be eternal. # # #


title: Ocala Woman Sentenced To Two Years In Federal Prison For Theft Of COVID Relief Funds

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Passion Lajodia Jackson (31, Ocala) to two years in federal prison for wire fraud related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As part of the judgment, Jackson was ordered to forfeit $20,132, which represents the proceeds obtained from the offense. Jackson had pleaded guilty on September 11, 2023. According to court records, on April 2, 2021, Jackson electronically submitted a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application to the Small Business Administration for an incorporated business. Her application included false statements. She also provided a fictitious Internal Revenue Service document in support of her application. Based on the fraudulent information, Jackson unlawfully received a PPP loan in the amount of $20,132 on April 6, 2021. The loan was electronically wired into her bank account. Within 30 days of receiving the loan, Jackson had withdrawn the funds in cash. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Ocala Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Neshoba County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession With Intent to Distribute Over 50 Grams of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Neshoba County man pleaded guilty to possessing over 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to court documents, on April 28, 2022, Darrell E. McBeath, 38, distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine near the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. McBeath was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023. McBeath is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The Choctaw Police Department, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.


title: Missouri Woman Sentenced for Fraudulently Applying for $168,000 Pandemic Loan

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A woman who fraudulently applied for a $167,997 pandemic loan for a Poplar Bluff, Missouri business that she did not run or own was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison. U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. also ordered Maxine Michelle Burns, 44, of Willow Springs in Howell County, Missouri, to repay the money. Burns will be on supervised release for five years after she gets out of prison. Burns applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan from the Small Business Administration on Jan. 20, 2021, using the name of the owner of a residential treatment facility in Poplar Bluff without authorization. She also used the owner’s signature stamp, her plea says. After the loan was granted, Burns used the money to buy vehicles for herself and pay for vacations. The loan was forgiven after Burns falsely claimed that she’d used the money for payroll and other permissible purposes. “This case highlights a partnership between the United States Secret Service and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department to aggressively target individuals who have taken advantage of federal pandemic programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Gibson of the U.S. Secret Service - St. Louis Field Office. Burns pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in July to bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis prosecuted the case. Anyone with information about pandemic fraud should call the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or report via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Franktown Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming a Laser Pointer at Police Helicopter

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER—The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Kevin William Adamchak, age 43, of Franktown, pleaded guilty to a single count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. According to the plea agreement, on March 2, 2023, a helicopter operated by the Denver Police Department, “Air 1,” was assisting other Colorado-based law enforcement agencies with aerial surveillance. While in flight, Air 1 was struck by a blue laser. Using a thermal imager and camera, the Air 1 crew determined that the laser strike originated from a parking lot near the intersection of East 55 th Avenue and Logan Court in Denver. Air 1 located a suspect associated with the laser strike, who was later identified as Defendant Adamchak. During a subsequent interview, the pilot of Air 1 at the time of the laser strike reported that the laser strike caused flash blindness and intense pain in both of his eyes. He was able to maintain control of the aircraft until his visual orientation returned. “What some may think is just a prank—pointing a laser pointer at an aircraft—actually presents a deadly risk to people in the aircraft and on the ground,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “We hope that this case will raise public awareness of these serious dangers.” "A laser strike on an aircraft is not a game," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. "It's a serious action with possibly lethal consequences. The FBI will continue to vigorously investigate these incidents." Adamchak is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7, 2024. A United States District Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Jena Neuscheler and Alecia Riewerts are handling the prosecution. Case Number: 23-cr-00303-RMR


title: St. Paul Felon Sentenced to Over Three Years for Illegal Possession of Firearm

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on March 7, 2023, officers with the St. Paul Police Department were conducting surveillance at an apartment looking for De’Voncea Lashoun Griffo, 24, a suspect in an ongoing investigation. Officers observed Griffo leave his apartment building wearing a cross-body bag across his chest and get into the driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Equinox. After Griffo pulled into a thrift store parking lot, officers activated emergency lights and conducted a felony stop. Griffo removed his cross-body bag and set it behind the center console of the car, and was placed under arrest. Officers later obtained a warrant to search Griffo’s vehicle and recovered the cross-body bag, which contained a .45 caliber Glock pistol with an extended magazine containing 23 rounds of ammunition. The firearm had been modified with an auto sear, also known as a switch, which is a device used to convert a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm. Because Griffo has a prior felony conviction, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. On July 18, 2023, Griffo pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Michael J. Davis This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Paul Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.


title: Dartmouth Woman Charged with Embezzling From Employer

body_text: BOSTON – A former employee of a Bristol County industrial company was arrested and charged today in connection with a scheme to embezzle more than $280,000 from her employer. Jasmyne Botelho, 41, was charged with one count of wire fraud. Botelho was arrested this morning and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today, was released on conditions. According to the charging documents, between September 2017 and April 2020, Botelho stole at least $280,000 from her employer. Botelho allegedly directed payments purportedly intended for the company’s vendors to bank accounts she controlled and used company funds to make payments on personal credit cards and auto loans. To hide her scheme, Botelho allegedly falsified her employer’s books and records to make it appear as though the payments had in fact been sent to legitimate vendors rather than to Botelho. The charge of wire fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Independence Man Sentenced for Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for uploading hundreds of images and videos of child pornography to his online storage accounts, as well as sending videos of child pornography to an Ohio teenager. Joshua M. Rodgers, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to eight years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Rodgers to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration and to pay $35,000 in restitution to his victims. Rodgers will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. On July 17, 2023, Rodgers pleaded guilty to one count of transporting child pornography. Rodgers admitted that he uploaded hundreds of images and videos of child pornography to his cloud storage online Google account, particularly in his Google Drive file, as well as to Dropbox, an online cloud file storage program, from Dec. 4, 2017, to Feb. 27, 2019. On April 29, 2019, the Western Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force received four CyberTip reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a total of 548 videos of child pornography uploaded to Rodgers’s Google accounts. Investigators then identified 728 images and 771 videos of child pornography in Rodgers’s Google account. Of those, roughly 101 files involved infants or toddlers. An additional 1,022 images and 124 videos depicted “age difficult” persons and child erotica. On Oct. 22, 2019, federal agents executed a search warrant at Rodgers’s residence. They seized his computer, which contained 658 videos and 139 images of suspected child pornography, including prepubescent victims, sadomasochistic behaviors, and bestiality. Rodgers also admitted to previously communicating with a female from Ohio, beginning when she was 15 years old, and he admitted to sharing images and videos with her. Rodgers repeatedly asked her to send him pornographic images and videos of herself. He even bought her a sex toy, and had it sent to her to use in videos she could create for him. Rodgers also sent her videos of child pornography. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Western Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: New Britain Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Cash and Cigarettes in Month-Long Robbery Spree

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GILBERTO DELEON, 57, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 34 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing eight robberies of convenience stores and smoke shops in Connecticut in 2022. According to court documents and statements made in court, between February 27 and March 16, 2022, Deleon and two associates, using BB guns that are designed to appear similar to real firearms, robbed the following retail locations of cash, cigarettes and other items: February 27 – Scott’s Village Mobil Gas Station, 843 Farmington Avenue, Farmington March 2 – Mystic Mobil Gas Station, 66 Whitehall Avenue, Mystic March 3 – Shell Gas Station, 168 Bridge Street, East Windsor March 3 – Food Bag, 960 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Southington March 5 – Valero Gas Station, 1 Main Street, Ellington March 5 – Sunoco Gas Station, 446 Bloomfield Avenue, Windsor March 8 – Smoker’s Discount World, 636 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield March 16 – Cove Smoke Market, located at 841 Cove Road, Stamford During the robbery in Farmington on February 27, 2022, Deleon, who was serving as a “lookout,” took a banana off of the counter. When he exited the store, surveillance cameras recorded Deleon peeling and eating the banana, and then disposing the banana peel in a receptacle near the gas pumps. Investigators seized the banana peel and submitted it laboratory testing, which returned a match for Deleon’s DNA. Deleon has been detained since his arrest on April 19, 2022. On October 18, 2022, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery. Steven Galarza, of Seymour, and Efrain Deleon, of New Britain, also participated in these robberies and pleaded guilty to related charges. On July 20, 2023, Galarza, who also committed three additional robberies in Connecticut, New York, and New Hampshire, was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment. Efrain Deleon awaits sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, and the Farmington, Stonington, East Windsor, Southington, Windsor, Wethersfield, Stamford, New Britain, Salem (N.H.), and Somers (N.Y.) Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.