title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces 60 Percent Increase  In Day-of-Arrest Prosecution Rates

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia today announced an increase of over 60 percent in the percent of cases charged by the Office in D.C. Superior Court at the time of arrest. This increase occurred after the District secured a contract that provided sufficient drug testing capacity in the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2023. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also announced a 58 percent increase in federal prosecutions targeting individuals responsible for violence in the community. These cases included charges for kidnapping, carjacking, robberies of commercial establishments, firearms, and murder. “Our top priority has been to prosecute the drivers of violence in both District Court and Superior Court, to remove the threat posed by those individuals, and to give the neighborhoods they terrorize time to heal,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. Currently, approximately 60 percent of arrests for D.C. Code offenses are charged immediately after arrest by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Superior Court, or transferred for prosecution to U.S. District Court or the D.C. Office of the Attorney General. The Office continues to charge 90 percent of the most serious violent crimes (homicide, carjacking, assault with intent to kill, and first-degree sexual abuse) at the time of arrest. The overall day-of-arrest charging rate for Fiscal Year 2023 prosecutions in Superior Court increased to 44 percent. During the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2023, the District secured additional drug testing capacity to address the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences’ loss of accreditation in April 2021. Thereafter, in the final quarter of Fiscal Year 2023 (July – September 2023), the Office charged 53 percent of arrests in Superior Court at the time of arrest, and transferred 5 percent of arrests for prosecution by the Office in U.S. District Court or by the District’s Office of the Attorney General. Of the remaining approximately 40 percent of D.C. arrests, roughly half were arrests where the victim did not want to participate or proceed and the Office respected their wishes. Nearly all of these cases involved misdemeanor charges. In approximately 13 percent of arrests, the Office lacked sufficient evidence to charge the case at the time of arrest, and in about three percent of arrests, the Office determined that the arrested individual had a valid affirmative defense, such as self-defense. In the remaining seven percent of cases, the Office exercised its prosecutorial discretion not to charge an arrest, typically in low-level misdemeanors committed by individuals with no or limited criminal history. “We will continue to use every available tool in combatting the violent crime crisis we are experiencing in our city,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “This includes prosecuting - as adults - those 16- and 17-year olds who are committing pattern or spree armed robberies and carjackings. This includes bringing federal charges against those individuals responsible for gun violence, and coordinating with our federal law enforcement partners in conducting large-scale take-downs in communities being ravaged by violence. We will do everything we can to relentlessly attack them from our lane, using the full force of federal law. One shooting is one too many. One carjacking is one too many. One robbery is one too many.” Watch this video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBK9zF7I_YY


title: More than Two Dozen Arrested in Roundup of Members and Associates of the Black Mafia Family

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – More than two dozen people were arrested this week in connection with charges including drug trafficking and financial crimes, U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming said Thursday. The arrests by the U.S. Marshals, federal agents and local police follow a series of grand jury indictments. Thirty-four people have been charged in connection with the investigation, most in the past few weeks. During the arrests and associated court-approved searches, officers and agents recovered a large quantity of fentanyl, pounds of methamphetamine, firearms and cash. In detention hearings Thursday, prosecutors described the arrestees as members or associates of the Black Mafia Family. A motion seeking to have one of the defendants jailed until trial says the BMF holds itself out as a drug trafficking and money laundering organization distributing large quantities of narcotics in the St. Louis area and elsewhere. One of the defendants, Chad Brown, calls himself the “Junior Boss” of the BMF, another detention motion says, and has discussed drug trafficking by the BMF in multiple videos posted on various social media platforms. “These indictments and arrests targeted an organization that did not just limit their crimes to drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “Others have been accused of laundering money for the organization or taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to fraudulently obtain thousands of dollars in loans that were intended for struggling businesses and employees.” Those indicted include: Chad E. “JBo” Brown, 51, indicted on one count of bank fraud and one count of using a false writing or document. He is accused of submitting a fraudulent IRS Schedule C form to obtain a PPP loan. Robert L. Lewis, 45, was indicted on four counts of fentanyl distribution and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Robert “Honest” Sims, 40, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. Samir Simpson-Bey, 37, was indicted on one count of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Jeremy “Welo” Steele, 44, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. Carl Von Garrett, 53, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of money laundering in an indictment which alleges that nearly $1,000,000 of drug proceeds were laundered between March and May 2021. Tiffany J. “Tiff BMF” Nelson, 42, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and four counts of money laundering. She is accused of laundering the proceeds of illegal activity. "Anytime we are able to dismantle an organization involved in selling the big four – fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine – it’s a big deal," said Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Davis, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration division that leads DEA investigations in Missouri, Kansas, and Southern Illinois. "The scale of this Midwest criminal operation is uncommon, so it’s no wonder that it took the combined resources of federal, state and local law enforcement to bring the operation to an end. Protecting our citizens is DEA’s primary goal and the reward is worth the effort.” “This week’s take-down demolished multiple drug trafficking organizations which were the main suppliers of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine into the St. Louis region,” said Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Today’s arrests of more than two dozen suspects by the St. Louis Gateway Strike Force is a culmination of a 4-year investigation into a world of violence frequently associated with drug trafficking. The St. Louis Gateway Strike Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat violent gang crimes and drug trafficking throughout the bi-state region.” “The goal of every criminal organization is to make money. The special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) are the best in the business at following money trails leading to a criminal’s door,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock. “If we can track where money is coming from and where it’s going, we can disrupt the financial structures that support criminal networks.” Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The investigation was conducted by the St. Louis Gateway Strike Force , which is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The OCDETF strike forces are permanent, multi-agency, prosecutor-led teams that conduct intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the St. Louis County Police Department and other members of the St. Louis Gateway Strike Force.


title: Lakeland Man Sentenced To More Than 15 Years For Production, Distribution, And Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven has sentenced Illya Frederick Plavljanich II (36, Lakeland) to 15 years and 6 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material. He is also required to register as a sex offender. Plavljanich had pleaded guilty on July 26, 2023. According to court documents, in August 2018, using a social media application, Plavljanich distributed two videos of children being sexually abused. In May 2022, Plavljanich coerced and enticed a minor into producing an image of child sexual abuse material, which he then shared over the internet. Law enforcement searched Plavljanich’s cellphone and found approximately 1,271 images and 536 videos of child sexual abuse material. “Arresting predators like Plavljianich and holding them accountable for victimizing children will always be a focus of our HSI special agents,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, we vow to continue protecting our most vulnerable from becoming lifetime victims.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: WASHINGTON – A Pennsylvania woman was sentenced today on nine total felony and misdemeanor charges for her actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Her actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election. Rachel Marie Powell, 43, of Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth. Judge Lamberth also ordered Powell to pay more than $8,000 in restitution, fines, and fees. Powell was found guilty on July 18, 2023, following a bench trial before Judge Lamberth of civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; destruction of government property; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, Powell was one of the first rioters to break through onto Capitol grounds near the Peace Circle. At the West Plaza, Powell pushed against barricades and encouraged other rioters to attack the police line. After the West Plaza was breached, Powell climbed up to the Lower West Terrace (LWT), and eventually entered the Capitol itself through a broken window. Powell later used an ice axe and a battering ram to break through a different window and breach the Capitol at a different location, encouraging other rioters to enter the Capitol. After the riot, instead of remorse, Powell continued to call for political violence. On Jan. 6, 2021, Powell first attended former President Trump’s rally before joining rioters at the Capitol building and grounds. She was wearing a pink hat, black jacket, and carried a bullhorn. She ignored numerous police orders to leave the grounds. Instead, she repeatedly pushed against the barricades using her hands, shoulders, and back. At approximately 2:28 p.m., rioters breached the police line at the West Plaza and pushed forward toward the Capitol, violently assaulting law enforcement officers along the way. Powell participated in this breach by shoving a barricade against an officer as the police line broke. Powell is seen in multiple videos and photographs using the bullhorn to further instruct others on how to gain control of the Capitol. One video of Powell depicts a group of individuals inside a room of the Capitol discussing how to penetrate the building further. One individual is heard asking, “What’s the floor plan?” Another shouts, “We just need a plan. We need enough people. We need to push forward.” Shortly after, Powell is clearly seen speaking through the bullhorn and giving very detailed instructions about the layout of the building to others in the room. Powell can be heard stating that she had just been inside an adjacent room and that they should “coordinate together if you are going to take this building.” Powell also notes that they “have another window to break.” Law enforcement authorities identified multiple images and videos of Powell during the day’s events, including instances of her using an ice axe to breach windows of the Capitol. Video footage from inside the Capitol building shows Powell entering the building at 2:41 p.m. through the West Lower Terrace exterior door along with a large crowd of rioters. At 5:01 p.m., Powell returned to the left side of the tunnel as part of an effort to coordinate a breakthrough into the Capitol building. That attempt failed when officers emerged from the tunnel and successfully dispersed Powell and the rioters from the area at 5:05 p.m. On January 7, she posted on social media: “we have given you all a chance to help us settle this peacefully. We have been patient. The time is up.” In the following days, Powell repeatedly bragged about the aggressive behavior of rioters, their violence towards law enforcement, and the eventual retreat of officers. For example, on January 7, Powell wrote: “IT WAS F--ING WAR TO GET IN. IF YOU WERE NOT HERE THEN STFU.” In another post, she wrote: “There were lots of security. They had to retreat into the building and fight back because patriots were relentless.” In another, Powell replied, “They didn’t open the gates. The people trampled them. It was war.” The FBI arrested Powell on Feb. 4, 2021, in Pennsylvania. On Apr. 5, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Powell with nine counts. This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. This case was investigated by the FBI's Pittsburgh and Washington Office, which identified Powell as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) #110 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police. In the 33 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.


title: California Man Fined $50,000 for Illegally Importing Carvings Made from Sperm Whale Teeth and a Walrus Tusk

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Pedro Huertas, 69, of Pasadena, California, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully importing wildlife parts (carvings from sperm whale teeth and a walrus tusk). On October 17, 2023, Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Huertas to a criminal penalty of $50,000 and no term of imprisonment. The Court also ordered the forfeiture of the four ivory carvings involved in the offense. This Lacey Act offense is punishable with up to a $100,000 fine and one year of imprisonment. According to court documents, on July 25, 2021, Huertas arrived at the Highgate Springs, Vermont Port-of-Entry with his wife after purchasing nine Inuit carvings from an art gallery in Montreal, Quebec. When asked by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer what he was bringing back from Quebec, Huertas replied “one stone statue.” After inspecting the trunk of Huertas’ vehicle, the CBP Officer discovered nine statues, four of which were made of ivory. Huertas admitted that they were made from walrus tusk. The CBP seized these four carvings and released Huertas. Huertas resided in Cambridge, Massachusetts at this time. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service later determined that three of the carvings were made of sperm whale teeth. These carvings are called “Tupilaks.” In Inuit mythology Tupilaks are considered a physical representation of supernatural spirits. The three seized Tupilaks are depicted below: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife confirmed that the fourth statue, called “Kayakers,” was made of a walrus tusk. This carving is depicted below: Sperm whales are an endangered species and are protected under the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Walrus, while not an endangered species, is still a protected species under the MMPA and CITES. In order to import parts from these protected mammals into the United States, Huertas was required to obtain certain import and export permits. Huertas did not apply or obtain any such permits. U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest praised the investigative work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Customs and Border Protection. U.S. Attorney Kerest also emphasized the importance of vigorously enforcing federal wildlife laws in order to reduce the illegal trade in the parts of protected wildlife species. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Customs and Border Protection. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella. Pedro Huertas is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. of Burlington, Vermont.


title: President of Suburban Chicago Environmental Company Indicted for Allegedly Obstructing Federal Probe Into Grant Funding of Hotel Demolition Project

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted the president of an environmental services company for allegedly obstructing an investigation into the grant funding of a hotel demolition project in the Chicago suburb of Harvey, Ill. CARL FIORAVANTI, 55, of Lansing, Ill., is charged with one count of obstruction of justice, according to an indictment returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled. According to the indictment, Fioravanti was the president of Alliance Environmental Control, Inc., a Lansing, Ill.-based company that performed asbestos testing and removal services. In 2017, Alliance was hired by the Cook County Land Bank Authority to conduct an asbestos survey in advance of the demolition of the Chicago Park Hotel, commonly known as the “Harvey Hotel,” in Harvey, Ill. The Land Bank Authority had acquired the hotel and intended to use a Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to demolish and repurpose the property. Fioravanti submitted the asbestos survey to the Land Bank Authority in the fall of 2017, stating that asbestos was present on the Harvey Hotel site, the indictment states. Alliance was later hired as a subcontractor on the project by a Chicago-area demolition company that was chosen by the Land Bank Authority to demolish the hotel. In September 2018, a federal investigation led by HUD’s Office of Inspector General, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the FBI, probed whether Alliance accurately described the amount of asbestos on the property in its survey to the Land Bank Authority and the amount of asbestos removed from the property in an asbestos waste manifest that Alliance provided to a landfill operator, as well as whether Alliance and the demolition company had received Community Development Block Grant funds to which they were not entitled in connection with the hotel demolition. The indictment alleges that Fioravanti intended to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation when he responded to a subpoena from HUD-OIG by providing asbestos waste manifests that had been altered to reflect that a different quantity of asbestos was removed from the hotel site and delivered to the landfill. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Machelle L. Jindra, Special Agent-in-Charge of HUD-OIG in Chicago, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Lisa Matovic, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of EPA-CID, Nic Evans, Special Agent-in Charge of EPA’s Office of Inspector General, Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Franzblau, Kirsten Moran, and Brian Netols. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Fioravanti indictment


title: Raleigh County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Fraud Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Paul Richard Massey, 51, of Shady Spring, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $862,871.29 in restitution for wire fraud and money laundering. Massey admitted to issuing fraudulent payments as an insurance claims adjuster and using the money to fund a powersports business that he owns. According to court documents and statements made in court, Massey was employed as a claims adjuster for Allstate Insurance Company from 2015 until June 2019. Massey was routinely assigned claim files to investigate after Allstate customers filed claims under their insurance policies. Allstate authorized Massey to investigate assigned claims, determine coverage, and coordinate with insured customers and others to bring claims to conclusion. Allstate entrusted Massey to issue settlement check payments to policy holders and businesses on behalf of Allstate to settle insured property damage claims. Massey admitted to authorizing and issuing a $15,110.29 check on behalf of Allstate to a business called American Mitigation Services LLC, also known as AMS Cleaning, on December 26, 2018. The check was issued for mitigation work allegedly performed by AMS Cleaning and was deposited into AMS Cleaning’s bank account. Massey admitted that this payment was fraudulent, as AMS Cleaning had completed no work to justify the payment. Massey further admitted that he had a business relationship with AMS Cleaning and was an authorized signer on the business’s bank account. Massey also admitted that he authorized and issued 68 fraudulent claim payment checks totaling more than $850,000 on behalf of Allstate to AMS Cleaning from at least January 22, 2018, until at least June 19, 2019. Massey attempted to hide the fraudulent nature of some of these checks by creating fraudulent receipts and documents that appeared to justify the payments. Massey used the fraudulent claims payments deposited in AMS Cleaning’s bank account to fund Massey Powersports LLC, a Beckley business owned and operated by Massey. The investigation revealed that Massey routinely wrote checks from AMS Cleaning’s bank account to pay Massey Powersports employees, to purchase inventory for Massey Powersports, and to pay Massey Powersports’ recurring bills. Massey admitted that on December 27, 2018, he wired $105,403.20 in fraudulently obtained proceeds from AMS Cleaning’s bank account to a North Carolina business to prepay for tractors intended for Massey Powersports. Massey attempted to conceal his scheme from investigators. Massey falsely told an Allstate fraud investigator that he had no financial interest in AMS Cleaning. In response to a federal grand jury subpoena, Massey created and submitted a fictitious $1 million contract purporting to show that AMS Cleaning was sold to a fictitious company prior to his scheme. Massey provided a detailed, false story to Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agents claiming that AMS Cleaning was sold to this non-existent company. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the FBI and the Litigation Financial Analyst with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Blackwell and Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case. 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. 5:22-cr-219. ###


title: Former Penn Hills Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity, Production of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Distribution of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Kuang Myat Kyaw (23), formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty to seven counts before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Kyaw, during various periods between August 9, 2020 and September 2021, using a computer and the Internet, enticed and coerced five minor, female victims to produce photographs and videos depicting their sexual exploitation and engaging in sadistic sexual acts. Kyaw initially tricked the minors into providing him with photographs depicting themselves naked, and then used the threat of disseminating those images to their family and friends to extort, or attempt to extort, the minors to engage in what he referred to as a “seven-day challenge”, during which he would demand that they produce increasingly depraved sexual imagery. Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for February 24, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $1,750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court ordered that Kyaw remain in custody. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department, the Wright County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Office, and other local police departments conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kyaw. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Drug Trafficker Sentenced for Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A drug trafficker operating in the Boston area was sentenced yesterday for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Maurice Coates, 46, of Randolph, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to eight years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. On April 18, 2023, Coats pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. In June 2020, Coates was charged along with 23 others as part of Operation Snowfall. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement conducted an investigation into drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents. The investigation also targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the targets continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. Coates is the 16th defendant to plead guilty in that case. Coates was identified as a significant drug supplier and distributor within the drug conspiracy, during which it is estimated he distributed over 500 grams of cocaine. During intercepted calls with co-defendant Kenji Drayton, Coates used drug-coded language to discuss their drug supply needs and to coordinate drug deal meetups. Coates was one of Drayton’s main cocaine suppliers, including during the pandemic. At times, Drayton and Coates’s coded communications were corroborated by surveillance, including a surveilled meetup between Coates and Drayton for a suspected drug deal. After their suspected deal, law enforcement intercepted communications of co-defendants Drayton and Jarmina Kallon coordinating a meeting. Following their meeting, law enforcement stopped Kallon and recovered approximately 62 grams of cocaine. One remaining defendant in the case has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial. Another defendant, Derek Hart, remains at large. On Sept. 28, 2022, Drayton was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Brian Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Timothy Gabriel Faces Federal Firearms Charge

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Timothy Gabriel, 29, who most recently has been living in the Rutland area, appeared today in United States District Court in Burlington on a charge that he possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle ordered that Gabriel be held without bail pending further proceedings. According to the criminal complaint that was filed on October 18, someone stole a Vermont State Police cruiser from the residence in Rutland where it was parked in the pre-dawn hours of October 17. A few hours later, the car was found parked behind a downtown Rutland business. Investigators found that a police-issued Sig Sauer rifle had been forcibly removed from a secure locking device in the vehicle. Surveillance camera footage from businesses near where the cruiser was found showed the car enter a parking lot before dawn. The footage depicted a man, whom several witnesses later identified as Timothy Gabriel, get out of the car, then leave the area with what appeared to be a rifle in his hand. Gabriel is prohibited from possessing any firearms because he has several prior convictions in Vermont for felony offenses. Gabriel was arrested in Burlington on the afternoon of October 18. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charge in the complaint is an accusation and that Gabriel is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. If convicted, Gabriel faces up to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence would be determined with reference to Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This case was investigated by the Vermont State Police, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gabriel is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Mary Nerino. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Lawrence Man Sentenced for Disaster Fund Fraud Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for using stolen identities to fraudulently obtain over $450,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and to launder the funds. Darwyn Joseph, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to two years and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. On July 12, 2023, Joseph pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting. Joseph was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in December 2020 along with co-conspirator Ramon Joseph Cruz, Jr. The defendants were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2021 . Between approximately April and December 2020, Joseph and Cruz were involved in a conspiracy to use stolen identity information of United States citizens to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Specifically, Joseph and Cruz used stolen identity information of U.S. citizens with high credit scores to open fraudulent bank accounts which were then linked to other fraudulent bank accounts set up to receive the SBA funds. Joseph and Cruz also received some of the debit cards associated with fraudulent bank accounts into which SBA funds were deposited, and then laundered those funds by using them to purchase large numbers of iPhones for re-sale. Joseph and Cruz also wired a portion of the funds to the Dominican Republic in furtherance of the scheme. Over $452,000 in SBA funds were fraudulently obtained in connection with this scheme. Approximately $250,000 of this money was used to purchase iPhones in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. On Aug. 30, 2023 , Cruz was sentenced to two years and one day in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna Nuzum and Adam Deitch of the Criminal Division 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 .


title: Florida Couple Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Evade $42 Million in Duties for Illegally Importing and Selling Plywood

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Florida husband and wife, Noel and Kelsy Hernandez Quintana, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to import plywood contrary to the Lacey Act and customs laws, and to selling plywood products that were illegally imported and sold. Noel Quintana also pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling and one count of violation the Lacey Act. Kelsy Quintana also pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Lacey Act. The total loss of duties owed on the illegally imported wood products was approximately $42 million. The plywood’s market value was between $25 million and $65 million. According to court filings, the Quintanas incorporated seven companies in the United States – naming relatives or friends as corporate officers and agents – and these shell companies imported hundreds of shipments of plywood products into the United States between February 2016 and December 2020. The Quintanas also incorporated a financial shell company through which they accepted payments from purchasers for the plywood they imported in violation of laws, including the Lacey Act and customs laws. Before April 2017, the Quintana’s importing shell companies imported containers of plywood into the United States and almost exclusively declared them to be hardwood plywood imported from China. But after April 2017, the companies evaded applicable duties by falsely declaring their hardwood plywood imports from China to be either the product of another country or to be made with a species of wood not subject to duties. “Today we hold defendants accountable for their intentional circumvention of customs laws: to avoid paying duties, defendants repeatedly violated the law, refining their schemes each time one was exposed,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This is not simply a financial crime – accurate import declarations protect U.S. markets from dumping by foreign countries and deter illegal harvesting of plants.” “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is committed to pursuing individuals or entities that attempt to defraud the government of millions of dollars, violate U.S. customs laws and keep a fair marketplace for businesses,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of the HSI Miami Field Office. “These types of criminal activities only serve to negatively impact the U.S. economy and we will continue to work with our federal law enforcement partners to combat this illicit activity.” When importing plant products, the Lacey Act requires filing a declaration which contains, among other things, the plant’s scientific name and its country of origin. Under the Lacey Act, it is unlawful to transport or sell a plant product knowing it or the plant it was made from was transported in violation of any plant-related law. Customs laws prohibit false statements in any import declaration without reasonable cause to believe the truth of such statement. It is also illegal to import merchandise contrary to law, including the Lacey Act. According to the plea agreement, softwood plywood – regardless of country of export – carried a general duty of 8%, with a few duty-free exceptions, such as if the outer ply was made from Parana pine. Antidumping and countervailing duties of more than 200% applied to hardwood plywood manufactured in China after approximately April 2017. To avoid paying duties, the Quintana’s shell companies falsified import declarations for hardwood and softwood plywood. For example, a declaration from July 2018 said plywood in three containers was manufactured in Russia. But the containers were manufactured and loaded in Qingdao, China, and transported to Port Everglades, Florida, through the Panama Canal, without ever stopping in Russia. After federal authorities stopped such a shipment through Panama, the Quintanas used a different tactic to evade duties by shipping Chinese-produced hardwood plywood to Malaysia, then transferring the wood to new containers to be shipped onward to the United States. This change of containers was intended to better conceal that the plywood originated from China. The Quintanas also falsely declared some shipments of softwood plywood to be duty-free Parana pine, which allowed them to evade the 8% general duty on these imports. Additional court filings reflect that, after being alerted to the possibility of prosecution for their illegal acts, the Quintanas fled the United States initially to Panama and then to Montenegro, where they were the subject of extradition proceedings. The couple pleaded guilty to conspiring to import plywood in violation of the Lacey Act and customs laws and conspiring to sell the illegally imported plywood. Noel Quintana also pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling and one count of importing plant products without filing a declaration including the scientific name and name of the country from which the plants were taken. Kelsy Quintana also pleaded guilty to two counts of importing plant products without filing a declaration including the scientific name and name of the country where the plant was harvested. Noel Quintana faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for count three as well as five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of counts one and six. Kelsy Quintana faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of counts one, five and six. Both face forfeitures up to $42 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2024. HSI investigated the case, with support from Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Animal and Plant Health Investigation Service. Attorneys from the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.


title: Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Thomas Alan Newman, age 59, from Swaledale, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court on October 18, 2023, to Possession of Child Pornography. At the plea hearing, Newman admitted knowingly possessing child pornography, including depictions involving prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age. Newman further admitted he knowingly possessed material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or the sexual abuse and exploitation of an infant or toddler. Newman admitted that he used Facebook to trade child pornography and shared approximately 50 videos of such content. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Newman was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Newman faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of up to $250,000, a special assessment of $100, and a term of supervised release of 5 years to life following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-3016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

body_text: A man with a history of felony convictions – including 2017 convictions for operating while intoxicated, eluding, and homicide by vehicle – was sentenced Friday, October 13, 2023, to eight years in federal prison. Jerell Wilson, age 30, of Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 24, 2023, jury verdict finding him guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon. Evidence at trial and sentencing showed that while Sioux City Police were investigating a June 9, 2022, homicide, it was learned through witness and video surveillance that Wilson had been at the crime scene prior to, and after, the homicide, with a Coach backpack containing multiple firearms. Armed with this information, on June 23, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Wilson’s home, where a loaded gun – with a round in the chamber – was found in his bed, along with the Coach bag and ammunition for multiple firearms that were not found in the search. Wilson refused to attend his own federal trial. Wilson had previously been convicted of attempted possession of a defaced firearm, theft in the first degree, and, most recently, 2017 convictions for operating while intoxicated, eluding, and homicide by vehicle – reckless driving for causing the death of his uncle when he fled from police while under the influence. Wilson was paroled on his 2017 offenses in May of 2020. During his parole, he attended a meeting where he was warned of the consequences of possessing a firearm, and offered access to any services he might need to rebuild his life (employment, mental health counseling, transportation, etc. ). Despite this opportunity, defendant committed the instant federal offense less than a year after being discharged from state supervision. Wilson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 96 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, Timothy Duax, stated, “It is unfortunate when an individual rejects assistance, rejects services and chooses the path of criminality, but when that occurs, we must act to ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Wilson 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 Sioux City, Iowa Police Department. The case is being 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 22-04061. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former Florida State Representative Sentenced To Federal Prison For Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, And Making False Statements In Connection With COVID-19 Relief Fraud

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Joseph Harding, 36, of Williston, Florida, was sentenced to 4 months in federal prison for wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “However, the defendant’s deceptive acts of diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale. Today’s sentence both punishes the defendant’s criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would selfishly steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves. With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of COVID-19 related fraud.” Court documents reflect Harding participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) and obtained a coronavirus-related small business loan by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and while executing such scheme, caused wire communications to be transmitted in interstate commerce. Harding also made a false and fraudulent SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application, in the name of one of his dormant business entities, that he submitted to the SBA. By this conduct, Harding fraudulently obtained $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funds from the SBA to which he was not entitled. After obtaining the EIDL proceeds, Harding conducted three monetary transactions each involving more than $10,000 in fraudulently obtained funds: a transfer to his joint bank account, a payment to his credit card, and a transfer into a bank account of a third-party business entity. "Mr. Harding egregiously betrayed the public trust by stealing from COVID relief funds meant to help the very people who elected him.,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Payne, IRS Criminal Investigation, Tampa Field Office. “Greed and public service should never meet, but when they do, we stand ready to ensure bad actors are held responsible for their actions.” “Today, Mr. Harding was held accountable for swindling money out of COVID-19 relief programs created to help small businesses, including Mr. Harding’s own constituents, recover from the economic hardships of the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “The FDIC OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who steals from such programs and threatens to undermine the integrity of our Nation’s financial institutions.” Harding’s imprisonment will be followed by two years of supervised release. “SBA OIG will follow the evidence to root out fraud in SBA’s pandemic response programs and bring wrongdoers to justice,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent-in-Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “This sentence demonstrates there is significant consequence for fraudulently accessing SBA programs to steal from taxpayers. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to pursuing justice in this case.” “Mr. Harding abused a program that was designed to ease the suffering of the constituents who elected him to serve in their best interests,” says Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “Instead of using thousands of dollars in federal funds to help keep struggling businesses afloat and honest workers employed, he selfishly diverted it for his own personal gain. The FBI will hold accountable anyone who takes advantage of those in need, and we remain committed to working with our partners to ensure fraudsters are brought to justice.” The conviction jointly conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and David P. Byron. The PPP, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), was designed to provide low-interest, forgivable loans to applicants to help fund certain permissible expenses for qualifying businesses amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which included payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The EIDL program, also administered by the SBA, was designed to provide low-interest loans to small businesses in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide EIDLs, up to $2 million, to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This case was prosecuted as part the Department of Justice’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the CARES Act relief programs. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the two programs that were developed through CARES Act is the PPP. It provides funding to businesses through PPP loans for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. PPP allows the interest and principal on loans to be forgiven if the business spends proceeds on certain expense items within a designated time and uses a certain percentage of the loan on payroll expenses. The Department of Justice remains vigilant in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the crisis. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Possession of unregistered shortened shotgun sends East Helena man to prison for more than two years

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

body_text: GREAT FALLS — An East Helena man who admitted to possessing an unregistered shortened shotgun was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Joshua Alan Roberts-Sprinkle, 36, pleaded guilty in May to possession of an unregistered firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on Oct. 27, 2022, Roberts-Sprinkle possessed three firearms—a loaded AR-style rifle, a shortened shotgun and a loaded .40-caliber handgun, when law enforcement arrested him on an outstanding warrant in East Helena. Officers located the firearms, ammunition, a glass container with methamphetamine residue and a ballistic vest when they executed a search warrant on his vehicle. A Savage Arms/Stevens shotgun, model 94, .410-caliber, with a shortened stock and barrel, was located in the trunk. The recovered shotgun had a barrel length of approximately 14 inches and an overlength of approximately 21 ½ inches. The shotgun was originally manufactured with an overall length of 44 inches and a barrel length of 28 inches. The shortened shotgun was not registered as required by law and the possession of it is a violation of federal firearms laws. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, East Helena Police Department and Helena 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: Thirty-Seven Gang Members Plead Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

body_text: The 37th and final defendant charged as part of the case against members and associates of the Simon City Royals gang – a gang aligned with the Gangster Disciples – pleaded guilty today to racketeering (RICO) conspiracy. “The Simon City Royals terrorized Mississippi prisons and communities for far too long,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These convictions underscore the Justice Department’s dedication to disrupting and dismantling violent criminal enterprises, regardless of where they operate.” “Our communities have every right to expect that violent criminal gangs will be held to account and incarcerated for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “Thanks to the extraordinary work of our law enforcement partners and career federal prosecutors led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow, 37 members of the Simon City Royals, a violent gang acting outside as well as inside our prisons as a criminal enterprise, have been arrested, incarcerated, or are currently awaiting sentencing. There will be no compromise in protecting our citizens, and every criminal gang operating in the Northern District of Mississippi can consider itself to be on notice.” According to court documents, the Simon City Royals were a violent prison gang operating primarily in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, but with members and associates acting on their behalf outside of prison throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, and elsewhere. Through an alliance with the violent Gangster Disciples gang and with a sophisticated structure, the Simon City Royals engaged in a host of criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, money laundering, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, large-scale drug trafficking, and fraud. “These convictions mean that the Simon City Royals’ time is over,” said Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New Orleans. “Protecting the safety of our communities is one of the cornerstones of what our agency seeks to accomplish every day. To anyone damaging our streets with gun violence and drugs – law enforcement is here. No matter how long it takes, no matter if you are on the streets or in prison, we will bring the full weight of the federal government down on the violent gangs terrorizing our communities, neighborhoods, and institutions.” “This investigation demonstrates the significant impact multiple agencies can achieve when they work together,” said Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Division. “We are committed to continuing our collaboration with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who threaten our communities through criminal activities. This final conviction should send a clear message to others engaged in organized crime that this type of activity will not be tolerated.” The Simon City Royals were responsible for the brutal murder of a prison inmate in 2018, when a Simon City Royals leader issued a “kill on sight” order, directing any gang member who encountered the targeted inmate to murder him. In January 2018, Dillon Heffker and Robert Williams acted on the order, stabbing the victim dozens of times with improvised prison knives. Leaders of the Simon City Royals rewarded Heffker and Williams for the murder by arranging for hundreds of dollars to be directed to their prison commissary accounts. “The U.S. Marshals Service, along with our federal, state, and local partners, strive daily to protect our communities from violent criminal organizations such as the Simon City Royals,” said U.S. Marshal Daniel R. McKittrick for the Northern District of Mississippi. “The final guilty plea ended a reign of terror for 37 career criminals, who were responsible for a tremendous amount of criminal activity in our local communities.” “The Secret Service is committed to investigating and pursuing those who aim to exploit our nation’s financial systems in order to further a criminal enterprise,” said Resident Agent in Charge Kyle Smith of the U.S. Secret Service’s Jackson Resident Office. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, a violent gang was dismantled and the individuals involved can now be held responsible for their crimes.” Simon City Royals were also responsible for the savage kidnapping and torture of a former member for perceived violations of the gang’s code of conduct. In 2015, a member of the Simon City Royals kidnapped the victim at knifepoint and forced him into a hotel room. There, Simon City Royals members and associates tied the victim to a chair, interrogated him, tortured him, and burned off his Simon City Royals tattoo. "These convictions demonstrate the steadfast commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to protecting the public from violent gangs that terrorize and poison our communities,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “As a result of our collective efforts, this destructive criminal enterprise has been dismantled and the members who have been operating both in and out of the prison system are being held accountable.” In addition, the Simon City Royals engaged in widespread drug trafficking, including smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, heroin, and benzodiazepines into dozens of Mississippi state prison facilities. The gang distributed these dangerous substances, including nearly 100% pure crystal methamphetamine, to inmates throughout the prison system. Below are the defendants and the charges to which they pleaded guilty: Allen Posey, 48, of Jackson, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jonathan Davis, 39, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, racketeering conspiracy; Jeremy Holcombe, 43, of Meridian, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jonathan Burnett, 39, of Birmingham, Alabama, racketeering conspiracy; Hank Chapman, 38, of Riply, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jason Hayden, 42, of Picayune, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Joshua Miller, 41, of Jackson, racketeering conspiracy; Gavin Pierson, 33, of San Diego, racketeering conspiracy; Justin Shaw, 36, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Bobby Brumfield, 44, of New Orleans, racketeering conspiracy; Jordan Deakles, 31, of Gulfport, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Bryce Francis, 43, of Columbus, Ohio, racketeering conspiracy; Anthony Murphy, 30, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Chancy Bilbo, 31, of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Dillon Heffker, 32, of Bay St. Louis, racketeering conspiracy; Douglas Jones, 34, of Jackson, racketeering conspiracy; Cody Woodall, 31, of Gulfport, racketeering conspiracy; Michael Muscolino, 43, of Phoenix, racketeering conspiracy; Valerie Madden, 54, of Chicago, drug conspiracy; Samuel Conwill, 45, of Tupelo, Mississippi, money laundering conspiracy; Jason Collins, 40, of Loraine, Ohio, money laundering conspiracy; Justin Leake, 43, of Meridian, racketeering conspiracy; Michael Dossett, 42, of Carriere, Mississippi, felon in possession of a firearm; Angel Labauve, 43, of Picayune, Mississippi, drug conspiracy; Bruce Floyd, 42, of Senatobia, Mississippi, drug conspiracy; Jacquelyn Harmon, 33, of Senatobia, drug conspiracy; Cody Myrick, 33, of Grenada, Mississippi, unlawful transport of firearms; Craig Thomas, 36, of Grenada, unlawful transport of firearms; Arvis Tolbert, 43, of Hurley, Mississippi, violent crime in support of racketeering activity; Preston Edwards, 36, of Jackson, drug conspiracy; Catherine Perry, 41, of Tupelo, interstate transportation in aid of racketeering; John Brooks, 37, of Greenwood, Mississippi, drug conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy; Alana Dickey, 21, of Holly Springs, interstate transportation in aid of racketeering; Austin Ruby, 35, of Holly Springs, drug conspiracy; Chris Vincent, 20, of Gulfport, drug conspiracy; Trevor Overby, 45, of Jackson, drug conspiracy; Anthony Rouse, 33, of Picayune, drug conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, FBI Jackson Field Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and dozens of local law enforcement agencies across multiple states investigated the cases. The Tupelo Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff's Department, Benton County Sheriff's Department, and Tippah County Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance. Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stringfellow for the Northern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the cases, with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams for the Southern District of Mississippi.


title: Former Grain Valley Police Officer Indicted for Child Sexual Exploitation

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former Grain Valley, Mo., police officer has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child. August Price Gildehaus, 27, currently a resident of Blue Springs, Mo., was charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Oct. 17. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Gildehaus’s arrest and initial court appearance. Gildehaus was a Grain Valley police officer at the time of the alleged offenses but is no longer employed by the city. Gildehaus was originally charged by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. The federal indictment charges Gildehaus with one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity between Aug. 1, 2022, and March 6, 2023; one count of producing child pornography on Aug. 19, 2022; and one count of attempting to distribute child pornography on Sept. 6, 2022. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the Grain Valley, Mo., Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.


title: Former Orange County Education Official Arrested on Complaint Alleging He Embezzled More Than $14 Million from School District

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: COMPLAINT and AFFIDAVIT (redacted) SANTA ANA, California – The former senior director of fiscal services at an Orange County public school district was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint alleging he embezzled more than $14 million from the district over a seven-year period and used the illicitly obtained funds to finance a house, buy luxury items, and obtain cosmetic treatment from a dermatologist. Jorge Armando Contreras, 52, of Yorba Linda, is charged with embezzlement concerning programs receiving federal funds, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. He made his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana and a federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond. Contreras’ arraignment is scheduled for November 27. Contreras was the senior director of fiscal services at Magnolia School District, which serves students in Anaheim and Stanton. In this role, Contreras, whom the school district hired in 2006, managed the district’s fiscal operations. The schools in this district educate children from preschool through sixth grade – 81% of whom are classified as socio-economically disadvantaged. Each year, since 2009, Magnolia School District has received millions of dollars in federal funds. According to an affidavit filed with the complaint last week and unsealed today, from August 2016 to July 2023, Contreras embezzled more than $14 million from Magnolia School District by making unauthorized payments to himself from district funds – payments that came from more than 250 checks from the district that were deposited into Contreras’ personal bank account. The checks ranged from approximately $11,000 to approximately $95,000 and listed fictitious persons as the payee, the affidavit alleges. From August 2022 to July 2023 alone, Contreras allegedly embezzled more than $4.1 million from Magnolia School District. During this time, Contreras used the embezzled funds to pay more than $1.9 million to American Express, withdraw $325,000 in cash from ATMs, and transfer more than $130,000 to his partner, whom he married in August 2023. Contreras allegedly also used the illicitly obtained funds to purchase his residence in Yorba Linda for approximately $1.5 million as well as a BMW SUV for approximately $127,000, which he used to deposit embezzled funds into his personal bank account via drive-thru ATMs. Contreras purchased the Yorba Linda residence in 2020 and paid for more than $1 million of it via a wire transfer from his personal bank account. Contreras also allegedly altered bank statements submitted as part of the loan application for this property to hide funds he embezzled from the school district. The affidavit further alleges that Contreras altered documents over the years to hide his embezzlement, and that he used some of the funds to pay $190,000 to a West Hollywood dermatologist and surgeon for cosmetic treatments. He also allegedly used the embezzled funds to purchase luxury items sold by Versace and Louis Vuitton. Contreras allegedly also transferred some of the embezzled funds to bank accounts in Mexico. The school district placed Contreras on administrative leave in August 2023 and has filed a lawsuit against him in Orange County Superior Court. A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the United States Department of Education – Office of Inspector General are investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Billy Joe McLain of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Brett A. Sagel of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force, and James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Jamaican National Indicted for Sweepstakes Scheme Targeting Elderly Victims

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a seven-count indictment charging HOWARD CHAMBERS, 32, a citizen of Jamaica residing in Waterbury, with fraud and money laundering offenses stemming from his alleged participation in a sweepstakes scam that defrauded primarily elderly victims across the country of millions of dollars. The indictment was returned on October 17, and Chambers was arrested this morning. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven, entered pleas of not guilty to the charges, and was released on a $150,000 bond into home detention, with electronic monitoring, pending trial. The indictment alleges that, since at least 2018, Chambers and others used a sweepstakes scheme to induce primarily elderly victims to provide them with money. As part of this scheme, scammers notified victims, typically by telephone, that they won a Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. The victims were told that in order to collect their winnings, they must pay fees and taxes. Following the initial phone call, Chambers and others mailed the victims fake documents, including a “winning notification” letter from Publishers Clearing House and a letter from the Internal Revenue Service stating that the victims were required by law to pay taxes on their winnings. Victims sent cash, money orders or checks through the mail to various addresses in Connecticut, including an address in East Hartford, and throughout the U.S. The indictment also alleges that Chambers and others moved money received from victims through various accounts in different companies’ names, including a limited liability company registered in Connecticut with Chambers as its managing member and agent. Conspirators sometimes used victims as intermediaries to receive money from other victims and then move that money to members of this scheme. For example, at least one victim received checks and cash in the mail from people she believed were “sponsors” who were helping her pay the fees to receive her winnings, but actually were other victims. The victim deposited the checks into her bank account, withdrew cash, and mailed the cash to various addresses as directed by the conspirators. The indictment charges Chambers with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each of these offenses carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Cherry. The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311). Read more about the Justice Department’s efforts to combat elder fraud and abuse here .


title: Pocatello Woman Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl

body_text: POCATELLO – Hailey M. Card, 32, of Pocatello, was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. The fentanyl distributed by Card was consumed by a Pocatello man who died from a fentanyl overdose. According to court records, on January 15, 2022, officers with the Pocatello Police Department responded to a report regarding the unattended death of a Pocatello man (K.A.). Upon arrival, the officers discovered drug paraphernalia and other items indicating an opiate overdose. Interviews with residents revealed that K.A. had left the home around 11:30 p.m. on January 14, 2022, to go to the store and get gasoline, returned around midnight in a normal state and went to his basement bedroom. At around 2:30 a.m., a family member found K.A. deceased. A subsequent investigation uncovered cellphone records, text messages, Facebook Messenger exchanges, and witness statements that showed that in early morning of January 15, 2022, Card sold the fentanyl that K.A. returned home and consumed. An autopsy performed on January 18, 2022, at the Ada County Coroner's Office, confirmed that K.A. died from acute fentanyl intoxication. “The battle against fentanyl requires all of us to work together,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “In this case, we had exceptional cooperation between law enforcement and the coroner’s offices that allowed us to obtain the evidence we needed to obtain justice and to protect others from the tragic fate of the deceased in this case.” Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Card to 188 months in federal prison. Card, upon completion of her prison sentence, was also ordered to serve an additional three years of supervised release. Card pleaded guilty to the charge on July 20, 2023. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for severe pain management and prescribed in the form of transdermal patches or lozenges. While prescription fentanyl can be diverted for misuse, most cases of fentanyl-related overdoses in the U.S. are linked to illegally made fentanyl that is sold through illicit drug markets for its heroin-like effect. Idaho in general has seen a massive influx of counterfeit pills in the last several years. The pills are mass-produced by criminal drug networks and falsely marketed as legitimate prescription pills. The pills are made to look like prescription opioids such as oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and alprazolam (Xanax); or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall). Counterfeit pills are becoming more and more common place. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its law enforcement partners seized nationally more than 59.6 million fentanyl pills and approximately 13,000 pounds of fentanyl powder during 2022. Despite law enforcement efforts to educate the public and stop the flow of these illegal drugs, the number of overdose deaths related to these pills continues to rise. For more information regarding this concerning trend please visit: https://odp.idaho.gov/opioid-use-and-overdose-workgroup/ . U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Pocatello Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, and the Bannock County Coroner’s Office, which led to charges. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett ###


title: Lafayette Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND – Richard Allan Joesph Crowley, 32 years old, of Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to Production, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Crowley was sentenced to 240 months in prison, 15 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $15,000 assessment for victims of these crimes. According to documents in the case, on or about May 16 through May 17, 2021, Crowley produced sexually explicit content of a minor by persuading, inducing and enticing the minor to photograph their genitals and send those images to Crowley through the internet. Crowley further distributed at least one of these images through a group chat. On multiple occasions between May 1 and June 30, 2021, Crowley received child sexual abuse material of another minor through the internet. And finally, on or about June 8, 2022, Crowley possessed child sexual abuse material of an additional minor that was produced using a cell phone. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indianapolis Field Office/Lafayette Resident Agency, with assistance from the FBI Criminal Investigation Division/Child Exploitation Operational Unit, the FBI Boston Field Office/Portland Resident Agency, the City of Sioux Falls Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, the Indiana State Police Digital Forensic Unit, the Tippecanoe County High Tech Crime Unit, the Lafayette Police Department, and the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Passenger sentenced to six years in prison for meth trafficking and gun crimes after attempted traffic stop led to shooting of Great Falls police officer

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A woman passenger who admitted to methamphetamine and gun crimes after an attempted traffic stop led to the driver shooting and wounding a Great Falls police officer was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Nikki Marie Snell, 38, of Harlem, pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute meth and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm as charged in a superseding information. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in mid- 2022, the Russell Country Drug Task Force in Great Falls learned that Snell was trafficking meth in the community and acquired meth that agents traced to Snell. Then on March 7, 2023, Great Falls police officers attempted a traffic stop of a car from Billings, but the car fled. Officers found the car and saw a man, later identified as the driver, and Snell, the passenger, walking away from it. Snell stopped and complied with the officers, while the driver ran away with Snell’s brown purse. An officer chased the driver, who shot the officer numerous times, wounding him. During the pursuit and shooting, the driver dropped the purse. Officers recovered the purse and found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun inside. The handgun was a different firearm from the one used in the shooting. Snell admitted that the recovered purse was hers and that she knew it contained the handgun. Snell had a prior federal felony conviction for assault and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Great Falls Police Department, with assistance from the Russell Country Drug Task Force, 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: Federal Jury Convicts Four Taos County, New Mexico Compound Defendants in Connection with Kidnapping and Terrorism Plot

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, his sisters Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Subhanah’s husband, Lucas Morton, following a three week jury trial. The jury convicted Siraj Wahhaj and Lucas Morton of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder an officer or employee of the United States. Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj and Lucas Morton were additionally convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death. In a plea agreement which was unsealed today, the fifth defendant, Jany Leveille, pled guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and being in possession of a firearm while unlawfully in the United States. According to evidence presented at trial and other publicly available court records, in December 2017, Siraj Wahhaj unlawfully abducted his three-year-old son, Abdul Ghani, from his wife in Georgia. Leveille and the defendants had formed the belief that Abdul Ghani was her son and was possessed by demons. The group took Abdul Ghani to New Mexico, depriving him of his anti-seizure medication and the loving care of his mother, and subjected him to an exhausting regimen of daily spiritual exorcisms. Abdul Ghani died less than two weeks after arriving in New Mexico, before investigators had any knowledge of a suspected location to search for him. Under Leveille’s direction, Siraj and the others established a community centered on the belief that Abdul Ghani would return as Jesus Christ to pass judgment on corrupt institutions, including the FBI, the military and other government and financial institutions. To this end, they established a fortified base and a firing range. Armed with 11 firearms, including an AR-15 Bushmaster assault rifle, high-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, the group conducted weapons and tactical training and required some of the children to do so as well. The group conducted the training with the intent to “face the nation” and kill those who refused to believe as they did. They spoke of waging jihad and becoming martyrs. On Aug. 3, 2018, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office Tactical SRT Unit executed warrants on the compound. Siraj Wahhaj armed himself and prepared to defend the compound before ultimately being taken into custody without shots fired. During a search of the compound, law enforcement located the remains of Abdul Ghani in an underground tunnel. In her plea agreement, Leveille admitted that she and her co-conspirators entered into an agreement to provide material support and resources to prepare for, and to carry out, the killing of federal officers or employees when they came to the compound. Leveille also admitted that she knew she was no longer legally and lawfully in the United States and that she was not allowed by law to possess the firearms or ammunition. “When a mother loses her child, we all lose a child,” said United States Attorney Alexander Uballez. “It is our collective responsibility to protect our children from danger and, when we lose a child, it is our solemn duty in law enforcement to ensure that those who are responsible receive justice. My thanks go out to the many local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to deliver that justice, and my heart goes out to the mother of Abdul Ghani.” “The FBI takes its mission of protecting the American public seriously, and we are dedicated to conducting fair and thorough investigations,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. “The nefarious activities and subsequent conviction of these four depraved criminals underscore the continued interest of some US-based violent extremists in self-initiated attack plotting, independent of any guidance or support from a foreign terrorist organization. This investigation highlighted their interest in the preparation for and possible desire to conduct attacks in the Homeland against innocent people.” “In addition to this preparation for terror, the senseless kidnapping resulting in the death of a juvenile these criminals conducted is inexcusable and have no place in our society,” Bujanda continued. "Their despicable actions shattered a community and a family who will forever be impacted by these traumatic events. The convictions rendered in this case show those who participate in these types of criminal activities will be held accountable for their actions. The FBI would like to thank the Taos County Sheriff Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico for their partnership and diligent work on this case.” All four defendants will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Siraj, Hujrah and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Lucas Morton each face up to life in prison. Per the terms of her plea agreement, Leveille faces up to 17 years in prison. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office, NM Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, and the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Brawley and Tavo Hall for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorneys Jessica Joyce and George Kraehe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-249


title: Taholah, Washington, man pleads guilty to sex offense against a minor

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 21-year-old Taholah, Washington, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to abusive sexual contact in connection with the sexual assault of a teenager on the Quinault Nation reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jerimiah McCrory was arrested in July 2021, after a teen victim reported McCrory raped her after attending a gathering on the Quinault reservation. The investigation by Quinault Nation Police and the FBI revealed that other teens also had been sexually assaulted. According to the plea agreement, the sexual assault of one teenager occurred on April 12, 2021, when McCrory and the victim were visiting a home on the Quinault Nation reservation. McCrory admits that he sexually assaulted the teen and pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact in connection with that assault. As part of the plea agreement, McCrory admits two other sexual assaults against teenage victims in 2019. Those facts can be considered by the judge at sentencing as relevant conduct. Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a sentence no higher than the top of the guidelines range. McCrory is scheduled for sentencing on January 26, 2024. U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence allowed by law. Abusive sexual contact is punishable by up to ten years in prison. The case was investigated by the Quinault Nation Police and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Tate London and Rebecca S. Cohen. Mr. London serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.


title: Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Crime

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ricky Alan McFarland, age 32, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. On August 14, 2023, law enforcement officers executed an outstanding state arrest warrant for McFarland and found him in possession of a semi-automatic pistol, which McFarland knew he was prohibited from possessing due to his 2014 conviction for Rape by Instrumentation. The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshal Service, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Muskogee Police Department. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. McFarland was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending a sentencing hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessie Heidlage and Kyra Jenner represented the United States.


title: Spiro Resident Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Child Sexual Exploitation Material

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joe Weldon Taylor, III, age 44, of Spiro, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. According to court documents filed at the time of the plea hearing, Taylor knowingly possessed multiple images and videos on his cell phone depicting the sexual exploitation of children under the age of 12. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Taylor was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony C. Marek represented the United States.


title: Pocola Resident Pleads Guilty To Abusive Sexual Contact In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Patrick Timothy Kelley, age 46, of Pocola, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison. According to investigators, Kelley engaged in sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 years old. The crime occurred in Le Flore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the District 16 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Kelley was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony C. Marek represented the United States.


title: Sulphur Resident Sentenced For Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandon Riley Stephens, age 32, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for a September 2018 violent assault. The charges arose from investigations by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On June 8, 2022, Stephens pleaded guilty to one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. According to investigators, Stephens kicked in the door of a Mill Creek residence, and once inside, attacked the occupant, who sustained multiple facial fractures and lacerations. The crime occurred in Johnston County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Stephens will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.