title: Member of St. Louis Drug Ring Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced a member of a St. Louis drug conspiracy that killed two rivals to 18 years in prison. Michael “Beezy” Johnson, 30, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in May to one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He admitted discharging a firearm in furtherance of the drug conspiracy, and admitted that Kevin Davis Jr., 24, was shot on June 30, 2017 in the 1900 block of Belt Avenue in St. Louis. A witness told investigators that Johnson fired 25 shots at Davis Jr. after chasing him down the street. One of the leaders of the drug conspiracy, Maurice Herbert Lee II, had placed a bounty of between $5,000 and $15,000 on any rival gang members or drug dealers. Earlier on the day of the murder, another member of the conspiracy, Delvin Bost, called Lee to confirm that a bounty for Davis was still being offered. Bost later claimed credit, received $10,000 from Lee and then paid Johnson, plea agreements by Lee and Bost say. Lee pleaded guilty May 2 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He admitted being responsible for between 4 and 12 kilograms of fentanyl and between 500 grams and 1.5 kilos of methamphetamine. He also admitted that another fatal shooting occurred in furtherance of the drug conspiracy, that of Alexander Noodel on May 8, 2017. "If ever there was an example of how drug trafficking and violence go hand in hand, this is it," said Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Davis, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration division that leads DEA investigations in Missouri and Kansas, as well as southern Illinois. "Not surprising that individuals who are willing to sell illicit drugs that could kill someone are willing to engage in other criminal activities that result in death. We must hold them responsible for their actions.” Lee is scheduled to be sentenced September 7. Bost is scheduled to be sentenced August 29. Three other members of the conspiracy are also scheduled to be sentenced that week. In all, 17 defendants were charged and all pleaded guilty. The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul D’Agrosa and Mohsen Pasha are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Charlotte Housing Provider Is Sentenced To Prison For Medicaid Fraud And Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Delores Jordan, 54, of Charlestown, Indiana, to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for her role in a $15 million conspiracy to defraud the North Carolina Medicaid program (Medicaid), announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Judge Bell also ordered Jordan to pay $5,879,340 in restitution. Joining U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement are Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), and Attorney General Josh Stein, who oversees the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division (MID). According to filed court documents and court proceedings, Jordan was the owner of Legacy Housing, which provided subsidized housing to tenants in Charlotte and Greensboro. Jordan’s co-conspirator, Donald Booker, owned and operated United Diagnostic Laboratories (UDL), a urine toxicology testing laboratory, and United Youth Care Services (UYCS), a company that provided mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Court documents show that from January 2018 to December 2020, Jordan conspired with Booker and others to defraud Medicaid via a fraudulent drug testing scheme of urine samples of Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries. As Jordan previously admitted in court, she along with other co-conspirators recruited housing-vulnerable individuals and other Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries for housing and other programs and services. Once enrolled, the beneficiaries were required to submit urine specimens for drug testing as a condition of their participation in the program. The specimens were provided to UDL and UYCS for medically unnecessary urine drug testing. Booker and his co-conspirators paid Jordan a kickback from the Medicaid reimbursements on the drug testing. Jordan also conspired with Booker to execute a conspiracy to launder the fraudulent proceeds in order to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the illegal kickback payments for the illicit drug testing referrals. On December 9, 2022, Jordan pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In January 2023, Booker was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, multiple violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, money laundering conspiracy, and money laundering. Booker is awaiting sentencing. The FBI, IRS-CI, and NC Medicaid Investigations Division investigated the case. The prosecution for the government is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Graham Billings and Mike Savage of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office for Western District of Kentucky to Participate in Community Events During National Night Out

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – U. S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky will join community organizers, neighbors, and law enforcement partners to participate in National Night Out events on August 1, 2023. During this year’s National Night Out, community events will be held across the Commonwealth, including five neighborhood events hosted by the Louisville Metro Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will attend LMPD’s Eighth Division festivities at Walker Warren Park in the Douglas Hills neighborhood, along with LMPD, ATF, FBI, DEA, and other local partners. “We are excited to participate in National Night Out this year, as this is a great opportunity for fellowship with our local law enforcement partners and the communities we serve,” said U.S. Attorney Bennett. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities throughout the country on the first Tuesday of August in most areas of the country. National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, cookouts, festivals, parades, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, and more. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/ . ###


title: Fugitive charged in scheme that misdirected millions in charitable donations intended for Christian outreach in China

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: DUBLIN, GA: A former Dublin, Ga., resident is being sought internationally on multiple federal charges alleging he orchestrated a scheme that misdirected more than $30 million donated for Christian ministry in China. Jason Gerald Shenk, 45, is charged in a newly unsealed federal indictment with four counts of Wire Fraud; three counts of International Concealment Money Laundering; 13 counts of Concealment Money Laundering; 21 counts of Money Laundering Involving Transactions Greater than $10,000; and one count of Failure to File Report of Foreign Bank Account, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on the charges would subject Shenk to statutory penalties of up to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of any property involved in or traceable to the offenses, substantial financial penalties, and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. Warrants have been issued for Shenk’s arrest. He is considered innocent unless and until found guilty in court. “When people of faith donate money for evangelistic purposes, they reasonably expect those who solicit their donations to act as faithful stewards of those funds,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “This case alleges an egregious breach of that trust at the expense of multiple charities and individual donors.” As spelled out in the indictment, Shenk is alleged to have planned and executed a scheme in which he obtained more than $30 million from faith-based charities and individual donors, primarily from religious communities in Ohio and North Carolina, based on his promises that he would use the funds for producing and distributing Bibles and Christian literature in the People’s Republic of China. Instead, the indictment alleges Shenk converted a significant amount of the funds to his own use, including: Payments of approximately $1 million to an online sports gambling website; • Purchases of equity shares of approximately $850,000 in a privately held nuclear energy company; • Approximately $4 million in purchases of at least 16 life insurance policies in various people’s names; • Purchases of diamonds, gold, and precious metals in amounts totaling approximately $1 million; • Purchases of domestic and foreign stocks totaling more than $188,000; • Payments of approximately $7 million to the company running Shenk’s family farm; • Purchases on at least 10 personal credit cards totaling more than $820,000; and, • Purchases of $320,000 in real estate in the “Galt’s Gulch” development in Santiago, Chile. The indictment alleges Shenk obtained approximately $22 million from one charitable organization and its donors, and approximately $10 million from another charity and its donors, along with other donations from individuals. The funds were directed to a variety of shell corporations as a result of Shenk’s claims to those religious communities that he was a missionary dedicated to various Christian mission projects around the world and would use the funding to produce and distribute Bibles and Christian literature in China. Companies that served as conduits for these donations included Morning Star Ministries, with a bank account in Dublin, Ga.; Connect Connect Asia BV, with multiple bank accounts in Singapore; CLF Asia Limited, owner of a bank account in Hong Kong; Autumnvale Group Limited, owner of multiple bank accounts in Singapore; BCB International LLC, an entity registered in Georgia with bank accounts in the United States; Heartland Plantations LLC, an entity registered in Georgia with bank accounts in the United States; Global Paradigm LTD, an entity associated with bank accounts in the United States; and Shenkland LLC, an entity registered in North Carolina and owner of bank accounts in the United States. The indictment alleges Shenk perpetrated the scheme from as early as April 2010 until July 2019, and that Shenk renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2016 to avoid financial reporting requirements under federal law. If you believe you sent money directly or indirectly to Jason Gerald Shenk or one of the entities listed in the indictment for charitable purposes, please contact federal authorities at 478-752-6810. In addition, if you have information regarding the whereabouts of Jason Gerald Shenk, please contact federal authorities at this same number. The case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and prosecuted for the United States of America by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew A. Josephson.


title: Yonkers Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ORLANDO JIMENEZ, 48, of Yonkers, New York, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2021, in meetings in Norwalk that were arranged and monitored by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, Jimenez provided samples of narcotics to an individual working with law enforcement. During the meetings, Jimenez discussed selling the individual two kilograms of fentanyl for $38,000 per kilogram. On August 10, 2021, Jimenez again met the individual in Norwalk and sold him approximately 100 grams of suspected fentanyl for $3,800. Subsequent laboratory testing of the substance Jimenez provided determined it to be a mixture of fentanyl and ADB-Butinaca, a synthetic cannabinoid similar to “K2” or “Spice.” On August 26, 2021, Jimenez was arrested at meeting location after he traveled to Norwalk to sell two kilograms of suspected fentanyl to the individual. After his arrest, Jimenez stated to investigators that he had two kilograms of heroin in the back seat of his vehicle. Investigators located and seized two rectangle-shaped bricks from the vehicle. Laboratory testing of the bricks of suspected narcotics determined them to contain mostly ADB-Butinaca, and less than one percent of fentanyl. On February 1, 2023, Jimenez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Jimenez, who is released on a $150,000 bond, is required to report to prison on September 5. This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.


title: Two Maryland MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced to 22 Years and 16 Years in Federal Prison for Participating in a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Murder

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Hernan Yanes-Rivera, a/k/a “Recio,” age 22, of Adelphi, Maryland, on July 28, 2023, to 22 years in federal prison, and sentenced Agustino Eugenio Rivas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Terrible,” age 26, of Silver Spring, Maryland, today to 16 years in federal prison, each followed by three years of supervised release, for their participation in a racketeering conspiracy, including murder, related to their activities as part of the MS-13 gang. On July 25, 2023, Judge Xinis sentenced co-defendant Brian Samir Zelaya Mejia, a/k/a “Chispa,” age 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to six years in federal prison for his role in the MS-13 enterprise. Judge Xinis ordered that Rivas Rodriguez must also pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, including any funeral costs incurred by Victim 1 and Victim 4’s estates. The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations Baltimore; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department. According to court documents, the La Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as “MS-13,” is an international criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the State of Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Frederick County, and throughout the United States. In Maryland and elsewhere, MS-13 members are organized into “cliques,” smaller groups that operate in a specific city or region. MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, both to maintain membership and discipline within the gang and against rival gangs. One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible. Participation in criminal activity by a member, particularly in violent acts directed at rival gangs or as directed by gang leadership, increases the respect accorded to that member, resulting in that member maintaining or increasing his position in the gang and opens the door to promotion to a leadership position. As detailed in the plea agreement, Rivas Rodriguez, Yanes-Rivera and Zelaya Mejia were members and associates of Weedams Locos Salvatrucha, (WLS), an MS-13 clique operating primarily in Adelphi, Maryland. Rivas Rodriguez was the clique’s second in command. On February 23, 2020, at the direction of MS-13 leaders Brayan Alexander Torres and Rivas Rodriguez, Yanes-Rivera and co-defendant MS-13 member Franklyn Sanchez shot and killed Victim 1, a former WLS member, in retaliation for the victim’s suspected cooperation with law enforcement. In the weeks prior to the murder, Victim 1 had been in touch with WLS members over social media, text messages and voice calls. Records show that WLS members told Victim 1 that if he met with gang members to make amends, his cooperation would be forgiven. Victim 1 was instructed to wait on the side of a road at a location in or near Adelphi, Maryland, on February 23, 2020. A junior WLS member drove Yanes-Rivera and Sanchez to the location, where they picked up Victim 1. They drove to a location in or near Hyattsville, Maryland. Yanes-Rivera, Sanchez and Victim 1 got out of the car and walked into a wooded area, where Yanes-Rivera and Sanchez shot Victim 1. Victim 1 died from his gunshot wounds. As a result of his participation in the murder, Yanes-Rivera was promoted within the hierarchy of MS-13. On August 8, 2020, WLS members, including Franklyn Sanchez, were gathered at a park in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Sanchez and several of the WLS members agreed to the murder of Victim 4, who was suspected of cooperating with law enforcement and to whom Sanchez owed a debt. Sanchez and another MS-13 member murdered Victim 4, then WLS members dragged Victim 4’s body to a stream and left it there. As he was leaving the woods, Sanchez was concerned that his DNA may have been left on the body. To prevent the discovery of DNA or other evidence and to hinder the investigation and prosecution of Victim 4’s murder, Rivas Rodriguez, Zelaya Mejia and other WLS members were called and ordered to bring shovels to the wooded area, where they dug a hole and buried Victim 4’s body. Victim 4’s body was later recovered with a bullet wound to the head. Rivas Rodriguez also conspired with other MS-13 members to kill a female member of the rival 18th Street gang. Rivas Rodriguez and the WLS leader ordered subordinate members of the gang to track the female to a house and kill her. The group of MS-13 subordinates gathered with guns and were preparing to follow their orders, when police arrived on scene and stopped the plan from coming to fruition. Yanes-Rivera, Rivas Rodriguez and Zelaya Mejia were also responsible for collecting extortion payments, or “rents,” from at least two extortion victims on behalf of WLS, knowing that the victims making extortion payments did so under the threat of death or bodily injury by members of WLS. For example, gang members used baseball bats to impose rents and sometimes collected rent while flashing firearms or otherwise making it known that they were carrying weapons. Finally, Yanes-Rivera also participated in money laundering by transferring gang funds obtained through its extortion activities to MS-13 members and associates in El Salvador. Torres, a/k/a “Spooky,” age 29, of Adelphi, Maryland, is expected to be sentenced to 28 years in federal prison at his sentencing on September 13, 2023. Torres will also be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, including any funeral costs incurred by Victim 4’s estate. On May 19, 2023, Judge Xinis sentenced Franklyn Edgardo Sanchez, a/k/a “Freddy,” “Magic,” “Miclo,” and “Delinquente,” age 26, of Adelphi, Maryland, to 28 years in federal prison and ordered that Sanchez must pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, including any funeral costs incurred by Victim 1 and Victim 4’s estates. Anyone with information about MS-13 is encouraged to provide their tips to law enforcement. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations both have nationwide tiplines that you can call to report what you know. You can reach the FBI at 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or you can call HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. United States Attorney Barron and Assistant Attorney General Polite commended the FBI, HSI and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Montgomery County Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo, and Trial Attorney Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Former Ames Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Fraud and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – On August 1, 2023, an Ames man was sentenced to 48 months in prison for making a false statement to a financial institution and possessing firearms after having been previously convicted of a felony. In early September 2021, Aaron Christopher Lindsey, 34, purchased a 2018 Dodge Durango GT from an Ames car dealership using the fictious identity “Kevin Grant”. Lindsey provided the dealership that false name as well as a false Iowa driver’s license, false social security number, and false date of birth. The false information that Lindsey provided the dealership was also submitted by Lindsey as part of his credit application to obtain financing for the vehicle and caused a local Ames credit union to approve a vehicle loan for more than $42,000. In late September 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lindsey’s Ames residence. Officers located eight firearms and ammunition at the residence, including a loaded pistol in the Durango. Lindsey possessed each of these eight firearms and ammunition. Lindsey had been previously convicted of two felonies: a forgery conviction in Marshall County, Iowa in 2017 and a forgery conviction in Story County, Iowa in 2017. At Lindsey’s residence, police also found counterfeit credit cards, blank checks in the names of multiple purported third-persons, counterfeit driver’s licenses, hundreds of blank magnetic strip cards, hundreds of blank EMV “chip” cards, a magnetic strip card encoder, printers, computer equipment, a card cutter, a laminator, laminate papers, and holograms of various state seals. Following his prison term, Lindsey will be on supervised release for five years. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Ames Police Department and the Iowa Department of Transportation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.


title: Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shawn Michael Patton, 47, of Dunbar, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 13, 2022, Patton sold 2 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on the front porch of his Park Drive residence in Dunbar in exchange for $700. On February 9, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Patton’s residence and seized approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine from a bedroom chair and a total of $14,572. Law enforcement officers executed another search warrant at Patton’s residence on September 20, 2022, and seized approximately 287 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms and $554. On October 5, 2022, Patton was arrested by law enforcement officers and consented to a search of his residence. Officers seized approximately 25 grams of heroin, 379 grams of marijuana and $2,315. Patton is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT). Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-212. ###


title: Del Rio Man Sentenced for Smuggling More Than 10,000 Rounds of Ammunition into Mexico

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Del Rio man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio last week to 57 months in prison with credit for time served for smuggling goods from the United States. According to court documents, Hugo Medina, 40, was selected for an inspection in the outbound lane of the Del Rio Port of Entry on Sept. 24, 2020. After he elected to not declare any weapons, ammunition or currency over $10,000, Customs and Border Protection officers located a black duffle bag containing small boxes in the trunk of Medina’s vehicle. The officers confirmed that the boxes contained ammunition and took Medina into custody. Following a vehicle inspection scan, officers seized a total of 10,498 rounds of ammunition. “Transporting ammunition into Mexico is a serious offense,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Along with our law enforcement partners, my office is committed to stopping the supply of dangerous weapons across the border into Mexico.” “The sentencing sends a clear message to individuals who facilitate the illegal sale and movement of ammunition. Combatting ammunition smuggling is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. “Through collaborative law enforcement with our federal, state and local partners, we aggressively investigate individuals involved in these activities to prevent the items from falling into the hands of transnational criminal organizations.” Claudia Veronica Flores, who purchased the ammunition and arranged for it to be smuggled into Mexico, pleaded guilty on Aug. 15, 2022 to conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States in DR:21-CR-2145. Her sentence hearing is currently scheduled for Dec. 4. HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Izaak Bruce prosecuted the case. ###


title: Memphis Man Sentenced to 31 Years in Federal Prison for Series of Armed Robberies of Mid-South Hotels

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Today a federal judge sentenced the last of three men involved in a series of robberies of hotels in Memphis. Reginald Rose , 30, of Memphis was sentenced to 382 months in federal prison for his role in five hotel robberies in the Memphis area, said Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris also ordered Rose to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Norris previously sentenced both of Rose’s co-defendants: Memphis resident Gregory Moore , 24, was sentenced on May 18, 2023, and resident Randy Jack , 27, was sentenced on March 1, 2023. Judge Norris sentenced both Moore and Jack to 168 months and one day in prison after they pled guilty to four of the same robbery charges. Judge Norris also ordered that both Moore and Jack serve three years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. According to United States Attorney Ritz and the information presented in court, between August 5 and 7, 2021, Rose , Moore , and Jack robbed four Memphis hotels at gunpoint. On August 8, 2021, Rose and Moore also robbed a fifth hotel at gunpoint. On August 5, 2021, Randy Jack and Reginald Rose entered the Quality Suites, 2575 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Memphis, and Jack pointed a firearm at the employee, demanding money. Rose stood in front of the counter to distract the other victims and employees. After taking money from the cash registers, the pair fled to a waiting getaway car driven by Moore . Although they changed roles in some of the subsequent robberies, the trio went on to conduct similar robberies of the following hotels: August 7, 2021: Quality Inn, 3105 Millbranch Road, Memphis, Tennessee. August 7, 2021: Quality Inn and Suites, 1335 McRee Street, Memphis, Tennessee. August 7, 2021: Extended Stay America Suites, 2520 Horizon Lake Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee. August 8, 2021: Microtel Inn and Suites, 2423 North Germantown Parkway, Memphis, Tennessee. (This robbery was committed by Rose and Moore alone.) United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case. ###


title: West Sacramento Resident and Former Postal Service Employee Sentenced for Theft of Mail and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Shabina Debbie, 54, of West Sacramento, was sentenced today to five months in prison for theft of mail by a Postal Service employee and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between October 2018 and February 2019, Debbie stole 18 mail parcels that had been entrusted to her in the course of her duties as a postal employee at the Sacramento Main Post Office. Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Debbie’s residence, where they found several parcels, one of which contained over 3 pounds of marijuana. At the time of the search, Debbie confessed to stealing parcels containing marijuana from the post office and selling the contents. Per a plea agreement, Debbie agreed to forfeit over $125,000 in cash found in her home. U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG), Western Pacific Area Field Office, Executive Special Agent-in-Charge Kenneth Bulle said, “Today’s sentencing underscores the value of the public’s trust in the USPS and the consequences that result when a USPS employee breaches that trust through theft. USPS OIG special agents remain resolute in maintaining the integrity of the Postal Service. USPS OIG values our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in holding USPS personnel accountable when they abuse their position of trust.” This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow prosecuted the case.


title: Retired Air Force Officer Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, RICKIE LEE GRESS , 54, a retired Air Force officer from Midwest City, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On March 21, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Gress, charging him with receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. According to the Indictment, between August 2016 and May of 2022, Gress knowingly possessed images of child pornography on his computer. On August 1, 2023, Gress pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment. As part of his plea, Gress, admitted to possessing a laptop computer that contained child pornography, including depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Gress was remanded to federal custody following his hearing. At sentencing, Gress faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00. This case is a result of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Choctaw Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney D.H. Dilbeck is prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for more information.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Drug and Gun Crimes

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Mark Bolling, 55, of Charleston, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of a firearm silencer. A federal jury convicted Bolling of the charges on February 16, 2023, following a three-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that on September 19, 2020, a law enforcement officer in Fayette County conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Bolling and recovered approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of fentanyl, a pistol magazine containing .45-caliber ammunition, and $7,000 from the vehicle. On September 21, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bolling’s property on Keystone Drive in Charleston and seized a Rock River Arms, model LAR-15, 5.56mm rifle, a Bryco Arms, model 38, .380-caliber pistol, and a Gemtech, Model HALO, 5.56mm silencer. The silencer was not registered to Bolling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bolling was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior felony convictions including possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine on September 30, 2019, and transferring and receiving stolen property on September 24, 2018, both in Kanawha County Circuit Court. Bolling’s long criminal history also includes prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, domestic battery, two separate violations of protective orders, battery of an officer, possession of a controlled substance, first-degree burglary and vehicle theft. “This defendant has persistently committed felonies throughout the majority of his adult life, and his continuing involvement in criminal activity and his possession of firearms pose a risk to public safety,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I commend the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Fayetteville Police Department for their excellent work in this case. I also commend Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrch and Steve Loew and our trial team for securing guilty verdicts on five counts in this case.” Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-87. ###


title: Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tonja Oakes, 58, of Cross Lanes, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, admitting to defrauding the American Red Cross (ARC) while employed at its Cross Lanes office. Oakes agreed to pay of $21,943 in restitution as a consequence of her guilty plea. According to court documents and statements made in court, the ARC hired Oakes in 2015 as a business operations specialist, and her duties included acting as the purchasing agent for the ARC Central Appalachian Region. On March 9, 2019, Oakes began working as the executive assistance to the chief executive officer of the ARC Central Appalachian Region. Among her duties in that position, Oakes reviewed monthly statements of credit cards issued by ARC to certain employees and approved the statements for payment. This position allowed Oakes to review and approve her own expenditures. Oakes admitted to making multiple unauthorized purchases with ARC-provided credit cards from at least February 17, 2017 through at least October 5, 2020. Oakes further admitted that the unauthorized transactions included a $973.77 payment for servicing a 2011 Kia Sorento on June 8, 2020. Other unauthorized purchases by Oakes included buying items while on vacation in South Carolina, groceries, and personal items purchased on Amazon. Oakes admitted that she used her employment position to review and approve her credit card statements, even though she knew many of the payments were unauthorized. Oakes is scheduled to be sentenced on December 7, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-67. ###


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Kennedy, 42, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 30, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to a report of shots fired on Leon Sullivan Way in Charleston. Officers found a bullet hole at the entrance of Jet Life Apparel and obtained a search warrant for the store’s video surveillance system. The video surveillance footage showed two firearms inside the store, a Dickinson model XXPA 12-gauge shotgun and a Smith & Wesson model M&P 15 5.56-caliber rifle. The video surveillance footage also showed Kennedy running across the store while holding the shotgun following an altercation outside. Officers recovered both firearms from a vehicle in an alley near Jet Life Apparel. Each firearm was loaded with a high-capacity drum magazine. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Kennedy knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony convictions for interstate travel in aid of drug trafficking and use of a communication facility in furtherance of an unlawful act in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 3, 2014. The video surveillance footage also showed Jamon L. Woodson, 40, of Dunbar, firing a pistol in the direction of Jet Life Apparel during the altercation outside the store and Kevin Gerard Denson, 36, of Charleston, carrying both firearms inside the store afterward. Woodson was sentenced to five years in prison on July 20, 2023, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition. Denson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on October 12, 2022, and is awaiting sentencing. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Nowles Heinrich prosecuted 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 Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-145. ###


title: Smuggling organizer sentenced for recruiting and directing drivers to transport up to 185 people

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 55-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Charles Lee Smith pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2021. Today, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller ordered Smith to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. From Feb. 26, 2021, through Sept. 14, 2021, Smith recruited others to transport undocumented aliens from Laredo to San Antonio, Houston and other destinations. Smith acquired and paid for the load vehicles as well as drivers’ travel expenses and lodging. He also recruited drivers, oversaw the events and supervised the transport of 182 undocumented aliens, including six unaccompanied minors. On Dec. 8, 2020, Smith personally transported three non-U.S. citizens, but law enforcement caught him. It was after this that he began recruiting others to drive. On Sept. 9, 2021, Brandon Joseph Bartholomew and Smith met in the Houston area. Smith hired and contracted Bartholomew for $10,000 per load to transport a tractor trailer pre-loaded with non-U.S. citizens from Laredo to Houston. Smith told Bartholomew he would be able to take multiple loads that week. On Sep. 14, 2021, Bartholomew drove a tractor-trailer to the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Freer. He told authorities he was hauling rice and beans and presented a fraudulent bill of lading. Upon inspection, law enforcement discovered the logos and Department of Transportation number printed on the tractor and trailer were fraudulent. Authorities cut the trailer door seal and discovered 49 undocumented aliens from Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala. The temperature inside the enclosed trailer was 91 degrees. On April 19, 2022, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña imposed a 33-month sentence for Bartholomew, 40, Magnolia. Smith will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Homeland Security Investigations and BP conducted the investigations on the other transporters with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Matthew Isaac prosecuted this case. AUSA Colton Turner handled the sentencing.


title: Buffalo Man Arrested, Accused Of Stealing Mail

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Eric Steven Arroyo, 41, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with theft or receipt of stolen mail, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that late in the morning on July 27, 2023, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service was notified that someone not employed by U.S. Postal Service (USPS) was opening up the blue USPS Collection Box in the vicinity of Tonawanda and Briggs Streets in Buffalo. According to the complaint, “someone on a fat tire bicycle” was using a key to open the blue collection box, taking the mail, locking the collection box, and leaving the area. The Buffalo Police Department was called, and a USPS Customer Service Manager responded to the area of Tonawanda and Briggs Streets to meet officers. As the manager awaited officers, they observed a person, later identified as Arroyo, on a fat tire bicycle ride the bicycle and park next to a blue USPS Collection box on Elmwood Avenue near Hertel Avenue, open the collection box with “some kind of key,” take the mail, and leave the area. Buffalo Police located Arroyo behind a nearby building opening the stolen mail, at which time he was taken into custody. Arroyo made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released subject on conditions. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Forney resident sentenced for trafficking “ice” for Michoacan Cartel

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 40-year-old Texan has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute approximately 19 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ernesto Diaz-Velazquez pleaded guilty Dec. 6, 2022. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Diaz-Velazquez to serve 84 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that he trafficked meth “ice” in the city of Laredo. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the high-purity of meth and that it belonged to Michoacan Cartel. Judge Marmolejo admonished the defendant for seeking to distribute such a dangerous and disfiguring drug. On Sept. 5, 2017, authorities launched an investigation into suspected drug trafficking across the local port of entry. It led to Diaz-Velazquez as the individual who took possession of approximately 18.58 kilograms of pure meth at a local store parking lot. He received the high-purity meth in liquid form. The investigation revealed the Michoacan Cartel was the ultimate source of the drug supply. Diaz-Velazquez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Laredo Police Department as part of an OCDETF operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, mutlti-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.


title: Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Northern New England Fentanyl Trafficking Operation

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Maine man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with a fentanyl trafficking operation that spanned across northern New England. Douglas Morris, 33, of Bangor, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of p-Fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Nov. 14, 2023. Morris was indicted by a federal grand jury along with five co-defendants in March 2022 . According to court documents, in June 2021, Morris picked up nearly two kilograms of p-Fluorofentanyl intended for distribution in Maine, allegedly from co-defendant Ivan Rodriguez Osorio in a hotel parking lot in Amesbury. State law enforcement subsequently stopped Morris’ vehicle and seized the narcotics. In July 2021, Morris again picked up nearly two kilograms of fentanyl, allegedly from Rodriguez Osorio, in the same hotel parking lot in Amesbury. State law enforcement again stopped Morris’ vehicle and seized the narcotics. Morris is the third defendant to plead guilty in the case. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of p-Fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five 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 United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Lauren A. Graber of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Illegal Possession of Drugs and Firearm Results in Hefty Sentence for Shreveport Man

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

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of Odis Freeman , 36, of Shreveport today. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced Freeman to 102 months (8 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for illegal possession of drugs and a firearm. Freeman pleaded guilty on March 15, 2023 to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to information introduced in court, officers with the Shreveport Police Department found Freeman in his vehicle in possession of a cigar with suspected marijuana on the center console of his vehicle, as well as a loaded Glock magazine inside the center console, a Glock, Model 30, .45 caliber pistol with an extended magazine under the driver’s side floor mat, a bag on the passenger seat which contained several suspected bags of marijuana, and another bag with packaging materials, a loaded extended magazine, and a sandwich bag full of suspected marijuana. Officers also found over $3,900 in cash in Freeman’s vehicle. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Freeman spoke with the officers and admitted that he had additional marijuana inside his residence and a search was conducted. Officers recovered approximately 365 grams of suspected marijuana, approximately 28.6 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and two dosage units of alprazolam. In addition, Freeman had packaging materials used for distributing narcotics, five .45 caliber shell casings, and a digital scale with marijuana residue on it. The seized narcotics were sent to the North Louisiana Crime Lab for testing and the suspected marijuana was confirmed. The suspected methamphetamine was determined to be substituted cathinone, a Schedule I controlled substance. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) examined the firearm and determined it was a functioning firearm. The case was investigated by the ATF and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan. # # #


title: Registered Sex Offender from Shawnee Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, BRUCE JACKSON MOORE , 47, of Shawnee, was sentenced to serve 40 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “The evil cruelty exhibited by this defendant against innocent three-year-old children is shocking,” said U.S. Attorney Troester. “While we are pleased with the 40-year sentence imposed by the Court to hold Moore accountable, there is nothing that can undo the irrevocable damage he has done to the vulnerable child victims. I commend Homeland Security Investigations, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, and the prosecutors in my office for their detailed and aggressive work on this important case.” “This defendant repeatedly preyed on innocent children without regard for the life-long pain his actions would cause.“ said Robert Melton, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the HSI Dallas - Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle Division. "HSI will never relent in our commitment to protecting our society's most vulnerable citizens." According to court records, Moore produced images of himself engaging in sexual acts with a three-year-old child around 2021 to 2022 and distributed them via social media direct messaging. On May 4, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Moore. Count 1 charged him with sexual exploitation of a child, and Count 2 charged him with commission of a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender. On January 10, 2023, Moore pleaded guilty to Count 1 before United States District Judge Joe Heaton. According to that count, between February 2021, and February 2022, Moore used a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. As part of his plea agreement, Moore admitted to taking part in sexually explicit conduct with a child, in order to get a photograph to send through social media. In announcing the sentence today, Judge Heaton took into consideration Moore’s prior conviction for sexually abusing a different two-to-three-year-old child, his failure to register as a sex offender, the vulnerable age of his current victim, and his distribution of the child pornography images he produced. In sentencing Moore, Judge Heaton noted that Moore’s conduct was “the most serious type of criminal activity that our system has to address.” After serving 40 years in prison, Moore will be supervised by the United States Probation Office for the rest of his life. This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Hale and Corbin Houston. This case is also part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is the Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Reference is made to public filings for more information.


title: COLFAX PHARMACY TICK KLOCK DRUG AGREES TO PAY $20,000 PENALTY AND IMPLEMENT CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO ADDRESS IMPROPER DISPENSING AND RECORDKEEPING PRACTICES

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, WA – Tick Klock Drug, a pharmacy in Colfax, Washington, agreed to pay a $20,000 Controlled Substances Act penalty and to institute corrective actions in order to address its failure to comply with the Controlled Substances Act and the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 in its pharmacy operations, announced Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. To protect the public, the Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations place legal responsibilities on medical professionals to ensure that opioid medications and other controlled substances are prescribed, dispensed, and used for medically-appropriate purposes and in a safe manner. The responsibility for the proper prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances is upon the prescribing practitioner, but a corresponding responsibility rests with the pharmacist who fills the prescription to ensure that prescriptions are legitimate, safe, and medically appropriate. Additionally, the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA) and implementing regulations impose requirements concerning a pharmacy’s sale of pseudoephedrine, which is commonly sold under the brand name Sudafed. Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that can be used to manufacture methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance and commonly-abused street drug. The CMEA places restrictions on the quantity of pseudoephedrine that can be sold to an individual over a 30-day period, and also requires pharmacies to maintain records, to display warning signs, to obtain a purchaser’s signature and verify the purchaser’s identity, to train employees concerning safe dispensing and sale of pseudoephedrine, and to annually certify compliance with CMEA requirements and regulations. In the settlement announced today, Tick Klock Drug admitted that, between January and July 2022, it did not always appropriately exercise its corresponding responsibility when dispensing controlled substances. Tick Klock Drug admitted that during that time period, it filled controlled substance prescriptions written by physicians or other medical providers that contained “red flags”, i.e., indicia of fraud, drug-seeking, lack of medical necessity, potential for abuse or health risk, or potential for diversion, without appropriately resolving those red flags prior to dispensing the medications. These red flags included multiple patients for whom Tick Klock Drug filled prescriptions for a potentially dangerous and medically-inappropriate combination of an opioid, a benzodiazepine, and a muscle relaxant known as the “holy trinity”. Tick Klock Drug further admitted that between 2017 and 2022, Tick Klock Drug violated the CMEA by: (1) failing to certify compliance with the CMEA and implementing regulations; (2) failing to prominently display required warning notices in all appropriate locations; and (3) failing to obtain all purchaser signatures for sales of pseudoephedrine, including for sales to Tick Klock Drug employees. Finally, Tick Klock Drug admitted that it did not keep adequate records or appropriately account for the quantities of certain controlled substances. “Pharmacies have a critical role to play in protecting the public and keeping our communities safe and strong,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Pharmacies serve a vital gatekeeper function in keeping our residents safe and healthy, preventing the diversion of dangerous drugs, and combatting addiction. I’m grateful that Tick Klock Drug accepted responsibility and has entered into a robust agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to ensure that it complies with its obligations going forward.” In addition to the $20,000 civil penalty, Tick Klock Drug has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DEA. Under the MOA, Tick Klock Drug agreed to resolve all “red flag” prescriptions prior to dispensing any controlled substances. Tick Klock Drug is also required to conduct quarterly physical inventory audits and provide those to the DEA. These audits must be performed by a team that includes a licensed pharmacist. Additionally, Tick Klock Drug is required to provide training for its employees to ensure compliance with the Controlled Substances Act and CMEA going forward, and to document its training efforts. Finally, Tick Klock Drug further agreed to review and update its controlled substance policies and procedures, and that employees may not dispense controlled substances to themselves under any circumstances. “This resolution would not have been possible without the exceptional investigative work by DEA Seattle Field Division’s Diversion Group, and I am so grateful for our longstanding partnership,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We will continue to work hand-in-glove with DEA Diversion Group and our law enforcement partners to protect our communities and public health and safety.” “DEA’s core mission is to protect Americans and we need our partners in the healthcare community to help us by following the rules. When they do not, we hold them accountable, not to punish, but to encourage their cooperation and ensure that they are doing their part to keep people safe,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “We deeply appreciate our partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Washington, without whom this success would not have been possible.” The settlement was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington and DEA’s Seattle Field Division, Diversion Group. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene handled this matter on behalf of the United States. Memorandum of Agreement-Tick Klock Pharmacy  Settlement Agreement-Tick Klock Pharmacy


title: Social Security employee charged with theft of government property and aggravated identity theft

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 38-year-old Harlingen resident is now in custody on allegations he created false profiles to steal government money, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Authorities arrested Lee Marvin Nichols today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya III at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 4. According to the three-count indictment, returned June 27, Nichols was a claims specialist at the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Harlingen. Nichols allegedly created fictitious profiles for two children that did not exist. The indictment alleges Nichols linked the profiles of the fictitious children to a recently deceased man and a disabled woman living in Mexico in an attempt to create survivor benefits application. Nichols used debit cards issued to the children to withdraw funds, according to the charges. When he would obtain the funds, he allegedly attempted to disguise himself by using hats pulled down over his face, sunglasses, balaclavas and other clothing to conceal his appearance. In addition to Social Security benefits, the IRS issued economic stimulus payments of $1,400 to each fictitious child, according to the indictment. Nichols is charged with one count of theft of government property which carries a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. If convicted of aggravated identity theft, he must also serve a mandatory two years which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The SSA-Office of Inspection General conducted the investigation with the assistance of IRS-Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray, Ben Sandel, Andrew Swartz and Jose Esquivel are prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Seventeen Charged and Twelve Arrested in Joint Enforcement Operation in Carlsbad, New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Eric Castañeda, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and Jeffrey C. Boshek II, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, announced seven indictments returned by a federal grand jury on April 19 and July 19, 2023, one criminal complaint issued on August 1, 2023, and the arrest of 12 alleged drug and firearms traffickers on August 1, 2023, in a coordinated, multiagency enforcement operation in Carlsbad, New Mexico. According to the indictments and other court records, in February of 2022, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force (PVDTF) received information regarding individuals who were trafficking drugs in southeastern New Mexico. Through diligent and painstaking investigation, agents identified a drug trafficking organization operating out of Eddy County, New Mexico that was distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl in Carlsbad. As a result of the year-long investigation, a federal grand jury issued indictments against 16 defendants for drug and firearms trafficking charges. Jesus Daniel Sonora-Gonzalez, 29, of Carlsbad, Guerrero Muro, 33, of Midland, Texas, and Marco Antonio Torres-Vivas, 40, of Carlsbad were charged on April 19 with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances including 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and 500 grams and more of fentanyl, nine counts of distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, and one count of attempt to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl. If convicted, both men face up to life in prison. Damon Michael Johnsey, 28, and Kelly Lamar Burke, 31, both of Carlsbad, were charged under separate indictments on July 19 with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession a firearm and ammunition. Johnsey was previously convicted of possession a controlled substance. Burke was previously convicted of abuse of child and possession of a controlled substance. If convicted, both men face up to life in prison. Kinny Gonzalez, 29, his sister Kassandra Lee Perales, 32, her boyfriend Carlos Michael Venegas, Jr., 24, Amber Kathleen Owen, 50, Brian Kain Purdy aka “Guero,” 41, Sabino Alfonso Maldonado aka “Flaco,” 31, Jared Michael Moore aka “Ghost,” 42, all of Carlsbad, and Jesus Alonso Cerezo-Espidio aka “Pitufo,” 50, of Mexico, were charged on July 19 with conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and 5 grams and more of methamphetamine; distribution of 400 grams and more of fentanyl and 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, smuggling goods from the United States and conspiracy thereto; attempt to smuggle a firearm and ammunition out of the United States to promote a drug trafficking crimes; attempt to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and 500 grams and more of cocaine; and using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Gonzalez, Perales, Venegas, Owen, and Cerezo-Espidio face up to life in prison. If convicted, Moore faces up to 20 years in prison. If convicted, Purdy and Maldonado each face up to 10 years in prison. Manuel Pineda Montoya, 43, of Carlsbad, was charged on July 19 with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and 40 grams and more of fentanyl; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; and being a felon in possession a firearm and ammunition. If convicted, Montoya faces up to life in prison. Silvester Cruz Rueda II, 44, and Jaycelyn Amberly Marrujo, 22, both of Carlsbad, were charged on July 19 with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl as well as possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Rueda II also was charged with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. In convicted, Rueda II faces up to life in prison, and Marrujo faces up to 20 years in prison. David Kirk Haynes, 55, was charged on July 19 with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl. If convicted, Haynes faces up to life in prison. Haynes is a fugitive and has not yet been arrested. Gonzalez, Owen, Purdy, Maldonado, Moore, Rueda II, Marrujo, Johnsey, and Burke were arrested in Carlsbad on August 1, 2023. Perales and Venegas, Jr. were arrested on August 1, 2023, in North Dakota. Freddie Trevino, 48, was arrested in Carlsbad on August 1, 2023, and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Trevino faces up to life in prison. During the arrests on August 1, 2023, agents executed four search warrants in Carlsbad and seized methamphetamine, cocaine, firearms, and money. To date, agents have seized approximately 56 kilograms of methamphetamine, four kilograms of cocaine, four kilograms of fentanyl, 31 firearms, and $75,000 from the drug trafficking organization. “No corner of New Mexico is beyond the reach of federal criminal investigators. Through strong partnerships with local law enforcement, we struck at the heart of this drug trafficking network, disrupting its operations from the source to the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “But our mission does not end here. We remain vigilant throughout New Mexico to investigate and prosecute drug distribution networks flooding our streets with poison.” “This is a violent organization with links to cartel activity,” said Eric Castañeda, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division. “Make no mistake. DEA will continue to aggressively pursue this and other organizations responsible for bringing these dangerous drugs into the communities of southern New Mexico.” “Organized crime has no place in our country or our communities, especially organizations that poison our citizens with their dangerous drugs and illicit activities,” said Francisco B. Burrola, special agent in charge for HSI El Paso. “These arrests exemplify HSI’s commitment to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to dismantle international criminal organizations one by one.” “ATF remains committed to protecting the citizens of New Mexico from the scourge of violent firearm offenders. Armed drug trafficking organizations are at the heart of many of the violent acts occurring around us every day. We are proud of the hard work shown here by our partners to put some of the worst of the worst behind bars” stated ATF Dallas Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “These types of operations have a powerful and lasting impact on our communities. Strong partnerships between federal and local law enforcement make our towns safer and a better place to live. The Eddy County Sheriff’s Office will always stand ready to do our part!” This investigation was conducted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force led the investigation, with enforcement assistance from the United States Marshal Service, Carlsbad Police Department, Eddy County Sheriff’ Department, Roswell Police Department, Chaves County Drug Task Force, DEA Airwing and Customs and Border Patrol. The New Mexico Air National Guard’s Air Unit, Artesia Police Department and Customs and Border Patrol’s Air Unit also provided support in this matter. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Renee L. Camacho and Devon Aragon-Martinez. The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### 23-165


title: Dominican Citizen Sentenced to 18 Months for Selling Cocaine After Illegally Returning to United States

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Campusano, age 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Utica, New York, was sentenced yesterday to serve 18 months in federal prison for selling cocaine and illegally reentering the United States. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Thomas Brophy, Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), Buffalo Field Office. In pleading guilty, Campusano admitted that after being deported from the United States in 2009, he returned without permission. While he was living in the Utica area illegally, Campusano sold cocaine to another individual on six separate dates. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered that Campusano serve a three-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police, Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, the Syracuse Police Department, and Utica Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted the case.


title: Syracuse Man Sentenced to Nearly 21 Years for Armed Robberies of Corner Stores

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Akiem Howard, age 24, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 250 months (20 years and 10 months) in federal prison for robbing two Syracuse corner stores, and for related firearms charges, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Chief Joseph Cecile, City of Syracuse Police Department (SPD), John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshal David McNulty, and William Fitzpatrick, Onondaga County District Attorney. As part of his previous guilty plea to robberies of businesses engaged in interstate commerce (the Hobbs Act) and using firearms in furtherance of federal crimes of violence, Howard admitted robbing two Syracuse corner stores at gunpoint. The first robbery occurred on December 13, 2020, and the second was on December 21, 2020. The December 13 robbery occurred at about 11:14 pm and Howard robbed it along with a second robber. Both Howard and the second robber pointed handguns at the store clerk. The December 21, 2020 robbery occurred at about 10:45 am approximately one-fifth of a mile from an elementary school. Howard robbed the store with a third robber, Chantal Jaquez. Howard used a revolver and Jaquez carried a rifle. While fleeing the store, Howard fired several rounds from his revolver at the store clerk. One of the bullets struck Jaquez in the leg. Jaquez previously pleaded guilty to participating in the December 21, 2020, robbery and, on August 18, 2022, was sentenced to serve 111 months in federal prison. As part of his guilty plea, Howard also admitted committing three other armed robberies on December 19, 2020. United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also sentenced Howard to a three-year term of supervised release to begin after he serves his term of imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Syracuse Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division (SPD-CID), the SPD Intelligence Section (SPD-Intel), the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe. 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 of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Colorado Man Arrested for Illegally Trafficking Firearms into Washington, D.C.

body_text: WASHINGTON – Federal law enforcement, today, arrested Demarco Diggs, 26, of Aurora, Colorado, for trafficking-in dozens of firearms, including numerous firearms recovered in the Washington, D.C.-area. Diggs is charged by indictment with engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and illegally transporting firearms. Diggs will have a detention hearing on August 3, 2023 in the District of Colorado. The charges were announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, of the Washington Division, Acting United States Marshal Peter D. Marketos, of the District of Columbia, and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to the indictment, from on or about June 2021 to March 2023, Diggs engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. The indictment also charges Diggs with illegally transporting firearms into the District of Columbia on or about June and July of 2021. Finally, the indictment seeks forfeiture of over two dozen firearms, as well as corresponding assorted ammunition, from Diggs. Among the firearms recovered, at least one has been linked to a D.C.-area shooting, and was traced back to Diggs as the purchaser. “This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will use every legal tool at our disposal to combat straw purchasing and choke off the dangerous flow of illegal guns into our city,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The message should be clear: unlawfully buying a gun for a prohibited person is a serious federal offense.” “Today’s announcement sends a clear message that participating in straw purchasing and firearm trafficking related schemes will have consequences. ATF continues to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who violate firearm related laws are held accountable,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kailimai. “One of our top priorities is to maintain public safety, so that citizens can feel safe in their communities.” “The United States Marshals Service for the District of Columbia (D/DC) is proud to work with our federal, state, and local partners in a coordinated effort to keep illegal firearms off the streets of Washington, D.C.,” said Acting United States Marshal Marketos. “We are committed to continue our joint efforts to ensure the apprehension of those individuals who engage in the illegal sales and transportation of firearms and other crimes that lead to violence. This apprehension is a perfect example of the lengths to which the United States Marshals Service will go to make our city safer for the community.” The forfeiture allegations represent the firearms recovered in Washington, D.C. as well as additional firearms recovered from a search of Diggs’s residence, and firearms that Diggs had advertised for sale. Each charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after considering the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. This case was jointly investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), with assistance from ATF Denver Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAVEN). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andy Wang and Matthew W. Kinskey of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney Graves Joins Local Law Enforcement and the Community for National Night Out

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves joined law enforcement partners at Rosedale Recreation Center in Northeast, Fifth District, along with community organizers, and neighbors for National Night Out today. "We have no greater partner in our fight against crime than our fellow community members,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “From reporting crime, bearing witness, and providing evidence – including, in this day and age, providing video from private security cameras at their residences. The community has been and will continue to be one of our greatest crime fighting partners. And that’s why National Night Out is so important.” This year, hundreds of residents across the District participated in various National Night Out events in their communities. This annual community-building campaign promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer. Established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, the initiative is administered by the National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization. With coordination by local law enforcement and community partners, National Night Out provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together in a positive way, by hosting neighborhood block parties, cookouts, safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, and more fun activities. National Night Out sends a message that neighbors are united and working together to keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/ .


title: Merrillville Man Convicted of Crimes Against Children Offense

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND- Tyrone Johnson, age 35, of Merrillville, Indiana, was found guilty following a 2-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Philip P Simon, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. The jury found Johnson guilty of two (2) counts charged in the Second Superseding Indictment. Johnson was convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor for purpose of producing a visual depiction. He was also convicted of committing a felony offense involving a minor while being required by law to register as a sex offender. Johnson will be scheduled for sentencing by separate order of the Court. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Lake County, Indiana Sheriff’s Department, the Peru, Illinois Police Department, the LaSalle County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police Offender Registration Unit. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Morgan, Abizer Zanzi and Philip Benson as well as former Assistant United States Attorneys Molly Kelley and Jill Koster. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . ###


title: Oxford Man Sentenced in Drug Trafficking Case

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Oxford, MS – An Oxford man was sentenced today to 80 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, Jeremy Fondren, 41, of Oxford, Mississippi, pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to one count of conspiracy to possess in excess of five kilograms of cocaine. Fondren was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock to 80 months in prison. He was further sentenced to five years of supervised release following his release from prison. U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner announced the sentence following Fondren’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday afternoon. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program in partnership with state and local law enforcement. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Multiple agencies assisted with the investigation including the Tupelo Police Department and Lee County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.


title: Maine Woman Sentenced to 42 Months for Possession of Drugs with the Intent to Distribute

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Arica Marie Downs, 36, of Rumford, Maine, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to 42 months’ imprisonment for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. After her release from prison, Downs will begin a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Downs pleaded guilty to her offense on March 7, 2023. On March 9, 2022, Downs and Judith Ann Deandrade were traveling east on Interstate 80 in a rental car when they were stopped by a Lancaster County Deputy Sheriff for following a semitruck at too close of a distance. During the traffic stop, a police canine was walked around the exterior of the car and alerted to the odor of drugs emanating from the vehicle. The deputy then searched the vehicle. In the area near where the two women had been seated, the deputy located syringes, small baggies, and about a half-ounce of fentanyl. When the deputy searched the trunk, he located approximately 18.5 pounds of methamphetamine. Both were arrested. Law enforcement learned that Deandrade arranged the trip from Boston to Las Vegas to pickup up the methamphetamine, and that Deandrade offered Downs a pound of methamphetamine to accompany her on the trip. Deandrade died in custody on April 21, 2022, while this case was pending. The investigation was conducted by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Seward County Sheriff’s Office.


title: “General” Of Violent Lansing Street Gang “MBM” Sentenced To Over 7 Years In Federal Prison For Illegally Possessing A Firearm

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS , MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Damonte Latrell Johnson (“Gudda”), 27, of Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Hala Y. Jarbou also ordered Johnson to spend three years on supervised release after his confinement. Johnson previously pled guilty to this charge in April. “Group-involved violence and illegal firearm possession have no place in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My office is committed to disrupting the cycle of violence by getting violent offenders off the streets and holding them accountable for breaking the law and spreading fear in our neighborhoods.” Johnson was the self-proclaimed “General” and high-level leader of the Lansing area gang known as “Money Bound Mafia,” commonly referred to as “MBM.” Information received by the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicates that MBM is a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates have been involved in numerous criminal activities in the Lansing area, including gun violence, illegal weapons possession and purchase, fraud, non-fatal shootings, and homicides. Screenshot of Johnson from a YouTube Video with an “MBM” shirt and firearm. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, working closely with investigative teams at the Lansing Police Department’s Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), the Michigan State Police (MSP), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) have identified and recently prosecuted several members and individuals associated with violent crimes in Lansing to disrupt the cycle of violence. "The Lansing Police Department values the collaborative efforts of local, state, and federal resources regarding criminal investigations,” said LPD Chief Ellery Sosebee . “Prosecutions and sentences such as this are an excellent example of the quality of work and the impact these efforts can produce." “Individuals who choose a life of fear and violence to enhance their criminal enterprises will be identified and removed from our communities,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jarrod Marsh. “The collaborative effort with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our federal, State of Michigan, and local partners resulted in holding this violent gang member accountable.” Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. ###


title: 10 Defendants Charged in Levelland Methamphetamine Trafficking Case

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Eleven alleged methamphetamine traffickers in Levelland, Texas have been federally charged with drug and gun crimes, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. The majority of the defendants charged in the indictment unsealed today were apprehended on Friday. During the arrest operation, one defendant barricaded himself in the attic for roughly two hours but was successfully extricated by an FBI SWAT team. No one was injured. They made their initial appearances before U.S. District Judge D. Gordon Bryant, Jr. The indictment unsealed today represents the second round of charges in a wide-ranging meth investigation that has netted 29 defendants to date, including 18 defendants charged in November 2022, all of whom subsequently entered guilty pleas. Those charged in the most recent indictments include: David Vicente Martinez, aka Flaco: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine Sedric Lashawn King: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine Daniel Hernandez Martinez: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, convicted felon in possession of a firearm (Keltec .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and Phoenix Arms .22 caliber pistol) Omarre Edwards Joyce: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine Daniel Abram Garza: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine Andrea Jane Mora: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine Miguel Silva, Jr.: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine Dlanee Jordan Alexander: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine Calvin Lee Gonzales: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine Jesus Perez Puertas: charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine Danny Bautista: charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, convicted felon in possession of firearms (Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol, Ruger .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and Winchester .22 caliber rifle) A number of these defendants have violent criminal histories, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing bodily injury, assault of a public servant, burglary, theft, and possession of controlled substances. Those charged in the first round of indictments include: Bobby Joe Gonzales: plead (pled or pleaded throughout) guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 240 months in federal prison Rance Devin Jordan: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 84 months in federal prison Michael Salazar: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 97 months in federal prison Timothy John Perez: plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 90 months in federal prison Judy Cirilo Qualls: plead guilty to convicted felon in possession of a firearm; sentenced to 37 months in federal prison Anthony Raven Ruiz, aka Acid: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 87 months in federal prison Jose Angel Marquez: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 57 months in federal prison Juan Luis Quezada: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentencing set for Aug. 3 Ernest Michael Chavez: plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 131 months in federal prison Jennifer Dianne Clem: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 110 months in federal prison Jason Wade Grant: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 240 months in federal prison Ruben Soliz Guajardo: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 90 months in federal prison Gilberto Guajardo: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 108 months in federal prison Santiago Vizcarra, Jr., aka Quick: plead guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 78 months in federal prison Gerry Wayne Varner: plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 240 months in federal prison John Vester Gilliam: pled guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 100 months in federal prison Hollye Raychelle Patton: pled guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 168 months in federal prison Heather Rochelle Patton: pled guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; sentenced to 180 months in federal prison An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, some of the defendants face up to life in federal prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, the Hockley County Sheriff’s Office, the Levelland Police Department, and the Cochran County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Redd is prosecuting the case.