title: Grand Jury Returns Five Indictments

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Federal Inmate Charged with Assaulting Prison Employee Gregory Brown, 41, Pekin, Illinois, is charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with an employee at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford, Wisconsin. The indictment alleges that that conduct occurred on October 12, 2023. If convicted, Brown faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charge against Brown was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Remington is handling the case. Two Charged with Firearms Offenses Damion L. Haynie, 40, La Crosse, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that Haynie possessed a Taurus PT 738 .380 caliber handgun and Aguila .380 caliber ammunition on November 30, 2023. If convicted, Haynie faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge against Haynie is the result of an investigation by the La Crosse Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case. Jaison L. Coleman, 41, Marshfield, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that Coleman possessed a Springfield Arms 9mm handgun, a Ruger 9mm handgun, and 9mm ammunition on or about April 20, 2023. If convicted, Coleman faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The charge against Coleman is the result of an investigation by the Marshfield Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Marathon County Sheriff's Office, Portage County Sheriff's Office, Everest Metro Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson is handling the case. The cases against Haynie and Coleman were bought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms. Two Charged with Illegally Reentering the Unites States Following Deportation Minervo Vences Cardoso, 44, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported and removed. The indictment alleges that Vences Cardoso was found in the United States on October 16, 2022. If convicted, Vences Cardoso faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The charge against Vences Cardoso was the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner is handling the case. Alonso Garcia-Jimenez, 35, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported and removed. The indictment alleges that Garcia-Jimenez was found in the United States on January 16, 2024. If convicted, Garcia-Jimenez faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. The charge against Garcia-Jimenez was the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus is handling the case.


title: Five Colorado Assistant U.S. Attorneys among those Honored by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER -- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that five Assistant United States Attorneys from Colorado were among those honored by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland this afternoon during the 70 th and 71 st Annual Attorney General’s award ceremony. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Licht, Katherine Ross, Nicholas Deuschle, David Moskowitz, and Andrew Soler received the John Marshall Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution for their work concerning the 416 Fire, which burned on public and private lands near Durango in 2018. The resolution of that dispute recovered $20 million to compensate the United States for damages caused by the fire. The terms of the proposed resolution also allowed the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to continue to operate, under specific conditions designed to reduce the risk of future fires. More information about that resolution can be found here . The Attorney General’s award ceremony celebrated numerous other public servants from the Department of Justice and its partners for their extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nations laws. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country." “Exceptional public servants work at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan, who was on hand for today’s event. “Coloradans have every right to be proud of the work that this office accomplishes every day in the pursuit of justice.” More details about the award ceremony can be found here.


title: Minnesota Woman Charged for Embezzling More Than $1 Million from Employer

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – An Eden Prairie woman has been indicted for embezzling more than $1 million from her employer, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, Monica Svobodny, 51, worked as the Supply Chain and Engineering Manager at Sico, Inc, a furniture and home furnishing manufacturing company located in Edina, Minnesota. Svobodny used her position to embezzle funds and convert them to her own use and benefit. According to court documents, Svobodny regularly used company credit cards for unauthorized personal expenses such as designer clothing, spa services, and luxury hotel stays. To cover her fraud, she left unapproved credit card expenses as “pending” for accounting purposes. On more than 300 occasions, she used company cards to transfer funds to herself via PayPal to cover personal expenses. Svobodny also edited PayPal transaction receipts and fraudulently listed some of the expenses as payments to a defunct company. In total, Svobodny knowingly and willfully embezzled more than $1,137,000 from Sico, Inc. over a period of seven years. Svobodny was charged with one count of wire fraud. She will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Edina Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea A. Walcker is prosecuting the case. The charges contained in the information are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Washington man sentenced to 12 years in prison for trafficking meth, fentanyl in Montana

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

body_text: MISSOULA — A Washington man who admitted to bringing methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills to Montana for distribution was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Ryan Creighton Doak, 49, of Everett, Washington, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. In court documents, the government alleged that on Feb. 2, 2023, Doak was the passenger in a vehicle, driven by his girlfriend, that was stopped in Montana. Law enforcement arrested Doak after a Montana Highway Patrol trooper located a device for smoking drugs and a small amount of heroin on Doak. Investigators executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered a firearm, more than 100 grams of meth, and nearly 3,000 fentanyl pills. Doak admitted to investigators to making several trips to Montana to distribute controlled substances. The government estimated that Doak brought to Montana 12,000 to 14,000 fentanyl pills and 1.5 to 1.75 pounds of meth in three months. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case. The Missoula High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Former Blackfeet Tribal operations manager admits stealing tribal COVID-19 relief funding

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — The former operations manager for the Blackfeet Tribe today admitted to stealing more than $78,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funding the tribe received by fraudulently submitting requests for repayments to the tribe after falsely claiming to buy COVID-19 supplies, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. James Cameron McNeely, 43, pleaded guilty to theft from an Indian tribal government receiving federal funding. McNeely faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for June 6. McNeely’s release was continued pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that from about October 2021 until October 2022, McNeely, while employed as the Blackfeet Tribe’s operations manager, submitted requests for repayment to the tribe, and received such payments, after falsely claiming to purchase COVID-19 supplies on behalf of the tribe from Amazon. In reality, McNeely never purchased the supplies, and he was not entitled to the money he claimed and received, which totaled approximately $78,415. The tribe reimbursed McNeely with checks issued from the bank account containing American Rescue Plan Act funds, which were allocated to the tribe following a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Federal Drug Charges Unsealed against Six Individuals in Colorado Springs and Pueblo

body_text: DENVER - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces federal drug charges against six individuals in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. According to Court records unsealed today, from January 30, 2023, to October 2023, investigators from multiple federal and state agencies conducted 9 separate undercover narcotics transactions, which resulted in seizing various amounts of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. On January 30, 2024, search warrants were executed for multiple locations, including a residence in Pueblo, Colorado. During the search, investigators located more than 4 kilograms of heroin. Federal charges were unsealed today against five individuals for their alleged role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Three of these individuals made their initial appearance in federal court today and were identified as follows: Alex LNU a/k/a Miguel Angel Gonzalez (formally identified as Alonso Quinonez-Velazquez), Fidel LNU (formally identified as Roberto Gutierrez), and Francisco LNU (formally identified as Luis Saucedo-Bonilla) In addition, Adan Trevizo was charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we are removing dangerous drugs from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “We are grateful for the continued dedication and hard work of our law enforcement partners who are protecting our communities from drug trafficking.” “Yesterday’s enforcement actions involved over 150 members from Southern Colorado law enforcement agencies,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge David Olesky. “Fentanyl is continuing to gravely impact Southern Colorado. Collectively, Colorado law enforcement agencies are prioritizing investigative efforts to decrease the fentanyl supply and prevent fentanyl poisonings in our communities.” “Yesterday’s operation truly shows how cooperation between partners at all levels, using pooled resources, is a force multiplier,” said HSI Denver Deputy Special Agent in Charge Jeff Brannigan. “I would especially like to highlight the relationship between our agents and those of the DEA in southern Colorado, without whom we wouldn’t have been able to execute this wide ranging and far-reaching operation.” “My Office will work with our federal partners to protect the citizens of El Paso County. The efforts of all involved with preventing illicit drugs from hitting our streets is nothing short of incredible,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “This is just another great example of our local law enforcement working with our federal partners to combat illicit drugs in our community. The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office is proud to have two task force detectives assigned to the DEA. Even though this unit is not highly publicized, they are having a positive impact on this community in reducing the distribution of illegal drugs,” said Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero. Two other individuals charged by indictment are fugitives. This investigation is conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security Enforcement & Removal Operations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S Marshals Service, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Pueblo Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado State Patrol. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The charges in the indictment and complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Case Numbers: 24-cr-32, 24-mj-18


title: Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition Used in an Alexander City Shooting

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – On January 30, 2024, a federal jury in Montgomery, Alabama, convicted 57-year-old Vincent Darrell Bias, from Alexander City, Alabama, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. According to court records and evidence presented during Bias’s trial, on September 8, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to reports of a shooting at an Alexander City residence. Officers soon arrived at the scene and located the shooting victim. Statements taken from the victim and other witnesses indicated that Bias and the victim had an argument the day before, and that Bias returned to the residence the following day with a shotgun. According to witnesses, Bias shot the victim when the victim came outside. Bias then left the scene. The victim’s injuries were non-life threatening. Law enforcement officers then located Bias at his Alexander City residence. Investigators searched vehicles located on Bias’s property and found a shotgun matching the description of the firearm used in the shooting, along with ammunition. Bias had multiple previous felony convictions and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Following this conviction, Bias faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison with no parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Bias in the coming months. At that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine Bias’s sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. If the judge determines that the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984 qualifies in Bias’s case, his potential sentence range could be increased to 15 years to life in prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alexander City Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Eric M. Counts and Christopher P. Moore prosecuted.


title: Georgia Precious Metals Dealer Convicted of Tax Fraud

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal jury in Atlanta today convicted Saleem Hakim, 54, of tax evasion and failing to file tax returns. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, from 2011 through 2013, Hakim brokered the sale of precious metals to his clients. Hakim earned more than $1 million in commissions from the sales, which enabled him to fund a lavish lifestyle that included purchases of high-end watches, jewelry, designer accessories and furs. Despite earning substantial income, he did not file income tax returns for tax years 2011 through 2013. The evidence introduced at trial also showed that from 2020 through 2022, Hakim and his wife worked for businesses in Atlanta that bought and sold jewelry and luxury handbags. The Hakims earned a combined income of more than $260,000 for those years yet did not file tax returns. The evidence established that Hakim attempted to hide his and his wife’s income from the IRS by diverting his income into a trust that he established after being initially charged with tax crimes for tax years 2011 through 2013. In addition, Hakim attempted to obstruct the investigation into his tax misconduct for 2020 through 2022. A witness testified that after he received a grand jury subpoena for records relating to income that the witness paid to Hakim and his wife, Hakim drafted a letter for the witness falsely stating he did not have any business records in his possession relating to the Hakims and asked the witness to send the letter. The witness sent the letter to federal prosecutors and IRS agents. Sentencing is scheduled for April 30. Hakim faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each tax evasion charge and one year in prison on each failure to file charge. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Colleen McCarthy of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case. Paralegal Robert Resto of the Tax Division assisted at trial. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia for the substantial assistance they provided in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.


title: Former Federal Agent Sentenced for Making False Statements in Connection with a Sexual Relationship with a Victim Witness

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Melissa Saurwein, 45, of Martinez, was sentenced today to two months in prison for making a false statement in connection with a sexual relationship she had with a victim witness in a separate federal criminal case, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Saurwein was formerly a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations in Northern California. While working in that capacity in a separate human trafficking case, Saurwein developed a romantic sexual relationship with a victim witness. In preparation for Saurwein’s testimony at trial, prosecutors asked Saurwein if she had a personal relationship with any witness or victim in the case. Saurwein lied in response to the questioning in order to conceal her sexual relationship with the victim witness. The human trafficking case went to trial and both Saurwein and the victim witness testified. The relationship between Saurwein and the victim witness did not come to light until after the trial and sentencing of the defendant in the human trafficking case were complete. This case was the product of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility. The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District was recused from this case, which is proceeding in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Special Attorney to the Attorney General Audrey B. Hemesath prosecuted the case.


title: Latin King gang member sentenced to 380 months in prison for sex trafficking, obstruction and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Today, a Latin King gang member was sentenced to 380 months in prison by Chief District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga after having been convicted at trial of two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, obstruction of sex trafficking enforcement, and use of interstate facilities in aid of racketeering. Jason Wagner, aka “King Ace,” of Miami, Florida, forced several women to engage in commercial sex since as early as 2003. To make his adult and underaged victims engage in commercial sex, Wagner locked them in his apartments, took their personal identification documents, subjected them to violence and threats of violence, and provided them with drugs. Wagner initially came to the attention of law enforcement after a woman alerted a good Samaritan that she was being held hostage in Wagner’s home. After Wagner’s arrest in this case, he repeatedly asked the woman to drop the charges and refuse to testify in court. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, and Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), announced the sentence. HSI Miami, in partnership with MDPD’s Human Trafficking Squad and the South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lacee Elizabeth Monk and Jessica Kahn Obenauf prosecuted it. 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 the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate better, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org . The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration, or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential, and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously. To learn more about the National Resource Hotline, visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking, visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . 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 22-cr-20124. ###


title: Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Arson of Target Corporation Headquarters

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in the arson of the Target corporate headquarters in downtown Minneapolis, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Minneapolis experienced arson, rioting, and looting following the suicide of a suspect in a homicide, and in response to false rumors surrounding the man’s death. Leroy Lemonte Perry Williams, 37, and his co-defendants went to the Target Corporation’s corporate headquarters building (“Target Corporation building”) in downtown Minneapolis where dozens of other people had gathered. Williams and others broke into the Target Corporation building and repeatedly attempted to set fire both inside and outside the building. On October 26, 2023, Williams was convicted on one count of arson. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Paul A. Magnuson. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Minneapolis Fire Department, and the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Nathan H. Nelson prosecuted the case.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees, Including Western District of Pennsylvania Assistant United States Attorney, with Attorney General’s Awards

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.” Jessica Lieber Smolar, Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, was part of a group that received the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for the group’s outstanding work in U.S. v. Toebbe et al. Jonathan Toebbe and his wife, Diana Toebbe, of Annapolis, Maryland, were sentenced last year after pleading guilty to conspiracy to communicate restricted data related to the design of nuclear-powered warships to a foreign government. Read more about the case here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/maryland-nuclear-engineer-and-his-wife-sentenced-espionage-related-offenses. Along with Assistant United States Attorney Smolar, the Distinguished Award was presented to Trial Attorneys Matthew J. McKenzie and S. Derek Shugert of the National Security Division; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas for the Northern District of West Virginia; FBI Special Agents Jason Serone, Justin Van Tromp and Peter L. Olinits; FBI Supervisory Special Agent Andrew Bass Gray; FBI Unit Chief Andrew Thomas Mitchell; Special Agent John C. Nocella of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; FBI Intelligence Analyst Brent Cronce; FBI Staff Operations Specialist Vicky Mineard; FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Brassini; FBI Supervisory Investigative Specialist Keith Smith; and FBI Intelligence Analyst Sean Cottington.


title: Cleveland, Ohio, Man Sentenced to Prison and Supervised Release for Fentanyl and Cocaine Violations

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his conviction on fentanyl and cocaine trafficking charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Ravon Crockett, 46, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak. Judge Hornak also ordered Crockett to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. In September 2023, Crockett pleaded guilty in this case to (1) conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine between March 2020 and August 2021, and (2) distributing fentanyl and cocaine on November 16, 2020. At sentencing, the Court was informed that Crockett distributed fentanyl and cocaine in New Castle, Lawrence County, for several months in 2020. He was on probation at that time for a prior heroin trafficking conviction in Ohio. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Lawrence County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Crockett.


title: Benton Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: HOT SPRINGS – A Benton man was sentenced yesterday to 144 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of Possession of More Than Five Hundred (500) Grams of a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Hot Springs. According to court documents, in early 2022, Homeland Security Investigations identified Terrance O’Neal Murphy, age 45, as a large-scale methamphetamine distributer in the Central Arkansas geographical area. On April 5, 2022, Murphy was pulled over by the Arkansas State Police for traffic violations. During the course of the traffic stop, officers located over three (3) kilograms of methamphetamine in Murphy’s vehicle. Murphy subsequently fled from the scene but was apprehended a short time later after a foot pursuit. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations – Little Rock Field Office, 18 th East Judicial District Drug Task Force, Arkansas State Police and the 18 th East Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Achorn prosecuted the case. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov .


title: 17 Eastern District of New York Employees and Two Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Receive 2022 and 2023 Attorney General Awards

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: WASHINGTON – Fourteen Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), two paralegal specialists, a Special Agent and two former AUSAs from the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) were recognized by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland for their extraordinary public service at the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” stated Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.” “The outstanding work of EDNY attorneys, professional staff and our law enforcement partners in service to our district and our country, has been breathtaking, prosecuting complex economic crime, high-level drug trafficking, foreign terrorism, insurrection, cybercriminals and litigating the expert defense of our cases appealed to the Second Circuit,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Their excellence and dedication are boundless, and as a result, they have made the world, a safer place.” This year’s program honors individuals across the department and our federal, state, local, and tribal partners for their selfless efforts, protecting our national security and our civil rights, addressing rising violent crime in our communities, and prosecuting gangs and those trafficking in dangerous narcotics and human beings. The awards also honor the work of civil and environmental litigation, which enforces the rule of law and upholds our Constitution. They also recognize employees whose ideas and efforts save taxpayer dollars and help our government operate more effectively and efficiently, among other contributions to public safety and good governance. 70th Annual Attorney General Awards The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Work in the Investigation, Extradition and Prosecution of ISIS Senior Leader United States v. Kandic AUSAs Matt Haggans and Saritha Komatireddy, former AUSA Josh Hafetz and Paralegal Specialist Huda Abouchaer, together with law enforcement partners from the FBI and HSI, are being recognized for their outstanding work obtaining a trial conviction of Mirsad Kandic of Brooklyn, on charges of conspiring to provide, and providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Kandic was a high-ranking member of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. He had multiple responsibilities within ISIS, including recruiting foreign fighters, trafficking foreign fighters from the West through Turkey and into Syria, and obtaining weapons, military equipment, maps, money and false identifications for ISIS fighters. In carrying out these responsibilities, Kandic worked directly with ISIS emirs and battlefield commanders. The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service for 35 Years of Outstanding Work in Litigating Criminal Cases Before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals AUSA David James Throughout AUSA David James’s 35-year career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, he has represented the government in the Second Circuit in hundreds of cases with skill and dedication. He has worked on some of the most significant and important appeals of the last few decades, from John Gotti in 1993 to Joaquin Guzman-Loera, aka “El Chapo,” in 2022. The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional and Successful Work in the Trial Against Roger Ng United States v. Roger Ng AUSAs Alixandra Smith, Drew Rolle and Dylan Stern, in partnership with colleagues from DOJ’s Fraud Section and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, are recognized for securing the trial conviction of Roger Ng, a former managing director of the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Goldman Sachs) for his role in a multibillion-dollar bribery and money laundering scheme involving Malaysia’s state-owned investment and development fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad. As part of the scheme, Ng and his co-conspirators, including Tim Leissner, the former Southeast Asia Chairman and participating managing director of Goldman Sachs, paid more than $1 billion in bribes to 12 government officials in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates to obtain and retain lucrative business for Goldman Sachs. They also conspired to, and did, launder the proceeds of their criminal conduct through the U.S. financial system, including funding major Hollywood films such as “The Wolf of Wall Street.” The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurism and Dedication in the Criminal Prosecution in the Digital Advertising Industry Inflicted by Foreign Cybercriminals United States v. Zhukov AUSAs Saritha Komatireddy, Alex Mindlin and Artie McConnell brought a first-of-its-kind prosecution, exposing rampant fraud in the digital advertising industry inflicted by foreign cybercriminals seeking to steal from American companies and weaken American economic power. This case exposed a fraud that affected nearly every American business and consumer and converted America’s own internet infrastructure and innovations into weapons for cybercrime. The prosecution led to significant reforms and increased security controls among digital advertising platforms, cybersecurity companies and the entities that run the global registration system for IP addresses. The team secured the indictment of 10 cybercriminals from two separate international cybercrime rings and the conviction of five of those cybercriminals, including the leader of each ring. 71st Annual Attorney General Awards Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service U.S. v. Garcia Luna Trial Team AUSAs Saritha Komatireddy, Phil Pilmar, Adam Amir, Erin Reid and Ryan Harris, EDNY Special Agent George Dietz, Paralegal Specialists Huda Abouchaer and Melissa Bennett, together with law enforcement partners from DEA and HSI, successfully investigated and obtained a trial conviction against the former Mexican cabinet official Genaro Garcia Luna for his corrupt assistance to the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the largest and most violent criminal organizations in the world. Garcia Luna is the highest-ranking Mexican government official to have been prosecuted in a U.S. court. The six-week trial included testimony from high-level Sinaloa Cartel leaders, Mexican public officials who had themselves engaged in corruption, former Mexican law enforcement officers who worked under Garcia Luna, and a former U.S. Ambassador. Operation Disruptive Capture United States v. Orekhov et al. and United States v. Grinin et al . AUSAs Artie McConnell and Madeline O’Connor and SAUSA Scott Claffee teamed with law enforcement partners from FBI and DOJ task forces to disrupt Russia’s ability to illegally acquire sensitive U.S. technology and enforce sanctions imposed on Russia for their invasion of Ukraine. The initiative resulted in two indictments involving charging 15 defendants and arrests in Germany, Italy, Estonia, and France. The investigation also led to administrative enforcement actions, civil forfeiture involving millions of dollars in multiple foreign jurisdictions, and additional sanctions against individuals and companies. The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security Operation Medusa Former AUSA Ian Richardson Through Operation MEDUSA, former EDNY AUSA Ian Richardson, together with the FBI, completed a court-authorized operation to disrupt a global peer-to-peer network of computers compromised by sophisticated malware, called “Snake,” that the United States Government attributes to a unit within Center 16 of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. For nearly 20 years, this unit, referred to in court documents as “Turla,” used versions of the Snake malware to steal sensitive documents from hundreds of computer systems in at least 50 countries, which have belonged to North Atlantic Treaty Organization member governments, journalists, and other targets of interest to the Russian Federation. After stealing these documents, Turla exfiltrated them through a covert network of unwitting Snake-compromised computers in the United States and around the world. Operation MEDUSA disabled Turla’s Snake malware on compromised computers through the use of an FBI-created tool named PERSEUS, which issued commands that caused the Snake malware to overwrite its own vital components. January 6th Proud Boys Prosecution Team AUSA Nadia Moore EDNY AUSA Nadia Moore was a vital member of the trial team, which included prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. and the Organized Crime and Gang Section, and agents from the FBI, that secured convictions against five members of the Proud Boys for their actions before and during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. According to the trial evidence, in the months leading up to Jan. 6, the defendants plotted to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power, and to prevent the Members of Congress, and the federal law enforcement officers who protect them, from discharging their duties.


title: California Man Who Forged Medical Documents on Pretrial Release and Later Sold Methamphetamine in Jail Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A California man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine by mail, was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison. James Dean Sterner, age 67, from Tustin, California, received the prison term after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on June 28, 2023. Evidence in the case revealed that from August 2019 to October 2019, Sterner conspired to distribute methamphetamine in and around Sioux City, Iowa after receiving the methamphetamine via mail. Sterner was released on pre-trial supervision in 2020 but failed to appear for a change of plea hearing in October 2021, after submitting forged documents to the court falsely claiming to have cancer. A warrant was issued, but Sterner’s whereabouts were unknown for over a year before he was arrested in April 2023 in Anaheim, California. After pleading guilty to conspiracy charges, Sterner distributed methamphetamine-laced paper in the O’Brien County Jail while awaiting sentencing. Sterner has 10 prior controlled substance-related convictions. Sterner was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 360 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Sterner is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Mikala Purdy-Steenholdt. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 20-4088. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Canton Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking 15-Year-Old

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Canton man was sentenced today for sex trafficking a minor who had been reported missing. Keion Rowell, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In September 2023, Rowell was convicted by a federal jury of one count of sex trafficking of a child. “Mr. Rowell inflicted severe trauma on a vulnerable young life. Today’s sentence ensures that this dangerous man will be removed from our community for a very long time,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “As we close Human Trafficking Prevention Month, this case serves as a stark reminder that this insidious crime preys on the most vulnerable victims. Our office will work tirelessly to combat human trafficking and ensure that our communities are safe and that even the most vulnerable can live without fear of exploitation or harm.” “The cruelty and inhumanity displayed by Keion Rowell is staggering. He forced a child into sexual servitude, unleashing physical and emotional abuse even as he profited from that child's exploitation,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Every day, children are being sexually exploited and traumatized in our area, and across the country. FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force will never stop working to find and free trafficked children and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. We ask anyone with knowledge of child sex trafficking to let us know about it. Dial 1-800-CALL-FBI or go online to tips.fbi.gov.” On or about Jan. 18, 2021, Rowell met the 15-year-old victim, who had recently run away from home. Almost immediately, Rowell created and posted numerous online commercial sex advertisements that contained photos of the victim, including nude photos, and told her that she would have to engage in prostitution. Rowell then communicated with sex buyers and sent the victim to meet with those men to have sex in exchange for money he kept. On one occasion, when the victim did not make enough money to satisfy Rowell’s demands, he punched her in the face. On Jan. 28, 2021, approximately 10 days after the victim had been reported missing, law enforcement participated in an undercover operation to rescue her. When she was recovered, the victim had Rowell’s phone which contained photos of the victim and Rowell, information about his personal bank accounts, links to online advertisements for commercial sex and communications with sex buyers. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office; the Boston and Belmont Police Departments; and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian A. Fogerty of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Tochka prosecuted the case.


title: Four indicted in university athletic billing scheme and COVID-19 billing scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PLANO, Texas – Four individuals, including two physicians, have been indicted in the Eastern District of Texas charged with federal violations involving a university athletic billing scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Mouzon Bass, III, also known as Muzzy Bass, 58, of Highland Park; Lance West Wilson, 54, of Allen; and Robert Brent Scott, 59, of La Quinta, CA; were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2024 and charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud, conspiring to commit healthcare fraud, and conspiring to commit money laundering. In a separate indictment returned in October 2023, Kyle Kelly Carter, 61, of Keller, was charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud. The defendants have all made initial appearances in federal court this month. According to the indictments, from approximately 2014 through 2023, the defendants are alleged to have been involved in a university-centered athletic department billing scheme. Bass and Wilson used their company, Vivature, to submit false claims to private insurance carriers representing that physicians, like Scott and Carter, were providing medical services for injured student-athletes at universities across the country. In reality, these physicians did not see or treat these student-athletes, and in many instances, were physically hundreds of miles away from where the student-athletes were receiving treatment. The services were actually performed by athletic trainers employed by the universities’ athletic departments—who, most times, were specifically excluded from insurance companies’ reimbursement policies. At the direction of Bass and Wilson, Vivature submitted thousands of false claims to the insurance companies, named Scott, Carter, and other physicians as the servicing providers, and used their NPI numbers on the claims’ paperwork. In exchange for allowing the fraudulent use of their NPI and credentials, Vivature made regular payments to Scott, Carter, and other physicians. A separate conspiracy involved only defendants Bass, Wilson, and Scott, who executed a scheme to fraudulently obtain Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) government funds earmarked for COVID-19 testing provided to uninsured Americans. The defendants partnered with international resorts hosting American travelers abroad, offering to manage the billing and claims process for COVID-19 testing provided to these American travelers. Then, the defendants submitted thousands of reimbursement claims to HRSA for such travelers, even though such travelers were privately insured and ineligible under the HRSA program. In total, the defendants are alleged to have collectively obtained over $70 million from the two schemes. With these funds, they paid themselves millions of dollars; purchased real property including a multi-million dollar home, lakehouse, and international residence; and bought a multi-million dollar yacht. This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys in Plano. A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Denver man sentenced for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Traquevis Dewayne Hardy , age 46, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in Wyoming. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 30. Hardy was indicted by a federal grand jury and pleaded not guilty in May 2023. Hardy was tried and convicted by a federal jury in October 2023. According to trial evidence, between July and December 2022, Hardy supplied at least 5,600 fentanyl pills to several individuals who then sold this fentanyl in the Cheyenne area. This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy J. Forwood and Paige Hammer. Case No. 23-CR-00053


title: Charges Added Against Former Missouri Police Officer Accused of Sexually Abusing Detainees

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A grand jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday returned a superseding indictment accusing a former officer with the North County Police Cooperative of sexually assaulting 19 men that he detained or arrested. Marcellis Blackwell, 34, of St. Louis, was originally indicted in September. Wednesday’s indictment brings the total to 36 charges: 19 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to bodily integrity, and 17 counts of altering records in a federal investigation. The new indictment says that between Nov. 8, 2022, and June 5, 2023, Blackwell fondled the genitals of 19 alleged victims who he had detained and/or restrained. Blackwell also is accused in the indictment of sodomizing one of the men with his finger, an act of aggravated sexual abuse. The indictment also says Blackwell’s conduct constituted the kidnapping of the alleged victims. An additional count of altering the records of another arrest brings the number of alleged/charged victims to 20. FBI St. Louis has established a hotline for potential victims of Blackwell: (314) 589-2682. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The FBI investigated the case, following an initial investigation conducted by the North County Police Cooperative. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.


title: Trap house drug dealer sent to prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 32-year-old Corpus Christi woman has been sentenced for trafficking narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Melissa Rendon pleaded guilty Aug. 4, 2023. U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Rendon to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence regarding Rendon’s aggravated role in the offense, her efforts to obstruct the investigation and her use of her minor daughter to hide evidence from authorities. After conducting surveillance for a month, on July 7, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence in Corpus Christi where they found several people, but not Rendon. Authorities also found meth, cocaine, heroin, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl – some packaged for sale – throughout the residence. The investigation revealed Rendon distributed narcotics from the residence and had recruited a woman to live at the residence and to distribute drugs for her. Law enforcement additionally found a digital scale, baggies and latex gloves within the residence. On March 2, 2023, authorities witnessed Rendon leaving the residence with four children and drop them off at school. They then conducted a second search. At that time, they recovered cocaine, cocaine base (crack), Ziploc baggies, a digital scale, latex gloves and several pieces of mail addressed to Rendon. The investigation also revealed Rendon made calls from the jail asking her juvenile daughter to go to her residence, find a white cell phone, change the password and delete everything including all of the pictures, Facebook, texts and Snapchat from the phone. Rendon will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Gould prosecuted the case.


title: Greenville man sentenced for possessing a machinegun

body_text: Greenville, MS – A Greenville man was sentenced today to 2 1/2 years in prison for illegal possession of a machinegun. According to court documents, Johnny Watkins a/k/a Lil Munk, 19, committed a string of violent crimes in the Greenville-area leading to the execution of a search warrant at his residence. Watkin’s social media account showed that Watkins bragged about gang activity, posed with numerous firearms and illicit narcotics, and threatened rival gang members. Based on the pictures posted on social media and the recent string of crimes committed by Watkins, law enforcement officials obtained authorization to search Watkin’s residence. During the search of his residence, law enforcement recovered a Glock 10mm pistol with a 23-round magazine. Attached to the Glock pistol was a machinegun conversion device (“MCD”) commonly referred to as a “switch.” In addition to possession of a machinegun, the district court considered Watkins use of firearms in other related crimes including the shooting of a Greenville Police Department officer’s residence. Following a sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Watkins to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. “The proliferation of these devices presents a clear and present danger to Mississippians,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We hope that this sentence sends a clear message that those who engage in criminal activity will be held accountable for their illegal acts and for their use and possession of automatic weapons.” “The illegal possession of machinegun conversion devices, that readily convert firearms into machineguns, are a significant threat to our communities and remain a top priority for ATF,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that the law enforcement community will hold offenders accountable, and ATF will remain focused on reducing violent gun crime while disrupting access to these illegal machineguns by the criminal element.” “The Greenville Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of the community,” said Greenville Police Chief Marcus Turner. “We will continue our efforts to rid out countless acts of violence, specifically done by altered weapons. We are actively out daily fighting to reduce crime and gun violence.” This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as well as the Greenville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case.


title: Active-Duty Airman Sentenced for Production of Images of Child Sexual Abuse

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Goldsboro, North Carolina man was sentenced today to 27 years in prison after he used social media accounts to target underage girls in the Hampton Roads area and caused at least 29 victims to produce sexually explicit videos and images. According to court documents, Brandon Tyler Lindsey, 27, an active-duty servicemember attached to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, routinely traveled to his hometown of Chesapeake, Virginia and met minor females to engage in sexual acts with them. His youngest victim was 12 years old. Lindsey used multiple social media accounts to target minor females in the Hampton Roads area. For example, using Instagram, he direct messaged multiple minor girls with the same boilerplate message and “liked” their photos. After gaining their trust, he would then request child pornography from the minors and attempt to meet in person for sexual acts. Lindsey sometimes met with the same minors on multiple occasions over a period of years. Lindsey caused at least 29 victims to produce child pornography for his sexual gratification. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Douglas Edens, Special Agent in Charge, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. 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-95.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Department of Justice Employees and Partners for the 2022 and 2023 Attorney General’s Awards

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the 70th and 71st Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. Recipients from both 2022 and 2023 were selected from a group of more than 800 nominees. Two prosecution teams from the District of Minnesota were awarded the Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.” “The Attorney General’s David Margolis Award is the Justice Department’s highest award for employee performance,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “The prosecutors, agents, paralegals, victim/witness and litigation support specialists on these teams showed exceptional skill and professionalism in their work on two monumental civil rights cases, cases that will have a lasting impact for years to come. I am so proud of these individuals and their outstanding work and commitment in service of justice.” The 2022 Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is presented to the investigation and prosecution team in United States v. Chauvin, et al., a prosecution involving four former police officers who violated George Floyd’s civil rights, resulting in his death. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Slaughter, Evan Gilead, LeeAnn Bell, Manda Sertich, and Samantha Bates for the District of Minnesota; Paralegal Stefnie Braun for the District of Minnesota; Victim/Witness Specialists Selina Kolsrud and Christina Busse for the District of Minnesota; Litigation Support Specialist Daniel Czapko for the District of Minnesota, FBI Special Agent Blake Hostetter ; Special Litigation Counsel Samantha Trepel of the Civil Rights Division; Trial Attorney Tara Allison of the Civil Rights Division; and Paralegal Henry Fronk for the Civil Rights Division. The 2023 Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is presented to the investigation and prosecution team in United States v. Sumalee Intarathong, et al. and United States v. Michael Morris, et al., a prosecution involving an international sex trafficking organization that was responsible for coercing hundreds of Thai women to engage in commercial sex acts across the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melinda Williams , Laura Provinzino , Craig Baune , and David Genrich for the District of Minnesota; Paralegal Stefnie Braun for the District of Minnesota; Victim/Witness Specialist Selina Kolsrud for the District of Minnesota; Litigation Support Specialist Daniel Czapko for the District of Minnesota; Supervisory Litigation Support Specialist Mark Zeitz for the District of Minnesota; HSI Supervisory Special Agent Tonya Price ; IRS Special Agent John Tschida ; Special Agent Kevin Sullivan of the Minnesota Department of Commerce; Director Hilary Axam of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit; and Deputy Director William Nolan of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. For details on all of today’s award recipients, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-honors-justice-department-employees-and-partners-70th-and


title: Eastern Oregon Drug Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—An eastern Oregon drug dealer identified by law enforcement as part of an investigation into a fatal overdose on the Umatilla Indian Reservation was sentenced to federal prison today, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. Ulises Echevarria-Molina, 40, of Pendleton, Oregon, was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on May 15, 2021, officers from the Umatilla Tribal Police Department responded to a suspected fatal drug overdose at the Wildhorse Casino in Pendleton and located several counterfeit Oxycodone pills believed to contain fentanyl near the deceased victim. Toxicology reports later confirmed the victim had consumed fentanyl and cocaine prior to their death. Further investigation revealed that the overdose victim likely obtained the fentanyl pills from a family member’s supply and the family member had recently purchased fentanyl from a local dealer. Investigators soon identified Echevarria-Molina as a third-level drug distributor to the deceased victim’s family member and, on May 18, 2021, arrested him without incident. At the time of his arrest Echevarria-Molina possessed approximately 1,500 fentanyl pills and $9,000 in cash on his person. A search of Echevarria-Molina’s Pendleton home returned approximately 24 pounds of methamphetamine, two pounds of cocaine, and 1,500 additional fentanyl pills. Investigators also located and seized $18,000 in cash, digital scales, and various drug packaging materials from Echevarria-Molina’s residence. On May 21, 2021, Echevarria-Molina was charged by criminal complaint with distribution or possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Later, on May 19, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Echevarria-Molina with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Because of the combination of controlled substances in the toxicology results, Echevarria-Molina was not charged with the overdose death. On September 5, 2023, Echevarria-Molina pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team (BENT), FBI and the Umatilla Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted Cassady Adams, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. BENT is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force that includes detectives from the Pendleton Police Department, Hermiston Police Department, Boardman Police Department, Oregon State Police, Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, Milton-Freewater Police Department, and Umatilla Tribal Police Department.


title: Tohatchi Man Pleads Guilty to Assault Charges in Indian Country

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Eric Chandler Watson plead guilty to one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. Watson, 22, of Tohatchi, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to court records, on the morning of December. 9, 2022, Watson confronted a family member outside of a shared residence in Tohatchi, New Mexico. The confrontation escalated to a physical altercation, at which time Watson’s uncle, John Doe, stepped in to stop the fight. Watson and John Doe began to fight instead, and John Doe’s parents stepped in to stop that fight. John Doe then went inside of the residence to Watson’s bedroom with the intent of destroying Watson’s PlayStation Video Game Console. Watson came up behind John Doe and repeatedly stabbed him in the back. John Doe experienced a collapsed lung sustained from the stab wounds. John Doe also sustained other stab wounds to the upper back and neck area, with one stab wound inches away from his spinal cord. At sentencing, Watson faces up to 10 years in prison. The Navajo Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Probasco is prosecuting the case. # # # 24-47


title: “King” of Violent Haitian Gang Pleads Guilty to Gun Smuggling and Money Laundering After Government’s Case

body_text: WASHINGTON – Joly Germine, 31, of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, the self-described “King” of a notoriously violent Haitian gang known as 400 Mawozo, pleaded guilty today to his role in a gunrunning conspiracy that smuggled firearms to Haiti in violation of U.S. export laws, and the laundering of ransoms paid for U.S. hostages to the gang in 2021. The conspiracy resulted in the purchase in the United States of at least twenty-four firearms, including AK-47s, AR-15s, an M4 Carbine rifle, an M1A rifle, and a .50 caliber rifle, described by the ATF as a military weapon, which were smuggled from the United States to the gang in Haiti for their criminal activities. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. Co-defendant Eliande Tunis, 45, of Pompano Beach, Florida, pled guilty on January 17, 2024, to the same offenses. The plea came at the end of the government’s case during trial, after the twenty-four witnesses and two weeks of evidence. Germine, a Haitian national, pled guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before Judge John D. Bates to the 48-count second superseding indictment. The indictment charged Germine with conspiring to violate U.S. export control laws and to defraud the United States, violating export control laws, smuggling, and laundering the proceeds of ransoms paid to free U.S. hostages taken by the gang and laundering money to promote his crimes. He faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on May 15, 2024. Germine’s co-defendant and former girlfriend Tunis, who styled herself as his “wife” and was described at trial as the “Queen”, pled guilty on the eve of trial on January 17, 2024, to the same 48-count indictment. She also faces up to life in prison when she is sentenced on May 8, 2024. Another co-defendant, Jocelyn Dor, age 31, who acted as a straw gun purchaser for Germine and Tunis, previously pled guilty on October 30, 2023, and will be sentenced on February 28, 2024. “Violent gangs have ravaged Haiti, and, all too often, Americans in Haiti have been targets of their violence,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “These two defendants not only helped lead a prominent violent gang in Haiti, but they were also intimately involved in arming the gang and laundering ransom proceeds the gang obtained from kidnapping Americans. Preventing them from illegally shipping anymore firearms or laundering the proceeds of kidnappings strikes a critical blow against the gang they once led.” “Violent, well-armed gangs pose an ongoing threat to U.S. Citizens who live in or travel to Haiti,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, of the Miami Field Office. “As Joly Germine and Eliande Tunis have just learned, the FBI is dedicated to disrupting and dismantling gangs who undertake hostage-taking of U.S. Citizens anywhere. This includes taking away their ability to wreak violence on the innocent using smuggled firearms.” According to the evidence the government presented at trial, from at least March through November 2021, Germine, Tunis, and two co-defendants conspired with each other and with other gang members in Haiti to acquire and supply firearms to the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti. Germine directed the gang’s operations from a Haitian prison using unmonitored cell phones, including directing gang members in Haiti to transfer money to Tunis and others in the United States for the purpose of obtaining firearms for the gang. Germine then provided Tunis and the two other U.S.-based co-defendants, all Florida residents, specifications for firearms and ammunition that Germine and other gang leaders wanted sent to Haiti. Tunis and the two co-defendants then purchased at least 24 rifles, handguns, and a shotgun at Florida gun shops while falsely stating that they were the “actual buyers” of the firearms, when they were in fact acting as straw purchasers for Germine. In approximately May 2021, Tunis smuggled firearms and ammunition to Haiti in containers disguised as food and household goods. In October 2021, Tunis shipped additional firearms and ammunition to Haiti, again by smuggling the firearms, but those firearms were seized by the FBI before they left the United States. 400 Mawozo is a violent Haitian gang that operated in the Croix-des-Bouquets area to the east of the capital, Port-au-Prince. From at least January 12, 2020, 400 Mawozo was engaged in armed hostage takings of U.S. citizens in Haiti for ransom. The victims have generally been forced from their vehicles at gunpoint and kept in various locations by armed gang members while their relatives and colleagues negotiate payment for their release. At trial, the government presented evidence that the gang received ransom payments from the hostage taking of three U.S. citizens in the summer of 2021, who testified at trial, and the cash ransom proceeds were commingled with the gangs’ funds and transferred via MoneyGram and Western Union from the United States to Haiti to buy more firearms. In the fall of 2021, the 400 Mawozo gang claimed responsibility for taking 16 U.S. citizens hostage, including five children, and one Canadian citizen who were part of a missionary organization visiting an orphanage in Port-au-Prince. The gang demanded a ransom of $l million for each hostage. The hostages escaped on or about December 16, 2021. This case does not address those hostage taking charges, for which Germine has been separately indicted in Case No. 22-cr-161 (DDC). The case was investigated by the FBI’s Miami Field Office, with assistance the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Haitian National Police, the government of Haiti, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida’s Special Prosecutions Section. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Kimberly Paschall and Paralegal Specialist Jorge Casillas of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division.


title: Delta Passenger Accused of Being Unruly and Abusive During Flight Faces Federal Charges

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: UPDATE Upon motion of the United States, the indictment described in the press release below against Darnel Silver Collins, in this case was dismissed on June 12, 2024. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah, returned an indictment today charging a Netherlands national, living in Arizona, with multiple federal charges, including interference with a flight crew. According to court documents, Darnel Silver Collins, 19, of Surprise, Arizona, was a passenger onboard a Delta Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Salt Lake City, who allegedly engaged in unruly and abusive behavior one hour after takeoff. Collins continued to cause problems and had to be consistently monitored for the remaining nine hours of the flight. According to witnesses, Collins was loud, disruptive, threatening and abusive to other passengers and crew members. Throughout the flight, Collins’ behavior escalated and he eventually had to be restrained. As alleged in the complaint, during the flight, Collins began following and touching multiple passengers. At one point, Collins approached a female passenger as she was exiting the restroom. Collins grabbed onto the female passenger’s arm and did not release her until another passenger and flight crew member intervened. Approximately eight passengers were moved from the area around Collins seat to avoid further problems. Eventually, Collins was moved to the very back row of the aircraft. Collins spit on a passenger striking at least two other people with his saliva and he continued to touch passengers as they walked by. Due to his continued unwanted touching of other passengers, Collins was physically restrained in flexicuffs by the flight crew. He was taken into custody upon arrival at Salt Lake City International Airport. Collins is in the United States on a P1 Visa (National/International athletes and performers). Collins is a minor league baseball player and is sponsored by the Kansas City Baseball Corporation. He travels between the U.S. and the Netherlands during the baseball off-season. Collins is charged with interference with a flight crew and assault by striking, beating, and wounding in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. His initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. An FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Kennedy of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Attachments: order_granting_leave_to_dismiss_the_indictment._darnel_silver_collins.pdf motion_for_leave_to_dismiss_indictment._darnel_silver_collins.pdf darnelcollins_indictment.pdf darnelsilvercollins.complaint.pdf


title: Post Falls Man Sentenced for Fraud Related to Unemployment Insurance Benefits

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: COEUR D’ALENE – Jimmy Winebrenner, 79, of Post Falls, was sentenced for using or trafficking in unauthorized access devices in relation to an unemployment insurance scheme, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, in Spring 2020, Winebrenner began receiving unemployment benefits cards in the mail from various state agencies, including cards from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR). The unemployment benefit cards were debit cards and preloaded with unemployment benefit funds issued in other persons’ names. Winebrenner was specifically sentenced for using a debit card issued in another person’s name and obtaining $14,830 at an ATM in Coeur d’Alene from the debit card. Winebrenner did so with the intent to defraud. Between July and August 2020, Winebrenner obtained $81,180 from Nevada DETR debit cards issued in other persons’ names. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Winebrenner to serve five years of probation, and to pay restitution in the amount of $81,180 to the Nevada DETR. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for its investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol prosecuted the case. ###


title: Smith County man sentenced for federal firearms and drug trafficking violations

body_text: TYLER, Texas– A Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms and drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Juan Espinoza, Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a crime of family violence and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on Jan. 31, 2024. According to information presented in court, on Feb. 16, 2022, a federal search warrant was executed at Espinoza’s Tyler residence during which officers discovered approximately 4,600 grams of marijuana, 476 grams of Psilocybin, five semi-automatic pistols, a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, and $12,145.00 in cash. Espinoza was convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in Smith County in 2016 and prohibited by federal law of possessing firearms or ammunition. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble. # # #


title: Cincinnati man pleads guilty to leading firearms conspiracy involving 56 guns purchased online with stolen credit cards

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to crimes related to buying firearms with stolen credit card information and leading a conspiracy to pick up the firearms in illegal straw purchases, as well as separately obtaining a fraudulent COVID-relief loan. Zephaniah Jones, 21, admitted to conspiring to make false statements on federal firearms forms, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to court documents, from April through July 2022, Jones and others attempted to place online orders for firearms with Guns.com and other online retailers for delivery to Cincinnati. Jones and his coconspirators completed online orders for 56 firearms and succeeded in obtaining at least 37. Under federal law, the firearms could not be shipped directly to Jones or a coconspirator; they had to be shipped to a local federal firearms licensee (FFL). At the FFL, Jones’s coconspirators lied on ATF Form 4473, a form required when purchasing a firearm from an FFL, by pretending to be the actual buyer of the firearms. In fact, the firearms were for Jones, who intended to resell them. Jones used stolen credit card information and billing addresses to place all the orders. For example, within two weeks in June and July 2022, Jones used the credit card information of three individuals to make purchases of firearms totaling more than $15,000. Jones bought large numbers of the same or similar models of firearms, intending to resell them. For example, he bought at least 14 Glock pistols, 11 F.N. Five-Seven pistols, and six FN 509 pistols. Some of the guns involved in the conspiracy were traced to crimes within a short period of time. For example, just 15 days after purchase, one pistol was used to shoot into an occupied residence in Columbus; it was later also used in a shots-fired incident and a separate felonious assault. Another pistol was recovered from a juvenile less than three months after purchase, after being used in a different shots-fired incident in Columbus. Separately, in February 2020, Jones submitted a fraudulent application for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, falsely claiming that he owned a business called Jones Lawncare LLC. As a result, Jones was awarded a PPP loan for nearly $21,000 that was later forgiven. Parties involved in Jones’s case have recommended a sentence of 79 months in prison. Five other coconspirators in the straw-purchasing conspiracy have been charged federally. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case. The case investigated by the ATF with assistance from the Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. # # #


title: Attorney General Garland Honors U.S. Department of Justice Employees and Others for their Service at Annual Awards Ceremony

component: USAO - California, Southern

number: CAS24-0201-AG Awards

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the recipients of the annual Attorney General’s Awards recognizing extraordinary work of Justice Department employees and others. Recipients included several San Diego-based federal prosecutors and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. “Each of today’s recipients has served with distinction, and in so doing, they have enabled the Justice Department to advance its work on behalf of the American people,” said Attorney General Garland. “Their exceptional leadership, heroism, and dedication have benefited people and communities across the country.” San Diego recipients include: Chief of National Security and Cybercrimes John Parmley; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred Sheppard and Sabrina Feve; FBI Special Agents Amy Poling, Adam James, Marina Shalfeyeva, Nicholas Arico, and Udell Hardy; and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Edison Constante. They received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security, which recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions toward protecting U.S. national security. They were singled out for their work on an espionage case. Please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/four-chinese-nationals-working-ministry-state-security-charged-global-computer . "This extraordinary team identified and exposed a worldwide computer-hacking campaign,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Their perseverance and dedication disrupted China’s efforts to steal trade secrets and sensitive data from universities, companies, and governmental organizations around the globe.” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Ko, second-in-command of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was recognized for exemplary leadership over the course of his DOJ career. “Mr. Ko has demonstrated outstanding professionalism and commitment to justice for more than two decades,” McGrath said. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.” San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan received the Attorney General’s Award for Meritorious Public Service. Each year the DOJ gives out just one award for meritorious public service nationwide. The award is designed to recognize significant contributions of citizens and organizations that have assisted the Department in accomplishing its mission and objectives. “During Summer Stephan’s tenure as DA, San Diego has remained one of the safest large cities in America,” McGrath said. “Collaborative law enforcement relationships have been a hallmark of DA Stephan’s leadership. Her work with Department of Justice partners has resulted in dozens of high-impact cases, from fentanyl trafficking and elder fraud to illegal firearms and violent crime.” For a comprehensive list of all award winners, please see https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-honors-justice-department-employees-and-partners-70th-and .


title: Phoenix Man Sentenced for Role in Fentanyl Conspiracy

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Tut Chuol, 43, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on January 31, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Chuol to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Chuol’s release from prison, he will begin a four-year term of supervised release. On December 2, 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intercepted a package at UPS Next Day Air that had been shipped from Arizona to Omaha. A narcotics trained canine indicated to the package. It was opened and the package contained 1,000 M30 pills that tested positive for fentanyl. A controlled delivery of the package was made to the addressee. A search of the addressee’s phone and Snapchat messages led to the identification Chuol as being the individual that sent the package. A warrant was issued for Chuol’s arrest. On February 8, 2023, DEA agents went to Chuol’s residence in Phoenix to make the arrest. Chuol was home and taken into custody without incident. A search of his residence by law enforcement located two pounds of methamphetamine and two firearms. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine and Gun Charge

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Israel Robledo-Cardenas, 48, of Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced January 31, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Robledo-Cardenas to 120 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge, and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the gun charge. After Robledo-Cardenas’s release from prison, he will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen. On November 15, 2022, a Butler County Deputy Sheriff observed Robledo-Cardenas driving a vehicle in Rising City, Nebraska. At the time the Deputy knew Robledo-Cardenas did not have a valid operator’s license. After a traffic stop, Robledo-Cardenas gave a false name and was placed under arrest. His vehicle was towed to an indoor facility where a canine was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from within. A subsequent search revealed 104 grams of meth along with a 9 mm handgun in a compartment behind the center console. This case was investigated by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Police Department.


title: Former Board Member of Failed Washington Federal Bank in Chicago Sentenced to Prison for Falsifying Records and Obstructing Regulators

body_text: CHICAGO — A former board member of the failed Washington Federal Bank for Savings in Chicago was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to falsify bank records to deceive the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and for filing false tax returns. WILLIAM M. MAHON, 57, of Chicago, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy and tax charges. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall ordered Mahon to pay a fine of $75,000. Washington Federal, which was based in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, was shut down in 2017 after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency determined that the bank was insolvent and had at least $66 million in nonperforming loans. When the OCC was evaluating Washington Federal’s loan portfolio prior to its failure, Mahon and other board members made and caused to be made false entries in bank records and provided them to the OCC with the intent to deceive the agency and obstruct its examination. They also falsified records to make it appear that Washington Federal was operating in compliance with banking rules and internal policies and controls. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Vincent R. Zehme, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the FDIC’s Office of Inspector General; Machelle L. Jindra, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General in Chicago; Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago; Catherine Huber, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Central Region of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General; Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Andrea Peacock, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General; Deborah Witzburg, City of Chicago Inspector General; and Kathryn B. Richards, Chicago Housing Authority Inspector General. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Trustee Program. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Petersen, Kristin Pinkston, and Jeffrey Snell, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Netols. The federal criminal investigation into the bank’s collapse led to criminal charges against 16 defendants, including the bank’s Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and other high-ranking employees, for conspiring to embezzle at least $31 million in bank funds. Four defendants were convicted after jury trials, while ten defendants pleaded guilty and two entered into deferred prosecution agreements. Much of the money was transferred to Chicago attorney ROBERT M. KOWALSKI and real estate developers MIROSLAW KREJZA and MAREK MATCZUK without all of the required documentation and often without any documentation whatsoever. Juries last year convicted Robert Kowalski , Krejza, and Matczuk on embezzlement and fraud charges. They are awaiting sentencing. Robert Kowalski’s sister, JAN R. KOWALSKI, also an attorney, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2023 to more than three years in prison for fraudulently enabling her brother to conceal more than $357,000 from creditors and the trustee in his bankruptcy case. Chicago attorney PATRICK D. THOMPSON was convicted by a jury in 2022 of making false statements to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. regarding the amount of money he received from Washington Federal via a purported loan and other unsecured payments. He was also convicted of filing tax returns in which he falsely deducted interest that he had not actually paid to Washington Federal. Daley was sentenced to four months in federal prison.


title: OHIO MAN ARRESTED FOR WIRE FRAUD AND AGGRAVTED IDENTITY THEFT IN CONNECTION WITH SCHEME ON ST. CROIX

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Croix, VI – Mitch G. Stevenson, 61, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of the Virgin Islands for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, was arrested yesterday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced. After his arrest, Stevenson was brought before Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman of the Southern District of Ohio, who ordered that he be detained pending further judicial proceedings. According to court documents, in the summer of 2023, Stevenson approached a Florida-based investor with a business proposition which involved the purchase of scrap electric and wire cable located at Port Hamilton on St. Croix. Stevenson proposed that the Florida-based investor pay Port Hamilton $83,200 for 9,200 feet of miscellaneous electric wire and cable, which would be secured by a bill of sale granting him ownership of the scrap electric and wire cable. Court documents further state that the scrap electric and wire cable would then be transported to Florida, where it would be processed to extract the copper, which would be re-sold for a profit. The two men would then equally split the profits from the sale of the extracted copper. According to court documents, in order to effectuate this business transaction, Stevenson entered into a contract with Port Hamilton for the purchase of the scrap electric and wire cable. The contract, which was signed by a representative of Port Hamilton, did not include the Florida-based investor as a party to the agreement. Court documents further state that Stevenson concealed the source of the funding from the Port Hamilton representative and gave the Florida-based investor a fake bill of sale, purportedly signed by a representative of Port Hamilton. In reliance on the fake bill of sale, the Florida-based investor wired the $83,200 to Port Hamilton’s bank account. Upon receipt of the $83,200, Port Hamilton transferred ownership of the scrap wire and metal to Stevenson even though the Florida-based investor paid for it. The United States Attorney reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Evan Rikhye.


title: ST. JOHN MAN SENTENCED ON COCAINE POSSESSION CONVICTION

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced that Calis Sewer, 25, of St. John, was sentenced by Chief Judge Robert A. Molloy to four years of incarceration after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, on March 21, 2023, Virgin Islands Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop on Sewer who was driving a Suzuki Vitara registered in his name. During the stop, a drug detection canine alerted to the presence of narcotics and officers later discovered 18 bricks of cocaine concealed in a duffle bag in the trunk of Sewer’s vehicle. Prior to the traffic stop, federal law enforcement agents surveilled Sewer as he walked down the Brown Bay trail, an area known for drug smuggling, towards the beach. Sewer was later observed walking up the trail carrying a black duffle bag. Law enforcement agents maintained surveillance of Sewer as he traveled to his residence and later left with the duffle bag. Sewer was arrested after disembarking the car ferry in Red Hook, St. Thomas. This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigation and Virgin Islands Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.