title: Man Involved in Shooting at Wilmington Funeral Home Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun Charges

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – Charles Gilbert Green, age 29, pled guilty today to two counts of distribution of cocaine base (crack) and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. According to court documents and other information presented in court, in 2021 members of the Brunswick County Vice and Narcotics Unit received information that a man that went by “CJ” was distributing narcotics in Leland. Law enforcement was able to identify “CJ” as Charles Gilbert Green. On June 2, 2021, and on September 23, 2021, law enforcement utilized a confidential informant to conduct controlled purchases of cocaine base (crack) from the defendant. On April 2, 2022, at approximately 1:30 p.m., officers with the Wilmington Police Department were dispatched to the area of 6 th Street and Red Cross Street after receiving a ShotSpotter alert and multiple 911 calls about shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located one person suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and he was immediately transported to the hospital where he received treatment and recovered from his injuries. During their investigation, officers located six fired shell casings in front of the John H. Shaw’s Son Funeral Home on Red Cross Street, where people were gathered for a funeral. Five fired shell casings were also found on the southeast corner of Red Cross and North 6 th Street. Officers were able to locate security camera footage which showed Green firing multiple shots from the southeast corner of Red Cross Street towards a group of individuals standing near the funeral home where the shell casings were found. Green then got into a white Ford Flex and fled the scene. Based on their review of the video footage, officers determined the shell casings found in front of the funeral home were fired in self-defense. At the time of the shooting, Green was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. His prior felony convictions include a conviction for common law robbery in 2018 and a conviction for possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana in 2014. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. Sentencing will occur before Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers II later this year. The FBI’s Coastal Carolina Safe Street’s Gang Task Force is leading the investigation, and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-cr-00014-M. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah Announces $600,000 in Awarded Funding for Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The need for specialized legal services is both urgent and essential for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These services provide interventions, such as securing restraining or protective orders, that are crucial for survivor safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is proud to announce that the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $600,000 in the District of Utah to provide legal services and improve the effective coordination of justice systems impacting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. • OVW awarded $600,000 under the Justice for Families (JFF) Program to Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse, Inc. in the District of Utah. The JFF Program aims to improve the capacity of communities and courts to respond to families impacted by violence. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins commented: “I am pleased to announce funding from the Office on Violence Against Women for the non-profit Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse, located in Cache County, Utah. These funds will be used to assist victims of domestic and sexual violence and empower survivors.” “The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant, in conjunction with the Justice for Families Program and the Domestic Violence Mentor Court Technical Assistance Initiative, serve as a powerful multi-pronged strategy to transform the justice system's approach to supporting families affected by violence," stated OVW Director Rosemarie Hidalgo. "These grants enhance court-related programs, trauma-informed training, and resources, while also providing victims with specialized legal support. This includes assistance with securing protective orders and navigating complex family law matters. Collectively, these grants advance a more comprehensive approach, aimed at ensuring that survivors and their families don't merely navigate our legal system, but genuinely find a path to justice and safety.” ### OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for Middle District of Louisiana Celebrates Funding Awarded for Legal Services and Improved Court Responses to Domestic and Sexual Violence

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: The need for specialized legal services is both urgent and essential for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These services provide interventions, such as securing restraining or protective orders, that are crucial for survivor safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana is proud to announce that the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $1,650,000 to the Middle District of Louisiana to provide legal services and improve the effective coordination of justice systems impacting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. “The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant, in conjunction with the Justice for Families Program and the Domestic Violence Mentor Court Technical Assistance Initiative, serve as a powerful multi-pronged strategy to transform the justice system's approach to supporting families affected by violence,” stated OVW Director Rosemarie Hidalgo. “These grants enhance court-related programs, trauma-informed training, and resources, while also providing victims with specialized legal support. This includes assistance with securing protective orders and navigating complex family law matters. Collectively, these grants advance a more comprehensive approach, aimed at ensuring that survivors and their families don't merely navigate our legal system, but genuinely find a path to justice and safety”. OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw .


title: Co-Founder Of Multibillion-Dollar Cryptocurrency Scheme “OneCoin” Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that KARL SEBASTIAN GREENWOOD, who co-founded OneCoin with RUJA IGNATOVA, a/k/a “the Cryptoqueen,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his orchestration of the massive OneCoin fraud scheme. OneCoin, which began operations in 2014 and was based in Sofia, Bulgaria, marketed and sold a fraudulent cryptocurrency by the same name through a global multi-level-marketing (“MLM”) network. As a result of misrepresentations that GREENWOOD, IGNATOVA, and others made about OneCoin, millions of victims invested over $4 billion worldwide in the fraudulent cryptocurrency. Today’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos. IGNATOVA, who was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (“FBI”) Top Ten Most Wanted List in June 2022, remains at large. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a founder and leader of OneCoin, Karl Sebastian Greenwood operated one of the largest fraud schemes ever perpetrated. Greenwood and his co-conspirators, including fugitive Ruja Ignatova, conned unsuspecting victims out of billions of dollars with promises of a ‘financial revolution’ and claims that OneCoin would be the ‘Bitcoin killer.’ In fact, OneCoins were entirely worthless, and investors were left with nothing, while Greenwood lined his own pockets with over $300 million. We hope this lengthy sentence resonates in the financial sector and deters anyone who may be tempted to lie to investors and exploit the cryptocurrency ecosystem through fraud.” According to public court filings and statements made in Court: GREENWOOD and IGNATOVA co-founded OneCoin Ltd. (“OneCoin”) in 2014. OneCoin was based in Sofia, Bulgaria. OneCoin marketed and sold a fraudulent cryptocurrency by the same name. OneCoin began operating in the United States in or around 2015. Between the fourth quarter of 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2016 alone, the scheme took in more than $4 billion from at least 3.5 million victims. OneCoin marketed its fake cryptocurrency through a global MLM network of OneCoin members. GREENWOOD conceived of OneCoin’s use of an MLM structure and was OneCoin’s global master distributor and the leader of the MLM network through which the fraudulent cryptocurrency was marketed and sold. Through the MLM structure, OneCoin members received commissions for recruiting others to purchase cryptocurrency packages. As the top MLM distributor of OneCoin, GREENWOOD earned 5% of monthly OneCoin sales from anywhere in the world, which totaled more than $200 million from the fourth quarter of 2014 through the fourth quarter of 2016 alone and exceeded approximately $300 million in total. GREENWOOD’s mastery as a salesman and the use of the MLM structure helped contribute to OneCoin’s rapid growth and incredible success. From OneCoin’s inception, GREENWOOD and IGNATOVA used the notoriety of Bitcoin to convince investors that OneCoin was the next “can’t miss” investment opportunity. GREENWOOD and IGNATOVA wanted investors to believe that OneCoin was a legitimate cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and deliberately drew the comparison between the two cryptocurrencies through their representations to investors and their marketing materials. For example, in a OneCoin PowerPoint presentation prepared by GREENWOOD, OneCoin described itself as “a unique and innovative cryptocurrency, that is born on the success of the pioneering and famous cryptocoin, Bitcoin.” In another slide, OneCoin highlighted the explosive growth of Bitcoin, stating that “Bitcoins increased their value 75 times in 2013,” and including the following quote from The Guardian newspaper, “Man buys $27 of bitcoin, forgets that he had bought and finds that they’re now worth $886,000.” In reality, unlike legitimate cryptocurrencies, OneCoin had no actual value and was conceived of by GREENWOOD and IGNATOVA as a fraud from day one. The misrepresentations made by GREENWOOD and others to OneCoin investors were legion, and the cryptocurrency was worthless. Among other things, OneCoin lied to its members about how its cryptocurrency was valued, claiming that the price of OneCoin was based on market supply and demand, when in fact OneCoin itself arbitrarily set the value of the coin without regard to market forces. The purported value of a OneCoin grew steadily from €0.50 to approximately €29.95 per coin, as of in or about January 2019. The purported price of OneCoins never decreased in value. GREENWOOD also lied to investors about the utility of the tokens included in trader packages, claiming that they could be used to secure positions in OneCoin’s “mining pools,” depicted in promotional materials as computer hardware used to “mine” OneCoins. But there were no mining pools and no computers to mine OneCoin either. GREENWOOD knew that this lie was essential to convincing investors that OneCoin was a legitimate cryptocurrency. As he wrote in an email to IGNATOVA, “[t]he concept of converting tokens into OneCoin is an important phase for validity and truth behind the OneCoin. The so called ‘mining’ of coins is a concept that is very familiar in the industry and a story we can sell to the members.” However, as GREENWOOD and IGNATOVA both knew, OneCoin was “not mining actually—but telling people shit.” In the same email exchange, GREENWOOD asked IGNATOVA, “how can this be investigated and found out?” and “Can any member (trying to be clever) find out that we actually are not investing in machines to mine but it is merely a piece of software doing this for us?” OneCoin also claimed to have a private “blockchain,” or a digital ledger identifying OneCoins and recording historical transactions. But, in reality, OneCoin lacked a true blockchain — that is, a public and verifiable blockchain. Indeed, by approximately March 2015, GREENWOOD and IGNATOVA had started allocating to members OneCoins that did not even exist in OneCoin’s purported private blockchain, referring to these coins as “fake coins.” By at least June 2015, GREENWOOD and IGNATOVA began emailing one another models tabulating current and projected future trader package sales volumes along with outstanding tokens and OneCoins. The spreadsheets identified separate lines for “mined coins,” “mined coins (real),” and “fake coins.” The references to “fake coins” in those records referred to OneCoins that had been distributed to members but did not exist on the OneCoin “blockchain.” Two months later, in August 2015, IGNATOVA wrote to GREENWOOD, in an email with the subject line, “I am afraid this is an issue,” “This is the implication from the big sales 4 weeks ago. 1.3 [billion] fake coins. We are fucked, this came unexpected and now needs serious, serious thinking.” On July 4, 2015, IGNATOVA announced the official opening of the United States market for OneCoin during an online webinar. During the webinar, IGNATOVA said, among other things: “[I]f we want to go and catch Bitcoin, we never can do this without being strong in the U.S. and without being part of the community. So, um, this is actually why I am so excited about the U.S. as the market. It’s something that is about prestige. It’s a huge market. And, um, it is, I think, a place of innovation, of Wall Street, a place where we have to be if we want to be big.” Many victims in the United States invested in fraudulent OneCoin cryptocurrency packages, including residents of the Southern District of New York. In total, more than 3.5 million victims invested in OneCoin and lost more than $4 billion dollars from the scheme —money that GREENWOOD, IGNATOVA, and others used to fund extravagant lifestyles. As the top MLM distributor of OneCoin, GREENWOOD earned more than $300 million during the scheme, much of which he spent on his own lavish lifestyle. For example, in or around December 2015, GREENWOOD used approximately $10,000 of fraud proceeds to stay at an exclusive five-star resort in Brazil. Later that month, GREENWOOD used an additional $21,000 of fraud proceeds to stay at a luxury villa with a beach view in Koh Samui, Thailand. Later, when GREENWOOD traveled to Barcelona in May 2016, he used investor funds to stay at another luxury five-star hotel and rented a Range Rover for the duration of his trip. GREENWOOD also used proceeds from the scheme to purchase luxury designer clothes, footwear, and watches totaling approximately $2 million; pay a down payment of approximately 475,000 British Pound Sterling for a Sunseeker yacht; and to purchase real estate properties in various countries, including in Spain, Dubai, and Thailand. Finally, GREENWOOD used investor funds to travel around the world on a private “OneCoin” airplane and posted promotional videos of his travel online. GREENWOOD was arrested at his residence on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand, in July 2018 and was extradited to the United States to face fraud and money laundering charges in October 2018. GREENWOOD has been detained since his arrest in July 2018. On October 12, 2017, IGNATOVA was charged with OneCoin-related fraud and money laundering charges in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and a federal warrant was issued for her arrest. On October 25, 2017, IGNATOVA traveled on a commercial flight from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece, and has not been seen publicly since. IGNATOVA was added to the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List in June 2022. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to IGNATOVA’s arrest. * * * In addition to his prison term, GREENWOOD, 46, a citizen of Sweden and the United Kingdom, was ordered to pay approximately $300 million in forfeiture. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the FBI, which jointly conducted this investigation with Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance throughout the investigation. Mr. Williams further thanked Thai authorities, including the Royal Thai Police and the Office of the Attorney General, for their assistance in the arrest and extradition of GREENWOOD. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Thailand to secure the arrest and extradition of GREENWOOD. If you have any information about IGNATOVA’s whereabouts, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Tips can be reported anonymously and can also be reported online at tips.fbi.gov . The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Folly, Juliana N. Murray, and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Maine Man Arrested for Racially-Motivated Death Threats Against Black Neighbor

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A Maine man was arrested today on federal charges for sending a threatening voicemail to a neighbor. According to the indictment, Charles Allen Barnes, 47, of Lewiston, allegedly used an interstate communications service to transmit a voice message in which he used racial slurs and stated that he was outside a neighbor’s residence and would kill any Black person who emerged. Barnes also allegedly chose the neighbor as the object of the offense because of the neighbor’s race. Barnes is charged with one count of violating the federal interstate threats statute. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Division made the announcement. The FBI Boston Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheila W. Sawyer for the District of Maine and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. For more information and resources on the department’s efforts to combat hate crimes, visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. barnes_indictment_september_12.pdf


title: Zuni Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Stanton Hannaweeke appeared in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with aggravated sexual abuse with children. Hannaweeke, 61, of Zuni and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for September 13, 2023. According to the criminal complaint, on August 20, 2023, Jane Doe, a minor, told her mother that Hannaweeke had sexually assaulted her the day before. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement officers, Jane Doe reported that Hannaweeke had begun touching her approximately 3 to 4 years prior to the report. Jane Doe’s siblings collaborated her report by confirming that Jane Doe had either told them about prior incidents or they witnessed the incidents themselves. A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted on the current charge, Hannaweeke faces up to lifetime imprisonment. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-214


title: KC Daycare Owner Pleads Guilty to $772,000 Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., day care owner has pleaded guilty in federal court to her role in a conspiracy that resulted in a $653,329 tax loss to the federal government, as well as fraudulently collecting almost $120,000 in government benefits she was not entitled to receive. Patricia L. Johnson-Rushing, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, to one count of theft of public money, one count of benefits fraud, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Johnson-Rushing admitted that she fraudulently received $83,394 in public funding for her childcare center, Granny’s Pray & Play, located at 3714 E. 27 th Street in Kansas City, Mo., and that she unlawfully received food stamps. Johnson-Rushing also admitted that she participated in a conspiracy to obstruct the collection of federal employment taxes by failing to pay over to the government $154,186 in federal income tax and FICA contributions collected from the paychecks of Granny’s Pray & Play employees. This was part of a total tax loss to the government, including the employer’s share of payroll taxes, of $653,329. The total fraud to which Johnson-Rushing pleaded guilty is $772,861. Theft of Public Money Johnson-Rushing admitted that she submitted false claims to the Missouri Department of Social Services that intentionally reported false information for children attending Granny’s Pray & Play from Jan. 1, 2016, to Nov. 28, 2019. The purpose of the scheme was to receive payments from the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Program. This program is intended to help low-income families get access to high-quality early care and after-school programs. Parents of adopted children are eligible to receive the childcare subsidy for their children who are under the age of 13 if both parents are working. However, the provider agreement explicitly states that the owner of the childcare center cannot be paid for services to their own children. Six children adopted by Johnson-Rushing and her husband were approved to receive the childcare subsidy for full time care. In order to qualify for the childcare subsidy, Johnson-Rushing submitted false documentation to misrepresent her ownership of the center and to falsely claim employment elsewhere. According to the plea agreement, the total funds fraudulently paid to Granny’s Pray & Play is $83,394. Benefits Fraud From 2016 to 2019, Johnson-Rushing signed food stamp applications to receive subsidy money from the state of Missouri. On those applications, she falsely claimed to have no job or bank account. In reality, she frequently withdrew funds from the Granny’s Pray & Play bank account to purchase cashier’s checks for herself. Personal expenses were also paid in her name from the Granny’s Pray & Play bank account, including $15,000 towards the purchase of a Cadillac Escalade in October 2016. Based on the fraudulent statements and representations in her application, Johnson-Rushing unlawfully acquired $12,310 in food stamps. Her fraudulent applications, which included additional fraud, caused a total loss to the Missouri Family Support Division of $36,138. Conspiracy to Defraud the United States Granny’s Pray & Play had about 15 employees and withheld funds in federal income tax and FICA contributions from their paychecks. Johnson-Rushing failed to pay over those trust fund taxes from her employees to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $154,186.58 from first quarter 2015 through fourth quarter 2018. The total tax loss in relevant conduct (which includes Johnson-Rushing’s portion of federal and state payroll taxes as the employer) is $499,142, which combined with $154,186 in total tax loss for failure to pay over employee taxes yields a total tax loss of $653, 329. Under federal statutes, Johnson-Rushing is subject to a sentence of up to 35 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes, IV. It was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and IRS-Criminal Investigation.


title: Rogersville Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexual Exploitation of Children

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Rogersville, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for the sexual exploitation of two child victims. Jake Ethan Patterson, 28, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Patterson to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration. On Dec. 20, 2022, Patterson pleaded guilty to two counts of the sexual exploitation of a child. The investigation began in June 2021, when Canadian law enforcement authorities seized two cell phones belonging to a citizen of Canada. Forensic analysis of the cell phones uncovered Snapchat conversations with Patterson. During those conversations, Patterson shared multiple videos and images of child pornography involving two young children who were approximately three to five years old. Law enforcement officers interviewed Patterson, who admitted to producing the sexually explicit images of the child victims. Patterson also admitted he had additional child pornography stored on his cell phone. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Subcontractor Sentenced to Pay Nearly $9 Million in a Criminal Fine and Restitution for Rigging Bids and Defrauding the U.S. Military

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: J&J Korea Inc. (J&J Korea), a company based in the Republic of Korea (South Korea), was sentenced today by a federal judge in Austin, Texas, to pay nearly $9 million dollars in a criminal fine and restitution for rigging bids and committing fraud in connection with subcontract work at U.S. military installations in South Korea. On May 10, J&J Korea Inc. pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to restrain trade. “The significant corporate fine and restitution order in this case demonstrates the importance of protecting U.S. taxpayer dollars both at home and abroad,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Enforcement Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and our Procurement Collusion Strike Force partners will continue to aggressively pursue bid rigging and other collusion that targets the United States, even when criminals execute their schemes overseas.” “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that those who conspire to rig bids to eliminate competition and attempt to defraud the government will be caught and held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Curran of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Major Procurement Fraud Field Office. “CID will continue to see to it that anyone suspected of contract fraud and corruption is brought to justice.” “The FBI and its partners vigorously investigate and work to prosecute individuals and entities who conspire to engage in bid rigging,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s dedication and commitment to ensuring that those who defraud the U.S. government and the American people face justice.” Based on court filings, J&J Korea, along with other co-conspirators, rigged bids and defrauded the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to obtain millions of dollars in repair and maintenance subcontract work at U.S military hospitals in South Korea. The subcontract work related to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contract that provides for operation and maintenance support services at U.S. military facilities around the world, including military hospitals in South Korea. The USACE contract required the prime contractor to use a competitive bidding process when awarding subcontract work under the contract, but J&J Korea and one of its co-conspirators, another company located in South Korea, agreed to submit rigged bids, thereby ensuring that J&J Korea would win most of the subcontract work in South Korea under the USACE contract. The scheme, which ran from at least November 2018 to March 2021, caused the DOD to overpay for J&J Korea’s services in the amount of approximately $3.6 million. As part of the sentence, the company will pay a $5 million fine and $3.6 million in restitution. This guilty plea and sentence are the first in an ongoing investigation into bid rigging and related fraud at U.S. military installations in South Korea. In March 2022, two officers of J&J Korea were also indicted by a grand jury in connection with the same conduct. The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal II Section, CID and the FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Daniel E. Lipton and Daniel P. Chung of the Antitrust Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Devlin for the Western District of Texas. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation, or with information on other market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive contact should contact the Procurement Collusion Strike Force at www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . The Procurement Collusion Strike Force is Department of Justice’s coordinated, joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact procurement and grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. The strike force expanded its footprint with the launch of PCSF: Global, which is designed to deter, detect, investigate and prosecute collusive schemes that target government spending outside of the United States. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force .


title: Leader of $25 Million International Money Laundering Conspiracy Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A New York man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to leading a sophisticated international money laundering organization that also distributed large quantities of cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy). Jin Hua Zhang, 36, of Staten Island, N.Y., pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Feb. 1, 2024. Zhang was among 10 others charged in October 2022 in connection with the conspiracy. The defendants and one other were subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in May 2023. “Money is the lifeblood of any narcotics trafficking organization. Mr. Zhang targeted the critical flow of funds and the vicious circle that leads to deadly drugs being sold on our streets every day. This office is committed to dedicating the resources to do whatever we can to choke off the flow of money as part of our efforts to combat narcotics trafficking,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Today, Jin Hua Zhang admitted to leading a sophisticated, transnational criminal organization that flooded the streets of Massachusetts with kilos of cocaine and ecstasy and laundered at least $25 million through a global network in an attempt to conceal their criminal conduct,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “FBI Boston’s Organized Crime Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to unravel elaborate and complex schemes like this one, to ensure the individuals behind them are held accountable for the harm they’ve inflicted on our communities.” Zhang’s network was first detected in the greater Boston area, but alleged leaders and members of the organization were later identified throughout the United States and overseas. During a year-long investigation Zhang’s organization was infiltrated and it was determined that, for a fee, Zhang laundered bulk cash for drug dealers and laundered profits from other illegal businesses and internet-based scams. Zhang directed alleged co-conspirators to pick up hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash or transmit millions of dollars in wire transfers and bank deposits. Zhang then converted those funds into cryptocurrency, which he believed would enable his organization to transfer illicit funds without detection by banks’ security teams or law enforcement. Over numerous recorded conversations and meetings, Zhang, and allegedly others, discussed efforts to launder funds from drug trafficking and other scams and laundered money from fraud operations based in Cambodia. In less than one year, Zhang and his organization laundered at least $25 million worth of drug proceeds and funds from other illegal businesses through undercover agents. To date, funds have been traced from the Zhang Organization to Hong Kong and elsewhere including China, India, Cambodia and Brazil, among other locations. In addition to money laundering, Zhang, and allegedly others, were recorded distributing kilograms of cocaine and MDMA that Zhang intended for distribution in Massachusetts. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, at least eight years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. 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 U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan C. Cleary of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: MISSOULA MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON ON METHAMPHETAMINE AND FENTANYL CHARGES

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

body_text: MISSOULA — A 36-year-old Missoula man was sentenced today for possessing methamphetamine and over 3,500 fentanyl pills, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy sentenced Joseph Anthony Schrantz to 10 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. The defendant pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in April 2023. “All Montanans know drugs and guns are a deadly combination and the amount of fentanyl Schrantz possessed in this case is staggering and alarming. Today’s sentence should send the message to criminals inclined to illegally possess guns and traffic dangerous drugs that we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring them to justice in our continuing efforts to protect our communities.” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The government alleged in court documents that on July 13, 2022, Missoula Police Department officers responded to Downtown Pawn for a report of a male that stole a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun. Officers reviewed surveillance footage that showed Joseph Schrantz reaching over the counter, taking the firearm, and leaving the store. Later that day, officers recognized Schrantz driving a vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Schrantz confirmed he had stolen the gun and provided consent for officers to retrieve it from under the center console of the vehicle. Schrantz was also in possession of two small cork-topped glass bottles: one containing 82 round blue pills marked “M30”, the other containing a small amount of methamphetamine. Lab testing reflected the pills were fentanyl and the meth was 100% pure. Law enforcement found another small baggie of meth and more than 100 additional fentanyl pills. In a key-code safe in the rear seat there were two large ziplock bags containing 3,451 fentanyl pills, one large ziplock bag containing 248 grams of 100% pure meth, distribution baggies, and a digital scale with residue. The center console held additional distribution baggies, and, on the floorboard, there was a black wallet with $734 in cash. The vehicle was registered to Schrantz and another female. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karla Painter prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Missoula Police Department, Montana Probation and Parole, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration. 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.


title: Leader of International Money Laundering Network Sentenced for Laundering Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A foreign national was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $6 million for conspiracy to commit money laundering after laundering millions of dollars of drug proceeds on behalf of international drug trafficking organizations. According to court documents, from at least 2014 to 2020, Jianxing Chen, 42, of Belize City, Belize, led and controlled a network of couriers who transported cash generated by the sale of cocaine throughout the United States – including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta – from those locations to New York City. From there, the cash was laundered through a variety of methods until it, or its equivalent value, was remitted to drug trafficking organizations in Latin America, including Mexico. Chen received “contracts” to transport and launder this money through co-conspirators who were prosecuted and convicted based on the same superseding indictment. Chen coordinated the laundering of multimillion dollar quantities of drug proceeds from Latin American drug trafficking organizations, including organizations based in Mexico, into the hands of Chinese nationals, who subsequently engaged in a sophisticated scheme to covertly launder the drug money into mainland China, largely circumventing the U.S. financial system. Chen pleaded guilty on May 23. In October 2021, co-defendant Xizhi Li was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leading the conspiracy to launder tens of millions of dollars for foreign drug trafficking organizations. Li signed a consent order of forfeiture for $10,000,000 to the United States pursuant to his plea. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram made the announcement. The DEA Louisville Division and the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit and the DEA’s offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Omaha, Atlanta, Newark, Portland (Oregon), Dallas, Mexico City, Merida (Mexico), Guatemala City, Belmopan (Belize), Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Lima, and Canberra. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Interpol, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center were partners in the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Chen from Peru. The United States also thanks Peruvian law enforcement authorities for their assistance and collaboration. Deputy Chief Mary K. Daly and Chief Stephen Sola of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Rachael C. Tucker and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Aminoff for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Albuquerque Smoke Shop Owner Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Drug Offense

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)


title: Portsmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Michael Drake, 22, and others were dealing drugs out of a residence located in Portsmouth. Over a period of three weeks in January and February, law enforcement observed at least 10 different individuals, including Drake, conduct over 500 suspected narcotics transactions. On February 23, law enforcement observed Drake with a firearm, despite being a convicted felon. He and two others, Samuel Swinney, 37, and Keith Johnson, Jr., 35, were arrested and charged. Swinney pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and Johnson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Both are scheduled to be sentenced in December. Drake is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16, 2024. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Cheney is prosecuting the case. 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-83.


title: Former Bronx Public Charter School Teacher Pleads Guilty In Connection With Sexual Abuse Of Five Former Students

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JESUS CONCEPCION pled guilty to 10 charges related to his sexual abuse of five minor victims who attended the public charter middle school where CONCEPCION worked. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jesus Concepcion engaged in a years-long scheme to manipulate, exploit, and sexually abuse young girls at the middle school where he taught. Concepcion abused his position of trust as the students’ teacher to lull them into a false sense of security and to then exploit them for his own sexual gratification. This guilty plea is a reminder that the Southern District of New York will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners at the FBI to hold predators like Concepcion to account for their heinous crimes.” According to the Superseding Indictment and statements made in court and in public filings: CONCEPCION was a music teacher and orchestra instructor at a public charter middle school located in the Bronx, New York, (“School-1”) from in or about 2000 up to and including in or about 2007. During that same time period, CONCEPCION abused his position as a teacher to induce and attempt to induce five of his students (“Minor Victim-1,” “Minor Victim-2,” “Minor Victim-3,” “Minor Victim-4,” and “Minor Victim-5,” and together the “Minor Victims”) to engage in sexual acts. The Minor Victims were as young as 12 years old at the time of the abuse. To carry out his sexual abuse of the Minor Victims, CONCEPCION singled out the Minor Victims for personal attention. He gave them money, clothing, jewelry, and other gifts, and he provided certain Minor Victims with alcohol to facilitate the abuse. He persuaded the Minor Victims to believe that they were in romantic relationships with him and provided certain Minor Victims with cellphones so that he could communicate with them in secret and to arrange sexual encounters. CONCEPCION engaged in sexual acts including oral sex and sexual intercourse with Minor Victim-1, Minor Victim-2, Minor Victim-3, and Minor Victim-4 in various locations on multiple occasions, including in School-1’s music room, in the back room of School-1’s auditorium, in his car, at motels, and at his residences. On numerous occasions, CONCEPCION brought Minor Victims from School-1 or other locations in the Bronx to motels in New Jersey. On at least one occasion, CONCEPCION engaged in sexual acts with Minor Victim-3 at a New Jersey motel against her will. In addition, after Minor Victim-1 graduated middle school, CONCEPCION traveled to Minor Victim-1’s high school in Connecticut to have sex with her. CONCEPCION similarly pursued Minor Victim-5 and sent hundreds of text messages over the course of several months to Minor Victim-5, who was then 13 years old, leading her to believe that they were in a romantic relationship. CONCEPCION arranged to meet Minor Victim-5 during school hours at School-1 and kissed Minor Victim-5 on the mouth. * * * CONCEPCION, 50, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, pled guilty to a 10-count Superseding Indictment, including five counts of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Counts One through Four each carry a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum term of 30 years in prison. Count Five carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison. CONCEPCION also pled guilty to four counts of transporting a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Counts Six through Nine each carry a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum term of 30 years in prison. CONCEPCION also pled guilty to Count 10, charging him with traveling with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity with a minor, which carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the efforts of Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) for their outstanding work in this matter, particularly the FBI-NYPD New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher, Alexandra S. Messiter, and Jacqueline Kelly are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Church Rock Man Charged with Sexual Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Nathaniel Luz appeared in federal court on a complaint charging him with four counts of aggravated sexual abuse, one count of sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of abusive sexual contact. Luz, 31, of Church Rock and a registered member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending trial. According to court documents, between January 2014 and April of 2022, Luz allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a child who had not then attained the age of 12 years in five separate incidents. Then, between January 2021 and December 2021, Luz allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a second victim, a child who had not yet attained the age of 12 years. Lastly, in August 2022, Luz allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a third victim, a child who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted on the current charges, Luz faces up to life in prison. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, Navajo Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.


component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A foreign national was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $6 million for conspiracy to commit money laundering after laundering millions of dollars of drug proceeds on behalf of international drug trafficking organizations. According to court documents, from at least 2014 to 2020, Jianxing Chen, 42, of Belize City, Belize, led and controlled a network of couriers who transported cash generated by the sale of cocaine throughout the United States – including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta – from those locations to New York City. From there, the cash was laundered through a variety of methods until it, or its equivalent value, was remitted to drug trafficking organizations in Latin America, including Mexico. Chen received “contracts” to transport and launder this money through co-conspirators who were prosecuted and convicted based on the same superseding indictment. Chen coordinated the laundering of multimillion dollar quantities of drug proceeds from Latin American drug trafficking organizations, including organizations based in Mexico, into the hands of Chinese nationals, who subsequently engaged in a sophisticated scheme to covertly launder the drug money into mainland China, largely circumventing the U.S. financial system. Chen pleaded guilty on May 23. In October 2021, co-defendant, Xizhi Li, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leading the conspiracy to launder tens of millions of dollars for foreign drug trafficking organizations. Li signed a consent order of forfeiture for $10,000,000 to the United States pursuant to his plea. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema The DEA Louisville Division and the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit investigated the case, with assistance from the DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit and the DEA’s offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Omaha, Atlanta, Newark, Portland (Oregon), Dallas, Mexico City, Merida (Mexico), Guatemala City, Belmopan (Belize), Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Lima, and Canberra. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Interpol, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center were partners in the case’s investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Chen from Peru. The United States also thanks Peruvian law enforcement authorities for their assistance and collaboration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Aminoff, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Peters and Rachael C. Tucker, and Deputy Chief Mary K. Daly and Chief Stephen Sola of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-334.


title: Regional U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Tribal Leaders Join Together To Host Great Lakes Native American Conference

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: Conference focused on strengthening partnerships, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland a keynote speaker GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN . Today kicked off the two-day 2023 Great Lakes Native American Conference focused on Native American issues and strengthening relationships with Tribal communities across the region. The conference is sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan , the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin , the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin , the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota , and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana . “This conference brings together victim support specialists, law enforcement officials, advocates, and others who work on Tribal matters across the Great Lakes Region,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My office is deeply committed to carrying out our responsibilities to protect Tribal communities and preserve their status as sovereign nations. This conference is one tool to help us advance that mission.” U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten, U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Dawn N. Ison, U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana Clifford D. Johnson. U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland served as a keynote speaker. In 2021 Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive effort to recognize the troubled legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies with the goal of addressing their intergenerational impact and shedding light on the traumas of the past. Assistant Secretary Newland, who has led the Initiative, used his remarks to address this important effort. "For the first time, the federal government is examining its role in the federal Indian boarding school system and how that contributed to the forced assimilation of Indigenous Peoples, resulting in the breakup of families and Tribal Nations and the loss of languages, cultural practices, and relatives," Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said. "The Federal Indian Boarding School system left lasting scars that continue to impact Tribal communities. Today, the federal government is working to help heal these scars as we support Tribes in their efforts to revitalize their economies, languages, and cultural practices and promote public safety and justice so that they can continue to exist as Indigenous Peoples." Preparation for the conference, which is being held in New Buffalo, Michigan at the Four Winds Casino, was a collaborative effort between various tribes, Tribal advocates, and the various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. Some of the topics covered include Sextortion: History, Methods, and Impact on Victims; Indian Boarding Schools; Drugs: Myths, Trends, and Opportunities to Intervene; Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons; and Federal Indian Law changes. “My office is committed to furthering and strengthening our relationship with our Native American community in the Eastern District of Michigan,” said Dawn N. Ison, U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan . I welcome the opportunity to collaborate and discuss issues that directly impact our Tribal partners. This conference and its focus on hope and healing helps facilitate not only communication, understanding, and opportunities for law enforcement partners serving Native American communities to further learn ways in which we can best serve Native Americans, it also allows for the type of engagement that helps build trust and legitimacy between the tribes and law enforcement.” “This conference provides an opportunity to discuss public safety issues with our Tribal partners, such as combatting violence against women and addressing the devastating consequences of drug trafficking and substance use disorder in Indian country,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin. Pokagon Band Tribal Vice Chair Gary Morseau; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Ogema Larry Romanelli; Dr. Colleen Lane, MD, of Corewell Health; Dan Wicklund, DNPA, RN, of Corewell Health; and Katheryn E. Fort, Director of the Indian Law Clinic at the Michigan State University College of Law also served as speakers at the conference. Attendees of the conference included Tribal members, Tribal law enforcement, Tribal governments, federal government partners, and other victim service providers that work with Indian Country victims. “This conference highlights what collaboration can do by gathering Tribal nations and units of governments together, to create better communication and strengthen relationship between the participants,” said Ogema Larry Romanelli . “I am thankful to the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for their sponsorship, and the Department of Interior’s involvement. I am honored to participate.” “On behalf of the Pokagon Tribal Government, we would like to acknowledge the purpose of this conference focused on Native American issues, our collaboration with federal partners, and the role of the U.S. Department of Justice in successfully defending the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act before the Supreme Court,” said Pokagon Tribal Vice Chair Gary Morseau. U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland speaking at the 2023 Great Lakes Native American Conference in New Buffalo, Michigan. The 2023 Great Lakes Native American Conference and events like it, are components of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. # # #


title: Former Finance Director Of Non-Profit Trade Association Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Embezzlement Scheme

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that DONNA MURRAY was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to 18 months in prison for embezzling approximately $490,000 from her employer over the course of a year and a half. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Donna Murray’s employer trusted her to safeguard its money as Director of Finance. Instead of protecting her employer, Murray betrayed that trust by siphoning nearly half a million dollars from the organization’s bank account into her own pockets, even as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the nation’s economy. Not only did Murray spend her employer’s money on luxury purchases and other items, but she went so far as to doctor the organization’s general ledger to conceal her crimes from her employer and its outside auditor. Today’s sentence sends a message to those entrusted with authority that if you abuse that trust for personal gain, you will be caught, and you will pay a steep price.” According to the Information and other filings and statements made in court: From in or about December 2017 until her sudden resignation in or about August 2022, MURRAY was employed as the Director of Finance for a non-profit financial services trade association located in Manhattan. The organization, which has more than 600 institutional members, works to promote industry thought leadership, participate in industry advocacy work, educate members and stakeholders, and establish industry standards and best practices. As the director of finance, MURRAY was the sole finance department employee and was responsible for maintaining the organization’s books, updating its general ledger, handling accounts receivable and payable, and providing the organization’s financial statements to outside auditors. Out of the organization’s 14-16 employees during the relevant period, MURRAY was also the only employee with access to the organization’s online banking accounts and the only employee with the ability to make wire transfers for the organization. From at least October 2019 through at least in or about March 2021, MURRAY embezzled $488,177.24 from one of the organization’s bank accounts through 105 unauthorized wire transactions from the organization’s bank account to her personal bank account in amounts that increased over time. To conceal her fraud from her employer and its outside auditor, MURRAY leveraged her knowledge of the outside auditor’s practices and the organization’s vendors and vendor invoicing schemes to generate false, but plausible-sounding, entries in the general ledger. MURRAY also transferred money from her employer’s bank account to her bank account in amounts less than $10,000, which would have triggered bank reporting requirements. Finally, MURRAY altered a bank statement submitted to the organization’s deputy general counsel to falsely reflect that a wire transfer had gone to an employer-funded health plan instead of MURRAY. After misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer’s bank account to her own, MURRAY withdrew from her bank account over $400,000 in cash on more than 347 occasions — sometimes multiple times a day — and used the remainder of the stolen funds for peer-to-peer online money transfers, personal loan payments, and consumer and luxury items, including Yves Saint Laurent and Michael Kors designer apparel; beauty, wellness, and skincare products and services; home furnishings and décor; online streaming and satellite radio purchases; over 180 Amazon orders; smoke shop purchases; and a $200 treadmill for cats. * * * In addition to her prison term, MURRAY, 38, of Staten Island, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry J. Fang is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Five Former Memphis Police Officers Charged with Federal Civil Rights, Conspiracy and Obstruction Violations in Connection with the Death of Tyre Nichols

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an indictment today charging five former Memphis Police Department (MPD) detectives with federal civil rights, conspiracy, and obstruction offenses resulting in the death of Tyre Nichols on Jan. 7. “The country watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased, and pepper sprayed, and we all heard Mr. Nichols cry out for his mother and say ‘I’m just trying to go home,’” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland . “Officers who violate the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect undermine public safety, which depends on the community’s trust in law enforcement. They dishonor their fellow officers who do their work with integrity every day. The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable officers who betray their oath.” “Tyre Nichols should be alive today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “It is tragic to see a life cut short at 29, with so many milestones unmet, so many words unsaid, so much potential unfulfilled. These federal charges reflect the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting the constitutional and civil rights of every American and preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system. We stand ready to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their misconduct because no one is above the law in our country.” “When I announced this investigation back in January, I said I wanted this city to be a place where justice is done,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “This indictment alleging civil rights violations is an important step in ensuring that justice is done for Tyre Nichols. I want to thank the dedicated team of prosecutors and law enforcement agents who are working on this case. I’m proud of our team and proud of their commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.” According to the four-count indictment, all five defendants, Emmitt Martin III, 31; Tadarrius Bean, 24; Demetrius Haley, 30; Desmond Mills Jr., 33; and Justin Smith, 28, while serving as members of an MPD SCORPION team, willfully deprived Nichols of his constitutional rights. The first count of the indictment alleges that the defendants, aided and abetted by one another, violated Nichols’ right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer by assaulting him and by failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count one also alleges that this offense resulted in bodily injury and the death of Nichols. Count two of the indictment alleges that all five defendants violated Nichols’ right to be free from a law enforcement officer’s deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. Specifically, the indictment alleges that even though the defendants knew that Nichols had a serious medical need, the defendants willfully disregarded that medical need by failing to render medical aid and by failing to advise the MPD dispatcher and emergency medical personnel of the circumstances surrounding Nichols’ serious medical need. Count two also alleges that this offense resulted in bodily injury and death of Nichols. Count three of the indictment alleges that all five defendants conspired to cover up their use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to their supervisor and to others. Specifically, the indictment outlines overt acts the defendants committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, including, among others, failing to tell MPD and Memphis Fire Department personnel that the defendants had struck Nichols and that the defendants had discussed hitting Nichols with straight haymakers and taking turns hitting him. Further, the indictment alleges that the defendants provided false and misleading information to two MPD officers tasked with writing reports about Nichols’ arrest. Finally, it alleges that the defendants submitted Response to Resistance Reports that contained false and misleading information and omitted that the defendants had assaulted Nichols. Count four of the indictment alleges that the defendants committed an obstruction offense by intentionally omitting material information, and providing false and misleading information, to two MPD officers tasked with writing MPD reports about the arrest of Nichols. Counts one and two of the indictment carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Counts three and four each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charges announced today are separate from the Justice Department’s civil pattern or practice investigation into the MPD. The charges announced today are criminal, while the pattern or practice investigation is a civil investigation that will be conducted separately and independently from the criminal case and will be handled by a different team of career staff from the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The charges announced today are also separate from, and in addition to, the charges the State of Tennessee has brought against these former officers related to the death of Nichols. The federal charges allege different criminal offenses. Specifically, and among other federal charges, today’s indictment alleges violations of the U.S. Constitution, rather than of state law. The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. Remote video URL An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: MISSOULA WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON ON METHAMPHETAMINE AND FENTANYL CHARGES

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA — A 34-year-old Missoula woman was sentenced today for possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl pills, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy sentenced Lindsay Ann Rumph to 70 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. The defendant pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in April 2023. The government alleged in court documents that on February 4, 2023, in Missoula County, a traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle Rumph was driving and a later search of the vehicle, pursuant to a Montana State search warrant, resulted in the recovery of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, various drug paraphernalia, a firearm, and $279 in U.S. Currency. Rumph was interviewed after the traffic stop and admitted that drugs would be found in both the vehicle and on her person. In March of 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration Western Laboratory completed an analysis on the methamphetamine and determined it was more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force. 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.


title: Cherokee, Iowa Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing More than 30 Firearms

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Cherokee, Iowa man who was found to be in possession of 23 firearms, 3 short-barreled rifles and 6 silencers, was sentenced September 11, 2023, to 4 years in federal prison. Jason Ballou, age 52, from Cherokee, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 27, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Ballou was found to be in possession of the firearms while law enforcement was executing a state search warrant, investigating another crime. Ballou was previously convicted of possession of prohibited firearms (a machine gun), and unlawful receipt of unregistered firearms, both in the Northern District of Iowa. Ballou was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 48 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Ballou is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by Cherokee, Iowa Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, (ATF) and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-4098. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Five Former Memphis Police Officers Charged with Federal Civil Rights, Conspiracy and Obstruction Violations In Connection with the Death of Tyre Nichols

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an indictment today charging five former Memphis Police Department (MPD) detectives with federal civil rights, conspiracy, and obstruction offenses resulting in the death of Tyre Nichols on Jan. 7. “The country watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased, and pepper sprayed, and we all heard Mr. Nichols cry out for his mother and say ‘I’m just trying to go home,’” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland . “Officers who violate the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect undermine public safety, which depends on the community’s trust in law enforcement. They dishonor their fellow officers who do their work with integrity every day. The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable officers who betray their oath.” “Tyre Nichols should be alive today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “It is tragic to see a life cut short at 29, with so many milestones unmet, so many words unsaid, so much potential unfulfilled. These federal charges reflect the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting the constitutional and civil rights of every American and preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system. We stand ready to hold law enforcement officers accountable for their misconduct because no one is above the law in our country.” “When I announced this investigation back in January, I said I wanted this city to be a place where justice is done,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee. “This indictment alleging civil rights violations is an important step in ensuring that justice is done for Tyre Nichols. I want to thank the dedicated team of prosecutors and law enforcement agents who are working on this case. I’m proud of our team and proud of their commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans.” According to the four-count indictment, all five defendants, Emmitt Martin III, 31; Tadarrius Bean, 24; Demetrius Haley, 30; Desmond Mills, Jr., 33; and Justin Smith, 28, while serving as members of an MPD SCORPION team, willfully deprived Nichols of his constitutional rights. The first count of the indictment alleges that the defendants, aided and abetted by one another, violated Nichols’ right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer by assaulting him and by failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count one also alleges that this offense resulted in bodily injury and the death of Nichols. Count two of the indictment alleges that all five defendants violated Nichols’ right to be free from a law enforcement officer’s deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. Specifically, the indictment alleges that even though the defendants knew that Nichols had a serious medical need, the defendants willfully disregarded that medical need by failing to render medical aid and by failing to advise the MPD dispatcher and emergency medical personnel of the circumstances surrounding Nichols’ serious medical need. Count two also alleges that this offense resulted in bodily injury and death of Nichols. Count three of the indictment alleges that all five defendants conspired to cover up their use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to their supervisor and to others. Specifically, the indictment outlines overt acts the defendants committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, including, among others, failing to tell MPD and Memphis Fire Department personnel that the defendants had struck Nichols and that the defendants had discussed hitting Nichols with straight haymakers and taking turns hitting him. Further, the indictment alleges that the defendants provided false and misleading information to two MPD officers tasked with writing reports about Nichols’ arrest. Finally, it alleges that the defendants submitted Response to Resistance Reports that contained false and misleading information and omitted that the defendants had assaulted Nichols. Count four of the indictment alleges that the defendants committed an obstruction offense by intentionally omitting material information, and providing false and misleading information, to two MPD officers tasked with writing MPD reports about the arrest of Nichols. Counts one and two of the indictment carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Counts three and four each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charges announced today are separate from the Justice Department’s civil pattern or practice investigation into the MPD. The charges announced today are criminal, while the pattern or practice investigation is a civil investigation that will be conducted separately and independently from the criminal case and will be handled by a different team of career staff from the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The charges announced today are also separate from, and in addition to, the charges the State of Tennessee has brought against these former officers related to the death of Nichols. The federal charges allege different criminal offenses. Specifically, and among other federal charges, today’s indictment alleges violations of the U.S. Constitution, rather than of state law. The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. View the Attorney General’s full video statement here. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Former Law Firm Partner Pleads Guilty To Bankruptcy Fraud

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOHN ROESSER pled guilty today to abusing the bankruptcy system by making false statements under penalty of perjury and submitting falsified records. ROESSER will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres, to whom the case is assigned. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The United States bankruptcy system does immense public good and provides a backstop for people trying to lawfully navigate their way out of debt. The defendant — who used to be a lawyer and knew exactly what he was doing — manipulated and corrupted a system that helps so many. He lied to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York so that he could use its protections to keep his assets and to avoid paying his bills. This Office will bring to justice those who abuse the public’s trust and use their status to try to place themselves above the law.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings: From in or about March 2013 through in or about January 2018, ROESSER was a partner at three multinational law firms. During his time as a partner at these law firms, ROESSER earned substantial income — and incurred substantial income tax liability. ROESSER resigned from the New York bar in or about June 2020, after admitting to misappropriating client funds. On or about February 3, 2022, ROESSER filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (the “Bankruptcy”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. In a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a debtor may remain “in possession,” meaning that the debtor keeps possession and control of his assets during the bankruptcy. But a debtor-in-possession must propose a viable plan of reorganization, which creditors then vote to approve or reject. If a debtor fails to comply with the requirements of Chapter 11, a Chapter 11 bankruptcy can be converted to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or can be dismissed. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, an appointed trustee usually converts a debtor’s assets into cash for distribution among creditors. If a bankruptcy is dismissed, the debtor loses the protections of bankruptcy. For example, creditors can take steps to seize a debtor’s assets. ROESSER’s assets included a house he estimated was worth millions of dollars and an Aston Martin Rapide, a luxury sports car. ROESSER sought to remain a debtor-in-possession during the Bankruptcy, and on or about February 17, 2022, he opened a debtor-in-possession account for the Bankruptcy (the “DIP Account”). On or about February 17, 2022, ROESSER submitted a declaration (the “Declaration”) in the Bankruptcy. ROESSER declared under penalty of perjury that the Declaration was true and correct. The Declaration stated, in part, that ROESSER “[had] significant tax debt, which I will attempt to deal with in my chapter 11 reorganization.” The Declaration also contained the following statements: Currently, I am in the real estate business and expect a commission of approximately $9,500,000 of which 45% would inure to my benefit and the other 55% to my partner. I expect payment of this commission in June of 2022. . . . The needs and interests of my creditors will best be served by my continued possession of [a house in Bronxville, New York, valued in the Declaration at $2,600,000] and management of my affairs as debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11 until I receive the income that is coming to me. On or about February 22, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) filed a Proof of Claim in the Bankruptcy, listing the IRS’s claims against ROESSER. These claims totaled $2,229,971.77 for income taxes assessed between 2014 and 2019. After adding penalties and interest, these claims totaled $3,850,819.07. On or about March 15, 2022, at a meeting held in the Bankruptcy, ROESSER testified under oath, in substance and in part, that he expected that a limited liability company (the “LLC”) in which he held a 45% interest would receive approximately $9.6 million on or before June 2022. At a continued meeting held in the Bankruptcy on or about April 18, 2022, ROESSER again testified, in substance and in part, that he expected to receive millions of dollars soon. On or about June 27, 2022, a legal assistant for ROESSER’s lawyer sent an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York (the “AUSA”), who was representing the IRS in the Bankruptcy, a document (“Bank Record-1”) purporting to show an online banking screenshot relating to a bank account held by the LLC (the “LLC Account”). The legal assistant’s message stated, in sum and substance, that Bank Record-1 had been provided by ROESSER that day. Bank Record-1 showed an available balance of $9,661,090.00 in the LLC Account. But Bank Record-1 was fake. The LLC Account never had more than $200 in it. On or about July 6, 2022, ROESSER’s lawyer sent the AUSA a document (“Bank Record-2”) purporting to show an online banking screenshot relating to the DIP Account. Bank Record-2 showed an available balance of $9,661,000.00 in the DIP Account. Bank Record-2 was also fake. In reality, the DIP Account never had a positive balance. On or about August 8, 2022, and August 9, 2022, ROESSER’s lawyer and the AUSA electronically signed a stipulation (the “Stipulation”) stating, in sum and substance, that the secured claims of the IRS would be resolved provided that ROESSER paid $3,923,981.26 to the IRS within seven days after the Stipulation was so ordered by a Judge. On or about September 8, 2022, ROESSER’s lawyer filed in the Bankruptcy on ROESSER’s behalf a monthly operating report (the “Monthly Operating Report”). The Monthly Operating Report was electronically signed by ROESSER and stated, “I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing Monthly Operating Report and its supporting documentation are true and correct and that I have been authorized to sign this report on behalf of the estate.” The Monthly Operating Report listed for “Total receipts (net of transfers between accounts),” the amount $9,662,594, and for “Cash balance end of month,” the amount $9,602,924. Attached to the Monthly Operating Report was a document (“Bank Record-3”), purporting to be an Account Information Report for the DIP Account. Bank Record-3 showed a current balance of $9,578,105.73, a last deposit Amount of $9,661,000.00, and a last deposit date of July 1, 2022. However, the Monthly Operating Report, including the amounts it listed for “Total Receipts” and “Cash balance end of month,” and Bank Record-3, were false. The DIP Account never received $9,661,000.00 on July 1, 2022, or any other date. In fact, the DIP Account never had a positive balance. On or about September 23, 2022, Judge Sean H. Lane of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York so ordered the Stipulation. The same day, a legal assistant for ROESSER’s lawyer sent the AUSA a copy of a check made out to the “U.S. Treasury” in the amount of $3,923,981.26. This check purported to be from the DIP Account. However, the DIP Account did not have a positive balance, let alone sufficient funds to pay the check. On or about March 3, 2023, Judge Lane dismissed the Bankruptcy. Without the protections of bankruptcy, creditors can now take steps to seize ROESSER’s assets to pay his debts. * * * ROESSER, 52, of Bronxville, New York, pled guilty to one count of false oaths and claims in bankruptcy. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven J. Kochevar is in charge of the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Tribal Leaders Join Together to Host Great Lakes Native American Conference

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: Today kicked off the two-day 2023 Great Lakes Native American Conference focused on Native American issues and strengthening relationships with Tribal communities across the region. The conference is sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District , the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan , the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin , the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin , the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota , and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana . “This conference brings together victim support specialists, law enforcement officials, advocates, and others who work on Tribal matters across the Great Lakes Region,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My office is deeply committed to carrying out our responsibilities to protect Tribal communities and preserve their status as sovereign nations. This conference is one tool to help us advance that mission.” U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland served as a keynote speaker. In 2021 Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive effort to recognize the troubled legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies with the goal of addressing their intergenerational impact and shedding light on the traumas of the past. Assistant Secretary Newland, who has led the Initiative, used his remarks to address this important effort. "For the first time, the federal government is examining its role in the federal Indian boarding school system and how that contributed to the forced assimilation of Indigenous Peoples, resulting in the breakup of families and Tribal Nations and the loss of languages, cultural practices, and relatives," Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said. "The Federal Indian Boarding School system left lasting scars that continue to impact Tribal communities. Today, the federal government is working to help heal these scars as we support Tribes in their efforts to revitalize their economies, languages, and cultural practices and promote public safety and justice so that they can continue to exist as Indigenous Peoples." Preparation for the conference, which is being held in New Buffalo, Michigan at the Four Winds Casino, was a collaborative effort between various tribes, Tribal advocates, and the various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. Some of the topics covered include Sextortion: History, Methods, and Impact on Victims; Indian Boarding Schools; Drugs: Myths, Trends, and Opportunities to Intervene; Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons; and Federal Indian Law changes. “My office is committed to furthering and strengthening our relationship with our Native American community in the Eastern District of Michigan,” said Dawn N. Ison, U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan . “I welcome the opportunity to collaborate and discuss issues that directly impact our Tribal partners. This conference and its focus on hope and healing helps facilitate not only communication, understanding, and opportunities for law enforcement partners serving Native American communities to further learn ways in which we can best serve Native Americans, it also allows for the type of engagement that helps build trust and legitimacy between the tribes and law enforcement.” “This conference provides an opportunity to discuss public safety issues with our Tribal partners, such as combatting violence against women and addressing the devastating consequences of drug trafficking and substance use disorder in Indian country,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea of the Western District of Wisconsin . Pokagon Band Tribal Vice Chair Gary Morseau; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Ogema Larry Romanelli; Dr. Colleen Lane, MD, of Corewell Health; Dan Wicklund, DNPA, RN, of Corewell Health; and Katheryn E. Fort, Director of the Indian Law Clinic at the Michigan State University College of Law also served as speakers at the conference. Attendees of the conference included Tribal members, Tribal law enforcement, Tribal governments, federal government partners, and other victim service providers that work with Indian Country victims. “This conference highlights what collaboration can do by gathering Tribal nations and units of governments together, to create better communication and strengthen relationship between the participants,” said Ogema Larry Romanelli . “I am thankful to the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for their sponsorship, and the Department of Interior’s involvement. I am honored to participate.” “On behalf of the Pokagon Tribal Government, we would like to acknowledge the purpose of this conference focused on Native American issues, our collaboration with federal partners, and the role of the U.S. Department of Justice in successfully defending the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act before the Supreme Court,” said Pokagon Tribal Vice Chair Gary Morseau . The 2023 Great Lakes Native American Conference and events like it, are components of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. # # #