title: Former Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – James West pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. West, age 48, formerly of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing to occur on January 17, 2024, at 2:15 p.m. The law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is to be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the conviction in this case. 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.


title: Florida Resident Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of New Port Richey, FL, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of bank fraud, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Theodosios K. Moustakopoulos, 41, New Port Richey, FL pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in October 2016, Moustakopoulos applied for an auto loan from S&T Bank to purchase a Bentley sedan for $174,525.30. According to the allegations, Moustakopoulos made false statements in the loan application. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for January 17, 2024. The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court continued Moustakopoulos' bond. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Moustakopoulos.


title: Sharon Resident Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Crack Cocaine

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – Torlando Hopson was sentenced to 10 months in prison for conspiring to distribute crack cocaine, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Hopson, age 34 of Sharon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon ordered Hopson to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Hopson pled guilty earlier this year to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine in 2020 and 2021 in Mercer County. He stipulated to being responsible for the distribution of between 22.4 and 28 grams of crack cocaine. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the conviction and sentence in this case. 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.


title: Russian-German National Arrested for Illegally Exporting to Russia Sensitive U.S.-Sourced Microelectronics with Military Applications in Violation of U.S. Export Controls

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: The Defendant Allegedly Participated in an Illicit Procurement Network That, Subsequent to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, Illegally Procured Large Quantities of U.S.-Sourced Sensitive Microelectronics for a Russian Company That Supplies Manufacturers for the Russian Military Arthur Petrov, 33, a dual Russian-German citizen who has resided in Russia and Cyprus, is charged by criminal complaint, unsealed today, with export control violations, smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering offenses based on his alleged participation in an ongoing scheme to procure U.S.-sourced microelectronics subject to U.S. export controls on behalf of a Russia-based supplier of critical electronics components for manufacturers supplying weaponry and other equipment to the Russian military. Petrov was arrested on Aug. 26 in the Republic of Cyprus at the request of the United States. “As alleged in the complaint, Arthur Petrov conspired to smuggle U.S. microelectronics technology with military applications to Russia, the type of components used by the Russian military in its unjust invasion of Ukraine,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts to circumvent our export control laws to fuel the Russian war machine and those who try will find no refuge from U.S. justice. We thank our partners in the Republic of Cyprus for their law enforcement cooperation and continued support.” “Those who evade our export control restrictions to support Putin’s brutal war machine will be held accountable,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “In conjunction with today’s criminal action, we have issued a Temporary Denial Order to shutter this alleged illicit procurement network’s access to the type of U.S. micro-electronics embedded in Russian missiles and drones that have been used in its unprovoked war against the Ukrainian people.” “Arthur Petrov is alleged to have participated in an international illicit procurement network based in Russia, using shell companies to smuggle shipments from U.S. distributors of microelectronics with military applications through intermediary countries in order to conceal the ultimate destination of these sensitive materials: Russia. As alleged, Petrov knew that the transactions and shipments were in contravention of U.S. export controls relating to Russia,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “Efforts to illicitly supply Russia with U.S.-sourced military technology represent an affront to national security and will continue to be met with criminal prosecutions by this office.” “Petrov’s alleged conduct in the complaint represents a complex, concerted scheme to circumvent U.S. law and export controls,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “The alleged creation and establishment of an intricate network of shell companies demonstrates the elaborate measures adversaries will take to steal sensitive technology. The FBI remains committed to dismantling criminal enterprises’ intent on threatening national security.” According to court documents, Petrov is a dual Russian-German national who works for LLC Electrocom VPK (Electrocom), a Russia-based supplier of critical electronics components for manufacturers supplying weaponry and other equipment to the Russian military. Petrov and two co-conspirators (CC-1 and CC-2), who are Russian nationals also working for Electrocom, operated an illicit procurement network in Russia and elsewhere overseas. As alleged, following Russia’ invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and continuing until August 2023, they fraudulently procured from U.S. distributors large quantities of microelectronics subject to U.S. export controls on behalf of Electrocom. To carry out the scheme, Petrov, CC-1, and CC-2 used shell companies and other deceptive means to conceal that the electronics components were destined for Russia. The technology that Petrov and his co-conspirators procured during the course of the conspiracy have significant military applications and include various types of electronics components of the sort that have been recovered in Russian military hardware on the battlefield in Ukraine, such as Russian guided missiles, drones, and electronic warfare and communications devices. To perpetrate the scheme, Petrov first acquired the controlled microelectronics from U.S.-based electronics exporters using a Cyprus-based shell company, Astrafteros Technokosmos LTD (Astrafteros), which he operates. Petrov procured these sensitive electronics components by falsely representing to the U.S. exporters that Astrafteros was purchasing the items for fire security systems, among other commercial uses, and that the ultimate end-users and destinations of the electronics are companies in Cyprus or other third countries — when in fact the components are destined for Electrocom in Russia, which supplies manufacturers for the Russian military. The microelectronics that Petrov procured as part of the conspiracy include, among other things, microcontrollers and integrated circuits that are on the Commerce Control List maintained by the Commerce Department and cannot lawfully be exported or reexported to Russia without a license from the Commerce Department. Invoices provided to Petrov by the U.S. distributors expressly noted that these microcontrollers and integrated circuits are subject to U.S. export controls. To evade these controls, Petrov, CC-1, and CC-2 worked together to transship the controlled items procured by Petrov using pass-through entities operated by CC-1 and CC-2 in third countries. CC-1 and CC-2 then caused the items to be shipped, sometimes through yet another country, to the ultimate destination: Electrocom in Saint Petersburg, Russia. At all times, Petrov, CC-1, and CC-2 concealed from the U.S. distributors that they were procuring the controlled electronics components on behalf of Electrocom and that the items were destined for Russia. During the course of the conspiracy, Petrov, CC-1, and CC-2 procured from U.S. distributors and shipped to Russia more than $225,000 worth of controlled electronics components with military applications. Petrov is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; three counts of violating the ECRA, which each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; three counts of smuggling goods from the United States, which each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI’s Legal Attaché offices in Poland, Germany, and Athens, Greece; the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The Republic of Cyprus National Police also provided critical assistance in effecting the defendant’s arrest and detention at the request of the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Sullivan for the Southern District of New York is prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Maria Fedor of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Today’s actions were coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture and the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: McAlester Physician Sentenced For Federal Drug Crime

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nelson Onaro, age 61, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to one year of probation for unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. Onaro also surrendered his Oklahoma medical license and his DEA registration which formerly enabled him to dispense controlled substances. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. On February 7, 2023, Onaro pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance. At the plea hearing, Onaro admitted to prescribing Schedule II controlled substances to patients in amounts and for durations beyond the scope of legitimate medical practice. Onaro also admitted to writing prescriptions for patients in dangerous combinations and dosages, thus creating a heightened risk of overdose and death, and to writing a prescription for a straw buyer in order to conceal his own drug use. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Daniel Griffin and Christopher Jason and Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Conway and Ryan Bondura represented the United States.


title: Former police academy recruit headed to prison for exporting .50 caliber ammunition

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 22-year-old Pharr resident has been ordered to federal prison for his conviction of smuggling goods from the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Pedro Cruz Almeida Jr. pleaded guilty April 25, admitting he attempted to export .50 caliber tracer-equipped linked ammunition without a license to export. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered him to serve 50 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Almeida’s degree of involvement in the smuggling scheme and how he executed his role in the scheme while simultaneously attending the police academy. In handing down the sentence, the court noted how Almeida – being from the area – knew the dangerousness of this quantity and this type of ammunition in the hands of the cartel. “Almeida lived a double life,” said Hamdani. “While training to be a police officer, he attempted to smuggle hundreds of rounds of lethal ammunition into Mexico. That all changed with his arrest and conviction, trading a blue police uniform for a convict’s orange jumpsuit. Criminals like him could have eroded the public trust and we are breathing a sigh of relief that he was stopped before causing more harm.” On Feb. 3, Almeida was driving a red Hyundai Elantra, at which time authorities conducted a traffic stop. A subsequent search led to the discovery of 600 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition in the vehicle. Almeida admitted he intended to transfer the ammunition to an individual waiting at the Port of Entry driving a vehicle with a Tamaulipas, Mexico, license plate. In Mexico, he received cash to order the ammunition. Almeida admitted he ordered ammunition approximately 30 occasions over the past year. On Feb. 9, agents subsequently seized an additional 300 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition postmarked to Almeida. At the time of the plea, Almeida informed the court he was attending a local police academy at the time of his arrest. Previously released on bond, he was taken into custody following the sentencing today where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter I. Brostowin and Lee Fry prosecuted the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods ( PSN ) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.


title: Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Key Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Justin Allen Bowen, 41, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about August 2022 to in or about December 2022, Bowen conspired with others to distribute quantities of methamphetamine throughout Kanawha County. Bowen was responsible for selling or possessing with intent to sell nearly 50 pounds of methamphetamine during the course of the conspiracy. Bowen would receive several pounds of methamphetamine at a time from his supplier, and distribute it to several of his customers. On December 5, 2022, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at locations where Bowen had delivered methamphetamine the night before and seized a total of approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine found in three locations. Some of this methamphetamine was located in a safe within his bedroom, along with several firearms and more than $70,000 in cash. Bowen is among 30 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 200 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 28 pounds of cocaine, 20 pounds of fentanyl, 18 firearms and $747,000 in cash. Nineteen of the defendants have pleaded guilty. Indictments against the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-31. ###


title: Former Memphis, Tennessee, Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation for Assaulting a Man in his Custody

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former Memphis Police Department (MPD) officer was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and one year of supervised release for violating an arrestee’s civil rights by using excessive force against him. According to court documents, Armando Bustamante admitted that, in January 2021, while he was on duty as an MPD officer, he used his service weapon and hands to strike an arrestee in the head without legal justification. The assault caused bodily injury to the man. “This former Memphis police officer is being held accountable for violently assaulting a man in his custody without any justification,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those law enforcement officers who abuse their authority and violate federal civil rights laws.” “Public trust in law enforcement is essential to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “When an officer violates that trust, it makes policing less effective and far more dangerous for both officers and average citizens. We will continue to work with our partners in local and state law enforcement to root out those who violate public trust and endanger those they’ve sworn to protect.” “Today’s sentencing highlights that law enforcement officers who abuse their authority and deny an individual their civil rights will be held accountable,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue working together to uncover any violation of civil rights and pursue justice for victims in these cases.” The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and former Trial Attorney Nikhil Ramnaney of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Mercer County Man Admits Soliciting Kickbacks in COVID-19 Testing Kickback Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Mercer County, New Jersey, man admitted his role in a kickback conspiracy involving COVID-19 testing, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Tauqir Khan, 65, of Pennington, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute for his role in a scheme to obtain kickbacks for the referral of COVID-19 test samples. “Clinical laboratories and health care professionals are on notice: paying kickbacks to steer tests to a lab may break the law. This office is committed to using all the tools at our disposal to keep illegal kickbacks out of our health care system and preserve the integrity of medical decision making.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “Clinical laboratories and health care professionals are on notice: paying kickbacks to steer tests to a lab may break the law,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “This office is committed to using all the tools at our disposal to keep illegal kickbacks out of our health care system and preserve the integrity of medical decision making.” “There were many fraudsters who saw the global pandemic as a get rich quick gold mine. Khan and his conspirators were no different, soliciting kickbacks and wrongfully billing health care programs,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “It may take time, but FBI Newark and our law enforcement partners are bringing to justice those who stole money that wasn't intended for their bank accounts.” According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Khan and his conspirators solicited kickbacks in exchange for providing COVID-19 test samples to Metpath Laboratories, a clinical laboratory located in Parsippany, New Jersey, that conducted testing to detect the presence of COVID-19 in samples obtained from individual patients. Metpath paid kickbacks for the referrals of COVID-19 test samples and subsequently billed Medicare and other health care benefit programs for the tests. The charge of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney DeNae M. Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark. khan.information.pdf


title: Rockland County Resident Arrested For $1.5 Million Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging JEFFREY TOGNETTI, JR., with lying to investors about, among other things, being a licensed Series 3 and 7 broker. TOGNETTI was arrested this morning and will be presented in White Plains federal court later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Jeffrey Tognetti, Jr., perpetrated a classic investment fraud scheme, lying to victims about his qualifications in order to lure supposed investments, only to misappropriate those funds. The career prosecutors of this Office are experts in prosecuting this kind of financial fraud, and thanks to our law enforcement partners, Tognetti now faces the repercussions of his alleged crime.” HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “The defendant is alleged to have defrauded his victims through an ongoing web of misrepresentations and deceit to fund his lavish lifestyle. HSI will work tirelessly to pursue those who seek to take advantage of their victims for financial gain and to ensure that the integrity of our financial institutions is upheld.” As alleged in public proceedings and the Indictment unsealed today in White Plains federal court: [1] From at least in or about July 2022 up to the present, TOGNETTI ran a scheme that defrauded victims out of at least $1.5 million. TOGNETTI solicited and obtained funds from victims based on the misrepresentations that, among other things, TOGNETTI was a licensed Series 3 and 7 broker in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, and that he would invest funds he received from victims in the stock market and cryptocurrency. To induce victims to give him funds, TOGNETTI routinely made materially false oral and written statements, including lies that he worked at a hedge fund known as Parallax Capital Advisors LLC and created technology that allowed him to profitably trade cryptocurrency. Without their knowledge or authorization, TOGNETTI misappropriated his victims’ funds by, among other things, using the funds for personal gain and transferring the funds to other individuals. * * * TOGNETTI, 26, of Piermont, New York, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by a judge. Any individuals who believe they may have been the victim of the alleged crime perpetrated by JEFFREY TOGNETTI, JR., can contact HSI at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form . Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the New York City Police Department. This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer N. Ong is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. U.S. v. Tognetti Indictment


title: Watermark Retirement Communities to Pay $4.25 Million  for Allegedly Receiving Kickback in Violation of the False Claims Act

component: Civil Division

body_text: Watermark Retirement Communities LLC, a senior living community operator based in Tucson, Arizona, that manages 79 retirement homes across the country, agreed to pay $4.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by soliciting and receiving a kickback from a nationwide home health agency (HHA) operator in order to facilitate referrals from Watermark retirement homes. The United States alleged that the HHA operator purchased two of Watermark’s HHAs in Arizona to induce referrals of Medicare beneficiaries living in Watermark residential communities. The scheme was designed around eight Watermark retirement homes in five states (Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida and Pennsylvania) where the two companies had overlapping operations. The United States alleged that from Jan. 1, 2014 through Oct. 31, 2020, Watermark caused the HHA operator to submit false claims for payments to Medicare for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries referred as a result of the kickback transaction. The Antikickback Statute prohibits parties who participate in federal health care programs from knowingly and willfully soliciting or receiving any remuneration in return for referring an individual to, or arranging for the furnishing of any item or services for which payment is made by, a federal health care program. “It is imperative that decisions about the care provided to federal health care beneficiaries are not undermined by the payment of kickbacks,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s resolution demonstrates that the Department is committed to holding accountable not only those who offer kickbacks but also those who receive them.” “Whether you pay them or receive them, kickbacks undermine the integrity of our health care system,” said U.S. Philip R. Attorney Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “Patients need to know the health care referrals they receive are in their best interest, not in the best interest of someone else’s bottom line. Our office will always be on guard to prevent unscrupulous operators from trying to take financial advantage of our health care system.” The settlement announced today includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by David Freedman, who was the former director of strategic growth for the HHA operator between 2009 and 2016. The qui tam provisions permit a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. As part of today’s resolution with Watermark, Freedman will receive approximately $765,000. In September 2021, the HHA operator entered into a settlement with the United States to resolve the claims against it arising out of the same transaction. See www.justice.gov/opa/pr/home-health-agency-operator-bayada-pay-17-million-resolve-false-claims-act-allegations-paying . The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The matter was handled by Trial Attorneys Samson Asiyanbi and Daniel Meyler of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordann Conaboy for the District of New Jersey. The case is docketed as United States ex rel. Freedman v. Bayada Home Health Care, Inc. , Civ. No. 17-6267 (D.N.J.). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Watermark Settlement Agreement


title: A Homeless Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Rape

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A previously convicted sex offender who sexually assaulted a homeless woman taking shelter from the Father’s Day storm pleaded guilty in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Dennis Ray Thompson, a homeless 64-year-old Choctaw Nation citizen from Tulsa, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse by force in Indian Country and failure to register as a sex offender. “Thompson was caught in the act of sexually violating the victim where she was taking shelter from the Father’s Day storm,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Crimes among the homeless community are often harder to solve and prosecute because of the transient nature of both the accused and the victims; but our office, with help and dedication of our law enforcement partners, will continue to prosecute the offenders and seek justice for the victims.” In the early morning hours of June 19, 2023, Tulsa Police Officers spotted Thompson on the sidewalk, completely naked, pinning down the victim. They noticed the victim was in distress and crying. The victim, who was homeless and legally blind, informed the officers she “didn’t want this,” and that she had not consented. Thompson claimed he knew Bannon “from the streets,” but could not tell the officers her name. In his plea, Thompson admitted to striking the victim in the face, pinning her to the ground and sexually assaulting her. He further admitted that he knew he was required to register as a sex offender and that he had failed to do so. Thompson faces up to life in federal prison and a fine of not more than $250.000. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Thompson has been and will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing. The Tulsa Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Briden is prosecuting the case.


title: Claremore Man Sentenced for Domestic

body_text: TULSA Okla. – A Claremore man was sentenced to 33 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in Indian Country and assault by beating, striking, and wounding, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett sentenced Robert Ross Patton Jr., 47, of Claremore to 33 months in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and 12 months for assault by beating, striking, and wounding. The sentences are to run concurrently and will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. During his allocution, the defendant told the Judge, “I’m sorry I did it.” Judge Starrett in addressing the defendant acknowledged that he heard him, but told the defendant, “What happened was terrible and you have a price to pay.” Patton violently attacked his girlfriend, pulled a knife on her, threatened to kill her, and stabbed at her head and neck multiple times. Patton then stabbed the knife into the wall, dragged the victim to the bathroom, repeatedly banged her head into the tub and punched her in the face. Patton further told the victim that she “needed to get into the tub so that when he killed her, she would not get blood all over the house,” and that “she was not leaving there alive.” While his case was pending, Patton cut off his ankle monitor and fled the state. When he ran out of money, he called his parents and asked them to come pick him up in Arkansas. When law enforcement located him at his parent’s residence, he fled into the woods where he hid out for over 24 hours before a concerned citizen called the police. He was apprehended and on April 4, 2023, Patton pled guilty and admitted to assaulting the victim. Patton has been and will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshall pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Briden prosecuted the case.


title: Co-Owner of Media Brokerage Firm Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Tax Return

component: Tax Division

body_text: A former Maryland woman pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return. According to court documents and statements made in court, Susan K. Patrick, now a resident of Cody, Wyoming, co-owned a media brokerage firm with her husband and hired an accounting firm to prepare business and personal tax returns for 2012 through 2014. Despite receiving the completed and accurate tax returns from the accounting firm, Patrick did not file them with the IRS. After the IRS contacted Patrick and requested that she file the unfiled returns, Patrick lied to the IRS, claiming that her accounting firm had timely filed the returns and that she would provide copies of those returns. Patrick did not provide copies of the accurate returns that had in fact been prepared by her accounting firm. Instead, Patrick doctored the business returns, removing $10,000,000 in gross receipts earned by her brokerage firm, and altered the personal returns by removing over $9,500,000 in income that she and her husband had earned from 2012 through 2014. Patrick also falsely backdated her signature on each tax return to make it appear as if the returns had been timely signed and mailed these falsely doctored documents to the IRS, hoping to evade paying the full amount of taxes she owed. In addition, Patrick failed to timely file business and individual returns for 2015, which she had also hired the accounting firm to prepare, nor did she pay the tax due and owing for the individual return. In total, Patrick sought to evade more than $2,500,000 in taxes. Patrick faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison. She also faces a term of supervised release, monetary penalties, and restitution. 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 and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant Chief Thomas F. Koelbl and Trial Attorney Matthew L. Cofer of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Green Bay Pastor Pleads Guilty to Online Crime Targeting a Venezuelan Child

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 31, 2023, Cory J. Herthel (age: 40) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, pled guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a). Herthel will receive a federal prison sentence of at least 15 years when he is sentenced on December 4, 2023. He will also be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law. According to a plea agreement filed in the case, in May of 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was contacted by the church where Herthel was employed as a pastor regarding information it had obtained indicating that Herthel possibly had been involved in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor living in Venezuela. An ensuing investigation revealed that Herthel sent the child videos of himself masturbating, and at Herthel’s request, the minor sent similar videos and images to the pastor. Herthel acknowledged knowing the minor from a mission trip he had taken to Ecuador, where he met the child begging on the streets. The child and the child’s mother had returned to their native Venezuela, and Herthel kept in touch with the child. Herthel was confronted with images of him masturbating and acknowledged sending the videos to the child whom he knew to be a minor. Herthel was also asked about sexually explicit images and masturbation videos that the child sent him. He acknowledged asking the child for the images and videos. He also acknowledged sending the child monetary payments via various online applications. This investigation is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Green Bay and Milwaukee offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the assistance of the Green Bay Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Election-Related Threat Toward Georgia Public Officials

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Texas man pleaded guilty today in the Northern District of Georgia to posting a message online threatening several Georgia public officials following the 2020 election. “This case marks another destructive example of threats of violence to the election community and law enforcement,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department will not tolerate the criminal targeting of the men and women responsible for administering our elections and ensuring that every eligible voter has the opportunity to exercise the most fundamental right in our democracy: the right to vote.” According to court documents, around Jan. 5, 2021, Chad Christopher Stark, 55, of Leander, posted a message to Craigslist entitled, “Georgia Patriots it’s time to kill [Official A] the Chinese agent - $10,000.” The message included the following: “It’s time to invoke our Second Amendment right it’s time to put a bullet in the treasonous Chinese [Official A]. Then we work our way down to [Official B] the local and federal corrupt judges. It’s our duty as American Patriots to put an end to the lives of these traitors and take back our country by force. . . . If we want our country back we have to exterminate these people. One good loyal Patriot deer hunter in camo and a rifle can send a very clear message to these corrupt governors.. milita up Georgia it’s time to spill blood…. we need to pay a visit to [Official C] and her family as well and put a bullet her behind the ears. Remember one thing local law enforcement the key word being local….. we will find you oathbreakers and we’re going to pay your family to visit your mom your dad your brothers and sisters your children your wife… we’re going to make examples of traitors to our country… death to you and all you communist friends.” “All across this country our fellow citizens and neighbors, including many retirees, choose to serve as elections officials, poll workers, and in other capacities to help ensure free and fair elections in the United States. They serve out of a patriotic duty and appreciation for our nation and deserve to do so without fear of retaliation or threats of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “Stark threatened officials working at all levels of the election process including elected office holders and a volunteer poll worker. His egregious conduct placed our democracy in jeopardy, striking at the heart of the process we assume to be insulated from such attacks. Our office will remain steadfast in partnering with federal, state, and local authorities to safeguard those who work to secure our elections.” “Today’s guilty plea plainly shows that anyone who threatens election officials online will be investigated by the FBI and held accountable for their words” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “We must take calls to violence seriously, whatever their form, especially when they have the potential to result in physical harm and undermine the integrity of U.S. elections.” Stark pleaded guilty today to one count of a sending a threat using a telecommunications device. He faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case. Election Crimes Branch Director of Enforcement and Litigation Sean F. Mulryne of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Senior Litigation Counsel Brent A. Gray for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting this case. This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Two years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun. Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo . To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/ . You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov . Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.


title: Justice Department Enters Into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oklahoma Courts to Resolve Title VI Investigation

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – The Justice Department announced today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to resolve a civil rights investigation and improve access to Oklahoma state courts for people with limited English proficiency (LEP). The department received a complaint alleging the Mayes County District Court failed to provide meaningful access for a person with LEP in a family court case. The Justice Department initiated an investigation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance. The Justice Department subsequently paused the Title VI investigation in response to the AOC’s affirmative steps to provide meaningful access for all court users with LEP. Among other actions, the AOC provided interpreter services at no cost to the person with LEP identified in the complaint, hired a language access coordinator, and proposed legislation, which became state law. That law eliminates interpreter fees charged to LEP parties. It also authorized a statewide fund to support court language interpretation and translation services. “People should not be penalized for their limited English proficiency and should not encounter difficulty in obtaining the language assistance services they need to fairly participate in court proceedings and operations,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This agreement stands as a model for ensuring access to the courts for all people regardless of English proficiency and outlines the actions needed to eliminate barriers for court users with limited English proficiency in Oklahoma.” “With the new state law and the MOU, Oklahoma has demonstrated a commitment to improving access to justice in our state,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma. “We are committed to working with our state courts to ensure compliance with Title VI and related civil rights laws.” Under the MOU, the AOC will provide oral and written language assistance services in all civil and criminal proceedings and operations court operations at no cost to individuals with LEP, will develop a statewide language access plan, and will add translations of vital documents. The AOC will also improve its case management system to better track language needs, develop a language access complaint process, create, and distribute a translated interpreter services notice for courthouses, and create and issue a video remote interpreter guidance for court staff. This matter was conducted jointly by attorneys in the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma (USAOKN). Assistant U.S. Attorney Marianne Hardcastle handled the case for USAOKN. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt and information about limited English proficiency and Title VI is available at www.lep.go v. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ or with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma at www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/contact-us . 2023_mou_doj_okaoc.executed_for_8_31_23.pdf [PDF, 417 KB]


title: Watermark Retirement Communities to Pay $4.25 Million for Allegedly Receiving Kickback in Violation of the False Claims Act

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – The Arizona-based operator of a senior living community has agreed to pay $4.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by soliciting and receiving a kickback from a nationwide home health agency (HHA) operator in order to facilitate referrals from Watermark retirement homes. Watermark Retirement Communities LLC is a senior living community operator based in Tucson, Arizona, that manages 79 retirement homes across the country. The United States alleged that the HHA operator purchased two of Watermark’s HHAs in Arizona to induce referrals of Medicare beneficiaries living in Watermark residential communities. The scheme was designed around eight Watermark retirement homes in five states (Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, and Pennsylvania), where the two companies had overlapping operations. The United States alleged that from Jan. 1, 2014, through Oct. 31, 2020, Watermark caused the HHA operator to submit false claims for payments to Medicare for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries referred as a result of the kickback transaction. The Antikickback Statute prohibits parties who participate in federal health care programs from knowingly and willfully soliciting or receiving any remuneration in return for referring an individual to, or arranging for the furnishing of any item or services for which payment is made by, a federal health care program. “Whether you pay them or receive them, kickbacks undermine the integrity of our health care system. Patients need to know the health care referrals they receive are in their best interest, not in the best interest of someone else’s bottom line. Our office will always be on guard to prevent unscrupulous operators from trying to take financial advantage of our health care system.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “It is imperative that decisions about the care provided to federal health care beneficiaries are not undermined by the payment of kickbacks,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, said. “Today’s resolution demonstrates that the Department is committed to holding accountable not only those who offer kickbacks but also those who receive them.” The settlement announced today includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act by David Freedman, who was the former director of strategic growth for the HHA operator between 2009 and 2016. The qui tam provisions permit a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. As part of today’s resolution with Watermark, Freedman will receive approximately $765,000. In September 2021, the HHA operator entered into a $17 million settlement with the United States to resolve the claims against it arising out of the same transaction, meaning that the qui tam has resulted in recoveries exceeding $21.25 million. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, and the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordann Conaboy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, as well as Trial Attorneys Daniel Meyler and Samson Asiyanbi of the Fraud Section. The case is docketed as United States ex rel. Freedman v. Bayada Home Health Care, Inc. , Civ. No. 17-6267 (D.N.J.). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. watermark.settlement.pdf


title: Billings felon admits illegally possessing rifle

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

body_text: BILLNGS — A Billings woman with a felony conviction admitted today to illegally possessing a rifle after fleeing law enforcement, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Devin Miranda American Horse, 34, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. American Horse faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Jan. 10, 2024 and ordered American Horse detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on Feb. 5, while conducting routine night patrol, a Billings police officer saw four or five people sitting in a car outside of a residence. The officer approached the car to check out the situation. Before the officer made any contact, the driver got out and fled. The officer recognized the driver from a recent shift briefing and had had previous contact with the person. The officer chased but did not catch the driver. As he ran by the car, the officer recognized American Horse as the front seat passenger. The car fled the scene and was stopped a short time later. The only remaining occupant, who was the owner and now driver, told officers that American Horse had fled with a rifle. Police found American Horse hiding in some bushes and a rifle nearby. American Horse was arrested on a parole violation for a 2019 felony drug conviction in Yellowstone County. She was prohibited from possessing firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Billings Police Department 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: Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threats to Arizona State Election Official

body_text: An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to sending threatening communications to an election official with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. “The Justice Department has no tolerance for illegal threats that target those who administer our elections, and it will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute such criminal conduct,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These threats endanger election workers and their families, and they endanger our democracy.” According to court documents, on or about Aug. 2, 2022, on the date of Arizona’s primary elections, Joshua Russell, 44, of Bucyrus, left the following voicemail for an election official with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office (Victim‑1): “This message is for traitor [Victim-1’s full name]. You’ve drug your feet, you’ve done nothing, to protect our election for 2020. You’re committing election fraud, you’re starting to do it again, from day one. You’re the enemy of the United States, you’re a traitor to this country, and you better put your sh[inaudible], your [expletive] affairs in order, ’cause your days [inaudible] are extremely numbered. America’s coming for you, and you will pay with your life, you communist [expletive] traitor [expletive].” “Election officials are the first responders of democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona. “We best vindicate the work of these public servants when we locate, investigate, and prosecute those who make threats against them.” Additionally, on or about Sept. 9, 2022, Russell left the following voicemail for Victim-1: “This message is for terrorist [Victim-1’s last name]. The only reason you’re still walking around on this planet is because we’re waiting for the midterms to see you prosecuted for the crimes you have done to our nation. You are a terrorist. You are a derelict criminal. And you have a few short months to see yourself behind bars, or we will see you to the grave. You are a traitor to this nation, and you will suffer the [expletive] consequences.” “This case is another successful result from the hard work of the Election Threats Task Force,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate anyone who threatens election officials working to keep America’s elections fair and free.” Finally, on or about Nov. 15, 2022, Russell left the following voicemail for Victim-1: “This message is for communist, criminal, [Victim-1’s full name]. We will not endure your crimes on America another day. You’ve been busted, over and over again. We will not wait for you to be drugged through court. A war is coming for you. The entire nation is coming for you. And we will stop, at no end, until you are in the ground. You’re a traitor to this nation. You’re a [expletive] piece of [expletive] communist, and you just signed your own death warrant. Get your affairs in order, cause, your days are very short.” Russell pleaded guilty to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. The sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13, and the defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Phoenix Field Office is investigating the case, with the assistance of the FBI Cleveland Field Office, Mansfield Resident Agency. Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean K. Lokey for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Two years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun. Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Department of Justice, including the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo . To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/ . You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov . Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.


title: Three Indicted for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking in Sacramento and Stockton

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment today against three defendants, charging them with drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Jiovanni Eleazar Paco, 25, of Modesto; Carlos Daniel Gastelum Bustamante, 25, a Mexican national residing in Pasadena; and Brayan Missael Nunez Mendoza, 22, of Sacramento; are each charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, para‑fluorofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue), and methamphetamine. Each defendant is charged with distribution of fentanyl. Bustamante is also charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and Paco is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, the defendants distributed thousands of counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl on behalf of a source of supply in Mexico. On Sept. 29, 2022, Mendoza sold over 1,000 counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl in Sacramento. On Dec. 21, 2022, Bustamante sold over 2,000 counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl in Stockton. Several months later, on May 2, 2023, a California Highway Patrol officer initiated a traffic stop of Bustamante in the Stockton area, searched his vehicle, and found approximately 5,530 counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl, and approximately 1 pound of methamphetamine. On June 12, 2023, Paco sold approximately 3,000 counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl. Paco was later arrested during a traffic stop on June 27, 2023, where officers found him in possession of nearly 8,000 M30 pills containing fentanyl. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Spencer and Haddy Abouzeid are prosecuting the case. If convicted, all defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Additional Defendant Indicted in Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy Involving 500+ Firearms Shipped from Georgia to California and Sold on the Black Market in California

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 13-count superseding indictment today against Michael Motley, 36, of Sacramento, charging him with conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms without a license, unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Jerrell Lawson, 32, of Sacramento; Aisha Hoggatt, 30, of Sacramento; Terrence Phillips, 40, of Union City; James Gordley, 33, of Modesto; Malek Williams, 29, of Georgia; Andre Warren Jr., 24, of Sacramento; Jjuan Brown, 32, of San Francisco; Kenyatta Alexander, 37, of Sacramento; Jarren Meek, 24, of Stockton; and Keino Brue, 28, of Georgia, were all previously indicted for the firearms trafficking scheme where firearms were acquired in Georgia and shipped to California to sell on the black market. According to court documents, between November 2019 and March 2022, Lawson and his co-conspirators brought more than 500 firearms from Georgia into California and sent more than $300,000 in money transfers to purchase those firearms. Lawson would broker firearms transactions in Georgia over the internet, and Williams, a Georgia resident with a license to carry a concealed firearm, would pick up firearms in person and mail the firearms to various locations in California at Lawson’s direction. Some of the firearms went to individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. Hoggatt worked with Lawson to coordinate the purchase, mailing, and distribution of the firearms. Phillips and Gordley also distributed the firearms in California. Additional investigation revealed that Warren, Alexander, Brown, Meek, and Motley are members of Lawson’s firearms trafficking organization and sub-distributors of firearms. Bruce also conducted hand-to-hand firearms transactions and received over $23,000 in money transfers to purchase firearms for Lawson’s firearms trafficking organization. Warren, Alexander, Brown, Meek and Motley all discussed acquiring and selling firearms; Warren, Alexander, Brown, and Meek all discussed machine gun conversion devices with Lawson. On one occasion, Brown indicated to Lawson the individuals in Oakland who Brown was supplying firearms to were “scar[]y.” Lawson, Phillips, Gordley, Warren, Alexander and Motley are all prohibited from possessing firearms because they each have one or more prior felony convictions. The investigation began when a firearm used in a shooting in Sacramento was traced to the last known sale by a federally licensed dealer in Georgia. A subsequent sale of the firearm led to Lawson’s firearms trafficking organization. Lawson and his co-conspirators used coded language to traffic firearms and moved money using a variety of financial institutions. During the investigation, interdicted packages destined for Lawson and other co-conspirators were found to contain firearms, ammunition, knives, and brass knuckles, among other things. This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Sacramento Region/San Francisco Bay Area Cross-Jurisdictional Firearms Trafficking Strike Force Initiative. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexis Klein and Ross Pearson are prosecuting the case. The Sacramento Region/San Francisco Bay Area Cross-Jurisdictional Firearms Trafficking Strike Force is one of five cross-jurisdictional strike forces launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in July 2021 to disrupt illegal firearms trafficking in key regions across the country. Each strike force is led by designated United States Attorneys, who collaborate with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and with state and local law enforcement partners within their own jurisdiction as well as law enforcement partners in areas where illegally trafficked guns originate. The strike forces use the latest data, evidence, and intelligence from crime scenes to identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes, and are an important part of the Department’s Comprehensive Violent Crime Reduction Strategy. Williams pleaded guilty to unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license and faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for unlawful dealing in firearms. Charges are pending against the remaining defendants. If convicted, the defendants face the following maximum penalties: five years in prison on each count for conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms, unlawful dealing in firearms and transferring a firearm to an out-of-state resident, and two years in prison on each count for unlawful mailing of a firearm. Lawson, Alexander, and Motley face an additional maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the felon in possession of a firearm charges. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force Secures Ninth Conviction

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today in the Northern District of Georgia and in the District of Arizona, the Justice Department secured guilty pleas in two criminal cases involving defendants charged with making illegal threats against members of the election community. The guilty pleas follow two recent sentencings in the District of Arizona and the Northern District of Texas. To date, the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force has charged 14 cases involving threats against the election community and secured nine convictions. “A functioning democracy requires that the public servants who administer our elections are able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute those who target election officials and election workers as part of our broader efforts to safeguard the right to vote and to defend our democracy.” On Monday in the District of Arizona, an Iowa man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for sending threatening communications to an election official on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and to the then-Attorney General of Arizona. This afternoon in the Northern District of Georgia, a Texas man pleaded guilty to posting a message riddled with graphic threats aimed at two Georgia officials, an election worker, and local law enforcement. Also today in the District of Arizona, an Ohio man pleaded guilty to sending a death threat to an election official with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. And finally, earlier this month, a Texas man was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for threats he made to an official in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and another Maricopa County official. During and following the 2020 election cycle, the election community reported a sharp increase in hostile and threatening communications received from members of the public. In response to the increase in threats, in June 2021 the Justice Department announced the creation of the Election Threats Task Force , which includes members from the Criminal Division, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI, to address the rise in threats against the election community, and to protect all election workers – whether they be elected officials, appointed officials, or those who volunteer their time – against the threats they face. Fact Sheet


title: Task Force Targets Bandidos Motorcycle Club in Joint Enforcement Operation

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, and W. Troy Weisler, New Mexico State Police Chief, announced the results of a coordinated, multiagency enforcement operation across the state which targeted alleged members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club. According to the search warrant, over the past four years, law enforcement officials in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma have observed a sharp increase in violence between the Bandidos and the Mongols Motorcycle Club. Most recently, in May 2023, in Red River, NM, several Bandidos members from New Mexico and Texas confronted a group of Water Dogs MC members. The confrontation was the continuation of months of harassment by the Bandidos concerning whether the Water Dogs MC had aligned itself with the Bandidos or Mongols. In Red River, Bandidos members surrounded the Water Dogs MC members, and three Bandidos members attacked a Water Dogs member. The fight escalated and two Bandidos members and one Water Dogs member were shot and killed. Five bystanders were wounded in the incident. Following the Red River shooting, New Mexico State Police contacted the FBI and requested assistance conducting a statewide investigation of the Bandidos. Subsequently, in June 2023, the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Task Force (OMGTF) was created. The OMGTF is comprised of investigators and analysts from the FBI, NMSP, New Mexico Corrections Department, Albuquerque Police Department, Rio Rancho Police Department, Ruidoso Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Otero County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The OMGTF set its sights on the Bandidos, given the organization’s continued participation in murders, shootings, extortion, and other violent acts. It focused on twenty-five members within the New Mexico chapters who appeared to be the most criminally active and loudest voices advocating for continued violence. The search warrant was executed on premises in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Belen, Tome, Grants, San Rafael, Gallup, Farmington, Hobbs, Alamogordo, Ruidoso, Capitan and Arabela. During the subsequent searches, law enforcement officers seized 151 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, numerous ballistics vests, and fentanyl, meth and cocaine. A stolen police radio was also recovered. As a result of the operation, two individuals were arrested on state charges. They are Kenneth Martinez and Henry Mascarenas. Charges are also pending against Ed Sanchez Solis. “The motorcycle is a symbol of freedom, of individualism, and the open road,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “But today, a selfish few are trying to tell us who gets to enjoy our roads, what clothes they are required to wear, and with whom they can ride. The people of New Mexico have no more patience for violent bullies. Working together, the law enforcement agencies of New Mexico return the open road to the public who owns it.” “Today, we joined forces to take significant law enforcement action to disrupt an outlaw motorcycle gang trying to establish a foothold in our communities,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. “Along with our local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners, our efforts to combat organized violent crime will continue to be waged each and every day. I am grateful for the dedicated law enforcement professionals who work tirelessly to disrupt such criminal activity and fight for justice on behalf of the citizens we serve and protect.” “The ongoing violence involving outlaw motorcycle gangs across our state has a negative impact on all the citizens of New Mexico. The law enforcement community owes it to those we serve to come together and stop this behavior,” said Troy Weisler, Chief of the New Mexico State Police. “By working with our Federal, State, County, and local law enforcement partners on operations like this one, we are one step closer to preventing the spread of drugs and criminal mischief that accompanies outlaw motorcycle gangs.” The OMGTF led the investigation, with assistance from the United States Bureau of Prisons, United States Probation Office, New Mexico Organized Crime Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and other law enforcement or corrections agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Spindle and David B. Hirsch are assisting with the investigation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### 23-205


title: Leaders of “Massive” Ice Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced to 63 Total Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Two men who orchestrated the transportation and distribution of over 500 pounds of ice methamphetamine to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were sentenced on August 16 and 30, 2023, to a total of 63 years in federal prison. Derek Michael Mims, age 32, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 7, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. David Poitier Belton, age 37, from Compton, California, received the prison term after a February 1, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of being a felon and drug user in possession of a firearm. In plea agreements, Belton, who was also known as “Blood,” and Mims admitted that they orchestrated the transportation of 30 to 60-pound shipments of ice methamphetamine from Los Angeles to Cedar Rapids between 2017 and March 2022. Belton and Mims paid other individuals to transport the ice methamphetamine, typically in a vehicle that contained a specially made hidden compartment. Once the ice methamphetamine arrived in Cedar Rapids, Belton or Mims would retrieve the methamphetamine and distribute it to other members of the organization for sale to customers. In October 2020, the vehicle with the hidden compartment was searched by law enforcement officers while it was on a car hauler destined for Iowa. Officers found approximately 30 pounds of ice methamphetamine inside the hidden compartment. In late 2021, the Cedar Rapids DEA conducted a wiretap investigation into Belton’s drug organization. In February 2022, agents intercepted communications indicating that a shipment of 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine was going to be coming from California to Iowa. Investigators tracked a courier driving a rental truck from Los Angeles to Nebraska, where the truck was stopped. During a search of the cargo area of the truck, officers found a plastic tote containing 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine. Following the seizure of the 60 pounds of ice methamphetamine, Belton continued to purchase additional methamphetamine from his source in California. On February 27, 2022, Belton was intercepted speaking with Kiyonte Sowell, a relative of Belton in California. Belton told Sowell that he was booking Sowell a flight, instructed Sowell to “pack you a big ass suitcase, you already know you ain’t going to stay for that many days” and then said, “You already know what the rest is so we gonna, I’m gonna book you out a ticket in the morning.” The next day, Sowell went to Los Angeles International Airport, taking a large roller bag with him through airport security as carry‑on luggage. Airport security conducted an X‑ray of the roller bag and observed multiple bags of an unknown substance underneath the clothes inside the bag. During a secondary search of the bag, security found five vacuum‑sealed bags containing ice methamphetamine. Sowell admitted that the bag was his but said his brother had packed it. When asked if he was aware of the contents of the bag he shrugged and said, “It looks like cocaine or meth, I don’t know.” He then said he was going to Iowa, “but all I know is that I’m missing my flight and I’m going to jail.” On March 8, 2022, investigators searched Belton’s home in Cedar Rapids. During the search investigators located a small amount of cocaine and 15 firearms. Belton was a felon, having twice been convicted of felony burglary and once of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Belton was also prohibited from possessing firearms because he was an unlawful user of marijuana. Belton and Mims were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. The judge described Belton and Mims as leading a “huge organization bringing back astronomical quantities of ice methamphetamine” that caused “untold damage to the community.” Belton was sentenced to 396 months’ imprisonment and Mims was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment. Each man must also serve a five‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Belton and Mims are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The DEA Task Force in Cedar Rapids consists of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22‑CR‑39‑CJW‑MAR.


title: Sioux City Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Controlled Substances from Hospital Employer

body_text: A Sioux City, Iowa nurse who stole fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, and hydrocodone from her employer, pled guilty on August 30, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City. Morgan Miralles, age 32, from Sioux City, Iowa, entered a guilty plea to one count of acquiring a controlled substance by means of misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge, and one count of false statements relating to health care matters. In a plea agreement, Miralles admitted that she diverted the controlled substances that were supposed to be dispensed to patients, for her own personal use by falsifying documents, including the omission of information on required log entries tracking the disbursement of controlled substances. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence investigation report is prepared. Miralles remains free on bond pending sentencing. Miralles faces a possible maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a year of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons and was investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-4049. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Tennessee Man Found with Gun and Marijuana Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A man who was stopped for a traffic violation, found to be in possession of marijuana and a gun was sentenced August 14, 2023, to more than 5 years in federal prison. Sidney Turner, age 58, from Memphis, Tennessee, received the prison term after a March 29, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and an unlawful drug user. Evidence in the case revealed during a traffic stop for a moving violation, Turner was found to be driving without a valid license, and was found to be in possession of marijuana and a gun. Turner has a lengthy criminal history. He was previously convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; and felon in possession of a handgun. Turner was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 70 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. Turner is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by Homeland Security, Woodbury County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-4096. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Man Who Purchased More Than 7 Guns Under False Pretenses Sent to Federal Prison

body_text: A man who was a drug user and made false statements while purchasing firearms was sentenced August 14, 2023, to more than a year in federal prison. Justin Evans, age 24, from Kansas City, Missouri, received the prison term after a January 25, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a drug user. Evidence in the case showed between September 2020 and February 2022, Evans, while an unlawful user of marijuana, lied to Federal Firearms Licensee gun stores to purchase more than 7 guns that he subsequently resold on the illicit market. Evans was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 18 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. Evans is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-3013. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Man Who Threatened Another Driver With a Gun Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A man who pulled a firearm during a road rage incident in February 2022, was sentenced August 17, 2023, to more than 5 years in federal prison. Chad Hendrickson, age 46, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 7, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user. Evidence in the case revealed that when a vehicle attempted to pass Hendrickson near 6 th and Pierce Street, in downtown Sioux City, Iowa, Hendrickson refused to let the vehicle pass. When the vehicle pulled up next to Hendrickson, Hendrickson produced a handgun, pointed it at the other driver and made threats towards him. The victim then called law enforcement and followed the individual from a safe distance to the area of 26 th and Pierce where Hendrickson parked his vehicle and took off on foot. Hendrickson was apprehended by law enforcement nearby. When Hendrickson was taken into custody, he was also found to be in possession of marijuana, a switch blade knife, brass knuckles, and the handgun. Hendrickson has a lengthy criminal history, and is a danger behind the wheel, having been convicted of reckless driving and driving under the influence or while intoxicated. He has also been convicted of burglary and domestic assault. Hendrickson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 64 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hendrickson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-4024. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Albany Man Sentenced to 41 Months for Pandemic Loan Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Mozone, age 36, of Albany was sentenced today to serve 41 months in prison for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to obtain a government loan meant for businesses struggling with the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and James Bensley, Resident Agent in Charge of United States Secret Service (USSS)’s Albany Resident Office. As part of his previously-entered guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Mozone admitted that he conspired to obtain a $124,800 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) by falsely representing on a loan application that he owned a business when no such business existed. Mozone then spent the loan proceeds—which were supposed to be used for business purposes—on personal expenses, including nearly $10,000 in jewelry and a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, to begin after Mozone is released from prison, and ordered him to pay $43,378.08 in restitution to the SBA. This case was investigated by the USSS. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .