title: Man Who Called in Bomb Threat to Yale New Haven Hospital Pleads Guilty

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that ALEXANDER BRADLEY, 44, formerly of Cranston, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to an offense related to his threatening to bomb the Yale New Haven Hospital. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 9, 2021, Bradley called the Yale University Health Clinic, spoke to a nurse and asked if he had reached the Yale New Haven Hospital. When informed that he had not, Bradley, who refused to give his name, complained that he had been denied care at the Yale New Haven Hospital and stated that he was going to bomb the hospital. Approximately 30 minutes later, Bradley anonymously called the Yale New Haven Hospital and stated that he had placed a pressure cooker containing a bomb outside of the building. The call was a hoax, and Bradley had placed no such bomb outside the hospital. The bomb threat disrupted hospital operations and required a significant response from the New Haven Police Department, Yale Police Department and Yale New Haven Protective Service. Investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force subsequently determined that the phone number used to make the threats was linked to Bradley. The investigation revealed that, less than three weeks after he made the bomb threat to Yale New Haven Hospital, he contacted a CVS pharmacy in Cranston, Rhode Island, and said that he was going to “shoot up” and “blow up” a hospital. Bradley was arrested on April 28, 2022. On May 27, 2022, while released on bond and living in a residential treatment facility, Bradley removed his location monitoring bracelet and absconded. He has been detained since his rearrest on July 14, 2023. Bradley pleaded guilty to conveying false information about explosives, and false information and hoaxes, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2024. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force – WMD and Bomb Squad. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Jessica Casey.


title: Kern County Man Pleads Guilty to Six-Year, $825,000 Credit Card Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Miguel Leyva, 36, of Wasco, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for his role in a long-running credit card fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court records, between February 2016 and August 2022, Leyva and his partner and co-defendant, Karina Arceo, stole the personally identifiable information (PII) for more than 125 victims. They stole much of the PII from patient files at health care providers in Kern County where Arceo worked. According to court documents, Leyva and Arceo used the stolen PII to open thousands of fraudulent credit cards in the victims’ identities. They used false identification documents to open the credit cards and provided billing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses over which they had control so that any communications related to the credit cards would go to them instead of the victims. They then made hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases on the credit cards in Kern County and elsewhere. The fraudulent purchases included home appliances, automobile accessories, designer clothing, tickets to concerts and sporting events, and travel, among other items. Often times, Leyva and Arceo resold the items that they fraudulently purchased for cash and reaped a windfall because they did not actually pay for the items. They also used checks that had been stolen from companies in Kern County to access the companies’ bank accounts and make fraudulent payments towards the credit cards so as to keep their scheme going. Altogether, their scheme caused a total actual loss of more than $825,000. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case. Leyva is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge, and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to other counts, for the identity theft charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft are pending against Arceo. The charges are only allegations; she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Arvin High School Employee Pleads Guilty to Federal Explosive Offenses and Making False Statements to FBI

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Angelo Jackson Mendiver, 27, of Bakersfield, a campus security supervisor at Arvin High School, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to engage in manufacturing and dealing in explosive materials and mailing explosive devices, as well as making false statements to FBI agents, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Mendiver used an Instagram account to sell explosives and explosive materials and worked closely with a male juvenile Bakersfield high school student to fulfill transactions and send explosives in the mail to residents of other states. On June 1, 2023, a federal search warrant executed at Mendiver’s residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 500 pounds of explosives and explosive materials. Agents seized another 500 pounds of explosives and explosive materials from the juvenile’s residence. At both residences, agents found other items used to make explosives. In one Instagram message to the juvenile, Mendiver sent a photo of titanium salute, an explosive device, followed by two videos he took of homemade explosive devices that he had made and the statement that “homemade kills all consumer.” This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case. Mendiver is scheduled for sentencing on April 1, 2024. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,00 fine for each count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Stanislaus County Woman Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Stealing Money from Recipients of Social Security and Other Benefits

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Lorene Deanda, 64, of Ceres, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, in relation to her stealing more than $550,000 from recipients of Social Security and other benefit funds, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Deanda was employed by a charitable organization in Modesto and managed the organization’s representative payee program. This program assisted recipients of Social Security and other federal and state benefits who could not physically manage their own financial affairs. Deanda, on behalf of the charitable organization, would set up bank accounts for the beneficiaries and receive benefit funds into those accounts. Deanda’s duties included paying beneficiaries’ bills and necessities from those accounts. However, from 2003 to May 2015, Deanda stole benefit funds from the accounts and spent the money on her own personal expenses, including paying for her personal credit card bills and residential mortgage. Deanda stole a total of more than $550,000. This case was the product of an investigation by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Brittany M. Gunter prosecuted the case.


title: Kern County Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Marcus Tatum, 31, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between February 2012 and March 2018, Tatum used a laptop computer to knowingly receive and distribute over 600 files containing visual depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The files contained images of children under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct, as well as engaging in sado-masochistic conduct. This case is the product of an investigation by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case. Tatum is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1, 2024. Tatum faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. 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 those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Powell man convicted for defrauding the U.S. Forest Service

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Ronald Ostrom, age 54, of Powell, Wyoming, was convicted on Dec. 8 by a federal jury of six felony charges, specifically, two counts of making a false writing, two counts of making false statements, one count of concealing and retaining government property, and one count of conversion of government property. Ostrom is a retired U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer. According to evidence presented at trial, and the jury’s verdict, when Ostrom retired he failed to return, and then kept for his own use and gain, a government-owned horse named “Reo.” Ostrom also lied on forms about two horses he returned in place of government-owned horses. Ostrom was indicted by a federal grand jury and pleaded not guilty to the charges in July. The trial lasted five days and was held before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal in Cheyenne. Sentencing has been set for Feb. 21, 2024. The judge will determine Ostrom’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This crime was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore. Case No. 22-CR-00060


title: West Linn Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court for Importing and Selling $2.5 Million in Counterfeit N95 Masks

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A West Linn, Oregon man pleaded guilty today in federal court for conspiring with others to illegally import and sell $2.5 million in counterfeit N95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jiang Yu, 70, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods. According to court documents, in May 2020, Yu knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to import and sell N95 masks with counterfeit marks. Yu and his co-conspirators used social media and other means to market and sell the counterfeit masks and, when questioned by customers about their authenticity, designed and distributed fake certificates of authenticity. Over the course of their conspiracy, Yu and his co-conspirators sold at least $2.5 million worth of counterfeit masks and the majority of their sales were to third-party companies, many of whom sold to healthcare providers. On October 10, 2023, Yu was charged by criminal information with conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods. Yu will be sentenced on May 21, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, a $2 million fine, and three years’ supervised release. As part of his plea agreement, Yu must pay restitution in full as recommended by the government and ordered by the court. He must also forfeit nearly 600,000 counterfeit masks and all proceeds of his crimes including a 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo, a Mercedes SUV, and more than $25,000 in cash. This case was investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Quinn P. Harrington, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Anyone who has information about counterfeiting or other violations of intellectual property rights are encouraged to submit a tip to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) by visiting www.iprcenter.gov/report .


title: Lead Defendant in Indictment Targeting Vineland Boys Street Gang in San Fernando Valley Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Sherman Oaks man who ran the San Fernando Valley-based Vineland Boys street gang was sentenced today to 192 months in federal prison for committing federal racketeering and narcotics crimes. Mario Alberto Miranda, 32, a.k.a. “Ultimo,” “Last,” and “Shot Caller,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. Miranda – the lead defendant in a federal grand jury indictment targeting 31 Vineland Boys members and associates – pleaded guilty on June 26 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He has been in federal custody since February 2019. From at least September 2008 to November 2019, Miranda conspired with other Vineland Boys members and associates to engage in drug trafficking and to maintain the gang’s territorial control in the San Fernando Valley. Miranda acted as a drug supplier and sold narcotics within the gang’s territory, operated drug and firearms stash locations and extorted drug dealers within areas under the gang’s control. As the gang’s shot caller, Miranda also ordered Vineland Boys members and associates to attack and assault rival gang members and individuals suspected of cooperating with law enforcement, according to court documents. Miranda sold methamphetamine to buyers at a Pacoima residence as well as at a North Hollywood clothing store that he ran. Miranda also sold a total of approximately 1.2 kilograms of methamphetamine to one buyer over eight transactions and, in June 2016, ordered a co-conspirator to obtain one pound of methamphetamine for another buyer. He also maintained and operated illegal marijuana grow houses in Pacoima and Palmdale. At the Pacoima residence, Miranda and an accomplice maintained at least 125 marijuana plants weighing a total of approximately 315 pounds. In November 2014, Miranda collected up to $300 from a Vineland Boys member as a “tax” on the proceeds of the member’s heroin sales. Miranda also was part of a scheme to collect payments from the gang’s members to be paid to incarcerated Vineland Boys members and leaders. Miranda also attended and helped organize Vineland Boys gang meetings, including a March 2016 meeting at a Panorama City restaurant and a January 2017 meeting at a residence in Sun Valley, where he gave orders to Vineland Boys gang members to commit acts of violence against rival gang members and individuals suspected of cooperating with police. Federal prosecutors secured 30 guilty pleas in this case, including 19 convictions that have resulted in prison sentences of at least 10 years. One of them, Vineland Boys gang member Jesus Gonzalez Jr., 30, “Lil Chito,” “Gunner” and “Chuy,” of Sun Valley, is serving a 31-year federal prison sentence for committing multiple felonies, including the attempted murders of three rival gangsters. One defendant died after being indicted. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter. 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 . Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Chou and Sara Vargas of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.


title: United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Property Management Company for Fraudulently Claiming Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Rent Assistance During COVID-19 Pandemic

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that the United States filed a Complaint in federal district court against All Star Property Management, LLC (All Star), a property management company located in Spokane. The United States’ Complaint alleges that All Star falsely and fraudulently claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent assistance intended to benefit struggling renters during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress established an Emergency Rent Assistance program to provide funds through local and tribal governments to benefit struggling renters who had fallen behind on rent due to unemployment or other hardship. In Washington, the program was known as the Treasury Rent Assistance Program (T-RAP). Under T-RAP, landlords or property management companies could apply for T-RAP federal funding for a tenant’s past due and projected unpaid rent. As a material condition of receiving federal funds, landlords were required to certify that the information included in the T-RAP application, including the rent amounts, were truthful and accurate, and to certify compliance with material T-RAP program requirements. Landlords were further required to apply any funds received for a particular tenant to that tenant’s balance. During the relevant time period, All Star was a property management company, owned by Defendant Gieve Parker, that managed rental properties on behalf of landlords in Spokane, including several properties owned by Arlin Jordin. According to the Complaint filed today, during the relevant time period, Jordin was serving a prison sentence at the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, Washington, for drugging and raping a tenant, but Jordan continued to own and collect income from five Spokane properties managed by All Star, for which All Star and Jordin split the rental income. The Complaint alleges that, between 2021 and 2022, All Star and Parker falsely and fraudulently sought and obtained T-RAP relief funding for more than 30 tenants for which All Star was not eligible, and shared the proceeds with Jordin for the properties that he owned. According to the Complaint, All Star and Parker violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying that tenants had past-due rent when Parker and All Star knew that the tenants were not behind on rent. The Complaint also alleges that All Star and Parker knowingly claimed falsely inflated rent amounts that were higher than tenants’ actual rent. The Complaint further alleges that All Star and Parker fraudulently represented that T-RAP assistance was needed for tenants when Parker and All Star knew that the tenants were, in fact, consistently paying rent, either on the tenants’ own or through a charitable organization or government program. Further, the Complaint alleges that All Star and Parker falsely represented that the tenants were still residing at the residence when Parker and All Star knew that the tenants were no longer residents and therefore All Star was not eligible to receive any rental assistance. Finally, the Complaint alleges that All Star and Parker falsely and fraudulently represented that T-RAP funds would be used as rental assistance for tenants, when Parker and All Star knew that T-RAP were not being used as rent assistance, and in many cases the tenants did not even need rent assistance, resulting in Paker and All Star at times collecting double and even triple rent for the same tenant for the same month. The Complaint alleges that All Star and Parker’s false and fraudulent T-RAP claims led them to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in T-RAP funding for which they were not eligible. The Complaint also alleged that, as a result of the fraud, Jordin received T-RAP funds for which he was not eligible when All Star and Parker paid him a portion of the fraudulently-obtained funds. “Building safer and stronger communities in Eastern Washington requires that residents have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Landlords and property management companies need to play by the rules, especially when they claim precious and limited rent assistance funds intended to protect members of the community struggling under the weight of a deadly pandemic. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who abuse critically-important housing support programs.” This case was originally brought by the Northwest Justice Project, Washington’s largest legal aid organization, on behalf of Krystal Jeffries, a former tenant in a property owned by Jordin and managed by All Star. Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers may file an action under seal in federal court. The United States investigates the allegations and determines whether to intervene in the action. Under the False Claims Act, the United States may recover up to three times the damages caused by the Defendant, plus additional penalties for each false claim or statement. If the United States obtains a recovery, the whistleblower is generally able to share in a portion of the recovery. Over the past decade, False Claims Act recoveries in the Eastern District of Washington have exceeded $400 million. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler Tornabene, Jake Brooks, and Dan Fruchter are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spokane Resident Office. The complain can be found here: all-star_complaint.pdf The claims articulated in the Complaint are allegations only; at this time there has been no determination of liability. Case No. 2:22-cv-00067-MKD


title: Former LASD Deputy Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Falsely Imprisoning a Victim and Then Trying to Cover Up His Crime

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for depriving a 23-year-old man of his civil rights in the spring of 2020 by falsely imprisoning him and then lying and cover up his illegal actions. Miguel Angel Vega, 33, of Corona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who also fined Vega $5,000. At today’s hearing, Judge Anderson said Vega’s conduct had “embarrassed” the Sheriff’s Department and “every man and woman that puts on a badge every day and puts their lives at risk” and that today’s sentence sends “a clear message that there are serious consequences for law enforcement officers who abuse their power and violate their sworn oath to uphold the law.” Vega pleaded guilty on September 6 to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. “When law enforcement officers abuse their power, they tear at our social fabric by undermining public trust in the equal application of the law,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “By violating his sacred oath to uphold the law, Vega also betrayed his fellow deputies, the vast majority of whom sacrifice every day to keep our community safe.” “The defendant swore an oath to protect the public he served, but instead chose to violate the civil rights of an innocent young man,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s sentencing exemplifies the FBI’s commitment to protecting those who are illegally accused under the color of law, while restoring trust in the overwhelming majority of police professionals who devote themselves to serving their communities with integrity.” “When the Sheriff’s Department became aware of allegations of misconduct against Miguel Vega, criminal and administrative investigations were initiated,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “The Department assisted federal agencies during the criminal investigation, contributing to their indictment. The Sheriff’s Department is committed to holding employees accountable for their actions and expects them to exhibit the highest moral and ethical standards when serving our communities.” On the afternoon of April 13, 2020, Vega and his then-partner, Christopher Blair Hernandez, 38, were in uniform and on patrol in an LASD SUV near Wilson Park in Compton as part of their official duties at LASD. Vega and Hernandez saw two young Black males outside a skateboard park enclosed by a tall wrought-iron fence within Wilson Park. Vega and Hernandez got out of the vehicle, approached the individuals, and ordered them to lift their shirts to search for firearms, which the individuals did not possess. At this point, the victim – identified in court documents as “J.A.” – began yelling at Vega and Hernandez to leave the young Black males alone, and Vega began yelling back at the victim, challenging him to a fight. Soon afterward, to teach J.A. a lesson, Vega and Hernandez illegally detained him in their patrol vehicle without telling him that he was under arrest, handcuffing J.A., informing him of his rights, or securing his seatbelt in the LASD SUV. After driving away from the park, Vega continued to taunt and threaten J.A., including threatening to drop him off in gang territory where J.A. would be beaten. J.A. was never given a valid reason for his detention, and in fact there was no legitimate basis for the false imprisonment. While still unlawfully confined and unsecured in the back of the patrol vehicle, J.A. sustained a cut above his eye during a subsequent police car chase when Vega crashed his LASD SUV into a wall in an alley while chasing a young male on a bicycle whom Vega believed may have possessed a firearm. After the crash, Vega told J.A. to flee despite J.A. suffering a head injury and sustaining a cut above his eye that required stitches. Vega initially lied to a supervising sergeant that no one else had been in the patrol vehicle at the time of the collision. Then, after J.A. was independently re-detained by other deputies responding to the scene, Vega lied and told the sergeant that he and Hernandez originally detained J.A. for being under the influence of a controlled substance. As further part of the coverup, Vega and Hernandez had another deputy issue J.A. a citation for being under the influence of methamphetamine, even though Vega and Hernandez knew that this accusation was false. Vega and Hernandez later filed false incident reports to cover up their illegal conduct, repeating the same and other lies about the events of the day, including that J.A. appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant and threatened people at the park and that Vega had transferred J.A. to another patrol vehicle after the collision instead of directing J.A. to flee the scene. Hernandez pleaded guilty on July 24 to one count of conspiracy pursuant to a cooperation plea agreement. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 8, 2024, at which time he will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The FBI investigated this matter. The LASD’s Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau and Internal Affairs Bureau provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Jamari Buxton and Brian R. Faerstein of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.


title: Federal jury convicts Lame Deer pastor of sexually abusing children on Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BILLINGS — A federal jury today convicted a Lame Deer pastor of sexually abusing three children while they were staying at his home, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. After a six-day trial that began on Dec. 4, the jury found Dean Alan Smith, 67, guilty of aggravated sexual abuse, abusive sexual contact by force and two counts of abusive sexual contact by force and of a child. Smith faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release. The jury acquitted Smith of one count of abusive sexual contact of a child. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for April 10, 2024. Smith was remanded into custody pending further proceedings. “Pastor Dean Smith led a double life, one as a Pastor and the other as a sexual abuser of young children. I am thrilled the jury held Smith accountable for sexually abusing these victims and I hope holding him accountable will help the victims start the long road of healing from the trauma they’ve suffered. Obtaining justice is the hallmark of the work of both our office and our federal law enforcement partners and we have no greater responsibility than pursuing justice for victims of sexual abusers. Today’s verdicts validate our continued unwavering pursuit of those abusers, for which all of us, as well as the victims in this case and their families, are grateful,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Smith was the pastor of a local church in Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, and that during his time on the reservation, he and his wife housed several foster children and temporarily hosted other children from the community. In approximately 2021 and 2022, four girls, identified as Jane Does 1, 2, 3 and 4, disclosed being sexually abused by Smith between 2017 and 2020 when they were staying or living at Smith’s home. The government alleged that Smith abused each of them, separately and in private, on multiple occasions. All of the victims were under the age of 12 at the time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Disgruntled Cloud Engineer Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Intentionally Damaging His Former Employer’s Computer Network After He Was Fired

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Miklos Daniel Brody was sentenced to 24 months in prison today for a network intrusion and for making false statements to a government agency, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and United States Secret Service (USSS) Special Agent in Charge Shawn M. Bradstreet. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. William. H. Orrick, Senior United States District Judge. Brody, 38, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to two charges that he violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act—by obtaining information from a protected computer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2)(C) and (c)(2)(B), and by intentionally damaging a protected computer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(5)(A) and (c)(4)(B)(i)—and one charge of making false statements to a government agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). According to a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in December 2022, Brody worked as a cloud engineer for a bank headquartered in San Francisco until March 11, 2020, when he was fired for violating company policy. The superseding indictment alleges that, later that evening, and continuing into the following morning, Brody used his company-issued laptop—which he failed to return upon being fired—to access the bank’s computer network without authorization and to cause substantial damage. Among other things, Brody deleted the bank’s code repositories, ran a malicious script to delete logs, left taunts within the bank’s code for former colleagues, and impersonated other bank employees by opening sessions in their names. He also emailed himself proprietary bank code that he had worked on as an employee, which was valued at over $5,000. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Orrick determined the total cost of the damage to the bank’s systems to be at least $220,621.22. The superseding indictment also alleges that, in the days and weeks that followed his firing, Brody engaged in a series of evasive and deceptive actions, including filing a police report in which he falsely told the San Francisco Police Department that his company-issued laptop had been stolen from his car while he was working out at the gym. Brody doubled down on that false allegation in statements he made to USSS agents during an interview following his arrest in March 2021. In his guilty plea application, Brody admitted he made a false statement about the company-issued laptop and that he knew his statement was false at the time. In addition to sentencing Brody to prison, Judge Orrick ordered him to pay restitution totaling $529,266.37 and to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren M. Harding and George O. Hageman are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Mark DiCenzo. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service.


title: Clifton Park Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Kirkland, age 30, of Clifton Park, New York, pled guilty today to the attempted online enticement of a minor. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Kirkland admitted that on August 11, 2022, he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with someone he believed was an adult offering the sexual services of a 12-year old girl in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him. Kirkland also admitted that on August 11, 2022, he travelled to a hotel in Saratoga County, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 12-year-old girl. Kirkland was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location. At sentencing on April 11, 2024, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe, Kirkland faces at least 10 years and up to a life in prison, as well as a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life. The court may also impose a fine, restitution, and forfeiture of the smartphone Kirkland used to commit his offense. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Kirkland will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The FBI’s Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force and Capital Region Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. Each task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, as well as state and local police investigators, including from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen J. Vickey is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Albany County Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joshua White, age 46, of Albany County, pled guilty today to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. White admitted that he distributed sexually explicit images of a minor known to him to another person over text message, and that when he met with police in July 2023, he possessed child pornography on his cellular telephone depicting other victims that he obtained from the Internet and social media messaging applications. At sentencing scheduled for April 11, 2024, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe, White faces a mandatory minimum imprisonment term of 5 years and a combined statutory maximum imprisonment term of 40 years for the distribution and possession offenses. Additionally, White will be required to serve a post-imprisonment term of supervised release of between 5 years and life, must register as a sex offender upon release, pay restitution to the victims of his offenses, and forfeit the device he used to commit them. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. HSI and the New York State Police investigated this case, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Man on Supervised Release for a Federal Drug Trafficking Crime Convicted of Distributing Crack Cocaine in Rock Falls, Ill.

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Chicago man has been convicted by a federal jury in Rockford of one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and seven counts of distribution of cocaine base. The jury returned its verdicts against JULIAN WYRE, 46, on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Rockford. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to evidence presented at trial, Wyre and two other individuals were involved in the conspiracy and distribution of cocaine base in Rock Falls, Ill. between June 2019 and November 1, 2019. During this time period, Wyre sold cocaine base seven times to a confidential informant and two other individuals who were used as “runners.” In 2008, Wyre was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment for illegally possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base. He was on federal supervised release at the time of the 2019 conspiracy and distribution charges for which he was convicted Thursday. The conviction was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police Blackhawk Area Task Force, and the Rockford Resident Agency of the FBI Chicago Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ladd and Jonathan S. Kim.


title: North Tonawanda businessman pleads guilty to tax evasion

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that George Ward, 57, of North Tonawanda, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to tax evasion. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that between 2015 and 2020, Ward owned and operated a fire protection and inspection business in Amherst, NY. During this time period, Ward failed to file personal income tax returns, which included substantial business revenues received by his business. Ward also failed to pay income, social security, and Medicare taxes withheld from the pay of his employees. This resulted in a tax loss to the IRS of $953,793. Ward also failed to file his taxes with the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, resulting in a tax loss of $165,645. In addition to failing to file tax returns, Ward also made false statements to an IRS revenue officer regarding the filing of his taxes and the status of his business, used a check cashing business for over $2,000,000 in gross receipt checks from customers rather than depositing them into his business’ bank account, and deposited cash derived from his business’ activities into a bank account held in his wife’s name. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso. Sentencing is scheduled for March 28, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Convicted felon going back to prison on new child pornography charge

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Robert Bibbins, 51, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography after having previously been convicted of a child pornography offense, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison and 10 years supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who handled the case, stated that in 2015, Bibbins was convicted of a child pornography offense in New York State Court and sentenced to a jail term and 10 years’ probation. In 2020, Bibbins violated his probation and was sentenced to serve one to three years in prison. On September 19, 2022, he was released on parole. Within three days of his release, Bibbins acquired an internet-capable cellular phone in violation of his parole conditions. On September 22, 2022, during a routine search, parole officers discovered the phone secreted in a trash can at the half-way house where Bibbins was living and discovered images of children in sexually explicit poses, as well as images of naked children. A full forensic examination of the phone by the FBI, which uncovered multiple sexually explicit images of children. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.


title: Jefferson County Man Sentenced to Over 19 Years for Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a Bessemer man on child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala sentenced Jacquez Jarrone Conley, 24, to 235 months in prison followed by 25 years of supervised release. In August 2023, Conley pleaded guilty to one-count of possession of child pornography. This conviction will require him to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). According to the plea agreement, in July 2019, Conley was involved in an online social media group sharing child pornography. During that same time, FBI received a CyberTipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child sexual abuse material located on his Facebook account. In August 2019, federal search warrants were obtained for Conley’s residence in Bessemer and his Facebook account. A total of 18 digital devices were seized from the residence. Forensic analysis of the digital devices and his Facebook account revealed 701 images and 741 videos of child pornography. “There is no place in our communities for those who prey on vulnerable children,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “The success of cases like this come from the strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement. We have one common goal – to pursue justice for child victims. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners in Alabama and Washington, D.C., this predator has been held accountable for his actions.” “This sentence sends a strong message that the FBI will continue to aggressively identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who produce, possess, and distribute child pornography, SAC Peeples said.” This case highlights the importance and benefit of law enforcement partnerships and task forces. I would like to thank all our local, state, and federal partners who assisted in this case and the men and women of the FBI for their relentless efforts in protecting our children.” FBI Birmingham's Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF) investigated the case, with the assistance of FBI Washington and Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia’s CEHTTF, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and Daniel McBrayer prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: LEADER OF SEVEN MILE BLOODS STREET GANG CONVICTED OF RACKETEERING, MURDER, AND OTHER RELATED OFFENSES

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – On Friday afternoon, following a six-week trial, a federal jury in the Eastern District of Michigan convicted a leader of the Seven Mile Bloods Street Gang of 22 counts, including racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and related firearms offenses, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Division. Billy Arnold, age 37, was convicted of RICO Conspiracy, two counts of Murder in Aid of Racketeering, 10 counts of Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering, and multiple firearm counts. According to evidence presented during the trial, the Seven Mile Bloods operated on the east side of Detroit, between Gratiot Avenue and Kelly Road and between Seven and Eight Mile Roads. Seven Mile Bloods or “SMB” members claimed this area as their territory and referred to it as the “Red Zone.” The area is in zip code 48205, which SMB members referred to as “4-8-2-0-Die.” Evidence presented at trial showed an ongoing gang war between the Seven Mile Bloods and an alliance of other gangs operating on Detroit’s east side stemming from a murder that Arnold committed in July 2014. Arnold, who was on parole at the time, encountered two rival gang members during a meeting at a parole office in Detroit. After the meeting, Arnold waited outside the parole office until the rival gang member left. Arnold followed the rival gang members and their two companions a short distance before opening fire, killing one of the victims and seriously injuring another. Following the murder, the Seven Mile Bloods and rival gangs began violently attacking one another and posted respective “hit lists” on social media. The violence reached a boiling point in 2015 when during a one-month span, Arnold murdered one rival gang member, and shot numerous others. One of Arnold’s victims, who was shot while taking his two young daughters for a walk, was paralyzed as a result of the shooting. Arnold shot another victim, who was only 15 years old at the time of the shooting, while the victim was at his first day of work at a banquet hall in Roseville. Arnold shot the victim while attempting to murder a rival gang member who was standing near the victim in a parking lot. The 15-year-old victim and the rival gang member survived the shooting. On September 26, 2015, Arnold and another Seven Mile Blood member were arrested following a high-speed chase in Detroit. Following the chase, law enforcement recovered an assault rifle from the vehicle that was used in one murder and several other shootings. The investigation further resulted in the seizure of more than 20 firearms, including several high-powered assault rifles. Arnold is the 20th member or associate of the Seven Mile Bloods to have been convicted as a result of the investigation. This case was the result of a collaborative effort by multiple law enforcement agencies. Investigators were able to bring together separate probes into various members of this organization and its criminal activities into one encompassing investigation. Partners include the Detroit Police Department Gang Intelligence Unit, the FBI Violent Gang Task Force, which consists of representatives of Detroit Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Michigan Department of Corrections and Michigan State Police, with the cooperation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Also assisting in the investigation were the Charleston and South Charleston Police Departments in West Virginia. “This guilty verdict is the final chapter in the case of the Seven Mile Bloods - a gang who for years terrorized the residents living on the east of Detroit,” said U.S. Attorney Ison. “The case against SMB, and against Billy Arnold in particular, is an example of what can happen when we focus on those few responsible for so much violence. With today’s verdict, and with the sentence required by law for Billy Arnold, the men and women in our community who were victimized by this group will receive some measure of justice. And with today’s verdict, and with the help of the vast majority of the residents of this neighborhood who want peace, we can once and for all put the terrible carnage of the “Red Zone” behind us.” “While the damage and violence caused by Mr. Arnold and members of SMB cannot be undone, our hope is that this final sentence brings a sense of justice to all those impacted,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. "We would like to commend our law enforcement partners on the Detroit Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) for their relentless efforts in working this case for nearly a decade. No matter how long it takes, the FBI remains committed to dismantling gang networks and removing violent offenders from our streets to ensure a safe environment for all Michigan residents." Judge Sean F. Cox presided over the trial and will sentence Arnold on April 10, 2024. Arnold faces mandatory life imprisonment.


title: Three Leaders of a Violent National Gang Convicted of RICO in Detroit

body_text: DETROIT – After a six-week trial in federal court, a jury convicted three high-ranking leaders of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation of RICO conspiracy, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Evidence at trial proved the Almighty Vice Lords Nation (AVLN) was a sprawling criminal enterprise which committed acts of violence, drug dealing, and other crimes, across the country. The AVLN enterprise began in Chicago, which is still considered its headquarters. The AVLN are divided into different branches, each with their own leadership that answers to a “board” in Chicago. The trial involved leaders of two branches, the Mafia Insane Vice Lords, and the Insane Vice Lords. The jury convicted: Martin Murff, 54, of Chicago, who had the title of “Prince” and was the highest-ranked Mafia Insane Vice Lords in the country and a member of the national leadership of the AVLN; Kevin Fordham, 53, of Detroit, another “Prince,” who was the highest-ranked Insane Vice Lord in Michigan and a member of the national leadership of the AVLN; and, Eddie Reid, 39, of Detroit, a “Chief” and the highest ranked Mafia Insane Vice Lord in Michigan. The evidence at trial showed that these leaders worked together under the umbrella of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation and agreed that they or their enterprise members would commit acts of racketeering, including murder, narcotics trafficking, and witness intimidation. In one seizure alone, law enforcement intercepted over 2.5 kilograms of pure fentanyl destined for Detroit. “The Almighty Vice Lords Nation is a criminal enterprise that followed its own laws rather than the laws of the United States. Through the hard work of this investigation and trial, we have said no more; we will not tolerate the violence and criminality the Vice Lords stand for and perpetuate,” United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison said. “With this verdict, we have dismantled the leadership of multiple branches of this criminal organization and disrupted their ability to operate in our neighborhoods.” “The Almighty Vice Lord Nation is a shell of what it was. Today’s verdict against Martin Murff, Eddie Reid, and Kevin Fordham sends a strong message to gangs across the Detroit - Chicago metropolitan areas….cease and desist with poisoning and terrorizing our communities with senseless gun violence and drug trafficking. If you do not, serious consequences will come,” said, ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir “These defendants posed as legitimate community members while overseeing an interstate criminal enterprise that killed and maimed people in both Michigan and Illinois. Their flagrant assault on our way of life ends today with this just verdict.” The jury acquitted Kenneth Johnson, who will be returned to the Michigan Department of Corrections to serve a lengthy sentence for an unrelated conviction. More than 20 other members of the AVLN were indicted as a result of this investigation and await trial in federal court.


title: Omaha Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that James Lee Pokorny, 53, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on December 8, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his participation in a methamphetamine drug conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr., sentenced Pokorny to 82 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Pokorny’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On September 13, 2021, Pokorny sold a confidential source 25.02 grams of actual meth. Then, on October 4, 2021, and October 8, 2021, Pokorny met with his source of supply and then sold a confidential source 51.57 and 50.19 grams of actual meth. Pokorny agreed with at least one other person to distribute 126 grams of actual meth in Omaha between September 13, 2021, and October 8, 2021. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment for Methamphetamine Charge

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Gabriel Ramirez, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced December 8, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr., sentenced Ramirez to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ramirez’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Ramirez also gave up any right or claim he may have had in $9,140 in currency seized during the investigation. On March 18, 2022, law enforcement conducted a controlled narcotics buy from Ramirez utilizing a confidential informant who purchased 217 grams of meth from Ramirez in the Omaha area. On April 14, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Ramirez’s South Omaha residence and vehicle and seized 3271 grams of meth, 21 grams of cocaine, and US Currency. During a post-Miranda interview, Ramirez admitted to being a drug courier for the Sinaloa Cartel and had been receiving and selling meth for the Cartel since approximately September of 2021. Ramirez estimated that over the past he had picked up and sold between 300 and 400 pounds of meth for the Cartel. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: People’s Republic of China Citizens Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Saipan, MP – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Chun Yang and Yurong Wang, citizens of the People’s Republic of China, were sentenced by the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands for Conspiracy to Possess Over 50 grams of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). CHUN YANG (age 46) - Sentenced to 70 months incarceration, five years of supervised release following release, 100 hours of community service in lieu of a fine, and a $100 special assessment fee. Yang was also ordered to report to U.S. immigration officials for deportation proceedings upon release from prison. YURONG WANG (age 50) - Sentenced to 46 months incarceration, five years of supervised release following release, 100 hours of community service in lieu of a fine, and a $100 special assessment fee. Wang was also ordered to report to U.S. immigration officials for deportation proceedings upon release from prison. On June 21, 2022, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Customs and Biosecurity Agents discovered 1,809.80 grams of methamphetamine inside of a mail parcel during a routine inspection at the U.S. Post Office on the island of Saipan. The parcel was mailed from California. Upon discovery of the methamphetamine, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) joined the investigation. On June 22, 2022, DEA and the CNMI Department of Public Safety (DPS) Drug Enforcement Task Force (DETF) conducted surveillance while the parcel was claimed from the post office, transported after exchanges between multiple persons and vehicles, and ultimately delivered to Wang. After receiving the package, Wang brought it to an apartment where she met Yang and Xing Rui Gao (also a PRC citizen). The three individuals intended to distribute the drugs on Saipan. They were promptly arrested after opening the package. Gao was charged separately and pled guilty on October 4, 2023. Sentencing is scheduled for February 23, 2024. None of the defendants had lawful immigration status at the time of the offense. “This case demonstrates the effectiveness of partnerships among Commonwealth and federal law enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson. “A substantial amount of methamphetamine was kept out of our communities. I applaud the efforts of all involved in bringing these defendants to justice.” “Operation Cloudy Day” was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This investigation was led by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration with cooperation from the CNMI Customs and Biosecurity Agency, the CNMI DETF, and prosecuted by Albert S. Flores, Jr., Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.


title: New Braunfels Man Indicted for Alleged Role in Multimillion-Dollar Firearm Trafficking Scheme

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

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned a superseding indictment charging a New Braunfels man with eight counts related to the smuggling of firearm parts into Mexico and a conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, Chandler Britain Bradford, 34, allegedly engaged in a multimillion-dollar scheme to illegally provide thousands of semi-automatic rifles to a Mexican citizen who resided in the Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico area. Bradford is alleged to have supplied enough firearm parts to arm the recipient with approximately 4,800 semi-automatic rifles, despite not having a license to export firearm parts from the United States to Mexico. Court documents allege that Bradford provided his co-conspirator with the parts, tools, and counsel needed to facilitate a full firearm manufacturing enterprise in northern Mexico, and that Bradford received more than $3.5 million from his co-conspirator. Bradford is charged with one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States; one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms; one count of conspiracy to transfer firearms for use in a felony; four counts of aiding and abetting the smuggling of goods from the United States; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case with assistance from the Department of Commerce Office of Export Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Florida Man Sentenced To 20 Years For Carrollwood Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced John Kennedy Braun (51, Brandon) to 20 years in federal prison for robbing a bank in the Carrollwood neighborhood of Tampa, Florida. Braun’s co-defendant, Timothy Paul Longworth (44, Tampa), was previously sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in federal prison for his role in the bank robbery. According to statements made in court, on the morning of August 8, 2022, Longworth entered a bank in Carrollwood, jumped over the teller’s counter, and demanded cash. While doing so, Longworth carried a black airsoft pistol. Longworth left the bank with $4,172 in cash and proceeded to a shopping center where Braun was waiting to pick him up. In addition to serving as the getaway driver, Braun had cased other banks with Longworth, assisted in planning the escape route, and helped to hide evidence of the bank robbery. Braun had previously been convicted of robbing two banks in Indiana. This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.


title: Seven More Defendants Charged in Prosecution of Central Indiana Dog Fighting and Drug Trafficking Conspiracies

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- In September of this year , 21 individuals were charged in a federal indictment alleging trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; money laundering; illegally possessing firearms; and dog fighting. On December 6 th , 2023, execution of additional search warrants in Indianapolis and Anderson resulted in seven additional arrests related to the September indictment. Federal agents also seized 12 firearms; significant quantities of controlled substances; over $42,075 in cash; dog fighting paraphernalia; and approximately 75 dogs. The following Indianapolis/Anderson men were each charged with Conspiracy to engage in an Animal Fighting Venture: Ryan Hicks, 37 Willie Lee, 47 Marven Carswell, 71 Ernest Young, 49 Brent Hutchinson, 43 Robert Hamer, 41 Daymond Mason, 49 If convicted, each defendant charged with conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture faces up to 5 years in federal prison. The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and the recent warrant executions possible: Federal Bureau of Investigation- Indianapolis U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Drug Enforcement Administration Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation Indiana Gaming Commission Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle P. Brady and Adam J. Eakman, who are prosecuting this case. An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Two McLean Companies and CEO Ordered to Pay $1.1 Million for Defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered IT Services Now LLC and O@sis Group LLC, located in McLean, and their CEO, Mustafa Khabir, 51, of Haymarket, to pay $1,052,227 for submitting fraudulent applications to obtain federally guaranteed loans through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP offered loans to small businesses for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each PPP loan was calculated based on the applicant’s payroll and number of employees. Applicants were required to submit supporting documents so PPP lenders and the SBA could verify the applicant’s payroll and employee count. The government filed a complaint for violations of the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), alleging that the defendants fraudulently obtained $460,300 by submitting four PPP applications to SBA-approved lenders. In each of the applications, the companies and Khabir misrepresented their payroll and employee counts. They also submitted fabricated payroll and tax documents in support of each application. The lenders ultimately issued two PPP loans to IT Services Now and one PPP loan to O@sis Group. After the loans were issued, Khabir used the PPP funds to invest in cryptocurrency and his companies defaulted on all three loans. The court entered judgment in favor of the United States on all counts. The outcome in this case was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia; the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of General Counsel, Litigation Unit; and the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Hochul III and assisted by Forensic Auditor Peter Melaragni. The scheme was uncovered by the U.S. Attorney’s Office using PPP data analytics. The case caption is United States v. IT Services Now LLC et al. , 1:23-cv-00738-LMB-WEF (E.D. Va.). This case follows litigation to enforce a Civil Investigative Demand, which may be found at United Sates v. Khabir , No. 1:22-mc-00004-AJT-TCB (E.D. Va.). A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia .


title: Parents Sentenced to a Combined 90 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing and Exploiting their 18-Month-Old Baby

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Tristan Mullins, 27, and Desley McLemore, 27, of Indianapolis have been sentenced to decades in federal prison for their roles in sexually exploiting and assaulting their approximately 18-month-old child. According to court documents, McLemore and Mullins were the parents of an infant. From at least 2019 through January 2022, Mullins and McLemore were in an on-again, off-again dating relationship. In June of 2020, McLemore gave birth to a child. The baby primarily lived with McLemore; however, Mullins had periodic visits with the baby, both at his residence and at McLemore’s. Beginning in December 2021, during times when each defendant had physical custody of the baby, McLemore and Mullins sexually abused the baby and produced more than 98 videos and images depicting sexually explicit conduct. On January 18, 2022, IMPD officers received a tip from Google alerting them to McLemore and Mullins’ uploads of files depicting their sexual abuse and exploitation of their child. Both parents were immediately located and arrested by law enforcement officers. Mullins and McLemore admitted their conduct, and Mullins admitted to sharing the child sexual abuse material with others via Kik, Facebook, Snapchat and on adult pornography websites. Mullins wrote extremely graphic and crude captions and commentary for the videos he sent to others. Both Mullins and McLemore pleaded guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, by a Parent or Guardian, and Transportation of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Tristan Mullins was sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment followed by 15 years of supervised release. Desley McLemore was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment followed by supervised release for life. “Babies are precious and vulnerable, and most parents have an instinctual desire to protect them from harm. Tristan Mullins and Desley McLemore’s instead chose to exploit their baby in the most cruel and unimageable ways before she was even old enough to walk or speak,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The people responsible for these monstrous crimes will now spend decades in federal prison where they cannot exploit another child. Our community is safer thanks to the dedication and talents of our ICAC task force, law enforcement partners, and federal prosecutors, who responded immediately to stop the abuse and save this child.” “The pursuit of those who choose to victimize children is some of the most important work we are doing as an agency,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Adams, of the U. S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The Secret Service is a proud member of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and want to thank the FBI and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for their partnership in this investigation.” “The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force remains vigilant and dedicated to protecting society’s most vulnerable victims, our children. Parents and caretakers who violate the sanctity of trust by failing to protect their children and sexually exploiting them for their benefit will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted,” said Christopher Cecil, Commander of the Indiana ICAC. The FBI, U.S. Secret Service, IMPD, and the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered Mullins to pay $30,500 to the victim and others, and McLemore to pay $20,000 in restitution to the child. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston and former Assistant United States Attorney Kristina M. Korobov who prosecuted this case. This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. Visit https://www.in.gov/isp/icactf/ to learn more about their efforts. 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. ###


title: Jefferson County Felon Sentenced to Over 16 Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Jefferson County man was sentenced yesterday to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. Timothy Lewis, 53, was found guilty by a federal jury on March 13, 2023, for being a felon in possession of firearm. He was sentenced yesterday to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. According to evidence presented at trial, on June 25, 2018, Lewis illegally possessed a Smith & Wesson, Model M&P 40 PRO Series, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Lewis had previously been convicted of the following felonies. On January 31, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court under case number 16-CR-2203, Lewis was convicted of burglary in the third degree, receiving stolen property under $10,000, theft by unlawful taking over $500, and tampering with physical evidence. On July 29, 2015, in Jefferson Circuit Court under case number 14-CR-1604, Lewis was convicted of complicity to burglary in the second degree. On September 7, 2012, in Jefferson Circuit Court under case number 12-CR-0775, Lewis was convicted of complicity to receiving stolen property under $10,000 and theft by unlawful taking (two counts). On October 19, 2007, in Jefferson Circuit Court under case number 06-CR-3183, Lewis was convicted of receiving goods by fraud, burglary in the second degree (three counts), theft by unlawful taking over $300 (twelve counts), theft by unlawful taking over $300 – auto (two counts), receiving stolen property over $300 (three counts), receiving stolen property over $300 - vehicle, criminal possession of forged instrument in the second degree, fraudulent use of a credit card (three counts), tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Julie Mason. 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: West New York Financial Advisor Convicted on 11 Counts at Trial in Multimillion-Dollar Health Care Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A West New York financial advisor was found guilty on 11 counts of defrauding public health insurance plans out of more than $4 million and transacting in the criminal proceeds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Kaival Patel, 54, of West New York, New Jersey, was convicted on Dec. 7, 2023, of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, four counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds, and five counts of money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds following an 11-day trial before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler. “This defendant lined his own pockets by taking advantage of health insurance plans for New Jersey state and local government employees, defrauding them of millions of dollars by conspiring to obtain reimbursements for medically unnecessary compound prescription medications. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who abuse and defraud the health care system.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “Filing false compound medication claims and pocketing the reimbursements isn't a new scheme,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “For years now, the FBI Newark and our law enforcement partners have doggedly investigated and brought to justice dozens of others who defrauded healthcare companies, state and federal government agencies, and taxpayers. Yet, these criminals don't seem to learn the lessons of those who tried to steal what isn't theirs and get rich off the backs of the hardworking public. Our hope is anyone thinking of using a similar plan realizes they will get caught, and they will go to federal prison along with Patel.” “The defendant enriched himself by defrauding the New Jersey public health insurance plans out of more than $4 million,” Tammy L. Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, said. “Today’s conviction is the result of the great investigative work of IRS-CI Special Agents and our law enforcement partners and their commitment to protect the integrity of our health care systems.” According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial: Compounded medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Compounded medications require a prescription from a physician. Patel created and operated a company called ABC Healthy Living LLC to market compound prescription medications. Patel and his conspirators learned that certain state and local government employees had insurance that would reimburse up to thousands of dollars for a one-month supply of certain compound medications such as vitamins, scar creams, pain creams, libido creams, and acid reflux medications. Patel and a conspirator approached Patel’s family member, a medical doctor who owns and operates a clinic in Newark, New Jersey, and convinced him to authorize prescriptions for the compound medications for patients who had no medical need for the prescriptions. Patel received commissions for the compound medication prescriptions. Patel and his conspirators paid a group of corrections officers to go to Patel’s family member’s medical practice for the purpose of receiving fraudulent prescriptions. Patel conspired with a compounding pharmacist to add unnecessary ingredients to the compound medications to further increase their cost and augment his illicit profits. Patel engaged in a series of financial transactions to receive proceeds from the health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy. To date, approximately 47 people have been convicted or pleaded guilty in the overarching conspiracy. On the count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, Patel faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 fine, or twice the gross pecuniary loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. On each of the remaining 10 counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to the conviction. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel A. Friedman of the Criminal Division in Camden and DeNae M. Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit.


title: Schenectady Man Charged in Connection with Shots Fired Outside of Temple Israel

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, appeared in federal court this morning on a charge of unlawfully possessing a firearm. Alkhader was arrested yesterday afternoon after he twice fired a shotgun into the air outside of Temple Israel, a synagogue in Albany. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins. According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 2 p.m. on December 7, 2023, Alkhader stood outside of Temple Israel while possessing a Kel-Tec KS7 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. Alkhader twice fired the shotgun into the air. Albany Police Officers responded to the scene and arrested Alkhader. As an unlawful user of a controlled substance (marijuana), Alkhader was prohibited under federal law from possessing the shotgun. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Alkhader appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered Alkhader detained pending trial after Alkhader waived his right to a detention hearing. If convicted of the charge alleged in the complaint, Alkhader faces up to 15 years in prison, up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. This case is being investigated by the ATF, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Albany Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Belliss and Alexander Wentworth-Ping are prosecuting this case.


title: Three Norteño Gang Members Who Murdered Victims In San Francisco Sentenced To Decades In Prison Following Their Convictions On Racketeering Conspiracy Charges

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Three San Francisco Mission District (SFMD) Norteño gang members who murdered and attempted to murder four victims in San Francisco between January 2018 and July 2019 were sentenced today to prison terms ranging from 21 to 33 years following their convictions on racketeering conspiracy charges, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentences were handed down by the Hon. William H. Orrick, Senior United States District Judge. Fernando Madrigal, AKA “Nando,” 25; Alvaro Reina Cordero, AKA “G-Boy,” 26; and Oscar Guadron Diaz, AKA “Cutty,” 24, all of San Francisco, each pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), in connection with their roles in the murders and attempted murder of four victims, including a 15-year-old innocent bystander who was mistaken for a rival gang member. In his plea agreement, Madrigal—who was sentenced today to 33 years in prison—admitted that, on July 12, 2018, he lured a victim to a parking lot near Candlestick Park in San Francisco on the pretense of purchasing marijuana from the victim. In fact, however, Madrigal admitted that he planned to rob the victim and that he and an accomplice were both armed when they arrived at the parking lot near Candlestick Park, where they met the victim around 6:20 p.m. Madrigal admitted he shot and killed the victim, disposed of the victim’s cell phone on or near the San Mateo Bridge, and dumped the victim’s body in the Oakland Hills, where it was found more than a year later. Madrigal also admitted that, on July 8, 2019, he was in the Mission District in San Francisco when he used an AR-style firearm to shoot and kill a 15-year-old boy whom Madrigal mistakenly believed was a member of a rival gang. Madrigal admitted he committed these two murders in part to earn respect from other SFMD Norteños and to enhance his status in the gang. Finally, Madrigal admitted that he regularly traveled between California and Iowa to engage in drug trafficking; that he possessed two firearms, dozens of bullets, and nearly $7,000 in cash when he was arrested on August 14, 2020; and that he was on probation following a prior carjacking conviction when he committed the murders in July 2018 and July 2019. In their plea agreements, Cordero and Guadron Diaz—who were sentenced today to 26 and 21 years in prison, respectively—admitted that, on January 23, 2018, they were driving around the Holly Park neighborhood of San Francisco when they saw a suspected rival Sureño gang member standing with a female companion at a bus stop near the intersection of Leese Street and Richland Avenue. They also admitted that, upon confirming the man’s identity in another drive-by, Guadron Diaz (who was driving) parked about two blocks away from the bus stop, where he idled while Cordero—who was, and who Guadron Diaz knew to be, armed with a loaded gun—put on a black and white skeleton mask and got out of the car. Cordero admitted he then ran to the bus stop, approached the man and his female companion, and fired approximately nine shots, hitting the man (who died) in the body and the woman (who survived) in the face. Cordero then ran back to the parked car and he and Guadron Diaz—who admitted in his plea agreement that he knew Cordero planned to shoot the man and that he knowingly assisted Cordero commit the shooting—drove away from the scene. Guadron Diaz also admitted that law enforcement officers found ammunition consistent with the type used in the murder and attempted murder, as well as a fully automatic machine gun, in a search of his home in San Francisco two days after the shooting. Finally, both Cordero and Guadron Diaz admitted they committed and participated in the murder and attempted murder to earn respect and prestige among other SFMD Norteño gang members. “Norteño criminal street gangs have terrorized San Francisco’s Mission District for years through a relentless campaign of shootings, robberies, gun trafficking, drug dealing, and extortion,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins. “Today’s sentences send a clear message that gang members who inflict wanton violence and harm our community will be arrested, prosecuted federally, and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.” “The brazen acts of violence committed by these men deprived local residents of their sense of security,” said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. “The sentences handed down today cannot undo the harm inflicted on the victims or their families, but the defendants have been held accountable. The FBI and its partners will continue to work to eradicate violent gangs from our streets.” In addition to the custodial sentences, Judge Orrick ordered all three defendants to spend five years on supervised release, beginning after their prison terms are completed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leif Dautch is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Kevin Costello. The prosecution is the result of a multi-year investigation by the FBI, with assistance from the San Francisco Police Department’s Community Violence Reduction Team and Homicide Detail.


title: Notice to Victims in United States v. Charles Edwards, Sonal Patel, and Murali Venkata

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Charles Edwards and Murali Venkata are charged in United States District Court for the District of Columbia case number 20-cr-66 and Sonal Patel is charged in case number 19-cr-81. Charles Edwards, Sonal Patel, and Murali Venkata, who were then employed at the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General, engaged in an unlawful scheme to convert government property for private gain between October 2014 and April 2017. They stole valuable code and databases belonging to the government. Their plan was to use the stolen property to develop a commercial software product, which they intended to sell back to the government at a profit. They hired a software development company in India to build the purported commercial product. To facilitate the Indian developers’ work, they gave the developers access to vast amounts of sensitive information contained within the stolen databases, including law-enforcement records, information regarding witnesses and confidential informants, and the Personally Identifying Information (“PII”) of hundreds of thousands of government employees. Upon learning that he was under investigation, Venkata deleted incriminating text messages, call records, and emails in an effort to obstruct the investigation. Sonal Patel and Charles Edwards both pled guilty and agreed to cooperate with the government. On April 4, 2019, Sonal Patel pled guilty pre-indictment to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. On March 5, 2020, a grand jury returned Indictment charging defendants Charles Edwards and Murali Venkata with conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (count one); theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 & 2 (count two); wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 & 2 (counts three through eleven); and aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028A & 2 (counts twelve through fifteen). The Indictment also charged Venkata with destruction of records, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519 (count sixteen). On January 14, 2022, Charles Edwards pled guilty to count one and count two. Murali Venkata decided to go to trial, which began on March 28, 2022. On April 11, 2022, the jury returned a verdict finding Venkata guilty of all counts on which they deliberated: Counts one, two, eleven, thirteen, and sixteen. The Court subsequently dismissed counts twelve through fifteen. Sentencing dates have now been scheduled for all three defendants. The sentencing for Murali Venkata is currently scheduled for January 4, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. EST . The sentencing for Charles Edwards is currently scheduled for January 12, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. EST . The sentencing for Sonal Patel is currently scheduled for January 26, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. EST . All of the sentencings will be held before Judge Randolph D. Moss in Courtroom 8 of the U.S. District Courthouse. The courthouse address is 333 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20001 . If you believe you were a victim of Edwards, Patel, and Venkata’s unauthorized disclosure of PII, please find more information here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/us-v-edwardspatelvenkata .


title: Columbia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison in Connection with Fentanyl Poisoning Death

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cody Allen Dinkins, 32, of Columbia, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing a quantity of fentanyl resulting in death. Evidence presented to the Court showed that on Aug. 31, 2019, the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apparent overdose at a residence in Kershaw County. Responders located the victim, who died at the home. A pathologist later determined the victim’s death was caused by fentanyl poisoning. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the incident, and during the investigation, law enforcement uncovered messages which appeared to be a conservation between the victim and Dinkins regarding Dinkins providing the victim with illegal drugs on Aug. 30, 2019. Later, Dinkins confessed to supplying the victim with illegal drugs on Aug. 30, 2019. “The fentanyl epidemic is a deadly crisis that continues to plague our nation. Our office is committed to holding accountable drug traffickers who endanger our communities,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We are grateful to DEA and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office for their continued efforts to protect our communities from the threat posed by drug traffickers.” “Fentanyl is extremely dangerous to the consumer and leaves behind a trail of devastation and destruction,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The defendant in this case had total disregard for the safety of others.” “We are thankful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and DEA,” said Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan. “Without their federal prosecution of this case, proper justice could not have taken place through our state court system.” United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dinkins to 240 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Dinkins was court-ordered to pay $9,117.40 in restitution to the victim’s estate. This case was investigated by the DEA and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Arizona Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Wade Platero was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Platero, 27, of Cove, Arizona, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty to abusive sexual contact on Jan. 19, 2023. According to court records, on Dec. 28, 2021, officers from the Navajo Police Department responded to a domestic violence call at a residence in Cove, Arizona. Subsequently, one of the parties accused Platero of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, Jane Doe, that was in his care. During a subsequent interview, Jane Doe disclosed to forensic interviewers that Platero had begun assaulting her when she was 9 years old, and the incidents had continued until the day of the domestic violence incident. Jane Doe also stated that she was scared for her younger sister’s safety. When questioned by police, Platero attempted to justify his actions by saying that Jane Doe had come on to him in the past. At the time, Platero was more than twice the 12-year-old’s age and in his mid-20s. In his plea agreement, Platero admitted that he sexually assaulted Jane Doe on Dec. 28, 2021, the day of the domestic violence incident which caused police to become involved. Upon his release from prison, Platero must adhere to state and federal sex offender registration requirements. His sentence also includes 15 years of Supervised Release by the United States Probation Office after release from incarceration. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC). PSC is a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. View the Indictment View the Plea Agreement # # # 23-280