title: Albany Resident Sentenced to 41 Months for Unemployment Insurance Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jamie Johnson, age 38, of Albany, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for filing false unemployment insurance applications online with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) in order to fraudulently obtain $701,441 in benefits issued in the names of other people. The benefits included funds from federal programs intended to help out-of-work New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang; Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG). Johnson pled guilty in February 2022 and admitted to receiving personal identifying information from other people and using it to file false unemployment insurance applications in other people’s names on NYSDOL’s online systems. She then collected the resulting unemployment insurance benefits, including by driving a Maserati sport utility vehicle to Capital Region banks and withdrawing cash using debit cards containing the benefits. Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release, to begin after Johnson is released from prison, and ordered her to pay $701,441 in restitution to the State of New York. He also ordered Johnson to forfeit the Maserati, more than $200,000 in cash, and multiple jewelry items. Judge Kahn had previously sentenced three of Johnson’s co-conspirators, Thomas Brace, Taliek Lanier , and Errol Murray , to terms of imprisonment of time served, 12 months, and 12 months, respectively. Johnson’s co-conspirators all admitted that they had provided her with personal information of others that Johnson used to file false unemployment insurance applications. This case was investigated by the New York State Inspector General’s Office, HSI, USPIS and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from the NYSDOL Office of Special Investigations, the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center, the Albany County Department of Social Services, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Joseph S. Hartunian prosecuted this case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Handgun with an Obliterated Serial Number

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Adam Gomez, age 26, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today to unlawfully possessing a handgun with an obliterated serial number. 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. Gomez admitted that on September 8, 2022, in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Albany County, he unlawfully possessed a Glock 17 handgun with an obliterated serial number. Gomez faces a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release up to 3 years. 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. HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting the case.


title: Talladega Man Indicted and Arrested for Submitting False Loan Application to a Bank

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted a Talladega man for making false statements to a bank on a commercial loan application that resulted in a loss to the bank of over $550,000, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Bermun Deamon McGhee , 44, of Talladega, with making false statements to obtain a bank loan. According to the indictment, in December 2021, McGhee provided fraudulent information on a loan application to Peoples Bank of Alabama. McGhee fraudulently claimed, among other things, that he possessed $965,000 “Cash on Hand and in Banks” in various checking accounts and savings accounts. FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Rummage is prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Lancaster County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Marijuana and Methamphetamine

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Vaughnta Markees Jones, 45, of Lancaster, was sentenced to five years in federal prison today for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine. Jones was also sentenced for violating the terms of his prior federal supervised release. Evidence presented to the court showed that the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office learned that Jones was dealing illegal narcotics in Lancaster County. Jones was on federal supervised release following convictions of being a felon in possession of a firearm and knowingly receiving and possessing an unregistered firearm in 2010. On March 29, 2023, HSI along with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office used an undercover informant to make a purchase of methamphetamine from Jones. Upon arrival at Jones’ home, the informant met with Jones and purchase 49.8 grams of methamphetamine. Thereafter, on May 8, 2023, Lancaster County Sheriff’s deputies, along with an HSI agent, conducted a traffic stop of a car driven by Jones in Lancaster County. During a search of the car, the police found approximately four and a half pounds of marijuana and three pills marked “IP 109” that were determined to be hydrocodone. Jones was arrested by and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with the intent to distribute hydrocodone and tramadol. Jones admitted that he had traveled to Maryland to obtain the marijuana and was returning to Lancaster County. Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Jones to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four year-term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Currie also sentenced Jones to a consecutive 12 months and one day imprisonment for violating the terms of his prior supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Lexington County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ronnie Dawsey, Jr., 41, of Lexington, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child sexual abuse materials.* Evidence presented to the court showed that on Aug. 31, 2020, Mr. Dawsey uploaded approximately seven images of child sex abuse materials to his Facebook account and subsequently sent the images to others using the Telegram application on his cell phone. Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Mr. Dawsey to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Mr. Dawsey was ordered to pay a total of $36,500 in restitution to seven different victims and to register as a sex offender. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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 sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case. ### * The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.


title: Winston-Salem man sentenced to more than 7 years for distribution of child pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREENSBORO – A Winston-Salem man, KIERRE ANTHONY CUTLER, 19, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). According to court records, in October 2022, the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) executed a search warrant on CUTLER’s personal devices where they discovered more than 700 images of child pornography. In April 2023, acting on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, WSPD executed a search warrant on a Discord account associated with CUTLER and found it had been used to upload and distribute an image depicting sexual exploitation of an infant under one year of age. United States District Court Judge Loretta C. Biggs sentenced CUTLER to an 87-month term of imprisonment followed by 15 years of supervised release. In addition, CUTLER was ordered to pay restitution to victims totaling $13,000.00 and special assessments totaling $1,100.00. He pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on October 5, 2023. The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney K. P. Kennedy Gates. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov. A copy of this press release will be posted on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 1:23CR261-1.


title: San Antonio Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing, Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 300 months in prison for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Stephen Aaron Potts, 35, used Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing software to distribute 194 files, representing 2.63 TBs of materials, containing CSAM to an undercover law enforcement computer between Nov. 17, 2021, and Jan. 19, 2022. On May 4, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a federal search warrant at Potts’ residence, seizing numerous electronic devices, including 22 external hard drives, two computers, one laptop, four flash drives, three smartphones, and five micro-SD cards. Forensic analysis of one 2.5 TB device contained 9,085 video files and 31,861 image files of CSAM. Potts was arrested May 4, 2022 and has remained in federal custody. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 25, 2022 to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. In an interview with federal agents, Potts stated that he would leave his computer on and enable the P2P software to download CSAM 24 hours per day, seven days per week. “Crimes involving the possession of child pornography, or child sexual abuse material, are never victimless,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “By constantly downloading and sharing child sexual abuse material, this defendant inflicted immense damage on many vulnerable children. Thanks to our partners at HSI and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, we have put an end to this predator’s heinous acts and, hopefully, given those victims some of the relief they are due.” “Today’s sentence serves as a reminder to all predators. We will not allow crimes against children to go unpunished,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alejandro M. Amaro for HSI San Antonio. “While this significant sentence cannot repair the damage done to the children exploited by these images, it is a warning to those who engage in this behavior: HSI and our law enforcement partners will be relentless in our pursuit of online predators.” HSI and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Involving over 100 Kilograms of Cocaine

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced today to 50 months in prison for conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine as part of a drug-trafficking organization operating in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Iran Soler, 44, Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Judge O’Hearn imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Soler and his conspirators traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on commercial flights from Philadelphia International Airport on numerous occasions between March 2019 and August 2020. They purchased multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from wholesale drug suppliers based in the San Juan area in exchange for cash payments. Soler and the conspirators then shipped the kilograms of cocaine by overnight delivery from U.S. Post Offices in San Juan to various addresses in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, where a conspirator, Jose Gonzalez, resold the cocaine to other drug dealers in the Philadelphia area for a profit. Soler and the other conspirators purchased and shipped over 100 kilograms of cocaine to Philadelphia and southern New Jersey between March 2019 and August 2020. In addition to the prison term, Judge O’Hearn sentenced Soler to five years of supervised release. Gonzalez previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced April 29, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen; agents of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi; 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 the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs in Philadelphia; troopers assigned to the New Jersey State Police Strategic Investigations Unit South, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and officers and detectives of the Philadelphia Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.


title: Waterbury Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Offenses

body_text: EZRA ALVES, also known as “EJ” and “Ezzy,” 23, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to offenses stemming from his participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang. Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo. According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Alves and 15 other alleged 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses. Alves pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, three counts of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, two counts of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances. Alves specifically admitted that he and other 960 members were engaged in drug trafficking and violent activity, and conspired to shoot and murder members of rival gangs, including: On September 21, 2018, in retaliation for the murder of an associate, Alves and other 960 members participated in a drive-by shooting of an occupied residence on Scott Road in Waterbury. On October 6, 2018, in a drive-by shooting, Alves and other gang members attempted to murder individuals believed to be members of a rival gang, which resulted in gunshot wounds to an individual. On November 18, 2018, Alves and other gang members participated in a drive-by shooting of rival gang members, which resulted in gunshot wounds to two individuals. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for June 18, 2024, at which time Alves faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 17 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Alves has been detained since November 15, 2019. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, ATF, and Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Two Men Charged with Robbing U.S. Postal Carriers at Knife Point

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: Two men from the New York City metro area were charged with burglarizing two Maine post offices and robbing, at knife point, two U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carriers. A federal grand jury charged Winston McLeod , 30, and Lance Funderburk , 30, in a five-count indictment on March 20, 2024, charging each with two robberies, two burglaries, and participating in the overall conspiracy. According to the indictment and other court records, during a one-week period in January 2024, McLeod and Funderburk broke into the Paris and North Monmouth post offices and stole money order printers, mail, computers, post office box keys, and other items. The two men are then alleged to have robbed two Lewiston postal carriers in quick succession on January 20, 2024, threatening to stab each of them with a knife unless they turned over their postal keys. If convicted, the men face up to 25 years imprisonment on each of the two robbery counts, up to five years imprisonment on each of the two burglary counts, and up to five years on the conspiracy count. They also face up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count of conviction. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with the assistance of FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Rumford, Lewiston, Paris and Monmouth police departments. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Racketeering and Robbery Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced today for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang. Michael Nguyen, also known as “Asian,” 23, was sentenced today by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2023, Nguyen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, also referred to as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats or violence. Nguyen is the first defendant to be sentenced in this case. Nguyen was identified as a member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston. According to court documents, Cameron Street members use violence, including murder and attempted murder, to preserve, protect and expand its territory. They allegedly use social media to promote Cameron Street, celebrate murders and other violent crimes, and denigrate rival gangs. They also allegedly possess, carry and use firearms; distribute controlled substances; commit armed robberies; and engage in human trafficking in part to generate income. As part of his role in the Cameron Street enterprise, Nguyen often infiltrated rival gang territory to conduct surveillance for other Cameron Street members. In July 2018, Nguyen along with fellow Cameron Street members Brendon Amado and Deronde Bethea broke into the home of two victims – entering through the back door wearing masks and dark hoodies and carrying firearms. One victim ran out and called 911. A second victim was brought into the living room, punched in the head, had a gun put to their head and a pillow put in front of their face as Nguyen, Amado and Bethea ransacked the house, demanding, “where’s the stuff, where’s the money, where’s your boyfriend?” Nguyen, Amado and Bethea later fled the house in a silver pickup trick after stealing $2,000 in cash and a safe. Nguyen and others were later observed driving away from the house. Officers pursued the truck until it abruptly stopped in Stoughton – colliding with the police cruiser before fleeing the scene. Nguyen was identified via phone records and a shoe he left behind during the chase. Amado and Bethea were identified on convenience store surveillance footage shortly before the robbery took place. Both Amado and Bethea have since pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2024 and May 16, 2024, respectively. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Lynn Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced on March 18, 2024 in federal court in Boston for distributing, receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Ever Edilberto Zuniga Ramirez, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 62 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2023, Zuniga Ramirez pleaded guilty to distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. Beginning in July 2020 and continuing through March 2022, Zuniga Ramirez distributed and received CSAM over the internet, including images of children under 12-years-old. More than 280 images depicting CSAM were found on Zuniga Ramirez’s phone. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Tolkoff and John Reynolds of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Keene Couple Arrested for the Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Keene couple has been charged in connection with their production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Paul Baird, 43, of Keene and Krystal Baird, 38, of Keene were charged by complaint for the production of child pornography. Paul Baird and Krystal Baird appeared in federal court today. According to the charging documents, as early as November 2023, Paul Baird was observed on a dark web chat site dedicated to CSAM of girls from four to fourteen years old. On March 7, 2024, Paul Baird posted links to three CSAM images to the website. A search of Paul Baird and his residence in Keene, New Hampshire earlier today led to the arrests of Paul and Krystal Baird for the production of child sexual abuse material. At the time of his arrest, Paul Baird was employed as a bus driver by the Student Transportation of America, which is a school transportation company that services the Contoocook Valley (ConVal) School District. This investigation is ongoing. Members of the public who have information regarding this case should call the Homeland Security Investigations’ New England Field Division’s Manchester Office at 603-629-2716. The Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation. The Keene Police Department is providing valuable assistance with this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Brazilian Man Charged With Escaping From Federal Custody

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian man residing in Framingham has been charged with allegedly escaping from federal custody while in transport to the Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island. Victor Rodrigues De Moura-Pereria, 20, was charged with one count of escape from federal custody. He will appear in federal court in Boston on March 25, 2024. According to the charging documents, in September 2021, Rodrigues was arrested by federal authorities in Arizona after unlawfully entering the United States. He was subsequently placed into removal proceedings in October 2021, but allegedly failed to report and was considered an absconder. It is alleged that on Feb. 25, 2024, in Framingham, Mass., Rodrigues was approached by local law enforcement due to the outstanding warrant for his arrest. It is further alleged that Rodrigues ignored officers’ commands and resisted arrest. Rodrigues was then transferred into the custody of immigration officials. On Feb. 26, 2024, while being transported to the Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island , Rodrigues made numerous attempts to escape. Specifically, it is alleged that – while placed in full restraints and seated in the prisoner compartment of the transport van – Rodrigues attempted to unlock the passenger side door by pulling on the lock pin with his teeth. Rodrigues then allegedly forced his body through a small gap between the vehicle’s rear cage and passenger side window and into the vehicle’s storage compartment, where he pulled the emergency release pull tab, opened the rear door and jumped out onto the highway. After exiting the transport van, Rodrigues ran down the middle of the highway and disappeared. According to the charging documents, Rodrigues was later located inside a wooden fenced area behind a building in Waltham, Mass. approximately a quarter mile from where he exited the transport van. The charge of escape provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 100,000. If convicted, Rodrigues faces deportation after serving any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Waltham Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Six Defendants Added in Catalytic Converter Theft Conspiracy

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A superseding indictment has been unsealed today, charging six additional individuals to the case first brought in November 2022, with conspiracy to transport stolen catalytic converters from California to New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, thieves steal catalytic converters from vehicles for the precious metals the core contains, including palladium, platinum, and rhodium, some of which are more valuable per ounce than gold. The black-market price for certain catalytic converters from California can be above $1,000 each. Three California defendants and six New Jersey defendants were charged in the original indictment, including brothers Navin Khanna and Tinu Khanna of New Jersey. The Khanna brothers operated DG Auto and purchased stolen catalytic converters from California for over $38 million. After the Khanna brothers were arrested, their mother Anita Khanna, 63, of Holmdel, New Jersey; their father Nirmal Khanna, 73, of Holmdel, New Jersey; and their older brother Michael Khanna, 42, of Eatontown, New Jersey, continued DG Auto’s business of purchasing stolen catalytic converters. The Khannas and other DG Auto employees sold the precious metal powders extracted from the stolen catalytic converters to employees at a New Jersey metal refinery, including Alfredo Mejia, 40, of Levittown, Pennsylvania, and Vishnu Chintaman, aka Vasheem, 54, of Levittown, Pennsylvania. These metal refinery employees knew they were receiving powder extracted from stolen catalytic converters. The metal refiner paid DG Auto over $621 Million. The Khannas used a third party, Ricky Vega, 39, of Hopewell, New Jersey, to broker the transactions between DG Auto and the metal refinery. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the IRS Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Police Department, the Davis Police Department, the Auburn Police Department, the Livermore Police Department, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica M.A. Alegría of the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Cesar Rivera-Giraud of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . If convicted, the newly added defendants in the superseding indictment face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a fine up to $78 million. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Former Universal Companies Executives Convicted at Trial of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States Government

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that defendant Abdur Rahim Islam, 66, the former Chief Executive Officer of Universal Community Homes and defendant Shahied Dawan, 72, the former Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Universal, both of Philadelphia, PA, were convicted today at trial of conspiring to defraud the United States. Islam was also convicted of six counts of honest services wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and six counts of filing false tax returns. Details of the charges follow. Count 1 – Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (Islam and Dawan convicted) The defendants conspired to defraud the United States by impeding, impairing, obstructing, and defeating the lawful functions of the Internal Revenue Service of the Department of the Treasury in the ascertainment, computation, assessment, and collection of income taxes, and in the regulation of tax-exempt charitable organizations, from at least in or about 2011 until at least in or about 2018. The object of the conspiracy was to conceal from the Internal Revenue Service taxable income, including unapproved bonuses and payments to both defendants, and improperly reimbursed personal expenses to Islam. The defendants hid the true nature of these payments from Universal’s auditors as they prepared the IRS Forms 990 for Universal. As a result, the tax returns for Universal and its related companies were false. Because Universal was able to maintain its tax-exempt status as a Section 501(c)(3) organization, the defendants were able to take advantage of the benefits of Universal’s tax-exempt status, including the ability to solicit donations based on representations that such donations would be tax deductible. Counts 2-7 – Honest Services Wire Fraud (Bribery) (Islam convicted) Islam devised and participated in a scheme and artifice to defraud and to deprive the citizens of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, of their right to the honest services of then-Milwaukee Public Schools Board President Michael Bonds, from in or about December of 2014 to in or about February of 2018. The scheme involved the payment of an $18,000 bribe to Bonds, who previously pleaded guilty, in exchange for Bonds using his official position to take a series of official actions to financially benefit Universal. These actions included advocating for and voting in favor of Universal’s expansion of charter school operations in Milwaukee, and for favorable lease terms for Universal. Counts 8-12 – Wire Fraud (Islam convicted) Islam devised and participated in a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money and property, that is, at least $491,000, from the Universal Companies, by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, from in or about December of 2014 to in or about February of 2018. He stole significant sums of money from Universal, even while Universal was losing significant amounts of money due to the failed charter school expansion in Milwaukee. The thefts included unapproved bonuses of $280,000 for Islam and at least $211,000 in fraudulent expense reimbursements to him. Counts 13-18 – Filing False Tax Returns (Islam convicted) Islam filed false tax returns for tax years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, underreporting his taxable income by approximately $573,823, resulting in a tax loss to the government of approximately $196,577. The defendant did not report any of the money he took from Universal during the execution of the wire fraud scheme that is the subject of Counts 8-12. “Islam and Dawan conspired to defraud the government — and therefore, taxpayers — out of revenue,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Today’s verdict holds them accountable for doing so, and holds Islam responsible for his years-long pattern of criminal activity. He treated Universal like a virtual ATM, shortchanging its charter schools’ students, and the community, in the process.” “Public corruption is a top FBI criminal investigative priority, as it erodes public confidence in the systems built to better our communities,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to combating public corruption at any level and aggressively pursue those who abuse their positions for personal profit.” “The outcome today is due to the dedicated efforts of IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “IRS-Criminal Investigation is proud to have provided its financial expertise in this investigation, and we will continue to aggressively investigate individuals who engage in money laundering, tax fraud, or other types of white-collar crimes.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division, with assistance from the Department of Education Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark B. Dubnoff and Linwood C. Wright, Jr.


title: Interior Department Employee Sentenced to Five Years of Probation for Embezzlement

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – George Thomas Onwiler, 49, of Hayfork, California, was sentenced on Monday to five years’ probation by United States District Judge Michael Liburdi. On November 7, 2023, Onwiler pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In addition to his probation term, the Court ordered that Onwiler pay restitution in the amount of $139,168.02. Beginning in May 2018 and continuing through April 2020, Onwiler embezzled approximately $139,000 from the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), a component of the United States Department of the Interior. Onwiler was employed as an electrician for the BOR, located in Yuma, Arizona. In his employment with the BOR, Onwiler was responsible for purchasing commercial and agricultural grade electrical supplies and materials needed for his government work, and he was issued a BOR credit card to make those purchases. Onwiler embezzled money from the government by using his government issued credit card to pay fictional electrical company suppliers. Onwiler created fake company names and used PayPal and Block/Square to transfer money to himself. Through 47 unauthorized wire transfers, Onwiler transferred $139,168.02 to his personal bank account. These transactions were fraudulent as he did not purchase electrical supplies for the BOR. The United States Department of the Interior conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Kristen Brook, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00400-PHX-MTL RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-037_Onwiler # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Four Hoover Criminal Gang Members Indicted for Murder in Aid of Racketeering

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland has returned an indictment charging four Hoover Criminal Gang members for their roles in murdering a Portland man in December 2020. Taezhon Tyreik Kelly, 23, Anthony Devion Bagsby, 32, and Delane William Roy, 25, all of Portland, and Cocoa Dalonta Taplin, 28, of Fairview, Oregon, have been charged with murder in aid of racketeering, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and causing death through the use of a firearm. The indictment alleges that on December 11, 2020, Kelly, Bagsby, Taplin, and Roy intentionally murdered D.M., a Portland man, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their position in the Hoover Criminal Gang, a criminal enterprise engaged in racketeering in California, Oregon, Washington, and elsewhere. Bagsby and Taplin were arrested today in Portland by the FBI, Portland Police Bureau (PPB), and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). Both made their first appearances in federal court and were ordered detained pending a six-week jury trial scheduled to begin on April 30, 2024. Kelly was arrested Tuesday in Halton City, Texas and made his first appearance today in the Northern District of Texas. Roy was arrested today in Kaplan, Louisiana and made his first appearance in the Western District of Louisiana. Both were detained pending their transfer to the District of Oregon. According to the indictment, the Hoovers are a criminal street gang operating in Oregon known to engage in acts of violence including murder, assault, robbery, sex trafficking, and the distribution of illegal narcotics. The Hoovers originated in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and established a presence in Portland in the early 1980s. The gang has a loose hierarchical structure in which members have different amounts of power and influence based on age and gang activity. To maintain status and increase one’s position in the gang, members are expected to carry out violence on behalf of the enterprise. This case was investigated by the FBI, PPB, MCSO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Gresham Police Department, and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. 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.


title: Morris County Man Charged with Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Defraud More Than 50 Small Businesses by Offering Phony Debt Relief Services

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, man was charged today in a scheme that defrauded victims of over $3.4 million dollars, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Mark Csantaveri, 51, of Morristown, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel in Newark federal court and was detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Csantaveri and his conspirators operated businesses that purported to provide small businesses with debt relief services. Csantaveri induced victims to make regular payments to one of Csantaveri’s businesses by falsely claiming that he would hold their money while negotiating favorable settlements with the victims’ creditors. Instead of using victim funds as promised, Csantaveri and his conspirators misappropriated the victims’ money for their personal use, including over $1 million in gambling expenses. Csantaveri’s scheme ultimately defrauded more than 50 victims of more than $3.4 million dollars. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss involved in the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Webman of the of the Criminal Division in Newark. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. csantaveri.complaint.pdf


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to  Federal Drug and Weapons Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –GERARD TURNER , age 21, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty as charged to a four-count indictment on March 19, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter. Specifically, TURNER pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8); possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2); possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at TURNER’s residence in July, 2023. TURNER possessed distributable quantities of marijuana; a loaded Romarm/Cugir Model Mini Draco, 7.62x39 millimeter semi-automatic pistol; rounds of various calibers of ammunition, including a loaded pistol magazine and loaded drum magazine; and a machinegun conversion device, that turns a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun. TURNER has prior felony convictions for simple burglary, illegal use of weapons, and illegal possession of stolen things. For his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, TURNER faces up to 15 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. For his conviction for possession of a machinegun, he faces up to 10 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. For his conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, he faces up to 5 years in prison and a minimum of two years of supervised release. For his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, he faces a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, and up to five years of supervised release. Each count also carries up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Five Men Charged With Murder In Connection With Failed Robbery Attempt That Left Two Dead

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and David Gibson, the Commissioner of the Mount Vernon Police Department, announced the arrest of ILARIO CONTRERAS, JERPI DIAZ-FELIZ, a/k/a “Jorge Diaz-Feliz,” JHOAN DIAZ-FELIZ, VICTOR JIMENEZ, and JOSEPH PEREZ. The defendants are charged with murder in connection with an attempted gunpoint robbery of a Mount Vernon warehouse that sells various unlicensed marijuana and nicotine products. Two individuals — one employee of the warehouse and one member of the robbery crew — were shot and killed during the failed robbery attempt. The defendants were arrested and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Complaint, these five defendants carried out a violent armed robbery that left two dead in Mount Vernon. The dedication, bravery, and expertise of our law enforcement partners led to the swift arrest of this dangerous crew. This was an outstanding coordinated effort to uphold the law and keep the public safe. This Office is determined to ensure that these defendants now face justice.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “These five subjects allegedly orchestrated an attempted armed robbery of a warehouse that sells to smoke shops, which quickly turned deadly as a shootout ensued, culminating in the death of both an employee and one robbery crew affiliate. The defendants’ alleged brazen actions demonstrated extreme disregard for public safety and posed a significant threat to the community. The FBI will not cease its relentless pursuit of those who choose violence, especially using firearms, to further their criminal behavior. We urge the public to contact us at 1-800-Call-FBI or at tips.fbi.gov with any additional information related to this case.” Mount Vernon Police Commissioner David Gibson said: “I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, and the New York Police Department for their partnership, assistance, and continued support in this investigation. I would also like to thank the Westchester County Police Department and the Westchester Real Time Crime Center for their vital assistance and teamwork. The Mount Vernon Police Department and the Patterson-Howard administration takes crime in our City seriously. We want to send a message to those who seek to commit heinous crimes in our community. We will partner with local, state, and federal partners to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. ” As alleged in the Complaint filed today in White Plains federal court: [1] On or about March 19, 2024, ILARIO CONTRERAS, JERPI DIAZ-FELIZ, JHOAN DIAZ-FELIZ, VICTOR JIMENEZ, JOSEPH PEREZ, and others known and unknown attempted to rob at gunpoint a warehouse in Mount Vernon that sells various unlicensed marijuana and nicotine products. As employees of the warehouse were assisting customers, approximately 10 to 15 people, including the defendants, approached the employees and customers with weapons and forced them back into the warehouse at gunpoint. A still image from video surveillance outside the warehouse is depicted below: Shortly after the defendants and others approached the employees and customers with firearms, a gunfight between the warehouse employees and defendants broke out. As a result, one of the employees and one of the robbers were killed. If you have any information about this case, please contact the FBI at 1-800-Call-FBI or tips.fbi.gov. * * * CONTRERAS, 23; JERPI DIAZ-FELIZ, 25; JHOAN DIAZ-FELIZ, 23; JIMENEZ, 35; and PEREZ, 26, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of conspiracy to engage in drug trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, one count of possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, and murder through the use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a maximum sentence of the death penalty or life imprisonment. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Mount Vernon Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Westchester County Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Westchester Real Time Crime Center for their invaluable assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared D. Hoffman and Justin L. Brooke are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Colorado CEO and Fund Manager Sentenced to 71 Months in Prison for $10.4 Million Securities Fraud Scheme

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Denver, Colorado, CEO was sentenced to 71 months in prison for conducting a securities scheme to fraudulently obtain $10.4 million from investors through various misrepresentations about fund operations, his background, and his contribution to the fund, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Samuel J. Mancini, 57, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Cecchi to an information charging him with one count of securities fraud. Judge Cecchi imposed the sentence in Newark federal court. “This defendant concocted an elaborate scheme to swindle unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned money. His lies and theft were successful to the tune of $10.4 million – right up to the moment law enforcement caught up with him. He will now spend the next several years of his life in prison, a just punishment for his crimes.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “Schemes to make easy money on the backs of honest investors never work,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “History is littered with criminals similar to Mancini who think they will ultimately walk away with the millions they’ve stolen. It never works. At the end of the day, victims aren’t just going to accept their money is gone and not demand justice. That’s where the FBI – Newark and our law enforcement partners can help, so please reach out to us if you face a similar situation like the victims who believed in Mancini.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Mancini managed and controlled Outdoor Capital Partners LLC (OCP), which he purported to be a venture capital and private equity firm. OCP served as the managing director of OCP Italia Fund LLC (OCP Italia), a private investment fund. Mancini used OCP and OCP Italia to engage in the fraudulent scheme. From February 2020 through July 2021, Mancini promised investors that he was raising $20 million, including $5 million of his own money, for OCP Italia to invest solely in acquiring controlling interests in three Italian cycling companies. Mancini represented to investors that the acquisitions would take place soon after the fund closed. To induce investments, Mancini promised investors approximately 70 percent of OCP Italia’s operating profits. Mancini repeatedly misrepresented his finances and his contribution to OCP Italia. Mancini also misrepresented OCP Italia’s ability to close on the acquisitions. OCP Italia never acquired any of the Italian cycling companies. Instead, Mancini defaulted on contracts, diverted investor funds out of OCP Italia, and, in certain instances, paid investor funds to other investors seeking redemption. Mancini also misled investors about his educational background by representing himself as a graduate of a prestigious military academy when, in fact, Mancini had failed to graduate from the academy due to an ethical violation. When confronted with requests for transparency and redemptions by certain investors in OCP Italia, Mancini failed to honor the redemption requests, made misrepresentations about his inability to honor the redemption requests, misstated and omitted material facts, and provided certain investors with forged, modified, or otherwise fraudulent documentation and financial records. Mancini fraudulently obtained approximately $10.4 million from victims. In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi sentenced Mancini to three years of supervised release. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil complaint against Mancini based on the allegations underlying the securities fraud scheme to which Mancini pleaded guilty today. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and intelligence analysts of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked the FBI Denver Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark D. Michalek . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Repole, Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney James H. Graham of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Arson

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TERRENCE COE , age 45, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on March 19, 2024 to arson, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(i). According to court documents, on December 24, 2022, COE set fire to merchandise inside of Walmart located in Hammond, La. On December 27, 2022, COE turned himself into the Hammond Police Department and admitted that he started the fire while trying to open a package that he wanted to steal, with a lighter. At sentencing, COE faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five (5) years up to a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Washington man admits unlawfully killing eagles on Flathead Indian Reservation to sell on black market

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA — A Washington man today admitted to conspiring to hunt and kill bald and golden eagles on the Flathead Indian Reservation and then selling them on the black market across the United States and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Travis John Branson, 48, of Cusick, Washington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate trade in wildlife that has been taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of federal or state law. The Lacey Act also prohibits any person from making or submitting any false record, account, label for or identification of wildlife that has been or was intended to be transported in interstate or foreign commerce. In court documents, the government alleged that from about January 2015 until about March 2021, Branson and others hunted and killed eagles on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Branson then sold the eagles on the black market across the United States and elsewhere. Brandon traveled from Washington to the Flathead Reservation, where he met co-defendant, Simon Paul, and they would then shoot, transport and ship bald and golden eagles for future black-market sales. Co-defendant Paul remains a fugitive. The government further alleged that on March 1, 2021, a purchaser asked if Branson had any eagle feathers for sale. Branson responded by sending two pictures of golden eagle tail feathers. The purchaser sent Branson $650 via PayPal. Branson sent a package to the purchaser that contained the eagle feathers, and the purchaser confirmed receipt of the package by text message. On March 13, 2021, Branson shot and killed a golden eagle near Polson. Law enforcement stopped Branson and recovered from Branson’s vehicle the feet and feathers of the golden eagle. Later, law enforcement recovered the remainder of the golden eagle carcass in a field. During the stop, law enforcement also seized multiple phones. After obtaining a federal search warrant for the phones, law enforcement recovered numerous photos and text messages identifying the shooting, killing and ultimate selling of bald and golden eagles throughout the United States. Branson knew killing and selling eagles was illegal and that he did not have a permit for any of the activities. When negotiating a purchase price for eagle feathers with a potential buyer, Branson said: “I don’t get em for free though ..out hear committing felonies” Branson told another potential buyer he would obtain other eagle tails by “[g]oing on a killing spree.” Further, Branson acknowledged that international shipping was illegal: “International is still illegal ..I just get em for 99 cents ..price of a bullet..lol” Branson faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the conspiracy and Lacey Act charges. Branson also faces a maximum of one year in prison, a $5,000 fine and one year of supervised release for the first conviction of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, a misdemeanor. Branson faces an enhanced felony provision, which applies to the second or subsequent convictions of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, of a maximum of two years in prison, a $10,000 fine and one year of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. A sentencing date was set for July 31 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Branson’s release was continued pending further proceedings. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan G. Weldon and Randy Tanner are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Flathead Tribal Law Enforcement conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Federal grand jury indicts four defendants for their roles in scheme that defrauded thousands of companies out of millions of dollars

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dylan Paul Costanza, 30, Tommy Lee Coburn, 29, Kyle Paul Edward Gibson, 33, all of Florida, and Heather Dierna, 30, of Rochester, NY, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Some of the defendants are also facing additional charges of mail fraud and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Resnick, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between October 2020, and January 2022, the defendants obtained the names and addresses of primarily large companies located throughout the United States, where they could mail what appeared to be a legitimate invoice for cleaner/degreaser products that the victim companies would believe they had previously ordered and received. Large companies were targeted because it was less likely during the COVID-19 pandemic that account payable departments in these companies would question whether cleaner/degreaser products listed on the fraudulent invoices were ordered and received. The defendants also targeted large companies because the relatively small amounts owed on the fraudulent invoices would be less likely to raise questions regarding the legitimacy of the invoices, and because the accounts payable departments do not order products for their companies, and would be less likely to question or be suspicious of the grossly inflated prices for the cleaner/degreaser products. Fraudulent invoices were mailed from Florida in the names of Hi-Tech Industrial and Nationwide Chemical, both sham companies. Additional fraudulent invoices under the names North Atlantic Supply and Top Tier Chemicals, also sham companies, were mailed from Rochester. Intended to look like legitimate invoices, the defendants placed statements that the documents were merely “solicitations,” and that there was no obligation to pay the amounts listed on the fraudulent invoices, in hard-to-find places on page two of the invoice. The statements were inserted so that if the defendants were ever later questioned, they could falsely claim that the intended purpose of the documents was merely to “solicit” future business from the victim companies. As a result of the conspiracy, approximately 4,640 victim companies were tricked into believing that they had received a legitimate invoice for cleaner/degreaser products, paying approximately $3,721,229.31 to the sham companies. After receiving payment, the defendants attempted to cover up their fraud by having inexpensive cleaner/degreaser products delivered to the victim companies. A total of 10 companies in the Western District of New York were victimized. The companies are located in Henrietta, Lakewood, Brockport, Andover, Rochester, Avon, Tonawanda, and Niagara Falls. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Federal Jury Convicts Man of Damaging Reproductive Health Services Facilities in Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury today convicted a man of intentionally damaging two reproductive health services facilities in Chicago. MICHAEL BARRON, 42, of Chicago, used a sling shot and metal ball bearings to damage the two facilities on six occasions in May and June of 2021. Barron was convicted on all six counts of intentionally damaging the two facilities because they provided reproductive health services. The jury returned the verdicts after a two-day trial in the courtroom of U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim in the Northern District of Illinois. Each count of conviction is punishable by a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison. Sentencing was set for July 9, 2024. The verdicts were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and LaDon Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sivashree Sundaram and Paige Nutini.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement to Extend Obligations in 2021 Agreement with Florida’s Volusia County School District to Protect Students with Disabilities

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today a Memorandum of Agreement (Agreement) with Florida’s Volusia County School (VCS) District, which extends the term of a 2021 settlement agreement between the United States and the district by an additional two years to allow its revised policies and practices for students with disabilities to be fully implemented. The settlement agreement addressed the district’s discriminatory policies and practices that discipline students with disabilities for their disability-related behavior and deny them equal access to VCS’s educational program. In addition to the two-year extension, the Agreement requires the district to take additional critical steps to increase its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. “Students have the right to go to school and be treated with dignity without fear of being punished for their disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to vigorously enforce the ADA’s protections for students with disabilities, and this Agreement ensures that the robust changes being implemented by the district can be monitored appropriately.” “We are encouraged the Volusia County School District has taken initial steps to change its policies and practices, providing critical training to staff and law enforcement and adopting strict accountability measures so that students with disabilities will have equal access to educational programs,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “My office will continue to work with the district to ensure its compliance with the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section (DRS) investigated the case. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt , and additional information about the work of the DRS is available at www.ada.gov . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . Information about the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and a complaint form for the unit can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights . Individuals with information related to the department’s investigation and the district’s compliance with the settlement agreement are encouraged to report such information by email at vcs.compliance@usdoj.gov .


title: Crafton Resident Sentenced to Seven and a Half Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Crafton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 90 months of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Robert Allen, 44. According to information presented to the Court, on May 11, 2017, Allen conspired to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon stated that the sentence was meant to reflect the seriousness of the defendant’s crime. Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine C. Jordan and Stephen R. Kaufman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh City Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Allen.


title: Two from McKees Rocks Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Two residents of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The one-count Indictment named Vincent Pappaterra, 49, and Amber Bond, 37, as defendants. According to the Indictment, from on or about August 24, 2023, until on or about August 26, 2023, Pappaterra and Bond, through the use of communications involving cellular telephones, persuaded, coerced, and enticed a minor to engage in sexual activity. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Mitchell is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security and Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Overdose Death of Portland Teenager

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A local man was sentenced to federal prison today for distributing fentanyl that caused the overdose death of a Portland teenager. Tanner Welsh, 21, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on November 10, 2022, officers from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) responded to a fatal overdose of a 17-year-old teenager. Investigating officers located several small blue pills near the teenager’s body they believed were counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. An autopsy later confirmed the teenager died from fentanyl poisoning. Further investigation revealed that the teenager had exchanged several text messages with Welsh shortly before overdosing in response to an online ad Welsh posted offering the sale of controlled substances. Investigators also learned that Welsh had personally traveled to the teenager’s house to deliver the fentanyl pills. On January 24, 2023, special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) located and arrested Welsh who admitted selling fentanyl and Xanax pills to the deceased teenager. On February 8, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted Welsh on one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. On December 13, 2023, Welsh pleaded guilty to a one-count superseding criminal information charging him with distributing fentanyl to a person under the age of twenty-one. This case was investigated by PPB and HSI and was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.


title: San Ramon Man Sentenced To 40 Months In Prison For A Firearm Crime

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Rashad Shambray-Jones was sentenced today to 40 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and 19 rounds of ammunition, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., United States District Judge. Shambray-Jones, 30, of San Ramon, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), on October 6, 2021. He was charged by Information on September 15, 2021. As court documents state, Shambray-Jones crashed a vehicle into a fence on federal property on January 31, 2021, and, when police responded to the scene to render assistance, they observed a firearm and nineteen rounds of ammunition on the front floorboard of the driver’s side of the vehicle. Shambray-Jones was arrested for unlawfully possessing the firearm and ammunition, due to his prohibited status as a convicted felon. After pleading guilty to the charged offense, Shambray-Jones was referred to the Northern District of California’s Conviction Alternatives Program (“CAP”), a court-administered program entails intensive supervision of participants prior to sentencing. The program offers the potential of a reduced or non-custodial sentence for participants who successfully complete it. Court documents show that, while participating in CAP, Shambray-Jones was captured on surveillance video firing approximately seven rounds from a firearm in a shooting incident that occurred on May 5, 2023, in the Bayview District of San Francisco. Shambray-Jones was arrested by San Francisco Police Department officers in connection with the May 5 incident after he went to San Francisco General Hospital on September 1, 2023, seeking treatment for a gunshot wound soon after another shooting incident in the same area where the shooting incident occurred on May 5, 2023. “Alternative justice programs are an important part of our criminal justice system,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “They often help defendants overcome serious root, personal problems, such as addiction, that motivate their criminal conduct. But, when defendants masquerade through these programs while in fact continuing to terrorize our streets with gun violence, we will ask for sentences that appropriately address their deception and violent conduct. Let today’s sentence serve as a warning: the resulting prison time will be serious.” “Being in possession of a firearm while being a prohibited person is a crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. “The defendant in this case was afforded an opportunity to choose a different course of behavior and made the decision not to. The defendant endangered the safety of the public by conducting violent behavior. This violent conduct will not be tolerated and those who chose to put the public in danger will be prosecuted.” In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam ordered Shambray-Jones to serve three years of supervised release once his prison term is completed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Buszin prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Helen Yee. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ATF.


component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL – The Justice Department announced today a Memorandum of Agreement (Agreement) with Florida’s Volusia County School (VCS) District, which extends the term of a 2021 settlement agreement between the United States and the district by an additional two years to allow its revised policies and practices for students with disabilities to be fully implemented. The settlement agreement addressed the district’s discriminatory policies and practices that discipline students with disabilities for their disability-related behavior and deny them equal access to VCS’s educational program. In addition to the two-year extension, the Agreement requires the district to take additional critical steps to increase its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. “Students have the right to go to school and be treated with dignity without fear of being punished for their disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to vigorously enforce the ADA’s protections for students with disabilities, and this Agreement ensures that the robust changes being implemented by the district can be monitored appropriately.” “We are encouraged the Volusia County School District has taken initial steps to change its policies and practices, providing critical training to staff and law enforcement and adopting strict accountability measures so that students with disabilities will have equal access to educational programs,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “My office will continue to work with the district to ensure its compliance with the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section (DRS) investigated the case. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt , and additional information about the work of the DRS is available at www.ada.gov . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . Information about the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and a complaint form for the unit can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights . Individuals with information related to the department’s investigation and the district’s compliance with the settlement agreement are encouraged to report such information by email at vcs.compliance@usdoj.gov .


title: Gangster Disciples, Sisters of the Struggle Members Sentenced to Prison  for Gang-Related Murders

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples and a leader of its parallel female organization, the Sisters of the Struggle, were sentenced to prison today for their roles in a murderous conspiracy stemming from gang-related retribution that resulted in the shooting deaths of three Athens, Georgia, men. Philmon Deshawn Chambers, aka “Dolla Phil,” 35, of Atlanta was sentenced to serve two consecutive Life terms plus 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Chambers was found guilty of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) Conspiracy; Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering - Murder (VICAR-Murder); Carry and Use of a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence; and Causing the Death of a Person Using a Firearm. Co-defendant Andrea Paige Browner, aka “Drea,” 29, of Athens, Georgia, was sentenced to serve two concurrent sentences of 30 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Browner was found guilty of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) Conspiracy; Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering - Murder (VICAR-Murder); and Causing the Death of a Person Using a Firearm. The co-defendants were convicted on all counts by a federal jury on Aug. 17, 2023. Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case and handed down these sentences on March 20. The defendants are not eligible for parole. “Philmon Chambers and his co-conspirators’ murderous crimes caused intense pain and suffering for three Georgia families whose loved ones were taken from them in a heinous manner,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “While no court can restore the lives that were lost, we hope these sentences provide some measure of justice and underscore our office’s commitment – working alongside our law enforcement partners – to combatting violent crime.” “While these sentences won’t ease the pain felt by the victim’s families and friends, this does send a message of hope to our community that we will fight for the rights of those targeted by violent street gangs,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Dismantling violent criminal organizations is a priority for the FBI, and a goal we share with our law enforcement and prosecution partners across the country.” “While these sentences will never undo the loss of the affected families, it sends a message that justice will prevail,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “We are grateful to our officers for their continued support of this case and those involved in the prosecution. Our community is safer because of your efforts.” Two co-defendants previously entered guilty pleas and will be sentenced on March 27 in Macon: Robert Maurice Carlisle, aka “Different,” 37, of Lithonia, Georgia, pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy on June 8, 2023, and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison; and Shabazz Larry Guidry, aka “Lil Larry,” 29, of Decatur, Georgia, pleaded guilty to Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy on June 8, 2023, and is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. The following co-defendant was sentenced to prison on Feb. 20: Lesley Chappell Green, aka “Grip,” 35, of Stone Mountain, was sentenced to life in prison on Feb. 20 after he was convicted by a federal jury of Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organization (RICO) conspiracy on Aug. 17, 2023. According to court documents, Chambers held a “Position of Authority” within the national Gangster Disciples criminal organization, which included overseeing members of the “Enforcement Team.” Enforcement Teams within the Gangster Disciples are directed to discipline gang members for violations of gang rules through physical assault or murder. Co-defendant Green was a member of the Enforcement Team and held the title of “Assistant Chief Enforcer.” Co-defendant Browner was a member of the “Sisters of the Struggle” (SOS), a parallel female component of the Gangster Disciples, and held a leadership position in the gang. Evidence presented at trial proved that on Dec. 10, 2018, Gangster Disciples member Walter Brown was murdered in Athens, Georgia. Chambers and Browner sought retaliation for Brown’s death and believed three unnamed Athens residents were responsible. On Dec. 14, 2018, Browner met Rodriquez Apollo Rucker, of Athens, at a downtown Athens hotel and learned that Rucker was related to one of the individuals she believed killed Brown. Browner sent text messages directing Chambers to travel to the motel, which he did. Chambers then followed Rucker home and shot and killed him. Browner notified an associate of the Gangster Disciples that she and Chambers would be leaving town because the police would be looking for them. Browner was taken into custody in Mt. Enterprise, Texas, on Dec. 15, however Chambers, who had been in the vehicle with Browner, fled from law enforcement. Chambers was suspicious that someone was cooperating with law enforcement and focused his suspicions on Derrick Ruff and Joshua Jackson who were, in fact, not cooperating with law enforcement. Chambers incorrectly concluded that Ruff and Jackson were “snitches” and directed Green, who held a subordinate position on the Enforcement Team, to carry out the murders of Ruff and Jackson. Text messages and intercepted phone calls between Chambers, Green, Carlisle and Guidry revealed that Ruff and Jackson were lured by Green, as directed by Chambers, to drive from Athens to Lawrenceville, Georgia, to break into storage sheds and steal items to send to Chambers as “aid and assistance” as he was hiding out from law enforcement in a Gangster Disciple “safe house” in Killeen, Texas. The ruse worked, and Ruff and Jackson were murdered on Dec. 19 and their bodies concealed in the storage unit until March 17, 2019, when police with the assistance of cadaver sniffing dogs located them. Additional messages between Chambers, Green, Carlisle and Guidry showed that they conspired to dispose of the victims’ bodies, which included potentially burning the bodies or dumping the bodies in a landfill. Law enforcement recovered the bodies and made arrests before these plans could be carried out. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The case is being investigated by the FBI Athens Resident Agency Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Gwinnett County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison of the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Kenneth Kaplan, formerly of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, are prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Walker of the Middle District of Georgia.


title: Oklahoma Man Convicted of Murder-For-Hire of St. Louis Schoolteacher

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on March 19, 2024, found Phillip J. Cutler of Muskogee, Oklahoma guilty of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and the murder-for-hire of St. Louis Public School teacher Jocelyn Peters, and her unborn child, Micah Leigh, in 2016. Prosecutors proved to jurors that Cutler was enlisted by his longtime friend, Cornelius M. Green, to commit the murders. Green, 42, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty on Feb. 28, 2024 to the same charges. He admitted as part of his plea hiring his longtime friend, Cutler, to kill Peters. Peters was 31 weeks pregnant with Green’s child. Green was also involved in sexual relationships with several other women. Green admitted during his plea that he used cash stolen from Carr Lane Middle School, where he was principal, to pay Cutler. On Feb. 28, 2016, Green texted Cutler and asked him to come to St. Louis during the week of March 20, 2016. Cutler asked if Green would be sending “the package,” and on March 7, Green sent Cutler a UPS package containing $2,500 cash. On March 21, Cutler arrived in St. Louis via Greyhound bus, staying with Green’s sister. Green took a train trip to Chicago to establish his alibi for the murder, giving Cutler the keys to his Kia Optima and Peters’ apartment. On March 24, Cutler drove Green’s car to Peters’ apartment in the 4200 block of West Pine in St. Louis, let himself in using Green’s keys, and shot Peters in the eye using a potato as a silencer. During his testimony, Cutler admitted seeing the 1992 film South Central, during which a character similarly used a potato as a silencer. Peters was working on baby shower invitations at the time she was killed. At 6:14 a.m. the morning following the murder, Cutler confirmed to Green that Jocelyn and the baby had been killed. Following their conversation, Green bought his return train ticket, and Cutler then went to North Riverfront Park to dispose of evidence. Upon arriving back in St. Louis, Green retrieved his car from Cutler and went directly to Peters’ apartment and called 911 to report her death. He repeatedly made false statements to law enforcement and others attempting to evade responsibility for his ordering of the murders and pretending he had no knowledge of the circumstances leading to the deaths. Cutler was detained for questioning that same night after attempting to retrieve the Kia Optima from the crime scene. When told he was being detained, Cutler ate two pieces of paper from a notebook in his pocket. Green is scheduled to be sentenced June 5 and faces a sentence of life in prison. As part of the plea, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office has agreed to dismiss their case against Green for the murders if he is sentenced to life in federal prison. Cutler is scheduled to be sentenced June 18. He faces life in prison on each charge. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) and the FBI investigated the case, which is being prosecuted in cooperation with the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Becker and Zachary Bluestone are prosecuting the case. Former SLMPD Detective Mark Biondolino was the case agent.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced for Unlawful Firearm Possession

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Joshua C. Murphy, 37, of Villa Park, Illinois, was sentenced March 20, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Johnson to 68 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Murphy’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On October 4, 2022, an ATF confidential source made a controlled buy of a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun from Murphy, a convicted felon. The handgun was reported stolen from West Virginia, and it included an extended high-capacity magazine. The confidential source paid Murphy $1,200 of ATF buy money in exchange for the handgun. The buy was audio and video recorded and monitored by law enforcement. Murphy has previously been convicted of the following felonies punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year: Motor Vehicle Theft over $20,000 (2013), in the 17th Judicial District of Colorado and Escape (2014), in the 19th Judicial District of Colorado. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.